As Nigerians continue to call for the release of the kidnapped female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Nollywood actors have added their voices to the call.

During the week, many of the actors took part in various walks and campaigns for the release of the girls. Many were very vocal on social media, urging fans to take part in the protests.

Probably, the most vocal of them is Omoni Oboli, who has been in the streets with her numerous colleagues carrying placards. “This is heart wrenching. I ask myself, what would I have done if these girls were mine? When are we going to see that? The truth is, is it only about the girls? When they are found, what next? We have a Boko Haram problem. Do you remember the French family that were kidnapped? They were found. Is it because these are peasant girls or because their folks are not foreign, politicians, or maybe even celebrities?  I ask again, are Boko Haram members spirits? We are at war but we just don’t know it yet. We shouldn’t even think about negotiating with terrorists. This is war,” she said.

Though Hilda Dokubo had not been very active on the scene like she used to, she is still one of the most respected thespians. Her words on the Kidnap did carry weight.  “The governor and his CSO and the state security director want us to believe that they do not know where these girls are? I am a female and a mother and I cannot get the annoying picture of the pains their families must be going through out of my head or what trauma other kids their age must be facing right now. So, I decided that I must ask Nigeria’s ruling class and their security agencies where Nigeria’s over 200 female children are? Why are you pretending to be doing something when you are busy playing busy? Why have you decided to make the criminals look like they are spirits and cannot be seen?” she asked.

Yoruba actress, Toyin Aimaku, insists that she wants neither material stuff nor anything for herself in 2014, except the return of the abducted girls. She said this in a prayer-like post on Facebook. “God, I don’t want money, car or any material stuff this year. All I want is the safe return of the girls and protection for my hubby, family, fans, Nigerians and myself,” she posted.

Many other Nollywood stars made their voices heard on the matter. Omotola Jolade, Jim Iyke, Ibinabo Fiberesima and others continue to be vocal online. Let’s hope their cries will help bring the girls back.

The post Nollywood actors join calls for release of abducted schoolgirls appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Dream Vanilla 

I remember when they told me. “Ashie, your father and I have something we’d like to tell you,” Mom said. She hardly ever used my nickname any more, so when she did this time, I knew something was up. I gave her a weary look and followed her to my room, where dad was sitting on the bed waiting. Mom put her hand on my shoulder and let me lead the way into the room, and we sat on the bed next to my dad. They gave each other a look, and after a short silence, mom said, “Honey, your dad and I love you very much…” she paused and looked at my father. “You know that?” she said in a questioning voice. “Yeah, mom. What’s going on?” She looked back at dad and there was something in both their expressions that I just couldn’t read. Dad took a deep breath. “Your mother and I are getting a divorce,” he let out in a rush.

I stared at him. “You’re…” and that’s the farthest I could go with that sentence. They were quiet, letting me process what my dad had just told me. My brain felt numb, unable to wrap itself around the idea of my parents splitting up. My dad covered one of my shaking hands with his, and I watched a look of complete sadness cross between him and my mom. “Why?” I finally asked, voice cracking. “Well…” mom started. “Sometimes things just don’t work out the way people want them to.” I didn’t realise I was crying until a sob slipped through my lips and mom pulled me into a hug, saying, “Oh, honey…” I let her hold me, burying my face in her shoulder. What happens now? Who would I live with? Dad was still holding my hand, and I laced my fingers through his while I wrapped my right arm around my mom. Why was this happening?

“Shh,” mom said. She leaned away so she could look me in the face. “It’s going to be okay,” she told me, though I didn’t see how it could be. I watched my mom look at my dad again, then he spoke.

The post The Divorce (a semi-true story) appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm.

The common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

Asthma is known to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and as such its diagnosis is said to be usually based on the pattern of symptoms, response to therapy over time and spirometry.

Asthma is also clinically classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate.

Symptoms are usually known to worsen at night and in the early morning or in response to exercise or cold air.

In marking the 2014 World Asthma Day, The Global Initiative For Asthma published some pointers for controlling asthma symptoms.According to the body, the best strategy for achieving and maintaining asthma control is to control symptoms and alleviate future risk.

It observed that a person’s asthma is under control if they have no or minimal symptoms, no or minimal need to use  ‘reliever’  medication, and the ability to do normal physical activity and exercise.

There are different approaches to controlling risk. One way is to refrain from including exacerbation, such as smoking, not regularly taking asthma medication as prescribed, and not using an asthma inhaler correctly.

A key way doctors keep track of patient’s lung function and asthma control is using spirometry, which is a brief and painless test performed in a doctor’s office or lab.

In ideal situations a patient’s function should be measured at the start of the treatment and three to six months after the start, and periodically after as needed. Early diagnosis is also a crucial part of treatment and can help greatly.

According to Dr. Vyanketesh Joshi, Chief Trustee of Sidh Dnyan Foundation at SDF Holistic, India,  “There is no medicine available to prevent asthma. Only the attacks can be prevented. There are some patients who do not show any qualities of being an asthmatic. People who frequently sneeze or periodically cough may also be asthmatic. They need to get a diagnosis done at the earlies”.

A relatively new method of helping treat asthma is utilising sunlight. According to Vivek Nangia, Director of the Fortis Hospital, India,   “Asthma patients have very low immunity and deficiency of Vitamin D, so exposure to sunlight helps building their immunity .

The encouragement for those with asthma to get out and about is being tested by a new study by a team of scientists at King’s College London, which has initially shown that Vitamin D calms an  ‘overactive’ part of the immune system in asthma.

“The research examined whether Vitamin D had an effect on the levels of the molecule produced by white blood cells in a laboratory experiment. It was found that Vitamin D reduced the levels of the specific harming molecules produced by cells from people with asthma”,  Neeraj Gupta, senior consultant with Paras Hospitals, India, also noted. The study is however  under clinical trial.

The post World Asthma Day: Controlling Asthma symptoms appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Chinyere Abiaziem Reporter, Lagos

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2: 24).

That is the Biblical injunction in Genesis 2 vs. 24. Taking a cue from this, it is mostly expected that when a woman marries, she leaves her parents (including their names) and cleave to her man. Interestingly, this is not so for some women as they still retain their maiden name even after years of marriage.

Of course, women who retain their maiden names, have their reasons for doing so. Some maintain their maiden name to keep their father’s lineage alive, especially where such is an only child. 

While some do so for easy identification that is; for people to identify their lineage easily, for some others, it could actually be for conferment, i.e. people according them the respect of belonging to royal lineage.

Some celebrities and other public figures are also commonly known to practice this act.

Sunday Independent spoke with some religious faithful to know whether it is acceptable across the religious faiths for married women to retain their maiden names after tying the nuptial cord.

When asked, some persons did not find it proper for a married woman to retain the father’s name while others were indifferent. Conversely, some did not see it as improper.  Find below the excerpt of their responses.

Alfa Abdulwaheed Olowo (An Islamic Scholar)  

In the Quaran, what is preferable or better is that a woman bears her father’s name. Reason being that; it was her father that gave birth to her, not the husband.

Secondly, a problem can occur between a couple, with the wife rejected and sent packing. And in the process, she later remarries and bear the new husband’s name. Is that how she will continue changing her surname?
Lastly, civilisation can also be traced to the root cause of women bearing their husband’s name. In essence, the Quaran supports a woman retaining her maiden name.

Rev. P. I.Okwuobi 

I feel it is wrong for a married woman to still bear her father’s name. Is the father’s name some sort of magic that attracts fortune? If you are getting married, show some kind of commitment to your husband. There are instances where people who are public figures retain their father’s name.

Though in the Bible, there is no place  a woman is cited to bear the husband’s or father’s name. It is just that we grew up seeing women bear their husband’s name; that is how we met it.

Fomzi Rose

If she adds the father’s name in the middle, it’s  a different case. Or she is the only child and dont want her father’s name to just go?she can discuss it with her husband.

But my view about it is that it should not be. If you want to use it, it should be at themiddle and the husband’s name comes last to indicate that you are married.

Mrs Taiwo Bello(Nurse) 

It all depends on the husband. If he is okay with it, then there’s no problem. I can’t say if it is scripturally backed up. You know in our culture here, when a woman gets married, she changes to her husband’s name. Anyway, it all depends on the couple.”

Lawrence Ogunjemi; “It is not scriptural. As far as I am concerned, I cannot accept it. She is no longer in her father’s house. How can she still be bearing his name? She has to bear my name; that is the proper thing. According to the Bible, it is not right.”

Munachi Peter

“It is cool, there is nothing wrong with a married woman retaining her maiden name. Her father might be a king, while the husband might not be one. So, bearing the husband’s name alone will make her lose her identity, as nobody will be able to trace her to a royal father.”

Deborah Emmanuel

Hmmmm…Well,I don’t think the scripture says anything about it. But since they are now one, she should let go of her surname (submissive part)…If she has to choose between her spouse and parents, she should, without any delay; choose her spouse. 

Happiness Gabriel

There is nothing wrong with it, most of them retain their father’s name and also bear their husband’s name.

Emmanuel Adedayo

I will not subscribe to that, because a married woman should be able to identify with her husband totally. Name connotes identity and leaving her parents, she should be able to drop her father’s name for her husband’s.

Precious Danjumbo

It depends, there’s nothing wrong with it. My mum still answers her dad’s name. And also, for some for educational or work purpose. For instance now, if there is a job opportunity and your hubby is not from the state and your dad is from that state, you could be considered.

Bella 

It’s cool, I don’t see anything wrong about it. 

Prudence Nnaji

It depends on what must have led to that and a mutual understanding between a woman and her hubby. Most prominent women tend to keep their names for fear of recognition. A woman is meant to take her hubby’s name for sure. But for official purposes, they feel it’s safer to retain it.

Chibuzor Oleh

Well! I only know that celebrities bear their husbands name together with their father’s name because when you are known with a particular name, its hard to introduce another one to your fans.So they bear the names together.

Simeon AIozie 

I know some women still retain their fathers’ names or rather attach it alongside their husband’s. But biblically, I have not seen such.  When you look closely to Gen 2:23 (the first marriage of course), Adam emphatically said, “This is NOW bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.” He said NOW, in other words, from the day both were joined, she automatically is wholly the man’s bone or flesh. Therefore, her identity is hidden in the man’s. She assumes a new identity, which she should be addressed with. He even called her ‘woman’ for she was taken out from him, not the parents. That is why they are ONE flesh, not two. I can’t bear two different surnames, the same thing with you. So, how can ONE FLESH bear more than ONE NAME? It is wrong my dear, it wasn’t so from the beginning.
When you check Malachi 2:15, you will still see a validation of the above assertion.

Reuben Okeke

When we give names, it’s a sign of ownership. Same applies to people, animals, etc. When two people get married, the woman answers the man’s name as a sign that she belongs to the man. If she chooses to retain her father’s name, it should be a concession between the couple. The scripture, especially the New Testament is silent on issues like this because it’s not important. All that is important is for all to walk in love.

Robert Uwem

To me, it is very wrong for them to still be using their father’s maiden name because was the man has paid their bride price, the lady belongs to the man fully and no more belongs to the father. Even the Bible too confirm it that a lady will leave the father and mother to a man and they will now become one. So, since they are now one, I think the woman has the right to bear the man’s name and not the father’s name. To me I can never accept that!
But if she’s a working class, and where she’s working doesn’t allow her to change d name, I will try to understand with her.

Cinderella

There is nothing wrong with it, as there is no scriptural stand that  proves that is bad. 

Uche Okoye

Dear, it is not good; but people see it as fashion.

Ife Fawole 

Well, I don’t know, but if her husband is okay with it, then no problem.

Esther

No! You can’t bear your father’s name when you are married; you change your name. I think people that do that are not properly married, in the sense that no bride price was paid.

The post Is it scriptural for women to retain their maiden names after marriage? appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Yemi Adebisi

The Committee For Relevant Art (CORA) has declared 2014 ‘The Soyinka Year’ and proclaimed the theme of this year’s edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) as ‘Freedom &The Word’.

CORA asserts that these two go well together.

“Soyinka has worked towards the unshackling of our freedom of expression for all these years and in the year of the 25th anniversary of the Fall of The Berlin Wall; 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy and the 15th year of Nigeria’s end to military rule, it is fitting to honour a landmark  birthday of a man whose life-long career irrepressibly dotes on concern about human Freedom(s) with a year-long programme that interrogates our quest for freedom, especially through the letters.”  

A communique signed by CORA Secretary-General, Toyin Akinosho, and Programme Chairman, Jahman Anikulapo, stated that every programme of CORA in 2014, including the Art Stampede, the quarterly conversation on the state of the arts and the administration of culture; the Arthouse Forum, periodic symposium on interface between the lives/work of a distinguished culture producer and the social environment, the Booktrek, CORA’s outreach intervention focused on youth education as well as the Lagos Book And Art Festival, an annual feast of celebration of the written word, and contribution to turning Nigeria’s teeming masses into true human capital, shall reflect this honour.

The Lagos Book and Art Festival 2014, which is the 16th edition, will run from November 14 to 16 at the Freedom Park, on Broad Street. Pre-Festival events, including the yearly Publishers’ Forum, Workshop for Young Writers and Publishers, as well as finale of the Book Trek, start on Monday November 10 and round up on November 13. 

The festival features readings and conversations around books, art and craft displays, children’s art workshops and reading sessions, book exhibitions, live music and theatre performance, capacity building workshops and exhibitions, and critical seminars for different sectors of the creative industries.

The post CORA declares 2014 ‘The Soyinka Year’ appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Ekaete Usoro, Special Correspondent, Lagos

Nigerian writer, born and raised in the United States of America (USA), Tope Folarin, won the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing. 

Folarin received the £10,000 prize money, equivalent of N2.5 million, in July 2013 for his short story Miracle, a story about a Nigerian Church and its congregation, who gather to witness the healing powers of a blind pastor-prophet in Texas, USA. 

From when he started writing stories, winning the prestigious Caine prize was far from his imagination as he never thought he will be a recipient so quickly.

Receiving this prestigious prize was dream come true for him after following the Caine Prize stories for a long time. 

In a telephone interview with Sunday Independent, he had this to say:  “It has been an amazing experience. I have been following the Caine Prize stories for a very long time and to be the one who actually won, it is that moment when your dream comes true. I just feel incredible and grateful.”

Growing up, Folarin referred to Elizabeth Winthrop’s children’s fantasy book, The Castle in the Attic, as one of the first literature books he read. 

He implied that reading the book at that tender age in school impacts his literary life. 

”There was a book called The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop. I read it when I was in the first grade I think. It was one of my favourite books. 

“I have not read it in 25 years if I can remember correctly. I really remember reading this book over and over again. It had a deep impact in me,” he said.

Deciding on who he celebrates as a favourite author was a tug of war, saying he could not decide because they are so many. However, he identified at the moment, with icons such as American writer, James Baldwin and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. 

“At this very moment, I will say James Baldwin and Wole Soyinka,” he said. Even as a short story writer and an assistant to a board member in a financial regulatory organisation back in the US,  he specially declared his love for reading poetry and lots of financial news.  

“I read a lot of poetry. For my day job, I have to read newspapers to keep track of what is happening. And I have to read a lot of financial news,” he said.

Speaking on what inspires him to read and write, he explained that he naturally loves writing. 

“I have to do it. I love the process of trying to translate what is inside my head to paper. I love trying to create beauty as well. I like to read at night when everyone has gone to sleep. When everywhere is quiet so I can focus,” he said.

Who then is Folarin’s mentor? He said: “I am not sure I have a mentor. I think I just read as much as I could. I read everything I could and when I found something I like, I read deeply.”

The post I explore poetry, financial news –Folarin appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Yemi Adebisi, Acting Head, Literary/Arts

JP Clark

In one of his articles, Professor Charles Nnolim of the University of Port Harcourt described African Literature as the literature of ‘lachrymal,’ that is, ‘weeping literature.’

This is because most African literature writers, especially, the poetry genre, use their poetry either as a protest or as warning to caution on the need to solve the militating problems ravaging the African society. 

The Ijaw born elder statesman, Professor John Pepper Clark- Bekederemo, is one of the notable foremost writers that has used his works in this dimension in the past, though as fate would have it, of recent, he insisted that poetry cannot change the society especially the politicians, maybe from the abundance of his experience. 

As a near-perfectionist, he has a heap of criticism in the works of most creative writers, poets and playwright especially their language, style and content. 

But to the amazement of world writers that attended the opening ceremony of 2014 Port Harcourt World Book Capital on April 26, the octogenarian writer and foremost playwright approved the poetry performance of AJ House of Poetry led by Dagar Tolar, former chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos chapter, saying poetry is the highest level of spoken language in the world. 

“The tradition of theatre is performance. Only a few script get the properties and element of language of literature. In Nigeria, we do things in our own way. 

“We publish plays before we see them on the stage. A good performance doesn’t necessarily make a good literature. 

“Poetry happens to be the highest level of any spoken language in the world. Be sure you know the language before you speak it. 

“Gabriel Okara, my elder , went to one of the best schools, Government College, Umuahia. My wife, Ebun, also told me we were taught by those who brought English language, through the mission and Department of Education to Nigeria.” 

Clark’s poetry, for example, strives for the place of man in the face of natural and uncontrollable phenomenon. 

In Casualties, J.P Clark informs his world about the reality that the casualties are not only those who are dead, but every one in the society. “The casualties are not only those who are dead/They are well out of it./The casualties are not only those who are wounded,/Thought they await burial by installment/The casualties are not only those who have lost/Person or property, hard as it is…”

Beyond this assertion, Clark said it is worthwhile for anyone who dreams to be a poet to be academically sound. 

“What worries me about poetry today is that I don’t think many practitioners take their academic education so seriously. Whether it is Queen Language or Warri pidgin, you must know your language. Put lines together in your language. With this, we will succeed in our chosen vocation. The poet is just a poet. Deliver the poetry and let the world enjoy it,” he said. 

When Clark declared his favourite poet among the new generation of writers, the hall was agog. His right choice is the winner of the 2013 edition of Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL), sponsored by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Tade Ipadeola. Clark said this lawyer-poet has proved beyond every reasonable doubt that he has a good command of his choice of language and style in poetry. 

“I read Tade Ipadeola’s poetry. Prizes bring money but they are not inspiration for the works of art. It gives you fame at a time when you win them. It also brings money to publishers which you hope they will share with you fully because the book brings special marketing. 

“Prizes were not there when the greatest were writing. There are more playwrights, poets out there more than the prizes. I tell you it is very rare to get a lawyer –poet like Ipadeola. He is very expressive. I am very crazy about him. I also read Obari Gomba. He has some voices in his stanzas. There are promising ones among them but it is not everybody that says I am a poet that is a poet.”

In his advice to upcoming writers, he said they should read others, practice the vocation well before they attempt putting their works on papers.

His words: “You should be aware of your strength and weaknesses. Before you come to practice of writing, do your apprenticeship and know your literature. I have a young friend in Lagos, a 12-year-old author. She started writing from the age of 8. I always tell her to go through school and complete her education to any level her talent leads her. If that talent is still there, it will come out one day.”

In his advocacy, he believes that what makes a good writer is when he is able to write well in his mother tongue. 

“Try to write your stories in your mother tongue too. English is the spoken language everywhere. Many of the children are grown up without knowing their language. It wasn’t until I graduated that I came to recognise that the poetry I was being taught from Shakespeare to Eliot is the kind of language I have heard at home through songs from my parents and uncles. I never knew most of these that I heard were literature. We could have carried along with our mother tongue in those days. I tried that with Ozidi. Young ones should not miss the opportunity as we did because we just went on one lane. You are richer than that man that is writing in USA. He has only one language. Try and go back to your mother tongue.”

He however observed that though Ngugi Wa Thiong’o advocated for writing in indigenous language, he missed it at a point. 

“I am with Ngugi in his campaign for writing in indigenous language, unfortunately, he stretches to welcome with one hand and use the other to fight against his conception because he is also saying all these in English language.”

Though they are colleagues, age mate and friends, Clark and Professor Wole Soyinka have some times disagreed on pertinent issues secretly or openly as the case may be. Sometimes, Soyinka referred to his generation has been a waste one because of the antecedents in the political circle among others. 

Clark however disagreed at this global event, saying, his is no not a wasted generation. 

“I don’t believe that we are a wasted generation. The British didn’t hand over Nigeria to those who wanted independence. You don’t read History and Geography these days again maybe because of multiplicity of subjects. Nigerians who fought for independence were forgotten by Nigerians. They were mainly in Lagos and Calabar. If the people who came out of the university at independence from University College, Ibadan were the one that received the political power, I wonder how Nigeria would have been. They all went into civil service. They would have learnt how to win the race and how to lose gracefully. It’s not a matter of ‘do or die.’ I will not say that my generation is wasted. Even in public services, we performed well and distinguished ourselves. We wrote the best literature too. The pity is that these achievements are not in history books. How much research works is being done in the university today? How many times are you in the class or in the laboratory?”

When he was asked by this reporter what he would have written if it had been now that he wrote his poem on Casualities, he furiously expressed his anger against the current crop of Nigerian politicians. 

“There are people of your age who believe poetry is a magic to solve all forms of problems. Poetry does not change the politicians. Politician is a politician. Politics today is for contesting election four years ahead. You win but instead of settling down to provide the expected services, you are thinking of how to contest and win another four years. You can write all the poetry, they won’t read you probably because they didn’t go to good schools like ours. Today there is explosion of wealth. In my time, it was oil palm that was there not petroleum.”

Clark recalled how he ventured to go in for military training and what he thought would have been the consequences. 

“My father refused me from joining the military. The truth is that I would have been dead by now if I did. The politicians in the western world went to school even including the priests. That is the great thing over there. When Clinton was impeached, everyone at the debate was people of the same class talking to themselves. Listen to debate at Abuja, it is different. It is really painful. Maybe if we had been discussing in other languages apart from English, there would have been equality in participation.”

The post Mine is not a wasted generation –JP Clark appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Aramide Oikelome Senior Correspondent, Lagos

The General Overseer, Access To Christ Ministries (Inc;) a.k.a. Access Chapel, Ibadan, Nigeria, Rev’d Adedokun Phillip-Olusegun has advised Christians and Nigerians that to fulfill the prophecy and promise, to greatest triumph we have to grow up into the character that is ready for the blessing like Joseph and Paul who received a prophetic word and committed himself to divine process of fulfillment (Acts 9 : 4 – 6). 

According to Rev’d Adedokun; “To know what you want to do, you need God’s spirit, which makes God’s word work, makes you untouchable, helps you to pray according to Christ power and authority, as; The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power (I Cor. 4 : 20). Also, we all need the anointing of God’s spirit, that attracts persecution, condemnation, intimidation as well as miracles, deliverance and prophecy”

Rev’d. Adedokun assured Christians that God said He will plant us in places that we should not be and give us things we don’t deserve, as, our purpose, passion, planned action and persistence will bring greatest triumph.

The cleric reiterated that our God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into triumph, and turn a victim into a victory, if only, we do what is right, good, love mercy, walk humbly with your God (Micah 6 : 8).

The post ‘Greatest Triumph is a promise & prophecy’ – Adedokun appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Charles Okogene

When it was announced sometime last month that British Nigerian actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was nominated for the Oscars, many lovers of good film and those who have been following the steady rise of the actor in the international level right from his base in the UK, were happy that at last, his efforts would finally be recognised.

In Nigeria, it was another level of frenzy as the Enugu State government, the home state of his parents, placed adverts in major newspapers to congratulate him ahead of the D-day even though some saw the gesture as ridiculous. Nevertheless, they truly wanted him to win, at least, to be the first Nigerian to win.

Shortly before the Oscars, he won an equally prestigious award – BAFTA, which stands for British Academy of Film and Television Arts. That, to most people, was an added advantage for Ejiofor to win the Oscars but it was not to be. He lost the Oscars to a Mexican-Kenyan actress, Lupita Amondi Nyong’o. 

Let me give you a brief history of Nyong’o’s acting career. After graduating from Hampshire College with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Theatre Studies, Nyong’o, born in 1983, worked as a Production Assistant on several Hollywood films. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film, East River, and subsequently starred in the Kenyan television series, Shuga, in 2009. 

Also in 2009, she wrote, produced and directed the documentary film, In My Genes. Nyong’o, who is also a film and music video director, later completed a Master’s degree in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, followed by her first feature film role in Steve McQueen ‘s historical drama, 12 Years a Slave, last year. Her role in the film was widely acclaimed, earning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, among numerous other awards and nominations.

The film tells the real-life story of Solomon Northup, played by Chiwitel Ejiofor, a freeborn African American man, who is sold into slavery in 1841. Nyong’o played the role of Patsey, a slave who works alongside Northup at a cotton plantation.

On the other hand, the protagonist of the award winning film, Chiwetel Ejiofor, has received numerous awards and nominations which is not limited to but includes BAFTA Orange Rising Star award in 2006, five Golden Globe Award nominations, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, aside an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth 11, among others. He has starred in box office hit movies such as Serenity, Salt, Children of Men and Kinky Boots, among others.

The post Lupita: A star whose time has come! appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

There’s a reason why breaking up from a sexual relationship is much more emotionally painful and much harder to forget than one that didn’t involve sex. There are several neurochemical processes that occur during sex, which are the “glue” to human bonding.

Sex is a powerful brain stimulant. When someone is involved sexually, it makes him or her want to repeat that act. Their brain produces lots of dopamine – a powerful chemical, which is compared to heroin on the brain. Dopamine is your internal pleasure/reward system. When dopamine is involved, it changes how we remember.

The other part is oxytocin, which is designed to mainly help us forget what is painful. Oxytocin is a hormone produced primarily in women’s bodies. When a woman has a child and she is breastfeeding, she produces lots of oxytocin, which bonds her to her child. For this reason, mothers will die for their child, because they’ve become emotionally bonded due to the oxytocin that is released when they’re skin-to-skin with their child.

The same phenomenon occurs when a woman is intimate with a man. Oxytocin is released, and this makes her bond to him emotionally. Have you wondered sometimes why a woman will stay with a man who’s abusing her? We know now that it’s because she bonded to him emotionally because of the oxytocin released during sex.

Men produce vasopressin, which is also referred to as the “monogamy hormone,” and it has the same effect as oxytocin has on a woman. It bonds a man to a woman.

These “bonding” agents narrow our selection to one person. That is wonderful in a marriage relationship, but really bad in a dating relationship, because, you lose your objectivity when you’re searching for your potential life mate.

According to Neuropsychologist, Dr Tim Jennings, “When you have premarital sex, the reward circuitry is bonded to them now and it will be much deeper and hurtful. Oftentimes, in break-ups of people who’ve been sexually active, they can’t tolerate the sense of emptiness, so they rush into another relationship. The neuro circuits did not have time to reset, and so, they’re impaired in their ability to bond with the next person, and they may become sexually active with them. This is just a repetitive cycle, and there are real impairments in bonding going on.”

 Becoming bonded with Porn

These same neurochemicals are present when viewing pornography. A man will become bonded with whatever he is engaged in during the moment these chemicals are released. When your relationship is being carried on with an image, you become bonded to whatever you’re viewing.

Dr Doug Weiss, a marriage counsellor, advises men to have eye contact with their wives during sex because they become bonded with that person. By doing this, he explains that over time, individuals will decrease the “neural pathway to pornography and sexually inappropriate thoughts and beliefs and glue to healthy sexuality to (their) wives. When your brain thinks sex, it thinks, ‘Where’s my wife?’ And that is a great way to fight this battle.”

Discovering how our minds were designed to operate by a magnificent Creator reveals truth in the way we are to live.

Cycle of sexual sin

For someone viewing porn, one of the functions of oxytocin is to separate the experience and the excitement from the intensity of the shame. According to neuropsychologist, Dr Jes Montgomery, “Usually by the time they turn the computer off, they are already sinking into a sense of failure and shame, and the function of oxytocin is to tell the brain, ‘Wait a minute. You don’t want to remember that. You want to hold on to this excitement and this amazing magic that you just experienced.”

The post Why premarital sex rewires the brain appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Ikorodu, Lagos, is poised to experience a boost as the third edition of the life-impacting youth-oriented talents showcasing programme tagged “UNLEASH Your Talents” gets underway.

 “UNLEASH” as the event is aptly called, according to Miss Blessing Erivona, who is the Project Coordinator, is a youth re-orientation programme designed to discover talents as well as serving as a platform for promotion of discovered budding talents in the entertainment sector of Ikorodu division. 

In her words, “the concept is geared towards encouraging Ikorodu-based youths with special talents in Dance, Comedy, Music and Modeling to actualise their dreams.

The event, which is an initiative of Fanafillt Integrated Concepts (the brains behind the highly successful Miss Institutes Beauty Pageant), is also to enhance the growth of entertainment industry in Ikorodu division, boost the socio-economic growth of the division and provide avenue for youths to channel their energy towards productive ventures.

This year’s UNLEASH is billed to hold on Sunday May  29, with leading telecommunications giants, Airtel Nigeria, and Intercontinental Distillers, Dansa Foods, Diamond Bank, O’jez Records, Legendary Gold, Glorious Opportunity and a host of Ikorodu-based firms among others as prospective sponsors.

The project is also enjoying favourable attention from reputable prints, electronic and social media platforms.

It was the coming together of Jazz enthusiasts, educators, organisers and performers as the April long Jazz appreciation month climaxed with the international Jazz/dance day on April 30 at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centr,e Lagos. 

The event, organised by the US Consulate General in Nigeria in collaboration with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), was powered by Inspiro Productions.

The post Unleash Season III set to begin in Lagos appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude, who also doubles as the Founder and General Superintendent of New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin City, Edo State, spoke to Senior Correspondent, ARAMIDE OIKELOME on the current state of terror in Nigeria and efforts of government to combat it. He also spoke on PFN’s effort to support victims of insurgency.

Omobude

Sir, it is no longer news that Nigeria is going through a very dark era. It appears that despite the fact we have many Christians in position of power and influence, their impact is not felt. What do you think is responsible for this?

I sincerely believe that these are challenging times for Nigeria, but I am also confident that light will ultimately overcome darkness; good will ultimately overcome evil. I believe that no matter how long, the battle against Boko Haram is a passing phase in Nigeria.

Critics uphold that although Christians have been praying and praying, nothing has changed. Instead of the prayers working, things are getting worse. What is the place of prayers when there is no change?

Well, the question they would have also asked is; what would the situation have been if there were no prayers? Is there no possibility that Boko Haram would have overrun the whole nation? People forget so easily but as a leader, I know that every Sunday we have been praying to avert one problem or the other, asking God to save the country. The situation is totally not hopeless.  Yes! On the one hand. it is escalating, but I do believe that the darker the night, the brighter the day. I believe that there is no night so long that day will not break; so, people who say they are not feeling the impact of prayer should think again.

One would have expected that Christian leaders in CAN and PFN would rally round Mr. President at such a time as this and help him proffer solution to the insurgency challenge. Is there anything PFN is doing in terms of giving useful suggestions on how to manage the situation?

Well, I am pleasantly surprised that you are asking this kind of question, because what people have said most of the time, for example, is that the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, is a part of Jonathan’s cabinet as people have accused him of being too close to government.

Yes, we will support President Jonathan. We see Nigeria as our constituency, and the leader who does right will be supported. The church is in partnership with the government when they are doing what is right. The insurgency challenge is for the nation, not just Mr. President. It is a challenge for every Nigerian. So, we are with him, we support him in all our prayers. We give him necessary counsel where opportunity avails. We will do that for any president who gives us the platform. I believe that the President has fared well. I am not a politician; people have been criticising Jonathan, but given the circumstance and monumental challenges he has faced, which no president in this nation had faced, I think we should be fair to say he has tried.

Given that the challenge is overwhelming, don’t you think there are still some things that the President ought to do that he is not doing?

Well, I would not want to use the word overwhelming. Yes, the challenges are there, they are monumental in nature. But a fraction cannot be greater than the whole, no matter how strong the fraction is. I believe that Nigerians should come together – traditional rulers, politicians and all stakeholders, should come together and put aside partisan affiliations. Boko Haram agents are not living in the forest; they have relations, people supply them with weapons. So, what are we talking about? Can we blame President Jonathan? If people resolve and we say ‘Yes, this thing must stop’, then it will. Our military are doing well, doing the best they can; so we should cooperate and give them necessary information. Do not shield evil. The president needs the cooperation of every Nigerian, whether north or south, irrespective of the religion, so that we can end this ugly situation.

Few days ago, mother of the nation, Dame Patience Jonathan, threatened to stage a protest march to Maiduguri if our abducted girls are not released; but people have criticized her outburst, saying it is rather too plastic and coming very late. What is your take on that? 

The situation with our abducted daughters is very painful and I feel for the parents. One can only imagine the agony they are going through. But, I also want you to know that with the little I know about crime fighting, I do not think from my own sincere heart, that the government has been sleeping over it. I can tell you; they have had sleepless night as well as most Nigerians. While people have different styles of handling issues, what we have at hand requires a tactical warfare. When you have people who you think are with you, but they are not with you, then you have to be tactical. I believe that nothing is too late to do. Whatever needs to be done should be done now; it is better to do it now than never. If setting up committees will bring our children back why not go for it. As to leading a protest march, I don’t know what effect that can bring.

How soon do you think this problem will end? Nigerians are quite weary; they are tired as they don’t know which way to go. Nobody knows who is the next target and where.

I wish I can tell you that it will end tomorrow, but I can tell you it will not be forever and I want you to understand that war against terrorism is not like conventional war. People have said so many things against Nigerian soldiers. If these soldiers are to use maximum force, then it means we are asking them to destroy our children. So, I will ask for patience from Nigerians. The Bible says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”. So, we should wait and see what prayer, dialogue and unity are going to achieve. I feel that Nigerians should have faith in God. The whole of Nigerian people are praying for them. I believe they would return home safe. It is my prayer that God will keep them and that this stage will be over soon.

Records say that PFN has some kind of relief package for victims of Boko Haram insurgency. How well has it faired ameliorating the pains of these people?

I believe we can do better than what we have done, what we have done or we are doing is to show them they have a family. Is it so easy for a woman to lose her husband? How can you replace the bread winner? How can you replace a ministry when the church has been burnt down and members scattered? What we are doing is just a little way of showing to them that a family is with them; that they are not alone and that there is hope.

How about those children that have been displaced and become orphans? What happens to their education?

Our relief effort covers those children, as a matter of fact, if it  is possible to get the cooperation of others, we will do more. I am using this medium to appeal to all Christians, businessmen, businesswomen and leaders to contribute towards this project. There is no reason why any child should be out of school because he is bereaved of a parent, either father or mother. PFN should at least ensure that the education of such children is taken care of. We can only do the little we can.  PFN should take responsibility and ensure the education of such children is kept uninterrupted in spite of what has happened. But, we can only do the little we can for now. But with the support of the generality of Nigerians, especially Christians, we will do more.

Any hope for Nigeria?

Certainly there is, the road might not be smooth, but there is hope. Nigeria is a great nation with great people. Whether rightly or wrongly, our people are daring and hard working. So there is hope for Nigeria.

The post Nigeria’s situation not totally hopeless –PFN President appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Sam Anokam

Bob Marley

“My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.” -Bob Marley

The above statement made by Bob Marley of his music, is a living testimony of his continued legacy and legend.  Since his demise on May 11, 1981, the influence of his music on global culture has become unparalleled as evidenced by ever increasing list of accomplishments, honours and awards.

In June 1978, he was awarded the ‘Peace Medal of the Third World ’ from the United Nations. He was voted as one of the greatest lyricists of all time by a BBC poll. In 2006, a blue plaque was unveiled at his first UK residence in Ridgmount Gardens, London, dedicated to him by Nubian Jak community trust and supported by Her Majesty’s Foreign Office.

Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his 1977 album “Exodus” was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.

Since its release in 1984, Marley’s “Legend” compilation has annually sold over 250,000 copies, according to Nielsen Sound Scan, and it is only the 17th album to exceed sales of 10 million copies since SoundScan began its tabulations in 1991.

Bob Marley’s music was never recognised with a Grammy nomination, but in 2001 he was bestowed The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. That same year, a feature length documentary about Bob Marley’s life, ‘Rebel Music’, directed by Jeremy Marre, was nominated for a Grammy for ‘Best Long Form Music Video’ documentary. In 2001 Bob Marley was accorded the 2171st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, in Hollywood, California. As a recipient of this distinction, Bob Marley joined musical legends, including Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder and The Temptations.

In 2006, the State of New York renamed a portion of Church Avenue in the section of Brooklyn, “Bob Marley Boulevard “.

Recently, the popular TV show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, commemorated the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s passing with an entire week (May 9-13) devoted to his music, as performed by Bob’s eldest son, Ziggy, Jennifer Hudson, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz and the show’s house band, The Roots. These triumphs are all the more remarkable considering Bob Marley’s humble beginnings and numerous challenges he overcame attempting to gain a foothold in Jamaica ‘s chaotic music industry while skillfully navigating the politically partisan violence that abounded in Kingston throughout the 1970s.
2010: Catch a Fire inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Reggae Album).

In celebration of what would have been his 68th birthday, the 2013 Grammys featured an all-star Bob Marley tribute including some of music’s hottest stars.

One of the 20th century’s most charismatic and challenging performers, Bob Marley’s renown now transcends the role of reggae luminary: he is regarded as a cultural icon who implored his people to know their history “coming from the root of King David, through the line of Solomon,” as he sang on “Blackman Redemption”; Bob urged his listeners to check out the “Real Situation” and to rebel against the vampiric “Babylon System”. “Bob had a rebel type of approach, but his rebelliousness had a clearly defined purpose to it,” acknowledges Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, who played a pivotal role in the Bob Marley biography by introducing Marley and the Wailers to an international audience.

Two influences of Marley’s music are his Rastafarian belief and his love for marijuana. The pan-African consciousness, progressive political ideologies and deep spiritual convictions heard in Bob Marley’s music were derived from his firmly rooted commitment to Rastafarian beliefs and its attendant lifestyle. Marley did not just enjoy weed as a recreational habit. He was instead a staunch supporter of the plant’s meditational, spiritual and healing abilities, and a fierce opponent to those who tried using marijuana as a vehicle for oppression, and to keep certain groups of people out of the societal mainstream.

In his early years, February 1962, Marley recorded four songs, Judge Not, One Cup of Coffee, Do You Still Love Me? And Terror. One Cup of Coffee was released under the pseudonym, Bobby Martell.

The following year, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh,Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith called The Teenagers, later changed the name to The Wailing Rudeboys, then to The Wailing Wailers and finally to The Wailers. In 1966, Smith, Kelso and Braithwaite left the Wailers leaving Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Marley, that same year married, Rita Anderson.

In an attempt to commercialise The Wailers sound, between 1968 and 1972, Bob and Rita Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer re-cut some old tracks with JAD Records in Kingston and London.  

After signing with CBS Records in London, Marley in 1972 embarked on a UK tour with American musician, Johnny Nash. The Wailers returned to Jamaica to release its first album, Catch a Fire. The eight track album was followed the same year by the album, Burnin, which included the song, I Shot the Sheriff. Eric Clapton was given the album by his guitarist, George Terry, for his enjoyment, but Clapton was so impressed that he recorded a cover version of, I Shot the Sheriff, which became his first US hit after Layla. 

It is pertinent to note that during this period, Blackwell, Marley’s record company, gifted his Kingston residence and company headquarters to Marley. The property housing Tuff Gong studios, became not only his office, but also his home. Finally, The Wailers broke up in 1974 with each of the three members pursuing solo careers.

Though born a Catholic, Marley converted to Rastafari and began to grow dreadlocks. With new members in his solo career, Marley continued recording as ‘Bob Marley and The Wailers’ as the ‘I Threes’ comprising Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Marley’s wife, Rita provided backing vocals.

Marley rose to fame internationally in 1975 with his first hit track, No Woman No Cry from the Natty Dread album. This was followed by Rastaman Vibration, his breakthrough album in the US.

Of significance was an assassination attempt by unknown gunmen on December 3, 1976, two days before, a free concert, tagged, ‘Smile Jamaica’, organised by the Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley in an attempt to ease tension between two warring political factions. Marley, his wife and manager, Don Taylor were wounded in the assault. However, injured Marley performed after the attack. At the end of 1976, Marley left Jamaica and after a month of recovery and writing, he arrived England, where he spent two years in self imposed exile. While in Queen Elizabeth’s country, he recorded the albums, Kaya and Exodus. For 56 consecutive weeks, Exodus stayed on the British album charts. It also included four UK hit singles - Exodus, Waiting in Vain, Jamming and One Love (a rendition of Curtis Mayfield’s hit, People get Ready.

In an effort to calm warring parties, when Marley returned to Jamaica in 1978, he performed at another political concert, the One Love Peace Concert which saw the two heads of the factions shook hands on stage.

A defiant and politically charged album, Survival, was released in 1979 with such tracks as, Zimbabwe, Africa Unite, Wake Up and Live and Survival reflected his struggle for Africans. Bob Marley’s final studio album, Uprising in 1980 is regarded as one of his most religious productions. It includes, Redemption Song andForever Loving Jah.

Confrontation was released posthumously in 1983, contained unreleased songs recorded during Marley’s lifetime. It includes the hit song, Buffalo Soldier and new mixes of singles previously available only in Jamaica. 11 albums, four live albums and seven studio albums were achieved under the name Bob Marley and the Wailers.

In July 1977, Marley was found to have a type of malignant melanoma under the nail of a toe. Citing his religious beliefs, he turned down his doctors’ advice to have his toe amputated. Despite his illness, he continued touring.

His Redemption Song track is in particular considered to be about Marley’s coming to terms with his mortality. He appeared at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on September 23 1980, unfortunately, it would be his last concert. 

Shortly afterwards, his health deteriorated, the cancer had to his lungs and brains. Marley sought treatment at the Bavarian clinic of Josef Issels where he received an unusual therapy. After fighting the disease unsuccessfully for eight months, he boarded a plane for his home in Jamaica but he never made it. He landed in Miami Florida , USA and was taken to Cedars of Lebanon, hospital for immediate medical attention.

On May 11, 1981, Robert Nesta Marley, born on February 6, 1945 on the farm of his maternal grandfather in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica to Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Booker gave up the ghost. He was aged 36.

After his death, he seems to loom larger than life as his legacy continues to grow. Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica on May 21, 1981 which combined elements of Ethiopian Orthoxy and Rastafari tradition. On his religious life, Marley was a vegetarian who was affiliated with the Twelve Tribes Mansion . He was in the denomination of the Tribe of Joseph. Shortly before his death, Marley was baptised into Christianity by Archbishop by Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq of the Ethiopian Orthodox church in Kingston , Jamaica on November 4, 1980.

In April 1981 Bob Marley was awarded Jamaica ’s third highest honor, the Order of Merit, for his outstanding contribution to his country’s culture.

Marley had a number of children: three with his wife Rita, two adopted from Rita’s previous relationships and several other others with different women.

Irrespective of race, colour, creed, the Bob Marley’s revolutionary yet unifying music, challenging colonialism, racism, and the rest has had profound effects even in country’s where English is not widely spoken.

In August 2008, two artistes from Serbia and Croatia , unveiled a statue of Bob Marley during a rock music festival in Serbia ; the monument’s inscription read “Bob Marley Fighter for Freedom Armed with A Guitar”.

A statue was inaugurated, next to the national stadium on Arthur Wint Drive in Kingston to commemorate him.

Internationally, Marley’s message also continues to reverberate among various indigenous communities.

The post Bob Marley: The legend lives on! appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Author: Saintmoses Eromosele

Reviewer: Aisha Abdulahi 

Publisher: The Pedagogues Publishing.

No of pages: 31

In the Vanguard of Greed is the latest play written by Saintmoses Eromosele, the author of the novel, The Winds of Life, written at the age of 16, published on February 24, 2014 by The Pedagogues Publishing.

I would have titled the interesting one act play as Under the Iroko or The Three Idiots, which, in my opinion, is depictive of the storyline without letting the cat out of the bag like the actual book title probably did.

Essentially, the book examines the nature, causes and effect of greed among friends, association of individuals, even nations.

In the 31-page play of seven main characters that could be acted for an approximate duration of 30 to 35 minutes, three Africans (Nigerian, Malian and Ghanaian) are set on a curious journey to eradicate corruption from their homeland called Afarland, most probably an allegorical representation of Africa. 

They are determined. They have a common goal – Mr. Korrupt’s partner in crime “Mr. Death”, as they call ‘him’, must be sought out, killed and his loot recovered to set Africa free. They set out on the uncertain journey ill-equipped but determined.

On the way, they got drunk. They spent a good amount of “Afro”, the currency in Afarland, on alcohol. Wole is particularly lazy and lousy; he seems to never have enough of the liquor even though he has no money from his pocket to pay for his drink.

In their drunkeness, or as it turned out to be, their true characters and ulterior motives for their “Revolution” is revealed. They abuse every iota of virtue and exhibit mortal levels of corruption, and avarice, than what they had accused Mr. Korrupt and Mr. Death of.

In their corrupt schemes and counter schemes, they murdered one another, even before they got to the residence of Mr. Korrupt, who was actually vulnerable had they been less corrupt or less greedy.

Each needed a bigger share of the loot for themselves. And Mr. Death buries the three of them.

The play is set in Afarland, a symbolic representation of Africa. The main characters are Hassan, a Malian Hausa, Kofi, a Ghanaian, and Wole a Yoruba. They are drunk, but united in purpose.

Maybe if they had drunk less, they would have been more focused. I would have preferred that the playwright had done less of ‘preaching’ and allowed the story as it flows, naturally. The final words of Mr. Death are good admonition though, but a bit of crossing the line in ‘preachment’.

I would have cut it by half and tasked the imagination of my readers. Otherwise, the play is a good story, deserving of every serious library, rich shelf or as a mobile companion.

This play, a political satire, dramatises the hope that revolution is possible in Africa but that the revolutionaries must first purge themselves of avarice, corruption, pretence and every vice they seek to change if they intend not to be consumed by the revolution itself.

The book is published on high quality US paper and professionally printed. The glossy paper quality might have met international standard. The book cover design, reportedly made by one of Nigeria’s finest cartoonists, Mr. Mike Asuquo, artistically illustrates the storyline in a deeper dimension.

In the cover, readers would notice three individuals who are sinking in quick sand yet still unable or unwilling to cooperate to hold a calabash which one of them is lifting higher than the reach of the other two who are desperately to touch it too.

It is a mathematical certainty that in the circumstance they will all sink and the calabash would remain to be taken by another who understands how to walk in quicksand.

In the Vanguard of Greed employs simple language. The diction is suitable for all audiences; from the basic education level students to university literature students who may adopt it for general reading or as seminar and project play for theatre arts students.

The playwright was able to weave a very interesting narrative with quite an adequate dose of humour, satire and poetry. I commend the book to all for general reading, as a stage play, for schools, colleges and especially for libraries and literary research and development.

Abdulahi writes from Kano.

The book is available for sale at www.amazon.com with global shipping or contact the publishers “The Pedagogues Publishing”, at 8 Akpakpava Street, Ostee Trust Wing, Benin City or order via email at tpebenin@yahoo.com for direct purchase details.

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The World Economic Forum Africa (WEFA) 2014 hosted by Nigeria in Abuja has come and gone but it would no doubt continue to reverberate especially when key players who pledged their commitment to assist Africa in re-strategizing on its maternal and child healthcare commence implementation. As a fall out of the forum, the Private Sector Health Alliance (PSHA) led by the chair, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote launched a $24m  ‘Save a million lives initiative’ to help reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country. Speaking with our Assistant Life Editor, YINKA SHOKUNBI, former Minister of Health and Visiting Professor Duke Global Health Institute, USA, Muhammad Ali Pate, explained the benefits of the fund and why the private sector needs to invest in healthcare delivery. Excerpt:

Pate

Reasonably, there is an urgent need for the private sector to assist government by investing in healthcare because there is the need to grow the health on the continent.

My take is that the African Health sector can indeed make it especially with the backlog of communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases as well as other category of non-communicable diseases and injuries once the private sector partners can complement what the public sector or governments are doing.

If we take a look at most of the spending on health, it is from the private pocket, what we call out of pocket, and this is even more than what the governments are contributing; and also, more than half of the services are being  run by the private sector. And even for most of those who go on medical tourism abroad, they go to private facilities.

So, the important role the private sector can play in making progress to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in terms of innovations, improving the quality of service delivery will contribute to the economic growth of the continent.

When we examine the critical role of technology and medical equipment in service delivery as well as the question of maintenance, we would understand that healthcare is not just about facilities but maintaining the facilities as well. So, the conversation that was around this was indeed needful.

Likewise, the conversation around prevention of diseases was quite important; since we tend to often focus more attention on treatment, we discussed the importance of how to make prevention key in healthcare delivery.

The Effectiveness of the PSHA in Nigeria

For the Alliance to be quite effective in Nigeria, there are some things the government would need to do in terms of policy and in terms of regulations. The private sector also needs to organise itself and for the first time, the Private sector Alliance has created the needed platform to bring together leaders and to mobilise their resources in a coordinated manner in order to compliment what the government is doing to achieve an all-round health objective which is for both public and private sectors.

The fund raising that was done would be used to focus on real cost-effective interventions like zinc and oral rehydration salt for diarrhoeal diseases, misoprostol for post-partum haemorrhage, this is a very concrete but underutilised essential commodities that can save the lives of both women and children.

Most of the fund would equally go to service delivery and overhead and so we feel for a start, the private sector is going to save at least about 50, 000 lives out of the 400, 000 lives  that government is targeting this year in the save a million lives initiative.

We are urging other private partners to join the alliance so that the country can make real progress. We already have private sector initiative complementing in power as well as in security around infrastructure and so a private sector Alliance in health is very much welcome.

The Issue of Human Resources for Health

Yes, the health sector is largely dependent on the quality of its human resources. From the way the personnel are trained to how they are deployed and to the quality of team that is available and to even whether they are working as a team or not. I mean are the Doctors, Pharmacist and Nurses working together or not as these are all together to work for the patient to get better.

For the Nigerians in diaspora there have been yearnings for them to come back home and I think they are willing to and already some are finding their ways to come back but the environment surely has to improve more and more especially with the transformation that is going on.

Health Bill and Conflict among health workers:

Well, I cannot speak for government any longer as I am no longer there but I agree with you that the rules and laws are necessary. One thing that is very clearly important is that the legal framework for the players has to improve even for the private sector participation. So the essentials of a legal framework cannot be overemphasised in terms of health governance. I cannot say how soon that would be but it is for the government to tell.

Looking back as a former Minister:

I think in my view, it is easy to complain but more difficult to create solution for the people to improve the system and in all certainty, government alone cannot solve all the problems either at the state or local levels. For sure, all hands need to be on the deck both at the public or private sectors. I am calling on everyone to put heads together to find solutions to our health challenges rather than continue to criticize whatever we have on ground; it is how to work out solutions that can make a way forward.

The WEFA was hosted for the first time in West Africa and repeatedly, we knew as a country we were having a hole in our heart giving the girls that are still missing in Chibok and repeatedly members of the Forum expressed their support and solidarity but it was a good thing the forum was successfully held.

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Ngozi Nnam, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria and a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, has over 50 publications to her credit in reputable national and international journals. She is a member of Oxford Round Table and Organisation for Early Childhood Education. Senior Reporter ANTHONIA SOYINGBE met this accomplished woman recently in Lagos and she opened up on her life, her career, her many sleepless nights and other vital issues. 

Nnam

You have a very beautiful skin, can this be linked to the body cream you use or you want to attribute this to good nutrition?

It is as a result of good nutrition. I am a strong advocate of good nutrition because diversifying your diet in a meal enables you get all the nutrients you required to keep you in a state of good nutritional status and a state of good health. We know that some food contains Vitamin E, which helps in beautifying the skin.

Did you plan to become a nutritionist or you just got here by chance?

I applied to study Food and Nutrition; I just got interested in the name of the course. I became so interested and if I have another opportunity, I will still study that course. It is a course that enables you to really be in a state of good health. If you eat well, you will hardly fall sick because each nutrient is beneficial to health.

Will you say your experiences while you were grow up, which influenced some of your decisions in your adult life?

I grew up in an average family and my parents instilled in me spirit of hard work. After my secondary education, I worked in the campus of University of Nigeria and then I admired lecturers who then were living in beautiful houses and they drove beautiful cars in a serene environment. I decided that I will become a lecturer so I can enjoy all they were enjoying then.

Are you enjoying those benefits now?

Yes, I am enjoying all the benefits and I am currently living in those beautiful quarters.

How is your husband? Is he also a university lecturer?

He is doing very well, but he is not a lecturer. I got married in 1980.

What has kept your home for over three decades?

The most important thing is for you to trust absolutely in God. I enjoy my husband’s maximum support and he is always happy to see me grow.

As a woman, what are some of the prices you paid to attain this enviable height?

I didn’t ask my children to go and sleep because I know adequate nutrition is not just about eating good food. You need to care for yourself and people around you. I had many sleepless nights because I have to read hard. I ensure I chat with my children before they go to bed. I don’t go to bed when they are in bed; rather, I put in extra hours to accomplish my desires. It needs lots of dedication and determination. The piloting force was my determination that I will make it. My parents taught me that I must work hard for me to make it in life and not depending on anybody. For you to make it in life, it requires personal dedication, commitment, hard work and above all you need divine intervention. Without divine providence and intervention I wouldn’t have attain all these.

Will you say you are a fulfilled woman?

Yes, I am fulfilled because God has been so good to me and I give God all the glory for all that has happened.

How far do you still see yourself going in your career?

The struggle doesn’t end until God ends it. So, I will keep moving as long as I live.

Can you share with us your professional and educational background?

I am a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Food and Home Science. I later obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education and a Masters Degree in Education (Guidance and Counselling) from the same university. I taught briefly at University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, Nigeria. I later picked up appointment at the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, Nigeria, where I taught Nutrition and Home Economics and also served as Head of Department.  In the course of my career at the College of Education, I obtained a Masters and a PhD in Human Nutrition from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. I was the winner of 1994 Vice-Chancellor’s Faculty Postgraduate Prize for the best graduating student in Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria. 

On completion of the PhD programme, I joined the services of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where I rose to the rank of Professor. I consult for many agencies and have served as an Assessor for many academic staff promotions. I serve as External Examiner within and outside Nigeria for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I am a reviewer for many National and International Journals like the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development published by Rural Outreach Programme, Kenya, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, an Official  Publication of In Foods, sponsored by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants published by Taylor and Francis Group USA, Ecology of Food and Nutrition (EFN) published by Taylor and Francis, Inc, USA, African Journal of Agricultural Research published by Academic Publishers Inc, New York, African Journal of Food Science published by Academic Journals USA and Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, Official organ of Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) published by NSN and a host of others. By the grace of God, I have travelled across continents to present papers in many International Science Conferences and Workshops. I have attended and presented papers at the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), Federation of African Nutritional Sciences (FANUS), INACG and IVACG, Micronutrient Forum, African Nutritional Epidemiological Conference (ANEC), Oxford Round Table and many other conferences.

What is the place of nutrition in human development?

Whatever we do as individuals is controlled by the brain and nutrition plays a key role in brain development. Many nutrients are vital for adequate development of the brain, if these nutrients are not present during the first 1,000 days, the brain will not develop well. Malnutrition is linked to ignorance. Some families have enough food to be in a state of nutritional status, but they don’t know how to combine foods in a meal and how to prepare them, hence they don’t make informed choice.

The post Dedication, commitment are key to success –Nnam appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Yemi Adebisi / Acting Head, Literary/Arts    

The Port Harcourt edition of the celebration of Arrow of God at 50 was included in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Port Harcourt World Book Capital programmes held between April 22 and April 26.

The students participation in this programme was adjudged by critics as impressing as most of the schools represented appeared to have genuine interest in the writings of the late sage, Chinua Achebe, judging by how they were discussing the interpretation of his literary prowess. 

From the session of the quiz competition by the secondary school students to drama adaptation of the book, including paper presentation and discussion, participants paid great tribute to Achebe for the rare works of arts he left behind. The schools at the event include Rockbase International School; Royal Girls Academy; Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, University Demonstration Secondary School, UniPort; Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme among others.

Speaking at the opening session, chairman, National Organising Committee, Dr. Wale Okediran, described the celebration as challenging from onset. For this edition, Okediran expressed appreciation to Programme Coordinator, Koko Kalango, for her effort for accepting this gesture to be included in the global event.

“It was Kalango’s idea to incorporate this into the World Book Capital programme. It is a reawakening among youth to bring the book back to the centre of discussion. In Arrow of God, there are examples of how leadership can help a nation,” he said.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Natasha Vaubel, a former student of Chinua Achebe said she was inspired to study African literature and film production by Achebe, describing him as a humble intellectual.

“One of my dreams was to break kolanut with Achebe and I did. He was so encouraging, welcoming and available to everyone. On November 16, 1987, I went to his house. He was so grateful and embraced the gesture. My greatest day was when Achebe came to my home town and danced together with my mother. His accident did not slow him down but made him to be more prolific in his writing. I was leaving to see myself differently when I read Chinua Achebe’s books. Reading can change you forever,” she said.

In her response, Professor Molara Ogundipe of the University of Port Harcourt noted that the rare humility of Achebe was probably responsible for his brilliance. “He was not just a writer but an intellectual mind. He listened to all feminists. He used Beatrice in Anthills of Savannah as a major character. Achebe, a very humorous person could keep you laughing for hours,” she said.

Addressing the youth at the gathering, Ogundipe laid emphasis on the use of indigenous language in African setting. She said the way children are being trained with only foreign language might spell doom for the continent.

“My mother did not encourage us to speak English language at home. We were asked to speak Yoruba,” she said.

She advised Nigeria media to be more proactive in their gesture blaming them for limiting her profile to the subject of feminism.

“We need to do a lot of intergenerational conversation. We need to learn from young people and for young people to learn from us.”

Some of the students who commented on the writings and personalities of Achebe during the programme said if Nigerian leaders can study the message of the writer especially in Arrow of God, the country might regain its image from the western world.

“The story of abuse of power in Arrow of God is a metaphor to maximum abuse of power in Nigeria nation,” said Ngozi Cole, one of the JSS 3 students. She argued that leaders were supposed to be the mirror of the society and that each time she heard of corruption, the 11-year-old girl said she felt like changing her nationality because “our leaders have failed us.”

The student further said though, Arrow of God was set in the colonial days, it is still relevant in today’s governance, appealing to leaders to go and read books.

Nigeria’s award winning author based in the United States of America, Helon Habila said Achebe was approachable and simple. He recalled how Achebe gave him a phone call to become the first Fellow of Chinua Achebe Foundation.

Ogundipe, who apparently was the chairperson of the panel of discussant, said Nigerian problem was beyond politics and economy.

“Our problem is internalized racism. We are shy of our culture. Other world archives their culture. We didn’t mind when our museums were destroyed. When we travel, are we proud of our culture? Chinese built schools in America. We built Yoruba school in the USA. The parents were not bringing their children. In our time, you have to speak the language of where you are living. They use the local language to teach us until when we got to Standard One. Why do we think that for speaking English language, we get more mastery? It’s something parents should fight for. We should have PTA visit schools and get involved in the formulation of curriculum. Problems in Nigeria are that we don’t know our rights and the government does not believe the citizens even has a right. Our leaders behave as if they are rulers. They didn’t know they are our representatives. Let us not discourage young minds. We should listen to them and get their perspectives. I don’t believe that Achebe is too Iboish. He was writing on the culture he knew quite well,” she said.

The post Achebe’s writing: Structure for good governance appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By  Funmi Falobi

Senior Reporter, Lagos

There is no doubt mothers play important roles in the formation of any child. Right from conception, delivery and to adulthood, a mother invests love and her essence on the progress of the child.

With youths daily becoming restless and involved in various crimes far beyond the comprehension of their parents, there is the need for mothers to rethink their priorities.

The commonness of youth related crimes, makes it almost impossible for any parent to be so categorical on his or her ward especially in Nigeria where killings, armed robberies, kidnappings, rape and other crimes are being perpetrated on daily basis by the youths; some of them from peer pressure but in totality, due to parental negligence.

Virtually in every city in Nigeria, social vices are daily being carried out by youths otherwise known as area boys. The street urchins perpetrate diverse crimes and lay siege for unsuspecting victims. Painfully, many of these youths our investigations reveal got lured into such behaviors due to the absence of their parents at home.

Regrettably, these social vices have crept into schools and no longer limited to tertiary institutions. Both primary and secondary school students are now involved.

While many argue that contemporary mothers are taking on male assigned responsibilities due to global economic crisis which gives them little time for their traditional roles of taking care of the homes, others believe that mothers must still make efforts to ensure the proper up bringing of their children.

Mrs. Ibigbami Leah Olufunke, a retired lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), said parents have a lot to do to reduce the prevalence of crimes among the youths.

According to her, “we have mothers who still cherish moral values and pass such to their children. Parents must pray together with their children and instruct them accordingly. In my home, I have children who are in higher institutions and have warned them against examination malpractices. Mothers are performing their roles but most mothers are lacking. This is because they are career women; who wake up early in the morning and return home in the night. They provide money for gadgets but are not available for their children. Some mothers are still performing but are lacking in their responsibilities towards of bringing up the children.”

While concurring that social vices are on the increase among youths in the society, an educationist, Mrs. Franca Okpiaifo blames parents and society for the prevalence. According to her, “Prevalence of social vices among youths is caused by zero parental control because present day parents have to work to provide for their families. Parents are going through a lot of stress hence transfer their aggression on youths. There is also youth uncontrollable access to internet; they copy social vices all over the world.

“Mothers are not doing enough these days in terms of impacting morals because they are doing more than their traditional role of looking after the homes and taking care of the children. They are not performing their main duty but instead, helping in financial running of the home,” she added.

With current happenings in the society, and in a situation where affluence is being flaunted by the political class and conspicuous consumption by the elite class, the result is attendant social vices among which is the get rich syndrome. Also, ethics and family values are gradually being eroded in the society. Many parents do not spend time with their children let alone impact moral instructions.

 Speaking on cultism and drug abuse among youth, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru explained that it has become pertinent to tackle headlong the prevalence of social vices in the society. He said drug abuses and its attendant social problems are fast assuming a very frightening proportion in our society today. If one has to consider the devastating and very damaging consequences on the user and the family which is perceived to be the nucleus of the society, then something has to be done urgently.

He said, “A visit to our rehabilitation and vocational centres in Isheri, Majidun and Tekunle will reveal the devastating effect of drug abuses on our youths who have been entangled in the web of this destructive act. “

He advised parents to be vigilant and not leave everything to teachers; “Parents should not be care less. If a child asks for money to be used for something in school, parents should investigate what the money is meant for? How close are we to our children? We go to work in the morning come back in the night and spend less time with the children. They don’t know us. When they have our trust, they will be able to tell us when they have pressures outside. Moral education is not only for schools alone, all of us are stakeholders,” he appealed.

On curbing prevalence of social vices among the youths, Ibigbami advocated return to family values. She said, “We must go back to homes, gather women to let them know that the structure they are building on the children. They should teach the youths moral values at church level and relationship level including friends. For those who are wild, we must empower them and give them instruction. Most of the vices are perpetrated by drop outs that move among students. This is why social vices are prevalent.

“Parents have a lot to do. At local government levels, there are trainings centers where youths can acquire skills but mothers must play their roles to reduce criminal tendencies in our children. Mothers have so many roles to play to mould the youths and our spiritual leaders must also intercede for them,” she further stated.

Okpiaifo however called on mothers to engage more in teaching the youths to have values in order to reduce social vices in the society.

Mrs. Olufunke Alli, a chaplain and life coach argued that the fear of God must be entrenched in the youths. “I believe many external influences are affecting youths of today and this informs the prevalence of vices among them. They have access to what is happening internationally and want to belong.

“From onset mothers have not trained their children to fear the Lord, looking at Biblical angle. Those that fear God will not involve in it. I teach my children and those living around me on the need to live a godly life and shun vices. Mothers should come together and pray for the nation. Mothers should gather at the community and neighbourhood to pray. Idleness is part of what is causing prevalence of social vices and parents are not around to curb peer pressure. We must engage the youths and parents must be involved in the upkeep of their children. There should be community centres to engage and involve them in developmental issues in their neighbourhood. When we pray and guide them; social vices will reduce drastically.

“Youths are involved in yahoo plus. Imagine an 18 year old that wants to ride the best car because he is into yahoo plus. How can we get that involved in developmental project? It goes back to background. Parents have left their responsibilities to teachers and caregivers. Mothers must come together and look at what they can do to help the youths out.”

The post Role of mothers in curbing social vices among youths appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Adedayo Odulaja

Reporter, Lagos

For many guests not familiar with the Choir of the popular Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District Sub-headquarters (Ayo Ni O), the 2014 edition of the Church’s Choir Day presented a day of awesome praise singing to God as well as opportunity for them to appreciate the efforts of the church.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone present had a glimpse of what it was like in heaven each time the angels gathered to worship God. Like one of the guests said, it went beyond songs; “it was like presenting us with the heavenly choir and making us see the reason we should all work towards salvation. It was a life changing experience for me.”

It didn’t take long for guests to realize from the setting of the stage what was in the offering that day.

Some of the early performances, apart from the one featuring popular female musician, Ayo Balogun, focused on the portrayal of God as a Being that can be worshipped using any of Nigeria’s many languages especially the three major ones.

For instance when the Igbo group came on stage to perform, it was so gripping especially with the discovery that Ruth Akinwunmi-King, the young woman who rendered the song, ‘Abu Nkem,’ is not exactly from that part of the country.

Spiced with a dramatic bent, three visitors appeared in heaven and after they were conducted around by angels, they couldn’t contain their joy at what they saw of heaven.

While the unveiling of the kingdom for the three visitors was still in progress; the choir of Halleluyah in the traditional pattern changed dramatically to jazzy performance as some youths took over the stage to add colour and fun to the entire presentation. And that was when Olalekan Fadeyi, better known as Azadus, deservedly one of the pioneers of the hip hop culture in Nigeria, made his entry to stage. It was so dramatic that the audience erupted in appreciation.

Dressed in a well-tailored black suit and designer pink-coloured shirt, he soon yanked off the suit jacket when he became entrapped in his performance. And as he energetically led the song, one could not but recall his days as the lead vocalist of the Def ‘O’ Clan and as a recording artiste for Kennis Music, then the biggest records company in Nigeria.

After Azadus, came another group, dressed in colourful Ankara and Adire fabrics. Singing ‘Awon Orun Soro Ogo Olorun,’ the song followed the Apala blend founded by late Haruna Isola and further popularised by many others including the great musician’s son. The new group’s performance was laced with such moving percussions and remarkable drumming especially with the sensational, uniquely African Talking Drum professionally handled to produce such great tunes as the intensity of the concert grew further.

The frenzy which followed the performance was so profound for the audience that it would easily have carted away whatever prize was on parade if the entire Choir Day 2014 was a competition.

Nobody could contain the thrilling effect it had on them. Everybody literally begged the group’s leader to come down from the stage. And he had barely stepped down before they almost mobbed him with spraying of cash.

With the unconventional dancing that the performance provoked, anyone would have been satisfied if the 2014 edition of Ayo Ni O Choir Day had come to an end on that note. It was so spectacular.

Singing and drumming paused to introduce special guests; including  Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transport in Lagos State. Opeifa, who was represented at the event, rejoiced with the members of the Choir and the church as a whole for the event.

The Choirmaster General, Prophet S.F Korode, an instrumentalist, songwriter and administrator, who has been the choirmaster general of the choir since its establishment in 1973, then gave his address.

“Only a great God can speak an entire universe into existence. Only an awesome God can craft the mountains from the ancient rocks and make a path for the flowing rivers as they find their way towards the endless oceans. Only a great God could have granted us the divine grace and shown us mercies abundant by keeping us in the land of living to witness another glorious celebration of His love, His power and His presence in our lives. We place our sacrifice of praise at His eternal altar and say that we are indeed blessed to have Him as our Father and our God,” Korode began.

Going on, he said “we greet the General Leader, the highly-revered members of the Ecclesiastical council here present, our special and invited guests, the chairpersons of today’s glory made manifest through the Surulere choir. Our prayer is that your presence here today would herald a season of prosperity, peace and unbridled joy.

“We are Heirs of the Covenant,’ blessed with a divine heritage, called by the one who made everything and rules over everything in majesty. We carry a power so enormous because we carry the almighty within us. In our songs, in our musicals, in our drama, the message is simple and direct, “know the child of whom you are. Deuteronomy 7 verse 6 says:‘For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.’

“We sing of this truth today, that we are indeed precious in His sight, treasured without measure. If nothing else, my charge to you today is to value yourself all over again and represent your status in Christ. Heirs of the Covenant, walk like a king, talk like a king, think like a king, live like a king, because indeed you are royalty, you belong to the lineage of the King of Kings.”

Full of gratitude to everyone who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the programme, Korode prayed that when the Lord shall return for His bride, they will all be found worthy of going to that home on high to reign with God forever.”

Part of the fun for the day was a spectacle between a beautiful young woman, Rebecca, representing young Christian girls and a dashing young man, representing Satan who is ever looking for ways to deceive Christians. It was a poignant demonstration capable of serving an infinitely instructive purpose for those who desire to make it to the kingdom of God.

Sunday Omobolanle, a foremost actor more popularly known as Aluwe, soon made an appearance on stage. As if saying being born again is not enough, Aluwe even wowed the audience more with the few minutes he spent on stage ending in a session of laughter that was clearly uncontrollable for some minutes.

Jojo Bodybeats, a fast rising young man with a unique manner of entertaining people, was the next attraction on stage after sometime. And using spoons, turning stick, bare hands and even knives to praise God in his inimitable way, he added more verve to the day as a whole having developed a lot more from his days of performing in front of lean crowds at National Theatre halls, Freedom Park and arts and culture events in Lagos.

His expansion of his level of dexterity was shown with using the knives and his teeth to make pleasant sounds that made the huge crowd fall in love with him.

With a Yoruba singing group led by Evangelist Adefila Rotimi, Gbenga Salako leading the eclectic Fuji-like praise songs, Most Snr Apostle J.B Adeyemi handling the Hausa performance while Tosin Kafeeji held guests spellbound with the Afrobeat session, the Ayo Ni O Choir Day did more than live up to the thematic Heirs of the Covenant billing.

And that’s even without dwelling on the thrilling dramatic denouement that made the event even more worthwhile.

The post Binding music thrill at Ayo Ni O Choir Day 2014 appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

The Okomu National Park in Benin, Edo State, is one of the frontiers of Nigeria’s forest ecosystem threatened by illegal logging and flora/fauna scavengers despite being in the middle belt where such unwholesome practices should rarely be seen. In this interview with Adedayo Odulaja, Oladipo Ojo Cornelius, Conservator of Park of this nature’s wonder, speaks on various environmental and conservation issues.

Cornelius

Despite efforts by the media to sensitise Nigerians on conservation of the country’s massive tourism potentials, many are still sadly unaware of what conservation and its benefits are. Can you give an overview?

Unfortunately, we all appear easily to have forgotten the heritage we grew up with. In the days of our fore fathers, it was a taboo to invade forests either for farming or hunting. Things were organised and done in a sustainable manner. We grew up to see and know that certain types of fish were not to be harvested at their young age and when mistakenly done, were thrown back into the rivers. This formed a path of conservation even though we say our ancestors were uneducated. It has even been proven that the earth natural resources received more protection during those periods than now and this is what gave birth to the National Parks Service (NPS) which today effectively promotes within all the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, the preservation and protection of the country’s forests and animal resources. Indeed, with the obvious effect of climate change, increase in population and its attendant urbanisation and industrialisation, Nigeria needs to wake up to protect her resources from extinction.

How do we change the perception of Nigerians regarding this since most of them claim to be oblivious or totally ignorant of the laws governing conservation?

We design message deliberately targeted at Okomu National Park stakeholders. To our local communities, there is the continuous need to explain why we occupy their land and hold it in trust for them.  We need to explain why trees cannot be harvested and elephants allowed to live. This process of engagement has reduced conflict between the people and our forest rangers. On our own part, we dedicate our resources to assist in grading their farm roads, health centers, schools, give seed money to farmers and hunters to engage in business that will keep them away from invading the forest and depleting the resources therein. It should also be noted that the communities around us take up about 80% of the job openings in Okomu National Park. To your question; we try from time to time to engage the media to see what we are doing towards explaining the benefit to stake holders which includes policy makers and our host; the state government.

What would you say are your main challenges as the Conservator at Okomu Park?

I will want to itemise them because of their sways. The first and most important is lack of understanding of what we are doing here. Though the concept of protected areas management is not too recent with us, we however still grapple with explaining to majority of the policy makers why certain acres of our land mass need to be set aside for protection and conservation. To change their perception, we need a huge publicity fund which we don’t have but which corporate organisations can help us endorse and assist.

Our location in the south-south region also produces challenges, particularly at the height of militancy in the region which has been arrested now and which we pray for total elimination so that visitors within and outside Nigeria can find it a worthy experience to visit and behold Mother Nature at its grandeur and testify to the good work we are doing here. Also, population increase begets logging and over exploitation of forest resources. Within and around Edo State, the growth sees – millers on the increase and with massive industrialisation; illegal logging threatening this frontier. However, through aggressive conservation enlightenment and prosecution, we drive the process of mitigating the danger. Other challenges are poaching, infrastructural needs and communication. As you may be aware, the demand for bush meat is on the increase despite the growth of animal farming. Within our park, we have elephants, white throated monkeys and these cannot be seen elsewhere in this country, except within our ranges, so hunters tend to target us for attacks and poaching.

Being in a rain forest ambit, the roads here present a great challenge to us and our communities. Also, sharing boundaries with Okomu Oil Plantation creates issues as we are sometimes mistaken for our millionaire Palm Oil producing neighbours. Like I said earlier, security wise, things are getting better because for over three years that I have been here; there has been no incidence of kidnapping. Being a thickly forested area, rural telephony can help link us up with the outside world and make our location more attractive to investors and visitors.

What stands the Okomu eco-system out from others?

Okomu is the home of nature with a signature of undiluted clean air and with a paradise-like environment. It is also the least disturbed forest environment in Nigeria. Okomu is home to forest elephants and white throated monkeys and bird enthusiasts will find this ecosystem more than a passing professional interest. As a rest house of nature, tourists interested in pharmacology, researches and students of botany, have a laboratory of immense and interesting findings in Okomu. Whoever visits Okomu, will forever be at peace with nature and will be transformed instantly into a nature advocate. If governments have not carved out Okomu National Park, I wonder what will happen to this environment particularly Edo State and Nigeria, in general. This place is one of nature’s best gifts to humanity.

The Federal Government recently upgraded the National Park Service as a paramilitary organ, how do you see this development?

We are grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for upgrading the Parks to a paramilitary status. In Zimbabwe, Kenya and South – Africa, Park Managements in these places and even in the United States enjoy the face of military command and work environment. Guns are not meant to kill anyone but to protect our flora and fauna resources from sophisticated gun carrying earth destroyers. What can light weapons do against poachers and illegal loggers armed with AK 47 and ready to waste our rangers? Our new status will help conservation and give honour to our operations. It is a global expectation and welcome development.  We wait anxiously for the inauguration to take place.

A lot of people wonder why there is still so much ignorance in the country regarding conservation given the huge landmass under the care of the National Park Service?

We appreciate the fact that people are yet to understand our mandate particularly on why we need to hold such earth resources in trust for the country and generations yet unborn. The benefits are enormous, some you can see and others intangible and not readily seen.

However, we are determined to make a change through publicity and advocate for change of attitudes towards our mandate. Human beings will always have difference of opinions but we must resolve them. We are always thinking of the community first and we hope to sustain the effort. See the situation at Lake Chad which has dried up due to human activities such as deforestation. This is more dangerous than HIV/AIDS and those who criticise us for not doing enough should appreciate that there are young men and women who risk their lives daily to patrol the forest so that we can have clean air, provide food and safeguard water resources now and for the future. Green tourism which is a by – product of our conservation efforts can provide employment windows and drive recreation facilities.

With the expectations of the host communities very high, how do you cope with funding?

Funding is a huge organisation which can never be enough. However, time has come for non-governmental organisations and rich individuals who love nature to rise and support our efforts. We help over forty communities with jobs and provide employment openings to help them so they too can help us to protect the environment. Some of our facilities like Chalets, swimming pools and other visitor facilities that can drive green tourism may be opened to commercialisation. We are an extractor sector and not a revenue generating agency. In all, we crave for more funding, to help us meet and manage our mandates.

The post Poor advocacy, bane of conservation awareness – Okomu Park boss appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.