Adeyinka and Omoni

On May 27th, which coincidentally is Children’s Day,  organisers of Best of Nollywood awards would kick off activities for this year’s edition with a Celebrity Reading with select secondary school students in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Some of the celebrities that would be reading, interacting and motivating the children are OC Ukeje, Ini Edo, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Mercy Aigbe, Alex Ekubo, Omoni Oboli, Sylva Oluchi, Laitan Ogungbile, Doris Simeon, Tamara Etiemo and Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st.

Special guest of honour will be wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Judith Amaechi.

The post Ibinabo, Mercy Aigbe, Gbenga Adeyinka, Omoni Oboli others for BON’s celebrity reading in Port Hacourt appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

• Includes contact details in prophecies

By Anthonia Soyingbe and Adedayo Odulaja, Lagos

Music artiste turned prophet, Emmanuel Okose, has not only turned into a prophet but a miracle and vision seer prophet. According to him, he has touched the lives of many people with his prayers. He recently took to his facebook page to announce a testimony of someone he prayed for.

He wrote, “One of my spiritual son’s in Cameroon called me  seven days ago and said prophet nothing is working in my life; help me. I said to him I can’t help you but the God of heaven will surprise you within seven  days, he called me last night and was crying on the phone, I asked him what the problem was; he said sir, I thank God for bringing you my way, I was the man that called you some days ago and you said God will surprise me within seven days.

Sir on the fifth day I was going for an interview and were I was waiting to get a bus, a Toyota jeep just packed and a man I don’t know came down, walked to me and said I have been looking for you for over three years. Where have you been, here is my card; call me. According to him he called and met the man who gave him a contract worth $200, 000.00. I pray for you the helper that you don’t know will locate you and help you. SOUL E”

We wish Prophet Soul- E well in his prophetic ministry.

The post Soul E commercializes prophetic ministry appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Weeks after the global community celebrated World Malaria Day, 3rafique communications in partnership with makers of Good Knight insecticides are still fighting malaria but this time, through soccer and public enlightenment.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of 3ra’fique communications, Irabor Okosun told newsmen that his company is taking campaign against malaria further with the second edition of its malaria novelty match which will hold on Sunday at Campos Mini Statdium, Lagos.

“I am glad progress is being made but a lot still needs to be done. The statics of malaria is tear-jerking. Malaria kills a child every minute- this alone should be enough to make you want to turn things around for the better. I charge everyone to Join the Cast in looking for solutions to problems in our society. We all need to be vigilant and aware of preventive and curative methods in combatting malaria,” okosun said while addressing journalists.

Ace comedian, Ali Baba who threw his weight behind the initiative in a statement credited to him though a release signed by Irabor said, “the novelty match is designed to educate, entertain and empower Nigerians with unique up-to-date methods of preventing malaria. We are bringing certified health workers and medical professionals to provide treatment and counseling to spectators and participants. This is a step in the right direction and we hope others are inspired to amplify efforts in eradicating malaria and other diseases.”

Other comedians to partake in the novelty match include, Okey Bakasi, Julius Agwu, Akpororo, Bovi, Owen Gee, Elenu, Klint Da Drunk and many others. Collin Udoh, Jide Alabi, Oscar Oyinsan, Yaw, Dayo Adeneye are some of the OAP who will feature in the novelty match.

The initiative tagged ‘Join the Cast’ is aimed at leveraging on the appeal of football to continuously galvanize mobilization within communities against Malaria; disseminate Malaria prevention messages; preach against self-medication among other things.

The post Alibaba, 3ra’fique Communications continue to fight malaria with soccer appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

•As award holds May 24 in Yenagoa

As the countdown for the 2014 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) continues to gather frenetic pace, corporate organisations in Nigeria are throwing their weight behind the pan African award.

Leading by companies backing AMAA this year is telecommunication giant, Globacom while MRS Oil & Gas, Sterling Bank, First City Monument Bank have also come out to sponsor the 10th anniversary edition of the awards through sponsorship of the pan-Africa award categories.

Other private businesses sponsoring the continental showbiz fiesta, which has been announced to hold on Saturday, May 24, at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, according to the director of administration of the awards organisation, Tony Anih, include Skye bank, Atlas Oranto Petroleum, Dan Etete Foundation, Julius Berger, Skymit Autos, CCECC, BUA Group of Companies.

Speaking on the preparation for the awards, Anih said the organisers are working with the Bayelsa State Government to ensure that the state hosts a very successful and glamorous event that will excite all and leave very good memories in the minds of guests who will converge on Yenagoa from 48 countries of the world.

“We are happy that the corporate Nigeria is rising in support of AMAA this year. A good number of corporations are sponsoring us this year and we are very thankful. We are working to ensure that we deliver a very good event this year without any hitch. On security, the state government is working with all security agencies and we are sure the state will be safe for guests and all citizens of the state,” Anih said.

It will be recalled that the nominations into the 26 categories of the awards were announced in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday April 2 at an elaborate gala night which had Nigeria, Malawi and South African Celebrities, business and political leaders in attendance.

The 10th anniversary edition of the awards is designed to feature a panel discussion on the motion picture industry in Africa and a social responsibility component with primary and secondary school students in Yenagoa.

The post Corporate Nigeria rallies behind AMAA 2014 appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Peddy

Budding singer, Victor Pedro popularly known as Peddy is set to release his debut album and has released his first hit single and video titled “ZamZam”.

The 20-something year old artiste is a singer, songwriter and performer gifted with a unique voice and captivating style. He started singing when he was barely 13 and recorded his first song. In 2011 with a new stage name, and a passion for making music and God-given talent, Peddy got back into the studio to hone his craft. Ever since, he has continued to develop his craft as a singer and talented songwriter.

The independent artiste has achieved so much in music through his passion and talent for turning experiences in music.

The post Peddy sets to release debut album appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Anthonia Soyingbe  / Snr Reporter, Lagos

Ibinabo and Clarion

Though her tenure has been laced with many controversies due to her intimacy with government officials, the first female president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, will for a very long time remain a ground-breaker who despite her many controversies can’t be forgotten in a hurry.

While some accused her of promoting a personal-agenda at the expense of the guild, the guild through her leadership has successfully introduced  an inter-ethnic cultural festival of drama, dance and poetry amongst the state chapters, to foster unity amongst members.

Weeks back, screen goddess, Clarion Chukuwurah joined Ibinabo’s growing family of critics. According to Chuwukuwrah who is nursing the ambition of succeeding Ibinabo as president of AGN, accused the current AGN president of not prompting policies that benefit the profession.

According to a report credited to Chuwukuwrah, “the president doesn’t have the love of the industry and that of the practitioners at heart hence she sets out to enrich herself at the expense of members of the guild. It gives me a great concern that we continue to face this kind of issue in this country.  Rather than determine the merit of issues that are being raised, people will misdirect the whole point to be a personality attack. I don’t have anything whatsoever against Ibinabo who is a personal friend of mine. I’ve known her since the 80s when she was running a night club.  So, Ibinabo Fiberesima, as a person, is not the issue.   She succeeded in a very commendable field which is accessing an appointment to see the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at a time like this when he is engaged in all fronts.  It was a mighty opportunity given to her on a platter of gold. My grouse is what did she do with it?  It’s about the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Ibinabo Fiberesima led a delegation to see the President as AGN president. This is the constitution as amended for her, which part of this constitution did she use that visit to actualize?  She asked for political appointment which is an attempt to destroy the guild. AGN is not a group established for lobbying for political offices. This is an association of creative people not politicians,” respected Clarion Chuwukurah said. Amongst many things, she said Ibinabo is not qualified to lead the guild

When many had thought the first female president of AGN, the only umbrella body for Screen Actors in Nollywood, with a conservative estimate of over five million members spread across 35 states in Nigeria including Nigeria’s capital, Abuja won’t respond to the issues raised by her senior colleague, she released a lengthy but robust reply to the media on Monday exonerating herself and listing some of her achievements since she came on board as president of AGN. Ibinabo who in her reply boasted that leadership of the guild in the  last two years has repositioned the pride of its members, accused Chukwurah of attacking her office because of her, “inordinate ambition to become president of the Guild, to feeding the general public with deceit and falsehood.” She however stated that she is replying so her silence won’t be mistaken for consent.

While reeling her achievements in the statement, she pointed to the obvious that she has successfully put in place a health insurance scheme for practitioners. “I understand the point you make about my not taking ‘veterans’ on the delegation. Oh you wanted to be on the delegation, right? But how can you possibly be on the delegation when you have blatantly refused to identify with the Guild. My Exco and I and even the Board of Trustees, have tried as much we can to get those of you in the veteran class involved in the activities of the Guild. We created a veteran forum since some of you complained that you would not like to be holding meetings with those some of you consider ‘up starts’ and ‘interlopers’ but each time we call a meeting either directly or indirectly only very few people show up. But we won’t relent. We shall continue to reach out to those of you in that class and I make bold to say that some veterans were part of the delegation to the VILLA.,” Ibinabo said while reacting to Clarion’s claim that veterans were not contacted before Ibinabo led a delegation to Presidential villa in Abuja while adding that her appointment into the Governing Board of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC) by President Goodluck Jonathan is another feat for the guild.

Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, when contacted on Tuesday by our reporter to comment on the issue was a bit reluctant to comment on the matters claiming that he is unaware of the blame-trading. He however argued that Nigerian actors are the most ungovernable set of professionals. Kosoko who called on both actresses to thread with caution also offered to assist Ibinabo-led AGN to reunite some warring groups in the guild. “I’m not in favour of anybody, I don’t believe in the accusation and counter-accusation. Lots of people don’t know what it takes to be a leader. Entertainers are the worst set of professionals to lead probably because of our creativity and everybody is full of idea and it seems we are always looking at the faults of one another.

My opinion is not to disrespect whatever allegation Clarion raised which I’m not privy to at the moment, but let us allow her to govern us well as whoever is coming into any position has his or her manifesto. As far as I’m concerned, Ibinabo’s programs are programs that will advance the industry and promote our members. This is not to say I don’t have my other reservations about some of Ibinabo’s policies which have to do with her inability to ensure peaceful co-existence in the guild. I want her to use her wisdom to ensure that she brings peace to Lagos AGN; people like me are willing to assist her in ensuring that our industry is united and peaceful. No good leader will want crisis with his or her environment but God will always be with us and guide us right,” Kosoko told Daily Independent in a telephone conversation.

Entertainment journalist, Seun Apara when Daily Independent sort his view on the crisis which may take another dimension in the coming days explained that  Clarion Chukuwurah is well respected in the industry but faulted her for making the matter a public discourse.  “Clarion Chuwukurah is someone we all have a lot of respect for including Ibinabo herself. But rather than making the issue a public discuss, it would have been more honourable if she had written to the AGN President suggesting how to move the guild forward. I’m very sure Ibinabo would have listened. Clarion Chukwura raised a valid point about legislation but Ibinabo already replied that it was addressed in her speech. Also, there is nothing bad about her request for AGN secretariat  in the FCT, after all Nollywood contributed immensely to the recent rebasing that made Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa. I think if they have personal issues, they should settle it as adults behind closed doors,” Apara said .

Commending Ibinabo’s newly-introduced health policy, Apara said, “in the past, Nollywood has lost lots of talented role interpreters due to lack or inadequate funds to cater for their health. The health insurance will put an end to the demeaning act of soliciting for funds from the public whenever any of our actors are down with life threatening ailments. The importance of health insurance will be further emphasized with the oncoming Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Convention.”

Also reacting to Ibinabo’s claim in the reply that AGN consist of about 5million members, TV presenter Rose Peter-Graham asked, “so AGN has about 5million members? Ibinabo needs to prove that before I dissect her epistle.”

The post Clarion, Ibinabo bare claws appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Choirfest, the first ever challenge for choirs across the country has kicked off. The programme, is aimed at giving choirs and gospel groups the opportunity to display their musical skills and also compete on a very high level.

Choirfest, a multidenominational concept will accept entries from different church denominations.

In a chat with Klieg Light, Olumide Emmanuel, the chief co-ordinator of the competition, said the decision to birth such an event was borne out of necessity.

In his word, “the choir is dying, yet it gave birth to all the solo artistes you see today, whether gospel or secular. There was a time when choirs in churches were very vibrant but today, many churches do not have active choir anymore. We need to bring back the good old days, how do we do that? Well, if we have competitions like Choirfest, the choir will be more enticing to the young musicians,” he said.

Furthermore, Emmanuel told us that the contestants will not just be competing but also be gaining knowledge.

The choir which emerges winner will go home with N1million and a recording deal, while the runner-ups get N.5 million and N.3 million respectively including a record deal.

The post Choirfest kicks off appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Adokiye slams Lanre Nzeribe

Songstress, Kyrian Adokiye, has slammed socialite, Lanre Nzeribe.

Adokiye

Adokiye, took the man to the cleaners following the appearance of an article stating that Nzeribe is not to be blamed for the breakup in his relationship with Monalisa Chinda.

Although, the article which created the buzz has not been traced to Nzeribe, Adokiye called on him to stop fighting his ladies, but rather fight for them.

Zaaki Azzay finds another woman

Azzay

One time favoured singer, Zaaki Azzay, has remarried. The artiste, who was quite popular in the 1990s with his torch light remarried two years after his first marriage to Hadiza Yadoo, who bore him three children crashed due to allegations of domestic violence.

Zaaki quietly married his new wife, 24-year-old Hembadoon Ugema on Saturday, May 10, in a small nuptial which took place at the bride’s family home in Ushongo, Makurdi, Benue State.

The marriage between the artiste and his new wife would have held last month but had to be suspended for the whole issue with Azzay’s ex-wife to end.

The post Adokiye slams Lanre Nzeribe; Zaaki Azzay finds another woman appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Although he feels that he is not fully there yet, the happy moments are here again for medical doctor cum gospel music singer, Davis King, as his new video sweeps across the airwaves and social media.

Entitled Brighten My Day, one of the tracks that will make up his full album slated for release later, was dropped only a week ago and the soft-spoken young man describes the impact as massive and amazing.

“I don’t want to sound as if I’ve done the best but it’s something very unique and appealing, enough to elicit the kind of attention it is having now. It’s very encouraging and enough to spur me to do more,” he stated during the week.

King’s genre of gospel is encompassing – a fusion of rock, jazz, highlife, etc. “I didn’t gate crash into music; it’s an in-born talent that has been there. I studied medicine mainly because I was good in the sciences. My inspiration comes from God and that is why I can’t compromise on the quality of my songs.”

And that is why he’s not happy with gospel singers whose primary interest on commercial songs.

“It is an unfortunate development. You will notice that some of them are even transforming secular songs into gospel just to attract attention and make money; it is demeaning and a reason for the copyright law to be reviewed and check the excesses,” Davis said.

The full album may not be ready yet but he already has the title track. It is Rightful Places. “The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. So, the promise is that I will not disappoint anybody when it finally comes out.’’

The wave-making video of Brighten My Day was shot on locations in the United Kingdom.

“It coincided with a period I was on holidays there and I seized the opportunity to shoot it,” he revealed further.

Happily married with a son, King has been in the music arena for six years now.

The post Brighten My Day excites video lovers appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

This is cheering news for top music promoter and CEO, Miracle Day Music, Uzoma Omenka Day, as his company has been made the West African representative of a mother of all unity concerts in South Africa and Nigeria later in the year.

This was made known by Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of the late African icon, Nelson Mandela, who visited Nigeria recently.

According to Mandela who is a major figure in the youth arm of the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in South Africa, the concert is aimed at uniting the African continent through music for all African citizens to be able to move freely in every African country. It will also help to stop discrimination, hatred and killing for us to live in harmony. Uzoma who is Nigerian African American music promoter, hinted that starting from this year, African artistes will be selected from all parts of Africa for the show.

“It is a continuous event. This year, it will hold in South Africa and Nigeria, next year, we can move to Angola and Kenya and so on. Let us all join hands and get united,” he said.

The post Miracle Day Music partner, Ndaba Mandela, for Unity Concert appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

All the Is and Ts have been dotted and crossed by Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency (BSTDA)  towards hosting the 10^th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Yenagoa, which is gradually emerging the entertainment capital of Nigeria. This year’s award will hold on Saturday May 24 2014 at the newly refurbished Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre.

According to BSTDA, this year’s event which will attract a galaxy of celebrities and stars in the African movie industry especially Nollywood promises to be exciting and superlative as ever.

The Director General of BSTDA, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu Brown told Saturday Independent that it will definitely be “a night of glitz, glamour and razzmatazz as the entire city of Yenagoa will come alive as we roll out the drums to celebrate excellence in the African movie world.”

The AMAA awards ceremony which is Africa’s answer to America’s Academy Awards is the most authentic and widely acclaimed award in the African continent as it brings together a kaleidoscope of movie producers and other practitioners from across the globe to interface and share ideas and celebrate excellence on a regular basis annually.

“AMAA awards this year is going to be unique and special in several ways because we intend to use the event to showcase our rich cultural heritage and to promote the tourism and investment opportunities in the state.”

According to the Director General, this is the 10^th  year Bayelsa State is hosting AMAA, and that means we will go the extra mile to ensure that we put together a grand ceremony which will remain a reference point in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

Mrs. Ndiomu Brown also reiterated the fact that this year’s event is being bankrolled by the public sector and some public spirited individuals who share in the vision of His Excellency, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in transforming Bayelsa State into the tourism haven in Africa.

She stated further that AMAA has provided a veritable platform to train youths in various departments of movie making in line with the capacity building and empowerment programme of Governor Dickson.

For this year, about 500 youths will again be trained as cinematographers, producers, camera men, vision mixers, make-up artists, script writers, directors, actors and many more.

The essence of the training aspect of AMAA, Mrs. Ndiomu Brown observed, is to provide Bayelsa youths the opportunity to participate in the production of movies in Nigeria thereby reducing the burden on government as the sole employer of labour in the state.

She, therefore, admonished Bayelsans to come out in their numbers to welcome the galaxy of stars and also be part of the award ceremony.

It will be recalled that the award was initially scheduled to hold last month in Yenagoa.

The post AMAA holds May 24 in Yenagoa appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Fringe is back with a glam touch.  This dress which brings back the vibe of 1920s flapper style is the toast of every fashion forward female.

Because of how popular and flattering fringe dresses are, it is said that whoever puts on a fringe dress knows how to look glam.
Fringe fashion is not only fun, it is also figure-flattering. In a fringe dress, you don’t have to step too much to show you can dance, the swaying tassels that embellish the dress gives it movement while also camouflaging any bumps. Tina Turner was the queen of fringe dresses back in the days and we all know how much she loves dance.
Because a fringe dress is a statement in itself, accessorizing it is easy.

The key to wearing a fringe dress is to keep it simple. Limit the fringe to one article of clothing at a time. When wearing a fringe dress, resist the temptation of wearing design busy shoes, bags, pants, or jackets. The excessive use of tassels will result in a look that is overwhelming and messy. Avoid fringe-like jewelry as well. This mainly includes long pieces with many chains, such as large dangling earrings or long multi-string necklaces or bracelets. Pairing these items with a fringe dress will look redundant, and only take away from the desired drama of the dress.

If the fringe dress is short, an ankle boot is a great addition to the casual sexy look. There are fresh alternative to regular heels. However, a great pair of strappy sling backs would look more appropriate if you’re going for something more formal. As a finishing touch, top off your look with a cute clutch.

The post Get your Fringe on appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Davido’s rise to stardom was encouraged partly by his many crises and majorly his good music.

Davido

At a point, it became inevitable for the music act not to be involved in at least one trouble in a week. For some, it was a publicity stunt like the recent breakup rumour of twin artiste, P-Square, while for others, Omo Baba Olowo was just a spoilt young man.

From how he beat up girls at random to how he sends his female fans who accompany him home out of his apartment in the middle of the night and how he and his cousin, B_Red, fought destroying properties worth millions in their Atlanta Georgia home, Davido was simply the king of controversies.

All that however went under for a while until his recent faceoff with officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). While Davido said he was been harassed because of money by men of the service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos the Public Relations Officer of NIS Emeka Obua, has refuted his claims setting the facts straight.

Davido’s recent and supposed false accusation against the NIS has seen a lot of his fans reminising on his days of daily troubles.

The post Davido in fresh trouble appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Ifeoma Ononye   /  Senior Reporter

Funmi Irantiola Olurinola (right) and Buntricia

The first edition of Make up in Nigeria Conference, MINC  took place on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. It was put together by veterans, professional makeup artists and make up entrepreneurs in the makeup industry.
The stakeholders are optimistic that Makeup in Nigeria Conference will help grow Nigeria Makeup industry.

The conference was a four stage master class training session to build and equip the nation’s next set of pioneers, leaders and innovators in the beauty sector.

Amazed by the huge turnout of makeup artists and practitioners in the beauty industry, one of the speakers, Joy Adenuga, a makeup artist based in London, stated that there is need to set up a body to regulate the Nigerian Makeup and beauty sector.
She explained that she has always known Nigeria has great professionals in makeup line but never expected the crowd that greeted her when she got on stage.

More so, CEO of House of Tara, Tara Durotoye, who is one of the veterans in the Nigerian makeup sector and one of the organisers of the conference, agreed with the notion that there is need to establish a regulatory body as the industry has a good number of professionals and many aspiring makeup artists. She said the idea to set up the conference was conceived in October 2013 and was for the purpose of creating a platform for practitioners to learn new skills, exchange ideas and ultimately network with industry veterans.

“There is always room to learn more because the beauty and fashion world keeps evolving. The conference will be an annual event and this will be the support base for every professional makeup artist in Nigeria to grow,” she said.

She further stated that the conference bringing all the shapers in the industry together, that the industry will drive towards achieving the necessary structures that will help build the sector to an enviable height.

The conference had the presence of many other stakeholders in the industry like well known international Makeup artist, Buntricia Bastain Clayton, managing director of L’Oreal Cantral West Africa, Idy Enang, Bayo Babalola Haastrup, Eni Balogun of Lise Beauty, seasoned Nigerian makeup artist, Lola Maja, Artistic Director, MAYBELLINE New York, Bimpe Onakoya, to name a few.

The post Faces of leading Nigerian makeup artists appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Nkasiobi Oluikpe  /  Lagos

If there are people who have truly paid their dues in the football profession in Nigeria, the name, Alabi Aisien, falls into this

Alabi Aisien

category. But for Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, the country has not deemed it fit to recognise or even acknowledge any of the feats he achieved. On the contrary, he said, he was used and dumped by the country he gave his best.

Aisien was the chairman of Edo State Football Association and a resource person for the All African Games that have presented papers upon papers in different fora.

He played for Nigeria’s national team, the Green Eagles, between 1962 and 1966. As a coach for the Bendel Insurance Football Club, he won the league in 1973, won the Challenge Cup in 1978 and 1983; got to the final of a club championship on three different occasions; came for a rescue mission for Bendel Insurance when they were about going to relegation in 1995 and also won the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup for them same year.

Those apart, Aisien did some jobs for BCC Lions, Rangers and in 1984, rescued the Shooting Stars of Ibadan and put them in another continental competition before leaving. He was also with the defunct Obanta United.

He trained at the Dutch High School for Sports and Culture; visited Yugoslavia, was also in England on several occasions. At one time, he was the most senior football coach in the country and took part in training winners of the 1980 Cup of Nations.

As a national coach, he was in Zone Three with Maiduguri as his headquarters, was in Zone One with Ibadan as his headquarters; was at a time in charge of the old Western Region which included Kwara, Kogi and the old Midwestern regions.

Aisien does acknowledge the fact that football has changed for the better from what it used to be during his days, though he and his contemporaries had better drills and commitment. There wasn’t much tactical depth in their days compared to what is obtainable today.

“Suffice it to say that today, there is more tactical depth; that is why we are able to beat South Africans who are still making the mistakes we made years back. Each time we meet them, we are the victors. Football has metamorphosed. That we are rated 30 something in the world says it all. By the time we were playing, we were not rated at all even though we had more enthusiasm and commitment and thought we had better approaches, but it wasn’t true. Football is a growing sports and anything that grows is subject to changes.

“One would say the standards are not as expected, but the reasons are not farfetched. When the players are getting out of their greens into the super clash, they are snatched away to play professional football in Europe, so we became a grooming ground for the big shots. That is why we cannot size our leagues here with that of the North Africans. North Africans buy from us, we are always selling, we are always producing.

“However, at our national level, you will agree with me that Nigeria has never had it so good as it is now with Stephen Keshi. So far, he is the most successful indigenous coach we have ever had. That does not necessarily mean that he is the best coach but he has been able to harness the resources and has become a very good manager of what he has and making waves. We want to back him up and support him; that is how teams should be. Those who came after us will be better than us, and even though they are the latest, some people are still the greatest,” he said.

Administratively, he explains that because football is growing, administrators cannot afford to be lacking behind, otherwise, the growth will be meaningless. So for the growth to be sustained, it has to embrace a little from the technical side and a little from administration.

Football administration, he acknowledges is faced with a lot of challenges, some of which he emphasized that from his own perspective, will have no end for now.

“The challenges abound; we get the funding at the wrong time and sport does not wait. When you want to go for a major competition, the money will not come out, the preparation would be jettisoned. But the federal government is trying to bridge that gap now because they are trying to make monies available on time.

“Again the administrators are wrong to be sending administrators to where competitions are held instead of sending the technical people, they send themselves. That is a wrong peg in a wrong hole.

“The administrators also limit their knowledge to administrative aspect alone to the negligence of the technical aspect. You can hardly differentiate the role of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The calendar from the NSC should reflect on the calendars from other sports bodies. But we don’t get calendar from the NSC. That is a place I have served before, that place is not growing.

Though some of Nigeria’s foreign players hold the country to ransom for one reason or the other during tournaments, leading some people to ask why it is not possible to field in local players only. Aisien feels that they are professionals and because the country wants the best, it cannot afford to settle for a lesser best.

“We can raise a local team but no country in the world would depend on just one arm of its resources to play. It is blending the local ones with professionals. If we have the best in local players, we would use them. You need professionalism, which does not end in just kicking the ball on the field alone.  You must exhibit a professional touch and professional character on the field.

“Nobody likes to be inconvenienced. If a player flies in from Europe and you don’t pay him the agreed fees, does he not have the right to agitate? We give them the room to agitate. If you don’t do what you are supposed to do, by biblical standard, it is sinful. It is an administrative flaw and not the fault of the players.”

Aisien speaks on what he would do, if given the opportunity to stop the country from being a breeding ground for European football leagues: “It is all about seeking greener pastures.  Just like Green Eagles becoming Super Eagles, we are no longer green.

“If I find myself in that position, I will improve on my administrative capability and do things needed of me. I will make sure there is a football calendar and that the right peg is put in the right hole. And I think if that is a yardstick to go by, the players and spectators would love it and the country would grow by it.

One thing that hurts Aisien most, is the way the country treats its heroes. “Look I have served this country. I believe I deserve some form of recognition. Nigeria is a country that kills its heroes. I want to doff my heart to Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State who remembered me and some of my colleagues few years ago. God will bless him. But Nigeria used me and dumped me. Not just me alone, there are a lot of my colleagues like that. Peter Anieke was driven from the gate at the National Stadium and badly beaten. The man had to cry home. That was the man who made football interesting. It is only Fashola that is always coming to our aid,” he revealed.

Though, not much is being heard about him of recent, as he said that he is taking an active rest but presently has a youth club he manages which he calls Greater Tomorrow. Though retired, he is still very much in the industry but not as actively involved as to lose his breathes. That apart, he is still watching and waiting for common sense to prevail and the right things done.

The post Nigeria used and dumped me – Aisien appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Captain Tolu Ita, is one of the female pilots of Aero Contractors, one of the  leading domestic airlines in the  country. In this interview with Correspondent Abel Orukpe, she spoke on why she decided to become a pilot and  the challenges  of delving into a male dominated profession. 

Tell us more about yourself

I am Tolulope Ita, I am a 37 years old lady from Ogun State married to an Akwa Ibom State man. We have a family of seven. I

Captain Tolu Ita

schooled in Lagos. I attended Igbobi Girls High School and later proceeded to the University of Ilorin, where I got a degree in Computer Science after which I proceeded to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria for flying .While in Zaria, I did some management courses in ABU (Ahmadu Bello University), some French courses  and after that I graduated as a pilot  and started working with Aero Contractors and while in Aero, I did my Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) in the United States; that is a prequalification before becoming a captain and  it costs a lot of money; between $5,000 and $10,000.

I started my career when I joined Aero Contractors in 2005. Those who know me knew that I wanted to fly, but my father died when I was nine and it was not possible for my mother to consider this career for me. I have been in Aero ever since. I did some training in auditing and I just concluded a course in Flight Operations Management and I am presently the Fleet Manager of the Dash-8 aircraft in Aero Contractors. So that is Tolu Ita.

Why did you chose to become a pilot?

I am a pilot because I love flying. I like the mysteries. It is actually the mysteries that surrounds flying that actually attracted me to the job and since I have been in the job, I have fallen in love with it and it is what you really like that you end up doing. I have never seen myself as a medical professional or as any other professional .No other profession has given me that interest parse because it is the interest that and keeps you in the job not necessarily the income.

How has it been being a woman pilot?

It has been interesting, challenging in men dominated industry and yet you just feel like one of your male colleagues. I am that kind of person who gets bored easily. So the fun of the job is that you treat every day as it comes. There are few challenges in terms of time, weather, interface with people and sometimes, emergency. It is always fun to face things and deal with them in a matter of time .So it has been quite interesting being a woman pilot.

Then, how are you coping with the male pilots considering the fact that it is a male dominated profession?

They don’t even notice that I am a lady .That is the most interesting part. Like now, I am the manager of the whole fleet. I have my way even when men are around and I have my deputy, who is also a lady, you can imagine and we have the cooperation and support of all the male pilots in our fleet .You just do your job and it is about professionalism .Men, I must give it to them, have learn to accept women the way they are.  They have also learned to accept women as co-professionals and they give the same support they would give to fellow men. It is about the job provided you do it professionally .It is not about whether you are male or female. It is the job that interest my colleague and not about the gender.

You are the manager of a fleet. Are you saying that the male pilots are not saying for example, ‘oh! She is woman, how can she be our boss’?

When we  go to simulation or when we fly together  we face the same weather, the same turbulence together, take challenging decisions  and they have realised over time that you have taken decision not like a woman or a man but like a pilot. Of course, they have learned to forget about your sex or who you are. Like I said earlier, it is about professionalism. We go for training and they can see that you don’t perform any less than them.

Have you ever been intimidated by your male colleagues? 

It is not about been intimidated by a man. It is about the personality because sometimes, women too give you issues. So, I would not say I have really been intimidated by my male colleagues .And you know that the beauty of aviation is that there is no women but what we have is that we are all airmen just like journalism, where you say gentle men of the media or press even when there are women among the journalists. To be honest, you don’t even notice the sex. We just move on without anybody thinking whether I am a male or female pilot. We carry out our job in a professional manner.

What challenges do women pilots face?  

The challenges we face is not really directly with the job. But about the fact that the society we are in expect a lot from you .Your job does not give you some privilege as a woman. For example, I am married with two kids with a husband. My husband is not going to say because I am a pilot he would be the one to cook the food for the family. I still have my demanding household work on my head. It is always very challenging coping with your professional work, home, children husband, family and other challenges. And despite all these, you still have the cockpit to deal with. The biggest challenges we face are outside the cockpit not necessarily directly with the job. As a female pilot, the job has not limited me otherwise I would not be the manager. It is actually very demanding. It is challenging because you have to plan and continuously plan. Like my children’s school, I have to plan how they are going to be picked up .I have a very good nanny but unfortunately this morning, my nanny of six and a half years fell sick. I have to immediately start looking for alternative plans because I will be flying immediately after this interview and I am not coming back until night. Fortunately, my husband is also a pilot too. Oh, I have to say my husband will be on night work today. So, his schedule, my schedule and the children reschedule everything will be on my head. Is my husband coming back today, what he is going to have for dinner, ok his food has to be ready? Oh nobody is around, is the cook closing? The nanny doubles as the cook when the kids are in school; she does the cooking. Oh she is not coming, oh, I have to rush home, oh I have to call in somebody. Then, on the job, they will call you telling you that you have management meeting. Like this morning, there was a management safety review for the company and at 3’oclock I am supposed to fly .Oh there is a meeting they called me for and I am supposed to have known about it. Oh, I am sorry I have to show up. I have to run down. Despite that, it is dynamic every day.

Between you and your husband, who started flying first?

We started together and we were classmates. We went to flying school the same time.

Which aircraft type have you flown?

I have flown Boeing 737 as a First Officer (FO). I started flying with a Dash 8 aircraft and proceeded to fly Boeing 737 craft and now I am back to Dash 8 craft as a captain.

Can you compare the two aircraft?

You can compare the two because the Boeing 737 aircraft is bigger. It is turbine engine. The Dash 8 airplane is smaller and the capacity is 78 passengers with a propeller engine. They are in two different categories and that is why for every aircraft you fly you have to go for training because the systems are completely different.

What is your advice for females who want to be pilot?

My simple advice for them is to be focused and committed if they want to succeed and become pilots. I am saying this because it takes commitment for one to succeed in this job and indeed, in every other job.

The post The mysteries surrounding flying made me become a pilot appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Gbenga Adeyinka

Digital Interactive Media (DIM) announced last week at a press launch that activities for the Supermom Reality TV show, Season 5, has kicked off. Regarded as one of the most watched family-oriented shows on television, Supermom is a reality entertainment show, which celebrates mothers for making extraordinary sacrifices for their children. The touching nature of the show has earned it popularity since many can relate to the mother-child bond.

There is, however, a big change from the norm this year, as the Supermom, will not be a mom but a dad. “In line with the dynamic nature of the Supermom Reality show, this year’s edition is, therefore, tagged ‘My Dad…My Supermom’ and is a break from the norm, to celebrate fathers who sacrificed selflessly for their children by taking up the mantle of motherhood in the absence of their mothers due to circumstances like a mothers neglect of her children, legal separation or even death,” CEO of DIM, Sola Fajobi, says.

Over the years, there have been supermoms emerging. The first edition, Mrs. Nkechi Rapu, a 63-year-old from Delta State emerged the winner, winning a three-bedroom bungalow while Mrs. Muibat Adisa and Mrs. Blessing Okpabi emerged first and second runners up, carting home a new car and N500,000 respectively.

There was also a celebrity edition in which mothers of some of Nigeria’s superstars told their stories. Mrs. Gladys Asukwo, mother of celebrated visually impaired music producer, Cobhams Asuquo, won N2million for her extraordinary sacrifices during Cobhams’ early years. Mrs. Anike Omobonike and Mrs. Martina Sanni, mother of Fuji maestro, Abass Akande Obesere, and mother of hip hop crooner, Skales, won N1million and N500,000 respectively.

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DJ Jimmy Jatt

Nigeria’s leading disc jockey (DJ), Jimmy Jatt, in this interview with Correspondent, Nkasiobi Oluikpe, which is part of activities to mark his 25 years anniversary as a DJ, speaks on his journey so far in the entertainment industry.

How has it been this past 25 years?

It has been rough, it has been smooth, it has been up and it has been down. Sometimes, you are like, why not go look for something else to do. And sometimes, it will be so sweet you just want to thank God. But for somebody like me, whether it is smooth or rough, I just have to keep moving because for me, there are a lot of younger ones I have given hope in this business so if I give up, I would be disappointing them. It has been all good so far and for me.

So, what would you say has been your staying power as a disc jockey?

For me, the motivating force was the negativity of people towards it. People think that you are the most terrible person in the world, that once you are into disc jockey business, you are into all the vices in the world. So for me, the motivation was to prove to such people that they are wrong. But presently, it has got to a point where you attract young people into the same profession because they are looking up to you, a point where people celebrate you and you tell yourself, I owe it to this people to make them proud.

It was like a struggle at a time, people do not want you to identify with them. A lot of people, who ordinarily are supposed to be your friends, are not proud to say they are your friends. But now,everybody wants to have a DJ in their family. It is like football, footballers were not recognised in this country before. But now, once you have a male child, you want to encourage him to become a footballer.

My fans right now cut across age bracket of 10 to 60 years old. I go to my kids’ school and you see kids asking for autograph and they go home and mention me to their father who is 35 or 40 years old or even above. You are a brand that appeals to everybody and you owe it to everybody to be responsible.

What is the aim and objective of this celebration?

For me, it is not so much of a celebration. It is just to let people aspire and let people believe in themselves. Some people would ordinarily have believed that you couldn’t even have done this as a profession. At the initial stage, people did not believe that what I do as a profession is worth the while. They think then that once you are into this, you are not someone to be respected, they look down on you. All of that has changed. In this age and time, the challenge faced by DJs have lessened. I have done it for 25 years, so it is a way of telling young, up and coming DJs that they can actually make a career out of it. So for me, that is more important than anything else.

I have actually been a DJ for more than 25 years. But the 25th anniversary that we are celebrating is the 25 years of my being in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. The years before 1989, I will take as my learning period. But it was in 1989 I told myself I wasn’t going to do anything else. But I have actually been a DJ before then. Some people might know me from Obalende, sometime around the mid 1980s, as a school boy, playing music for people. I have never written an application for job before in my life. It has been 25 years of professionalism, most people that know me, know that I shy away from celebration because I am not a loud person. It is a celebration of 25 years of consistency and relevance. There has not been a time within those 25 years that DJ is discussed in this country and I am not part of the subject matter. People celebrate some years within which they have had on and off seasons but for me since 1989, it has been ‘Jimmy Jatt and others’; the word, Jimmy Jatt, has  been a constant factor.

What are the events lined up for this celebration?

There are a whole lot of programmes.  Up till the first quarter of next year we have a whole lot of things that we are doing. By the end of this month we will start it up with a tour of six cities in the country. These include Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Ilorin, Lagos, Calabar and Ibadan. It will take us through June. In July, we are doing the Europe tour to London, Germany, Italy, Austria, Amsterdam, Turkey, and other African countries such as South Africa and Cotonou in Benin Republic. Then in August, we are having the main event for the celebration, which is the Black Tie event, where people in the key industry, friends and people that have supported us so far would get together. In September, we would be having the annual Jump Off that we have been doing for some time now. But this year’s own would be in line with what we are celebrating right now, I mean, it will be tied to the 25^th anniversary celebration.

Thereafter, in October, we will go into some corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme where we will engage in mentorship for the younger people. We have a foundation to launch, and things to do for both the young people and probably, some less privileged people (I don’t like using that term most times). It is ongoing and will continue to unveil as we move on. This is for real and I think I am surrounded by the most effective set of people, my everyday people, we are working tirelessly. That will also take us to the first and second quarter of next year because we have a TV reality show coming up soon.

The album is titled The Industry, it featured artistes of various generations and classes. You will find the very experienced and old artistes there, the younger up and coming artistes, the A list artistes, just think of it. It is an album you wouldn’t want to miss listening to.

You once said, you wanted to be a lawyer. At what point did you jettison your dream of becoming a lawyer?

It wasn’t like I actually planned to be a lawyer. It was just a case of you being in school and if you are not a science student, then you are an arts student. The most you could think of doing then (because there were only four professions) was to choose to either be a medical doctor, a lawyer, an engineer or a pilot. Looking at it, every other one required you doing science. Then I said okay, I will be a lawyer. But I must say that music took too much of my head and time. Before I started DJ, I was an aspiring artiste, I recorded demo tapes, I was a dancer until finally I decided I was going to be a DJ and settled for it.

Considering that when you started, you guys were not respected, what was your parents’ reaction to your taking to disc jockeying?

To be honest with you, I didn’t have problems with my home. I became a music lover because my dad, mum and brothers were serious music collectors, so the only thing I toiled around with was music. For them, it was obvious I was going to get into music, so I didn’t have any problems. But from the outside, there were people looking down on you, thinking you are just a lowlife or somebody not focused on life. That alone gave me the strength to keep going on this course. You don’t allow people’s negativity to slow you down in whatever you want to do in life. For me, I was more determined to what I was doing at the time because you don’t judge a book by its cover.

So far, what status has DJ conferred on you?

For me, whatever I have become now is more of me being a DJ. But I think I go more than just being a DJ. I am more like a friend of all in the industry. Quite a good number of people have been of strong support to me and I have also tried to help a lot of people grow, discover and develop them. So it isn’t just about being a DJ. But also, I am able to do that because I make something out of being a DJ.

Where and where has DJ taken you to?

I am thinking of where it has not taken me to. I have been everywhere I can think of. I have been across the world. I would like to look at it through the continents. I have been to Asia, I have been to Europe, I have been to America, I have been across Africa, maybe I have not been to Australia, but you know, I have been virtually everywhere.

Do you think you can stand shoulder to shoulder with DJs in the Western world?

The ones that are of my height, I will stand shoulder to should with them. Some people are shorter, so they would need to climb something before getting to height and also, some people are taller. It all depends on how you mean it. But the truth is, in my own territory, I am Jimmy Jatt. If you say DJs in Nigeria, I come easily to mind. And if you say DJs in Africa, Nigerian DJs come into reckoning and if you say DJs across the world, Africans come into reckoning. So I stand tall anywhere I go.

Would you allow any of your kids to take disc jockeying too?

Why not? I told earlier that I have attracted a lot of young people into this profession. If I am guilty of attracting young people of other parentage into it, why would I say it is wrong for my own children to go into it? What I have done so far is to make DJ something that young people would want to get into or would want to aspire to be and my own kids would not be an exception. If they want to be DJs, I will support them. One thing you would have to understand is, no matter what our own achievements as DJs are now, would be nothing to what the next generation of DJs would achieve. The next generations of DJs are going to be bigger and greater. Mark my words! It is the same thing with football. When the Segun Odegbamis was playing football, I don’t think they got what Mikel Obi is getting right now, but they paved the way. There would always be people to pave the way for so many other people coming behind to excel.

You have come a long way, what in particular would you say brought you into the limelight?

I think it is just being a DJ because I started being a DJ when there was no media platform to support it. I wasn’t really on the television. It was just about you playing for 100,000 people, then the 100,000 people tell a million people. So for me, it’s been straight credibility. I mean, I have been to every nook and cranny of this country. I have been to places you will think people don’t go to play for parties. But I so much as spread myself. Good enough, technology and electronic media came at a good time and this kind of moved us up to the next level.

You previously said your best meal is jollof rice and dodo. Do you still eat them as much with the dietary consciousness in place presently?

Yes, I still eat them, but in moderation. Most foods are not as bad or as unhealthy as people portray them. It is just that people tend to consume too much of them. And no matter how good a thing may be, too much of it is bad. So you do things in moderation.

How did you meet your wife?

Where would a man like me meet a woman? We met at a party. We dated for some few years and we got married not long after. We have as well been married for some few years.

What actually attracted you to her since she was not the only lady at the party then?

Like I said, we were friends first. I wasn’t chasing her for the chasing purpose. I was actually dating someone else and since I have always been a one man one woman person, the space wasn’t there. So when the space became available, I then said, okay, this girl that I have always had my eyes on let me quickly arrange myself for her. If you see my wife right now, then you will understand the attraction at that time.

And like I said, we got to know each other well. Even though she is very beautiful physically, she is more beautiful in the inside of her which is what I was looking out for.

What has the challenge been so far with her?

I have been so lucky because I married someone who understands me and understands what I do. She knows me well and I can say with all boldness that we really get along. To be honest with you, if you see the two of us we are like siblings. We argue but we don’t fight. She is my best friend so far. I mean, I have been blessed as an African man in terms of family.

And in your career calling, what frustrations have you been faced with?

For me at the initial stage, there was always that discouraging factor that you don’t have a head to have even thought of being a DJ. Even when it was like I was almost going to give up, when I remember those days, I just tell myself you have got to forge on. I tell myself, if I give up now, then those people will start celebrating. So I tell myself, I am not going to quit but to succeed at this.

What would you not be found doing?

A whole lot of negative stuffs. I am not saying I am a saint, but truly, I try not to do things I know are not exactly positive. There are quite a number of things I would not be found doing. I am trying to remember them. But I can assure you that things that are dirty would not have my imprint on them.

The post At first, people did not want to identify with me – Jimmy Jatt appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

Terry-G

Nollywood screen actors, Charles Awurum and Ken Erics were both spotted on the set of Terry G’s upcoming career documentary and mini-movie, ‘Fans Assembly’ season 1.

These two top actors whose roles are yet to be confirmed, are however listed among the key acts as they all played major on the documentary that will unveil Terry G’s career influence on the people and fans. Specifically initiated by Fun-Code Media Limited, it will be having a number of Nigerian reigning musicians on parade as they keep headlining it seasonally.

However, for the first season, the hit-man of TGP Entertainment, Terry G took the lead that will roll along to keep viewers spellbound. Not only did it feature the earlier mentioned names, the likes of Nigerian’s fastest rising comedians, Senator, Mc Ash and Egbeigwe as well as Elvis Ogbonna, Fountain and Christy Ozioma Ijele were all seen on set.

Interestingly, media personality, Ugochukwu Favour-Mayor had earlier been pronounced as the anchor of the documentary, even as he was spotted sitting side-by-side with Terry G during recordings at the Nigezie’s Studio in Lagos.

The post Terry G tells life story in movie appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.

By Yemi Akintomide  / Correspondent, Akure

Details never escape a poet. A surge, call it a swarm, of school pupils in front of the St Joseph’s College, Ondo, was giving the

Students boarding one of the buses

bus officials a hard time on Thursday when this writer and a friend chose to experience what some secondary school students in the state called “our latest joy.’’ Exceptionally neat, new and well maintained, the buses were simply state-of-the-art, dedicated solely to primary and secondary school children. The buses would later come to pick the rest of the children, officials assured, but the youngsters, typically of people in their age bracket, would not be outdone by their colleagues. They wanted to go home right now, not later, and that was it. It was indeed a hectic time. But the bus administrators would not budge: overloading was a cardinal offence, as they had strict orders from the state government to maintain the safety of the students.

The buses would not leave any student behind in school, as they would ply the roads till very late in the day, yet the youngsters surged forward in a get-home-before-my-friend game. My colleague looked at me and remembered a Yoruba proverb: Agba wa bura b’ewe o ba se e ri (elder, can you vow you were never subjected to the follies of youth?”). I nodded, but reminded her that we never rode a free bus to school in the early 1980s, let alone a state-of-the-art one. “This Mimiko of a guy is something else,” she quipped.

Numbering five (with 80 seating and 20 standing spaces) on that spot alone, the buses were painted in the orange/off white curve of the new Ondo outlook, and were busy loading, with officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the bus administrators controlling the movement of the youngsters so that they did not injure one another out of excitement. Facing right, the buses would, we learnt, glide through Ife Garage, Civic Centre, Sabo, Lipakala, Adeyemi College of Education, Catholic Junction, Oka, all the way into Odojomu, Oja and facing left, they would head to Gani, Better Lab, Ade Super, Molasuru, NEPA and Akinjagunla, all the way to Akure garage and beyond, picking and dropping students at designated bus stops shaped like an umbrella and painted in the Ondo colours, with a bus stop administrator ensuring the smooth flow of proceedings. The students—from St Monica’s Girls Grammar School, Ondo Anglican Grammar School, St Joseph’s College and a few other adjoining private schools-were eager to quickly get home after a hectic day at school, and each had kind words for the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. “We like these buses,’’ they said as they rushed in. “Governor Mimiko has promised that we will not suffer again, so we know that these buses will be available every blessed day,’’ said a boy as he shuttled quickly between boarding a bus and dealing with a seemingly stubborn mango, totally impervious to the criticisms of his fellows who demanded greater decorum because of our adult presence.  “Governor Mimiko did not say that we could not eat mangoes in this bus,’’ he said rather seriously, occasioning general laughter.

“Mr Mimiko is indeed a fantastic governor; he has made life much easier for us and our parents, as transport fare for students in Ondo State is now a thing of the past. My mother was telling her friend just yesterday that we have never seen anything like this in Ondo State,’’ offered Joke Olubunmi, a JSS2 pupil.

Said another student, Gideon Oluwaseun, an SSS 3 student. “This bus helps us in many ways. We will not be trekking again like we used to do before. My mum used to spend N100 per person daily before and we are five in number. I want to say that he (Mimiko) should continue the good work and God will continue to bless him.’’

A bus administrator added: “We can’t over-emphasise the benefits that parents have derived. This place is like a concentration of schools: St Joseph’s, St Monica’s, St. Helen’s, Ondo Grammar School, Ondo Boys. We can’t estimate the number of students we’re conveying everyday.  That helps their parents. Again, the safety of the students is paramount and the governor is very passionate about that. The services he is providing are not for the people to say that he’s doing well but for him to satisfy his conscience; the governor is trying to assist parents in saving money. Gone are the days when, at 10 am, you find students roaming the streets. Most of them boarding okada (motorbike) and some were involved in avoidable accidents.’’ But then he turned to the crowd: “If I don’t call you, don’t come in.’’

On Friday afternoon, we chatted with some students as they boarded the free shuttle buses in Akure, the state capital, home-bound. At the Fiwasaye Bus Stop in Alagbaka, one Afenifemi Omobololanle, a JSS3 student of African Church Comprehensive High School, quipped: “It (the bus) is fine. It’s been helping us. All around our community, the shuttle bus is there. Instead of us spending money, we are seeing a free bus ride here now. It’s helping my parents not to waste their money on transport; they will only spend money on food. I thank Governor Olusegun Mimiko. God will always provide for him and his family.’’

Another young lady, Dada Oyindamola, an SSS3 student of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure, could not agree less: “It is very good; it helps people in saving money. Those that are poor and do not have money to give their children for transport to school now have a respite. Some people have four children in school and do not have enough money to give their children for transport, but this one will save them, to and fro. This is a new agenda and everybody is pleased with it, even the old women.

“At least, dropping and picking your children is a good thing and everybody is happy with it. Even if our parents give us money for transport, we save it and use it for other things. Parents are saving what used to be transport money, which at times was more than school fees, to buy other things. My advice to Governor Mimiko is that he should keep on doing good to us and any other governor that is coming after him should make this continue. You know, if another governor comes now, he may stop this. This programme should continue.”

But the state Commissioner for Transport, Nicholas Tofowomo, dismissed fears about the project being abandoned by successive administrations.

Hear him: “When you build a meaningful foundation, a rock-solid foundation that has rules and regulations and has embraced a lot of resources, human resources and is not a one-man show, having a clear cut template-that is what we’ve put in place in the Ministry of Transport. Our school free shuttle is not driven by an outsider; it is driven by the ministry in such a way that the Chief Transport Officer, the bus driver, the fuelling and maintenance-everything is driven by this ministry, so that when the government leaves, these people would still be here. This is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, dedicated solely to students. The buses are never hired out.

“All those people that are driving this concept are not politicians; they are civil servants, except me, the head, whom Governor Mimiko has given directives to and I have been able to inculcate those directives into the system, whereby even if I’m out of the system, there will be sustainability. For instance, the school free shuttle was started in Akure here. The drivers we employed have a minimum of school certificate, they are civil servants and they are trained to look after the vehicle if it breaks down. If we are out of the system, the drivers would still drive the vehicles and they would be able to manage them.’

The post A ride in Ondo’s free shuttle buses appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper.