The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘Our experience as a singing couple’

    Sunday Oguntola speaks with popular gospel singers Damilola and Bukola Bekes on their music ministry. Excerpts:

    What is the idea behind Alone With God?

    God gave us the idea when we were returning from one of our overseas trips. It came right during the flight. The instruction is to gather people in a place and worship God on behalf of Nigeria monthly and this has been on since February 2018.

    It takes place every first Sunday of the month between 3 – 5 pm. It was also birthed on the premise of a pertinent question in our heart which was “What can we contribute to our dear country Nigeria?”

    The Alone With God #AWG as the name implies is a personal experience which everyone encounters when we come together to worship our maker God. There is no middle person when we worship God. It is a personal encounter.

    What atmosphere exists during the outreach?

    The participants are always excited once the day is approaching. You see, the presence of God is the best place to be and what to expect is far beyond what we bargain for…

    What is it like being a singing couple?

    It is one of the greatest things God has done for us. This is by Divine arrangement and we thank God for this. This has helped and still helping us as a couple to have same focus and goal, we are not divided in the line of profession, we do same thing at the same time and together every time for the same God and together in all our programs. There is no reason for going different ways in our day- to- day activities.

    As a wife, being a singing couple has been a tremendous blessing to me in particular. There’s nothing as good as you and your husband doing the same thing, going the same direction, running the same goal, championing the same vision.

    It has tightened our love all because we are always on the moves together within and outside Nigeria. For me we are always doing honeymoons.

    Also, ministering together we understand each other and we have signs, I mean there’s a way we signal to each other on the stage to pass a message and what I noticed is that we have grown from glory to glory and this is a plus to our marriage.

    It’s also a way for us to make sure that we always in one accord because we must not offer unto God strange fire so if there’s any argument we must settle it before we go to bed or before our ministrations which has really helped us as a couple

    What are the essentials to being a successful music minister? 

    The major factor to be a successful music minister is to have God who is the one that is the owner of the gift.

    Know Him as Lord and saviour as well because knowing that music can be used as a tool, tool. Then, you must love and spend time with God daily. Read your bible daily. Try to memorise a bible passage every day. Pray every day because there must be constant communication between you and God.

    Love your spouse and family. You see your family is the first ministry you have. Take time to rest very well because singing can be strenuous.

    Stay connected with God. To be successful in this ministry you must be a great worshipper yourself because you cannot offer what you don’t have.

    You must love the Lord with all your heart and passionately. The God aspect and God factor is very important and crucial in moving forward and making your ministry acceptable.

    Learn to pick great worship songs around the world. You must go outside your preferences in musical styles, learn other styles. Be versatile and don’t be rigid. Develop balanced repertoire of fast, medium and slow songs.

    Develop a great team. You must have a system for bringing along wonderful musicians, because they are very important in the success of your ministry. You must help your team to grow spiritually.

    Never stop growing. You must practice your singing. You must keep learning every day. Take lessons and improve your craft and leadership. You must change and grow with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are preaching with our songs mending broken heart.

    Is the Alone with God conceived for worshippers to unwind or much more?

    Alone With God is a movement that includes and welcome everybody irrespective of religion. As a matter of fact, we are to gather to praise God for Nigeria so that God will intervene in regarding to our beloved Nigeria and all Nigerians are welcome.  It is beyond unwinding, we look forward to experiencing the tangible presence of God which has always been anytime we gathered and it will surely continue to be.

    What is your position on the raging debate on whether gospel musicians should charge for invitations?

    We need to understand this topic in perspectives. This issue depends on personal convictions. It’s just like all normal professions. For example, as you have a Lawyer, you have a Doctor and so on, so we have someone that music is their profession. So, in that case there should be balance.

    Some of us don’t charge and some do. There’s no issue with anyone. If you go to a doctor or a lawyer for them to render a service for you, you can’t tell them to render their services for you free of charge except they decide to help the fellow.

    So it’s applicable to musicians or music ministers. We all stay in the same world, go to the same stores, markets same gas stations, buy airline tickets and so on.

  • Insecurity: Ugwuanyi summons neighbourhood watch groups

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has summoned an emergency security meeting with all local vigilante groups across the state.

    The meeting, scheduled for Monday, was informed by the unfortunate death of the Parish Priest of St. James The Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu, on Friday.

    According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the meeting will hold at the Government House, Enugu at 1pm.

    Prof. Ortuanya, who conveyed the sincere condolences of the state government to the family of Rev. Fr. Offu and the entire Catholic Diocese of Enugu, over the painful death, also notified the public of planned air surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) along Ihe-Agbudu axis, Awgu, Aninri, Nkanu East Local Government Areas and their environs, as part of measures endorsed at the meeting to improve the security of the state.

    The SSG therefore, enjoined citizens of the state not to panic in the course of the exercise, which he said is targeted at fishing out criminal elements in the affected areas and beyond. He maintained that the state government remains committed to security of lives and property in Enugu State and will continue to sustain the existing peace in the state.

    Read Also: Insecurity: South West governors plan joint patrol

    In a related development, Ugwuanyi yesterday commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its contributions towards the maintenance of peace and security in the state, especially the introduction of air surveillance of the state to enhance the state government’s successes in combating security challenges in the state.

    The governor who spoke when he participated at the annual 10 kilometer Walk/Jog for all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force in Enugu, stated that the exercise which was designed to ensure that the personnel of the NAF remain in the best physical and mental condition to carry out their very crucial responsibility of defending the nation’s territorial integrity was timely and a welcome development.

    The governor appreciated the wonderful partnership/ cooperation with security agencies in the state, adding that it has been largely responsible for the state’s enviable status as one of the safest and most secure states in the country.

    He also thanked and reassured the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, NAF, Enugu, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, of the state government’s continued support and assistance towards the success of the Command in particular and the Nigerian Air Force in general.

  • Group supports indigent patients with cash gift

    Every parent knows that raising a child is one of life’s most fulfilling challenges. Although the emotional price of raising a sick child can be devastating, it’s only part of the picture. Even during trying times, parents become overwhelmed by medical expenses and this to an extent hinders them from giving their children adequate medical care.

    Hope came alive for sick children in the Pediatric Wards at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, when Committee of Friends for Humanity (COFFHA) embarked on its quarterly charity visit to the hospital and gave out cash gifts to 25 of the sick babies and children.

    Some of the parents could not hide their joy when they received the cash gifts. One of such was Mr. and Mrs. Joseph, parents of baby Joseph, an 18-day-old baby who was born premature and is still in the incubator. While thanking COFFHA for their kind gesture, the father pointed out that the cash gift will go a long way to offset some of the medical bills for their baby.

    Read Also: Oshinowo distributes GCE forms to indigent students

    Speaking about the essence of the visit, president, Committee of Friends for Humanity (COFFHA), Mrs. Carolyn Akum Ufere, pointed out that the group usually organises a quarterly charity visit to orphans and sick people, then give out cash and gift items to them.

    Her words: “We usually organise quarterly event whereby we give out cash, food and gift items to orphans and sick people in our midst. This time around we decided to come to Lagos University Teaching Hospital and see babies that are indigent,” said Ufere.

    According to Ufere, the visit will be the third of its kind this year.

  • Ekiti to conduct LG Polls December

    The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission has expressed its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible election in all the 16 local government areas in the state in December this year.

    The SIEC Chairman, Justice Jide Aladejana, announced this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday evening when he led other members on a visit to the management of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State.

    Aladejana said the visit to INEC was to seek the assistance in the areas of manpower development, voter’s register and permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, among others.

    “We are ready for a credible process that will attract every political party to participate in the elections.

    We are not going to bend the rules to favour any party because those to be elected are from Ekiti and not strangers,” he said.

    Read Also: Succour for 2,000 youths, women in Ekiti

    The INEC Administrative Secretary in Ekiti, Dr. Muslim Omoleke, said the electoral body was ready to offer support to EKSIEC in line with the Memorandum of Understanding that existed between the two commissions.

    Omoleke who noted that INEC was the custodian of voters’ register and PVCs, promised to do the needful when time comes but advised EKSIEC to formalise such request.

    “INEC is ready to deepen democracy at all levels, so the conduct of LG polls is very important and we shall do our best to support you,” he said.

    It would be recalled that Fayemi in his first four years between 2010 and 2014 didn’t conduct elections into the councils.

    The governor then used caretaker arrangements throughout the four years due to a court case instituted by the People’s Democratic Party against the composition of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

    The PDP then filed the suit contesting the inclusion of the Chairman of the then SIEC, Mrs. Cecilia Adelusi, being a member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and the SIEC was dissolved based on that complaint.

    The elections are to hold in December because the two year-tenure of the current democratically elected PDP council officials will lapse by December 19, 2019.

  • Monarchs, others unveil 2019 Asa festival in Ikorodu

    Preparation is in top gear for this year’s edition of the annual Asa festival in Ikorodu division of Lagos State. According to the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, who spoke during an unveiling ceremony in his palace, the 2019 edition of the festival will be more elaborate and intriguing than previous editions. He was corroborated by other monarchs, including Oba Ajibade Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Akeem Oyebo, Obateru of Egbin and Oba Bashir Sotonwa, Sekumade of Ipakodo.

    The monarchs and other dignitaries at the event urged the state government to give more recognition to the Asa Arokolo festival, initiated by Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation (IREP) and sponsored by the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanai Agunbiade, who is also the promoter of IREP. The logo of the 2019 edition of the festival and other insignias were presented to reporters and the general public at the event. Agunbiade said the unveiling of the logo for the 2019 edition of Asa Arokolo at the palace was to ensure that the Obas who, according to him, are custodians of culture, give their blessing to the event as usual.

    Read Also: Glo to shock subscribers at Ojude Oba festival

    “We are also here to seek approval from the royal fathers to continue the staging of Asa festival at the ferry terminal where the maiden edition was held. This is due to many factors which include the need for more space considering the crowd we are expecting. People have been talking to us concerning this year’s Asa festival and we feel that the crowd will be much hence we are compelled to go back to the Ferry terminal at Ipakodo. We should have no problem in hosting an event belonging to the division in any part of it,” the Majority Leader said.

    Speaking at the event, Oba Agoro assured that the next edition of the annual festival will be used to fine-tune what started two years ago.

    “We will improve on what IREP and Agunbiade started and prove to the whole world that this is our heritage and we are perfecting it to showcase it to the world. I am happy to tell you that more communities within and outside Ikorodu are coming to join us in showcasing Asa to the world. I am sure this year the outing of Asa Arokolo will be grander and more fulfilling to culture lovers and tourists. What we did last two years is now in various museums and other public institutions in America, Europe and all over Nigeria. Our people in the diaspora are also coming home to attend,” he said.

  • Abiodun sets agenda to grow local economy

    Ogun State governor, Prince  Dapo Abiodun, says he wants the proposed 2020 budget to be a springboard for implementation of its administration’s economic developmental plan that seeks to create wealth and re-position the economic well-being of the people.

    Abiodun stated this at a sensitisation programme by the Ministry of Budget and Planning to enlighten stakeholders across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the vision of his administration towards the preparation of year 2020 budget.

    The governor said his administration was already undertaking necessary amendments on the Security Trust Fund, a new bill to establish Public Works Agency, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Ogun Invest Promotion Bill, among others, to accelerate economic and developmental plan of the state.

    Harping on the focus of his administration for the next fiscal year, Abiodun said the amendment bill already transmitted to the House of Assembly would ensure the state becomes safer and conducive for investors and investments through the provision of state-of-the-art security gadgets and equipment for security agencies. He added that similar synergy was already being planned to tighten security in South West States through a joint task force to be put in place by the governments of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states to address increasing security unrests pervading the zone in recent times.

    Read Also: Leave Buhari, Tinubu, Osoba out of my cabinet list delay — Dapo Abiodun

    On road infrastructure, he said the attention of his administration would shift to developing township and rural roads to stimulate the local economy, noting that efforts were also in top gear to initiate a bill that will establish the Public Works Agency in order for local technicians and professions in the building sector to create wealth for themselves as government was ready to employ people living within the corridors of the roads to be constructed to work on such projects.

    The governor also hinted on how his administration seeks to engage more youths and provide food security through agriculture. In this regard, Abiodun said the federal government has endorsed the partnership between the state government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to engage 10,000 youths by making available a hectare of land for each youth.

    Abiodun noted that while the CBN would assist in clearing the land, provide seedlings, the state government would render extension services just as the CBN would ensure buy-back mechanism.

  • Lawmaker supports automation of pension system

    The lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo and Egbedore federal constituency, Hon. Bamidele Salam, has supported the automation of the pension system.

    He said it would prevent diversion and denial of pensioners’ entitlements.

    Salam, who is the vice chairman, House Committee on Pension, spoke with reporters during the official opening ceremony of his constituency office in Ede.

    Salam expressed worry over non application and introduction of technology to the pension system by some Nigerians.

    Read Also: Lawmaker to youths: Stop depending only on your certificates

    Salam, who maintained that technology would ensure transparency and speed in the payment of pension, promised to push for the introduction of full technology in identification of the pensioners and verification of the pensioners. He also said he would ensure that the funds that are meant for pensioners are not diverted nor kept away from them.

    Meanwhile, Salam has also appointed four persons living with disabilities among his 35 aides. At a ceremony in Ede, where he gave letters of appointment to his aides, he said he was determined to give people of his constituency an equal opportunity.

    He thanked the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, for appointing him as a member of ECOWAS Parliament and deputy chairman, House Committee on Pension.

  • ANWBN hosts women groups in Lagos

    The Association of Nigerian Business Women Network (ANWBN) organised a membership sensitisation forum at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event which brought women entrepreneurs and other stakeholders looked at the challenges facing women’s businesses, potential and how to maximise the opportunities through networking.

    National Coordinator of ANWBN, Chief (Mrs.) Nana Anita Okuribido, welcomed new members on board and took time to talk about the achievements of the organisation over the years.

    “The organisation is an umbrella of all women-owned businesses and professions. These are women who are very privileged to have this great opportunity to propose to all the BMOs here about the ongoing progress in Nigeria with the collective drive for community development, capacity building and sustainable increase in their learning power through local occupations and resources which would break the circle of poverty in Nigeria and build a better life through a micro enterprise development. We are a coalition with a membership of over one million entrepreneurs and with the new members joining us today, over 1.5 million members. We all have the common goal of encouraging, improving sustainable entrepreneurial development amongst women through research, policy reforms initiatives and follow ups implementations.”

    On her part, Country Director, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Mrs. Omowunmi Gbadamosi, the event was very important and strategic. “This is history in the making. Since ANWBN was created by CIPE, this is the first membership development effort. All of you that have applied to be members of this great network are welcomed.”

    Read Also: Nigerians advised to emulate Fajemirokun’s business acumen

    Gbadamosi went on to congratulate the national coordinator and her team for a good job as well as talk about CIPE and the focus of the organisation. “We need to work very hard. It is not going to be business as usual. As mothers, we have got to be determined and project into the future in all that we do be of credit especially to the succeeding generation.

    “Women entrepreneurs worldwide face barriers and are faced with laws and policies that restrict their ability. CIPE fosters economic empowerment and partnerships amongst civil society, the private sector and government. You cannot have democratic governance without the inclusion of women. Women are part of the society and that is why we work with women across the world to strengthen their participation in the public and private sectors. There is a connection between women’s political participation and economic empowerment. If women have a voice in policy making, they can make decisions that would change their world. If women are empowered and can take care of their own material needs, they are more likely to be able to meet their own political needs. If you are aspiring for political office and you are not economically empowered it won’t work.

    “Work on women’s empowerment should go beyond individual needs. In most countries, institutions affect women differently from men and without focus on institutional reforms, it is difficult to achieve long lasting impact.”

    She went on to talk about similar platforms that CIPE had supported across the world, the opportunities and potential. “There are forty-eight countries that limited the industries in which women can work.”

    Mrs. Mope Abudu gave a detailed presentation on the entrepreneurial mindset for growth, while Dr Basheer Oshodi of Sterling Bank and his team told the women about the interest-free loan of opportunities, training and other benefits available for their businesses.

  • Operating in the supernatural!

    Welcome to August! Thank God for taking us through the school of divine wisdom all through the month of July 2019 and my prayer is that each one of us shall begin to walk in the reality of wisdom from above, with undeniable proofs from this time onward, in the name of Jesus Christ! Today, we shall focus on: Operating in the Supernatural!

    According to scriptures, every child of God has been redeemed a sign and a wonder to the world (Mark 16:20). The supernatural is a sign or an act that cannot be explained by natural laws yet cannot be denied. For it is written, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; see also John 3:8; Daniel 3:22-27). Also, the supernatural is the finger and the outstretched arm of God at work (Exodus 8:19; Deuteronomy 26:8). Finally, it is God’s intervention in the affairs of men (Luke 7:11-16).

    However, new birth is a fundamental requirement for operating in the supernatural because according to scriptures, every child of God is born a sign and a wonder, Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion (Isaiah 8:18).

    At New Birth, Certain Things Take Place in Our Lives

    • Our Human Life is exchanged for Eternal Life: For it is written, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16; see also Romans 6:23, 16:20). So, whatever eternal life cannot tolerate is not permitted to happen in our lives.
    • Our Natural Life is exchanged for Supernatural Life: According to John 3:8, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
    • Our Earthly Life is exchanged for Heavenly Life: It is written, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20; see also 2 Corinthians 5:20; John 17:14,16). This implies that we are no longer citizens of this world; but spiritually, citizens of heaven on a mission for Christ on the earth. Furthermore, by redemption, we are made to sit together with Him in Heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20-12, 5:6).
    • We are Translated from the kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of His own Dear Son: The scripture says in Colossians 1:13, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. This means we have changed citizenship. Therefore, the constitution of the former kingdom we belonged to has no more legal hold over our lives (John 10:35-36; Psalm 82:5-6).

    What, then, are the Requirements for Operating in the Supernatural?

    • We must see our true picture from the scriptures: It is important to recognise that we cannot feature in the future we cannot picture (Genesis 13:14-15). In other words, the clearer the picture of our redemptive status, the higher our level of command of the supernatural. However, spiritual maturity is required to gain supernatural command (Galatians 2:1-2; Isaiah 9:6). So, it is not about age, it is about depth. Consequently, we must build ourselves up spiritually to enhance our level of command and begin to manifest our redemptive worth without challenges.
    • We must be filled with the Holy Ghost: Another fundamental requirement for operating effectively in the supernatural is enduement with the Holy Ghost. We recognise from scriptures that the Holy Ghost is the Grand Commander of the supernatural (Joel 2:28-30). Until Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit, the Messiah in Him could not manifest. He was still mistaken for Joseph’s son, the upcoming carpenter who will take over from His father (Luke 4:14). In the same vein, without the Spirit, our body is dead (James 2:26; John 6:63). So, it takes the Holy Ghost to be quickened or empowered to command the supernatural.
    • The Word of God must dwell in us richly: According to scriptures, the supernatural manifestations at creation are a combination of the move of the Spirit and the revelation of the Word. Genesis 1:1-2 says, In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. The Spirit of God moved upon the waters which is the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

    In conclusion, since the Holy Ghost is the Grand Commander of the supernatural, as believers we must be baptised in the Holy Ghost and be committed to growing in power thereby growing in our level of command of the supernatural. However, commanding the supernatural is practically impossible without a relationship with the Holy Spirit; and that comes through new birth experience. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, please get my books: Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural and Commanding the Supernatural. I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280, or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org, Facebook: David Oyedepo Ministries International, Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • Education: UBEB chief assures Lagosians of new dawn

    Education, they say, is the only legacy that safeguards the future of children across socio-economic, ethnic and religious lines.

    This was the position of the sector’s stakeholders in Lagos State who gathered at NECA House, Ikeja, during the formal presentation of the Report of Monitoring Implementation of the years 2016 and 2017 Lagos SUBEB Action Plan in nine local government areas.

    Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, stated that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration has committed to taking education in the centre of excellence to an enviable height.

    Read Also: Carnival of paintings hits Lagos

    He applauded Human Development Initiative (HDI), the non-governmental organisation that accomplished the study for a job well done.

    The SUBEB chief advocated nationwide disgrace as a penalty for contractors find culpable of inflating project cost or using substandard materials.

    In her own comment, the Executive Director of HDI, Funsho Owasanoye, stated that education sector in Nigeria will surmount its challenges when Nigerian government prioritises and commits more resources to education.