The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 13 reporters, Osinbajo, Smart-Cole for Wole Soyinka award

    By Ozolua Uhakheme

    Thirteen journalists from print, online, television, radio, photo, and editorial cartoon categories have been shortlisted for the 2019 Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism. Similarly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Amnesty International and veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole, have been nominated to receive honorary awards at the 14th edition of the initiative, which will hold at NECA House, Lagos, on Monday December 9  by 6pm.

    The journalists who were shortlisted from one hundred and ninety-four entries received include; Chinwe Agbeze of The Sun, Damilola Banjo of Sahara Reporters; Samson Folarin of The Punch; Sharon Ijasan of TVC News; Isine Ibanga of The Next Edition; Samuel-Wemimo Bukola of TVC News; Oladimeji Ramon of Punch; Mary Abayomi-Fatile of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); Ayodele Adeniran of Guardian; Saheed Olugbon of The Punch; Albert Ohams of The Sun; Chikezie Omeje of International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR); and Odutayo Odusanya of The Punch.

    Osinbajo will be presented the Integrity specialty of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award for his invaluable work of overhauling the Lagos State Judiciary, facilitating far-reaching reforms in the administration of justice in the state, his work of promoting integrity in the civil society and business in Nigeria and his consistency as a strong voice for promoting integrity in the country.

    On the other hand, Amnesty International, a global movement promoting human rights in Nigeria and beyond, will be honoured with the Human Rights Specialty of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award for its remarkable voice against human rights violations and oppressive laws, and its efforts to defend freedom of expression in Nigeria.

    Read Also: The Nation’s Yusuf wins Wole Soyinka Award

     

    Veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole will also be honoured with the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence for his outstanding contribution to journalism exhibited by his beautiful and evincing pictures particularly during the military era in Nigeria and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of photojournalists.

    The award presentation event is held annually on December 9, the World Anticorruption Day and eve of the Human Rights Day, to acknowledge best practices in investigative journalism and call attention for attaining good governance, accountability, and social justice. It has produced 91 finalists, 9 investigative journalists of the year and 20 honorary awards recipients so far.

  • I am contemplating suicide!

    Progress OBERIKO

    As at 2018 Nigeria was ranked 6th in annual suicide list. I wonder what position will be in our report card this year.  O Lord, do not allow us rise to first. This rise in suicide deaths is appalling, alarming and astonishing; it wasn’t so in the good old days.

    I can recall Chukwuemeka Akachi, a poet who dropped a suicide note on Facebook saying “He doesn’t wish to be a burden to anyone anymore, because he has been on life support which he claims to be expensive”; but he failed to realize that his own LIFE is far more expensive.

    He was a poet, he WRITES, but he had no RIGHT to take his own life, a life which only the “WRIGHT” has the power to control. He wrote in death’s language in the wildest ways, because he had had a rapport with death in his suicide mission.

    Like the myriad of other suicide deaths whose name I cannot even recall.

    …The guy who killed himself in Portharcourt as a result of heartbreak.

    …The student who was found dead in her room after drinking sniper.

    …The RCCG pastor in Abuja who took his own life

    And all other heartbreaking completed acts of suicide, including the ones that didn’t go viral.

    It is too much already!

    We begin to cultivate thoughts of suicide when we compare our man made time with God’s. We program our time to automatically work for Him, Forgetting that His ways is not ours; 30yrs in your calendar is merely 3minutes on His wall clock!

    Brother hold on!

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    “Gods Time is the best no mean say make you go tiff wall clock commot from church o”. What this means can be coined in one word – PATIENCE!

    Yes I have actually been contemplating suicide, but not in the context of “Taking my own life”, God forbid!

    Na me create myself?

    But rather I’ve been thinking about suicide in the context of “WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES”?

    Why!

    So I’m writing this piece in the language of a suicidal; lending my voice to all those frustrated and are contemplating suicide;

    You need to come back to life, because by merely having the thoughts of suicide, you have started killing your self, you’re dying, you need to WAKE UP!

    In my definition; Suicide is a PERMANENT ELIMINATION of the SOLUTION to a TEMPORARY problem. Suicide most times seems like a gateway to freedom, and escape from all the trauma & wahala of life! But NO! It is instead a permanent termination of a generation full of SOLUTIONS!

    Your life is not even your own, do not take what you never gave!

    SayNoToSuicide

    Don’t Do It!

    You know why?

    Because YOU are the SOLUTION to your problems.

    Trust God!

    When you say it is IMPOSSIBLE, – “He says All things are possible through Me”! Luke 18:27. When you say I am too tired, – He says “I will give you rest”! Matthew 11:28

    When you say “Nobody loves me”.

  • BON Hotels to open 22 properties in Nigeria

    By Okorie Uguru

    Twenty-two hotel properties will be added to Nigerian hospitality industry in the next three years. The 22 hotels by BON will add  about 6000 bed spaces to the Nigeria hospitality industry.  The new hotel developments are set for major city routes in the North and South. Among the major cities and towns the hotels will be sited include: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt as well as towns and cities such as Kano, Yola, Kebbi, Ekiti, Ibadan, Warri, Enugu, Asaba, Owerri, and Awka, and some others.

    These new properties will focus on not only local and international business travellers, but keen leisure travellers too.

    According a press release by BON Hotels, the tourism landscape of Nigeria has long been dominated by business travellers and many of these travellers have stayed in traditional, multinational hotels with a run-of-the-mill approach to hospitality. This Bon Hotels group has changed in its  approach to hospitality expansion in the country.

    Beginning in Abuja, BON Hotels first acquired a quaint 20-roomed hotel back in 2015 and transformed the previously struggling boutique hotel into a flourishing business-focused property, determined to provide loyal clients with reliable conferencing facilities and outstanding hospitality.

    “Our ethos has always been to add value, create tourism circuits, expand the hospitality sector into all regions holistically and, in so doing, extract value. That’s been my mission and goal,” says BON Hotels Executives Director for International West Africa, Bernard Cassar.

    BON Hotels, which manages and owns hotels, lodges and resort throughout Southern Africa, as well as West and East Africa, continued with hotels in Enugu, Asokoro and further properties in Abuja, and the growth since then has been exponential.

    Read Also: Transcorp Hotels grows first half net profit by 83%

     

    “The hospitality industry in Nigeria has previously focused on major cities like Lagos and Abuja, with multinational companies copying and pasting their approach of launching large hotels in the capitals in African cities, and ignoring the potential of venturing into smaller but as important cities. This has resulted in limited options for both local and business travellers, who would not always be stationed in major cities. This has resulted in limited options for both local and business travellers, who would not always be stationed in major cities. This is where BON Hotels seeks to fill the gap and provide visitors with quality accommodation and outstanding conferencing facilities run at international standards in cities like Warri, Asaba and Apo.

    “Since the inception of our hotel group, we have always advocated for investment in Africa by Africans, and being able to work with such talented groups of people across the continent makes us not only hopeful, but assured of the exponential growth of the hospitality industry throughout Africa,” he said.

  • Nasarawa to partner NATOP for cultural tourism

    By Okorie Uguru

    THE National President of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) Hajia Bilkisu Abdul was hosted recently by the Executive Governor of Nassarawa State   Abdullahi Sule. The Nasarawa State Governor invited NATOP President to discuss on the state’s plans  to host an annual cultural festival.

    He told Hajia Bilkisu that he was impressed with the news he has been reading about her work at NATOP. NATOP, he said, was becoming a household name among many Government agencies as the new president has reached out more to major Nigerian organisations and state government.

    Read Also: How to boost tourism, by Bi-Courtney, Pineapple Tv

     

    ‘I want to partner with  NATOP so that I can drive tourism in my state’, declared the governor.

    He invited the NATOP President to bring her members to enjoy the tourism resources of the state. He asked her to bring her BOT members and executives to meet with the Commissioner of Tourism to arrange a Tour of Nassarawa for NATOP members.

    The NATOP President thanked the governor for the wonderful reception accorded her and promised to come back with a bigger team of the best tourism experts in Nigeria. ‘Engaging NATOP to help promote Nassarawa State will yield great result. We shall not disappoint you. My members are capable,’ she promised.

    NATOP has recently  been engaging  with the National Park Services and recently hosted its monthly meeting at its Head office in Abuja. She was also hosted by the Chairman House Committee on Tourism Senator Owelle Rochas Okorocha at the National Assembly.

  • Southern Sun marks10th anniversary

    By Okorie Uguru

    Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos recently marked its ten years of operation in Nigeria. As part of the events marking the celebration, the hotel hosted its customers and business partners to a cocktail.

    Speaking at the party, the General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Mark Loxley for  their unwavering commitment, especially   key stakeholders who have consistently supported the journey of the Southern Sun Ikoyi brand over the past 10 years.

    “We will also use this medium to appreciate the support of the management team members and stakeholders, whose fantastic support has allowed the hotel to be positioned as a prominent member within the hotel community in Lagos and has also allowed us as a business to take pride and position as a true 4-star internationally branded hotel within the Nigerian Industry.” Mark added.

    Mark Loxley also noted that the concerted efforts in the ongoing staff trainings and development have always been core within Southern Sun Ikoyi’s mandate in ensuring that the human capital within the hotel is maximized to the fullest extent, which has further allowed for a great and consistent service culture to be extended to all the hotel’s guests.

    Read Also: Radisson to add more hotels in Nigeria

    He used the medium to share updates on the recent renovations embarked by the Hotel across its rooms in upgrading its fittings, rugs and other resources which were all sourced by local vendors in promoting local trade patronage and ensuring that guests have a memorable experience at the hotel.

    Also speaking at the occasion, Director, Southern Sun Ikoyi, Ernest Orji, recalled the unique opportunity afforded him in playing a role in reviving the then decrepit Ikoyi Hotel and the transformation into the new Southern Sun Ikoyi, forged by the strategic partnership with the Tsogo Sun Hotels.

    Ernest Orji used the medium to appreciate the highly esteemed customers of the hotel, who through their patronage have and positive reviews have ensured that hotel has remained a choice destination and most especially, the fantastic staff and their work ethic, which has consistently kept the hotel as the best performing hotel in Lagos.

    The dignitaries at the event which included the Consul General of the South African Consulate General, Darkey Ephraim Africa, Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honorable Lateef Abiru, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Networks Limited, Olusegun Ogunsanya, amongst many others was a gathering of stalwarts from across the Lagos business community in celebrating an iconic brand.

  • Why we introduced Pay-Small-Small – Wakanow CEO

    By Okorie Uguru

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wakanow.com Limited, a Nigerian online travel booking platform, Mr. Adebayo Adedeji has disclosed that his company introduced its Pay-Small-Small (PSS) product as part of efforts to help Africans find solutions to travel related economic and financial challenges.

    According to Adedeji, “In most parts of Nigeria and Africa at large, travelling is still considered a luxury because of the economic position of the general populace.

    Read Also: Wakanow promises better travel experience for customers

    The fact that over 50per cent of the Africa population live below the global poverty line and the abysmal state of the formal credit system in most developing countries, has made travel financing quite challenging.

    Wakanow is committed to finding lasting solutions to these travel related challenges.

    “Our ground-breaking travel financing product called Pay-Small-Small (PSS) is a Flexible instalment payment plan that gives the traveller as much as 150 per cent savings on their travel expenses”, he added.

  • Naira Marley, Niniola, others light up Lagos concert for ‘Access The Stars’

    THE Lagos edition of the new music reality show ‘Access The Stars’ got a boost as Naira Marley, Niniola and others delivered a show-stopping performance in Lagos.

    Naira Marley put up a stellar performance just as Reekado brought his A-game to the stage. SkiiBii and Niniola also displayed their showmanship.

    The Access The Stars train now heads to Abuja where the trio of judges – Tee-Y Mix, Kaffy and Seyi Shay – will be tasked with selecting the best talents the capital city has to offer.

    Speaking ahead of the Abuja auditions, Tee-Y Mix said: “Abuja is a special city and it’s home to some of the most talented artists I know.

    Read Also: Naira Marley to youths: shun drugs

    I am convinced that we will find some amazing talents in Abuja, and I am super excited to head to FCT for the next round of auditions.”

    The Abuja auditions will be held at Grand Ibro Hotel, Micheal Okpara Street, while the concert is slated for Old Parade Ground Car Park, Abuja.

    The Abuja show is set to up the ante, as Zlatan, SkiiBii, Fireboy, and Wande Coal are set to return to perform alongside the five final contestants who will slug it out to make it to the next round of the competition.

    Access The Stars is sponsored by Star Lager Beer and Access Bank. The winner of the show will walk home with up to 150 million Naira in cash and prizes.

  • Odunlade Adekola, Dayo Amusa, others grace ‘Omoniyun’ premiere

    IT was a gathering of stars as Dayo Amusa premiered her new movie, ‘Omoniyun’ last Friday at the Ozone Cinemas, Yaba, Lagos.

    In attendance were celebrities like Iyabo Ojo, Sotayo, Bimbo Thomas, Toyin Alausa, Odunlade Adekola, Muyiwa Ademola, Seilat Adebowale and others.

    Set in 1987, ‘Omoniyun’ is the story of a community nurse with unrivalled love for children and her radical fiancé, Fijabi, who wrestles a tyrannical prince, Sodeke, and his desperate loyalists, Elemide and Romiluyi over the fate of a violated minor, Fiyinfolu.

    Read Also: Tyler Perry advises ladies on how to get lead role in his movies

    The premiere started by 7pm after a musical performance from the producer, Dayo Amusa. A section of the red carpet looked like a picturesque scene ripped from a 1978 album of a sitting room; a land phone sits comfortably beside a gramophone and a well-cushioned loveseat.

    When asked why the producer had to go this far in premiering a movie on girl child advocacy, she simply said, ‘because every child is as precious as coral beads and must always be treated so.’

  • Why I wanted to commit suicide – SEAN DAMPTE

    By Adeniyi Adewoyin

    UK-BASED Nigerian singer, Oluwaseun Oluyole, fondly called Sean Dampte in the entertainment circle, has disclosed why he contemplated suicide earlier this year.

    Dampte, who has songs like ‘Energy’ and ‘Million’ made a shocking revelation about dealing with depression which graduated to suicidal thoughts.

    Speaking recently about his new single which he entitled ‘Life, Money, Happiness’, he opened up to the media on what inspired the song.

    “While recording this track, a lot was happening. This track means more to me than just music. This track is the essence of living!”

    He said that while fans were enjoying the song, he was going through hell

    “Me and my family were going through a really bad period,” he said.

    “I mean, I had no roof over my head! I had no income! Everyone was calling because I was in huge debts to different individuals and even corporate organizations! Everything just seemed lost! All hope was gone! Suicide felt like an option.”

    Read Also: Singer Yoyo Ovi relives her heartbreak in ‘SONI’

    Accordingly, he would have been long gone but he had to summon the last courage and took a bold step.

    “But that fateful morning, I dragged myself to my brother, my friend, my producer, Jay Ocean. I wanted to record a song about the good life and the good times that wasn’t happening but the words wouldn’t come out. Then we sat for 5 minutes. Jay said “What mood are you in Dampte?” I replied “suicidal” and Jay said “That ain’t happening bro!, let’s put this into the music” So we started work. Jay played the tune. The melody was working.

    “And that was how we came up with the track ‘Life, Money, Happiness- #LMH’, because truly with love, that’s all we need! I can only hope you will enjoy coming with me on this journey! To you my friends and family. I wish you lot the best with “Life, Money, Happiness.” he concluded.

  • Kayode Olowu joins 2019 LAIF jury

    THE founder and creative director of Onewildcard, Kayode Olowu, has joined this year’s Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) awards jury scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 14.

    The 2019 LAIF Awards, the 13th edition, has the theme, ‘Tori Tori, Story of LAIF.’

    Other jurors are Gbemi Sagay, a renowned illustrator and advertising practitioner and the chief juror for the awards, Stanley Lumax (New York-based Communication Expert), Toni Kan Onwordi (author, editor and Public Relations Specialist), Irene Donati (Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Lionheart Group), Ekenena Ezaga (Creative Director of SO&U), Yaa Boateng (Creative Director, Ogilvy Ghana), Dave Chukwuji (Creative Director, DKK Nigeria) and Sunny Mohammed (Creative Director at DDB Lagos).

    Read Also: Hayat Kimya’s brands clinch ADVAN awards

    According to the Chairman of the LAIF Management Board and AAAN Vice President, Steve Babaeko, the selection of jurors will create a fair and balanced atmosphere for judging the LAIF entries.

    Expressing his appreciation, Olowu, in a statement, said: “LAIF awards is a major event for advertising practitioners in Nigeria and being a Juror at this year’s edition is a privilege. It is a recognition of our people, our works and our story and I look forward to seeing the cool entries we have for this year.”

    Among the categories of submissions to be judged are film, press, digital/mobile, radio and outdoor categories. Kayode, along with his fellow jurors, will select the best of works produced within the Nigerian creative industry in the last 12 months.