By Evelyn Osagie

A mobile bank for emerging markets, FairMoney, has signed comedian and actor, Animashaun Samuel Perry also known as Broda Shaggi, as a brand ambassador.

The deal, which is for an initial period of one year, will see Broda Shaggi collaborate with FairMoney to reach its grassroots audience.

The comedian, who is also a singer and voiceover artiste with over three million followers on Instagram, came into the limelight for his humourous social media skits.

Last December, Broda Shaggi featured in FairMoney’s influencer marketing campaign dubbed: “The Friends Loan Test”. The reception the brand received from the association signalled that the comedian is a good fit.

In a statement, FairMoney’s Head of Direct Marketing, Seun Oratokhai, stated that both parties were pleased with the terms of the contract.

Read Also: Rachael Oniga unveiled as Iloshe ambassador

“Broda Shaggi was an obvious choice following the interaction with consumers during the “Friends Loan Test” and the “No Excuses” campaign which was launched last year. Our consumers and target audience also connected with him immensely during our road shows and activations.

“He is the face of our brand not just because he is funny and has a huge fanbase but because he represents the normal Nigerians that are our customers.

In addition, like Broda Shaggi, FairMoney is a young brand that is rapidly growing in popularity. It offers individuals and small businesses loans from N1,500 to N150,000 through its free mobile app which can  be used to pay for value-added services with no transaction fees. It is available in the Google Play Store for Android users,” Oratokhai said.

Twenty-three-year-old Nigerian barrister, Oluwadunni Priscilla Oni, has continued to receive accolades for graduating from the Law School in the capital city of Yola, Adamawa State, with a First Class Honors late last year. In this chat with SAMPSON UNAMKA, she canvasses  more opportunities for women as she recounts her journey to success.

Young Nigerian barrister, Oluwadunni Priscilla Oni, has continued to receive awards for graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Yola, Adamawa State, with a First Class Honors. For the feat, she was awarded six prizes by the institution, including prizes for ‘The Best Female Graduating Student’ and the ‘Second  Overall Best Graduating Student’.

She was recently honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the Evangelical Christain Union (ECU) Alumni Fellowship for her outstanding performance in Law School.

The fourth of five children, Oluwadunni is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Lagos Court of Arbitration Young Arbitrators Network. She recounts  her successful journey:

My studying law

My  father had a huge influence on my choice of course, because I was in art class and was thinking of studying international relations.

I was still indecisive, so he spoke to me and then I realised that there were a lot of career opportunities in that field. And because I like to analyse things and think things through, critically, I felt that I could find my feet if I studied law.

And again because of how wide it is, I felt like I would be more open to other career opportunities, like journalism or international relations. So my dad guided me into studying it and I also realised it highlighted my strength.

However, even though creative writing wasn’t something I thought of pursuing professionally, it impacted me as a lawyer. I had always enjoyed writing from when I was a kid; I remember in primary five, I wrote a short story.

But it was usually on and off. Importantly, it’s an outlet for me. During law school when I was tired of reading, I would just pick up my notepad and write a poem on how I feel or on things that I have experienced.

My parent’s influence on my grade

People say it’s a man’s world, but if you look at academic achievements, you’d realise most times its women that top the class. Even in law school, over the past couple of years, the best graduating students have mostly been females. But when you move to the corporate world, it’s a man’s world.

The reason women do well academically, from what I experienced in law school, is that we are much calmer. Men are usually proud and over-confident, but women have humility and willingness to learn, so this helps but what we are aiming for is for this to also be the case in the corporate world.

More opportunities should be open to women regardless of their gender; people should see their ability, capability and give them the opportunity to prove themselves.

My feat, a challenge to girls, women

I think what I have achieved sends a message to girls and women that you can aim higher regardless of your gender.

There is no impossibility as long as you put your mind to it; your gender does not determine your chances of success. Once I start working I will push harder: the same determination that I used to excel academically is what I’d use to excel in my career.

I remember in law school in Yola campus, the men were actually more outspoken, over-confident, even when they were wrong, they were usually quite loud. And for some reasons the female students did not like volunteering much. But I never felt intimidated by them, I knew I had what it takes to excel even when I didn’t feel like coming out to speak.

You are not in competition with men, there is space for everyone to excel so just do your own thing and work hard. There will be rough patches, there will be time when it will be overwhelming but don’t give up and keep your eyes on the prize.

Read Also: Recall Nigerian Law School student

Through hard work and determination, you can be anything that you desire. Believe in yourself and God, I had so much faith in God that I would have a first class, I knew God has blessed me with intelligence and ability to understand things easily, so I believed in Him to excel and in myself.

My university experience

Interestingly, initially, I finished with a 2-1 from Obafemi Awolowo University. But I read a lot. I felt I would have finished with first class but for 200 level where I struggled because I was trying to find my feet.

But in 300 level I caught up in my studies and was determined to make better grades. And along with academic excellence, I was also involved in several extracurricular activities, especially in 300 level when a friend spoke to me that my Curriculum Vitae should include some other extracurricular activities.

So I joined the chambers which took my time, eventually in 400 level, I became an executive. My typical day was usually classes then chamber meetings or society meetings, then church.

I also made sure I attended any event I heard holding at the Amphitheatre or events that had to do with law or interested me.

My feeling about winning the prizes

I feel very elated and very honoured, I honestly did not feel like I deserved it because I know people who worked harder, but I also know the amount of effort I put in and I know how much I prayed for it. So I feel very blessed to have won those prizes.

It is a very honorable move to have been honoured by the Evangelical Christain Union (ECU) Alumni Fellowship because many organisations do not recognise or award excellence.

I am mainly grateful that ECU has taken the initiative to honour me. It is an incentive: people are demotivated to work hard because they know nobody is going to reward them for it.

But once individuals and organisations start to honour people, give scholarship, donations, they are incentives that will send the right message to people who are hardworking and dedicated to duty.

Industrialist and philanthropist, Chief Razak Okoya is 80. His birthday celebration drew the bigwigs in. Oladapo Sofowora reports.

As you arrived the gigantic colonnade of the ‘Oluwa Ni Shola’ mansion, the ambiance was indeed a welcoming sight. Littered around the spacious compound were big portraits of the celebrator.

The trees around were woven with several lightings, even as white, green, red and gold-coloured decoration garnished the arena.

Chief Razak Okoya was 80 and Lagos bigwigs turned up to celebrate him at his residence. The red carpet walkway, synthetic grass on the floor, marble tables and beautiful cushion chairs added glamour to the occasion.

Decked in fitted all white Agbada attire, the ‘birthday boy’ Okoya and his beautiful wife Sade stole the hearts of guests as they walked majestically into the event. It was in pure joy that he went about greeting guests.

A-list comedians, Gbenga Adeyinka and Tee A, were the host of the night.

The music heavyweights

The event won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Three legends of the juju music all performed on one stage. This was after Beejay Sax opened the stage performing jazz tunes with his saxophone before the event was officially declared open by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The trio were Prof Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, King Sunny Ade and Sir Shina Peters. Obey performed first – he literally brought back memories of the old days with his songs.  He serenaded the audience with his voice and got every guests dancing for over an hour.

The performances of the KSA and Peters were equally electrifying. The juju maestro himself KSA showed as the saying goes that “a King does not need to announce his arrival but, his aura will announce his arrival”.

KSA showed that music for him is inborn. He lit up the atmosphere with his classics, praise singing guests with much gusto.

Also, Mayegun of Yoruba Land and King of Fuji Music, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde followed with a blistering performance. Bobo, as he is fondly called, was in top form.

The younger generation present enjoyed HipHop music sensation Davido who mounted the stage. As he performed hit tracks, the crowd roared on top of their voices.

Read Also: Our expectations from Buhari, by Okoya

Immediately after, Sir Peters also showed the world that he is still in tune with the current trend. He serenaded the audience and everyone rocked to his songs.

Although Peters was celebrating the 60th birthday of his wife Sammie Peters that same day, he had to attend Okoya’s birthday due to his filial relationship with the celebrator, according to him.

To wrap up the musical performance, Apala sensation Musiliu Haruna Ishola dished out tunes from his indigenous Apala genre of music. His drummers, percussionists, talking drummers were all in top form, and delivered in full.

The gigantic birthday cake

The birthday cake is one of a kind, with jaw dropping creative pattern. Measuring 3ft by 4ft, the cake was baked with the prototype of the Eleganza factory building plan design.

The cutting of the cake was coordinated by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, flanked by the celebrant, his wife, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Otunba Subomi Balogun, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Oba Otudeko and a host of others.

Roll Call

In attendance were Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-olu, Deputy Governor of Lagos Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, Chairman Channels TV John Momoh, Former Lagos Firstlady Bolanle Ambode, Former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Kola Abiola, Former Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kemi Nelson, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chairman CAC Demola Seriki, Segun Awolowo, Founder of First City Monument Bank Omoba Subomi Balogun, Chairman Gibraltar Construction Sir Olu Okeowo, Chairman Premier Lotto Chief Adebutu Kessington, Osile OkeOna of Egba Land Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, Former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Chief Emeka Ayonku, Former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, Former Osun State Governor Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chairman Honeywells Dr Oba Otudeko, Nigeria High commissioner to the United Kingdom Justice Adesola Oguntade, Dr. Samuel Adedoyin, Former Lagos state Firstlady Dame Abimbola Fashola, Chief Alex Duduyemi, Former Oyo State Governor Otunba Alao Akala, Bosun Oredola, Prof. Pat Utomi, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Minister of Trade and Industry Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr (Mrs) Onikipo Akande, Senator Daisy Danjuma,President  Dangote Group,Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Oba Ikate land Oba Saheed Elegushi, Dr. Sunny Kuku, Firstlady Ekiti State Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Former Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle and Funsho Amosun, Former Lagos Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Former Ogun State Deputy Governor Alhaja Salmot Badru, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Managing Director Fidelity Bank Nnmadi Okonkwo, Dr Sam Iwajoku, Hon. Shina Peller, Chairman Sodium Group Abisoye Fagade, Chairman Fisolak Global Resource Princess Toyin Kolade, Former Vice Chancellor OAU Prof Wale Omole, Hajia  Bola Shagaya, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Dolapo Badmus, Former Chairman First Bank Bisi Onasanya, Publisher of Ovation Magazine Bashorun Dele Momodu, Media Icon Bisi Olatilo, Hon.Funmi Tejuosho, Mother Esther Abimbola, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Activist Joe Odumakin and a host of others.

By Evelyn Osagie

Hakimi Aliyu Secondary School, Mokwa (HASSM), Niger State, has shocked the world with its design and constructing energy and food solutions at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

It won a Sub-Saharan African prize on sustainability, tagged:  Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools category (Sub-Saharan region). Now in its 12th edition, the yearly US$3 million Prize is the UAE’s pioneering sustainability award for recognising innovative, impactful and inspirational solutions by small to medium-sized companies, non-profit organisations, and high schools.

The prize was announced at the annual awards ceremony of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which ran from January 11 to 18. The Prize is inspired by and in honour of the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Presented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the students of HASSM received the award before an audience of thousands of guests, including world leaders, dignitaries in attendance.

The school was declared the winner for two main student-led projects it has proposed, supporting the food and energy categories.

These include the year-round production of different spices and fresh vegetables through sustainable agricultural practice, in addition to designing and constructing energy efficient cooking stoves that will simultaneously be used to replace fuel wood and charcoal, and provide a means of cooking for the community.

HASSM also aims to construct a Zayed Community Training Centre (ZCTC) that will be used to prepare stakeholders for research, training and consultancy in relation to the project’s objectives.

Read Also: Teen shines at international summit

Director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, Dr Lamya Fawwaz, said: “The world’s youth are the future, and their demonstrated ability to spearhead positive changes and implement sustainability practices will be vital to the world’s social and economic development in the years and decades to come.

“We commend Hakimi Aliyu School for their current afforestation efforts and admire the environmental conscientiousness instilled in their students from a young age. The school’s ambitious proposal around sustainable agriculture was truly impressive, and the Zayed Sustainability Prize looks forward to staying up-to-date on all that the students will achieve with these projects in the coming years.”

Commenting on winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize, Principal, Hakimi Aliyu Secondary School, Mohammed Ndadzuru Kutigi said: “We are proud to have been recognised by this prestigious award for sustainability – for the region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Our students, along with our teachers, and larger community of the Niger State in Nigeria, feel honoured and delighted.”

In the global high schools category, six schools, each representing a world region, receive up to US$100,000 to implement their project. Unlike in the categories for organisations, high schools submit project proposals to build or augment a solution they have developed for their school or local community.

The objective of this category, introduced to the Prize in 2012, is to inspire young people to become pioneers, innovators and sustainability advocates who will contribute to a more sustainable future. The global high schools world regions are: The Americas, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia and Pacific.

To date, the Prize, including its previous winners across all categories, has directly and indirectly impacted the lives of over 335 million people. In the global high schools category, the number of people impacted by the global high school winners is 400,000.

Washington Uba, a documentary photo-artist, who has concerned himself with the lowest end of the Nigerian social fabric. His exhibition on leprosy colonies in Nigeria to mark the World Leprosy Day will open this Sunday at Parliament Bar in Isolo, Lagos. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE and EBUBE OJUKWU, he speaks on his art and passion for the poor.

My exhibition on leprosy

My coming exhibition, commemorating with the World Leprosy Day, which I call ‘leprosy story board awareness campaign’ is a full documentation on leprosy, how it came about, the number of people affected.

It’s going to be academic, interactive and medically challenging. There’s no specific date for the day, but it is being celebrated globally on the last Sunday of January. It is linked to a French philanthropist in 1956, a Catholic passionate for assisting people with leprosy.

Many people have the notion that leprosy isn’t curable, but it is. That’s where the challenge is. If we continue to play the lukewarm attitude to it, the whole world would suffer greatly for it is increasing rapidly.

If the disease could be given the same attention which was given to the HIV patients, the disease would have decreased by a great fold. Everyone that comes for the event would be made to sign on the commitment page and to help us tell a friend about leprosy.

Motivation behind my art and charity

Art is my instrument for social change. I see it that if I don’t do it, I won’t be fulfilled or happy. I have over the years concerned my work with the poor as a documentary photographer. I didn’t start with leprosy, but documenting the destitute.

Lagos was my first point of call. Being a charity person before my university days, after graduating, I started an NGO called Charity Care Network Initiatives. In 2005, art came into it through photography when I began the documentation of the extremely poor people’s environment.

And having worked for charity for over 15 years, in 2005 and 2006, I went documenting the streets of Lagos and found a particular place in Okobaba, Ebute Metta, where a family support destitute home was built.

I realised that this was where I wanted to be. I made friends with them and went there during the monthly festive period to give them handouts and know how they are faring.

Art has played a vital role in this: using photography, I generated funds and handouts with the pictures I had taken. In 2006, I went into exhibiting my work, where I had my first ever exhibition in National Museum.

Former  Sunday The Guardian newspaper, art editor, Jahmna Anikulapo, gave me the opportunity to exhibit first under the auspices of Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) at Lagos State Book and Art Festival (LABAF). I realised, that I could raise money from this exhibition.

Read Also: Obasanjo, Falola seek promotion of Yoruba culture

So I went about exhibiting from one place to another. I have since exhibited in National Museum and also National Theatre several times, until it grew and went to other states. And in going to other states, I found out that among the poor are the most terrible and forgotten and they are those who suffer from leprosy.

I went into research in order to understand the cause of this ailment and discovered that it was the oldest ailment in the world with about 250,000 people getting infected each year, globally. Having discovered this, I embarked on a project of seven years, going from one leprosy colony to another across Nigeria.

The first place I visited was Itu in Akwa-Ibom, the oldest leprosy colony in Nigeria, built in 1928. Then I went to Uzuakoli in Abia State, built in 1934. After going round the colonies for seven years, I entitled the project/exhibition, the “Images of God”, and exhibited in commemoration with the 2019 World Leprosy Day. This year’s edition will hold this Sunday at Parliament Bar in Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

My experience as an artist

It’s been interesting, rewarding: interesting because when you do what you like doing, you hardly feel bad about it. There had been high and low moments.

Challenges as an artist

Life is full of challenges. I really don’t believe in challenges. I’d share with you the ugliest experience I have ever had. But I learnt something from each challenge I face and work to surmount it.

When we were still digging the borehole at Okobaba, we had spent N296,000; and we had no money again. The chairman of the NGO, Mr Odinaka and I went to buy a tank for the water but when we got back, the children in the leprosy colony had thrown stones into the borehole that we dug and everything was condemned.

I came back dejected and asked myself who sent me to do this.

My team members and family members were there to continue pushing and for me not to stop half way. They gave me words of advice that to get the rose you must pass through the thorns, and in order to achieve something you must have been hurt along the way. It was at an exhibition we had at the French International School.

My advice to upcoming artists

They should endeavour to have a particular genre of art they are concerned with. Let’s be disciplined, try and look for how you can be defined in your own genre of art – be it as a wedding, sports, or environmental photographer.

Pick a subject that would be advancing humanity, because the moment you put energy to that particular subject, you would do great in it. But first discover your passion, then put your energy into it in order to be defined in whatever you do. For passion brings wealth and inspiration.

By Evelyn Osagie

United States Consul-General Claire Pierangelo has reiterated the importance of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs to the continued growth of economies in the West African sub-region and the prosperity of the continent.

Speaking at a seminar for the first cohort of U.S. sponsored Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni, Ms. Pierangelo noted that population trends in Africa’s largest economy will not only mean that Nigeria could become the world’s third most populous country by 2050, but events in the country could have wide-ranging global repercussions going forward.

“If Nigeria is successful, its extremely young population will represent a tremendous source of productive labour and an extremely attractive market for a variety of products and services. Its success will be Africa’s success and the world will also benefit from the creativity and resourcefulness of its people.

“That is why the government of the United States cares so deeply about supporting entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Right now, according to sources, small to medium sized enterprises run by entrepreneurs create about 85 percent of all jobs in this country.

Read Also: ‘We’re bringing back entrepreneurship to students’ community’

We are therefore committed to working with you and our local partners, including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to help you maximise opportunities to use your drive and skills to create a better Nigeria for all of us,” Pierangelo observed.

The Chief Executive Officer, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ms. Ifeanyinwa Ugochukwu, who expressed the organisation’s appreciation for the partnership with the U.S. Consulate General, highlighted the importance of strategic alliances for the country’s sustained economic development.

“It is clear that development aid does not solve economic problems, handouts never work in the long-term and in no developed country does government shoulder economic burdens alone.

On the other hand, partnerships such as this support the job-creating, solution-driven mentality which Nigeria needs to lift itself up,” she said.

The seminar also included a presentation on “Globalisation and Nigeria” by a Senior Lecturer at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, John Doggett.

There was a panel discussion on the “Key to Success”,  featuring fashion entrepreneur, Olori Anita Ololade Odozi; Co-Founder of Red Media Africa, Adebola Williams; CEO of AfricanFarmer, AfricanFarmer Mogaji; and CEO of Field of Skills and Dreams, Omowale Ogunrinde.

US government in October 2019 announced its partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to promote entrepreneurship initiatives in Nigeria, through a public diplomacy grant of $105, 000 (N37.8 million).