The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Honour for those who give to God

    The Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos Central, Ago-Ijaye Circuit has honoured those who helped in propagating the gospel of God and impacting humanity through their generous giving to the people.

    In its 60th Circuit Anniversary, the church recognised some pioneers of the circuit and  its strong supporters who had contributed immencely  to its growth.

    Among those honoured in the pioneers’ category were the late B.O. Falase, O. A. Falase, the late S. M. O. Denloye, D.O.O. Soremekun, Elder Emma Adebiyi, P.A. Elliot,  J.O. Lapite and Abigail Modupe Adebode.

    In the supporter category were the late Seke Somolu, the late Dotun Sobogun, the late Deac. Angelina O. Sosan, Ashiwaju S.B.O. Soyebo, Dame Prof Ajesola Majekodunmi, Sister C.A.A. Adekola, Sis Mopelola Adeyeye and Rev Samuel Ibukun Williams among others. The beaming light category were Dr Sola Sobowale, Bro Akin Sofola, Sister Fumilayo Sogbesan (Nee Olude), Kayode Aribaba and Br Francis Obianusi, among others.

    The event also witnessed  a N50million fund raising for the purchase of a plot of land/building in the Ebute-Metta East area for the church. The Methodist Bishop of Lagos Central, Rt Rev. Samuel Nortey, said the celebration was aimed at appreciating them for their past work and encourage them to do more.

    Ago-Ijaye, being the mother circuit of the diocese of the Lagos central, is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a circuit, not just as a church.

    “One very important thing is that it’s not just a celebration, it’s about raising funds to impact on humanity. The anniversary is meant to impact on the community at Ebute Metta (East), Lagos and to ensure that we give them a befitting place of worship. The entire celebration is geared towards evangelism and expansion of God’s works at Ebute Metta East.

    “It’s been wonderful; if you look around a good number of the awardees are elderly people who have served in the past and this actually could have been to appreciate them for their services but interestingly they are all coming out to respond positively towards the work of envangelism, and so we are proud of them”, he stated.

    On how far the church has helped the people of the community, Nortey said there were projects, such as borehole in the local communities, which the church provided. According to him, the church gives scholarships to indigent students some of them, he said, had graduated from university. He disclosed that there are elderly people the church provides food stuffs, clothing and medicals. In  evangelism and expansion, the church has established many churches. Some of these, he said, had got their independence (circuit), while some had become cathedrals such as Festac and Mushin.

    “Most of these churches came out of Ago-Ijaye and they are doing very well,” he added. He said the church was involved in business of peace and conflict resolution, conflict management because as a church and community, it keeps preaching peace to the people. “There is the need for us to co-exist as a nation irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation. We preach peace, but more than that the church does not hesitate to let members in government know that they must live by example.

    The security challenges facing the nation have been a result of the failure of the political class. And we have not hesitated to call their attention to it, hoping that those in authority will be conscious and sensitive to the needs of the populace,” he said.

    Nortey urged the church to channel some of its proceeds to the poor and needy in the community so that they would feel the impact of the celebration. He urged Nigerians not to lose hope and be a lot more patriotic. “It is not all about government; we have to be patriotic to give our own best to this nation and to fellow Nigerians,” he added.

  • The seed

    Once upon a time, there lived three supernatural beings and their names were Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Each of them had special powers to control certain aspects of time. For instance, anything that had to do with memories or history was within the domain of Yesterday; Today was the lord of actions and execution of plans, while Tomorrow superintended over the realms of vision, dreams, projections and strategic plans. One day, ego set in and these three beings got into an argument on who was the most important.

    After several days of argument, which almost led to a disruption in the time continuum, a little Seed approached the three supernatural beings and said, “I hail you mighty ones. While you are supernatural, I am natural. However, I can help you decide who is the greatest among you.” The three beings became very curious because no one had been able to adjudicate among them thus far. So, they asked how the Seed planned to carry out the task. The Seed said, “I have life within me and my capabilities are without limit. I can provide food, shade, oxygen, and several other amazing things. However, my powers cannot be released until I am planted and I grow. Whoever can perform this colossal feat is worthy of honour.”

    After giving the proposition some thought, the three beings agreed that it was a brilliant idea. They decided they would return to the conference table after seven days to see who would have released the power of the Seed. Immediately they left the meeting, Yesterday had a terrible mood swing, or should we call it a wave of depression? He told himself, “If I had known about this challenge, I would have planted my seed since yesterday, and by now it would have grown”. As each day passed, he became more and more depressed.

    Tomorrow was quite the opposite. He was full of such hope that he could not sleep. He kept telling himself, “Tomorrow, I will buy a beautiful flower pot and plant the seed. After it has grown a little, I will transplant it to where it will have all the space needed to mature. After maturity, more seeds will be produced and I will repeat the process so that I can have a big plantation. Of course, I will multiply the power of the seed several times over and become the greatest”. With every passing day, Tomorrow became more and more excited.

    As for Today, he planted the seed immediately. He said to himself, “I couldn’t have planted this seed yesterday because I never knew of this challenge then and I can’t beat myself up for that. Besides, it is better late than never. While the condition today is not the best for planting and tomorrow may be better, I will start small and improve with time rather than wait for a perfect condition.” And so, with every passing day, Today watched as the seed began to grow.

    On the seventh day of the challenge, the three supernatural beings converged. Yesterday was depressed because he still felt yesterday was the perfect time to have planted but he missed it, and Tomorrow was ecstatic because with every passing day, his dreams were becoming greater and new strategies were emerging. As for Today, he was grateful that he took advantage of the moment to plant the seed, which had sprouted. At the meeting that day, the three beings agreed that though each of them was unique in its own assignment, only Today could get anything done. But more importantly, they agreed that the Seed was a perfect test of greatness.

    Yesterday, today and tomorrow have something in common- time. Yesterday time passed, today is passing, and tomorrow time will pass. Let yesterday teach you, let tomorrow motivate you, but don’t let today pass you by. Remember, time doesn’t make an unplanted seed grow. If you invest nothing today, time cannot make it something tomorrow.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu. Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. This can be your year if you want it to be!

     

  • Unveiling Akande’s phenomenon (ii)

    His philosophy is “encapsulated in the principles of humanism – others before self and progressive politics” (Oyeweso, 2011). Part of his philosophy is to dispense justice, be fair to all and do what is right at all times. According to him, in taking critical decisions he always asked himself the question “Kiloto” ( meaning what is right) and “Kilogba” ( meaning what is expedient). He said he often chose to be on the side of “kiloto”. (What is right). Chief Akande’s philosophy has inculcated in him a frugal life-style that he brought to bear on the administration of the state of Osun between 1999 and 2003.  He implemented the four cardinal programmes of his party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) without borrowing a dime throughout his tenure.  It was prudent spending that made him to implement successfully his party’s programmes of free and qualitative education at all levels, free medical services for all, maximum and integrated rural development and full and gainful employment for all.

    When Chief Akande assumed office, he inherited a debt of over N2 billion but left no debt for his successor.  Within the first two years of his administration, he built classrooms, established new science schools and several technical colleges.  This very book has documented the numerous achievements of Chief Akande in government which stand him out as an indomitable spirit, a bold and courageous leader and above all a humanist per excellence. By the end of his tenure, the administration had completed and commissioned over 2,000 projects which included roads, hospitals, schools, rural housing as well as electricity and water supply.(p.26). He taught us a lesson in prudence during his tenure as governor when he reportedly received the sum of N1.5million from the Federal Government through the Universal Basic Education Commission to construct one classroom while Chief Akande chose to use the same amount to construct three classrooms without mortgaging standards. Another typical example is the case of the Ede water project which some of Chief Akande’s predecessors in office had earmarked for repairs (precisely desilting) at a staggering cost of $300million. Chief Akande at the end of the day completed the same repairs with a total sum of N74million, which was less than $1million at the time.

    The Akande administration within its first two years established science secondary schools across the state, built 40 classrooms and rehabilitated many others. By the end of the fourth year, six schools of science had been established in addition to the existing three, three Unity schools were also established in Osogbo, Ejigbo and Ikire, while seven technical colleges were established in addition to the existing two. In the health sector, essential drugs were provided in all government- owned hospitals across the state at a cost of N8 million per month. By August 2001, the administration had established hospitals in Ikire, Ora, Ilobu, Esa Oke, Iragberi, Kuta and Ile-Ife while the hospital in Osogbo was upgraded from a 20-bed to a 60-bed hospital. Between 1999 and 2003, attendance of patients at the hospitals increased from 96,695 to 660,000. In the area of rural development, moribund water projects across the state were resuscitated while 90 deep wells and 276 boreholes were sunk. The government also completed the National Water Rehabilitation Projects at Ikirun/ Eko-Ende and the new Ede waterworks water project.

    Chief Akande has shown us all that man’s legacy to mankind should not be in terms of what he is able to acquire in a material sense for himself but what you can give to your people and country. Chief Akande’s legendary prudence has been attested to by no less a personality than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who once said:

    Two traits marked out Chief Akande as Governor: frugality with government funds and putting others before self. This twin-quality came under his ascetic nature, which gives little or no room for waste or flagrant display of opulence (cited in Oyeweso, (2011)

    The Jagaban is in a position to know. Chief Bisi Akande’s integrity and bluntness became so legendary that he was given several appellations by the people. The Late Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Ashiru Tadese named him “Aiyekooto” (people hate the truth) while some others named him “Otitokoro” ( meaning the truth is bitter).

    Chapters 4 & 5 written by Ify Igbokwe and Adeniyi S. Basiru respectively, highlight the non-discriminatory nature of Chief Akande’s policies and programmes in the way they affected indigenes and non-indigenes in his state.  At no time were non-Osun indigenes discriminated against in the implementation of all of his emancipatory policies and programmes.  The book focuses on his welfare programmes in chapter 5 showing that he embarked on the construction of rural houses for workers, teachers, health workers, etc. (building about 126 units in less than four years) while completing more than 300 kilometers of roads within the same period. Within four years, the Bisi Akande-led administration in Osun completed the construction of a state secretariat complex of 33 blocks at Abere in the state capital as well as a new governor’s office named after Late Chief Bola Ige.  The governor’s office, one of the best of its kind at the time, occupies about 97,600 square metres of land, with 560 office spaces and 167 toilets. The administration encouraged the use of local materials and largely used local contractors for virtually all the jobs it gave out. The new government secretariat was constructed at a relatively low cost of N3 billion while the Governor’s office was built at a cost of less than N2 billion.

    The construction of the secretariat made it possible for the state workforce to have offices they could call their own and also helped in saving for government about N400milion which it annually expended on rent paid by government agencies. In a bid to curb the usual sharp practices in contract awards, Chief Akande ensured that contracts were awarded to contractors without paying them any mobilisation fees. This unique form of executing contracts enabled government to pay only for jobs that had been satisfactorily done.

    Amidu T. Raheem in Chapter 6 titled “Bisi Akande and the Limits of Ethical Governance” X-rays one of the legacies of Chief Akande which is the Civil Service Reform.  It was a conscious attempt to rebrand the Osun State Civil Service by creating new value system and work ethics, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Servants in service delivery and reduce corruption by blocking all sources through which such sharp practices occur. (p. 134).  Chief Akande himself diagnosed the afflictions of the Civil Service that he inherited as follows:

    “Instead of the traditional commitment to hard work and dedication to duty, Civil Servants have become desperate favour seekers, unrepentant petition writers and blackmailers.  The oath of secrecy is thrown to the winds and photocopies of sensitive, classified documents can be seen in the hands of groundnut sellers. (p. 137)”

    Consequently, Chief Akande decided to right-size the workforce and restructure the Civil Service.  In all, over 3,000 workers lost their jobs in a gale of retrenchment that earned Chief Akande more enemies than friends.  Although the book provides justification for this step in the light of the state’s dwindling resources and the bloated workforce, the jury is still out on whether the step taken was the best option available in the circumstance.

    Clearly, this shows that Chief Bisi Akande in spite of his phenomenal achievements, legendary courage, simplicity, asceticism, frugality and transparency is human after all and is therefore not infallible.

    Chapter 7 written by Aituaje I. Pogoson and Moses U. Saleh discusses Gender Issues and Governance in Osun State, 1999 – 2003.  It raises theoretical posers about gender issues and democratic governance.  It states that democracy that fails to address gender concerns is but an empty shell.  The authors insist that women representation in the Akande-led administration was grossly inadequate, with only one female Commissioner in a cabinet of 10 members.  They also linked the non-recognition of the office of the first lady to lack of sufficient gender sensitivity.  However, the authors hold the view that government policies and programmes were non-discriminatory and benefited all citizens regardless of gender.

    Chapter 8 presents Chief Bisi Akande as “a rebel in Government House”.  It situates its analysis within the context of Nigerian politics characterized by what Peter Ekeh describes as the “two publics” as well as Richard Joseph’s “Prebendalism”.  The authors, Azeez Olaniyan and Akeem Bello see Chief Akande as being a Nigerian politician of a different kind.  He is presented as a man who did not play politics of expediency (even when second term election loomed).  They identify what characterizes him as a rebel,5 to be : personal simplicity, straight talk and bluntness, abolition of the office of the first lady, rightsizing and downsizing of workforce, direct labour system, confrontation with the labour unions and traditional rulers and insistence on accountability and due process, refusal to favour his kinsmen and religious groups and insistence on party supremacy. (p. 181).

    Chapters 9 & 10 written by the co-editors represent a befitting conclusion to this very seminal and highly readable book.  The Chapters reveal that Chief Akande is a man more sinned against than a sinner.  They revealed that his loyalty to his party and his belief in party supremacy was what made the composition of his cabinet so lopsided in terms of women representation.

    The authors of the chapters reiterate Chief Akande’s glowing qualities – his humane and courteous disposition, his zero tolerance for opaqueness, his humility and personal distaste for abuse of trust.  However, in chapter 10, the authors raised concerns about Chief Akande’s neutrality in the intra-party crisis that preceded the Governorship election in Osun in 2019, his unexplained silence on the crisis that trailed the July 2017 senatorial election within his party in the state, as well as his seeming “sommersault” on the vexed-issue of restructuring about which he had even written a book in the past.

    As earlier stated in the foreword by Prof. Aina, the story in this book is not about a man who is infallible.  It is about a man “who was willing to take responsibility for what he believed in and who worked hard to lead the kind of life that would make Osun State a better state than he met it” (p. x).  Chief Akande may not be a perfect man, but he has emerged from this book as someone who having no need to fear man, has through an unflinching devotion to duty and translucent love of country, fostered happiness and the good life among his people.

    The lesson for us all as the book clearly depicts, lies in the memorable words of Henry Longfellow who wrote in “The Reaper and the Flowers” that: ‘Lives of great men remind us all we can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.’

    This book of ten well-written chapters is a must-read for all those interested in the study of Nigeria’s history, politics and governance especially in the 4th republic. It should be a companion for our politicians who will need to emulate Chief Akande’s modesty both in and out of office.  They must strive to learn lessons about loyalty to party, loyalty to ideology and loyalty to the people.

    Governors in particular, must learn from his belief in party supremacy as the best way to guarantee political stability.  If the appropriate lessons are learnt, our politicians of the moment, cutting across political parties, must begin to revive the party system such that every individual, from the President to the Governor, would be subordinated to the authority of the party.

    The structure for administering the political parties such as the National Executive Committees, National Working Committees and the Boards of Trustees must be given a kiss of life.  It is only in this context that our democracy can survive.

    Finally, I wish to propose that some of the chapters in the book should be merged to make the book more compact and avoid overlap.  A situation where more than 3 chapters reproduce basically the same data on Chief Akande’s achievements, as presented on pages 90-92 and pages108-113, should be avoided.

    There is no doubt that this is a well-researched and well-written book that showcases a Nigerian with a difference, a phenomenal politician, a man of ebullient and impeccable character, a man of modesty, a man whose word is his honour, Chief Adebisi Akande.

    It is my hope that scholars, politicians, administrators and journalists would ultimately find this book to be a useful companion in their search for the Nigerian of our dream.

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Why artists must reap from their sweat’

    “Artists do not live on funerals and because they enrich the world with their art, they should be projected. So it is fair that those who take in their work pay them a share of what they earn,” says Senegalese sculptor, Ousmane Sow. This position formed the thrust of discussions at the Ben Enwonwu Foundation Talk Series on artists resale rights in Nigeria held in Lagos. It featured leading stakeholders in the visual art sub-sector, Omolola Afolabi reports.

    Director-General, Nigerian Copyrights Commission, John Asein, has promised to take actions aimed at ratifying the copyrights provision of the artists resale rights in Nigeria.

    Asein, who spoke at the maiden edition of Ben Enwonwu talk series at Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi, Lagos, made the pledge in reaction to Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya’s appeal to the commission to fast-track the approval of the provision of section 13 of the Copyright Law, which seeks to allow artists benefit from secondary and downstream sales of their works.

    Reassuring the artists, the DG said: “We already have enough concerns with piracy in books and music. I never expected to see this in artworks. Strident measures will therefore be taken against such subsequently.”

    Asein, while enlightening the audience on the point of convergence between the Berne Convention and the Nigerian Copyrights Act, said Nigeria is a member of the Berne convention concluded in 1836, and that section 14 of Nigerian Copyrights Commission act sets minimum standard for artists’ resale rights in Nigeria. “We are, therefore, Berne compliant in terms of our copyright legislation,” he noted.

    Article 14 of Berne Convention sets minimum international copyrights standards, which is optional for only about 80 countries. Asein noted that as far as Nigeria is concerned, there is a provision that makes it mandatory for the artist to enjoy some recompense whenever his work is sold at an auction. He, however, added that for author, when a manuscript is sold, he also gets some compensation.

    Executive Director, Ben Enwonwu Foundation, and President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Mr. Oliver Enwonwu, who  was keynote speaker at the talk, said it is important to give credence and support to the artist who creates the works, which are exclusive to him alone. Decrying the poor remuneration and funding given to artistes, especially visual artists, he cited the record sale of his late father’s master piece Tutu for 1.2million pounds, which he said, neither him nor his siblings got a dime in return. This, he said, is one of the reasons why ‘I’m quite agitated.’

    Enwonwu, who is also Founder, Omenka Art Gallery, Lagos continued: “There is no evidence that the artists resale right has a negative impact on British art market, which is the largest in the world. If musicians, writers and other creatives can benefit from this property rights, why not visual artists?”

    In her reaction, Prof Ebun Clark, an academic and wife of distinguished writer and scholar, Prof. J P Clark, gave a dissenting opinion saying “I am not against resale rights but please do not compare it with literature. The author doesn’t take financial risk. The publisher does and he prints multiple copies and pays the writer royalty, whereas, the artist takes the financial risk of buying canvass, art materials and go out to sell. Sometimes, you have to market yourself. So, it’s not the same market the writer shares with the artist. And when it comes to Nigeria, the writer doesn’t get royalty until after about three years. And they have limitations like pirates and all sorts. You can have your resale rights but please do not compare that with other literary or artistic genres.”

    Clark added: “I will implore you to also have some pity on the collectors who must have taken some financial risks. Again, you focused on only Britain, but America still has reservations for enforcing the resale rights because they think it might affect the art market. I am for resale rights but I’m just trying to tell you to be wary of comparisons”.

    Enwonwu responded by clarifying that the reason for the comparison is the fact that both categories are intellectual properties. On the US art market, he said: “I know that the US does not have that legislation but the UK market is there, which I pointed out earlier that is the second largest in the world. I also brought in Africa that if it is not paying on our continent, perhaps we should also look into it”.

    Speaking on global market for Nigerian art, Neil Coventry, representative of Bonhams, a leading international auction house for African art, gave a historical overview of the Nigerian art market, describing the late Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yemisi Shyllon and Njideka Akunyili Crosby among leading lights in the art. According to him, Nigerian artists have all been exhibiting on a global scale since the 1960’s till date, noting that what is new is the scale and interest globally. He also shared a numerical illustration on how the Nigerian art market has evolved tremendously over decades and how interests have begun to increase in the auction houses globally.

    However, Coventry expressed deep concerns about the under-representation of African art in the global market, noting that ‘auction houses contribute a lot to the art market and need to do more, otherwise the market might shut down.’ He identified publishing, research and cataloguing as some of the measures that have been taken to document, thereby enhancing interest in the art market.

    On counterfeiting and forgery in the art market in Nigeria, he presented some shocking images of counterfeited works by prominent Nigerian artists. He revealed that the images showed that pirates do not only stop at forging art works, they also go as far as duplicating the artist’s signature with impunity.

    Commenting on the consequences of this, Coventry said art market gets saturated while interest diminishes, adding that there is too much to lose, not just in monetary value but also in culture, heritage and national pride.

    “When looking at the pitfalls of contemporary African art, Africans have been given the right to write their own story, it used to be that the West told Africa’s story on their behalf. Now, we should tell our own story and all we do is copy one another,” he added, noting that for us to grow the Nigerian market globally, we must do our bit locally.

    Intellectual Property lawyer, Ngozi Aderibigbe, lent her voice on the Berne Convention that seeks to unify copyright laws across member states. She noted that one of its key principles is the ‘national treatment,’ which stipulates that member states are enjoined to give the same treatment to foreign works as they would to their own nationals. She added that the law does make an exception in the case of artist’s resale rights, which makes its implementation optional. This, she said, means a member state is not obligated to extend the same benefit to the artiste unless the home country also provides that advantage. “The implementation of this law becomes tricky, however, because you can’t always track the sale of an original work in a global market,” she said.

    National Gallery of Art Acting Director-General Dr. Simon Ikpakronyi, who was represented by Mr. Ajene Isegbe, said the law that established the National Gallery of Art (NGA) as amended in 2003, has provisions to protect the interest of the artists, but that until this moment, the bill still awaits assent. “If the bill is not implemented, there are several capacities in which the NGA cannot operate,” he added. Legal practitioner and art consultant, Mr. Seun Alli, moderated the panel discussion.

    The Ben Enwonwu Foundation, established 2003 was founded in honour of the late Prof Benedict Enwonwu, a foremost Nigerian artist who was named by Times Magazine in 1950 as Africa’s most influential artist of the 20th century due to his unparalleled contributions to the visual arts industry in Nigeria and the rest of the world. One of his most notable works is a bronze of the sitting Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth (II) and the Anyanwu or the awakening, which currently stands at the United Nations Headquarters in the United States.

    Significantly, stakeholders resolved to draw up action plan for implementing artist’s resale right legislation in the country. Among guests that attended the event included Director, Modern & Contemporary African Art, Bonham’s, Mr. Giles Peppiatt, Chairman, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Polly Alakija, Artistic Director, Lagos Biennial, Kunle Oshun, Director, Mydrim Gallery, Mrs. Sinmidele Adesanya, Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, Kolade Oshinowo, Olu Amoda, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Ndidi Dike, Olu Ajayi, Burns Effiom and Gbolahan Ayoola. Sponsors and partners of the event were Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Zircon Marine Limited, Jackson Etti & Edu, The Sole Adventurer and Ono Bello.

  • Group lifts 279 less privileged with N20m

    TO alleviate the sufferings of the downtrodden in the society,  NASFAT Agency for ZAKAT and SADAQAT (NAZAS), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated cash gift and work tools valued at N20 million to 279 less-privileged. The NGO, established to give succour to the needy,  also provided health insurance scheme for missioners and their immediate families.

    Venue of the event was the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos State Chapter at Ikeja.

    For the 279 beneficiaries, it was indeed a life-changing experience. However, before the donation, Chairman, Board of Directors of the agency, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, presided over a general meeting, during which he presented the scorecard for the past years. Yusuf said the agency had received tremendous support from members and other public-spirited Nigerians for its Zakat obligations over the past one year.

    According to Yusuf,  NAZAS started five years ago, and has since mobilised more than N174 million from which over 676 poor individuals had benefited from, at Ramadan and Muharram (first month of the Islamic year), public disbursements and other routine and emergency disbursements.

    He said: “This was made possible through regular payment of Zakat and Sadaqat by you and other donors. The clamour for us to scale up our game by going beyond the regular N40 million marks in fund receipts was achieved this year as we finally crossed the N40 million lines last year and we have already crossed the N55 million thresholds this year. We hope to cross the N60 million mark.

    “Health is wealth. I am pleased to report that last year, the board, approved that we institute a health insurance package for Imams and Missioners (both NASFAT and non-NASFAT) to promote the health and well-being of the Imams and their immediate families. This year, we have enrolled the initial set of 12 Imams and Missioners with the Lagos State Health Management Authority. Working with the Lagos State League of Imams and Alfas, and with your financial support, we hope to enroll more Imams and Missioners in the period ahead.”

    Ms Mariam Amidu, alongside 37 others, benefitted from the N1.88 million set aside for education support and scholarship for the needy.

    Mrs Amidu, 21, and student of  the University of Lagos, said she cannot wait to share the testimony with her mother.

    “I never knew my father, and paying school fees has always been a problem for me and my siblings. With this scholarship, I can now pay attention to my studies and achieve my dreams of being an accountant. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless all those who have sacrificed their hard earned money for people like me to go to school. I am so grateful to NAZAS,” she said.

    Mr. Jubril Jimoh and 14 others with deteriorating health conditions shared N4.862 million. And six others received N510, 000 to offset their debts.

    Another beneficiary, Jimoh Jubril, said that in the last four years,*/ he has exhausted all he had on his ailment without healing. “I was diagnosed with acute diabetes. I have initially spent over N420, 000 managing it before I was slammed with another N400,000 bill again. But, I had no money anymore hence I resorted to call for help.

    “Luck finally shined on me through a friend’s wife who came to check on me in the hospital and suggested I reach out to NASFAT. I did and surprisingly, they have come to my aid. I am so grateful to them and to Allah the most benevolent,” Jubril said.

    Twelve NAZAS Imams and Missionaries, and one of their wives and any of four of their children were placed under the recently launched Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme valued at N400, 000 per year.

    While 148 petty traders, mostly of physically challenged people received cash donations, work tools such as sewing machines, refrigerators, among others worth N14.2 million.

    One of the beneficiaries of the items, Mrs. Silifat Daramola, who broke down in tears after receiving a deep freezer and a cash donation to support her trade said: “I didn’t entirely believe when I was informed that I would be among those that would benefit from Zakat today. This is because I have always ended up being disappointed by other groups whom I had earlier run to for help. They would call for empowerment but at the end of the day, nothing comes out of it.

    “But today, NAZAS has put smiles on my face. They didn’t only give me deep freezer but also a sum of money. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless everyone in the agency and wipe away their tears just as they have wiped mine.”

    Yusuf said that the donation is the second disbursement this year to commemorate the new Islamic year. “So, today is the symbolic disbursement of N20 million to over 250 beneficiaries reflecting the donations we have received from different donors during Ramadan period and we hope that this would help bring succour to many Nigerians.

    On how to apply as a beneficiary, Yusuf said: “To apply as a beneficiary of Zakat, we advise people to come  and collect form in our office, or download it online and fill it, but they would still have to come  physically to submit the forms in our office.”

     

  • Welcome to the real world!!!

    Certainly, you must have heard this statement a few times. Perhaps it was said to you or to someone else but the connotation is usually the same. It is usually said in the context of someone receiving a rude shock from life’s experiences. People welcome him or her to the world of reality, as though such a person has just awoken from a fantasy world.

    Michael was desperate for an admission into higher institution. He often thought he would do anything not to stay home for another year. Eventually, he was admitted and then realised that getting good grades was another matter entirely. While trying to relate with complex courses and more complex lecturers, people told him, “Welcome to the real world!”

    He worked hard until he was in his final year. Suddenly, he got so tired of school that the few weeks till graduation seemed like eternity. Michael couldn’t wait to see the “real world”! Well, he graduated but stayed home for a while. Soon, his parents began to ask him what his plans were! “I thought they missed me. Shouldn’t they let me stay around without being bothered?” He thought to himself. Few days later, Michael wanted to enjoy a day out with his friends so he asked his parents for money but they said, “You are a graduate now you know? You should earn your own money.” Welcome to the real world!

    Fed up of his parents’ fuss, Michael decided to get a job. “I am a graduate after all”, he thought, “there will be something out there for me”. When he went searching, however, he met several graduates who had been on the street for years looking for a job. He even saw someone who graduated the year he matriculated. And they all told him, “Welcome to the real world!”

    But what does this really mean? What is this real world?  A world full of failed dreams and hopelessness? Why do people feel proud to share stories of woes and failures? Why do they seem eager to tell someone attempting to succeed about the number of years they spent trying until they failed, and why the newcomer should also stop trying? Why wouldn’t anybody tell Michael about the rich and the successful in the land? Was it because they didn’t want to have false hope or was it because they feared he might actually succeed and leave them behind?

    The world was the way it was when Bill Gates became one of the richest men on earth. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. What you see in your world is what it will be. Think about it; people always say things are impossible until someone achieves it. Trying and failing is not the worst thing that can happen to us; the worst thing is not having the courage to try at all. Most successful people have catalogues of failures to show but they didn’t stop there. While it is true that there are several examples of failed dreams around us, there are also several achieved dreams too, only if we choose to look critically. He who explains success away as others’ birthright will miss success.

    Some people believe that dreams can be stupid. They say dreams are not realistic. Of course, dreams are not realistic! They are larger-than-life. If dreams are realistic, they won’t be dreams! Dreams are projections into a desirable future. Your dreams must be bigger than your present or your future is in trouble.  Dreams are cheap. It doesn’t cost a thing to dream of yourself being the best person in your business. In fact, you can do it right now. That is, however, the first step. That you can dream means you have liberated yourself from the limitations of the “Real World”. You must now wake up and purse that dream with everything you’ve got until you achieve. Never mind people, never mind situations, just go for it.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu. Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. This can be your year if you want it to be!

     

  • Women in creative industry explore opportunities

    Experts and women in the creative industry converged on Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos recently for a three-day business summit to widen their horizon as entrepreneurs on opportunities in their businesses.

    Organised by AMFEST EXPO Project, the summit, which had as theme: African Women in Arts & Culture, featured professionals in the creative arts industries – music, film, fashion and food.

    Managing Director, City 105.1FM, Lagos, Mrs. Doja Allen, urged participants to build a brand and a fan base for their music, adding that there is need for female artistes to see themselves as entrepreneurs. She noted that  women should not ignore the need to start small, but with an intention to grow their art-form and audience beyond their geographical locations.

    Mrs. Allen cited the examples of Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage as artistes who have grown to become voices for their generation by putting together a creative team that is hard working, strategic and  staying resilient enough to weather the storms in their careers. She pointed out that the famous and successful artistes deliver their craft on local and international platforms.

    She said African women possess the power and voice, which they should use to their advantage. “Women professionals should think of long-term successes in their careers than brief and fickle popularity,” he said.

    She also stressed the need for African women to support and encourage one another in the journey to becoming a voice in the global music industry.

    Like the Ghana edition of the conference, which held two months earlier, the summit brought together women experts and business leaders in different disciplines in the creative industry to discuss the value chain and growth of the creative sector.

    Experts and participants explored how creative industry practitioners can leverage the size of the African market for better economic returns. To make this happen, ways to always deliver quality products and services, networking beyond Nigeria for artistic and cultural exchanges were highlighted along with the importance of gaining access into the markets of other geographical locations.

    Each panel was sector-based and led by a leading expert in the field. An international chef, investor and hospitality expert, Mr  Shile Jadesinmi, led the session on  African cuisine culture while talks on the creative arts was led by the Chief Human Resource Officer of MTN Nig. PLC, Mrs Esther Akinnukawe.

    Other panel leaders were author Mrs Bibi Bunmi Apampa for writing, Tonia Ahanor for the modeling industry and  Busola Olugbemileke for film business.

    The AMFEST EXPO Project Director, Mr Olukayode Adebayo, announced Kigali, Rwanda and Dubai as locations for the remaining meetings for 2019. Adebayo explained that the creative industry holds massive opportunities for wealth creation for practitioners, adding that it is strong enough to unlock economic prosperity for Nigeria and other African nations, if well harnessed.

  • Xenophobic attacks: ‘I love the being you of Nigerians’

    South African poet, writer and cultural worker, Natalia Molebatsi, is the author of We Are, Sardo Dance and Elephant Woman Song. Her research interests are Pan Africanism, African and Black Feminist thought. However, she is unhappy with the xenophobic attacks and other forms of violence, especially against women and children in South Africa. At the recently-concluded Kaduna Books and Arts Festival (KABAFEST 2019) held in Kaduna, she spoke with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on the possible causes of xenophobic (Afrophobic) attacks in her country, how arts can be used to foster peaceful co-existence and her love for Nigeria, among other issues.

    How can arts be effectively used to fight ignorance, prejudice and hate in the society?

    Literature and arts in general can be used to address differences in every society. But literature as a space can be used to see another world that may have existed in the past, or another world that might exist in the future. In this way, people are drawing a picture of themselves and imagining what they want. I think it’s also a responsibility and duty of the artist to paint this world, the necessary world that we all need. Sometimes when artists write or paint, they don’t even know that the society needs them or uses their works in a way that mends scars from any kind of violence. But, it also brings joy that sometimes we don’t even know it exists. So, I find literature and the arts have ability to stretch when we don’t even know it is possible. With the way the arts is, the artistes are able to move things, navigate and stretch people’s mindsets, imaginations, people’s hearts and has always been their role. It is such a magical role because sometimes we don’t even know how it happens. It is such a delicate way of communicating and also giving communion.

     Can it break perceptions and people’s mindset?

    Arts can do that. In as much as it seems some Africans hate one another, they surely love music icons like the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and Hugh Masakela, no matter where you are from. So, imagine setting up a musical concert with all of these icons and the likes of Angelic Kidjo and telling the people that you are all Africans or Pan Africanists, and that even if you don’t live on this continent, it all started on this continent. I have seen them do it. But, sometimes, the inertia becomes our leaders’, our politicians have got their own mindset and their own structural inertia that they don’t act as swiftly and as smoothly as they should. For example, it is somebody who brings a message of love, of hope, of unity to everybody in this world, somebody like that is someone who can quickly mediate but I don’t think that the people who are in power want that to happen or understand the power of that happening.

     There is a second narrative on this ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It is alleged that it is a deliberate arrangement by South African authority to distract public attention each time the people are pushing to hold government accountable on some critical issues. What is your take?

    What you are saying is so important because that’s exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking what could be the true matter that is happening? I don’t think xenophobic attack is at the core of the issue. I think the method of divide and rule is so alive. I think this violence is just a scape goat, something like a decoy. But, I tell you it works because  poor people will attack one another.

    I mean people working in low income areas. You don’t find that in media houses where people are working as journalists or the academia all over the continent.

    People who turn against one another are always the poor, people who are disposable in so many ways. This is because when such person dies, nobody is going to write about it. And the person won’t even matter, especially if the deceased is black.  That brings us to the global issue of racism where white people have always used us against each other.

     Why are you a writer?

    I’m a writer because, first of all, it’s a gift from my ancestors. I didn’t ask for it, they gave it to me. They also gave me the responsibility to marshal it. You know when you are born with a talent, you have the responsibility to stretch it and nurture it into something else. As they say, talent is overrated. Everyone has got one talent or the other, so, in a way, I started to read writers on the continent and elsewhere; and I began to understand the power of words as they were able to travel. I could travel before I was travelling physically and I could also travel with my words.

    I find myself being able to express myself and I come from a country where expression could lead you to jail or death as a black person and a woman. When I found the urgency or the currency of words, I saw I could use this to navigate emotions to share my pains and my joy. It was to me an incredible thing to find. And everyday, I keep learning what words can do and I still don’t know half of it.

     What is the strength and core of your performing poetry?

    I don’t know, but I get on stage sometimes and I don’t know what to say. I look around me and I feel and see energy that is so powerful because when you perform, as they say, life is a performance. If you live alone in this world, why would you wear clothes? And because you are alone, nobody sees you, but if you are around people, it means you are exchanging energy and so it’s important for me to stand there and say: what is the energy in this room? What is the energy looking for? Then, I’m able to engage. So, that’s what I do as a performer.

    Is it your first time in Nigeria?

    No! Nigeria is my favourite country on this continent and one of my favourite countries in the world. So, I come whenever I get a chance. But, it’s my first time in northern Nigeria though. I have been to Lagos and Abuja many times. I have been to Abeokuta and Ibadan. There is something very special about Nigeria.

     What is that special thing?

    The attraction is the brains and the intellectuals in this country that have been able to take all of us from Africa to the world- the amount of work that has been done. Obviously, there is more coming but the intensity of the work that comes out of Nigeria is incredible and it’s always a gift to immerse myself in this realm. And sometimes they say it borders on arrogance, but we need that to fight the racism that happens. Nigerians go into a space in Europe or America for instance, they take charge. Most times people get jealous, right? You could be a janitor or a professor but there is a level of confidence that is so attractive and for me to be able to breathe that energy, I love that!

    Is that Nigerians’ undoing in South Africa?

    I think Nigerians know how to make a living and sometimes people can be jealous. You know, southern and eastern Africa tend to be really quiet and reserved, not only as a cultural thing but also a thing imposed by colonialism. But, Nigerians go there and create space as it should be. Unfortunately, we have been so contained like you belong there and not here. But, somebody says I’m going to go out there and be me. It’s perceived like you are taking over, but actually you are just being you. I love the ‘being you’ of Nigerians because they challenge oppression and challenge the spaces that say “you are black, you can’t be in here, you are a woman, you can’t be in here.” Look at my sister, Bakare Yusuf and Lola Shoneyin. These women are taking over and you see they are doing what should be done in order to also outdo things around colonisation, patriarchy which by the way came with colonisation. It’s just those kind of things that I see and love.

     Do you think that Nigerians are contributing to South Africa’s economy?

    I think all Africans are contributing because they don’t go there and look for work, rather they create work and they create skills. So, if you’re smart, you ask “can I work with you or for you so I can learn these skills”? Sometimes people’s ego make them turn their noses at it because instead of them to say “Hey, how did you manage to do that? I thought that’s the thing only white people do.

    You said the recent attack is  not  xenophobia but Afrophobia. How do you mean?

    Xenophobia is when you hate the French person or the English person. We have a number of white Americans who are in South Africa but nobody is gonna trouble them because they are white and they have got an American accent. It is Afrophobia. It is an internalised hatred and when you express that hatred, it can create a fire.

    There has been this allegation that foreigners in South Africa always end up taking girlfriends  and wives of South African men. You want to react to that?

    I don’t know where this interview is going but to be honest with you, when you look at the kind of violence that happens to the bodies of women in South Africa, and you look at who is making that violence, it is not Nigerians, not Somalians or Ugandans. But, the men in South Africa. So, we are scared and that is just the truth.  The two places that I fear the most for my life and body, is South Africa and US. I don’t fear Nigeria, even people in Nigeria know that you can’t just go off like that. I wouldn’t go into a park with someone who is a driver in South Africa because the things that are happening to us are very bad.

    Apart from writing, what else do you do?

    Well, I write not just poetry, I write anything. I do non-fiction, fiction and I’m still learning. Fiction is more difficult than content writing. I perform, sing with Jazz band and sometimes I dabble into photography wherever the spirit leads. But, mainly I do poetry and I organise as well. I produce poetry and jazz event because that’s an important part of not just being a writer or a performer but being able to create spaces where younger people would also grow and share their experiences.

    What is your advice to African leaders on issue of unity on the continent?

    They need to take us serious. When Notre Dame Church in Paris, France was razed down, African leaders ran there in solidarity. But they are not running to us when in crisis. They need to take us serious because we are paying for all of these- we pay taxes and everything that we consume. They need to love us because we matter.

    Have you won any award?

    A number of universities have offered me awards including the University of California, Los Angeles and the rest of others.

     

  • ‘Revamping culture in Ekiti is a priority’

    When Ekiti State Government appointed Wale Ojo-Lanre as new Director General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, many agreed that the governor had chosen a round peg for a round hole. Ojo-Lanre has what it takes to re-engineer arts and culture in the state. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, he speaks on the challenges and the journey so far.

    What did you meet on ground as new DG?

    I can say that without any hesitation, I met nothing on ground. For the past four years during the tenure of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s successor, it was the Bureau For Tourism, Arts and Culture. I called its media officer to let me see all his works, what he has  been able to do, and if there are documentations. He told me that for four years he only wrote one story. Within three weeks that I have resumed office I asked him how many stories he has written.  He said he has been able to write over 68 stories with most published. So, until now the place was dead. The place was stagnated.

    I met a horde of civil servants who are professionals, fantastic, pro-active, educated and ready to work and learn. Well, all my directors are professionals, my permanent secretary graduated from Theatre Arts Department, University of Ibadan. The directors are professionals in tourism, journalism and law. The director of Art and Monument is a graduate of Education Anthropology. So, I have a coterie of brilliant civil servants that when they saw my enthusiasm they said they were ready to identify with me. And since I resumed we have turned most of our challenges to opportunities because we never allowed them to deter us.

     How are the people responding?

    When a righteous person reigns, people are happy. A man who thinks is different from a man who dreams. A man who sees a vision is different from a man who thinks. A man who dreams would have been able to philosophies on what his people want and what their cravings are. The first thing I did was to talk to the staff, charge them up and we always discuss on every item. We always have a conference. We subject it to analysis like information gathering. There is no supremacy of ideas and we give in to superior argument. Once we have decided on something, we go for it.

    I told them it is no longer business as usual but it is going to be business unusual. I do not wait for funds. If we have an idea, we do it and then wait to collect the refund when the money is ready. I have talked to the staff about this and they have agreed and are committed.

    Another thing we have also done was to trace the culture and tradition to the paramount rulers. We visited the Ewi of Ado, the paramount ruler of Ado-Ekiti and we explained our vision. I also addressed the council of traditional rulers, that is, the Oba’s council. Apart from that we identified the stakeholders in the society such as the professionals. We paid visit to the State College of Education, where they have established one of the best departments of arts, culture, dance and music. We discussed with them and we have established a relationship. Very soon, we are going to hold EKITIFEST a replica of NAFEST where we will show the fundamentals of Ekiti culture and hospitality.

      Tell us about your background.

    My background is in journalism, education and law. I’ve spent the better part of my life in journalism, particularly in travel and tourism, hospitality, culture and art. This has given me a robust perception and fecund understanding of the job terrain. When I was appointed, I didn’t assume I knew all. I consulted wide, visited states in the Southwest to compare notes and see how things are being done. I believe in apprenticeship and understudy, no matter how short it is, it always produce results.

    These days I noticed you are not wearing suit as much again

    Yes, I used to wear suit a lot but now in the council we wear native dresses and clothes on two out of five days of the week. And that is Wednesday and Fridays. We have four meetings during the week and two of those meetings are conductd in native language.

    Is it all of you that can speak Ekiti language?

    Yes, except of course the youth corps member. We also encourage them to learn the language. Yes, it’s for identification, I am from Ekiti and I am a Yoruba man. It shows I’m a cultural person and I have pride in my culture.

     How do you feel coming back to government?

    It is about service. I was doing my medical report for the Law School when I was called and told about my new appointment. I had to abandon the Law School for the call to service.

      Where did the passion for journalism set in?

    The passion started with my dad. We were staying at No 3 Station Road in Osogbo. Opposite our house, the newspaper agents used to drop Daily Times for sale and my father used to pick a copy. I started developing interest in journalism because journalists were usually well respected. I started praying that I should be a journalist, a policeman or someone in espionage because then I used to watche lots of films. But when I finished school I stayed with my uncle in Festac who was working in the bank. He was the foreign exchange manager at UBA then. Most people in our family were co-opted into banking. He secured a job for me in First Interstate Merchant Bank. I was given appointment with a fat salary, I refused. He later took me to oil and gas where I was given a fat salary too but I refused. But in 1981, I went to Tribune newspaper, where I was given an appointment and told to start on a salary of N6000. And I accepted. When I got home, nobody prayed for me at home. Later my uncle’s wife had to call and ask why? My mum even called me useless and asked me to come home and work for her so she’ll pay me even more. In my house, when you get a job, you were assisted with starter pack such as mattress, stove sand basically everything you’ll need to furnish the house, none of them gave me that. They didn’t even blink at me!

    I was living comfortably in my brother’s boys’ quarters in Festac town but when the newspaper asked where I wanted to be posted to, I opted for Ibadan and that even annoyed my family again. But, I found a place in Ibadan where I stayed.

     You are known to have traveled far and wide. How many countries have you been to?

    I have been to 86 countries of the world. I cannot quantify the wealth of knowledge that I have been able to gain from these travels. Sometimes I develop new brain waves and the people working with me will just be looking amazed. Meanwhile some of those ideas are sometimes things that I saw somewhere else. For instance, I have been to Halloween, what people will refer to as a festival of the witches and wizards. I was once in a ship during my travels and the ship got stalked and stopped on the sea! We were just there not moving. Libations had to be poured in a ceremony before the ship continued on the journey.

     Where was that?

    That was in Barcelona.

  • Foundation seeks protection of endangered wildlife

    By Jane Frances Chibuzor

    Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), under the Egyptian Vulture New Life Project, joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD).

    The event was organised to increase awareness about vultures as being vulnerable, threatened and an endangered species.

    NCF Director-General Muhtari Aminu-Kano, represented by NCF Head of Communications Oladipo Soneye, described vultures as a group of large birds that provide free cleaning service, thus, saving people lots of money that would have been spent on caring for the environment. Aminu-Kano recalled that in October, last year, the Egyptian Vultures Team surveyed over eight local government areas in Yobe State, covering more than 1,436 kilometres, without sighting a single Egyptian vulture.  This, he added, would negatively affect the society as “we will no longer enjoy free ecological vultures and dead animals will pollute the water.”

    First Saturday in September of every year, though, has been set aside by the global body to mark IVAD.

    IVAD was marked across Nigeria, specifically at four vulture hotspots including Enugu, Jalingo, Sokoto and Ibadan.

    At Sokoto, the event which kicked off with a seminar, featured 300 participants drawn from Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Sokoto State Ministry of Environment; Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture; Environmental Sanitation and Protection Agency; Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, Sokoto Chapter; Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Usman Danfodio University among others.

    A drama performance was also staged to drive home the importance of the message. School Conservation Club was inaugurated in the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. Mr. Abubakar Ringim, lecturer Department of  Sciences, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State,  delivered a lecture on threats and conservation/protection of Egyptian/other species of Vultures in Northern Nigeria in English and Hausa languages.  Meanwhile, the second day experienced a market rally to Sokoto Central Market. Key participants in the rally were 300 local natural resource users drawn from Associations of Hunters, Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Wildlife Traders and Crop Farmers within Sokoto and its environs.

    People’s response was positive and it was a good turnout as the event attracted about 450 persons.

    For Jalingo stakeholders meeting held at the Emir of Garba Chede Palace, the people were sensitised on the importance and need to conserve vultures in their locality.

    Also present at the meeting were Emirate Council, Chief slaughter (Sarki Pawa), District Head, representatives of the Fulani group, security agencies and youth groups.

    In Enugu, the IVAD was celebrated with two major activities-workshop and roadshow. The workshop which took place at Fidelma Hotel, Enugu, Enugu State had participants  enlightened on the species of vultures that can be found in Nigeria. There was a presentation of facts and figures about vultures, status of vulture population in Nigeria, causes of their decline as well as the implications, with emphasis on the Egyptian Vulture. The implication of the recent incident in Eke-Ihe Market causing the death of over 50 vultures due to poisoning was used to drive home the message. The event, which attracted over 150 stakeholders from related fields ended with a roadshow to artisan market. Mr. Paddy Ezeala, Dr. Stanley Ilechukwu and Mrs. Abidemi Balogun delivered the talks.

    Ibadan community started with visit to Iyalaje Eleweomo of Ibadan Land, Alhaja Asiri Amoo, who is also the president, Wildlife Traders in Ibadan – a major wildlife market hub. She reminded the market elders about the planned sensitisation workshop and to rally support for the success of their activities within the market.