The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • National Light gets award of excellence

    It was a moment of honour for the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, National Light Group of Newspapers, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, when Rotary Club of Awka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State honoured the newspaper with an award of excellence in community service.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Nnabuife said: “We did not foresee this coming exactly on the second anniversary of National Light Newspaper’s indigenous language newspaper, ‘ Ka Di Taa’ (Igbo). Tonight, Rotary Club of Awka, UNIZIK gave National Light Newspapers her Award of Excellence for Community Service.”

    He recalled that on August 10, the award-winning Igbo Language newspaper, ‘Ka O Di Taa’ clocked two. He noted that it also coincided with that year’s (2017) celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and local languages to mark Anambra Newspaper & Printing Corporation’s concrete contribution to the active usage and promotion of Igbo language in social communication.

    “We thank God that  so far,   the modest effort of the National Light group of newspapers which we sincerely hope that other institutions fancy and adopt to avert the United Nations’  2006 prediction of extinction of Igbo  in 2050 has begun to make in awards and  resounding honour three in this year alone,” he said.

  • ‘David Dale was a colossus’

    The Acting Director-General, National Gallery of Art (NGA), Abuja Dr. Simon Ikpakronyi, has described the death of David Dale, one of Nigeria’s leading contemporary artists as a huge loss to the creative sector.

    In a statement, Ikpakronyi said:”It was with sadness that the National Gallery of Art (NGA) received the news of the death of veteran artist David Dale on Tuesday, August 6, at Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos at the age of 71.

    “He has left a void that would be very difficult to fill in the visual art sub-sector where he was a major player for more than four decades. He will be greatly missed by the arts community. Our prayers go to the immediate family especially his daughter, Mrs. Patience Ejeba for succour and strength at a time like this. NGA also condoles with Nigerian artists for this irreparable loss.”

    He said the late Dale was a colossus in experimental art having worked in 21 media, including etching, epoxy, Lino (Block print), gilded engraved block, stained glass, metal (foil work), mosaic, fresco, silk screen (seriography) and painting among others. He disclosed that some of his rare works in the national collection of NGA are: Sunshine in the Province, Zaria, Cry of three Spirits, Dubar and King Tortoise.

    Dale, a close ally of NGA, in 1998, was one of the artists invited to catalogue members of the Zaria Art Society from which the book, Goooonoemo: The Zaria Art Society, A New Consciousness emerged. He held 58 solo and group exhibitions within and outside Nigeria with his works in public and private collections.

  • ‘Poetry merchant’ presents three books

    The President, Poets in Nigeria (PIN), Eriata Oribhabor, has presented three poetry books. Guests showered encomiums on him  for the intellectual quality  in the books.

    The collections were “Walking Truths”, “That Beautiful Picture” and “Colours and Borders”.

    One of the highlights of the event was a poetry recitation by six-year-old Akachi Ogu. She recited one of the author’s poems, entitled: “Today is Victory” from “Colours and Borders” to the delight of guests.

    The event featured a tea party by TEA Orb and special performances by John Kutcheti, Clementina Owumi (Solutionist) and House of Phoebe.  It was chaired by Acting Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Ahmad Rufai Shakur and had PIN Executive Secretary Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom as the book reviewer.

    While admiring the energy with which he pens and churns out books, the chairman, who was represented by Assistant Director, Human Resources (DPR), Mr Samuel Waplang, said the author’s passion for writing was evident to all in their office.

    Penning the poems that made the three books was a creative journey that started in 2015 down to 2017, according to the author.

    He noted that: “It is my rooted belief that, I would publish my poems someday but my involvement in different literary activities wouldn’t let me settle in on editing and reading them for publication.

    “Late last year, however, I made up my mind to do what I have done – publish some of my works and attract public attention to my works and my person, now popularly addressed as the Merchant of Poetry. Being one who is passionately driven writing poetry, it has been fun sparked by muses that bathe me with creativity while traveling around my country and few places around the world.

    “As a minstrel, his ever-tweeting pen traverses colours and borders, spilling oneness on papers of humanity. The poet, in his recent post on Facebook, unveiled a new sobriquet – Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet). For one who gushes poetry like a waterfall, ascribing definiteness to his “poet status” is not out of place. Di Poet who is also fondly addressed as “The Merchant of Poetry” is an unstoppable brewer of lines and massive “carrier” of poetry across borders. In his unwavering quest to right the wrongs in the society, Di Poet wields sarcasm as a scourge for uprooting the woes of humanity,” reviewer and author of Punctured Silence, Freedom, said.

    According to him, Oribhabor’s poems are characterised by refined compactness and undulating harmony. “His verses are so tightly woven that they could be described as grains of sand and enjoyed as packs of small chops. Evidently, the author of this poetic trilogy is a social activist who has dedicated most of his poems to addressing societal ills. He simply cannot turn a blind eye to happenings around him. He voices his concerns, hoping that they would inspire changes favouring our individual and collective wellbeing. With these poetic offerings, Oribhabor (Di Poet) has sealed his status as a foremost and global poet. And, “his story, won’t, in the eyes of creative climes, fade.” Never!

    The event was moderated by Awodiya Funke, author of “The Farmer’s Daughter”.

    In attendance were the literati and staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), such as Zonal Operations Controller, DPR Lagos Zonal Office, Mr Wole Akinyosoye; Manager MPD, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Joel Igbudu; members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Branch, led by their Mr Yemi Adebiyi, Chairman, Chinyere Ezigwe and Samuel Osaze.

  • Restoring hope through IVF

    Jos-based consultant gynaecologist and In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) specialist Ken Egwuda speaks on reasons IVF is required to achieve pregnancy, conditions under which it can be performed, its benefits, its relationship with age and other issues.

    Who needs IVF treatment?

    For conception to occur spontaneously you need a genetic female and a genetic male. The genetic female should have all her reproductive pathways young and functional, so also the genetic male. So, there are things that could go wrong in this pathway and then become a problem achieving spontaneous conception. For the female, the fallopian tubes may be blocked. When a woman has bilateral blockage of her fallopian tubes, it’s a clear indication that she needs IVF because there will be no normal meeting point between the sperm and the eggs. During the course of woman’s normal reproductive life, her ovarian function decreases with age. In many cases, this reduced function can be overcome through the use of IVF alone, or in conjunction with techniques such as Assisted Hatching and ICSI. For some women, this decrease in ovarian function may start at earlier ages and requires aggressive treatment with IVF sooner than later. Also, when a woman is out of age and as a result is unable to produce eggs, she needs IVF with egg donation. When the lining of the womb of a woman is diseased and is difficult to achieve conception, she may also require an IVF treatment cycle in which case a different womb in a form of a surrogate may be employed to help in achieving pregnancy for this couple. When a woman is sick or have some medical conditions like advance heart condition that may not tolerate pregnancy, she may also need the help of a surrogate to achieve pregnancy.

    Any data to support this?

    Current scientific data about endometriosis shows that mild to moderate forms of endometriosis may be effectively treated with a combination of surgical and medical therapy. For more stages of endometriosis, including the presence of endometriomas, IVF is the optimal first line treatment and offers the highest pregnancy success rates.

    For the man, when the sperm count is low, there may be difficulty in achieving spontaneous pregnancy. He may need the IVF to achieve pregnancy.

    Other reasons for IVF?

    IVF may be needed for social reasons as we have couples who want to plan their pregnancy for special reasons either for academic reasons or for professional reasons and get the pregnancy lifetime done with in quick succession, they could also embark on the journey of IVF. Today there is a revolution in definition of marriage, where we have same sex marriages, we have the lesbian, and you have the gay couples. You know, as I told you earlier, that you need a genetic male and a genetic female to achieve spontaneous pregnancy. In situations where you have same sex marriages you automatically won’t be able to achieve spontaneous pregnancies, so there will be need of acquiring a gamete of the opposite sex, either an egg or a sperm from a genetic female or male to achieve pregnancy in this case. And in extreme cases you may equally need the service of the womb of another woman to achieve pregnancy as we see in the case of the gay marriages.

    There are a lot of other reasons why IVF may be required. When there is disease condition that shouldn’t be transmitted to the next generation or to an offspring, an advance IVF in the form of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may be embarked upon, where diseased embryos are screened off and normal embryos are selected and transferred into the womb of the woman. For families that wish to have additional children of a particular gender after already having a previous child, PGD allows for selection of embryos to transfer based on gender. While not perfect, embryo biopsy with genetic chromosome determination prior to transfer of embryos can allow families choice in how they expand the family.

    The male or the female can freeze their gametes when necessary especially when childbirth is postponed for medical or social reasons. These gametes can be used for IVF in future. If you find yourself having one of these reasons don’t refuse the service of IVF because of cultural or some other reasons.

  • Unity Festival: fostering peace, oneness

    Worried by the increasing hatred and violence among the various ethnic and religious groups in the country, organisers of the new Unity Festival have chosen the unique celebration of the rich culture of the country as a platform to preach peace and tolerance on Independence Day.

    The festival, which will hold on October 1, to celebrate Nigeria at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos from 8am till 6pm, is expected to be a day of fun and cultural entertainment. It will be preceded by a carnival parade at the Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, featuring various ethnic and religious groups on floats to Muri Okunola Park.

    Festival Manager Jennifer Tokunbo Serrano said the project is apolitical and aimed at fostering unity among ethnic groups, redefining the Nigerian culture, boosting cultural and intra-national tourism. According to her, Nigeria’s independence has always been celebrated in manners the colonial administrators designed for us with little or no participation by majority of the people. This, she said, informed taking the independence celebration to the people using culture as bond.

    “This is a way we want to bring Nigeria’s independence celebration to average Nigerians as a free-entry event for everybody,” she said.

    She added that it is designed to promote patriotism and pride our national identity, eradicate ethnic prejudice through cultural education and salvage our posterity.

    On the choice of celebrating Nigeria’s independence using the nation’s culture as major content, unlike anniversaries organised by past administrations, she said it was as a result of research she conducted on what Nigerians love about the country early this year. She disclosed that Nigeria’s culture- food, dance, music, art were the things that Nigerians love.

    “So, we decided that since this is what Nigerians love, let’s use it to bring them together because when we show people what they like, they come together for it. I know there is a serious undertone to this, which is, we want our people to come together. We want our people to see each other as one,” she added.

    Apart from the festival, the organisers are also using schools outreach to public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State to share message of unity. “Beginning in October, we will share with the pupils through drama and dance as well as providing refreshments the mood of independence. As part of celebrating Nigeria, we intend to demonstrate our message by meeting needs in the schools and giving books and stationery to the students. The school outreach is continuous and will progress to other states as well’’, she said.

    Upcoming and superstar musicians expected at the festival include 2Face, M.I, Falz, Phyno, Tekno, Adekunle Gold, Jidenna, Ice Prince, Teni whose musical products represent the festival message of unity. There will also be fashion show, dances by various traditional groups, comedy performances, presentations by traditional and religious leaders.  The festival will feature other side attractions such as art exhibitions, folklore corner with various traditional characters telling traditional stories, creativity corner for the children such as soap making, tie and dye, mat weaving, indigenous cooking competition as food is a major unifying factor by showcasing indigenous foods. This would add colour to the unity festival. On security at the venue, Serrano assured that there will be adequate security in and around the venue while free food will also be served.

    As a way to appreciate facilitators and sponsors, Serrano said that awards dinner will hold at the Intercontinental Hotel on October 2, featuring cultural performances, keynote address on Nigerian Unity and Culture, award presentation to notable Nigerians, recognition of patrons and sponsors and gifts presentation for winners.

    She hopes to take the festival on tour of the federation in the future as soon as state governors buy into the project. “Next destination will be North-East in December then South-South in February, Middle-belt in April, South-East in June and North-West in August,” she noted.

     

  • Alumni donate N12m science lab to alma mater

    IT was a day of empowerment and evocation of fond memories at the reunion party of the 1994 set of the Federal Government College, Ogbomosho (FGCO), held on the school’s premises in Oyo State

    The fun-filled get-together marked 25 years of their graduation from their  alma mater that has continued to turn out industrious and worthy ambassadors since inception.

    Besides recounting beautiful memories in class and hostel life as pupils, a highpoint of the occasion was the formal unveiling of a state-of-the-arts science laboratory donated to the school by the alumni.

    According to the set’s coordinator, Mr Oke Oludotun, it was the second time the 1994 set would contribute to the development of their alma mater. The first was a few years ago when it renovated the school buildings and halls. This time around, the kindness was taken a notch higher by its donation of a well-equipped biology laboratory and other facilities.

    He stated that the reunion was also meant for stocktaking as well as reminiscing on the set’s progress so far. “The need to give back to the school informed the decision of the ‘94 set to embark on a mission to the school sometimes in 2017 to assess firsthand, the state of the school infrastructure and possible areas of intervention. There is nothing any of us would have been without the impact of the school—FGC Ogbomosho,” Oludotun said.

    Other amenities handed over to the school authorities included some renovated classrooms, installation of windows and chairs, air-conditioners, among others.

    He said: “The donations were meant to make the citadel more learning-friendly for current pupils. 25 years after graduating from secondary school is no joke. We have lost members of our set and we had to pay homage and respect during this programme.

    “We felt it was time, most importantly, for us to give thanks to God for how far He has really helped us and to give back to the school that has contributed immeasurably to their growth. As individuals, some of us have grown to become senior managers in big firms; entrepreneurs and business people, if you’d ask me 25 years has dealt us a lot of cards but overall, God has been good to our set and that is why we are here. So, it’s just the least we could do to give something back to the alma mater that made us.”

    A member of the set’s executive, Mr Adeyinka recalled that it became urgent to intervene because of the sorry state of the school premises, noting that “the school buildings were in a deplorable state even while they were still there as pupils”.

    “When we left in 1994, the school buildings were an eyesore. And the 1994 set truly felt uncomfortable seeing the school had remained the same many years after we graduated. We provided doors, borehole, toilets, microscope, diagrams; and removed all the windows and other modern science laboratory equipment including split unit air-conditioners to match with international standard, some of the classrooms were equally renovated.”

    In the same vein, Mrs Abimbola Ade-Philips, another executive member, observed that the gesture would impact on the pupils’ academics performance and social wellbeing, stating that with the sort of laboratory now at their disposal, they have no need to fail or feel intimidated by pupils from ‘expensive schools’.

    “About five years ago, we renovated the Niger House and going back to give back again, the reception was wow. And this time we gave something of international standard, something palpable.”

    The group’s treasurer Mrs, Olubukola Adeyemi, added that: “The donations were on voluntary basis without a fixed amount. We are glad that members of the set responded generously and the over N12million raised. In the all projects done, the most capital intensive was the biology laboratory.”

    The principal and staff members of the school showered praises and prayers on the generous donors, urging its current pupils to borrow a leaf from their predecessors.

  • Storm in a pot for launch on author’s 40th birthday

    An Abuja lawyer and writer, Panshak Haggai, is offering a literal meaning to the popular saying that “Life begins at 40” as he presents his latest book Storm in a Pot as part of his birthday celebration on August 17.

    The presentation will hold at Mungo Park (Shashaz Delight) Garden, 6a, Onitsha Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Mungo Park Close, Area 11, Garki Abuja, by 3pm. It promises to be the dawn of a new era in the life of the author and celebrator.

    The author had previously written two books: Principles of Nigerian Law and Nigerian Business and Cooperative Law. However, Storm in a Pot is his first attempt at writing fiction. Motivated by the resilience in human heart and societal themes, which amplify faith in humanity, Haggai unleashed his deep-seated love for creative writing while communicating pertinent moral truths simultaneously.

    Storm in a Pot is a story on an incredibly resilient woman called Sikimi, a resident of Aisika village. Readers are ushered through her turbulent experiences of non-fulfillment, acute poverty and a miscarriage that almost cost her life. In addition to her personal challenges, she was faced with the task of parenting seven children after being abandoned by Edivo, her irresponsible husband. Her relationship with her adventurous teenage daughter, Nemsi, highlighted Sikimi’s personality as a typical lower level African mother. The unexplained disappearance of Edivo added pressure to Sikimi, but in spite of the challenges that followed Sikimi remained strong and resolved to tow the path of integrity and honour as she mothered her equally desperate offspring.

    The unforeseen appearance of Qauna, Edivo’s daughter from another woman introduced an interesting twist to the story. It deepened the reality of betrayal for Sikimi, but it also proved to be a blessing in disguise for the family as the story progressed.

    Through the eyes of Sikimi, readers are taken through the tortious journey undertaken daily by countless of women in Africa, who languish silently in poverty, oppression and diverse forms of economic, social and religious injustice. They courageously bear all these for the sake of their children and families. The story highlights the fact that with determination and courage, the human heart possesses the capacity to rise above the storms of life.

  • Nobel laureate Morrison dies at 88

    Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning author of Beloved and a seminal voice in African American literature, has died at the age of 88.

    Paul Bogaards, Morrison’s publicist, confirmed the information by telephone, saying the author died on Monday night.

    Morrison received a series of honours during her lifetime, including the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

    Born in Ohio during the great depression, Morrison was an academic and an editor before she wrote her first novel in 1970.

    Beloved published in 1987, became her best known work, telling the story of a former U.S. slave after the Civil War that was based on real events.

    It was eventually turned into a film with Oprah Winfrey.

    “Toni Morrison’s prose brings us that kind of moral and emotional intensity that few writers ever attempt,” then-president Barack Obama said as he awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

  • Jagagba thrills Lagos audience

    Award-winning play Jagagba (The mighty crown), by Abdul-Qudus Ibrahim, was the toast of Lagos theatre buffs and arts enthusiasts when it  was put on stage at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Produced by Bikiya Graham-Douglas’ Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), it captures the conflict of traditional society with an interplay of political metaphors and social contradictions. Laced with humour, the play draws the audience into the world of complexities and intrigues.

    Jagagba explores the dilemma of familial ties, the complexity of policy duplication and the perceived gap between evolving cultures, including relevant social issues, such as the societal value of women, female inclusion, security and co-existence.

    Using common scenes and aesthetics of drama, the play brings to the fore issues and emotions that hitherto kept many within a particular level or status in the society.

    But, amid the many battles for the throne, shocks and disappointments, a new order emerged, which led to the crowning of a female queen, Abebi (Bamike Olawunmi), a protagonist of gender parity.

    Interestingly, the play is reinforcing the campaign for paradigm shift and gender equity.

    Also, issues such as personal greed, cultural rites, boundaries, settlers versus indigenes  and marginalisation manifest greatly in the play that witnessed lots of contradictions.

    Jagagba is the second edition of the foundation’s Beeta playwright competition. The BUAF was founded as an avenue to create opportunities for young people to develop their talent and tell authentic Nigerian stories.

    According to Bikiya Graham-Douglas there are plans to take the production on tour of Nigerian universities’ campus. While thanking the sponsors of the play, especially Union Bank Plc, she said the foundation remains dedicated to impacting lives through drama.

    The writer of the play, Ibrahim, a native of Kogi State, is a BSc Banking and Finance graduate of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. Unable to contain his excitement on the opening day, Ibrahim said his ‘excitement at his play garnering massive recognition and exposure was indescribable, but more importantly, what warmed his heart and assured him that he was on the right path were the amazing reviews he got from the audience, theatre enthusiasts and acclaimed playwrights alike.’ He reiterated his heartfelt thanks to BEETA Universal Foundation for the extraordinary opportunity.

    Jagagba starred Kunle Coker (King Adewale), Mawuyon Ogun (Narrator), Bamike Olawunmi (Abebi), Ese Lami George, Olarotimi Fakunle (Balogun), Eden Attai (Asake), Kelvinmary Ndukwe,  Omololu Sodiya (Baba Ifa)  and Victor Charles Coker (Baba Agba)

  • Lasisi takes English Language crusade to YouTube

    Are you one of those who ‘blow’ English Language the way they like? You don’t care using ‘is’ where ‘are’ is supposed to be? Then, you have to watch it now because an English Language policeman is in your neighbourhood.

    But do not be scared. He is only out to help us right the wrong in our handling the language, which is one of the most important globally.

    That language cop is Akeem Lasisi, a journalist, writer, publisher and acclaimed performance poet, who has also taught English for many years. He has just initiated Phenomenal English, a video lessons series that will be powered by Phenomenal Hub on YouTube.

    According to Lasisi, Phenomenal English is another way of intervening in the crisis that now defines the kind of English Language many people, especially Nigerians, speak and write. He explained that many are always with their phones and other related gadgets; so, it would be double-rewarding to provide them with the opportunity to improve on their English Language with ease.

    He noted in a statement: “My experience as a constant user of English Language is that many people have problems with it because their foundation in the language is poor. Once the foundation is faulty, the house will not be able to stand well. Things have, of course, worsened due to the hydra-headed crisis confronting the Nigerian educational system.  The quality of expressions in many places is bad and getting worse by the day. But I feel the urge to be part of seeking practical solution to this. This is the essence of Phenomenal English.”

    A native of Ibadan, Oyo State, Lasisi studied Education/English at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife – after earning the National Certificate in Education (English/Yoruba) from the Oyo (now Osun) State College of Education, Ila-Orangun. After teaching English Language and Literature for several years, he went into journalism, working with several media houses variously as a proof reader, reporter, staff writer and Assistant Editor. Prizes he has won include the Association of Nigerian Authors/Cadbury Poetry Prize (twice) and the National Media MeritAward.