The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • NAFEST excites Edo in Diaspora

    Two months to the kick off off of the country’s unity festival holding in Benin, the Edo State capital, logistics and promotion are ongoing by Edo indigenes living abroad.

    From calls, electronic mails and video calls, Edo in diaspora have inundated the Abuja office of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), asking for updates, travel tips, hotel accommodation and other logistics in place to ensure a hitch-free festival. Many of them said they would storm the festival with their families and friends.

    An enquiry letter from an enthusiastic Edo living abroad sighted by this correspondent noted that the festival must hold as it would help project the over 400 years’ Edo history and culture and also to appreciate the Oba of Benin, who has used his diplomatic experience and contacts to highlight the need for the restoration and repatriation of Edo artifacts taken away by European invaders during the slave trade era.

    DG NCAC Otunba Segun Runsewe said from the interest so far shown by Governor Godwin Obaseki, Oba of Benin Oba Ewuare  II and the people of Edo, both at home and abroad,  there were indications that the preparation for the festival were being taken more serious than ever before.

    “We are under pressure, a positive sign that NAfest Edo 2019 in October must be given total attention. The response is encouraging and NCAC is ever ready to deliver and make Nigeria the destination for culture and tourism festivals in the world.”

     

  • ‘I started sewing with teddy bear’

    When Folashade, a graduate of Entrepreneurial Studies, arrived Lagos from Oyo State in May, she was desperate.

    Although she had graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, she dreamt of becoming a renowned fashion designer, but her current skill was nowhere near her dream.

    “I come from a very local place in Ibadan, Olodo in Oyo State. All I knew about fashion even after much training was that I could make clothes – simple styles. It was okay at the beginning, but truth be told, I still had a major challenge with cutting and sewing and I seriously wanted to improve on my skills. I would say I am complete novice on what it meant to be a top notched fashion designer.”

    Determined to close the gap, she sought more training in Lagos and got a shocker. “I told a neighbour about my plight and she told me about this fashion house in Lagos. I didn’t care about where it was located or the age and looks of its owner as long the person could deliver well for me and give me what I was looking for. On getting here, it was mind-blowing. I’ve found that fashion designing is beyond sewing.”

    Say hello to Dekyz Apparel. The fashion house with a training institute is owned by 25-year-old Adebimpe Balikis Adeolu. Her bent on raising fashion entrepreneurs drew me to Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    On getting there, I met the door locked, but the sign on the door read open. “Perhaps, because it’s a weekend, but I had an appointment. I found there was a bell, I rang it and a light skinned lady, opened the door with a smile, and said: ‘You are welcome to Dekyz Apparel. How may we help you?’

    “I’m here to see Adebimpe Balikis, we have an appointment,” I said.

    “Oh, you must be the journalist, Please come in, she has been expecting you. By the way, I am Folashade. Please have a seat, I’d tell her you are here,” she said, pointing at a couch.

    In came a boisterous young lady who took me into her world of fashion. “I’ve always been a lover of fashion since I was very young,” began Blikis.

    “I had a teddy that I used to sew its clothes with needle and thread. My dad noticed and said I could start with the tailor in front of our house then, called Iya Hjia. So, any break from school I’d go to her place.

    “When I finished secondary school, I wanted to learn more and went to Ruthy’s Creations where I spent a year and a half. From Ruthy’s, I worked at Oge’s Language where I learnt on the job and developed confidence in cutting and sewing various dresses. After a few years at Oge’s, I studied fashion and industrial design at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) where I realised that fashion isn’t just about cutting and sewing. I later got the opportunity to go for a Masterclass at Toronto Fashion Academy. On my return, I went for a six-month advanced classes with one of Nigeria’s best designers, Ceoluminiee. With all the experience I gathered I decided to start my own fashion outlet, Dekyz Apparel fully equipped fashion entrepreneurship with sewing, design, teaching and fabric departments.”

    “But where are your students?” I asked seeing it was only Folashade in the room filled with all kinds of sewing machines.

    “We are open from 9am to 7pm during week days and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays. But we train students from Monday to Thursday (10am to 2pm)”.

    ” I am here on Saturday when others are not because I want to tap into her wealth of experience. I need to know all it takes to be excellent,” Folashade interjected. “She doesn’t know she is a mentor to me. We went from being boss and student to paddy-to-paddy. I have learnt a lot from her. Fashionistas need to broaden their knowledge. If they see a style on social media, they should attempt to know more about it. I came here desperate to learn. I am ending my training at the end of July and I can say now that I am going back to Ibadan to go and show them what I am made of.”

    While we were chatting about sewing, philanthropy and Nigeria, her father, Adeolu Kilani, a Lagos-based publisher, walked in. But what inspired the support of his daughter’s dream? he was asked.

    ‘’My experience as a product of polygamous home and difficult times were our best teacher. My father married six wives, and it seemed we were abandoned. What we are not supposed to be experiencing at the tender age, we began to experience it and it stuck to our brains that people really need to work hard to make money and make life better.

    “I will never force any of my children to do a particular course. The only thing I’d do is to advise them based on their interest in them. I was determined that she would not practise it in the way that the woman she learnt from was practising it. I was determined to push her above that level. If she had decided to be a vulcaniser, I won’t be against it. And if my son decides to become a vulcaniser, I will make him one of the best in Lagos State. Parents should support their children’s dream and not to force them to live their own dream,” he said.

  • ‘Soyinka deserves highest national honour’

    ONDO State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has said  Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka who turned 85 recently deserves the highest honour the country can give him. He said the Federal Government should honour Prof. Soyinka with Grand Commander Federal Republic (GCFR) in appreciation of his selfless service to the country.

    “Whether you like it or not, we have only had one laureate for Nigeria and that is a class on its own. Prof. Soyinka deserves the highest honour that this country can give him. So, if they want to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s when he is alive, they should honour him with GCFR now. He deserves it,” he said.

    Akeredolu, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital while receiving some students and representatives of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE), said at 85, Kongi has stood out and remained steadfast in principles and ideals.

    According to him, Soyinka remains the conscience of the nation, though he had once referred to his own generation as a wasted one when he found out that all what his generation fought for yielded nothing.

    “But, if before he takes a bow, assuming it takes time for Christ to come, it is important for us to continue to learn about what he stood for. What he fought for so that we can continue with those struggles, even when he has gone,” he noted.

    Commending the organisers for the cultural exchange, the governor urged the team to continue to talk with the students with a view to making them future leaders.

    We cannot afford to continue to talk on these children–that has been the problem. The issue is that we want to dictate to them. We want to direct them. We are talking on them. Can we have a forum like this where we talk with them? And I think this is what you have been doing. When you talk with them, you will get the best from them. When I listened to young girl from Akoko, who gave a speech on intolerance, I was shocked. No doubt, there are many. There are many graduates that cannot even perform as well as she did,” he added.

    Akeredolu tasked the students to be good ambassadors of their states adding that ‘we have in you the future that all of us will be proud of. The only thing is that, I want to implore all of you that the sky is your limit. The sky will probably be the beginning for you because the opportunities are there.

    Co-executoive Producer of the WSICE project, Prof Segun Ojewuyi said the 10-year old annual cultural festival remains a platform to ensure the sustenance of Soyinka’s legacies in substantial and meaningful ways.  He noted that it was Soyinka’s ideals, humanist pursuits and his towering global presence that ‘’we needed as a motivating engine for the future of Nigeria’’.

    “It is an essay writing competition. That is the platform that we have used to bring the children together. We decided we would not talk down to them, to spoon-feed them of a whole thought of Soyinka’s ideas. We decided we would put them in a situation where they need to think through our national development issues, where they will own their personal future and also in our national future by participating,” he added.

    Winners for this year’s competition are as follow:

    • Southeast: Ifeanyichukwu Kemdinachi Lyonette, Dority International Secondary School, Abia.
    • Southwest: Soladoye Toluwanimi, The Vale College, Ibadan, Oyo State.
    • Southsouth: Samuel Onyinyechi Goodness, West End Mixed School, Delta State.
    • Northcentral: Okonkwo Okechukwu, Heritage International School, Nasarawa.
    • Northeast: Ibrahim Maina Saleh, Gombe high School, Gombe.
    • Northwest: Mujahyd Ameen Lilo.

    10th anniversary Special Essay Winner: 1. Ajayi Kolajo, Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun State.

    The students were later mentored by the wife of Governor Akeredolu at the Ministry of Women Affairs.

  • Soyinka slams ‘generation of Internet trolls’

    Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka came down hard on youths at the launch of InnoCreativa Youth Hub 2030 and project logo by Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI) at The Civic Centre, Lagos. Ozolua Uhakheme and Quadri Adegun write..

    Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has described the new generation of Nigerians as illiterate, noting that the nation is raising a generation that is the first to comment on the internet on issues they are ignorant about.

    According to him, the new generation Nigerians are waiting for him to lead a march to Aso Rock instead of getting off their backsides and stop writing rubbish on the internet about things they don’t understand.

    Said Soyinka: “They are waiting for Wole Soyinka to lead a march to Aso Rock. It is about time to get off your feet and stop writing rubbish on the internet about things you do not understand. I do not know how to describe the new generation beyond a generation of internet trolls.

    “Nigerian youths are full of spunk outside, but when they are inside Nigeria, they are full of gas. We are building a generation of illiterates. They are the first to comment on the internet on issues they are ignorant about. When you talk about education, I get texts from the new generation and can’t believe these texts are from the youth.

    “When I decided to build my house in the forest, I bought a second-hand diesel generator and asked someone to dig a borehole. I wanted to be self-sufficient. What I want to pass on to you is that I thought of the possibility of being self-reliant. This entails that I can come to cooperatives with others and demand things from the government by any means necessary.”

    InnoCreativa Youth Hub 2030 project explores creative and innovative capacities of young people through the development of knowledge and attitudes that are relevant to employability and skills for entrepreneurship, which are primarily targeted at solving one global problem: unemployment.

    Speaking at the launch, which also witnessed the conferment of special recognition award of grand patron on Prof Wole Soyinka, the Managing Consultant, CITC Global Consulting Limited, Mr. Tayo Orekoya commended Prof  Soyinka for his infallible support for CYCDI, his creative assistance to the development of the Nigerian child, and indeed, the youth in Nigeria over the past decades.

    Read Also: Soyinka: Ezekwesili, others call for value-based democracy

    Orekoya, however, expressed worry over the level of poverty globally and particularly in Nigeria, which, he said, is assuming an alarming rate. He recalled that a recent world poverty report indicates that Nigeria has overtaken India to become the poverty capital of the world. “With about 86.9 million Nigerians, almost 45 per cent of our over 200 million population is now living in abject poverty. This sad and unfortunate situation makes the UN Sustainable Development Goals to end extreme poverty by 2030 more challenging to implement. Nonetheless, we are undaunted, for we do not believe that it’s unachievable,” he said.

    He assured that as consultative partner to CYCDI, CICTC Global Consulting Ltd shares the belief that everyone was born to influence and create impacts in different spheres of life. He added that the great partnership is with an aim of imperative factor for accelerating influence on  communal, national, and global development towards fast-tracking the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda by the year 2030. To him, the journey did not start today.

    Director, United Nations’ Information Centre, (UNIC) Mr. Ronald Kayanja dismissed as unfounded the claim that UN described Nigeria as the capital of poverty, having overtaken India in poverty index. He said United Nations has never said this about Nigeria, noting that if it was true, it hurts but ‘we cannot sit here and agonise about our poverty. We need to work up and do something’.

    He added:“I heard this story of Nigeria being the poverty capital of the world. United Nations has not said this. Other organisations are saying this, but we are not saying it. If it was true, it hurts, but we cannot sit here and agonise about our poverty and all these. We need to work up and do something. So, it is people like Foluke Michael we have to commend, and to agree with her that we can’t always wait for the government.

    “As I said, Prof. Soyinka didn’t wait for the government for him to be the leader he is. So, all of us have to be leader for the younger generation of Nigerians. The framework of the Agenda 2030 is giving all of us the opportunity to be  leaders and therefore to make an impact on our generation.”

    Commending the doggedness of Prof Soyinka, Kayanja said the Laureate does not hold any political office, yet he is a leader and nobody can dispute his leadership. “And that is why I have continued to commend Foluke Michael, because she has taken advocacy beyond Nigeria and that makes the United Nations recognise her works. It will be difficult for us at United Nations to support you if you have not led in anything. It is the person who does something with excellence that doesn’t need to mobilise people; once you excel, people will follow you. And those are the leaders Africa needs,” he noted.

    Foluke Michael  said at CYCDI:  “We believe in new Nigeria, we believe in a new Nigeria where poverty will be drastically reduced, a new Nigeria where culture of integrity will replace the culture of indiscipline and corruption; a new Nigeria where children will have right to education, right to good health and right to good life.”

  • Cannabis tops most commonly-used illicit drugs

    Cannabis tops the list of most commonly- used illicit drugs in West Africa, with majority of persons accessing treatment facilities doing so to tackle cannabis-related drug use disorders.

    Also, one in five drug users are younger than 19 years , 20 to 29 are most affected by drug use disorders, according to West Africa Drug report.

    The report was presented by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for validation by experts from the region.

    It shows that the use of opioids, in particular non-medical use of prescription opioids such as tramadol, appears to be growing most rapidly compared to other illicit drugs.

    The study also found a link between drug use disorder and unemployment across the region. It, however, remains unclear whether it is the difficulties of finding a job, that makes many young people turn to drugs, or taking drugs that makes it more difficult to retain or to get a job.

    The the dramatic increase in tramadol seizures from 17 tonnes in 2014 to about 232 tonnes in 2017 calls for concerted efforts. The fact that more than 60 tonnes of tramadol seized in 2017 were in transit to other countries emphasizes the need for increased cooperation and intelligence sharing among countries in the region, according to the study.

    Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ube said: “The report provides evidence-based information on emerging trends in drug use, treatment and trafficking to guide policy makers in EOCWAS member states and Mauritania to design and implement adequate responses that address both drug supply and demand.”

    Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria Dr. Oliver Stolpe, who presented the highlights of the report, said: “Preparing this first ever West Africa Drug Report is a major achievement. The collective efforts of the ECOWAS Secretariat, the West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU), the EU and UNODC have contributed to a significant improvement of data collection capacities across ECOWAS on drug use prevalence, drug treatment and the trafficking of illicit drugs. For example, in 2017 13 countries were able to collect and report on data relating to persons in drug treatment, up from only five countries that were able to do so in 2014. Moreover, data collection appears to have encouraged the spread of good practices: only four countries reported to administer HIV/AIDS tests to people who use drugs in 2014, 10 countries reported doing so in 2017.”

    While the findings of this report may help to shape policies and interventions regarding drug supply suppression, the data clearly calls for even greater efforts in the area of drug demand reduction in West Africa, including the establishment of drug treatment facilities, and capacity building for those who provide counsel and care to people who suffer from drug use disorders.

    Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to ECOWAS, Mr. Kurt Cornelis urged stakeholders to look into ways to sustain the system and methodology implemented by the WENDU initiative over the past four years, at national and regional levels.

    The report highlights the crucial importance for ECOWAS member states to step up their efforts towards the passing of the Supplementary Act to address the challenges of drug trafficking and drug use in the region as well as to commence the work on a new ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to sustain and build on the achievements under the current action plan, which will expire in 2020.

  • Ooni, Fayemi, Abdurazaq lead guests to AFW

    The grand patron and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of African Fashion Week London (AFW), the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, will lead special guests to this year’s Africa Fashion Week in  London.

    Keynote speakers include wife of Ekiti State Governor Erelu Bisi Fayemi and wife of Kwara State Governor Olufolake Abdulrazaq who are Global Ambassador and Matron of Africa Fashion Week London respectively. Others are Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Tshiyoyo Muata , Vanessa Guonden, Jeanette Bain-Burnette, Miss Angelic Appoo, Teleica Kirkland, Vicky Ngari Wilson, Simone Cipriani, Sara Ali, Florence Kollie Raja and Abiola Sakpere-Oni.

    Holding at the prestigious Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, between August 9 and 10. This year’s event will feature catwalk shows and exhibition with over 100 designers from different parts of the globe in attendance.

    According to the organisers, AFWL is fully committed to bringing African fashion to the forefront of the industry. It noted that African-inspired designs are dominating the international fashion scene and time is now to appreciate the design vibrancy of Africa.

    “The vibrant and colourful exhibitions are carefully curated to include sustainable and eco fashions. With this in mind, reserve a seat to watch catwalk showcases featuring collections from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Trade & Industry (TIKZN) designers who are returning to AFWL for an exclusive catwalk show and luxury exhibition.

    “TIKZN is unique in the fact that they only produce apparel designs with fabrics and embellishments produced in the Natal region of South Africa.  For the first time, Seychelles Trade & Industry sponsored designers also join the AFWL catwalk,” it added.

    For the lovers of high-end fashion, the introduction of the Luxury Boutique, powered by our Commercial Partner EPG Media, will showcase luxury clothing and accessories from the culturally diverse Continent to the European market.

    The show will also afford connoisseurs the opportunity to browse African Market Souk for exclusive afro-centric designs or cuisines in African Food Village.  With several brands travelling in from overseas to debut collections, those in attendance are guaranteed to purchase several red-carpet-worthy items or unique one-off pieces that will adorn any summer wardrobe.

    The AFWL has added a new development to its package this year with the introduction of Business Fashion Forum, powered by our Commercial Partner EPG Media.  This, the organisers disclosed, will involve talk and panel sessions from leading manufacturers, retailers and government officials from all areas relating to fashion. “This element offers guidance, advice and valuable industry insight to aspiring designers and creatives. Special guest speakers will include the Mayor of London’s Office, Department of Trade South Africa and The Royal Kew Gardens. Prizes for the best African-inspired outfit will be given,” it added.

    Founded in 2011 by Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) is now Europe’s largest annual fashion event promoting and nurturing African and African-inspired design talent.

    Using a collaborative catwalk, exhibition and business development programme, AFWL is a social enterprise that has led the way in transforming the perception of Africa’s emerging design talent and apparel industry in the international scene.

    With a core team of experienced fashion industry experts and business professionals, AFWL is committed to creating a platform to support African designers while building a sustainable business that is globally recognised and promotes social, environmental and economic change in Africa.

    For the past nine years, AFWL has consistently employed over 50 BAME catwalk models every year.  It has employed over 100 young people every year who work with as volunteers for backstage runners, dressers, hair & makeup teams, front of house, and administration – giving them vital skills in event management and catwalk and exhibition production.

    It has showcased over 900 designers and exhibitors from Africa and the global diaspora to over 70,000 visitors and represented designers from 27 African countries and outside the continent, including France, Holland, USA, Brazil, China, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

  • ‘More people killed in homicides than armed conflicts’

    No fewer than 464,000 people across the world were killed in homicides in 2017, surpassing by far the 89,000 killed in armed conflicts in the same period, according to the Global Study on Homicide 2019 published recently by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    Of this figure, 81 per cent of homicide victims recorded in 2017 were men and boys, and more than 90 per cent of suspects in homicide cases were men, according to the most recent estimates. However, the study shows that the gender disparity among victims changes with age.

    The report also shows that girls and boys aged nine and under are killed at roughly equal rates, in marked contrast to all other age groups, in which males make up more than 50 per cent of the victims, according to data from 41 countries.

    UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said the Global Study on Homicide seeks to shed light on gender-related killings, lethal gang violence and other challenges, to support prevention and interventions to bring down homicide rates.

    “Countries have committed to targets under the Sustainable Development Goals to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates by 2030. This report offers important examples of effective community-based interventions that have helped to bring about improvements in areas afflicted by violence, gangs and organised crime,” he added.

    In all regions, the likelihood of boys becoming victims of homicide increases with age, although this process occurs at different stages. Men and male adolescents aged between 15 and 29 are at the highest risk of homicide globally. At the same time, nowhere are women and girls more likely to become victims of homicide than in Africa, predominantly at the hands of an intimate partner or a family member.

    The study shows that the overall number of people who suffered a violent death as a result of homicide increased in the past quarter of a century, from 395,542 in 1992 to 464,000 in 2017. However, because the global population has risen faster than the increase in recorded homicide victims, the overall risk of being killed in homicides has declined steadily. The global homicide rate, measured as the victims of homicide per 100,000 people, declined from 7.2 in 1992, to 6.1 in 2017, according to the report.

    It revealed that organised crime was responsible for up to 19 per cent of all homicides in 2017 recalling that since the start of 21st century, organised crime killed about as many people as all armed conflicts across the world combined. Like armed conflicts, organised crime destabilises countries, undermines socioeconomic development and erodes the rule of law.

    According to the report, homicide rates vary widely between and within regions and the 2017 average global homicide rate (6.1) masks dramatic differences across regions.

    “With 13 victims of homicide per 100,000 inhabitants, Africa’s homicide rate is well above the global average and second only to the rate of 17.2 in the Americas, whereas the rates in Asia, Europe and Oceania were below the global average (2.3, 3.0 and 2.8),’’ it said.

  • ‘My Abiriba’s journey’

    Documentary photographer Philips Akwari has become a leading ambassador of the ancient city of Abiriba in Abia State. His pictures promote the culture, beauty, festival and people of the place as seen in his travel exhibition, “The Rich Abiriba Heritage’’. The exhibition is moving from Lagos to the Thought Pyramid Art Centre in Abuja. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, Akwari speaks on his voyage into documenting the place and more.

    My voyage into photography

    I started photography as a student ever before I gained admission as an undergraduate in 1997, working in the customer service department of a photo lab at Aba, Abia State. It was owned by one of my uncles. From there, I picked interest when customers have issues and come to me with their complaints. I’d explained to them in my own layman understanding based on what I had been told (Laughs). After a while, I bought my first camera in 1998, and then became my class photographer in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where I studied Geography in between 1997 and 2001. Each time we went for field work, I would take pictures of landscapes and places of interest and sell to my lectures and classmates.

    That was how I started, but I did not go into it as a profession until 2011 when I decided to make it a career.  Then I travelled to India to study photography and came back in 2013, and did not waste time in taking pictures. Some of my exhibited pictures were dated as far back as that time.

     

    Correcting misconception about the Abiriba festivals through photos

    The part of the story that is coming to the world now is the true story of Abiriba from the pictures. If there are places that human beings were killed, they would have been viewed by guests at the exhibition. Chinua Achebe said “If you don’t tell your stories, other people will tell it for you”. And a lot of people will be very reckless in telling your stories. That is why I am doing what I do, so as to have a position for us to be able to tell our stories. At the exhibition of His Majesty, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu, the Enachioken of Abiriba took out time to explain each of the pictures, and a lot of what he said are very deep stories, some of which I heard for the first time. Like the origin of the Nzu – it’s my first time I would know that the essence of the Nzu was to get people coming back to the community. I just taught it is a culture of the Abiriba people to receive people with the Nzu as an emblem of peace

    You see, the Nzu is a white chalk we use for ceremonies. If you enter an Abiriba man’s house and you come in peace, even if nobody offers you the Nzu, you’ll dip your hands into it and rub on your hands to show that you came in peace. The offering of the Nzu to a visitor also means he or she is welcomed. An Abiriba man first offers the Nzu, before the kola.

     

    Challenges documenting Abiriba since 2013

    The major challenge encountered during the documentary is the ignorance of people towards what one was doing, when they’d see one carrying camera around, but that was not the main challenge.

    The main one for me, was not being able to come out with what I intended in my book because I was constrained by finance in producing my work. And it is the same everywhere I travel, including Lagos – I can work at anytime and any place, but the cost of producing the picture cum history books are very expensive.

     

    My voyage towards  the exhibition

     

    I have been taking these photos since 2013. I did not start as someone wanting to do an exhibition. I just wanted to tell our stories. That was what was paramount in my mind when I started going round the community taking pictures that caught my attention, like artefacts, monumental structures and others. Abiriba looks like a gallery and the cultural festivals are like carnivals. Every place you’d go, you’d see something.

    At a point, I started working on a book on the place. When the idea of the exhibition came, I just pulled out a few pictures from the book, which means the exhibited photos are a smaller nomenclature of the larger photobank to be featured in a book we have been working on since 2013. This is actually my first in the Abiriba stories. And I exhibited 36 works. After here, we are moving to Abuja and I know we will have more coming.

     

    My Abiriba photo book project

     

    The book is actually ready, in terms of editing and design. What we are looking for is sponsorship.

     

    On taking the exhibition

    back to Abiriba

    It would interest you to note that this Abiriba stories is also strange to some Abiriba people. Some of them are hearing it and seeing the pictures for the first time. There are some living in Lagos and other parts of the world who hardly go home, so it might be that only those living in Abiriba will know the stories.

    I’m already in talks with some people interested in the project – at least two people, including the Eze, are currently discussing with me on to bring the exhibition back home especially during the Yuletide which is a period that lots of people visit home.

     

    Mentoring the young

     

    Let me first of all say that I am a mentee myself of the Nlele institute (Laughs). But I mentor the young well – so far I have trained up to 30 people in photography in the skills acquisition scheme we run in our church and it is free. All you just need to do is to go to the church, pick the form and join.

     

  • Rainoil celebrates finalists of Hymnodia

    Rainoil Limited, the integrated downstream Oil and Gas company, has praised Hymnodia for reigniting the almost-forgotten hymn culture among young Nigerians, as it celebrated the five finalists of the popular reality television show.

    Hymnodia, which climaxed its first season last April, witnessed four other hymntestants (contestants) demonstrating strong resolve to outwit themselves in a keenly contested grand finale dubbed the Hymncert with Kenneth Ekhuemelo, the bassofundo, adjudged the winner and first custodian of the ASAPH.

    The other hymntestants who made it to the grand final of the 14-week show were Olumide Dada, the baritone singer and first runner-up, Mobolanle Oladimeji, the architect-baker-hymn writer who came third, Abigael Nnadi and Rachael Darley. Five of them were hosted to a special reception and dinner at Parkview Astoria Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, onJuly 18.

    The reception/dinner turned out to be a reunion of some sort with nine of the 12 hymntestants of the Hymnodia Season 1 present at the event and taking turns to regale the audience with tales from the Hymnstitute and reminder hymns from their time in the show.

    The Group Executive Director, Rainoil Limited, Mrs. Godfrey Ogbechie, said Philosoville Limited, the initiators of Hymnodia have successfully demonstrated that a reality TV show on hymns and church music could be well structured and produced to the admiration of a wide-ranging audience. She noted that Hymnodia has created the desired impact which could change the perception of young Nigerians in the art of worship.

    “Hymnodia has promoted the culture of hymns which gives in-depth knowledge and understanding to hymns, which are not fashionable among young Nigerians. Hymnodia has captured the interest of Christians and its worth celebrating for redefining hymns which inspire and inculcate ethical values. I believe we should be able to sing hymns everyday of our lives, and this has been reinforced through Hymnodia,” she said.

    The Rainoil boss therefore urged the initiator to continue in the same stride which made Season1 successful, as interest for the show has heightened. She invited other corporate organisations to support the show while pledging further backing for the programme going forward.

    According to her “all the twelve hymntestants took hymns rendition to new dimensions throughout the competition which is worth emulating by young Nigerians. I commend the five finalists for making it to the final out of such an intense talent pool. The excitement and potential that Hymnodia has ignited in the worship of God is enormous and deserves to be supported”.

    While applauding Rainoil for the reception, the initiator of Hymnodia and Managing Director of Philosoville Limited, Kufre Ekanem commended the five finalists and the collective efforts of all the hymntestants which led to the creation of 62 new hymns in the course of Season 1. He urged the hymntestants to utilise their talents for gainful purposes to justify the enormous investments made to groom them while at the Hymnstitute.

    Ekanem praised the goodwill shown by Rainoil in hosting the reception/dinner and disclosed that though Hymnodia Season 1 may have ended, the hymn rebirth journey still continues between the seasons. He promised an even better dimension of Triple-E benefits (entertainment, education and edification) in Season 2 and thereafter.

    Ekhuemelo, the winner of Season 1, said the reception has helped to reunite the hymntestants after the show. As first recipient of the ASAPH, a trophy specially designed and named after King David’s chief musician, Ekhuemelo disclosed that after Hymnodia Season 1, he has been more engaged in writing hymns which would soon be recorded and released.

    Hymnodia, the fast-growing reality programme created around hymns and worship, commenced last December 30 with a flash mob flag-off and a triple-E (entertainment, education and edification) promise that lasted through weekly performance shows on hymns till the grand finale, the Hymncert, which held at the Shell Hall of MUSON Centre, Lagos on April 24, 2019.

    Hymnodia was broadcast on 10 television channels across the country with a dedicated YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/hymnodiahq), which remains available. Recently, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria endorsed Hymnodia, and wished it many more life impacting seasons.

     

  • NGA to present book, art works of Nwoko

    National Gallery of Art (NGA) will on Friday present to the public a book on the life and works of multidimensional artist and architect, Demas Nwoko at the Exhibition Pavilion, opposite Radio House, Abuja at 10 am. The event will also include the exhibition of images of his art- works.

    Nwoko is one of the early graduates of the famous Nigeria College of Arts, Science & Technology (NCAST), Zaria, which became Ahmadu Bello University. He was a prominent member of the Zaria Art Society popularly known as ‘Zaria Rebels’ alongside the late Prof Uche Okeke, Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya.

    Others are: Emmanuel Okechukwu Odita, Simon Okeke,  Oseloka Osadebe, F. I. N. Ekeada, William Olaosebikan, Ognonnaya Nwagba and I. M. Omagie, the only woman among them.

    According to the Acting Director-General, Dr. Simon Ikpakronyi, who is the author of the book, Nwoko has bestridden the art scene like a colossus for six decades.  “It is simply amazing how he was able to fuse Fine art and Architecture with relative ease,” he stated. “In a world where specialisation is the order of the day with people sticking to their specialties; their comfort zones as it were, he dares to be different. He approximates the axiom of jack of all trades and master of all. He is as good a painter as he is an exceptional stage designer, architect and builder. He also left lasting imprints as playwright, dancer, director, actor and at 80 plus, a furniture maker!”

    Notable personalities expected at the event are: Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe as book presenter; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita as Special Guest of Honour; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information & Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe as Chief Host. NGA chair, Ambassador Umaru Azores Sulaiman is the Chairman of the occasion.

    Last week, National Gallery of Art presented a book and exhibited the artworks of another eminent scholar and acclaimed painter from the same Nigeria College of Arts, Science & Technology, Zaria, Prof Jimoh Bola Akolo. And penultimate week, NGA also showcased the creative acumen of our children to the public at an event tagged, Rainbow art: Unlocking creativity.