The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • ECOBA Lagos presents 19 prizes, awards to pupils

    The Lagos branch of Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA) has presented 19 prizes and awards to pupils and teachers of Edo College, Benin City at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the institution.

    Speaking at the ceremony for 143   graduands, chairman of the occasion, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, Edo State Head of Service, praised the  workers for maintaining the excellent standard of the school.

    According to the Head of Service, who was represented by Mr. Edwin Oaikhena Edionweme, a Director of Administration and Supplies, a lot had been done by the school authorities, but a lot still needs to be done.

    He advised the workers to continue to ensure that the right discipline was inculcated in the pupils to bring joy to every parent.

    “We are all aware of the steps the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been taking in the education sector. It is, therefore, good to key into the mission and vision of this administration,” he added.

    ECOBA National President, Dr. Reuben Osahon, who thanked the old boys for their contributions to the development of their alma-mater, enjoined the new graduands to find the nearest branch wherever they find themselves and join the association.

    “The law states that after two years of graduation from the school without being expelled, you are qualified. If you have benefited from the institution, it is your responsibility to contribute your quota to the development of the school that is 82 years old,” he noted.

    During the presentation of prizes and awards from the Lagos branch, the ECOBA National President gave the best Mathematics SS3 student award to Efosa Illoware Eghenayamose, sponsored by Senator David Dafinone Foundation; The best English Language SS3 award sponsored by Mr. Sunday Airrue Uaboi went to Odiase O. Michael; the best SS3 Economics award sponsored by Senator David Dafinone Foundation to Elaigwu Augustine Ugbede-Ojo; The best Accounts SS3 award sponsored by Senator David Dafinone Foundation to Izekor Jefferson and the best SS3 Physics award sponsored by Edward E. Iyamu to Emina Attah Emeka.

    The association’s Benin branch Chairman, Peter Oibor, presented  the best Fine Arts SS3 award sponsored by Michael I. Omo Osagie to Elaigwu Augustine Ugbede-Ojo; the best Agric Science SS3 award sponsored by Osazenaye Osarenkhoe went to Ofuase Kikachukwu Oluwatimilehin, the best Biology    SS3 award  sponsored by Mrs. Hilda Gregory (Aka Edede Edo College) was received by Oghagbon Osasenaga; the best Geography SS3 award sponsored by Omaha Endowment Fund to Ikilo Eghosasere Evidence and the best sport person SS3 award sponsored by Uyi Akpata to Isreal Edosomwan.

    Other awards presented by the ECOBA Benin branch chairman were the best Mathematics SS2 award sponsored by AVM Joe Ehigie (retd) which he conferred on Iyase Eghosa; the best Athletics SS2 award sponsored by Madam Ofure Akpata went to Egharevba Blossom; the best mathematics JS3 award sponsored by Godwin Ize-Iyamu was received by Agas Eseoghene David; the best English Language JS3 award sponsored by Mrs. Omokhuwe Alegeh went to Aiwehoe Osayuki Gabriel; the Best French JS3 award sponsored by Ambassador Vincent Okobi went to Abiodun-Mudasiru Moyosola Marcel. The Best JS1 French Class award went to JS1c and the Best teacher in Geography award sponsored by Omaha Endowment Fund went to Mr. Aghedo B.O.

    Other awards presented by the representative of the Head of Service include: the outstanding teacher in English to Mrs. Theresa Ehigie, the best N-power outstanding award to Evance Erhabor and the principal of the school, Mr. Samuel Ogbebor also presented the principal award to ECOBA for their contribution to the overall development of Edo College.

    “The laudable contributions of ECOBA to the overall development of Edo College cannot be over-emphasised. The old boys have played key roles in activating the core values of the college, its physical environment inclusive, management is extremely grateful to the class set of 92 that built and commissioned a basketball court. By so doing, they have revived the spirit of sportsmanship amongst students,” he added.

  • Foundation empowers children

    The Founder, Olawole Lanre Akinsanmi Foundation, Folayemi Akinsanmi, has urged Nigerians to motivate children to  make the right decisions that will secure the future of the nation.

    She spoke at a lecture organised by the foundation for pupils of St Joseph Secondary School, Agege, Lagos State. It had as theme: ‘’Making life changing decisions’’.

    According to her, children must be mentored to make life-changing decisions right from childhood. This, she said, would enable them to have a bright future both for themselves and the nation at  large.

    “Making the right decision right from childhood would guide the children towards choosing the right career path. It would also enable them to disconnect from following bad gang; they will have motivation towards their future and aspire to be something in life,” she said.

    Akinsanmi noted that the gathering was aimed at celebrating children and to let them know that they meant a lot to the nation because their tomorrow would determine the future of the country.

    “This lecture is geared towards giving children positive attitude to life and to teach them how to make decisions about their future, to guide them, enable them change their life style, make themquit from following bad gang and help them to choose the right career path. ”

    She noted that the foundation had been helping to reduce the number of out-of-school children for the past ten years.

    “The Foundation has recorded a modest result by placing some street kids in schools with the help of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and some Education Districts. We also provide them with required learning materials, nutrition and healthcare.

    “We get our children in the foundation from slums and streets; we give them quality education and entrepreneurial training; we add value to their lives and build in them the self-confidence required to face life and contribute positively to the society,” she said.

    Executive Director, St Joseph Secondary School, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ukana-Bisiriyu, said children must be celebrated and prepared for the future of which they are its future.

    “We need to talk to them and encourage them on what is ahead of them. They must be taught good manners and character; they should put more efforts in their studies to enable them stand up right to face and overcome any challenges that may come their way,” she said.

    The guest lecturer, Adeyinka Adebukola, said there was the need to retune the minds of children to attain excellence, reset how they want to live their lives, make the right decisions and make positive changes.

    She urged them to strive for excellence, noting that with excellence they could attain any position in life. “Children must know how to set values for themselves, have purpose, build good behaviours, change their perceptions and discover themselves,” she said.

    The Principal, St Joseph Secondary School, Adegboye Augustine, said children need to be educated in making life-changing decisions.

    “There is need to educate children on how to make decisions about their future career. They must follow their passion and interest ant not just what they see their peers do,” he said.

  • Freedom from oppression

    Freedom from the Wicked World is according to the author, Apostle Joshua Adesheye Olateru-Olagbegi, “a book commanded by God to enable people to free themselves from the hands of the wicked…” The book was published in 2017 and also, according to the author, he was given the mandate to write the book about 21 years ago.

    Freedom from the Wicked World is a Christian book that sheds light on the truth of the gospel and unapologetically condemns the various modern versions of the gospel that preach against the old laws and turns a blind eye to the abnormalities of modern day Christianity.

    It consists of 12 chapters. The first three chapters speak of The Holy Trinity, God Almighty, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. Each chapter is dedicated to each of the Godheads respectively.

    The author begins in chapter one by talking basically about God Almighty, acknowledging that there are other gods; or valueless gods as the Psalmist says it. “As a matter of fact, anything that is worshipped can be termed a god, in as much as the worshipper attributes to its might greater than his own and venerated it…”

    Affirming the existence of God, he says “the fact of the existence of God is proved by the order, power and complexity of creation, macroscopic and microscopic through his dealing with his people throughput history.”

    In the next chapter, he focuses on Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the true son of God. Jesus is the spokesperson through whom the purpose of God is fulfilled.

    He also brings to light one of the predominant qualities of Jesus which is love. Love is the driving force of his missions and teachings and miracles. His death and resurrection confirmed Him as the worthy one and the one who was promised.

    In chapter three he describes the Holy Spirit as the “active force of God” and the custodian of the gifts of God who distributes different gifts to different people according to the will of God.

    The Holy Spirit is likened to many things including: wind, fire, dove, oil. etc.

    In chapter four, five and six, he brings it down to earth, talking about the creation of the first man – Adam, Satan the great deceiver and the fall of man.

    Adam was “the crown of all of God’s creative works made to be the custodian and administrator of the earth.” God created Eve to be Adam to curb his loneliness.

    After the first sin, both of them were cast out of God’s garden and had to work extra hard for anything.

    Talking about Satan in the fifth chapter, the author described Satan as a spirit creation of God who forsook the truth and sought to create his own.

    Satan’s numerous attempts to overthrow God and compete with His sovereign power till today and only rained war and violence and destruction upon the earth introducing foreign powers from demons, witches, etc.

    Next he covers the fall of man; the infamous story of the temptation of Eve by Satan in form of a snake. But God in His infinite mercy, instead of killing Adam and Eve instantly reached out as a loving father and clothed them before sending them on their way.

    The second half of the book, seem to be its core.

    Chapter seven titled: “The True Ways of Salvation”, began with the Ten Commandments, linking the need to obey God’s command to receive great salvation/rewards,

    Here the author dismisses the popular notion that the Old Testament is an old book and should be regarded as such.

    He also made references to Matt 5: 17-19 “Think not that I come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

    Here we see Jesus saying that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The laws in the Old Testament laid the foundation for the new ones and remain as sacred as they were in the days of Moses.

    According to the author, true believers must be “reborn, saved and sanctified”, holy, meek in spirit, compassionate, believe in Jesus Christ, obedient to God and Maintain good works. Only by doing these would a believer truly be saved.

    Chapter eight is titled: “Cheer up! I have defeated the world which begins with God and His promise of Jesus that was kept. The author uses the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ to re-emphasise the fact that Jesus is indeed the savior of the world. According to him, Christ is “God’s greatest instrument to counter Satan and all his evil vices.”

    The name of Jesus is powerful enough to free every man from the wicked grip of Satan; witch craft, diabolic attacks, familiar sprits, depression, failure, barrenness, untimely death, etc.

    All that is needed is that you trust and have faith in Jesus. Nothing is too big or too small for Jesus to do for those who trust in him.

    The author went on to list some miracles as performed by Jesus while He was here on earth.

    The next chapter titled: “Freedom of Believers” focuses on the freedom offered to believer through Christ. Though we were born sinners, because of Jesus, that status can change.

    The truth of the gospel sets believers free. Under the old law, the punishment of sin is death but the freedom Jesus brings also brings with it the grace to be reborn and resurrected in Christ.

    The author also gives a few warnings especially in the misuse of such freedom and liberty and the existence of false prophets who speak what they know nothing about and others who only seek to fault the gospel in order to render it null thereby turning unsuspecting believers away from the truth which is Christ.

    The 10th chapter centres on the grace of God and begins with scriptures speaking of the abundant grace of God. The grace that was available to Jesus has now been made available to us. By His grace we are called to be His sons, by His grace we are saved, justified, forgiven, comforted and given faith.

    As ”heirs to the grace of life”, we are to grow in grace, speak with grace, worship with grace and pray for grace. However, grace, although freely given, is not given to everyone. Some are given more grace than others.

    The penultimate chapter speaks of the ways in which true believers having been offered grace and victory in Christ should live and act. He makes mention first of the most important commandment according to Christ which is, ”…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…”

    Loving God also means living for God. As new creatures who are born again in Christ, there are certain characters or behaviors a believer should possess such as: holiness, meek heart, mercy, pure heart, righteousness, steadfastness in faith, walking in the spirit, fear of God, holiness, etc.

    He also lists out Bible passages to help believers’ live victorious lives and find comfort in time of distress.

    The believer is an overcomer who overcomes all through faith.

    The last chapter focuses on the kingdom of God; where the end meets the beginning. The kingdom of God is Heaven which houses the throne of God. It is a place of holiness, glory, light joy, peace and is free from all forms of negativity and darkness. A believers place in heaven is dependent on his faith and works on earth; his every action, thoughts, words, decisions, etc, but most importantly, it is dependent on God’s grace.

    The author does a fantastic job covering Genesis through revelation in twelve chapters. From the Sovereignty and Supreme power of God, to creation and the first sin to its consequences and the woeful attempts of Satan till now, to derail the people of is not of God, to how God in His infinite wisdom rescues his greatest creation from the grip of Satan by sending His son Jesus who lived a blameless life and gave His life in exchange for our sins to achieve victory over death that we may share with Him a new and peaceful life in His kingdom.

    The author acknowledges the existence of evil powers through the manipulation of Satan but also assures readers/believers that there are ways to defeat Satan and live in victory. In all, the book is a must read for all believers who face many adversaries and are unsure of how to come out of it. Grace is available and victory is ensured in Christ; all the believer needs to do is to have faith!

     

     

  • Ikere agog for Odun Oba festival

    The people of Ikere in Ekiti State will be in festive mood this weekend as they say ‘Thank you, Lord’ while celebrating this year’s New Yam festival popular known as Odun Oba.

    The yearly feast, which was flagged off on June 25 with Idijo Ogunoye by Odopetu, will climax with a grand thanksgiving at the palace of Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, the Ogoga of Ikere on Saturday.

    The ceremony tagged Idupe Ijesu Ogoga is expected to attract Ikere chiefs, social clubs, age groups, sons and daughters of the community.

    Tomorrow, the presentation of Upekele Ayaba /Agbamoju bode would hold as a prelude to the grand outing.

    Other major events lined up between  July 27 and 30 include Una ale, Agba lo soke, Apoporo, Uroke, Unasu, Isu tuntun wo oja Oba and Odun Ogun gbogbo ilu.

     

  • ‘Why Nigerians must fight for democracy’

    It was a season of celebration in honour of Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka (Kongi), who turned 85 on July 13. The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) joined the train. It held the 11th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series in his honour at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan. This time, the focus was on democracy. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    NIGERIA’s intellectual community went all out to celebrate him with diverse events. There was dance. There was drama. The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) was not left out in the season of celebrations as Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka turned 85 on July 13.

    Democracy came under the radar when the centre held the 11th edition of its media lecture series in his honour.

    With the theme, Rethinking credible elections, accountable democracy and good governance in Nigeria, the event opened with a documentary chronicling the life, writings and the crucial role of the Nobel laureate in the Nigerian project.

    The event attended by journalists, policy makers, representatives of civil socitey organisations, students and others was moderated by Stephanie Busari, Supervising Producer, CNN Africa.

    The centre’s Board Chair, Ropo Sekoni, said the lecture’s  theme was topical  and relevant.

    The high-level discussants, led by Senior Economic Advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) and Co-Founder of #BringBackOurGirls Movement, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, examined democratic process while debating critical issues affecting the country.

    The panel also discussed the urgent need to reconsider  electoral process because of its complexities, how to ensure that governance becomes accountable, and ways to make the people emerge as the greatest beneficiaries of democracy and the critical role of the media in the mix.

    While celebrating Soyinka for remaining  true to his passion and belief in truth and accountability, Ezekwesili urged the young to rise to the challenge and fight for democracy.

    While stating that democracy is worth fighting for, she said if practised faithfully, it has a strong correlation with economic growth, development and improvement in the quality of life. According to Ezekwesili, a nation must effectively be able to adhere to the principles of credible elections, accountable democracy and good governance for it to thrive in things Nigeria has lacked for ages. She called for citizenry’s involvement in deliberations on key issues, saying: “President Muhammadu Buhari must know that it is now time to invite all parts of this country to a conversation that involves deep introspection, retrospection, and radical rethink of how our democracy is constituted for the future.

    She added: “Citizens have abandoned politics in the hands of politicians. So, our political parties have become a venture of political entrepreneurs. It cannot work that way. Political parties are supposed to be the government in waiting.”

    Ezekwesili called for value change both in the leadership and the citizenry, while raising alarm over the current security situation.

    “If we are lacking in the building of those values and the shaping of those values, then we will have to wait endlessly. The people who should win our vote should be people with values and character. Age should not just be the determinant of the people who should lead us; it should be age plus values.

    “I’ve never seen this country this divided: very strong division in the country. Recently, a vexing issue of the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) took the country by storm and you could see the level of tardiness with which a government thought of a matter so polarising. If the president didn’t learn anything from Ruga, then we should let him know that Ruga pointed to him that he is president of a highly divided country. What does it say to us? That the crux of everything we have been discussing here today, on credible election’’.

    Her view on national conference were not shared by some of the panellists, they were of the view that Nigeria should implement the recommendations of diverse panels, constituted in the past.

    The other panelists included Director of the Voter Education and Publicity, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; Senior Programme Officer, MacArthur Foundation, Amina Salihu; Chair, Editorial Board, Nigeria Info Radio Group, Rotimi Sankore and Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan.

    Present were Soyinka’s son, Olaokun; Provost of Nigerian Institue of Journalism, Gbemiga Ogunleye; former Online Editor, The Nation Newspapers, Lekan Otufodunrin and Director of the Africa Office of MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima.

    Salihu called for gender-based affirmative action in governance, observing that women have been maginalised. She pushed for naming and shaming of sex offenders through the launch of national sex offenders register, which she assured will happen shortly.

    Osaze-Uzzi called for active participation by the citizenry beyond thinking and rethinking elections, urging the government to focus on an electoral process that is technology-driven.

    Sesan charged the commission to take advantage of technology to educate technology savvy new generation of voters, including the additional 20 million plus youth who will be eligible to vote by 2020.

    Sankore touched on the importance of the media denying the reports on conflicts in the northern parts of the country, health, education and RUGA lacked in-depth reporting, verification of facts and deployment of evidence by the media have denied the people the opportunity to engage issues appropriately.  “The media needs to engage with data and evidence,” he said.

    Thanking the centre on behalf of the Soyinka family for the consistency of the lecture and promoting the culture of investigative reporting, Olaokun observed that his father’s fight to hold those in power accountable and fight against impunity remains relevant. He urged the young ones to draw a battle line between those who are pro-democracy and those who are not rather than between the young and the old.

    According to WSCIJ Coordinator, Motunrayo Alaka, the meeting is strategic as it hopes to set the tone for the new executive government sworn in on May 29 and the parliament as it resum es with its new leadership on July 2.

    She appreciated the speakers and panellists, the organisation’s board, staff, her family, the media, Wole Soyinka and his children. She mentioned that it has taken the support of all the relevant stakeholders to keep the lecture on the same date, Wole Soyinka’s birthday for 10 years.

     

  • A thought for widows

    An NGO, Hope for Life Initiative, has gathered widows at Ikorodu Town Hall, Lagos to impact their lives and those of their children. With the theme, Uplifting the Invincible Woman, the group said it is out to impact the lives of the less privileged and vulnerable in the society, especially women and children.

    The NGO, according to its founder, Kendi Aig-Imoru, has since inception, provided a platform for improving the quality of lives of children and widows, while creating an avenue for the widows to network with local and international bodies, government and co-operative organisation for positive interaction.

    Aig-Imoru, who spoke at the event, disclosed that the vision of the day was borne out of her passion to reach out to the less privileged widows and children through mentorship and empowerment programmes to reduce and alleviate the suffering and hardship some widows go through day by day.

    She expressed her excitement at seeing the success of the project, which was ultimately to put smiles on the faces of the widows, children and less privileged in the society, a cause that has been on for eight years now.

    Some of the participants equally gave their testimony about the support the initiative has provided. Among them was a widow and co-ordinator for widows, Mrs Motayo Deborah Abdullahi, who spoke of the care and encouragement Hope For Life Initiative brought to them. She expressed her joy and happiness over the success of the day, but also called for more support from corporate organisations and the government to do more and show support for the widows living in the society. She equally used the opportunity to encourage and advise her fellow widows not to lose hope and keep their faith in God.

    Among those present at the event were the Local Council Development Chairman of Isawo, Adeleke Abdulaziz, who expressed his happiness at meeting the widows, and Reverend Adediran Adesegun, a landlord and resident of Isawo Community. Others present include entrepreneurs and businessmen who promise to show support to the widows. The event ended on a high note as food items, gifts, and other necessities were distributed to the widows with lots of words of encouragement to boost morale. It was used to mark on June 23 to mark the International Day for Widows (IDW) all around the world. IDW is a United Nations ratified day of action to address the “poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries.”

  • Rotary Gbagada South lifts Lagos community

    Residents of Oworonshoki, Lagos were upbeat when Rotary Club, Gbagada South led by the Rotary International District 9110 Governor Dr Jide Akeredolu and the club’s President Dare Olutayo Olusegun came to the community to inaugurate some amenities.

    The amenities included a renovated borehole, furniture, installation of Rotary wheel and four-way Test and donation of empowerment tools to some traders.

    At Buxton Cole Street, Olusegun praised the residents for maintaining the borehole 12 years after its installation. He said some communities do not care to maintain the items donated to them by Rotary. He assured them of more amenities during his tenure, tasking them on the borehole’s constant maintenance.

    Inaugurating a new borehole, Akeredolu also praised the residents for taking care of it.  He said part of his visit, was to do a needs assessment of the community, promising to give priority to them.

    Speaking on behalf of the residents, Alhaji Alishibau Bello thanked Rotary for the gesture.

    Read Also: Rotary club names Okonkwo ‘Face of RYLA 2019’

    The club donated a set of 50 desks and chairs each to Evas Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School.  Olusegun described the visit as a home-coming, having been to the school many times to either make donations or hold seminars.  A representative of the state Education District II Mayowa Omisope, Vice Principal (Administration) Mrs Oluyinka Soyoye and her Academics counterpart Mrs Oduyemi Adeyemi expressed satisfaction with the items. They described the donation as commendable, laudable, timely and good. A representative of the pupils, Badmus Fatai, an SSII pupil, added: ‘’We thank Rotary for the donation.’’

    Akeredolu expressed joy that the club was popular in Oworonshoki, noting that the objective of Rotary is to touch lives. He said government could not do it alone. He advised the school management to make judicious use of the items.

    Earlier, Akeredolu was at the palace of the Oloworo of Oworonshoki Oba Bashiru Oloruntoyin Olorundupefun Salau, where he was received by a team led by Aremo Nurudeen Salau and Bashorun Jelil Lawal, who also noted the presence of Rotary in the kingdom, especially at the public primary and school schools. Lawal scored Rotary 100 per cent in projects execution in the community.

    Akeredolu round off the visit with the opening the club’s Wheel and four-way test at the Olojojo Roundabout and donation of empowerment tools to some traders.

  • NCC board adopts new strategy

    The new Governing Board of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has affirmed its commitment to the management of dynamic operational strategies to reposition the Commission for effective discharge of its statutory mandates pursuant to the Copyright Act.

    At the maiden meeting of the Board in Abuja, the Chairman, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, disclosed that in a bid to revitalise the regulatory and enforcement thrusts of NCC, the Board has approved various programmes and activities of the Commission in that regard.

    Dr. Jaja pledged the readiness of the Board to partner with the Director-General of NCC, Mr. John Ohi Asein and the Management team to evolve policies that would fast-track the growth of the Commission and ensure the sustainable development of the copyright-based industries in Nigeria.

    The Chairman expressed satisfaction with the board’s composition, observing was representative of the creative sector as provided under the Act. Assuring that the Board would not interfere in the routine administration of the NCC, Dr Jaja underlined the need for the Board to cooperate with and support the Director-General in the administration of the Commission to enable him bring his experience of over 30 years to benefit the copyright industry.

    “I speak for the Board; we will work together with the Commission to make a positive impact on the fortunes of the creative industries,” the board Chairman stated.

    In his remarks, the Director-General expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, for giving the commission a board with committed stakeholders with proven interest in their respective sectors as envisaged by the Act.

    While expressing confidence that board members would deploy their wide experience towards strengthening the commission and the creative sector, Mr Asein assured that the Commission under his watch would continue to partner with all stakeholders in order to complement the Federal Government’s economic policy on ease of doing business.

    He expressed concern on the widespread challenge of piracy and assured that the commission would step up regulatory and enforcement interventions to check both offline and online piracy of copyright works across the country.

    The Director-General indicated that the fight against piracy would be intensified across the copyright industries. He reiterated the Commission’s resolve to provide safe corridors for the distribution of genuine books and warned that henceforth, booksellers, proprietors and school authorities that patronise pirated books would be prosecuted.

    He stated that the Commission was already addressing the neglect of the artistic sector of the copyright industry, adding that measures would be put in place to activate the provisions of the Copyright Act to enable authors of artistic works benefit from the resale of their creative works by auctions.

    In his remarks, a Board member representing sound recording on the Board, Rev Bayo Awala, assured that the Board would rise to the challenge of paucity of funds hindering the fight against piracy. Noting that piracy has the ability to cripple the creative industry, Rev Awala said the board would devise creative ways of overcoming the challenges of the industry to enable right owners enjoy the benefits of their works.

  • ‘A mighty tree has fallen in the forest’

    Renowned anthropologist and first woman president of Lincoln University, Prof Niara Sudarkasa, died in May and was buried on June 8 at Lauderdale Florida, United States. She was 80. She brought on board some academics, such as Prof Ropo Sekoni, Prof Iz Osayimwese, Emmanuel Babatunde and Levi Nwachukwu, to further internationalise the university. PROF EMMMANUEL BABATUNDE writes on her life and time.

    The academic world joined the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to give a befitting three-day burial service to Niara Sudarkasa, the world-renowned anthropologist, administrator, native daughter and the doting mother of an only child, Michael, on Thursday the 6th, Friday  the 7th and Saturday the 8th of June, 2019; after which she was committed to earth, the final resting place of all mortals.

    It was the Bahamian descendants’ Nago community of Fort Lauderdale who nurtured the child prodigy and made it her mission in life to empower the people of African Descent by reconnecting those in the Diaspora — the land of encounter — with their kinsfolk on the African homeland — the land of origin; by revealing the continuities in their practices, be they commerce or the strength and sacrifice of mothers as the true foundation of the community.  Niara was, in the language of Molefi Kete Asante and Clenora Hudson-Weems, an African-centered womanist in her life and actions. Womanism, unlike feminism, is family-centered rather than female-centered in thought and action. People of African descent do not believe in putting their daughters down in order to make their sons succeed or vice versa.

    In the language of African spirituality, as encapsulated in the Yoruba Omoluwabi or the Tswana Botho or the Igbo owner of Ikenga, Niara Sudarkasa was an ancient spirit from bygone times, a reincarnate of a warrior-ancestress whose duty it was to come back to  rekindle the fire of achievement in the youth by enlisting the strength of the black fathers and mothers to lay and nurture the foundation of success in them.  Omoluwabi – the epitome of good character in the person — and Bortho – valuing the humanity in others — are spiritual concepts that reiterate the importance of hard work, intense humanity  demonstrated in caring and sharing — respect, responsibility, restraint, reciprocity, reverence, reliability, reason and reconciliation (Sudarkasa 1996: 146-148).  These concepts, when put into practice, insist that all behaviours be directed in valuing the human in others.  They avoid reducing the human to the crass material benefit and how they can be exploited for what they have.   This is why the Igbo conceptualise these in terms of physical ownership of the Ikenga — the symbol or certificate of decency as bestowed by the community on an individual.

    As the eleventh and the first female president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Professor Niara Sudarkasa was a shrewd administrator who not only set a strategic goal to revitalise the legacy of Lincoln University, the first degree-granting historically Black University or College, but also used her enormous understanding of the flow and ebb of the fortunes of academic institutions in West Africa to buttress and revitalise the Lincoln University legacy.

    Political instability in Nigeria, caused by military intrusion into the democratic life meant that the life of discourse, research and analysis were not tolerated by the military ‘command and obey’ orientation.  Most academics, who had studied in the best institutions in the world (thanks to generous scholarships given to Nigerians as well as others), saw the climate as not conducive to survival.  They, who went back home joyfully upon completion of their studies in the 1970s, had by the 1980s, begun to regret their decisions.  They started to go back to Europe and America to energise their cooling professional life.

    Professor (Dr.) Levi Wachukwu, formerly of University of Maiduguri and the University of Michigan, was recruited to transform the curriculum in History at Lincoln University.  Professor (Dr.) Oluropo Sekoni, formerly of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile Ife, Nigeria, was recruited to teach English and serve as the Director of Comparative Literature.  Professor (Dr.) Safro Kwame, formerly of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ghana at Legon and the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, was recruited to revitalise the Philosophy Department. Professor (Dr.) William Dadson, formerly of the University of Denver in Colorado and Morgan State in Baltimore, was hired to serve as the chair of Economics and Business.

    The writer, Professsor (Dr.) Emmanuel Babatunde, formerly of the University of Lagos (Akoka) served for three years as a Fulbright Scholar at the Graduate School of Social Work in Baltimore.  He was hired to teach Anthropology and, a year later, made the Director of the Honours Programme for Talented Students.  Six years later, Professor (Dr.) John Chikwem would join the group by being recruited as professor of biology from the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria.

    In hiring this group of distinguished West African scholars, Dr. Sudarkasa completed two major strategic objectives.  The first was a neat work of social engineering to revitalise Lincoln University’s legacy of academic excellence by co-opting practiced professors, who had studied in excellent institutions in the world.  The second success was that, in hiring these professors, Niara (‘the woman of purpose’) positioned Lincoln University-the Alma Mater of President Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Justice Thurgood Marshall and Poet Langston Hughes –as an important player in African politics.

    The late President Nnamdi Azikiwe had a special bond with Dr. Sudarkasa.  He came on holidays to Lincoln University, every year of Sudarkasa’s presidency; because they shared the same desire to re-energise the legacy of Lincoln University.  On one of those occasions, he donated the pipe organ that is still being used today in the Dodd Brown’s Chapel, which was built in 1866. On another occasion, Sudarkasa set up a conference on Nigeria and the development of Africa under the chairmanship of President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.  The conference coincided with the period  Dr. Azikiwe and Dr. Nyerere were presiding over an ecumenical ceremony in the Dodd Brown Chapel when Moshood Abiola (whose election to the Presidency in Nigeria was being contested by the Nigerian Military) appeared, went to the front where Azikiwe was seating, knelt down and embraced him.  The message was not lost on the Nigerian traditional leaders and notables, who were in attendance.

    Dr. Sullivan’s African and African American Business Conference was the most empowering economic relationship between Africans in the Diaspora and African Continent (FUBU – For Us By Us).  One of the many that Lincoln University Faculty attended, as active participants, included the conference in Harare in Zimbabwe.

    Dr. Sudarkasa saw the achievement of excellence as the only condition for respect for Africans in the globe.  She was a stickler for excellence.  She used the Honours Programme for Talented Students as an instrument for preparing Lincoln University students for excellence.  Each student in the programme had to study one of the four languages christened Critical Languages by the State Department — Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Japanese.  Yoruba was added to the list of languages.  In order to heighten the commitment of students, both to learn and speak these languages, a healthy rivalry was created among Lincoln University honours programme students.  The top 20 outstanding students were given an all-expenses-paid trip to debate and have fieldwork experience with their university colleagues in select African countries at the end of each academic year.  The result of these efforts was that Lincoln University students became sought-after, on account of proficiency in critical languages, in the State Department and the Foreign Office.

    Ebonique Padget, a product of the Honours Programme, once served as the director of the seat of trade with China.  Lincoln University Honours Programme won the Honours Programme National debate in Portland in Maine in 1994 and the subsequent honours debate competition in Philadelphia.

    Dr. Sudarkasa would forever be remembered by a group of 50 talented male and female Nigerian students called Odogwu Scholars, after the great Nigerian (from Asaba) Oil Magnate, who at the behest of Dr. Sudarkasa, gave these students scholarship to complete their Masters at Lincoln University. A good number of them subsequently completed their terminal degrees and have been a great resource to the development of Nigeria.

    I end this effort on a spiritual moment that bonded Sudarkasa and my humble self together as big sister and junior brother.

    On August 24th, 1994, I had packed my car in front of my Lincoln University-assigned home.  There was a gentle drizzle.  Then I heard a big noise.  I went outside to look at what had caused the noise.  To my surprise, one of the healthy-looking trees planted over a hundred years ago, a few of which still populate the Lincoln University campus, had fallen and landed on the driver’s side of my car and totaled it.  News went around the Lincoln campus community swiftly.  Colleagues came to sympathise with me.  Most of them ended their advice on the note that I sue the university to replace my car.  I shook my head in surprise at the shallowness of their suggestion.  In the old and rural Nigeria where I come from (Imeko), events, be they accidents or other occurrences, communicate meaning that is deeper than what the senses see or feel.  What message was communicated by this even?

    A mighty tree has fallen in the forest, is an African proverb that announces that a great person, who is close to one has died.  Only my mother occupied this position.  When John Clark, the husband of Dr. Sudarkasa, whom we all called affectionately “the First Man” at Lincoln University, came to console me, I told him that a mighty tree had fallen in the forest.  He communicated that African proverb to his wife.  Dr. Sudarkasa understood immediately what was implied. She left what she was doing then and came to cheer me up and say that nothing bad has happened.  Then the telephone rang.  A Catholic priest, who was a relation of mine, broke the news to me while Dr. Sudarkasa was still with me that my mother passed away two hours ago.  Niara looked straight at me and went back home to the president’s residence.  From that day on, we knew that we both shared a gift of deep insight, even though neither of us was perfect.

  • Runsewe lauds Fayemi over achievements in culture

    THE National Council of Arts and Culture Director-General, Otunba Olusegun  Runsewe has hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State  for his  interest in promoting arts and culture in the state.

    He described the governor as “one of the greatest cultural assets in Nigeria, who is stoking the arts and cultural sector for the overall development of the state and its wonderful homogenous indigenes”.

    Runsewe made this observation  when Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture Director-General, Wale Ojo-Lanre highlighted  the state’s cultural  strides  at the 49th National Stakeholders  meeting on the National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFEST) in Benin, Edo State.

    Ojo-Lanre, who attended the meeting with two directors of the council, Banji Adelusi and Adeoye Adewuyi, briefed the body about the cultural strides made by Governor Fayemi’s administration at enhancing the cultural potentialities of the state.

    “I am bold to tell this distinguished gathering of  cultural administrators of 36 states of the Federation that Governor Kayode Fayemi has brought to life the hitherto lifeless, moribund, sterile  and dead Arts and Cultural sector,  thus empowering  it as one of the essential agents of value restoration and reorientation,” he said.

    Ojo-Lanre said Ekiti State has begun to implement the state’s Council for Arts and Culture 2012 Law, which was enacted  by Governor Fayemi during his first term and was put in the cooler by former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s administration.

    He revealed that Ekiti State, via the law, has legally established the Council for Arts and Culture, which has been mobilised and reinforced to promote, enhance and market the cultural ingredients, values, arts, crafts and heritage sites to not only  being sources of entertainment, but of empowerment, revenue generation and employment creation.

    Ojo-Lanre said within the last two months of inaugurating the council, Governor Fayemi has empowered it to attend the 2019 Drum Festival in Abeokuta, rebranded the state’s Cultural Troupe, accelerated the work on the cultural and the civic centre, approved the hosting of stakeholders’ forum and  creative workshop, and stoked indigenous  industry clusters.

    The governor, Ojo-Lanre said, also ensured the harmonisation, unification  of various hitherto disorganised sectoral association players  and rejuvenated cultural festivals, such as Ogun, Oladunwo in Okemesi, Ekiti Parapo War Festival and institutionalised culture and arts as fulcrum of value reorientation.

    He pointed out that one of the signs to show that Governor Fayemi was doing well was the presence and attendance of the Ekiti delegates at the Pre NAFEST Technical Forum being held in Edo State.