The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Foundation holds summit for future leaders

    Foundation holds summit for future leaders

    In response to the challenges of leadership bedeviling Nigeria and the decline in value-based leadership, a group, Royal Foundation International, has held a National Leadership Summit (NLS) for young leaders.

    With the theme, Nigeria’s Future: The Role of Exceptional Leadership, the programme, which was held at Covenant University Secondary School, Ota, was a platform to equip students with leadership skills.

    According to the convener, Femi Royal Aliu, leadership skills are necessary for young ones to succeed in private and public sectors in their adult lives, and also as students in their respective schools.

    He said:“It was a platform to learn about exceptional and value-based leadership and how they can model it. Also students from different schools also compete for the debater of the year award on the topic to work for someone else or build one’s business; which is better?”

    NLS brought together about 20 schools to a single venue as a gathering of eagles. This year’s edition featured top-notch speakers including, Precious Ajoonu, Leap Africa; Jimoh Oluwasegun, NGOPodcast; Rahmah Aderinoye, UNICEF Global Ambassador; Lanre Olokunde, Snapnet Nigeria; Alexander Tosin, MTN Nigeria; Doyin Ajayi, Sweet FM; Oyekanmi Ayoyemi, Wikimedia Group; Moremi Kedirsmeia, from Botswana on an amazing panel to enlighten these young minds.

    The maiden edition of NLS was hosted in November 2016 and featured over 10 schools, including  Dalos College, Ambassadors College, ECOWAS College and Iganmode Grammer School (who are the defending champions that produced the debater of the year and got the foundation’s award for it).

    “Royal Foundation International is a youth-led organisation that utilises amazing innovation and cutting edge technologies to package fellowship programmes, internships, summits, bootcamps for young people to promote individual effectiveness, wealth creation and leadership skills,” he said.

    The event was in partnership with Covenant University Secondary School, Global Shapers Community Ibadan of the World Economic Forum, Lead Resources, Next Gen Africa, AREAi Africa, Hearts Connect Initiative, Allfor Development Foundation, Thriving Teens and sponsored by NerdyGram Consulting, Parle G Biscuits & Sweetco Plc.

    It has as media partners Ogun State Television, The Nation, Hebron FM, The Guardian, UNILAG FM, TVC, among others.

  • Nkoli Ka moves to Lagos

    Nkoli Ka moves to Lagos

    To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigerian, Nsukka (UNN), about 100 stunning artworks of paintings, installations, mixed media and sculptures are on display.

    The jubilee show, themed Nkoli Ka (recalling is greatest), is a moving exhibition, which took off from the school in April and moved to the capital, Abuja. The show is scheduled to take place in Lagos on Saturday, June 23 and runs till July 2, at the former Lagos Business School (LBS), opposite the Law School, Lagos.

    “Fifty-six   years   on, the   spirit   of excellence, adventure, experiment, and boldness which characterised Azikiwe’s politics and activities still drive the vision of the Nsukka School as it wanders from one level of experiment and achievement to another.  In over five decades, our contribution and impact on the art scene at home and abroad remains non pareil,” said the Head of the Department, Professor Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi, who was at the press briefing recently held in Lagos.

    Ikwuemesi, who is the curator of the exhibition, said the price of success can be high and demanding, while “success is both an end and a means to an end. Success should beget success; but it has a very thin skin and can be easily wounded. Thus, we are happy to be where we are, but careful to assure that we leave the stage better than we got there. That is the essence of this event.

    “As the Department of Fine and Applied Arts is co-eval with the story of the University of Nigeria. It is long, ambitious and inspiring.  If jubilee is that point where we are able to begin again, the story affords us, at this point, the opportunity to reflect on our achievement and face up to the future with superlative optimism. Any wonder we have themed this celebration Nkoli Ka (recalling is greatest)? In the words of Achebe, “It is the story that outlives the sound of the war drums and the exploits of brave fighters…The story is our escort; without it, we are blind.

    It is very important to note that the works for this exhibition were created by the practising artists who passed through the prestigious institution.

    “So, there is a song in our heart, a story on our lips. It is a song of victory and a story of achievement; the story of the story of success. And we have rolled out our drums in joyful celebration; we have roused our flutes to sonorous laughters.

    He said it is also a time of sober reflection and critical stocktaking. “Nkoli Ka, as we recall our achievement and accolades in time gone by, we also anticipate new vistas and gesture with renewed zest at new challenges that beckon at the frontier.”

    The celebration is a landmark in the electrifying and fructifying trajectory of the Nsukka School. “As a testimonial of achievement and hope, it may encourage us to nod in self-fulfilment like the red head lizard when it jumps to the ground from great heights. On the other hand, and more importantly, as the story escorts us, it will, as Chinua Achebe has aptly said, ‘save our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence’.”

  • UniAbuja Law student wins N1m Oratory Prize

    UniAbuja Law student wins N1m Oratory Prize

    A Law student at the University of Abuja, Ugo Ijeoma Ndianiefo, has won N1 million at this year’s Oratory Prize. Ndianiefo, from Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State also won a one-week leadership training in South Africa for his ingenuity and prowess in oratory. Over 1000 students drawn from tertiary institutions across the country contested for the prize held at Awka.

    Finalists in the competition included Akwue Chisom, Ugwu Simeon, Anidebe Collins, Nwenyi Ogechi, Nweke Chioma, Nwogo Hillary, Eze Nwakuba and Akpalankwu Alexander. Others were Okou-Akirika Ginika, Mgbeoji Chikwelite, Ezennaya Faith, Placid Martins, Ozoani Chukwuebuka, Ugo Ijeoma Ndianiefo and Adierem Jennifer. At the end of the competition, Ndianiefo came first with 83.3 points, followed by Nwenyi Ogechi, Placid Martins, Eze Nwakuba and Anidebe Collins in that order.

    Among the stakeholders who attended the event included the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof, Chinyere Stella Okunna, Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Primary education, Lady Pat Offia.

    Others were the Commander, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the state, Mr. Sule Momodu, Deputy Registrar, GSS, UNIZIK, Ngozi Bekky Adirika, Prof Ike Odumegwu, Prof Ngozi Ezeadi, Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission, Prof Chika Muo, Prof Ogo Ibeneme, state Secretary, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Nnamdi Anagor and Nollywood star, Dike Obi.

    The annual contest is the brainchild of the Rev Fr (Prof) Bonachristus Umeogu and the triplets who founded VIP-Hub Media including Ekene, Chiagozie and Elochukwu Ezeumeanya.

    According to Ekene Ezeumenya, the annual event was established in 2011 as a literary Insight Network (LIN), adding that it was a university-based club that frequently organised book and poetry reading sessions and reviews for its members.

    However, Prof Umeogu said the debate was aimed at encouraging youths into constructive thinking that would make them take their destinies in their hands.

    “We are seriously looking forward to seeing the future belonging to the youths; we also need youths who can wait and not be tired of waiting and youths with critical thinking who can solve the problems of Nigeria, thereby creating standards or values.

    “Some people, especially the youths move with the crowd and hence, lose their vision, identity and point of view in life. We are seriously looking for a civilised future. “If one is a leader and doesn’t care about the person he is leading, it is doom and that is why we must all strive to build a civilised society” he said.

    On her part, Prof Okunna expressed optimism that the future would be better for Nigerian youths. “I am optimistic that there is hope for Nigeria. Nigeria has great potentials but we are not utilising it. We need Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, to grow but my worry is that the SMEs may not thrive unless the power sector improves,” she added.

  • UNICEF makes case for girl education, empowerment

    UNICEF makes case for girl education, empowerment

    As Africa celebrated this year’s Day of the African Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said girl education is key to empowerment and equal opportunity.

    To mark this year’s day, UNICEF has partnered with Federal Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Boards in Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states, to launch the Girls for Girls (G4G) initiative.  The initiative seeks to empower girls with information and knowledge to help build their capacity to stand up for themselves. It aims at creating equal opportunities for girls to access education.

    With this year’s commemoration of the day focusing on empowerment and equal opportunity for the African child, the launch seeks improve the life of the girl child .

    The primary goal of G4G, according to UNICEF, is to empower girls with knowledge, skills and confidence needed to enroll and remain in school, completing the full course of education so they can be role model to other girls in their communities.  Working with members of the Mothers Association as mentors, girls are expected to initiate and lead a range of activities to identify barriers to the education of girls in their communities and work to remove such barriers so girls will enroll and remain in school.

    Mohammed Fall UNICEF Representative in Nigeria said: “The G4G initiative is a commitment to improve the quality of girls’ and ultimately women’s lives by empowering girls through education.  By educating girls, practices such as early marriage will be uprooted and girls will be empowered to contribute to the development of their communities, states and Nigeria.”

    The G4G initiative is a component of the Girls’ Education Project Phase 3 being implemented in northern Nigeria through collaboration between UNICEF Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria with funding from the United Kingdom (UK) Department of International Development (DFID), UNICEF said.

    This phase of the Girls Education Project seeks to help put 1million girls in school, support them to remain in school and improve their learning achievement. The focus states have the highest number of girls who do not attend school in Nigeria.

    According to UNICEF, despite important education gains in recent decades, Nigeria still has the largest number of girls not in school, adding that when girls enter school, a vast majority of them do not complete primary school education. “The average girl stays in school only through age nine. Less than one-third of girls in Nigeria enrol in the lower secondary school, and, in northern Nigeria, less than one in 10 girls generally complete secondary education.”

    G4G groups will be established in more than 8,000 Primary and Qur’anic schools by 2019.

  • Woman needs kidney transplant

    Mrs.  Olufemi  Temidayo Grace Orunkoyi, 50,  has called for financial help to raise N12 million for kidney transplant.

    Mrs. Orunkoyi, who works at the Adekunle  Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko  (AAUA), is  diagnosed of kidney-related disease.

    Since January when the diagnosis was done, Mrs Orunkoyi has been going through dialysis that cost a fortune.

    In its report, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, stated that  Mrs Orunkoyi needs N620,000 monthly to remain alive.

    The  breakdown, he said, is: dialysis –  N300,000, erythropoicin, N120,000, hypertensive, N50,000, anti-lipids  N10,000, iron sucrose injection N40,000, phosphate  binders N20,000, Vitamin D therapy N30,000 and investigations N50,000. The ultimate care of her condition, according to the medical doctor, is kidney transplant which would cost N12 million.

    According to her husband, they have been going to the hospital since last year which has gulped all the family could raise. The frequent visit to hospitals, especially Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, Ondo has not made her to report for duty at AAUA.

    Mr. Olufemi Orunkoyi is a retired teacher who has not collected  gratuity since he retired from the state service in 2014.

    The pension has also not been paid, making the family to depend  on others to survive

    The situation is made worse because of the inability of the state government to pay  its workforce making it difficult  for the woman to raise money from her colleagues in the office.

    The family also appealed to their church, Gospel Faith Mission International to  come  to  the aid of one of its members who is lying critically ill at FMC, Owo. Any financial assistance should be paid to Orunkoyi Samuel Olufemi Skye Bank: 1762206122 and First Bank: 3060648971

     

  • US Embassy honours Nigerian TechWomen

    Nigerian women are highly talented like their American counterparts in the movie, Hidden Figures, the United State Ambassador, W. Stuart Symington, said prior to screening of the movie at Genesis Cinemas, in Abuja, in honour of Nigerian TechWomen.
    Hidden Figures details the story of three female African-American mathematicians employed by NASA in the 1960s.  Working as human computers but denied recognition or promotion, they would go on to play crucial roles in the American space programme.
    ”It is an amazing story of women, who found something that they love, and before there were computers and the Internet, these women made it possible to put the human race in outer space.  You too, can reach for the skies,” the Ambassador said, introducing Carolyn Seaman and Damilola Anwo-Ade – two of five Nigerian women selected to participate in the 2017 TechWomen exchange programme.
    Carolyn Seaman is using technology to empower girls through her Girls Voices Initiative, while Damilola Anwo-Ade is mentoring the next generation of coders, including young women, through her initiative CodeIT.  Olamide Ayeni-Babjide, Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, and Petra Nnamani, though not present at the event, will also participate in the programme.
    TechWomen is a U.S. initiative empowering and connecting the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.  The programme will bring together 100 women leaders in technology fields for a five-week professional mentorship and exchange programme at leading technology companies in California’s Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
    Symington added: “We are committed to building the capacity of women to innovate and make positive contributions to their communities through science, technology, and mathematics.”

  • Lasisi, Garba present Phenomenal Lagos

    Last year May, two art journalists Akeem Lasisi (Punch) and Kabir Alabi Garba (The Guardian) started writing a book intended to capture some iconic places in Lagos. They planned to present it as part of their contributions to the Lagos @50 celebration that ended last month, but that was not to be.

    At a recent sneak preview and presentation of the 120-page book titled: Phenomenal Lagos: 50 Iconic places in the Centre of Excellence, to some arts and culture writers in Lagos, the authors recalled how the journey began, urging colleagues to explore the many opportunities provided by the profession to enhance themselves. They added that journalists should never be discouraged by whatever challenges they may face.

    The coffee-colour, hard cover book contains comprehensive profiles, photographs and poems on the selected iconic places. It celebrates the socio-cultural and political monuments of Lagos. Its aesthetically packaged sharp pictures complemented the brief history and poetic verses that illuminate the souls of the sites to its readers.

    To the duo,  the publication aimed to enrich the historical archive in an attempt to preserve Lagos cultural heritage. In the course of selection, the authors considered the five divisions of Lagos called ‘Ibile’, which include Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos Island.

    “We decided to do a comprehensive research and found out why some places bear the name they are called today. We found out why Mushin is called Mushin. Why Agege is called Agege and many more like that. We aimed for a very high quality so as to be presentable in places that matter,” said Lasisi.

    On the challenges encountered, Garba said they have learnt a lot of lessons. “The major lesson we learnt in this journey is that nothing is impossible. If you go for any event, present something unique and presentable and don’t stop at that. Interpret your stories. Learn how to manage your life wherever you find yourself.”

    The seasoned art writers acknowledged Lagos State’s support towards the realisation of the project, especially at the printing stage of the book. They noted that the selection of the various places was done in conjunction with Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

    “We didn’t stop at culture and tourism. We considered the political, historical, religious and business landscape of Lagos in our selection. In the book, you will find such edifices like stock exchange, computer village, whispering palm for tourism, City Hall, Lagos House, the first judiciary building in Lagos, point of no return, first church in Nigeria, first mosque in Lagos, Eko Hotel and others,” Lasisi said.

    In the foreword to the book, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun described the book as a direct interpretation of celebrating those socio-cultural and political monuments of Lagos. “Some of the iconic places featured are history personified. Others directly project the state’s tradition and culture, including some that justifiably echo its economic destiny,” Prof Fagbohun said.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde said in the prologue that the uniqueness of the compendium lies in the poetic verses that complement the brief history and pictorial representation of each of the 50 iconic sites.

    Lasisi, who is Assistant Editor with The Punch, has distinguished himself as a performance poet in the past 25 years He has also performed poetry in different parts of Nigeria and countries like South Africa, Germany and Brazil.

    Similarly, Garba, who holds Masters of Science degree in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Lagos as well as Post graduate Diploma Certificate in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Ikeja Lagos, is an Assistant Editor with The Guardian.

     

  • US provides $9.5m for UN food programme

    TO ensure that mothers and children under five do not suffer from malnutrition during this year’s “lean” season, the United States (US), through its Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided an additional $9.5 million to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP).

    More than 175,000 mothers and children  would be benefiting from the grant from USAID’s Health, Population, and Nutrition office. The grant, according to USAID/Nigeria Mission Director, Stephen M. Haykin, augments ongoing support for  humanitarian assistance in Nigeria by its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and Food for Peace (FFP), and seeks to bridge a funding shortfall announced by the WFP late last month.

    It will fund a blanket supplementary feeding programme to protect the nutrition status of children aged six months to five years, and lactating women among Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and host communities of Borno State through the provision of specialised nutritious foods.

    “In response to the call by WFP to meet a severe funding shortfall, the USAID is pleased to play a part in making sure that the most vulnerable of those impacted by the Boko Haram conflict are taken care of. This support will go to nine areas where the needs of mothers and their children are the greatest,” Haykin said.

    The assistance will help WFP reach an additional 110,000 children under five and 65,000 pregnant and nursing mothers with specialised nutritious food commodities in nine local government areas (LGA) in Borno State.

    WFP launched what is known as a Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme aimed at preventing the further decline in nutritional status among young children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, as well as protect the nutritional status of others, who are not yet malnourished but are at high risk.

    The programme, which will distribute the nutrient-rich food monthly through the end of the rainy, or “lean,” season in August, is anticipated to significantly reduce the burden on the health system related to treating malnutrition as well as other health conditions under nutrition, consequently preventing related mortality.

     

  • Fed Govt lauds NICO on dress culture campaign

    Fed Govt lauds NICO on dress culture campaign

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has applauded the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for its Nigerian Dress Culture campaign.

    The initiative, according Mohammed, is in line with the present administration’s policy  to urgently diversify the Nigerian economy.

    Mohammed made the statement at a two-day National Workshop on Nigerian Dress Culture and Sustainable National Development, organised by the institute in Niger State.

    The minister, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Dr  Gerald Adewole, lauded NICO’s campaign, which seeks to promote dressing in diverse Nigerian cultural attires, particularly the Dress Nigerian Days, which is currently receiving attention by the Federal Government.

    He said: “The promotion of Nigerian Dress Culture would engender enormous socio-political and economic benefits to the nation. The culture sector, which is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy, has the capacity to generate employment, create wealth and alleviate poverty; and this can only be achieved if Nigerians patronise Made-in-Nigeria dresses as opposed to foreign ones.”

    Noting that the NICO’s campaign will help in resuscitating the comatose textile companies that had hitherto diversified to the extent of providing employment for footballers through football clubs they founded and funded, Mohammed said the Federal Government was fully committed to creating an enabling environment for cultural and creative industries to flourish, including the textile manufacturing companies.

    House of Representatives’ Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who chaired the occasion, advocated proper funding of the culture sector to enable the country reap the benefits of its cultural diversity. He promised to give speedy legislative backing to any bill aimed at repositioning the culture and tourism sector. He was represented by a member of the committee, Hon Mohammed Mahmud.

    Nico’s Executive Secretary Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, an associate professor, who was the chief host, spoke on the need for Nigerians to value their indigenous dresses, saying NICO conceptualised the Promoting Nigerian Dress Culture Workshop series to rekindle interest and pride in indigenous dress patterns.

    He added that the workshop was to promote patriotism in Nigerians through dress culture; showcase the beauty in diversity of the dress culture of various geo-political zones of the country; encourage unity among the different ethnic groups through integrated dress culture; enhance economic growth of local textile industries and stimulate job and wealth creation in the industry.

    Niger State governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, noted that the state is working on an institute to preserve, protect and promote the dress culture of the state as well as partnering NICO on how to entrench Dress Nigeria at the grassroots.

    The event, which was well attended, featured cultural dances and Nigerian dress parade by students from various secondary schools in Niger State. NICO Cultural Troupe also presented a drama sketch to capture the theme of the workshop and a dance to spice the opening ceremony.

     

  • Foundation holds summit for future leaders

    In response to the challenges of leadership bedeviling Nigeria and the decline in value-based leadership, a group, Royal Foundation International, has held a National Leadership Summit (NLS) for young leaders.

    With the theme, Nigeria’s Future: The Role of Exceptional Leadership, the programme, which was held at Covenant University Secondary School, Ota, was a platform to equip students with leadership skills.

    According to the convener, Femi Royal Aliu, leadership skills are necessary for young ones to succeed in private and public sectors in their adult lives, and also as students in their respective schools.

    He said:“It was a platform to learn about exceptional and value-based leadership and how they can model it. Also students from different schools also compete for the debater of the year award on the topic to work for someone else or build one’s business; which is better?”

    NLS brought together about 20 schools to a single venue as a gathering of eagles. This year’s edition featured top-notch speakers including, Precious Ajoonu, Leap Africa; Jimoh Oluwasegun, NGOPodcast; Rahmah Aderinoye, UNICEF Global Ambassador; Lanre Olokunde, Snapnet Nigeria; Alexander Tosin, MTN Nigeria; Doyin Ajayi, Sweet FM; Oyekanmi Ayoyemi, Wikimedia Group; Moremi Kedirsmeia, from Botswana on an amazing panel to enlighten these young minds.

    The maiden edition of NLS was hosted in November 2016 and featured over 10 schools, including  Dalos College, Ambassadors College, ECOWAS College and Iganmode Grammer School (who are the defending champion that produced the debater of the year and got the foundation’s award for it).

    “Royal Foundation International is a youth-led organisation that utilises amazing innovation and cutting edge technologies to package fellowship programs, internships, summits, bootcamps for young people to promote individual effectiveness, wealth creation and leadership skills,” he said.

    The event was in partnership with Covenant University Secondary School, Global Shapers Community Ibadan of the World Economic Forum, Lead Resources, Next Gen Africa, AREAi Africa, Hearts Connect Initiative, Allfor Development Foundation, Thriving Teens and sponsored by NerdyGram Consulting, Parle G Biscuits & Sweetco Plc.

    It has as media partners Ogun State Television, The Nation, Hebron FM, The Guardian, UNILAG FM, TVC, among others.