The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • ITAM Designs for BurJuman millinery exhibition

    A Hat maker, ITAM designs, would be showcasing its collection at the 2015 Burjuman International Millinery Exhibition ahead of the Dubai World Cup.

    The International Millinery Exhibition has been crowning the heads of über-stylish race-goers in the past 14 years. Bringing together some of the world’s most coveted milliners, this year’s exhibition welcomes new faces making waves in the world of hat making alongside popular names from previous editions.

    The award-winning line-up of milliners flying in to showcase their one-of-a-kind creations makes easy pickings for Dubai’s fashionable fillies looking to complete their World Cup ensemble.

    The exhibition, which coincides with the famous Dubai World Cup as a side-event and yearly style fiesta in the Middle East, will feature some of the world’s finest hat makers, including last Master Milliner in Styria, Austria – the talented Christine Rohr, Philip Wright, Christiane Rohr, Jennifer Bell, Liza Georgia, Christiane Edmondson and Hats by Sandy.

    The designers, who have been specially selected from various parts of the world will reflect Spring/Summer fashion trends on the runway along with over 500 varieties of headwear. The headpieces will encompass bold florals, bohemian glamour, lace, bright colours and monochrome design. The edition of Dubai’s premier hat event features over 500 fabulous hats and headpieces ahead of the 20th Dubai World Cup, which is billed to take offf from tomorrow and end on March 27.

    Nigeria’s representative at the event, ITAM design by Kings Signature, would parade its unique collection of headpieces and occasion hats made from the finest hand-finished trimmings and materials.

    “Our collection is a wonderful celebration of seasonal colours and styles, perfect for the women for all variety of occasions and are available in stores and an exclusive list of stockists. We provide a wide range of head wears to match any collection and a fully-managed service, such that the collection and colours are exclusive to our clients. And that is what we would be showcasing at the event. The collection would showcases a beautiful explosion of feather on combs, feathers on bands, feathers on clips and a funky montage of feathers and flowers for the more frivolous amongst us,” according to Kings Signature.

     

  • Peculiar Saints Orphanage relocates to Ajah

    A charity organisation Peculiar Saints Orphanage is moving to Ajah, Lagos, in its expansion bid.

    Its proprietor, Mrs Olamide Turner,  said: “Right now, we run a normal orphanage because we don’t have the facilities to run a home for kids with disabilities. In that our permanent site, we have a sick bay, all the rooms are ensuite so we can change from a normal home to a home for people with disabilities and challenging behaviour.”

    The proprietor, who became an orphan as a child, said she got interested in running an orphanage after working at the Lauryn Hall Home which caters for children with disabilities and challenging behaviours in the UK where she was based.

    “Even while I was in the UK, whenever I come to Nigeria, I ask of old hospices and I work there on compassionate grounds. That was where I started from in Nigeria. Presently, we are trying to get partners. We have people that are sponsoring our children in school before they go out for adoption. I also have a board and the members are very supportive,” she said.

    Since inception in 2012, 28 children have passed through Peculiar Saints Orphanage, according to Turner. “Our own mission is not to keep kids at the orphanage permanently. We want to settle them in homes. Our home is like a transit point for children. We adopt them out, of course through the Ministry of Youths and Social Development. So far about 10 of our children have been adopted by homes in Nigeria and abroad,” she also revealed.

     

  • Exploring female sensuality

    Olu Amoda, an internationally celebrated sculptor, muralist, furniture designer, and multi-media artist is showcasing his newest body of work titled: Fringe which explores the question of private and public space in the urban environment.

    It is a beautiful evening at the grand opening of Fringe, which was exhibited at Art 21  on the ground floor of Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The space is infectious and gives a good view of the works of  Amoda. It perhaps offers the right atmosphere and setting for the best of  contemporary art to be viewed and appreciated.

    As the world has become a global village where people connected via the internet, the artists are also connecting women and the world through their beautiful works, connection. They seem to know almost the unspoken words, thoughts motion and emotions of women and girl-child, and insecurity of all of women and girl, and insecurity of all sorts, which was presented in this show.

    Amoda in his new work makes use of unconventional materials and posses, combined with an interest in pertinent social and political issues, charters new depths by examining the relationship between surveillance, religion and female form.

    Central of Olu new work is the influences of technology and how virtual communication shape and prescribe identity the hyper_ consciousness of self presentation that is brought about by digital revolution.

    In a statement Amoda he said: “We are constantly in the ears of spy agencies around the world. Where by our whispering becomes as loud as ten million cacophonic devices around the world, if we use certain words regardless of the context and content. In this virtual world, streams of data move in both directions just as the Newton third law of motion states”.

    “ Just as Adam and Eve lost their innocence after eating the forbidden fruit, we also lose our privacy the moment we buy any of these devices, be it Android or GSM smart phones,  One privacy is totally compromised; some of our conversation or images are electronically “.

    He added:” The amazing thing about these small devices is the speed at which ones conversation travels across the continents, it is this telecommunication feat of being able to have lives stream video chats that compromise our private conversations, which we think happen in a private space, becomes public, Something as small as a handset now connects us to the universe through radio frequencies.  With this new work I intend to provoke a conversation on privacy in public space. The space in the context is the virtual space that is linked to a big monitor that is wired into the small devices which almost everyone above the age of five could operate. These devices range from ones cell phone, tablet, pager, to laptops and desktop computers, to mention a few. Anything one says in a civilized conversation is being wire tapped”.

    the Skoto Gallery and at the Museum of Art & Design in New York, at the Georgia Southern University in the United States, at the Didi Museum, Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institute & the Nimbus Art Centre in Nigeria, at the 6th Biennale de L’Art African Contemporain in Dakar, Senegal, at The World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO] Headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, and with the current touring exhibition of “out of the ordinary” organized by Art 21 in Lagos state.

     

     

  • ‘Opposition is govt in the waiting’

    For over 90 minutes, the hall on the 5th floor of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s building at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos was still scanty. The presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof Remi Sonaiya and two reporters were among the early arrivals. But for the continuous screening of documentaries of the formal opening of the old Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) at Ibadan on October 31, 1959 and the Independence Day celebration party that kept them glued to the screen behind the high table, the few guests would have been tired of the long wait.

    Except Prof Sonaiya, who was present, most of the special guests invited to the book presentation, Opposition political parties and democratisation in Africa, edited by Gabriel Lanre Adeola, sent representatives. They included former Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

    Expectedly, the occasion shifted slightly into a campaign platform, with speakers  telling the audience of the need to have their permanent voter cards and vote wisely to be part of  change. They also warned the youths, in the audience of a bleak future because of the dwindling fortune of the nation’s commonwealth.

    Osinbajo and Fayemi called on  youths to join the train of change in the nation’s political space by showing interest on who leads them. They also enjoined them not to shy away from exercising their civic rights in the forthcoming general elections.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by Abimbola Ojerinde, said the youth must brace to face the reality of the state of the economy, which is in a poor shape.  “Certainly, there is nothing waiting for you after school because the nation’s economy has continued to hit an all-time low. Exchange rate has also gone high with the devaluation of the naira. In fact, there is problem in the land and we have emergency situation on our hands. We cannot pretend about it,” he added.

    He noted that the forthcoming general election is very critical to Nigeria just as the conversation on the political leadership of the country has changed with the coming of the APC as an opposition. He added that governance is about the common good of the people.

    Fayemi, who was represented by Akin Rotimi, said for the first time Nigerian voters are taken seriously by the politicians, especially the ruling party, which is battling to remain in power at all cost. He said the Nigerian voting space would not be the same again. “Nigeria is an eyesore and until there is a change of power, we will not realise it because the mess is being covered up. It is important to have a change at the centre, it is also critical to have a change in other levels of governance. So, everyone of us must be involved in the change,” he added.

    KOWA Party presidential candidate, Prof Remi Sonaiya, who decried the increasing attacks by politicians on one another, said if there was ever a time on how parties should conduct their affairs, the time is now.

    “Given what is happening in the political space it seems we are not sure how party in power should behave and how opposition party should behave too. I hope Nigerians are taking note and it is when citizens are fed up that they can effect a change. When we keep absorbing all the cheats thrown at us, there will be no desire for change,” she said, describing the book as one good step towards a better political development.

    Adeola described the book as an inspiration and would serve as eye-opener to Africa democratisation experience. He said the book offers a new perspective on political opposition in contemporary African democracies. “After a critical review of the classic and contemporary literature on the subject, it proposes a renewed definition of opposition that better grasps the complexity of political opposition in democracies,” he said.

    He recalled that he got the desire to put the book together when he returned to Nigeria from France and discovered a gap the book could fill. “The articles I gather together covered all aspects of opposition. They were written by 42 scholars from 26 universities. In fact, given the content, the book will surely assist the politicians. But, the message is what is opposition? It is government in the waiting. If I had written the articles alone, I won’t have been able to cover enough grounds. Nigeria needs a change,” Adeola added.

  • Promoting art at the grassroots

    Promoting art at the grassroots

    After a successful debut last month, a new creative session tagged Children Art Club, endorsed by INSEA and supported by Teaching Visual Art and Olumo Art Movement, will hold its second edition on March 21, at the Cultural and Musical Heritage Centre, Olumo Rock, Ikija, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Last month, the session attracted no fewer than 30 children between the ages of two and 16. The guests included the president, School of Virtue, Mr. Segun Coker; Director of Programmes, OGTV, Mr. Seyi Oladimeji and the Public Faces magazine team lead by Miss Bola Solate and president of Olumo Art Movement, Mr. Kola Anidugbe.

    According to the organisers, the platform is to grant talented children access to the best, most-stimulating and most-rewarding artistic engagements that include creative expression through drawing, mosaic, collage, painting, sculpture, wearable art, graffiti and many more.

    Others include teaching and learning of art techniques under the guidance of artists and art educators; share ideas with their peers; hands-on workshops with diverse studio artists and art educators; building portfolio and participating in national and international art contests; showcase their talents and skills through art exhibitions; virtual documentation of the children’s art works and media exposure. Facilitators included Alhaji Adeleye, Mr. Kehinde H, Prince Olusegun Adeniyi and a visiting artist, Lanre Tejuoso.

    The Children Art Club was established to make art education and art practice accessible and affordable (absolutely free) for Nigerian children irrespective of their social background, status or religion affiliation. It is meant to improve and expand access to Art education in such that the children of our nation will receive a broad and balanced education. The essence is to create a springboard to help the children on their voyage of discovery and self-expression.

    The Children Art Club is an outlet for self-expression, started in January 2015 to unlock talents, encourage aspirations, and nurture creativity. It is a creative platform for every child to help them harness, maximize and express unhindered their God’s given potentials in a serene environment that inspire creativity. “It is a platform where we can reach each child through art as a therapy, empowerment and personal talent development. At the February edition, the children were made to create wearable arts with white t-shirts. It was fun and the children enjoyed the remarkable moment of creating art on ready-to-wear shirts,” the art director, Olusegun Adeniyi said.

  • Irep to field foreign filmmakers

    Irep to field foreign filmmakers

    This year’s edition of the annual iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival begins on Thursday, March 19 and will run through Sunday March 22 at the Freedom Park, the old Broad Street Prison on Lagos Island. The Festival is organised by the iRepresent Documentary Film Forum, an affiliate of the West African Documentary Film Forum (WDFF), and the Documentary Network Africa (DNA).

    No fewer than 12 international guests from countries such as Germany, United States, United Kingdom, France, Cameroon, Gabon, South Africa, Kenya are expected at the festival, which will screen about 50 films in the course of its four-day duration. The festival also offers training sessions, workshops, seminars as well as Master Classes for young, aspiring and already practising filmmakers, which usually throng its programme in every edition since 2010 when it was birthed.

    This year marks the 5th anniversary of the festival, which in its short lifespan has attracted the attention of world documentary film circuits including the People2People Festival in South Africa, the Munich-Germany based Dokfest; South Africa-based Discop; and Cameroon-based Ecrans Noirs.

    The 2015 edition will explore the theme:Reinventing documentary filmmaking in a digital space.Though conceived on the traditional iREP thematic framework of Africa in Self-conversation, the theme is premised on the reality that Digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated.

    Festival Executive Director, Femi Odugbemi said: “Documentary filmmaking is coming to terms with these new realities and continuously finding hybrid strategies to navigate the blurred lines crisscrossing verite and satisfying the ever changing temperament of the digital world that is hip, fun-seeking, chaotic, multi-tasking, and attention sapping.

    “For documentary filmmaking, digital technology presents a challenge and an opportunity that would either remarkably transform and redefine what passes as a documentary film or bury the art in its past. More than ever before, there is a need to reinvent the art of documentary filmmaking within the space of the new elements that are dictating the trend of media consumption and experience globally. We are also conscious of the inevitable movement of Television broadcasting and services into full digital era as envisaged by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and that that quite a lot of African nations have set same 2015 as deadline for their full embrace of digital broadcasting on the continent”.

    The festival will feature screening of a carefully selected films representing the best of recordings of African experiences, conference, seminar and workshops on the journeys, challenges and prospects of digital broadcasting, training Programme for young African filmmakers on the technicalities of digital broadcasting, iREP Producers’ roundtable, and exhibition of Digital Broadcast equipment. Others are live conversation with the public on the prospects of digital broadcasting, iREP Distinguished award for excellence in Filmmaking, support for industry, unveiling of iREP Tv

    There will also be Festival cocktails & reception; a ceremonial event that will bear the festive nature of the edition. It will feature a Red Carpet reception with a jazz band performing; a brief keynote on the journey of iREP Film festival so far by Prof. Niyi Coker of University of Missouri, St. Louis, USA.

  • Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature

    Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature

    Born on March 10, 1952, the late Mallam Abubakar Gimba hailed from Nasarawa State. He was an economist and author, who emphasised the importance of education in raising a child. His early days were spent in a cultural environment somewhere in Nasarawa State where, as he once put it, he learnt from “the singing of birds, the footsteps and prints of everybody – since, then, we were not wearing shoes – even dogs had a lot to teach”.

    Gimba started writingduring his days as a National Youth Service Corps member in the 70s. He published diverse works such as Trail of Sacrifice (1985); Witnesses to Tears (Aug 1987); Sunset for a Manderin (30 Aug 1996); This land of ours (2001); Golden Apples (Mar 1996); Innocent victims: A novel (Sep 1998) and Footprints (1998), among others.

    He brought his witty and in-depth understanding of life to bear in his writings.

    His humility, wit and cheerful disposition endeared him to all, especially those in the writing fold. Little wonder then that he later becamea former national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He would be remembered for his witty, poetic and metaphoric works.

    Gimba was an executive director of Union Bank of Nigeria and a permanent secretary in nation’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. He had master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cincinnati, and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He took part in the IWP on a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

    Although dead, the world would always remember him for his forthrightness. The literati received the news of his death with heavy hearts. Two weeks after his departure, people are still mourning the loss of a comrade, father and friend. They bore their thoughts in their tributes to the late author.

     

    Former Minister of State for Education and ex-President of ANA, Dr Jerry Agada

     

    “It pains to bid farewell to this pioneer writer and fine gentleman of great repute. I had known Gimba through the pages of some of his novels before we eventually met at the 1997 ANA Convention in Abuja, when he was elected ANA President and I too, as Assistant General Secretary. Since then it has been a symbiotic relationship built on mutual respect for one another. As ANA National President, Gimba, who wore simplicity like his usual white kaftan, carried us all along without minding his status.

    “During my tenure as ANA President, Gimba availed me full compliments of honour, respect, advise and support, which propelled me through and which I will ever cherish. Gimba was Special Adviser (Political) to the Senate President at the time I served as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we combined perfectly to offer the best we could to the democratic governance of our great nation, using our creative talents as writers. As Gimba takes the final bow today, I take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life as a great author of our time. I send my condolences to millions of writers all over the world and particularly, the President, EXCO and members of the Association of Nigerian Authors and also to all members of his immediate family and well-wishers.”

     

    Former Member, House of Representatives and ex-president of ANA, Dr Wale Okediran

     

    “However, beyond all these tangible achievements, Gimba’s greatest legacies were the legion of writers and personalities whose lives he enriched through his selfless and often self-effacing attitude; his rich repository of knowledge and his uncanny affinity to give and serve even when he had little left for himself. He was to me not just a writing colleague, he was a brother, a confidant with whom I could discuss virtually anything and still be sure I was walking on safe grounds.

    “This was why when sometimes in 2011 Gimba informed me that after a medical trip to India he had been diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis, I was crestfallen, but nevertheless upbeat about his chances of winning the battle against the predator. As a way of monitoring his progress, I, therefore, made it mandatory to visit him at least twice a year in his No 10 Gado Nasco Street residence, Zarumai Quarters in Minna, Niger State. For some inexcusable reasons, I missed visiting him this year and was on the verge of planning a visit when I learnt of his demise. Despite being privy to his ailment, which I knew could be terminal, I still took his death very badly. It was as if a part of me had been violently yanked off. And despite my determination not to betray any emotions when I later visited the family a few days after his death in Minna, it was difficult sitting without the “lord of the manor” in attendance in the same sitting room where we had for close to two decades supped, joked and strategised together. And so the tears fell… Good bye my brother, good night our knight in shining armour, farewell the Mandarin.”

     

    ANA Vice President, Abdullahi Denja

     

     

    “Mallam Gimba was a trail blazer in literary fiction up the Niger. He was a colossal figure in writing in English up North the way Abubakar Imam was in Hausa in Northern Nigeria. Gimba’s literary efforts crossed the borders to create understanding among people. Gimba was a pacifist and quintessential gentleman, who nurtured creativity in the young and the old with his God-given resources and strength of character. His life was a shining example to us all.”

     

    Dr Bukar Usman

     

    “Mallam Gimba a quiet, brilliant and amiable personality has been a beacon of light in literary development in the country in general and the northern part of the country in particular. It was a fitting recognition of his literary achievements that he was elected the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors. I, for one, has benefitted greatly from his editorial comments and guidance in my literary works. I surely miss him. May his soul rest in perfect peace!”

     

    Director-General,Niger State

    Development Agency, BM Dzukogi

     

    “The loss of Gimba creates a deep gorge in our lives having been with us for close to three decades as a mentor, leader, father and friend during which we have learnt his simple approach to life. Similarly, his desire for people to regenerate the self as a potent strategy for societal re-ordering was well noted by us. He was totally harmless and full of concern for mankind to the point of despair because men were not changing for good and we saw occasional state of despair in him.

    “This had made him extremely reserved much later in life. Of course, outside his writings, Gimba, whom everyone accepts is a good man, will remain a tall figure of goodwill and happiness to Nigerlites and those who encountered him through life. Indeed, we had our point of departure as to how to fix society: he wants individuals to regenerate themselves for good to get a wholesome society. We agree but with the condition that leaders must provide the way. Anything short of that is a nullity. Well, this is the beauty of discourse. I hear people proposing to the Niger State Government to name the state’s University of Education after him that will be nice. The rest is up to us to carry further. Gimba has gone! One common royalty that all mortals enjoy on earth whether rich or poor, young or old is to be carried to the grave, lifeless. That’s what just happened to our gentleman Oga.”

     

    Novelist, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo

     

    “Gimba was a role model and a cultured man, who wrote powerful novels including classics such as Witness to Tears and Trail of Sacrifice. He performed effectively as Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) President between 1997 and 2001. His tenure as president was one of the most stable and uplifting and he was able to build up the association as a formidable literary force. We, especially those that knew him well, will miss his amiable and gentle personality. I’ll always remember him as a man of character, who made a difference in Nigeria’s literary landscape. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

     

    Ace playwright, Prof Femi Osofisan

     

    “Once again, we are called out to mourn one of the elders of the tribe!Alhadji Gimba as I knew him was soft-spoken, but had an iron will; self-effacing but never afraid of shouldering great responsibilities. He never found the style or theme to make his talent soar; but whatever limitations one might find were more than compensated by his passion, by the zeal he gave to art and to artists. It is certain we will miss him.”

     

    SONTA President, Prof Sunday E. Ododo

     

    “Gimba was perhaps the arrowhead of modern Nigerian literature from the Northern Nigeria. His contributions to the development of literature in the north shall remain evergreen because of the robust literary activities that now exist there, which are by products of Gimba’s visionary inspiration for young writers. The literary world shall surely miss his physical presence, but his creative and political imprints shall remain with us for a long time. Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature.”

     

    Association of Nigerian

    Authors executives

     

    “It is with great sadness that the Association of Nigerian Authors announces the death of Alhaji Gimba, distinguished author, administrator and public intellectual, who served as President of our Association from 1997 to 2001. He died yesterday in Minna after a long battle against ill health. Mallam Gimba, an indigene of Lapai in Niger State, was born in 1953. He authored several books in the course of his writing career, prominent amongst which are Witness to Tears, Trail of Sacrifice, Innocent Victims, Sunset for a Mandarin and Golden Apples.

    Mallam Gimba held a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cincinnati and was once Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance. He was also a former Chairman of the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association. He will be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites.”

     

  • ‘Fela would not have been cool with Jonathan’

    ‘Fela would not have been cool with Jonathan’

    Nigerian-born anthropologist and soulful singer Nneka Lucia Egbuna, who has just released her new album, My Fairy Tales, talks about music, memories and the prevailing situation in Nigeria with Teo Kermeliotis (CNN).

    rapped up in a long brightly-coloured scarf, which does little to contain her free-flowing curly hair, Nneka sits back quietly as she tries to bring to mind her very first memory of music. “I was a kid,” the Nigerian singer finally says, her thoughts traveling back to Warri, the Niger Delta city where she grew up. “While I was doing my domestic work in the house, sweeping, waking up at 5am in the morning, there was this bird (singing) — and I never forgot the melody,” she continues, breaking a warm smile. “Funny wise, like 25 years later I was in Lagos and I heard the same melody — it was amazing!”

    Nneka’s first musical recollection might be firmly rooted in her birthplace, but the award-winning singer’s career was destined to begin thousands of miles away from home — the daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka moved to Hamburg at the of 19 to study anthropology. Whilst attending university, she also started exploring her musical talents, and soon found herself performing in various clubs opening up for top reggae and hip-hop names.

    In 2005, she released Victim of Truth, a much-lauded debut that fused soulful beats, tasty hip-hop-and reflective ballads with politically-charged lyrics and black consciousness. Since then, she went on to enjoy further chart success, tour extensively and collaborate with global stars like Lenny Kravitz and Damian Marley.

    And now, the soulful singer is back with a brand new, self-released album — My Fairy Tales is a formidable collection of rich afrobeat grooves, reggae-tinged beats and uplifting rhythms that reaffirm her place as one of the continent’s most exciting — and relevant — artists.

    CNN’sAfrican Voices caught up with Nneka in London to talk about music, memories and the current situation in Nigeria.

    In the past, you’ve dealt with issues ranging from the environment and politics, to religion and love — what are the themes that you’re emphasizing at this moment?

    What is happening in Africa at present concerns me a lot. Boko Haram has always been an issue obviously for the past five, six years — funny wise, there’s a track in the album called “Pray For You” which I recorded when not too many people knew what was going with Boko Haram in the West.

    I’m talking about the problems and possible solutions, and what are the reasons for the problems that we have. We as Nigerians, we’re not united, that has always been the issue… that’s our problem, tribalism, and what belongs to whom.

    I also talk about children and the future, bringing children into this world… Everyone’s living in a cage and then you bring your child into that kind of society, where your child is forced to live in fear.

    People are afraid to express themselves politically, and even in their home — I remember the way we grew up, I didn’t look my father in the eye until I was 22; you call your father “Sir, Sir, Sir” — apparently it’s a form of respect, OK, but respect should not be mistaken with fear. I was afraid and that’s the thing, that’s the colonial mentality: we mistake fear for respect.

     

    Nneka on the postponement of Nigerian elections

    He (Goodluck Jonathan) says he wants to tackle Boko Haram, obviously every Nigerian is asking why now, he could had done it a long time ago…but I’m not good at the whole blaming game, I don’t want to blame anybody but I pray that he comes up with a good idea for us if he is an honest and genuine guy. But I know that Fela Kuti would definitely not be cool with him, Seun Kuti is not cool with him, and many other musicians who are very outspoken are not cool with him.

     

    What is the power of music and how can it influence things to bring positive change?

    Music is very powerful, music is big; music is even more powerful than politics at present. Beyonce would definitely draw more crowd than [Nigerian president] Goodluck Jonathan if she was going to hold a speech — if Beyonce is going to talk about Boko Haram, many people are going to listen, and if she had something to tell Nigerians about love or whatever, many people are going to listen.

     

    How do you see the political and security situation now in Nigeria?

    All I can say is that we do need proper leadership. Yes, that’s just easier said than done, but we also need ourselves to take more things into our own hands — so if we want change, we have to show that we want change, peacefully — I love Malcolm X but I’d rather go for Martin Luther King — peacefully. And be part of it, not just blame our leaders and making sure that you, yourself, contribute to the change that you want to see.

     

  • Reward for givers

    Reward for givers

    Sponsor A Child, a Nigerian charity organisation for children, gave awards to some of its own last Friday at Terra Kulture. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    Last Friday, guests dressed in classic and beautiful outfits gathered at terra Kulture on Victoria Island, Lagos State for an award ceremony.

    The hall was decorated with white, blue and red fabric. Chairs were set around tables.

    It was a gathering where ‘Good Home’, a quality service advocacy scheme; a project under Sponsor A Child Organisation recognised some child friendly institutions in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for their improved child welfare services.

    Sponsor a Child is a charity group for children.

    Among those recognised were the University of Lagos Social Work students; SOS children’s Village Isolo, Lagos State; Compassionate Orphanage Lagos State, Heritage Homes Lagos State; Nigerian Red Cross Society Lagos  State; Children ps Homes Idi Araba Lagos State; Motherless Babies Homes Lekki Lagos State and Samuel Francis Private School Lagos State, among others.

    Temitope Denton was the Master of the Ceremony.

    A documentary on ‘Good home’ was shown for about 20 minutes to guests payed attention.

    A Child Rights Lawyer, Mrs Folashade Adetiba spoke on: “Protection of the  rights/welfare of the child and the family court”.

    She congratulated the coordinator of the programme, describing the initiative as fantastic.

    She said the child right law defines a new child protective system and allows opportunity for the particitipation of children in matters that concern their rights and welfare.

    “The law covers every subject that involves the welfare of a child, including adoption, fostering, taking into protective custody and creation of special units within the police force to take care of welfare of children among others.

    She said a  child has unfettered opportunity to approach  the family court to enforce his rights under the Child Rigths Law adnf the court is empowered to appoint a legal practitioner to represent the best interest of the child where it deems it fit to do so.

    Presentation of awards and certificate followed.

    Secretary, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Dr Gabriel Oyediji lamented that lack of grants is a major challenge to Orphanage Homes. He therefore called on the government to look into this so that Homes would not close down in the nearest future.

    Coordinator, Spomsor a Child, Olatoun Williams, said the institutions were awarded and recognised for their compliance to guidelines and also the quality of their care services as verified by our evaluators.

    “Sponsor a Child is a child right based institution that support institutions, through training. We teach them what to do to improve their services, develop libraries, playground and donate sanitation facilities to them among others.”

    She said Good Home scheme is about reaching the institutions on how to implement their right, measuring the quality of their services,writing reports and also know how to formulate recommendations.

    “We also encourage institutions to reward their staff when they do well because it motivates them and that is why we are having this award ceremony to motivate institutions doing well and to motivate the others so that they can get recognition for performance reward,” she said.

     

  • MMIA: Not yet corruption free

    MMIA: Not yet corruption free

    Last December, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) launched what was labeled a cleansing exercise in the aviation sector. It was specifically designed to minimise, if not totally stamp out corrupt practices at our international airports. On December 16, 2014, I jetted out aboard United Airline through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Lagos to George Bush International Airport in Houston, United States of America (USA).

    I arrived at MMA in good time to check in. For the first time in the many years that I have been passing through border point, I witnessed a 60percent free flow of travellers through different immigration desks. It was a remarkable improvement on what used to be. Though the menace of touts was still there, as I could smell and feel them right from the entrance up to the departure lounge; I was welcomed by two urchins begging to assist me with my light luggage. I quietly declined. Even at that, they still pursued me to the security checking point begging for a token from me.

    Walking through immigration after my luggage was okayed without any official pestering me with the usual plea: ‘Sir, anything for the boys?’ That kept me wondering   whether the ICPC/FMA partnership to sanitise our international airports had started yielding dividends.

    My curiosity made me ask one of the officials at the final departure point why I was not pestered with demands for tip. He smiled and said: “Our Director-General met us yesterday and told us about the ICPC/FMA war against corruption at the airports and that whoever is caught demanding bribe or tip risks going to jail.” He then added a caveat: “I hope this is not just a one-off thing. It happened like this before during Madam Chikwe’s era as the Minister of Aviation, and that order never lasted than three months.

    However, whatever sense of pride I was feeling at those points vanished with an encounter I had at the United Airlines’ final check point leading to boarding gate where an officer without a name tag frisked me. As he began, he looked at me and started a conversation in a low tone.

    “I saw you when you came into the airport; a lady was carrying your bag,” he began. I had to look back to be sure I was the one he was talking to because only my driver came with me to the airport. I told him sharply that I was not the person. But he was not deterred. He said: “Baba, we are at your service O! Anything for me?’ I just looked at him, smiled, and then, walked briskly into the bowel of the brand new Dreamliner.

    Moments later, the big bird slid out of the hangar, and hit the tarmac, to begin the 13-hour non-stop flight to George Bush International Airport, Houston. It was the smoothest flight I have ever had. We landed in the wee hours of December 17, and walked into the calm and cool bosom of the magnificent airport. There was no noise. There was ethereal peace as travelers passed through Immigration points without molestation. It took me only 10 minutes to complete the arrival procedures. There were no touts nor any official pestering you with “wetin you carry”.

    After spending a week in Houston, I moved to Silicon Valley in San Jose. Again, like in Houston, there were no delays. Everything was done with computerised precision. The little delay we experienced, and which everybody understood came through the strict security checks travelers were subjected to. It was understandable. The fear of terrorists has become the beginning of wisdom for all countries all over the world.

    My return journey from Silicon Valley, through San Jose Airport, was less stressful as my luggage was checked and routed straight to Lagos through George Bush International Airport in Houston. The three-hour flight to San Jose to connect my flight in Houston for my journey back home was flawless. There was no security check again at George Bush Airport, as this had been done at San Jose Airport. I took notice of how Internet Technology had taken over virtually all transactions for air travels. You cannot see anyone loitering around you, pretending to want to assist you in whatever name. There were free trolleys to move my luggage.

    Coming back home, I had expected things to be better. Sadly, it was the same confusion. As I disembarked from the bowel of United Airline Dreamliner that ferried over 200 passengers to Lagos, a gust of harmattan haze blew me in the face. How I wished the harmattan would have saturated the Murtala International Airport terminal building because most of the air conditioners had either packed up or were working far below their optimum capacity.

    But I noticed a remarkable improvement in the immigration formalities for passengers. My clearance formalities were done in less than ten minutes. But to foul my mood, I had to wait endlessly to collect my luggage at baggage claim. First, most of us were forced to pay N200 per trolley that had a price tag of N150.00. The lady issuing the ticket feigned not havingN50 change. I understand it is worse in Abuja airport where passengers have to pay N400 for a trolley. United Aircraft landed 4.45p.m., Nigerian time, but most passengers, including myself, did not get their luggage until two and a half hours later. This delay should earn Nigeria a place in the Guinness Book of Records as one destination where a passenger spends the longest time waiting for his luggage.

    Whatever one went through at the arrival hall was nothing compared to the hell outside. As soon as you stepped out of the terminal building, touts swooped on you like ants do over honey. A cacophony of voices welcomed you, offering one service or another. “Oga, we are registered. You can trust us with luggage is safe,” one solicited. “I have taxi at affordable price,” another said. “My car is good. It is a Camry.”

    Money changers became serious pests as they thrust wads of naira notes at your face, begging you to come and change “Dollars. Pounds Sterling.” I asked one of them whether the ban on touts and touting imposed by the Minister of Aviation few weeks ago had been repealed. He replied with a wry smile: “Even if heaven falls, nothing can remove touts from this airport. This is where we get our daily bread. Nobody can remove us.” I couldn’t help but wonder whether sanity would ever prevail at this very important gateway to Nigeria.

    United Airline is in business in Nigeria. The way Nigerians are migrating to the United States is making the airline to bloom. It now operates two flights one to Houston and the other to Atlanta. This is not to talk of other airlines like Delta and our own Arik ferrying passengers to the USA on a regular basis. You may wonder why this rush out of the country and why most of these Nigerians are taking American citizenship. My guess is that they are running away from Nigeria for greener pasture in the USA because of the worsening state of the economy. However, not all that glisters that is gold! The economy in the USA is even worse than what most Nigerians would have imagined. It’s even worse for those migrating without sound education. Such people would simply be moving into second slavery. My prayers are for the leadership of our country to improve the welfare of the downtrodden so they could stay at home and enjoy the opportunities offered by their fatherland.

    A word for United Airline cabin crew

    They should show some respect for their passengers. A situation where cabin crew members spill water and drinks on passengers is horrifying. I was a victim. And I think that is not dignifying. However, I enjoyed flying in their brand new Dreamliner. The big bird could tempt you to always burn the kilometres. The brand new aircraft has one simple alluring feature. It has no window blinds. Instead, it has a blue screen that keeps the inside serene.

    On December 22, 2014, my in-law, Pastor Gbenga Oso, who resides in Houston, drove me and my cousin, Gbolabo, his wife, and their two lovely daughters to the National Aeronautics and Space Centre in the city. The Centre, established 56 years ago, is an aerospace research and development facility for missions to space.

    The Centre, open to the public, is one of the money-spinning tourist centres dotting America. In 2014, the centre won the Best Tourist Centre of the year. People’s curiosity about why and how the USA ventured into space is answered by a number of questions, namely: how does the universe work? How did we get here? Are we alone? It takes about one hour for tourists to move around the complex in an arranged motorised cabin. Intermittently, tourists are allowed to visit some of the laboratories where astronauts are prepared for space travels, and conduct research into what they found in space. The visit was an eye opener as to how the US has navigated a total of 168 missions into space.

    NASA, according to Wikipedia, has conducted many manned and unmanned space flight programmes throughout its history. The unmanned programme launched the first American artificial satellites into earth orbit for scientific and communication purposes. The United States won the space race with the Soviet Union by landing 12 men on the moon between1969 and 1972 in the Apollo programmes. To date, NASA has launched a total of 166 manned space missions. One could not but recall some of the accidents that nearly scuttled the programmes. The two space exploration shuttle orbiters had14 astronauts that lost their lives – the Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.

    The Space shuttle, according to Wikipedia had 135 missions before it was suspended on July 21,2011, with the successful landing in space of Shuttle Atlantis. In all, the programmes spanned 30 years with over 300 astronauts sent into space.