The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Honours for the legend

    Honours for the legend

    Nigeria’s image takes a leap today as the University of London bestow the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) on legal luminary, educationist and philanthropist, Chief Afe Babalola  during its 2015 graduation ceremony at the Barbican Centre, London.

    Chief Babalola, arguably this country’s most erudite legal practitioner, is the first African to be so honored by the university with a doctorate degree in Law after the iconic Nelson Mandela (Doctor of Science, Economics) in 1996 and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Doctor of Divinity) 2008. Predictably, eminent Nigerians have reacted profusely on what they regard as a silver lining in the country’s cloud of adversities and contradictions.

    Chief Wole Olanipekun, a senior advocate, described the award as recognition of Aare Babalola’s “contributions and undiminished input to humanity, particularly the legal profession in Nigeria”. In his estimation, the honor is “a departure from the depressing and discomforting news oozing out of Nigeria in very recent times; the proverbial sweetness that emerges at the dusk of the bitter leaf.”

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, a senior advocate, regards the award as the recognition of Chief Babalola’s “outstanding achievements and meritorious service to humanity”, even as he promised to attend the conferment ceremony today.

    Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko believes that the university was persuaded by “those sterling qualities – those strides on the sands of time and those impactful contributions to legal education and the world of knowledge” recorded by the Octogenarian.

    Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, said the award is an honor long deserved by reason of the recipient’s contribution to the development of the Law. “The input has no match not only in Nigeria but also anywhere in the world. It is a merit well deserved in view of the outstanding achievements which admittedly is an unparalleled and exceptional service to Nigeria and mankind,” he wrote in a letter.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, who is attending the London event, described the award as recognition of Chief Babalola’s ‘eminence and distinction’. In an effusive oration, the royal father wrote: “Aare, you remain an African of honor and distinction, a rare breed and a first class achiever. Your long list of achievements and philanthropy is legendary, quite commendable and worthy of emulation by all well meaning African leaders.”

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, eulogized Chief Babalola’s erudition as a lawyer, and described the award as a “prestigious honor”. The retired jurist wrote: “I am in a position to adjudge you as a very outstanding legal luminary and a colossus in legal matters. Your over-half a century legal practice has been very eventful, noteworthy and commendable.”

    Ohinoyi Ebira, Dr.  Ado Ibrahim Atta 111, described Chief Babalola as a Nigerian who has been laboring selflessly for social, educational and economic well being of today, and has planted a growing institutional Iroko for Nigeria’s tomorrow, thereby establishing fame and virtue universally.”

    For more than five decades, Aare Afe Babalola has dedicated himself to hard work; more hard work with a determination to succeed and excel. Now a grand old man at 84, he personifies a rare role model deep in self- discipline; one who brims with passion, the pursuit of excellence and a commitment to give back to humanity.

    The legal luminary, unarguably one of the finest in this clime, has left an indelible mark on legal education and practice. He has made huge fortunes legitimately, but he has chosen to stake all his earnings and work himself to near frenzy, striving to leave a legacy for humanity. And when many expect his energy to wane, the legendary Afe seems unwilling to slow down.

    The Vice Chancellor, University of London, Sir Adrian Smith, responding to a mail said: “We are indeed delighted that Chief Afe Babalola will be accepting the honorary degree from the University of London because he has an exceptional record in both his personal achievements and in the difference he has made to others, particularly in the legal profession in Nigeria.”

    Undoubtedly, Aare Babalola made his name and fortune from legal practice; but visit Ado-Ekiti to see the breath-taking strides of one individual who by sheer determination has become a colossus recognised at home and abroad. A fitting testimony to his industry and diligence is the sprawling university built on 130 hectares.

    The Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, was constructed within eight months. It admitted its pioneer students, 240 of them, in January 2010. Now there are 6,200 students.

    Quite imposing, fully air-conditioned with state-of-art facilities, the university has residence for all students and teachers. Presently, there are five college buildings equipped with modern teaching facilities including e-learning platform, electronic boards, virtual library and ICT centre with 3,000 desktop computers, all connected to the internet. ABUAD recently commenced post-graduate programmes.

    What is the secret for this fast pace of development? The answer is deeply rooted in the persona and vision of its founder.

    After obtaining the primary six school certificate, Aare Afe Babalola never had the benefit of attending an institution of higher learning. By private study he went ahead to earn two degrees in Economics and Law, both from the University of London. At various times he was a pupil teacher, a secondary school teacher, vice principal, university lecturer and administrator. His record at the University of Lagos will remain indelible. As pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council between 2002 and 2007, Chief Babalola returned UNILAG to the part of sanity.

    Aare Babalola is a man with a passion for excellence, humanitarian services, generosity and dedication to service. He is a philanthropist and a revered legal icon; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Doctor of Letters, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Commander of the Order of Niger, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, former Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Winner of the best Pro-Chancellor award in 2005 and 2006, Winner of Queen Victoria Commemorative Award, Socrates Award of European Business Assembly in Oxford, UK and member of Rector of Europe.

    In his autobiography, Impossibility Made Possible, Aare Babalola describes himself as a self-made man who “is proud of the qualitative primary education” he had.

    He is convinced that it was the high quality of instructions he received at the primary school that laid the foundation for his educational achievements. He is unhappy that such quality of education is rare in most Nigerian schools today.

    To quote the legal icon, “this development and my experience of dwindling qualities on standard of education in University of Lagos provided the urgent need to establish a first class university to serve as a benchmark for other universities.”

    In fulfillment of the humanitarian philosophy of its founder, no fewer than 250 students of ABUAD are presently enjoying some form of bursary at the institution. All indigent and very brilliant students are eligible for this rare gesture from a man who appreciates the value of education. Besides awarding full scholarship to brilliant students, loans and bursaries are available for the less-privileged and physically challenged students.

    For seven years from 2000, Aare Babalola was pro-chancellor at the University of Lagos. In 2005 and 2006 he was named the best pro-chancellor by the Federal Government, which, in a white paper issued in 2003 on the Visitation Panel to UNILAG, said, inter alia: “His leadership style was exemplary. The leadership style of his council was characterized by optimum time and resources utilization and a good team system”.

    Throughout his tenure at UNILAG, Chief Babalola paid his hotel bills and donated his sitting allowances to the university endowment fund. He donated a 500-seater lecture theater to the institution and established a robust endowment scholarship system for indigent students.

    In the words of Chief Olanipekun, Aare Afe Babalola is indeed “a prophet inundated with honors at home and showered with encomiums and recognition abroad.” The  rare Man for All Seasons.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Harvest of honours for Aare Afe Babalola

    Harvest of honours for Aare Afe Babalola

    The University of London will today confer on Aare Afe Babalola the L.L.D degree (Honoris Causa). In this tribute AYO FAJANA writes on the legal icon’s contributions to the profession

    The erudite Nigerian Lawyer, Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti; Aare Afe Babalola OFR, CON, LLD, SAN ,FNIALS, FCIArb and recipient of several other Awards, Garlands, Chieftaincies and Accolades including Queen Victoria Commemorative Medal Award, Oxford UK, 2007 shall again at Barbican Centre in London be conferred the LL.D Degree Honoris Causa of the prestigious University of London in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and numerous humanitarian programs on Education.

    Camera Laye’s L’Enfant Noir once paraphrased; – “The song of the harvesters transforms the atmosphere of work into an organized ritual ceremony marking the end of one season and the beginning of another.” The 11th of March, 2015 begins another season of harvest of Awards for the self-made Babalola, indeed the proposed academic ceremony, unique in the 179 years history of the University of London as the recipient will be the first African to be conferred with LL.D degree of the University. Reacting to the letter of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adrian Smith of the London University expressing the interest of the university to confer Doctorate degree, the elated Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose law practice span over fifty two years said ;”He believes that the award was in large measures due to the unprecedented and monumental educational landmarks achieved by his five years old University”.

    There is an imprint of the invisible creator in the affairs of the Octogenarian Chief Emmanuel Afe Babalola. At every opportunity I decipher his wit, grace and candour and particularly his unerring grit that encouraged the best impulse of all. His faith in Christ, wisdom of age, courage of hope, blend of fantasy, and nobility of spirit has made him One man special Olympics towering above his contemporary elders statesmen and to the unique affection kindled in the heart of millions admirers across the globe. Spit- and -polish product of the old Emmanuel School Ado-Ekiti, neither smokes nor involve in hard drinks as he continually keeps his 5 ft. plus frame, trim at about 70kg. Indeed he is bewitchingly strong, healthy with zero tolerance to indiscipline.

    Law remains the source of Afe Babalola’s fame; the reason largely for his alienation by some political class. He is a man of complex locution tainted with the philosophy of the late American President J.F Kennedy on Nigerian politics; “men who create power make an indispensable contribution of the Nation’s greatness but those men who question power make contributions just as indispensable, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us”. Babalola believes that unless those who govern the nation are imbued with the spirit of service and honesty of purpose, there could be little hope of surmounting the difficulties of this nation. Hence, his democratic rhetoric was not a mere verbiage aimed as an outer façade for deep seated partisanship as once described in certain quarters.

    Besides his legal forays, the density and immensity of his vision for the fastest growing private University in Africa; Afe Babalola University is perhaps the major thing that trade – marks him beyond silk and gown. His rich experience as the best Pro-chancellor of Nigerian Universities in 2003 & 2005 and thereafter the Chairman committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Universities 2005 to 2007 brought to bear with ruthless efficiency in the management of his new University. Professor M.L Goodheer of the European Business Assembly found Afe Babalola University as ‘a model which have not been seen anywhere”. True to this the University was established in 2008 at a pristine forest in Ado-Ekiti and today ranks as a world class Educational Centre of Excellence with a philosophy to lead by example.

    Prof. Adrian Smith obtained exoneration from the fell swoop indictment that “could anything good come out of Nazareth?. Ostensibly, it is an unsavory propensity of human to often brush off accomplishments. The University of London confers honorary degrees on individuals irrespective of race and color, those that had met some identified requirements of being persons of conspicuous merits and outstanding in their fields, command international recognitions by given exceptional services to their communities and those that have made important contributions to the London University. Indeed Babalola met those prerequisites and has brought honors’ to Africa.

    Tanto Nomini Nullum Par Elogium; of this great man, no praise is adequate. Nigerians at home and abroad amplified the thunderous encomium been deservedly showered on Chief Afe Babalola and proudly enthused that he is a visionary Nigerian, un-spoilt with pelf of slivery heritage but taught to toil in a world disillusioned with hazy views from slippery stage. He transforms the sands of time , firmly stand and stir while he plan far and near. He is a champion of the cause of Ekiti people and has never relented in that direction, in fact he becomes a rallying point and an enviable reference for the past three decades. He actually facilitated the establishment of the Federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti in 1981 and worked tirelessly for the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.

    Chief Afe Babalola was an alumnus and a beneficiary of the opportunity offered by the University of London as external candidate. He obtained Bachelors degree of the University in Economics in September 1959 and the inter-LL.B in 1960 through private studies. Indeed he is today a maker of history and worthy ambassador of this institution and I say floreat collegiums.

    Considering his brilliance and unprecedented achievements in the Bar the Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR once found him in his letter dated June 17, 2008. He wrote; “indeed the legendary battles you had fought in the court room have led to the creation of many Judicial Precedents and landmark decisions, in addition, you are greatly admired and respected for your strong, compassionate spirit and philanthropist activities in this nation. Babalola is unprecedentedly the 1st African to receive the honorary LL.D degree of London University, although in humanities were the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, honored with doctorate degree in Economics in 1996, and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu who was also conferred with honorary degree in Divinity on 2nd Dec. 2008.Others among the list of famous honoris of the university were the celebrated statesman, war hero, distinguished Author and politician; Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill as well as the famous poets and writers. T.S Elliot and Henry Moore.

    With his long years of reputation and allurement in all spheres of life, Aare still persistently work hard, as a farmer he has the largest tree crop holdings in Nigeria, he keep straight, believing that when wealth is lost nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost, and when character is lost all is lost. He probably took his strength from one of the planks of Ecclesiastes 9 verse 5 “for the living knows they shall die, but the dead knows not anything neither have they anymore a reward”. Age is a matter of mind to Chief as he does not mind, it doesn’t matter. His door is always ajar to all and sundry for good and ill requests and no matter the ingenuity, such attention would attract a take home stipend. while extended family became extended to infinity as it is almost impossible to differentiate between the biological members and those who suddenly became one. Indeed Aare has achieved a Tripos tripus as a man of erudition indisputably. He is a committed patriot with testimony of eternal essence of a good character and criteria of an eventful existence. Congratulations to a frontline legal icon, intellectual avatar and educationist for yet another harvest of honours.

     

  • Abugu offers double for the law

    Former Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Odein Ajumogobia has described two books by Prof Joseph Abugu as very important and timely additions to collections of books on corporate laws in the country. He said the books will help Nigerians navigate the complex subject as Nigeria enters an important stage of political development.

    He spoke at the public presentation of the two books: Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria and Company Securities: Law and Practice written by Prof Abugu at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos last week. Ajumogobia commended Prof Abugu for the efforts saying: “I don’t know how he combines teaching at the university with writing books.”

    Lagos State Attorney-General Mr. Ade Ipaye, who represented Lagos State governor, Babtunde Raji Fashola presented the books describing them as additional contributions to critical area of the nation’s economy. “These are giant strides that culminated into two books, which we are today presenting to the public. This is also the essence of a university-teaching and research,” Ipaye said.

    Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria is designed to provide in-depth theoretical and practical insight of the subject to the law researcher either as a student or practitioner. To judicial officers, it offers a rich resource material expounding the subject and providing an analytical perspective from an academic.

    For Company Securities: Law and Practice, which is a second edition it is designed to further deepen available literature on securities law and strengthen the case for its inclusion in the course curricula of the universities.

    Among guests in attendance were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics and Research) University of Lagos, Prof Jide Alo; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services) University of Lagos, Prof Duro Oni; Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe; Prof Aghomon; Matthew Karienren and the reviewers of the books, Dr. A.A Olawoyin and Mr. Val Uche Obi.

     

  • Title: River people (Short story)

    Written in first person narrative, the short story was set in a village called Obir in Port Harcourt, South-South of Nigeria. (The writer’s maternal village).

    The writer focuses on the time of his life from the early 90’s to the year 2000; during this period the British had built gigantic oil refineries in the Niger Delta but the people were impoverished and their youths were not employed in the companies, yet the community suffered oil spill.

    He described his mother’s village as more civilised than his father’s. According to the writer, just like his father’s village he imagined his mother’s village to be characterised by “rustic setting where children played hide and seek with relish; where they frolicked in the sand and listened to moonlight tales of Tortoise, the antagonist of lore. I dreamt of a place where elderly men made merry with companions as palm wine flowed from calabashes to enthusiastic throats in front of huts roofed with bamboo and raffia. And I envisioned maidens with lithe limbs returning from the farm or marked with trays of ukwa and ogiri balanced on their heads.”

    But when he got there to spend his holidays as his father had travelled to England to study, he discovered his mother’s village had big structures of oil refinery and a maze of oil pipelines.

    In irony, the writer showed that even with the difference, appearance of the villages, the people of his father’s village were happier as they didn’t suffer oil spill or lived in abject poverty.

    Ogochukwukamma (The writer) soon settled in his mother’s village and had a friend called Sangha who showed and took him everywhere.

    The writer showed he was an intelligent child when he mentioned that he was only nine and read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from his mama’s library, and Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s Weep Not Child and many other African books even though they were just to overcome the sultry tiring days.

    He expressed this when he stated that his mama was surprised that he could read the books at that age.

    In the beginning of the story he said ‘Tuesday died on Thursday’ but didn’t explain who Tuesday was until he and Sangha were coming from the River Pama, they arrived at a field crossed by an oil pipeline, Sangha asked him to wait then went to defecate. A man materialised from nowhere and Ogochukwukamma froze.

    He described the man as looking grim, “his eyes were jaundiced, the colour of sunset. Fear gripped me and my heart beat faster. The man was huge and dark in complexion. When he said, ‘how are you?’ his voice appeared to come through a loud speaker. A lump in my throat stifled the reply forming in my mouth. ‘What are you doing here, he said with greater, if intended menace.”

    He continued: “Trembling I let go of the fish. ‘Are u waiting for somebody?’ No, yes, I said as I stopped to pick the sand-ridden fish. When he walked past me with a cutlass in his hand onto the path we had just left, I watched him from the corner of my eyes to make sure he didn’t swing at my neck with the double-edged machete that looked more like a sword.”

    Sangha revealed the man’s identity to be Tuesday, popularly called old soldier because he was a former soldier.

    Sangha further explained that Tuesday owned the fish pond near where he defecated, how many people are afraid of him and how he is fearless of even the British. “He told us that one day he would chase all those oil companies away if they were not willing to employ our youths in their companies, Sangha told Ogochukwukamma.”

    When he got home he was told by his mama that his holiday has been extended due to an indefinite strike by teachers.

    Ogochukwukamma didn’t bother about the strike or any other thing but instead in his child’s mind, he imagined how strong old soldier is and how he can single-handedly chase all the company owners away if they refuse to employ their youths. He imagined that old soldier would go to them and say: “Come I am sick and tired of all your troubles in our land. Now, pack your things and go!”

    He also imagined that old soldier would gather all the companies and their machinery into one gigantic wheel-barrow, the size of an ocean liner, and, with muscles bulging and veins bursting, push them off the land.

    The next morning, news of an oil rupture and fast spreading oil spill went round the community. Mama’s cassava farmland was covered in oil and many others experienced worst in their farms and fish ponds including old soldier. The writer described the surface of the river as glistered with greasy liquid.

    Old soldier reacted by leaving the village for days, he only returned back with a group of young men who had gone to get guns to confront soldiers guarding an oil company called Schell and its workers. The soldiers overpowered them, the boys escaped into the river and fled in a boat. Tuesday didn’t, he stayed back and fired until he ran out of ammunition and he was killed in the process.

    The federal government placed a curfew and fear gripped the people. The fear only dissipated when a young man Mark who returned from Michigan State University, United States of America came home and started holding meetings with the elders and youth.

    Mark told them that there are other ways of letting their voices heard apart armed resistance. He taught them to protest instead which they used to let the government hear their voices. He did not just inspire and lead them, he also presented the case before the United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the European Community.

    They soon gave attention to the community and provided scholarship for the children including Sangha.

    The writer ends the story on the morning of January 1, 2000 with everyone happy including Sangha.

    End

  • Advocating for peace through performance

    Advocating for peace through performance

    Jelili Atiku, an international renowned Nigerian multimedia artist organised a performance titled Kill Not this Country (Manifesto II) against the actions of Boko Haram. It was held recently in Ejigbo, Lagos state.

    The performance was based on the activities of Boko Haram.  Since 2009, Boko Haram, a terrorist group that has been creating horror, terror and amplified-pervasive fears of protracted violence by bombing, maiming, killing and abducting ordinary citizens of the country.

    This terrifying group which have claimed  numerous lives and injuries, paralysis and chronic pains, emotional distress and acute stress, fright and dread, horror and panic, anxiety, anger, and have created so much panicking in the act of Nigerian citizens.

    The event was pungent in a way as Jelili queried the rationale behind the Boko Haram insurgency. By using imageries such as gas-mask, compilation of letters to Boko Haram, cart filled with skulls and others visual forms Jelili created “body image accounts” of the ugly experience which Nigerians are currently undergoing.

    Through drawing, installation sculpture, photography, video and performance (live art); he strives to help viewers understand the world and expanding their understanding and experiences, so that they can activate and renew their lives and environments.

    Prior to the enactment of the performance, Jelili Atiku requested for participation of the public all over the world through sending a personal letter address to the members of Boko Haram imploring them to stop the killings, the maiming and the terrorization of the people.  He also asked people for plastic skulls in order to indicate lives that have lost for no reasons, which real make the performance look more realistic to the audience.

    One of the outstanding achievements of the performance was the pushing of the skull-cart with inscription Show Me Boko Haram on the streets of Ejigbo and distributing the letters to Boko Haram booklet.

    There was no doubt that the performance was a campaign against the obnoxious actions of Boko Haram; and it became ‘bodily knowledge’ by which the people (audience)” become aware and possess an immediate knowledge of the realities of Boko Haram. Thus, there was a kind of involuntary and receptive anticipatory mobilisation of the body in relation to the action of Boko Haram.

     

  • How to make marriage work 

    The 21-chapter book by Olayinka Ogunmekan is a well researched work on wedding and marriages. It addresses among others fundamental issues in marriage such as life during marriage, meaning and types of marriage, weddings dos and don’ts and how to keep a marriage. It also includes illustrations on sexual positions and many other things that one must know about marriages and weddings.

    In Chapter one, the writer defines marriage, and types of marriage where he mentioned marriage because of children, for pregnancy, based on material gain, arranged marriage, unconditional marriage. In all these he said the best is unconditional because others end drastically except unconditional.

    According to him, unconditional marriage is the one ordained by God, based on genuine love, understanding and fairness, but all the marriages have their advantages and disadvantages.

    “There is none that is full of proof as any of them could break up if the couple do not know how to handle bad situations. A successful marriage is not the one where the couple is happy with themselves when things are good, but when things are not very normal and when things are down,” it stated.

    Chapter two talks about the road to marriage, which starts with introduction and ends with actual wedding. In this chapter he tried to point out changes and inventions that have been made and introduced to the African wedding of today and advised that people go back to the old ways of doing things.

    Chapter four explains that God and not the husband, is the head of the family while the husband and wife are students in the college of marriage. “If couples have this at the back of their minds they will tolerate themselves more and have less friction,” the writer said.

    He advised that the foundation of marriage is very important and before a couple ties the knot one of them must ensure that one of the spouses has somebody he or she looks up to in case all internal entreaties fail as nobody is perfect and people can change.

    He explained problems that can come up in marriages and ways to correct them. He also advised that people should not allow infatuations becloud their sense of judgment on who to marry.

    Still in chapter four the writer stated that people have a choice of who to marry. “Black or light complexioned, tall, average or short, an introvert or extrovert, well-kept or carefree, flashy, reserved or just calm, number of children, where and how to live, the type of work to do and whether both of you should work.”

    According to the writer these are very important things to ponder before marriage.

    On how to keep a marriage, the writer suggested that one should be able to manage conflicts that may crop up occasionally. “Talk to your spouse with some respect, and always be willing to look at the ugly situations very well before you pass comments and judgments. Do not continue to give excuses when you are accused or a wrong is pointed out to you. Never be ashamed to admit your fault. Talk courteously and try to look for ways and means to resolve issues instead of looking for how to punish or set trap for your spouse.”

    The book mentioned that spouses should try to look good always and call themselves pet names. Chapter seven focuses on tolerance where it described tolerance is one major thing in a successful marriage. It stated though there is always a limit to the tolerance level of any human being, in marriage there should not be any limit. If people want their marriages to stand the test of time and last forever, there are some secrets that should remain secrets.

    “This is not to encourage deceit, but to advise that there are some past mistakes that were innocently done and would never be repeated as they could damage the trust between the couple.

    “For example, does it make sense for a lady to start counting the number of boyfriends she had before the marriage in the name of honesty. Another mistake ladies make is getting home to tell their husbands who and who made advances at them while at work of when they go to parties with friends,” it stated.

    Chapter 10 is on security feeling, while 11 dwells on sexual life. The writer identified sexual life as one major reasons for the success or failure of a marriage. He said sex is very important in marriage and disagreed with people who say there have substitute for sex in marriage.

    According to the book, the usual position is for the man to do all the work in a ‘deem-light’ or no-light at all in the room, but now it is bare and in some cases the wife does more of the job than the ‘lazy man.’ It gives other reasons why sex is good for couples, the dos and don’ts of sex life of a couple and gave an illustration of sex positions on page 63 of the book.

    The writer advises in chapter 12 that couples should show love to each other. The chapter focuses more on men as the writer tells them not to beat up their wives, take them out more often, buy them gifts during their birthdays while the next chapter advises that couple should make it a point of duty to sleep on the same bed every night even though they have different rooms.

    Chapter 14 is on relationship with in-laws. It states that women are very poor when it comes to relating with in-laws. It explains that: “In the Nigerian environment, a wife is always wrongly looked upon as being junior or at times inferior to members of the husband’s family. “To get their support, you have to play along with them. As the wife, you must persevere and win them to your side.”

    Chapter 15 talks about polygamy, reasons for polygamy, influence on the children and advises that a lot of wisdom is needed to succeed in a polygamous home in modern times. The next chapter is on polyandry. Chapter 17 is on the children. It explains that children can make or mar a marriage. “Do not over pamper your children and do not give then their future too soon,” it stated. In the next chapter we are made to understand that our housemaid, driver or artisan can play a major role in our marital life. “I must tell you they play a lot and might even wreck the marriage and take over if you underrate them,” the writer stated.

    Chapter 19 is on divorce, which the writer says is the worst situation in any marriage. The next is on Wills where the writer says people should not create a problem for others after their death through their will by sharing their property unjustly.

    The last chapter is on family prayers where the writer says the husband and wife should pray together on non-working days so that they will have enough time to pray together.

    The remaining 40 pages contain prayer messages. The book is ideal for those preparing for marriage and those already married who need to understand some things in their marriage life.  In chapter nine, “mistake done” was used instead of made. Another is “number of boyfriends she had gone out with,” instead of dated. Also in the same chapter “who and who made advances “to,” instead of at were few of the errors in the book.

     

  • The call, the passion, the destiny

    Too many people hold on to the past and allow the negative experiences of the past define their present and future. This should not be. Where you are coming from should not in any way determine where you going.

    In his book THE CALL; THE PASSION; THE DESTINY, Abiodun Mabadeje helps you understand that the success you desire to attain is predicated on how you move from your present state into the future you desire, irrespective of the circumstances of your past. If you desire to move forward, you cannot keep looking back into your ‘unfortunate past’.

    Life is full of challenges. The road is never smooth for anyone and running away from challenges will not solve them. Many dwell only on what they have gone through in life, unable to look beyond their past or present circumstances. To succeed, you have to confront and overcome your circumstances. You must not allow fear and pessimism hold you back.

    One very fundamental point the book explains in the detail, which many people are ignorant of, is the Law of Attraction. To succeed, you have to align yourself with the reality of the Law of Attraction. This Law states that “I attract into my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative.”

    This raises questions which you must answer: What do you give your attention to? What do you focus on? What do you expend our energy on? When you fill your mind with negative thoughts, the Law of Attraction states that you will simply get more of the same. It is time for you to think deeply so as to determine whether the challenges you currently face are self-afflicted as a result of attraction or by reason of your thoughts.

    In Chapter Two, the author raises another critical question: Who are you? This is a question of identity. It is one you must answer, because if you do not know who you are, you will not know what you are about or why you are here.

    If you cannot answer this question, you will have the problem of misplaced identity. Many people are trying to be who they are not – they talk, walk and even dress like someone else. Knowing who you are helps you function as you should; living your own life and not someone else’s.

    You must note that to truly identify who you are you must go back to your source, the One who created you – God Almighty – because you were created not by accident but to fulfill destiny. He has the blueprint of your life.

    As the author clearly states, you MUST have a vision: a comprehensive sense of who you are and where you are going. Anyone without a vision does not have a future. Your vision might seem gigantic and your challenges insurmountable. However, keep the Law of Attraction in mind, envisage the future you want, forget the past and project into the future.

    Everyone is called to do something or be something. What are YOU called to do or be? It is time to step out and be bold, bearing in mind the Law of Cause and Effect; that actions determine reactions and input determines output.

    Get out of the “Good Old Days” mentality. To live in the future you dream of, consider the words of Isaac Newton, “Everything (or object, or life) remains in a state of constant rest until an external force is applied”, and do what you need to do right away.

     

     

  • ‘Help me with N4.8m to save my son’

    You can help save the life of 3-year-old Fatai Owolabi who was born like every other normal human being. The mother gave birth to him without complications but problem began to manifest when the mother was discharged from hospital after birth the following day. Since then the situation continues to deteriorate. For the child to live a normal life is dependent on your kind donation to fly him to abroad for special medical treatment according to doctor’s prescription.

    Fatai Owolabi, was diagnosed of Cerebral Palsy at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and requires about N4.8million to be flown to an Indian hospital for special medical treatment

    His father, Sulaimon Owolabi who made this information available to The Nation narrated that the child could neither talk, sit down nor stand up; he only rolls on the bed, floor or ground depending on where he is kept at the time. And again, his eyes continue to go up and down every minute of the hour. He does not eat or take breast, though he sometimes takes some fluid.

    Describing the strangeness of the illness, Owolabi said he had gone to many native doctors, spiritualists, churches, men and women of God seeking solution to the problem thinking it was a spiritual matter, “until someone enlightened me that the matter with my child is a medical problem” that was when I took him to (LASUTH).

    The father who is a furniture and carpentry maker said he had spent all the money he had on the boy’s health yet there is no positive result. He said that he has sold his piece of land in order to raise money to secure adequate treatment for the child but all to no avail.

    He lamented: “I cannot even calculate or say exactly how much I have spent on him. I have been on this matter since his birth and I didn’t know it was a medical issue. The problem the boy has is from the brain and the doctor said it is called cerebral palsy and that we need to fly him out for special treatment, and that will cost us N4.8million”, where do I raise this money he cried.

    He is therefore appealing to the Lagos State Government and other good spirited individuals to rally support for him to raise this sum of money to enable him take his son to overseas for treatment

    “I started carrying him up and down for help, some gave us stipend, some did not respond to our request at all. Even the governor of the Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola who saw the boy promised that he will help us, he sent someone to us but the person has not given us any reply up till now, I have been calling the man on phone it was later that the man told me that the governor said that I should take the child to hospital but when they gave me the report of the child to give back to the governor since then I have not set my eyes on the man”, he expressed.

    On how the problem started, Owolabi narrated: “The mother gave birth to him a normal delivery and after about five minutes he cried but when we took him home the following day he could neither cry, take water nor breast, his eyes began to go up. We took him to hospital where he spent about a month and half and when they discharged him to us we felt that the problem was over, but after three months we expected him to respond, but he couldn’t respond to us”.

    “The mother began to get worried but I tried to calm her down urging her to still examine him for some time but after the sixth and seventh months he couldn’t respond even to the call of his name that was when I started looking for solutions

    The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Dr. M A Salisu in a telephone call confirmed that Fatai Owolabi was diagnosed of Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy of moderate severity. In addition, the boy suffers from sensory deficits including visual, hearing and speech impairment.

    In a report presented to The Nation Dr. Salisu said that management of the boy’s condition would be a long-term and would involve the use of medications, rehabilitative procedures and expected inter-current illnesses. It is recommended that he attends the paediatric neurology clinic bimonthly. For donations, please contact Sulaimon Owolabi on 08096596569 or pay in to GTB, Account Number 0140780425.

     

  • THE TRICK OF THE BLACK GOLD

     

    Fierce is the nature beneath.

    Earth dines with the good within.

    Gasoline burns my conscience.

    I gladly grace your presence with my absence.

    Turmoil and flurry conquers good will.

    Refine the produce as we hoped you did.

    Is this a trick to salvage democratic intents.

    Deny us not of our seeded dividends.

    Proper livelihood is void of existence.

    Spiritual viability collides with the impudence.

    A few reductions to coerce the mind.

    A proper insight of what not to imbibe.

    The dance of the masquerade is not necessarily a sign of joy.

    Prosperity is an octave to be voiced.

    We await the magnanimity of the old.

    We say “no” to the trick of the black gold.

     

     

  • How to make millions

    Nations are made by individuals who believe. Mrs. Adenike Obayemi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Her Excellency, a skills development centre in the Ikeja, Lagos State believes in grooming young entrepreneurs.

    She has just published a book, Make The Millions In New Businesses, an exquisite guide specially put together for children and teenagers in junior and senior secondary schools, students and undergraduates in tertiary institutions and universities, and, indeed, all who want to excel in life. The book is a treasure-trove aimed at enabling the reader to acquire the relevant skills, domestic values and the necessary sense of responsibility to make it through life.

    An English Language Education graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Adenike Obayemi is a teacher, master trainer, mentor, motivational speaker and consultant. In Make The Millions In New Businesses, Adenike puts on the front burner her mission to empower and develop the inner potential of children and youths for positive results. She promotes self-employment and entrepreneurial culture in the wider society. On the practical front, there is the pivotal mission to teach the young female children the art and skills of baking, cookery and the production of drinks.

    The booktakes pride of place as it has been discovered that most of the vices and challenges youths are faced with in terms of gross unemployment, under-employment, prostitution, fraudulent practices, idleness, lack of self-esteem, and self-worth are due to the fact they have not been properly exposed to a complete form of education. Obayemi makes case for a child to fit into the present world, saying there is the need to include in the school curriculum handwork and skills acquisition programmes. She stresses that the best time to do this is from the early years in school.

    Written in simple, straightforward language and unique style with a step-by-step procedure which makes it very practical and easy to follow, Make The Millions In New Businesses is designed to help the students and their parents alike. The author knows that the busy lifestyles of the present-age parents have not helped matters for the young children because a lot of the roles the parents are supposed to play have been neglected or completely transferred to the school. She avers that it will therefore be in the best interest of all concerned for the schools to take the bull by the horn and ensure that this aspect of the child’s development is properly addressed. Adenike knows the heart of the matter through direct personal experience because, in the past few years, several parents have during the long vacations brought their children to Her Excellency centre to be trained in cooking and food preparation, cakes and bread making, pastries and beads making. She feels fulfilled that these acquired skills form an addition to their educational qualification, therefore making these children to have an all-round education.

    Make The Millions In New Businesses is meant to serve several purposes such as wealth creation, youth and women empowerment, poverty eradication and skills acquisition in different areas; and “it is not gender biased”. It smacks of ignorance for supposedly educated people to underestimate handworks because they feel it is only meant for the uneducated and school dropouts. The book makes the crucial point that the days of education for white collar jobs are gone.

    It is meet to adopt the words of Akinniyi I. Sowunmi, Leader/CEO of Popeman, Lagos in his Foreword to Make The Millions In New Businesses, to wit: “Since March 27, 1944, when Asa Griggs Candler registered the Coca Cola patent and used his entrepreneurial skills to launch the Coke, a drink originally meant to be patient medicine by its inventor, John Pemberton, into the most valuable global brand available at all nooks and crannies internationally… the challenge is to get fired by the ideas in the book to launch a business bigger than the Coca Cola onto our tables very soon with the guiding designs here provided.”

    With spiraling unemployment, there is no escape for the young Nigerian who does not embrace the step-by-step methods made for practical use in the book. There is the shining example of Tolani who “graduated from one of the best universities in Southwest region of Nigeria” who was frustrated during years of unemployment and under-employment only to eventually become a very successful employer after undergoing training in Cakes Baking and Decoration at Her Excellency Centre.

    Obayemi undertakes a hands-on step-by-step procedure in Make The Millions In New Businesses. One gets to learn how to prepare Small Chops such as Puff Puff, Vegetable Springroll and Asun (Goat Meat Barbeque). Cocktail Drinks like Chapman, Tropical Sunset, Pineapple on the Rocks, and Strawberry Sensation are ready grist to the author’s mill. Nigerian Indigenous Soups, notably Edikang Ikong, Egusi, Efo Riro, Afang, Banga and Oha Soup, are picturesquely featured. The richly illustrated chapters encompass bread making, snacks and pastries, cake baking, and desserts.

    In all, by studying the recipes adroitly set out in Make The Millions In New Businesses and going ahead to practice and master the productions one will definitely be on the success-laden road of starting a fulfilling business that will help move Nigeria forward economically.

    I recommend that Make The Millions In New Businesses be adopted as a textbook for junior and secondary school pupils across all the states of Nigeria.