The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • A town’s rich history

    A town’s rich history

    Book review

    Title: Ago-Iwoye Origin, Growth & City Status. 1510-2010
    Author: Senator Jubril Martin Kuye
    Reviewer: Chief Babatunde Fadun

    Publisher: Crown Venture Publishers

    Ago Iwoye is a remarkable city in Ijebu and Remo parts of Nigeria. What marks it out is not its spatial size or the quantum of its population but the high level of education of its people. They are one of the very first groups in Nigeria to embrace Western education.

    These facts and more are comprehensively and lucidly explained by one of the most distinguished and celebrated sons of Ago Iwoye, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye (JMK) in this 16-Chapter book of 240 pages. Kuye is a two-time minster of the Federal Republic and the Asiwaju of Ago-Iwoye.

    The author is of noble parentage (in Ago-Iwoye) being a grandson of Alase Osikolade Osibule, the first Chairman of Ago-Iwoye Native Court (1911-32) and the Supreme Head of Alawori Community. His father, JG Kuye (1907-1974) was twice elected councillor in colonial Ago-Iwoye Town Council (1940-45) and (1952-55). His mother, Alimat Aderonke Kuye, was a princess of Ijebu-Ode, being a granddaughter of Awujale Fesengbuwa 1790-1819. Kuye is the first indigene of Ago-Iwoye to graduate in Economics Sociology and Politics almost fifty years ago from the University of Ibadan and in 1983 he obtained a Masters Degree from the prestigious Harvard Business School in Economics and Investment. With such a sound academic background, little wonder that the book is written in an academically stimulating style.

    In the first two chapters, the author examines some of the various theories on the origin of the Yoruba and rejected outright that which suggests that Oduduwa was from Mecca.

    He accepts the proposition that the Yoruba emigrated from either the present day Southern Sudan (Egypt) or from somewhere in the Horn of Africa.

    He submits that Ijebu Kingdom had existed in Sudan called Owodaiye (corrupted to WADDAI). North of OWODAIYE was a Yoruba Kingdom of NUBIA also in Southern Sudan. Both Ijebu and Yoruba empires of OWODAIYE and NUBIA were pushed into extinction by Arab imperialism in the Middle East and Sudan about 6B.C.

    The author argued further that the emigration from NUBIA & OWODAIYE to present day Yoruba Land was not in one single movement. The first group to arrive Ile-Ife (from NUBIA) was led by Iwade, centuries before Oduduwa. Hence in classical Yoruba, the word IWASE denotes antiquity e.g Igba Iwase (time immemorial).

    Another proposition considered by the author is that Oduduwa was an indigene of Ife and later became the Supreme Ruler of the territory. Olu-Iwa, probably leading his team of emigrants from Owodaiye reached Ile-Ife, and, with the permission of Oduduwa, settled and farmed there.

    The author states that the two leaders lived together peacefully. When it was clear to Olu-Iwa that Oduduwa had fully established himself as the Supreme Ruler, Olu-Iwa decided to move on in search of a kingdom to rule. But he gave Oduduwa a parting gift-his only daughter, Igborowo, was presented to Oduduwa as wife. Olu-Iwa left with some of his people and eventually settled at Ode-Ijebu (not Ijebu-Ode) as in Ode-Remo, Ode Aiye, Ode-Itsekiri. Thus Olu-Iwa was the first Ruler of Ijebu Ode. Igborowo begat Awujate who later became the third Ruler of Ode Ijebu after ousting Owa-Oshin, the second Ruler.

    The original name of Ago-Iwoye is Orile-Iwoye or Wojaiye and the first Ruler or King is Prince Kehinde Akingbade, with the title Ebumawe. That, the author posits, was around 1515AD. Oba Akingbade was a direct son of Oduduwa. At that time multiple births such as twins or triplets were seen as Evil or harbingers of misfortune and as such the children were instantly killed.

    After the birth of the twins (One body & one girl) their mother was assisted to escape from Oduduwa’s palace and she left with some palace aides and relatives. They settled at a village near Ondo called Idoko where the twins were brought up to maturity.

    The female was named Adebela Taiwo (Osemawe) and the male was Kehinde Akingbade (Ebumawe). The female soon married in Idoko and, having been tutored about her royal status, was installed as the ruler of Ondo Kingdom (Ode Ondo) with the title Osemawe. She advised her twin brother, Kehinde, to move further afield to find a kingdom of his to rule.

    Kehinde left with an entourage that included their mother, Olu-Ojam, who died shortly after they left Idoko at a spot near Ondo. The place was named Ile-Oluji meaning in Ondo dialect the place where Olu-Oja slept and did not wake up.

    Prince Akingbade wandered for several years with his team until they reached Ijebu Forest territory where they met descendants, relatives and servants of the Awujale. Prince Akingbade first settle at Isamuro where three of his close associates died suddenly from Evil Spirits. The Prince decided to stay for a few years to recover from the shock and see how things would turn out, i.e. Wooju Aiye or watch and see.

    The place was later named Wojaiye. Prince Akingbade then moved to Orile Ibipe where the people readily accepted him as their Oba. About 1515AD, Prince Akingbade was installed as the first Ebumawe or Orile-Iwoye or Wojaiye. It is clear from the foregoing that the Ebumawe or Wojaiye or Orile Iwoye is a direct son of Oduduwa and that the first Osemawe of Ode Ondo is a woman (Adewale Taiwo) otherwise known as Pupupu. She reigned from 1510-1529.

    The kingdom of Wojaiye was made up of five communities, with each community having a Head Chief who had allegiance to the Ebumawe. It was a confederal system and it ran smoothly for almost three centuries under seven kings, the last being Ebumawe Adan bi Ide Loorun i.e (One that shines like silver in the sun).

    The peaceful and successful administration of Wojaiye or Orile Iwoye kingdom was suddenly destroyed by the Egba in 1831.

    Having been dislodged from Ibadan by the combined forces of Ijebu, Ife and Oyo, the Egba felt very insecure in their new abode, Abeokuta. This sense of insecurity was heightened by the attacks on them by the Dahomey from the west, Remo on the east and Awori Iganmode from the South. They decided to take the battle to the enemy’s camp under the command of Generalissimo Lisabi.

    Bu unfortunately, they erroneously regarded Orile-Iwoye or Wojaiye kingdom as part of Remo villages that had always attacked Egba settlements.

    The military strategy employed to defeat Orile Iwoye was deceit and it worked effectively. The Egba sent an emissary to Obaruwa of Isamuro that they wanted to pay a courtesy visit to Wojaiye. Obaruwa of Isamuro was elated and instructed his people to prepare a grand reception for the Egba visitors. On the appointed day, Egba soldiers in full battle gear, moved their troops onto the defenceless and unsuspecting Isamuro people and massacred them on a large scale. Instead of receiving visitors, Isamuro received a bloody defeat and humiliation from the Egba. That was the sudden and tragic end of Akingbade’s Wojaiye kingdom in 1831.

    After the humiliating defeat, the five communities of Wojaiye or Orile-Iwoye moved to a new War Camp or Ago with the immediate purpose of planning a revenge attack on the Egba.

    All the five communities of Wojaiye i.e Isamuro, Ibipe, Odosinusi, Imosu and Imere and even Awori and Idode that were not part of Wojaiye’s kingdom teamed up in their new settlement (Ago-Iwoye). The head chief of each community was the Balogun and all of them regarded Balogun Meleki as their leader. Thus Balogun Meleki from Igan Township was the first political and military leader of the New (Republican) Ago-Iwoye.

    The advent of Islam, Christianity and the extension of British colonial rule to Ijebu territory all had a significant impact on the New Ago-Iwoye. The first mission school in Ago-Iwoye is the Wesley Primary School, established in 1893, and the Anglican Mission School followed later. The author, quoting J.O. Ajibola, said school enrolment was poor in the early stages of the schools. On page 109, he said: “Annual enrolment was below 20 for several years. Those who went to school had money tucked into their school uniform pockets as an inducement for them to keep coming”. By 1913, many homes in the different quarters of Ago-Iwoye had produced educated citizens though they were largely pastors and teachers. The first grammar school in Ago-Iwoye was established in 1954 and this was an eye opener to a wider world of opportunities for the children of the educated elite. By the 1940s, the first set of university graduates had arrived. Rev T.T Solatu BD Hons MA, BD (Hons) 1942; the very first Ago-Iwoye University Graduate J.O. Ajibola LLB was the first Ago-Iwoye lawyer 1942. Brig Gen Babafemi Ogundipe was commissioned into the Nigeria Army in 1943 as was the de fact. deputy to Gen. Ironsi by the time of the first military coup in 1966. Dr S.D Onabamiro, a world renowned parasitologist obtained a Doctorate in 1951. His daughter, Mrs Dolapo Akinsanya, is Ago-Iwoye’s first High court Judge. On page 171, the author observed that Ago-Iwoye is yet to produce a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. This is surprising to this reporter too but we must be reminded that the contribution of Justice Dolapo Akinsanya has done a lot to put the name of Ago-Iwoye in the Hall of Fame in Nigerian Jurisprudence. She gave that landmark judgment that declared the Interim National Government null and void and thereby became the first High Court Judge (Indigene of Ago-Iwoye) to declare illegal a sitting Federal Government of Nigeria. The judgment paved the way for Abacha to overthrow the interim.

    Ago-Iwoye’s educated elite are highly dedicated to the progress of their town. They formed Iwoye Progress Union and used it as a platform for the town’s development. Their key achievements are: (1) the agitation for the re-instatement of the Ebumawe throne that had been put in abeyance with the collapse of Wojaiye or Orile Iwoye kingdom in the Isamuso war in 1831. By 1932 under the dynamic and dedicated leadership of J.O. Ajibola, the colonial government approved the restoration of Ebumawe throne to Ago-Iwoye after an interregnum of 101 years. Ebumawe Akandiri Adenugba was crowned on October 24, 1932.

    The IPU also agitated for and got the colonial government to give Ago Iwoye a town council in 1935, much earlier than Ijebu Ode (1938) and Ijebu Igbo (1940).

    The author concludes the book by raising 10 points which he believes will make for lasting unity in Ago-Iwoye. These include the recognition of the Eyiri lineage as being eligible for the throne of Ebumawe. Secondly he makes a strong case for the elevation of the seven Heads of quarters in Ago-Iwoye into full-fledged beaded crown Obas as is currently done in Abeokuta and Sagamu. The book reflects the passion of the author for the place of his birth, and from what this reporter witnessed on the day of the book launch his people appreciate his contribution and high sense of patriotism. That is why he richly deserves the title of Asiwaju of Ago-Iwoye. As an Awori man from Igbesa, Ota – Ado-Odo axis, I must express my utter surprise to learn from this book that there is another Awori in Iwoye. There should be a liaison between the two groups.

    In conclusion, I observe that the book is well researched and a substantial contribution to the inadequate knowledge on the origin of the Yoruba. It is also a goldmine of information on the origin, growth and development of Ago-Iwoye since 1515AD.

    The reader will enjoy its flowing but standard language typical of the colloquial eloquence of the author. A hard cover edition is recommended to enhance the shelf-life of the book.

    •Chief Fadun is a political associate of Sen. Jubril Martins Kuye.

  • NTDC, the Gambia Tourism Board sign pact

    THE Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has signed a pact with The Gambia Tourism Board to propel a rapid development and best practices in the Nigeria’s tourism industry.

    The NTDC boss, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, said that the partnership between NTDC and The Gambia Tourism Board is a landmark momentum in the tourism industry in West Africa, as the partnership will also develop and promote a sub-regional tourism brand. She spoke during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the corporation’s Lagos office.

    Mbanefo said:  “Nigeria is a catalyst in the development of tourism in West Africa. We have the population, which is a great lubricant in the wheel of developing tourism. We also have the political will to explore the potentialities of the industry. Meanwhile, The Gambia has an excellent track record of beat practice in the industry. As a result, partnership with The Gambia will enable us to exchange notes, programmes, and share best practices.

    “Following the partnership, NTDC staff members can go to The Gambia for capacity building and bring back the knowledge to develop Nigeria’s tourism industry. This will also enable our staff members to enlighten the Gambians on the tourism potentials in Nigeria and tell Nigeria’s story correctly to the Gambians, thereby propelling them into visiting Nigeria. The Gambia Tourism Board as well can send their staff to Nigeria for training and also appreciate our tourism assets.

    “Our relationship with The Gambia Tourism Board will promote the sub-regional tourism with the standard of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “It will promote travel and tourism between both countries in the areas of eco-tourism, culture, black heritage, festivals, cuisines and entertainment just to mention a few,” opined Mbanefo.

    The NTDC boss, who described The Gambia as the first African country to sign an MOU with, promised that the MOU will be implemented as soon as possible.

    Mbanefo used the opportunity the event offered to sell Nigeria’s domestic tourism to The Gambia Tourism Board members, encouraging them to attend fascinating and crowd-pulling festivals in Nigeria, while reeling out the national domestic calendar to the team.

    Her words: “Nigeria is so blessed with innumerable fascinating natural and man-made tourist sites and attention-grabbing cultural festivals. I invite you to attend any of the festivals, and you will be glad you did.”

    Director-General of the board,  Mr Benjamin Roberts expressed the interest of The Gambia Tourism Board to work with NTDC promoting tourism in the two countries.

  • A medic concern for prison inmates

    A medic concern for prison inmates

    Book review

    Title: The Basics of Prison Ministry
    Author: Ufot Ekete
    Reviewer: Joseph Eshanokpe
    Publisher: City Publishers, Calabar

     

    Not many people, especially among the elite, find the prisons a good place to visit not to talk of  investing their goodwill. But not so for Dr Ufot Ekere, who since he became a Christian 10 years ago, has pitched his tent in that sector. Now he is enjoining others to join him serve humanity.

    In his 108-book, The Basics of Prison Ministry, he explains how this is possible. In the Introduction, he says the Prison Ministry is wide and involves a lot of people ­– inmates, prison officials, medic doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc.  He also says  though many pastors and their congregations  are mainly  volunteers, they have minimal knowledge of their work, adding that it is for this that some of their works are not sychronised. It is the gap he set out to fill in the book.

    What is prison ministry. Quoting the Executive Director, Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, Mr. Benson Iwuagwu, a lawyer, he defines a prison ministry as ‘’the determined, focused and measured, spiritual, psychological, material and medical intervention aimed at the transformation of the offender, reconciliation and restoration of relationships, in ways that promote community and the common good”. But to the author, the prison ministry is aimed at offering service ‘’in a place of confinement and punishment to those men and women found in the prison, adding that it is more than the donation of food, toiletries and clothing to the prison inmates”.

    To him, the prison inmates despite their condition and ‘sins’ should be shown some care and candour, if not for any thing but for the sake of Christ. And there are eternal rewards, he adds. He quotes Matthew  25: 31- 40. “.. I was naked and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to Me …Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

    What are the qualities of a prison ministry volunteers? A divine call, the will to work, passion for the needy, a giving heart, a leading, among others, says Dr Ekere. Above all, he adds that for those coming from the church, they need to consult both their church’s leaders and the congregation to get their consent.

    What is more, prison volunteers may need to apply to the prison management to get their nod. This granted, then they must get cracking. While there is need for one to show mercy to the prison inmates, he warned that this should not go beyond one’s mandate as the inmates could capitalise on it to cause havoc. At the end, it is the volunteers that would be held liable and culpable, he further warned.

    No doubt, Dr. Ekere has produced a good book.  Its glossy cover and error-free pages are a reader’s delight. But while Christians may find it a good guide, non-Christians who have a heart of love for humanity may also find it very useful.

  • US museum returns stolen Nigerian antiquities

    US museum returns stolen Nigerian antiquities

    Looted Nigerian antiquities which are scattered across the globe are gradually finding their way back to Nigeria as a result of the efforts the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) are putting to recover the ancestral objects. The recent recovering are 18 seizures at Seme border, Benin Republic by the Nigerian Custom Service, and eight repatriated from Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, United States of America (USA).

    For four years NCMM has been working vigorously to see that the looted ancestral objects are brought back to Nigeria, its country of origin. A project they called sharing and collaborating. So far they have succeeded in retrieving 100 objects from countries such as USA, France, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Canada etc including their recent achievement of recovered 26 collections, making it 126  artworks since they started the assignment. However, some Nigerians are making the hard work of the commission more difficult as they cart away these historical cultural objects outside the country. This was the case last month where some individuals outside the country were caught at Seme Border with some objects as they could not prove ownership of the artworks.

    In this regard, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, last week during a preview session of the 26  objects at the National Museum, Lagos, called the attention of the public to be watchful of such activities because it’s a crime in Nigeria to traffic artworks. Duke, therefore, urged Nigerians to protect and preserve their priceless heritage even though the objects belong to NCMM. He said: “I wish to emphasise that it is prohibited by law to engage in illegal trafficking of our cultural objects. The criminal act of illegal trafficking of our tangible cultural objects is an economic sabotage to the cultural development of our country.

    “As people that value their Cultural Heritage in high esteem, it is our primary responsibility to ensure the protection, security and safety of these priceless antiquities,” Duke said. He expressed his gratitude to Nigerian Custom Service for their good work and the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, USA for returning the eight antiquities to Nigeria.

    According to the Director General of NCMM, Mr Yusuf Usman the eight returned artworks from US are pieces distributed to Boston Museum Fine Art from the estate of an undisclosed African collector now deceased. “In our continuing effort at the restitution and return of our cultural property, we have over the years been in co-operation with many institutions including intergovernmental organisations such as United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) involvement in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.

    “About four years ago we started what we call sharing and collaborating rather than confrontation with Europe Museum on the need to jointly find a way of resolving our differences concerning the holding of Nigerian antiquities in Europe Museum”

    The beautiful, ageless bronze, terracotta and wood works, which have  historical patterns and untold stories of Nigeria are: Nok Bronze, Terracotta Head, Nok Male Figure, Ife Head, two Benin head (terracotta) Benin figure and Kalabari Screen Figure (eight returned from USA), Igboukwu lidded pot, Benin Bronze Bell, Queen Mother Memorial Head, Kneeling Female Figure, Kneeling Female Worshipper, Portuguese solder, Benin Bronze Leopard, Seated Benin Chief, Standing Flutist, Bronze Python, Benin Memorial Head, Bronze Drum, Bronze Leopard, Bronze Plaque depicting Portuguese Soldier, Benin Bronze Messenger, Standing Bronze Figure of Ife Chief, Bronze Leopard and Igboukwu Lidded pot  (eighteen seizures at Seme), are correctly on displayed at the National Museum, Lagos, for public viewing.

  • NTDC DG: Nigeria’s domestic tourism market worth $4b

    NTDC DG: Nigeria’s domestic tourism market worth $4b

    How much is Nigeria’s tourism market worth? $4billion, says the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Director-General, Mrs Sally Mbanefo. She notes that the market has a lot of growth potential. If well developed tourism can become a major revenue earner for Nigeria that relies on oil. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME writes.

    Tourism has a lot of prospect. A country like Nigeria stands to gain if it develops its tourism potential instead of relying solely on oil as its major revenue earner. Nigeria’s domestic market is worth US$ 4billion, according to the Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo.

    With the right environment, she says, Nigeria would be able to cater for the Diaspora market estimated at US$3billion yearly.

    The sector, Mrs Mbanefo notes, plays a major role in balancing sustainable development, adding that if effectively harnessed, it can generate net benefits for the poor. Mrs Mbanefo went on: “It is an important tool in promoting economic growth, alleviating poverty, job creation, and contributing to national development goals.”

    She spoke at this year’s Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibitions organised by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Abuja last week.

    Speaking on Promoting domestic tourism: Tool for national economic development, Mrs Mbanefo said recent data show that current global tourism contributions to GDP is approaching US$ 7 trillion, accounting for 9.3 per cent of total global GDP and that the industry accounts for 8.7 per cent of global employment with an estimated annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent.  According to her, many developing countries have managed to increase their participation in the global economy through the development of tourism, saying it is increasingly being viewed as an important tool in promoting economic growth, alleviating poverty and job creation.

    Nigeria, Mrs Mbanefo said, is not left out in this global trend. Domestically, the tourism market also has very high revenue and job creation potentials. The NTDC D-G cited various instances of the immense economic benefit of tourism from Nigeria’s festivals and carnival of international acclaimed, saying: “In 2013 Osun Osogbo festival recorded 21,713 domestic tourists including, 123 international tourists while N58,230, 170 formed the expenditure. Abuja Carnival (2013) recorded 19,015 domestic tourists, which include 113 international tourists while N147, 385,250 formed the expenditure. Religious tourism recorded over a million domestic tourists and a substantial number of international tourists in 2013.”

    While urging that the industry economic potentials be harnessed with a view of enhancing its contributions to GDP, she called for better infrastructure, increased funding from the government, the need to implement the 2007 Tourism Master Plan, improving travel security as a necessary condition for growing both domestic and international tourist traffic in Nigeria.

    She said: “It is, therefore, estimated that, we have a US$ 4 billion domestic tourist market. Similarly, the size of the Diaspora market is estimated at US $3 billion annually should we provide them with the right environment considering the volatility of oil revenues which is currently a major source of the nation’s revenue. To overcome some inherent socio-economic challenges in the sector, there is need to have good access roads to the various tourist destinations, review the Land Use Act to enable private sector access land for development of tourist sites, corporate and multinational organisation should adopt tourist sites for development, resolve multiple taxation for tourism operators and establish a Tourism Development Fund (TDF).

    “To reposition NTDC, there is need for   proper training of the corporation staff, regular collaboration with the private sector operators in forging new ideas for the sector, effective marketing and promotion of Nigeria locally to boost domestic tourism, collaborating with other government agencies such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, National Park Service among others and encouraging and assisting non-profit organisations operating within the travel and tourism industry.”

    However, tourism promotion, she said, cannot be done alone by government and its agencies because there are specific areas of tourism development that requires certain skills and interests that are not within government.

    She said: “We must develop domestic tourism, not just for paid travelers alone, but leisure infrastructure in our various communities for citizens who cannot afford to travel. Therefore, I am appealing to big businesses and individuals to adopt tourist sites and develop them as part of their contributions to the development of domestic tourism in Nigeria.”

    Stakeholders also called for the harmonisation and integration of multiple taxes and levies in tourism sector, saying it would boost the growth of domestic and international tourist traffic in the country.

    Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and Director-General, said the ministry should set up a multi-agency committee in partnership with the private sector and other stakeholders in tourism sector to explore ways of harmonising and integrating all levies, charges and taxes. The committee is to come up with investor’s friendly recommendations, which may include initiating changes through the appropriate legal processes to bring about a desirable framework.

    She said tourism potential of FCT can only be harnessed through a committed partnership between the public and private sector where the players in each sector will have a full understanding of their respective roles or functions.

    The minister, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs Adebola Elegbede, stated that the FCT administration is committed to working in partnership with the investors and other stakeholders in providing conducive and enabling environment to promote tourism in the FCT Area and in the country.

    “We are beckoning on both public and private investors, event promoters and travel planners to invest and bring in tourists and organize more meetings, conferences, shows, fairs and exhibitions in the city as more critical facilities and good security network are being put in place,” she said.

    She disclosed that Emirate Airlines will commence flight operations to Abuja beginning from August 1, which she said, would boost tourism industry.

    President of FTAN, Chief Tomi AKingbogun observed that the effect of security challenges in less than 3 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass has resulted in decrease of about 50 per cent in tourism patronage. He identified lack of patronage from government as one critical setback, noting that government rather than patronise established businesses go into construction of massive economically unsustainable projects thereby competing with existing business.

    He observed that there are too many foreign trips by government officials as consultants are often appointed to take civil servants outside the country for training, which can be done locally. “The preferred locations are Dubai, UK, South America etc. Millions in foreign exchange (otherwise required for manufacturing) are allocated as estacode benefit to participants. If the trip is embarked upon, officials go on shopping spree and do not attend the training. This trend not only kill the Nigerian tourism industry, but also deplete our foreign reserves,” Akingbogun said.

    Among participants that took stand at the exhibition were Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Hotel Rosebud, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Infogem, Owambe.com, National Film and Video Censor Board, Ethiopian Airline, NIHOTOUR, Hopesea, Abuja Enterprise Agency and La Campagne Beach Resort.

  • How the environment makes entrepreneur?

    How the environment makes entrepreneur?

    What has environmental phenomenon got to do with entrepreneurship? A lot, says former Ekiti State Chief Justice Kayode Bamisile. According to him, the environmental phenomenon will play a majo role in the emergence of entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

    He spoke at the 2014 edition of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, with the theme: Cultural Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria, held at the South-West Zonal Office of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Bamisile said: “The disparities among nations in developing entrepreneurial societies have also been attributed to environmental differences between societies both in time and spaces,” adding that entrepreneurship in Nigeria is a function of the environment.

    Some of the fundamental aspects of the social system, he said, included the cultures of a people as it affects the development of the entrepreneurial spirit, and motivation as it either enhances or inhibits entrepreneurship behaviour and drive among people.

    Bamisile highlighted some family values and roles that determine responsibilities for the provision of the economic wellbeing of the family unit, saying, “in some societies and cultures, the men are given a total role of bread-winners and the women restricted to home-keeping; in other societies, the bread-winner is borne by both the man and the woman, thus allowing the woman a space to engage in entrepreneurial activities.”

    The retired jurist, however, did not restrict himself to the environmental factor alone; he also identified the socio-cultural system, religion, education, and poverty level as some of the factors that affect the emergence of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Africa at large.

    Earlier in his address, the General Manager of FRCN, Positive FM, Akure, Rev. Olusegun Ayankoso, who was the chairman of the occasion, appreciated NICO’s effort in marking the World Culture Day event each year, and called on well-meaning Nigerians to be actively involved in cultural entrepreneurship ventures that will earn the nation foreign exchange.

    He lamented that some of the socio-cultural menaces in the society today have led to the inability of most of the youths to engage themselves in meaningful ventures, stressing that, there were so many entrepreneurial skills that, when engaged in, would totally reduce the rate of violence and youth unrest prevalent in the societies today.

    In his goodwill message,  Mr Samuel Olusunle, Acting Director/Chief Executive, Engineering Materials Development Institute, Akure, felicitated with NICO on the successful celebration of the 2014 World Culture Day. He said the nation’s culture sector would move Nigeria from its mono-economy, to generate youth employment and create wealth.

    In his words: “The culture and tourism sector of the Nigerian economy has the wherewithal to promote national pride, generate revenue, and protect our national image on the international scene, a source of employment and rural development.”

    He advised Nigerians to take pride in cultural attires, assuring that his institute would be willing to explore any mutually beneficial area of collaboration with NICO to contribute to national development.

    Also in a goodwill message, the Director of Culture, Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Lawrence Amimi, encouraged culture stakeholders and the mass media to always deliberate on cultural matters in the indigenous languages as some of the inadequacies in our lives today are due to the subjugation of the indigenous culture to borrowed cultures, which, to him, was neo-colonialism, a cankerworm that the nation needs to fight with vigour.

    In a lecture, titled: In Search of Creative Entrepreneurs, the Coordinator, NICO South-West Zone, Mr. Ohi Ojo, defined the concept of entrepreneurship as, “the art of making money by starting or running business, especially when this involves taking (financial) risks,” emphasising the importance of entrepreneurship in the evolution of the cultural industry in Nigeria which has helped to impact on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He said that the current rebasing of the economy highlights the importance of the cultural industry in the overall economic outlook of the country, noting that, “a cursory look at the industry and a methodological approach through entrepreneurship will open up the great economic potential in that sector;” pointing out other areas of cultural interest where entrepreneurs ought to focus on, which include, arts and craft, traditional medicine, food, heritage sites, religion, music and drama.

    There were questions and comments after the lecture as to what government was doing to assist entrepreneurs; how it would be possible to promote traditional medicine since government had banned adverts on traditional herbal practice; government’s efforts to ensure the production of standard products by entrepreneurs; how the issue of favouritism could be curbed when securing government loan for the establishment of small scale enterprises; and what government was doing to remove some of the stringent measures attached to securing loans from the agricultural and other development banks in the country.

    While responding to some of the questions, Mr. Ojo said most entrepreneurs cannot stand alone in the production chain but needed to collaborate with others to come out with better creative works, adding that, most times, traditional medicines are not advertised, yet they still get appreciable patronage.

    He submitted that the issue of favouritism was a universal challenge, and regarding advertisement of traditional medicines, he noted that, “government is only trying to protect us from death. It is difficult to prove the efficacy of native medicine due to its metaphysical nature and it is not a total ban but have to go through the relevant agencies for proper certification.”

    Ayankoso stressed the need for a dress culture, saying: “We have lost interest in what is ours,” and charged everyone to take pride in their cultures and wear their native attires.

    Highlights of the events were a drama performance, entitled, Local Content, staged by the NICO SWZ Cultural Troupe and Ewi (poetry) by Mr. Babatunde Adewunmi of Budget Unit of the institute.

  • Ebeano in Berlin

    Ebeano in Berlin

    For three-and-a-half years, Valentine Nnamani was jobless. He lost his job (bricklaying and concrete technician) at a construction firm, Bilfielder Berger, Berlin, Germany – a parent company of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

    This condition forced him to take to cooking, first as a non-profit outfit under cover for two years. The patronage he got during that period gave him the confidence to invest in cooking. However, Nnamani was scared of the uncertainty and whether he could make it through cooking in foreign land.

    Today, Nnamani’s Afro Intercontinental Restaurant (Ebeano) has become one of the first choice African restaurants in Tiergarten Mitte, Berlin, Germany. From an initial 20 customers per day the restaurant now boasts of over 70 clients per day plus indoor and home delivery services.

    “For me, cooking is a hobby. When I cooked for 70 pupils of a school in 2005, there I discovered my talent in cooking. And I chose to open a restaurant when some of my friends visited my house and they confessed that they enjoyed the meal I served them. At a point, I asked myself why I got into the business, but for the push by my friends. This was in 2008,” he recalled.

    Nnamani, who is a traditional chief from Neke Community in Enugu State later braced up to register the restaurant, which got German government approval. “For the past four years, Germans now know Nigeria has a rich food culture. In fact, the appreciation and patronage since then have been enormous. Apart from Nigerians or Africans, the Germans are getting interested in the menu,” he said.

    His hard work got rewarded in 2013 when the restaurant was awarded a gold medal and certificate-Gastrol gold for integration kitchen. According to him, this has lifted the restaurant business with a client base of 50 per cent Africans and 50 per cent Europeans. Looking back, cooking has been a blessing for him.

    Nnamani who was a clearing agent in Apapa, Lagos for seven years before travelling to Germany, said he left Nigeria because the late General Sanni Abacha’s administration was very unfriendly. Apart from cuisines, Nnamani also promote music and movie of Nigerian and other African countries. In order to reach out to larger audience in Berlin, Nnamani is planning to expand his outlets while retaining the old spot.  According to him, the success of his business to a large extent, is the function of support from African countries’ embassies in Berlin that patronise Afro International Restaurant.

  • Three presidents for Soyinka’s literary prize award

    Three Heads of State have confirmed their attendance at the fifth edition of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature, which coincides with the 80th birthday of the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.

    The event is being sponsored by national  carrier, Globacom.

    The leaders, who are also expected at the presentation of a book in Soyinka’s honour three days after the  prize award are Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and John Dramani Mahama (Ghana).

    The presentation is slated for Accra, Ghana on July 8, three days after the prize award on July 5 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Other distinguished individuals expected at the event include former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and renowned Ghanaian author, Prof Ama Ata Aidoo.

    The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature is a biennial event to recognise the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

    The organisers of the award have announced a long list of 10 African authors from a total of 163 entries submitted from 17 African countries in the genre of Drama, which is the focus of the 2014 edition.

    A shortlist of candidates for the prize is expected to be announced shortly, while the ultimate winner is expected to emerge on July 5.

    As part of the activities to make the event colourful, Globacom has concluded plans to invite some of its subscribers as guests of honour. To stand a chance to be invited, the subscribers are encouraged to increase the usage of airtime on the Glo network by 50 percent before June 24. Subscribers chosen will receive special perks from the operator in addition to being celebrated on the special night.

    For this edition of the prize, entries were invited from authors of any published play or collection of plays by the same author of African descent, published within the last two years (that is, a play published between 2012 and 2013). Globacom was also the main sponsor at the last edition.

  • The best jeans you’ve never heard of

    The best jeans you’ve never heard of

    Designer Richard Babalola worked long and hard to get his Babson Zotto jeans range on the racks of high-end stores in Flanders.

    Some 20 years ago, Richard Babalola left his home country, Nigeria, for Belgium. He is currently based in Antwerp with his wife and two children. The artist and designer has been working hard to get his Babson Zotto denim label on the racks of local and international boutiques.

    Babalola grew up in a house that was bordered by a tailor shop on each side. In 1989, he obtained an arts degree at the Polytechnic Ibadan institute in south-western Nigeria, and he started making clothes not long after. “My first label was called New Dimension, a collection of tie-and-die fabrics and batiks,” he recalls.

    Babalola also exported to Europe during that period, and after a friend convinced him to try his luck abroad, he applied for a visa and arrived in Belgium in 1991. “I bought a sewing machine at a Sunday market, not knowing what I’d do with it,” he says. “I fell in love with jeans and worked for years to get the right cut and fit.”

    The designer says he went to great lengths to make the best jeans possible. “I would cut up jeans to study how they were made. Then start from scratch with a paper pattern to design jeans with the right fit from waist to foot.”

    In 2008, Babalola registered his brand on the market. “Babson Zotto, with the first part referring to my surname and the second to my oldest brother’s DJ name,” he explains.

    In those first years, Babalola often went down to the factories producing his jeans to follow the entire manufacturing process until he was happy with the end product. His exacting standards paid off since his jeans label was quickly picked up by local media outlets. This in turn helped him to win over owners of high-end boutiques, such as La Bottega in Hasselt, to carry his jeans.

    “Women loved the fit and the finish,” Babalola says, adding that some of his designs even include Swarovski crystals. “But as the orders increased, I had to start finding investors.”To get his name out to a wider audience, the designer also exploited his other talent: painting. He makes both abstract works and portraits in oil and acrylic.

    For his portraits, he tries to come as close as possible to a photograph of the person. “The more you do it, the better you become,” he says. His portraits often depict public figures such as footballer Romelu Lukaku, Queen Mathilde, Herman Van Rompuy and TV presenter Ann Van Elsen. I’m thinking about a range of T-shirts for both men and women.

    “Most of them don’t know that I have painted their portrait, but I want to show that I can do it,” Babalola says. Recently, the artist offered such an airbrush portrait to Sally Mbanefo, the director-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation. Upon accepting the artwork at a Berlin fair, she thanked Babalola for “doing his country proud with his handiwork and for distinguishing himself in his chosen profession”. With both his jeans label and artworks, Babalola is hoping to attract investors so that he can grow his business and, in the long term, have his denim exported to the rest of the world. He’s interested in Nigeria in particular, not just because it’s his native country but also because it currently has the fastest-growing economy in Africa. “I’ve been in Belgium for over 20 years now, and I’ve got the experience,” he says. And while nobody knows what the future will bring, the designer is ready for more.

    “I’m thinking about a range of T-shirts for both men and women”, he says, “made from very high quality fabrics, but sold at an affordable price.” What exactly he’s up to, he won’t reveal just yet. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if his artworks have something to do with it.

  • Ooni donates land for Oduduwa project

    A pan Yoruba group, Oduduwa Descendants World Assembly (ODWA) is initiating a forum for all sons and daughters of Yorubaland to re- open discussion on the unity and progress of their race. The group is using the launching ceremony of the Directory and Compendium of Yoruba Monarch, holding on July 11 as an avenue to commence the discussion. The National Coordinator and Chief Resource Person of ODWA, Heir Prince Emmanuel Adeleye Ashaye, spoke on the activities of the group to re- build the fractured house of Oduduwa.

    Ashaye said “the role of Oduduwa Descendants World Assembly (ODWA) in the pan Nigeria   since the time Africa was created, Yoruba has been known to possess powerful royalty and royal empire. And these are sets of people who can truly trace their origin and source to Abraham. They are ancient and modern in their ways of life. They are knowledgeable, exposed and very peculiar indeed, with successive Golden Age. No wonders why they have always been in the midst of world greatest civilisation. ODWA is all out to restore back to Nigeria what Nigeria has lost through corruption and a deceitful federalism form of a government”

    Ashaye added  that there is peace  among the Yoruba monarchs.“  There is nothing to worry about  over what is  assumed to be the age -long rivalry between the two Yoruba paramount rulers  which people believe may scuttle this project. He continue  “ During our recent World Press Conference I made it clear to those in attendance that the two Paramount Rulers under reference are not sworn enemies. Their implied disagreement is not capable of scuttling our project. The construction of the Yoruba World Headquarters is an all Yoruba Project which they have embraced. In fact, they are all praying that the beginning and the end of the construction will happen during their life time. For instance, one of them gave us the 100 hectares of land on which we are to build the Yoruba World Headquarters, while the other paramount ruler is willing to donate land for Annex and other ancillary buildings. The Yoruba World Headquarters is a World Project which is to be financed through generous donations by the cheerful world. Since no financial strains are going to be put on either of them, then, ‘abuse ti buse’, that is, the job is done.

    On ODWA’s plan to mobilise the support of all Yoruba Monarchs towards the actualisation of the dream of a United Yoruba Nation , Ashaye said “ The Project belongs to all the Yoruba; it is their baby. They own it, and they are ready to service and uphold it as a thing of joy and pride to them. There is no Yoruba monarch that is not disturbed by this disunity. All of them are worried, and for which they have been praying and necessary propitiations offered on regular basis in the closets of their Palaces. No meaningful Yoruba Oba with direct or indirect lineage to Oduduwa will be happy if we don’t have a United Yoruba Nation. In fact, the Yoruba politicians are the most affected by this malady as the other tribal groups usually take them for a ride since they know that Yoruba have a divided home. Therefore, since our prayers have been answered by having someone to bell the cat in the form of ODWA, which is a non-partisan, non-governmental Socio-cultural group without any affiliation to any known group or groups in the world, ODWA is simply the divine medicine that will cure the illnesses and sicknesses of ‘waste of time’ that have been plaguing the Yoruba Nation”.