Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

Oloye Lekan Alabi, a veteran journalist and media advisor, was 70 on October 27. A cultural ambassador and the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Alabi served four governors as press secretary. He was the pioneer corporate affairs manager, Odu’a Investments Ltd. In this interview with BISI OLADELE and SEGUN SHOWUNMI, the outspoken septuagenarian reflects on his career, love for culture and analyses the future of journalism in a technology-driven world 

 

 

What shaped you while growing up?

We grew up in a merit-based society. The standard of education we had during our time made even a Primary three pupil aware of his or her rights. My great grand father was one of the founders of this town and he rose to the post of Ekeerin Balogun of Ibadan land. My father bought me a transistor radio when I was in primary school, which made me aware more of happenings in the society.

Tell us some of your memorable moments while growing up

Firstly, prediction, an itinerant Muslim spiritualist had earlier predicted to my grandmother that I would be great. Alhaji Subar Busari, who is currently the chief Imam of Monatan Mosque, Iwo Road, Ibadan,  was my father’s apprentice then. He and my dad travelled to Osogbo one day and when they were eating at  a canteen, a Muslim spiritualist just entered and told my father that there was a king in his family. He asked him to protect him and take good care of him. He was referring to me.

I lived a disciplined life, and I was taught in a leadership way. If I sat and I didn’t sit right, they will tell me to sit right because leaders don’t sit that way. If I ate or talked wrongly, they would correct me in line with how a leader behaves.

Is that why you grew up to become a man of culture?

Every individual should fall in line of his or her culture. Culture and religion are parallel things which emanated from God. We must love our culture

You celebrated 50 years of activism some time ago. How did this evolve?

It was destiny at play for me to have done that. In 1967, I had the courage to write to the then Nigeria military Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, appealing to him to release Wole Soyinka or take him to court because Soyinka was accused of going secretly to Enugu to have a meeting with the then military governor of Eastern Region, Lt-Col. Chuckwuemeka Ojukwu

Soyinka was arrested and locked up at Kaduna prison indefinitely. This was what baffled me and I thought that: ‘Is this how people should be arrested and detained without trial?’

I took it as a duty to read Daily Times newspaper everyday and I listened to the transistor radio which my father bought for me. So, I became an avid listener of radio and reader of newspaper. This grew my awareness of current affairs so much, even as a teenager.

What propelled your love for journalism?

The bylines and beautiful prose writings attracted me to journalism because I said to myself that I love this job because it will be taking me all over the world and it did. It took me to greater heights I never imagined.

Are you fulfilled as a journalist?

Yes, I am fulfilled by the grace of God because I have 100 per cent job satisfaction in it.  I always tell people to choose and work in the areas they have passion, not because of the pay or the prestige in the job. I always tell people to always make hay while the sun shines, they shouldn’t misuse any opportunity they have. Nigeria had been run on merit before.

Share with us how you were able to succeed as a journalist, press secretary to four governors and a public relations person

Till today, I relish those four positions, particularly serving as the press secretary to four military governor of Oyo State – Chief Bola Ige, Brg. Gen. Oladayo Popoola (rtd), Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) and Gen. Sasaeniyan Oresanya (rtd).

I never applied for the four positions neither was the position advertised. Nobody lobbied for the post on my behalf. It has been destined that I would get the appointment and I was at the right place at the right time. There was nothing like chief press secretary in our own time or senior special assistant on media, it was purely press secretary

How did you get to Odu’a Investment Limited?

The Board of Directors of Odua Investments Ltd was meeting with the governors at the Governor’s Office here in Ibadan. As they were concluding their meeting, Oresanya just said my name should be included in the resolution as the pioneer Public Affairs Manager of Odua. I didn’t know anything about it. Prior to the time, Odua did not have a PR department when it was established. I took on the job of preparing publicity, notices, AGM speeches even as the press secretary to the governors. I was doing all these for Odua without collecting any money or honorarium. On my last day in office as the press secretary to Oresanya, he told me to make a request, and I requested for my sponsorship to holy land of Mecca which he later granted.

People were speculating that I built two houses while serving these military governors. They said I had one in Bodija and one in Oluyole which was untrue. I only had a piece of land then where my only house is standing till today at Akobo.

Looking at your life generally, what has worked for you?

God Almighty and destiny. That is why I always qualify success as hard work and luck. But, many Nigerian leaders in the last 25 to 30 years want to bend their way to the top.

How do you feel at 70 ?

I feel beautiful. Although I have ambition but if my ambition does not come my way, it is okay. I worked, and prayed and waited for the result.

In spite of your age, you are always accurate about time, name and date. How do you do this?

It is a gene I inherited from my mum and my grandmothers.

How would you describe the future of journalism, particularly with the advent of technology?

Social media is going to cause great havoc to the traditional media if care is not taken. We must ensure that social media does not knock off the traditional media, particularly the newspapers.

The present practitioners are lucky with the advent of technology compared to our own time. But I am not happy because this technology has made many journalists lazy by doing syndicated news stories.

Journalists must be paid adequately and there must be training and restraining for them. Journalists should be passionate with whatever they are doing because they are better off with the use of technology.

In compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) last week Thursday and Friday held the 13th International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo as the first drive-through expo in Africa. Venue was the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

 

For many guests at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, last Thursday and Friday, the heavy vehicular traffic into the hotel was unusual. Yet, most of the vehicles were not at the car parks. The vehicles were guided by officials and meandered slowly through the curves hemmed by colourful banners and posters. The old football pitch behind the hotel was their destination.

A raised platform on the sideline of the pitch, which originally served as spectators’ stand was adapted to a temporary stage and exhibition pavilion for the expo. And by 4pm each day, the designated car park was almost occupied in readiness for the 13th International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo 2020, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

The theme of this year’s expo was Networking Nigerian crafts to the world.

Unlike past editions, this year’s was the first drive-in exhibition, which was a unique initiative by NCAC in tandem with the new normal posed by COVID-19 pandemic. Viewers  at the two-day expo were seen watching the physical and audio-visual exhibition from their cars. Few guests sat beside vehicles, obeying social distancing.

Eleven  states and 26 countries participated in the exhibition that featured apparels, embroidery, brass and metal designs, music and dance, jewelry designs, classic ceramics, decorative pottery, beads, bronze works, leather and interior designs and more.

The states included Ogun, Kwara, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory.

There were delegates from Syria, Argentina, Libya, India, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Lebanon, Ghana, Kenya and Venezuela who were all given certificates of participation and other souvenirs. Some of the countries which couldn’t participate physically showed documentaries of their cultural heritage at the expo.

Ekiti State won the overall first position at the exhibition as well as the state with the best rafia works. Federal Capital Territory and Katsina jointly clinched the second position, while Ogun and Kaduna states had the third position and Nasarawa state took fourth. For the best in multimedia and rafia works, Ekiti came first, Kaduna State got the best for fibre glass production and Ogun made the best in contemporary textile production. The best production innovation went to the Federal Capital Territory, while Ogun attracted the best contemporary marketing strategists and Katsina won the best cultural documentation category. For post COVID-19 compliance, Kaduna, Anambra and Ogun states emerged the best, Kaduna State also got the most consistent; Zamfara, Adamawa and Kwara states bagged the best modern mobilisation. Ekiti also took first position for the category of the best pavillion, Nasarawa State bagged second, while Katsina took third.  Anambra emerged the best in product design for metal works, Nasarawa State took best in textile, Zamfara got first in embroidery, leather work and in calabash design, Anambra was also the best. Federal Capital Territory emerged the best in pottery and Kwara the best in woodwork.

At the opening on Thursday, Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ogbeide–Ihama Omoregie, urged CEOs of tourism and culture parastatals and agencies to think outside the box in the planning and execution of their programmes. He said COVID-19 has pushed everyone to the level that it becomes very important to think outside the box, be innovative and creative especially among players in the creative industry. “We must take advantage of the COVID-19 situation as bad as it is to make the best of it. I use this opportunity to call on Federal Government to give proper attention to the creative sector because the sector is yet untapped. The sector is capable of creating jobs for our teeming youths, empower people, boost our economy and foster unity among us as a people.

“For us in the National Assembly, we will continue to support NCAC in any way we can as well as in the funding of its programmes,” he said.

Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe congratulated all the states for their brilliant exhibitions. He urged delegates from each state and country not to relent in their activities for cultural promotion. He said this was a veritable avenue to foster unity across the globe and a means of revenue generation for states and countries.

Strategically, this year’s INAC, to all intents and purposes, heralded the return to life of travel, tourism and physical interactions after periods of lockdown, social distancing and virtual conferences occasioned by the COVID-19 .

“The drive-in exhibition is a unique initiative employed by NCAC to dovetail into the ‘new normal’ posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I must commend you all for the strict adherence and total compliance with the protocols as recommended by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,” Runsewe added.

Impressed by the outing, some foreign delegates gave kudos to NCAC for its innovation in packaging the expo despite the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the drive-in exhibition, the first at this critical period, was held in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

Economic Attachè  at Lebanon Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Mishaal Khodr said the platform created was innovative and signifies Nigerians’ resilience towards the promotion of culture. He said that Lebanon could not participate fully this year due to the poor state of its economy presently, but would be on the ground in next year’s edition. He expressed his love for Nigerians and their culture, adding that there were some cultural and educational collaboration between the two countries already that would be improved on.

“This is a beautiful platform to educate someone coming into Nigeria for the first time, the various states and countries’ cultural documentaries and displays are quite educating and entertaining. I also love and appreciate the fact that international players are also given an opportunity to promote and market their culture, crafts and arts.

“As a matter of fact, I’m in love with Nigeria. It is my new favourite place. I never feel away from home here.  I commend NCAC for this unique form of exhibition and hope this further unites countries across the globe,” he said.

Consul at Argentina Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Fernando Lacabanne said the exhibition was a unique one, which combined audio-visual and physical means of exhibition.

Lacabanne said the entire programme was interesting and educating as it also enlivens cultures across the world even as COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world.

He urged other countries present to emulate such an innovation in the cultural exhibition to unite countries across the world. “It is amazing that such an event could hold in this era of COVID–19 pandemic. We have presented video clips containing various cultural displays from Argentina and we hope lots of people have learned from the exhibition. We hope to collaborate more with Nigeria as COVID-19 pandemic subsides to further strengthen our relationship,” he said.

The venue, which wore new look had four giant television sets located at strategic points that screened the event to guests.  The expo  was  not all about  exhibition of arts and crafts as there was investment forum  featuring three discussants on Networking Nigerian Arts and crafts in the post COVID-19 Era.

Despite the adherence to the protocols, this year’s INAC, a huge experimental success, was  like a knight in shining armour ready to say bye-bye to COVID, the visitor.

Among guests at the expo were Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts and Culture Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare, Director-General. CBAAC, Mrs Oluwabunmi Amao, Director-General, NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, General Manger/CEO, National Theatre, Prof Sonny Ododo, Executive Secretary National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Mr. Ado Yahuza, Anambra State Commissioner for Diaspora, Indigenous Arts, Culture and Tourism, Dr Christian Madubuko, Kingsley Okafor (keynote speaker) and Mr Peter Igho.

 

 

Radical and protest artist, Jelili Atiku, is a multimedia artist with political concerns for human rights and justice. Before the #ENDSARS saga, he has been protesting police brutality and other human rights violations in the country. His works, which include drawings, installation sculptures, photography, video and live performances, have earned him several awards and grants, including the Prince Claus Award in 2015. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, Atiku speaks on the #EndSARS protest, his experience in the hands of the Police and more.

My art: Protest, radical or an angry artist

I consciously let the direction of my artistic practice to focus on political concerns for human freedoms, rights and justice. If this principle influences a formation of vocabulary or labels, such as “radical”, “protest”, “angry” and so on from my audience in describing my practice and myself, it shows that they feel the energy that comes from being an artist. I am, therefore, described simply as an ARTIST.

My recollection of police brutality against my art

I like many Nigerians have suffered brutality at the hands of the police. My bitter experiences with police are actually not those kinds of ruthless physical violence; but cruelty as a result of inefficiency, incompetence, unprofessionalism, corruption and improper investigation. For example, on January 18, 2016, I was arrested and remanded over a complaint by the King of Ejigbo, Oba Morufu Adisa A. Ojoola. The complaint was made to the police on the day I enacted my performance, Aragamago Will Rid This Land of Terrorism at Ejigbo, Thursday before which was on January 14. The performance referenced the Ejigbo pepper sodomy and murder case – where three women were bestially tortured with an insertion of a mixture of wine and powered hot-pepper in their private parts at the market in Ejigbo which happened in February of 2013. The performance was thus created to denounce domestic terrorism and other issues, especially in Ejigbo.

In the night, when I was arrested on the order of CSP Titiladunayo Segun, I was intimidated and threatened with guns; and the following morning when I was being taken to the court, I was treated like a convicted hardened-criminal. I  was handcuffed and driven in police patrol van and escorted by nine heavily-armed police men. The police, without conducting proper investigation, subsequently charged me and four other relatives of mine with seven criminal charges that include “disturbing the peace of the community, intimidating the public, distributing publications likely to provoke the community, and managing an unlawful society”.

On July 18 2016, the Ejibgo Magistrate Court struck out all the charges amid rigorous and tensed trials. While in detention in both Ejigbo Police Station and Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, I went through traumatising and inhumane treatments that would forever remain in my memory.

Before the aforementioned experience, my family members and I had been subjected to other forms of humiliation and harassment by the police. On December 18, 2015, nine policemen came to my residence in my absence and threatened family members with arrest on the directive of the king. Prior to that, on December 30, 2014, five traditional chiefs from the king’s palace came to my house and destroyed my artworks; ransacked my room and intimidated me. I reported these incidents to the police for investigation, and for protection of my life and that of my family members.

Similarly, on May 1, 2019, I was arrested and detained along with other five indigenes of Ejigbo at Mushin Police Area Command in Lagos, when we protested the desecration of the sacred ritual rites of Orisa Omagbo in Ejigbo by the king of the community. Without proper investigation, we were arrested and detained at the area command over the king’s complaint on our protest. We spent five days in police detention and another day at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. And we went through another rigorous court trial before the case was thrown out by Magistrate M.O Tanimola. The police misinformation of the public, especially fueled by an incorrect report which you, journalists now describe as “fake news” that led to a further misinformation, which reads: “the defendants invaded a shrine, beating up a traditional chief”.

All the above events have timeously brutalised my psyche with extraordinary emotional experiences, filled with tensed moments that have a powerful negative impact on me.

 

On the recent protests, looting and killings

It is sad that the sincerity of purpose which midwifed and characterised the #EndSARS protest was manipulated by the corrupt forces in the country. The protest is symbolic of the struggle geared towards addressing critical injustices, dehumanising government policies and maladministration. Police brutality and inhuman attitudes are just departure points for the demand of an Utopia in Nigeria. You could imagine if the same energetic forces that were employed by Nigerian soldiers in attacking the peaceful protesters on October 20 were channeled towards confronting the evils of Boko Haram; the vile would have been eliminated!

The protest was peaceful in Ejigbo and stopped when the state government imposed curfew. The community was, however, thrown into despair in the morning of Wednesday 21, when heavily armed hoodlums with dangerous weapons, who were mostly non-residents of the community, besieged and attacked the place. In this process, Ejigbo LCDA Secretariat was vandalised and razed. All the vehicles in the premises were destroyed, while some were totally burnt. It was the timely intention of I and a few community members that quenched the fire, thus saving the secretariat from being totally burnt. Additionally, the Women Development Centre, which housed LASTMA, Post Office and State Vocational Training Centre, were completely looted, set on fire and razed. Numerous vehicles, motorcycles were burnt, vocational training equipment and all the office furniture and other materials were looted. The centre was completely razed! Other public government properties that were destroyed and burnt include Bucknor Police Post and Imakiyo Police Post; and Ejigbo LCDA Area Office Complex. It was terrible!

 

The way forward

At this moment, Nigeria requires an enthronement of effective, efficient, selfless, people-welfare-focused leadership that will consciously desist from the present exploitative governance. Leadership who would adopt democratic and qualitative approach in governance, can truly be achieved through our votes. We need more people who are people-welfare-focused to go into politics. And let’s all come out in our numbers to vote!

 

Role of art and artists in all of these

I will respond to this question by citing the manifesto of Guerrilla Art Action Group in New York. The group declared in January 10, 1970, that: “If you, as an artist, accept the repression of society and work with the system, you might delay changes. Of course there is such a thing as subversion from within, and there are many more ways that revolutionary changes can take place, but it is essential that your work and your actions always reflect and confront the crises of the society we live in”. The powerful energy inherent in art should be channeled towards bringing positive change and Utopia in our society.

 My art has been protesting against societal ills

My art has been consciously protesting and directing attention to some of the national issues and ills in the country. For instance, from 2006 to 2007, I started the enactment of the performance in the body of works, entitled, “Stop The Killings” – where I addressed extra judicial killings in Nigeria, which come in different forms. They included ritual and cult killings in higher institutions of learning, killings from mob actions, law enforcement agents’ killings (which often occur from either conscious or stray bullets or political motivated actions), etc. The performance was enacted at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Wednesday, November 22, 2006; at Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, January 8, 2007; and at Ejigbo Police Divisional Headquarters, Ejigbo on Saturday, August 23, 2007. The choice of the locations of the performances was to instigate critical thinking on the issues of extra judicial killings in Nigeria. However, as I wrote on my Facebook Page a few days ago; since Tuesday October 20, 2020 when the soldiers shot at #ENDSARS peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate it has dawned on me that the issues of human right abuses in Nigeria is becoming unbearable. That critical thinking has been eliminated in our society is truly heartbreaking.

 

 

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor Arts

 

Unlike its counterparts, Ekiti State Government set out early to prepare for the hosting of next year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST). Since the close of last year’s edition of NAFEST in which it emerged the most- culturally creative and innovative state, beating 29 other states to cart home the prize, it has not rested on its oars.

It took a step further to host Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST) in December 2019, with the theme, Arts and Culture, Tool For Restoration of Values And Socio-economic Empowerment, ostensibly as a dress rehearsal for the hosting of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.  Interestingly, while other states were still undecided on when to formally bid for the festival, Ekiti State has submitted a bid letter to National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in February this year. This was done personally by the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare.

For the first time in its 24 years of existence, Ekiti State will be hosting a national festival as it has recently won the host bid for 2021 edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAF$EST).  The hosting right for NAFEST 2021 was fiercely contested for by Ekiti, Anambra and Taraba States. However, Ekiti finally won the bid due to a combination of factors. Ekiti was the first state to submit a bid letter. This was done personally by the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism as far back as February 2020. Ekiti State now has one of the best performance facilities in the country- the newly completed Civic and Cultural Centre. The super visibility that Ekiti State has acquired in the Culture and Tourism Sector since last year was also an added advantage. However, the biggest advantage that Ekiti State has is the personality of their Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare who is a heavyweight and highly influential personality in the culture sector. Prof. Bakare’s profile as the first Professor of Dance in Africa, former Choreographer National Troupe of Gambia, former Assistant Director National Troupe of Nigeria, former Artistic Director Nigeria National Carnival, Abuja and a veteran NAFEST Consultant, is obviously a huge asset to Ekiti State.

Expectedly, at last month’s Chief Executives of Culture technical meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) headed by Otunba Segun Runsewe ratified Ekiti State as host of next year’s NAFEST. Speaking at the technical meeting in Jos, Prof Bakare gave the credit to his Governor Dr John Kayode Fayemi who also is Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum for strengthening the sector in the state and for supporting the hosting of the festival and for already approving funds for the hosting of the festival.

Prof Bakare who spoke on behalf of delegates at the technical meeting on Nafest 2020 holding in Jos Plateau state capital between November 21 and 28, noted that Otunba Segun Runsewe-led committee on palliatives would bring a rapid turn-around to sectorial players whose businesses were battered by the pandemic. He also charged the Federal Government to institute the long- awaited Arts Endowment Fund

“We want to appeal to President Buhari and the minister through Otunba Segun Runsewe to approve this initiative. It will help the industry to find financial solution and succour, which will help us each time we run into problems such as we experienced under COVID-19. Meanwhile, three states, Kwara, Taraba, Anambra have indicated interest to host NAFEST in 2022.  The General Manager and CEO, National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos, Prof Sunny Ododo, indicated interest to host the 2023 edition of the festival, thus becoming the first culture organisation to bid for the hosting of the festival.

 

By Evelyn Osagie

 

To strengthen the copyright section of the Bar for the benefit of the creative industry, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has renewed its partnership with members of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to provide legal assistance for copyright owners under its lawyers advocacy for the artiste (LAFTA).

Director-General of NCC, Mr. John O. Asein, disclosed this at a webinar training on “Exploring the Legal Framework of Copyright Protection in Nigeria” organised by the Abuja Branch of the NBA as part of its Abuja Inter-Agency Discussion Series 3 in collaboration with the commission.

Mr. Asein renewed the commission’s readiness to collaborate with individual lawyers, firms and the relevant sections of the NBA to raise copyright knowledge and equip Nigerian lawyers with the needed tools for the roles expected of them.

“We realise the need to grow the Copyright Bar and promote active copyright practice as this would translate to better cases and ultimately ensure sound copyright jurisprudence”, he stated, adding that the draft Copyright Bill, when passed into law would help in this regards and provide the needed legislative framework to deal with digital and online copyright issues.

He assured that the commission would encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to more speedily address the peculiar needs of copyright disputes.

The Director-General pointed out that “lawyers all over the world are key in the sustainable development of wholesome copyright systems. As professionals, they are best equipped to assist in promoting, protecting and enforcing the rights of creators”.

He, therefore, urged the lawyers  to take more interest in providing adequate support for the growth of the creative sector. “The Nigerian creative sector holds a lot of promise as one of the leading contributors to the nation’s GDP and the NBA would be contributing significantly to the economic development of the country if its members partner with industry practitioners”, he stated.

He remarked that the number of lawyers taking interest in the subject of intellectual property, particularly copyright, has grown significantly in the last two decades but noted that a lot of work still needed to be done to grow the required skill sets and encourage more specialisation.

The Director-General noted that the country’s copyright sector offered great potentials as a rich and inexhaustible resource which, if properly utilised could generate wealth, provide employment and grow the nation’s non-oil sector of the economy.

Chairman NBA, Abuja Branch (the Unity Bar) and host of the event, Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, had earlier expressed optimism that the training would be of immense benefit to participants and stakeholders.

While appreciating the commission for its efforts at repositioning the sector, she said topics covered at the training included: An Overview of the Framework of Protection and Enforcement of Copyright in Nigeria; Copyright Issues in the Digital Environment: Challenges and Prospects; and NCC Rights Management Initiatives: An Overview of the Copyright e-Registration System.

In his closing remarks, the Director-General, represented by the Director, Nigerian Copyright Academy (NCA), Mr. Michael Akpan, urged lawyers to take advantage of the commission’s copyright e-registration scheme by advising their clients to submit their works for registration. He expressed appreciation to the NBA executives and the participants for the success of the training.

He explained that the e-registration scheme was necessary to expand the database of authors and their works, which would be accessible to members of the public and facilitate a global platform for the exchange of vital information on Nigerian creative works.

He called on stakeholders to continue to support the commission’s regulatory and enforcement activities, adding that the growth of the copyright industry was dependent on effective collaboration with every sector in the creative sector, including lawyers.

“There is no way the NCC can succeed without active collaboration with stakeholders both in terms of sharing information on developments around them, supporting the commission in tangible ways and also advising on the best way to go. There will always be space for stakeholder participation in moulding the policies and  programmes of the commission”, he stated.

Resource persons at the training were: Prof. Adewole Adedeji, Head, Department of International Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Dr. Kunle Ola, Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University and Mr. Michael Akpan.

The training sessions were moderated by Mr. Noah Snare, Chairman of NBA Abuja Inter-Agency Relations Committee and Eriobu-Aniede Onyekachi of the NBA and member of the same committee.

 

 

By Chinyere Elizabeth Okoroafor

 

 

Chairman / CEO, St. Rachael Pharmacy, Mr. Akinjide Adeosun has reinstated the company’s commitment to strengthening the capability of today’s leaders to execute sound leadership in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and 4 (good health, well-being and quality education).

He said that the recently launched ampicillin is a top-quality product by Medreich Limited and would be sold at affordable price in observance of our mission. He assured medical practitioners that the brand promises to give you peace of mind in your daily practice.

He spoke during the company’s second year anniversary and launch of St. Racheal’s Ampicillin Cloxacillin 500mg Capsule, the first in Nigeria.

Adeosun noted that he was encouraged that the life expectancy for men has improved from 53 years in 2015 to 55 years in 2016, whilst the life expectancy for women remained flat at 56 years according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Two years ago, we commenced a 20 year journey into living our purpose on the continent of Africa starting from Nigeria. This journey will see us launch into many markets on the continent, expand our offering from our core base of Antibiotics into brands that will supplement Life & brands that will prevent diseases.

“The theme is in resonance with our mission to improve life expectancy by providing top quality affordable pharmaceuticals in Africa. We are celebrating because we have moved from a base of 0 brands to seven NAFDAC approved brands today, just within two years.

“We also believe our mission will be made easier if we strengthen the capability of today’s leaders and mentor tomorrow’s leaders to execute sound leadership around Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S) 3 and 4, Good Health & Well-being and Quality Education,” he said.

Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo said low life expectancy in Nigeria can be attributed to challenges in the area of health; inadequate and unequipped health facility.

According to him, there are social problems, infrastructure problems, poor and inadequate portable safe water supply, poor states of our roads, poor housing and rental challenges, amidst other economic variable; inequitable distribution of income has wiped out the middle class in our society.

These, he said, also added to high level of unemployment especially the youths, which places a huge danger to the society. “Nigerians are contending with a lot of issues, a lot of stress, ranging from students schools fees, house rent, electricity bills, medical bills, generators and parts repairs, powering and fueling, feeding the family and clothing of families.

“Also, is the huge numbers of demands from siblings, vigilante bills, work stress, police stress on the road, kidnappers and armed robbery are adding to our low rate of life expectancy.”

She however recommended that for Nigeria to improve on its life expectancy there is an urgent need for collaboration with all sectors to improve on all of these things.

“Our government has a critical role to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and ensure the sustainability of the ease of doing business in all sectors of our economy. Also, government needs to improve on budgetary allocations to the health sector, and take measures to control population growth.

“A situation where we have a population growth increase, which is higher than our GDP is not sustainable. Hence we need to educate our people, and educate the women on birth control. The private players should continually provide innovative and relevant services aimed at improving good standards and purpose, and therefore contribute to an improved life expectancy rate,” she said.

She added that media was also very key to changing the narrative as they are the ones that will bring this to public discuss all the time. He stressed that to keep the issues of unacceptable low life expectancy in the front burner, media should disseminate at all times quality and relevant information to equip the people and also interrogate the activities of government and the service providers in taking appropriate actions to improve the leaving standards for the purpose.”

First Lady of Oyo State, Tamunominini Makinde described the organisation as member of her family. “For me, ST Rachael is my family. Health is life and we must all take the issues of our health very seriously. We must learn to live and eat healthily.

“I celebrate ST Rachael Pharmacy on this great occasion of her two years anniversary, and launch of a new product. I have no doubt in my heart that you will continue to do exploit and transform the medical sector for the better in nearest future,” she said.