The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

‘We aim to empower creativity’

One thing that has bound the women together is their interest in the development of women and youths globally. It is a group that uses the culture of the people as a platform to create sustainable programmes to help the youths attain their creative dreams in their communities. Spearheaded by Princess Moradeun Ogunlana who is based in the United States of America, the Global Council of Women for Development is billed to have its 2016 summit as from the 24th of this month. In New York, Now Jersey and Washington DC.

A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) one of its primary objectives is to collaborate with other organisations in the areas of business, agriculture, renewable energy, health, culture, art, education, communication and technology and more, to build a society where the youths are properly directed on how to move forward in life.

Addressing culture reporters on the aim of the 2016 summit and the first ladies forum where awards would be conferred on deserving personalities globally, Ogunlana said, “It is not only going to be moments to bring the women together, it will be a platform to reward those women and men who have used their talents and dynamism to touch people’s lives. Communities that have benefited from the works of some of our awardees will also be brought forth for attention”, she said.

With the backing of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), this group has forged ahead in the whole of Africa and beyond discovering talents and building new crops of young people to be useful in the areas of the art and culture to make for a saner society.

Ogunlana went on: “We are focused on the empowerment and the building of women and the youths. This we do in collaboration with different communities. We are now in Nigeria to collaborate and expand the frontiers of this organisation. We want to touch more lives, especially in the rural communities. We want to let the youths know that it is time now to use their creativity to overcome the world. The richness of arts and culture cannot be over emphasised in this global village where we find ourselves today”.

This is why the Council needs the cooperation of governments and other business organisations to build formidable and reputable community-based platforms to catch the youths early enough. “The summit will be an ample opportunity to recommend laudable programmes to enhance the status of our rural communities. Right here in Nigeria, we will use the first ladies form to focus more on Nigeria, since you know that charity begins at home. Our foremost aim is to celebrate women; women that have depth, that have done so much in the area of creativity to uplift the society and the people. This year we have chosen the first lady of Ogun State, in the person of Olufunso Amosu who has contributed immensely to the development of different communities in the state”.

Not only that she is the first lady of the state, she also has the Uplift Foundation through which she has generously reached out to the people. Making her own contribution, Lai Koiki one of the members of the group said: “we also focus on women and youths achievers from all over Africa. You must be a woman who has made tremendous contributions to the growth of the society to be able to deserve this award”, Koiki decided, saying, “We also have youths ambassadors in this arrangement”.

Other members of the Council present at the briefing were Nkem Raji, Eleru Mojisola Adams and others. The global summit which will commence on 24th of this month will run till the 29th. The venues are Washington DC, New York and New Jersey, all in the United States of America, but with participants from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and the Pacific.

October 9, 2016
A grand narrative on national unity

Nation As Grand Narrative – the Nigerian Press and the politics of meaning by Wale Adebanwi, a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, USA, is a chronicle of Nigerian political history dating back to 1953. In a reading recently in Lagos, Adebanwi took guests through those turbulent years leading to the independence of Nigeria. He did not only give a deeper insight into those years when it wasn’t clear whether Nigerian leaders would be able to handle the teething problems of a nation on the threshold of freedom, but the book also went deeper into the political crisis that threatened to break up colonial Nigeria. Those ugly events, as it were, made it look as if independence was no longer possible.

Reading from the portion entitled Nation as Grand Narrative, Adebanwi, a political scientist and public commentator elaborated, on how those problems were carefully articulated, narrated, elaborated and reported by the ever-sensitive Nigerian press at that moment. “And so on, March 31, 1953, the Honourable Anthony Enahoro submitted a motion in the House of Representatives for a resolution as a primary political objective that Nigeria achieve self –government in 1956. Enahoro added that any other proposal short of full political independence for Nigeria has ceased to be a progressive view, because Nigerian nationalism has moved forward from that position.”

However, “in a response that showed the fault lines of Nigerian nationalism in the late colonial era – and since then – Sir Ahmadu Bello, leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), introduced a dilatory motion substituting the phrasing ‘as soon as practicable for the year 1956 proposed by Enahoro.” Thus, began the bitter rivalry and political acrimony between the North and the South which has up to date pitched Nigeria on a path of divisiveness, ethnicity and hatred.

With the reading set in place, it was time for guests to begin the debate on the reason why Nigeria needs to sit up in order to make for a comprehensive society. Present at the occasion, were Professor Niyi Osundare, Professor Adigun Agbaje, Jimi Agbaje, Olakunle Abimbola. Others were Bisi Fayemi, Tunde Fagbemi, Tayo Koleoso, Fafaa Dan-Princewell, Funke Awolowo, Yinka Odumakin and others.

In his response to the issue of national question which the book raised, Osundare insisted that time has come for Nigerians to move away from the normal habits of making corruption a way of life. “I’ve known Adebanwi for a long time. And he writes to correct the wrongs of the past and to point the way forward. At times, I wonder whether he still finds time to sleep. But he helps us to focus on how to make Nigeria a better place through his many scholarly works.” For Osundare, a professor of English and a renowned poet, this is the time for both the leadership and followership in Nigeria and Africa to look at those sensitive issues to help the societies move on to the next level.

The debates dwelt more on those salient issues needed to make the nation work. Abimbola explained that Nigeria is a Federation and all we need is to work together to make it work. “Yes, we can work to build on that foundation. This is a federation,” he insisted, noting, “all we need now is to work on the fundamental issues that will help for restructuring. This means, we have to sort out the fundamental issues that tend to put us apart. This done, we can then fix Nigeria as a society we can be proud of,” he said.

But for Dan-Princewell, it is not so much as to whether Nigeria can survive as a nation, but that individuals and ethnic groups should stop lording it over others. “The Ijaws, where I belong have as much stake in this project as any other ethnic group in Nigeria. It is unfortunate that each time we gather like this all we hear are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani as if other groups do not exist. But we have forgotten that the Ijaws are scattered here and there in Nigeria and can be said to have a bigger stake here”.

He noted that if Nigeria has to be restructured, those who feel aggrieved must be allowed to air their views. “The nation has to listen to know why they are aggrieved and what needs to be done to appease them. This unity has to be made concrete for Nigeria to make progress.” He, nonetheless, traced the origin of the dispersion of the Ijaws in Nigeria and their strength. “It is time to recognize the place of the minorities and their intellectual contributions to the Nigerian project. Is it Federation that we want? Then let’s work seriously to let it favour everyone”, he remonstrated.

Jimi Agbaje in his contribution drew attention to the place of the young author who has left Nigeria in search of a saner clime to operate and said, “We thought we could keep him (Adebanwi). But he left before we could do that. I think he is safe where he is. This is so because we do not value what we have. But for us to make progress as a nation we have to bring different things to the table of discussion. It is the solution that we give to those issues that will determine our progress as a people and this is the time for it. Leaders have to arrive at a consensus on how to make it right.”

Odumakin who is known for his firebrand comments on national issues noted that the author is one of the most gifted writers of his generation –”a rare breed, a gift to Nigeria”. But again, he pointed out to the gathering that the writer needs to remain in Diaspora. “Stay where you are in the US,” Odumakin advised. “If you are here in Nigeria, your intellectual input will be stifled or rendered useless by the system. Our greatest problem in Nigeria is that there is no consensus among the elite. Can Nigeria then be built without the consensus by the elite?” he asked, insisting, Nigeria has to be made a better place for us all.”

Describing Adebanwi as a rascal, intellectual rascal for that matter, Professor Agbaje, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, said, “it takes a rascal to be a good scholar and that is what Adebanwi has proved so far. He got distinction in his master’s degree in my class. I supervised him. Both in masters and Ph.D., he was so excellent. He was always very serious and I needed very little to do. Today, he has two Ph.Ds – one in Political Science and the second in Anthropology. His journalism background has indeed helped him to come this far. His respect for deadlines is indescribable. He is not only good in the use of language but also in the area of timeliness. From 2009 till date he has written eleven books. He is the 4th Rhodes Professor and the first in Africa. This is indeed unprecedented,” Agbaje, a professor of Political Science explained.

Although there was no consensus on how to ensure a better Nigerian society, what was obvious is that time has come for Nigerian peoples to come together to rethink the society. Whether it is restructuring, negotiation or the like, this is the time to work for a better Nigerian society where fairness to all is the key.

October 9, 2016
Maafa stirs the stage

Maafa is a stage play to mark Nigeria at 56 and was staged at the National Theatre, Lagos to show the nation the possibility of having a united Nigeria. Edozie Udeze reports.

There are many ways of killing a rat. This age-long adage seemed to have summarised the stage play called Maafa. Maafa is the story of the slave trade written by Segun Olujobi. It was staged by the National Troupe of Nigeria in collaboration with Eda Theatre International to mark the 56th independence anniversary of Nigeria. Subtitled point of no return, the play, directed by Makinde Adeniran was held at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, essentially to redraw the attention of the society to those ugly but instructive lessons embedded in the story – the story of the slave trade.

The story was done to deliberately situate the exigencies of the slave trade. It was purposefully staged to showcase the disunity that existed amongst the different communities and settlements that helped the slave merchants and traders to have successful expeditions not just in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole. While the people lived in fear of the excesses of the white man and what he stood for, some local slave traders connived with the invaders to hunt and harass their people. Even when the brave ones among them made efforts to resist these maltreatments and forceful enslavement of the able-bodied men and women, the hatred emanating from the local people themselves did not help for protection and progress and growth.

Therefore, the story of Maafa was chosen for the purpose of trying to inform and re-educate the Nigerian people on the need for unity. It was to highlight the ingredients of progress where the people work with one mind and with the sole purpose of achieving greatness for all.

The hero of the play was Osusu. He stood up for his people. He was faced with the task of defending his people even when it seemed he would not be able to go far. Osusu was not deterred. Through the narrator of the play in the person of Soibifa Dokubo (Waka), it was easier to understand the mission which Osusu set out to accomplish. He was like a godlike warrior in the throes of deep-rooted hatred and acrimony not just from the white overlords, but also from their local agents who stood between the people and their destinies. It was while Osusu worked hard to liberate the people and set them on the path to freedom that those who collaborated with outsiders also worked assiduously to ensure that that unity was shattered and broken.

The narrator was the son of Osusu turked away on top of the stage. From there he witnessed what went on on stage. It was a vintage position from where he told the story to stir the audience. As his voice boomed intermittently, it was clear to all that man’s worst enemy is his next door neighbour; indeed his own kith and kin. “Yes this is the story of the slave trade, more of man’s inhumanity to man”, the narrator said, as his voice tore deep into the hall. “It is the story of an untold truth; of how man in Africa sold out and yet he did not gain from it. It is our story; our own history, our fate”, he informed, throwing out his hands for emphasis.

Not even when Osusu’s entreaties to be left alone to remain useful to his people were made known to the white people could they allow him to be. Now, if the people were not divided among themselves; if those deep elements of hatred were not there, the white colonialists would not have been able to penetrate them.

Now what of the domestic slavery? What of the state of hunger and cheating that tend to tear the nation to pieces today? If the slave trade of yore was totally inhuman, what are we doing about today’s Nigeria where dichotomy still prevails, where ethnic jingoism and perversion of justice still holds sway?

Sold into slavery with his pregnant wife and son through the deceit and deception of his own people, Osusu was at a crossroads about what to do; how to face his future and that of his people. However, he chose to fight, even when his own son was also wallowing in the same state to unite the people. It was a horrendous moment for a man chained and imprisoned just for standing for the truth. As a warlord, his image loomed larger than life. His destiny was tied to the welfare and wellbeing of his people. All the tribes must be invited so as to ward off the excesses of the invaders; marauders whose sole aim was to divide and maltreat and enslave and chain the people.

With this, the stage was set for a battle royal between the white people and the locals. When the prison walls finally fell, it was clear the combined powers and love shown by the community was overwhelming. This was what they needed from the word go to overpower their tormentors. This is the story of liberation, the story of change – the type of change that is sincere in all ramifications so that no one is for no one but for all. It is not the type of change that favours only a few while the rest still wallow in deprivation and object poverty.

The beauty of the story is in the usage of diverse local costumes to depict the scenes. The scenes were convincing. The set was in conformity with the aim of the story. The stage was equally done in three parts. The first one was an elevated platform from where the musicians and drummers ditched out wonderful tunes to spice the scenes. The songs rendered by the artistes were sorrowful and heart-piercing. They were meant to dilute the messages embedded in Maafa. The drummers ensured that the sounds got to the heart of the matter.

The second platform was built on top of the prison yard cum the main stage. There, perched the narrator whose presence was unmistakable. Adorned in a typical Niger-Delta chieftaincy regalia, he bestrode colour and class. His presence was too imposing for the audience to ignore. He was almost ubiquitous as he narrated the scenes and told the story before hand. While this was on, the main stage tilted between the roles of the white people and those of their agents and the local people. Then the costumes were all-encompassing to accommodate as many tribes as possible. The songs were rendered in different local tongues to make it become all-inclusive. The ones in English were essentially to juxtapose the roles of the white overlords.

“The play is to teach us what to do to be a better society. It is our story, written to show us the way forward”, so said Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director of the Troupe. “It is a lesson for us at 56 on how to love one another at all times. We have to conquer the enemy outside to be able overcome our own internal differences. This way, Nigeria can then move forward,” he said.

For Professor Ahmed Yerima, a former director of the Troupe, “this is our story. It has not been told this deep and direct in a long time. This is why I commend the Troupe, the artistes and all for a job well-done. Let us try to look at the salient issues raised here to help us move forward as a nation,” Yerima said.

On his part, Adeniran cautioned that Nigerians themselves have to learn to love one another. “It is a lesson for us all, more so for the artistes who were able to unite to give us this wonderful show. It is to them, I give the credit for the success of this play”.

The play is billed to go places in order to continue to register its essence in the lives of the people. Leaders also need to learn one or two lessons from it for the good of all.

October 9, 2016
Kuforiji-Olubi: Woman of substance at 80

She is a woman of many firsts. In her younger days, many of her male counterparts could not stand up to her. In a male, dominated world, she found her place early. But one achievement Otunba Ayora Bolajoko Aduke Dorcas Kuforiji-Olubi cherishes most is the gift of long life. She joined the octogenarian club last week. She celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends at a high-profile thanksgiving at the All Saints’ Church in Yaba, Lagos Mainland. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

Otunba Ayora Bolajoko Aduke Dorcas Kuforiji-Olubi is 80. Family members and friends joined her to celebrate the event at the All Saints’ Church, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

Born in Lagos on September 28, 1936, Otunba Kuforiji-Olubi has excelled on many fronts. She is the first woman president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an industrialist extraordinaire.

Widely recognised (nationally and internationally) as a financial expert and industrialist, she chaired several boards in private and government organisations. She is also a former Secretary (Minister) of Commerce and Industry; and a devout Christian of the Anglican faith.

It is no surprise that she celebrated her 80th birthday with thanksgiving. One could hardly believe she was 80. She looked respledent in a beautiful yellow and cream attire that complemented her skin.

It was a day of celebrations. But Mrs Kuforiji-Olubi was not alone. Her family and friends attended the event. Some of the notable personalities are former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel; former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; incumbent Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa; wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola; wife of the late Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olori Ladun; founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Otunba Subomi Balogun and wife, Olori Abimbola and ace photographer Sunmi Smart-Cole.

They called her a “woman of excellence”, a “philanthropist”, “detribalised Nigerian”, whose early exposure to various cultures and religions are responsible for her ability to mix with people from diverse nationalities and in different areas of Nigeria.

The ceremony, which was officiated by the Vicar, Venerable Femi Fatile, had notable clerics in attendance. In his sermon titled: Put on new eyes, Most Revd Adebayo Akinde (rtd) called for sober reflection in the face of achievements. Akinde, who took his text from Isaiah 60, urged Nigerians to seek spiritual enrichment above material gains, saying such move would have positive impact on the nation.

Revd Akinde, a former Bishop of the Anglican Communion, said: “More than ever before, give yourselves to spiritual living. Many Christians are spiritually blind. Give yourselves to the study of God’s word. What are you living for? Each year we mark our anniversary, we are drawing closer to our final departure. Therefore, we must pay more attention to how we live our lives. What is the end of your earthly journey?”

Revd Akinde praised the Mrs Kuforiji-Olubi, advising guests to emulate the celebrator, who, he said, remains humble despite her accomplishments. “I praise your character of goodness and love for God. Mrs Ayora Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, God has been good to you, and I know you know it. Despite intimidating challenges, you are still standing. You are a special daughter of God and the God, who has blessed you this much and that has kept you these past 80 years, will continue to strengthen you,” the cleric said.

Those who did not come sent their messages, which the celebrator published in her programme.

In his goodwill message, Amosun described her as “a pioneering high achiever” who has attained several ground-breaking records. He said: “The occasion of your 80th birthday calls for the celebration of the remarkable achievements you have recorded over the years.

“Our dear nation has benefited immensely from your invaluable contributions to the private sector of its economy. I wish to note that your achievements when you served as Deputy Chairman and Honourable Secretary (Minister) for Commerce and Tourism in the Interim National Government in 1993 remain a reference point.

“On this occasion of your 80th birthday, I pray that the good Lord will preserve you for many more years, in good health and sound mind, so that our dear state and nation will continue to derive inspiration from your exemplary life and benefit from your rich experience.”

Mrs Feyi George, who is also the celebrator’s cousin and former pupil, called Mrs Kuforiji-Olubi her “hero”, saying: “Aunty Bola is a very special person I have admired all my life”.

“Today, aunty is celebrating her 80th birthday and it is with great joy in my heart that I salute her. I salute her as an icon, as a leader and as a good mother. Tokunbo, Kunle and Joke have a lot to be proud of and a great legacy to live up to. May this celebration of her 80th year on earth, remain a source of joy, not only to her but to us her aburos!”

One of Mrs Kuforiji-Olubi’s favourite teachers, Mrs Bess Santos, nee Enahoro, who is fondly called “Sisi Bess”, said: “A special wish to celebrate your birthday with you. Time rushes by so quickly, it’s hard to believe how fast and now we are celebrating that 80 years have gone past in your life!

“I remember a diligent young lady, who took her academics very seriously and whose excellence in mathematics could never be faulted … a student who was a pleasure to teach. It gives me great pleasure to send you this special wish on this joyous occasion. May God abide with you and keep you safe. Happy 80th birthday, Dorcas.”

Describing the celebrator as “a very charming lady, who had many suitors, but always too bookworm, her classmate, Mrs Henrietta Olaitan Anthonio, wrote: “Dear our beloved sister and friend Lady Dorcas Ayus is 80, yet she does not look her age. We praise God. She has very cheerful disposition. All our classmates loved her to assist us with our homework, we studied in the bush, you were very intelligent and not proud.

“Always helpful. No wonder you achieved so much, and are our Teacher, Miss Bess Enahoro, who later became Mrs Santos, padi. Her royal highness was very kind-hearted and sympathetic… always in top form. I can write about her without stopping. I brought out our school photographs in case you did not have, hey I pray that the good Lord will always be with you and the family, amen”

Goddy Jidenma Foundation sent its best wishes. Its message signed by its vice chairman, Prof Pat Utomi, and executive secretary, Dr Ije Jidenma, reads: “We commend you for your great strides and the contributions you have made to our country, Nigeria as a professional and business leader having served as the first female president of ICAN, and Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA). Your contributions as a notable leader in other spheres are well documented, including your brief role as the Secretary for Commerce and Tourism in the Interim National Government. May God’s grace and infinite blessings and goodness not depart from you and your household.”

The celebrator thanked the church, clerics and guests for their support and goodwill. She thanked God for sound health and long life, saying she was ill, but recovered in good time for her birthday celebrations. “I thank you all for coming to rejoice with me. God bless,” she said.

October 5, 2016
Printed word beyond the spoken story

The gripping collection of 10 short stories, Blood Will Call by Sola Osofisan, aptly depicts a committed soul laden with the call of writing by blood.

Sola showed early promise while living in Nigeria with the unprecedented double-barreled winning of twin Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) prizes in the same year. He achieved the feats through the manuscripts he submitted which beat published books to the coveted awards.

The books were eventually published by Heinemann Nigeria in 1991 as The Living and the Dead and Darksongs. The publishing outfit Malthouse also released another of Osofisan’s book Darkvisions. It is noteworthy that Sola now resides in New Jersey, United States after his family won the American Visa Lottery.

Sola’s vision as can be gleaned from the titles of his books is dark. In the new short story collection, Blood Will Call, darkness still rules the roost. The first story, “A Mother Screaming” is a heart-rending tale of a mother going into labour in the forest with her five-year-old daughter Ebitimi totally helpless. The stricken woman asks her poor daughter to flee with her new blood brother before the advent of the evil men of the wild who ensure that “she was dragged upright and added to the end of the jangling chain link” of the slave traders. Ebitimi bears witness to a reality that can unman the strongest of men thus: “Only the patch of drying blood on the ground was left of her mother.”

The title story, Blood Will Call props attention from the oral to the scribal and even to the audio-visual. The story starts ominously at a time that “was not a Storyteller’s night” because the moon “clung desperately to the night, seemingly fearful it would lose its grip and plummet in shame like a fallen god …” Itanpadeola, the acclaimed Storyteller of storytellers, comes to the village of Ifeoloju to tell his stories only to end up in bitter disappointment. His lament rings true: “Time has moved on…” He opens up to his brother Ogunbodede that the modern times have overtaken them, stressing: “How can one out-talk the radio, out-dance their television, out-run their motor car and in the same breath out-electrify electricity? If you know the secret, pray share. Tell me, how?” It is in accepting the book of stories, Tales My Father Gave Wings, authored by his son Itangbemi who had gone to the city that he learns that “more people may be reading it and hearing his son’s words than he had performed before his entire lifetime on the road.” Crucially the one message the son sent to the father is just a word: Forever. For the celebrated storyteller of yore, the city beckons.

Violence and desolation are twice-told stories of the oil-rich Niger Delta as limned by Osofisan in “Shifting Sand”. Kalada is the tragic prop of a terrain besieged on all fronts as he bears the heavy burden of post-imprisonment: “Kalada pushed himself to his feet, still reeling from the ailments that had gnawed away at his flesh in prison. Each bone in his body cracked reluctantly awake to feel the half-blind sun. It had been a while since he had witnessed the morning a free man. He swallowed two pills from the small stained envelope the prison nurse had shoved indifferently into his hand as he was released the previous day.”

The celebration of the so-called American Dream is never within the hemisphere of the characters that dominate Osofisan’s stories set in the United States. The American Nightmare suits their bill as in the story “Fallen” in which a Nigerian immigrant who speaks in “my carefully cultivated African American accent” is promptly laid low by the shady racist David Marone with the note: “You are not black American.”

The longest story in the collection “Don’t Come To America, Emeka” is hip and contemporary, starting out with the exchange of text messages between two medical doctor friends, Dr Emeka Asike in Nigeria and Dr Uche Ofoegbu in the United States. Uche’s advice to Emeka goes to the heart of the matter: “Don’t come to America, Emeka. If you must come, follow the example of the Northerners; they fly in for a brief spell to study, negotiate a big deal or purchase equipment for their factories and before the temptation to remain here germinates, they are back home in Nigeria. I can’t say I have encountered a single Hausa man in the African markets or on a bus in the time I’ve been here. Not one. It may be that my current psychological state keeps me from the circle within which they thrive, considering they tend to have deep pockets and I don’t. Nevertheless, stay in Nigeria where your wife treats you like a king and looks to you to provide for the family.” He of course defies the warning and comes to America, but fails for a fourth time to pass the America medical license exam, thus becoming a woe to his wife Martha who is a rich qualified Nurse and family breadwinner. He hits the wife in frustration but the wife does not call the police. The poor soul cannot wait long enough to quit America and his wife and kids for trouble-strewn Nigeria, only he has no money to buy the return ticket…

Osofisan has a gift for the demanding art of the short story. He can do arresting dialogue and delineates his diverse characters adroitly. Blood Will Call deserves celebration.

October 5, 2016
‘Ilojo Bar must be restored’

On the eve of Eld-El-Kabir, September 11, a developer pulled down the 190-year-old national monument, Ilojo Bar, at the Tinubu Square, Lagos. National Commission for Museums and Monuments Director-General Yusuf Abdallah Usman recalls the commission’s long battle to preserve the monument.

Ilojo Bar (formerly known as Casa De Fernendez or Angel House) was built 190 years ago and, in all these years, it stood as the best example of Brazilian style architecture introduced by Africans who regained their freedom from their “Portuguese masters” in Brazil. Its historical, social and architectural values have been well acclaimed, thus, prompting the Federal Government to give it special protection status as a National Monument through Gazette 25 Vol. 43 of April 5, 1956.

Since then, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments has been maintaining, promoting and preserving the monument with members of the Olaiya Family, Lagos State government and other stake holders both local and international.

The threat to this historic building has been unfolding for sometime due to rising commercial interest in view of its strategic location. In October, last year, a member of the family wrote to the Commission saying that one of them was trying to engage a private developer to demolish the monument and clear the place for commercial development.

In response to this, a meeting was called with the family members led by Mr. Daniel Adewale Olaiya on January 19, 2016. The meeting discussed the issues around the monument, including its legal status, how the structure is put to use and the grievances of the family members. It was finally agreed that the statues quo of the monument should remain while they submit their complains through appropriate official channel but nothing was heard from them since then.

The recent threat to demolish the monument came on July 2, 2016, when a developer in collusion with some members of the family mobilised a bulldozer and some armed men with the intent to demolish the structure. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments got information about the move and quickly mobilised the Lagos museum staff and Lagos State government officials, who accosted the group and frustrated the attempt. In the meantime the attention of law enforcement agencies was drawn.

On July, this year, the developer again mobilised to demolish the building and this action was again rebuffed this time through the intervention of Hon. Agboola Dabiri Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on the Lagos Central Business District.Following his intervention,a stakeholders’ meeting was summoned at Lagos State secretariat Alausa, Ikeja where Hon.AbikeDabiri-Erewa did everything possible to avert the demolition of the monument.

Subsequently on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 a stakeholders’meeting was convened by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments at the National Museum, Lagos involving major stakeholders. This include members of the Olaiya family, management staff of National museum, Lagos, representatives of Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and that of the Brazillian Consulate, Benedita Gouveia Simonetti and Adeniran Arimoro.

During the meeting, the stakeholders agreed that steps must be taken to safeguard the monument from any threat, including involving law enforcement agencies and placement of notice on the site notifying the public about the status of the building. The meeting also agreed to revive an earlier plan to organise a gala night to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the monument.

To our greatest surprise however, on Saturday, August 27, 2016, the same developer again mobilised his bulldozer and actually damaged a portion of the building. A petition was written and submitted to the Area Commander of the Nigerian Police (Lion building), requesting the arrest and prosecution of the culprits but apparently the police did not find the matter serious enough to detain or prosecute them.

Seeing the levity with which the Area Command handled the matter, another petition was written on August 29, this year to the AIG Zone 2 Onikan. Meanwhile on Thursda, September 1, 2016, Hon Dabiri-Erewa was again approached and he gave an official letter to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development requesting the ministry to withdraw a letter of permit for demolition said to be given to the developer. Another letter was written to the Governor intimating him about the status of the monument and seeking his assistance to safeguard it.

However, despite all the efforts of highly responsible and patriotic individuals and government agencies, the developer on the eve of Eid-el Kabir (September 11, 2016) sneaked in with his instrument of destruction and wilfully demolished the Ilojo Bar, an outstanding historic and architectural monument that has adored the cultural landscape of Lagos Island for nearly two centuries.

This sad event is a critical turning point in the history of heritage management in Nigeria. The shocking way the action was carried out without any shame and embarrassment is a source of serious concern for the National Commission for Museums and Monuments as heritage managers and for all responsible Nigerians who love history and culture. The action is not only criminal, but it has robbed us of an important heritage resource that helps defines us as a people and assist our understanding of our past and our projection of the future.

The demolition has destroyed a masterpiece of the only surviving Brazilian houses in Lagos with its attractive arches and fine iron works as statue described as being “Gothic in style and balustrade reminiscent of a Venetian palace”. It has done great injustice to the credit of African craftsmanship in architecture which has exerted great influence on Yoruba architecture that is today visible in all parts of Yoruba land.

Indeed, the demolition has eliminated the tangible evidence of social and cultural impact of the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition. It has wiped away an outstanding source of memory and history of freed slaves and their roles and impact in the evolution and development of cosmopolitan urban Lagos. At the same time it has destroyed one of the outstanding symbolic evidence of cultural ties between Nigeria and Black diaspora in general and Brazil in particular.

This dastardly act has distorted the eminent position of Lagos in colonial history as centre where returnee slaves from Brazil built houses in the new architectural fashion when Lagos was created as a colony, thus impoverishing Lagos of its rich architectural urban history and undermining its acclaimed status as centre of excellence.

However, the NCMM will not rest on its oars until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book. In line with the powers and responsibilities conferred on it by NCMM Act, Cap N19, Laws of the federal republic of Nigeria 2004, the NCMM will ensure that criminal action is brought on the culprits as well as demand full compensation for the demolished monument. It will be reconstructed and fully restored according to professional restoration standards. We wish to assure all Nigerians that the Ilojo Bar will be restored as it is a fully documented National Monument with an up-to-date and comprehensive documentation of its architectural history and design details. Consequently, NCMM is poised to restore Ilojo Bar back to its original authentic form.

In the meantime, the site of the monument being an integral heritage space is being explored for rescue archaeology and heritage impact assessment.

We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join the National Commission for Museums and Monument in saving, protecting and maintaining our national heritage resources.

October 5, 2016
Osofisan inducted as Thalia laureate

Nigeria’s famous playwright, scholar and literary giant Prof Femi Osofisan has been inducted as the winner of the prestigious Thalia Award by the United Nations Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), global partner in the performing Arts – the International Association of Theatre Critics.

The event, which was attended by over 150 world authorities in theatre criticism from 66 countries took place last week in the German Embassy in Serbia.

The Nigeria Ambassador to Serbia and the German Ambassador to Serbia led the cream of the international community who witnessed the glamourous event.

Osofisan has by the feat become the first African to be so recognised by the respected Thalia Award Committee. The award is a unique professional honour, next only to the Nobel Prize for literature, which Nigeria won in 1986.

Enroute Belgrade to be installed as a Thalia laureate, Osofisan was celebrated by the African continent as one of its leading dramatists at an impressive ceremony in Egypt.

On September 20, Osofisan was honoured as one of the icons of African Theatre at this year’s edition of the Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre. This came few months after the Pan African Writers Association honoured him for his contributions to the literary development of the continent.

Osofisan thanked the organisers for the life-changing honour that has shifted global attention to African Theatre and Literature, which he believes has a lot more to offer humanity and the emerging global knowledge economy.

October 5, 2016
The dilemma of media

Doctoral students of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG) are out with a report chronicling factors that influence media organisations’ commitment to keeping the fabrics of the society together by promoting national interest.

THE obligation to keep the fabrics of the society together by promoting national interest of the country has been identified as the major factor of information dissemination mass media organisations, according to a study by this year’s doctoral students of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

“National interest and other factors, such as ownership, commercial and political interests, have also influenced the media organisations commitment to these philosophies,” the report says.

Other factors are pressure to survive especially during periods of economic downturn; corporate and personal security of the staff; regulatory agencies; public relations consultants; and legal matters.

The study by the doctoral students was carried out under the supervision of communication scholar, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye and a senior lecturer, who is also acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication, UNILAG, Dr Oloruntola Sunday.

The philosophy of a media house is the collective vision that a media organisation brings to bear in its operations. Such a vision represents the standard and critical elements of a company’s organisational strategy and it is what drives the daily operations of the media organisations. Similarly, it constructs in advance the terms of any discussion that will take place about the organisation or any issue arising from the corporate life or purpose of the organisation.

Twenty-one media establishments, from both print and electronic, were covered in the study. They were purposively selected by the researchers for the study that was designed primarily to identify the philosophies of selected media organisations; determine the extent to which the selected media organisations adhere to their stated philosophies; and ascertain the factors that affect their adherence to these philosophies.

Although the operations of media organisations are guided by the stated philosophies, oftentimes enshrined in their mission statements, the observation that sometimes some of them have had cause to bend the rules in favour of certain interests, motivated the study. The researchers are Afoke Hope Orivri, Daniel Kunde, David Olaluwoye, Emmanuel Ojila, Husseini Hassan Shaibu, Kabir Alabi Garba, and Musa Sule.

Others are Olalekan Sote, Dayo Duyile, Peter Kehinde Akodu, Solomon Ntukekpo, and Vincent Nwanma.

Specifically, the study, which ran between April and August, this year, sampled the views of 21 senior media practitioners comprising correspondents, news and line editors, assistant and deputy editors-in-chief, managing editors and editors-in-chief who have at least five years of professional experience, using both survey design and structured interview methods.

While all these media houses possessed philosophies as expected, the terms accuracy, fairness, truthfulness, balance, objectivity, factuality, and safeguarding public interest were common key terms in their philosophies. While national interests easily passed for public interests in usage in all the philosophies, the usage seemed particularly emphatic in federal government-owned media. The covert commercial interest symbolism embedded the philosophies of privately owned media. Seventy percent of media organisations, especially the print media, attached greater value to news while 16 percent of them laid emphasis on entertainment and sports. However, the study revealed that organisational deviation from the stated philosophies diminished whatever values and beauties shown in the analysis of the findings.

Respondents pointed out constraints responsible for this deviation: vested interests and factors beyond the media practitioners’ control. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents maintained that their organisations’ adherence to corporate philosophies is low while 28 percent stated that their organisations moderately adhere to their philosophies. Only 10 percent of respondents thought the degree of adherence to the corporate philosophies is very high.

Also, the study sought a value-based answer in the area of organisational pressure of media practitioners to drop news item(s) when the news item does not in any way violate the corporate philosophy of the media organisation. Ninety percent of respondents admitted they have been under pressure to drop such news item(s), which they viewed as a violation of the philosophies of their organisations. However, 10 percent of respondents said they never experienced any pressure for dropping news items.

Ninety-five percent of respondents who were under pressure to drop some news items actually obliged, though unwillingly, while one respondent said he did not oblige. From the data, however, it would appear killing news in media organisations seldom occurs. The study appraised other variables like modulation of news item(s) to suit certain interests instead of outright killing of the news. Ninety percent of respondents have come under pressure to modify some stories to pacify some vested interests or fit into some contexts. Ten percent of respondents, however, never came under pressure to modify their news content. Twisting or scaling down news items appears not to be a frequent practice in the media organisations.

All the respondents agreed that national interest, one of the factors, impinge on their adherence to corporate philosophies of media houses as there is always the struggle to balance national and organisational interests. Eighty-six percent of respondents saw ownership interest as another dominant factor that negatively influences adherence to corporate philosophies by media organisations. Sixty-seven percent of respondents maintained that advertisers bear a lot of influence on their operational philosophy while 43 percent said political interests impinge on their adherence to their philosophies.

Twenty-four percent of respondents said threat to their corporate existence and security of staff are responsible for not upholding their philosophies while 14 percent of respondents said public relations practitioners did influence sometimes. Twenty-four percent of respondents said regulatory agencies are responsible for not adhering to their philosophies while one respondent said fear of legal matters makes his organisation to deviate from its philosophy.

From the context of this study, it is instructive to note that media organisations have philosophies, but the manner of professional practice does not sync with this confirmation. However, the knowledge of the factors that impinge on adherence to those philosophies such as national interest, ownership interest, economic downturn, threat to life, political influence, advertisers’ interest, public relations, and regulatory agencies will assist media managers to begin to fashion out strategies to mitigate the side effects of these factors.

Indeed, one issue raised by the study, which has continued to defy consensus among communication scholars and public policy formulators, is the definition of what constitutes ‘national interest’. The study asserts thus, “Unfortunately, there is no precise conceptualisation of what is national interest until date. To this extent, the constitutive and nuances of national interest are still ambiguous. The determination of what constitutes national interest still resides within the purview of the national security agencies and sometimes the instrument is used as ambush tactics by overzealous security operatives. The implication here is that journalists often find it difficult to determine when they are crossing the borders and stepping on the landmines called national interest.”

Based on the findings, the study therefore tasks media organisations to ensure that they adhere to their corporate philosophy because it is their identity and the social bond between them and the public.

Also, it emphasises the need for media owners (government and private) allowing their organisations to operate freely to promote best professional practice, in addition to ensuring prompt payment of staff salaries “so that the staff can avoid unethical practices and protect the corporate integrity of the organisations.”

The study has special admonition for the security operatives: “They must respect the rights of media practitioners. In fact, they must realise that issues regarding fundamental human rights, freedom of information, expression, and rule of law are the bedrock of operation in a democratic system of government.”

If Nigeria’s desire to attain democratic maturity with all its nuances is genuine, both government and media operatives should pay attention to the findings of this study. It anchors this attainment on a free, responsible, self-regulated media, which is always in dialogue with itself and the reading/viewing/listening public.

The study’s argument is that “when the media regulates itself through constant dialogue with the public, such media will earn public trust and confidence, which are the ingredients needed to discharge its constitutionally recognized obligation of holding government accountable to the people, thereby stimulating good governance.”

October 5, 2016
My mother and I, by Wale Aboderin

A forthnight ago, children of the late Mrs Jadesola Aboderin celebrated her posthumous 80th birthday in Lagos. Her first son, Wale, is the Chairman of Punch Newspapers Ltd. He spoke with NNEKA NWANERI about his childhood and how running the family business prevented him from becoming a pilot.

How has it been without your mother all these years?

I don’t even remember that I am fatherless and motherless, because I am not Godless. You don’t have anybody to look up to than to look up to God. Everything that I have said is in the biography written in honour of my late mother, Mrs Florence Jadesola Aboderin. It is entitled: Unsung Greatness. I can guarantee you that the book was not exaggerated or made up, because the only thing that was missing from my mother was the wings of an angel; and I mean it.

Why hasn’t her exemplary life rubbed off on society?

It is said that the good is varied with people, and I get a heart break knowing that that will continue to be the case because we don’t have a system in place whereby even the government recognises the proper hero and all the things they have done in life. So I cannot expect people to change or things to go in another direction, but I can do my own little part to let people know so that maybe they can turn to honour some people while they are still alive. Make people know that because they are doing good, people should know them. Just like the Holy Bible says, there is nothing that has happened that hasn’t happened before, and won’t happen again. But these occurrences are given to us as a testimony, so that those that see such things happening can key into it. This is a very good example of what happened at my mother’s 80th posthumous birthday. It was an opportunity for people to remember her and tell stories of her, and in so doing, impact on those who do not know her; most especially the younger ones who in their own way can do better than she did.

Do you regret doing the house chores?

It’s so long ago, but I don’t think I have any regrets. We are very independent kids, we have to stand on our own when she’s off to work, and wherever we were we always took control of things. We have always been leaders. But I don’t think there was a time I regretted her not being around to do house chores.

Do you regret taking up the family business?

The only regret is that it has kept me from being what I wanted to be and doing those things I really love to do. I would have been a pilot, musician, an actor, or anything in the art which I really love doing and have a flair for. But my number one ambition was to be a pilot because I really love to fly.

What do you do at your leisure?

I have a female basketball team which I coach at my spare time. I love to watch basketball on TV and the Paralympic Games which inspires me.

Why do you avoid social scenes

I want to attend parties, but I have consciously refused to because I don’t have the time to tell lies. I am not saying this to say politicians are liars, but I would rather use my time thinking of ways to help humanity. Look at what is happening in America: Donald Trump came out to tell the truth, the establishment didn’t like it and are now doing everything to work against him. Yet, he keeps winning. Why? Because there is someone who wants to tell the truth and do things differently. He does not talk like a polished politician, that is why people think that he is speaking ‘rubbish’. But we don’t need a politician…we need a leader who will speak the truth. As for me, I will rather in my time and space, do what I can do by telling the truth. When I go to places where my integrity would be compromised, the Devil sees it as an opportunity to get me. But as long as I know in my heart that what I am doing is the right thing, and that I am a brand and the brand stands for integrity; my personality, then I have no one to answer to. God says in the Bible that he will convert our wisdom to foolishness. The foolishness of the Lord is better than the wisdom of man. Thus the reason why I like to do those things that people can’t understand. Let them gossip and talk. It gives me no good reason to look back when working because I am not afraid of anyone, neither have I lied to anyone. I just keep moving forward.

Why are you always playful and wear a smile?

People have often wondered why I keep smiling even when under stress. It is the peace of the Lord that gives me strength. I just keep smiling, even when someone has annoyed me. It takes more energy to frown when people have annoyed you. When they see you are unhappy, they believe they have won and I don’t have time for such people. In my own corner, I’ll just keep smiling and let it expand from there, with the hope that it would be infectious.

A word for Nigerians

We are too populated in Nigeria. There is a saying that a child who loves his teens will remain in bondage. All we do is grumble, forgetting that if everybody can take one step forward, count the number of steps, we would have ended up going around the world doing good. But here, nobody is ready to take that first step. If you can do a common favour to a stranger, the world would be a better place.

October 5, 2016
Rotary Gbagada inducts president

Penultimate Sunday at the Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos Island, members of the Rotary Club, Gbagada, installed Olanrewaju Akintilo as their 33rd president. JOSEPH ESHANOKPE reports.

THE Greetings Hall of Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos, was a beehive of activities two Sundays ago when members of the Rotary Club of Gbagada inducted Olanrewaju Akintilo as their 33rd president.

Outgoing president of the club Otunba Olusola Adenuga-Taiwo was glad that he had completed his one year tenure. Presenting his scorecard, he noted that he completed at least one project in each of the six core areas of the Rotary Foundation.

He said the club also completed a project started by his predecessor Prof Olukayode Taiwo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and chartered a new Rotary club in Ago Iwoye. It inducted four members, contributed immensely to the Rotary Foundation and PolioPlus Fund, and supported small scale businesses with N1.5million in Ososa, Ijebu, Ogun State.

Specifically, Adenuga-Taiwo praised Hon Isola Ogunsola for his support; adding that without him, he would not have achieved much. He gave him and some Board members of the club awards.

After his speech, Akintilo was called to the podium. He shone in his white dress, with office insignia dangling around his neck. After his citation, at 3.50pm, Akintilo was ‘sworn-in as the 33rd president amid a song titled: ‘It’s a small world. It is a small world. It is a small, small world.’’

At that moment, the District Governor (DG) Pat Ikheloa arrived in the hall. The MC, while welcoming the DG, said the DG came ‘’at the right time when the mantle of leadership is being passed to Akintilo’’.

Akintilo paid tribute to his grandmother Madam Segilola Adeagbo (Iya Ibeji) for his upbringing, and more importantly, for inculcating in him the virtue of doing good. He decried the resurgence of polio virus, two years after Nigeria was cleared of the epidemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Akintilo sought support to tackle the disease and ensure that it is eradicated.

On his card for the year are the provision of two dialysis machines at the General Hospital, Gbagada and renovation of Ifako Primary School. So far, he has presented some materials to children suffering from clinic feet at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

Launching a special fund to prosecute his projects and programmes, Akintilo urged his friends and family members to assist his administration. The response was impressive as there was ‘naira and dollar rain’ thereafter.

The President-elect Adefowoke Williams described Akintilo as a seasoned PR practitioner. She reminded him that he was ‘taking over a winning club, noting: ‘’It is the leading club in District 9110, having won the ‘coveted best club award’ for 13 years, seven of which were back-to-back and produced three DGs since it was carted in 1984’’.

Lagos State University (LASU) Vice Chancellor Prof Lanre Fagbohun, who was guest speaker, sought support for youth empowerment, saying that the success of a nation depended on its youths. Education, he noted, could galvanise the youth for national development. With the right education, he submitted, the youth, would be prepared for national assignments.

Fagbohun , who spoke for about 15 minutes, praised Rotary and similar organisations for living up to their objectives and that they always look for ways to make lives better.

Reeling off statistics, he painted a gloomy picture of daily living and that ‘our world is falling apart’’. To solve the problem, he called on everyone to contribute to make life batter, lamenting that some people pass through this world without giving a helping hand.

October 5, 2016