The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • Remembering Christopher Okigbo

    Remembering Christopher Okigbo

    It all began before we set out to Idoto…the exchange in verses. Responding to Amu-nnadi’s poem announcing his journey from Port Harcourt to Awka, the poet, NdukaOtiono had cheerily declared “See you in Awka this weekend, Chijioke as poetry becomes love, becomes war…”   Well, Otiono was quite prophetic; it was love. It was war. But it was also memory. A memory of love.A memory of war. A memory of love and war… as poets became pilgrims and pilgrims became prophets; tracing the footsteps of the poet-protagonist in Heavensgate.

    We had set out from the Okigbo compound after breaking his birthday cake and downing several cups of tasty palm wine. Mother Idoto had summoned all the children of Christopher Okigbo for a feast of return under the floral canopy of her grove. Poets from far and near had arrived Ojoto with voices tremulous with new songs. They had all assembled in answer to the call for The Return to Idoto … Poetry’s most illustrious river!

    We arrived a point where we would have no further need of our vehicles and disembarked. Someone had pointed at a verdant green forest as we sped by and remarked that it was known as theOilbean Forest. His remark ignited interest since oilbean occupies a great place in Okigbo’s poetry.We filed out like worshippers arriving in a temple. As we stood in what seemed like a single file,Okigbo’s lines in Fragments out of the Deluge came to me unbidden “And to the cross in the void came pilgrims; Came, floating with burnt-out tapers,”Okigbo had sung and I began to see everyone on the journey as a pilgrim of sorts. We had all come to immerse ourselves in the mythologies of Okigbo’s art which requires a complete self-surrender that might help our understanding of his poems by sharing in a piece of his lived experience.

    The voice of OkigboMbem wafted into the mid-day air as we lined up in a single file. OkigboMbem who may well pass for a male version of Chielo, the priestess of Agbala in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, led the procession. His voice rose and fell eerily with the wind, imbuing the air with a gathering ritual. His voice switched seamlessly from invocation to incantation and then supplication, spraying spells in dizzying torrents. Then suddenly, a middle aged woman emerged with emblems of a religious worship. A priestess of Idoto, she was colourfully dressed in the ceremonial clothing of her office. A crown of beads graced her head. She had a flywhisk on one hand and a bowl of offerings on the other. Her appearance lent depth to the procession.We were soon joined by another priestess, similarly dressed and exuding the peculiar charms of a sorcerer. Their combined aura completed the ring of solemnity around the procession.

    The procession observed brief stopovers at two sacred places before we continued our journey to the riverbank. At one of the stops, ObiageliOkigbo fired up her laptop and played a recorded voice of her poet father recitingElegy for Alto, a poem in Path of Thunder, a set of poems prophesying the Biafran War that eventually claimed him. A cold chill descended on everyone as we listened to his voice lament; “the robbers descend on us to strip us of our laughter, of our thunder.” A new sense of awakening draped the pilgrims on hearing the poet for the first time and getting a new intimation beyond the pages of his verse. I quickly recalled that in an interview several years ago, the nonagenarian poet, Gabriel Okara had told me that Okigbo did not have a good reading voice. But I was too awestruck by the sudden reality of hearing Christopher Okigbo’s voice to tell whether Okara was right or wrong. In retrospect though, it did appear to me that the voice I had heard bore close resemblance to the voice of his son, Onyebuchi. The voice had the same effect on me as the sudden discovery that Christopher Okigbo has a son. According to John Okigbo, Onyebuchi was conceived shortly before Christopher fell to federal bullets at Opi Junction during the Biafran War. He was re-united to the Okigbo family in 2004.

    We lost our way once before we arrived the Otosi Grove. As the grove opened its floral depths to welcome us, it dawned on me just how close our long tortuous trek from the clearing where we had parked our vehicles, through two stops to the Otosi Grove seemed reminiscent of the experience of the poet-protagonist that Okigbo assumed as he explained in the second paragraph of his introduction to Labyrinth. Okigbo had observed that in Heavensgate, “the celebrant, a personage like Orpheus, is about to begin a journey…the various sections of the poem, therefore, present this celebrant at various stations of his cross.”In a funny way, the brief stopovers andcollective recitation of the Poem, HeavensgateThe Passage by the six poets on the way can be compared to the observances of their Stations of the Cross to purify their art before the eventual arrival in the watery presence of Idoto. A fascinatingconversation between art and life!

    The urgent sounds of Ekwewelcomed us to the Otosi Grove. We had a sense of stepping into an otherworldly hall as the lush green leaves of the surrounding bamboo formed a thick floral canopy above our heads. On the left side of the approach, a huge banner proclaimed our arrival to Idoto…Poetry’s Most Illustrious River. On the far side, a solitary woman sat in a corner roasting corn and Ube on a grill. There were a few benches made from the hollow stems of bamboo. Behind us, the flute sang in a twittering voice, weaving itself around the liquid thundering of the drum. The stage was set for the first poetry festival in honour of Christopher Okigbo in his home town.Again, Okigbo’s lines came to me – Thundering drums and cannons/in palm grove/the spirit is in ascent.Less than three feet away, Idoto gurgled away in majestic splendour.

    The show soon got underway. The six poets filed out and sat on the low bamboo bench beneath the big banner. They made a striking view, looking like worshippers who had finally arrived in the shrine of their new deity. But all of a sudden, the bench snapped under their weight and tipped everyone over. The Grove reverberated with laughter and screams as we rushed to help them back to their feet but that was not an easy task. Poets are not always athletic. They sit down too long to practice their craft. So, they gather weight.

    As was the case with Words over Bonfire held the previous night in the Okigbo compound, UcheUmez opened the show with a riveting performance and Amu-nnadi brought it to a close in thunder, lightning and rain. All the poets gave a good account of themselves, taking the audience through variegated experiences that added to the universe of stories told in verses. New voices like AmarachiAtama, MunaChuma-Udeh and EjioforUgwu and literature teacher and Orator, Dr.Mrs.NgoziChuma-Udeh all gave beautiful performances. The hair-raising displays of the Edge Crew also spiced up the show as a fitting interlude. But the atmosphere took a new shade of colour when amu-nnadi performed his widely acclaimed poem –Shrine. The globules of words strung together with his genius set themselves loose and became cowries in his hands with which he supplicated the river goddess whose phosphorescence hung in the air like musk. The flutist accompanied him. The drum egged him on. The audience watched, enchanted.

    The poets later walked to the banks of Idoto to stand before her watery presence and contemplate her legend. But not every poet made it to the waterfront as trees had fallen on the pathwayand sealed off access to the original clearing demarcated for the final recitation of Heavensgate by the riverside.

    Undaunted, we persevered until we finally accessed the famous river through a flood swept path, coated in treacherous mud that felt slippery underfoot. As it turned out only four poets finally made it to River Idoto; Amu-nnadi, UcheUmez, ChumaNwokolo and IquoDianaAbasi Eke. They were ecstatic as they  romped around in her cold waters on barefoot, washed their faces, drank from her shinny surface and took memorable photographs with their feet submerged in the river. The festival came to an end when the four poets raised their voices to read Dark Waters of the Beginning fromHeavensgate, their voices rising in the wind, the setting sun casting a fading yellow over the lush green leaves and the river-birds twittering in nearby trees. It made for a lovely symphony; a long symphony of extraordinary beauty strung together on memory.

    Watch out for the next edition of The return to Idoto.

  • ‘Why more children are taking to acting’

    ‘Why more children are taking to acting’

    Josephine Igberaese is a director with the National Troupe of Nigeria.  In the past, she handled Creative Station, a drama series for children during the summer holiday.  In this chat with Edozie Udeze, she talks about how the programme has helped to discover new talents and refocus creativity in others.

    Tell, to begin with, this programme has been an eye-opener to me and to most of us who have been involved in it.  The satisfaction it gives me is that when the children come here initially, you’ll see some of them so shy because they have not been on stage.  But then, give them two weeks or so after they have been molded, you see them very agile and eager to go,” Igberaese began.

    “Now they can begin to talk and mix freely.  For me, this makes life easy for them.  That self-consciousness is no more there.  Apart from that, the education they get in the areas of creative writing, acting, music – those talents their parents were not aware they have, we discover them here during this process of molding them.  Those who know what to do but do not know how to go about it, we also begin to nurture that.  In the end, the children I see after one month of their being here are a different breed of who they were when they came in.  This is part of the joy we derive from teaching them.”

    Igberaese who studied Theatre Arts at the University of Jos, explained that the best way to keep the children busy during the long vacation is to allow them do some creative endeavours.  “You see, they have been in school for this while.  Then what again will you teach them now?  And children do not necessarily learn in formal setting, because this year we are dealing with the theme, the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.  Last year, it was about the Nigerian nation and many of them learnt a lot.  Now when they do not teach them History in schools anymore, the topic becomes handy for them to learn about Nigerian cultures and traditions and more,” she said.

    To her also, learning and mixing up with one another gives the children plenty of joy.  “Yes, you have to tell the story over and over again and you can see them glitter and glimmer.  This also makes their parents proud.  They now see what other options they have for the children – those who can sing; those who can dance or paint or even play the drums and perform.  There are varieties of creative things each can show his or her preference for.”

    In the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade story, Igberaese and her team are looking at the movement of slaves from Africa across the Atlantic to the new world.  It is a whole new experience for the children who indeed marvel at the fact that truly for over 300 years human beings were parcelled like cargoes across continents.  “This movement also affected farming because the youths who were sold into slavery would have been useful in that regard.  They took away all the able-bodied men to help develop Europe and America while Africa was left barren.  And apart from that, what was the reason for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade?  The children were quite curious to know the reason and you could really see that enthusiasm to get to know about their past.”

    Before this lesson began, the children were mandated to go and check on the internet what the topic entails.  “So by the time we began to work on the topic as their creative theme, they’d already known what it is all about.  We then spent time talking about each person’s research.  Each person stood up and told us what he researched on.  Each kid told us based on his age.  The older ones were of course more matured about it and in the end, we had plenty of issues to dwell on.  Most of them asked me, did it really happen?  And I said yes and they were shocked.”

    Having been better informed now, the next step was to take them on the creative exercises based on the chosen theme.  But again Igberaese allayed the belief that the programme is basically for rich men’s children.  “No, it is not” she said, “Here, we have children from Orile, from Ajegunle, from Ijora Badia as well as from other local places around.  Most of them were sponsored by kind-hearted Nigerians.  They’ve been paid for to be part of this show.  So it cuts across.  Last year, I called them children without borders because you could see them all mixing together, whether you were from Ikoyi or Lekki or Mushin.  Once they dropped their bags, they also dropped their social classes.”

    While on stage, it was not possible to know who came from the rich or poor family.  The children ranging between five to seventeen years old were in the mood to bubble, to thrill and to impress.  In them, you see theatre, you perceive drama and feel the razzmatazz of all sorts.  “There is no class distinction here and that is why I call them children without borders.  It is only incidental that it is parents who are a bit affluent who see the need to bring their children here.  It is they who see the need for a vocational education which includes sports, art and all.  And probably many of them will go to school abroad.  And in applying, these are some of the things they ask them.  So what we do is to help  link up these children sooner or later.”

    In all, it is not that the parents of the less privileged do not appreciate them.  They only do not have the wherewithal to allow them to come for the programme.  “This is why we keep looking for sponsorship for those who have the talents but do not have the money to come.  You see also children of the rich who can afford to have their holidays abroad but their parents want to prepare them for tomorrow.  There are no jobs anywhere, and they can learn now how to be big actors in the future.  This is the opportunity we are offering them with this creative station.  They watch most of their idols on TV or on CNN and now many of them want to be like them.  This is why parents are encouraging their children to be in Maltina Dance, in American Idol and so on.  This is the time when creativity pays and most parents do not want to lag behind.”

    From experience, Igberaese further explained, some of the graduates of the scheme are now prepared to record their own music.  “It is so awesome to see kids of just yesterday so eager to do their own music.  It is so amazing.  The irony of it all is that once you’ve been here before, you get addicted to it.  These children are like that; they want to act and be involved even when they have passed the age.  They still come for the programme and function back stage.  They mingle with the children, telling them one or two things as they make up.  The issue of acting or taking up theatre as a profession is already in them.  Those who have done it before appreciate what they have learnt and that is why they try to come back every year not only to say hello but also to hobnob with the younger ones.”

  • National Troupe gets four new directors

    National Troupe gets four new directors

    Four Deputy Directors in the National Troupe of Nigeria Mr. Elemi Hilary Omogor, Ayanwu Chidozie Michael, Bisi Ayodele and Adejoh Lawrence Wada have been promoted to Director effective January 2015. Their promotion followed an examination that was conducted and supervised by officials of the Human Resources Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation on August 10.

    Elemi, formerly Deputy Director Technical and Production Services, is now Director of the same department. Anyanwu, who holds a BA and an MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar and an MS.c in Mass Communication and LL.B from the University of Lagos takes over as substantive Director of Music. Elemi holds a BA and MA in Theatre Arts of the University of Calabar. He joined the National Troupe in 1983; Anyanwu joined in 1989.

    Also, Ayodele who holds a B.sc in Sociology of the University of Ilorin,  is now Director in charge of Human Resource Management; Wada, who holds a B.sc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri and an MBA and MSc in Financial Economics from the Lagos State University was promoted to Director in charge of Finance and Account.  Ayodele joined the National Troupe in 1991; Adejoh joined in 1993.

    The National Troupe of Nigeria is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

  • Water: The search for life’s essential liquid

    Water: The search for life’s essential liquid

    What is the place of water in life and sanitation? This and other issues were recently tackled at a two-day seminar in Lagos. Olayinka Oyegbile was there.

    From time immemorial, water availability and access of man to this essential commodity of life have dictated where human beings pitch their tent to eke out a living. In biblical times, it was beside a well while in search of the liquid that Isaac got a wife to marry. This in essence demonstrates how water is important to the sojourn of man on earth.

    It is in this same fashion that many coastal cities in the world today are more populated than those located in the desert where access to water is more challenging. The Nigerian novelist Elechi Amadi in his novel The Great Pond made access to water the main focus of his novel. In the novel, water is the central theme although the real issue is to prevent the other village from fishing from a pond. Water is the centre of life, without its availability life is endangered and lead to epidemic.

    Out of reach

    The recent move around the globe by the World Bank and some governments to privatise public water supply has therefore continued to get the kick from the civil society and activists who are of the opinion that privatizing water supply would take this essential commodity of life out of the reach of the common man across the world.

    It is against this background that the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) recently hosted a two-day Lagos Water summit to examine the plan by the state government to privatise the commodity in the state. Availability of water became more of concern to many people around the globe because it was in the same week of the summit that the picture of the wife of one of the richest men in the world, Belinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates), made the front cover of many newspapers and magazines when she travelled to Malawi and went to a village river to fetch water and have a feel of what it was for an average African woman to get water from the stream or river for her daily chores.

    In his keynote address at the summit, renowned environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey said, “Undeniably, water is an essential right without which no other right can be enjoyed. This is so because water is the basis of life. Every human person needs water in sufficient quantities to live and do so in dignity.” He recalled that the United Nations had in 2010 at its general Assembly recognized that the right to safe and clean water and sanitation is a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life.

    He emphasized that avoidable deaths and diseases have continued to dog the human race due to the lack of adequate water. While condemning the race to privatise water across the globe, he noted that this gale of privatization have been reversed in countries such as Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, Mali, France and Indonesia and wondered why other countries’ governments are bent on going on a route that had proved to be failures in other climes. He called for the absolute rejection of water privatization in the country.

    On his part, the executive director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Ojo, the host said the “wave of globalization and natural resource privatization is leading to the commodification of water especially in developing countries.” It is this “commodification” that he called on all to resist and not allow it to take water away from the table of the proverbial common man.

    The summit which was attended by labour leaders and activists both at home and abroad had resource persons from Philippines, United States, Argentina who gave testimonies of the failure of the privatization of water in their countries. It was generally agreed that privatization is not in any way a cure-all solution to the issue of lack of water.

    The campaign was endorsed by about twenty three members of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States of America who sent a letter of solidarity to Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi of ERA/FoEN. In their message they observed, “When people cannot access or afford clean water, the impact on their health and livelihood is devastating. As you know all too well, these circumstances force families to make painful economic choices.” They added that the protection of public good should be transparent in issues of water provision “we wish to express our solidarity with the people of Lagos and of cities around the world as they raise their voices in support of public water, participatory governance, and universal access.” Among the Black Congressional Caucaus members who signed the lteer are John Conyers, Jr., Karan Bass, Emmanuel Cleaper II, Charles B. Rangel and others.

    But whatever is decided on the privatization of water, what is of importance to Mama Joy in Ajegunle, Iya Taofik in Alagbado is for water, clean one at that to be available for her to take care of her house chores. Expatiating on why ERA decided to organize the summit, Ojo said, “Well, the Lagos Water Summit is a metaphor for the resistance against water privatization in Lagos and Nigeria and on a global scale. We are highly worried with the way global capital is seeking profits and they have identified the Lagos population as a good mine where they will invest on raking money. It is not about enhancing water supply to the people but rather about where capital will make investments and maximization of profit and that is what we are against.”

    He believes that the summit has provided a firm foundation to resist water privatization not only in Lagos but across the country. He promised that what was agreed on at the summit would be pursued doggedly to ensure potable water is made available to all citizens.

    The two-day summit received solidarity messages from notable civil society actors and policy stakeholders. These include Dr. Wale Okediran and Uche Onyeagucha former members of the House of Representatives, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Centre (CISLAC) and Ms. Joe Odumakin, Chairperson of Women Arise for Change Initiative. At the international front Greg Akili, Project Coordinator, Corporate Accountability International (CAI); Priscilla Achakpa, Executive Director of Women Environmental Programme; Sani Baba of Public Service International (PSI), and Shayda Naficy of Corporate Accountability International attended and  identified with the cause.  At the end of the summit, the formation of an Africa Coalition Against Water Privatisation was formed to galvanise a network of civil society and development experts to promoting access to potable water a human rights issue. This initiative will address the challenges of governance, human rights and corruption in the water sector across the African continent.

    The two-day summit was organised in partnership with Corporate Accountability International, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Public Services International (PSI), Transnational Institute, Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development, and Freedom from Debt Coalition.

  • When couples met on Money and Financial Matters

    When couples met on Money and Financial Matters

    Couples recently gathered at the initiative of Practical Living Initiative to discuss ways of sustaining peace in the family, reports Yetunde Oladeinde

    VIRTUALLY everyone understands that a prosperous, organised and morally balanced society is hinged on good homes. Unfortunately however, this often becomes a dream when marriages are in disarray.

    The need for peace in marriages and by extension the society is perhaps the major reason Mrs. Tinuola Agbabiaka, a lawyer cum relationship expert, through her non-governmental organization (NGO), Practical Christian Living Initiative (PCLI), recently hosted a special timeout for couples at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki, where issues relating to ‘love of money and finance in marriage’ were discussed.

      In his welcome speech, chief host of the occasion, Mr. Oriyomi Agbabiaka, explained that many marriages have crashed because of the inability of partners to have a workable understanding about finance and other thorny issues, but PCLI, a peace-loving organisation, in the past nine years, has been impacting relationships and helping couples to build wholesome unions.

    The event, which was attended by over 50 couples from different parts of the country, came to a high point, when the convener, Tinuola Agbabiaka, in her presentation, urged couples to work as teammates because this will not only strengthen their union, but also make couples committed to each other’s overall growth.

    While delivering a talk on money tips, she emphasized honesty and transparency as important factors couples need to imbibe in managing the economy of their homes. She also enjoined them to have money talk time because this is one of the prerequisites for financial prosperity in marriages.

    “Don’t go into debts without your spouse’s knowledge. It is very important for you to have your facts ready before calling for a meeting.  During such meetings, talk about long and short term goals and responsibilities. Have your figures right and don’t hide things. Create plans and agree on money. It is also very important to understand different views on money.”

    She went on, “There are too many liars as couples. The funny thing is that you can’t get away with it because your spouse eventually finds out. Don’t go into debt without your partner’s knowledge or consent.  Don’t hide your pay slip. Don’t hide things; remember that lie begets lie.”

    “Be prepared to make sacrifices. Understand that men and women have different use when it comes to money. For men, money is like a scorecard and not having it is like failure; it makes them less of a man. Women on the other hand see money as security, they believe that with money, their children’s future is secured,” she added.

    Guest speaker at the occasion, Albert Oluwole enjoined couples to guard their finances jealously and prevent it from affecting their sex life. While highlighting importance of fidelity, honesty, righteousness and mutual trust in marriage, he encouraged couples to have financial plan that respects Five S: “Sow, Settle debts, Spend, Save and Spare.”

    Marriage according to him requires certain attitude and has certain graces, which makes it important for couples to understand each other’s view on money.  Oluwole also identified prayer as a necessity in building homes.

    Of course it was not just a talk-affair, as couples present prayed, danced, sang God’s praises, and ate and laughed together. Prayers were also offered for ailing marriages. Couples present also took part in couple’s dance. The best dancing couple was presented with gifts.

    At the end of the proceedings, not a few couples who attended the event opined that Christian couples need more of such outings to re-ignite their love, as well as explore ways to improve themselves.

    The event began earlier in the day when the NGO hosted a special men’s summit tagged, ‘A man worthy of respect’.

    The forum was held to educate young male adults willing to learn and improve themselves to be good husbands and fathers.

    Mrs. Agbabiaka, who spoke extensively on the theme, urged participants to be open to God and be ready to be guided in the right path, adding that if more men avail themselves of opportunities to improve on their lives and relationships, instead of remaining fixated on the values and culture imbibed from their background and environment, relationships and by extension the nation, will be positively impacted. The overall effect, she upheld will be peace and prosperity for the land.

  • The police and the culture of extortion

    The police and the culture of extortion

    Medinat Kanabe highlights some of the  ways some unscrupulous policemen  extort money from motorists across the country.

    One fine Thursday evening, Esther Amanze was returning home from her workplace in Mushin. She boarded a tricycle heading towards Isolo just before the fly-over at Daleko; as the tricycle approached Aiye Bus-stop, the operator noticed a police officer standing by and instinctively turned to Amanze. “Madam I beg hurry up, give me that your N50, I no wan give this man N100. She immediately obliged him and handed him the polymer note, which he in turn added a ten naira note and handed over to the policeman. On the police officer’s shirt was written the name, Tajudeen Oloyede.

    The officer took one look at the money and said: “Ah ah, eleyi kere nah,” (meaning ‘this is small’); and the operator in turn told him, “eba wa manage e,” (meaning, please manage it). In the end, and following some pleas, the officer squeezed the money into his pocket, waved to the operator and said ese o, ko ni tan n be o, literally meaning, ‘more blessing’.

    On another occasion, this reporter boarded a tricycle, still along the same route and observed that within a spate of one kilometre, the operator had already parted with money thrice. First a 50 naira note, then a 100 naira note and another 50 naira note.

    Usually a youth between ages 25 and 35 would dash out from the roadside, scream ‘owo da’, collect the note and run to another bus.

    Thinking she had seen enough, this reporter asked, “All these money you’ve been giving out, whose pocket is it going to?”

    Perplexed, the driver said “Na money for police o.”

    Asked what will happen if he refused to give out the money, the tricycle operator laughed and said, “See this woman o! Why you dey ask questions as if you are not in Lagos? If you don’t give them the money, they will delay you and take your Marwa (tricycle) to the station.”

    This reporter then replied: “Very good now, then you can explain to the DPO that they want to extort you.”

    At this point, the operator hissed and said in Yoruba: “Ema wo eleyi o (Look at this one). As soon as the DPO set eyes on me, he will come out, scream at me and call me a thief. He will even tell me that I stole the Marwa and that they have been looking for me. The next thing, they will throw you in jail until our people (the tricycle union) will come and bail you. Apart from wasting your day, you will end up paying more than the 100 naira that you’re trying to claim your right over. They will also call you a thief and beat you to confess to what you’re not.”

    Asked how much he makes per day, he instead reeled out a list of the levies he pays, legal and illegal: “We pay N400 to the police everyday; we pay N1, 500 as ticket money, we deliver N3, 500; we also pay council money N600. That makes it about N6000. This is excluding the money we use to repair the tricycle if it breaks down o!”

    He explained that this is why some of them work till late in the evening, so they can make some money for themselves after paying all the levies.

    He said the police employ the use of touts as fronts to collect these illegal levies, to shift attention from themselves and their unwholesome practices.

    Besides, he said “They must pretend as if they’re working.”

    Another tricycle operator narrated his unfortunate experience in the hands of the police after his tricycle was seized for one whole week for refusing to part with 50 naira. “My sister na yesterday dem release this Marwa to me o! If to say I know, I for no talk anything. I for just give them the money. One of the boys stopped me for Pako bus-stop before General Hospital Isolo; as I slow down, I come say which kind thing be this self, useless policemen. I no know say dem hear me o! Na so I enter trouble. They seized my Marwa and took it to their station. I beg them until I left the place. Na yesterday them give me my Marwa after collecting N3, 000 from me. I didn’t work for days, I really suffer o.” He said in pidgin English.

    Jill Okeke, a freelance journalist based in Lagos, also shared her experiences. She spoke of other modes of corruption practice by the law enforcement officers that border on the desperate, in which they practically set traps for road users.  She said they have a way of placing road signs in a manner that’ll confuse road users and get them to unwittingly break traffic rules. This, she said, gives them the opportunity to pounce on drivers and force them to pay bribes.

    She said, “One day I was heading towards Oshodi from inside Ikeja, just after the computer village. I had driven through Awolowo Way, I had passed Anifowose, passed Akinremi Street and heading towards the turning before the railway. I saw a signboard saying one way on the street before the last one, so I did not enter and drove to the last street (Adegbola Street) that didn’t have any such sign. As I turned, a police officer came out and told me I had taken one-way. Apparently, they had positioned themselves there, waiting and knowing that motorists would definitely fall prey.

    “I told them there was no indication, but they insisted I had committed a traffic offence and said I must follow them to their office. They said it is not their duty to put the sign at the right place. In the meantime, I took out my phone and took some pictures of them as they argued with me, before following them to their office at Ikeja Local Government Council. I deliberately refused to drive in, knowing that they would immediately deflate my tyres.

    “At their office, I asked why they didn’t arrest other motorists plying the same street, but they told me that according to the law, it is the first person that passed the road that they would arrest. They asked why I took pictures of them and I told them I am a journalist, this got them scared as they began to demand that I delete the pictures I had taken. Seeing that I wasn’t cooperating, they went to call a senior officer to plead with me to delete the pictures, which I eventually did and was thereafter allowed to go.” She said.

    Another such occasion, she said was at Ikeja GRA. “As you are driving down from Leventis and leaving Ikeja GRA to join the highway, there is an indication saying ‘No Entry’ before the last street. But they placed it in a way that you’re not sure which road it is referring to. As usual, they had positioned themselves; waiting for victims to pounce on. Again, I managed to wriggle free from their trap, but if you ask me, I think it is really despicable when people who are supposed to protect you and serve your interest are the same people setting you up for arrest.

    “What is wrong with correcting the erring driver for instance, especially when you know that the signs are not well-placed? They could even correct the anomaly and ensure that the signs are well-placed to avoid any confusion.”

    Another group of people that suffer in the hands of the law enforcement officers are the motorcycle riders, popularly known as okada riders. Following completion of the Ajao Estate road, Okada riders literally took over the road, ferrying passengers in record time and making lots of money. But they soon became a menace and the Lagos State government promptly banned them from plying the route.

    But rather than enforce the ban, the police simply seized the opportunity to extort the riders and make sleaze money from them.

    According to a rider, Kamal Jubril, “If we carry two passengers, we will pay police N200, but if we carry one passenger we would pay police N100. So what we do now is that once we’re nearing their spot, we would plead with one of the passengers to get off and walk past the policemen, so we would only pay N100. If you refuse to pay, they will seize your bike, and because the government has banned us from using the road, they may not even give it back to us once it gets to their office.”

    Continuing, he said, “Do you know we even tell them ‘thank you’ after giving them our money?”

    Stella Adams, who sells at the popular Computer Village, also told the story of how some Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) officers blocked their vehicles from moving after loading passengers at the park, all because of N1000, which they said the council was supposed to settle them.

    She also cited the case of police officers, who collect money from motorist doing one-way against traffic and collecting bribe from them, wondering whether they do not know that it can lead to loss of life.

  • ‘What is unacceptable to God should not be offered’

    ‘What is unacceptable to God should not be offered’

    Bishop Mike Afolabi is the Presiding Bishop, Hand of Grace Christian Centre Ibadan,  in Oyo State, which clocked one recently.  The cleric, who turned 60, last week, spoke with Bisi Oladele, on his life and ministry.

    IN all of your 26 years of ministry, what would you consider the most challenging?

    The most challenging is that many people have shifted focus; and once you shift focus from Christ, you will discover that you are doing another thing. They have shifted focus from preaching Christ which is the core of gospel.

    Like I was sharing this morning, Christ is the foundation; people are building on things that have no foundation. The foundation has been tampered with and if you are building any structure on it, it will collapse after some time. That is why the characters of people are not changing in Nigeria of today.

    That is why people will say that our behavior and character as a people are not changing, despite the growing number of churches. That is the greatest challenge we have now.

    Do you think the entire body of Christ can do anything to address it?

    Yes. At least in our own little corner, we should make sure we’re leading people to Christ and teaching them the truth. You know materialism has taken over people’s heart. And how they get the material things does not seem to matter anymore. It is as if the conscience of people is dead.

    That is why someone can wake up and say gay marriage is the main thing. There are things that are called abomination which people now fancy; things that used to look very bad that now looks very good. God will help us, but men of God should wake up and make sure the emphasis is on how to mould the character and destiny of people.

    As a pastor, if you have sufficient information that a church member, who is a generous giver, has a fraudulent source of income, would you reject his tithe and offerings?

    If I have such information and it is genuine, I will call him and let him know that it is not acceptable to God. Whatever is not acceptable to God, should not be offered because you may be bringing a curses on yourself.

    Instead of having benefits for the giving, one will be having losses. God does not take just any offering from us. We read in the Bible that He rejected the offering of Cain.

    So, I will tell the person that God is not accepting his offering because it is from a wrong source.

    What is Hand of Grace Christian Centre all about?

    The focus of the church is inspiring people with the love of God. It also centres on making people to focus on God. We are also out to address unhappiness in the world. There are some people who are unhappy in the church and in the world.

    Through grace, all these areas can be addressed. So, Hand of Grace Christian Centre is given that assignment. And that is what God has called us to do.

    What was your Christian life like as a young boy?

    I could remember that as a young person, I used to go to Baptist Convention to do recitation. It is not that I was ignorant of the religion. In our time, we crammed the scriptures. Once you were ‎able to recite it, they picked you.

    I used to go to Baptist Convention and I recited the scriptures. My parents are very religious. You don’t see anything wrong in them and their lifestyles. They made sure they go to church; they were serious about religious activities. I was in the choir.

    Do you still sing?

    Yes, I do. I love singing as it is part ‎of me but not for commercial purpose. At least, I sing to worship God and inspire myself before I preach.

    You said you later had an encounter with Christ?

    Yes.

    What makes the difference between the kind of Christian you were and your  encounter with Christ?

    The difference is relationship. Christianity is about relationship. Until a young man has a relationship with Christ, he cannot know Him.

    So, you didn’t have a relationship with him  while you ‎were a Baptist, as a young man?

    When you are in religion, you are just carried away‎ by the crowd. There was no personal touch or interaction. And you are active but you don’t know the reason why you are doing what you are doing. Some people don’t know the reason why they are doing some things. You met it so, and you have to continue doing it.

    Do you acknowledge that some people are still operating at that level in the church?

    Yes, definitely!

    What is your message for ‎them?

    You know there is what we call self development; nobody can develop yourself for you. It is just like physical growth; a child is born and so when someone is born again too, that is the spiritual birth. A baby born physically is helpless; they have to help him do everything: breastfeed him, bath him, dress him; but he cannot remain like that.

    If a baby remains like that for many years, then something is wrong. A time will come when he will be walking on his own, feeding himself and doing virtually everything by himself.

    That is how spiritual things are also. But if the baby does not do anything on his own, he will remain undeveloped.

    So, many people remain undeveloped in the church or maybe we should call them canal Christians because they are not growing, and because they are still involved with the system of the world. But a Christian that is spiritual is one that is ruled by the word of God. A canal Christian is still being ruled by the world.

    You talked about encountering Christ. We read in the Bible how Saul encountered Christ on the way to Damascus. We also read in the Bible how Peter encountered Christ when he allowed Christ use his boat. Was your experience similar to these ones?

    Well, it does not need to be like that. God does not have a conventional way of doing things. It may not be the way Paul had it that there was a great light that struck and said “Paul, Paul, why persecuted thou me?” One does not need to have that kind of experience.

    When you have a kind of encounter, you have a conviction by the spirit; the Holy Spirit will convict you of sins; confirming that this is not the way to live, this is the way to live.

    It will dawn on you that the life you are living is not in conformity with the word of God. And if you want to be sincere, you will know that what you are doing is out of order.

    So you can now re-order your steps. So, that is what it means to encounter Christ. There are people Christ appeared to, like these Muslim converts; Christ appeared to them that this way you are living cannot take you anywhere, you are going to destruction. So, God may decide to reveal Himself in different ways to different people.

    God knew the kind of person Paul was; he was a stubborn person and so if he did not appear that way, Paul may not be converted. Don’t forget that this was somebody who had been persecuting the church and killing people. God saw that he did not need soft words.

    When I was in secondary school, I was very religious. I attended fellowships and thirsted after God; I wanted things of God and I knew I was not there. So, going to fellowship and hearing the word of God, without conviction, that this was my way. But if you follow God’s way, there will be no confusion.

    I did not know I was going to be a pastor; I did not dream of it. I knew that for me to have a good life; I needed Jesus and I was committed to finding out things in the word of God; if you are interested in the things of God, He will begin to show himself more and more.

    Were you involved in terrible acts before Christ saved you?

    No, I think the way I was brought up helped me to be disciplined and cool-headed. The family I came from is not known for violence; we were never involved in trouble. So, it helped me. My parents, especially my father, were quiet persons.

    In fact, in the village, they called him ‘jejeniwa’ (complete gentleman). If you go to the village and say you are going to Matthew Jejeniwa’s house, they will take you there.

    So it never occurred to you that you could end up a pastor?

    Anyway, I was in the building industry‎. I studied building at Kaduna Polytechnic and worked as site engineer and project engineer, even with the Air force in Kaduna as a civil servant; but I felt that this was not enough; that I could be practising my profession and still serve God.

    What informed y‎our choice of Winners’ Chapel?

    Living Faith just started when we joined; there was nothing on ground as it were. That was in1984. I was in Jos, working as an engineer for three years with Enamy Construction Company before I came back to Kaduna. We were doing some construction works in a federal secondary school in Jos and some residential buildings for the Air Force with a foremost architecture company, Niger Construction Architect.

    The company was very popular as it had a lot of jobs. Later, I served in Maiduguri, Bornu State with the Ministry of Works and Housing. They wanted to retain me after service‎.

    Why did you choose Living Faith?

    Living Faith just started when we joined; there was nothing on ground as it were. That was in1984. I was in Jos, working as an engineer for three years with Enamy Construction Company before I came back to Kaduna. When I came back from Jos, I was asking the Lord to direct me to a church. Although I had a Baptist background but you know, now I have known Christ and I wanted to grow vibrantly where the word of God is being preached.

    One day, a lady from my village started going to that fellowship; the church was small at the time though. So, I went there and I discovered that at least this one can help someone grow spiritually. That was why I joined.

    When did the journey of servant hood begin and how did it happen?

    That was in 1988, four years after I joined Living Faith. You know there is a way God speaks to people. What normally comes up is: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. You will hear a word from my mouth and you will teach them. If they hear or if they don’t hear, speak to them.”

    Several times, indications showed that God was calling me. I was thinking I should start it on a part-time basis and be practising my profession on the other hand. It lingere for a long time, but I eventually decided that I needed to resign from my job and join full-time ministry.

    You started your ministry in Kaduna?

    Yes. And I was a project pastor‎. In fact, it was still in line with my profession. I saw it as bait. I was still handling church projects. I never knew I would pastor people. I thought I was going to be in charge of church projects as a project pastor. But eventually, I found myself in the church.

    How has pastoring been?

    Interesting. Life is about learning and you draw lessons. Also, someone is growing. After I worked on project for two years, in 1990‎, I was transferred to Bauchi as the pastor. That was my first pastoral experience before a congregation.

    God used all these avenues to build me and prepare me for future challenges. I was in Bauchi for four and a half years‎. In 1994, I was transferred to Ilorin where we also spent about four years.

    From Ilorin we came to Ibadan in 1998. We were in Ibadan for six years and 13 days when we went back to Ilorin from where we went to Warri. We came back again to Ibadan from Warri and then to Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009. And we came back to Ilorin.

    From there we were transferred to Lagos, then to Ikorodu. In 2010, we moved from Ikorodu to Kaduna where we spent two years and in 2012 or thereabout, we went back to Ilorin and in 2013, we felt we had to disengage. I was with Winners Chapel for 25 years.

    Why did you leave?

    I listened to the voice of God. He gave us another assignment.

    How would you describe the experience of pastoring people of different cultures across Nigeria and even outside?

    I have learnt so much about how to relate with so many people, in love and how to be patient with people. You have to be accommodating; you have to be tolerant, and you have to be ready to help people.

    Our joy is that we are affecting people positively. Our fulfillment is that God is using us to affect people’s lives positively.

     We have also learnt that people need help. It may be little but you may not know what it means in the future. There are people God used us for. We have even forgotten some people but they cannot forget; they still remember.

    There are people we meet today that tell us we’ve helped them but we don’t even remember the year. And you are not the one doing it but God who should take the glory. It is God that did it. So you don’t neglect people.

    Human beings must touch lives positively. That makes life more relevant. We learned that you have to be relevant and when you are relevant to people you are eager to do little things God has given you power to do; that is life. By God’s grace, we’ve also learnt humility and meekness. By nature, I hate arrogance and pride. As much as possible, I make people to be humble before God and man.

    Do you regret abandoning your building career to answer  the call‎?

    No, I don’t. The joy is that I am spiritually building people’s life and then, there are opportunities for me to build physical buildings. It is 2-in-1 now. Like now, I am ministering, and very soon, I will be building.

    After 26 years of pastoring, would you say you are fulfilled?

    When you are talking about fulfillment, it is when somebody has finished his work. I have not finished the work and so I cannot say I am fulfilled. I am just happy being in the will of God and that is success.

    Success is not measured by material things. When you are in the will of God, you will be fulfilled and satisfied. Now, I am fulfilled in the sense that I am in the will of God.

    I cannot say I am fulfilled because I cannot achieve everything I say I want to do because there would be restraints, but by God’s grace, I have been able to do some things in line with what God has asked me to come and do.

    Why the choice of Ibadan?

    I prayed and that is where God said we should go. It would have been easier if I go to my state of origin because there is house there but God said we should stay here. It is not something someone just decide on.

    Naturally, people may want to pin your disengagement from Winners Chapel to crisis; have you heard any such comments? And how do you react to them?

    People insinuate things; they want to know the‎ reason why something took place. That is normal. They will say all manner of things including a rift. But there is nowhere someone lives, we will all leave.

    Whether we like it or not, even the so-called founders will leave. You know when your time is up, you’ll go. God told us that our time was up. That is just it.

    There is no quarrel, no misunderstanding. Valedictory service was conducted for us. That was done 15th November 2013 in Ilorin because that was our last station. The ministry was well represented. Bishops Ade and Aremu were there. It was a church service.

    You are 60‎ years old this week. How has it been? Do you feel 60?

    Life has been interesting and I give God the glory, because to be alive for 60 years is not a joke. It is God’s mercy and faithfulness that have kept me alive.

    It has been interesting because whatever you call challenge, God always turns it around for the good. God has given me victory over all battles and opposition in the past 60 years; so I am a product of His faithfulness, mercy and favour.

    How has it been in the last one year?

    It has been glorious, without any exhilaration. What God has done in the past one year, three months is unquantifiable. People around can testify. Some people cannot even believe that our ministry is just a year old. Many people are testifying to the glory of God.

  • Osun: Tale of two anniversaries

    Osun: Tale of two anniversaries

    Stakeholders in the culture sector can do more to celebrate Susanne Wenger’s  centenary and the Osun-Osogbo Grove’s 10th anniversary as a World Heritage Site, writes Femi Macaulay, member of the Editorial Board, who  was in Osogbo, Osun State, for the Osun-Osogbo Festival 

    It was supposed to be a special celebration.

    This year’s Osun-Osogbo Festival coincided with two striking anniversaries:  the centenary of the late Austrian artist and Yoruba-culture champion, Susanne Wenger, who died in Osogbo, Osun State, in January 2009 at age 93; and the 10th anniversary of the Osun-Osogbo Grove’s recognition as a World Heritage Site.

    Apart from the usual and commonplace display of festivity connected with the Osun-Osogbo Festival, the celebration did not sufficiently highlight the special conjuncture of the two anniversaries. What was billed as “Susanne Wenger’s Sacred Colloquium 2015″ at the King’s palace in Osogbo featured a paper presented by Yusuf Abdallahi Usman, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), to mark the anniversaries. Usman’s paper at the August 19 event organised by NCMM was titled “Late Madam Susanne Wenger and National Commission for Museums and Monuments as Springboards to the Development of Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and Enlistment as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

    Usman described Wenger as “a phenomenal woman of different interpretations.” He added: “She was a great artist, culturalist, spiritualist and naturalist, intellectual, researcher, philosopher and philanthropist who devoted her life to serving nature, culture and people. She championed the beautification, preservation, adoration, conservation and unification of nature and culture in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.” But the event lacked the nature of a colloquium. Much of the period was devoted to indigenous music and singing and dancing by different groups.

    The presence of a representative of the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria reflected the significance of Wenger’s centenary. The young woman said when she arrived in the country some years ago the Osun-Osogbo Grove was among the first places she visited. She wore a gown made from gold-and-black Ankara fabric designed to mark Wenger’s death. The cloth carried a picture of Wenger and the inscription “Mama Susanne Wenger Iwinfunke – Celebration of Life – From July 4, 1915 – January 12, 2009.”  Some locals, most of them women, were dressed in the same Ankara. In a cultural environment where important occasions are often marked by specially designed commemorative fabric known as aso ebi, it was strange that Wenger’s centenary did not generate such distinctive fabric.

    The same anti-climatic atmosphere marked the finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival in the Osun-Osogbo Grove on August 21. The river-side statue of the Yoruba water goddess, Osun, in whose honour the festival is celebrated every year, was draped with a white cloth and decorated with palm fronds around its neck. There was a large crowd at the water front where many people engaged in supplications to the goddess. Many devotees wore signature white clothes. A group of devotees from America, Europe and Asia stood out in their white ceremonial dresses.   A lot of people fetched water from the mystic River Osun in white containers for spiritual purposes. In the grove and its immediate environs, the ubiquitous water-filled containers demonstrated the power of faith. The ceremonies of worship involving the virginal votary maid, Arugba, who climactically emptied the contents of a sacred calabash into the river, underlined the spiritually charged activities in the grove.

    Numerous brand promotion materials, mainly by the festival’s major sponsors, created a marketing atmosphere. The biggest corporate sponsors of the  2015 Osun-Osogbo Festival  were telecom giant MTN; Nigerian Breweries, using one of the company’s beer brands, Goldberg; Grand Oak Limited, brewers of Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps and  Kasapreko Limited, producers of Alomo Bitters.

    But, again, apart from repetitive references to the 10th anniversary of the grove’s international endorsement in speeches, nothing uniquely celebrated its decade as a World Heritage Site. The Osun- Osogbo Grove is the site of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, which is a star tourist attraction and draws a high number of domestic and international visitors. Recognised for natural and cultural reasons, the Osun-Osogbo Grove is the second of two UNESCO-branded sites in Nigeria, coming after the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa State, which attained the distinction in 1999.

    In May, there was news of a string of cultural activities abroad in celebration of Wenger’s centenary. “We are pleased to announce the exhibition schedule in the year of the 100th anniversary of Susanne Wenger at the Susanne Wenger Foundation in Krems and other locations,” said a programme released by the Austria-based organisation.  “There will be shown oil paintings, batiks, drawings, photographs of the Sacred Groves and previously not seen works of art… On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Susanne Wenger, Doyin Olosun and Sangodare Gbadegesin Ajala from ‘Susanne Wenger family’ will be present at the opening…There will be guided tours and workshops…The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication SUSANNE WENGER : Artist, Priestess, Adventuress…Special exhibition at the Nigerian Embassy, Vienna, Austria, September 28-30.”

    There is news that a Nigerian publishing company, Grasshill Books, is promoting a new book on Wenger as a way of specially celebrating her in the country where she lived for nearly 60 years before her death. The book is expected to be released to mark the 2015 World Tourism Day on September 27. It is a testimony to Wenger’s cultural celebrity that the Nigerian government in 2008 honoured her with a decoration, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

    A statement by the publisher said: “We are pleased to announce the publication of a new book, Alive In The Sacred Grove – Susanne Wenger from a Nigerian view, which will fill a vacuum that has existed for years.” The statement quoted the author, Femi Macaulay, as saying: “What I set out to do is unprecedented. In concept and execution, this new book on Susanne Wenger is unparalleled because it is written from a Nigerian perspective and with a Nigerian flavour… At the time I discussed my plan with Wenger, she responded positively, saying, ‘I bless your work and your good intentions’.”

    The publisher also quoted the author’s description of the work: “This unique well-researched Wenger portrait offers a fresh experience of her. It consists of an extensive up-to-date close-up profile and exclusive interviews that I had with her. It explores not only her extraordinary life but also her thinking on Yoruba culture and tradition, especially at the transitional stage of her life. It is enriched with expressive pictures of Wenger and some of her eye-catching sculptures in the grove, as well as other important images related to her gripping story. It is a modest way of paying a well-deserved tribute to a loyal vessel of Yoruba divinities; her legacy is undeniable. The book also beams the spotlight on the Osun-Osogbo Grove and the Osun-Osogbo Fesival.”

    With Wenger’s centenary year and the 10th year of the Osun-Osogbo Grove as a World Heritage Site still unfolding, there is time to redeem the under-celebration.

  • Photographers mark their day in style

    Photographers mark their day in style

    Photographers from across the country converged on Lagos to mark this year’s World Photography Day. Evelyn Osagie reports.

    Decked in the army camouflage, Prophet Jacob Arogundade stood, posing for the cameras few metres away from the Military Hospital on Awolowo Way, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    With Nigeria and British’s flags in hands along with other military and religious paraphernalia, Arogundade’s mien,  could pass for a classical piece of art.

    An octogenarian and a prophet, he has not seen that number of photographers before and was happy to be their model.  As the cameras clicked away, he voiced his campaign, “I believe in one Nigeria and the unity of the world. That is why you would always see me with these flags. I am also protesting that Nigeria should treat those who have served this country better”.

    He was oblivious of a picture of another former soldier that is also protesting his abandonment on display few blocks away at the Ember Creeks as part of activities marking this year’s World Photography Day.

    Scenes as Arogundade’s formed the trappings of this year’s edition.

    Indeed, it was as if the paparazzi floodgates were unleashed on the city of Lagos when over 250 cameramen took to the streets with cameras in hand to commemorate of the day.

    Since 2013, the day, which is held yearly on August 19, has been christened as World Photography Day Nigeria by Nigerian photographers who use the occasion to celebrate the sector.

    “The World Photography Day Nigeria is a non-commercial venture, open to all photo lovers including photo-journalists and photo-enthusiasts,”Founder/Convener, World Photography Day Nigeria, Mr Yemi Royal, said.

    With the theme, Creating a viable and unified photography industry, this year’s celebrations, according to Royal, began the previous Saturday with a football match between press and commercial photographers. He noted that  the ‘photo walk’ was part of photographers’ campaigns for a better environment.

    By 11a.m. that morning, the entourage had converged on the Freedom Park, from where they left for the Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island (VI). From there, the train moved to Ember Creeks where photo-chat and exhibition held.

    Besides discovering fresh and unique models and subject matters, like Arogundade, several interesting scenarios played out on their walk to the exhibition ground.

    Not minding the curious and questionable looks of onlookers and road users, photographers of various ages took possession of sidewalks, streets, roads and bridges, snapping their hearts away.

    Decked as if gunning for exclusive shots, the trees, houses, passers-by, vehicles, roads, bridges and lagoon of Lagos Island, VI and Ikoyi became the photographers’ subjects of interests.

    They had the power of number on their side: and so they dared what they wouldn’t have done on other days. Besides, crossing the road indiscriminately, as if expecting that vehicles would wait for them, without asking questions or permissions, they focused their cameras on any object of interest and snapped to their hearts delights.

    They didn’t even shake while taking snapshots of three military barracks on their route. But their constant clicking caught the attention of bystanders, and forced some to ask: “What is happening today?”

    At first, afraid that the government had sent them, Ugochukwu, a street hawker, and his counterparts were not particularly pleased with their actions.

    “Don’t take my picture! What is this. Why so many photographers? What’s happening today?”

    “We are celebratingWorld Photography Day in Nigeria. It is our day today! Please, can we take your picture?” Wome Uyeye, an on-air personality and documentary-photographer repliedin elation. Drawn in by the attention and her smile, he and his counterparts then posed for a shot or two. “When would we get the pictures?” they asked. “Check Facebook!” The photographers replied.

    It was their day and they siezed the occasion to make case for the sector.

    The General Secretary, Lagos State Photographers Association of Nigeria (LASPPAN), Mr Yakubu Mohammed, urged the government to pay attention to the sector’s needs by investing in its key players “Photography is the eyes of the world; without it, the world would be blind.”

    Ace artist and Head of Department of Photography, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Kunle Adeyemi, was of the opinion that pictures communicate more than a thousand words, saying: its importantance to mankind cannot be overemphasised. “A snapshot gives you what you can express with a thousand words; this is why today is very important to photographers and photo lovers across the world. Government should do more to develop the industry.”

    On his part, Mr Royal said the World Photography Day Nigeria initiative was designed  growing the sector. “Our mission is to engage, educate, empower and stimulate the photography community in Nigeria.  Through this initiative, we are offering a new view of photography to a diverse audience of professionals, hobbyists and aspiring photographers, while focusing on satisfying and growing the love for the industry in Nigeria,” he said.

    The stopover of ace football, Kanu Nwankwo, fondly called Papilo,who felicitated them on their day, was another interesting episode of the event. His visit to the train at the Silverbird Galleria came as a pleasant surprise, it was said.

    “Papilo…papilo!” came the screams from the crowd as everyone scampered to get a shot or pose with him. Kanu, whose studio was one of the partners of the event, pledged support for the industry players, saying: “It feels great celebrating this day with photographers and lovers of photographyacross the world. Keep your dreams alive, one day, you’d achieve it.”

    On their way to the bridge linking VI to Onikan, the group rescued a commercial bus driver from having his vehicle impounded by the officers of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS). The VIS officers and driver soon became models for the group. By the time the entourage reached Onikan, 11-year-old Kehinde, whose mother is also a photographer, became another model for some members of the train.

    Some photographers held roadshows with participants as models. EncounteringProphet Arogundade on the last leg of the walk was the climax, some photographers said.”It tells us that Nigeria should do more for its past soldiers and citizens that have served the country in different capacity,” they said.

    Others said receiving the gift voucher worth N10, 000 was what marked the highpoint of the day. The voucher for photography books, which was presented by Indigo, was given toabout 150 photographers, who attended the event.

    The day ended with a parley with the industry key players, such as former Head of Department, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Sola Akeredolu; ace photo-artist, Uche Iroha and celebrity photographer, Seyi Body-Lawson.

  • Enugu airport gets tourism information desk

    Enugu airport gets tourism information desk

    In furtherance of its campaign for the promotion of domestic tourism, the management of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in partnership with Viko Group of Companies Limited has opened yet another tourism information desk at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State to boost passengers easy access to information on flights time, hotels and tourists sites in the country.

    Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Uwechue Mbanfeo said that the NTDC’s information desk is part of the corporation’s efforts towards promoting domestic tourism. She recalled that the corporation’s collaboration with Viko Group of Companies Limited had earlier commissioned four information desks at airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Calabar and now Enugu. She also noted that Enugu State is one of the tourism friendly states and a major tourism hub in Nigeria.

    “Enugu State is a place to visit and a destination of choice for tourists of various inclinations. Enugu and Nsukka towns present tourism infrastructure for cultural, eco-tourism, sporting, business and conferences. The following facilities are prominent; The Nike Lake Resort, Enugu Polo Amusement Park, Enugu Zoological Garden, Nsukka Zoological Garden, Hotel Presidential, Ezeagu Tourist Complex, Dugudu Lakes and Ajali Owa Sandy Stream among others,” she said.

    She noted that “Nigeria has been solely dependent on the oil sector for many years. Nigerians are not encouraged to visit the various attractions from North to South, East to West to experience what God Almighty has endowed Nigerians with and we want Nigerians to take their life styles seriously, knowing that one’s health depends on leisure which is part of tourism. This is one of the things that promotes longevity of life. “Tourism is sustainable and a necessity in economy building and not a luxury,” she added.

    Mrs. Mbanefo however called for greater support from both private and government to promote domestic tourism activities in Nigeria in order to move away from total dependence on oil and create jobs for the teeming youth, alleviate poverty and reduce urban migration.

    CEO of Viko Group of Companies Mr. Lucky Kanu, said: “This information desk features a travel information portal for tourists with information on the aviation industry, ‘real time’ flight information can be personalized with alarm sent to customers phones as reminders of their scheduled flight time.”

    He noted that the portal is opened to provide information about attractions in Nigeria that are not known to tourists. “We are promoting domestic tourism in the country in order to increase revenue generation for the country, opening for job opportunities for our teeming unemployed youth”, he said.

    Kanu expressed his willingness and determination to collaborate with the NTDC to create job opportunities and will work on the existing partnership with NTDC to open more information desks in all major airports in Nigeria. He stated that “passengers can browse for free and view tourists sites, tourists activities, products, hotels, car hire services, events and festivals. Also they can make enquiries and book excursion trips to schools and holiday sightseeing within the country at no cost at all”.

    Kanu said the significance of the desk is much in terms of benefits as it would provide information on passengers’ flight with ease. “This will further create more awareness and increased traffic for the airport,” he said.

    The manager of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr. Mgbemene Ijiako commended the synergy between NTDC and Viko Limited which has resulted to the establishment of the NTDC Information Desk in Enugu International Airport, Enugu State.

    He said, “on behalf of the federal republic of Nigeria, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, I commission this Tourism Information Desk to the glory of God.”

    His Royal Highness Dr. Eze Chukwu Debelu II of Ibagwa Aka Nsukka, who was in attendance, described the information desk as a significant link for tourism promotion. “What Israel gets from tourism is more than what Nigeria gets from oil. But I pray as we open our eyes to grow the sector, we will harness the endowment for our good,” he noted.

    It will be recalled that tourism information desks have been opened at other airports such as Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, Ikeja, General Aviation Terminal, Ikeja, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar.