The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • Peugeot backs Ake Festival

    Peugeot backs Ake Festival

    HOW would you rate a book festival that featured Nigerians such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Wole Soyinka, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi? And what would be your expectations from such interactions that also attracted literati from across the globe for 5 days? Expectedly, the corporate bodies that supported the annual festival were leading players in the economy. One of them was foremost Nigerian automobile brand Peugeot was among top supporters of the organisers of 2014 edition of Ake Arts and book Festival through the provision of executive shuttle services for the concluded event in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

    The second edition of the Books festival brought many African writers to celebrate African talents in literature, arts, theatre, music, dance and drama.

    The level of support and participation of private organisations, government functionaries, institutions and individuals in the campaign for reading culture in Nigeria through workshops, public readings and book festivals obviously accentuated the theme of the event – Bridges and Pathways.

    Regional Director, Peugoet Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Mr.Erick Maydieu, noted that the need for the promotion of knowledge acquisition informed its support for the festival and arts in all of its genres.

    “We have provided the services of different range of our executive cars to help in the provision of shuttle services to participants at the festival and also to help provide seamless movement for the organisers of the event and all of their premium quests and partners”, he added.

    Part of the activities which gave colour to the six-day days event included varieties of cultural, artistic and literary events. Some of these were woven around readings, master classes, workshops, performances and talks delivered by both Nigerian and international authors, thinkers, poets, filmmakers, actors, artists and academics.

    Many schools in Abeokuta were visited by writers such as Yejide Kinlanko who read from her novel, Daughters who walk this path, a stage play, film showings, musical concert, and a comprehensive book fair which pupils, publishers and book buyers took advantage of.

    Discussions at this year’s festival touched on important issues such as the public and individual perception of nationhood and how freedom of expression in Africa could be established. More targeted themes such as women’s rights and child literacy were also addressed, as a way of examining how the arts can contribute to development in these areas.

  • Here comes Distinction

    Here comes Distinction

    The dream was mooted last year by some of Nigeria’s most outstanding studio artists. Their intention was to situate visual art on the platform of distinction and excellence and to show the public that group art exhibitions should be done with some heal of expertise. This experiment gave birth to Distinction art exhibition led by Abiodun Olaku, Alex Nwokolo, Bunmi Babatunde, Duke Asidere, Edosa Ogiugo, Fidelis Odogwu and Reuben Ugbine.

    This year’s edition which began yesterday at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, has an additional artist in the person of Segun Adejuwon who described the idea as the most excellent thing to happen to visual art sector in Nigeria. “You need to identify with distinction, with people who have laudable ideas to take the art to the next level”, Adejuwon decided.

    According to Olaku while addressing reporters, this year’s edition is a sequel to last year’s “because people have been asking us to re-enact what he did last year. People, indeed art collectors and patrons are in love with the sort of art we displayed last year. So, we need to move further than that to showcase what we have to the public”, he said.

    Sponsored by Kunle Tinubu of Trojan Estate, Lagos, the over forty works on display have an array of assemblage cutting across paintings, sculptures, mixed media, installation and more. The assemblage of varied works of arts which come in different dimensions and experiments juxtaposes the dream of these artists who eac,h has over twenty years of studio experience behind him. This is why the exhibition is detailed to run for one week to enable the public and visual art lovers have enough time to savour the aura of distinction.

    It is also to show how deep these artists have been in their quest to create new ideals. Olaku says “these creations help his pendulum to swing in ceaseless harmony and impulse in obedient to the rhythmic creative energies and emotions of human experience of our world”.

    On his own part, Babatunde sums up this excursion as “as a form to express beauty at its best, since I know that it is an intellectual property. Therefore, it is my desire to penetrate any global audience.”

  • Living life abroad

    Living life abroad

    TITLE : Diaspora and Imagined Nationality
    PUBLISHER: Carolina Academic Press.
    AUTHOR: Koleade Odutola
    REVIEWERS: Wale Fatade

    Nigerians love to talk and we are proud of our ability along that line. Outside the shores of our country, we are not afraid of airing our views and holding court on issues affecting the motherland. Among the hotly debated issues is whether or not Nigeria is a mere geographical expression, to use the words of a late political leader, or has emerged fully into a nation. While those living within the borders of Nigeria are engaged in debating this, those in the diaspora too are not left out.

    KoleadeOdutola’s Diaspora and Imagined Nationality: USA-Africa Dialogue and Cyberframing Nigerian Nationhood is an attempt at using the digital space to explore nationhood issues. The book is a revision of the author’s PhD dissertation, which required extensive re-work of the initial research. “The whole idea behind my PhD was to make sense of what Nigerians discuss online,” Odutola said in an online interview.

    “I discovered there are many issues and I choose how the issue of nationalism is discussed online. It is a book that can be read in part by different audiences depending on their social location and background. You can just read the exchanges without the theory and methodology sections and it will still make sense to you.”

    In his research, Dr. Odutola discovered that “Nigerians in diaspora are very passionate about Nigeria. They want a change like yesterday.” He added that the style of writing of most Nigerian scholars look toward Europe and America for authorities when it comes to complex issues like nationhood and “I thought I could locate Afrocentric ideas about nationhood but somehow I’m still searching.” Asked whether the concept of nationhood is alien to Africans then, he responded, “No, just that there are not many authorities who have articulated the concept.”

    He added, “Most of us confuse the State with the nation but Dr. Adebayo Williams expressed the idea of State-Nations for most postcolonial countries instead of Nation-States.”

    Three concepts are therefore evident: The nation; the State, and the country.  “A nation is like a dream, it exists first in the imagination of a few before it finds vent in text or in discourse. In the same way a virtual nation is normative in conceptualization. It is constructed through conversations and reflections. It speaks to how a nation structurally and functionally ought to be as opposed to how it is. The virtual narrative depends on external ideas to a great extent and on intuition in very rare cases. The purpose of a virtual concept of nationhood is to act as a parameter on which the real nation with all its imperfections and contradictions are judged. One issue the idea of virtual nationhood brings to the fore is that of legitimacy; who is qualified to discuss how a nation ought to be? Should the task be left to those who are within the malfunctioning national space? Or should the task be left to those who are located outside of the national space but depend on mediated communication and information for their knowledge?”

    Odutola equally acknowledges the eternal debate of ‘inside/outside’, which complicates the situation in that those inside may also be outside of the system and thus alienated. Immigrants, especially those in well developed countries with functional systems and coordinated structures take more than passing interests in the political affairs of their homeland and there are many examples of immigrant groups that have facilitated change sin their homelands using different information and communication technologies to connect and mobilise and organize geographically dispersed members.

    Does this then mean that Nigerians in the Diaspora engage more with nationhood issues than those in the country? “No, I can’t say that, please,” he answers. “I made a research decision to focus on Nigerians in the Diaspora because I was going to use a virtual ethnographic methods that relies more on text than on the ground observations. I know that Nigerians at home verbalize their concerns at different spots in the country. A visit to a vendor’s stand would provide enough data to do the same thing I did online.”

    Asked if he thinks Nigeria would evolve fully into a nation based on his findings, Dr. Odutola says,” Ha, that’s a very tough question for a researcher without a crystal ball but reading what Nigerians in the Diaspora express online, I think Nigerians want the nation to survive beyond that “mere geographical expression.”?Divided into five chapters, the book concludes that when identity is no longer anchored on location, home and nationhood become indistinguishable.

  • Sorrows unlimited

    Sorrows unlimited

    Title – Tears of Rebellion
    Author – Terhemen Andula
    Publisher – Dooshima Publication Entreprises, Abuja.
    Year of Publication – 2014
    Number of Pages – 198
    Reviewer – Awele Okwudarue

    The protagonist, Terdoo Shande, as the only son, has responsibility thrust on him when his soldier father resigns from the army. His family moved from Ikeja, Lagos to Zaki-Biam, Benue. He begins a journey of helping his parents fend for the family, after his tertiary education. After his graduation, he realises his father’s finance has dwindled, so he takes up paying his sister’s fees through trading.

    His first venture into trading was livestock, which he left after not finding job satisfaction. Terdoo later became a thrift collector, and succeeded due to his charm. He managed to draw people, mostly of low-working class to engage in business with him. Meanwhile, his father, Tyovenda Shande is in the frozen fish business with Chief Okonkwo, who encourages Tyovenda to open a branch in Zaki-Biam.

    He meets Hembadoon in Goddy’s Inn, who is her uncle. Hembadoon tells Terdoo that she is a single mother and some other things about herself. She later becomes his love interest, and a relationship blossoms between them. Terdoo later makes the acquaintance of Ngozi, who knows he has a girlfriend, but still manages to cause friction between the lovebirds.

    Hembadoon becomes unsure of Terdoo’s love for her, and is always trying to test him even with the use of seduction. He refuses her advances because he tells her they are not married. The issue of trust is prevalent, as it is a determining factor in most relationships. Abstinence among youths, which has become a rare thing, is also touched on by Andula. This is very commendable coming from Terdoo as a male, because they always do the asking.

    The age-old battle of parents choosing partners for their children can’t be ignored when Kpadoo, Terdoo’s mother is vehemently against his relationship with Hembadoon. She says Hembadoon is used, that she will find a fresh, young maiden for him. Terdoo kicks against this saying he is old enough to find a wife for himself. He is even ready to be disowned by his parents if need be.

    Things turn for worse when Denvihin ill-advises Hembadoon in using the services of a native witch-doctor to ‘secure’ Terdoo’s love and attention for her. it turns out Kpadoo was right after all. Terdoo breaks up with her, and refuses her entreaties for them to get back together.

    Terdoo’s business takes a downfall, and with the help of his parents, he gets back on his feet.

    Andula’s Tears of Rebellion touches on a few societal values, that are considered old-fashioned, but draws the reader’s attention by emphasising that these values are still to be treasured. From the prologue to the end, the book is riddled with a lot of grammatical and typographical errors that could have been avoided. A reprint of the book with corrections is highly advised.

  • O.A.U. holds international conference

    O.A.U. holds international conference

    The department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, (O.A.U), Ile-ife, Osun state, is to hold an international conference on 30th January, 2015 titled Left and Right and acute contradictions in Nigeria. This conference is being organized against the background of the acute contradictions and crises of immense proportions that have gripped the post-colonial Nigerian State so much so that various forms and kinds of arguments and explanations are being offered. These explanations range from ethnic, religious, social, political, structural, economic, class and other numerous viewpoints. There is a convergence in the midst of these postulations as to the backward and almost irredeemable condition of the Nigerian State, its economy and society.  The need to redirect the ship of state in a manner that will guarantee nation-building, development, democracy, equitable distribution of goods and services, mutual respect among the groups and classes that make up the federal republic of Nigeria, among others, is urgent.

    There is no doubt that the country is in its tenterhooks and at its wits-end and therefore desires an urgent change. What are the roles of the Left in the formulation, articulation and implementation of any agenda for change? Can there be a change in its fundamental sense and depth without the Left as a vanguard force? Is there really a Left group with its accompanying historical consciousness in Nigeria? Should the current appalling state of affairs in Nigeria continue? Is it not time for a rescue mission? Must things continue to be the way they are? Given the current state of things in the country, can there be a future and what kind of future?

    SUB-THEMES: The place and role of the Left in a democracy/tic  processes, The Left and the crisis of development and nation-building , The crisis of poverty and the role of the Left, The Left, intellectuals and received paradigms in a neo-colonial state, Insecurity and a failing state, The Left in an era of electoral democracy, The role of the Left in political parties/participation, The Left and the politics of ideology , The place of workers and students in politics, The Left good governance and popular participation , The Left, gender and the place of women in Nigerian politics. Interested scholars are advised to submit papers on any of the themes.

  • Today’s bomb

    I am going down the street to pick a piece of bread

    The crowded street will only stall my steps

    and hunger, my morning companion, has a few minutes to say goodbye.

    Boom, boom, I heard amidst cries

    Was that a bomb?

    Yes, screamed a scurrying back

    I am in no mood for the body count

    Some people scampered about in fear

    I stood still and saw in the distance a bloodied face

    and another man lifting a child limp of limbs in

    hurried alarm for a car to take the dying to the hospital

    If, that is, the car does not bear a hooded omen

    Of unexplored men and shrapnel

    I looked at myself, crown to toe, I am

    as new as the morning dew

    I have nothing to worry about, and I move on

    To pick my piece of bread and wish the morning companion goodbye

    Today has had its bomb.

  • Making National Theatre entertainment city

    Making National Theatre entertainment city

    At a roadshow programme held in Lagos, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke told stakeholders, artistes and investors that the Federal Government has finally started activities to reclaim the fallow pieces of land within the National Theatre complex, Iganmu, Lagos, in order to build modern facilities through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Edozie Udeze who was at the meeting, reports

    At last, the Federal Government has given the go ahead to the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to complete the master plan of the complex making up the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. At a recent investors’ roadshow organized by the management of the Theatre to sensitise the public on the need to complete the project, the federal government explained that all the fallow pieces of land within and around the Theatre have to be fully developed to give the complex the necessary and appropriate beauty.

    Done in conjunction with Public Private Partnership (PPP), the idea is to make the Theatre environment conducive to accommodate other modern facilities as found in all the theatre complexes of the same size and repute all over the world. According to Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, with the establishment of five-star hotels, shopping malls, commercial and banking facilities, office buildings, recreational areas and car parks, the federal government would have succeeded in ensuring that the original master plan of the theatre instituted in 1976 has been completed.

    To him, the most important issues involved in the master plan which will come in phases is to make the 10,000 seater mainbowl functional once more. For far too long, the mainbowl of the Theatre has been abandoned due to neglect over the years. But in the next plan of action, the development of the new facilities will help to make the iconic edifice more attractive and economically viable.

    With the presence of possible investors in the tourism and culture sector and top players in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, the atmosphere inside the conference hall of the National Theatre appeared quite conducive to take the Theatre to the next level. Duke stated that the overall mandate of this transaction with the PPP and other big industry players is to purposely develop an Outline Business Case which will help to test the viability and feasibility of deploying PPP arrangement in actualising the master plan. However, before this could be done, the inclusion of the private sector investors is to ensure that government does not burn its hands by delving into an area where the people themselves can be allowed to go into and invest mainly in order to give necessary economic value to the Theatre.

    In the new arrangement, the whole complex will be named the entertainment city with the planned development sitting on about 134 hectares of land. Presently, the existing Theatre only occupies just 10 hectares. But the new design requires that the PPP with the partnership of the government will undertake the project, only using a mapped out design, finance, construction (build), operation and maintenance model.

    When this is fully done, according to Mrs. Nkechi Ejele, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, “It will offer visitors, tourists, tespians and fun seekers, the opportunity to visit a modern, diverse, localised and existing experience”. Although she stated that the Lagos State government is involved in the project, she appealed to Lagosians to see the project as a means of ensuring that the complex is made to be more useful for public use. “There is the need to make the complex conform with accepted international norms and standards”, Ejele stated. She insisted that with this new plan, more business avenues will be opened to make Lagos the real economic hub of West Africa.

    She said: “This project will be characterised by modern architecture and design, with wide range of business and recreational offerings of international standards within a friendly environment. Beyond that, after the completion, concessionaires will be given the opportunity to recoup their investment. This is why this meeting today is very esential. It is meant to lay the whole plan bay, and to allow possible investors see the viability of the project and make their own deductions and impressions. These fallow areas of the Theatre complex have been allowed to lie prostrate for too long. It is now time to put the areas into proper use.”

    The roadshow which would take the Ministry to other parts of the world to re-awaken the interest of more investors in the project is designed to encourage wider-spread and more committed investors. The more investors that come in from all over the world, the better chances of making the project a formidable one. This is why it is noted that the plan will incorporate Lagos as Nigeria’s foremost entertainment city because the aura and ambiance of the Theatre complex will become very significant and alluring to all and sundry.

    In his own contribution, Aminu Diko of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) reassured investors that the new concept would be favourable to all. He said: “This idea is mainly to transform the National Theatre edifice into a model city comparable to the Mandela Square in Johanessburg, South Africa, and Time’s Square in New York, U.S.A. As you all know, there is an increasing awareness worldwide of the critical partnering role the private sector can play towards the accelerated provisioning of infrastructure through the PPPs. This is why this project has indeed become necessary now.”

    He went on to state that well-prepared and better structures PPP projects define greater lifestyle efficiencies, more value for moey, improved service delivery and job opportunites and more. He however gave examples with other economies of the world where this sort of exercise has helped in key sectors like the railway, seaports, roads, and bridges to power the economy of the society. Diko’s concern however, “is to provide the necessary guideline to all stakeholders to enable them grasp the essential ingredients of the project.” In all, the project will give artistes the necessary platform to exhibit their crafts and perform in an atmosphere that would boost their images and career.

    The BGL Capital which acts as advisers on the concession business represented by one of its project directors, Dipo Wintoki reminded the gathering that the beauty, the importance and relevance of the National Theatre should not be allowed to go into oblivion. “This is an edifice that was established in 1976 and has been the hub of theatre activities, art exhibitions, symposia, filmshows and more. It has played host to various national, international theatre and musical events…Therefore, with wide range of commercial offerings, colours, a friendly environment, and everything else one expects to find at an international tourism centre and entertainment city, we intend to make this project one of the best in the world”.

    In the words of Wintoki, the initial feasibility and viability studies of each of the facilities have been conducted. The projects has an average concession period of 30years, with the return on investment averaging 35% and pay back period within the first ten years of operation. And this, in the overall interest of the people will encourage the discovery and development of new talents in the country. It will also help in creating more employment opportunites in the sector and generally promote healthy cultural activities and habit in the society, while at the same time increase the revenue generation capacity of both the federal and state governments and the private sector investors.

    The roadshow which attracted who-is-who in the entertainment sector, saw the General Manager of the National Theatre, Malam Kabir Yusuf fully in charge to ensure that all went well. Yusuf who described the show as the best thing to happen to reposition the Theatre, reassured investors and the general public that the future of the complex cannot be compromised. “It is to make this environment the best place for the industry and the players to thrive”, he said.

  • ‘Tourism is no luxury’

    ‘Tourism is no luxury’

    Text of the paper delivered at the 8th annual conference of Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria in Abuja by the  Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Director-General, Mrs Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo. 

    Tourism is about providing assets for people to invest in. But people will not invest in assets unless there is a revenue stream from that investment and a return on their capital. What are the assets that we have in Nigeria? Nigeria is blessed with waterfalls; caves; hotels; parks; sandy beaches; large lakes and historic sites. Nigeria is able to offer a range of tourism experiences applicable to the general holiday maker as well as the traveller looking for something off the beaten track.

    To invest in tourism there must be clarity on how people can invest their tourism dollars for a fixed period, how they can monetise this tourism investment and how they can see a clear path for exit or onward – sale of their investment if need be. My idea is to identify for investment, tourism projects aimed at specific tourists and to create an enabling environment that respects and encourages this investment.

    And the first step is to identify six projects in the six geo-political zones that will benefit from investment and bring these investments up to a world standard. I see a read-across for Nigerian tourism with countries like Morocco, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zambia, Rwanda, South Africa, parts of the Caribbeans and even Peru in terms of creating a unique experience not to mention beach experience and golfing experience, where with the right type of investment, will provide alternatives to Morocco and parts of the Caribbean.

    We are a friendly nation, welcoming visitors. Once identified, I intend to put the six (specific) projects into a prospectus, which should be a document that forms the compendium of opportunities we are inviting people to invest in.

    To generate revenue we would need to achieve a world standard tourism experience. To do this, we will target for cooperation those, who have had experience managing emerging markets tourism experiences and turning those into benchmarks that attract hundreds of millions of tourism dollars annually.

    Tourism in Nigeria is where telecoms was, say 20 years ago. Today as an investment proposition, Nigerian telecoms is probably the best in the world. The same will be said of tourism in 5–10 years from now if appropriate measures and initiatives are taken

    The investors will be given long term tenure for their investment and where applicable, the underlying asset will either revert back to the government after the project investment period lapses or continue with the pioneer investor once revenue has been created for the government and a generous return on capital achieved for the investor.

    With this plan we can achieve Nigeria’s goal of being tourism destination hot-spot where people come to spend their dollars, yen, euros, yuan, rand, ringgits and British pounds and this is achievable within 5–10 years

    But first, we must define what makes the world class standard experience unique to Nigeria. We cannot be everything to everyone from day one, but we can entice them by knowing what they want and what their alternatives are.

    What we want to create is a must – have experience that meets a world standard benchmark for these tourists and investors.

    For example, a tourist may have seen the slave trade story from other African countries’ perspectives, but the story is not complete until they have visited Nigeria for the last part jigsaw. They may enjoy golf and so want to be playing in the sunshine, which we have an abundance of, but be surrounded by first-class amenities at a price that represents value. The tourist may want to travel across water to an offshore beach resort just as he does in Tanzania or Zanzibar. He or she may want an ecological experience and yet know that when they get back to base they too have comfort, a great meal and seamless internet connections. The tourist may want a well-planned tour of durbars and festivals, but know that at each place he will be spending the night in comfortable world–class accommodation that enhances the experience. We want to create family–holiday destinations whether these are at the beaches, water parks or even focused around Nigeria’s numerous lakes. There are ideas that we need to focus and galvanise to create a product that meets all health and safety requirements.

     

    Why a bond?

    We intend to launch a tourism bond underpinned by what will be a secure revenue –stream generated from a prospective tourism development levied on departures. The bond will give us the money we need for investment in the six projects today and these investments will create jobs, careers, transfer of skills and the right product. The yield on the bond will recognise that we want investment and recognise where we are on the tourism ladder today. It’s all about upside.

     

    What do we have today?

    In Lagos, for example, we have Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate. We have a burgeoning resort at Epe Health Resort and Spa that aims to be a market leader. We have Old Lagos, which we should use to create a heritage experience full of small café’s. We can partner with Lagos State to make Old Lagos a heritage site with good access and paved roads and sidewalks. There could be a law that protects the heritage of those (historical) buildings in the old Lagos and whose architecture tells a compelling story that is of interest to many people around the world.

    In Abuja, for example, we have Jabi Lake, which is a tourism gold-mine that must be developed by tourism investors that the bond will attract.

    In Obudu Mountain Resort, Calabar, we have ecological experiences that require further investment to make it comparable with ecological experiences in Rwanda and Uganda and Zambia.

    In Rivers and Bayelsa, we have hotels to be renovated and turned into real 5-star experiences. We have riverine communities in which boating experiences can be turned into a world – class product.

    The Festivals and Durbars of the North are a rich and vibrant tapestry of color and enchanting mystery that is sought after around the world.

    The vast geographical features of Nigeria have long been an object of fascination for people around the world who want to spend a great deal of time enjoying its inherent assets.

    These are just some examples.

     

    What other products can we offer for sale to tourism investors?

    Sports Tourism – Polo is a huge selling point for Nigeria. But we must have a world class standard because Polo lovers are so passionate and can travel anywhere for a polo game experience.

    Art Tourism – Art, sculpture is also a selling point for Nigeria, where if properly nurtured the bespoke tourist looking for that experience will pay his or her hard earned money to Nigeria to enjoy that experience.

    We have a fast growing middle class who want to enjoy their lives and want to spend their hard earned money but want in turn, value for their money. They do not want to be cheated. We need to create and develop top quality tourism products for them and their families. That is why we want to launch a bond.

     The way forward

    In 2015, we intend to form a tourism committee, and I would like for Mr President and the minister to form a committee with people with international exposure to contribute to the new tourism journey. I would like for Mr President to give them a 6 – month tenure to come up with a template.

     

    Tourism – a value proposition

    Historically, tourism in very much where the telecom industry was 20 years ago, and as a value proposition, it is an attractive investment. My role and the role of the committee is to answer the tourism question in terms of creating viable business opportunities for investments that enhance the Nigerian tourism experience. Being a business, we must not forget that investors must see appreciable value and a handsome ROI (return on investment). For the investor it is not just about a Durbar, a Sango Festival, a New Yam Festival, or a beach, it is about a sustainable business with handsome returns.

     

    Emphasis

    Nigeria cannot remain a mono hydrocarbon economy. We must create and exploit our other natural resources which are our landscape, our dynamic people, our plethora of young people, our sunshine, our lakes, our beaches and our warm friendly nature in order to attract the billions of tourism dollars looking for destinations and looking for choice. Tourism should rightly be a considerable contributor to our GDP. As an investment value – proposition it is unrivalled.

     

    How would you conclude

    I would conclude by saying that tourism is an imperative for healthy living and not just a pastime. Rest and relaxation are the cornerstone of any civilized society. Nigeria needs to ratchet up this asset we have and make Nigeria open for tourism business in a meaningful way. Government should not and cannot do this but Government should create the right enabling environment and investment incentives that foster investment. Government owns tourism assets which are underutilised or underperforming. Investment in these is required.

    For 2015, we are talking with and partnering with State Governments, oil companies, the manufacturing sector and banks to see what role they can play. We are looking at issuing a bond.   We would like to partner with strong brands like General Electric (GE) and brands like AEG to create music venues for our youths. Attached to these venues will be streaming rights, so both investors and artists make money and the world gets an on-line insight into what a vibrant country Nigeria is. As mentioned, we will be talking to oil companies to partner to create recreational experiences and similarly to banks on what they need for their staff and families and see how we can partner with them to build something bespoke that will be branded by them and form the nucleus for wider investments. In all of this the bench-mark is WORLD STANDARD. Nigerians expect so much more today in the 21st Century and don’t want to be cheated. Tourists around the world expect similar because they have choices and it is not ‘by force’ they come to Nigeria.

    It is my job to point Government in the right direction in order to create the right enabling environment because Nigeria is a destination for Polo lovers, golf lovers, eco-tourism, sun sand and beach experiences, music lovers, heritage lovers, people who love being around lakes and for domestic tourism couched both in term of short and long term breaks. Others are interested in the history of Nigeria, for example, the Benin bronzes; our natural caves and waterfalls. Every tourist has a requirement and Nigeria’s other natural resource can provide everything.

    I want Nigeria to be a country where people can work, live and holiday, and it must be comparable to what other countries in the Far East, in South Africa, East Africa have to offer. Tourism is not a luxury but is a modern social imperative.

    Tourism is and must be a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. Tourism creates jobs, capacity and career opportunities for our youth. Taking a holiday to rest and be with family is extending our lives and building strong family units. Tourism creates well – being. All work and no holiday leads to a stress-filled life and short life span.

     

  • Wanted: New value system for Africa

    Wanted: New value system for Africa

     

    For  three days, scholars, historians and thespians converged on Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, to chart a new pathway on how to use culture to drive development in   Africa and the Diaspora, reports   Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    If the calibre of Nollywood stars at the International Cultural Festival and Colloquium held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, is a measure of success, the event can pass for grade ‘A’ performance. Expectedly, the stars led by humour merchant, Chika Okpala of the New Masquerade fame, (Chief Zebrudaya) backed by royal fathers–King Amalate Johnnie Turner, the Obanema of Opume Kingdom, (who was represented) and King Alfred Diete Spiff, the Amanayanabo of Twon-Brass, added colour to the festival that attracted historians, academics, Pan-Africanists, activists and other experts drawn from Africa and the Diaspora.

    The  theme of the three-day event (November 26 to 28) was: Using Culture To Drive The Transformation of Africa And The Diaspora in a New Global Order. It was organised by Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAC) and Bayelsa State Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt.

    The hitherto serene Peace Park, Yenagoa, venue of the festival was literarily ignited by colourful parade by the Nollywood stars and Enugu masqueraders. Among them were Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwo, Keppy Ekpeyong, Alex Osifo, Ajibola Dabo, Charles Inojie, Francis Duru, Yakubu Abubakar, Ejike Asiegbu, Ejiro Okurime and Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki). Pupils of St. Jude Secondary School, Amarata, Yenagoa, Women Affairs School, University of Port Harcourt Alumni, Ekpe masquerades and Enugu State cultural troupe also featured in the parade.

    Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, represented by  Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor said the time has come for African leaders to use culture for diplomacy and development, noting that CBAAC must be prepared to drive the efforts.

    Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) Sir Ferdinand Anikwe has identified music, video, fabrics and food as means through which African culture is being internationalised.

    He said  Nigerian home videos have become popular and a reference point of cultural and social influence all over the world.  He noted that through home videos, Africans and the rest of the world are picking up vocabulary of Nigerian languages.

    “Diaspora Nigerians and Africans should endeavor as much as possible to promote African fabrics and food.  This, in a way, has endeared African foods and fabrics to the hearts of most foreigners, which have become strong factors in their way of lives. This development is in tandem with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) view, that social transformation generally comprises change in existing parameters of a societal system, including technological, economic, political and cultural restructuring,” he added.

    According to Anikwe, such lofty attempts by the artists, actors and creative writers need to be institutionalised and strengthened for more effect. African States, he said, must continue to harp and invest on artists and actors that have become the continent’s great cultural ambassadors.   “Please permit me to state unequivocally that we can only underrate our culture at our own peril. We are witnesses to the impact that western culture has had on the minds of our youths through music, movies, novels, football, religion, internet activities, costumes and fashions.  It is in this wise that we must remain eternally indebted to the fathers of African Literature such as Chinua Achebe,  Wole Soyinka, J. P. Clark, Ngugu Wa Thiongo, Chimamanda Adichie, and a host of others for pioneering African writers series with its robust cultural background, that capture the minds and attention of our youths,” he added.

    But he observed that it is of great significance that the Western world has started showing enormous interest in studying and promoting African culture and history.  He stressed that there is the need for Africa to recognise its cultural uniqueness and potentialities, package it properly, with the conscious objective of using it to influence the ways of lives of other peoples.

    Continuing, he said: “This will ultimately lead to more recognition and economic benefit for the continent.  African States need to evolve both policies and programmes for the internationalisation of her cultures through art, music, science and technology, education, tourism and diplomacy.  Achieving this requires doing all it takes to revamp the spirit of our various cultures. It is in African cultures that the oneness of her peoples could be found. We therefore appreciate that the task before CBAAC and other culture agencies is to pursue the sustained and possibly, the aggressive promotion and preservation of African culture.”

    Nollywood star Pete Edochie described the movie industry as second employer of labour after government noting that Goodluck Jonathan will invite him for the celebration of his re-election next year.

    The colloquium held at Ijaw House auditorium, Yenagoa, featured papers on culture and cultural regeneration in Africa and the Diaspora, Culture and national development in Nigeria, Using culture to fastrack African development, The Nollywood industry in the promotion of national development, Re-engineering Pan African cultural studies in the Black Atlantic among other sub-themes.

    In a communiqué issued at the close of the colloquium, organisers recommended:

    •That the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), should intensify its efforts in the preservation of African culture most importantly, the re-introduction of the teaching of History in Nigerian schools;

    •That CBAAC canvass for the de-colonisation of the already colonised African cultures, as this is a challenge to all Africans.  This is to be done in partnership with the intelligentsia, artists, non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and all allied agencies in Africa.  This will make for self-reliance, in socio-economic and cultural affairs of African State;

    •That CBAAC should develop a pathway through which the book can be used for new value-system development, since the values of the past are continuously being eroded;

    •That a national policy be established for use of Bibliotherapy in value-system re-orientation for behaviour modification, and change within the society;

    •That the National Censors Board, in collaboration with CBAAC and allied agencies, aim at censoring music dramatization to ensure nudity is reduced at production – editing stage, before public viewing on air;

    •That CBAAC canvass for the establishment of a Department of African Studies that would cater for a purely African culture and the handling of African Traditional Affairs;

    •Explore the possibility of incorporating traditional models of conflicts resolution devoid of modern adulteration, and institutionalizing these for use, in Africa;

    •That gender must emphatically, not be a determinant in apportioning responsibilities.  When men and women render services from their natural areas of responsibilities without discrimination, development results, borne out of the exploration of potentials inherent in synergy;

    •That, films are capable of being used as instrument for making peace, and managing conflicts when scriptwriter, actor and director chose to make films that espouse pure culture, and ignore money-making.

  • Solarising the systemic

    Solarising the systemic

    Being an excerpt of a paper: Education at the Historic Crossroads: New path for a new beginning delivered by renowned US-based historian, Prof Toyin Falola at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode.

    Because of five red emotional buttons anything that has to do with education often triggers in the deepest point of my heart, the invitation to deliver this convocation address could not be turned down under any circumstances because it was in accordance with my long-held principle of adding value to our institutions for the purpose of advancing the course of humanity—the fact of which, I must confess, has become something of an obsession. First, Dr. Tai Solarin (who was born and named Augustus Taiwo Solarin) is (I can’t even come to terms to think of Tai Solarin in the past tense!) a living example of an educated or enlightened soul. Through his wonderful deeds as an educator par excellence and as the famous columnist of the Daily Times newspaper’s “Thinking with You” column, he still lives among us. It is similar to great deeds such as those of the youngsters of Ghana’s Young Pioneer Movement in the days of the late President Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, who used to scream at the top of their voices as part of their pledge: “Nkrumah never dies!” To the critics of the Ghanaian leader, that was impossible. Yet Dr. Nkrumah has been dead since April 1972, yet his soul marches on, as his books are being used in schools and the ideas and socialist policies of Nkrumahism keep on popping up every now and then. In fact, some Ghanaians and other Pan-Africanists long for his reincarnation. And it is the same with Dr. Tai Solarin, whose name honors your great institution! “Tai Solarin never dies!!”  Second, from the time Dr. Solarin left Molusi College, my own alma mater, in the early 1950s to establish The Mayflower College at Ikenne, he had lived true to the character of a teacher who did not merely tell but instead showed and demonstrated. Tai Solarin, as a pilgrim, taught by example. He was also like an eagle and, as you and I know, eagles not only soar high, but they also fly alone. They are the only birds known to fly head on into the eyes of the storm! Furthermore, pilgrimage is for the bold and courageous, not for the chicken hearted. Eagles do not keep the company of chickens, whose idea of flying is hopping on the curbs!

    Tai Solarin’s sojourns, odysseys, and audacity as a pilgrim to move away from all the luxuries and comforts his guaranteed and secure position in Ijebu Igbo to the unknown Ikenne wilderness with all the risks of going solo to establish Mayflower College was no less a pilgrimage; he was accompanied, at the time, by only his dear wife, British-born Sheila Mary Solarin (née Tuer), whom he married in 1951 while in the United Kingdom after serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II. But a pilgrim is someone on a long journey or search, especially of something of exalted purpose or moral significance. It may interest you to note that Mayflower was the name of the ship on which the Pilgrims sailed to America in 1620. The life and works of Tai Solarin not only demonstrated that we too can make our lives sublime, but also showed us what a huge difference one person who was willing to walk his talk could make to change the world and create opportunities for others. Many alumni of Mayflower College have made a considerable difference and have chosen to live above board and carry on Tai Solarin’s torch of integrity and probity, even in our decadent and unpredictable Nigerian society.

    Third, your university has just not been rightly named after our national heroic legend and pioneer of proper education Tai Solarin, but it is the first university of education in Nigeria. And no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers. Hence, without competing with Oyo State, whose motto is “pacesetter state,” your university—as the first educators or teachers’ university—is, to say the least, the yardstick to measure where Nigeria is at the moment, and how far in the future Nigeria can go! Why? Because teachers make the nation, and Nigeria, as a nation, cannot go beyond the quality of your product: the teachers. You, as teacher trainers and trainees, are the pacesetters for every sector of our economy. From early years to the university level, you mold the character and quality of our nation. You build the nation. The influence your graduates have in the lives of all the children that will pass through their classrooms will determine the quality of health service, architecture and infrastructure, goods and services. Your burdens and responsibilities are, in some ways, not enviable because our nation’s destiny is in your hands. As teachers, the past, present, and future of Nigeria are in your hands. You have quality education to dispense, and we are happy that your great institution is named after Dr. Solarin, who himself valued education. He used post-war benefits to earn his own high-quality education from the Universities of Manchester and London in the United Kingdom.

    Fourth, the entire world, not just educators, is at the historic crossroads. And the challenge of managing the associated confusions of being at the crossroads while at the same time directing, guiding, and compassing the entire world in choosing the appropriate route to take depends on teachers! For ages, the world has historically used property ownership as its yardstick to measure success, and as the compass to guide our movements on the chessboard of the political economy. Now and then, crossroads arise when there is a regime change of property ownership. To appreciate what creates or constitutes the crossroads, and what they mean in our times and in the new Internet virtual and real global village, let’s cast our minds back in history. In the fifteenth century, Christopher Columbus journey to the West, accomplished without dropping into the oblivion, debunked the religious myths not only that our planet earth was not flat but also that it was not the center of the universe.

    Consequently, the British naval power and shipping industry automatically enthroned Britain as the world’s mercantile imperial power, trading in goods and humans. Medieval mercantile aristocrats lived side by side and in harmony with the feudal lords because vassals, with scattered farm or village settlements, and small workforces served the mutual interests of the feudal lords and mercantile aristocrats. Might was Right. Everyone knew his or her place, either in the king’s courtyard or within the larger society. And, on one hand, no one dare crossed the lines separating the slaves and the drivers supervising the slaves from the vassals, and on the other hand, no one crossed the boundary between vassals, the feudal lords, and mercantile aristocrats.