Category: Entertainment

Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family. I believe last year was a fulfilling year for you. May you change level positively and progress speedily this year. Year 2012 was a delightful year for us on this column. We were able to discuss a few topics on the need to communicate effectively. We focused on why we cannot but communicate and how we can use communication to our advantage and also to benefit others.

This New Year, I believe it is very important for us to have a solid start with specific objectives in mind. Communication is very important; you communicate whether you want to or not. Just as you make major plans at the beginning of the year, which some people refer to as New Year resolution, you should also have major plans for your communication and interaction with other people. By now, I’m sure you will agree with me that there is nothing casual about communication. This week, we shall be examining the all important topic of ‘setting agenda for your communication in 2013.’

Agenda Setting

What does it mean to set an agenda for communication? It means carefully planning where you want to be at the end of the year and then determining the kind of communication you need to engage in to get there. If you don’t plan your life, your activities will be subjected to chance and chance is never stable. Think about this, supposing you can say all the right things and act in the right way all the time, wouldn’t you be the best person in the world? I know we are not that perfect, but if we can pay attention to about 70% of the communication we are involved in, our lives will change dramatically.

Along with other personal communication agenda you may set for yourself this year, I strongly recommend that you include this- do all you can to add value to others through your communication. Communication is bi- or multi-directional as the case may be. It is also a transaction. In 1978, Michael Burgoon and Michael Ruffner identified some attributes of human communication. They said that communication is transactional because both the source and the receiver are constantly influencing each other through their interactions. Hence, a change in one element of the communication process naturally leads to a change in the other elements.

Let me use this simple illustration to explain what they meant. If you want to buy a loaf of bread for instance, you will take part in a transaction that will involve you (the buyer) and the seller. The transaction is based on mutual benefit; you need the bread and the seller needs the money. Supposing the seller tells you that the cost of the bread has increased (which is a change in one element of the transaction), you are left with the option of either paying more than you planned for or leaving without buying anything. If you don’t buy, you will not have the bread and the seller will not have the money. Hence, one change has changed everything.

The same is the case in communication. When you communicate with people, you are exchanging benefits. When you concentrate only on your benefit, the people you are communicating with will withdraw from you, yet you need them in your life. Don’t focus too much attention on yourself at the expense of others. Whenever you communicate with people, always leave them satisfied and glad that they ever met you. That is the way to build profitable relationships. Remember, before you can be a good public speaker, you must first be good at influencing the individual lives of the people around you. Decide today that everyone who comes in contact with you in 2013 will leave a better person and you will be surprised how influential you will become.

Why is Setting Agenda necessary?

Nothing happens by chance. A wise man said that whoever fails to plan, plans to fail. You have to deliberately decide to communicate effectively this year. Whatever you don’t prepare for, if it ever comes to you, it will be by mistake; and nothing that comes by mistake lasts. You cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. If indeed you want this year to be far better than last year, you have to deliberately aim at effective and contribution-oriented communication. Communication is like a seed, what you sow is what you reap. Your life cannot be different from what you communicate. God bless you this New Year.

OLAPOSI and Olasubomi, the twins of Omasan Buwa, former beauty queen and Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on the Physically Challenged, and their friends are giving back to society in the spirit of Christmas once again. The twins are plotting a fashion show cum charity party tagged R.I.S.E 2. Proceeds will go to a rehabilitation centre in Ajegunle, Lagos. The success of R.I.S.E 1, we gathered, prompted a bigger and better R.I.S.E 2. The event is already trending on twitter and it is also an opportunity to showcase upcoming young artistes popular among the youths. R.I.S.E 2 is an offshoot of their mother’s pet project, Rehabilitative Interactive Skills Empowerment, RISE which coordinates the affairs of persons with disabilities.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo led eminent personalities to commission the newly renovated Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque, Ilorin in Kwara State on Sunday. ADEKUNLE JIMOH reports.

The big men were there in large numbers. The influential Islamic leaders and scholars gathered in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Sunday for the grand opening of the renovated Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque. The project cost N1.9 billion.

Human and vehicular movement around the popular Emir’s Palace in the city centre came to a halt. A detachment of security personnel comprising the military, and police, official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) maintained security. With them, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Kwara State-owned Traffic Management Authority (KWATMA) who were at major road intersections and strategic locations attending to traffic.

The tattoos and inscriptions on the bodies of the horses stationed in conspicuous places added colour and aesthetics to the event.

Following the call for Juma’at prayers which took place 3:10pm, the main auditorium and outside of the mosque overflowed with worshippers. The shoving because of the large number of worshippers.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad urged Islamic clerics to preach the correct tenets of Islam. Sambo said the call was borne out of the current security challenges in the nation; Tambuwal said such teaching was the antidote to peace.

Sambo noted the spirit of sacrifice behind the actualisation of the project despite the downturn in the economy.

The mosque, he said, will contribute to religious tourism and enhance economic activities.

The Sultan, who noted that the project’s fund was raised by Christians and Muslims, called for the replication of such attitude among Nigerians to show unity.

He said: “A project like this that was made possible by the contributions of people from different faith deserves our commendation. We must be ready to replicate the gesture in all that we do in this country for if we are able to do such then things will be better. I, therefore, call on my fellow Nigerians from all walks of life to come together in the spirit of unity and let’s build the nation together.”

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who chaired the fund- raising for the mosque in 2009, urged Nigerians to take a cue from the success of the project and contribute to the development of their communities.

Aliyu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Mohammed Yahaya, said the project was completed in record time, praising the foresight of those responsible for the idea and those behind it.

They praised former Governor Bukola Saraki, now a Senator, for driving the project. They called on worshippers to ensure proper maintenance of the mosque.

Saraki expressed delight about the fulfilment of a dream.

He assured Kwarans that the project was just the beginning of good things to come to the state.

Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed described the mosque as a unifying symbol for Muslims across the country.

Ahmed said the manner of actualising the project should be a lesson to Nigerians that genuine brotherhood is possible among the people.

The atmosphere and general ambience at St Michael’s Church, Oye-Ekiti was quiet, almost somnolent. The gathering inside the church was supportively silent, perhaps accentuating the fact that it was essentially a remembrance event conducted for a big fish who once plied this earth.

Attired in various clothes with matching caps and headgears occupying most of the seats in the church, children and other participants at the event listened to dignitaries reel out tales of what the deceased did while on this side of the world and what would be proper as honour to extend to him now that he is no more.

One could not but become sentimentally attached to the spirit of the occasion when even before the commencement of the service and while the service lasted, one got regaled by achievements of several firsts of a man about whom not much has been heard, at least in contemporary times.

Indeed, the life and attainment of the late Chief Elijah Are Babalola offered seminal affirmation of the inimitable words of Victor Frankl, a World War II holocaust survivor and psychologist that ‘the richest place in the world is the cemetery’.

His grave, located within the precincts of St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Oye-Ekiti, carrying a finely sculptured effigy of the late scholar/politician, apart from the two books he wrote in his lifetime, offers prime signal to posterity that one Elijah Babalola indeed once lived.

He was born in November 1897 and departed August 1984 in Oye town which now falls within Ekiti North local government. In between this period of 87 years were strewn activities/attainments that were fittingly captured in many other ‘firsts’.

He was First Minister of Works, Western Region of Nigeria (1952-1956); first indigene of old Ondo State to become a Minister of State (1952); first member, Western House of Assembly (1952-1956); and first Ekiti member House of Representatives, Lagos (1952-1954).

Chief Babalola was the first President-General, Ekiti Progressive Union (1933-1939) and ((1945-1956); first African Principal of Christ School, Ado-Ekiti (1947); and first Principal, Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan (1957-1959).

His other attainments are too numerous to merit a space in a small effort like the present one.

He joined other nationalists in achieving political independence for Nigeria in 1960. He later became a foundation member of the Action Group (AG) founded in 1951.

The church service and launch of a magazine entitled: The life and Legacy of Chief Elijah Are Babalola at St. Michaels Anglican Church, Oye-Ekiti, was witnessed by dignitaries including Chief Ayo Ogunlade, former Minister of National Planning and Are of Oye-Ekiti; the monarch of Oye town, Oba Michael Ademola Ademolaju.

Chief Samuel Alao, Chief Bayode Ajala and the late scholar/politician’s last son, Mr. Olusegun Babalola and his wife, Temitayo, were also in attendance.

Others were Mr Sunday Agbaje, Oye Progressive Union (OPU) National President; Mr Bamise Sunday; Dele Awobusuyi; High Chiefs Victor Olatunji, Morakinyo Bamisile and Seun Owolabi, OPU National Secretary.

At the church service, the fourth son of Chief Babalola, Mr Akin Babalola, recalled the various contributions his late father has made towards the development of the country and his immediate community of Oye Ekiti.

He said: “Some roads and other public utilities put in place during the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo were the efforts of my father. This is aside the fact that my father had taught in many places like Ijebu, Sagamu, Oyo, Abeokuta and Ibadan before he came back to Ekiti to become first African Principal of Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti.” “He was equally instrumental to the coming together of several dispersed communities including Oye-Ekiti and those outside like Iyin-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Ikare Akoko now in Ondo State.

“The late Chief and Papa Adekunle Ajasin were both assigned by the Action Group (AG) to prepare a policy paper on free education, which they wrote at Olowo’s palace at Owo. Papa was not just a contemporary of Chief Obafemi Awolowo wo, they lived and operated well together in the politics and movement of the time.

“I have written to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on the need to remember and honour this great Nigerian, even if posthumously.”

In his comments, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ogunlade likened the late politician to a well-scenting flower in the desert, cast away from every possibility of being appreciated by any one.

The Lagos State branch of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto Alumni has held a reunion at The Martinos Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

Yearly, alumni of the Usman Danfodiyo University gather to celebrate. This year, they did so in a big way. They came in their numbers. Virtually every set of the institution was represented,

It was a platform for the ex-students to thank God for keeping them alive. It was also for them to meet and network.

They laughed, danced and dined. They were truly blessed as their alma mater has made them what they are today.

Some hadn’t seen each other since their school days in the 80s. Some had the opportunity of meeting the spouses of their classmates. They greeted one another, hugged and shook hands. Others just held on to the each other’s hands like little children. For many of them, it was a heart warming.

Seeing old friendly faces gave them joy. All their emotions came pouring out as they exchanged pleasantries.

Though many are resident in Lagos, some came from the north and eastern part of the country. Both the men and the women dressed the Muslim way just as they did back then in school.

The Martinos Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, venue of the reunion, was tastefully furnished in purple and green. It wore the look of a wedding decor. The organisers said it was just how they chose to project its brand.

Danfodites, as they are fondly called, have notable individuals in the community. Some of them were present. They included the Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, who chaired the occasion; Justice Mohammed Garba Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos; Dr Maymuna Garba of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba; Assistant Commander, Operations, of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abuja, Oke Adebisi and Mallam Yakubu Etudoye of the Nigerian Customs TinCan.

Everyone, in their individual way, carried the banner of the university.

Ahmed implored the members to attend meetings as it is a way to socialise.

Dr Garba spoke on how to manage stresses.

She listed 10 commandments of stress, and encouraged that whether as employees or employers, it is important to know where to draw the line to avoid stress.

“In our daily hustles, we should put our values in place. Happiness starts from within,” she said.

She enjoined parents with busy schedules not to abandon their parental responsibilities.

Then, it was time to do things on the lighter mood. A member of each set came out and spoke of something that made his set to stand out.

Justice Idris of the 1992 set stood to speak with pride of how his set revolutionalised the university by fighting for the emancipation of the Students Union Government and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The jurist recalled how the Union, shut down the university for a week to enable it to dialogue with the university authorities. The outcome, Justice Idris said, was the foundation most of the preceding sets enjoyed.

They took turns to cut and pose for photographs behind the reunion cake.