The Nation Newspaper

Category: Midweek Magazine

  • Three Nigerian visionaries in Africa education medal race

    Three Nigerian visionaries in Africa education medal race

    In a remarkable showcase of educational leadership, three Nigerian visionaries—Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Hakeem Subair, and Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye—are finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024. This prestigious accolade, jointly presented by T4 Education and HP, recognises their groundbreaking efforts in transforming education and addressing critical challenges across the continent. Assistant Editor Chikodi Okereocha explores how this trio’s efforts have elevated them to the global stage, positioning them to revolutionise education and inspire a brighter future for educators and students worldwide.

    In recognition of their dedication and transformative contributions to education, three distinguished Nigerians have been named finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024. This prestigious accolade, established by T4 Education in partnership with HP, celebrates the remarkable efforts of individuals reshaping education across the continent.

    Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Founder and Executive Director of SEED Care and Support Foundation, has made significant strides in supporting underserved communities through innovative educational programmes. Hakeem Subair, the visionary behind 1 Million Teachers (1MT), is tackling the critical shortage of quality educators with impactful initiatives across Nigeria. Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, is elevating teacher professionalism and registration standards through his leadership.

    The Africa Education Medal is awarded to an outstanding individual demonstrating exceptional impact, leadership, and advocacy in education. This year’s recipient will be honoured at the World Schools Summit in Dubai, scheduled for November 23 to 24, which focuses on addressing the global teacher recruitment and retention crisis and bridging educational gaps. In addition, the winner will have the unique opportunity to nominate a school for T4 Education’s Best School to Work programme. This initiative certifies schools that excel in creating supportive environments for teachers, thus promoting excellence and attracting top educational talent. These finalists embody the spirit of change and dedication needed to advance education in Africa, offering inspiration and setting a high standard for educational leadership.

    Oniyitan’s SEED Care and Support Foundation is at the forefront of advancing education in Nigeria, focusing on the affordable non-state sector to ensure quality education for all children. As a prominent consultant, entrepreneur, author and speaker with over two decades of experience in fostering economic growth and job creation across Africa, Oniyitan is a staunch advocate for the transformative power of education in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Nigeria, where over 20 million children are out of school and 70% of those attending are experiencing learning poverty, Oniyitan’s foundation addresses the critical need for quality education amidst a population where half are under 19 years old. The SEED Care and Support Foundation champions the role of affordable non-state education—encompassing low-fee private schools, faith-based schools, community schools, and alternative learning centres—as an essential partner alongside government efforts.

    The foundation not only advocates for this sector but actively contributes to policy-making by giving it a prominent voice. Through strategic partnerships, SEED Care and Support Foundation designs, pilots, and adapts educational innovations and frameworks to local contexts, leveraging evidence to engage and influence stakeholders globally. Their mission is to build a world where every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education, thus expanding educational opportunities and improving learning outcomes for all.

    It is revolutionising education in Nigeria by strengthening and expanding the affordable non-state sector. The foundation enhances educational quality through its collaborative community initiatives, school transformation programs, financial support, and curated learning experiences. With a vision to impact 20,000 affordable non-state schools and centers, Oniyitan aims to transform the lives of one million children across Nigeria by 2035.

    Leveraging over two decades of expertise in international development, Oniyitan has collaborated with major global organizations such as FCDO, the World Bank, GIZ, OXFAM, Stanford University, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Her impressive contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including the Top 50 African Women in Development 2024, Outstanding Service to Humanity 2022, and the Obama Foundation African Leader 2019, among others.

    Subair, Founder and CEO of 1 Million Teachers (1MT), is another notable finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2024. An influential figure in educational innovation, Subair holds a master’s degree in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University and dual bachelor’s degrees in Business and Finance from the University of Windsor and the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. His role as an Edtech Fellow at Cambridge University/HP Partnership for Education and his academic achievements, including membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society, underscore his commitment to advancing education. Subair has also served as an adjunct professor, specializing in Innovation and Change Management and Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship.

    Subair was inspired to address the challenges of quality education in Nigeria after his personal struggle to find suitable schooling for his daughter. This experience led him to establish a school in 2008, which highlighted the systemic issues plaguing the Nigerian education system, particularly the shortage of qualified teachers. Motivated by these insights, Subair founded 1MT to drive educational transformation across Africa. 1MT’s mission is to cultivate a new wave of highly trained, innovative educators who can effect grassroots change. Despite facing numerous challenges, the organization has successfully trained over 60,000 educators in more than 20 countries, impacting approximately four million students. This growth not only reflects 1MT’s foundational vision but also the resilience and dedication of its community.

    Among its flagship initiatives is the Blackbelt Programme, a unique teacher training model inspired by martial arts. Educators advance through various levels of mastery by engaging in online courses, mentoring sessions, and community projects. The program encompasses essential areas such as pedagogy, curriculum design, classroom management, leadership, and innovation, while also providing access to a global network of peers and experts.

    Additionally, in collaboration with HP and Girl Rising, 1MT launched the HP Mentor a Teacher Programme. This initiative focuses on gender equity, digital literacy, leadership development, and fostering a success mindset. By pairing HP employees with Blackbelt educators, the program enhances their ability to empower girls and promote high-quality education. Through these groundbreaking efforts, Subair and 1MT are making a significant impact on education, not only in Nigeria but across the continent.

    1MT partners with a wide range of academic institutions and organizations to provide advanced teacher education, facilitate global knowledge exchanges, and offer professional development opportunities. These collaborations ensure that educators receive the robust training needed to address the sector’s challenges effectively.

    Under Hakeem Subair’s visionary leadership, 1MT has become a trailblazer in global education reform. The organisation is dedicated to cultivating a critical mass of highly skilled and innovative educators. By leveraging cutting-edge programs, strategic partnerships, and a profound commitment to education, Subair and 1MT are driving transformative change for educators and students worldwide.

    Ajiboye, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), brings a wealth of experience to his role. Having started his career as a secondary school teacher, he advanced to become a lecturer and eventually a Professor of Curriculum Studies at the University of Ibadan. The TRCN plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s education system as the regulatory body for teacher professional development and registration. It is dedicated to upholding high standards of excellence and professionalism among educators. Through rigorous registration, licensing, accreditation, and ongoing supervision of teacher education programs, the Council promotes continuous professional growth and discipline, spearheading a renaissance in Nigeria’s teaching profession.

    Appointed by the President of Nigeria in 2016, Ajiboye has been a transformative force at the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). Under his leadership, the Council introduced the Professional Qualifying Examination in 2017, a mandatory test for all prospective teachers. This crucial initiative has significantly enhanced teaching standards and learning outcomes across Nigeria.

    Thanks to these reforms, TRCN has gained international acclaim as a leading teacher regulatory authority in Africa. Nigerian teachers now benefit from enhanced global mobility, with TRCN-issued letters of professional standing facilitating their recognition worldwide. In his role as President of the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), Ajiboye champions the status and welfare of teachers, advocating for professionalism and improved conditions both within Nigeria and globally.

    Senior Education Business Leader at HP, Mayank Dhingra, congratulated Nigeria’s Oniyitan, Subair, and Ajiboye on being named Finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024. He said: “Their passion and dedication to transforming education will inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps in building a world where quality education is enjoyed by all.

    “HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment. The Africa Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of African education, whose work we must all learn from if the world is to meet the SDGs by 2030.”

    Read Also: Afe Babalola Varsity wins 6th Africa Education Leadership Award

    The Founder and CEO of T4 Education, Vikas Pota said: “The Africa Education Medal honours change-makers where change is needed most. Where learning gaps remain stubbornly persistent and where deep inequalities remain. If we are to tackle these colossal challenges, and unlock the continent’s future, we must build a community of leaders from every sphere of society committed to educational transformation.”

    Pota emphasized that with visionary leaders like Oniyitan, Subair, and Ajiboye, both Africa and the world at large stand to gain immensely from their inspirational journeys and their transformative contributions to the future of education.

    In addition to these three Nigerians, the Africa Education Medal 2024 finalists include a diverse group of trailblazers dedicated to advancing education across the continent. Among them is Ahmed Kura, Co-Executive Director of the Kenya Drylands Education Fund, who has made significant strides in improving education in Kenya’s arid regions. Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, the CEO of CAMFED in Zimbabwe, has been a pivotal force in empowering young women and girls through education. Christopher Khaemba, Co-Founder and Director of Nova Pioneer in Kenya, has been instrumental in redefining education with innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

    The list also features Julian Hewitt, the Outgoing CEO of The Jakes Gerwel Fellowship in South Africa, who has been dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged youth through educational opportunities. Mohammed Haroon, a Principal Education Consultant in Ghana, has contributed to enhancing educational practices and policies in the region. Nankunda Hope Mwijuka, Executive Director of Raising Teenagers in Uganda, has worked tirelessly to support and uplift young people through education and mentorship. Lastly, Taddy Blecher, CEO and Co-Founder of Maharishi Invincibility Institute in South Africa, has pioneered initiatives to integrate education with personal and professional development.

    Nominations for the Africa Education Medal, which opened in February 2024, were sought from a broad spectrum of individuals dedicated to enhancing education at all levels. This includes educators, school leaders, civil society leaders, public servants, government officials, political leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and technologists, all working to improve pre-kindergarten through university education. Now in its third year, the Africa Education Medal is the oldest of the three World Education Medals established by T4 Education and HP. The recipient will be announced in October, following a rigorous selection process conducted by a distinguished jury.

  • From despair to renewal

    From despair to renewal

    When Boko Haram’s insurgents ravaged the Northeast, particularly Adamawa State, they left communities in Michika Local Government Area in chaos. This special report by FRANK IKPEFAN reveals how life is now returning to Michika’s once-obliterated neighbourhoods. Through the dedicated efforts of various development partners, residents are returning from their ‘exile’ and witnessing a resurgence of vitality and hope in their communities.

    In 2015, as Boko Haram’s terror reached a horrifying peak, 50-year-old Blessing Abubakar from Michika, Adamawa State, faced unimaginable despair. The brutal murder of three of her younger brother’s children by insurgents forced her to make a heart-wrenching decision: flee or face certain death. Abandoning her home, she sought refuge in the cold, unforgiving mountains. For six agonising months, Blessing endured relentless fear and bone-chilling nights while Boko Haram tightened its grip on her community. Her once- stable life was obliterated—she lost her home, her cherished belongings, and her livelihood, clinging to survival in the harshest conditions.

    “It was tough for me during the period,” she told our correspondent who visited Michika, one of the local government areas in Adamawa State. With tears-laden eyes, evoking painful memories of a horrible terrorists’ attack she would have wished never happened, she added: “The insurgents killed three of my brother’s children. We ran away to the mountains and stayed there for six months before we returned.” As a core villager, she spoke to our correspondent through an interpreter.

    Mrs. Abubakar’s plight was tragically common. Countless residents of Michika Local Government were forced to abandon their homes and businesses, seeking refuge in the mountains or neighbouring towns. The insurgents’ ruthless attacks targeted power installations, schools, banks, hospitals and other critical infrastructure, transforming the once vibrant town into a desolate wasteland. Many fled as far as Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, to escape the threat of death at the hands of Boko Haram.

    “Most of us ran to Yola, Kaduna and Abuja and other parts of the country. Many of our people were killed. My family and I ran to Yola. We only returned when normalcy was restored to Michika,” another resident of the community, Halima Ando said. Halima said since she returned, she had been learning tailoring as a means of survival.

    Building trust and cohesion after the insurgency

    Life has slowly begun to return to Michika and its surrounding communities since the military successfully repelled the insurgents. Several international non-governmental organisations, including Oxfam, the Christian Rural and Urban Development Association in Nigeria (CRUDAN), the Centre for Public Education and Mobilisation for Development in Nigeria (CEPAD), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), are implementing an eight-month project. This initiative aims to enhance social cohesion through participatory and inclusive community development planning.

    The project began in June 2023 and was officially launched on August 24 of the previous year. Project Coordinator Enoch Bamaiyi stated that since its inception, the initiative has employed local and comprehensive integration approaches to foster community development. These approaches include community town hall meetings, dialogue sessions, workshops, training, and other relevant activities. The aim is to engage all community members, including internally-displaced persons (IDPs), host community members, returnees, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, men, and youth. By leveraging both governmental and non-governmental structures in Michika Local Government Area, the project seeks to place citizens at the forefront of sustainable development efforts.

    He said: “During the project timeframe, we have undertaken several crucial activities. These include a project inception and technical kick-off workshop attended by the entire project team, and a baseline assessment and wards analysis to establish a foundation for measuring progress throughout the project.

    “Over 112 stakeholders have been sensitised through engagement and dialogue workshops. More than 1,600 community members have participated in mobilisation and sensitisation activities. We engaged 1,287 community stakeholders through community development planning (CDP) sessions in clusters of wards. Additionally, we formed and trained 400 members of Ward Development Support Committees (WDSCs) across 16 wards, reviewed and validated the Michika council development plan in collaboration with 100 key stakeholders, and trained 35 council officials on translating CDPs into actionable budgets.

    Read Also: Cleric asks Nigerians not to despair

    “With these achievements, the project is now focused on finalising a comprehensive analysis of key sectors, developing a monitoring and evaluation framework, and creating a detailed five-year cost plan for the LGA. We are also planning to deliver on key project activities.”

    According to the Village Head of Michika 2, Gomna Zakawa, the community has been actively involved in rebuilding their villages and restoring activities disrupted by Boko Haram.

    He said: “From September 2014, we deserted Michika and returned in May 2015. Since then, we have been rebuilding the town. To this day, we don’t have electricity. We have been managing our lives with solar panels and generators for those who can afford them.

    “The NGOs have done a lot for us after the insurgency, and our people are very happy about it. Most of the schools were burnt down during the insurgency. In fact, almost all the schools in Michika were affected. However, the NGOs started renovating the schools and even built new classrooms after the insurgency. When we returned, there was a lot of distrust. Neighbours wouldn’t eat each other’s food or travel on the same roads. Now, through our social cohesion program, we are working together to rebuild the community.”

    The process to restore the LGA to full activity will take four years, from 2024 to 2028, according to Anthony Gildi, Chairman of the Ward Development Support Committee. To fast-track the rebuilding process, the committee has focused on training youths in skills acquisition. “Through the committee, we have been rebuilding the town with support from NGOs,” Gildi said. “We have been training our youths in skills acquisition to empower them and enlist their help in the rebuilding of Michika. The rebuilding program of Michika will take four years, and we are reaching out to stakeholders, politicians, and others to support us in facilitating the project for our youths.”

    Project promoted social cohesion – Oxfam

    John Makina, the Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria, highlighted the positive impact of the organisation’s intervention in Michika Local Government Area, conducted in collaboration with three other development partners and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Makina emphasised that the project, implemented over an 11-month period, significantly promoted social cohesion and enhanced participation in governance within the local community. “The intervention has positively impacted the lives of the people in Michika Local Government Area and Adamawa State as a whole,” Makina said.

    “Through our efforts, we have fostered greater social cohesion and encouraged active participation in governance, contributing to the overall development and stability of the region.”

    He said: “The intervention programme aimed to enhance and encourage citizens’ participation in governance while strengthening social cohesion through inclusive, participatory community development planning.” Makina continued, “Since the project’s inception in June 2023, we have engaged critical stakeholders to establish a community-driven, integrated, and comprehensive approach to development planning.”

    He further explained that by leveraging state and local government citizens’ engagement and participatory planning (CEPP), the program sought to improve the socio-economic participation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host communities, and other vulnerable groups in the Northeast, with a particular focus on Michika Local Government Area.

    He added: “The project was implemented by Oxfam in partnership with the Christian Rural and Urban Development Association in Nigeria (CRUDAN) and the Centre for Public Education and Mobilisation for Development in Nigeria (CEPAD).”

    The Permanent Secretary of the Adamawa State Planning Commission, Mr. Amos Enock, expressed gratitude to the development partners for selecting the state for the intervention. Enock assured that the state government plans to replicate the project in other LGAs to ensure sustainability and to involve everyone in the policy implementation for community development. The District Head of Bazza, Alhaji Saidu Lawal Bashar, noted that the arrival of these organisations has significantly contributed to restoring social cohesion and trust within their communities. He remarked that prior to the project, his subjects were plagued by hatred, mistrust, and suspicion.

    He commended the development partners and the German Government for their efforts and urged the Federal Government to provide counterpart funding for viable intervention by partners in the country.

  • Abibatu Mogaji: Ode to a legendary amazon

    Abibatu Mogaji: Ode to a legendary amazon

    It was a homecoming feast penultimate Sunday at the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, when Abibatu Mogaji, was performed after a successful premiere in Abuja recently. The evening was not only historic, but also a hallmark of creative performance laced with theatrical dissipation of the cultural prowess of Nigerian artistes.

    Abibatu Mogaji, written by prolific dramatist and former Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, and produced by Ola Awakan, is a play in honour of the late legendary Iyaloja General Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, the mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It had in attendance Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the granddaughter of Abibatu Mogaji and current Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Commissioner for Tourism Toke Benson; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, the grandson and Lagos Assembly member, Damola Kasunmu, the APC Southwest zonal women leader, Hon. Yetunde Adesanya, traditional rulers and market men/women, among others.

    The play, which is packed full of dancing and singing is a tapestry of the life and times of the great amazon who steered the affairs of most markets in her time, particularly Lagos. It also highlights not only her forthrightness and philanthropic nature, but also the great influence of mentorship and motherly care she had on President Tinubu growing up as a child.

    Opening with a bubbling market scene, the play which lasted for about two hours, takes the audience into the many situations that influenced the growing up of little Abibatu acted by Nwanevu Sharon into a business mogul and a strong pillar in Lagos market having found a mentor in one of the famous Akara sellers in Lagos.

    Read Also: Abibatu Mogaji: 10 years after

    “I am very happy, by Allah’s grace, I know I will be like Iyaloja,” she said, while convincing her parents on why she chose the second school to attend in order to learn trading, particularly Akara selling.

    Expectedly, the emergence of Abibatu acted by Seyisola Ogbonna as Iyaloja General was greeted with fanfare by all especially the market men and women who thronged her home to celebrate the appointment. In appreciation of the peoples’ supports, she prayed: “This market shall progress, and our success shall shine like sun. The world will hear of it”. 

    The performance wasn’t all about the positive side of the prominent businesswoman, Abibatu. Some of the thorny issues such as litigation, which she faced in the hands of colonial administration, were also highlighted in the play.

    Beyond entertainment, the play is to amplify the potential of the creative economy through the achievement of a legend who contributed to nation building. Among the cast of the play are Olaoluwa Olawale (Chief Egungbayi), Adewale Oleolu (Ibrahim, Iman), Awesome Dure (Lawyer), Olatunde Olamide (Pelewura), Nissi George (Gbadamosi Mogaji), Smart Adejumo (Amusa), Duke Patience (Batile Alake), May Okanigbe (Madam Rabi) Jumai Buba (Saadatu), Damipe Adekoya (Kafaya) and Loto Olaoluwakitan (Chief Odili)

    Executive Producer of the play, Awakan in his opening remark said the greatness of every society lies in its effort to enhance transformation through human capital development and promotion of its diverse history, culture, and economic assets.

    “No denying the incontrovertible truism that Nigeria is blessed with the needed cultural endowment embedded in her rich history of people and places. How best can we then walk this path of rekindling our greatness without telling the stories of our heroes past to inspire our up-and-coming Legends?

    “This is the basis for this tale of legends, which we are kick-starting today with the fascinating story of our great Mama Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, the mother of our current president, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This platform for cultural preservation lays credence to the indubitable power of the creative industry to help jack up our nation’s GDP.

    “Through this production alone we have directly and indirectly engaged over 2000 youth positively across the theatre, media, hospitality, print, transport, logistics, aviation, fashion and artisans – both skilled and unskilled, added to the over 20,000 that we have betrothed over 10 years. If handled with the utmost sense of responsibility, planning, and implementation of the bounteous ideas that can sprout from the sector, no doubt we will all be on the right path to national advancement. Jobs can be adequately created; our tourism potential can be better appreciated and our value system properly positioned. This is in line with the Renewed Hope mantra of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” he added.

    According to Awakan, the production took the team over seven months of planning and ‘today we have this play, well researched, written by our own prolific dramatist, my mentor and literary father, Prof Ahmed Yerima, and what Artswax Communications plans to do with it is to educate, inspire and mentor young women, and Nigerians in general.’

    “We plan to take it on a tour and the Nigerians in the diaspora are salivating already. There is a lot to see and learn from. But it was tough getting here! We needed many to be there for us but very few opened the door when we knocked. However, our resilience has made today a day that will go down in history for good,” he said in an opening remark.

    No doubt, the play is a significant acknowledgment of the sterling contributions of the late matriarch who lived and traded for the good of all. It is a deserving posthumous homage that its time has come.

    The closing section of the play that highlights the appearance of Abibatu  from spirit world to counsel and pray for Ahmed (Bola Tinubu) acted by 

    Prince Ladega Ibrahim Kehinde, did not carry that aura of an encounter with a spirit. However, the dialogue between Tinubu the mother was summed in four words “Never let me down.”

    From the play, it was abundantly clear that the late Alhaja Abibatu was like a mother hen to everyone, particularly the market men and women. Tributes by close associates also revealed that she was a caring mother and dependable partner. “If you are loyal to Alhaja, you will get her heart. I converted to Islam because of Alhaja and she sponsored me to Mecca,” according to one of the women that spoke in the documentary shown before the start of the play at 6.08pm.  Her popular song E ma ba ro bo, which was her catchphrase and sermon for staying on side of truth still resonates among her friends and relations even after death.

  • Ofili’s Shaping us garners10 nominations

    Ofili’s Shaping us garners10 nominations

    A self-taught filmmaker Kambili Ofili has taken the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) 2024 by storm. Her first-ever film, Shaping us, a powerful drama exploring the complexities of family, identity, and resilience, has garnered an astounding ten nominations, including Best Drama, Best First Film International, Best Actress/Actor, and Best Supporting Actress/Actor.

    The TINFF is a Canadian Screen Awards qualifying festival, making Shaping us eligible for potential nominations at Canada’s most prestigious film awards.

    With no prior industry experience, Kambili embarked on the journey of bringing her script’s vision to life, successfully directing and acting simultaneously, a feat rarely attempted, let alone achieved in a debut film. Her passion and commitment to truth shine through in every frame of “Shaping Us.” The film features a stellar ensemble cast, including Bucci Franklin, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Omowunmi Dada, James Gardiner, Floyd Igbo, Jordan Bangoji and a surprise cameo from Lasisi Elenu who deliver exceptional performances.

    Read Also: Ofili targets podium finish at Paris 2024

    “A rare feat by an outstanding talent” is the way most film enthusiasts have described Shaping us, the trailblazing debut by talented filmmaker Kambili Ofili. The film, which has continued to make waves and garner encomium is indeed a remarkable piece of creativity.

    “I poured my heart and soul into this film, and I’m incredibly humbled by the recognition it has received,” Kambili said to an appreciative audience. She continued “I hope  Shaping us will spark conversations and empathy around often stigmatized topics and make viewers navigating these situations in their real lives feel seen and understood.”

    Shaping us delves into the lives of six close friends as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of adulthood. The film tackles themes of infertility, postpartum depression, divorce, and the enduring power of friendship. Kambili’s unique directorial vision, combined with the raw emotional depth of the story, has made Shaping us a standout at TINFF 2024. Shaping us is yet to set a streaming release date, so keep an eye on this space for updates on its release. If TINFF’s recognition is any indication, this is a film you won’t want to miss!

    Kambili bursts onto the scene with this feature debut, Shaping us. A visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that challenges conventional norms, Kambili’s creative journey embodies her mission to break stigmas around starting new chapters. From all aspects of filmmaking to completing an ultra-marathon in 2023 to raise money for children with autism, Kambili is working on a music album with a free floating concert held in London last Sunday. The Lagos-born, London-raised writer-director channels her passion, diverse life experiences, and commitment to truth in every endeavour, leaving it all on the line.

    So far, TINFF 2024 Nominations for Shaping us, include:

    Best Drama, Best Film – Nollywood, Best First Film–International, Best Film – Africa Diaspora, Best Actress Nollywood film-Kambili Ofili, Best Actress African Film – Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Best Supporting Actress – Omowunmi Dada, Best Actor African Film-Floyd Igbo

    Best Actor International film-Bucci Franklin and Best Supporting Actor African film-James Gardiner Kambili’s production company, Clear Skies Films & Production is a black and woman-led film production company with a mission to showcase relatable and diverse African stories using high-quality cinema. The company is committed to producing films that transcend stereotypes and inspire change.

  • Japa not always greener on the other side

    Japa not always greener on the other side

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pen-Digital Nigeria Publishers, Mr. Assin Godstime, is a writer whose literary works cut across drama, prose and poetry. He is a promoter of oral history, particularly that of the Urhobo people in Niger-Delta region. He wrote Nigeria’s first ethnic current affairs publication titled: Urhobo Current Affairs, published last month. He speaks with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on topical issues around the Japa syndrome, which form the thrust of the 28-page book, Before you Japa

    What informed your writing of the book?

    Every writer is a problem solver because the aim of every writer is to proffer solution to a subject or topic. The society houses several issues that require urgent attention. One of such issues is the JAPA syndrome. A good number of Nigerians today believe that they would make it big as soon as they leave Nigeria. Many of these people are not entirely poor or unemployed. Some of the people who relocate abroad have no business being there as they could have done well here. It should be noted that I am not against anyone traveling abroad, but if we must do so, it’s important we go through the legal means and be sure of where we are going, our chances of making it there, and how we intend to cope with the change of environment. I decided to author a book to prepare the minds of potential oversea travellers on all that they should know before relocating, if they must do so.

    What’s the focus of the book?

    Japa, literarily means ‘relocation’ or ‘to run’ in everyday language or slang. If there was a horrible scene and people needed to leave the scene as quick as possible before the police comes, we can simply say that people there began to Japa (run). This is not the context of my novel. JAPA, in my novel, means relocation from one’s country to another. The book, therefore, focuses on relocation, bearing in mind two set of people, those who sell off their estates and those who travel through escape routes (illegal migration), that is, dessert. The book focuses on the hundreds of Nigerians who relocate in droves with the quest that they would make it, as soon as they leave. A remedy to quench desirous taste, it’s.

    Whose experiences or encounters are shared in the book?

    Growing up in the city of Benin, I was very much familiar with illegal migration. My cousin and quite a number of my friends relocated through Sahara desert to Europe. I listened to their ideal despite the fact that they succeeded. Then again, I have also travelled and witnessed much of what our people go through when they relocate, especially when they lack information of the place.

    Whose experiences or encounters are shared in the book?

    Literary books are generally written to teach and inculcate a lesson(s)to a reader to enable the reader to borrow a lease. “Before You Japa” is a stray bullet to those who are aspiring or desirously seeking relocation from Nigeria. Fortunately enough, the youths are the biggest benefiaries of the lessons to be learnt in the book, given the fact that youths relocate through illegal routes the more. The book is not to discourage interested persons or potential immigrants, but to prepare their minds of the dangers ahead if they do not journey with a set goal in mind.

    Read Also: JAPA DREAMS, DIASPORA NIGHTMARES: Illusions of greener pastures abroad

    What lessons can the youths learn from the contents of the book?

    Every book has a lesson to impact to a special audience. “Before You Japa” specifically has no targeted audience in mind, it’s written to fill a lacuna which many Nigerians seeking to relocate in droves lack. It’s highly recommended to all Nigerians, age notwithstanding.

    Personally can you share any ugly experience you had that many migrants.from.Africa face while seeking greener pasture?

    Growing up, I did not fancy overseas. My reason for this was my environment. Many of my friends relocated overseas through desert and ugly routes. I listened to their ugly stories of how they drank their urines when they had no water to drink, how the girls were molested, etc. I formed my story when I made my first international trip. I was amazed to know that a good number of the people who live abroad that we admire perhaps because of the beautiful images they occasionally upload on the walls of their Facebook live below average overseas. In summary, beautiful images on the walls of Facebook does not mean that all is well. Potential immigrants should know that, “even in Freetown, nothing is free”.

  • A jolly ride on Abuja Metroline

    A jolly ride on Abuja Metroline

    The rhythmic hum of the Abuja Metro Line has become the heartbeat of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), connecting the vibrant city centre to its bustling suburbs. As the train glides smoothly across the tracks, it carries with it stories of joy, convenience and discovery. Assistant Editor JIDE BABALOLA writes on delightful experiences of travellers who recently embarked on this urban adventure.

    For Ahmed Bello, a young professional, commuting from Lugbe to his office in the bustling Central Business District, the metro line has transformed his daily routine. “Before the metro, I spent hours in traffic every day, but now my commute is a breeze. The view of the city waking up in the morning through the train window is simply breath-taking,” he shares, smiling as he recalls his first ride.

    The Ayodeji family, with their two young children, decided to explore the metro line as part of their weekend outing. “The kids were thrilled to ride the train,” says Mrs. Ayodeji. “It was their first time, and they couldn’t stop talking about the experience. The convenience of hopping on the metro and reaching our destination without the hassle of driving made our family day out even more enjoyable.”

    Then there’s Grace Okonkwo, a university student, who frequently travels from Kubwa to the city centre for her studies. “The metro line has been a game-changer for me. It’s safe, reliable and allows me to use my travel time productively,” she explains. “I can study, listen to music, or just relax before a busy day of classes.”

    These personal stories highlight the transformative impact of the Abuja Metro Line, making it more than just a means of transportation but a cherished part of daily life for many. Whether it’s simplifying commutes, creating memorable family experiences, or providing a peaceful space for students, the metro line is a testament to the progress and connectivity shaping Abuja’s future.

    The 40-minute train ride from Abuja’s Metro Station in the bustling Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport offers a refreshing perspective on Nigeria, even for the most sceptical. Happy families enjoying a free excursion, giggling teenagers, and the idyllic landscapes on either side of the tracks reveal the often unseen and underappreciated beauty of the Federal Capital Territory. For those returning from the airport, the cleanliness, smooth ride and clear security measures enhance the pleasure of re-entering the capital city.

    The growing number of cars rolling into Abuja from various satellite towns every morning has been a concern for years. Urban planners, transportation specialists and many others have wondered why Nigeria has been slow to embrace the integrated advantages of intermodal transportation. In Nigeria, the transportation system is predominantly uni-modal, with over ninety per cent of goods and passengers transported by road. Rail lines, shipping corridors, and the prohibitive costs of air transport have made road travel the dominant choice.

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    Intermodal passenger transport, as explained by Wikipedia, “involves using two or more modes of transportation in a journey. Mixed-mode commuting is often used to combine the strengths (and offset the weaknesses) of various transportation options. A major goal of modern intermodal passenger transport is to reduce dependence on the automobile as the major mode of ground transportation and increase the use of public transport.” The history of Nigeria’s train transport system and the Nigerian Railway Corporation dates back to 1898, when the first railroad was constructed by the British colonial government. However, the lack of political will by the nation’s leaders has significantly stunted the growth of Nigeria’s railway system, reinforcing the population’s reliance on road transportation.

    On November 30, 2006, while launching Nigeria’s ambitious $8.3 billion rail project, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo underscored the government’s commitment to expanding intermodal and multimodal transport services, aiming to leverage the strengths of each system. Yet, for years, this grand vision made only modest progress. The Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT), also known as the Metro Line, was developed in six phases and funded by loans from the China EXIM Bank. The Obasanjo administration awarded the contract in 2007, and former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned it on July 12, 2018. Although trial operations were set to commence from September 2018 to March 2020, the project stalled soon after Buhari’s commissioning due to vandalism, low public patronage, and other challenges.

    Making a difference

    President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s administration has pledged a transformative policy thrust known as the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a prime global investment destination and positively impacting citizens’ lives. As part of these efforts, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, inaugurated the ARMT system during the celebrations marking President Tinubu’s first year in office.

    Wike described the inauguration as a practical demonstration of the government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’ Despite the Metro Line Rehabilitation contract being awarded at $30 million in 2018, funds were not released until President Tinubu took office. In September 2023, Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant-General of the Federation to facilitate action by the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Limited, towards completing the project.

    As a result, twelve train stations with car parks were constructed at a cost of N21.4 billion. Additionally, Wike renegotiated the $128 million earmarked for manpower training by the previous administration down to $75 million, saving taxpayers $53 million. The ARMT system now boasts 12 diesel multiple units, each capable of transporting approximately 700 passengers. Designed for a minimum of 14 trips per day, the system can transport around 9,800 passengers daily. This development marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s journey towards an integrated and efficient transportation network, fulfilling a long-awaited dream.

    On Wednesday, May 29, President Tinubu inaugurated the re-launch of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) commercial operations with a heartening announcement. Originally promised a two-month period of free rides by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, commuters will now enjoy complimentary train rides for six months. “Our dear Landlord, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, I have heard you say that there will be free train rides for two months. I want to appeal to you to make it until the end of the year. Let us give the people reasons to celebrate,” President Tinubu declared, drawing enthusiastic applause.

    Shortly before boarding the train for a ride from the metro station to the airport, President Tinubu described the operations on the Abuja Metro Line as a symbolic milestone of enduring progress for the country and the Federal Capital Territory. “As we gather to commemorate the first anniversary of my administration, we are also celebrating the fruits of collaboration, dedication, progress, and foresightedness,” he stated. This extension of free rides until the end of the year underscores the administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Nigerians and enhancing the transportation infrastructure. It provides not only a practical benefit but also a reason for citizens to feel hopeful and proud of the advancements in their nation.

    Joyful rides

    Interest in the FCT’s train service is gradually increasing. Falmata David and Yakubu Mohammed, two young reporters from a popular online news medium, were on the train to capture passengers’ impressions. For families and society, the sheer delight that lights up the faces of children and young ones is significant. A recent train ride highlighted that students and other young people appear to be particularly engaged and excited about the experience, echoing the joyful sentiments expressed by President Tinubu.

    The late English writer Agatha Christie once said, “Trains are wonderful… To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and places of worship and rivers, in fact, to see life.” For those on this 40-minute train ride, it was indeed a delightful experience, even though train transportation is not yet as popular in Nigeria as it could be. Waiting for the 3:30 PM ride from Abuja Metro station to the airport provided an opportunity to interact with two very courteous FCT staff members – Dunke Yusuf and Samuel Oriade. Both declined formal interviews but were polite and informative. Currently, the train service offers four trips out of town and an equal number of trips into the city, with people traveling to or from Kubwa using the Idu train station as a junction to change trains on their journey. Plans are underway for more coaches and additional daily trips.

    When it was time for departure, men and women lined up in separate queues. The young security personnel explained the necessity of their screening and checks for everyone’s safety. Downstairs, passengers boarded the newly-commissioned coaches, which were clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated. Each of the four coaches has a seating capacity for twenty-four passengers, with provisions for standing passengers. Among the happy crowd in the fourth coach were the Ayodeji Kosamot family. Surrounded by three children and other family members, Ayodeji explained that they came for the fun of the ride, which the children found delightful as part of their mid-term school break. When asked if he had ever been on a train before, one of the children gleefully responded that he was on one at that moment. The family planned to disembark at Idu station and connect another segment of the free train ride to Kubwa.

    As the train rolled along from Idu, passengers appreciated the expansive stretch of peaceful, idyllic landscape, with a brief pause at Bassanjiwa station. After sixteen years in Abuja, some were hearing the name for the first time. The train continued its journey towards the airport, moving along tracks that split the village in two, revealing mud houses and temporary ‘bachas’ or ghetto structures. Despite this, new mini shops and economic activities indicated an infusion of better living conditions. Clearly, the people in this rural part of the FCT are industrious.

    Shortly after Bassanjiwa station, the metro train reached Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport station. It took only two minutes after passing through the validator machines for the lively boys from Kubwa suburbs to shout excitedly at the sight of an airplane on the tarmac in the distance. For many, it was their first time seeing an airplane up close, a memorable experience for these potential frequent travelers of the future. The connecting glass doors to the airport grounds were locked, but there was an entrance door for travelers to exit or enter from the airport.

    As the train pulled into the final station, a sense of unity and hope filled the air, echoing the words of Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The revitalised Abuja Rail Mass Transit system stands as a testament to this spirit, bringing together families, students, and daily commuters in a shared journey that not only connects destinations but also hearts. Amidst the laughter of children and the awe of first-time riders, it’s clear that this train is more than just a mode of transport; it’s a moving symbol of Nigeria’s unwavering progress and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.

  • Untapped treasure in oil city

    Untapped treasure in oil city

    Former Dean, School of Vocational Education, College of Education, Warri, Delta State, and founder, Oyoma Visual Art Studio and Gallery, Prof. Salubi Onakufe, is a consummate fine artist and art teacher.  Onakufe, who was Acting Provost, College of Education, Warri, and faculty member, African American University, Benin Republic, spoke with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on why he closed two of his galleries, his love for prints and miniature works, the focus of his artworks and other issues in the creative industry

      House 30, Jumujaiye Street, Charlesco Warehouse Road, Off Nigerian Port Authority Expressway, Warri is unlike other buildings in the neighbourhood. A spacious pave-locked compound hemmed by fruit trees such as sour sop, avocado pear, lime, and vegetables like bitter leaf. It is a home built around abundance of greenery as therapy. This unique setting also provides a lead to what House 30 has for every guest, especially art enthusiasts. 

    Welcome to the home, studio and gallery of former art teacher at the College of Education, Warri Prof. Salubi Onakufe, a mecca of a sort for art students, artists, art collectors and enthusiasts. It also houses the Oyoma Visual Art Studio and Gallery, where he spends most of his time drawing, painting or preparing patterns for printmaking. Even at retirement, Onakufe, 71, wakes up at 5am every day and his studio is his first port of call. He is not a fan of extra curricula activities. Yet, he goes to bed late and barely sleeps five hours. Trained at the Auchi Polytechnic and the University of Missouri, USA, he taught at the Faculty of Vocational Studies, College of Education, Warri, where he retired.

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    Onakufe lived art to the fullest during and after his active teaching days at the College of Education Warri. Unlike many of his peers in the academics, he is as active in studio as in classroom. He literarily shared his time and resources equally between teaching and studio practice. Little wonder his collection is uncountable and it spanned decades of continuous production. There are different sizes and shapes of artworks—stone/wood sculptures, paintings, prints, kept in every available space in the main studio. Even the walls of the stair case of the house are not spared as they hang some special paintings. Every room is a mini gallery of sort. He successfully stocked two galleries in Warri and Benin in Edo state with his artworks to service the emerging art markets in the two cities while in active service as an art teacher.   

    On what forms the content of his art, Prof Onakufe said: “In all my years as an artist, I dared where many artists feared to thread. I used my artworks to interrogate issues in the society not minding whose ox is gored. I combine academic with studio practice to execute my works, especially as social commentary. In life, am not always in a hurry in whatever I do. I believe in long term planning. My art collection is being documented but we have lost count of the numbers. The works are however classified by periods; formative/Auchi era; Missouri /Masters period till date, which are Niger Delta forest form (in paper and canvas; masquerade and cultural life of the people, Warri crisis—a huge collection of paintings and prints. There is also the abstract expressionism series—impunity versus hope, peace, love and beauty series. Currently, I am working on found objects of wood of multiple colours and shapes.”

    He recalled that driven by the desire to meet the increasing demands for his art, he decided to open two art galleries in Warri and Benin in the mid-2000s, which became the thriving art outlets in the two cities then. But, the collections at the two galleries are now merged to form the core of Oyoma Visual Art Studio and Gallery’s collection in his current location in House 30.

    “I closed the two galleries after completing my Warri facility, where most of my works are warehoused. The Benin gallery was one of the thriving art outlets then. It was located on Paul Omorodion Street, BDPA Estate, opposite University of Benin campus in Ugbowo. It was operational from 2009 till 2013. Shuttling Benin to Warri to meet customers’ needs was tasking and highly risky for the manager. Often time, some customers would require seeing the artist physically and as at then I was still very active in teaching at the College. All this informed why I had to merge the two galleries’ collection into one in my residence,” he said of his art marketing venture.

    Continuing, he said: “Majority of my works focuses on the happenings around the Niger Delta region, particularly the socio-political crises in the region. There are works of 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and till now that address different issues that affect the region.  One unique piece in my collection is an old bicycle bought by a former NYSC Corp member Mr. Segun Odugbose, an architect, who had his service year with my gallery in Benin City. He left the bicycle behind after the service year in 2011. It has become part of my collection and interestingly it is becoming an artifact.”

    Presently, his love for miniatures and prints knows no bound. He said that small size paintings and prints are the in-thing these days because of carriage and space constraint for hanging. He explained that many art collectors and buyers feel at ease picking or buying such medium size or miniatures at auctions or exhibitions, adding that even the famous Mona Lisa painting is not a large size work, yet it is worth a fortune in the global art market.

    All the while, documentation and preservation of his growing collection were never a challenge because his son, Dr. Afuevu Onakufe, has been part and parcel of the development of his gallery, studio and collection for decades.

    “My son Dr. Afuevu Onakufe worked with me for many years and he was taking care of my collections. Consequent upon that, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Art Management by the School of Business Management, London for managing my collections for many years. Interestingly, he is also a painter and print maker,” he added.

    Though spent most of his teaching career in Warri, he finds the oil rich city as a no art market place. According to him, art market in Warri is non-existent. “Warri is not a strong hub for art market. But, when Shell Petroleum Company was in Warri, there were efforts to grow the art market.  Since they left Warri, the emerging art business has dipped. There is no art market anywhere in Nigeria like Lagos. Unfortunately, most Nigerians are yet to cultivate the culture of appreciating and collecting art as investment,” he said.

    In spite of this seeming setback, Oyoma Visual Art Studio and Gallery remained a reference point among arts students and enthusiasts in the state, as they regularly visit the facility in droves. Little wonder his plans to establish a full-fledged arts research centre in the nearest future. He disclosed that the centre will be open to ‘artists and researchers seeking to interrogate my works and practice; to transform his present main studio into Salubi Onakufe Museum of Contemporary Art.’

    He urged artists to resist the pressure of selling out all their collection because of demands from collectors or buyers. Keeping reserve, he noted, is a critical way of telling their journey as practicing artists. “Artist must show restraint and be conservative when selling their works of art,” he added.

  • Respite for flood-prone Lagos communities

    Respite for flood-prone Lagos communities

    For years, Peace Home Valley Estate and Unity Estate in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area endured relentless flooding, causing untold hardship and economic woes. But now, a beacon of hope shines as Lagos State has constructed a drainage channel, saving residents from the deluge and ushering in a new era of resilience and triumph, CHINAKA OKORO reports

    Nestled within the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area are the serene Peace Home Valley Estate and Unity Estate. Yet, behind their tranquil facades lies a tale of relentless torment at the hands of flooding—a plight that has plagued these neighbourhoods for far too long. Since 2014, the officials of the two Community Development Associations (CDAs) representing these neighbourhoods have tirelessly pleaded with successive administrations in Lagos for relief.

    Their cries echoed through the corridors of power, reaching the ears of the powers that be. Yet their pleas fell on deaf ears, according to the chairmen of Peace Home Valley Estate and Unity Estate Community Development Associations (CDAs), Sir Ikechukwu Ezeonyeka and Pastor Isaiah Awhansu, respectively.  However, in 2019, a glimmer of hope emerged when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu heeded their calls. After years of neglect, the Lagos State Government finally awarded the contract for the construction of the Isheri-Oshun/Jakande Estate drainage system in 2021. Yet, the path to relief was fraught with obstacles. Despite the commencement of construction, the project faced delays due to the actions of contraveners – individuals who had illegally built houses along the drainage alignment. Their defiance led to legal battles that further impeded progress. However, in 2023, justice prevailed as the court dismissed the case, allowing construction to resume.

    For the residents of Peace Home Valley Estate and Unity Estate, the significance of this drainage system cannot be overstated. Located in Oke-Afa under Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, these communities have long grappled with the destructive forces of flooding. The drainage channel, now under construction, serves as a beacon of hope, promising to divert the torrents of water that once ravaged their homes. As the construction progresses, the communities express their heartfelt gratitude to Sanwo-Olu and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources for their unwavering commitment to their plight. Through their efforts, the once tormented neighbourhoods are now on the path to respite, as the canal construction brings renewed hope and a promise of a brighter, flood-free future.

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    “We are here to appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (Drainage Office) that are responsible for the ongoing construction of the drainage channel. The community is very happy because it has been under serious flooding every year, and it happened that the subsequent year is worse than the previous ones. We are happy that the drainage channel has brought flooding in the area to an end.

    “It should be on record that the demolition of illegal buildings carried out by the Lagos State Government during the construction of the canal was not done based on religious, ethnic or political considerations, but purely aimed at stopping and preventing the continued flooding of the area,” Ezeonyeka said.

    The gravity of the flooding in the vicinity is evident in the community leader’s account, underscoring the relentless deluge that engulfs the area with each downpour. Prior to the canal’s construction, accessing the region would have been virtually impossible during such tumultuous weather conditions. “The situation is exacerbated by the convergence of waters from Ejigbo, Bucknor, NNPC, Oke-Afa, and surrounding areas, coursing through the newly constructed Isheri-Oshun dual carriageway before emptying into the Oke-Afa Primary Canal, eventually draining into the Lagoon,” he explained.

    Moreover, he emphasised the perennial challenge of flooding in Lagos, attributing it to the state’s coastal geography. He lamented the absence of proactive measures to forestall flooding’s deleterious effects, urging governmental preemptive action rather than reactive responses. “People need to be aware of designated areas and refrain from encroaching or constructing on drainage channels,” he emphasised. “Prior research and verification are imperative before purchasing land to ascertain whether it lies within channel boundaries or is government property, thereby averting potential tribulations.” Despite the trials wrought by flooding, the community leader expressed relief that there were no human casualties throughout the years. “Residents now enjoy peace of mind,” he affirmed. “They can venture outdoors without anxiety about rainfall, reassured by the concerted efforts of the Lagos State Government.”

    Socio-economic effects of flooding

    The socio-economic repercussions of flooding in the region are manifold, as articulated by Ezeonyeka, underscoring the multifaceted impact on the community. “When rainfall occurs, it impedes residents from engaging in their daily livelihood activities. Furthermore, it hampers children’s access to education, disrupting school attendance,” he lamented. “Moreover, flooding hinders the progress of residential construction projects in the area, as inundation poses a threat to the structural integrity of buildings, often resulting in damage or destruction.”

    He continued, “Additionally, flooding exacerbates the depreciation of property values and exacerbates tenant turnover rates, as individuals swiftly vacate premises affected by flooding. Nonetheless, we are grateful that there were no human or structural casualties throughout the duration of the flooding.” Weather forecasting experts echo these sentiments, emphasising that floods represent the most prevalent form of natural disasters, arising from water overflow due to heavy rainfall. The flooding of typically dry lands during floods can lead to widespread devastation, including loss of life and damage to personal property and critical public health infrastructure. Individuals residing in flood-prone areas or structures lacking flood-resistant features, coupled with inadequate warning systems and awareness of flooding risks, face heightened vulnerability to such calamities.

    “Flooding can damage buildings and structures, including bridges, sewage systems, roadways and canals. Survivors can experience prolonged psychological effects such as distress, anxiety, pain, depression and social dysfunctions.”

     Authorities emphasise that flooding not only inflicts significant damage to property, crops, and livestock but also triggers a cascade of adverse effects, including the disruption of infrastructure and communication networks, deterioration of health conditions due to waterborne illnesses, and profound impacts on livelihoods. The disruption of critical infrastructure, such as power plants, roads, and bridges, brings economic activities to a standstill, leading to widespread dislocation and the disruption of normal life. Moreover, the repercussions extend far beyond the duration of the flooding itself, amplifying the challenges faced by affected communities.

    Furthermore, the loss of livelihoods due to flooding reverberates throughout business and commercial sectors, even in adjacent areas unaffected by flooding, amplifying the economic toll of such disasters. Additionally, flooding diminishes individuals’ purchasing power and impedes production capabilities, further exacerbating the socio-economic ramifications of these calamities. Damage to infrastructure, experts maintain, also causes long-term impacts such as disruptions to clean water and electricity, transport, communication, education and health care. “Loss of livelihoods, reduction in purchasing power and loss of land value in the flood plains lead to increased vulnerabilities of communities living in the area. The additional cost of rehabilitation, relocation of people and removal of property from flood-affected areas can divert the capital required for maintaining production.”

    Similarly, flooding presents a significant impediment to economic growth and development. Experts caution that the substantial expenses incurred for relief and recovery efforts can have detrimental effects on investment in infrastructure and other developmental initiatives within affected areas, potentially crippling local economies. Recurrent flooding poses a particular risk, as it may dissuade both government and private sector entities from making long-term investments in the region. Moreover, the erosion of livelihoods, coupled with the migration of skilled labor and inflationary pressures, can exert further strain on the area’s economic trajectory. The loss of resources may drive up the costs of goods and services, impeding the implementation of development programs and stalling overall progress.

     Ways to prevent flood

    Climatologists have repeatedly underscored the importance of addressing human activities that contribute to flooding. To mitigate the catastrophic impacts of floods, they advocate for collaborative efforts between government and citizens to implement preventative measures. Key among these solutions is the need for comprehensive public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the dangers of flooding. Establishing effective warning systems is also paramount to providing residents with adequate time to safeguard themselves and their belongings. Furthermore, areas prone to flooding should prioritize the construction of elevated buildings that surpass flood levels, offering a layer of protection against inundation.

    In addition to structural safeguards, the construction of robust dams using high-quality materials is essential for flood prevention. Cheap materials increase the risk of dam failure, underscoring the necessity for stringent construction standards and oversight by government authorities. Moreover, maintaining clean drainage systems is critical to ensuring the unimpeded flow of water, thereby reducing the likelihood of flooding in vulnerable areas.

  • How much salt is too much?

    How much salt is too much?

    Considering various studies linking excessive salt intake to heightened risks of severe health conditions such as heart disease and stroke, too much salt consumption has become a pressing public health concern. CHINYERE OKOROAFOR examines the nuanced question of how to define the threshold of “too much” salt in one’s diet.

    Baba Yusuf (pseudonym) was healthy on Thursday. On Friday morning, he went to work, and in the evening when he returned from work, he started feeling unease. He was feeling dizzy and so much thirsty, his feet and hands were swollen and his blood pressure shot above the normal systolic pressure of at least 130 mmHg was 157mmHg, while the diastolic pressure of at least 80 mmHg was more than 90mmHg.

    His wife, Bisi and his first son, Ola, rushed him to the family hospital. The doctor on duty, Fatima, examined Baba Yusuf to discover that there is so much salt in his body system. Dr Fatima had to place Baba Yusuf on medication so that the symptoms would be taken care of. He was discharged after two weeks of hospitalisation.

    Another patient, Mama Kunle, 65, was also off health. She was feeling nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

    Her husband, Gbenga rushed her to the hospital where the doctor carried out some diagnosis. It was discovered that she was suffering from hyponatremia which experts describe as a condition that occurs when the sodium in one’s blood falls below the normal range of 135–145 milliequivalents. (mEq). Experts say that such health issue is more common in older adults because they’re more likely to take medicines or have medical problems that put them at risk of the disorder, even as they contend that “low sodium levels in the body can lead to muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Eventually, lack of salt can lead to shock, coma and death.”

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    Health experts have said that intake of too much salt and low intake of salt could be dangerous to health.

    This is a dilemma which health authorities say is dicey. So, how does individuals approach intake of salt, since too much of it leads to hazardous health situation? Caution and moderation, they advise, should be the watchword.

    Salt is a necessary ingredient in our daily meals, even as it is useful in flavour enhancement and food preservation. The body also needs some salt; it is necessary for nerve and muscle function and helps to regulate bodily fluids.

    However, numerous studies have indicated that consuming too much salt can increase the risk of severe health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney-related diseases, heart disease and stomach cancer.

    In the circumstances, therefore, it is taxing to state exactly how much salt a person eats in one day without knowing the precise salt content of each food and measuring the exact quantities eaten. To worsen this problem, many individuals underestimate their rate of salt consumption. This has resulted in a significant health issue in Nigeria, leading to calls for a reduced salt intake.

    Recommended salt intake

    Due to these concerns, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults consume less than 2000mg of sodium per day, which is equivalent to less than five grams per day of salt (just under a level teaspoon).

    For children aged 2–15 years, the recommended sodium intake should be adjusted downwards based on their energy requirements. Unsurprisingly, many individuals exceed this limit in their home-cooked meals, often unknowingly. Additionally, processed and restaurant-prepared foods tend to also contain high levels of hidden salt.

    With its recommendation, the WHO aims for a 30 per cent reduction in global sodium intake by 2025. How feasible is this target which is just a year away?

    Salt represents the primary source of sodium in our diets. Nonetheless, the question remains: how much salt is deemed “excessive” for consumption?

    According to the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Alliance, a global civil society network uniting 2,000 federation associations, civil society organisations, scientific and professional associations, and academic and research institutions to improve NCD prevention and control worldwide.

    It noted that NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death and disability worldwide.

    In Nigeria, hypertension, mainly caused by increased intake of salt and sodium accounts for 12 per cent of deaths.

    This could be why the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is leading a campaign to reduce salt consumption.

    According to its Executive Director, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Nigeria currently records an estimated daily salt consumption of up to 5.8 grams per day, which exceeds the WHO recommended limit. He spoke at a one-day journalism training on salt reduction in Lagos.

    He said: “Our role as a health-focused civil society organisation is to help the public understand the dangers of their choices, especially when consumption is driven by a gap in knowledge when it comes to food.” Oluwafemi advised Nigerians to understand the gimmicks of the food production industry that promote unhealthy foods as the norm.

    The Programme Officer for Salt Reduction and Cardiovascular Health, Bukola Olukemi-Odele emphasised the significance of ensuring that Nigerians have the knowledge needed to embrace salt reduction policies, advocate for salt reduction, and monitor industry practices.

    Olukemi-Odele noted the importance of ensuring that processed and packaged foods adhere to specific sodium limits to protect the health of Nigerians.

    “Research has shown that high salt consumption causes hypertension and hypertension is the major risk factor for stroke, kidney disease and several other non-communicable diseases. A way to maintain normal pressure is by reducing salt/sodium intake,” she said.

    She further explained that salt reduction is a cost-effective public health intervention that can help to bring down the burden of NCDs in Nigeria as well as help Nigerians live free of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Olukemi-Odele, who called on policymakers to take action and set mandatory salt targets for all processed and packaged foods in Nigeria in 2024, also charged the public to be aware of the public health consequences of high salt consumption, take responsibility and make health choices that will be beneficial for the future.

    The Director of Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Technical Adviser, Salt Reduction Campaign, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, said the Nigeria salt reduction target coalition includes non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, academia, and international organisations that have come together to track and promote the campaign around salt reduction and diet in Nigeria. Mafeni added that the coalition is working to ensure that NAFDAC takes responsibility to ensure that existing food regulations are in line with the salt targets for commercially produced foods to reduce the amount of salt that the public consumes knowingly or unknowingly. He explained that the coalition is also working with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that proposed regulations will also provide guides on how food products are labelled and ensure that the public is aware of foods that are of very high salt content and injurious to health.

    On her part, Assistant Project Manager, Cardiovascular Research Unit at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Ms. Vanessa Alfa, said: “We need to engage in widespread awareness, telling people to learn how to eat healthily, to reduce the amount of salt in their food; snack and conventional foods. One of the primary actions that are expected is for food products to have less salt; we are talking about products manufactured in Nigeria because we don’t have control over imported products.”

    “There is a need for restricting the appearance of these adverts on contents that children watch. Involving children in the adverts is not good enough as it ruins our public health as a nation. It’s high time that our regulatory agencies restricted the promotion of such products.”

    She also encouraged the public to make a conscious decision to reduce the amount of salt in the food they consume. The National Salt Reduction Campaign project was implemented by CAPPA funded by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) as an implementing partner.

    Nigeria’s salt consumption statistics and health trends

    Nigeria is experiencing a rapid epidemiological transition, shifting from a predominance of infectious diseases to an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and cardiovascular disorders.

    It was also noted that the age-standardised prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria stands at a staggering 38.1%, indicating a widespread health challenge affecting a significant portion of the population.

    In 2017 alone, an estimated 100,000 deaths in Nigeria were attributed to cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the grave impact of NCDs on public health. For CAPPA, these statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases, including initiatives to reduce excessive salt consumption and promote heart-healthy habits among Nigerians.

    Frequently consumed foods

    Nigerian cuisine encompasses a variety of flavourful dishes, but it’s important to be aware of certain foods that contribute significantly to  sodium intake. According to Nigeria Sodium Study Findings titled “Nigerian Sodium/Salt consumption patterns and Nigerian Perspectives on Salt,” foods high in sodium/salt that Nigerians consumes include salted fish and meats and stock fish. Additionally, processed meats like kilishi (spiced dried meat) or suya (skewered meat) often undergo seasoning with salt, further increasing their sodium content. Another food is bread and baked goods such as bread rolls, pastries, and snacks. Others include cheese, dairy products, sauces, condiments,  Instant Noodles and pickled foods.

    Dietary habits, cultural preferences, processed and packaged foods, lack of awareness, socioeconomic factors and marketing and advertisement. The effect of high salt consumption on public health include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, kidney damage, stroke, osteoporosis, gastric, cancer and public health burden.

    According to experts, a single slice of bread typically contains between 80 and 230 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, certain breakfast cereals can contain as much as 300 milligrams of sodium before adding milk. Salt in the diet could come from processed foods, including processed meats like bacon, ham and instant noodles or because they are consumed frequently in large amounts. Salt is also added to food during cooking in the form of bouillon cubes or at the table. If sodium is listed on the label’s nutritional information instead of salt, the amount on the label should be multiplied by 2.5 to get the equivalent salt content. For example, if a portion of food contains a gram of sodium per 100gm, such contains 2.5 grams of salt per 100 grams.

  • Pelumi Nubi: Challenges on my London to Lagos 68-day journey

    Pelumi Nubi: Challenges on my London to Lagos 68-day journey

    Pelumi Nubi recounts experience in the dersert, borders, ALAO ABIODUN reports.

    In 1966, 27-year-old Newton Jibunor, an environmentalist, completed a solo drive from the UK to Nigeria through the Sahara Desert. 58 years later, history has repeated itself in the form of 28-year-old Pelumi Nubi, who concluded a 68-day solo drive from London through 16 other countries, to Lagos.

    In spite of the inclement weather, Pelumi embarked on the daring journey looking on the brighter side. Her driving took her through interesting landmarks across different countries.

    Pelumi’s latest feat reminds all and sundry of the audacious 46-year-old cyclist Kunle Adeyanju also known as “The Lion Heart”, who completed London-to-Lagos trip with his motorbike in 2022. He embarked on this trans-continental journey to raise funds for Rotary International’s fight against polio.

    The journey took him approximately, forty-one days; he travelled 13,000 kilometres (8,100 miles) through 11 countries and 31 cities before he arrived at his final destination Lagos, Nigeria.

    Also, in 2022, another UK-based Nigerian, Babatunde Tomori, drove a Volkswagen passenger bus, the brand most often used for danfo, from London to Lagos. He set out in June 2022, and arrived in Nigeria on August 5, 2022.

    Born in Lagos, Pelumi moved to Croydon, South London with her family at age 10. When faced with hostility from her school peers, she found solace in the library. At university she came across a global exchange programme that offered a heavily-discounted trip to India.

    The experience helped and shaped her in using her free time as a student to travel to practically every country in Europe, using low-cost carriers. Her first project was co-founding The Black Explorer, a premium-feel print magazine aiming to amplify black travel

    Pelumi graduated with a First Class honours degree in medical science and started a PhD in human genetics and cancer research before she quit.

    She said: “A lot of people called me crazy – I know I’m trying to do the impossible, but it’s the right thing for me. Life is short – so why not step out of your comfort zone? It might encourage you to try lots of other impossible things, too. I’m a traveller at heart, and I was craving this big adventure.”

    While studying for her PhD at Coventry University, Pelumi started seeing stories of people travelling to Lagos through unconventional modes of transport, like bikes.

    Read Also; Nigeria’s security architecture stretched beyond elastic limits, says Tinubu

    She wondered whether it would be possible to go the distance by car – particularly one which wasn’t designed to drive on all-terrain, like a 4×4.

     The Journey

     A life of adventure is what some people like Pelumi wear like a second skin. Pelumi knew from the onset that the ride would be the ultimate test of human endurance and anything could go wrong.

    Pelumi’s journey, which began on January 30, 2024, was filled with challenges, including being denied entry to Sierra Leone at the border and dealing with an accident in the Ivory Coast. The delays necessitated a shift in her arrival from the initial date of March 23 to Sunday, April 7, 2024.

    Pelumi began her journey in January from England, crossed into France, Spain and headed for Morocco then through the West Sahara Desert, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin before finally entering Lagos.

    Pelumi said her journey: “Has shown that it is possible, anything and everything you want is possible, you can do it, so go after it with all you’ve got, with all your energy, with all your life”.

    However, her resilience and determination enabled her to overcome these obstacles and finally arrive in Lagos on April 7, 2024, where she received a heroic welcome from the Lagos State Government.

    She said: “I’ve been a traveller. I’ve travelled to so many places, explored so many cultures and each time I was travelling, it was mostly to like Europe, Asia but my own continent, I barely has any footprint there so I was like I wanna explore more of this place I was born into.

    “I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in the UK, and each time I came home, I just flew for 6 hours … but then, there is this West African region I haven’t really met myself into, and I wanted to.

    “So, I started Googling ‘overland travel’ and I just did not see people that looked like me, there was no explorers like just being showcased in the media and I was like this needs to be changed in terms of travel, why is that story not been told, why is the African nation in terms of tourism not been explored”.

     Timeline

     Pelumi began her journey on January 31, heading from London to Paris, France. On February 4, she crossed from Paris into Barcelona in Spain.

    By February 10, Pelumi had made it Morocco in North Africa. Her journey was not without challenges. On February 18, she had to go for an eye treatment before traversing the Sahara Desert.

    On February 20, she crossed the Sahara Desert into Mauritania. On March 2, she made it to Senegal.

    On March 8, Pelumi’s journey had reached The Gambia and Guinea Bissau on the 13th. By this time, rough roads had begun to take their toll on her car.

    By March 19, she was to enter Sierra Leone when she was temporarily halted by the authorities who refused her entry because her car was a right-hand drive. This delay would postpone her arrival date from March 23 to April 7.

    On March 24, she was again refused entry, this time at the Liberian border. She finally gained entry on March 25 after the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia. She would later on that day post on Instagram that she suffered an accident with her car in Liberia.

     Recounting her challenges, Ms Nubi said: “The most difficult and longest border I stayed at was Liberia, which was two nights. For me, the Sahara Desert has one of the best roads I drove on, and Guinea has one of the worst roads.

    “Some days I drove for 10 hours, some, one hour, while there are days I didn’t drive at all. So, understanding what my body needed, especially as a woman, we have our monthly time. It was important to know when I was exhausted.

    “I had eye issues in Morroco, and I was in an accident in the Ivory Coast, but I just prioritised my health over anything else.”

     UNILAG warm reception

     The University of Lagos was agog for several hours when Pelumi arrived the campus, the terminal point of her journey.

    After 68 days of driving, Pelumi arrived the main gate of the University of Lagos at exactly 2:25 p.m. where she was greeted with carnival-like performances courtesy of students of Creative Arts Department and University of Lagos International School (ISL) as well as cheers from the crowd of admirers and well wishers.

    Pelumi proceeded in a slow drive to the Senate House Quadrangle of UNILAG where she parked her car which was nicknamed her travel buddy “Lumi the car”.

    She was formally received by members of UNILAG Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola. Prof. Ogunsola saluted her courage and indomitable spirit, adjudging it a further attestation to the “unbreakable spirit” Nigerians are made of.

     She challenged students of the university to take cues from Pelumi by pursuing their ambitions with whatever they have at the moment and not wait for anything or anyone.

    Prof. Ogunsola applauded Pelumi for triumphing over racism and all the dangers along the entire road stretch, describing her as “courageous”.

    She said: “With this, you have joined the league of notable women like Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Queen Amina of Zaria among several others who have achieved milestones and shattered records”.

    Other speakers at the ceremony included renowned Environmentalist and Businessman, Dr. Newton Jibunoh who broke the record as the first Nigerian to drive from London to Nigeria (56 years ago and at the age of 27 years); Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain; Nimi Akinkugbe.

     Pelumi’s elated parents

     Prof Timothy and Olubukola Nubi speaking in a joint interview said: “What looks to you people as content creation was a nightmare for us. It has been two months of fun to the whole world but not to us. We are believers in God. We kept on relying in the power of her name Oluwapelumi. (God is with me).”

    Her parents said they expected the most challenging part to be when she was travelling across the Sahara Desert. “We thought that getting to the West African borders would be fun. But we found that that was where the challenges were. But we thank God that all has ended in praise.”

     Sanwo-Olu’s gesture

     When Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received Pelumi, it came with a huge surprise and reward. Her respectable act of kneeling caught the attention of many. 

    The governor rewarded her with a house, car and named her Lagos Tourism Ambassador.

    She was accompanied by her parents, Prof. Timothy and Olubukola; the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folashade Ogunsola at the Lagos House, Marina.

    While presenting the keys to the house and a branded LAGRIDE vehicle with customised number plate NUBI 9JA to the 28-year-old adventurer, assured the travel content creator that the state government would write off the entire bill for her solo drive from London to Lagos.

    He charged Pelumi Nubi to use her platform to showcase the rich cultural values and aesthetics of Lagos to the world, which are part of her responsibilities as Lagos Tourism Ambassador.

    Sanwo-Olu said President Bola Tinubu was aware that Pelumi is back in the country and willing to meet with her.

    He said Lagos’ gesture to Pelumi is not really about the gifts and heroic welcome given to her, but to encourage more women to break barriers and compete favourably with their male counterparts in any sphere of life.

    “Your experience and journey, which lasted over 68 days, are indeed very inspirational and you have actually shifted mountains. This is indeed a true African and Lagos spirit that you demonstrated. It is a true Nigerian capability that you have demonstrated, but more importantly, this is a story of Lagos no dey carry last.

    “For us in Lagos, we will work with your planners to see how we further celebrate you. And it is not really about you being the one celebrating; it is about the future.

    It is about the girl-child. It is about the power of possibilities. It is about the power of the mind. You are a complete African story that we can showcase,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Julius Aregbe, Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos, applauded Pelumi for “demonstrating a can-do spirit”.

    He also described the travel content creator as a “role model for other young Lagosians”.

    Car finally rests at Lagos Museum

     Pelumi’s car nicknamed Lumi, a Peugeot 107, was an integral part of Pelumi’s 68-day-long adventure

    Lumi’s new place will now be the Lagos State Brand New J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History as a monumental gift where tourists will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the ride.

    By donating Lumi to the Lagos Museum, Pelumi hopes to inspire others to embark on their exciting adventures and explore the world.

    From being driven through the Sahara Desert, a fatal accident, and long drives both day and night, Lumi stood the test of time.

    Pelumi said, “My dearest Lumi, I had my most vulnerable moments with you, and it’s only right that I let the world experience how tough you are (just like me).”

    “The car tears and deep conversations I had with you like you were human will forever be remembered. I can’t wait to watch all of our videos we both went through it.”

     Pelumi’s next steps

     Pelumi said she is passionate about travelling and will continue to explore while inspiring others, especially women, to step out of their comfort zone to get things done.

    “I have always being a traveller. I have travelled to over 80 countries, and I am going to continue, I am not going to stop suddenly,” she said.

    “I want to continue to inspire the young generation in the educational service as well as policy changes, especially with our border control. We need to do better to make sure that Africa is a free continent to travel to.”

    For Pelumi, this sterling accomplishment is due to her grit, hard work, perseverance and determination. This is indeed a motivation for many young Nigerians in constant pursuit of excellence in their various callings.

    Her feat has brought glory not just to her, but also to her country, Nigeria, Africa, and the black world. It is a reflection of her resilience and passion. It also embodies the true spirit of doggedness and tenacity of purpose.