The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Indecent dressing: A social malady?

    Indecent dressing: A social malady?

    Indecent dressing simply means deliberate exposure of one’s body to the public.

    This practice is contrary to the acceptable norms and values of the society.

    Moral decadence on the other is a reduction in the level of morality in the society.

    Do you observe that most children had gone haywire all in the name of the dressing?

    Indecent dressing is the major cause of the various assault and sexual harassment recorded in the society, over time. As a result of civilization, Nigeria ladies dress half naked to occasions all in the name of fashion’ and this is contrary to the prestige placed on African women. For instance Nigeria ladies derive pleasure in wearing cloth such as mini skirt, bumper short, armless e.t.c.

    The other day I screamed when I saw a girl whose parent barely fed well, dressed with half of her breast and buttocks outside.

    The trouser she wore is such that half of her buttock was out, with beads and terrible make ups and I heard her mum telling her “to have a nice day.”

    Read Also: KSU tackles indecent dressing

    Some girls have been embarrassed and even abused because of their outrageous outfit.

    As a teenager you must be cautious of the kind of clothes you put on. Do you know your dress create impression about you either positively or negatively in the heart of people?

    Your dress could show if you are responsible or irresponsible, serious minded or unserious.

    Dressing in a manner that parents, society and religion frown at is not civilization. The way you dress show whether you are respected or not.

    Most youths now walk on the street half naked, with tattered clothes all in the name of fashion.

    Many innocent guys have been arrested along with armed robbers just because of the way they dressed.

    I see no reason why a child from a good home should relax or keep dreadlocks, piercing his ears all in the name of fashion. There is a saying that “you are addressed because of the way you dressed.”

    Nowadays, different styles of dressing are in vogue – low west, hot bosom, sagging etc. All these have the society’s moral value to its lowest ebb.

    In a nation that is endowed with varieties of culture and traditions, it is annoying seeing this culture and traditions going into extinction. Nigerians find it difficult to dress in their local attire as it is regarded as “old and archaic.”

    Indecent dressing is an habit embraced by all ages in the society. It has been inculcated by both the young and the old.

    It is common among celebrities, particularly among artistes. This set of people, while on stage will want to look unique and in the process turned themselves into lunatic.

    They wear tattered jean with holes, tight fitting shirt, some even go to the extent of wearing ordinary pant while on stage. All this is the cause of juvenile delinquency. Most of the under age children engage in early sex as a result of what they watch on Television as well as what they saw among their older siblings.

    Sadly, most ladies have been sexually abused because of their mode of dressing.

    The question is – who do we blame for these social malady – the parents, the society or the peer groups?

  • Do not respond to That Mail

    Do not respond to That Mail

    Have you ever received mails from individuals or organizations you have never had any dealing with offering you huge amount of money for a lottery you didn’t enter for or an opportunity to share in the money of a deceased persons?

    Chances are that you have if you are a regular internet user. These kinds of mail are from fraudsters and you should never be tempted to respond to them if you don’t want to lose your hard earned money to them.

    A very common one is a mail from a non-existing international lottery organization informing you that your e mail address was picked in an end of the year promo. The mail will be so real that it contains your winning numbers and your e mail address to authenticate it, but it is 419.

    You will be requested to send your personal information such as your name, phone number, address and your bank details to another e mail address.

    If you respond and show interest in claiming the money you have supposedly won, you will be asked to send money (transfer charges) in order to facilitate the transfer to the designated bank you have provided. A few days later, you will receive another mail from that same individual giving you reasons why your money is still on hold telling you to send them additional money ranging from $150 – $350.

    Please take note that if any monetary transfer is to be done, the sender should bear all costs of transfer. No courier company or bank will ask you to send money them money before your fund can be transferred. Beware!

    Another mail you should avoid replying to is one from any individual who claims to have a huge sum of money amounting to millions of dollars trapped in a foreign bank account asking you to be his partner so that the money can be transferred to your account and after the transfer, it will be shared 60% for him and 40% for you.

    An attempt to cooperate with such individual might get you into trouble or you might end up being defrauded.

    There is another mail that looks real but not from an authorized source. Sometimes, the mail comes with subject : from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), FBI or big banks from Asia and sometimes from the United States Ambassador to your country. Fraudster use names of these international organizations to dupe people.

    A typical example of such mail is this one from Barclays Bank London “This is to officially bring to your notice that your fund placed on hold by Barclays Bank London has been approved for the release today after a long time investigations by the House of Lords committee on terrorism and fraud. Your fund is now free to be released to you without any further delay. Kindly forward your information to …………where you want the funds to be transferred.”

    Another example was the one purportedly sent by management of Guarantee Trust Bank, imploring customers to update their security information.

    “Dear Customer,

    This is to notify you of the present upgrading to enhance effective self security on your account.

    Follow the link below to start the self security on your account

    We are sorry for any inconveniences.

    Security Advisor

    Guaranty Trust Bank © 2012.

    Thank you for choosing Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.”

    There are others that solicited funds from unsuspecting members of the public for one reason or the other.

    Such mails are sent by those who hacked into email addresses of organizations or private individual.

    One of such mails was sent by unknown persons that used the Yahoo ID of a top member of The PUNCH management team.

    It reads: “I hope you are doing well.

    I made an emergency trip to new york unfortunately my niece had a nearly fatal accident yesterday night and needs to undergo surgery which needs 147,000 naira to start the treatment on her.

    Please Can you to lend me some quick funds that I can give back as soon as i come back next week. Sorry for the inconvenience but i heard she is in a very bad condition and needs attention as fast as possible.

    I can forward you details on how to pay the funds to her. You can only reach me via my email for now.

    I await your quick response….”

    Instead of thinking that your breakthrough has finally come when you receive fraudulent mails like the above your best bet is to hit the delete button to avoid being tempted.

  • Sex: What’s love got to do with It?

    Sex: What’s love got to do with It?

    Tina Turner burst into the music scene when she won a Grammy Award for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with the song, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” This song also won the Record of the year Award.

    That day was one of the happiest days in the life of Tina Turner. But what she actually achieved that day was the worldwide popularisation of the connection between sex and love. She asked a very important question, “What’s love got to do with it?”

    Like Turner, everybody seems to be searching for love. But this searching, in the light of our divorce rate, continues to be as elusive as a mirage.

    As I see it, the problem of not finding true love seems to lie with two factors. One factor is that the ‘world culture’ is highly intoxicated with sex. Sex sells. We are bombarded on every side. There are so many sex maniacs.

    A study published way back in 1991 revealed that one-fourth of all Americans claimed that they best can be described as “sexually insatiable”. That’s about 54 million people, folks! The study concluded that, “in America, sex is an obsession”, and “sex for the majority of Americans, is available for the asking”.

    Read Also: Incidence of sexually transmitted infections and the challenge ahead

    These are indeed sobering words. And to think that this estimation is just America’s, and many years ago for that matter.It is no wonder that young people have come to equate their active sex life with love.

    The second factor is with our collective self-deceit which we parade as cultural civility. We have coined some fine words in place of calling a spade a spade. All around the world, it is socially accepted in many circles to say that one is “having an affair” rather than say that a person is fornicating or committing adultery. And in many of these circles, people actually don’t think there is anything wrong with “having an affair.”

    We say that one is “making love” instead of saying that one is having sex. You do not make love: you love or do not. Period! You cannot make love in the literal sense of the term. You can have sex, and have it all the time if that were possible. But what’s love got to do with sex?

    The phrase ‘making love’ is terribly misleading. You cannot make love. You love! It is sad that we have reduced this high concept of virtue-love-to only the erotic level of sexuality.

    We have come to equate love with giving sex or having sex. What does love have to do with sex? Love is not romance, let alone eroticism. It is not even sentiment or emotion. It sounds abstract but it leads to positive attitudes and concrete actions. We need to have love, and give love. Not having and giving sex.

  • How to manage diabetes

    It has been estimated that 415 million people are living with diabetes in the world and 46% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed. Diabetes prevalence has been rising more rapidly in middle and low-income countries. The world has gone past the issue of prevention to seeking ways to manage diabetes due to the constant increase in its prevalence as shown in world’s statistics for diabetes. Here are ways we can manage diabetes.

    EAT BALANCED MEALS

    Make effort to ensure that every meal has a combination of starches, fruits and vegetables, proteins and fats. Since carbohydrates supplies sugar to the body, when eating go for the ones that are low in carbohydrates i.e fruits, vegetables and whole grains. They contain fiber that help to keep your blood sugar levels more stable, they are better for you than other forms of carbohydrate. Ask for the recommendation of a dietician on best food combinations for you.

    LEARN THE PORTION SIZES OF EACH TYPE OF FOOD

    learn what portion size is appropriate for each type of food recommended by your doctor. Healthy eating is healthy living, you need to know the best combination of food types for you. It is very compulsory you learn how to count carbohydrates because they have the biggest impact on your blood sugar level than any other type of food. Make effort to write down portions for the food you eat often, use a scale or measuring cup to have an accurate count and portion size.

    Read Also: Caring for the face

    FREQUENT EXERCISE

    Where you exercise, your muscles use glucose(sugar) for energy, this would help to reduce your blood sugar level. Make an exercise plan with your doctor to know which exercise is best for you. Your doctor can recommend the best balance of exercise for you. Adults are to exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. Keep constantly checks on your blood sugar level before, during and after exercise so that you maintain the sugar level that is appropriate for you. Also drink plenty of water when exercising, dehydration can cause your blood sugar level to increase.

    CUT YOUR BEVERAGE INTAKE

    Sweetened beverages are usually high in calories and little in nutrition and they cause blood sugar to rise quickly. So it is best to avoid these types of drinks if you have diabetes, they are best for people with low blood sugar level and is effective for raising their blood sugar. Stay away from soda, juice and sport drinks, take more of home made fruit extracts, fruit and vegetable smoothies.

    PROPER MEDICATION

    Only make use of medications prescribed by your doctor and take them as directed, do not skip any of your medications. If sick, get recommendation from your doctor on drugs to take, do not buy over-the counter medication except under prescription. When given a new medication, find out the effect it would have on your blood sugar level. Some liquid medications are most times sweetened to cover their taste, check in with your doctor before taking any of such drugs. If your medication causes your blood sugar level to drop too low or too high, report such problems to your doctor.

    AVOID STRESS

    Stress causes the body to produce hormones which may cause a rise in your blood sugar level. Learn relaxation techniques, prioritize your tasks but set limits, avoid common stressors. Stress would make it difficult for you to follow up with your diabetes management plan, do more exercises to help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar level. You can also learn new coping skills and solve stressful problems by talking to a psychologist.

  • 73 year-old creative genius

    73 year-old creative genius

    Vicky Somniso writes on the amazing story of Freda Phenethi, a 73 year-old art student in South Africa

    A very wise author once said the cemetery is the wealthiest places on earth. Her  reason  is that dead people who had great dreams and visions that were never fulfilled are  buried there. According to her “They died with their potentials”.

    Surely, someday the same will not be whispered about the 73-year-old granny who has utilized almost all of her skills. Granny, Freda Phenethi from Dobsonville in Soweto,South Africa is not just an ordinary woman, she is a polymath. She is the Meadowlands Methodist Church Choir chorister, fashion, graphic and garden designer. At 56, she studied fashion designing with the Kirsten Academy in Booysens and Theology with Methodist Church College in Jabavu, Soweto. She is currently an art student at The Design Studio in Roodepoort. She specializes in craft, oil, acrylic pencil and art painting.

    As a little girl, she was totally different from her peers who played with dolls and other games. Instead, at a tender age of nine, Phenethi was serving as an assistant nurse at Peelton Clinic in Eastern Cape. Born in 1939 in East London, she professionally practiced as a nurse in 1960 and retired in 2010.

    “I started at the age of nine in the sense of my godmother being a nurse. She taught me basic health care skills and I had to help her with patients when she responded to calls for delivery as she was also working as a mid-wife” she recalled. “I had to assist patients who had minor ailment, sustained injuries and general illnesses such as flue. Dressing them and cleaning their wounds was the main thing. But I was not supposed to give medication though. However, I was allowed to give health education and teach them to take care of themselves. I would also ask them to wait for my godmother to come or refer them to doctors or clinics.”

    She studied Nursing at Frere Hospital in East London and later worked at Frere Hospital, Kesington, Sandton, Garden City, Milpark and Flora Clinic in Gauteng. Her ex-husband Rev McFarlan Phenethi was a member of the National Assembly during Former President Nelson Mandela’s ruling.

    “I think I may have had enough time in nursing and being a strenuous career or profession I was feeling it in my body. It was strenuous because of the attention that one needed to give to patients, lifting them up especially after following cardiac operations and during emergencies,” she said.

    Phenethi is an award-winning ballroom-dancer and the former second princes for the Frere Hospital Miss Golden Jubililee beauty pageant. As an actress, she featured in a play called Xhapa Goes to Town and performed under the guidance of the late Gibson Kente.

    Speaking about her career as an artist she said, “I became fond of drawing when I was working as a nurse. I then decided to learn more skills in this area. At the age of 68, I began to study professionally as an artist at Roodepoort College. I did a two year course in graphic designing and at some stage I did freestyle embroidery as well as arts and craft.

    “ I’m still continuing with my studies in arts and this is my second year but now at The Design Studio. It is my creative nature. I can’t allow myself to be bogged down with boredom because the devil always looks around for idly hands. But my idea of doing this is to find a way of ploughing back to the community, restore the society that is breaking down, to build and develop the youth of this generation. What drives me is the energy I have and I get it from God. God has given me a wonderful energy,” she emphasized.

    To shame a majority of people who are younger than her, she is a member of Virgin Active in Roodepoort and attends yoga classes. She goes to the gym at least twice in a week and watches her diet.

    “But we do the slow muscle stretches that will strengthen your muscles.”

    She has designed her garden beautifully and opposite her arts studio is a Koi Pond.

    “I designed the Koi Pond or Fish Pond to distress. When I break off from designing then I just sit around the pond, open some water and enjoy watching the fish playing around,” she said.

    Her words of wisdom to the youth and her peers are, “They must try finding ways of sustaining their lives in a more creative way to breakdown from the demands that are misleading them such as being attracted to drugs and living deviant ways that their families or parents wouldn’t expect of them. The elderly people should try to keep themselves busy at home and distress to alleviate problems they encounter at their age.”

    As part of serving in the church, she and her team encourage people who are involved in substance abuse, drugs, gambling and women and child abuse to stop. They also pray for the nation concerning problems that are affecting the society.

    Freda’s faith is obviously her major driving force. “As God created us in his own image, we find ourselves as artist to be God co-creators, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art,” she said.

     

  • 26 benefits of AfCFTA to Nigeria, by experts

    With Nigeria signing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, what are the benefits?

    Arguably the continent’s most ambitious integration initiative, AfCFTA’s goal is to create a single market to be followed by free movement and a single currency union.

    We bring you views expressed by experts at different fora on the benefits of the deal.

    Here are the benefits in the words of those who know:

    1. When AfCFTA takes effect, there will be a single continental market for goods and services in Africa.

    2. There will be free movement of business persons and investments.

    3. The agreement will pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the continental Customs Union.

    4. According to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission Chief Executive Officer Mr George Lipimile, AfCFTA will expand intra-African trade through better harmonisation and coordination of trade liberalisatiion.

    5. It is expected to enhance competitiveness at the enterprise and industry level, and support economic transformation through exploitation of economies of scale, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.

    6. AfCFTA’s Continental Competition Rules, Lipimile said, will introduce a “one-stop shop” for cross-border transactions, expectedly easing the cost of doing business on the continent.

    7. There will be no duplicated legal hurdles to cross due to reduced filing fees for registration requirements, and the risks of different decisions from different competition jurisdictions will be eliminated.

    Read Also: Beyond the glitz and glamour of AfCFTA

    8. Unlike the national competition authorities whose jurisdiction is limited by national boundaries, AfCFTA competition rules would provide extra-territorial powers to investigate restrictive business practices across the continent.

    9. Nigerian Chief Trade Negotiator/Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations Director-General Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, who played a major role in AfCFTA negotiations, said AfCFTA establishes a legal order for trade within Africa previously not had.

    10. Regional Integration & Trade Division Director at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Dr Stephen Karinga, said AfCFTA will break trade barriers and provide enterprise opportunities. “If we don’t break down the barriers now, we’re limiting the opportunities available to young entrepreneurs in years to come,” he said.

    11. Former South Africa Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ambassador Ishmael Faizel, said AfCFTA will spur industrialisation. “Our challenge in Africa is to build industrial capacity,” he said.

    12. Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, said AfCFTA can spur Nigeria to create “continental infrastructure”.

    13. Former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen said AfCFTA will enhance “collaborative relationship among African nations given our common resolve to build a new Africa founded on common identity, integration, common economic development, tenets of social justice and accountable leadership”.

    14. Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, said Nigeria’s signing of the AfCFTA will make the country competitive “so that we’ll never apologise for being Africans”.

    15. Political economist Prof Pat Utomi, who believes signing AfCFTA is worth the risk, said: “We need to grow intra-Africa trade. We could co-produce. We have to find a way to encourage manufacturers to play in a global value chain where they will be more enriched.”

    16. Pioneer Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) chairman George Etomi said AfCFTA will enable Nigeria “get our own fair share of the world trade, not only goods, but services”.

    17. Etomi added that when trade barriers are opened, more opportunities would open for lawyers. “There will be myriads of agreements to be drawn and dispute resolutions to be handled,” he said.

    18. A lawyer and partner at KPMG, Wole Obayomi, believes that AfCFTA will benefit law firms when they adopt continental partnership models that will enable them develop capacity to handle complex high-end deals. Obayomi said: “Inernational corporate organisations want firms that can deal with them cross-border. If you’re part of an international network, opportunities will be vast.”

    19. Former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) executive chairman Mrs. Ifueko Okauru said AfCFTA would serve not only for country integration and corporation, but regional integration.

    20. Former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said AfCFTA would create more trade opportunities for states, and lead to more investment/industrialisation.

    21. Former Edo State Governor Oserhieme Osunbor said with AfCFTA: “Intra-Africa trade will lead to the creation of wealth and employment.”

    22. Regional Trade Adviser at the African Union Commission (AUC), Babajide Sodipo, said with AfCFTA, Nigeria will have an expanded market.

    23. Shodipo said AfCFTA will result in more investments because investors would prefer to invest in Nigeria as an AfCFTA-compliant country with access to a billion people rather than 200million people.

    24. Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Mr Babatunde Ruwase said AfCFTA could be an economic game-changer. “The reality is that there is a great deal of value in economic integration…” he said.

    25. Adjunct Professor at the Centre of Comparative Law in Africa, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Prof Faizel Ismail, said AfCFTA has the prospect of catalysing the process of transformative industrial development, cross-border investment, democracy and governance in Africa.

    26. A multilateral diplomat and former African Union (AU) consultant Dr Babafemi Badejo said AfCFTA would boost intra-African trade as a way to spur economic development.

  • How to win over your boss

    Ever found yourself in a situation where it seems like your boss simply does not like you and nothing you do ever pleases him/her? Well, it’s not rocket science and there is no “abracadabra” involved. All you need to do is know the right things to do and “voila!” watch your boss appreciate you.

    You can win your boss over with these steps:

    1. DO YOUR JOB: First things first, do your job. There is no way you will win over your boss if you never do what you were employed for. Doing your job does not just involve doing what is asked of you, it means doing what is asked of you efficiently. You must work and think outside the box bringing solutions that are cost effective and productive.

    2. KNOW YOUR BOSS: You must know what he/she likes and what he/she priorities. Do some digging about your boss if your boss is inaccessible. If he is accessible, you can know him/her better by observing and engaging in conversations with him/her. Know your boss’ preferred method of communication, either by email, face to face, telephone etc.

    3. PRIORITIZE YOUR BOSS’S PRIORITIES: After knowing your boss, you would be able to know what he/she aims to achieve in the organization. Also you would be able to know what your boss wants in order of importance. Therefore, you must make your boss’ priorities your priorities and help make his/her aim a reality.

    Read Also; 5 hidden tricks your Android phone can do

    4. BE LOYAL TO YOUR BOSS: Think about it, even you would love someone who is loyal, dedicated, honest, respectful and trustworthy. That means, you must not be found gossiping and backbiting about your employer and even your colleagues. be loyal to your boss.

    5. DEMONSTRATE A LONG-TERM INTEREST IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

    Think and act like you have a long-term interest in the company. Have an idea of where the company is heading and to figure how you can align your career development and professional goals with the company’s goals. You will inevitably become an employee of great value and talent.

    Follow these steps and win your boss over.

  • Six things to do after failing an exam

    By Praise Olowe

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), on Friday, confirmed the release of this year’s May/June WASSCE results. However, If you didn’t get the result you were hoping for in the examinations, don’t be too hard on yourself. Here are six practical ways you can move forward.

    1. Don’t Panic
    Panicking isn’t going to take you anywhere. It won’t increase your score or make you pass. Accept that failing an exam is something perfectly normal to happen during your academic life. There are two things you need to know: you’re not alone and you can get a better grade. This is just one more obstacle to overcome, one more story to tell, and an experience that will help you do better on the next exam.

    2. Take the time to grieve
    Understand that it is normal to grieve.
    When doing this, just have it at the back of your mind that life goes on and you have to get back on the bandwagon.

    3. Get things in perspective
    After the grief period is over, it’s a good time to get everything in perspective. Just stop for a moment and reflect on what went wrong. Think about what you did and didn’t so during your study period, and ask yourself “what could I have done differently?” Maybe you should try out different ways to approach your study sessions so that they become more enjoyable and less heavy and boring.

    Read Also: HOW TO CHECK WAEC RESULTS

    4. Think about the future
    To clear up this issue in your mind, start thinking about the future, what next step to take. Be strategic and figure out when you’re going to retake the class and/or the exam again. Look at your study plan and course work and decide what’s best.

    5. Draw out a plan
    If you must retake the exam, you have to be mentally prepared. Draw out a plan, either retaking the exam now if you can (draw a plan of action now!) or only the following year.

    6. Get help if you need it
    Don’t feel embarrassed about asking for help. It’s a way of showing you want to understand something and don’t take pride in staying ignorant. Get a tutor. We all need help sometimes!

  • Why Nigerians will not forget Solomon Dalung in a hurry

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Following the ministerial nominees list sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, the days of Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung as Nigeria’s minister of youths and sports are over.

    Dalung had once assured Nigerian of his re-appointment as minister by the President.

    According to him, if it is the will of God that he comes back, then “there is nobody born of a woman that can stop my appointment”.

    He made this declaration in June, after Buhari dissolved his first cabinet on May 28, 2019.

    Sports loving Nigerians will however not forget the 54-year old Plateau State man in a hurry.

    Assuming office in November 2015, he was first noticed as a minister with a unique style of dressing.

    With his Khaki-uniform and red beret cap, which he graced public functions with most of the time; it was clear that he wanted to stand out as minister.

    He was once asked why he chose that style of dressing, and he said that he is always embarrassed with comments like ‘Oh! You look sweet, you look good’ when he does, that, but putting on his khaki, nobody remembers to say good morning to him, and that gives him peace.

    Read Also: We stand by rule of law – Dalung

    Sports in Nigeria experienced its ups and downs under Barrister Solomon Dalung.

    Notable achievements he had was the back-to-back victories recorded by the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the 2016 and 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria also made an appearance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with Dalung as Sports Minister.

    The Dream Team VI also qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics male football tournament, and even went as far as getting a bronze medal for Nigeria. The National Sports Festival took place successfully in December 2018 in Abuja, the swimming pool of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos was finally renovated after 18 years, and attention was given to special sports with the gym for training renovated through the private sector, under Solomon Dalung.

    Nigerians will however not forget his bitter row with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    In an interview, Dalung said “One of the challenges I faced, which is quite unfortunate, is the Nigeria Football Federation crisis. I was committed to seeing how to end that crisis. I sought for justice and understanding. I believe that throughout the crisis, there was no decision that I took that was for personal interest”

    The case of a missing $135,000, which the IAAF transferred to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, happened with Dalung at the helm of affairs. Although he maintained that the money has been transferred back to the IAAF, the world athletics body insists they have not received anything of such. It is learnt that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission have begun investigation on the missing money.

    Nigerians will not forget Dalung for his use of language.

    The former minister had once described the participation of the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup as “a waste of money” because “Nigeria cannot win the World Cup”.

    Hopes are high on who takes over as minister of youths and sports. With sports lovers such as former minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji-Fashola and Festus Keyamo penciled down in the list submitted on Tuesday, Nigerians await the next man to steer the ship of sports in the country, taking it to the next level.

  • 10 facts about Lateef Jakande at 90

     

    1. Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande was born July 23, 1929 in Epetedo area of Lagos Island, Lagos.

     

    1. He was a journalist who became the governor of Lagos State from 1979-1983.

     

    1. Encouraged by Awolowo, he ran for election as Governor of Lagos in 1979 on the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) defeating his opponents Adeniran Ogunsanya of NNP and Sultan Ladega Adeniji Adele of National Party of Nigeria(NPN) and was subsequently sworn in as Governor.

     

    1. He studied at a Lagos public school at Enu-Owa, Lagos Island, then at Bunham Memorial Methodist School, Port Harcourt. He studied briefly at King’s College, Lagos in 1943. He then enrolled at Ilesha Grammar School in 1945 where he edited a literary paper called The Quarterly Mirror.

     

    1. In 1949, Jakande began a career in journalism first in Daily Times before he joined the Nigerian Tribune in 1953 where he was appointed editor-in-chief by the Publisher, Obafemi Awolowo.

     

    1. Jakande established John West Publications and began to publish The Lagos News.

    Read Also: Nine successful Nigerian female personalities

    1. He served as the first President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

     

    1. He introduced housing and educational programmes targeting the poor, building new neighborhood primary and secondary schools as well as providing free primary and secondary education.

     

    1. As a governor, he established 23 local government councils which were later disbanded by the military.

     

    1. After the military take-over in 1983, Jakande was charged, prosecuted and convicted of treason, although later he was pardoned.

    After being freed, he accepted the position of Minister of Works under the Late Sani Abacha military regime, which earned him some criticism. He claimed that he had accepted the post under pressure from MKO Abiola and other progressive leaders.