The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

‘Nigeria’s leadership crisis tough but surmountable’ – Prof. Iyanda

Prof. Olukunle Iyanda is President, Nigerian Institute of Management ( NIM ). In this interview with MOSES EMORINKEN he speaks on concerted efforts by the institute towards addressing the management crisis bedevilling public and organised private sectors among other sundry issues. Excerpts:

How do you intend to bring back your corporate members?

The history of this institute is that it was founded by corporate members. Many of the institutions facilities and structures were donated by corporate organisations such as UAC, Unilever, BAC, CFAO, LEVENTIS etc. Somehow they have kind of faded from the institute’s activities, and there is a saying that a stream that despises its source shall go dry, so we must go back to our source.

We intend to do a lot of cooperate business to let them know and to get them back. The council already agreed that we nominated five of them who now will be on our council and hopefully the council they will begin to gain more prominence in the governance of the institute and so we intend to carry out a lot of collaborative activities with them and therefore be able to get back into the governance and the operation of the institute.

You have been the deputy president since 2015 and now you are the newly elected president of the institute. What are the other challenges that you intend to creatively manage or over come?

Well what we have always done and what we will continue to do and intensify is to strengthen our advocacy programe. The institute promotes management practice and as you know management practice in our country is very lax.

This country is blessed, we have the size, resources (material or human); so we are endowed to excel but why are we not excelling? Why is it that we are still poor? We are the ones who are trying to traverses the Mediterranean Sea to cross to countries which should be coming to us. It is a management issue.

The fact that we are not managing those resources for the benefit of the country is worrying. The fact that Nigeria is a poor country with a lot of richest citizens is equally a concern. There is a kind of paradox here – we have the riches black man and woman in Africa. How did they get rich? Is it from productivity?

In the west, people like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates etc., became rich by solving human problems and challenges. In turn, people are able to say this is what these rich people do to get rich.

Until we are able to do that, we cannot move forward as a country and as a people. In that line, we have proposed the establishment of a Management Hall of Fame which we hope will put a perpetual memory of the nation and the men and women who have served this country conscientiously. It is going to be a very stiff test so that those who emerged to qualify to be named as member of the Management Hall of Fame will be people who have served conscientiously; who have kept the code of conduct of this country or our institute, and have put service above self.

We want to become the think tank for this country within the limitation of our resources. We intend to undertake research studies of some of the issues that we see as the obstacles to our growth and to our wellbeing.

Lagos to Benin, Ibadan to Lagos or Lagos to Ibadan, you will see the road have been under construction for ten years. 2009 was when it was flagged off; up till now, they are not 50% on that road yet and billions of Naira has been spent already.

We have four refineries; they can produce what we need. Why are they not working? Why are we importing petroleum which we export the crude and then we bring back petroleum. These are management issues.

What kind of education are we getting? Yes, we boast quantity – we have 172 universities, if you look at the per capital expenditure of those universities, it is nothing compared to what some countries pay, so we would if we have the means try to attend to see education.

Currently, we have the controversy about Agronomy versus animal husbandry, which is a way out? We need them both (meat and crops), but must one destroy the other? It is high time we moved them out of politics and move them into management to which they rightly belong.

We have the problem of structure of our economy. Structure is a way of organizing an entity in a way that that it can be most effective and efficient in achieving that goals or objectives of that organization.

We hope to be a think-tank looking at problems that we can within our means since we don’t have all the means we will select those ones, commission knowledgeable experts in that area they will study, they will propose a solution we will disseminate that solution to the stakeholders hoping that we would have influenced the policy and the orientation in order to make Nigeria a better managed country.

We intend to also improve on our examination system and professional exams. we intend to set up a panel of management educators to review the curriculum, update it, make it more rigorous that by the time we go through it we will know that yes we have got something.

Also, we need to look at our heroes in the institute. We consider people who have, sacrifice their time, their talent, their treasure so that we don’t forget them. Already we visited Dr Abebe about a month ago, on January 11; we went to Iruepe to see him as he will be 99 years old in July this year, we pray that he would be a 100. Dr omolayode was 89 in December; we went to felicitate with him on his birthday. We also visited Dr Christopher Kolade who was 85 also in December. We have plans to visit others who are still alive so that they will know that they are remembered, and that I think can make people begin to see that yes it is not how much money that you have amassed, but that you are leaving a legacy that would be appreciated and that should be a motivation to other people.

Even as Nigeria has exited recession things are still difficult for the common man. What policies do you think can be put in place to turn the economy around?

Well, I think we have come out of the recession because we had a negative growth of about 1.45% decline in our GDP in 2016. In 2017 we had a growth of above 0.8%; so we are moving. This year most international agencies believe that we would attain a growth of 2.1% to about 2.6%. So it looks like we are likely to have about 4.3% and maybe the manufacturing sector would get about 7%.

What are the things that are being put in place to achieve these?

The government has what it calls the economic policy that focuses on six or eight areas – solid minerals, agriculture, power, petrochemical, services etc. If these are effectively implemented they certainly will get a greater buoyancy of the economy. Also, in recent times, things seems to be favouring us, as petroleum price has gained considerable progress from a about $45 per barrel in 2015/2016 climbed to about $64 and currently its now about $70 – that’s by far a major increase.

I think the TSA has been of tremendous assistance in curtailing corrupt practices that have in times past crippled the economic wheels of the country. We heard that JAMB returned about N7 billion, which has never happened before now.

February 18, 2018
Survivors on a Mission: Two Frontline Advocates Leading Fight Against Human Trafficking

Tina Frundt and Bukola Oriola are members of the U.S Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, a panel created following the enactment of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act during the Barack Obama administration. In separate encounters, both survivors who lead nonprofit organizations fighting labour and sex trafficking respectively, share insight about their works with HANNAH OJO.

Tina Frundt, the champion for sex trafficked youth

Ms. Frundt is the founder and executive director of Courtney’s House, a nonprofit which provides direct services for domestic sex trafficked youth, ages 11 – 21 in the Washington D.C. metro area. A high profile national advocate on the issue of domestic sex trafficking and a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), she trains law enforcement and other non-profit groups to rescue and provide resources to victims.

What is the child sex trafficking situation in the D.C region and how does Courtney’s House advocate for minority groups?

Most of my populations are U.S citizens, 85 percent are African-Americans while 15 percent are Latinos. We are the only survival run, African American nonprofit in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area with a specific mission to serve survivors of sex trafficking. We are able to provide programmes relative to their experience and culture. We are also able to form strong connections which allow us to provide space for survivors to feel safe. Not only are we changing the narrative that our young people can trust the police, we also provide parent support where parents are educated on the red flags for tragic sexual experience in children.

Since child sex trafficking in the U.S happens across diverse groups, why focusing solely on youths who are U.S citizens?

There are 70 organizations that focus on some type of human trafficking in the D.C/ Virginia area. Courtney’s house is the only one African-American run, one survivor run that focuses on U.S. citizens and children including boys. Our referrals not only come from the police, the FBI but also parents, teachers and community members. We get 7/8 referrals a week without us soliciting and it is also important to know that the age of victims of sex trafficking in the U.S is getting younger.

Are there circumstances which make children more susceptible to sex trafficking in the U.S than other parts of the world?

Organized crime is the same and all trafficking cases are the same in most part of the world. It’s the same way that traffickers recruit at airports in the U.S that they recruit at airports everywhere else in the world. It’s the same tactics. I have done stuffs in Nigeria and Ghana and even on the street outreach, it’s really the same thing. The same tactics of saying they want to help girls, they say the same thing here. The only difference is that here they work more with guns. It can also be another female recruiting girls to dance at a strip club or pimp control. It’s the same thing done in other countries.

You have done some works in Nigeria and Ghana, what was your experience implementing survivors programmes in these two places?

I don’t restrict my services to the U.S because I want everyone to know how to get through survivors and to help them with the services they need. I worked with a nonprofit in Ghana and other places to help them identify survivors in their countries. What I see here in the U.S is what I see in other countries and that is people not staying in their programmes. What I see in Africa now is that you have some organizations doing some amazing works, but they don’t even know how to connect, not even on the survival aspect. Sometimes survivors may be willing to get all the help, but they won’t be able to share information about their trafficking situations. I think that’s really important because everyone is having the same problem.

Bukola Oriola; advocating for victims, empowering survivors

Ms Oriola, an ex-journalist with the Century Media Limited, publishers of the defunct New Age newspaper is a survivor of labour trafficking and domestic violence. In 2013, she founded the Enitan Story, a non-profit organization which advocates for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. Also, an entrepreneur, she has published books on human trafficking and presently leads advocacy programmes in Minnesota and Nigeria.

You just completed a term on the U.S Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, how did the position enhance your passion as an anti-trafficking activist?

The U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking gave me a platform to influence federal government policies in a survivor-informed manner. It afforded me the opportunity to help the government see through the eyes of survivors when drafting or amending policies and programmes that affects victims and survivors of human trafficking within the United States and around the world. As you may already know, I am one of the 11 members of the Council. We published two annual reports that shed light on our findings with federal agencies and provided recommendations. I am very grateful that some of our recommendations from the first annual report are already being implemented. It ranged from engaging survivors in an empowering manner where they are paid as subject matter experts for their labor and expenses, to becoming more trauma-informed in the way that the government and its grantees provide services to victims and survivors of human trafficking.

What role has The Enitan Story played in preventing human trafficking in the U.S?

The Enitan Story’s mission is to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. As a result, the organization has, and will continue to engage in in-depth community outreach both face-to-face and virtually to capture every audience possible to help them understand that anybody can be vulnerable, and that anyone can become a victim of human trafficking. That way, people are able to recognize the red flags and signs that could potentially lead them into becoming victims of human trafficking.

The U.S government is targeting professionals such as health and aviation workers to detect and report cases of trafficking, is this a model that can be implemented in Nigeria?

Yes. Health care providers are more than likely to come in contact with a potential or vulnerable victim of human trafficking within a community. Airport and airline staff on the other hand are also strategically positioned to come in contact with victims or potential victims that are being transported across borders of various countries. Training these sets of professionals could help in prevention or help victims have access to services in a timely manner.

How can members of the media and the civic society advocate for human trafficking to be made a top priority in developing countries?

As watch dogs in the community, members of the media can help the government understand the importance of making human trafficking advocacy a priority. Most especially, they can help the government understand the fact that prevention cost less by encouraging the government to provide funding to nonprofit organizations and NGOs for in-depth community outreach in a manner that is educational rather than creating fear. In addition, engaging survivors as subject matter experts, rather than just to share their tragic stories when rolling out such campaigns will be very effective in helping the public understand the dangers of becoming victims of human trafficking within or outside their own countries.

Do you mind telling us about the project you are working on at the moment and how will this benefit Nigerians?

The Enitan Story has just been awarded a federal OVC (Office for Victims of Crime) grant through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) called the Safe Harbor Expansion Grant for Labor Trafficking to identify and serve labor trafficked youth in Minnesota. It is a two-year grant from January 2018 until January 2020. Minnesota is a diverse state in terms of ethnicity and there is a large population of Nigerians living in Minnesota. One way that this grant can benefit Nigerians is for Nigerians living in Minnesota to reach out to us in case they come in contact with any youth, who may be victims of labor trafficking. In addition, we launched Students Against Abuse and Slavery International (SAASI) shortly after my return from Nigeria on a human trafficking awareness tour to five higher institutions in 2015. The goal of SAASI is to engage the youth across various countries, including Nigeria to serve as community advocates. Interested students can fill out an application on our website, www.saasi.org.

February 18, 2018
Ethiopia declares state of emergency

Ethiopia on Friday announced state of emergency after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his intention to step down amid unrest and political crisis.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said “the ruling EPRDF coalition’s council met and decided to impose emergency rule in the Horn of Africa country.”

The announcement did not say how long the rule would be in place.

The prime minister’s resignation followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations demanding the release of more opposition leaders.

Over 6,000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government struggled to placate discontent.

Reuters/NAN

February 16, 2018
Combating Human trafficking through Prevention

Ashlie Bryant previously thought human trafficking was a crime occurring around certain places in the world until something happened in the sleepy Sacramento suburb which caused a mental shift in the way she viewed occurrences of trafficking.

“A friend’s 17- year-old daughter was taken from a grocery store, drugged and pimped out in ads and sold to a trafficker. She was gone for 8 days without anyone in the community knowing where she was until the Sheriff’s department in collaboration with the FBI rescued her from a motel where she was being held and trafficked for sex,” Ms Bryant told a group of foreign journalists during a combating human trafficking reporting tour hosted by the U.S department of State in Los Angeles.

This was the beginning of Bryant’s journey to combating human trafficking after being shocked out of her limited knowledge of the possibility of the crime happening in her backyard. Deploring the experience gained from multiple executive marketing and communications positions in Silicon Valley, she mobilized friends and community members to establish the 3Strands Global Foundation, a nonprofit organization mobilizing communities to combat human trafficking through prevention education and reintegration programmes.

“We have been researching since 20011 and we have a good amount of data that shows prevention done the right way works. The two things we focus on is to combat human trafficking through prevention and reintegration”, she said, showing a demonstration of an educational curriculum used in teaching trafficking preventions in high schools and colleges in some counties in California. According to Ms Bryant, the education programme has reached more than 32, 000 students in 17 California counties.

Partnering with other nonprofits organisations such as Love Never Fails and the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, 3strands launched PROTECT, an initiative which uses a three-thronged approach to fighting human trafficking through training of teachers, students and welfare and enforcement officers. The PROTECT acronym represents ‘Prevention Organised to Educate Children on Trafficking’. Other partners who helped in co-founding the programme include the Office of the California Attorney General, the California Department of Education, Cisco Systems, the Institute for Social Research and the Polaris project.

Hinged on the believe that trafficking happens in plain sight without people suspecting, 3Strands Foundation lends itself to addressing both sex and labour trafficking.
“One of the stats is that 78 percent don’t know they are victims of a crime, that is an important statistic in prevention. There is a level of prevention and awareness that needs to happen among our youths to make them understand that they could be potential victims of human trafficking”, she intoned.
According to UNICEF, there are nearly 2 million children worldwide exploited in the global sex trade; each year. The U.S Department of Justice as well as the National Centre for missing and Exploited children also posit that as many as 100,000-300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked for commercial sex in the United States. Added to that is the revelation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation stating the average age of a trafficking victim in the United States as 11-14 years old.

Ready to partner local organizations in Nigeria
Bringing the grim reality of human trafficking to Nigeria; confirmed statistics from the National Emergency Management Agency gave the number of migrants who were trafficked into Libya’s sex and labour market from 2016 to the early part of 2018 as 7,999. Asked about the feasibility of the PROTECT programme’s implementation in developing countries, Ms Byrant offered that there could be modifications in structure to suit local needs.

She said; “One of our partners in San Diego does global philanthropy all over the world when it comes to prevention, so we have talked about what we do in other country. We could partner with somebody who is already funding good work in Africa deliberate on what works as a guiding force in trafficking prevention and reintegration.”

February 16, 2018
‘How I became a graduate through phone repair’

Mr Tony Okeke, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology, said he sponsored his education through phone repair.

The 39-year-old graduate from Akpugo, Mkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, said he enrolled for phone repair training in 2002 at the then Abuja GSM Village as a school certificate holder.

He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Abuja.

‘’I am Engineer Tony Okeke. I started this job approximately when the use of mobile phones came into Nigeria in 2002.

‘’As an apprentice learning the work then, we opened phones and repaired them. That was the era of Nokia 3310, Triumph, Sagem, Motorola, including Thuraya, etc.

“The GSM Village was around Wuse II in Abuja and I was just a secondary school certificate holder. But through this job, I was able to achieve many things.

“I was able to fund my education and today, I am a graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State.”

Okeke, who graduated in 2012 from the polytechnic, said he served the nation as a youth corps member in 2013 with Everton Nigeria Limited, an oil and gas company in Abuja.

The young entrepreneur, who presently operates his business at the popular GSM Technology Village located at Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, said he has empowered no fewer than 12 young Nigerians since the inception of the business.

Read Also: WHO donates motorcycles, phones to kano to speed up immunisation

He said: ‘’I empower people through a skill acquisition programme on repair of mobile phones and all computer gadgets. My business name is T-Phonz Network.

“So far, I have trained about 12 people. When they complete their training, some of them will go and establish themselves. I have trained both graduates and undergraduates in this job, even those who already had their Masters.

‘’For instance, when I was serving, one of my friends, who is a Masters’ holder came to me and said he wanted to learn the job.

“And when I completed my service, I enrolled him and he has completed his training and he is now living comfortably with his family.”

On the period it takes to learn the job, he said it depends on individual.

‘’You can take a year and six months or roughly two years to be able to learn the work, but it is a continuous process because new gadgets are still coming out.

‘’It might not be the one you learned with that you will meet tomorrow, but the most important thing is for you to know the fundamentals, the basic knowledge,” he said.

Okeke, who advised young Nigerians not to despise little beginning, said he feels fulfilled in the work he does.

NAN

February 16, 2018
Emulate Zuma, ADP to Buhari

… Says Nigerians No Longer Need His Service

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has advised President

Buhari to emulate the immediate past President of South

Africa, Jacob Zuma, who resigned over his recall by his

country’s governing party, the African National Congress

(ANC) and the threat to pass a vote of no confidence on

him.

ADP said ANC is a party of notable politicians who cannot

be intimidated by their president or other elective leaders,

unlike the Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC)

filled with sycophants as party leaders who have turned

themselves to “yes men” for a president they are supposed

to hold accountable, make sure he delivers and ensure that he

does not derail the country’s democracy.

ADP in a statement issued by its Lagos Spokesperson, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, noted that Nigerians are tired of

under-development and that nothing is working again since

Buhari took over in 2015.

The party said it has made several calls, counseling the president to quietly step down and allow another Nigerian with the capacity, vigor to lead but all to no avail. Adelaja stressed further that the widespread violence, ethnic clashes, and unabated spread of poverty due to the bad economy in

the country is too alarming and many families are now finding it difficult to feed their families. To Adelaja, this is a result of failed leadership. ADP salutes Zuma’s courage, towing the path of honor, by listening to his countrymen. The party also hails South Africans for speaking in one voice and not allowing politicians

to divide them with religion or ethnicity because no matter where a bad leader comes from, all citizens suffer the misrule. ADP said Nigerians have a lot to learn from Zimbabwe, South Africa and other countries who have changed the leaders that have disappointed them.

The party has said that President Buhari should see his

position as a privilege to serve because it is not his birth right and if the same people who shouted “Sai Baba” and elected him are saying enough is enough, he should heed their calls and not turn himself into a sit tight leader. ADP has charged credible and competent Nigerians to begin to show interest in 2019 election because ADP as a platform is available to achieve all their dreams for good leadership.

ADP also warns against shady deals by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC); that as an umpire, it must remain neutral and allow free and fair polls without influencing it to favour any candidate.

February 15, 2018
2019: ADP hails Senate, others for adopting the amended timetable over 2019 elections.

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has hailed the National Assembly for adopting the amended electoral law which has now reordered the time table as against the time table earlier released by the INEC.

On Wednesday the upper legislative chamber adopted the timetable after it considered the recommendations of a conference committee report on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act.

The house of representatives had changed the order of the timetable for the election by amending the act which both the upper and lower chamber have now agreed on a common bill.

The party according to a statement issued by the ADP Lagos Spokesman, Prince Adelaja Adeoye on Wednesday in Lagos, he noted that the time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

contradicts the electoral law. He argued that the electoral law clearly

states the order in which the election must be conducted.

According to the party, it says the amendments in Section 25 of the

Electoral Act, 2010 is very important; noting that the reorganization of

the entire Section 25 of the principal Act which they substituted with a new Section 25 (1) will make our elections better.

ADP said, the era where the incumbent President will use

state instruments to bully citizens to assure his victory first, and then expect bandwagon

effect to give victory to their party should be totally erased

with the amendment of the electoral law.

Recall that the National Chairman of the Action Democratic

Party (ADP), Engr Yabaji Sani stated his positions on the time table when

it was first released by the INEC, where he pointed out several flaws

and rejected same.

The party said, it is the duty of all Nigerians to protect the

integrity and sovereignty of the country, by not allowing the country’s democracy to

be jeopardized by those who are only interested in grabbing powers rather than working for the interest of all citizens.

ADP said INEC as an umpire must refrain from any act that may make it to be perceived as been biased, that the news of its plans to take

the National Assembly to court over the election reorder is not necessary.

The party said, Nigerian laws are bigger than anybody, and that the

INEC must refrain itself from interfering and misapplying the electoral laws.

The party however charged President Buhari not to delay in assenting to the amended bill, that the president should use this opportunity to make our

democracy stronger and better.

ADP has assured Nigerians that they will work with all stakeholders toward

the next general elections to ensure that best candidates emerge at all

levels in their party, and also promise to deliver Lagos to Lagosians.

February 14, 2018
Valentine’s Day: six beautiful kisses from movies

We’ve seen so many beautiful cult kisses on screen and TV that made us dream .

Today we celebrate 2018 Valentine’s day six of the most beautiful kisses we saw in movies and TV series.

Sleeping Beauty – Princess Aurora and Prince Philip

Disney’s animated films showed us so many wonderful kisses thought the years, but we could choose just one. Couldn’t it be “Sleeping beauty” ‘s kiss?

Sex and the City – Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Nolan

Hot, sad, angry, joyful, all Carrie and Mr. Big’s kisses were surrounded by lots of emotions. Despite the ups and downs, they had many opportunities to show us some perfect emotional kisses.

Sailor Moon – Sailor Moon and Milord

When we were kids, we would have loved to be saved by the mysterious Milord. The love affair between him and Sailor Moon is the most romantic in all the Japanese animated series we saw.

50 Shades of Grey – Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan

The third and last chapter of the saga has arrived at cinemas last weeks, so it wasn’t possible not to take a loot back at how it all started between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele and all their erotic and mental games.

Ghost – Demi Moore and Patrick Schwayze

How many tears did we shed for this movie? Too many. Especially at the end, when Sam finally says goodbye to Molly.

Titanic – Jack and Rose

Jack and Rose’s kiss on the front deck of the Titanic, is the best movie kiss of all-time.

February 14, 2018
My Valentine Story

Today was like a lovely sunny morning with Tolu’s arms wrapped around my waist. He welcomed me with a banquet of red roses after planting a warm good morning kiss on my forehead. I was yawning when he came into the room with a surprise of a red velvet cake of “Would you be my Valentine, Moyo” inscribed on it.

My face lit up with smiles as I gushed and gushed. I beckoned him to come close and kissed him deeply. It was the time I tasted the fresh mint in his mouth that I knew he was ready to get to work this morning. But why would he still be strolling round the house in underwear?

“Let me get you breakfast,” I said and tried to get out of bed.

“No,” He insisted. I brought you breakfast in bed. He reached for the handle of our bedroom door where Inioluwa and Shade stood outside in their neatly ironed uniforms, playing the role of Chefs, as they pushed the trolley in and screamed “Mummy, Mummy, Happy Valentine.”

The joy in my heart knew no bounds. I stretched my arms to accommodate my cute sweethearts in a warm embrace.

“Have you eaten? Is your bag ready for school?”

“I have taken care of it,” Tolu answered. I will chauffeur them today. I will just put my shirt on. “Enjoy,” he said. The aroma of the fried eggs filled the air; Tolu knew how I loved bacon and hot dogs. In here was a lifetime supply of nourishment. It was barely 8am and the surprises kept rolling in. What luck have I had to marry my best friend? After a few mouthfuls, I couldn’t bear to see Tolu struggle with that tie. He had an important appointment.

I pushed the tray aside and gently placed it on our bedside table. I took every other thing on it off.

“Wait there, don’t you dare move,” I warned, sashaying to the bathroom. I was back in one second to help Tolu adjust his tie.

He pressed his hands on my rear as usual. This is our early morning ritual. He, the helpless husband that cannot perfectly knot a tie and me, the expert fashionista, making sure he slays every day. He rather his hands not be anywhere than my waist while I try to strangle the living daylights of his neck.

If Tolu could actually knot that tie, he would. He was always so independent. Having left his parents immediately after Youth Service, he was used to do everything himself. This was our own closure moment, in the morning of every day. It was my insistence on his wearing a tie that caused this.

Tolu, how he hated ties!

“Is this okay,” I asked.

“Uhmmm…yeah.”

“Better talk now. Before you will be saying it is too tight.”

I found the perfect length for him and stole another kiss from him.

“Hurry, the children will be late.”

“I will drop them off at Mum’s by evening. So we can have some me and you time.”

I smiled.

“Just Go!” I feigned anger.

I watched him leave. Taking the children and coasting through the gates in the Hyundrai we both loved riding. If I beat him to it, I would take the Hyundrai. It was a car we both loved and admired. I looked at my ring and smiled. It brought back memories of how we met at a shopping mall. I was bitter and wanting to get over another failed relationship attempt and he was the man I shared the table with at KFC in Ikeja City Mall. That was five years ago.

I don’t recall how we grew from friends to lovers. But love makes everything beautiful in time. I loked at the Velvet cake, only a quarter was eaten and the lovely surprise. When did he prep Ini? I wondered. Probably, they had been planning this thing over the weekend when I was slaving at the Girl Child Foundation. Or maybe they just scripted this act yesterday. Tolu was a good writer and filmmaker. Who knows really?

I have to surprise him at work this afternoon. I really need to.

****

I picked out a red dress we bought during winter. We got it in Canada where we were window shopping and found the dress that I could not stop gazing upon. Tolu had to pay for it. It was quite expensive. I didn’t expect that he would at least buy it. But, he did. The dress fitted all my curves and edges perfectly.

I laid the dress on the bed and took my famous high heels to match. Tolu loved the natural me but I still added an artificial glow to my natural me. I wanted to see the amazement in his mouth when he saw me swing by the office. His writing days were over, even though he owed a printing press on the side, he was the Managing Director of the fastest rising newspaper company in Lagos. They set up shop just two years ago and had closed down several fraudulent politicians by their investigative and feature pieces. I left home by 1pm. I really wanted to treat him to some homemade lunch and wine.

Read Also: Five fun places to visit this Valentine

I stopped by the store to order some grapes and I dropped into the office immediately.

I took the secret elevator, carrying the basket, not wanting to waste time, I passed the secretary who was still attempting to pass a message that I was here.

I acknowledged her but walked briskly and pressed the door handle. It was in less than a split second and I could see Tolu eyes closed with a lady who was straddled to his naked body. He was trousers and pants down as this lady was busying laying loving kisses from his bare waist and down below.

I wasn’t just aghast. I was shocked and I wondered what she was doing. Her clothes weren’t off, only Tolu’s were off, pants down.

I screamed. “Tolllluuuuu…” and deeply went into faded darkness, as l fell to the ground.

February 14, 2018
Five fun places to visit this Valentine

It’s Valentine’s day and at this time of the year, people ask the question “Where do we go right now?” If you live in Lagos, you have many answers to that question. If you’re on the look out for fun places to exciting time with your family, friends or close associates, then these are the top five places that might interest you…..

Rhapsody’s Victoria Island

This is a must place to visit for a night out or drinks with friends and lovers. It’s the perfect blend of great ambiance and delicious meal.

The Lagoon Restaurant

If you want to go out in groups or as a family this valentine, then this is the perfect place to visit. It has affordable food and an expansive menu ranging from brazillian to traditional menus.

The White Space, Ikoyi

If you’re artsy at heart and want to meet like minds while shopping and partying, then you can’t miss the white space.

La Manga luxury Beach Villas, Ilashe

This is one spot that is highly recommended for couples who want some time away. If your idea of a quick getaway includes stunning beach and luxury accommodation in a quiet and private environment, then La Manga Luxury Beach Villas in Ilashe Island, Lagos, Nigeria with its spectacular and invigorating view of the ocean is the place for you.

Read Also: Valentine: Stylish women Day outfit ideas

Lacampagne Tropicana Beach Resort

This is a very tranquil place located just an hour’s drive from Victoria Island in Lagos State. The resort offers a perfect blend of natural environments and the warm Atlantic sea.

It also provides accommodation and a variety of activities like hiking, horse riding, canoeing and exquisite cuisine.

It might be a perfect place to visit with family, friend and lover.

February 14, 2018