The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Fighting dollar scarcity with homegrown alternatives

    Fighting dollar scarcity with homegrown alternatives

    Banks are under pressure in meeting their clients’ demands in funding dollar-based transactions. This contrasts with the old practice where banks featured prominently in syndicated dollar deals for clients. Currently, banks are rejecting such deals while businesses and consumers are in search of alternatives that would enable them to bypass the dollar challenge with homegrown substitutes for imported raw materials and products. COLLINS NWEZE captures the pains faced by businesses to stay afloat in the era of disappearing dollars and people’s declining purchasing power. 

    Mr Michael Olatunde, a Lagos-based banker has a passion for attending weekend parties. The party time has, for years, remained the best part of his weekends, relieving him of the stress associated with his banking job.

    Olatunde was so fond of the party souvenirs that he created space in his four-bedroom apartment where he keeps the gifts.

    But on Saturday, November 20, during a wedding reception held in Surulere Lagos, he had a surprise souvenir gift that cannot be kept in his apartment for long.

    He was one of the over 200 guests that received unripe plantains shared as souvenirs at the wedding reception. Like Olatunde, many other guests were surprised at the souvenir choice while a few others were simply excited.

    “It is not new that souvenirs are a part of parties. Celebrators give their guests all kinds of gifts, ranging from plastic bowls, jotters, umbrellas, soap, matches, and in recent times, power banks, boxes, and phones, among others. Never have I seen them share unripe plantains,” he said.

    But what Olatunde failed to understand was the emerging trends in the economy where people are going for substitutes for items that require dollars to be imported.

    The move is not only to save costs for party organisers given the rising rate of inflation which has raised prices of goods and services but to conserve foreign exchange as foreign capital inflows to the economy drop.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed that foreign direct investment,  a major catalyst to Nigeria’s development dropped to $77.97 million in the second quarter of 2021, indicating a 49.6 per cent and 47.5 per cent decline compared to $154.76 million and $148.59 million recorded in the previous quarter and second quarter of 2020 respectively.

    Also, the fall in crude oil prices has reduced Nigeria’s dollar earnings, making it difficult for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund imports. The scarcity of dollars meant importers now use more naira to buy few available dollars at exorbitant rates, with the costs passed to the consumers.

    But, dollar scarcity has not always been the case for Nigeria. For instance, in 2013, the consortium of 12 local banks syndicated $3.3 billion loans to augment the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical equity contribution in the refinery project.

    Aliko Dangote, Chairman Dangote Group, was very excited at the ease at which the funds were raised for a milestone project expected on completion, to process about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

    Eight years later, the same banks are finding it difficult to fund clients seeking to acquire oil assets put on sale by the Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

    Chief Executive Officer, GTBank, Segun Agbaje, said the banks are not likely to raise the estimated $2.3 billion needed to purchase the Shell assets.

    “Such a deal would require a syndication of up to $1.8 billion and it will be very tough to raise such funding locally at the moment because of dipping dollar liquidity in the banks,” he said.

    Shell is working on exiting its onshore oil position in Nigeria, which is no longer considered compatible with its strategic ambitions.

    Findings indicate that it is not only banks that are finding it difficult to conclude dollar deals. Manufacturers are going for local raw materials instead of imported ones as naira depreciation against the dollar persists.

    For instance, at the Ladipo motor spare parts market, in Mushin Lagos, motorists now buy locally-fabricated vehicle shock absorbers, brake pads, and even engine oil as prices of imported versions go out of reach.

    Managing Director, Bendock Limited, Steven Kalu, said demand for foreign goods has significantly dropped as prices soared with many Nigerians looking inwards for the closest substitutes of products and services.

    “The naira exchange rate at the parallel market stood at N545/$1 as of November 22, making goods and services linked to the dollars unaffordable for anyone with a legitimate need.  Importers have run out of options and face consumers whose income cannot accommodate new price hikes hence, they are going for local substitutes,” he said.

    Another Abuja-based businessman, who imports suits and shirts from China, Paul Okafor, said the prices of foreign suits are now out of reach of many of his customers, mostly bankers.

    “My customers now go for locally-made suits and shirts which are cheaper than imported ones. We are studying the shift in consumer behaviour to enable us to move into the sale of local fabrics,” he said.

    Sales Director, Hayat Kimya Nigeria (manufacturers of Molfix pampers), Motayo Latunji, said the foreign exchange crisis was not only impacting the company’s business, but also all fast-moving consumer goods businesses in Nigeria.

    “If you are a manufacturer, and some quantity of your raw materials is being imported, it’s a tough time. The foreign exchange is not only high but also not easy to find. The supply chain issue is also impacting businesses. The cost of operation is very high and everything keeps going up given the level of depreciation of the naira against other foreign currencies,” he said.

    The depreciation of the naira has also affected dollar loan repayment for many businesses. Top businesses, especially in the manufacturing and oil and gas sectors, are finding it difficult to repay such loans taken when the naira exchange rate was relatively stable.

    With the depreciation of the naira, borrowers now require more naira than was initially intended, to pay back the loans.

    Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, said his company took dollar loans at a period when the naira was stronger, but faced a major crisis in repayment following the fall in the naira exchange rate against the dollar.

    He said banks are also reviewing loan pricing for risks and dealing with currency mismatch problems faced by many of their customers that borrowed in foreign currency.

    “Access to capital is challenging and difficult. Banks are reviewing pricing for risks and loans. We have secured cheap capital but suffered currency mismatch because of the loans we took in dollars. Revenue has not increased in line with exchange rate changes,” Adesina said.

    He said the company is, however, exploring traditional and non-traditional approaches in resolving the dollar-loan challenge.

    “We are resilient. We did not expect the current naira volatility at the point of borrowing but we are sitting down and resolving it with the banks,” Adesina added.

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo explained what is going on. For him, the exchange rate was artificially low and deterring investors from bringing foreign exchange into the country.

    “We can’t get new dollars into the system, where the exchange rate is artificially low. And everyone knows by how much our reserve can grow.

    “I am convinced that the demand management strategy currently being adopted by the CBN needs a rethink, and that is just my view,” Osinbajo said at the opening ceremony of a two-day Mid-term Ministerial Performance Review retreat, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in October.

    The CBN naira exchange rate plan places the official rate at N411/$1, and Osinbajo believes such rate does not reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.

    But the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele explained that Nigeria, like other emerging markets that are reliant on oil exports, the retreat by foreign portfolio investors significantly affected the supply of foreign exchange into the country.

    “With the decline in our foreign exchange earnings and successive exchange rate adjustments, the CBN has continued to implement a demand management framework, which is designed to bolster the production of items that can be produced in Nigeria, and aid conservation of our external reserves,” he said.

    Emefiele explained that due to the unprecedented nature of the shock, the apex bank has continued to favour a gradual liberalisation of the foreign exchange market in order to ease the exchange rate volatility and mitigate the impact which, rapid changes in the exchange rate could have on key macro-economic variables.

     More dollar inflows coming

    Despite these challenges, the International Capital Market (ICM) is providing succour to Nigerian banks in dire need of foreign capital to fund their operations. The government is also looking up to the ICM to raise an additional $2.1 billion after successfully raising $4 billion in September.

    Director-General of Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, had, in the past three months, led international roadshows to encourage investors on the viability of investing in Nigeria. The country is relying on the ICM to raise badly-needed funds to finance its infrastructure.

    In September 2021, Nigeria raised $4 billion from the Eurobond market, $1 billion higher than the $3 billion targeted. The three-tranche deal will help finance projects outlined in the Nigerian 2021 Appropriation Act and fund infrastructure.

    Oniha said the international investors had shown interest in engaging the government on the new offer but remained optimistic about Nigeria’s credit status.

    “We need to assess the market to understand how to proceed. We remain confident international investors find our credit story enticing enough,” she said.

    Director-General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze said the investors are also concerned about debt sustainability, but the government had given them assurance on that. He admitted that the major problem was the 73 per cent debt service to revenue ratio which the government is working hard to improve.

    Commercial banks are also raising additional capital through the Eurobond to enable them to provide medium-term funding and enhance their capacity to support general banking purposes. Ecobank’s $300 million Eurobond offer earlier in the year was oversubscribed by 300 per cent.

    Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan described the Federal Government’s plan for a Eurobond issuance as a good move, stressing that the fundamentals and potential of the country’s economy are strong with the capacity to meet its debt obligations.

    He observed that international borrowing will allow Nigeria to access more foreign currencies, deepen external reserve, allow more confidence in the medium-term planning in the private sector, adding that it allows a benchmark to be established in terms of how funding and investment are priced within the local economy.

    “It also gives more room for the local economy to be able to breathe a bit more because when the country takes on Eurobond that portion is reduced from local country financing or public sector debt within the country. All these factors play strongly to the benefit of the private sector and the entire economy.”

    Akinwuntan advised those approaching the international debt market to have clarity of purpose and state clearly their strengths and weaknesses.

    Eurobonds worth $500 million have been issued to offshore investors by Access Bank Plc.

    Access Bank said it went to the international debt capital market with $500 million but investors, who were confident with the ability of the company to repay at maturity, staked $1.6 billion on the instrument.

    Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc,  Herbert Wigwe, said the success of the transaction would significantly enhance the bank’s tier 1 and total capital ratios ahead of Basel III implementation in Nigeria.

    He said the fresh capital would enable the bank to capture the strategic opportunities in payments, agency banking, and insurance across the continent to further enhance its growth profile and business diversification agenda.

    More cases for homegrown substitutes

    The CBN is also fighting back the dollar challenge with homegrown solutions to keep Nigeria’s import bills in check.

    For instance, the CBN has commenced the process to conserve about $2 billion in foreign exchange with the funding of commercial wheat farming in 15 states of the federation in its new intervention under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

    Over 150,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the new intervention in the wheat value chain through the cultivation of 180,000 hectares of land in the states.

    Emefiele said the apex bank has decided to add wheat to the list of focal commodities to be supported under the bank’s agricultural intervention programmes.

    Nigeria’s national import of food amounted to N1.85 trillion between January and September 2020, – a 62 per cent increase when compared to the same period in 2019. The Federal Government spent a cumulative N3.35 trillion in four years on agricultural imports, Chairman, United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu has said.

    In nearly six years of the ABP implementation, the CBN says 3.8 million farmers have so far benefited from the scheme.

    CBN Director, Development Finance Department, Yila Yusuf, said N554.61 billion had been disbursed through the programme since its inception in 2015.

    “The multiplier effect on the economy is huge. The ABP has helped farmers to improve their yields. For maize, we now do five metric tons per hectare and for rice; we’re improving from four metric tonnes to 10 metric tons per hectare. We will be trying out some Brazilian seeds that we will give to the anchors and their association,” he said.

    Nigeria’s import bill on rice also dropped, saving foreign exchange for the economy.

    In the health care sector, the CBN said it will be doubling its N100 billion intervention in the sector to N200 billion.

    Emefiele said indigenous pharmaceutical companies and health care practitioners that want to expand or build their capacities would continue to benefit from the fund.

    Such investments would drastically free over $1 billion spent annually on medical tourism for other developmental projects and funding for key infrastructure, adding that medical tourism puts a huge strain on Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

    Expectations from SMEs

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC) report indicates that approximately 96 per cent of Nigerian businesses are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    Head, Operational Risk Management/Business Continuity, Unity Bank Plc, Lasisi-Yahya Enitan said there was a need to rescue SMEs through effective policies implementation as they remain the life wire of the economy.

    He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic did not only come with “economic dreaded monsters”-risks such as unemployment and inflation but also provided opportunities for businesses to research and come up with the best and suitable business model that can operate at optimal level irrespective of the prevalence of COVID-19.

    Enitan said funding alone cannot be adequate for needed intermediation or intervention as a bottom-up policy development strategy should be adopted.

    He said the policies are to be structured to target what needs to be done to reduce production/overhead cost, reduce the costs of factor inputs, setting up an integrated and digitalised marketplace for SMEs to aid forward and backward integrated function.

    He said the policy driver should push for business automation.

    “At the initial stage, SMEs should be persuaded to adopt business automation in their business processes and activities. The persuasion can come in form of lower interest for subsequent facilities. Where persuasion fails, total enforcement of business automation becomes necessary as it brings about lower cost; time savings; high accuracy; better service and greater productivity,” he said

    Director at African Development Bank, Martin Orji, said Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) should work together to deploy cheap capital to Africa to support their continent’s businesses.

    For him, the legal framework that allows DFIs to collaborate and pull capital to support businesses on the Continent should be implemented for the good of African consumers, businesses and economies.

     

  • Buhari to varsities, lecturers: develop vaccines to tackle COVID-19 virus

    Buhari to varsities, lecturers: develop vaccines to tackle COVID-19 virus

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja, Augustine Okezie, Katsina, Linus Oota, Lafia

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian universities and scientists to intensify research efforts to develop vaccines that can tackle the COVID-19 and its variants, which are  afflicting the world.

    His call is coming on the heels of the new more contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has triggered global alert as more cases were recorded in Netherland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Israel, Hong Kong, Denmark, Australia, other European countries, just days after it was identified in South Africa.

    The new variants has left governments around the world like the United Kingdom (UK), United States (U.S.), Israeli, Brazil, Indonesia, among others, scrambling to stop the spread.

    President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba at the fifth and sixth combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, said universities were supposed to be centres for scientific and technological discoveries, inventions, values and character formation as well as drivers of societal growth.

    He said: “The development of the vaccine would fortify Nigerians’ immune system against the virus. My administration remained committed to tackling the challenges of sustainable funding for research, capacity building and employment creation.

    “You all know that in the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began its devastating effect on the education sub-sectors, leading to the disruption of universities’ academic activities.

    “I, therefore, urge and encourage the universities to intensify their research to come up with a more potent vaccine to fortify our immune system against this dreaded virus.

    The President also tasked the universities to explore available opportunities, including research collaboration with allied industries and development partners to create other sources of revenue generation, adding that such drive would support his economic diversification drive.

    Omicron variant not in Nigeria, says NCDC

    But, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday stated that the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is not in the country.

    It stated that, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, it is monitoring emerging evidence on the new variant and its implication to inform the country’s response to the pandemic.

    Urging Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to the proven public health and social measures in place, the NCDC appealed to business owners, religious leaders and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises wear masks and adhere to physical distancing.

    A statement by the NCDC reads: “The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are aware of reports of a new COVID-19 variant — the B.1.1.529 lineage. This SARS-CoV-2 variant has now been designated a variant of concern (VOC) and named; Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as advised by the independent Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).

    “While this variant has so far NOT been detected in Nigeria, a number of cases have now been reported in the UK, Israel, Botswana, Hong-Kong, Germany, Belgium, Italy and counting. However, no deaths have been attributed to this new variant yet. A total of 126 genomes of this variant have been detected globally and published on GISAID, (GISAID is a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data).

    “Given the high number of mutations present in this Omicron variant and the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases observed in South Africa, this virus is considered highly transmissible and may also present an increased risk of reinfection compared to other VOCs.

    “However, the fears about its ability to evade protective immune responses and/or its being vaccine resistant are only theoretical so far. This virus can still be detected with existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. The WHO and researchers across the world are working at speed to gain understanding of the likely impact of this variant on the severity of COVID-19 and on the potency of existing vaccines and therapeutics.

    “The NCDC continues to ensure daily review of surveillance data and uses this to inform public health decision making. Therefore, we urge all States to ensure that sample collection and testing are accessible, so that travellers, people with symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19 cases get tested promptly.”

    NMA cautions Fed Govt on border monitoring, closure

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday urged the Federal Government to apply caution in the closure of its borders to inbound passengers from South Africa, even as the new COVID-19 variant called Omicron spreads across the globe.

    The NMA advised that while the government studies the trends and epidemiological characterisation of the variant before taking a decision on border closure, it needs to also increase disease surveillance, ramp up testing – especially at the airports, and ensure strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical protocols of hand washing and use of hand sanitisers, wearing of face masks and social distancing.

    Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, the NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, also stressed that passengers from countries in Southern Africa should be compulsorily isolated, quarantined and examined for possible infection.

    He explained that the country is not ready and prepared for the new variant, hence, the need to be extra-cautious.

    He said: “We had the Delta variant before. I think that the mutation will continue because at the moment we don’t even know the biology of coronavirus completely. However, there is better information now than before. All we need to do is to see how we can protect ourselves.

    “We have to ensure that we follow the non-pharmaceutical protocols – hand washing, wearing facemask, and social distancing. As you know social distancing has failed. All we will do is to ensure that we use the facemask and hand washing and sanitisers at every turn.

    “We need to increase surveillance at the airport, particularly of those coming from the Southern Africa countries at the moment. They should be quarantined first for seven days. We must continue to up our game and improve our surveillance and testing. I know that in the United Kingdom (UK), before you leave, you must do a PCR test within 48 to 72 hours before you enter any plane. You also need to have the result which you will show at the airport.

    “At the same time, the Government of Nigeria insists that you must pay for it, come to Nigeria and choose the laboratory where you can do your test.

    “What we need to do is implementation and compliance. Even though we don’t need too many people to infect others, but the volume of traffic from South Africa to Nigeria in my opinion is not so much as to justify the closure of the borders.

    “However, we need to study the trend more. We can also monitor, and if the situation becomes necessary, then Nigeria should shut its airport to Southern African countries.

    “If it becomes necessary, and we get the epidemiological characterisation of this variant, of course, we would advise the government to shut its borders.

    “The problem is we are not even ready if it comes. If Europe and America that are ready are on their knees for COVID-19, then we have to be extra-cautious. Some Nigerians don’t even believe that there is COVID-19. You find a situation where you are doing so much and others are sabotaging the efforts of the government. However, we have to remain focused.

    “If it becomes necessary, the government should shut the airport to those people from Southern African countries because we need to protect our people.”

    Expert: PSC should rethink face mask policy

    A public health expert, Dr. Gabriel Adakole, has called on the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 to look into the possibility of returning the requirement of wearing facemask/shields following the threats from the COVID-19 Omicron variant.Adakole made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    He added that the PSC should tighten the country’s rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals across all airports.

    He noted that the committee should return any protections that the country would need in preventing further surge.

    “PSC needs to continue comprehensive and tailored public health and social measures to prevent transmission. The earlier the protective measures are implemented, the less restrictive they would need to be in order to be effective.

    “The more COVID-19 circulates, the more opportunities the virus will have to change and mutate, and the pandemic will last longer,” he added.

    He thankfully expressed that no Omicron variant case, which is believed to be contagious, has been reported in the country so far.

    According to Adakole, “because of fears that the new variant has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines, there are growing concerns around the world that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than hoped.

    “As you aware, many countries have already imposed travel restrictions on flights from South Africa as they seek to buy time to assess whether the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the current dominant delta variant, so what is Nigeria waiting for?”

    The expert said as the COVID-19 crisis continues and Nigerians need to take the preventive measures seriously, building forward better from the pandemic means all Nigerians must commit to end the Pandemic.

    Meanwhile, he called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to scale up surveillance, strengthen public health and social measures.

    “The NCDC must enhance surveillance and sequencing while assessing the risk of importation through international travel based on updated information on circulating variants and response capacities, and take measures accordingly.

    “Though our COVID-19 cases have been declining, the surge in cases elsewhere in the world and confirmation of a new variant of concern is a reminder of the persisting risk and the need for us to continue to do our best to protect against the virus and prevent its spread. At no cost should we let our guards down,” he explained.

    He also called on the PSC to enhance vaccination coverage, in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases globally, and detection of a new variant of concern, Omicron.

    Adakole reminded Nigerians that they must not forget that the pandemic is far from being over.

    NPHCDA boss: six million Nigerians vaccinated

    Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaibu at the weekend said 6,242,224 Nigerians have received the first dose of COVID-19.

    He explained further that 3,487,298 Nigerians have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.

    Shauibu spoke in Lafia during the flag off of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign in Nasarawa State.

    “As at November 26, 2021, the total number of eligible people, who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, is 6,242,224. A total number of 3,487,298 have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.

    “Let us all continue to observe our non-pharmaceutical measures against COVID-19 as we work together towards achieving herd immunity. Six million Nigerians have safely received the COVID-19 vaccines. Six million Nigerians cannot be wrong, Get your jab today,” he said

    He said Nigerian is still far from reaching its target of vaccinating almost 112 million of its eligible population.

    The NPHCDA boss called on Nasarawa residents who are 18 years and above to come out en mass to receive the COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves, loved ones and communities against the severe effects of the disease.

    He also added that about 15 million persons in Nasarawa State are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, but only about 8.1 per cent of eligible Nasarawa residents are vaccinated.

    According to him, the mass vaccination campaign is a carefully designed service delivery strategy that aims to rapidly increase the number of fully vaccinated eligible people and fast-track the country’s economic social recovery.

    Also speaking, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said the state under his leadership is committed to ensure that every eligible residents of Nasarawa is fully vaccinated.

    ‘Nigerians may soon start looking for vaccine to buy’

    The Emir of Dutse, Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, has warned that Nigerians may soon start looking for COVID-19 vaccine with money and would not get it.

    The emir stated this at the official inauguration of mass COVID-19 vacation exercise in Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa State.

    The emir, who was represented by the emirate’s senior councillor, Basiru Muhammad Sanusi (Galadima of Dutse), urged Nigerians to troop out in en masse and avail themselves for the vaccine.

    “At this juncture, I want to use this opportunity to inform our citizens that the vaccine is safe and free. Let everyone comes out and receive the jab.

    “Whatever the government brought is for the betterment of its citizens. President Muhammad Buhari, his family and all his cabinet members have already received their own. Governors, families and their cabinets as well as traditional rulers and their council members have been vaccinated,” he said.

    He, however, urged citizens to complement government and development partners’ efforts to prevent the spread of the virus by availing themselves to be vaccinated.

    The emir, therefore, directed his district heads and religious leaders to champion COVID-19 vaccination exercise to achieve the set target.

    He noted that failure to do so now, those resisting might use their money to look for the vaccine.

  • Travails of children infected by mothers living with HIV

    Travails of children infected by mothers living with HIV

    UNICEF early this year put the number of children infected with HIV at a staggering 22,000 annually. Apart from living with the virus, many of the children also contract myriad of diseases that impact negatively on their day to day life, while in extreme cases, the virus claims their lives together with their parents’. INNOCENT DURU.

    • How some, including parents, were killed by virus
    • Mother-to-child transmission spikes over expectant mothers’ failure to go for screening
    • HIV-positive mothers reveal how they gave birth to HIV-negative babies
    • 22,000 Nigerian children infected annually – UNICEF

    Tobi in his infantile innocence had no faintest idea of the misery that awaited his life when his mother was delivered of him some years ago.

    The family was ecstatic at his birth, rejoicing  that they had been blessed with a bouncing baby boy. The innocent boy was not left out of the happiness that had pervaded the family as he smiled endlessly and kicked the air with his legs as his parents played with him.

    But the joy that pervades the family turned out to be only momentary as the vicissitudes of life set in barely ten months after his birth. First, he became an orphan as his parents died from HIV complications.

    “He also tested positive and I have been the one taking care of him since then,” the grandmother who was suffering from leg pains  said in Yoruba.

    And as if the burden of living with HIV was not enough, life dealt another blow on the young boy as he was afflicted by epilepsy.

    “He also suffers from epilepsy and that requires a different medical attention. The drugs for epilepsy are not free and they are quite expensive. They cost about N7, 000 monthly.

    “I don’t know the cause of the epilepsy, but it also started from childhood.”

    Then came the challenge of stigmatisation which has robbed him of his right to basic education.

    The distraught old woman said: “He is no longer going to school because I can’t afford to be taking him to school every day. I have a challenge with my legs.

    “There is also no special school close to us.

    “I have tried putting him in a boarding school but they refused to admit him. Once the school authorities see the medications he is using, they would ask us to come and take him.  About two schools have rejected him already.

    “I am a petty trader. It is hard for me to eat not to talk of having enough money to take care of him.”

    Emma is another child for whom the world would for long remain a sad place to be. His mother had tested positive to HIV around the period he was born without medical assistance to prevent her from transmitting the virus to him.  He tested positive and was later on diagnosed with tuberculosis of the spine.

    His distraught mother said: “I tested positive on October 2, 2001 at St Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Ibadan when I heard my first born (Emma).

    “At that point, my husband did not believe the report and wondered how I contracted it.

    “In January 2004, I lost my husband and I was carrying the pregnancy of our second child then.”

    The pains of losing the breadwinner of the family untimely was assuaged when Emma’s mother gave birth to her second child who, unfortunately, also tested positive to HIV.

    She said: “I gave birth in February shortly after my husband died. The baby tested positive.

    “Both children became seriously sick after their father’s death. Later, I lost my second child.

    “In September of that same year, they admitted my first child at the University Teaching Hospital, UCH. He had Tuberculosis of the spine.

    “Since then, he hasn’t walked again. I was carrying him to the hospital every blessed day. They bandaged his whole body and I will carry him to physiotherapists.

    “He spent about two to three months in the hospital at a time, and before we came back, my late husband’s family had taken away everything in the house.

    “Doctors had even lost hope in him but I kept expressing faith that he would be fine.

    “To the glory of God, he is fine now, but he has hunchback.”

    It has also been a life of misery and discomfort for Amara. According to her mother, she tested positive  when she was four years old and has been living  in denial because she could come to terms with having to live with the virus.

    “I am going through a lot with her,” the mother, who is also living with the virus, said despondently.

    “She was four years old when we tested her and found she was positive.

    “As she was growing up, I was telling her about HIV/AIDS  but she was in denial of it.

    “She was at that denial stage. It was not until she started taking ARV (anti-retroviral) drugs that she realised what I was saying, and that was what brought her down.  We have been battling with panic attacks up till now.

    “It has not been easy for me taking care of my child. Presently, she has to go for physiotherapy, and it requires money which I don’t have.

    “She was only discharged from the hospital recently and the doctors advised that we should look for a psychologist that would be attending to her.  “What I learnt is that it would cost N30,000  a week to see a physiotherapist.

    “It has to be something that would be ongoing before she would be stable and come out of it.

    “I earn N20,000 monthly and still have to take care of myself and the other children.”

    •A doctor attending to a mother and her daughter Photo: UNICEF

    Her pains were compounded by the scarcity of some of the drugs that are supposed to be taken to reduce the viral load.

    “They are telling us that the government cannot afford some of the drugs that we are taking. We have only a drug in circulation now, and that is BCG, and people are complaining that they have been coming down with one illness or the other since they started taking it.  “Some men are coming down with liver problems or diabetes as a result of the drugs”

    The words of the late Catholic nun, Mother Teresa, that there is nothing more calming  in difficult moments  than knowing there’s someone is fighting with you,  resonate in the condition of Ola.

    The father, on whose shoulder he could have leaned on in his trying period abandoned him, compounding his pains and that of her mother.

    “In 2005, I got tested for HIV when I was pregnant and the result came out positive. I did surgery along the line and lost the twins that I was carrying in my womb.

    “Shortly after that, my husband abandoned me and my first child who is also positive,” the mother said.

    Ola, according to the mother, was also tested and found to be suffering from tuberculosis along the line.

    “He was admitted at the University Teaching Hospital, UCH, Ibadan at a time, and that was an additional burden for me.

    “I don’t know how he contracted TB  because I don’t have it. I guess he got it from school. He has been treated and he is free from TB now.”

    How medical help saved other children from being infected

    Many innocent children who would have been infected and subjected to a life of misery have been saved by their mothers’ decision to go for screening and adhere to treatment plans.

    Beatrice, who was infected through blood transfusion at the age of 11  and  has  been on treatment since 1999, recently gave birth to a set of twins who tested negative.

    She said: “I got married, took in and took pay in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) in the hospital.

    “They have a mentor mother in the facility. I joined the mentor mother and followed all the instructions. I just gave birth to a set of twins and my babies were negative when the results came out.”

    After joyfully delivering the babies, she said, she was seized by anxiety when nurses came to test her bundle of joy for the virus.

    “I feared that the babies would test positive. At first I was scared because I thought that was what my children would also pass through.

    “And that is where the role of mentor mother comes in, because the fear of having a positive child is always there. ‘Oh, so my baby is going to die. Oh, they will have to take drugs for life’.

    “The role of a mentor mother says no. They carried out a test called viral load test and found that I was undetectable and with my undetectable viral load I could give birth to a child who would come out negative.

    “But the fear had been there that I could give birth to a child who would test positive.

    “At a point, I felt reluctant until a follow up came assuring me that I would put to bed and all would be fine.

    “Even at the point where I was undergoing the test, I missed the appointment two to three times because of the fear that the result might come out positive.

    “Before the result came out, I could not sleep. I was so worried. I kept calling to know what the result would look like. But at the end of the day, the result came out well.

    “When I saw the result, I started calling everybody to share the testimony.”

    Contrary to the fear that HIV-positive mothers cannot breastfeed to avoid transmitting the virus to their babies, she said: “I breastfed. But before I did that, they placed me on some drugs.

    “I was one of the first persons in Nigeria that ARV drugs were tried on, I think in 1999. We were placed on trial to know if the drug would work.

    “I was told that it was through blood transfusion in the hospital where I was admitted that  I was infected. I was between 10 and 11 years old at that time.

    “It was with my case that they said let us do something and bring the drugs to Nigeria.”

    She added: “Before I got married, my husband already knew my status through my field.

    “I told him that he would never be a barrier to my carrier. I told him that because I am positive you are not getting married to me, let me find my way and you find your way.

    “He said no he was going to support me, that he had watched my programme and all that.

    “I gave him time to go and read and know about HIV, and see if it was something he could cope with as a man.

    “He came back and said he had been following me and my programme.”

    Lizzy, who is also living with HIV, shared the joy of her children who were born free of the virus.

    She said: “I knew my status in 2009. When I became pregnant, after the first trimester, I was placed on ARV. But as at that time, it was CRV, to protect the baby.

    “When I gave birth, after six weeks, samples were taken from my baby.

    “I gave my baby breast milk for six months. After six months, I started complementary feeding.

    “After 18 months, another sample was taken from my baby. This time around, it was rapid testing and there was nothing like HIV in my child. My child is free.

    “I don’t joke with my medication. I visit a health facility when I am not feeling fine, to know whether I have malaria or typhoid.

    “My husband knows that I am positive and he supports me and the baby.

    “When they wanted to carry out the test on my baby, I had no anxiety because I was trained on how to handle my baby during anti-natal care. I knew my baby was going to be negative.

    “Some of my friends didn’t know they were positive before they gave birth.  Some said it is not their portion, that their children would come out fine, and that no matter what you did to them, they would not take their medication. “

    Elated that her chdren are HIV negative, Imelda, a mother living with HIV, said: “When I got pregnant in 2007, I went to the hospital where they carried out a test and found that I was positive. I was thereafter sent to meet a counselor. I was given some drugs which I kept taking.

    “When it was time for me to give birth, I was asked to do so in the hospital for safety purpose. Immediately after, delivery drug was given to the baby for six weeks.

    “After that, a test was conducted on the baby and it came out negative. Another test was conducted  after sometime and it still came out negative.

    “I have had three children after that and they are all negative.

    “It didn’t augur well at the initial stage between my husband and I when I told him of my status. But after some time of counselling and intervention, he calmed down.

    “Both of us started taking medication after then.

    “Going for test and detecting the virus early is a good thing that has come to be in the world.

    “Initially, there was no awareness, and when one tested positive, it would look as if that was the end of the world.”

    Fresh danger looms

    In spite of the gains that improvement in early detection and prevention has brought to managing HIV, people living with the virus are worried that the country is returning to the dark days, which could spell doom for the nation and the people.

    “We are seeing the challenges we were running away from back then coming back again. I pray that in the next two to three years we would not cry because we are really going out of drug stock and the children that we are hoping are coming out negative are about coming out HIV positive because of the attitude in the facility,” Beatrice said.

    She added: “The right people are not being placed at the facility. You will see somebody who does not know anything about HIV working in the field, and at the end of the day, they give out wrong information.

    “They use their words to stigmatise patients, so patients don’t like coming back to the hospital, especially the pregnant women. They end up patronising the traditional birth attendants

    “Coming to this COVID 19, the pandemic is really affecting PMTCT programmes because by the time you are coming to register for ante- natal, the hospital will tell you they can’t register you until you are seven month pregnant.

    “What happens during this period that the expectant mothers are at home? What happens to their medication? What happens to the mentor mothers that are taking care of you?

    “If you watch the rate of HIV infection now, it is coming up higher than before.  “Before, the virus was sleeping because everybody was taking medication and it was being suppressed. But now, the challenge  is that people don’t come to register for ante-natal because of COVID-19 and we are also experiencing drug stock out in some areas.

    “Now the issues of user fees came back again and it is making people not to go and access their treatment, because before they will start picking up drugs, they will have to pay for consultation. “Sometimes the kids they are going with are positive and the mother is also positive. The mother will end up paying for herself and also paying for the child.

    “Sometimes you might see more than two to three doctors and you have to pay for consultation fee to see each of the doctors.

    •A health worker taking blood sample of an underage girl Photo:UNICEF

     

    “It is another challenge that is coming into being now and we don’t know what to do in the next two to three years.

    “The phase of 2003, 2004 and 2005 is about coming back now because we are seeing drug stock out in so many areas.

    “Sometimes they misplace your treatment because they don’t have your regimen in the hospital. They will tell some that the second line treatment is not available and they will end up giving you first line treatment because they cannot allow you go without drugs.”

    Poor enlightenment campaign worsening menace

    A mentor mother to women living with HIV, Okubanjo Abiola,  blamed the challenge of mother to child transmission which appears not to be abating to low level of awareness among the people and patronage of traditional birth attendants.

    “Many public and private hospitals would insist on HIV screening before taking delivery of a baby, but many traditional birth attendants don’t. There is an urgent need to educate them about this.

    “Awareness should also be improved upon because in the rural community that I am at the moment, the people are not aware of it.”

    22,000 Nigerian children infected with HIV annually

    The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said about 22,000 Nigerian children get infected with HIV annually.

    UNICEF’s Chief of Management for Results, Claes Johansson, who disclosed this at the national dialogue meeting for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, PMTCT, of HIV in Nigeria, regretted that about two-thirds of the infected children do not get treatment.

    He described the meeting as a crucial one for Nigeria to discuss ways of eliminating vertical transmission of HIV, also known as mother-to-child transmission.

    He said: “We are working within a framework to map out a strategy that we will work with for the next five years along with Nigeria.

    “Ending the vertical transmission of HIV/AIDS is one of the key actions that will also help end pandemics, which is what the global world is looking forward to.

    “However, we have so much to do and a long way to go, especially with mother-to-child-transmission taking about 32 per cent and one out of seven being infected on a monthly basis is a Nigerian with about 22,000 infected yearly.

    “This is a situation that is simply not acceptable. And for all these children who get infected, about two-thirds of them do not get treatment.

    “So, we in the global community want the Nigerian government to tell us what their sustainable strategic plans are and what they need to eliminate vertical transmission.

    “The UN and its affiliated agencies and bodies are always willing to help Nigeria put an end to PMTCT.

    “Let us know your priorities so that we can assist and help map out strong, sustainable ways to eliminating vertical transmission.”

    A report by UNICEF in 2020 revealed that over 15 per cent of AIDS-related deaths in children and adolescents globally occur in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Gambo Aliyu, emphasised the need for a better strategy to deal with PMTCT.

    He explained that in 2016, there were about 13,000 infected pregnant mothers who were not getting treatment, which had risen to 421,000 as of 2019.

    NACA had early in the year decried what it described as the country’s over-dependence on foreign funding for the campaign against HIV and AIDS.

    The agency’s Director General, Gambo Aliyu, who spoke  at the launch of his agency’s National Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Sustainability Strategy, noted that about $6.2 billion was spent to identify and treat 60 per cent of PLWHIV in Nigeria between 2005 and 2018.

  • ‘How bandits killed our husbands, made us widows’

    ‘How bandits killed our husbands, made us widows’

    The bandit attacks in several communities across Niger State, especially Shiroro Local Government Area which seems to be the worst hit, has left a lot of people bereaved of their loved ones. Women have become widows, men have become widowers while children have become orphans or left with a parent to take care of them. In this report, JUSTINA ASISHANA spoke to some widows in the Shiroro Local Government Area whose husbands died as a result of bandit attacks.

    For three years, Kaure, a community in Niger State had succeeded in warding-off bandits’ attacks, however, on this fateful Tuesday, the bandits came with renewed vigour and determination to wipe out the whole community.

    Surprised by the fierce attack, the residents of Kaure community took to their heels for safety; however, not all were lucky as a lot of men, boys and women were killed during the attack.

    The women were the worst hit as over 20 of them lost their husbands on that fateful day in 2019, this development and the realization that they were no longer safe led them to leave their community for safety at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    “He was tall and handsome; he used to call me his ‘Mummy’, he tried as much as he could to ensure that I and my children were well taken care of. For the past three years, nobody has called me ‘La-mummy’ which was the pet name he always called me. I miss him so much, we were married for over 20 years, he was a good father and the best husband,” Laraba Musa, one of the widows in the IDP camp in Kuta stated.

    She said that she never thought of the goodbye she gave to her husband before leaving for the farm that fateful day would be the final goodbye she said to her husband.

    “I was not around when the attack happened, I went to the farm only to return and meet my husband’s body on the ground, covered with cloth.  I feel sad whenever I remember that fateful day because when I was going to the farm that morning, I said goodbye to him, we joked and laughed and he told me what he wanted for dinner but I did not know that it was the final farewell I was giving to him.”

    Laraba said that with the shock of seeing her husband’s body and the fear that the bandits were going to return, the majority of them slept in the bush that night and the next morning, after the burial of her husband, she took some of her things and that of her children and left the village in order not to be the victim of another attack.

    “My husband did not get the proper burial, everything was done in a hurry because of the fear that the bandits would attack anytime soon. Even that day, they kept the body of my husband and other people who died in a place and we all slept in the bush so that if the bandits come at night, they won’t be able to get any of us. It was the next morning that my husband was buried alongside others. It was sad that he had to die and be buried like that.”

    Now a resident in the IDP camp in Gwada, Laraba is left to cope with her last son, as her other children have left the camp to other places to seek for work. According to her, her son, Audu is the one who goes out to look for menial work that would enable them to get something to eat and take care of themselves.

    •Inside the IDP camp

    “I depend on my son who goes out to do menial jobs to ensure that he brings in money to help us feed. I depend on him very well. If he does not go, we would have nothing to eat,” she said.

    For Godiya Teminu, she remembers vividly how her husband was killed saying that he was shot when they were running to safety, ” vividly, I remember that the people who killed my husband were Fulanis. I am also from the Kaure community.

    “On that fateful day, we were all at home relaxing when the bandits struck. We were all scattered, running helter-skelter for safety. My husband was shot when he was running everybody was running for safety but I saw when he was shot but I could not wait because I had to run for safety too. A lot of people were killed on that day including my husband and since then, life has not been the same for me and my children,” she recounted.

    Godiya said that unlike before the death of her husband when she would not bother to look for money or what she and her family would eat, now she has three children to cater for and she needs to do some menial work to ensure that they can eat at least once daily.

    “My husband, before he was killed, was the one who was always working to bring food to the house. What I was only doing was to keep the house and cook, we also had a farm where I worked sometimes. So going out to look for money was very strange to me but I realized that if I did not do it, nobody would do it for us,” she said sadly.

    Godiya lamented that the dream of her husband that their children would get to the highest level of education they desire is being thwarted as her children have not attended school in the past two years as there is no money to enrol them into the public primary school where they have been living for the past two years.

    “To survive, we usually go outside the camp to search for jobs to survive. We sometimes help people to carry goods in the market. My children have not been going to school, none of them, there is no money to enrol them, for now. We are thinking of money to eat and not money to enrol the children in school. This is different from how we lived when my husband was alive. We had no worries at all but now, I worry about everything. These bandits were not fair to me when they killed my husband. They took away the one person that meant a lot to me,” she bemoaned.

    In the Kuta IDP camp, Aisha Alhaji Sale from the Madalla community said that despite the magical powers her husband possessed, the bandits ensured that they saw to his end when he was attacked.

    “It was a Wednesday morning that the bandits killed my husband. He went to the farm to do some weeding and when he was returning, he met the bandits on the road and ran to escape from them but they pursued him, they were shooting him but the gun did not penetrate his body.

    “When they caught up with him, they tied him and used stones to stone him, they damaged his face and his organs but even with that, he didn’t die, then they got a battery, mixed it with acid water and forced him to swallow it. That was how he died.”

    She said that life has not been easy for her since her husband died as he was the sole breadwinner of the family adding that trying to get food for her five children and herself have not been an easy task.

    “With the five children, food is difficult. Every day after market days, we go to the market to gather the grains that fall on the ground and sieve to get the ones we would be able to eat. The elderly children usually go to the market to carry loads for people who come to buy things in the market. This is not what they were used to before, so it has not been easy for me and my children.”

    All we need is security to go back Home

    The widows who spoke to The Nation said that staying in the IDP camps is suffocating to them and they would want nothing else than to return to their communities.

    The women claimed that they are being caged and not being free in the camp adding that the normal way of life they know have been disrupted and they wish to return to the way they lived before they came to the camps.

    Laraba Yohanna, who seems to be the youngest widow in the Gwada IDP camp, appealed for assistance from the government, individuals and organizations saying, “we need help in several ways. We are not happy here, in one room you will see about 20 people. We are not happy. Our children do not go to school. We want God and the government to help us.

    “We will be happier to go to our communities than being here because here, we are being caged, it is like we are under another captivity but if security is guaranteed and they can return to their community, we would appreciate it more.”

    Yohanna who expressed her desire to remarry said that that can only happen if she returns to her community as she would not be able to meet eligible men if she remains in the IDP camp.

    Lami Audu, another widow said that the government in their little way has been assisting them in bringing foodstuff quarterly but added that the foodstuff does not last them for two weeks, so they mostly have to depend on the petty work they do to help them get by. According to her, since they are predominantly farmers, if the government can resettle them and give them land to farm, it would be better than staying in the IDP camp doing nothing but begging for money and food every time.

    “We would be glad if the government can provide some skills acquisition programmes for us so that we will have something to fall back on. Government should assist often in the issue of foodstuffs and financially also, to enable us to buy some essentials.

    We are trying our best to help the widows – Leader of IDP Camp

    The Leader of the Gwada IDP camp, Mai-angwan Lado said that they do their best to ensure that the women do not feel the absence of their husbands very much.

    He said that one of his duties is to keep them from being sexually molested or harassed in any way adding that when foodstuff is donated to the camp, he ensures that the widows are usually the first to be given the materials or foodstuff.

    Lado listed the numerous needs of the people in the camp saying that they need a lot of financial assistance from the government and the public.

    “We need assistance from the public, financial assistance. This is because even when people bring foodstuff, we need money for soap and other essentials and even ingredients to use in cooking the food. So financial assistance is very much needed from the public and government.

    Niger IDP camp
    •Some of the affected women

    “Regarding the educational aspect, most of these women, when they look at other children in uniform, entering classes,  they begin to shed tears because their children do not have that opportunity to go to school again, they feel pain because their children are not in school.

    “If only the government can settle these crises and we can go back to our community, we would be glad. It is a necessity that prompted us to stay here and not the need. We would want to return to our community if the government can guarantee their safety.

    “Government has tried to help us and we are also helping ourselves. We want the government to help these widows especially in skills acquisition because it will be a great relief to us,” he stated.

    At the Kuta IDP camp, the two women leaders told The Nation that they try their best to ensure that the widows are not marginalized when donations come, adding that they make sure that they get their share equally like every other person in the camp.

    One of the Women Leaders, Hauwa Zakari said that the needs of the women are numerous as they always bombard them with questions as to when they would leave the camp and when the next government intervention would come.

    “The needs of the women are numerous. If they will have a peaceful place to settle down or provide security for them to return to their lands, they would prefer it more. Here, they are caged but they are not free. They are expecting the government’s assistance even though the government is doing well.”

    How bandits and terrorists have taken over Shiroro LGA

    Over 500 communities in the eight wards that make up Shiroro Local Government Area have been overtaken by Boko Haram and bandits, the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, Comrade Suleiman Dauda Chukumba has disclosed.

    According to him, Boko Haram elements have overtaken the local government area and are trying to equip the people to fight against the government pointing that there is no day without any attack in the local government area.

    “As the Chairman of Shiroro LG Area of Niger State, I can tell you that Shiroro is not only dealing with the issue of banditry, Shiroro has a lot of Boko Haram, I have proof of this as the Chairman.

    “They have told the people that they do not want primary or secondary school in the communities and that they only want to see Islamic schools. They have been trying to incorporate and recruit the residents of the communities to become their members telling them that they will give them arms and assist them in fighting the government.

    “The entire wards are affected by banditry and Boko Haram insurgents. 500 communities in the eight wards are affected. The wards include Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawa, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwati, Chukumba and Galadima Kogo.”

    The Council Chairman appealed to the federal government to bring in more security personnel to help them disband and dislodge the Boko Haram who had already made Shiroro local government area their home.

  • I spent four years without degree in public varsity — Redeemer University’s best graduating student

    I spent four years without degree in public varsity — Redeemer University’s best graduating student

    Irele Moyinoluwa Deborah from the Economics Department of the Redeemer University (RUN), Ede, Osun State stole the show at the 13th convocation ceremony of the institution last week with her emergence as the best graduating student. Surprisingly she had had to abandon her course as a student of Agric-Economics after four years stint at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) due to incessant strikes to pursue a degree at RUN. Irele, who was full of smiles during the ceremony, said she was thankful to providence as she told PAUL UKPABIO and BIODUN ADEYEWA during the ceremony that her audacious step had paid off and the end justified the means.

    You come across as a simple and playful individual, but here you are as the best graduating student. How did you attain the feat?

    I saw my admission into the school as an opportunity and a privilege, so I went for it. But then I had family and friends who mentored me and could call me to order any time I was losing focus. They taught me about time management, because I was also involved in other activities outside academics, and that was one of the things that really helped me.

    You said you spent four years in a public university before coming here. Why did you have to switch to a private university?

    It was because of the constant university staff strikes. We spent almost a year at home. After a while, some of my family members felt embarrassed. They were not okay with the way things were going, so I made up my mind as they advised that I should change to a private university after four years.

    Which public university did you attend initially?

    That was Ladoke Akintola University. I was admitted there in 2013 to study Agric-Economics and I left in 2017. That same year, I switched to the Redeemer University where I studied Economics.

    Were you embarrassed in any way with the change?

    Yes. For a long time, we had to write our JAMB registration numbers on the attendance sheet, so my number started with 4 while those of my course mates started with 7. So, whenever they looked through the attendance sheet, they would be wondering where I came from and what could have happened. Some of them were even bold enough to ask if I repeated or dropped out from the school I came from. These experiences made me to question my journey in Redeemer’s University, because at every point, people were asking embarrassing questions. So I just tried to keep a low profile so as not to get more embarrassing questions from my colleagues.

    Most importantly though, I had to pray to God to reveal the purpose for being in the school so that I could use His answer to walk head high and be able to walk through this phase. Luckily for me, I also had friends in similar positions but they were doing just fine. They helped me through so I would not feel a low self-esteem.

    Did you find it difficult when you changed your course?

    Yes, it was difficult, because Agric-Economics is a science course while economics is a social science course. So I had to do other social science courses like Accounting. Before then, I had never done Accounting. So it was a little challenging.

    Did you find Economics a difficult course?

    It was a bit tasking. It was entirely different from Agric-Economic.

    Having been at Redeemer University in the last four years, what experience would you like to share?

    Each day was an experience on its own. I had the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people. It built me and expanded my capacity academically too. I was quite down at some point, but I had friends and people who were there as my support system.

    Read Also: Malami: With court order, Fed Govt can now crush bandits

    You crossed from a public university because of the sit-at-home caused by incessant staff strikes, and suddenly the COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head. How did you feel about that period of global economic shutdown?

    (Laughs) Oh yes. But I did not really nurse any fear that the world would stop and that I would not be able to continue, especially when the Redeemer University was so magnanimous in helping us to continue with online classes. So I am really grateful to RUN for making up for time in that area. COVID-19 and the lock down didn’t waste our time, and we didn’t need to stay at home for a whole year because of that.

    Was it that you did not take part in other activities on campus besides your books?

    Apart from academics, I was also involved in the chapel where I was an EXCO member. I was also the president of my department on campus. But those activities did not really distract me because I believed that beyond academics, there are other skills that one should develop, like leadership and communication skills. They went a long way to help me with my grades, as I related better with the people around me.

    Are you the kind of person students refer to as book worm?

    (Laughs) No, I read at the normal times other people were reading. The truth is I read, but I don’t think I read that much.

    Considering your beauty, the guys must have disturbed you a bit…

    Oh yes, there were advances here and there.

    •Irele (right) with RUN’s VC

    And did you choose any one of them?

    No, I didn’t (laughs). It was not part of the curriculum. There was a focus and a goal to be achieved in the end. Looking back at where I was coming from, I felt there was no time to waste anymore on side attractions on campus. So I didn’t give them a chance.  I decided to focus on one thing at a time.

    How about the future?

    I intend to be a great financial analyst, develop more in my field and career. So my next step is targeted at self-development, professional courses, a master’s degree and so on.

    You have also won more than N300,000 through different endowed prizes. How do you feel about that? I am an economist. I know about investment. I don’t believe in spending all that one has, so I plan to invest part of it.

    Did you also win a scholarship?

    Yes. I have just been blessed with a full scholarship from Redeemer University for my post graduate studies. But, of course, I also have other open opportunities.

    What would be your advice to other students?

    I cannot forget the fact that in all my stay on campus, God was my source, my help and my strength. What I will advise others is that they should stay with God and have good people around them; people who can help them when they can’t help themselves.

    At what age do you think a lady should have a good strong relationship intended for marriage?

    I don’t think there is actually a particular age. Once one is ready and the decision would not affect any other part of life’s goals negatively, that is the time.

    In what ways did your family help you to achieve this great feat?

    My family was there for me. They are into academics too. I have cousins who are PhD holders. My family believes in academics and excellence. That alone was a major motivation for me.

    Has any other member of your family achieved a similar feat?

    Yes, I have two cousins who were top of their faculties at the universities they attended. I also have a cousin who was the best graduating student outside the country.

    What would you miss the most about RUN?

    Oh, there were so many things. But what I remain grateful the most for is the friends that I met. They were instrumental in my success today.

  • LEEMON IKPEA: I was determined to succeed despite my humble background

    LEEMON IKPEA: I was determined to succeed despite my humble background

    Dr. Leemon Ikpea is billionaire business mogul, and Chief Executive Officer of Lee Engineering & Construction Company Limited, with investment in major commanding heights of the economy including oil and gas, aviation, real estate and logistic. In this interview with IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF, the Edo-state born philanthropist shares interesting insights on his foray into commerce and enterprise vis-à-vis his challenges and victories. Excerpts:

     

    Without a silver spoon

    For those not born with the proverbial spoon life sure can be anything but smooth. The young Leemon Ikpea many years back suffered the humiliation of being ordered out of his secondary school’s dining hall and his food confiscated because he couldn’t pay his school fees. A shoeless Leemon had to trudge over 50 km back home to give his parents the bad news. It’s something really better imagined than experienced – trekking from Orerokpe to Warri.

    Eventually, he had to drop out of school and resigned himself to fate. But that did not kill his deep interest in questing for knowledge. But then, God who discerns the inner man, took a hand. Today, he sits atop a multibillion-naira conglomerate with a private jet to boot.

    In the beginning

    Starting a business in this terrain sure comes with grit. The story of the growth trajectory of Lee Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd is not an exception in this regard. Incorporated on November 11, 1991, the company is 30 years old and the Board and management, led by its Founder and Group Executive Chairman, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, has chosen to mark the special age with a thanksgiving service in Warri, Delta State.

    For anyone close to Ikpea, it is difficult to fault his decision to celebrate the company’s successes and survival through the ages in the house of the Lord. This is because his faith in God as the sustainer of his pursuits is unparalleled.

    Indeed for Ikpea, life has turned full circle for him. From a very humble background today he has not only made good but his life surely reflects one of abundant grace. Speaking on how he has been able to get this far he said, “First and foremost, it has not been an easy journey considering the environment and terrain we operate in. But when you have faith in God and you know what you are doing, the sky will be the limit. As somebody from a humble background, we are not lazy in my family – we worked very hard to cross so many hurdles.”

    Talking about working with the intent to be successful, Ikpea is quick to point out that he does not take pride in envy or being jealous of others. “The good thing is that in my family we don’t look at what belongs to somebody else. We concentrate on what belongs to us.”

    Combined with lots of prayers, positive things are bound to happen, he said, stressing that without prayers, nothing happens. “So we have that zeal to continue to pray to God to direct us, direct my steps and to show mercy on me,” he stated.

    Reflecting on how it all started, Dr Ikpea said, “This year will make it my 44th year in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. I started from the scratch, working with specialists, working with great thinkers and builders.”

    “At the beginning, we were taking notes of what they were doing during the construction of the refineries. And you know the Warri Refinery was commissioned as far back as 1978. I was already there as far back as 1976. I was able to put my head down to know what was going on and what was happening.

    “My experience in the refineries helped me to learn more about the industry because I was able to work with the British people – that’s my first point of call. Thereafter, the British handed me over to the Italians – After working with one Italian company, they handed me over to another Italian company.

    “I was with them for 14 years. When I was convinced that I’ve gotten the experience I needed, and having also been able to make a few contacts, I resigned and established my business, which is today called Lee Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd.

    “By the grace of God, on November 11, which we call ’11-11′, we clocked 30 years in business. It’s a journey that wasn’t so smooth. There were ups and downs, but we give God the glory that, at least, Lee Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd has attained 30 years. And by the special grace of God, we still have so many years to make and leave a special legacy for the younger ones coming behind us.”

    Many opportunities to explore

    Aside laying a solid foundation in the construction subsector of the oil and gas industry, Lee Engineering is now venturing into manufacturing.

    According to him, “We are not just into construction, now, we are also into manufacturing. Very soon, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come and cut the tape of manufacturing factory. I’m sure before the second quarter of next year, by the special grace of God, the President will come and commission our factory in Warri.”

    The concept of transiting from seeking contracts in construction to manufacturing of necessary equipment and spare parts for the oil and gas industry is a giant stride that deserves commendation as its economic benefits to the nation are enormous. First, it engenders technology transfer, save foreign exchange, build capacity alongside many other multiplier effects.

    The emphasis is the fact that the factory which is said to be 90 per cent completed will help reduce the amount spent on importation and procurement of tools and parts use in the oil and gas industry hitherto imported from different parts of the world.

    And upon completion, employment opportunities will be created for Nigerians and foreigners with the right expertise.

    As usual, the company did not come this far without its fair share of challenges, but Dr. Ikpea’s faith in divine interventions has seen him through to this day.

    “Like I said at the beginning, I am a man that believes in God. And when you pray to God with all your heart, He will answer your prayers. Challenges are numerous – is it operating community challenges? Is it bank challenges? There are lots of challenges, but we surmounted majority of them to get to where we are today. There is the determination, and if determination is there, and with the backing of God, definitely you will get to your destination.”

    Contribution of employees to company’s success story

    Speaking on the contributions from employees who have stayed with him through the period he said, “This is our 30th year. Some staff who started with me a long time ago, are still with us. Some have been with us for 28 years, 29 years, 25 years, some 26 years respectively. “Sometimes in 2-3 months, you are not able to pay salaries. Some people jumped out because they could not endure. Sometimes, salaries are delayed but it will be paid eventually. But some couldn’t wait because they were on a fast lane. But there were some that, in thick and thin, remained with us and some of them are now directors today, some general managers and some managers.”

    Interestingly, as a way of further rewarding the dedication and commitment of those who stayed with the vision, some of them have become shareholders in the company as they have been offered shares by the company.

    “I have to give some of them some shares in the company because of their hard work and dedication to the company. This was to encourage them, and let them know that there is hope; to let them know that, we appreciate the thick and thin periods we were together, and that when the sun has started shining, we are still together,” he said.

    As an indigenous company that has to compete with foreign firms in the sector is definitely a serious task that only those with thick skin and focus can scale through. Asked how his firm was able to gain strength in such environment where most of its peers died before their fifth or tenth anniversary; Dr  Ikpea identified commitment to delivering quality jobs on time  and to specifications, as some helpful tips that stands his company out.

    “There are some contractors or business people that you give opportunity but they trash it. We are not that type of company that you give an opportunity and then trash it away. We are a very responsible company.

    “We ensure we discharge our responsibilities creditably. We don’t abandon projects, we don’t abandon any responsibility, even from any of the IOCs that we have worked for. We take them seriously and we give them first-class quality jobs.

    “So in some cases when you are told it’s a Nigerian company that did this job, you may doubt and think it’s a company from France or Germany, or from somewhere else. But we are Nigerians and we do it to the best of our ability. Everybody admires our performance, everybody admires the services that we are rendering in the industry. There is no one who doesn’t likes good things. They like our performance and they patronise us. They give us additional responsibility and we carry it out and everybody is happy.

    “You cannot go and give responsibility to someone and after you rely on the person, eventually he disappoints you. You cannot go back to the same person, next time. So for us, if we have signed an agreement or contract, we face it squarely, we ensure that we deliver and that has been what we do to always stay afloat.

    “There are many companies that we started together with – they are no more on the radar. You can’t find them today. They are no more existing – more than 80 percent of them.”

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    Eyes on the future

    For Dr. Ikpea, although the celebration of 30th anniversary is a major milestone, his eyes are set on how to make more impact and remain relevant to the economic development and growth of the nation.

    Asked what his plans for the company in the next 30years, he said, “By the special grace of God, I pray He keeps us alive, I’m sure in the next 30 years, the oil will still be there, and if oil is no more there by then, gas will still be there. So in the next 30 years, the company would have gone to the top because I’m laying a solid foundation for the group.

    “So in the next 30 years, a lot of Nigerians would have been trained. And those who are trained would have also started establishing their own companies, and then the economies of Delta State and Nigeria would have also improved greatly. So that is the goal and that is my vision.”

    Addressing Nigerian entrepreneurs still nursing the idea of venturing into the oil and gas industry, he said, “I don’t think we should always focus on oil and gas. The thing is that: let everybody focus on their talents or skills. Some people think when you come into the oil and gas industry, the next day money is everywhere. It doesn’t work that way.

    “The reason why my own is different is that, that is my first place of getting the job, and I was able to use my brain to study and discover what was going on there and developed interest. And with that interest, I was able to grow for 14 years studying what was going on in the industry. Then from there, I said, Okay if this was what is going on in the industry, why can’t I do the same? So that inspired me.

    “So for somebody to just come out of school and say he wants to go into the oil and gas industry, Well, if you get a job in the oil and gas industry, fine. But you must first learn and cross so many hurdles. If you just jump into the industry and you want to become an entrepreneur overnight, you may crash.

    “The best thing is to learn the rules and ropes go for training and let people teach you, have friends. when they have taught you, then gradually you begin to climb the ladder. it’s not easy to think you can just jump the fence – it’s not as simple as that.”

    Assessment of indigenous companies operating in the sector

    Analysing the performance of indigenous companies operating in the sector, he said, “The problem with us Nigerians is that some of us are not serious. Some of us are just concerned about getting the money right away. Money is not everything.

    “The first thing is to ensure that you ask your conscience ‘Am I ready to learn and grow?’.  So if that mindset is there, that ‘yes we are ready to learn, we are ready to do things the right way without cutting corners’, then you can get to your destination.

    “But if your mindset is that you want to go into it and that you want to get the money immediately, then you would crash. I would advise the younger ones coming in to, first of all, take a pause and be patient, learn through the ladder thoroughly. When you learn thoroughly, then you know that you are now ripe to go into it properly. And I think that would be a good idea.”

    Tongue lashing those who engage in blackmail to secure job, he said those who do so usually don’t go far. They eventually crash, he noted.

    Giving a word of advice, he said, “You can’t climb that way. Get what belongs to you, handle it properly, deliver it properly, then as you are delivering, you go back to them tomorrow and they say “yes he has delivered, let’s give him another opportunity.

    “That is how it works. That’s the same way we passed. We never for a day blackmail somebody to get what does not belong to us. Never. So if God says that this is your own, it would be difficult for somebody to take it away from you.”

    Success in the oil and gas industry as in any other enterprise come with tenuous striving, thus Lee Engineering engages in lot of biddings. They bid for different projects, while they win in some cases, they may not be very fortunate in others.

    But losing does not course them to lose hope or resort to unwholesome acts, adding that “The ones we win, we do them very well so that when newer opportunities come we can also grab them. The ones we lose, we say they are not for us. Those we lose due to blackmail from other people, we discover that, at the end of the day, they crash. So that is life,” he said.

    Expectations from the government

    It’s often said that he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches, thus as a key player in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, Dr. Ikpea said if he has the opportunity to be in government, he would do more to encourage indigenous companies to excel and even advance to the global market space.

    “You can see all these big companies today – they are mostly companies from South Korea and other countries. If such companies have been encouraged in their countries to the extent that they have been able to go international, what stops Nigeria government from supporting those of us who are serious.

    “Now we are building a factory and we have more than 2000 people on our payroll. What stops the government from encouraging us with loans, tax holidays and several other incentives to allow us to grow.

    “They can say there are some projects, let Lee Engineering do them because if Lee engineering does them, it will be able to absorb thousands of Nigerians that have no jobs. So if such an opportunity is given, you can imagine how many people will benefit directly or indirectly. But what happens here is that more opportunities are given to foreign companies.

    “I’m not against it because for a foreigner to come here it means he or she is very solid. But the fact that they became solid was because they were encouraged by their governments before going international. So nothing is stopping government from also encouraging some of the indigenous companies in Nigeria to be fully empowered so that they can put in lots of capacity and start to also go international.

    “We can start from Ghana and then to Angola, and start moving towards Europe and to other parts of the world. Nothing should stop that because the money comes back to the country here.”

    Indeed, while the likes of Lee Engineering should be commended for their commitment to the country and the courage to pursue their entrepreneurial dream in Nigeria, the government and citizens vis-à-vis communities must support their zeal to move the country to its economic stability.

    Life as a philanthropist

    One important dimension of the Ikpea persona is his passion for touching and lifting lives. Better than many, he deeply appreciates what it means to be deprived of basic needs, especially school fees for education. He set up the Agbonjagwe Foundation to take up issues that concern the less privileged, especially as it affects their education.

    Not a loud personality, he has also made quiet donations to several educational institutions and social welfare programmes all-round the country. So many who have come in contact with him have had their lives touched positively, whether they are family members, friends, colleagues and the general public. It’s worth recalling here that during his 60th birthday celebration, the reception venue – Saint Leo’s Catholic Church Ikeja, Lagos – was built by him and donated to the church.

    This would not have been public knowledge if the officiating priest had not mentioned it himself during the service. In his own words: “I concluded that since God has blessed me, I needed to be a blessing to others.

    My first priority are orphans, children that are passing the same road I took some years ago, because I know what it means when you cannot pay your school fees and when nobody cared for you. Somebody needs to comfort them and I feel that I should be that person. So, I established a foundation in 2012 called Agbonjagwe Leemon Ikpea Foundation.

    “As of today, we have 385 students that have passed through us. We are also taking care of widows, old people who do not have people to care for them and they need to eat. So, every month, my foundation gives them allowance, as we are paying our workers’ salaries. We draw up a scheme for the widows for them to have some trade to enable them care for themselves and their children.

    “We train artisans on welding and electrical works, pipe-fitting and train women in some communities on sewing and hair dressing. We also assist some people with serious ailments like liver and kidney problems, and even cancer. We sent about 15 people to India but we lost one and the others are still alive today.”

    With all these, it was not surprising that an appreciative society tracking his humanitarian interventions move to recognise and fete him.

    He was honoured with Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by Benson Idahosa University; in 2004, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma feted him with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) for what he is doing for humanity.

    Chief Leemon Ikpea is a loving husband, dotting, big and dependable brother to his siblings, compassionate to his staff members and colleagues, loyal and faithful to friends, especially those he had known from childhood. From Ikpea’s life story, the essential truth of Maya Angelou’s insight that, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within,” cannot be disputed or denied.

  • My Beauty REGIMEN: I go to Spa for deep tissue massage

    My Beauty REGIMEN: I go to Spa for deep tissue massage

    BEAUTY business is thriving in many parts of the world given its opportunity to promote healthy living and create wealth for operators. Aminah Sagoe is an entrepreneur who loves to pamper her skin with natural beauty products. That passion interestingly took her into the sector and today, the founder of Emmaus beauty is happy making herself and others look beautiful.

    What is the secret of her good looks you ask? “I will say that it is being at peace with yourself and others, making yourself a priority. It also includes eating healthy, exercising, drinking enough water, taking vitamins, and using quality skincare products”.

    Next, she talked about pampering herself and visiting the Spa. “I go to the spa once a month for a deep tissue massage, which helps to release muscle tension”.

    She added that: “I steam my face once a week to open up my pores which helps to loosen buildup of dirts. I follow with a gentle scrub as well as a sulphur mask to help with my acne prone skin”.

    When it comes to diet, Sagoe typically doesn’t avoid anything. “But I stay away from soda, and consume minimal amounts of fried foods. I also try to work out at least 3 times per week doing HIIIT exercises.

    Favourite hairdo?” I go for anything simple and easy that doesn’t require too much maintenance”.

    Sagoe goes on to tell you how she abandoned her career in financial services to embrace beauty as a passion and later business.

    “Skincare has always been my passion, but as much as I loved skincare, I didn’t think I would actually own a skincare company. I started to consider it when I realized how difficult it was to find clean, effective, yet affordable products”.

    Long story short, Emmaus was birthed. “I struggled with various skin problems and with countless products available on the market, (many with high price tags) all claiming to work effectively, I found it expensive and tedious sifting through different products trying to find the One, but alas my search fell short”.

    She continued: ” This was when I set out to start educating myself about the different ingredients used in skincare products – some active and beneficial, while others are straight out harmful”.

    That search led her to the discovery of how each ingredient works on different skin types and concerns along with how to safely incorporate them into formulations to produce effective results and ensure their efficacy.” I use high concentrations of professional quality, high-performance and effective ingredients designed to improve the skin, and safe to use. Some of the ingredients that I love to use include: Alpha Arbutin – an extract from the bearberry plant that brightens the complexion and fades dark spots. I also use vitamin C which has been endorsed as one of the best skin brightening, repairing, and firming ingredients. It slows the production of melanin in the skin, protects the skin’s outer layer from oxidative damage, reduces inflammation, and prevents signs of aging”.

    Also very useful is Glycolic Acid. “This is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid that penetrates easily into the skin to exfoliate dead skin cells, speed up cell turnover rate, and boost collagen synthesis. You also have Hyaluronic Acid which hydrates and plumps skin, reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and inflammation”.

    Lastly is Kojic Acid .This is a natural skin-brightening ingredient that reduces melanin production, helping to alleviate dark spots and discoloration caused by acne, unprotected sun exposure, aging, and various internal factors”.

    Happily, she goes on to share her experiences shuttling between New York City where your family lives and Nigeria to keep her passion and business running.” My children are older now and less dependent on me which gives me the flexibility to travel whenever I need to. Plus, I have a very supportive husband”.

    She adds that: “A lot of love and attention goes into every process of the business, from the formulation, to the labeling, to shipping out the orders, and following up with the customers to see how they’re making out with the products. I am not creating products simply to make a profit; it is my wish for everyone to enjoy the skin they are in, so I make products that are inspired by my own skin care needs, which are also the needs of many others”.

    Are there key lessons Sagoe has learnt from launching an international beauty brand?

    “Yes. You cannot be myopic or rigid, and you have to be open to change and correction. The ideal Emmaus Beauty client would be someone (male & female) that takes pride in their skin, understands the need for skin care, and is particular about the quality of the ingredients used in a product”.

    Sagoe is therefore inspired by the numerous female entrepreneurs out there in the world.  “I am motivated when I read about their ups and downs, and how they eventually attain success in their businesses. Their stories give me hope and assures me of what I too can attain as long as I keep pushing and don’t give up”.

    I look forward to reaching more people, here in Nigeria as well as globally. And I look forward to introducing more products to help with as many skin issues as possible.

  • I’ve battled in vain to overcome trauma — Ex-youth corps member dehumanised by female army officer

    I’ve battled in vain to overcome trauma — Ex-youth corps member dehumanised by female army officer

    Four months after she was reportedly humiliated by a female military officer, Lieutenant Chika Viola Anele, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Calabar, Ifeyinwa Ezeiruaku Fidelis is yet to get justice. The Nigerian Army has neither propitiated her nor sanctioned the erring officer. The victim says she has been battling with acute trauma, which she says has continued to impact negatively on her daily life. INNOCENT DURU asks how long it would take the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government to act on the case that has attracted negative global attention to the country.

    • Fear-stricken victim shuns NYSC’s invitation to collect certificate
    • Says sleep pattern distorted since incident
    • Nigerian Army declines comment
    • Victim’s lawyer: We’ll meet in court

    Feyinwa Ezeiruaku Fidelis, the ex-youth corps member whose video trended recently for being brutalised by a female army officer, remains yet heartbroken, having battled in vain to overcome the trauma that derived from the incident.

    Like a fish out of water, she has been left psychologically and emotionally traumatized as she wonders why the nation she had gone to serve would abandon her to her fate and leave her to lick her wounds.

    The distraught University of Lagos alumnus told The Nation during the week that the trauma has impacted so greatly on her that she finds it difficult to sleep.

    “At times I remember it in my sleep and I wake up. When this happens, I play with my phone for some time before I would doze off again. I had to see a therapist and have done the test she asked me to do and submitted it to her. She said she would get back to me,” she said.

    Despite having met a therapist, Ifeyinwa says life has not been the same for her.

    She said: “I have not been feeling so easy with myself as somebody that was brutalised in that manner. I am still trying to gather myself together. At times, I do feel it all happened because I allowed her to do that to me. On the other hand, I wonder why I didn’t fight back.

    “Those kinds of things keep coming back to me. My people have been telling me to let go so that I would live my normal life. Even the therapist I met told me to shake it off myself and I would get better. She said that is how it normally disturbs people but with time, I would be okay.”

    She noted that one of the terrible effects the incident has had on her is that she has withdrawn into her cocoon.

    She said: “I have been staying on my own so that I don’t get insulted or bullied. I am trying to be calm. I don’t talk to people and I stay on my own. I don’t get involved with people and I don’t want to be exposed easily.

    “I have been reading a lot of things people said about me online. Some are saying that I am stupid others are saying that I am stubborn. In short, different kinds of insult. You know how some Nigerians talk.

    “Some of the comments are on my side while some others are not. I kind of think about it. I am not my normal self but I am trying to gather myself together.”

    After the incident, Ifeyinwa had been asked by the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to leave Calabar where she was serving her fatherland for security reasons.

    She had barely a few weeks to end the programme when the incident occurred. Her batch of NYSC members completed their service year in October.

    Asked if she had been given her discharge certificate by the NYSC, Ifeyinwa said she had not, adding: “There was a time they (NYSC) invited me to come for my certificate in Abuja but my parents were scared.  They said I wouldn’t go for now.  Everybody around me was scared of letting me go, so I am yet to collect it.

    “It is not that they didn’t want to give me my certificate. They called me to come for it, but my parents said they were scared and could not allow me to go.”

    Aside from reports of a tacit apology and condemnation of the incident by the military authorities, Ifeyinwa said the Nigerian Army was yet to reach out to her with a view to assuaging her trauma.

    She said: “The military has not called me since then to say anything. I am not aware if they have done anything to the woman. I don’t know anything.

    “I am not searching for work yet. I am still taking my time. By next year, I will go into that one (searching for a job) properly. My lawyer is handling my case pro bono (without charges).”

    The army had said it was embarrassed by the incident and apologised for it.

    Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, had said in a statement: “The Nigerian Army wishes to tender unreserved apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment meted out to the corps member.”

    Read Also: Shun night travelling, NYSC DG warns Corps members

    Nwachukwu, a Brigadier-General, said the erring officer had been identified and would be “made to undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces”.

    “This act is not only condemnable but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the Nigerian Army,” he added.

    Spokesperson of the 13th Brigade, Calabar where the incident occurred had also told The Nation that the issue was more with her.

    He said: “We have sent a report already. You have seen a report from my directorate. I don’t know what you are calling and asking me for.

    “I don’t know about the officer going for training. It is no more in my hands. It is in the hands of my director.

    “You can call Abuja. You can call my director to confirm. It is not me you will call now.”

    We’ll wait for them in court — Victim’s lawyer

    Ifeyinwa’s lawyer, Barrister Eni Okoi, in a telephone chat with our correspondent, said he had filed the case in court and was optimistic that his client would get justice.

    “We have served all the parties. The matter is coming up on November 29. We have not heard anything from them so I do not know what angle they want to take. Nobody from the military has called. I am sure they are waiting to meet us in court. It is a big embarrassment to the Nigerian Army.

    “NYSC has not reached out to us but I heard that they reached out to our client. I think they are looking forward to giving her an NYSC certificate. That is where we are now.

    “I don’t think the NYSC has any problem with her. But we joined them in the case because our client was a corps member when this whole thing happened.”

    Asked if he had faced any challenges in the course of handling Ifeyinwa’s issue, Okoi said: “I have not had any challenge doing all this. But naturally, we are human beings, we have to be apprehensive.

    “You will be apprehensive if you are suing the Nigerian Army. They know they will lose a lot of money and somebody may lose his or her job. We have to be apprehensive, although no threat has come my way.

    “We just have to be careful, watch and pray as the Bible says. They have been very civil with regard to this matter. Nobody has disturbed anybody. We will all meet in court.”

    Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, was yet to respond to our enquiry on the court case filed by Ifeyinwa’s lawyer.

    NYSC authorities were also yet to respond. Calls to the organisation’s spokesperson, Adenike Adeyemi was unsuccessful as her number was not reachable. She was also yet to respond to a text message sent to her mobile line.

    How it all began

    Ifeyinwa, a female youth corps member serving in Calabar, Cross River State, was on July 28, 2021 brutalised by a female military officer, Lieutenant Chika Viola Anele. The video of the incident had gone viral on September 23.

    “It was after I sent it to my brother that the thing went viral.

    “The incident started when the commander of the brigade hosted a drilling competition and I was chosen as part of those who would usher in guests.

    “When we got to the place, Ebutu Barracks, I saw one of my captain friends, a married Muslim. We played the ayo (a popular indigenous game) together.

    “On sighting him, I tapped at him and joked that he was even there before the ushers and we started laughing only for the lady to shout at me, saying, ‘You don’t touch an officer in uniform’.

    “I went back to my position. But while I stood there, another officer, a Lieutenant Colonel, came and offered me a handshake, but I said we were told not to shake hands with officers in uniform. The female officer who was behind me, responded by saying, ‘You can shake but don’t touch’. I said nothing and kept standing.

    “She was in charge of the small chops we were to share. They counted the ones they would give to umpires and gave us the rest to share. After sharing it, I went back to my post.

    “One Major called and asked me to change his for him, but I told him that the ones he wanted were for the umpires and that they had been counted.

  • Fresh facts in mystery death of OAU MBA student at Ile-Ife hotel

    Fresh facts in mystery death of OAU MBA student at Ile-Ife hotel

    • Blood stains found on victim’s body

    • He died naturally, says hotel owner’s lawyer

    • Victim’s family’s lawyer: Police must conduct professional investigation

    • Adedoyin: My hands are clean

    As emotions  keep rising over the death of Timothy Oluwadare Adegoke  at Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, penultimate  weekend, The Nation has seen a picture of the deceased covered with what looks like bruises and blood stains.

    The picture, which is too gory to be published, was taken where the body was allegedly dumped.

    The blood stains are mainly on his right elbow, upper part of his left thigh and vest.

    His two legs were spread apart. There was a deep grey sack around his head.

    He wore a round neck white singlet and a navy blue pair of boxers.

    However, the police insist that the body is intact while some of the suspects have reportedly told the police that the victim died in his sleep naturally.

    The hotel has since been shut down but sources close to the management claimed yesterday that “the initial denial of the hotel management as to whether Adegoke lodged with them was because there was no record of any payment by him in the Hotel’s account, but it was later that it was detected that he made payment into the personal account of the receptionist which normally is wrong.”

    Thirty-seven year-old Adegoke was  a Master’s degree student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    He had travelled from his base in Abuja to Ile-Ife on Friday ,November 5 to write his last examination, without the least suspicion that death was lurking in the corner.

    The late Director of Finance  at Xiamien Stone Limited, Abuja, according to investigation, flew from Abuja to Akure in Ondo State. His plane landed in the Ondo State capital at 3pm.

    He then proceeded to Ile-Ife by road, hitting town at about 4.45pm.

    He chose to lodge at Hilton Hotel and Resort  located on the  Ife-Ibadan expressway opposite Ife Central Local Government Area secretariat ,booking for  a deluxe suite at N18500 per night for two nights.

    For payment, he was said to have transferred N37000 to the personal account of the hotel’s receptionist, identified as Adesola.

    Adegoke, a family source said, notified  his wife  that he checked into  his hotel room but did not disclose the name. He  also made another bank transfer to her.

    “He told his wife that he wanted  to take a nap before reading for his exam,” the source said,adding: “the wife decided not to disturb him because she believed he was  either sleeping or reading, so she suspended calling him  till Saturday morning.”

    Continuing, the source said:” The wife called the following morning to check on Adegoke but his phone rang out of time.

    “She thought her husband already  had left for the examination hall so she suspended the calls till afternoon when she tried the number again. However, she began to feel  that it was unusual of him  not to call her before going for examination.

    “She  was very worried and she called me and one other cousin of her husband living in Ondo State on Saturday afternoon to inform us that she was unable to speak with her husband.

    “This  prompted me to contact a close friend’s wife who was in Ile-Ife to help me go to the examination hall on Sunday. She was in the examination centre at OAU Center for Distance Learning, Moro,  with the first cousin of Adegoke to check if he was at the exam hall around 10 am.”

    “The coordinator of the exam hall checked the attendance sheet and they discovered that he was not present at the exam hall on Saturday and Sunday. He advised that we should check all the hotels in Moro which we did.We could not find him.

    “The Dean of Adegoke’s faculty informed the chairman of the hoteliers association in Ife if any of their members knew the whereabouts of our brother but the chairman of the association gave us a feedback none of their members had the record of Adegoke.

    “This prompted us to report the matter at Edunabon police station on Sunday, 7th November 2021 of the mysterious disappearance of our brother. We went together with the authority of OAU to report the matter and the police told us that they would  transfer the case to Police Headquarters, Osogbo on Monday.

    “The wife called the personal assistant of her husband if he had any information on how they could  locate his husband but  the PA said he called the number of his boss and a strange person picked it on Sunday night informing him that he found the phone in Ejigbo.

    “I called the number immediately, the person picked and told  me ‘hello’ only to  terminate the call  abruptly  and switched  off.

    “We went to the Police Command on Monday to write a statement. They asked us for the name of the hotel that he had lodged  previously  but we told the police that we did not know. We also inquired from his wife, and she said she didn’t know.

    “Adegoke’s phone was tracked by the police and it was revealed that it was in Ejigbo, Osun State. They also asked if we had his email address and his password for tracking. We provided the email address but we didn’t know the  password.

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    “On Tuesday, 9th November 2021, the wife searched the house and found the  receipt of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife of a previous lodging  in one of the pockets of her husband. She snapped and sent it to the police. This made the police and the elder brother of Adegoke visit the hotel but the staff denied that he lodged in the hotel that weekend.

    “The elder brother was emotional at a point, he called me on phone saying, ‘I am standing in front of the hotel owner now and they are denying that my brother  lodged here’. They left the place and did not make any arrest since we didn’t have concrete evidence that he slept in that hotel.”

    The family source said a clue appeared on  Thursday, November 11 after the police demanded that “we should get Adegoke’s  bank statement.”

    “We made it available to them. The statement of the bank indicated that he made a transaction at 5 PM on the Friday he arrived  the hotel. He sent money to two persons: his wife and one Adedeji Adesola Tobilola. He sent N37,000 to that Adesola. They tracked the phone number of that account holder (Adesola) to Hilton Hotel.

    “We went to the hotel and the hotel paraded all the staff before the police. They asked who bears Adedeji Adesola Tobiloba and a female receptionist signified by raising her finger.

    “She said  Adegoke came to the hotel on Friday to lodge but he only transferred N37,000 to her account and left hurriedly without returning to the hotel. She said she never reported the matter to the hotel management but rather she shared the money with the manager of the company.He (manager) denied the allegation..

    “When she got to the station, she confessed that he (Adegoke) lodged in room 305. Police did not tell us anything before they arrested five people including an alfa who claimed he travelled to Ejigbo.

    “On Monday, 15th, 2021, one of the hotel staff led the police and  four family members to where Adegoke was buried in Ile-Ife. When  the police exhumed the body, we discovered that they packed his corpse inside a carton wrapped with a duvet with the name of the hotel. The neck of Adegoke was slit.

    “The police proceeded to  arrest   the chairman of the hotel, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin without disclosing the reason for doing so to us.”

    Adedoyin and other suspects are still being interrogated by the police.

    Our own story, Adedoyin’s lawyer

    Contacted yesterday, Adedoyin’s lawyer of 15 years ,Barrister Williams Abiodun, said there is nothing in the account record of the hotel showing that Adegoke paid  to lodge there.

    He said the police first arrested one Adesola, the hotel’s receptionist ,and following her statement, the police “notified me that they needed  to question other staff and I took five of them to the police but they were detained.

    “When they interrogated Adesola, she disclosed that the man (Adegoke) transferred the money into her personal account and (the money) was stolen without recoding it in the hotel’s account. “She shared the money with another staff. That was why the hotel initially denied that Adegoke lodged in the hotel.

    “Last week Saturday, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) told me that all the arrested staff had confessed that Adegoke actually slept in the hotel but died in his sleep naturally.

    “The staff  had shared the money that was paid by the guest and did not input it in the record. “They knew there was a problem, they took the body in the dead of the night and dumped it somewhere and returned to the hotel as if nothing happened.

    “Chief  (Adedoyin) questioned them repeatedly but they all denied it until police forced them to talk.

    “They did not bury the body, they took the police to where the body was dumped. Where they dumped the body was on farmland on the  Ife/Osogbo road. The farmers hinted the police.

    “Only two staff were involved in dumping the corpse of Adegoke: the receptionist and one Kosim who is the plumber of the hotel. Kosim is this Tabligh Muslim, not a spiritualist.”

    He said the body of the victim was recovered in the presence of the Osun Police Commissioner, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) and some other people.

    He added: “Adegoke’s body was intact when it was recovered. He died a natural death because he was resting his head on his palm. He spread his legs tiredly. There was no single mark of violence on his body. The only offence these people committed  was wrongful interference and dumping of the dead body.”

    He denied suggestions in some quarters that Adedoyin attempted to bribe the family of the deceased.

    “Adedoyin never sent me to any of the family members of the deceased to bribe them,” Abiodun said.

    “I have never seen any member of the  victim’s family. Chief was not  around when the incident happened. I don’t know when his corpse was discovered in the hotel room, but  it seems he died on Friday night or Saturday.

    “The IPO told me that the guy was feeling sick on the 5th of November, that was the reason why the wife worried and called her husband on 6th repeatedly without anybody picking. The remains were probably discovered on Sunday by one  of the workers.”

    He added that those who were arrested mentioned  of the name Chief Adedoyin as the owner of the hotel and he was invited and has been detained since Monday.

    “I went with Chief Adedoyin on Monday to the Police Command, Osogbo where he gave his statement. He voluntarily submitted himself. He was never in any way indicted by the six arrested suspects.”

    He said  the hotel manager, Aderogba Adeniyi was arrested alongside other suspects.

    He also denied that the son of the hotel owner was arrested .

    He asked the police to “do a discrete job and anybody found wanting should be probably prosecuted, no matter how highly placed the person is.”

    He said: “ We intentionally don’t want to free the suspects legally from police detention because we want the police to conduct their investigation very well without interference and let the whole world know that Adegoke  died a natural death. The staff only interfered with the corpse.”

    The hotel is currently under lock and key while investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adegoke’s death continues.

    Another source close to Adedoyin  believe there is a deliberate attempt to rubbish him.

    The source denied suggestions that Adegoke was killed for rituals and said “the initial denial of the hotel management as to whether Adegoke lodged with them was because there was no record of any payment by him in the Hotel’s account, but it was later that it was detected that he made payment into the personal account of the receptionist which normally is wrong.”

    The source added: “the late Adegoke left the hotel like many other customers after finding out that neither light nor water was available, and the CCTV cameras were out of order as a result of renovation work being carried out at the hotel.

    “The hotel has operated for less than two  years and had never recorded any death as the public was led to believe by the deceased brother

    “The lady receptionist who was recently employed by the hotel is on a salary of twenty-five thousand naira (N25,000) and not two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) as being spread in some media.

    “The person called Alfa which could be misinterpreted as an Islamic cleric and possibly a spiritualist or ritualist is actually a plumber and maintenance manager in the hotel and is neither a cleric nor a ritualist.

    “ Dr. Adedoyin is not personally involved in the day-to-day running of the hotel as he has other more important businesses which include five tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria, security outfit, publishing and hospitality business.”

    Adedoyin: My hands are clean

    The hotel owner,Dr.Rahman Adedoyin,in an audio message from detention yesterday said his hands are clean in the death of Adegoke.

    Speaking in Yoruba,65 year old  Adedoyin said he has been wealthy  since he was 26  years after starting as a home lesson teacher.

    He said he never left Ife before God “blessed me”.

    He said he has never been involved in money rituals and pleaded with the public to conduct their investigation into the matter.

    He said he did not know about the death of Adegoke in his hotel until the police  started searching for him.

    Police source: Why  Adegoke paid into hotel staff’s account

    A highly placed police source told The Nation that the hotel receptionist had told Adegoke that the facility had run out of diesel to power its generator.

    “She asked  Adegoke to pay into her personal account so that she could  use part of the money to procure fuel which he (Adegoke) agreed to,”  the source said.

    His killers must be made to feel our  pains – Adegokes

    The deceased turned  37 only last August,according to his elder brother, Olugbade Adegoke.

    “He was the breadwinner of the whole family. He was more educated than all of us in the family,” he said in an emotion –laden vice.

    “He was the third born of our parents.

    “He had been doing the Master’s programme when he was in Ondo before he was transferred to Abuja. He left Ondo around May 2021 for  Abuja and moved his family with him in September 2021.

    “When we visited the   hotel, we discovered that there were bloodstains in the room where he slept and they had already changed the mattress and curtains of the room because it was different from all others of its category. I took the pictures.

    “We demand   that the police should press murder charges those  involved in the death of my younger brother.

    “The deceased had three children. The firstborn are  seven-year-old twins and another two-year-old baby. I want the perpetrators to feel our pains.

    “My brother had the prospect of becoming the managing director  of the company he was working for. He had two mobile policemen  securing him and an official car in Abuja but because he was coming down to Ile-Ife for an exam he felt it was needless to travel with them. He was killed during his last exam in the school.”

    Family to Police: All culprits must be brought to book

    Counsel to the bereaved family,Kayode Ajulo,in a statement  yesterday commended the police  for a job well done so far,but said all the culprits in the matter must be brought to book in the overriding interest of justice.

    “It is worrisome and sad that Mr. Timothy Oludare can be cut down in his prime for motives best known to his killers which of course, must be extracted and investigated by the Police without delay. It portends serious danger that a place meant to serve the temporary accommodation needs of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike could in actual fact be a place where cold-blooded murders are orchestrated and carried out in the most desperate and daring manner. Again, we note the temerity and the audacity in which the murder of the late Timothy Oludare was carried out as contained in the preliminary findings made by the Osun State Police Command. According to the findings, our Client’s son was strangled to death in his hotel room, his body was subsequently mutilated and wrapped in a blood-soaked blanket/bedsheet belonging to the hotel and finally buried in a shallow grave near the hotel.

    “The law is clear that an offender(s) who causes the death of a person is guilty of murder under 316 of the Criminal Code Laws Cap 34, Laws of Osun State and same is punishable by death under Section 319 of the same law and it is our legally considered view that the confessional statements as obtained from some of the suspects are cogent enough to establish the varying degrees of guilt of all the suspects.

    “As things stand, the hotel and its vicinity are a crime scene and should be treated as such, nothing must be on the way of a thorough and wider investigation of this highly reprehensible murder because nobody irrespective of their status or influence is bigger than the extant laws of the land.

    “We therefore urge utmost professionalism by the Police in this matter; no stone must be left unturned to get to the root of this matter. On our part, we are ready to partner with the Police to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. While we trust that this matter will reach its expected legal conclusion, we want to reiterate that we will not hesitate for a second to do everything within legally permissible limits to fight anyone who attempts to frustrate the expected end of justice.

    “As it is historically believed that Ile-Ife is the cradle of the human race, it is important that the ancient city and by extension, other parts of the nation must not be allowed to become safe havens for murderers and other criminals alike. It shreds our collective humanity into pieces when the blood of any innocent Nigerian can be spilled without consequences.”

    His exhumed body is intact — Police

    However, the Police  Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, SP Yemisi Opalola said body of the victim   which was  exhumed by the police in the presence of the family members remains intact.

    “No part of the body was missing when it was exhumed,” Opalola said.

    He added: “investigation by the police indicates that Adegoke slept inside Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, and he was traced to the hotel.

    “In the course of the investigation, we arrested six workers connected to the issue. Further investigation led to the arrest of the owner of the Hotel. Dr Rahman Adedoyin. He is still in our custody. The corpse has been exhumed and deposited at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital morgue.

    “The relations were present when the corpse was exhumed. A  pathologist and the Commissioner of Police were also present . No part of the body was missing when it was exhumed. I plead with Nigerians not to stir  up controversy. Allow the police to conduct a diligent investigation to unravel the mystery behind the death of Adegoke.”

  • Bolanle Oduyale: My polygamous background changed my attitude to life

    Bolanle Oduyale: My polygamous background changed my attitude to life

    Mrs. Bọlànlé Oduyale is Chief Executive Officer, CreditWise Financials Limited, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing financial lending companies operating within the micro and retail lending ecosystem. The consummate banker who has bestrode the banking sector for over 25 years including working with Standard Chartered Bank for over 12 years both in Nigeria and South Africa before relocating to Canada to focus on Regulatory and Compliance in the Canadian financial industry. She was also a onetime CEO of Safetrust Mortgage Bank in Nigeria, amongst other milestones. In this interview with FUNKE COLE, Oduyale who has degrees from the University of Ibadan, and University of Lagos and is also an alumnus of London Business School as well as that of the prestigious Lagos Business School, shares her experiences navigating careers and family. Excerpts:

    Early riser

    A typical early riser, Bọlànlé Oduyale starts off her day exactly at 5am, which requires a devotional prayer meeting and a walk within her estate before dropping her 16 year old son at school at about 7:30am, ‘my son and I use the morning ride to catch up on his plans and expectations for the day and I am at my desk at work by 7:45 am’, she had concluded. According to her, this is a routine she had observed to help her brain function properly especially in the mornings.

    Management style

    The ever-hard working and versatile woman who has been doing exceptionally well describes her interest in creating a conducive environment for the application of a combination of styles to manage both situations and team members. In her words, she explores “A collaborative style to create a harmonious office vibe and encourage employees to speak out about any issues they may have.”

    She reiterates on the need for exclusive high ranking management approach especially to tackling cumbersome tasks which requires the use of multi-dimensional skills to extract a unilateral decision needed both for human and work management. Speaking further, she narrated her experience on the use of questionnaire to draw responses and suggestions.

    Management philosophy

    Her management philosophy revolves round numerous approaches to creating an enabling environment for a number of diverse ideas.

    “To be open to diverse ideas, perspectives and the way others think is an important leadership attribute. This led me to develop a philosophy that focuses on diversity. I adapt my communication, direction and feedback to each staff’s unique and individual needs and work styles. This way they know that I am available to provide guidance and support when they need it, but I will not hover over them. This also motivates them to use their creativity to the best of their ability, which can directly benefit company growth.”

    Besides, she says, she also leads by example. “I work hard and bring the same learning and positive attitude to the job that I expect of my staff. I try to inspire my team members to be their best by watching me and following my behaviour, and work ethics.  However, this sometimes put a lot of pressure on them when they feel they are not measuring up to my standards. So I make sure I provide guidance and growth by giving important and timely feedback and to ensure am accessible to everyone.”

    Delegation of responsibility

    Interestingly, she feels that having the abilities to delegate effectively and give clear direction, while remaining available to provide guidance or assistance are important qualities for a leader. “Even where I delegate, I still ensure that my team members can obtain support and guidance from me every step of the way.”

    Team-player

    Quite frankly, she says being a team player is situational. “I sometimes need to work independently and at other times with others. While some projects only need one person to complete, having more than one person on the “team” will be counterproductive, other jobs need teamwork to get them done properly and efficiently.”

    But by far, she says, “Ability to compromise, show respect to others and listen to the needs of teammates is an important attribute of being a team player.”

    Other areas of interest

    Not your regular CEO, Mrs. Oduyale plays the role of a doting mother so well. “I have always loved to read and to watch movies, especially thrillers. My children are all boys and having to watch movies and shows with them over the years has affected my genre of movies which tends towards thrillers and action. Anytime I feel under pressure, I put on a good thriller on Netflix.”

    Enjoying leisure

    Naturally, she says she enjoys hanging out with my friends. “I have kept the same group of girlfriends for the past 40 years. We see each at least once a week. We speak almost daily. We laugh together, cry together and we are staunchly loyal to each other. We are each other’s support structure, and it has been an amazing journey over the years. I also have an amazing family and that has gone a long way to relieve whatever pressure I feel.”

    Last book read

    A bookworm, she reads everything in sight. Shedding light on the latest book she read, Indra Nooyi’s new book My Life in Full, she says, the book was a gift to her by her coach for birthday last October. “Indra Nooyi was one of the world’s most admired CEOs, being the first woman of colour and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company. The book provides an insight into Indra Nooyi’s world of corporate excellence, deep sense of purpose and her rise to the top as she transformed PepsiCo and reinvented the company’s image.

    “Any woman managing the challenges of building a successful career by juggling a demanding job with a growing family which includes children and a husband would absolutely relate to this book.”

    Choice holiday destination

    Obviously, Mrs Oduyale enjoys the good life. “The Caribbean – Beautiful resorts. No friends or family members to go and visit, no Nigerian food, no shopping available. All expenses already paid upfront. Eat and drink all you can. Sleep, Eat, Exercise, Read, Play, Repeat.”

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    Self-motivation

    Two things motivate her. “Number one, passion for what I do and number two, the fear of failure. The passion I have to help and improve the lot of women and alleviate poverty moves me to persevere despite the fear.”

    Sense of style 

    She describes her style as authentic. A style aficionado, she further informs that, “Style should be all about self-expression. I wear whatever works for me and my body.”

    Expatiating, she says matter-of-factly, “Having great style to me means being comfortable in your skin and dressing for your body type with confidence and not necessarily in line with fashion trends. What looks great on me, may look bad on you. My mantra is Know Your Best Feature – And Show It Off, Always. Be it your curves, booty, legs or an hourglass figure. All your outfits should work towards enhancing your best features, without being in your face (more like other people’s faces).”

    Maintaining looks

    Her recipe for maintaining the good looks begins right from choosing what she eats. “I eat small portions. No matter how hungry I get, I don’t ever eat to be full. I drink only room temperature water even at parties. No sugary drinks or alcohol for me. I never leave my house without using sunscreen, I never sleep with makeup on. I only use natural products like black soap on my face. And I take long walks at least four times a week. When I need to sleep, I sleep.”

    Staff motivation

    Her approach to staff motivation is strictly following corporative style.

    Stick and carrot approach

    She also adopts stick and carrot approach sometimes.

    Best decision

    Starting Creditwise Financials is the best decision she has taken ever she says with a tinge of excitement. “I wish every day that I had started it much earlier.”

    Worst decision in working career

    Her worst decision was joining the board of a company without doing proper due diligence. “Joining the board of company (which I will not name) without undertaking proper due diligence on the state of the business, company ownership and the existing Board members. The environment was extremely toxic, I experienced various health challenges due to the diverse problems. I am very grateful that it is all over.”

    Influence

    While most people rue polygamy, Oduyale says it sure has a positive to it considering how that has changed her total mindset. “My father had four wives and we are 12 children in total. Each mother had to provide the basic needs for their children while my father was primarily responsible for our education up to BSc level only and that was it. Everything else was borne by ours mothers. I grew up believing that a woman must be empowered to make financial decisions for herself and her children. So right now, I have no sense of entitlement where my husband or my marriage is concerned. I do not advocate for a joint husband and wife account. A woman must be financially independent and must be actively supported and encouraged to achieve such independence. When a woman has money, the whole community is positively affected.”

    Cooking

    She cooks sparingly and not as a matter of course. “I hate cooking. It’s one of the reasons why I couldn’t stay too long outside of Nigeria where it is all DIY. I had to teach my children who are all boys to cook and fend for themselves domestically so that I wouldn’t have to be in the kitchen.”

    Culinary delight

    A proper naija groomed-lady, she loves Eba and any kind of soup.

    Life lessons

    Her life lesson is encapsulated in the mantra is living life to the fullest. “Live life to the fullest. Love God wholeheartedly. Pray without ceasing. Be thankful for what you have. This life is not yours, the owner can take it at any time because no one promises you tomorrow. Forgive easily. Always reach out to your loved ones at every opportunity. I have lost quite a few people close to me in the past one year and that has given me a new perspective to life.”

    Hobbies

    Her hobbies include watching movies, reading, travelling, and hanging out with friends and siblings. “I have the best siblings in the whole world. Even though we have different mothers, you wouldn’t know if I didn’t tell you.”

    Definition of success, career-wise

    Short of pontificating,

    People tend to confuse a sense of accomplishment with career success, she says, adding that such is not always the case. “There is a big difference between the two. Many people are accomplished, with fantastic credentials, high profile jobs, sought after careers but they are desperately unhappy. Because these items represent accomplishments, they do not necessarily equate to career success. We have seen cases where supposedly “successful” people become clinically depressed and sometimes even commit suicide.”

    Career success, she admits, “Is a combination of achieving a reasonable level of financial stability while doing what you enjoy and then finding that you are also happy and fulfilled with your life and career choices. If you love your job but the job doesn’t provide you with financial self-sufficiency then career success is reduced and if you have a high paying job but lack joy or interest, career success is also diminished. True career success requires that these two factors align.”