The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Southern Sun celebrates Nigerian cuisines

    Southern Sun celebrates Nigerian cuisines

    Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, one of the hotels under the Tsogo Sun Group, has said the hotel is paying  special attention to provide its guests with top culinary experience.

    In a recent chat with travel journalists, the hotel Assistant Executive Chef, Mr. Stanley Mwangi, said since inception, the hotel made dining experience one of the most important areas to focus on. Consequently, the hotel’s management went the extra mile to put together a restaurant that would not only provide value for money satisfaction, but also a focal point external diners to come and have a distinctive culinary experience.

    He said: “When we came, the first thing we did was to do our market survey and see what other people are offering. We tried to come out with something that is different from others and also something that many people would be interested in eating. So, we tried to bring in more of intercontinental food and more of Nigerian food taking into consideration that most of our guests are Nigerians. So, we have a lot of Nigerian food, a lot intercontinental food and we tried to infuse Chinese dishes.

    “So, what you expect from us is that when you come here you have a good meal to eat. Anybody from anywhere, when you come in, you will get something that you would be very comfortable to eat. We have everything for everybody. We have a lot of variety. We also import food from everywhere to make sure that we have food outside the box. Our philosophy is to make sure that we have food to carter for everybody.”

    The hotel’s Sunday buffet, called Sunday Brunch, has become popular among many families. Mwangi explained the concept and success of the brunch: “What we do is that we have a team of local chefs to call to a meeting and we come out with something that people would eat. For example, I have seen people talk about ikokore. It is something that is a delicacy of people from a particular place. If, for example, you come to our restaurant and you find it in the buffet, you will be impressed. You will want to come back again the next time. So, we try to incorporate cuisines from all over. We are not only doing cuisines from a particular area, we are doing cuisines from all over and individual specialties from different  parts.

    “So, after our meetings and agreement on the kind of meals we want to offer for the Sunday Brunch, by Friday, we go and buy the things  to prepare the meals.

    “Also, there are other things that we do that have made it popular. We try to incorporate all sorts of continental things that are although popular, but may not be easily available.”

    He said the food philosophy of the hotel was to make sure that no matter where a guest is from, the guest would be at home with the hotel’s menu list.

    He explained: “Let’s say from our ala carte and in-room dining, there are menus that are South African food so that when they are here, they will be happy.  We also have food from Kenyan, Indian recipes and so on. We always tell our guests that if you think that we have something that we can cook for you, just tell us. We have some Indian  recipes on the menu because most Indians are vegetarians, so we try to carter for that, not just Indians but for anybody who may not be an Indian but are vegetarians.”

  • When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    When worshippers defied rain to mark Ifa Festival

    The heavens opened.  But it was not enough to discourage the people as hundreds of Ifa worshippers gathered at the playground of the Government Technical College, Abule Ado, off Badagry Expressway, Lagos to mark the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival.

    The all-white attire adorned by majority of the people and their determination to remain undaunted in the face of the challenge posed by the rain combined to ensure the success of the event, the grand finale of the 2014 edition of Ifa Festival organized by  the Olokun Festival Foundation.

    The festival is one of the many other festivals conceptualized by the Otunba Gani Adams-led foundation as part of the efforts to restore the glory of Yoruba cultural heritage.

    One very important message witnessed at the event was the beauty of religious harmony among Nigerians. To open the day, the three major religions in the country offered special prayers that gave the event an atmosphere of beauty.

    Clad in a flowing snow white lace material with his abetiaja cap to match, Adams, for the first time ever, according to him, made public the story behind his undying love for white attire.

    Speaking on his worship of Ifa, Adams said: “If I had not consulted Ifa on the insistence of Musendiku Shina in Abeokuta, I would not have known that the colour that rhythms with my star is white. I would still have been in the dark, wearing all sorts of colours. But since then,I have stuck to my white and I am seeing the result. That is the story you have not heard before about my wearing white clothing.”

    The OPC leader stated that Ifa prophesied that he would come out of the crisis a more famous person whose fame would transcend the shores of Nigeria nay Africa and even beyond.

    “And to my surprise, the prophecy came to pass as we are all a living witness today. Why I am saying this is to tell you that Ifa is the spiritual eye of man. Whoever refuses to believe this is not only losing, he or she is moving about unguarded,” he said.

    Considering the public apathy to tradition, owing to the influence of Islam and Christianity, Adams is, however, excited. He is glad for the global recognition lately extended to the Ifa divination with a specific reference to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which, according to him, added the Ifa Divination System to its list of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

    He said Ifa guided the founders of Yoruba towns and communities before they settled.

    “It is, therefore, not a surprise that these towns have flourished over the years, and I can tell you that they will continue to flourish according to what Ifa predicted long before they were established,” he said.

    The guest speaker, a lecturer in the Yoruba Department of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Ibrahim Adebiyi, commended Adams for his positive attitude to Yoruba culture and tradition.

    Adebiyi shocked the audience with his theory, suggesting that the inventors of computer had Ifa in mind when putting together the components making up the system. The university don highlighted some significance of Ifa to humanity and the need to accord it respect by the Yoruba.

    “Whoever is sincere with Ifa will be prosperous because Ifa symbolizes the truth. Ifa would not mislead. Rather it would  clear a way for one to escape difficulty. Ifa solves problems more than any other thing,” he said.

    The speech of the Yeye-Osun of Lagos, Chief Mojirayo Fafunke Olagbaju, came with a drama of sort to the delight of the audience who responded with occasional ovation. She showered praise on Adams whom she branded his adopted son and leader deserving her total support.

    Going down memory lane, Yeye-Osun recalled the struggle period when Adams was facing what she called persecution.

    “I said to myself that I must stand by him and see him through to shame his enemies. In the end, I was vindicated. Since then, I have never looked back because he has proved to be a leader to follow. I was scheduled to attend a function at Badagry today, but when I got his message, I had to send my children to that place and come to attend the festival.

    “Ifa festival we are celebrating today is part of our heritage which we must hold dearly. I have no regret doing my traditional religion, and I will never have any reason to regret it,” she said, revealing that her daughter is already learning the rope preparatory to taking after her.

    Also present on the occasion was the duo of Baba Orisha of Lagos, Chief Goke Atiku and Chief Agbeloba Orisatuwaji, who mocked that nothing compared to their traditional faith with a veiled reference to the contemporary religions.

    ”We are saying this because Ifa does not encourage deceit that is common elsewhere. It is our own and we shall hold it dearly,” they said unanimously.

  • Goitre-infected community where victims reject medical help

    Goitre-infected community where victims reject medical help

    Blame plight on witches, wizards

    They cut a pitiable sight for the observer, but they are less disturbed about their plight. And like a camel saddled with a big burden, hundreds of residents of Ajara community in Badagry live with protruding lumps around their necks with measured despondency. And while a camel might know the source of its burden and certain that the burden would be lifted after some time, it is not so for Badagry’s army of goitre victims. They cannot place the source of the epidemic and are in the dark about how the yoke could be taken off their necks. Goiter, it was learnt, has been ravaging the serene community for years.

    Only recently, the Lagos State Government flagged off a surgical operation programme to address the scourge in the area which according 2006 . It was gathered that some of the victims who made themselves available for the exercise had their goitres removed through the intervention and their health have since been restored to normal. Investigation, however, revealed that a good number of the victims are not convinced that the solution to the problem lies in medical treatment. While they have been taking part in the various tests prescribed by the medical personnel, they have deliberately avoided the surgery that would see the lump removed.

    Some of the victims who spoke with The Nation strongly believe that their problem is spiritual. They remain rigid about their belief that their conditions resulted from attacks by their enemies. For all they care, the solution to the problem not medical but spiritual.

    One of the victims who share in this belief is 60-year-old Maria Godonu. Recalling the genesis of her problem, she said: “I started noticing it about 20 years ago. I went to the hospital the very moment I noticed it but they couldn’t carry out an operation on me because I was pregnant. I didn’t go back after giving birth. I have been going from one place to another in search of remedy to the problem.

    “I went to the primary health centre after it was announced that Governor Babatunde Fashola had flagged off a health programme to help the victims. The medical team has been calling to inform us about their plans for us.

    “They have taken us to the Lagos Island General Hospital on two occasions to undergo medical tests. I did about three tests between April and May but I don’t really know what the results were. All I know is that the results are with them in the hospital.

    “Apart from the tests we did in Lagos, we have also done some here in Ajara. They brought some medical personnel to examine us.”

     

    Spiritualising the problem

    After all the efforts she has put into the exercise, one would expect Godonu to jump at any offer of surgical operation to have the lump removed, but this is not the case. She cited spiritual reasons for staying away from surgical operations on two occasions.

    She said: “I would have gone for surgical operations long before now, but a prophecy from my pastor made me to jettison the idea. When I was contemplating going for the operation, I went to church one day and in the course of praying, a prophecy came that there was someone in the congregation who wanted to go for surgical operation. I was warned against doing so because it would lead to death. That was why I could not go for the operation.

    “After some time, I had a rethink and made up my mind to go for surgery. I took the decision because I realized that no matter how much one tries to run away from death, it remains an inevitable end.

    “At this point, my mind was made up once again to go for an operation. A few days to the time that I was supposed to go for the operation, my husband attended a church service and a prophecy came to him that I shouldn’t contemplate operation at all. They told him that the operations would be successful but it would lead to my death.

    “The prophecy further dampened my morale to go for the operation because it confirmed the first prophecy. If the prophecies had come from the same church or persons, I probably would have dismissed it as a conspiracy. I bought into it because it came from two different places and persons. One must be careful and never try to pay deaf ears to such warnings.”

    Asked if she could change her mind and go for a surgical operation, she said: “I don’t think I have the courage for an operation anymore. If God is speaking to you, you must be attentive because you don’t know who is after you. May God protect us from those that are after our lives but pretending to be friends.”

    Another victim, who identified herself simply as Sauda, says she dreads an operation because there is more to the problem than medical treatment can solve. “I have heard of the government programme but I don’t think I can be part of it,” she said with a tone of finality.

    “I am not convinced that the solution lies in medical treatment. I know somebody who went for a surgical operation to remove his, but as I am talking to you, the goitre is back on his neck. It has even grown bigger than it was before the operation.”

    Bose, a beneficiary of the state government’s health programme, said she was initially reluctant when she was asked to go for an operation.

    She said: “I was scared of going for an operation at the initial stage because I never thought that medical help could take care of the problem. Like several other victims, I had the belief that the affliction was not natural. I also lived with the feeling that some forces of darkness were behind the affliction in the entire area. Our fears were heightened by the rate at which the problem has been spreading in our area.”

    “Actually, if you look around, you will discover that this is the only area where the case is widespread. I have not really seen any area where the problem is endemic as it is in this area. In fact, we have had people that always campaign against going for operations to correct the anomaly because they feared that victims would die in the process.”

     

    Common challenges

    The victims say the problem gives them sharp pains which cause them sleeplessness nights.

    “I have been having sleepless nights because of it. The pains wake me up many times in the night. I have developed a sort of phobia for night. I have been a trader all my life but my children stopped me from engaging in business activities because of this,” Godonu said.

    Sauda also explained that the pains caused by the problem sometimes weaken her to the point that she would not be able to go about her normal business.

    She said: “There is no how this kind of heavy load would not make one to have pains. At times, the pains would be so severe that I would be incapable of doing anything. It can be more worrisome when it happens at night, because I would writhe in pains all night and have my eyes wide open all through the night.”

    A 70-year-old victim, Pa Jonas Penuola, also spoke about the pains caused by the problem.

    He said: “It used to give me a lot of pains in the past, but I hardly feel it in recent times. At the initial stage, I went to the hospital for treatment but it did not change the situation.

    “I started noticing the growth about 10 years ago. It started very small, and as time went on, it started increasing in size till it got to the stage it is right now. I am prepared to go for an operation whenever they ask us to come. I have no fears whatsoever about going for an operation.

     

    Stigma and exploitation

    Madam Godonu recalled that she had been fleeced of her hard earned money by fraudsters masquerading as traditional healers.

    She said: “I have spent so much money trying to find a solution to this problem. There was a time that somebody came and assured me that he would cure it. He made a concoction of bitter leaf and asked me to be rubbing it on the affected part. I was full of joy when he gave me the assurance that the goitre would disappear after using the concoction.

    “I followed all the instructions he gave me and used it religiously. Unfortunately, the concoction made the situation worse. Instead of curing me, it started giving me sore. I quickly discontinued its usage before it could worsen my situation.

    “Shortly after that experience, I went back to a nearby general hospital and was given some medications that made the goitre to reduce in size. If not for that medication, it would have become far bigger than you are seeing now.”

    She also spoke about the stigma and embarrassment she has gone through with the problem.

    “I have suffered series of embarrassments because of my condition. There was one woman who publicly abused me because of it. She told me to go and remove the heavy load on my neck simply because we had a minor misunderstanding. There has been countless number of similar insults on me over the years.

    “Besides, whenever I attend social functions, the guests would leave everything they are doing and fix their eyes on my neck. It is very embarrassing but there is nothing I can do about this, because it wasn’t an affliction I brought upon myself.”

    Pa Jonas also spoke about his ugly encounter with traditional healers, saying{“I have also tried several native medicines without any improvement. I have spent so much money patronising herbal medicines. I stopped doing this after I discovered that they were only ripping me off. There is no human being that would be happy to have this kind of burden on his neck. It easily disfigures the victim. I have lost my handsome look since I developed the problem.”

     

    Community leaders react

    A community leader who simply identified himself as Alhaji Raji noted that many people in the community were unwilling to go for operation because they believe the affliction is the handiwork of witches and that any attempt to operate it would lead to death.

    “The efforts of the government to have good number of the victims operated has suffered a setback because some of these people strongly believe that the problem is supernatural and can never be cured medically,” he said.

    “Even though some of the victims in this community have successfully undergone operation, numerous others have remained skeptical about going for it. They easily cite the examples of their colleagues who died shortly after they were operated upon in the hospital. They are never interested in knowing the cause of such person’s death. All they go about believing is that it was the surgical operation they had that killed them.

    “Another reason some of them give for shunning operations is the fact that some people who were successfully operated upon earlier experienced a fresh growth on their neck after some time. In fact, some of the victims have fled the community out of fear.

    “There is a particular woman who would never want to have anything to do with you the moment she knows that you are out to discuss the problem with her. She deliberately avoids medical personnel any time they come around.”

    Another community leader, who gave his name as Osawe Babatunde supports those who believe that the problem is spiritual.

    He said: “I would never blame anybody who refuses to go for operation. The problem cannot be ordinary and I don’t think that surgical operation is the answer to it. I cannot even advise my enemy to go for an operation because it will have dire consequences.

    “From every indication, the problem appears to have some invisible hands behind it. When you observe such development, you don’t just rush into applying medical treatment. It is pertinent that you do some consultations with the elders that are grounded in traditional healing methods in the community and do the needful.

    “If you ask me, I think there is an urgent need to appease the gods in the area so that the challenge can be taken care of. Medical efforts would only be a short term thing,” he added.

    In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of Global Hospital, Alimosho, Lagos, Dr. Johnson Babatunde, dismissed the insinuations that goitre is the handiwork of witchcraft. He urged victims to be courageous enough to embrace the intervention of the Lagos State Government by going for surgery to remove their goitre.

    Babatunde said: “It is sad that people can still be holding on to unsubstantiated thoughts about goitre being the machination of witches and wizards. For the avoidance of doubt, goitre is the swelling of the neck resulting from the enlargement of the thyroid gland, and it can be caused by multiple factors, one of which is iodine deficiency.

    “It can be associated with over-function of the thyroid gland, excessive thyroid hormones, under-function of the gland or inadequate levels of thyroid hormones. When a goitre becomes very large, it can sometimes cause symptoms because it presses on adjacent structures such as the oesophagus and the trachea. Symptoms related to a large goitre include difficulty with swallowing, shortness of breath, wheezing (sound that results from turbulent air flow in and out of the trachea) and hoarseness.

    “And just as goitre cannot be linked to one particular disease, there is also no one specific treatment for it. The treatment depends upon the cause of the enlargement. Treatments for goitre can include medications, surgery, treatment with radioactive iodine, and simple observation. I want to therefore admonish those living with goitre to seek adequate medical solution or remedy to their problems.”

    A nutritionist, Mrs. Nkechi Okafor, said: “Goitre may occur in people who live in areas where the soil and water do not have enough iodine. As a result of this, people in these areas might also not get enough iodine in their diet.

    “The use of iodised salt in many food products in the advanced countries today prevents a lack of iodine in the diet and this is the reason why the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended minimal intake of iodised salt to prevent further spread of the disease in Nigeria. Therefore, it is necessary for people to ensure use of iodised salt in their diet or cooking.

    “In many cases of simple goitre, the cause is unknown. Other than lack of iodine, certain foods such as soy beans, peanuts and vegetables in the broccoli family have also been linked to goitre. To this end, consumption of these foods should either be reduced or discontinued.”

  • Emirates starts UAE visa services in Lagos

    Emirates-flight-330x185Emirates and its commercial partner Dubai Visa Processing Centre have inaugurated the Dubai Visa Application Services in Lagos. The introduction of this facility is aimed at providing high quality services to applicants from Nigeria seeking the United Arab Emirates visa when travelling to Dubai.

    A statement by the Emirates  said the new Dubai Visa Application Centre would offer greater comfort, convenience and enhance the visa application experience of applicants and travel agents from the country.

    It added that the DVAC in Lagos was operational for accepting visa applications and delivery of UAE visas for travel to Dubai.

    “This inauguration marks the expansion of DVPC’s operation in the African region. Now, the company through its six DVACs operate in four African countries, including Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa,” the statement said.

    It explained that the DVPC, which operated DVAC located in Lekki, Lagos, was inaugurated by the Regional Manager, West Africa, Emirates, Mr. Manoj Nair, on July 1, adding that Dubai-bound passengers on the Emirates and those wishing to stop in Dubai for a few days could now apply for their UAE visas at the new DVAC.

    Nair was quoted in the statement as saying, “Dubai has so much to offer both the business and leisure travellers with its world class facilities and array of attractions.

    “Visiting and experiencing Dubai has now been made even easier with the opening of the DVPC, and coupled with the award winning service from the Emirates on the ground and in the air; it further enhances the traveller’s experience.”

    The Chief Operating Officer, DVPC and Special Projects, VFS Global, Mr. Vinay Malhotra, said, “The DVPC is honoured to be associated with the Emirates in facilitating the UAE visa application process for Dubai-bound travellers in Lagos, Nigeria.

    “Through this new dedicated facility inaugurated in Lagos, we aim to extend a service that is professional, accessible and convenient for direct applicants and travel agents.

    “The DVPC is privileged to be associated with the Emirates since 2002, and it is their trusted partner and now has 32 Dubai visa application centres in 14 countries in addition to providing online services in over 180 countries worldwide.”

    The statement added that travellers from Nigeria could now enjoy a host of benefits offered by the DVPC, adding that no other guarantor would be required. It also explained that there would be uniform visa fee all year round, irrespective of peak season, festivals and special events, adding that the UAE visa for different durations was now available, including 96-hour (transit visa); 30-day (tourist visa) and 14-day (service/business visa).

  • Makoko: A strange kind of saviour

    Makoko: A strange kind of saviour

    A 40-year-old tailor takes it upon himself to rescue the future of endangered school dropouts in

    Lagos community Makoko, a riverine community in Lagos State, began as a fishing village.

    And while many of the residents have embraced other forms of occupation, it remains primarily a fish market bedeviled by environmental and infrastructural problems. The community, one of the poorest in the state, suffers from high rate of maternal mortality, youth restiveness, child abuse and insecurity.

    Most worrisome, however, is the fact that the community boasts a lot of young women who have dropped out of school and roam the streets without any hope of a brighter future. But seeking to redeem the rather hopeless situation is a 40-yearold tailor, Jerrad Avleffi, an indigene of Badagry, who has saddled himself with the onerous task of helping about 20 young women, many of whom dropped out of school as a result of early pregnancy, to have a feel of education.

    Although he trained as a tailor, Avleffi, does not only teach them tailoring, he organises evening classes for them, teaching them French and Arithmetic with the local Egun language as the medium of expression.

    Ironically, his desire to impact knowledge on the young women was impelled by his own lack of opportunity of early education because his parents were too poor and too ignorant to appreciate the value of education. Not willing to see the young women suffer the same fate that befell him as an uneducated child, he decided to do something to help them improve their literacy level.

    His background

    In a chat with our correspondent, Avleffi said he was born in Badagry about 40years ago but was taken to Cotonou, Benin Republic at an early age because his father could not afford his fees in high school. His mother hit on the idea of taking him to Cotonou so that he could learn tailoring.

    “There, my boss taught me Egun language, which became an invaluable asset for me to trade among the Egun and French communities here in Nigeria,” he recalled. I do not understand Yoruba or English language, but my boss made sure I learnt the language, art and culture of Egun people as well as French language.

    “I was an apprentice for 12 years because my father could not send me to school. Even paying the fee for my graduation after my tailoring apprenticeship was a bit difficult. Instead of seven years, I ended up spending 12.”

    Asked why he chose to settle in Makoko when he returned from Benin Republic, Avleffi said that after his apprenticeship as a tailor in Cotonou, he returned to Badagry about 10 years ago only to find that he could not easily communicate with the people because he could not speak their language.

    “My father then advised me to come to Makoko where I would see people who understand

    my language and trade with them,” he said.

    Given that Makoko community is built on water, his journey was a bit of an adventure. “Ihad an inkling of the people’s living condition, but in spite of their deprivation, the residents are warm and friendly to visitors,” he said.

    “In Cotonou, fishermen also live in riverine areas where it is easy to practice their profession.

    So, I was not moved by the people’s living condition. What was uppermost in my heart was how I could make a difference in their lives.

    Avleffi, who spoke with our reporter through an interpreter, noted that teaching the young women Egun and French language had been a big relief for them because they could not read or write before then. “I am just trying to help them in my own little way,” he said.

    He observed that most of the youths in Makoko are exposed to early sexual relationships, restiveness and other forms of undesirable acts because of illiteracy and lack of exposure. But he feels a bit of satisfaction that he has been able to empower them and they now have some basic knowledge in French and even Arithmetic and general knowledge.

    He is, however, pained that his efforts to get a teacher who would be willing to teach them English had not yielded results.

    He said: “Some of my apprentices now understand a bit of French and Egun, and would be better off with English language.

    If I am able to get somebody to complement my effort in educating them in English language, I will really appreciate it.

    “There are lots of tailors around Makoko who only teach the children how to sew but do not understand the essence of literacy, which is key to success in any business or profession. I believe so much in literacy and that is why I am teaching them French, Maths, measurement and morals. I have graduated 43 tailors who at least are confident of themselves and are able to communicate with their clients, which gives me so much joy.” Avleffi says he sees the possibility that a number of them could even further their education and learn more. “What I am only doing is to ignite their interest in education,” he said.

    The class

    The lessons, which are taught in French and Egun, include spelling, arithmetic and general knowledge. Each student comes into the class with a chalk, a 4-inch chalk board, a ruler and a notebook. They are mostly in their late teens and early twenties, and many of them had dropped out of school between Primary Four and Junior Secondary.

    The lessons start at 5pm and end at 6:30pm. As soon as it is 5pm, the apprentices leave whatever they are doing and rush to the classroom. The class begins with a prayer by Avleffi, followed by a song in Egun, which literally means ‘our language must keep moving forever,’ is sung at intervals throughout the one and a half hour lecture.

    The evening class begins lessons in spellings and pronunciation.

    On this particular day, Avleffi started by teaching the pupils how to pronounce letter G in French. He then told them to bring out their notebooks for a brief exercise.

    After the spelling and pronunciation sessions, he taught them Arithmetic. It was highly interactive session as the pupils asked questions and the teacher responded. The class ended with the song says ‘We must to learn our language for it would remain relevant in the society. We have to know and understand this language anywhere we find ourselves.’ After that, the pupils exchanged pleasantries, saying “PIFA wawu ton”, meaning the peace of the Lord.

    Challenges

    Asked the Challenges he had faced in teaching Egun Language, Avleffi said the literature materials on Egun language were gradually fading away. “To get the books on this language is difficult. There are no enough materials for learning. I am only using the material given to me by my master about 10 years ago.

    I try to get up to date materials but it has been a hard nut to chew.”

    He added: “I have trained a lot of out-ofschool teenagers in Makoko, but because of their inability to communicate, some have dropped out and some could not finish the four-year training because their families had to relocate.

    Speaking with our reporter, one of the apprentices, 20-year-old Avlessi Philips, said: “I was contemplating working at the plank factory in Ebutte, a riverine community in Yaba, Local Government Area, Lagos State, until before I met this tailor whose gesture has contributed immensely to my life.

    “I dropped out of school in JSS 1 and all the efforts I made to go back to school proved abortive. Recently, I made an attempt to go for evening classes, but that too was not possible because I was asked to pay N10, 000 per session. But coming to this tailor has added value to my life. I am now skillful in tailoring and have learnt a lot about Egun and French languages from our evening classes.

    “I can now write my name and alphabets in Egun and French languages and also design clothes. I have decided that after my freedom, I will further my education and help other youths here in Makoko.”

    Another apprentice, 18-year-old Christiana Tosse, could not further her basic education for financial reasons. But learning spelling and Arithmetic in the tailoring trade with Avleffi has given her a lot of courage.

    She said: “My tailoring apprenticeship and literacy class has helped me a lot. The first time I came here and indicated interest in apprenticeship, I had no money to register. But Mr. Avleffi told me to start and forget about money for now.

    “I can now sew gown, shirt, blouse and other female dresses. I can also write 1 to 20 in Egun language.”

    Twenty-year-old Kelvin dropped out at Primary Four but says the literacy class has changed his life dramatically.

    “I appreciate our boss for the literacy class. I only desire that we have an English teacher who would complement his effort,” he said.

  • SWEATER FASHION

    SWEATER FASHION

    THIS is a rainy season, and it is a period that will not go away in a hurry. Covering up most parts of your body is what you need to do in this cold season. No other piece of clothing does this well as the sweater. And when you are thinking in terms of the sweater to wear, it doesn’t have to be the normal, swollen pullover or close-fitting knotted jackets with or without sleeves. You can combine a good jacket and a stylish sweater with either skirt or trousers under. Go for long-fitted hand length tops. Search through your wardrobe, you will certainly get a few things to work on. That way, you won’t have to look dull. Gone are the days of wearing sweaters on formal wear. Some sweaters are now being worn as main wear.

    There are some lovely fitted sweaters that can be worn as tops on skirts, trousers, even under suits. And these can be worn by both sexes. Men are not left out. Brighten up with stylish turtleneck and v-neck sweaters. The most important thing is that you must make a fashion statement despite the showery spell. You do not have to look dull.

  • velvet trend

    velvet trend

    BEAUTIFUL and stylish velvet prints are in vogue. They have been remarkably apparent since last season and add a subtle and sexy appeal to one’s look. Velvet print comes in different patterns and designs, depending on the style. Go for colours that complement your look.

    – Combine your velvet fabric with a sheer fabric or lace for a great look or to bring more attention to your outfit.

    -You can knot gele (headgear) to accentuate your look, though it depends on the design.

    -Go for a clutch purse to glam up the outfit.

  • Wine tasting at Akwaaba 2014

    NIGERIA is accepted globally as one of the biggest wine markets in the world consuming more than many African countries put together. The emerging lifestyle merges with the growing middle class and it’s taste for global products.

    Tourism is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new class of Nigerians. It is this travelling class of Nigerians that  consume the wine and Champagne.

    To further organize the products and align them with their patrons, the organizers of Akwaaba African Travel Market will this year dedicate its Hospitality Day, October 28, to wine tasting. The wine tasting day is a new addition and will offer both sellers and buyers the opportunity to engage with the travelling public.

    The  Akwaaba: African Travel Market is  the only annual international travel fair in West Africa, drawing attendance from over 15,000 delegates from over 20 countries worldwide and the largest platform to meet with travelling public, airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour operators, travel agents, state tourism boards, foreign trade and tourism sectors and similar industry suppliers across Africa.

    The wine tasting event which will hold on  Oct 28 from 10am-6pm at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria-Island, Lagos will provide wine distributors and manufacturers from all over the world who are looking to increase their business in Nigeria and across Africa, build and increase brand loyalty and patronage, the opportunity to showcase their products to the travel community/ wine lovers in Nigeria and Africa.

    The wine tasting event will feature a diverse selection of top wines and spirits from all over the world.

    Mrs.Rita Ikechi Uko, the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market said: “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the biggest Champagne market in Africa.

    “We are always looking for ways to create and add value to our clients as well as improve visitors’ experience at our events. So, the wine tasting event was born out of the need to create a proper platform for bringing together wine buyers and sellers from all over the world, an audience Akwaaba has consistently attracted over the years.

    “ With ‘big taste experience’, we hope to not only provide a platform for wine dealers and producers to sample their wines, but also provide an atmosphere where guests can sip, savour, mix and mingle, while enjoying the best of what Africa has to offer, and it is a project we intend to continue and build in the  coming years”.

    Attendees to the fair would have the opportunity to sample different top wines and spirits from the Exhibiting Wine Dealers and Manufacturers Association from all over the world.

    The Akwaaba: African Market, which holds in October every year, will feature Exhibition, Aviation and Hospitality Day, African Business Travel Association (ABTA) workshop and various country/state day celebrations where the culture, food and destinations will be showcased.

    This year’s event will hold from October 26 to 28.

  • How tourism can boost economy, by expert

    How tourism can boost economy, by expert

    A tourism expert, Mr Ashamu Sewanu Fadipe, has decried inadequate knowledge and investment in the tourism industry of the country which can be well tapped to improve its economy.

    He said sustaining the industry is just as important for the realisation of the dreams of a county as well as utilise products that can help create wealth.

    Mr Fadipe, who was the pioneer General Manager of the Lagos State Tourism Board and now Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission of Lagos State, spoke during a media launch on his book entitled: Tourism Destination Management: A Guide for Policy Makers and Destination Managers which will be launched on August 7 at the Glass House, Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja.

    The publication dwells on the techniques for developing tourism industry, particularly the science of developing and managing tourism destinations. The book promises to be interesting, informative and educative on how to discover and create tourism destinations.

    It will also help and inform policy makers and destination managers to obtain as much information as possible to guide their decision-making process and allow them deeper knowledge on the subject matter. The book gives an insight into the roles of various stakeholders in the overall management of destination.

    The author is of the opinion that tourism should be taken to the grassroots  of states which should employ tourism officers to spot potential tourism hubs for exploit.

    “Tourism is now a major engine of development that is contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Products of many nations. Ecotourism will decongest the cities and enhance the economic value of those in the rural areas,” he said.

    Expected at the launching of the book is Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and state Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations Disun Holloway. The chief launcher will be the Managing Director of American Hospitals and Resorts, Lekki, Dr Richards Afonja, and the Director-General of the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Abuja, Dr Munzali Dantata, is expected to chair the occasion.

  • Governor Fashola’s housing palliative

    Governor Fashola’s housing palliative

    HOWEVER, in the wake of outcry against the demolition exercise, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has explained his reason for demolishing Makoko slum. According to him, it was necessary to halt the continuous expansion of the community into the lagoon with its negative impact on the environment.

    He said sequel to several meetings with leaders of the community and an agreed boundary set, the government had been working in the area to find solution to the difficulties, which the indigenous residents encounter by providing basic infrastructure and amenities to uplift the standard of life of the people. He explained that rather than maintain the established boundary, what had happened over the years was a rash of illegal shanties which expanded towards the Third Mainland Bridge and underneath the high tension electricity cables across the area.

    Expressing the readiness of his administration to meet with genuine representatives of the community, Fashola advised them to be wary of people who are profiting from their difficult situation. “The truth must be told; some people are benefiting from your difficulty and that is the truth. They are taking advantage of you in the guise of being your friends. They are taking all sorts of grants purporting to help you but it never gets to you. But as your government, we understand the challenges you face there and we are working to solve them,” he said.

    The governor noted that piling sawdust on the lagoon, discharging wastes in it and blocking the discharge points for storm water had contributed to the flooding in places like Bariga, Shomolu, Ebute-Metta, Ogudu, Owode, Ajegunle and Ikorodu, among others. “We owe you a duty, but we also owe the greater part of Lagos a duty. That lagoon is the only lagoon where we drain water during rainy season from Akoka, Bariga, Shomolu, Oworonsoki and from Macgregor Canal. The lagoon is shrinking because they are expanding and building into it; it has to stop,” he said.

    Giving the clarification about government’s intention, state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, said the government took the decisive step to ensure the safety of residents, adding “their continuous stay leaves them at the mercy of being victims of environmental hazards.”

    On another note, the state is using a N284.4 million loan to compensate 1,933 tenants and 319 landlords affected by the Badia East clean-up, Lagos State Attorney General, Ade Ipaye said recently. Estimates by Amnesty International that the shanty homes of 9,000 people were destroyed are exaggerated, he claimed. The government must ensure people erect legal structures so it can formalize housing and clamp down on crime to make the city more attractive, he said. “If we cannot relax because all of the parks are now market places or places where people have put up shanties, then we don’t have a city,” Ipaye said.

    Lagos HOMS to the rescue

    Governor Fashola, reacting to critics of his housing policy recently, stated that his administration never promised to deliver low-cost housing but affordable housing whereby owners could pay over a long period of time. He made the assertion at the third monthly draw for allocation of homes to beneficiaries under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS).

    Fashola dispelled criticisms that the cost of the  houses being developed under the scheme are too high, arguing that low-cost housing could not be provided in a sustainable way when there is no low-cost land, low cost labour and building materials, and when the exchange rate of the nation’s currency remains high.

    “Some people have criticised us that homes under our mortgage scheme are not low-cost; but these people cannot point to one place where our government promised to build low cost houses. We did not promise low-cost housing. What we promised was affordable housing and people should not accuse us of not doing what we did not promise,” he said.

    Interest charges on home loans run 18 percent to 25 percent, according to Michael Chu’di Ejekam, a director at London-based Actis. “The ecosystem for residential investment development still remains relatively broken.” said Ejekam adding that, “The lack of affordable mortgages is a major challenge, a major deterrent, a major hindrance to the development of residential properties in this market.”