The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • My battles with aliens determined to usurp my throne — 88-year-old Ogun monarch

    My battles with aliens determined to usurp my throne — 88-year-old Ogun monarch

    • Explains why he stuck with one wife

    Oba Timothy Oluwole Sunday Mosaku is the traditional ruler of Arigbajo in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State. Besides the residential estate of the multinational Lafarge Cement Company, his community also hosts the 18-hole Ishofin Golf Course which sits on 52 hectares of land. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, the octogenarian monarch talks about his battles with some elements determined to unseat him, his plans for the community’s development and why he remains a monogamist even as a monarch.

    What was your early life like?

    I was born in 1936, here in Arigbajo. I attended United District Central Primary School, Arigbajo, I went to a modern secondary school in those days in Abeokuta, Government Trade Centre, Ijebu Ode and Institute of Management. I did journalism. I embrace all the religions — Christianity, Islam and traditional religion, because I am king over all.

    Were your parents responsible for your education?

    That is private to me. But for the modern school, they were responsible. Growing up, I had a lot of challenges because my grandfather had four wives, among them the late Hubert Ogunde-styled Ojuyemi.

    How was life after your education?

    After my education, I went into paid employment, and during this period, I started developing myself educationally. I can tell you that I am a management scientist I worked at Vono Plc. I was the president of Vono Plc workers’ union. I spent 12 years working in Vono.  I also worked at the CSS Bookshop, now known as Bookshop House, four companies in one. I was at the commercial department.

    In my early employment years, I underwent tutelage under Europeans and Nigerians. However, my finest master was not a European; he was an African called Allen Taylor. He called us during one of our training sessions and said: “Gentlemen, let me tell you a philosophy of life. You may be a carpenter and your classmate is a carpenter. But your classmate is making it and you are not making it. Change your course. Before you change up to five courses, you will make it out there.” So, I started following that principle.

    We gathered that you are the first ruler of Arigbajo to be crowned an Oba. What would you tell us about the history of the community?

    Arigbajo was founded by my forefather, Kusi Mamowolo; a great hunter. He came here in search of animals. After killing an animal, he would eat, give others some and take the rest to Itoku Market in Abeokuta for sale.

    Before this place was founded, he had founded one Arigbajo very close to Wasinmi. They call that Arigbajo Ehin, I’ve gone there to officiate on many occasions. They have not had an Oba, only an Asipa. They cannot have an Oba without my permission. My domain here and Arigbajo Ehin, we are all Egba.

    The people of the town speak Egba, Owu and a variant of Oyo. What could have been responsible for this?

    (Prolonged laughter) We are all Egba. The relationship is that we have four sections in Abeokuta. They are Egba Ake, where you get the paramount ruler today who is Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo,; the only accredited Oba to give a crown to any Oba. So anyone installed by Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo is the only Oba recognised.

    Considering the complexities that are involved in choosing a monarch, how were you able to surmount the challenges?

    I had a sister whose name was Mobolaje Ajala nee Mamowolo. She was the one who took it upon herself to appeal to me to come and become the king. I initially didn’t want to accept because I knew that being an Oba would be a problem, given the way I wanted to live my personal life. But she prevailed on other members of the family to persuade and convince me.

    I didn’t want to bear the burden. These family members came to Lagos several times in their bid to convince me. Many slept over for many days trying to persuade me. My sister, on one occasion, lamented that if she had been a man she wouldn’t have needed convincing a reluctant person like me. My wife (now the Olori) begged me that I should listen to her.

    To manoeuvre and also to be sure I was the right candidate for the throne, I told them to go and consult the oracle. They went as far as Oke Nla, a very thick forested area in Ifo Local Government Area. I didn’t go with them. The reason my sister was concerned that the right person should become the king was because she had discovered then that some of our forefathers’ tenants were also agitating to become the king and at the same time sponsoring my younger brother so he could become their puppet.

    These tenants originally came to Arigbajo to beg my grandfather- Mamowolo, to give them land and a chance to stay in the town. He even told them that they should go to other places but they persisted. Thus, my grandfather allowed them to stay, and in a show of ambition and ingratitude, they now wanted to occupy the throne, for which they have no right!

    What did an oracle tell those who went to consult him?

    The Ifa oracle told them that this man (referring to me) is not only a Baale (clan head); he is also a king even if he has little money now. They came back to me with this report, but I still ran away to Lagos but they followed me. One of the people that came to call me is still alive. He is Baale Adewole. So, I finally succumbed to their pressure and came home for installation.

    Were there others who contested the throne with you at that time?

    Yes, our forefather’s tenants. It is these groups of people that I call chief tenants that are giving me and my domain problems up till today. They wanted to become the king or promote one of my brothers to become the king.

    Are you saying that some of the people contesting the stool are not natives of Arigbajo?

    They are tenants. They came to beg Mamowolo to give them land to stay with them. He even told them to go to other places but they begged. He allowed them to stay and they now want to become the king of the town.

    At 88, your memories are still sharp enough to recall the past vividly. What is the secret?

    It is like that because I’m married to one wife.

    It is generally believed that a king must marry more than one wife and even inherit other people’s wives if they want. Why is your preference for one wife?

    There is no Yoruba tradition that says a monarch should have many wives. However, some circumstances, like pity for some unattached women or other local reasons may persuade an Oba to marry more than one woman.

    Anyway, the impression that an Oba must have many wives does not apply to me. That is their own. The Alake of Egba, as of now, is a monogamist. Maybe I copied him.

    What are the things that have changed in the town since you assumed the throne of your forefathers?

    I have brought different developments to the community and I still have plans to do more.

    Even when I had not become the king, I had formed a society in Lagos in 1965, which I called the Arigbajo Improvement Union. We worked hand in hand with our people here from Lagos. The purpose, as the name sounds, is to improve the town. We recorded some successes and this is what I have continued with on the throne.

    I was the driving force behind the building of the police station, although it is yet to be commissioned. I’ll say it was built with government money. I, however, gave them the land. There is the golf course along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. There, it is like Europe, where white men who work in Lafarge Cement recreate. I donated the land too.

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    I went there and they said I should come and play golf. I did and they were surprised that I could play golf. You know that once a soldier is always a soldier.

    The Arigbajo Market attracts people from all over the country. What is that thing that makes it tick?

    The Arigbajo market was founded by my grandfather, Egunleti Mosaku. He worked relentlessly to build it, and that is what has worked for its resilience up to date. Let me tell you, everybody from far and wide does come there to ply their trade. It’s the largest market in this area.

    I thank God that I formed a society in Lagos in 1965 and I called it Arigbajo Improvement Union. We were working hand in hand with our fathers here.

    Let’s talk about your other sporting activities…

    I am also a footballer and soccer enthusiast. I started playing football in Arigbajo here. It was my Igbo teacher in school who set me on the path of football. One day, he just sent me to the field. At the end of the day, I became a very good player. When I was at Abeokuta, I was a very popular and well-sought-after footballer at a place called Four Corners.

    What are the challenges that you are facing?

    The biggest challenge is from our chief tenants. Up till today, they still want to be part of the ruling house.

    What do you want the government to do for this community?

    Education is paramount in the development of any nation or community. I appeal to the government (local and state) to support my domain with more primary and secondary schools. Also, we need more health centres for all the more than 20 villages under my domain. We lack potable water, so, we plead for public-spirited individuals and the government to construct more boreholes in the villages.

    Our main market is the famed Arigbajo Market, but we want more markets and commercial development. Erosion is threatening the livelihoods and houses of many of my community members and even their farmlands. It has dug gullies everywhere to the river bank. Lack of drainage on some of the inner roads is part of the reason erosion and flooding is prevalent in Arigbajo. Government should help us grade our rural roads and even the tarred Trunk B and C roads are becoming impassable.

    As I told you, those people who are making trouble do not want Arigbajo to grow. But as a monarch, you have to be cool. What they want is to destabilise the town. You said the town is not as developed as Epe. Yes, where there is a problem, there cannot be progress. Ten wards make up Arigbajo, but they had made nonsense of it before I came. It was terrible.

    The problem of Arigbajo is traceable to these chief tenants. They have sold Arigbajo Market to one Igbo chap. That is the only factory my grandfather instituted. Egunleti Mosaku founded the market in 1951. Many of them were still sucking breasts when the market was founded. I have told everybody including the Ewekoro Local Government Chairman. I have gone to the police station with a lawyer over the issue.

    It is the non-natives that are dragging the town backwards.

    I’m calling on all the natives of this town home and abroad to join me in developing the town.

  • Celebrating mother, Madam Oladunni Olawunmi @ 100

    Celebrating mother, Madam Oladunni Olawunmi @ 100

    • By Bisi Olawunmi

    Being a Centenarian – attaining age 100 – is a special privilege, not gifted to many.  Also, it is not gifted to many children to live long enough to witness this centenary milestone of their parents.  So, when you have a septuagenarian son being alive to celebrate a centenarian mother, it calls for hailing – Ogo Eledumare, Halleluyah and Alhamdidulai.

    The Almighty breathed life into my mother on February 7th, 1924 in Ijebu-Isiwo, Ijebu-Ode local government area of Ogun state ,  the daughter of a Catholic father, Anthony Dairo,  and an Anglican mother,  Beatrice Adejoke, who belonged to the  Mogoosu Royalty in Ibido-Ogbo, near Ijebu-Ode, the royalty that crowns  the Awujale of Ijebuland.

    Young Oladunni lived with her maternal uncle, a teacher, but came home annually to celebrate Christmas/New Year.  It was on one such homecoming that mother met cupid, or put differently, mother was offered to cupid.  My maternal grandfather had two sons first, then four daughters, my mother being second. Parents, we all know, want the best for their children, especially their daughters, when it comes to marriage which was why arranged marriages were the norm then, after evaluating a prospective suitor and his family pedigree.   I was told that Dad was a close friend of my grandfather’s first son. Now, in his youth, I learnt my father was a toast   –   a handsome, affable, ebullient, likeable person with good comportment: a quintessential Omoluabi. He already had a wife.  As told by my mother, on one Christmas/New Year homecoming, her father, a Christian, offered all his four daughters for my father, a Muslim, to make a pick of a wife!!!   My father settled for my mother, and as they say, the rest is history. Obviously, grandpa must have been very pleased in my father, both in character and his family background.  On that note started a union that produced four of us from my mother – an elder sister and two younger sisters.  Two of us – me and my immediate younger sister are Christians with the first and last born being Muslims.  We celebrate ‘Ileya’ and Christmas in harmony. It is a tragedy that some people have weaponised religion to create conflict. My father added three more wives. He passed on in 1988.

    Celebrating my mother at age 100 is a celebration of Grace in her life.  She beats the odds. Among the 42 members of her Age Grade and the five wives of her husband, she is the last person standing. She has been abundantly blessed, for Mom has enjoyed robust, good health all her life, bringing great financial relief to the children, as against the financially draining burden and stressful care some other children have had to endure with their aged parents. She does not have high blood pressure, walks around unaided, retains sharp eyes, strong voice and no diabetes or sugar problem, in spite of using six cubes of St. Louis sugar in a cup of Milo drink!! Mom is also lucky to be in the care of family members – a daughter and a great, great grandson, as against artificial care of hired staff.

    Mother was a devoted wife who converted to Islam, the religion of her husband, and worshipped faithfully according to its tenets that she was installed as “Atoyegbe” of Idera Mosque, Imowe quarters, Ijebu-Isiwo. 

    In her prime, mother was a workaholic and had engaged in multiple ventures – from food selling, including the famous Ijebu delicacy, Ikokore, in Ibadan, palm oil at Mamu, near Ijebu-Igbo, to being a fish merchant in Akotogbo, in the riverine area of Ondo state from where the family returned to the roots in Ijebu-Isiwo.

    My mother is the most organized person I have known. She is a human alarm clock and a most time conscious person. Tell Mom you need to wake up four o’clock in the morning, she will wake you at precisely four o’clock. Most times I go home to take her on visits to her daughters and grandchildren.  If I tell Mom we shall leave by 7am, she would be fully ready by 6.30am. If constraints of time  is making it difficult  for me to  go home and take her on a visit, Mom would just go on the visit, without notification but with a pot of soup, fufu, garri, and of course, her beverage – Milo !  Asked why she goes to such bothers when visiting a daughter or an adult grandchild, Mom would tell you that when visiting someone unannounced, you must have at least  two-day food supply so as not to put undue pressure on your host.  She would not want to create an emergency situation where the host/hostess would have to just rustle a food for her.  The point is that Mom is finicky with what she eats – live fish, not oku eko, and fresh pepper/tomato as soup ingredients, which she must see  before grinding !   At home, you remove your shoes before entering the sitting room and ladies must keep their handbags in their hands, or on their laps, not dump on a seat.  She does not tolerate littering of space. 

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    My mother is blessed with the sharpest memory imaginable.  Imagine recalling, in details,  those present, and who said what at a meeting 60 years  ago when my father bought land from a family in the town !  Mom is a dependable monitor. When I was building my house in the village 33 years ago, Mom would resume with the workers at site in the morning, pack her lunch along, and close with them in the evening.  She counts the number cement bags and blocks used and the lorry loads of sharp and soft sand delivered!!  Since completion of the house decades ago, Mom has been the one getting those who live in a two-room section of the building –  free of charge  – but with the proviso of keeping the compound clean. However, once my mother determines that the premises is not being well maintained enough, the person is out. 

     Finally, I remain eternally grateful to my mother for saving my son from being a cripple for life. It was in the early 1980s. My son, the last born, took ill and could not walk again. He was just one year plus.  I was with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos and took the child to the official hospital on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere.  He was admitted and my Mom came to stay with him in the hospital.  After about a week, my Mom started expressing doubt about the efficacy of the treatment being given in restoring mobility to the child and pleaded with me to allow her take the child home to my father for native care.  The Indian lady doctor who was attending to him objected to the request to discharge him.  Eventually, I had to sign that I forced a discharge of the child, against medical advice.  I took my Mom home, with my son, on a Saturday. When I was returning to Lagos that day, my father had assured me that when I come back a week later, the child will be walking, again.  It was one week of harrowing anxiety. 

    The following Saturday, as I was parking in front of my father’s house, behold, my son was running out of the house shouting: Daddy!  Daddy!!  I literally jumped out of the car, leaving the engine running, lifted him up, restraining tears of joy.  I went inside the house and prostrated, full length, before my father and mother.  The efficacy of African traditional medicine has just been demonstrated, so convincingly!!! 

    Two weeks after returning to Lagos, I took the boy back to the Surulere hospital. When the Indian doctor saw him walking in, she stood transfixed, as if seeing an apparition. Then, she blurted out:  how did it happen?  Imagine, she had concluded that the child will not walk again, yet, supposedly giving treatment!  Fear Western-trained doctors o.

    On New Year Day, January 1, 2024, my mother was in my country home – she lives in her husband’s house – to share in the festivities of the season when call came through that the little boy of 1984 just had his third child in London earlier in the day. My mother went into celebrative dance steps on being told the news.   I celebrate my mother on attaining this landmark age of 100 and wish her many more happy days.  She is a Mother for All Season.

    •Dr. Olawunmi, a Mass Communication Scholar and Public Affairs Analyst, is former Washington Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors.       Email: olawunmibisi@yahoo.com  Phone ( SMS ONLY ) 0803 364 7571   Tuesday, 23 January, 2024   

  • Tales of lucky escape as Ibadan explosion victims recall ordeal

    Tales of lucky escape as Ibadan explosion victims recall ordeal

    • How 20 rescuers tried in vain to remove me from rubble -Survivor

    • I thought it was rapture, says another

    • Explosion: The untold story of black Tuesday in Ibadan

    The heavy explosion that ripped through Bodija Estate, the heart of Ibadan on Tuesday evening left monumental damage in its wake, writes Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE and SEGUN SHOWUNMI.

    Blood, rubble and wreckage are the new marks of a once serene, highbrow section of the Bodija residential estate, Ibadan after the bloody explosion of what was believed to be dynamites, which killed five people and landed 77 others in the hospital.

    At press time yesterday, many residents of the community were still in tears while many others were in shock. Senior citizens living around 1,000 metre radius of the estate situated off Adeyi Avenue, were still in shock from the heavy explosion.

    For instance, the Operations Manager of Bon Nest Hotel, an edifice situated about 600 metres away from the blast site, Mr Tunde Solomon, was said to have died of shock on Thursday. The hotel announced his death on its Instagram page, saying his death was caused by the heavy blast which ripped through the area on Tuesday night.

    Mourning the deceased on the hotel’s Instagram page bonhotelibadan, the management of the hotel described its late manager as a selfless and dedicated worker who had been using his 25 years in the industry for the growth of of the organisation.

    The post reads: ”We regret to inform you of the sudden passing of our beloved Operations Manager, Mr.Tunde Solomon.

    ”Mr. Solomon suffered a heart attack on the 17th of January 2024, and it is believed that it was a consequence of the explosion  that occurred on the 16th of January 2024 at Bodija.

    ”Mr. Tunde Solomon was a vastly experienced member of staff with more than 25 years in the industry. His commitment to his role and his contributions to the growth of BON Hotel Nest Ibadan and the BON group in general during his tenure were invaluable.

    ”His loss leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

    ”We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Solomon’s family during this difficult time.

    ”Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they navigate through this challenging period.”

    There are obviously many other private residents whose shock-induced death might not have been announced.

    The wreckage of once beautiful buildings that stood firm in the area are visible, conveying the impact of the explosion believed to have been caused by storage of explosives in a residential community.

    The losses are huge, bringing tears and distress to the elites that dominate the community.

    While some of them were displaced by reason of the damage to their homes, some lost loved ones; a development they are still struggling to come to terms with.

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    Not only private individuals suffered human and material losses, businesses, worship centres and government establishments all got a dose each of the bitter pill.  Hence, while some are mourning the death of loved ones, others are groaning over material losses, while others were moaning over both.

    The Oyo State Government Secretariat, which is about 1,000 metres away, was not spared of the disaster. The office of the governor was also affected.

    The University College Hospital (UCH) was still reeling from the impact as the ceilings of some of its buildings were shattered with computer systems affected at both UCH and state secretariat.

    Although the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put the number of affected houses at 58, more landlords were coming up with evidence of damage to their buildings.

    Many buildings around Mokola, Osuntokun Avenue and New Bodija are still counting their losses. Ace Mall and Domino’s outlet on Awolowo Road had their ceilings shattered while Grandex, a supermarket in New Bodija, had its windows and ceilings smashed.

    The building of Bodija Baptist Church and several other churches and mosques in the area were also shaken with impact to their roofs, ceilings and windows as well as other facilities within.

    Banks in Bodija and Mokola suffered similar fate. So were other buildings around Coca-Cola and as far as Ikolaba Estate in the city.

    Many hospitals around Bodija were littered with injured victims. It was tales of woe from the injured victims when our correspondent visited alongside the leaders of Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA).

    For 84-year-old Engr. Akinwale Morakinyo, his survival was like a miracle. The explosion brought the walls of his building down on him, but he was lucky to be rescued by the people around. His house shares perimeter fence with the house where the explosion took place.

    The little girl that was staying with him became the angel that facilitated his rescue. He expressed surprise that his head and spine were still intact despite being under the rubble.

    Morakinyo, who sustained a knee injury in the explosion, was admitted at JRapha, a private hospital at New Bodija.

    Narrating his ordeal, he said: “I was watching the 7pm news on the television when the incident occurred. The wall of my bedroom fell on me. People were trying to carry the wall but they couldn’t.

    “I was taking deep breath, and my breathing was getting weaker and weaker. If not for quick intervention by the people, I would have died there, because I was getting weaker and weaker and breathing was becoming more and more difficult.

    “I had a girl that was staying with me. Immediately the incident occurred, she did not have any means of getting out because she could not gain access to the key. She was forced to climb the fence and started shouting for help before people came to my rescue.

    “It was just the saving grace that there was someone at home, else, I would have died, because people outside there would just be searching other locations,  not knowing that I had been trapped.

    “I heard noises while I was trapped in the rubble. Someone came in to rescue me but could not do it. Another batch came in, they tried but could not do anything.

    “Then another batch came in – they were about 20. Even with that, they still couldn’t move the rubble on me. So they started breaking it before I was eventually rescued. That was what caused these bruises you are seeing on me.

    “Even if it’s time for someone to die, he should die peacefully, not by this kind of incident.”

    I thought it was rapture – Survivor

    Also narrating her experience, another resident of the area, Mrs Tokunbo Oseni, whose 18-year old son Timilehin Oseni is currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Redeemer’s Hospital, New Bodija having been badly injured, said the explosion made her think it was the rapture.

    Her words: “I was at home that day around 7:45pm when we suddenly heard a loud sound and a very forceful explosion. We were staying downstairs in a duplex.

    Everything scattered at once from the ceiling to the window, the doors and others.

    “The ground was full of broken glasses and ceiling. Everywhere was dark and gloomy. We couldn’t see ourselves at all. We were just shouting.

    “We thought the world had come to an end. We thought that rapture had come. We met everybody crying and shouting when we came out of the gate.

    “Many people were injured. There was blood everywhere. Some people thought it was an earthquake. It was the following day we got to know that it was an explosion.

    “Our son was outside our gate when the explosion occurred. It lifted him off the ground from Deji Oyelese, our street, and deposited him somewhere at Bond Hotel. He called us because he had a phone in his pocket as at that time. He was breathing profusely. He had inhaled so much dust and could not talk again.

    “We went to bring him back home because we thought it was something we could treat ourselves. Everywhere was in chaos before we got out of the estate.

    “He was placed on oxygen when we brought him here, because he could not breathe well. It took almost one hour before he could get better. The doctor later advised that we moved him to ICU (intensivecare unit).

    “Timilehin was supposed to go back to school today (Thursday) at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, but he can’t go back now.

    “We have called the school to tell them how the incident affected him, because their examination is about to start.

    “The school showed understanding and promised to carry his Head of Department and others along concerning his matter so that he can write his test and examination whenever he goes back to school.

    “We are homeless right now. When we leave the hospital, we don’t have anywhere to go. The house was badly damaged. We don’t know where to start from.

    “We will appreciate if government can help everyone involved so that life can be easier for us, even though we know that government can’t do everything but just for us to start with something tangible, which I believe will go along way to assist us.”

    Akande Oluwakemi was in the kitchen when the explosion occurred. She was injured all over her body by broken window glasses. She was knocked down by the glasses but was later rescued by her brother and others who rushed her to the hospital.

    The Chairman, Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA), Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, told our correspondent that the leadership discovered a lot of problems in the estate on assuming office. He added that measures were already being taken to address them when the explosion occurred.

    He called for joint efforts by all stakeholders to improve security and peaceful coexistence.

    His words: “When we came into the leadership of BERA, we saw that there were a lot of challenges and outright problems that had crept up on us due to unplanned development and changes in use of buildings.

    “Bodija has shifted from the original design of a secured residential area with flower fences to a commercial centre. The original infrastructure and services need to be worked upon to cope with the current reality.

    “We complained about the proliferation of clubs, lounges, eateries, etc without adequate control of the polluting effects. We have drawn up a Smart Bodija vision as a guide for our team before this disastrous event happened.

    “While rallying support for the affected residents, the rest of the community are now in despair. Could this happen again? Can we cope?

    “Those whose houses are marked for testing are pensive; what would the outcome be? If one’s house is to be demolished for something which was not their fault, will they be compensated and assisted to rebuild? How long will this hotel promise last? We can go on and on.

    “We need all hands on deck to handle all these issues and more. We need to continue to beef up security to ensure that looting does not happen. We need to continue to sensitise and educate our residents on what to do.”

    As the state government upscales efforts to mitigate the effects of the explosion on affected residents, all eyes are also on security agencies to fish out and bring to book those who stored explosives in a residential community.

  • ‘Nigeria pays lowest salary to lecturers in West Africa’

    ‘Nigeria pays lowest salary to lecturers in West Africa’

    Within the realm of academia, Prof. Clement Olusegun Olaniran Kolawole stands out as a luminary, actively shaping the educational landscape with his profound expertise in Language Education, Reading, Curriculum and Instruction. Currently serving as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Kolawole’s journey is a testament to a life devoted to scholarship and leadership. A distinguished fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflicts Studies (CEPACS), he is an illustrious member of various esteemed organisations, including the Curriculum Organisation of Nigeria (CON), Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), and the International Reading Association (IRA). Beyond his impressive academic pursuits, Prof. Kolawole has demonstrated exemplary leadership in academic circles locally and internationally. In this interview, the seasoned scholar x-rays the state of university education in Nigeria and other issues. He spoke with Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    Assessing the state of university education in Nigeria

    University education in Nigeria is not in the best shape at the moment, going by the fact that certain things that are basic to a smooth system are not there. For instance, our tertiary institutions are not being properly funded by the owners:  the state governments, the government at the federal level, private individuals and agencies, because these stakeholders that I have just mentioned do not realise the enormity of the roles that the university plays in the social economic development of the nation. The university is the hub where research activities that engender development (scientific, technology, infrastructure and human capacity development etc.) take place; everything takes place through theory and practice in the university system. What we do in the university system is to actualise some of these findings to position us.

     So, because those in government are not aware of this, they are playing lip service to university funding. So, you get to most universities, you wouldn’t find the wherewithal, the infrastructure, office space, laboratories, top- notch and functioning libraries (both virtual and physical) and even the whole environment sometimes calls to question whether we are serious about university education. The idea of asking private individuals to come on board is an excuse on the part of the government to address its failure because if the government were to be doing what was necessary, private individuals have no business in university education because it is a social responsibility that the government owes the people. But because funding is not adequate, the university system in Nigeria pays the lowest salary to academic staff even in West Africa. So it is not a place where the best people can be attracted; the best researchers even today – our first-class students – do not want to stay because once they know the salary that is attached to it, they prefer to go into ICT, oil or the banking sector where they can make more money.

     Because there is no money, the infrastructure facilities that we need are not in place; we cannot attract global best practices; we cannot replicate them; we cannot bring quality scholars; even those that are home-grown that are doing their best are leaving in droves because we use our salaries to run the system. For example, I can tell you that in the last 10 years, the government has owed university lecturers what is called earned academic allowances. These are the allowances that they ought to have paid for the extra work that we are doing because we don’t have adequate human power; it is not that the adequate human power to be employed is not existing but the government has not recruited them into the system. So we do much more than we are supposed to do; so the government came up with the offer to pay for the extra work that scholars are doing. For me, as I’m speaking with you, the government is owing me over 10 years’ accumulative annual academic allowance. That is in the millions as an individual. So, most of our colleagues are leaving into other areas in other countries where their values will be appreciated and they will get things that are commensurate with their work. All of these problems I have mentioned, like I said in the beginning, the government has not demonstrated that it understands the value of the university education in the developmental trajectory of the country, and that is quite unfortunate.

    How to handle financial autonomy for the universities

    It is very easy. Easy because the government must come to the reality of the fact that it can’t eat its cake and have it. The government must face the reality that it cannot have it both ways. If there’s a challenge in adequately funding universities, and the government acknowledges this by granting full financial autonomy, it implies that universities can seek funding, operate independently, and adhere to guidelines. Granting full financial autonomy means universities have the opportunity to manage their affairs within regulations, including the flexibility to address challenges, and the government cannot simultaneously restrict their ability to charge tuition.

     So, once you grant full financial autonomy, you have given them the opportunity to fend for themselves as much as possible within regulations and spend the money to take care of their challenges. Recently, there was an argument as to universities paying 40% of the IGR to the government, which was nonsensical. Thank God the government woke up and realised there was no point. You have not funded universities adequately, you also want to take 40% from the little they are able to put together from municipal services. Where is the money coming from? It is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

     Universities consume a lot in research and so they need money. Cleaning the campuses, there is a lot of money that goes into it; faculties, residence, buying the reagents in the laboratories, stationary and everything that it requires; universities should have money to meet those demands and once those demands are met, our universities will begin to be stable and run smoothly. For now, we are only on the basics.

    On incessant strikes by ASUU

    Until recently, I was an active member of ASUU. The agitations that ASUU engages in most times have put some sanity on the part of government; otherwise government wasn’t willing to do anything. But unfortunately, ASUU is misunderstood because most times we ourselves also under-report ourselves. As we also say in ASUU congress, for example, academic staff cannot go on total and indefinite strike going by the nature of what we are employed to do – research, teaching and public engagement. You can’t go on strike on public engagement and research, but you can suspend teaching. We have told our union to tell government that we are suspending teaching; that’s one of the most important aspects of our work. Once you suspend teaching, all students will go away but research goes on; community engagement goes on. By the time we tell government that we are on total and indefinite strike, that’s why government can do shakara that they do to us and stop our salary.

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    So, we also misinform the public and misrepresent ourselves. I have always said it in the congress of ASUU, “Tell government that we are withdrawing from teaching, a component aspect of our services.’’ If you do that, you will pay me for research and community engagement because each time we say we are going on strike we normally declare, we do research to improve our quality, to improve our visibility and improve the scope of knowledge. We do community engagement; we serve our communities; we serve committees of the university; we serve our students, and we write letters of reference for our students for job prospects and post-graduate studies outside this country and those things cost money and time.

     What government should have done is to cultivate ASUU. Let me give you an example of the TETFUND. It is the initiative of ASUU in 1996; ASUU already has packaged something about two years ago on how government can tap from technology service providers to get good money to fund education but for some personal reasons or ego, instead of sitting down with ASUU and ask how it is possible without creating problem. ASUU would offer suggestions and government can tap from it, but they missed the opportunity. So if the government sees ASUU as a partner in progress, some of the problems we have, we will not have it.

    How TSA ruins the university system

    TSA is not good for the university system. Universities are set up to do research and when you do research, you are free to look for funding anywhere globally. Most times we appeal to international donor agencies like MacArthur and others. When they give you money, you go there to argue out what you want to do, the time, the implication and the total package. So once you get the grant, the time begins to run; there are equipment you need to buy; there are some you need to import; there are some you need to create and there are people you need to employ, pay and things you need to do periodically. Usually, before TSA, when the money comes, it comes to the account of the university; the money will not be given to the individual for accountability sake because the name of the university is involved. So the university monitors how the money is spent. Once the principal investigator wants to use money, he or she will apply and it is processed by the bursary and the money is realised so that the work can be done. But TSA came and put everything together. So, once such money comes, it goes straight to the CBN; it became herculean to access. Before it became a public knowledge, dollar was no longer available in the CBN because the dollar was used for something else. Meanwhile, the person to whom you signed an agreement to carry out a research is waiting for progress report; he or she is waiting for the progress of the work to be done, while the money to be used to carry out the research can’t be accessed. The equipment you want to buy because prices vary; it is not stable. You may have quoted 5 dollar before and before you know it, it may be 10 dollar and you can’t go back to the funder. So, TSA made that basically impossible. There were several agencies that threatened to blacklist Nigerian universities that took their money and didn’t deliver. In blacklisting the university, they are also blacklisting the scholar that is involved but when they discovered that it was not a lie, that the government policy has made that impossible, most of these donors backed out.  And they went to other countries where researches can be done timeously and values can be added. Meanwhile, ASUU told government not to do it, that it is a minus to; it will destroy scholarship, destroy the stability of the university system but the government didn’t listen. Government can’t run university the way it runs ministries; that’s a mistake the government is making.

    Benefit Nigeria can drive from technology

    What the university exists to do is to advance knowledge, scholarship and make society better. There is nothing that is happening globally that didn’t start from the university system. If you go to Silicon Valley, Massachusetts, Oxford, Harvard and all those Ivy League universities, it is research. We have been told that some of the things going on in technology today started from campuses of universities and so back in Nigeria, our people have the knowledge base, the technical knowhow and what is required is to put some of these things together, but they are not given adequate support. There is nothing wrong in government saying, this is what we want to do, can you think it out for us and tell us how to go about it. That is what universities should be doing, but government doesn’t engage universities because some people in the ministries are in one corner trying to cut corner, with profit from the policy at the expense of the larger society. If the government puts its money where its mouth is, we will move faster than we are moving now. There is no aspect of human existence that the university scholars can’t research into but the government doesn’t give us the opportunity and the conducive atmosphere to run the way we are supposed to run. Many of our colleagues leave government universities to private universities and private universities are flourishing because proprietors release money timeously. You see them regularly monitoring what goes on and they want to satisfy their clients. Why is it that the federal government is not doing that? There is no country that can develop outside its universities. If Nigeria wants to fully develop, it should go back to its tertiary institutions where research drives development.

  • Positioning Nigeria as drug ingredients production hub

    Positioning Nigeria as drug ingredients production hub

    In the expansive landscape of Africa’s pharmaceutical sector, with an estimated market value of $30 billion, Nigeria currently holds a meager 1.5 per cent share, a figure poised to dwindle further due to the cessation of operations by some pharmaceutical companies in the country. However, a promising shift is on the horizon with a $23 million private-sector investment, supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), in a state-of-the-art facility established by Emzor Pharmaceuticals, a homegrown drug manufacturing firm. This strategic investment has the potential to position Nigeria as a pivotal hub in sub-Saharan Africa for the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). Such a transformation holds the promise of reversing the current trend, offering not only affordable medications and high-quality drugs but also contributing to increased employment opportunities and various other benefits for the Nigerian populace. Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS reports

    During the 2022 Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Health Policy Commission (HPC) painted a stark picture in its white paper titled “Enhancing Local Production of Medicines and Vaccines in Nigeria,” highlighting the potential challenges the country may face in this crucial area.

     “Given its large market size, Nigeria has the potential to become a major player in the manufacturing and supply chain for pharmaceutical products in Africa. However, Nigeria still relies heavily on foreign supply of medicines and vaccines, with imports accounting for 70 per cent of local drug consumption. Nigeria also imports most of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) needed for local production,” an extract from the white paper read.

     Statistics from the 2023 edition of the Africa Pharmaceutical Market Outlook underscores the concerns raised by the HPC regarding the state of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria. The figures reveal that out of Africa’s estimated $30 billion pharmaceutical market, Nigeria accounts for only 1.5 per cent, placing it behind Morocco (1.6 per cent), Algeria (1.9 per cent), Egypt (2.6 per cent), and South Africa (3.9 per cent). The 2023 Africa Pharmaceutical Market Outlook delves deeper into the condition of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, emphasising a stark contrast. While South Africa relies on local sourcing for approximately 80 per cent of medicines, leveraging advanced technical infrastructure and ample skilled manpower for API synthesis, Nigeria, in contrast, sources only 25 per cent of its drugs locally. This striking discrepancy persists despite Nigeria hosting around 150 pharmaceutical manufacturers, the highest number in sub-Saharan Africa.

     The developments in the first half of 2023 seem to be impacting the pharmaceutical sector, adding strain to an economy attempting to regain equilibrium after years of stagnation. The surge in foreign exchange rates, coupled with the persistent power challenges — forcing companies to allocate over 40 per cent of their overhead costs to purchase diesel for industrial operations — has intensified the business landscape, turning it into a survival test for enterprises.

     In a notable example, last August, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, the country’s second-largest drug producer, made a significant announcement to halt its operations. This decision stemmed from the termination of exclusive marketing and distribution agreements by the company’s UK parent. According to a statement released on the Nigeria Exchange, GSK Plc, which holds a majority stake in the Nigerian unit, conveyed its intention to appoint third-party distributors for selling prescription medicines and vaccines within the country. Additionally, GSK’s consumer-health arm, Haleon Plc, expressed its intent to terminate the distribution agreement with GSK Nigeria in the coming months and appoint a third-party distributor. GSK outlined plans for an accelerated cash distribution and return of capital to minority shareholders.

     While the company did not explicitly state the rationale behind its decision, GSK Nigeria had earlier acknowledged challenges in sustaining the supply of its pharmaceutical and vaccine products in the country. This struggle was attributed to a shortage of dollars necessary for importing crucial ingredients.

     On November 8, 2023, another significant development unfolded as Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical multinational, discreetly disclosed its withdrawal from operations in Nigeria. The company revealed its decision to appoint a third-party distributor to manage its commercial portfolio of medicines starting February 2024. Annocing the decision, Sanofi’s General Manager (general medicines) and Country Lead, said: “This strategic move is driven by our commitment to continually improve access to our medicines and to better serve our patients and the Nigerian health system.” However, the company’s numbers indicate that it’s been struggling to keep its margins in Nigeria.

    Upping the ante?

    For a long time, leaders in the pharmaceutical sector have persistently emphasised the crucial need to prioritise drug security in the country, particularly at a time when healthcare is becoming increasingly inaccessible to many Nigerians. The exorbitant cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) poses a significant challenge for the industry, exacerbated by the escalating exchange rates against the naira, ultimately influencing the pricing of finished pharmaceutical products. An active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) serves as the fundamental component of both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, playing a pivotal role in producing their intended health effects. In instances where a prescription drug has a generic version, its name corresponds to its API.

     Currently, a staggering 90 per cent of the required Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for local industries are imported, placing the industry in a precarious situation due to the challenging task of securing adequate foreign exchange for these essential components. Data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reveals a notable surge in the value of imported finished drugs, such as artemether/lumefantrine, escalating from N6.4 billion in 2018 to N12.1 billion in 2021. Similarly, imports of finished drugs, including sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine, witnessed a significant growth from N453 million in 2018 to N1.3 billion in 2021.

     However, a transformative shift is on the horizon with the imminent completion of a $23 million two-phased API production plant by Emzor Pharmaceuticals, located in Sagamu, Ogun state. Upon completion, this facility is poised to generate 400 metric tonnes of APIs annually. The project is financed through a €13.85 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Emeka Okoli, Chairman of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, clarified that the €13.85 million loan from the European Investment Bank covers 60 per cent of the ambitious project. This project will initially concentrate on four anti-malaria APIs: artemether, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine, and pyrimethamine. Future phases will expand into three more areas, ultimately creating over 500 jobs.

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     This substantial volume of APIs, equivalent to approximately 200 large shipping containers, has the capacity to produce millions of medication doses. Notably, this initiative is a significant shift for a country that heavily relies on importing over 90 per cent of its APIs. Industry stakeholders express relief as Emzor’s venture into APIs signals a promising future for enhanced local drug production and broader raw material markets within the industry. Furthermore, local production of these APIs eliminates one commercial transaction, ensuring that profits remain within the value chain. This positions Nigerian drug manufacturers with a competitive edge against finished imports, primarily sourced from India and China.

    At full operating capacity, Okoli sees local production growing significantly cheaper than imports. “Not only are you saving on your input cost because you are doing it yourself, you are not paying a foreign person profit on that aspect of your production. The Nigerian market is more than we can produce. We enter the market completely with imports from India and China as competitors,” he said. 

    Okoli emphasised another noteworthy advantage of local API production—the ability to cater to the needs of smaller manufacturers who may not afford large consignments, which are often the minimum requirement for foreign orders. Locally, these smaller entities can secure as little as two tonnes of APIs, fostering inclusivity in the industry. Arthur Delor, the Investment Officer from the European Investment Bank (EIB), explained that the bank provided Emzor with the means to proactively combat the high prevalence of malaria in Nigeria, a country with the largest burden and records of deaths globally due to this disease. He expresses optimism that fortifying a consistent supply of APIs within the country will elevate manufacturing standards, leading to increased job opportunities and employment prospects for Nigerians.

     “We are very excited about this operation and are confident that the development of this facility will bring many benefits to Nigerians and the broader African pharmaceutical sector, as it will contribute to reducing import dependency and ensuring a local and more resilient supply of high-quality competitively priced anti- malaria API,” said Delor.

     Frankline Keter, the Chief Executive Officer of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients For Africa (APIFA), a non-profit organisation based in Kenya, focused on assisting local producers in investing and expanding their operations, emphasised that the collaboration with Emzor aligns with the goal of enhancing access to quality and affordable medicines for people across the continent. “What we are trying to do with Emzor together with the support of EIB is to build another supply chain centre globally. The issue is not just about the self-sustainability of Nigeria but about Africa becoming a centre of the supply chain so that we can take care of our needs in case of any challenges and things can move from here to Asia and Europe as well,” Keter said.

     Keter recalled that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption in the supply chain of essential raw materials led Nigeria, along with many other African nations, to rely on aid for access to life-saving vaccines. This situation underscores the importance of backward integration, particularly in critical stages of production like Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), to achieve self-sufficiency. Local industry operators, speaking on the matter, lauded Emzor for its bold and courageous investment, especially at this crucial juncture in the economy. They foresee the investment breathing new life into the local pharmaceutical industry and positively impacting the entire industrial landscape of Nigeria. Overall, the outlook appears promising, positioning Emzor as a potential new giant in the West African health sector.

  • Three to experience magic of Milan

    Three to experience magic of Milan

    Three winners, two customers, and a top marketer for Seinde Signature emerged at a recent raffle draw to clinch an all-expense paid trip to Milan. The event which also marked the third anniversary of the niche perfume brand with locations across Nigeria took place at the Experience Studio, Lagos founded by Olufemi Olaseinde Olusola, an avid collector.

    Happily, he takes you into their world, the importance of the trip, and expectations. “Our third anniversary, Scentiversary 3, is a testament to our growth and passion for the art of perfumery. We are excited to bring the raffle draw winners; Adie Anne Martina and David Idachaba, our lucky winners, and our top marketer, Joy Olakunle, to experience the magic of Milan and the spectacular Esxence Perfumery Fair.”

    He added that: They will be joining Seinde Signature Salon  DE Parfum on an all-expense paid trip to the magical niche fragrance-focused city of Milan, Italy in March 2024. There we will attend the spectacular Esxence Perfumery Fair and have plenty of exciting activities together.

    “Seinde Signature started as a passion project. We’ve grown remarkably, from our first perfume studio to five branches. This trip is a way to celebrate our journey and give back to our loyal customers.”

    On her part, Oreoluwa Olusola, manager of the brand, talked about their unique selling point and more. Highlighted the brand’s niche focus: “Our store stands out in Nigeria for its exclusive collection of niche fragrances. We proudly offer a range of perfumes representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship and creativity.”

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    The trip, planned for March 2024, includes special events and gifts in collaboration with international partners. The selection process involved a raffle draw, with entries based on purchases of fragrances worth a cumulative N500,000 for a ticket. “We aimed for transparency and excitement in our selection process, making it a memorable experience for our customers,” explained Olasola.

    The trip promises an immersive experience in the world of high-end perfumery. “Milan is the epicenter of niche fragrances,” Oreoluwa added. “Our guests will have the chance to meet top perfumers, experience rare scents worth thousands, and enjoy the luxurious ambiance of Milan.”

    Seinde Signature’s Scentiversary celebration represents not just a milestone for the brand but also a grand opportunity for fragrance enthusiasts to explore the artistry and elegance of niche perfumery in one of the world’s most renowned cities. The brand, known for its unique fragrance EXPERIENCE STUDIO and Salon de Parfum retail chain, is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa. It showcases over 1,500 scents, offering a rare and sophisticated selection.

    Esxence which was established in 2009, has become a pivotal international event, blending the art of fragrance with innovation and research. “This event offers a unique opportunity to delve into the world of artistic perfumery, a blend of tradition and avant-garde creativity,” according to details from Esxence’s website. The event draws over 10,000 attendees, featuring exhibitions and expert-selected international brands.

  • Thrill with runway designs

    Thrill with runway designs

    The runway is the main domain for models to express themselves, carve a niche as well as dominate the catwalk in style. Apart from magazine covers, billboards, and other campaigns they are set to make a difference this season.

    A recent experience is the Pan African Music Fashion Runway (MFR)  which blends contemporary Pan African designers, arts, film and media, international runway models, and cutting-edge fashion with live music excellence.

    The 9th edition of the Pan African Music Runway in Lagos was colourful and memorable. The event featured 18 young emerging designers with the theme,” “empowering the creative and corporate mix to align infrastructural development and growth in the creative and entertainment sector.

    During the show, over 30 local and international runway models showcased the creativity of the participating designers in an inspiring atmosphere in the presence of style luminaries and fashion devotees, who gathered at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, venue.

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    The event which was also streamed live via social media platforms opened the pioneering fashion and music platform to a global virtual international audience exceeding 10,000 watching.

    The organisers of Pan African Music Runway, NMO Management during the event also recognised and honoured prolific and iconic pioneers in creative industries known as ‘Game Changers’ within the African narrative for their significant contributions.

    Recipients at this year’s event include; the president of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Gabriel Idahosa; iconic legendary singer-songwriter Yinka Davies; ICT Fashion Innovation; Malik Afegbua. While Jessica Paul and Philip Owusu emerged as MFR Models of the year 2023.

    GBT auditions model search winners for MFR, youth empowerment talent search platform of NMO Management Ltd are Tooki Similoluwa and Al-Amin Oloko.

    Speaking on the significance of the show, Ngozi Omambala CEO of NMO management said: “Our priority as always is to produce a first-class   event of live music excellence, whilst showcasing the most cutting edge Pan African fashion, established designers and international runway models.”

    Omambala, also the chairperson of the Creative and Entertainment Sector of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), noted that the Creative and Entertainment sector has undergone seismic changes to become an absolute force of nature.

    In her words: “The growth has been unprecedented, yet its infrastructure development lags exposing weaknesses and vulnerabilities of youth creative seeking to carve out careers without support or protection.

  • Helen Oduyemi: I learnt farming from my grandparents

    Helen Oduyemi: I learnt farming from my grandparents

    Helen Omowunmi Oduyemi is the CEO of Helen Genius Agro Products Limited and Shealux Limited. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she takes you into her world, learning from her grandparents who were farmers, Value addition, training and mentoring others, getting grants and support from the Central Bank, and Heritage Bank, and experience in export.

    What has been the experience?

     Shealux Limited is into value addition, shea butter, and black soap. We make cosmetics from shea butter and black soap, products, and skincare solutions for people using essential oils and herbs. All these are agro-related. For Helen Genius we deal with farm processing, agro-processing, the exportation of Agro produce, and real production.  I started in 2016 in Osun state, and people started calling me the lady farmer from Etsaoke. I went into Agriculture because I saw a large gap coming from an agrarian community in Osun state. My grandparents are farmers and I saw that there was no dissemination of information. It was that information that I took to Etsa-oke, no improved seedlings, the framers were not notified. They do garri processing and the way they do the garri processing is not hygienic enough, there is drudgery and the effort that they need to put into it is just crazy. So, I decided that I would keep going there to train them, not thinking that I would be a farmer. I was a scientist. I studied Science Laboratory Technology at Ladoke Akintola University.

    What did you do with Science Laboratory Technology (SLT)?

    After studying SLT, I went to business school at the Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC), Lagos, then run by the Central Bank of Nigeria. I went there at Ikeja and did the course and I was inspired. I was able to write Concept notes and Business Plans. So, I felt that instead of looking for a job, I could be doing something with my time. I used to train people before I graduated in vocational skills under the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Oyo state then under Gov Alao Akala. They usually engage me to train villagers in the different zones for women empowerment.

    What are some of the things that you were training them then?

    I trained the local women hat making, confectionaries, cake making, soaps, and detergents and we segmented them. They will always come to the zonal office and I will be there with other facilitators. Then after school, I went back to Esa oke, my town and I tried to raise other people through vocational skills.

    Then I saw the gaps for farmers. Then I said if these people provide the food that people eat then why is it difficult and they cannot afford the basic things in life? Why is it that only a few of them can afford a decent life? Then I saw that gap, the trees that my grandparents planted, people are still using that kind of seedling. People are still using that kind of low-yield seedling input to expect high-yield outputs, which is not possible.

    So, I took it upon myself to organise with the king of our town in the palace. I started training people and I went to JDPC in Oyo the Reverend father and one of the members assisted because they saw the passion in me. That time they were doing vitamin A cassava stem under harvest clubs and they made me one of the advocators. At a time they gave me a whole pick-up of Vitamin A Cassava stems. Improved variety and I took it to Osun State. At that time the variety was not in Osun state and that was how I entered Agric fully. When people have one problem or the other they would call me and I started learning more. I did not study agriculture in school.

    How did you learn?

    I did not go to any agricultural school to learn about agric. I was born into Agric; I am a third-generation agriculturist. The use of herbs and agro-produce is a norm in my family. But improving on it was a challenge that I saw with people. My grandparents were royals, they had money. When they were alive, I did not know that farmers were poor. My grandmother had two 911 that carried oranges, and pineapples to Lagos and neighbouring towns for her. So, I didn’t know that farmers were poor; I used to think farmers were wealthy. I have always been participating in farming from a young age. My dad is an accountant and my mum is a teacher, they didn’t go to the farm. Later my dad after retiring went back to farming. But, I always got tips from my grandparents and I loved to always stay around them. So, every holiday I would follow Grandma to the farm. When I was going home, she would pack so many goodies for me. And there is that bond. She taught me a lot about business.

    How many years have you been in farming?

    I started in 2016. I registered the first company, Helen Genius Global Services in 2015 and got support from the Central Bank through Heritage Bank, EDP Youth Development Initiative. That was the first support that I got.

    What gave you the opportunity?

    I went to business school in 2012 and it was sponsored by CBN then. They gave us 3 million naira as a loan for the winners, about 90 of us out of 3000 applicants or more. At a stage, we got to three thousand people and then they had to screen us out till we had 90 people. Then in Osun state, out of the 90 people in Nigeria, I was one of the beneficiaries.

    What did that exposure do to your business?

    For the first time, I was able to have cash in the first place. I was just doing those things out of passion. My grandparents had died and my parents were just average. And they were not supporting what I was doing because they felt that you have not fed yourself, you are trying to help people. What is the meaning of this nonsense? However, I felt that even if I had the money and everyone around me was poor, then all of us were still poor. But, how do I convince villagers that what they are doing is wrong, when I don’t have proof of concept?

    So, Heritage Bank was able to help me to have the cash to prove the concept. To say this is the way, everybody comes and follows. I have gone out to find out and knew that around that time they were rejecting Nigerian garri production, which is value added to cassava. I know that people around us in Ekiti state plant Cassava, but not as much as in Oyo state. So, when I got this fund, we bought stainless steel machines. So that whatever produce we have would be exportable.

     We had challenges along the line but it was a good start. In a day in that factory, we could have like 10 people working. These were women who on a good day may not know where to go. It was standard and with that, we got a grant support from World Bank under GEM in 2018. That was 11 million naira support and our community started supplying wood. We wanted to have our station where we could generate power and run green energy. So, we started the bioproduction and that was where that project had to stop.

    Looking back to when you started and now, what has changed?

    When I started, I did not have enough information. I only had passion. I did not have any structure. If I am not there nothing works. My level of knowledge was low compared to now. I now have more resilience that no matter what happens n, things can always get better. And if we give it all it takes, it will be successful. I now know that my concepts are doable, they are achievable, they are replicable. Whatever we do in Osun state, we are replicating in Oyo state and can always diversify. I was not thinking of planting anything when I started. I just wanted to help other farmers. But over time, I saw a lot of lapses and realized that if we were going to prove this to people, you would have to do it first and let them see it. In 2019, we saw our cluster planting cotton, we tried some places with our hand and another with a hand pusher and saw the different outputs. So, we want all of them planting different things to be able to use a planter and not their hand. The hand would not give the actual plant population that is required to bring profit. No, I can create the economics of production for a particular crop before going to farm at all. Also, with herbs and other things that we have access to, I can map out a farm with the drone that we are now using. So, you can be sure that if you are planting on one hectare, it is one acre that you are using; sometimes the surveyor may not be accurate. In the past, you could put an input of 5 hectares on land that is 3 and a half acres. It happened to us at Onifufu village in Ibadan in 2019. When we brought the drone there, we found that what they told us they had measured was not the actual digital space that we had. That was a loss on its own. So, the information that we have now is way far better.

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     Do you have young people that you are mentoring?

    I have older not younger people that I am mentoring. In my circle, most times I am always the youngest. Most times, the people who are serious with life most times are above 40. In cosmetics, the Nigeria Export Promotion Council just recently gave us a hand of collaboration to mentor people into value addition of all these organic natural cosmetics for exports. We export palm oil, shea butter, and peeled beans. People send their requests for different foods, I do only agro products. The cosmetics we do are like food to the skin. From shea butter, mango butter, and cocoa butter Mango has butter inside the seed, which helps the skin to glow, for anti-aging. I keep learning and from SheTrades I can say that the transformation that I have had so far, 60 percent is because I am with SheTrades. They have trained us consistently and when you apply these things to your business, you discover that there is a whole lot inside of you to explore.

  • Rasaki Akanni Okoya @84: Industrialisation can make Nigerian youth productive

    Rasaki Akanni Okoya @84: Industrialisation can make Nigerian youth productive

    Born on January 12, 1940, Chief Rasaki Okoya, is a billionaire industrialist with the Midas touch. The Aare of Lagos is the owner and founder of Eleganza Group of Companies and RAO Investment Properties whose tentacles have spread across Nigeria and West Africa. With his experience as an industrial magnate spanning over six decades, he has seen it all. Chief Okoya’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a billionaire is a testament to his unwavering vision, strategic insight, relentless and perseverance. As he turns 84, Okoya talks about the secret of his success, and how government can make the youth productive using industrialization in this interview with Oluwatosin Ojo.

    Life lessons at 84 and secret of his success

    Consistency, perseverance, hard work commitment, passion and integrity are the only vehicles that can drive you to success and not by cutting corners. Also, it is by being true to oneself in what one is doing. I am passionate about my business. I am committed to it and I have been consistent over the years by getting involved all the way by not playing the boss.  At Eleganza, we try to work within our means particularly by working with the local market.  It has helped the business to grow this far.

    Recommendation for job creation for the youth

    I have decided to use this opportunity to propose a recurring vision that has plagued me. My warmest regards and congratulations to our President, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, for their steady management of the economy. We pray for peaceful and successful terms ahead. From working in and monitoring the manufacturing industry for over 60 years, my hope is that the current administration makes the industrialisation of Nigeria a cardinal goal. This they can do by utilising our youths and empowering increased incorporation of manufacturing through the establishment of many cottage industries and factories during their term. Did you know, a significant percentage of the country’s GDP is derived from MSMEs and it can be approximated that majority of these enterprises are youth-owned?

    Making the youth productive via industrialisation

    Our youth have potential and can be stronger with greater empowerment. If you open the eyes of a blind man, he will never want to go back to the darkness. I think to myself regularly on how do we utilise our dominant working population. The picture in my mind places all 36 states and the federal capital territory as industrial hubs, varying in speciality where the average Nigerian citizen should be able to live, work, shop, have access to healthcare and other conveniences (e.g., recreational, worship facilities etc.); all without leaving their state of origin, within their industrial hubs.  Bringing this into realisation could be initiated through investment in incubation centres, in each state (dispersed based on the requirements and geographical advantages of the state). Preparing one-unit warehouses of approximately 5,000 square metres per cluster, having 10,000 of each unit/micro industry in each state including the federal capital territory, Abuja. Similarly, provision can be made to private estate developers to create infrastructural extensions in areas with existing low- income housing to include warehouses. This will enhance the appeal of opportunities in our rural states, transforming them into vibrant economic zones and serving as significant Industrial infrastructure for each state.

    Leveraging on international connections

    In addition to the above, the government can invite specialists and international machine manufacturers (e.g. China/India etc.) to train our graduates in vocational skills and provide crucial technology transfer through the sale of machinery, and equipment for daily need products in exchange for local minerals via the use of a barter trading system. By opting to further facilitate local manufacturing of products, the government can consider onward sales of the above mentioned machines to the youth on a long-term basis. The government should protect our industries by imposing strict prohibitions of imports and policing the markets to enforce the ban on importation. With these, I believe we can conserve our precious foreign exchange, increase GDP, and strengthen our local markets/producers.

    Making electricity available will turn the economy around

    Power supply should be made available to our youths and other existing industries. If small-scale factories could work without generators, it would solve majority of the country’s crippling problems. Requiring each unit to adhere to contemporary demands of sustainability, preservation of natural capital and utilisation of renewable energy will ensure longevity and create backups to the national grid power supply. Incorporating training to pre-empt and prevent environmental degradation, learning from the case of China. This will provide practical experience that would give our youth a strong sense of belonging, and a promise of hope. It is our duty as Nigerian seniors, to help our youth the truth to know.

    Thoughts on wealth creation and urban migration

    Ultimately, promoting urbanisation in the rural areas of the country, and stemming rural-to- urban migration by wealth creation in our rural communities will prevent overcrowding in urban areas; keeping our youths off the streets, by encouraging them to get a house and job opportunities.  We need to instill a sense of pride and dignity through respectable labour in our youth. The creation of varied and sustainable industrial cities will be pivotal in the national stimulation of progress. All this could be financed in the government budget with the aid of private sector investment schemes and the youth could be required to pay back within 10 to 25 years, and/or enjoy grants to support them. This will unleash and enable patient capital required to catalyse economic growth, jobs and entrepreneurship for our youths. Better to light the candle than curse the darkness. Give light and the darkness will disappear of itself.  This vision enacted would enable us to manufacture a better Nigeria. To ensure the success of this proposed economic remedy, Nigeria, the economic powerhouse of Africa should entirely and unitedly embrace a propensity of population utilisation, to supercharge the entire African continent.  I believe more technical details and possibilities have to be discussed on the above ideas.

    Appraisal of the Tinubu administration

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a visionary leader who is passionate about Nigeria.  I am sure this administration will promote commerce and industry. I pray for the President and Vice President, with the aid of Allah SWT, to consider this and include it in their good programme as a blueprint for the rebirth of our great nation.

    Why Eleganza is still standing six decades after

    We believe in Nigeria and we have promoted Made in Nigeria Products over the years. The Eleganza Industrial City Limited is a testament to our vision as an established. It is place where you find various products under one roof.  Under the new industry, the company produces luggage/bag that can be branded for companies, pilgrimage, government parastatals and family trip.  It also manufactures over 68 different designs of standard chairs for churches, parties, eateries, hotels etc.   It also has sets of coolers and food warmers in different shapes and design.  This attests to the fact that consistency, not compromise on standard and quality, has been the guiding principle that kept the company going in the past four decades

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    On his humanitarian gestures

    Many of my activities revolve around religion and service to humanity through philanthropy. This cuts across the various sectors of the society. At various times, I have supported medical establishments and hospital homes by donating lifesaving equipment. With modesty, Eleganza is one of the biggest employers of labour by giving employment to thousands of Nigerians. I also believe in quality education and the foundation under my name in recent years has thrown its weight in support of the Nigerian educational sector.  Several undergraduate students have benefited from his Alhaji Akanni Okoya Scholarship Awards.

    His advice for the youths

    As said in my previous interviews, it took me 60 years to build the Eleganza conglomerate through dint of hard work. Nigerian youths are hardworking and resilient.  If they can embrace hard work more and more, they will be successful because they have what it takes with enabling environment.

  • Recapitalisation: Navigating the path to a more resilient banking system

    Recapitalisation: Navigating the path to a more resilient banking system

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s impending banking system recapitalisation is a critical step towards positioning the financial sector for a $1 trillion economy. While excitement surrounding the potential benefits is palpable, questions and concerns from depositors are inevitable. In this analysis by Assistant Editor NDUKA CHIEJINA addresses the prospects and challenges of this significant move

    Increased capital translates to greater lending capacity, enabling banks to finance larger projects, support business growth and fuel economic diversification. This can propel Nigeria towards its $1 trillion GDP target, creating more jobs and stimulating overall growth. Higher capital buffers enhance a bank’s ability to absorb losses from unexpected events, like loan defaults or financial market shocks. This fosters greater stability and resilience, safeguarding depositors’ funds and protecting the wider financial system.

     Stronger banks with robust capital bases can compete more effectively on the international stage, attracting foreign investment and facilitating cross-border trade. This boosts Nigeria’s integration into the global economy and opens doors to new opportunities. Adequate capital paves the way for investment in technology infrastructure, driving innovation in financial services. This can lead to more efficient payment systems, improved access to financial products, and personalized banking experiences for customers.

    Challenges to consider

      The specific details of the recapitalisation exercise, including capital adequacy ratios and timelines, are yet to be announced. This uncertainty can create unease amongst depositors and investors, potentially impacting market confidence. Some banks might struggle to meet the new capital requirements, leading to potential mergers and acquisitions. While consolidation can strengthen the system, it can also raise concerns about job losses and disruptions for customers.

     The recapitalisation exercise itself might entail operational adjustments within banks, potentially leading to temporary service disruptions. However, these should be short-lived and outweighed by the long-term benefits. Increased lending rates might accompany higher capital requirements, potentially affecting access to credit for businesses and individuals. The CBN and banks will need to find ways to mitigate this impact and ensure continued access to finance for key sectors.

    Loan defaulters in mergers and acquisitions

    Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are indeed likely in the upcoming recapitalisation. How loan defaulters are handled during such consolidations depends on several factors, but generally, the following scenarios are possible. During the M&A process, the acquiring bank conducts thorough due diligence on the target bank’s loan portfolio, including identifying and assessing loan defaults. This evaluation helps determine the potential risks and liabilities associated with absorbing the target bank’s defaulters.

     The acquiring bank might increase its loan loss provisions to account for the expected impact of existing defaults. In some cases, particularly for severely delinquent loans, write-offs may be necessary to clean up the books. The acquiring bank may have different debt collection strategies compared to the acquired bank. They might employ more aggressive or innovative methods to recover outstanding loans, potentially leading to improved repayment rates. In extreme cases, legal action might be pursued against chronic defaulters. However, this can be a lengthy and costly process and is often a last resort. Ultimately, the approach to handling loan defaulters in M&As will depend on the specific circumstances, the loan agreements, and the legal framework. To protect depositor interests, the CBN will closely monitor the process and ensure ethical and responsible practices are followed.

    Options for meeting recapitalisation targets

    Banks have several options to meet the capital adequacy ratios that the CBN will set. Banks can organically generate capital through profitable operations, retaining earnings, and optimising their balance sheets. This includes improving lending activities, reducing costs, and managing risks effectively. They can raise fresh capital by issuing new shares, attracting investments from existing or new shareholders. This can dilute existing ownership but inject needed capital.

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     In addition, banks can issue bonds or other debt instruments to borrow money from investors. This option raises the debt-to-equity ratio but provides immediate access to capital. As mentioned earlier, M&As can be a way for struggling banks to access the capital and resources of larger institutions. This can offer economies of scale and synergy but might involve job losses and service disruptions. Banks can diversify their assets to include less risky investments that generate stable income, increasing their overall capital base. The choice of approach will depend on the bank’s individual circumstances, risk appetite, and future growth plans. The CBN will likely provide regulatory guidance and encourage responsible capital raising strategies that maintain financial stability and transparency.

    Safeguarding deposits during the recapitalisation

    The CBN has historically ensured the safety of deposits during previous recapitalisation exercises. Depositors can expect continued protection of their funds through the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) insurance scheme. The CBN will closely monitor the recapitalization process and intervene if necessary to protect depositors’ interests. Strict regulations and transparency measures will be implemented to ensure responsible practices throughout the exercise. Before undertaking any significant financial transactions, depositors can research the capital adequacy ratios and financial health of their banks. This information is readily available on the CBN website and various financial publications. Banks should proactively communicate with their customers about the recapitalisation process, clearly explaining potential impacts and addressing concerns. Transparency and timely updates can foster trust and reassure depositors.

    Innovative products for deposit mobilisation and financial inclusion

     Governor Olayemi Cardoso’s call for innovative banking products to attract depositors and enhance financial inclusion is timely and crucial. Some of the potential implications and considerations include: New products tailored to specific needs, like mobile banking and micro-insurance, can attract unbanked populations and foster financial inclusion. Innovation can drive competition, leading to better interest rates, lower fees, and more personalised services for existing and new customers. Introducing innovative products can necessitate financial literacy campaigns to educate customers about their features and benefits. The CBN may need to adapt its regulatory framework to accommodate new technologies and product types while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability. Implementing innovative products might require significant investment in technological infrastructure and cybersecurity measures. Building trust in new products, especially among unbanked communities, requires effective communication and transparency. Data security and privacy concerns must be addressed to ensure responsible use of customer information in innovative products.

    Lessons from previous recapitalisation and future actions

    The past experience with some Initial Public Offers (IPOs) during the previous recapitalisation offers valuable lessons for the future. Initial public offerings can be susceptible to market volatility, impacting share prices and potentially leading to losses for investors. Carefully assessing the long-term viability and future prospects of acquired banks is crucial to avoid subsequent decline in share value. Banks should explore diverse capital-raising options beyond solely relying on IPOs to mitigate risks and ensure stability.

     Regulatory bodies and investors need to conduct thorough due diligence on target banks before any acquisitions or mergers. The CBN could consider incentivising long-term investments in smaller banks to offer them greater stability and protect investor interests. Banks should prioritise strong fundamentals, robust governance, and sustainable profitability to build investor confidence and long-term share value. By learning from past experiences and taking preventive measures, the upcoming recapitalization can be navigated in a way that protects investors, promotes financial inclusion, and fosters a vibrant and innovative banking sector in Nigeria.

     Assurances for bank depositors during recapitalisation can vary depending on several factors. If the bank raises its capital privately, without government intervention, there may be fewer formal assurances for depositors. However, a successful private recapitalisation generally indicates the bank’s financial health and stability, indirectly assuring depositors. During financial crises, governments may inject capital into banks to prevent failure. This often comes with explicit deposit insurance guarantees, protecting depositors’ funds up to a specific limit. Many countries have established deposit insurance schemes, which guarantee repayment of deposits up to a certain amount in case of a bank failure. These schemes play a crucial role in assuring depositors during recapitalisation. Banking regulatory bodies typically monitor recapitalization processes and ensure banks comply with minimum capital requirements. This helps maintain financial stability and protects depositors.

     Clear and regular communication from the bank and regulators during recapitalisation is essential. This helps depositors understand the process, address their concerns, and maintain confidence in the banking system. In most cases, banks remain operational during recapitalisation, allowing depositors to access their funds as usual. In the event of a bank failure, deposit insurance schemes typically cover eligible deposits, minimising losses for depositors. Successful recapitalisation strengthens the bank’s financial position, enhancing its long-term stability and reducing the risk of future failures.

     However, it’s important to note that deposit insurance coverage has limits, and not all types of deposits are always covered; government intervention and bailouts come with costs, potentially impacting taxpayers and the broader economy and during periods of financial turmoil, even insured deposits may not be immediately accessible. Therefore, it’s essential for depositors to stay informed about their bank’s financial health, the government’s deposit insurance scheme, and the regulatory environment when assessing their level of security during recapitalisation.

     Speaking to The Nation on the planned recapitalisation, Dr. Wahab Balogun of Ambosit Capital Managers stated that “given the lack of specifics surrounding the CBN’s planned banking system recapitalization in 2024, forming a definitive opinion is challenging. However, based on what we know, delaying the announcement of criteria and timeline could indicate the CBN’s openness to feedback from stakeholders, including banks, industry experts, and the public. This could lead to a more inclusive and effective recapitalisation plan.”

     He noted further that “taking time to carefully consider the details of the recapitalization suggests a commitment to doing it right. This could ultimately lead to a more successful and sustainable outcome for the banking system. In addition, with the uncertain global economic outlook, delaying the implementation might allow the CBN to adapt the recapitalization plan to respond to unforeseen circumstances. This flexibility could be beneficial in mitigating potential risks.”

     On the flip side, the money market expert cautioned that “the ambiguity surrounding the recapitalisation could create uncertainty and anxiety among banks and other stakeholders. This could negatively impact investment and lending decisions, hampering economic activity. He added that “without a clear timeline and criteria, the recapitalization plan might lose momentum and fail to achieve its desired outcomes. This could delay the potential benefits of a stronger banking system for the $1 trillion economy goal. If the recapitalisation is ultimately delayed or scaled back, it could miss a window of opportunity to address potential vulnerabilities in the banking system and strengthen its ability to support economic growth. Overall, the lack of details around the CBN’s recapitalization plan creates a mixed picture. While it could indicate a deliberate and inclusive approach, it also raises concerns about transparency and potential delay.”

     On his part, Mr Gbolade Idakolo, Managing Director/CEO SD&D Capital Management Limited, believes “the new recapitalisation process of the banking sector is desirable but it must not over heat the system and instead of strengthening the banking system leads to panic. The recapitalisation should be done along the present categorization of banks as International, National and Regional. The guidelines should also clearly state that smaller banks operating regional and national banking licenses should not be muscled out of existence.”

     He noted that “the big banks already in the stock exchange have various opportunities to shore up capital but those outside the stock exchange will have to work harder to convince private investors. The regulators can only calm the fears of depositors if the recapitalisation timelines are realistic. The CBN must also ensure that banks clearly state the source of funds for recapitalisation. The success of the process will definitely expand the economy and aid the banking system to be involved in more big ticket transactions both locally and internationally. This could also move the economy towards the anticipated trillion dollar economy project by the government,” he argued.

     While the upcoming recapitalisation presents challenges, the potential benefits for Nigeria’s banking system and broader economy are significant. By fostering a stronger, more competitive financial sector, this move can pave the way for sustainable economic growth and improved living standards. For depositors, understanding the rationale behind the recapitalisation, being aware of safeguards in place, and maintaining clear communication with their banks can help assuage concerns and ensure a smooth transition during this crucial period.