The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Another Onyeador sister passes on

    Another Onyeador sister passes on

    Barely one year after the social circuit received with dismay the news of the untimely death of art and culture aficionado, Angela Onyeador, the social scene has again lost another notable member. The harvest of deaths in the last few months reminds one of man’s grim mortality and fragile nature of our hold on our existence.

    From the social firmament, another illustrious lady has departed. Although she would never be seen again, memories of her will linger for a long time to come. It was penultimate Friday that the news of the death of Ebele Onyeador, the younger sister of the late Angela and Stella Onyeador, filtered out.

    Until her death, Ebele was the only surviving child of the late Sir and Mrs. Alex Onyeador. It will be recalled that Ebele’s eldest sister, Stella, the ex-wife of the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, died about three years ago. Her kinsmen in Arochukwu, Abia State, had insisted that she should be buried in her ancestral home as the first daughter, according to their custom. But Angela, the immediate elder sister of Ebele, insisted that she would be buried in Lagos. Although she had her way, she fell ill some weeks after Stella was buried. She was ill for several months and later gave up the ghost in America late last year.

    Penultimate Friday, Ebele, the only surviving child in the family, also joined her sisters. Details of her burial arrangements were still under wraps at press time.

  • Double celebrations for Ngozi Ekeoma

    Double celebrations for Ngozi Ekeoma

    Elegant Managing Director of NEPAL Oil and Gas Services Limited, Ngozi Ekeoma, recently celebrated her birthday. And last Saturday, she opened her ultra-modern tank farm and jetty on Oghara/Ajagbodu Road, Ogareki, Oghara in Delta State.

    Family members and friends joined eminent players in the nation’s socio-economic sector to demonstrate their support for the hardworking woman during the opening ceremony. The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, commissioned the tank farm himself.

    It would appear that Ngozi discovered early in life that diligence would take her farther than luck would. As such, she has been going about her business with all seriousness and sense of purpose. It, therefore, did not come as a surprise to many when she commissioned the new tank last Saturday.

    A source at the occasion noted that Ngozi’s company does not only execute contracts at the most cost-effective levels , she has managed to become a major force in the battle against unemployment and youth restiveness in the area by taking many of the jobless youths off the streets.

  • My friends laugh at me in because I’ve never had sex at 24

    Hi Deola, I’m a guy of 24 and I’ve never had sex. My friends laugh at me in because of that. When I read your stuff in the dailies, I really feel like having sex. Looking forward to when I’ll have a taste.

    My dear, it is natural for you to look forward to when you will have a taste of sex, but I tell you, sex is worth waiting for. All those who laugh at you are just silly and may even have misplaced priority. Latecomers are not taken in the area of sex. Read all you can about sex so you can be a good husband to a good woman when the time comes. Those who engage in it now won’t tell you how many times they may have treated STDs or taken girls for abortion. It may not harm them now, but those are things that pile up to haunt them later. That is why so many people suffer in life without knowing the cause. The law of Karma. It just has a way of catching up with us.

     

  • ‘I’m a restless outgoing person, it works for me’

    In keeping with modern information technology, one of Nigeria’s young and stylish men, Dennis Ejiogu, is out to make a great impression on the World Wide Web. A few days ago, he stepped out on the glamour stage of Amber Creek, a top event spot on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, to launch his one-year-old online television station, ‘M-One TV’. It was a night of fun and recognition for innovative players in online business and other guests.

    Ejiogu later let our reporter into his world, saying: “I am an outgoing person who is passionate about innovation in online television in Nigeria. That is why I created M-One television.”

    Ejiogu, who once worked with an airline, is naturally a fun-loving individual, and he combines this with great business wit. So, what does this celebration mean to him?

    “I can say that as the Chief Executive Officer of Rhythm of Colours, a Nigerian media company, I am proudly Nigerian. For some time now, we specialised in packaging video contents for corporate organisations, and a little bit of photography. At present, we are having M-One Innovation Awards, in which we are recognizing corporate organisations and individuals who have been able to create exceptional forms of innovation and also create platforms for people to come together, express themselves and encourage other people in innovation business. These are people who are in technology-driven services online. That is the whole essence of M-One Innovation Awards.”

    With the online television just one year in the market, one wonders why Ejiogu embarked on such a colourful celebration. To this, he said: “We want to create a rippling effect on society. We want to pass on knowledge. At M-one TV, we want information to move easily from one generation to another. We celebrate regularly too. We did it in December when we brought corporate organizations together to say thank you. On Valentine’s Day, we did the same thing. But our focus then was on the hospitals and humanitarian care.

    “With this event, we are focusing more on technocrats to empower the Nigerian youth. The organisations that are being honoured today are those that can inspire the younger generation; those that can make the younger generation aspire to become like them and be encouraged to accomplish whatever dream they have.

    “I love my work. It is leisure to me. I love what I am doing right now. I wouldn’t do any other thing now. And the beauty of it is that most people spend more time online these days instead of watching the traditional television station.

    “Online seems to be the hub of communication now, and it is timeless. It is not restricted by border. It is unlike the cable networks. With online TV, you can be available 24/7. This is the new age and the new media. For 163 million people in Nigeria, a large percentage of that goes online on a daily basis. That is a huge traffic every day. That is why a lot of businesses are going online. That is also why more and more people and businesses are going online.”

    In just one year, Dennis Ejiogu’s business is doing well and already showing signs of good things to come. But it all started with an idea he held on to tenaciously.

    “I have always had a burden to make things easier for people. I recall that one day, I was in heavy traffic and I wanted to rush home to watch my favourite programme on television. But I couldn’t beat the traffic and I had no access to television there.

    “Also, I recall being abroad and I wanted to watch my favourite local programme on television but I couldn’t. I’ve had cases where I needed to get information about something but I couldn’t. So, I thought what if I could create a platform where information and entertainment could be combined online, which could be accessible from anywhere on the globe, regardless of where anyone could be.

    “The beauty of this is that you could be anywhere and still be able to access information and entertainment without relying on cable network or being stalled by lack of electricity or the like. So, we try to fulfill that opportunity where you can access your needed infotainment through M-One TV.”

    “Right on your phone, you can access our seven channels. It’s a fantastic idea. There are channels on fashion, lifestyle, comedy and inspiration. The whole essence is that we are out to see how we can bring the new media closer to people through online entertainment.”

    Ejiogu is thankful for his background, which he believes has contributed to his versatility. “When I was quite young, between the age of 10 and 11, I wanted to work with an airline. So, when I finished from the University of Lagos where I studied Russian Language, I had already done a bit of studies in German language and was speaking five languages. I got a job in an airline. There, I enjoyed myself and travelled around the world. It was fun, and I knew that the next stage of my life would be media. I wanted so much to do media.”

    “With the experiences that I have gathered around the world, I started looking for where to showcase it. It is these experiences that I am now implementing in this new media called M-One TV. Through M-One TV, you get to see people around the world and they accept you. This media allows you to interact and many people will find out that all around the world, the human being remains the same, regardless of the colour, race or tribe.

    “Deep inside, we are the same. This is the message that we are carrying across with the television station. We want people from all around the world to discover that we are all the same; that the man next to you or in another country is just the same as you.

    “We are doing 70 per cent Nigerian content. So, we are concentrating on the rich cultural background that Nigeria is so blessed with. There are some programmes that focus, for instance, on how to make adire, which is fantastic. A lot of youths in Nigeria are no more in touch with our traditional values. M-One is a call to us to re-awaken this essential nature of ours.

    “Take for instance the talking drum; we have a channel that focuses on enlightenment on these cultural aspects of the Nigerian. We are connecting with our culture, but more importantly, we are portraying our culture positively to the world.”

    But with all the social networks interplaying online, where does M-One TV fit in? We asked.

    “The thing is that we are forming a community of people online. We synergise. There are marketing, trading and other kinds of relationship going on online. Simply speaking, we are synergising with all these to promote ourselves and, more importantly, to add value to our people and their lifestyle.

    “Yes, the online television it’s a year old, but Rhythm of Colours, the organisation that owns the television, has been on for quite a while now. However, M-One has come to stay. It has been a wonderful journey. The response has been great. A lot of youths out there are glued to us, looking up to fantastic creativity from us. I may be wrong, but the statistics seems to be that 70% of people from 30 and below are most often on the net. That is a huge population. If you have that number of people on the net, I think it is important to provide a platform to reach out to them.”

    As a creative person, Ejiogu admits that he gets easily bored. “So, I am always looking out to doing new things. I believe that the only constant thing is change itself. I have a passion to take Nigeria to the world and bring the rest of the world to Nigeria. We have so much to offer to over 160 million people: so much to showcase to the rest of the world from Nigeria.”

    As a budding entrepreneur, youthful Ejiogu complains about the factors that seem to make the businesses environment hostile. “I must confess to you that it has not been easy doing business in Nigeria, with so many limiting factors. But one thing that I have learnt is don’t just do business because of the money that you want to make, do the business for which you have passion. The money will come when you have set it up and things are in their proper places. That is when you introduce the business angle to it. From such vantage point, the business develops and the money roles in. So, I started with a passion of how to make life easier for people, get information and pass it unto people easily.”

    Dennis Ejiogu maybe fun loving and outgoing, but he cares for his family. “I am an outgoing person; a restless person. I like trying out new things. Though I may not have done sky diving, I thought about doing it once, but when I remembered my mum, I changed my mind. I don’t believe that one should be chained to one thing in life. I am always looking out to do things that will change me and move me to the next stage of life.

    “My family is close to me. I love my family. I have two children, a boy and a girl, and a wonderful wife who is so supportive. I wouldn’t have asked for anyone else. She has such great values.”

  • ‘I built my first filling station as a student in the university’

    Beautiful and industrious Princess Uzamat Folasayo Akinbile, has an exemplary story that will inspire a lot of young women. Her young looks will, no doubt, make not a few to think that she is probably a 20-year-old who inherited a fortune from her parents. But she is 39 today and her riveting story says it all about how she rode her way to success through determination at a time when many of her mates depended on handouts from ‘generous’ men while staying in the citadels.

    Garbed in a simple cream lace fabric, she carried no airs while exchanging banters with her aides as she made her way to usher the reporter into her office.

    She recalled how, at barely 25, she had plunged into the business world in her undergraduate days at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where she studied Pharmacy and how she has faired in business.

    “I have been in business since my secondary school days when I used to accompany my mother on business trips to various communities where she purchased foodstuffs to sell. I also helped her to sell at the shop. We were then living in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    “I actually started my own business after I left secondary school. I went into buying and selling till I got admission into the University of Ibadan (UI) where I studied Biochemistry for some time. I opened a shop called Princess Ventures at Sango area of Ibadan, Oyo State, because I was already an accredited agent of Procter and Gamble. I was selling some of the company’s products like biscuits and diapers. I later left UI because I did not like Biochemistry. So, I secured another admission into the University of Lagos to study Pharmacy”.

    Despite the change of environment because of her studies, she still exhibited her business acumen, albeit, as a foodstuff merchant, not too far from school environment.

    “At UNILAG, I was still juggling business with studies and because I lived around Yaba, I got another shop and I continued to trade in foodstuffs like rice, beans, flour and commodities such as flour and sugar in large quantities. Along the line, I established a computer school and a cybercafe that attracted a lot of patronage from residents”.

    The final turning point, however, came in year 2000 when she was encouraged to go into oil business by one of her mentors, an opportunity she grabbed with her two hands.

    “I went into oil business in 2000 while I was still in school through the encouragement of one of my business mentors, Alhaji Olaoluwa Adeogun, an oil magnate, and I started building a filling station even before I graduated from the university. You see, I have never worked for anyone in my life and I was so sure I could succeed in business against all odds. The start up capital came from personal savings from the foodstuff business.

    “Upon graduation, a company offered me a job with a salary of N250, 000 among other perks of office but I declined the offer because I did not want to work for any one”.

    She must have had it tough juggling studies with her new-found fame as a business woman? The reporter asked her. She replied: “Ah, combining studies with business wasn’t easy at all. It affected my studies in a way. At a point, I had epyremisis for about five months when I was pregnant. So I had to abandon my studies, hence, I had an extra year and graduated in 2006”.

    Akinbile, who now helms a group of businesses spanning oil and gas with a `chain of filling stations, pharmaceutical and information technology, recalled the ebb she experienced in business a few years ago.

    “I will never forget 2007 because it was a year my business was dealt a terrible blow as a result of simultaneous fire and robbery incidents. In October 2007, one of my stations was infaded by armed robbers and millions of naira carted away barely a few weeks after the filling station located in Ajasa near Meiran, Lagos State, started operation . As if that was not enough, on November 12 of the same year, a fire incident arising from generator explosion during the discharge of fuel rocked one of my filling stations. Although I lost money and vehicles to the incident but I thank God that five of my employees who were victims of the incident did not die.

    “I am relatively successful because I have adhered to certain principles of running medium scale businesses into greater heights. The rules of running a business and making a success out of it are not cast in iron but require a deep understanding and relative financial discipline to apply those rules. My pharmaceutical company(Musaroq Pharmaceuticals) is a sole representative of big overseas-based drug manufacturing companies, while another subsidiary, Musaroq Information Technology Ltd., is growing from leaps and bounds and a new filling station was just opened in Ikorodu”, she added.

    The Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State- born business amazon and mother of four who threw her hat into the ring to contest for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, however, did not fail to tell the reporter her reasons for plunging into partisan politics.

    “I have been successful in business before I ventured into politics. I had expressed my grievances about the way Nigeria was being administered to my senior brothers in South Africa. But they asked me: ‘If everyone leaves the country on the account of leadership inadequacies and economy, who will salvage it?’ They suggested I should contest for a seat in the legislative house to lend my voice to the quest for change through efficient laws and policy formulation that could guarantee good governance and better life for the people. And I had no choice than to hearken to their call”.

    Although, she did not secure the ticket to represent the people of Alimosho Constituency 02 but she was later to be appointed a Supervisor for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development in Agbado/Okeodo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, and she described her acceptance of the appointment as a personal sacrifice.

    “I accepted my appointment as Supervisory Councillor because of the love I have for the people of my constituency. The acceptance was a personal sacrifice so that I can continue not only to protect their interest but to further serve them better; otherwise I was comfortable with being a business woman and my salary as councillor is far less than my monthly earnings in business.

    “In order to serve my people better and to complement the effort of the Hon. Augustine Arogundade- led administration in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, I am going to inaugurate some projects on June 22, under my pet project called ‘The Goodwill Project’. The projects include a 12-feet culvert in Omoroga/Akintan, Meiran, while about 10 community development associations will be given a N50, 000 grant each. 100 artisans will also be assisted with tools under my ‘Tools for job initiative’.

    “This is not my first time of reaching out to my people; many residents have benefited from my charity in the past, especially in the areas of health education and free treatment for infirmed mothers and their children. I have given free medical treatment to people and I have also distributed drugs, mosquito nets and other items to empower indigent residents who don’t have means of livelihood or resources to sponsor their children’s education. I am not tired yet of doing more because it’s a calling to help humanity not to actualise self-seeking goals.”

  • I’m a police officer, one girlfriend is a fashion designer and the other is a health worker, which is best for me?

    Hello ma, please I am confused in my relationship, the reason is that, I have been in relationship with one lady for three years; she learnt fashion designing, she’s holding O’Level result but still planning to go further in school and I have another just of recent and she’s in a health school. Advise me please: is it bad to marry somebody that learnt work or the one holding certificate because I am a police in which I can be moved at any time; which one should I choose, please?

     

    Oga Police, marriage is much more than consideration for the worth of a woman’s certificate or her readiness woman to move with you to Maiduguri or Yobe especially during this period of insurgency in Nigeria if you are transferred. Marriage should be a union which has graduated from being just mere friends, to friends who are ready to live together to give support of whatever kind throughout life.

    The one you should choose is that one who loves you unconditionally. The woman who takes her job so seriously you can actually see her growing in leaps and bounds in a few years’ time is the one for you. Check her out around other people and check her out with other people’s children. Does she have enough love to go round? See her reaction to crisis – whether domestic or work related or even how she copes when confronted with her family issues. The one who is calm, balanced and gentle in crisis and prayerful is the one.

    Love is very important and we all want to choose that man or woman who professes much love, but love is never enough. Study both women and before long, you will know the one who is right for you.

    N.B: Men shouldn’t make the mistake of looking for the women like their mothers. Some mothers are pure hell; sure you won’t want your wife to be like hell.

  • Yetunde Ayeni savours new phase of marital life

    Yetunde Ayeni savours new phase of marital life

    Mrs Yetunde Ayeni, wife of Mr. Dipo Ayeni, who recently retired as the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, is enjoying a new lease of life. It is a jolly good life that had somehow eluded her and her children for more than three decades of Ayeni’s years in service.

    Today, reprieve is written on Yetunde’s face, as the Akure-based business woman is now enjoying the warmth of his workaholic husband.

    In all his years in service, Ayeni was widely reputed as a disciplined, honest and no-nonsense police officer. “He would not give nor take bribe. It was for very few times that we really had times together as a couple. Many a time, I would prepare his meal but he would don his uniform if there was an emergency and off he went no matter how hungry he was,” Yetunde recalled in a chat with Celeb Watch.

    It was learnt that some corporate organisations and multinational companies are now on Ayeni’s neck to handle their security systems on account of his track records. But before he makes up his mind on this, Yetunde is savouring the new phase of her marital life.

  • For Sally Mbanefo, the good times are here

    Behind every cloud, they say, there is a silver lining. The good times are here for Sally Mbanefo. The fun-loving lady has emerged as the new Executive Director of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

    The notable socialite is once again set to grab the social scene by the jugular after a long absence. We reliably gathered that the pretty woman has rediscovered herself with the new appointment and has started changing her wardrobe. Not many people in the social space would have forgotten how her marriage crashed like a badly arranged pack of cards. At the time her marriage crumbled a few years ago, many had thought the couple would settle their differences. But the separation rolled from days into weeks, months and years.

    She now owns golden jewellery in more than moderate measure while she spots expensive designer’s labels from head to toe.

  • Vaginismus: orgasm, faking it and vaginal spasms

    You’re doing a wonderful job with your page. May your wisdom not go stale soon. I wrote in during the week on above. You did acknowledge receipt but it wasn’t treated. Want to repeat in a way you could help with a response – A vaginal spasms that expels the penis – orgasm or vaginismus? Any help?

    Vaginismus is when the muscle walls of a woman’s vagina contract or spasm in response to attempted insertion, for example, with a tampon or penis. This involuntary muscle contraction can be mildly uncomfortable or it may cause searing or tearing pain.

    Vaginismus can interfere with normal activities like sex or getting a pelvic exam at the doctor’s office.

    Symptoms of Vaginismus: Painful sex is often the first sign that a woman has vaginismus. The pain occurs only with penetration. It usually, but not always, goes away after withdrawal.

    Women have described the pain as feeling too small for a man’s penis. The pain has also been described as a tearing sensation or a feeling like the man is “hitting a wall.”

    Many women who have vaginismus also experience discomfort when inserting tampons and during a doctor’s internal exam. Other medical problems like infections can also cause painful intercourse. So it’s important to see a doctor to determine the underlying cause of pain during sex.

    Causes of Vaginismus – The causes of vaginismus aren’t fully understood. The condition is considered a sexual dysfunction. It is usually associated with anxiety and fear about having sex. But it’s unclear whether the anxiety is a cause or a consequence of the condition.

    Vaginismus is sometimes associated with a history of sexual abuse. Vaginismus can be primary, meaning it’s something a person has had their whole life. Or it can be secondary, occurring after a period of normal function.

    Vaginismus may be called “global,” meaning it occurs in all situations with any object. Or it may be “situational.” That means it happens with one partner but not others — or only with sexual intercourse but not with tampons or exams.

    The condition usually begins after the first attempt at having intercourse. It may also develop after periods of stress. The vaginal walls may tighten automatically when sex is painful for any reason, compounding the difficulty.

    Treatment of Vaginismus

    Treatment of vaginismus involves “progressive desensitization” exercises. These exercises help women learn to control and relax the pelvic floor muscles around the vagina.

    The exercises can be done at home. When practiced regularly they typically take effect over a period of weeks to months.

    To try progressive desensitization, first practice basic Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises involve squeezing the same muscles you use to stop the flow of urine when urinating.

    To do a Kegel exercise, take these steps: contract the muscles, hold for two seconds, then relax. Do about 20 contractions at a time. You can do them as many times a day as you think to do them. After a few days, do the exercises with a finger inside the vagina. It’s a good idea to clip your fingernails and use a lubricating jelly. Or do the exercises in a bathtub, where water can be a natural lubricant. Your finger needs to be inserted five or six centimeters.

    That’s up to about the first knuckle joint. Start with one finger and work your way up to three. Fingers are preferred because they allow you to feel the muscles contracting. They are also easy to remove if you start to feel any discomfort. Women with vaginismus may also benefit from therapy to ease fear and anxiety about sex or sexual functioning.

  • I showed her the signal that I love her very badly but …

    Good day Aunty Adeola, it is my pleasure to forward this text of bravo to you. I read your article in a newspaper and I was so, so impressed about the good and wonderful answers you give to people about their love life. Please, keep it up. I met a girl; I showed her the signal that I wanted her to be my girl whom I want to take as a future wife. She responds very well but she has refused to give me her phone number each time I see her. Please Aunty what should I do, I love this girl very dearly and I want her very badly.

    Even when girls are playing hard to get, they still give you a telephone number so that they can monitor your persistence and gauge your seriousness. But when people turn down the request to give you a telephone number, most often than not, they don’t want any disturbance from you. Don’t take her politeness each time she sees you as a sign that she is responding well, she may just be a well-brought-up girl. When you go after a girl (or a man in the case of women) always bear in mind that they may already be in a happy relationship and wouldn’t want an unnecessary distraction.