The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Valentine special

    Valentine special

    FEBRUARY 14 seems to send the entire world into frenzied emotion. We panic about what exactly to get for our loved ones and what to wear to mark the occasion. Do you really give any thought to what to wear? Ladies, are you prepared for this most romantic of all days and nights? Have you got the chic, simple and perfect dress for today? If not, now is the time to start thinking about it.

    Though this special day is not always on everybody’s agenda, for those who choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, here are a few suggestions of what to wear to look good; whether you are planning a casual date or a formal night out. Since time immemorial, red dresses have always been deemed as perfect Valentine’s Day dresses. Hot red, pink or fuchsia (soft) pink drape tops with jeans trousers will look great for casuals. Ladies, ensure that you are comfortable. There should be no extremely high heels for lunch or daytime event, possibly you may do a lot of walking (shopping, strolling arms in arms etc) and therefore avoid wearing high heels, so that you can go casual for daytime events with your special ones. Or dress up and be a bit on the blink-blink (glamorous) side for dinner or night out.

  • ‘Boko Haram is all about Sharia’

    ‘Boko Haram is all about Sharia’

    Fred Agbeyegbe is a renowned lawyer, human rights activist and a foremost member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He is also a playwright. In this interview with Edozie Udeze, he tackles many national issues bordering on the corporate existence of Nigeria and why religion and oil will continue to dominate national focus in the country.

     

    At 78, and in retrospect, would you say that most of the social ills you attacked in your plays such as The King Must Dance Naked have been solved?

    Of course not. They’ve not been achieved. To achieve those things, we need a change of mind on the part of the leaders of Nigeria. The people who rule us in this country – they are called all sorts of names, the elites and so on and so forth. For me, elitism in Nigeria is fake. The people who go into politics in Nigeria are not the elites. The elites are in fact far removed from government administration. They are the people who have been frustrated out of their minds because all the thinking they have to better the lives of Nigerians are not allowed. This is due to the usurpation of the political space by those who call themselves politicians.

    You mentioned NADECO and then paused. You played a major role in that group; how do you think the coalition fared in achieving democracy for Nigeria?

    Well, maybe I should put the question back to you. I was part of it. Do you think NADECO did the right thing to achieve democracy for us or to remove the military from government? I will say they did. NADECO did well. Ah, maybe NADECO did not do the right thing. The only thing we’ve been accused of most of the time now is that we brought out the modalities to ensure that we have a good country. But when it comes to actually taking over government, we either shied away or ran away.

    Maybe we cannot now complain from what we are seeing because of that, people feel we should have stayed to put the real government in place. Well, it depends on how you look at it. We were not canvassing to become governors and presidents or whatever. We were just simply saying you cannot have the country the way it was, and we are still thinking even now that you cannot have a country as it is now.

    Yes, the military is gone. There is no more (Gen. Sani) Abacha and so on. But I don’t think things are much different from what we had before now. The situation, to me has not changed much and that is why we feel we would have done much more thereafter.

    You are from the Niger Delta. How do you assess the situation there where thugs and kidnappers hold sway in a democratic environment?

    Well, I don’t know if you are correct by suggesting that that is what the youths are doing – the thugs, the kidnappers, the hoodlums of this country, all come from the Niger Delta. Far from it, in fact, the issue of insecurity you are talking about never started from the Niger Delta. No. The truth about the Niger Delta is that we were being oppressed. And even now, we are still being oppressed. Never mind that somebody from the Niger Delta is the head of the Nigerian government.

    The rules Jonathan is operating – the constitution he swore to uphold was not written by Niger Deltans. And nobody consulted any member of this society before the rules were put in place, not to talk of the Niger Delta. So, he is not doing what the Niger Delta people asked him to do. He is doing his own.

    What the Niger Delta people are saying is that you came to our backyard, you dug the place, pollute the air, give us ill-health, and then take the thing and go share it somewhere else… Now you come back to give us crump from the table. And we say that is not acceptable to us. Then they came with what they called amnesty. Maybe they don’t know the meaning of the word amnesty. Amnesty has a specific meaning either in English or in the dictionary or in law or in whatever. What the Niger Delta people were doing does not need amnesty. The fact that they have accepted it like that is just to make peace.

    So, for you the amnesty thing is not right?

    Of course, it was never right. What has it achieved? Have the people of Niger Delta got what they wanted? Have they? I ask you. What they set out to get with the struggle has it ended? Don’t you read what Asari Dokubo says every day? Does he not make sense to you? So, often, you ask yourself, what has the government done? Jonathan is in Aso Rock, so what? Is that what the people were fighting for?

    But the amnesty is said to be one of the reasons we have Boko Haram today?

    (Laughing) Ah, ah, well, they have to say something. They have to! Did Niger Delta people talk about religion? Do you do this because of what? What is the real reason for what Boko Haram is doing compared to the reason Niger Delta began what they did? How are the people being oppressed, that will bring about Boko Haram? What sort of injustice has been meted out in this country to the Northerners that will bring Boko Haram? How do you compare the two situations that will make them to do what they are doing? Nothing.

    So, what sort of political rubbish is that? Didn’t you hear what the Sultan of Sokoto said recently concerning the Boko Haram menace? That all the problems of the North came from the North and created by Northerners! Don’t listen to any excuse because I say don’t come and pollute my backyard. Don’t come and cause me health problems. Don’t come and take our God-given resource under the soil. And then Boko Haram people are annoyed. Why should they?

    In fact, as far as I am concerned all of us are misreading what the Boko Haram people are asking for. They are saying that they are the sovereign people and owners of their land where they stay. And they want to practice Sharia laws and nobody in this world can stop them. It doesn’t matter how many constitutions you make; they want a Sharia state for themselves and probably for the nation.

    And they have been practising Sharia laws a long time ago. The Northern states had Sharia laws, cutting off people’s limbs for offending their laws. Nobody has stopped them from doing it. Keep your Sharia laws to yourself because I am not a Muslim. Don’t come and operate it in my area. In fairness to them, they are not even saying they want to come and operate it in my area. They are saying leave my area alone for me. I want to have it alone and I want to practise Sharia Law.

    Then shouldn’t we say also say leave my Niger Delta to me? Don’t touch my oil or pollute my air or inflict health problem on me? These are the issues and we have to get them right.

    What is your stand on the 1999 Constitution?

    In the first place, we have no constitution. As long as what we have as a constitution was concocted by the military, it will not serve the desired purpose for a democratic society. The constitution we have today is far from being a perfect document to govern the nation well.

    It is a military document. And with that, you cannot genuinely practice democracy. They did it in an attempt to continue to lord it over all Nigerians. Well, we are a long way from perfection. What is the nature of the judiciary? It is not everything that happens in the judiciary that you can call the dispensing of justice.

    So, what is the constitution when people’s rights cannot be adequately protected or guaranteed? No matter the nature of the constitution you give to this country, so long as the Nigerian factor is there, we’ll never make progress. If you like bring a Togolese or Ghanaian to come over here to rule.

    As it is now, the National Assembly itself has no power to make the constitution. They have not been given the power to do so. All aspects of that 1999 Constitution are not only concocted, but a forgery. And any document that tells lies about itself does not stand. It is a forgery. At least from the little law that I know, that is the true situation. So then, the nation itself is run on the basis of forgery.

    Even the power to review the constitution doesn’t belong to the National Assembly. They cannot even be given the power to review it by anybody. That is the much I can say about that.

    Now, the federal government has decided to send troops to Mali to help quell the insurgency there. What is your take on this?

    That is international politics as far as I am concerned. You might argue and say they have not been able to take care of insecurity under their nose, then why are they going to save other people? But there are some valid points in saying that these things have a domino effect. If one place is likely to carry on as they do in Mali now and no one intervenes, more will come up sooner or later. The issue of contiguity are also involved in this matter.

    So, the policy of the federal government is that they want to contain it before it gets to our shores. I cannot fault them that.

    Now, let’s go to your artistic involvements. When you started Ajo Productions in 1983, what did you really have in mind?

    Ajo Productions is my theatre ensemble. It was established in 1983 to put up plays written by me on stage. And that is what we have been doing ever since. We also have what we call Lagos Theatre Associates. It is a collaboration outfit with Ajo Productions to do a lot of things. While Ajo Productions is a theatre group meant to put up plays by professional theatre actors and practitioners, Lagos Theatre Associates is an attempt to ensure that plays are always on stage. And you can immediately know the implications of that. Being always on stage means that there should continually be entertainment for the working people of Nigeria, who, after their tired week can relax. It means that the opportunity will be provided for the theatre or the actors to comment continuously on what is going on in the society.

    It means that there will always be employment for actors and actresses. So, it means that there will be attention all the time to art education. So, when you put all that together, it is a social service that Lagos Theatre Associates are rendering.

    How do you combine theatre and your law practice?

    (Laughs) Well, the theatre thing; I never went to any formal school to train as an artiste or as a playwright. So you have to ask the good Lord where that gift came from. The prowess with which I have been endowed, I am not the one to determine it and so I am carrying on with it. But I have been writing ever since I can remember and I enjoy every bit of it. So far, I have over eight plays to my credit.

    On the law side, it is my profession and I am still there. And I so believe in it that my children – two of them, are also lawyers. I have a grandchild who is equally a lawyer. So, I think that is enough commitment.

    What level in life has theatre taken you to?

    Well, I am sitting on top of the world. My plays are being distributed all over the world. It is on Amazon and so on and so forth. And I am sure you know that at the last Olympics, The King Must Dance Naked was one of the official plays staged in England.

    So far, I can never stop writing plays. At least I have six in the works now. And we just pray for long life so we can continue to write more plays.

    Do you hope to put them into movies someday?

    You see, that is the problem with this country. I shouldn’t be the one to do that. People should be interested in what other people do. But who knows, maybe when I find the money, I can do that.

    There is no theatre in Nigeria because the government who should be providing the infrastructure does not care. The government is not prepared to invest in theatre.

     

  • Vanishing beauty pageants

    Vanishing beauty pageants

    A few years back beauty pageants were quite popular in Nigeria. Now, the business is no longer booming and the pageants are diminishing. Yetunde Oladeinde takes a look at the problem affecting the industry and how the queens are faring.

     

    Women all over the world love to look good and a lot of fairy tales paint beautiful women as heroes and personalities many adore. Hence the creation of pageants to discover beautiful women destined to rule their world. Scroll down memory lane and you find the Miss Nigeria, the premier beauty pageant in the country. It was established to showcase the positive attributes of Nigerian women.

    From Miss Nigeria to Miss Tourism, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Sisi Oge, Miss Telecom, Miss Bold and Beautiful and many more.

    Most of them focused primarily on the physical beauty of its contestants but incorporated other criteria like personality, talent, self-esteem and public speaking abilities. Women and girls were targets and promos and advertorials like this was quite familiar: ‘Confident ladies aged 18 and 26 years, 5 feet 7 inches and above, and fluent in English are called to enter for the pageant.’

    Gradually, men and boys also caught the bug and promoters filled the vacuum with body-building contests like ‘Mr Macho’.

    Whither the pageants?

    It became very lucrative with eye-popping gifts and international trips waiting for potential queens. Unfortunately, things appear to be falling apart in the sector and pageants are vanishing. So the question that needs to be asked is what is happening to pageants?

    For many, one of the reasons for the decline is that organisers have refused to redeem the pledge of prizes and most times they actually promise things that they cannot deliver.

    Lisa Oyaka, a former Miss Valentine, is a victim and she tells her story this way: “I heard about the pageant through a friend of mine. Then I was into modelling and we had just come back from a cast for Hip-Hop world. It was organised by NTA Channel 10 and we had rehearsals for two weeks. It was tedious and I had to spend so much on my outfits and accessories.”

    On the D-day 20 ladies took part and it was a very keen contest. “Initially, I wasn’t so sure that I would win because there were many other girls with potentials. But gradually I began to gain confidence in myself. My skills in cat walking, my regalia and quiz gave me an edge over the other contestants”, Oyaka recalled.

    She continued her story: “When they finally announced that I was the winner, I cried and I felt really happy. I was later crowned by the former queen, Miss Ebele Chukwulobe.”

    After basking in the euphoria, she expected the prize to fall on her laps on a platter of gold. Unfortunately, this did not happen. “Just before the competition, they told us that the winner would travel to America and get some modelling contract over there. Unfortunately, when I won this did not happen. Instead of them doing this, they gave me a Plasma TV and there was no way I could say anything because it was televised.”

    Obviously disappointed, Oyaka got a lawyer who wrote the head office in Abuja. “They promised to investigate the matter. Shortly afterwards, another edition of the pageant took place and as the outgoing queen she was not even invited to the event. “I only read about it in the papers. They did not also allow me to hand over to the next queen which was the tradition. I was blanked out. I really felt shocked that they could do such a thing.”

    One other thing that has affected pageants are scandals and the controversies that trail those who wear the coveted crown. In 1981, Tokunboh Onanuga was demoted after a flaw was discovered on her WAEC certificates. In year 2001, City People magazine revealed that the reigning Miss Nigeria, Valerie Peterside, 31, had lied about her actual age and forged her university qualifications and NYSC certificate. She was reportedly expelled from Ahmadu Bello University prior to graduation due to examination malpractices.

    Next you have the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant which originally began as Miss Universe in 1983 and it was created by Ben Murray Bruce.

    Last year the pageant recorded a milestone with its twenty fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the winner of the pageant affected the achievements over the years.

    On Saturday, May 5, 2012, Isabella Ayuk was decorated winner. It, however, turned out to be a very short reign. She was disqualified and subsequently dethroned on the basis of age falsification. Ayuk interestingly is a professional beauty queen who had participated in over five pageants just before this experience. These include Miss Niger, Beauty queen of the South –South and Miss Global Nigeria.

    Like Ayuk, a number of beauty queens have been in and out of scandals. This has therefore discouraged a lot of other potential queens from participating in pageants. However, we also have queens who continue to be on top in different spheres of life. Sabina Umeh Akamune is one of the pageants ambassador and she says that: “I felt that winning the title would be a great springboard for my career in entertainment. This was the singular reason I did it.”

    Some of the outstanding queens include Bianca Ojukwu, Regina Askia and Nike Osinowo, who in 2010, after a six year attempt, finally bought the Miss Nigeria franchise from the former organisers, Daily Times of Nigeria and became the executive and creative director of the pageant.

    Last year, however, the franchise for the pageant was given to another person. Osinowo was mentored by former Miss Nigeria, Helen Prest Ajayi and she represented Rivers at the MBGN pageant where she emerged as the first Yoruba winner of the pageant in December 1990.

    Bianca Ojukwu inspires the younger generation of beauties in so many ways. In December 1988, Ojukwu, who had previously won Miss Martini but turned down the prize – a modelling contract in Tokyo – to continue with her education, was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, and she reigned for most of 1989.

    She also won Miss Africa 1989 which was held in The Gambia, then represented her country in Miss World and Miss Universe, but achieved greater success at Miss Intercontinental 1989 and was named Miss Congeniality at the now defunct Miss Charm International in Russia where she was also a semi-finalist.

    On the international scene, pageants are also having some hard times. The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Interestingly, it has also had so many controversies like the pageants in other parts of the world. In 1974, winner Helen Morgan representing the United Kingdom was forced to resign four days later when it was discovered that she was an unmarried mother. Six years after, Gabriella Brum of Germany resigned claiming that her boyfriend disapproved of her participation. A few days after, it emerged that she was forced to resign after it was discovered that she posed naked for a magazine.

    A black chapter in the history of the pageant opened in 2002 when it was to hold in Abuja. Unfortunately, the controversies over the case of Amina Lawal, who was condemned to death by stoning, and a newspaper publication which was termed offensive by a section of the country caused a boycott and other controversies and it was moved urgently to London.

    Reflecting on the waning fortunes of beauty pageants, Yinka Adewunmi, chief executive officer of Catwalk studios, a modelling, grooming and events said, “At a point things literarily fell apart in the industry and a lot of us who were professionals actually saw it coming. It became an all-comers thing and we had a lot of mediocres parading themselves as professionals in the industry. There were lots of sharp practices and they crowned all kinds of people which led to scandals and controversies. For a number of these people the motive was money and once they discovered that it wasn’t a goldmine they just moved on.”

    Adewunmi, who had been on the panel of judges for different pageants, added: “That was why I had to take a break on my pageant Miss Catwalk and moved on to other areas like ushering and protocol services.” It was the beginning of the exodus of professionals from the runway especially as scores of scandals rolled in further tarnishing the credibility of the pageants.”

    For Yomi Onanuga, a former manager of Miss Nigeria and organiser of ‘Miss Environment’ many of the pageants were built on a faulty foundation. “First, you have lack of fulfilment of promises on the part of sponsors. Then you also find that most of the pageants lack glamour and can also be traced to sponsorship. Sometimes, you would have gone to press to announce sponsors, only for the date to draw near and you find sponsors giving excuses that their budget cannot carry what you have proposed. In that case what do you do? You can’t cancel the event at this point and you would be forced to go ahead with your plan.”

    Some others agreed with Onanuga that the withdrawal of sponsors from the pageants dealt a death blow on the event. However, a few others who don’t want their names in print pointed at the scores of scandals that have dogged some of the competition. For instance, a respondent pointed to a particular pageant where a winner was discovered to have been a consort to some of the judges on the panel. To this the respondent asked, “If you are a sponsor will you be encouraged to sponsor such an event that has been tarnished? I don’t think so.”

    However, efforts to speak with some of the past sponsors were rebuffed as they preferred to stay away from the controversy. But just as the the as the fortune of beauty pageants are fading, rising on its ashes are talk and reality shows. It is the new bride in the showbiz world as sponsors are falling over each other to be part of the new game in town.

     

  • Three ways to make him fall in love with you

    Have you ever found yourself falling for a man you were dating and wondered if he was feeling the same way? Did you find yourself trying to prove what a great catch you are by being sweeter, funnier and smarter in hopes that he would fall in love with you? Focusing on what a man wants and ingratiating yourself in this way may feel like the natural thing to do, but it’s the worst way to try to make a man feel romantic love for you.

    Love isn’t a reasonable emotion – and being “nice” and “understanding” and “a good sport” won’t get you where you want to go. Here are some ways that will:

     

    Tip 1: Don’t give a man more than he gives you. Love, and inspiring a man to fall in love with you forever, is all about you being able to receive love.

    Most of us only know how to give. We give for lots of reasons – because we’re taught that’s the way to get to a man’s heart (it isn’t) because we see other women do it, and because deep down, it feels uncomfortable and scary to be vulnerable enough to really get love.

    “A man is actually turned off when he gets more from you than he gives.”

    A man is actually turned off when he gets more from you than he gives.

    When you shower him with affection, attention, dinners, gifts, and always go out of your way to drive to his place, it makes him think of you as a mother or a friend instead of inspiring his emotional desire for you.

     

    Tip 2: Don’t give away exclusivity if he hasn’t yet committed. We become totally, emotionally invested in a man when we’re exclusive with him because he has all our time and attention. There’s no way we can stop wondering about where the relationship is going. But the more we think about it and talk about it, the more we push a man away.

     

    Tip 3: Don’t give him gifts, make him dinner or pay for dates Yes, this sounds unfair, and yet, who pays is often the difference in his mind between friends hanging out together and a “date.”

    If a man complains about paying for everything, let him know you don’t care what you do, you feel great being with him, and you don’t want to pay. Walking, hanging out in bookstores, having a picnic in a park can all be fun, romantic ways to get close to a man.

    (And forget about cooking dinner, or trying to make dating “reciprocal.” A bowl of popcorn and something to drink is fine.)

    When you give a man gifts, give him all your attention and energy, and give MORE than you receive, you’re OVERFUNCTIONING.

    Overfunctioning is doing more than your fair share and stepping up to rescue a man because you know you can do a better job. It’s arriving from your masculine energy. It feels aggressive and forward to a man.

    And it’s totally unattractive to him.

  • Fine hour for girl who writes with her toes

    Fine hour for girl who writes with her toes

    Lagos company offers her job, scholarship to university

    When mid last year, The Nation newspaper broke the story about Patience Ijeih, the young girl who writes with a pen between her toes, it was just like one of those stories. But a few weeks afterwards, Patience once again hit the news when she passed the General Certificate of Education examination after two years of depression.

    She had summoned courage to face the rigour of the examination, having had her results seized by the examination body two years earlier. Patience had told us then that the news of her seized result depressed her, pushing her to shelve the thought of ever going to the university again.

    “I was not happy,” she said then, “and I told myself to forget about education. I floated. I didn’t have anything that I wanted to do again. I just wanted to float. But early last year, I started seeing my mates moving on in life, people who I knew that I am even more brilliant than, and then I started thinking of putting in for the GCE examination again. But this time around, I was not as enthusiastic as before. I did it with less interest.”

    This time around, however, her results were released and she came out in flying colours. We wrote then that there was now hope for the girl who writes with her toes. The truth is that, Patience Ijeih told us then that she was now sure, she was getting closer to achieving her dream of pursuing a university education.

    “Now, that I have passed, I am sure that by the grace of God once again, I am going to further my studies. This has given me hope that I may one day be an undergraduate. Though I would have loved to go into the university and study Law, people are telling me that taking such a course is very expensive. I would also love to study Mass Communication, but I also hear that it is expensive.

    “These are the only courses that appeal to me. But you know, my mom is late and my dad is in the village and my brother is just managing. We don’t have any rich person in my family. I can only continue to pray and hope that God makes a way for me,” she had told us then.

    Today, those words have somewhat turned to prophecy. Patience Ijeih had cause to worry that she might perhaps never have such opportunity to study within the four walls of a university. Indeed her worries were genuine because, firstly, she was born with two damaged hands, which according to her late mother, resulted from her wrong positioning during her birth. Secondly, Patience comes from a poor home, lost her mother when she was young and her father has advanced in age.

    Patience, however, trained herself early to overcome life’s circumstances. She developed the art of writing with her toes right from childhood. “I can’t remember when I started using my toes to write. I must have started very early in life because I remember that this was how I was writing while at Ikeliki Primary School in Delta State,” said Patience. “It has never been a difficult thing to do. I just sit down, put my papers or exercise book on the floor, a pencil or biro in between my toes and write. It’s very easy to do,” she said excitedly when we first met her.

    With this, she scaled through the primary school, secondary school, and even attended a computer school where she bagged a diploma. Only a university education eluded her. And this, most people she met, told her is impossible considering her circumstances. Her brother who has also been her guardian since her mom died could not help her any further because he lacked the ability.

    In the last two weeks, however, hope indeed brightened for the girl who writes with her toes. A Lagos- based organisation known as The Biostadt Company located in Ilupeju, has offered her a job and also a university scholarship once she secures an admission. She was also offered an opportunity to continue to work in the organisation, even after her university education, if she so desires.

    Overwhelmed with joy, Patience headed to her church, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Ota, Ogun State, popularly known as Winners Chapel, where she gave a moving testimony that attracted the attention of the presiding Bishop, Dr. David Oyedepo, and thousands of the worshippers who were present in the church for the first service of the day.

    Our reporters were there early in the week when Patience Ijeih began her working life, as she formally resumed duty at the Lagos-based organisation known as The Biostadt Company, which is into Agro and Pharma care. She is to work in the Managing Director’s office as secretary.

    Receiving her, the MD, Prince Emmanuel Ajayi, said: “This is an organisation that believes in equal opportunities for the male and the female. We like to take affirmative action when it concerns physically challenged people. We are proud and happy to contribute to the lives of people, and we want this company to be for everyone, Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike and whether physically challenged or not.

    That is the kind of company that we are building. We believe that we must give back to society and there is no limit to what you can give back to society. We have had to be involved in the VVF cases in Zamfara State, Motherless Babies’ Home in Abeokuta, The Federal School of Rehabilitation in Emene; even the recent flood in some parts of the east of Nigeria, where we donated materials to ensure that cases of diseases were minimised. We see it as our little quota to the development of our society.”

    With those words, the MD welcomed Patience Ijeih to the organisation with a warm handshake.

     

    I’m Over whelmed says patience 

    We spoke to Patience afterwards:

    So how do you feel now that you have got a job?

    I feel very happy. I thank God for this company that has given me this job.

    Were you expecting this kind of miracle?

    Well, no.

    How did you get to know about the job and scholarship offer from the company?

    It’s the principal of the school who called to tell me. She told me that there was a company that wanted to see me. So on getting there, I saw the officials from the company and to my surprise, they offered me a job and also told me about the scholarship.

    What was your first reaction?

    It was as if I was dreaming. I was so happy because I had been praying that God should bring my helper to me. That God should bless someone who will then help me. Even now, I am still amazed.

    You were probably expecting a small miracle. Now, you have got a big one. Are you scared that you may not be able to cope with the challenges of working in a big organisation like this?

    I am not afraid; this is what I asked from God and He has now done it for me. I am well prepared. I will do my best since God has provided me this opportunity

    How about school?

    I will go back to school when it is time for school. I have already made preparations for the forthcoming JAMB (pre-university) examination.

    How about your brother?

    He was very happy too.

    Last Sunday, you met Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel (Excitement beamed on her face)

    That is the church I have been attending since 2010.

    But all this while, you must have been a quiet nobody and since you usually cover your hands with a shawl, we are sure that people did not even know you had such a challenge in the church (Laughs). You gave a testimony in the 50,000-capacity auditorium. We have always thought you to be a shy person. What prompted you to give the testimony? And was that the first time you ever gave a testimony in a church?

    Yes, it was the first time I have ever given a testimony in a church. And I did it because the testimony is too big for me. In my family, we had never received such blessings from God and so, I had to do it. The bishop is always saying that if you hide your blessings or testimonies, more will not come. But that when you share it, more will come.

    That also motivated me to give the testimony. I know that naturally, I am a shy person, but I believed that God would give me the courage and when it was time, I suddenly found the courage to stand up and testify. I suddenly found the boldness.

    Bishop Oyedepo was pleasantly surprised and marvelled at your exceptional ability to use your toes to write and pass examinations

    (Laughs) Ha, that is okay.

    The Bishop actually thought you were writing with your left hand, but he later realised that it was your legs, he was so surprised that he invited you back to the altar and offered special prayers, using you as a point of contact for others who are also looking towards God for a miracle

    (Tears flooded her eyes) I don’t know what to say. I am still overwhelmed with joy. Somebody even came to meet me that the Bishop wanted my contact. So I gave the person my phone number.

    So what do you have to say to the company that has been so generous to you?

    I thank them. I am too grateful; my prayer is that God should increase this company. I have thought very well about what has suddenly happened to me and I am just too overwhelmed. This company has removed my shame; they have wiped away my tears and taken away my hardship. I am also grateful to The Nation newspaper which that started it all for me.

     

    ‘We are ready to help her fulfill her dreams’

    Mrs. Aramide Ola Edwards, Corporate Services Manager, The Biostadt Company, explains the organisation’s plans for

    Patience, in this brief chat with our reporter

    How did you get to know about Patience?

    Actually, it was the Managing Director of our organisation that saw a story about her in The Nation newspapers. He picked it up and found it very interesting. He then sent the CSO to go and make further enquiries about her and do a thorough investigation on the story. It was just like that. Nobody brought her here to make a case for her. He saw it in the newspaper like every other Nigerian and picked interest.

    The CSO went down to the school and made enquiries to ensure that the story was genuine and authentic and that was it. We decided to have a chat with the proprietress of the school for them to also confirm the story. After then, the management decided to help her, to assist in her education and welfare.

    Has your organisation been doing this before?

    Yes, it is a culture with our organisation. It is part of our corporate social responsibility. Biostadt is actually a company that cares about life generally. We are into how we can preserve life and alleviate poverty and not just about pursuing money. We are also interested in helping people, sustaining development and eradication of poverty. For us, it is a corporate social responsibility and this is not the first. Patience’s case is not the first, but it is the first of its kind because we hadn’t had somebody like that who writes with her toes.

    Do you think she will fit into your corporate setting?

    For me, meeting Patience, I saw in her a determined young woman; somebody who is ready to achieve if given an opportunity to do what every other person can do. And after meeting with her and talking with her, interestingly, everybody shares that same opinion too; the management too. This is a young girl, who with a bit of push and the right platform, will go places. I don’t think it will be difficult for her to fit into our corporate setting. Even when she arrived for work the first time, she interacted freely, introduced herself properly she was flowing. She wasn’t timid or shy or trying to cage herself in a corner. I took her to her duty place, and at lunch period, she was all by herself, mixing freely. She blended and that is exactly what we expected.

    Do you have any scheduled future plans for her?

    Yes, we do. To start with, what Patience is doing here presently is but a temporary employment. That is what her letter says, pending when she gains admission into a higher institution. Our dream is to fulfill her dream which is to go to school. She wants to read Law or Mass Communication. We have told her that she will take JAMB. Everything is boldly written in the letter. We will make her achieve her dreams, God willing. Patience is in good hands because we are a company that believes strongly in the grace of God. That is what has brought us this far.

    Can you talk briefly about your organisation?

    This is The Biostadt Company; we have been around for a long time since 1964 as Cieba Geige. Then it was just about agro products, but along the line, there were developments as and it became Syngenta; now we are Swiss Biostadt. Now, we have three major lines of business. We have agro-care, pharma-care and medi-care. Regarding each of them, we have foreign technical partners we work with, and they are big names in the industry here and abroad. And we are sole distributors for GE, for instance. We also train doctors and medical representatives on how to use some sophisticated medical equipment. We help farmers too in co-operation with the government by supplying needed chemicals to help with weeds to help crops grow well.

  • Maintaining intimacy during pregnancy

    Sharing dates, intercourse and anticipation of parenthood should bring couples closer – with or without orgasm

    The swelling belly that punctuates the beauty of motherhood can sometimes be a speed bump to intimacy between husband and wife. It doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to navigate maternity in a way that preserves the romance and sexual chemistry.

    Mission 1: How can a husband create an atmosphere for sex without coming off as a selfish, horny, insensitive pervert?

    Emotional Foreplay! Romantic overtures like the husband bringing flowers, cooking a special dinner, caressing the stomach and even brushing the hair are signs of tenderness to remind his lady that she is still beautiful and adored. It doesn’t hurt to come right out and call her beautiful either.

    Intimacy during pregnancy is about more than sex; it is ultimately about two people feeling connected in a cloud of protective love and desire of their own making. That means intercourse, emotion, and communication are all part of the intimate package needed especially during pregnancy.

    Mission 2: As the baby grows, sex feels uncomfortable for me as a wife. What are the most comfortable positions for sexual intimacy during pregnancy?

    First of all, you won’t harm the baby. Second of all, fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, and the increased need to urinate during sex may be so off-putting during the first trimester that sex is not feasible. But in the second-trimester when the hormones kick in and the breast grow rounder and more luscious — whoa baby! Here are tips to consider for sexual intimacy during pregnancy then: have sex sideways, or lie on your back slightly propped up on a pillow while your partner holds your legs up. Mutual oral or manual stimulation might also be comfortable and desirable.

    Mission 3: How can I think about sex when I’m fat and feeling unpretty?

    Embrace pregnancy as one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life. It’s a cliche but it’s true. Many men actually like when the body becomes rounder, especially the bosom. Femininity is often associated with soft, fleshy curves. Remember the full-figured Rubenesque art celebrated as the epitome of womanhood during the 17th century? So, buy some clothes —including lingerie — that flaunt that incredible belly and bosom!

    Mission 4: Why do I crave MORE sex now that I’m pregnant — and what if my husband can’t keep up with my new sex drive?

    Many pregnant women, due to the increase in progesterone and estrogen, may find their libido surging! Their bodies will supply extra sensitivity of the breast and labia, as well as increased vaginal lubrication. These basics for increased sex drive, however, may go no where if the husband’s drive goes down. Sometimes husbands fear they can hurt the baby, which is rarely true. Let him know that the baby is protected by your abdominal muscles as well as the amniotic sac.

    Some husbands find maternity to be a time of pristine adoration and find sex with the mother figure inappropriate. If your husband has this reluctance, consider going to talk it out together with a therapist. If that doesn’t work, you might have to consider self-pleasure.

    In the final trimester, a lack of sexual interest might be shared by both of you as you anticipate parenthood. Husbands often exhibit lower testosterone and increased estrogen that might lower their sex drive as they near fatherhood, according to a recent report in Redbook Magazine.

    Mission 5: If I want to have sex while pregnant, during what time periods are safest?

    The first trimester is generally not recommended or even desirable if you are experiencing physical symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and cramping. In the second trimester those ailments wane and that time is generally the safest and most lusty period. The final trimester is safe as well and can relieve the stress of being pregnant. However, during the final days be cautious about orgasms that squeeze the uterus and consider opting for simple intercourse without climax.

    Some reports suggest women who continue sexual intimacy while pregnant , especially during the last trimester, don’t need forced deliveries.

    Mission 6: Can I use personal satisfaction toys during intimate play with my spouse?

    According to Dr. Marjorie Greenfield of DrSpock.com, using toys, such as vibrators during pregnancy, is safe. However, some experts caution that you increase the risk of going into early labor because the more powerful orgasms could lead to contractions in the third trimester. Make sure any object inserted into the vagina is clean to avoid bacterial infections. Also, do not insert too deeply so as to avoid puncturing the placenta, according to doctors on BabyCenter.com — objects can punctuate more readily than flesh.

    As an alternative, the husband may wish to try a vibrating ring for intercourse.

    Some women report that the orgasms from electric sex actually help them fall asleep better during pregnancy.

    Mission 7: If I’m not experiencing the expected lubrication during pregnancy, what can I do?

    Try a non-irritating lubricant like AstroGlide or Slippery Stuff. If you prefer to go the organic route for intimacy during pregnancy, coconut oil is a great natural lubricant that smells good and is anti-bacterial.

    Mission 8: Instead of sex, what else can my husband and I do to feel close to each other?

    Hugging, kissing, spooning should be constant staples when a couple plans intimacy during pregnancy. Avoid massages which could be too stimulating to the uterus and baby. Going on dates might be a fun activity to look forward to — and not just for the wife. Dates would remind the husband that he’s special and that you have time for more than just the baby. This is very important psychologically as the husband undoubtedly anticipates that you and the baby, by virtue of being in the same body for nine months, will be devoted to one another in a way he can’t share. Some couples enjoy writing daily letters, notes or journals to each other about their maternity experience and anticipation — tokens that can be shared later with the child as a keepsake.

    Don’t forget the technical flirtations by text-message, email or cell phone when the spouse is working and away from home frequently. Three-way intimacies like listening to romantic music with headphones on the stomach for the baby or reading aloud together so the baby can pick up on both your voices are also overwhelmingly tender moments.

    Source: Yahoo Health

  • Eki Igbinedion on the rebound?

    One woman who is fast losing her place in the corridors of power and high octane social functions is the amiable former First Lady of Edo State, Eki Igbinedion. Even her pet project, Idia Renaissance, has gone into oblivion. The non-governmental organisation by which Eki sought to restore hope and dignity to humanity and promote the cultural values of the people of Edo State is now history.

    At inception, the project enjoyed widespread acceptance due to the twin scourge of prostitution and women trafficking that constituted major headaches to the ancient city of Benin. But in spite of the remarkable success that attended the initiative at inception, it has gone the way of many of its kind established by some other first ladies in the past.

    Since 2007 when Lucky igbinedion finished his two terms as governor with virtually nothing to show for it, Eki seemed to have also disappeared from the social radar. And so has her Idia Renaissance project, with all the money invested in it going down the drain. But those who are close to her told Happenstances that she is planning to revive the moribund project. How true? Well, time will tell.

  • Marriage not on the card for Omasan Buwa

    Omasan Buwa is having a rollicking time at the moment. The one time beauty queen is happy with her new lease of life. She has decided to shed her toga of shyness to wear the garb of courage and make the best of this season. Hardly would you see Omasan now without smiles on her face.

    Happenstances gathered that the former London-based BEN TV presenter came about this new mood when she secured an appointment as the Executive Assistant on the Physically Challenged to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. According to an insider, her happiness has nothing to do with any pecuniary gains associated with political appointment. She is still single after divorcing her husband of 13 years.

    Rather, her cheery posture has to do with the fulfillment she is deriving from putting smiles on the faces of the less-privileged who are the focus of her appointment and in whom she has found companionship. Omasan came into national consciousness after winning the second edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 1987. She later represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Intercontinental.

  • Hadiza Okoya comes of age

    Hadiza Okoya, the gorgeous 25-year-old lady who recently relocated to Nigerian from England, was honoured by his billionaire father penultimate Sunday. The Aare of Lagos welcomed his love child, who a Sierra-Leonean woman had for him in London 25 years ago, with a soiree held inside the banquet hall of his Oluwa ‘Ni ‘ Sola Estate, Ajah, Lagos.

    It was a two-in-one shindig as the welcome party coincided with Hadiza’s 25th birthday. Aare Okoya’s wife, Shade, was more like the chief hostess. Also at the event were Chief Demola Seriki and his wife, Wosilat, and other Okoya’s children. They included Tunde, Aina and Taofiq. There were many other guests in attendance and it was fun Hadiza’s step-mother ensured that every guest was treated to a nice time.

    Hadiza attended the University of Hertfordshire, London, England, where she studied Advertising and Media. She will be going for her national youth service programme any time soon. Those who should know told Happenstances that she has blossomed into a beauty reminiscent of her mother’s attractive looks.

  • INVESTOUR promotes business between Africa and Spain

    The fourth edition of the Investment and Tourism Business Forum (INVESTOUR) addressed cooperation and business opportunities between Spain and Africa. Celebrated on the occasion of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), INVESTOUR 2013 brought together representatives from 33 African countries and over 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. (FITUR, 31 January)

    An initiative of UNWTO, the Madrid Tourism Fair Institution (IFEMA) and Casa Africa, INVESTOUR 2013 held under the theme ‘Tourism Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities’ highlighted some of the key competitive areas for tourism in the region – air connectivity, investment, branding and product development. The B-2-B session, which serves as a business platform for participants, attracted over 50 Spanish companies to explore opportunities around 200 African tourism projects in areas such as hospitality, transportation, education, know-how and infrastructure.

    “Bringing together the public and private sectors with potential international partners, it represents a unique opportunity to reinforce business relations between Spain and Africa and advance sustainable development in the continent”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening INVESTOUR.

    Against the backdrop of international tourist arrivals growing by 6% in the region in 2012, the event took place “in a moment in which Africa continues to strive in the tourism map”, he added.

    The importance of the correct strategic planning in tourism to promote Africa’s development was highlighted by the Minister of Tourism of Benin, Jean Michel Abimbola. “The diversification of the economy is the key to attract investment and preserve the millenarian’s traditions through projects such as ecotourism and training”, he said.

    “Africa is a destination and Africa is a market” said the Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, echoing debates which underscored that in the current economic circumstances, initiatives such as INVESTOUR can make a difference both in promoting tourism development as well as in bringing new opportunities to companies in Europe.

    In closing the event, the Minister of Tourism of Senegal, Youssou N’Dour, underscored that INVESTOUR is “a unique opportunity for African countries to showcase their tourism potential to Spanish investors and partners. Tourism is a sector that can make a difference in our region, and therefore we will continue supporting this important initiative in the future.”