So after all the hype as the “Lion of Ubima” in the past eight years, Rotimi Amaechi will end up as a rain-beaten kitten at the twilight of the Buhari administration. True, that little feline is known to be at its most disoriented condition when its luminous eyeballs are, for instance, caught in the headlights of an approaching vehicle. At that critical moment, its vulnerability is stripped bare, often grounded in helplessness, unable to haul itself from possible annihilation.
After the crushing electoral defeat of his puppet Tonye Cole in Rivers last weekend, we saw Amaechi in that helpless kitten moment. His congenital lack of grace shone forth. He grew venomous and unguarded. He equated his electoral humiliation by Nyesom Wike as yet another evidence of “leadership failure” across the country. He described President Muhammadu Buhari as “a failure” who retained Professor Mamoud Yakubu as INEC chairman despite the “objection of some of us”.
Like the proverbial canary, Amaechi literally sang while fielding questions from a battery of reporters who sought his view after the electoral umpire declared him loser for the third time in his deluded aspiration to be crowned as the monarch of Rivers politics — first in 2015, then 2019 and 2023. In other words, he has lost elections in Rivers in three election cycles, back to back. What a pity!
But truth be told, Amaechi, like a punch-drunk boxer, has not healed from the trauma of losing his biggest dream: APC presidential ticket last year. He had been assured by his political witchdoctors to be the “khalifa” (heir apparent). He even went to Daura, Buhari’s hometown, to “chop” a chieftaincy as “Amana” (The Trusted One). But all the gaudy costumes counted for nothing when APC delegates eventually gathered at the Eagles Square last year to pick the flag-bearer.
Unable to to conceal his malicious animosity for the man who humbled him at the APC primaries (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu), grumpy Amaechi resorted to the fallacy of ad hominem. But he only sounded confused and pathetic. One, he said Yakubu’s appointment was influenced by someone close to Tinubu, as if the law says whoever becomes INEC chairman must be an extra-terrestrial being who’ll be unrelated or unknown to anyone. But it is a cheap lie by a frustrated man. In any case, the same Yakubu was INEC chair in 2019 when Amaechi, as “super“ Transport Minister, appointed himself the Director General of Buhari Campaign. So, why didn’t Amaechi object then if truly he is a “principled man” he wants us to see now? It is the antic of a conflicted man.
Of course, those weaned on the diet of iniquity are often the ones who view others by the low standard they were nurtured. Amaechi thinks everyone is like him who operates in a universe of low ethics. Tonye Cole, the man he was packaging to become Rivers governor in 2023, is widely known to be his “business partner”. Already, Wike is hunting both of them for sundry “sins”. Once upon a time, Rivers owned a gas turbine. It was built by Dr Peter Odili. Like the biblical Prodigal Child (what the Yoruba call “akotileta” or “Omo oni na kuna”), Amaechi allegedly sold the state asset for a whopping $370m to Sahara Energy owned by Tonye Cole towards the end of his second term. But Wike claims what was left in the state account he met in 2015 was only a little over mere $100,000! This is just one of the grave charges preferred against Amaechi and Cole before a Rivers court in an ongoing suit.
Now, in Amaechi’s worldview, that Yakubu worked as Executive Secretary of TETFUND when Wike was Minister of State (Education) was enough reason to suspect him of bias for Rivers PDP against his anointed in APC colours. But wait a minute — Tinubu is APC. So, is Amaechi also suggesting that Yakubu is promiscuous: bedding PDP and APC concurrently? Of course, that is the logic of a confused man.
That Amaechi has suddenly turned against Buhari, the man who was generous to him by allocating him a “juicy” portfolio for seven uninterrupted years, did not come as a surprise to those who have followed his career as “government pikin” in the last twenty-four years. He suffers from what psychologists call entitlement mentality. The same Buhari he now abuses recklessly had also indulged him by turning a blind eye when Amaechi went around Rivers State for seven years as Transport with truckloads of soldiers, bigger than the contingent a President travels with. Well, maybe his anger started when Buhari refused to grant his prayers to return as Transport Minister after he lost at the APC presidential primaries in June 2022. The story is told that he desperately begged for a reappointment. But in vain did he grovel.
In Buhari’s first term, Amaechi virtually hijacked all the keys positions zoned to the South-South. He handpicked NNDC Chairman, heads of NIMASA and NPA etc. He obviously expected to inherit the presidency after Buhari. As we know, when spoilt brats don’t get what covet, they instinctively resort to tantrums. After May 29, Buhari should brace for worse invectives from the spoilt upstart from Ubima. Here is a guy who has not done anything else in life other than contesting elections and growing a big tummy from public trough.
He did even worse to the man who gave him a headstart early in life: Peter Odili. For the eight years he was imperial governor of Rivers, Amaechi humiliated his erstwhile “godfather”, creating a hostile climate that banished Odili to virtual exile in Abuja throughout! Yet, the same man had supported him through Rivers university and gave him his first job as admin officer at PAMO Clinic, Port Harcourt. So much that he also met his future wife, Judith, as PAMO Clinic. The lady was an assistant to Justice (Mrs) Mary Odili.
In 1999, Odili it was who bought Amaechi form to stand in the election for Rivers State Assembly. The former not only won the governorship polls but also lifted his protege to victory, smoothed his way to become Speaker for eight years. In 2007, the then outgoing Rivers governor also arranged Amaechi’s selection as PDP governorship candidate, only to be overruled by Obasanjo. The option left for Odili was to pick Amaechi’s relation (Celestine Omehia). Odili had naively assumed that would serve as “consolation” to his beloved boy, since Obasanjo literally held the yam and the knife as PDP’s Alfa and Omega.
Well, maybe Odili’s crime was his ignorance of an existing family feud between Amaechi and Omehia, his cousin. As Speaker, the “Lion of Ubima” had allegedly caused the arrest and detention of Omehia’s dad. The old man didn’t survive the trauma of detention as he died shortly afterwards. Who dared offend the almighty Speaker again? So, making Omehia candidate was too much a slight for Amaechi to bear. Nothing had been forgotten. Nothing forgiven. No mercy.
In one word, Amaechi would not be mollified by the Omehia substitution. Once he managed to get the Supreme Court to award him Rivers governorship on October 25, 2007 even though he didn’t campaign nor vote in the election, he launched a vicious reprisal against Odili. But come 2015, Karma dramatically appeared at Amaechi’s doorstep in Wike’s image.
While he was Rivers governor for eight years, egoistic Amaechi behaved like Hitler to those around him. His SSG, Magnus Abe, was humiliated right in his home. When rumour started swirling that the latter was nursing a 2015 ambition, according to Abe himself, Amaechi stormed his home one night and growled at him, “You can’t be governor!”, right before his (Abe’s) wife. His overbearing attitude also drove Wike, his Chief of Staff, to the bossom of President Goodluck Jonathan who made him minister and thus afforded him an escape to Abuja in 2010. When Ibim Seminatari bruised his elephantine ego later in the Buhari administration, he orchestrated her removal as NNDC chairman.
In 2015, Dakuku Peterside was the apple of his eyes. So, he made him APC governorship candidate and when he lost, influenced his appointment as NIMASA MD. But once he felt his protege was growing too popular in Port Harcourt, Amaechi promptly clipped his wings by ensuring his tenure was not renewed in 2019. As for the governorship, he had found a new lackey in Tonye Cole.
An Igbo saying goes thus: he whose palm kernel was cracked by benevolent gods should not forget to be humble. Indeed, before fortune smiled on him in 1999, Amaechi was a nameless guy in Rivers. While his star shone, he was full of arrogance. Sadly, twenty four years later, the erstwhile roaring “lion of Ubima” is now castrated politically and seems fated to fall down to political wilderness. A big lesson for others.
• West-George, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Buguma, Rivers State.
Ike Ekweremadu is a man in fetters; driven by paternal love, he has landed in grisly cuffs in faraway London, United Kingdom – the jailhouse bonds render him captive and constrained. Likewise his wife, Beatrice shares his fate; she wears her manacles like a despicable bracelet on her wrist.
The embattled former Deputy Senate President (Ekweremadu) and his wife are in a serious dilemma. Their fate hangs precariously in the balance as they await their sentencing by the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey.
Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and their medical ‘middleman,’ Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of David Nwamini, 25, to Britain with a view to exploiting his kidney, after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.
They probably thought they would beat their ordeal. They may have said to themselves, “This too shall pass.” But sadly, it won’t. However, their daughter, Sonia, for whom they allegedly sought to procure Nwamini’s kidney, was cleared by the court.
These are certainly not the best of times for the Ekweremadus. While their conviction signposts a personal tragedy to the family, it signals yet another triumph for the British legal system.
Since news of the deputy senate president and his wife’s arrest broke in June 2022, their travail had occupied the front burner of public discussion. Expectedly, the accusation of organ harvesting elicited a flurry of reactions.
In the United Kingdom (UK), forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking are serious crimes.
The trafficking of organs is illegal in the UK and legal donation of organs can only take place following a person’s consent.
Under the UK’s Modern Slavery system Act 2015, organ harvesting is punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
But how did Ekweremadu and his wife land in their present predicament? The desperation to save their daughter, Sonia’s life, landed them in detention. Following their arrest, they were denied bail severally, triggering the couple’s apprehension and worries from their friends and family.
Ekweremadu, a three-time Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, has since surrendered his passport to the British government over the issue. In the most humiliating fashion, the Ekweremadus have been left pining for freedom.
Many have sympathised with the senator and his wife; standing in solidarity with them are the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, a retired FCT permanent secretary, Fred Chukwulobe, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, and relatives of the embattled senator.
En route to his conviction, Ekweremadu stated his case before a 12-member jury pleading that he was moved to save his daughter’s life, as a dutiful father.
He said he did what “was expedient” and disclosed that he was advised by his doctor against seeking a kidney donor from among his family members. But the prosecution lawyer, Hugh Davies, countered saying that Ekweremadu ignored medical advice to find a donor for his daughter among genuine family members.
Beatrice, however, pulled the rug from under the feet of her husband when she denied involvement in the search for an organ donor for their ailing daughter.
On the family’s finances, the 56-year-old told the court that her husband took care of the house, just as she pointed out that she only carried out domestic duties which included visiting their children in school, in the UK.
Sonia was diagnosed with a kidney problem in 2019, and since then, there had been frantic efforts to get her a donor. The 25-year-old, on her part, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge levelled against her when she appeared again in court this year.
In the end, Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and their doctor accomplice, Obinna Obeta, were found guilty. The jury found that they conspired to bring the 21-year-old at the centre of the matter, David Nwamini, to London to exploit him for his kidney. According to the UK Guardian, it is the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act.
Their daughter, Sonia, was however cleared of the charges. They were alleged to have attempted to convince doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London to perform an £80,000 transplant on the donor who was presented as Sonia’s cousin. However, during the trial, the couple apologised for claiming that the donor was a relative.
The prosecutor said Ekweremadu, a lawyer and lawmaker, “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – somebody in circumstances of poverty and from whom he distanced himself and made no inquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct contact.”
Throughout the trial, Ekweremadu denied all accusations and maintained that he was the victim of a scam. Obeta, who also denied the charge, claimed the man was not offered a reward for his kidney and was acting altruistically.
Beatrice vehemently denied knowing anything about the purported conspiracy. Sonia did not enter any defense after presenting the court with a medical report claiming she is unfit for trial.
Nwamini, the 21-year-old at the epicenter of the controversy. Contrary to initial rumour, he was not a minor; based on the details provided by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Westminster Magistrate Court last June and July respectively.
The young man said he thought he was coming to Britain to work. He also told the court how he was born and bred in a village in Nigeria, the oldest of nine children to his carpenter father and mother.
He went to a village school until the age of 15 when he left because his parents needed money, the court heard. His uncle took him to live with him in Lagos and gave him work selling phone accessories, he said. After four years, he started his own business selling phone accessories from a wheelbarrow in the market, earning N3,000 or N4,000 a day.
He further disclosed that he was taken by Dr. Obeta for his consultation at the Royal Free Hospital. He told judges he thought it was for a test before he could start work.
The prosecutor, Hugh Davies KC, told the court that Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward.” He said they entered an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with the man, The Guardian UK report added.
The behaviour of Ekweremadu showed “entitlement, dishonesty, and hypocrisy,” Davies told the jury. He said Ekweremadu “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – somebody in circumstances of poverty and from whom he distanced himself and made no inquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct contact.”
There is a likelihood that the Ekweremadus may not get the minimum 12 months option attached to summary convictions, but if they are found guilty of “intent to commit human trafficking” — seeing as the kidney transplant did not eventually happen — they will be handed a sentence not exceeding 10 years. Perhaps, a soft landing for the Ekweremadus will bring respite for them.
All eyes are on the presiding judge, Justice Jeremy Johnson who has reserved the sentencing to a later date. Ekweremadu and his wife have been remanded in custody and await sentencing on May 5.
The ordeal of Senator Ekweremadu and his family should serve as a lesson to all and sundry.
Abimbola Oki studied Estate Management and has a flair for entrepreneurship. In addition, she is passionate about empowering other women. In 2014, she worked on her skills in catering and started D’Potters Catering Services which now caters to many top clients and celebrities. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde she takes you into her world.
THE inspiration came from the feedback Abimbola Oki got from her social life was the starting point. “ It started as a hobby and I remember that a lot of the people I worked with loved my food a lot. So, I decided to start a business since I was not employed. I love hosting people in my house, especially during the festive seasons and my guests enjoyed my cooking so much that they gave me money. I was still job hunting at that point”.
Oki then got the push from family and friends and she became convinced that it was the way to go: “ My husband and I had a discussion about starting a food business and that was how I started fully in 2014. My mum used to sell bread even though I wasn’t involved. My sister had a restaurant back then too and I helped to run it. I never thought of running a food business then, but I was able to learn one or two things from that experience”.
Happily, she goes on to talk about the high points as well as some of the memorable moments working in the sector. “We give value. I ensure that all our meals meet up to the standard that we have set for the brand, which is to give tasty and quality meals. We also have great customer service”.
Next, she takes you into her world and the things that make her brand unique. “I would say that it has been bitter and sweet. It also comes with so many challenges, but I must say that the experience has been worthwhile. God’s grace has brought us this far and everything is going just as I planned.”
She continued: “ A lot of people know how to cook but they don’t know about the business side, which is very critical. That influenced me to start D’potters Catering School to educate women. Here, it’s a holistic curriculum and it is not just about learning how to cook but also learning about the business aspect, of building a successful brand. It has also been very fulfilling for me and I get a lot of messages from women that have transformed their lives and businesses”.
In the process, she has been able to prove to her mentees that being consistent and dedicated to their brand will pay off and they also can make it in any business they decide to venture into. “It has been an amazing journey so far. The first set of students graduated last month and some of them already started their businesses and they are doing very well”.
Her success story also revolves around touching lives. “ I always love to put smiles on people’s faces whether I know them or not. I have been through very hard times too. So, I understand their situation, this is my inspiration”.
Oki also talks about some of the lessons learned.”I have learned to be consistent with what I am doing, people are watching. We give a specified time for delivery and try to make sure we deliver on time. However, the unstable economy is also affecting us. This has led to an increase in the price of our food which unfortunately makes our customers complain sometimes”.
Next, the discussion goes on to identify the things needed to move the sector to greater heights. “I am looking forward to an industry with great professionalism and regulated pricing. Here, we talking about an industry that will provide more tools to develop skills and expertise where I can compete with the best without feeling intimidated. In addition, getting customers to trust you and the brand is also very important because we usually do the payment before delivery. We have been able to build that trust. We also focus on getting a trusted delivery company to deliver food on time. There are many cases of food getting sour by the time clients get it. That should not happen. We have been able to get our personal bikes. For many getting reliable staff can also be challenging. On our part, we have been consistent with our principle which is to give customers value for their money”.
We treat our customers fairly and we don’t hesitate to apologize when things go wrong. We try to exceed their expectations, this makes them happy to refer us to their friends and families.”
Her experience working with organizations like BUA group, Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce, Rand Merchant bank, and STANBIC IBTC gave Oki the background experience which motivated Oki to put in her best at all times. “It has been a great experience. We have learned to be punctual, and professional in all we do and we have met great people in the process”.
Oki goes on to compare life as an entrepreneur to the things that she did in the past.“I only worked as a youth Corp member at L.S.D.P.C. I started this business afterward. I am looking at expanding the business to other states and even outside Nigeria, and maybe opening a restaurant. I train people both online and offline, I do consultations for some food vendors. I am always learning new things about my business from others. If I am not teaching, I am learning”.
Her advice for young people who want to go into the sector is: “Don’t start the business just because others are making money from it, make sure it’s something you love doing. My Dad is my greatest influence. He doesn’t take No for an answer. Government should provide basic amenities like good roads, electricity, water, good health care, good schools, etc. This will go a long way in helping every individual and business.
Oki added: “We also rent out our cooking studio to content creators, food bloggers, and food brands. Our outdoor cooking area is also available for rent to caterers who need a convenient cooking space for their large cooking. I have always dreamt of moving to a bigger space but I was scared of the unknown. We were given a quit notice at the former space because they did not want us to use the space for cooking again. We had no choice but to get a new space and we got exactly what we wanted. It was not easy getting space for cooking and took us a year to get to this new place. We did some renovations and it came out perfect”.
Hilda Effiong Bassey known as Hilda Baci is the founder of ‘My Food by Hilda”, actress, TV presenter, and talk show host. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her homemade recipes, inspiration from her mother’s culinary techniques, the turning point in her life, and embarking on a cooking marathon.
YOU are embarking on a 4-day cooking Marathon to break the world’s longest cooking record. What inspired the idea?
I used to be obsessed with watching the Guinness Book of Records on TV and YouTube. At some point, I have been crazy about cooking. About 5 years ago, I said to my brother then that I had not seen anyone doing the longest cooking marathon. It was always the biggest pizza, the largest this and that. So, I imagined if someone cooked for a really long time and my brother said that it was a really good idea, people would enjoy it. I now inquired about it to know if a record like that was existing.
At the time, the current record holder just hit that record. I think that I kind of forgot it for a while. But, then somehow I didn’t stop thinking about it. It was on my mind, it was something that I really wanted to do. I told my friends and family members, and here we are.
So, what are you looking at?
The attempt is supposed to begin on the 28th and we would round up on the 1st.
How did your mum influence your performance in the sector?
She was really good with people and customer service. I watched her build her business. I remember when she started, there were so many vendors in the space that she started with and as the years went by, she became the only one there in Area 10, Abuja. She did that and she trained us with that. So, I realized that there is money in the business but you just have to be serious about it.
It is a very competitive and tough sector. How do you cope?
I guess I have a passion for it. I enjoyed it. When you are doing what you love, it doesn’t feel like work. It is also supposed to fund my lifestyle. I have responsibilities and I mean every other thing that I have to do. This is basically like my handwork, so I have to take it seriously.
There are recipes everywhere. What makes yours different?
My tagline is made with love. It sounds very mundane but the truth is what I have at the back of my mind when I am making anything. I have some of these recipes which I learned from my mum and then I improved on them.
Talking about love, are your targets young people?
It’s for everybody.
During COVID-19, you supported the less privileged communities with about 3000 meals. What inspired you to do this?
Then, I noticed that there was a lack around my area. So, I used to take walks around Elegushi beach every Saturday morning. I saw that the guy there would help other people. It was their source of livelihood. But since COVID nothing was happening. So, every time I was passing, they would say mama please help us. They had kids as well as pregnant wives or girlfriends. I also noticed that those reaching out were going to the streets, and motherless homes, and nobody remembered them. So, I just decided to take it there. I did it every Saturday for the entire period of the lockdown. I used to take 150 meals there every Saturday. I always wore my face masks. It was rice, easy meals, Jollof, and fried rice. I alternated between both drinks and water. I had COVID at a point. It was towards the end of the lockdown and my body really fought it. I had a few malaria symptoms for one day. It didn’t really knock me down and I was still very active. I ate a lot of pepper soups that was it.
Let’s talk about life as a presenter and TV show host.
I can’t even remember the year but my friend sent me this post about Linda Ikeji TV, they were looking for a presenter. So, I just tried. I made an audition video and the video was really good at the time. Then I wanted to be an actress, be on the screen, and wanted everyone to know me. From there, I started auditioning for multiple presenting roles.
Was it easy or challenging doing this?
It wasn’t easy at all. I had to go to Lagos multiple times because Lagos is where it happens. I came to Lagos for just auditions. Sometimes, I got callbacks and would come back to Lagos. There was this particular station that had me come back like four times and eventually I didn’t get it. It was very upsetting.
What would you describe as the turning point for you?
I can’t say that I have one particular turning point. Different things! Moving to Lagos was definitely a turning point for me. If I didn’t come to Lagos, I wouldn’t be here. The challenges I faced pretty much got me to this point. I did a 9 to 5 and worked two jobs at a point. I was working as a cook. When I quit that job, I got the opportunity to have my own show on DSTV. It was called Dine on a Budget and it was on Pop Central TV channel. I basically used to host celebrities. I had a mixologist, just like dinner with friends. We got to discuss different topics while I was cooking. So, they would have an appetizer, main course, dessert, and cocktail. It was just like a really fun roundtable conversation while I was also trying to teach people how to cook. I was also entertaining them with their favorite celebrities. For me, doing that allowed me to combine all my interests, my ability to present, my ability to cook, and my desire to teach. And I like looking good, that way I married everything to one show.
Was there a particular fallout doing this?
It taught me to be more assertive. Getting the celebrities, I had to send them DMs. Some people would respond positively, some didn’t and till today, there are people that are just seeing my DM this year and this was like two years ago. I just knew that if you want something nobody is going to hand it over to you. You have to make an effort and get it yourself and achieve what you want.
At what point did you get into acting?
I think that in between all that, I was still going for acting auditions. I did a role, not necessarily a waka pass in this movie called side waves. It was directed by T. Sinachi. It featured Nancy Isime in 2018, then my very last acting role was playing a supporting lead in Dream Chaser. A movie by Multichoice talent factory. Acting is just a few years; I don’t take it seriously because my bottom line now is that I have to make money. If I am doing something that I love it has to serve me and pay my bills. Right now, acting is not doing that. I need to invest in my business.
How has the recent cash scarcity affected your business?
Oh yes, it has. We tried initially and it became a bit more difficult as time went on. There were days when we couldn’t buy petty things in the market because these women don’t take transfers. I remember calling my account officer to beg for twenty thousand nairas.
Do you have young people that you mentor?
I won’t say I mentor young people but I teach. It is not restricted to young people but anyone who is interested. I teach people how to cook. I share my recipes because I want recipes to propagate what I stand for. I want them to become authentic staple recipes. That is why I am very open to sharing them with as many people as possible. I notice that there is a lapse. The food industry, in terms of fast food and outdoor catering. We are not respected as we should be.
We should make as much money as we deserve to make based on the amount of work that we put in. I think that most times, we don’t understand the business side of it. So, you can have someone doing the same thing, sustainably but not profitably. So, you are doing the same thing but you are not able to scale up because you are not charging properly. You are not pricing properly. So, I just got to understand that a lot of people are struggling with that based on my interactions with customers, intending customers, and other food vendors as well. And because I like to share, I felt that this is something people need to learn and take their business more seriously. It can be very deceptive when you have an inflow, a lot of things coming in but then you are not exactly making money just because you have a lot of money coming in. So, you actually need to be very intentional about every single thing.
Could this be because there are so many people in the sector?
Not necessarily. I feel that if you have a niche for yourself like your service is good, you still have your client base. I would say people don’t have the desire to eat the same thing 365 days a year. As human beings, we are not static to be eating the same things. What you try to achieve is that you are top of mind. So, sometimes people are actually craving your food which is why you need to be original. So, I don’t think it is because the market is over-saturated.
Are your cooks male or female?
It’s a mix. I have about 8 cooks right now. 5 men and 3 women, both men and women are pulling their weight. Then the narrative was that cooking was only for women, when a man chooses to do it, it is done with precision. Now, more women are getting into it professionally.
What does the theme for the 2023 International Women’s Day?
I will like to relate this to the policies in the sector. You find that people don’t want to employ women as professional chefs. They think men would do it better. I think we need to be more intentional, this can actually be a craft that should be taken seriously. We need to have more people in culinary schools.
Who, for God’s sake, would tell movie producers that portraying raw s£x in home videos is an abomination, a no-no?”
Those were the words of Jide, a Lagos parent, after watching a Nigerian flick on a terrestrial channel.
He added: “I got home late last night and decided to enjoy a bit of a movie on a terrestrial channel, and what spectacle did I behold? Actress Kemi (surname withheld) is being treated to a hot session of doggy style in the full glare of the camera, leaving nothing to the imagination.
“There she was, screaming with pleasure as her partner pounded away.
“The saving grace was that I was alone in the living room. But I could have had my nine-year-old daughter by my side.”
Jide expressed concern that when movie producers are not engaging in raw s£x, they describe the act so loosely that even an unintelligent child would decode.
“For goodness sake, they call it a home video and even tell us that their movies are meant to teach and entrench our rich culture.
“Which part of our culture tells us to perform sexual acts in the open? Throughout my childhood and up until now, I have never seen people mating in the open.”
Watching our home made movies is gradually becoming a nightmare for many Nigerians.
Before now, Nigerian filmmakers and producers were in the habit of playing down obscenity in home movies.
For instance, ‘Domitila,’ a Nigerian movie produced by Zeb Ejiro, popularly known as Igwe Gabosky, and released in 1996, though centered on prostitution, did not display any form of nudity. It was one of the early movies targeted at addressing the ills of prostitution.
The film featured A-list actors like Anne Njemanze, Sandra Achums, Kate Henshaw, Adah Ameh and the late Enebeli Elebuwa, among other great artistes.
The usual practice then was to do a romantic scene discreetly and leave the rest for the viewer to imagine. But that is no longer the case as the trend now is to bare it all just so it may appear real.
One of such films was premiered early in the year with the nude scenes in it now of concern to many. In one of the loose scenes, a popular Nollywood actress is seen with bare boobs and butt while an actor fondles them.
In another Nollywood movie released last year, a scene where another actress revealed her breasts irked many and for a very long time became the point for discussion.
Not a few parents have criticised such movies for glorifying sexual acts even where it was not even needless.
Films like ‘Oloture,’ ‘Shanty Town’ and ‘Anikulapo,’ are believed to have enjoyed a lot of views more for their nude scenes than their storylines or production quality.
For instance, 11 days after ‘Anikulapo’ was released, the released weekly top 10 list of the most watched movies by Netflix showed that the flick had been viewed for 8,730,000 hours.
As at January 4, 2023, ‘Shanty Town’ had also been viewed by about 340,595 people on Netflix.
Expressing angst over the sexual content of Nigerian movies, 30-year-old Bose Thomas blamed the trend on the influence of western culture, the need to belong or be accepted by a culture that is generally accepted across the globe.
She was of the opinion that a few people have chosen to accept it, and this would continue. “Because these issues are not talked about enough and they are not addressed the way they ought to be done from the outset, that is why we are currently battling with these excesses in movies.”
According to Thomas, the issue is now deeply rooted in our society. “We see nudity everywhere now and nudity has become an acceptable culture for many people.
“I believe that you do not need to expose your body to pass across meaningful information and knowledge to the society,” she said.
Thomas is worried that the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is not doing enough to curb the excesses of film producers.
“The Censors Board is a major contributor to the widespread nudity in Nigerian movies. They have the power to control the movies that will be produced. If they had flagged such indecency from the start it would not have got to this point,” she said.
For the NFVCB to change this trend is an uphill task, because, according to Thomas, this has become the new norm for many Nigerians. She described what she termed excessive nudity in Nigerian movies as unnecessary. “But, unfortunately, these so-called Nigerian artistes are trendsetters in our society.”
Thomas is worried that the Nigerian culture is deteriorating as the customs, tradition; social and moral behavior, love, and respect for others are being jettisoned.
While commending Netflix’s interest in Nigerian movies, which has caused them to be viewed across the globe, she is not happy that in a bid to fit and blend into the global lifestyle, Nigerian actors have thrown away their culture and adopted the western way of life.
Efforts made by our correspondent to get the reactions of some artistes and other stakeholders in the movie industry met with a brick wall as many of them pleaded to be excused from what they termed a debate.
The Nigerian movie industry is estimated to generate between $500 million and $1 billion on a yearly basis. It also reportedly employs 300,000 people and more than one million people indirectly.
For Alhaja Sidikat Bakre, watching Nigerian movies with her children is forbidden.
According to her, she made that decision after watching a Yoruba movie in which she was embarrassed with the way two prominent artistes played a romantic role.
She said: “I think the scenes could have even been acted without making it look as if it was real. The two artistes were kissing in the film as if their lives depended on it. It was deep, my brother.
“Unfortunately for me, I was watching the film with my daughters who are teenagers: one 15, the other 18. I was in a serious dilemma because I could not change the channel. You could feel the silence in the sitting room.”
Though Bakre has watched other Nigerian movies after the incident, she said it was the last time they sat together to watch any Nigerian movie, irrespective of the content.
She was of the view that Africans have cultures and should not allow foreign cultures to erode African values.
Speaking with a mother of three, Mrs Toyin Aliu, who has a 22-year-old undergraduate daughter, she said that while she could watch those so-called Nigerian movies with her 22-year-old daughter, she would not allow that with other children.
According to Aliyu, she had been teaching her children sex education and dissuading them from watching movies with sex content.
“My 19-year-old son does not watch those movies; he prefers war films. Likewise, my daughter. But you cannot tell what these children can do, so I always make sure I teach them in the way of the Lord. Some of those Nigerian films are not healthy for children.”
She is happy that her youngest child has imbibed her teachings because anytime she suspects they want to kiss in a movie, she leaves the scene.
Aliyu reminded the reporter that it is not only in movies that one sees a lot of naked bodies as the same applies to some musical videos.
Subomi, a 16-year-old son of Aliyu, says he watches Nigerian movies very often. He said he had seen two Nigerian movies released some months back, but he was uncomfortable with their contents as he had expected them to depict Nigerian culture. “They shouldn’t have put those nude scenes. I don’t think they are necessary. I don’t know why they included them,” he said.
Aliyu told our correspondent how some siblings got themselves pregnant after watching films and decided to put what they saw in the film into practice.
“The said family is in grief now. I think it was because their parents allowed them to watch that rubbish. Their parents were always with them watching those films together.
“I’m afraid that by watching these movies, what will preoccupy the minds of these children is sex, sex, and sex, which is dangerous,” he said.
Subomi’s sister, 22-year-old Tinu, also deplored the nudity content of Nigerian movies, describing them as inappropriate. She added that her mum feels bad each time she watches films with nudity content.
Advising filmmakers, she said: “They should stop the exposure and the nudity aspects because some children also watch. It is not appropriate for children to watch those movies with adults and see those nude scenes.”
A church administrator and pastor, Oluseye Ayandare, said many Nigerian films are slipping into nudity because of the corruption in society. According to him, such movies tend to attract more viewers and this has become a fad of sorts.
He said: “It does not come only from Nollywood movies. Look at Big Brother Naija, what is the attraction behind it? Many watch it because of the graphic, the explicit, and the nudity it contains.”
“This graphic nudity is not limited to movies; those doing music videos have also embraced this fad. “Videos where you have people who are dressed properly do not sell except those who expose parts of their bodies.
“They make more money when they are unclad compared to when they cover everywhere. The idea of using lewd language and explicit sexual scenes are recent.”
Ayandare noted that the content of Nigerian movies was different from what they are now when he was growing up. “Now, both movies and music videos, neither of them has the right content. People just want to do something lewd, something useless, using vulgar language.”
Ayandare who incidentally is a trained artiste, noted that serious movies do not sell. Although movies with sex scenes are at variance with his Christian faith, he admitted that people of his faith also watch these movies.
According to him, the church is helpless, as it cannot be at the competitive edge with the secular professional movie makers.
“If you look at the technology involved, does the church have such? If you look at equipment, does the church have such? The church does not.
“Though the church is trying to encourage such by introducing drama groups, the truth is that no church believes in the running of video or in the running of movies for church members.”
Also reacting, Fred Iwenjora, a writer, journalist, and stakeholder in the film industry, expressed the view that criticism of nudity in Nigerian movies is like making a mountain out of a molehill. He said it is part of the growth and development of the industry.
According to him, rather than focus on the artistes, the directors should take the flak because directors, not the artistes, make films.
He said: “Every Nigerian has seen what others do in other parts of the world. If you are not like an ‘Oyinbo’ man, you are regarded as a fool.
“We have our phones and we see what others are doing. The influence has started coming in and overtaking us.
“If you are talking about that, can’t you see the mode of dressing among students in higher institutions? In the universities, they dress the way they like, they do what they want.
“It is civilisation. We have all grown more than we used to know. The world is a global village now.”
According to Iwenjora, unhindered access to the internet also influences the type of movies Nigerians prefer to watch.
He said: “The Internet is the biggest influence because we see everything all over the world from the confines of our rooms.
“What about pornography that people are hiding to watch? Every child has a phone now, what they are going to see, you don’t know.
“You don’t know when they start to crave what they see. If they give them nudity, they collect it fast. Usually, it is what people want to watch that the filmmakers give to them.”
‘Don’t crucify filmmakers’
While African society is a cultural society and has some value, Iwenjora argues that culture is dynamic.
According to him, while African culture frowns at nudity, in some cultures, nudity or semi-nudity is no big deal.
“In some cultures, the mode of dressings is just tying a small wrapper with every other part of the body exposed. You show other parts of the body that are well-manicured and you just cover the breasts and the hips. What do you call that one?”
While people of faith and conservatives in society would continue to frown at the growing incidences of nudity in Nollywood movies, he disclosed that it would be difficult for the National Film and Video Censors Board to sanction some of these films because the board “is a classification board. The body does not have the right to censor but to classify.”
The Nation gathered that the entry of online streaming sites like Netflix has reduced the power of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).
The National Film and Video Censors Board is the regulatory body set up by Act No.85 of 1993 to regulate the film and video industry in Nigeria. The Board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos whether imported or produced locally. It is also the duty of the board to register all films and video outlets across the country and to keep a register of such registered outlets among other functions across the country and to keep a register of such registered outlets among other functions.
Unfortunately, NFVCB has not been able to exercise control over these films by Netflix.
“You should understand that if Netflix gives you money to do a film, it is beyond the Nigerian market. Internationally, it is accepted.
“Netflix is not just for you; your culture is different from the one that is watching Netflix. A lot of people are watching Netflix all over the world, and each person and their own biases, people in other climes may not see these things as an issue.
“It is only in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa where religion plays a role that they can talk the way you are talking. They don’t care,” Iwenjora said.
Stripping in movies is not recent
The hues and cries that greeted the rate of nakedness in Nigerian movies may not be necessary after all as this has been part of the Nigerian movie industry, except that it was not as pronounced as it is today.
According to Iwenjora, “they did Musanga in the forest of Arochukwu in Abia State. It was supposed to be an epic film and in an epic film, people in Africa do that nakedness.
“There are places you go where people are not wearing bra, and they want to show the reality of the era. Women were submitting their breasts for oiling, for the make-up people to oil them well so that when the camera came, it would shine. How do you explain that?” Iwenjora asked.
Rather than put the blame on the actors and actresses for the volume of nudity in Nigerian movies, the anger should be directed at directors who have the license to present their acts the way the presentation is right.
The more you look, the less you see
The argument is that those sexual scenes are not real after all. The Nation gathered that most directors and producers use special body suits or prosthetics makeup instead of what many have been able to believe is the real body of the artistes.
While clearing the air on the bare Bimbo Ademoye in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo, a special effect make-up artiste, Akeem Effect, explained that it was a prosthetic.
In the movie, Ademoye played the role of Arolake, the youngest wife of Alaafin of Oyo. She had an affair with Saro, a travelling cloth weaver.
The sight of the queen’s breasts and Saro’s butt generated a lot of debates about actors going nude.
Reacting, Akeem wrote on his Facebook: “Took my team and I hours to get this done… prosthetics boobs@ hakeemeffect our slogan is “stretching your imagination. “ANIKULAPO still streaming on @naijaonnetflix.”
But the challenge is how parents explain this to their children. Though the counter-argument is that these films are always rated, this may not hold water as most of these children have phones with internet connectivity at their beck and call. Here, they are at liberty to watch whatever they want.
In ‘Shanty Town, ’ another Nigerian movie, Nancy Isime, who played the role of Shalewa, a prostitute, has also said contrary to what many saw in the movie, it wasn’t her body that was exposed in the movie.
In one of the scenes, she stripped naked, leaving her buttocks and breasts bare. It did not only stop at that, Mofe Damijo, one of the A-list actors in Nigeria, was seen fondling Shalewa’s breasts.
The scene elicited lots of criticism and she had no option than to explain to the viewers that contrary to what was seen in the film, a body double was used for the scene.
In an Instagram post, she wrote:
“And We are LIVE!!
Shanty Town is now streaming on Netflix!
P.S: Simmer down Hot boys and girls, I know those gorgeous body parts excites you but they sadly belong to my beautiful body double.
Mine aren’t that succulent
Enjoy our beautiful masterpiece, get the message from each scene and Focus on the right Focus!
Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews so far, I’m so glad y’all are watching and Loving Shanty Town❤
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew!
It’s another Win for my darling Nollywood
Produced by: @iniedo & @realchichinworah.”
Unfortunately, many were not convinced by her explanation.
Reacting, @AjibolaAyonite2: Nancy Isime that’s your real boobs we all watch in shanty town, “You can’t fool us; we’re familiar with your game”
@Nysclegitplug: My point is that this is a normal thing in American movies so why are you guys seeing it as a big deal just because Nancy isime is the one on the scene Nigerians eeh
@PeaceRobert001: I still love Nancy Isime sooo fvckin’ much.
….the trending video is a body double though, plus you need to see this movie!
@joe_octave: Whether na Nancy Isime real body or not, or na Body Double. Na the oyibo standard wey Nollywood wan the give Una now. Nudity special. Shey Ini Edo don act something like this too? Why the rukus sef? Nice film
@NiiMiiiiiiii: Y’all shouting “Nancy breast and yansh” yet you want Nollywood to be like Hollywood , if you can’t comprehend, just watch the movie and enjoy But Gad,Nancy isime get yansh oooo
In defence of women
Responding to the critics in a chat with BBC Pidgin, Ini Edo, who played the role of ‘Inem’ in Shanty Town, explained that it was impossible for the movie to be shot without nude scenes considering that the focus of the story is on crime and prostitution.
According to her, it would be impossible to properly convey the message of the movie without displaying some sex scenes.
Ini Edo further stressed that Shanty Town is a story about crime and prostitution and one can’t tell such a story without displaying nudity.
The thespian noted that going naked wasn’t aimed at debasing anyone. Rather, it was in a bid to make the movie look so real.
Regrets
While many have continued to defend and rationalize their deep romantic roles in movies, actresses like Mercy Johnson-Okojie have expressed regrets over the romantic roles played in the past.
Johnson-Okojie in an interview stated that her sense of judgment has now heightened with age.
She said she would no longer act unclad or do romantic scenes as she is now answerable to many people.
“When I do that, what would the younger girls do? When you grow past a certain level, you try to go ahead and do better.
“For me, you don’t need people to tell you what’s right or wrong.
“Age is telling on me. I’ve grown past that level, I’m answerable to too many people: my husband, my kids.” she said.
“I hate to embarrass them in any way. My daughter is growing. She gets hold of my phone sometimes, begins to google, and goes like, ‘Mum, my friends said…’ And they’re very inquisitive.
“I don’t think it’s (playing unclad scenes) something I want to do to make my kids question me in any way or have something in their mind that they want to ask and they can’t.
Why censors’ board dilemma
A mail was sent to the NFVCB via its official e-mail, to get an official reaction on the increase in the number of unclad films, but as at the time of writing this report, the agency had not responded.
But The Nation gathered that it is not as if the NFVCB is not doing anything about the content of movies being released in Nigeria. Unfortunately, quite a number of them do not pass through the Censors Board.
The Board had in the past sanctioned producers and banned films. Recently, it banned a movie, ‘Osuwon Mi,’ after receiving a petition from Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST) on the 6th of December, 2022, alleging that the “film desecrated the sanctity of women in purdah by maliciously using the Muslim women’s veil in the movie.”
The movie, released in October 2022 on YouTube, tells a story of a young man obsessed with married women and goes on a rampage with his incessant fornicating act.
The Executive Director of the NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas, had said the board did not censor nor classify the film.
Mr Thomas said: “The film was not censored, neither was it classified, it was not brought to us, so it was the petitioner that made us know about it, and we found out it was true.
“They posted it on Youtube, and we have written to them (YouTube) to take it down.
“The producer Bisi Obanla and actress Kemi Afolabi will be sanctioned as a deterrence; drastic measures are being taken to pull down the movie from all streaming platforms and circulation..”
“The movie OSUWON MI was neither censored nor classified by the National Films and Video censors’ board,” it added.
According to Adedayo in a report, the board in 2017 seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth over N300 million and prosecuted five suspected pirates.
•Victims pumped with hard drugs to work like beasts •Returnee suffers mental health challenge
•Our efforts at checking menace – Igede South west monarch ·We’re aware of it, says NAPTIP
The lives of many young boys from Oju-Obi Local Government Area of Benue State have been ruined by unscrupulous relations and syndicates who traffic them to various parts of Oyo and adjoining Southwest states to engage in hard labour on farms. The exploitation is massive, and to make them accomplish the arduous daily assignments as agreed, they are placed on hard drugs so they could work like beasts. The damage to the lives of the young ones has been enormous, INNOCENT DURU reports.
FELIX, a young man from Igede area of Benue State, was full of joy when he was asked by a relation to come to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for a ‘lucrative’ farming job.
As a young man who could hardly boast of N10,000 savings at the end of every year, Felix was filled with excitement when he was told that he would be getting a whopping N100,000 besides other benefits at the end of the farming year.
“Me, get 100k at the end of the year?” he thought aloud as ruminated over the discussion with excitement. Wondering if the offer was real or a mere dream, he said: “It sounded unbelievable but that my brother (referring to his kinsman) allayed my doubts, assuring me that what he said was real and that I stood the chance of managing a big farm if I could work hard.”
“On getting to Ibadan,” Felix said, “my brother gave me and some other boys a place to live in. We were later shown a massive expanse of land we would work on.
“At that point, my colleagues and I felt cheated because the money wasn’t worth it. We actually got the N100, 000 but we later found that he collected N300,000 for each of us. It was like slavery and that is what it actually is.
“That is what many of our people do here in Oyo State. They feed on our sweat.”
Each of the victims earned a paltry N8,350 approximately monthly when the N100, 000 they got is divided by 12 months. Going by the present economic situation in the country, the sum would hardly take an individual through a week.
For John, it was also a cheering news when he was talked into going to Ibadan to earn a ‘decent living’ working as a farm labourer.
His words: “I was very happy when my brother asked me to come to Ibadan for farm work.
“Before I left, he told me that my life would not be the same again if I should accept to come as I would be handsomely paid at the end of the farming year.
“He promised to pay me N100,000 and also promised that I would be given accommodation and provided with food from time to time.
“The day I was to leave, I found that I was not alone. He linked me up with four others and asked someone to bring us down.
“Getting here, he took us to the place we would live and gave us good food.” The following day, John said, the relation came with a man who introduced himself as the owner of the farm.
“The man told us that we would have to make 400 ridges every day and that failure to meet up would result in us not getting our money at the end of the year.
“We objected, insisting that we should be doing between 200 and 250 ridges but they insisted it could not be less than 350 ridges each per day.”
When the brother saw that they were frowning, John said,
“He assured us that it would not be a difficult task as he would provide us with what would make us work without feeling it.
“I didn’t know what he meant until he brought some drugs which were identified as codeine for us to use. As time went on, we started using other hard drugs like tramadol and Indian hemp.
The drugs actually worked as it enabled us to work tirelessly. We relied on them to work like animals in order to meet our target. Some of our colleagues at times abused it and sometimes slept off all day.
“Many of us are already addicted to these drugs. They have become like the air we breathe if we have to do our work.”
Another victim, who gave his name simply as Samson, said: “Apart from cheating us in the area of paying us below what they collect from the farm owners, some agents also shortchange us by using our names to collect money from the investor.
“Whenever he is financially low, an agent could tell the investor that some of us need money to meet pressing needs. When the investor gives out any money, he deducts from what he would pay at the end of the year.
“The agent will out of greed deduct the money from what we are supposed to get at the end of the year instead of taking it away from the money he has made on each of us.
“Instead of N100,000, a labourer may be going back home with N80,000 at the end of the year. If he had collected money before by himself, he would go with far less than that.
“You can see how we are ceaselessly exploited. The agents are crooks. They feed fat on the sweat of poor and unsuspecting people back at home.”
Findings showed that the traffickers were previously taking citizens of Benin Republic to Oyo State and adjoining states for the inhuman venture. But the trend changed when the Beninois started making weird demands.
Explaining how it all changed, Tony, a victim of the ungodly agents said: “The agents were previously using people from Benin Republic. After a long period of reaping them off, the Beninois started demanding for brand new motorcycles at the end of the farming year.
“That didn’t go down well with the agents because there was no way they would divide the motorcycle into two and ask the labourer to take one part while they would take the other.
“This made the agents to start going to bring our people who are naturally good at farming. That is why every part of Oyo State is full of Igede people.
“Some of the agents have also started trafficking our people to Benin Republic for farming because many of us will settle for whatever they offer. If you don’t accept it, some others will, because some parents are looking for people that will take off the burden of providing for their children back at home.”
It was gathered that some of the victims who have seen the lucrative nature of the shady business have also ventured into it.
Abel, who survived the ugly trade, said: “Some of our colleagues who have the mind of exploiting others have also become agents. They go home from time to time to bring young people to work as labourers in different farms across the state and other parts of the Southwest region. It is big business for some of our people.”
He noted that there are some of their people who have vehicles dedicated to doing this.
“They know how to bypass all the security barriers in our village and the road to Oyo and other states.
Encounter with human traffickers
Posing as an investor looking for workers and land to carry out a large scale agriculture business, our correspondent encountered some traffickers who were excited by the request and instantly expressed their readiness to provide the needed assistance.
One of the traffickers, who identified himself as Monday, said it would be suicidal to work with Igede people already residing there in Ibadan.
His words: “They are very expensive and difficult to deal with. If you give them a job now, they can go and collect jobs from one or two other places and leave your work undone. This is why I prefer going to bring people from home. Those ones are dedicated and easy to manage.”
Asked what it will cost to hire one person, Monday said: “It will cost between N250,000 and N300,000. You will provide accommodation and also be responsible for their feeding. If they are sick, it is your duty to take care of them.”
Prodded further, he said: “You will also have to give them money for them to enjoy themselves once in a while and also provide things that will help them work very hard.”
Feigning naivety, the reporter asked, “What do you mean what will make them work hard?”
Swiftly responding, Monday said: “Things like Indian hemp, tramadol and so on. Some of them would need it to do the work for you very well. Once you provide all that, they will have no reason not to do your work well.”
On how the payment will be made, he said: “When the time comes, I will call the labourers and you will give me their money in their presence. After doing that, the rest will be left to me.”
Explaining why payment will have to be made to him and not the workers, he said: “I am the agent. If anything goes wrong while they are doing your work, I will be held liable. So when payment is to be made, I have to also be the one to accept it. That is how it works.”
Another trafficker, who gave his name as Mato, said he has a large expanse of land on the way to Eruwa, assuring that there would never be any issue over any land he provides, because he works with a traditional ruler in the area.
Giving a breakdown of what would be needed for the venture, he said: “An acre of
land for farming will cost N12,000. If you need about 500 acres, that will be about N6,000,000. Then, you will pay N50,000 for the survey. After that, you will pay N20,000 for a tractor to clear an acre.
“It was about N15,000 last year but because of the cost of diesel, the price went up this year.
“For each worker, you will pay N300,000 and you will first tell them that they will do 400 ridges each daily.
“They may beat it down to 300 or 250 per day, but stand on 350.
“For them to come from Benue, you will pay N17,000 for each of them to transport down here. This includes their feeding on the way.
“You will have to also pay the fare of the person who would bring them, because if you send the money home, they will spend it and fail to send anyone down.”
Asked the reward for his efforts, Mato said: ”It is 10 per cent of what you will pay each person. If I am bringing 10 people, you will pay me #300,000 as the agent and at the end of the farming season, you will hand over their money to me so that I can sort them out.
“By paying them myself, none of them would claim that he was not paid. If they ask for any money in the course of the year, it would be written down and deducted from their pay at the end of the year.”
Victim hooked on hard drug suffers mental health challenge
The culture of relying on drugs to work, it was learnt, has ruined the lives of many victims.
Barrister Michael Awo Ejeh, a native of Igede and founder of Ogedegede Community Development Foundation (OCDF), told of how one of the victims suffered mental health challenge.
He said: “There was one that was very painful to me because the boy involved lived close to my house in the village.
“He was taken to Osun State. He said they used to give them hard drugs, including indian hemp, so that they could complete the portion of work given to them, because if you don’t finish yours, you are not entitled to your pay.
“The boy later ran mad and was brought back home.
“After that incident, the younger sister also left to go and hustle because there was nothing attractive at home. She said she was going in spite of the fact that the brother was mentally ill.
“The elder brother of the sick boy was taken to Ondo to work and he came back empty handed.
“Many of the children get N70,000 at the end of the year. The highest any of them would get is N100, 000. None of them has received up to N150,000.”
Igede monarch in Oyo State, who also doubles as the Southwest chairman of Igede traditional rulers, Chief Monday Onda, said he had condemned the use of drugs to no avail.
“I have told them that drugs don’t help anybody to get energy. It rather reduces your energy.
“I have made them understand the need to rely on their natural energy to work and not rely on drugs. When some of them are pushed to the wall, they will be taking tramadol and so many other things to work very well.
“Some of them take hard drugs and sleep off. Sometimes when they work, they do it like jackals. They are killing themselves but they don’t know. So many things have been happening to them.”
Traffickers ruin victims’ education
By trafficking their naïve victims and exposing them to money early in life, many of the preys have lost interest in education.
Speaking on this, Chief Onda said: “It affects their education because those that are going to do house help and those that are going to the farm will not be in school when they are supposed to be there. It automatically affects their education.
“This is not good for the future of the community, the child, the family and the nation.
“Those traffickers get people, including students, and give them peanuts and carry them without the knowledge of their parents.
“Some parents connive with the traffickers by collecting some money and sending their children to go with them because of poverty.
“I have told them that they cannot be giving birth and leave the children who do not know what life is all about to suffer.
“I have told them that any parent that I catch like that will be handed over to the government. I have done that to so many of the parents.
“In Oyo State, because of the step that I took, some of them are now running away from here to other states.
“You don’t know what any of these children can become in the future.”
Ejeh also lamented low enrolment in schools in Igede.
He said: “My organisation is involved in monitoring school feeding project. The enrolment in schools that my staff have visited is too low.
“As pupils are completing their primary school education, they travel to the Southwest to go and work and pay their school fees for those interested in going to school.
“Some of them as young as five, six or seven years are taken to the urban areas to work as house maids or house helps in brothels, beer parlours and all sorts of places.
“It is such a big market for the traffickers here in Abuja. Some of the children are attached to some madams who are trading. The traffickers continually supply these young ones to industries, small scale markets, etc.”
Returnees take to cultism in Igede
After completing their contract, some of the victims take to cultism and other criminal activities when they return home, Brr. Ejeh noted.
According to him, “Once you crave for that early independence, a lot of things follow. When you go to public squares and drinking joints, you will see a lot of young men into drugs, and promiscuity.
“Those who came back indulge in hard core drugs. You will see them joining cult gangs, snatching motorcycles, robbing people’s houses.
“Because of that early exposure staying in those states with no parental guidance, they form alliances and cult groups.
“Cultism is very high in Benue State and with the influence of the college of education where they do a lot of recruitment, it negatively affected secondary schools. Secondary school pupils form brotherhood. Politicians also recruit cultists during elections.
“But we have many individuals from Igede who have made huge successes in life. But if we cannot translate all this success and education into helping people back at home, that disparity will continue to grow. We’ll continue to have children who will continue to be a menace to the society.”
Concern over exploitation, modern slavery
The unbridled exploitation of the victims in the words of Chief Onda is worrisome. “I have a case where the farm owner did not pay the workers. When I asked him, he said the produce did not come out well. I asked if that was the problem of the labourer? If the produce didn’t come out well why not go and hold God responsible?
“It is never done anywhere in the world. The labourer must be paid immediately he finishes his work.”
Brr. Ejeh said: “Exploitation is what makes it modern slavery. Do they have the capacity to transport themselves to the urban areas? The answer is no. They depend on intermediaries.
“We view this in two ways. there is the trafficking effect and the migration aspect and the smuggling aspect that is within the country.
“Trafficking is when somebody moves to the village either as an intermediary or an agent. Some natives of the Southwest go to our villages to source for people by themselves. Some still go through professional agents, or relatives. Some have platforms where they advertise that if you need children you should contact them.
“These agents go to the villages and reach out to them. When they take these children to the urban areas, they will start distributing them across board.
“We have rescued a number of them and so we have firsthand information from these children.”
Our efforts at tackling menace
Explaining his efforts at tackling the menace, Chief Onda said: “When I assumed office, I went to the communities back at home and told them that any child that is not above 18 years should not be allowed to leave the community without the parents’ consent.
“I even set up a task force at the motor park so that they can always check the vehicles for underage travellers and if the parent is there, they will ask him or her for where the child is going to and the purpose of such a trip. Are they staying there, or going for business or relocating? They have to know what they are going there for.”
The people in Igede, the monarch said, “are aware of the activities that I am doing here and they are happy about it.
“I have told them at the motor parks that they should stop it.
“A good number of the drivers move in the night so that security operatives will not stop them on the way. At night when people are sleeping, they carry people and go.
“Some of the drivers are still doing that and I am planning to go from one state to the other to make arrangements with commissioners of police that anyone they see with my people in the night, they should arrest the vehicle and the people.
“I have also told our people that if they are arrested, they should not come and beg. They should go and face the law so that the government can tell them the consequences of their actions.”
In Oyo State where he resides, the monarch said, “I have to do a census for them. I have to know the number of my people resident in each local government, the number of children they have including their ages, their addresses and other data.
“The state government even has a copy of this information so that if there is anything concerning my people they ask me about, I will be able to respond appropriately. It is a kind of family data. That is what I call it.
“Since they have given me the position of chairman of traditional heads in the Southwest, I have to mandate each state to do the same thing and register with their state governments so that if anything happens they could invite security agencies to arrest such people.
“I have a day that I meet with leaders of our various states every month. They pass whatever we discuss to the people.
“A day is also set aside for each local government to meet. I have presidents and secretaries all over the state levels.
“Even here in Oyo State, I took some of the erring people and sent them back to the local government chairman in my state.”
Factors responsible for trafficking
Enumerating the factors fuelling the menae in the area, Brr Ejeh said: “The political situation in Benue does not favour us. The Tivs have 14 local governments, the Idomas have seven while Igede has two local governments in Benue State, that is Oju and Obi, and only one member of the House of Representatives.
“Politically, we are not favoured. We are at the bottom of the other big ethnic groups. It takes time before crumbs of what comes to the state comes to us. That has hampered the development coming to our place.
“Over population and large family sizes is another factor. Since we are mainly an agrarian community, our men marry many wives and have many children because the farm is the only means of earning a living, because there are no industries to employ.
“The environment is hostile not because of war but because of poverty. There is no future and there is no hope for a lot of people.”
Another factor, according to him, is poverty. “Underdevelopment is pervasive in the area. If you are up to 14 or 15 years and you are still at home, and you are not contributing anything financially to your family, they look at you disdainfully. They see you as unproductive, citing other young ones who have gone to urban areas to work as house helps or gone to the Southwest to farm.”
We’re aware of it- NAPTIP
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said it is aware of the development.
The Oyo State coordinator, Mr Augustine Akanya said: “Yes, we are aware of it, but we have not treated any case that has to do with that since I resumed.
“The Lagos State Command used to cover this place. All other information about the antecedents and all of that and cases that have been done before now is with the Lagos command. Now we have an office in Oyo State.
“Like I said, we’ve not had any cause to have responded to any matter that involves Benue State, especially this farm work.
“Generically, I am aware that the farming areas are always endemic – Ondo, Oyo Ogun and some other places are endemic for those kind of trafficking, but we don’t have data right now that have to do with that.
I’ve been following your articles for some time now and every one of it encourages me to remain chaste until marriage! Your advice has been helping me so dearly, I can remember many times when I want to have a second thought about keeping myself but my senses gets back to normal whenever I come across your advice. You’ve played a motherly role in my life and I’m so grateful. May God bless and keep you for me!
I’m 18years old and something has been bothering me since I knew myself! When I was around 6-9 years(can’t really remember the exact age), I was sexually abused by my father’s servant then, he was a teenager. He would come to sleep with me. Then, I never knew what he was doing as I didn’t know anything about sex. I didn’t even find it necessary to tell anyone, I was just allowing him have his way. But I can still remember that I never saw anything like blood whenever he got into the act. I don’t know if he was having the sex in the right way because he was young then and probably did not know how to do it but in every of this I never saw anything like blood and it makes me more confused as to if I’m still a virgin or not.
When I started growing into fully knowing myself, I hated me. I started regretting why such thing ever happened. I wished I was able to speak up, I wished my dad never had servants, I wished I was conscious of what I was doing then and I always wished then was now. I always cry whenever I remember such scenario because deep down I wanted to be pure from birth, I wanted to make sure that no one has ever touched me, like no one. But right now ma’am, I don’t know if my virginity is still intact, I’ve said that I will go for virginity test when I will have to. I haven’t told anyone not even my parents are aware of this till now, I promised to keep it to myself but I was persuaded to talk to you about it. Since my childhood experience, I promised never to get involved in premarital sex and I haven’t engaged in it up till now! I’ve been keeping myself and I will continue keeping myself, I want to remain chaste but I’m only sad about my childhood experience ma’am.
Also, people tell me that it’s because I’m still young that’s why I’m still remaining chaste, that it will get to a stage where the urge is much and I will get tired and give in, that they always believe that virginity ends at 18-20 years. I always oppose their opinions and tell them how false it is but they keep on telling me that I’m just saying it because I’m yet to grow older to understand what they are saying. What do you think ma? Because sometimes I try to reason with them but later on I will refuse to be deceived, it’s giving me a double thought. In all of this, I remain chaste and God has been helping me. I actually have alot more to talk to you about, I really need your advice in other areas of my life, but first you have to reply to this one.
Joy A.
My darling Joy,
Why are you grieving over a past that has gone with the wind and allowing the devil oppress you for what you no nothing about? Why in the world would you go for a virginity test? I doubt the guy slept with you because at such a young age, you’d have felt so much pain and seen a a lot of blood except you weren’t born with a hymen. Even then your body would have reacted with a lot of pain. I take it that you’re still a virgin and most of all I believe God sees you as one! Please face your fantastic future and stay chaste till marriage! May God empower you in Jesus name!
My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian sisters,
I pray for you with all my heart that you will not miss the wonderful rewards that’ll fall on the laps of the sexually-pure on a platter of gold this year in Jesus mighty name! I have so much to share with you that’ll change your mind set and believe me transform your lives forever this year. However, to start with, I’d like to let you know that you should mind the type of counsels you take and the sort of people who influence you! The world gets worse by the day and i tell you if you start engaging in sex by 18, I can assure you, you’ll turn to “nonsense” before you’re 21! I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! Please stay tuned!
To be continued
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Bolatito Puddicombe is CEO and creative director of Fabrikana, who is proud to showcase her love for African culture any day. Her passion started from her Geography classes at Queen’s College and it grew to portray the intricate patterns promoting indigenous fabrics from the six geographical zones in Nigeria. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about how it all started, the influence of her background in chemical engineering, and Nigerian textiles being powerful tools for self-expression and empowerment.
TELL us about your love for Nigerian Culture.
Gradually, I fell in love with Geography and went on to have a distinction in my WAEC and NECO examinations. The cultural events at my graduation celebrations both at my secondary and tertiary institutions also shaped my love for Nigerian textiles and culture because I started becoming more aware of Nigerian tribes and their ways of dressing. I remember wearing a massive boubou in Adire fabric for my cultural day at Queen’s College (which I find amusing in retrospect) because of how small I looked in it even though it still fitted me in a way. Which by the way is the beauty of boubou, how one size can fit all.
When another opportunity for a cultural display showed up at my tertiary institution, I grabbed it. This time I made sure my mum took my exact size and the fit I wanted into consideration. I showed up in a skirt and blouse made with Aso Oke which was unpopular at that time. At the precipice of another opportunity to explore my growing love for Nigerian people and culture, I grabbed it willingly. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted me to Northern Nigeria – Jigawa state. My mum almost fainted, but I refused any attempt at seeking redeployment, rather I embraced my journey across the country with everything I could pack, even a fridge, can you imagine? I have no doubt that these enthusiastic efforts to explore the Nigerian people from various works of life, cultures, and places have culminated in the love I now have for the country, Nigeria as is now expressed in my business too.
What was the experience like at the beginning?
I was bored during my NYSC days so I started looking for things to do in addition to my primary assignment of teaching and community development service activities. I wanted something more challenging, so I went for a job interview at a bank in Kano state; a 45-minute drive from my base in Jigawa. I did not get the job but the interviewer felt really bad and consoled me with N3,000. This was the seed with which I started my fabric business. I bought two fabric pieces at the market in Kano before returning to Jigawa.
Now, because I started the business out of boredom I did not give much thought to it until the proceeds from it started to make a lot of economic sense. Upon realizing this, I quickly registered for business training at Fate Foundation under their Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme (AEP) where my business plan focused on Aso Ebi; A uniform cloth for friends and family to wear at an event and to my surprise, my business plan emerged one of the top three. On seeing this, I started to believe more in the business and continued to delve deeper. As with teething stages, the business was not so clear at the beginning so I had to spend time doing research and trading hand-in-hand with my husband’s support too especially when children started coming and business operations became tough. He also encouraged me to use technology in scaling the business which I found very confusing at first. This brought quite some misunderstanding having to imagine creating a website for selling Aso Ebi which I thought was impossible then but that’s history because I was able to do that and even more as we are seeing with the use of technology today.
What were you doing before this?
After obtaining my bachelor’s degree as a Chemical Engineer from the University of Lagos and then concluding my National Youth Service, I started job hunting, my first job was with an advertising firm where my role was marketing television programs for young people. Afterward, I worked with Mr. Fela Durotoye at Eden; An organization targeted at young people in Nigerian tertiary institutions which gave me the opportunity to travel around Nigeria. My last stint in the corporate space was building capacity for a training organization that focused on empowering young people with life skills. All this time, I was still running my fabric business as a side hustle on weekends and off days. However, when I had my first child, I resigned to focus solely on my business.
You recently celebrated your birthday with 20 unique cultural outfits. What inspired this?
On the nation’s 62nd Independence anniversary celebration (October 2022), we launched the very first Fabric Map of Nigeria and I looked forward to showcasing some of the fabrics I highlighted on the map. As my birthday approached in January 2023, I remembered the fabric map and decided to seize the opportunity of my birthday to showcase Nigeria’s different cultural diversity using the fabrics. The initial plan was for 7 cultural attires but it gradually increased to 22, then we eventually settled for 20. I knew we were looking for trouble because we did not have all the fabric combinations available before D-day.
I gave no thought to impossibilities but rather focused and remained resolute on my decision as some Nigerians now say if you are familiar with social media parlance, I pin there! My husband as with every birthday always has a surprise to celebrate me but when he realized where I had pitched my tent, he asked if the 20 cultural looks were what I really wanted to do for my birthday and I told him to watch it unfold because truth be told, I only had seven days to plan. He aligned with my wishes and supported me in every way. My photographer @stormzo2_photography was contacted immediately and having shared that he had never done a photo shoot of 20 looks before, it was too creative for him to ignore. The makeup artist brought on her dexterity to create 20 different looks in a session. The resolution of the entire team I planned to work with was down with the idea and that was when I knew there was no looking back.
What are some of the things that you have done with African fabrics and how has this influenced you personally?
I like the fact that since I started trading fabrics in 2008, I have never had a brick-and-mortar shop yet the business has grossed yearly turnovers in eight figures. When I started selling fabrics in Northern Nigeria, I targeted bank workers and corps members. In fact, after I received the N3,000 I started with, I saved up my monthly allowance of N9,700 for two months so that I could buy more upon my next business trip to Kano. I must say here that saving for two months was not a small feat, I suffered as a corps member to the extent that I had to use firewood to make pap because I could not afford to buy kerosene for my stove, but that sacrifice was worth it because business boomed in Jigawa until it overwhelmed me. I came back to Lagos one month after passing out from NYSC because I needed a bit more time to wind down business operations over there. On returning to Lagos, I changed my strategy to focus on Aso Ebi concierge services instead of stocking up on fabrics and it was an instant hit! It got to a point where I started asking questions after realizing that all the fabrics I sold were imported, it was heart-breaking because I thought they were all made in my beloved country, Nigeria. Perhaps because of my background in chemical engineering, I assumed that producing fabrics was not so hard based on my understanding of industrial processes. I did not let my heartbreak go in vain, I started my research on what textiles were really made of in Nigeria and it went on for years before deciding to do more than just research. We then created Fabrikana; the arm of my business focused on promoting and distributing indigenous Nigerian and African textiles.
Tell us about Fabrikana and the things you have done in the six geographical zones of the country
Fabrikana is a word that I came up with to represent a meeting point for all the fabrics that are produced in Nigeria and by extension, Africa. May I point out here that popular fabrics such as Ankara which is usually referred to as African fabric are not owned by Africans? With Fabrikana, the spotlight is on the original fabrics that are produced within our shores and owned by Africans whether made by hand or machine. At Fabrikana, we are working with producers of our original fabrics such as Adire, Aso Oke, Akwete and so much more discovered in the South East, South West, North West, North East, North Central, and South-South areas of Nigeria where textile production is going on even though at a cottage level. These are all reflected in the Fabric Map that we talked about earlier. We work with the rural producers who are still involved in these textile crafts. We have been able to help present these fabrics to wider audiences and in so doing increase demand which has enabled them to increase their production capacities and earn more. A lot of these rural producers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods due to competition for imported fabrics. Some of these people are the last custodians of their respective cultural crafts. This knowledge and these skills are under threat of being lost and abandoned. However, the introduction of Fabrikana where these original textile crafts can be showcased to an even larger and global community has created a path to sustainability and growth for these cottage industries.
What are some of the memorable moments in your life and career?
Last year, I watched with so much joy when a Governor of Nigeria at his swearing-in ceremony wore a custom-made indigenous fabric produced by one of our fabric communities, made up of rural women. I could feel the pride in the eyes of the women when they saw the work of their hands on national television, it was so surreal. The other aspect is when I receive phone calls from fabrikana community managers asking for what job is next because they are eager to work, and need to put food on their table. I wake up every day knowing that I need to take my job seriously because there are people depending on me. There have been other memorable moments such as being recognized by organizations such as Flourish Africa (Apostle Folorunsho Alakija) and her team who spotted how my business has moved beyond trading to making a difference, especially in the lives of the rural women I work with.
What lessons has life taught you?
I have learned to make the best use of every opportunity I get. When I look back, I am convinced that everything I experienced was for a reason. I did not take my business very seriously at the beginning, but now I know better than to waste time. I am redeeming the time now. I am grateful that I can still pass for an age that is ten years less than my actual age because that in itself inspires me to try the things I was afraid to do earlier. I will never think that nothing is impossible but rather find a way to start doing instead of overthinking it. I was too careful at the beginning and wanted things to be perfect which is not bad in itself but it has a way of stealing one’s time.
What are the other things that occupy your time?
Family. I am committed to raising my three children and caring for them, especially through their developmental years. Even though business takes my time, it has made things flexible for me. I am at the forefront of operations for the business as well and I keep putting systems and structures in place. As a wife, one of the things I truly enjoy is packing lunch for my husband to work even though I don’t enjoy cooking because it takes a lot of time. It is ten years since my husband and I have been married and I am proud to say I have been a consistent lunch-box packer (laughs out loud)
What were the initial challenges in the sector? Did you feel like quitting at any point?
I had lots of issues with getting access to information about Nigerian fabrics, it was really tough because there was really no organized information to work with. I had to take chances by traveling to unknown places outside of Lagos, where I reside to get the right information which really drained and discouraged me. In the process of trying to get information, I was taken advantage of. In fact, it got to a point where those I asked for information were the ones learning from me. I was open to their proposals and became obliged to do things for them because I was in a dark place and I needed light for where I needed to go in the textile industry. For the times I felt this way, God always showed up to hold me. I must say that I am a child of God and I depend a lot on what God shows and tells me, it was not easy at the beginning but I have developed better staying power.
What are the new areas you are looking at?
I really want to upscale production to ensure that our hubs in at least ten Nigerian states spread around the six geographical areas in Nigeria are constantly producing and funding is a major player here. As a business, we still sell imported fabric products because they are fast-moving and they keep the business running so part of that inflow is channeled towards boosting our local production in Nigeria but it is not enough. I am looking at getting more funding to boost local production to a good degree so that we
can meet up with demand per time and do not keep customers waiting for long because most of our indigenous textiles are what is referred to as slow fabrics since they are mostly made by hand.
THE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele may have forgotten that everything in life is ephemeral. While the cashless policy he introduced caused many Nigerians so much hardship, his initial silence over the Supreme Court judgment pitched him against the suffering citizenry.
Even as the controversies rage, Emefiele should be concerned about what people would judge to be his legacy since he assumed office in 2014.
In other climes the CBN governor would have either been told to resign with immediate effect or be suspended over his defiance of the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial cash swap policy.
An eminent professor of law, Itse Sagay (SAN) even echoed that Emefiele should be jailed for contempt of the Supreme Court. He believes spending some time behind bars will make the CBN helmsman realise the enormity of the “merciless pain,” the naira crisis has subjected Nigerians to.
It is no longer news that the scarcity of the new naira notes brought about by the CBN policy has generated tension and visited untold hardship on the masses.
With the catalogue of misgivings highlighted over the naira redesign policy, Nigerians are passing through hell due to the scarcity of the new naira notes and unavailability of the old notes. It has aggravated the cost of living of cash-strapped Nigerians.
Many wondered why Emefiele-led CBN failed to heed the verdict of the Supreme Court which ruled that the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes should be allowed to co-circulate with the new ones until December 31, but the apex bank was quick to react when over a less-than-palatable newspaper report about the apex bank chief.
Excerpts of the statement which read “… the CBN governor does not take part in politics,” amused many because he had once not only dared the public condemnation of his partisanship, he also went to the High Court, Abuja to file a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alleging an attempt to disqualify him from the 2023 presidential poll over his rumoured ambition on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But the court refused his prayers.
The consequences of Emefiele’s political aspirations still ring hard. He brought the CBN under huge reputational risk. No one would forget in a hurry how some groups obtained the N100m APC expression of interest and nomination forms on his behalf. Dozens of vehicles branded with Emefiele’s image were also procured.
Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State; and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, among others, had condemned the silence of the President and Emefiele on the Supreme Court judgment.
History can sometimes be cruel or good. It took the Emefiele-led CBN exactly 10 days after the Supreme Court judgement to officially order commercial banks to comply with the court verdict when he learnt some state governments were planning to initiate contempt proceedings against him.
One woul d recall a different kind of silence when he announced the naira policy in October, last year. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed had told the National Assembly that she was not consulted.
Emefiele’s curious actions since the naira crisis exploded created animosity between the presidency and the camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governors had openly challenged a critical policy of a Federal Government headed by their party.
Now that the scenes are unfolding, glaringly, the bizarre naira redesign policy appears to be validating those who have argued that it was a subtle move to scuttle the presidential ambition of the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Buhari clearly threw Emefiele under the bus when he denied instructing the CBN boss and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to defy the Supreme Court order on the naira redesign policy. His statement sounded like an end of romance with the CBN governor.
The president said the apex bank had no reason not to comply with court orders on the excuse of waiting for directives. To observers, the press statement explaining Buhari’s innocence about the disobedience to the Supreme Court judgment appears to be an attempt to absolve itself from the whole drama, and letting one’s self off the hook.
Now, the hunter has become the hunted. Some observers contend that Emefiele, who has been sabre-rattling, is about to be consumed by political intrigues. When the history of his time at the Central Bank would be told the whole naira fiasco which has greviously damaged the economy and devastated trust in the banking system would overshadow all. He would go down as a one-man wrecking ball.
A professor of History and African Diaspora Studies at Florida International University, Saheed Aderinto, is excited yet again after becoming the first Nigerian to receive the $300,000 Dan David Prize.
It is not surprising that one of the trending searches throughout the week was ‘who is Saheed Aderinto?’ The 44-year-old don had become the cynosure of all eyes. It reminds us that every epoch has its defining moment for men and women, who shape history, either for good or for bad.
Unarguably, many Nigerians, just like Aderinto, are breaking grounds and shattering glass ceilings across the world. Nigerians all over the world in different areas are celebrated and valued for the exposure.
Expectedly, Aderinto’s feat earned him a truckload of congratulatory messages. The news about the record-breaking achievement took over social media. It was a pleasant antidote, breath of fresh air and a refreshing departure from the heated political atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to congratulate the don, many confused Aderinto’s image and personality with a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abideen Adeyinka Aderinto.
To many academic giants, Aderinto’s achievement didn’t come as a surprise. He has been knocking on the doors of success over the years through hard work due to his consistent pursuit of excellence. This latest feat, the Dan David Prize, is the largest financial reward for excellence in the historical discipline in the world.
The Dan David Prize was founded in 2000 with an endowment by Romanian-born Israeli businessman and philanthropist Dan David. Between 2001 and 2021, it awarded $1 million, each, to three very senior extraordinary humans in science, medicine, public health, politics, economics, art, and literature.
Past recipients include Dr. Anthony Fauci, the public face of the US fight against COVID-19; former American Vice-President Al Gore; and MIT economics professor and Nobel Prize Winner Esther Duflo.
For Aderinto, winning the Dan David Prize could not have come at a better time. It reminded the world of the greatness that is in and of Nigeria, despite the odds. Make no mistake about it, Nigeria has everything it takes to be great and occupy a front-row seat among nations as a world leader.
While the conditions at home may be excruciatingly challenging and overwhelming, Nigerians are still making waves in many areas of human endeavour across different fields, and this should be seen as the start-point of the path to redemption.
Aderinto, born in Ibadan, in 1979, did not stumble on stardom by accident but intricately sketched his way to the top. In 2004, he received his Bachelor’s in History from the University of Ibadan and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin in 2010.
In the same year, he started his teaching career at Western Carolina University where he became a full Professor of History in 2021. He later moved to Florida International University in 2022.
Not many are aware of Aderinto’s journey to academia. Like the best of his contemporaries – the professor has published 8 books, 37 journal articles and book chapters, 41 encyclopedia articles, and 21 book reviews.
His recent book ‘Animality and Colonial Subjecthood in Africa’ examines the role of animals in Nigerian history. He is also at present writing a book and making a documentary on Fuji music.
The Nigerian-American don is also the founding president of the Lagos Studies Association and a senior research fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa. Aderinto is a tribute to dogged determination born out of an uncommon conviction.
Aderinto, who lectures at the Florida International University, was one of nine announced as winners of $300,000 each for their contributions to history research.
Announcing the winners, Professor Ariel Porat, President of the Tel Aviv University, and Chairman of the Dan David Prize Board, described the works of the nine recipients as exemplifying outstanding research in history and related fields.
Taking to Facebook to celebrate his win, Aderinto expressed delight in winning what he described as the biggest financial reward for discipline in the history discipline.
“Yes! I just won the largest history prize in the world. It’s $300,000. For me, alone. One lump sum. N220 million, in Nigerian currency
“I have just received the highest financial reward for excellence in the historical discipline, on planet earth. It’s a prize, not a grant. I don’t think there is any history prize worth $100,000 in cash — much less $300,000.
“While 300k is a lot of money in any strong global currency, the true value of the Dan David Prize is not the cash per se but what it would help me do for my students and mentees, institutions, global infrastructure of knowledge, and communities of practice. Hence, the award is about my scholarly achievement as much as about the people, institutions, and communities I represent.”
Aderinto said the selection committee lauded his work “for situating African history at the cutting edge of diverse literatures in the history of sexuality, nonhumans, and violence, noting that it is exceptional to see a single person leading scholarship in all of these fields”.
Quite apart from the euphoria of having a Nigerian winning this prize, those at the helm of affairs have many great lessons to learn from the episode, especially prioritising the funding of education and research at all levels.
For the authorities, so much could otherwise have been achieved to put the country in much better standing worldwide, but for crass neglect, ineptitude and corruption. This is however, a strong message that they must begin the work of making the country a fertile ground for nurturing more persons with Aderinto’s kind of excellence.
Even as the country celebrates Aderinto, it is not too late to change attitude, use education and research to redefine the country and reverse her declining status in the comity of responsible nations.
There are many Aderinto(s) in Nigeria, but the challenge has always been the country’s inability to put together a system that can nurture their talents and turn them into world class scholars.
