The Nation Newspaper

Category: People & Politics

  • My life endangered by forces within the church – Eboh

    My life endangered by forces within the church – Eboh

    Rev. LumenCristi Eboh is an ordained priest who recently resigned his priesthood in the Anglican Communion, Diocese of the Niger. In this interview with EMMA ELEKWA, the priest, currently the Spiritual Director of God in Action Adoration Ministry, Ogidi, Anambra State, reveals the crises that led to his decision to quit priesthood.

    What informed your recent decision to quit priesthood in the Anglican Communion?  First, let me say that I did not quit priesthood. A priest is chosen by God, and I remain a priest ordained in the order of Melchizedek. What I did was to turn in my resignation as priest of the Diocese on the Niger to my lord Bishop Owen Nwokolo.

    As per what led to that decision, I had a special call from God to spread his word in a peculiar way and to minister to souls, heal the sick and bring God’s blessings upon souls. For this reason, I was moved  by the Holy Spirit to start working in a congregation, which later metamorphosed to God in Action Adoration Ministry. This course of ministration by me is what I can say instigated antagonism and persecution from angles controlled by Bishop Owen Nwokolo.

    Bishop Owen Nwokolo is a widely respected cleric; a virtue that would make it difficult for anyone to believe your allegation against him…

    Well, no one would question the fact that my lord bishop Owen Nwokolo is well read and exposed, and he occupies a very relevant seat in the body of bishops in Nigeria, both Anglican and Catholic. What I am saying is that it was obstacles set and promoted by him that forced me to resign as priest of the Diocese on the Niger.

    Let me tell you, I have remained for some time the single largest contributor as priest with congregation to the diocese. I have given to the church without looking back, and to my lord bishop himself as God provided. I bought a land and handed it over to the diocese, and my financial contributions were unparalleled, and this I say with humility. I am the only priest in the diocese who is not on the salary list because I rejected salary.

    However, my lord bishop later called me and insisted that he wanted himself and his wife to be included as trustees  in the registered titles of the adoration ministry. When I prayed about his demand, I got clear revelation that God had different purposes for the bishop, but not within the adoration ministry, and I conveyed this message to him. He threatened to ban my activities within the diocese and to bring me down for this refusal, but I relied on God. Even if they kill me tomorrow, some persons are aware of my correspondences with the bishop on this matter, and by social media exchanges. That is just the problem.

    If the situation you painted is true, one would expect that it was capable of being resolved by friends close to both of you, especially other priests…

    That would have been so. Unfortunately, the atmosphere created by the bishop was such that most priests would not come close. Many had their own problems with him, while others had been panel beaten into nervous yes men. A very senior clergy from Onitsha town who could no longer bear the highhandedness of the bishop late last year spoke out by means of a protest letter to the bishop, citing instances of intimidation, harassment and insults to priests and their spouses by the bishop and his wife. Once you are not their yes man, you would face manipulations and conspiracies.

    How have you managed to cope with these developments vis a vis your vocation as a soul winner?

    The apostle Paul said I planted, Appolos watered, but it was God who kept making it grow. I have come within many conspiracies and threats engineered by forces within the diocese, but I have never weavered. Some persons have come to warn me in good faith that I could be assassinated if I did not remove myself from the diocese. Of course the bishop did warn me to stop all my activities within the diocese, but I am strengthened by God and not by man.

    There are rumours suggesting that your marriage has broken down. Can you confirm it?

    Sadly, it is so. My lovely wife within the circumstances of my travails with the diocese, suddenly turned into a tiger. I was not taken aback because God had earlier revealed to me that I would have additional challenge from that quarter. They bought my wife over and she began to antagonise me. As we speak, my wife resides in an apartment paid for by someone who knows that she is another man’s wife.

    It has really affected me as a young man who is permitted to marry, and who has lived with a woman, because though I am a priest, like our lord Jesus while he was on earth, I also eat and drink like a normal human being.

    There are reports that you are being investigated by the police for fathering a child with a young girl. How true is that? Firstly, the police cannot investigate me for fathering a child, if it is just that alone. I am permitted by my communion to marry, and like I said, sadly my marriage hit the rocks. I am working to resettle myself so as to focus, but they have also set moles and sidetrackers even within my congregation. Many anointed men of God have suffered similar distractions. I do not want to go into that issue in order not to prejudice the investigations as you said.

    Note that all these gymnastics are structured, sponsored and promoted by forces working to tarnish my image. They have spread different rumours; that I am a sex pervert, a magician who visits Voodoo priests and that I belong to the same cult as prophet TB Joshua.

    In the case you referred to, they said the young lady had schizophrenia and that I exploited the condition to put her in the family way. I am not a doctor. If you have schizophrenia, which  is a special condition, it would be confirmed by a doctor. And in that case, I would have no business with you but it would be just your doctor. I pray for sick people and those afflicted by foul spirits, yes, but I do not undertake to imperil medical procedures. Like I said, let their investigations be concluded, and only then can I answer you.

  • Ademola Olaniran: My journey from medical student to governor’s photographer

    Ademola Olaniran: My journey from medical student to governor’s photographer

    Time was when Medicine was regarded as the ultimate profession. Most parents considered it both a status symbol and a bragging right that their children were medical doctors. But the times have changed. Today, many have dumped the doctor’s scapel and stethoscope for professions considered not so lucrative or worthy of serious attention. One of such people is Ademola Olaniran, who was top of his class as a 200-Level medical student at the University of Ilorin before he suddenly did an about-turn and pitched his tent with photography. While many of his contemporaries expressed shock and worries at that decision, AO, as he is fondly called, had no qualms whatsoever. In his own words, abandoning his career in medicine to pursue photography was probably the best thing that ever happened to him.  Now, he is not only living his dreams, he has gained so much in material terms and self-fulfilment. In this chanced encounter with IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF, the suave and gentlemanly lad tells his riveting story.

    What informed your decision to switch from medicine to photography?

    I really didn’t plan to be a photographer. From my days in secondary school and early days at the University of Ilorin, I actually wanted to become a medical doctor. I got into the medical school at the University of Ilorin, so photography wasn’t anything near what I wanted to do. I guess it happened after I left the university, though shortly before I left the university, I had started interacting with a couple of photographers like Femi Adewuyi who was also in the College of Medicine at UNILORIN but I was a year ahead of him. He was intrigued by photography and was actively photographing back then.

    There was a total solar eclipse in March 2006 and he took a series of photographs from it. He then needed someone to do some calligraphy on the pictures and contacted me to do it. So, doing the captioning of the images marked what I could call my first up close interaction with a professional photographer. We sold the pictures and made some decent money. I was intrigued by his ability to capture the Solar Eclipse, as most photographers couldn’t do it because they weren’t toying with the exposure triangle properly enough to capture it. So when I wanted to fully delve into photography, it was only natural to call him up and he gave me some really good advice. All I wanted to be at some point in my life was a surgeon. I had some really impressive dissection experiences in the Cadaver laboratory in my 200 level. But then, I guess my hands were destined to squeeze on the shutter release button rather than hold the scalpel and cut through people.

    You have worked in both the private sector and the civil service in the last 10 years, including being the photographer to the First Citizen of Lagos State. How does it feel?

    It is a humbling experience working with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in this capacity as his personal and official photographer. I enjoy what I do and feel fulfilled. The Governor makes it a lot easier. He’s an interesting person to photograph though. He’s a hard worker, which makes photographing him quite demanding. He’s quite interesting to photograph and he is interested in photography. He handles the camera once in a while and even flies the drone when we go on inspection to see work progress on construction sites.

    One of the remarkable moments of my working with the governor was on my birthday some years back. That morning, he was leaving for work and I had already started squeezing the shutter release to make some images. Then he said to me, ‘’Let me see what you’ve got on your Camera’’. I went to him and he said stand there. He took pictures of me and said ‘Happy Birthday boy.’ It was humbling. He never ceases to demystify the office by reminding people around him and himself how normal life around the Government House should be. For me, that’s quite remarkable.

    I get to see the Governor count his days in office – days past and days to go. I find that instructive, because it brings to reality time and how it waits for no one. He works very late into the night. Sometimes I walk in to take pictures and he doesn’t even notice. It is a culture for me not to greet him when I walk into his office. That way, I just want to be a fly on the wall and he doesn’t get out of character.

    The difference between the two sectors is quite huge. But in a state like Lagos, the gap is not as wide as you would expect, because Lagos has a fine blend of the private and public sector in government. Documenting a political figure exposes you to a new level of work ethics and creativity – to be faster and swift on the job. It also comes with a lot of pressure, as you do not have control over events, unlike when shooting a wedding, and you can dictate.

    When I started working with the Governor, it was a sharp twist. He is a very energetic person and fitter than I am, so I always play the catch-up. Like you’ll see in most of my posts, the side of a politician that you do not get to see as a citizen is what a photographer works to give to you almost every day. The responsibility of communicating and bridging the gap between government and citizens is almost going to totally rest on the shoulders of storytellers like photographers, photojournalists and videographers. In a world where we do not listen to each other anymore, what we see resonates more than what we are told.

    How did you become the governor’s official photographer? That’s as plum as they come.

    I was actually recommended to the governor by one of my mentors ever before he became governor. In the cause of the campaigns, I was also involved with him. Naturally, I think my sense of dedication later recommended me for the plum job as the Chief Photographer of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. More importantly, I have God to thank for the opportunities that have come my way in the course of my sojourn as a photographer. What the Lord has done for me is marvellous in my eyes. He alone takes all the credit.

    Ten years after your venture into photography, who do you consider your greatest influence?

    First on the list is my mentor, Dayo Adedayo.  I’ve got a lot of other people who inspire me, from Donald Barber to Sunmi Smart-Cole, TY Bello, Aisha Kuta-Augie and Kelechi Amadi-Obi. In the top spot is my mentor Dayo Adedayo, because he has managed to blend finely the business and technical aspects of photography. He’s not very famous on our platforms like Instagram, and that resonates with me because the marketplace isn’t really the social media for all kinds of products you want to sell. Sometimes, the vintage style is golden about the photography business. My mentor is one known for the beauty of timeless photographs and art pieces in the mould of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci’s of this world who are able to put images on an exhibition stand and sell.

    It’s important to note that what you see on social media is just a thumbnail representation of pictures. People want to be able to appreciate art and the fine details. The visual art revolution is cycling back, and although in its rudimentary stage in Africa, the NFT (Non-fungible Tokens) is the future exhibition space and if I must say, marketplace for what we create.

    10 years ago, your work, ‘Atupa mi’ (my lantern), clinched the coveted StillLife Photograph of The Year at the Nigeria Photography Awards. What inspired it?

    I bought my first camera in late 2011, and my Uncle, Dr. Clement Meseko, a veterinary doctor at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom and a famous Nigerian virologist who played pivotal roles during the COVID-19 and Avian Influenza outbreaks in Nigeria, was going to travel to Taraba State to collect samples from wild pigs. Having acquired a new camera, he asked me if we could go on the trip together. I said yes to this very long trip to the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. The Mambila Plateau has this cattle studded endless lush greenery; it actually spreads all the way to Calabar. Whilst he was doing his work, I was taking pictures. It was amazing seeing the landscape.

    When I got back from the trip, my friend Femi Adewuyi called to tell me about the Nigeria Photography Awards and encouraged me to enter my images. I went through my portfolio, sent him four pictures and two of the images he picked and submitted at the competition were taken on the Taraba trip. Some weeks later, I got a notification that two of my images had been shortlisted for the finals.

    In the portraiture category was an image of an old man with some grey hair, with his face away from me. It was rendered in black and white. The other image is a simple picture I took in a hut around Gashaka-Gumti, Taraba State. We got there late and needed to pass the night. We met some friendly locals and the rangers that took us there and got us settled in. The lantern was sitting on the middle right in front of me, and there was a curtain shifted to the third of the picture, with the lantern sitting on the other third of the picture. The picture obeys the rule of thirds. I didn’t know what that meant back then.

    From the day I took the picture, I knew there was something magical about it. I knew it was the strongest image of all I submitted. But the category I fell into, when I saw the names in the category, I researched them and found that they were strong names. I travelled from Abuja to Lagos just to attend the awards, without any of hope of winning on my mind. I thought I was just blessed and grateful to have been nominated, with my image sitting on the big screen and the Greats in photography seeing my works. It showed when my name was called as the winner and I was still clapping for the supposed winner, until someone nudged me to reality.

    Femi was so excited about me winning the category. The picture has earned me a lot of fame and fortune. Immediately I got back from the awards, one of my executive directors while I was in the bank, now an Ambassador to Burundi, Elijah Onyeagba, called to say he wanted a copy of the picture that won the best still-life picture of 2011. He bought the picture for what I charged. I didn’t sell it cheap. That work and award opened my eyes to the wonder of photography. I am eternally grateful for this singular sale, because it changed my business approach to sales of images. The photograph is dedicated to the hope that someday, Nigeria will have no need for lanterns.

    Looking beyond Nigeria, are you exploring the Non-fungible Tokens (NFT)?

    The NFT is something very new to me. I’ve started seeing myself as old school. There are quite a handful of young guys well-informed about the digital possibilities there are to photographs and art in general. I consider myself first as an artist; someone who has decided to use photography as a mode of expression of the art I wish to explore. I am seriously considering it.

    I recently posted the picture which won the award and it has been getting a lot of buzz. Someone who commented actually asked if I was considering listing it on the NFT, and that got me researching. I’m optimistic about the possibilities of listing ‘Atupa mi’ as my first NFT item. I’m open to the world of possibilities around arts and what technology can offer.

    What key ingredients make a great photograph?

    The key to making an amazing photograph is the eye to see the picture, scenery, moment, or something beautiful staring at you. The eye for identifying a great image is key and not even the camera. If you are a story teller, you need to have the ability for moments. You need to hunt for moments, which may involve chasing or lying in wait. You also need to have a creative mind in aspects of still life, fashion, and other genre of photography. You need loads of imagination to bring to life what you imagine. A lot of physics goes on in the head of a photographer when trying to dial in your shutter speed, aperture, and film sensitivity.

    In reality, you are doing a lot of fine arts because of the colour match you have to contend with the colour wheel. You also have to be intuitive. The most important of all is the eye.

    You’ve demonstrated an affinity for producing images in both styles -black and white. What makes you choose one over the other? Is the photographic process different?

    The photography process from history started in black and white. I have a lot of books which cover Photography and Fine Arts, and I am very intrigued by the Italian greats- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, etc. I have also studied them. That is where colours intrigue me. I’m a little bit biased because I like to do a lot of black and white. If a picture is strong in emotions, you can take the colour out of it, so you can lead your subject to be more interesting in the deeper aspects of the pictures. The texture and essence of the picture is more pronounced in black and white. If your picture is not strong enough character-wise, making it black and white does not do anything remarkable to it. Black and white shows you the soul of an image and I connect personally to these images.

    What do you want people to take away from your work?

    For the first half of my career, I was almost exclusively doing social photography. This is because that was what could put food on my table. I, however, started out as a Fine Art Photographer and I hope to retire into the same genre. It’s a beautiful thing to do social photography, but I realised there were no enduring roots to it, and I didn’t want to retire as a social photographer. I wanted to have a body of work that people will look back and say, I captured history in time. That’s why the second half of my career saw me doing documentary photography, which has evolved into photojournalism in my current assignment. In the bid to chase documentary photography, I started to do consultancy jobs with John Hopkins University, Bloomberg, CCPN in Abuja, and a lot of NGOs. I did the cover shoot for the Golden Morn box for Nestle in 2016. It was really amazing to see the picture on the sachets.

    I was in Houston with my wife when my younger brother just had a baby in 2017. We went to the African store and my sister-in-law picked up the Golden Morn cereal box and the picture caught my attention. It was a proud moment for me. That is the joy for me when people ask where are your works. It’s not enough to say my work is on Instagram or sitting in someone’s house in an album. My picture sitting on a Golden Morn sachet means millions of Nigerians have seen my work. That is enduring.

    HC3, an NGO which works in collaboration with USAID and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, used one of the pictures I took for them on an assignment for a mosquito net campaign in Nigeria. The picture of a grandmother holding her grandchild. The child is the biggest gainer in the scenario, as they reached out to protect children in those hard-to-reach regions. Those pictures, which I am grateful to God to have created, will stand the test of time. I want to be remembered for pictures that will inspire behavioural change in society.

    What are some of the differences you identified in yourself before and after you began to take photographs?

    I’ve always had an attentive eye. But when I started, I realised that I see things people don’t necessarily pay attention to. Even when I’m driving on the streets, I see some pictures I would never be able to take because I’m driving, and sometimes because I have passed the moment.  Those moments happen all around us. Life is a developing story and you have loads of moments happening across the face of the earth.

    What tips can you share with aspiring photographers?

    Photography needs a lot of patience and I say that because you don’t break even immediately. You have to learn the ropes, learn from people and do the time. It requires a lot of money to get your game to an enviable height. I took my earliest pictures with a crop-sensor camera- quite affordable. But when I switched to a full-frame camera, it became more appreciable and standardised.

    Photography requires a lot of creativity. There are millions of photographers on the planet and each of them is trying to express a form of thought, ideology or creativity. What makes a great photographer is whoever is able to pass across these thoughts in the most creative way, such that people keep asking questions about images you create. I am proud to say that a handful of my contemporaries are breaking the glass ceiling in these regards; people like Henry Oji, Tolani Alli, Segun Olotu, Emmanuel Oyeleke and Bayo Omoboriowo. Great photographers have always had great mentors. It requires the ability to learn from others who have been before you. In my early days, I went for training in Germany, Las Vegas and Los Angeles; learning under the Great American photographer and multi award winner, Nick Saglimbeni.

    What day of your life has been the most memorable? Did you capture it in photographs?

    The most memorable day of my life yet was the day I got married, and I actually wasn’t taking pictures. I didn’t take any pictures of my wife, which was the cliché then. I’m sure if my wife reads this interview, she would have a little cute frown across her face. The second most memorable day of my life was when I got an award for the Best Still Life Image in Nigeria-2011. Also, I wasn’t taking pictures. I guess it is a trade secret that when you are in your happiest moments, you wouldn’t be taking pictures. When next I have the opportunity of my happiest moments yet, I will bear in mind to take pictures. I am certain it will be the welcoming of my first child.

    Do you have any project/s in the works?

    I’ve got a storytelling project that would fuse Photography and Medicine. I’d like to consider it a family project because my wife is a medical doctor and it will be such an honour to work with her. It’s been in the works for some time, and so I hope to finish and launch it in soon.

  • Our battles with prostate cancer

    Our battles with prostate cancer

    In a rare instance of coincidence, Taiwo and Kehinde Abiodun, identical twin brothers based in the United States of America and Canada respectively, have both had to battle with prostate cancer. As they clock 60 years today, they seized the opportunity of their birthday in separate interviews to counsel the young and the old on the need to check their prostate specific antigen (PSA) regularly, considering that early detection of the ailment can help to get rid of it.

    Going down memory lane, Taiwo, who said they were born to the family of the late Joshua Adepoju Abiodun and his wife, Caroline Oladoyin Abiodun (nee Olakunori), recalled that people could hardly distinguish him from his twin brother as growing up children.

    He said: “When we were growing up, people could hardly distinguish us from each other.  In fact, our father could not differentiate us.

    “Our elder brother, Prof. Rowland, would just call us Twins and whoever was concerned would answer him.

    “But as we grew up and got more matured slight differences began to manifest.

    “For instance, it became apparent that I could talk a lot more than Kehinde who is a bit more reserved.

    Corroborating his twin brother, Kehinde said: “Honestly, it is now that we have different characters; one is more jovial than the other or one is more serious in look than the other. It was only with our voice that our father could determine who was Taiye or Kehinde.”

    But beyond their physical appearance, there are many other areas the identical nature of Taiwo and Kehinde come to the fore. These, according to Taiwo, include the schools they attended and even their attitude to life.

    He said: “We have the same attitude to life. We also attended the same primary and secondary schools before we parted ways academically. But I must confess that my twin brother (Kehinde) was more brilliant.

    “When we were at the All Saints’ Modern School, Owo (Ondo State), I would come first in my class while he would come third in his; but his aggregate score was always higher than mine.

    “We were only separated when we gained admission to higher institutions and were further separated when Kehinde joined his family in Canada 22 years ago.

    “The last time we saw was 15 years ago when he came home to attend our mother’s funeral. But thanks to technology, we speak daily and do video calls.

    “In spite of our identical nature, civilization separated us. Imagine he lives in Canada and he and his children are now Canadian citizens while I live in America and by marriage to my wife Ronnie, who is an African-American, sooner or later, I would become one of them.

    “Imagine a set of identical twins belonging to different nationalities, thanks to naturalization.

    Yet by far the most shocking of the things they shared together is that they were both diagnosed with the same life-threatening disease, namely prostate cancer, and they are both living with it!

    Taiwo said: “We share many things in common, like he was operated on for prostate cancer about 10 years ago while I also had my own operation for prostate cancer about two years ago. We are both living with prostate Cancer and have become advocates against the disease, educating men about it.

    Kehinde recalled that he was shocked to the marrow when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 11 years ago. But he said his shock did not emanate from fear that he could die.

    “No, I was not afraid and I am not afraid of death,” he said in response to a question

    “I was only shocked at the thought of what would be happening to the men in Nigeria since I was diagnosed prostate cancer here in my base here in Canada. How would they know that they have prostate cancer? Can they afford this?

    “When you hear cancer, your heart would jump into your mouth. So I went straight to one of my brothers, Prof. Rowland Abiodun, in Massachusetts, USA. He calmed me down and prayed for me, and I went for the surgery which was successful.”

    Since then, he has gone into advocacy against the disease, educating people on how to avoid it.

    “Last year, I organised a session for two organisations here in Canada and in America. The major fears about prostate cancer are death and erectile dysfunction.

    “Early detection helps, and there is treatment for erectile dysfunction if it happens after surgery. Therefore, there is no cause for fear at all.

    “I regained my erection nine or ten months after the surgery. It is not a shameful thing. Women are also prone to breast cancer, uterus cancer, ovarian cancer, and so on, and early detection helps.”

    Taiwo on his part said it was his wife that God used to detect his prostate cancer before it could get too bad.

    He said: “God used Ronnie, my wife, to save my life because she suspected that something was wrong with me. She took me to the doctor who discovered that I had prostate enlargement and cancer and I went through surgery in 2019. She calmed me down and since then I have been living with it.

    “My PSA was high and the doctor was afraid. But later I was operated on and the rest is now history.”

    He added: “Ronnie is one of the most responsible women I have ever met. Although we have cultural differences, she quickly understood me. She loves my dressing some Nigerian ladies would object to.

    “I have met some ladies in Nigeria who condemned my dressing, saying my bling bling is juju despite my spirited effort to explain to them that it is my own style of dressing.

    “My bling bling is my trade mark. It is my logo, so why should I allow a lady to deny me what I love doing?”

  • GUINNESS MD BAKER MAGUNDA: I have no tolerance for bullies

    GUINNESS MD BAKER MAGUNDA: I have no tolerance for bullies

    Baker Magunda, the MD/CEO of Guinness Nigeria, is a Ugandan who has worked in different departments of the famous organisation, garnering expertise and touching lives.  In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, he talks about working with women, the importance of diversity, the need for more seats for women in parliament, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and lifestyles, his style of management style and early life, among other issues.

    What has been your experience working with women?

    It is important and it is one of those things that you have to make possible. If you do it because the organisation you work for wants you to do it, you will not go far. The organisation gives you the structure and resources, but first, you have to make it possible, and possible means it is the right thing to do.

    My experience so far in working for this organisation is that it takes leadership.  Secondly, you have to put yourself under pressure by having specific goals. You have to commit resources because resources would always be competed for. There are many things that you can use the resources for. You have to put the resources needed, galvanise the whole organisation around the programme and what you are trying to do.  Every employee must become an ambassador; meaning that they speak about it in the right way, with the right fact and amplify it.

    What has been your personal experience?

    First, I would talk about my personal experiences growing up with women. I’ve got more sisters than brothers: six girls and five boys. My mum had eleven children.  So, my experience is that they respond to the stimulus which gives them equality.  So, we cooked together, boys and girls. We cleaned the house together and washed our clothes together. So, they all respond to the stimulus of equality.

    When we were in the school, the pronouncements were all equal. That I would say helped me.

    Coming to work, I would say females are equal just like all of us. They respond to being treated properly, being human, given a chance, promote them for what they have done from experience. I also know that teams led by women tend to be more effective because they have the sole desire to connect with people, empathise with them and more.

    Of course, there are difficulties of tending to be more aggressive with other females. But I think all of that is conditioned by society. I do not experience what other people usually tell me that when you bring so many females together work would not be done or too much in fighting. We can differentiate that argument by saying that there would always be  good  human beings, there would be  lazy people and there would be  hardworking people.

    Your Organisation has a number of packages for women. Would you say that the women are utilising these packages?

    They know that this support system exists. For instance, when we say that you can have six months of paid maternity, we are not encouraging you to have children if you don’t want. If you chose to do that, this is what is available and we give you the means. On the whole, the answer is yes. We have conversations for Saturday training, coaching and mentorship. We are seeing them responding a lot to opportunities and they are feeling more confident to apply for jobs. We send so many people out of Nigeria to other countries.

    Before now, it was like, how can I work in a strange country? Or my husband would not allow me. Now, we are seeing more females say it is a fantastic opportunity. And there are so many women now in London, USA and other places. Now, they are beginning to feel confident, to confirm to themselves that these things are good for them as well. It is a journey.

    And for the men, I would say don’t feel threatened. There are opportunities for everybody. Don’t compete with the females.Think of how best you can be in the field that you have chosen. We are also coaching them. We have special sessions with the males and it is going well.

    How would you describe the recent bill that advocates for more seats for women in parliament?

    I don’t want to comment on politics, because I am not a Nigerian. However, as a principle, I do believe that in order to create the change that we want, females need to be assisted to participate more in politics. Some countries across Africa and other parts of the world have tried it and it has worked. Maybe 30 per cent of all seats at the local government or parliament have to be females. Different countries have tried different things. What that it does is to give confidence to the others who are still feeling unsure. Politics and social leadership is another area where we need more female participation.

    Some people think that if women are too empowered, they won’t stay in marriage. What do you think?

    Any man who says so is not confident. For our men, I would say be confident; that is number one. Secondly, if you truly value the relationship you have with this female as your wife, girlfriend or spouse, then you need to know that income support each other.  Today, you are the one in the job, you don’t know what would happen tomorrow. Two parents working and supporting the children brings stability to the home. Who knows, one of you might be incapacitated. Being fearful, for me, is lack of confidence.

    The second thing, which is unrelated, is how a female or male behaves in a relationship, especially in Africa. This is a function of who is the breadwinner. So, the more you have shared responsibilities in the home, the more you see each other as equal rather than she is dependent, I’ll boss her around, I would decide what gets done in the house. So, I think where both are learning and into active work, going out every day to cater for their children is good.

    My experience in Nigeria specifically is that most of the small businesses are owned and run by women already. I think we just need to bring voice(s) to what they are doing and shine a light on them. These are women working hard every day.

    There is already evidence that when a female in a home got income, the children would be more successful than the one with unstable income.

    A lot of the women with small businesses had challenges last year with COVID. Others lost their jobs.  What do you think about this?

    There have been many reports that COVID-19 disproportionately affected women more than it did men for reasons we know. They were either in the frontline jobs, at risk of death or they were in the low paying jobs. So, when they fell out, they couldn’t sustain themselves. Also, they already had children they had to raise and they were juggling work, and this affected them.

    For us, however we decided to support more women, hire more women. It is not just because it looks like the right thing but because they deserve it. They are 50 per cent of the population, and why should you leave 50 per cent of the population out, not participating? We had a programme we ran last year called ‘Raise the Bar’, and we were sending packages to these girls and women because they were out of jobs. You identify a woman you know, we then called everyday and sent care packages that included skincare, soaps and other things. We sent out thousands across the country and it was really well received.

    Let’s talk about your management style and mentoring of young people…

    It is guided by the personal purpose that I have. What is that one thing that inspires who I am every day? My personal purpose is to unleash the genius in everyone and enable them to do more. This is because I believe that we are all genius and we just need someone to unleash them. Secondly, give somebody chance and they would thrive.

    I also believe that everybody has got dreams and those dreams are valid. I take the view that my role as leader is to validate those dreams, coaching people to enable them to see angles that they could have missed. It is creating the environment where it can be fully expressed so that they can participate in the full running of the organisation. It is an opportunity for fairness and everybody feels I have a fair chance to progress here. And we illustrate that fairness. Whether male or female, we pay the same amount of money per grade and same allowances.

    I am very intolerant with people who are bullies or harass female colleagues. You will quickly leave us. It is a journey, but we are feeling good with the progress made. There is still a lot of work to be done.

  • Oluyomi Finnih: My lifetime achievement is ending military rule

    Oluyomi Finnih: My lifetime achievement is ending military rule

    Dr. Oluyomi Abayomi Finnih, the Lagos-born distinguished obstetrician, gynaecologist, humanist and politician joined the Octogenarian club last Wednesday.His friends and colleagues speak highly of him as a man of good breeding. With a career trajectory spanning about six decades both in the public service of Lagos State and the organised private sector, the Isale Eko boy joined politics in retirement as a major stakeholder where he is currently making his mark and contributing to the dialectics of nation building. In this interview with IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF and FUNKE COLE, the Chairman and Chief Medical Director of Finnih Medical Centre, went nostalgic on his early years in Lagos, his foray into politics in retirement, regrets and fulfillment in the same breadth. Excerpts:

    How does it feel to be 80 years in a country where the life expectancy sadly is between 55 and 56 years?
    Life itself is so uncertain. It is full of ups and downs. You’re born one day and you die right the next day. Personally, I would say my life has been a rather interesting experience if I consider where I was coming from and where I found myself now. Right from primary school to secondary, to university it was a pleasure going to school, and having academic learning and exposure. What I can recall is that sense of nostalgia about going to the University of Ibadan from 1963 to 68. I can confidently say that in the first time of my learning life, we went through education and exposure with a lot of comfort. The personnel, lecturers from Nigeria and other parts of the world; the rapport between you and other students, and the lecturers was smooth. Everybody was working toward each other’s success. In my set, we had about 25 students in the Medicine Class. It was such an exciting thing; a thing of pride as well that as a Medical student of the University of Ibadan, you saw yourself as a special breed of human being. Things worked. University education was something everyone looked up to. Sadly, that is not anymore. I read in one of the newspapers this morning about how the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was gathering momentum for another strike. That was alien in our time. Such a thing is not right for the students. That is why someone who’s supposed to be on a course of four years ends up spending six, seven to 10 years. Besides, life was safe to live in. For instance, you could leave Ibadan at 7 pm.At that time it was one way, and get back to Lagos safe and sound

    with no fear of attack or molestation by anybody, anywhere. Security was good. Those of us that went through that period really enjoyed it. In the university, you had  what we called tea break. As a student in UI, each student had the best of everything. When they were building the new hall two students stayed in a big room. We had a dinning time during which we all wore a three piece suit to the dining hall. These days, youths wear something distasteful showing off their bodies and mutilating their clothes all in the name of fashion. I hope you guys don’t wear tattered clothes… (Laughs)

    In our days we had dignity. We had lots of fun, we had everything. As a young doctor, once you’re through with Medical School, you could easily get a car back then because the CFAO would come to you. All you needed  to do was just fill a form because they assumed  that as a doctor you could  afford to pay for a car loan.

    Back in the days in Lagos, if you left  your house open  in the morning  you would find everything perfect even on your return. But that’s not so anymore. We all live in fear. These days, you can’t even go out in the daytime much less  in the evening to attend a party because you’re not sure about your safety and return. If you want to go out now you’re afraid. Now, you have to monitor the situation of the road before stepping out of your home. This is not how to live and this is not right at all. Now, if you leave your car out there for too long, you can be sure that before you return some hoodlums would have made away with your four tyres if not the entire car itself. It’s not safe anymore out there. The situation has  deteriorated  badly.

    How did we get to this state? And we don’t seem to be making much progress either. We keep reflecting too much on money. There is loss of value everywhere. How do  you explain a situation where you want to promote an Assistant Manager to a Senior Manager at a bank and he refuses to leave his old post because he doesn’t want to lose the perks of his office for another post where he feels he won’t make a lot of money? The other day we heard a story of some teenage boys who beheaded a girl and had her head burnt in order to make concoction for money ritual. You mean the severed head already burnt to ashes would  disappear to the Central Bank and go and fetch them money? It’s sickening, the way morals have sunk in society today.

    At 80, I think I have lived a good life to the glory of God. That’s why sometimes, when we sit amongst our mates, we reflect and ask ourselves, “Kilo happen si wana? (What happened to us?) When you look at the way things have gone bad for the country you cannot but be worried.

    You were also involved in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in which the winner Chief MKO Abiola was not allowed to claim his mandate. What informed your participation in the June 12 struggle?

    Yes, I did my own bit just like most of us who were very disturbed about the goings on at that time. Many of us felt it was very wrong for the  military to  take over government. Any sane person watching the way things were going would wonder why the military boys had to kill Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Okotie Eboh, the Sardauna of Sokoto, and so on. It is a long list. Why do you kill people? What for? Under the guise of quelling disturbances or what? I believe that was the genesis of the military incursion in our politics. Initially, our attitude was that let’s have an academic approach to this problem and we had a group called the Democratic Forum, which was being led by Sobo Sowemimo. We had quality, and very cerebral people including the likes of Prof. Jegede, Senator Wahab Dosunmu. There was also a gentleman who was a senator in Ogun state and quite a number of us whose only desire was how to make things better for this country. But of course, we were being seen as rebellious people. But we didn’t take up any arms against the government, even ordinary catapults we didn’t have. We were just concerned about the state of affairs in the  country. But they issued threats, harassed some people to the point that many had to exit the country when it became totally unsafe for them. Some of us opted to stay to live through it all despite all odds, even at the risk of our dear lives. Many of these people who left were part of the NADECO escapades. As a result of this nasty experience they fractured many homes, destroyed properties and assets of innocent Nigerians. I can recall vividly those who suffered untoward hardships. The likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, (the late) Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Dr. Akingba and so many others too numerous to mention here who fled to the diaspora. And the few people who had little resources were vested with the responsibility of feeding and catering for these displaced Nigerians in a foreign land. People suffered and lived like sub humans all for trying to say our country should be alright. That’s why today, I’m pained when I see some people who grope about what they have achieved in life when they try to quantify all that in monetary terms at the expense of the safety and security of the country. Till date, we have not been able to really adjust ourselves. Those people who work through the agony and the pains of restoring Nigeria we know what we went through. Sometimes, when we write to let people have ideas we get so badly criticised. So that’s why sometimes, I just wonder whether the struggle was worth the while. So many things changed and deteriora ted: power became epileptic, armed robbery, brigandage, and everything went bad. So, if you ask me, the military has a hand in how the country has turned out. In fact, I can boldly say that after 1966 following the war and military intervention in our polity, a lot of things went bad for Nigeria and we have not really been able to recover from this ever since.

    So are you actually saying that the military is to blame for the way things have sunk in terms of moral laxity and all?

    Yes, I can stand up to anyone out there that the military caused more than half of the intractable crisis we are battling currently today. There is nobody who can contest that with me. The military boys had no business disrupting the course of our national life. That is what we are still battling till date and it is very sad.

    Looking back now at 80, what would you consider your greatest lifetime achievement?

    For me, I would consider my greatest achievement to have been able to highlight the importance of our health sector through showing the painful deterioration, and by the modest contributions we have made in that space. We have, in a way, stood up to endorsing democratic tendencies. Because when the military came and they kept shifting the handing over date  ad infinitum that is from Babangida to Babangida to Babangida, it was obvious that they didn’t want to leave the government until they boxed themselves into a corner somewhere. Thankfully, some of us came out to fight all these evil machinations. Something led to the other and we had the June 12 crisis. At the end of the day, we feel that we have made a point. Because sometimes, you make a point to the point that it is dangerous to persist. Like the saying goes, ‘he who fights and runs away, leaves to fight another day.’ That’s what the Yorubas call, moja mosa laa nmo akinkanju logun. Quite a number of our doctors died in the process. Some of them left the shores of Nigeria for foreign countries. But some of us persisted and stayed back home. That is why when we talk about the way forward for Nigeria, I just feel that there is a need to involve  well-intentioned people who will care for the welfare of the people. But unfortunately, we are not there yet. Today, it’s just about money. How many Bentleys, Ferraris, or power bikes you have. How many houses you have and all that… There is a lot of show off here and there. I cannot say that I’m frustrated. But I can say that I have made an effort. That is what a lot of us haven’t been able to say. That is why up till now you find a lot of people, especially doctors residing abroad, frustrated. Many of them are in Saudi Arabia, UK, etc. Once they retire, they end up in an old peoples’ home because there is nobody to look after them once they return home to Nigeria. Thankfully, they receive their pensions and payoffs. But if they come here, I’m not sure they would receive their pensions adequately. What is not in this country? Once  they said a certain snake swallowed pension funds without any traces? (General laughter)…

    How did you earn the pet name Gandhi?

    Me? Not me. Who told you that? (Curious)…

    Your friend, Bashorun J.K. Randle…

    That one (J.K. Randle)… General laughter… Where did you meet him? (Laughs)…

    We actually belonged to the bourgeois Lagos family at that time like the Finnihs, the Randles, the McGregors, the Da Rochas, and all. As kids, you see, most of us had fantasies at that time. If you had read the history of India, you would have found that Mahatma Gandhi was really a great person in India and may be in Middle Asia. Growing up just like the Great Mahatma Gandhi, one had this ideology about ending human suffering and putting things right. Because we just feel that poverty shouldn’t be. A lot of people needn’t have to suffer and all.

    You were talking about J.K. Randle. He is a rascal o. (Laughs)…

    He said you were a little rascal too back then and you used to chase all the small girls around… (General laughter)…

    Where did you find him? (General laughter)…

    He said as a very handsome young man, you were a lady’s man. That your dad tried to shield you away from boys and even girls so that you would not  lose focus and all…

    Don’t mind him. He was a very exhaustive guy (J.K.Randle)…He was living at Tokunbo Street, while I lived at Patey Street. Lagos was not all that populated then so we could  go around and have fun and merry. Growing up was fun back then. I remember my father used to turn some of these guys back when they came to invite me to go and play football with them. He would say, “Medicine ni Yomi fe ka…(Yomi is studying for Medicine.). And that’s what he kept repeating all over the place when he saw boys milling around me.

  • Our role as women will no longer belimited to ‘the other room’ – Funmi Ugbor

    Our role as women will no longer belimited to ‘the other room’ – Funmi Ugbor

    From corporate boardroom in Lagos to Abuja where she is serving as a legislative aide in the National Assembly, Funmi Kayode Ugbor, is moving steadily from career woman into politics. Now an almost flawless speaker of the language of politics, it would not come as a surprise to many if she decides to vie for a political office in the near future. She told PAUL UKPABIO why today’s woman needs to be relevant in the scheme of leadership.

    You were based in Lagos before moving to Abuja. How would you say the two cities different?                                               Lagos is my second home; a physical and emotional environment that contributed to what I have become as an all-round professional today. For me, Lagos has always been a centre of excellence; an aquatic splendour. Over the years, Lagos has maintained its status as the commercial hub of the nation. We will continue to see Lagos as a natural home to all, no matter where you come from. For this, it may be right to say that the strength of Lagos resides in the huge population. And in Lagos, no one is oppressed. Lagos maintains that distinctive and iconic presence not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

    I came to Abuja to work and I have fallen in love with Abuja. Abuja is less stressful for me. Although things are very expensive in Abuja and it is gradually becoming densely populated. Abuja is the capital of Nigeria and the seat of government, but it cannot be compared with Lagos.

    Would you say your early background has influenced the person that you are today?

    Absolutely! I am a daughter of a lecturer and a priest in the Anglican Communion. My Mother was a teacher. My paternal grandfather was a catechist. My maternal grandfather was a headmaster. I am very proud of my roots, my humble background, and eternally grateful for the good name my grandparents left for us. In those days, whenever we are leaving home you would be reminded “ranti omo eni ti iwo n se” remember whose child you are”! That phrase is loaded. Today, how many parents can boldly say this phrase to their children For any action or step I take, this phrase rings a bell in my memory and reminds me that I should not indulge in any unwholesome practice that would drag the image of my reputable family in the mud.

    What does your work at the National Assembly entail?

    It has been an embraceable challenge, balancing the office and involving in wide research on issues of national and international interest. The work of a legislative aide is enormous. We work behind the scene. Legislative aides work as the administrative head, coordinate and attend meetings, assist with the drafting of speeches and press releases and conduct and summarise research and constituent surveys.

    It also entails relating and interfacing with constituents and solving their problems, compiling their requests and directing or treating them accordingly, producing responses to issues of urgent national importance  transmitting yearnings of constituents and mounting briefs for onward presentation as motions or bills. With every challenge comes an added experience. It’s been fun learning new things.

    We are gradually moving into another political dispensation. Having worked at the National Assembly, do you feel the need to go into politics?

    Well, with over 10 years working experience I have garnered at the National Assembly as a legislative aide, I know that I have what it takes to perform excellently well in any position. No doubt, I have acquired tremendous experience and I am very confident that I have what it takes to go into politics.

    But as a woman, do you think you will have the time to accommodate political programmes and meetings?

    I am blessed to have a very understanding and supportive family. With this, I will definitely have the time to accommodate political programmes and meetings should the need arise. Women are willing to contest for every contestable position from president down to councillor. Women want not just to be seen but heard. We will be very vocal. We will ensure that our role is no longer just in the other room but in the room where political decisions are taken.

    How do you intend to handle the home front when political meetings will likely take a chunk of your time?

    As I mentioned earlier, what is required is support and understanding, which I have from my family. This is one of the reasons why we don’t have more women participating actively in politics today.  The time for meetings, which may start very late at night till dawn, is one of the factors discouraging women in politics. Although women are gradually indicating more interest, we are yet to get there.

    I thank God that I have grown-up children. My greatest inspiration and encouragement emanates from my loving husband who is always engrossed in his practice as a medical practitioner and a father. Handling home front should not constitute any impediment to my ambition. The major constraint is economic consideration which makes it difficult for women to contest to earn their position in politics. Women are not as financially buoyant as men. The political environment and conditions are often unfriendly and hostile to women, as it is always believed that women are created to be home makers.

    Women should be encouraged and we need more women to represent us at all levels. A woman caters for the home, the children and even takes good care of the husband. All these experiences will come handy and be utilised if given the position of authority. I believe that women are better leaders. Women are naturally organised, have motherly feeling and care. We have more sympathy for the children as mothers than their fathers!

    Which political office will you be vying for and can you share with us some of your intended programmes?

    I don’t have any political office I’m contemplating for now. But if the opportunity arises and my people feel that I am qualified for any political office, why not? However, I feel that there is need to do more on women and youth empowerment. These days our youth believe that money is everything, hence this has pushed them into many unprintable vices and this has contributed negatively to what we have in the society today.

    We need a total reorientation. We are morally bankrupt! There is moral decadence. No value, no respect, we have lost it and this is so disheartening. It is obvious that we cannot fold our arms and allow things to continue this way. We all need to rise up, contribute in our little way to ensure that there is a paradigm shift and new orientation. The fate of the youth is my nightmare and in any position I find myself, I would concentrate on the plight of the youth.

    What is your educational background?

    I obtained Diploma in Law from the University of Lagos, Diploma in Computer Studies, Higher Diploma in Secretarial Administration. I also studied Public Administration for my first and second degrees. My academic voyage and enormous work experience combined to widen my horizon to function in any capacity.

    What would you say determined your eventual life career?

    Naturally, growing up, I loved to organise, arrange, supervise and plan things. I believe in effectiveness and efficiency in whatever I do. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well!  This has enabled me to be a good administrator. I enjoy what I do and I feel fulfilled doing them.

    As a child, some people who are today leaders in the society were once challenged going to school. Ex-President Jonathan, for instance, said he went to school without shoes. What was your own condition like when you went to school?

    My parents were comfortable, hence I enjoyed my childhood. Although as a daughter of a lecturer, my father had a car, I walked to and fro school, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Morally, I learnt so much from my parents growing up, and I have tried to inculcate same in my children.

    Who among your parents influenced you the most?

    My maternal grandparents both had great influence on me. My maternal grandmother was a disciplinarian while my grandfather, the late Samuel Olaoye Agbeyo, was very detailed and meticulous. They both shaped me and contributed to the person I am today. I loved them both.

    What was the turning point in your life?

    Although I have been in the political scene for a while, coming to Abuja and working at the National Assembly definitely became a turning point for me.

    What were the challenges you faced raising children as a career woman and what advice would you give to young ladies in the same situation?

    I thank God that I have a loving, supportive, caring and understanding husband who has been my number one supporter and cheerleader.  I’m also blessed and surrounded by great In-laws who lived with us when the children were growing up. Mine is an inter-tribal marriage. I am a Yoruba married to an Igbo man. It is over 20 years now and it has been a good experience.

    When the children were toddlers,  it was not easy living in the Mainland and working on the Island in Lagos as a career woman. I would leave home for the Island at 5 am on a daily basis and get back home around 10 or 11 pm. Despite this, I was able to practice adequate and comprehensive baby care and I was close to all my children. I used to wake up at 4 am, used breast pump to extract my breast milk, and refrigerated the breast milk to feed my babies with. This was my daily ritual before going to work. I was determined to give my children the best, no matter what. To me, my family is everything.

    Today, things have changed, no doubt. With the economic situation in the country, there is need for women to work in order to make ends meet and support the family. At the same time, the children are exposed to many risks as a result of this. Honestly, I commend the mothers of today. I appreciate and celebrate them all.

    Parenting these days is not an easy task for career women. Some House helps are wicked, heartless. They are just devil incarnate. Some schools also are not safe either. How would mothers concentrate at work with all the risks out there that we expose these children to? My advice to young career ladies is that despite all these, priority should be given to the wellbeing of our children. Women should not compromise on this. Lately, we have seen a lot trending on the social media, and each time I see this, I am pained. It is scary! We have a lot to do as women and mothers. We need to spend quality time with our children and ensure that we are our children’s best friends. Let them be free to talk to us. Listen to them. Teach them sex education at an early age. Things are not the way they used to be, and this is so sad. Enough of child molestation!

    Have you enjoyed working at the National Assembly?

    So far, so good. It has been a very good experience working with different politicians from different backgrounds, states and also seeing them inspire others to contribute to their various committees and constituents. I have learnt so much working with my colleagues who are legislative aides working behind the scene to promote the lofty agenda of our principals.

    Is there anything about your past you would have loved to do differently?

    No regrets so far. God has been so good and faithful to me, and I am eternally grateful for all He has blessed me with.

    So what keeps you going?

    I love challenges and adding value to the society. I derive greater joy when I help, touch lives, make positive impacts, put smiles on people’s faces and make them a better version of themselves.

    What is your take on beauty, style, fashion and glamour?

    I believe in simplicity, looking good but not flashy. As long as I wear something trendy and decent, I am good to go!

    Do you dress to please yourself or do you dress to please people?

    I dress to please myself. I love to be very comfortable, modest, smart and decent in whatever I wear. I don’t compromise on my comfort.

    What fashion accessories will you not be found without?

    My reading glasses.

    If you have to describe yourself at this present time, what would you say?

    I am an easy going, amiable, friendly, accommodating and lovable lady. I love meeting people; a lover of children who is always willing to help. As a mother, I love seeing people happy. I also genuinely love and respect people around me.

    What do you value the most?

    I value integrity and honesty.

  • ‘Nature forced me to become a mother at 11’

    ‘Nature forced me to become a mother at 11’

    Mrs. Theresa Adeola was calm and smiling self when ‘The Nation’ encountered her in Abuja recently. Although she did not look it, she said she became 90 years old on Wednesday (February 2, 2022). She spoke with ERIC IKHILAE about her early years, her teaching career, and her love for God and humanity, among other issues.

    THE birth of a child ignites a certain feeling of joy and fulfillment in the heart of the parents of the newborn. The feelings become more intense when it is the first child.

    Such was the case in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril and Elizabeth Arogunmasa (now late) at the birth of their first child, Theresa, in lwaro-Oka community in the then Western Region (now Ondo State) in 1932.

    For Theresa (now Mrs. Theresa Adeola) growing up was beautiful, particularly being born into the home of a caring mother and an educated and loving father.

    Her father was educated in Kafachan (now in Kaduna State) after which he worked as an eloquent interpreter with British Reverend Fathers of the Catholic Church in both his home community and the northern part of the country.

    Nature however saddled her with the care of her siblings early in life when her mother died while she was only 11 years old.

    “My mother died after giving birth to a set of quadruplets. So, the duty of caring for them fell on me as the first child,” she said

     

    Early education

    The task of caring for her younger ones delayed her early enrolment in school. With her father’s support, she was enrolled at St. Peters Primary School Iwaro-Oka around mid-1940.

    She said: “I got inspired to go to school when I saw the choreographic display of the pupils of St Peters Primary School Iwaro Oka, who were beautifully dressed on Empire Day.

    “Empire Day, in our days, was the celebration of the British Empire and the Commonwealth. It is like today’s Independence Day.

    “I was particularly impressed with the display and match past by the pupils. So, the next day, I dressed up and went to school.”

    She added that with the support of her father, she was eventually registered as a student of the school, which made her happy, because to send a girl child to school was considered as a waste in those days.

    While in school, she was a brilliant girl and well behaved. She distinguished herself in academics by coming first. She was that girl that the school relied on to handle some onerous tasks, which explains why she became the Head Girl while in Standard Five.

    Mrs. Adeola explained that her days in primary school were quite interesting. She recalled with nostalgia some of her schoolmates and teachers.

    “One of our teachers then is Mr. Edward Ologunagba, who I learnt is still alive and kicking. Some of my classmates include Leo Dare (now Emeritus Professor), Reverend Father Patrick Arowele and Mr. Oguntolu,” she said.

    After her primary education, she wrote an entrance examination to the famous St. Andrew’s College, Oyo in Oyo State. Although she passed, she could not attend the school owing to paucity of funds. She, however, did not allow the disappointing development to tame her quest for education as she attended the Teachers’ Training College in Epinmi-Akoko, Ondo State, where she acquired her Grade 2 certificate.

     

    Starting a family/teaching career

    Adeola explained that a series of events trailed her meeting with the man she eventually married and her decision to marry him. Although she could not recall the exact year, she said she was either in Standard Three or Four when a boy accosted her on the way to school one morning and threatened to beat her without any provocation.

    “While the boy was at it, a senior male student came and intervened and threatened to beat the boy should he lay his hands on me. That was how I knew Augustine Adeola.

    “Subsequently, I would go to him and greet him and thank him for what he did for me the other day, and he would tell me to stop thanking him; that he did nothing unusual for me.”

    She recalled she later found that Augustine rescued her from the boy who was always bullying her because he wanted her, as he later asked her to marry him; a request she promptly turned down.

    “I told him no; that I was only concerned with my education at that time,” she said.

    She recalled that because of her performance in the academics and her good conduct, she was made the Head Girl at Standard five. Incidentally, Augustine also became the Head Boy in the same school.

    On account of their new portfolios, they started interacting. But at a point, some people who were displeased with their friendship manipulated their photographs, cropped their images from two different pictures and brought them together to appear as if they both posed for a shot.

    “I did not know what their intention was. They took the manipulated picture to my father who, on seeing it, said he was convinced that his daughter could not be involved in such act.

    “We had white teachers then. One of the teachers, who was a Reverend Father and the school Principal, was not happy when he saw the picture.

    “He called out Augustine on the assembly ground the next day and caned him openly before other pupils.

    “The Reverend Father, a white man, subjected him to public disgrace by giving him 12 lashes before the other students on the assembly ground for what he did not do.

    “I did not witness that incident because I was absent at school on that day. But I was told about it.

    “Still not done, the Reverend Father failed Augustine and made him to repeat his class in Standard 6. We then became classmates.

    “When I thought about all he went through and the injustice he was subjected to, I decided to marry him, because I felt he was unjustly punished.”

    They eventually got married in 1954 and the marriage was solemnised at St Patrick’s Church Mission, Oka in 1956. It was the same church where her parents wedded in 1931. The church, built in 1889, exists till date.

    They later started a family and were blessed with 10 lovely children eight of which are still living. She, however, lost her husband in 1995 when he was 62 years old.

    Adeola’s teaching career spanned about 35 years and she retired in 1986. Reputed as an extraordinaire disciplinarian, she is called a teacher of teachers who did not spare the rod at any given opportunity, be it on her children or on her numerous non-biological children.

    Due to the nature of her husband’s job, she was transferred to many towns of Akoko and Ekiti in the old Ondo State. While in each of these towns, Mrs. Adeola left her footprints, as a dependable teacher to whom parents preferred to hand over their wards.

    Asked whether she would have loved any other profession besides teaching, Mrs. Adeola said no.

    “I loved teaching and I have always been a teacher. I gave all my life to teaching because I loved it. Apart from raising my children and being with my husband, there was nothing else that occupied me other than grooming people in all the places I worked.”

     

    Her religious part

    Mrs. Adeola did not only assist in the academic development of many as a teacher, she also led and is still leading many to Christ as a devout Christian. In concert with her husband, they established a Catholic Church in Oyin Akoko, where they also organised correction marriage for couples who were merely cohabiting. The unions were perfected at Our Lady of Good Counsel. And as marriage counselors, God also used them to revive some dead marriages.

    After the death of her husband, she relocated briefly to Lekki in Lagos, where she encountered the late Reverend Father Patrick Adegbite, the parish Priest of SS Philips and James. She then served as a church warden and a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary.

    Everywhere she goes, Mrs. Adeola demonstrates love to people and to the service of God, because for several years at SS Peters Lekki, she was known by many for her church activities, including being a marriage counsellor and a member the Youth Committee.

    She later moved from Lekki to Gbagada (also in Lagos) to live with one of her children. There, she aided, along with others, the establishment Our Lady of Queen of Peace Parish. She was among the nine parishioners that pioneered the parish, where served as a member of Rosary Congress, Christian Women Organisation and church warden, among others. She worships in the church whenever she is Lagos.

    While also in the United Kingdom, she worshipped at Our Lady of Good Apostles, Welwyn Garden City, London where she served as a member of Saint Bonaventure among others groups in the church.

     

    Her political part

    Mrs. Adeola also has a political part. She engaged in partisan politics at a time in Ondo State. She explained that she was one of those who introduced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in lwaro at the time it was an aberration to identify with PDP in the state.

    She said her motivation was borne out of her determination to help her immediate community. She then became the Woman Leader of the party in the area.

    “I was particularly concerned with the fact that there were few women involved in politics. I took it upon myself to plead with and encourage the men to allow their women to attend political meetings.

    “We succeeded in encouraging more women to become involved in politics,” she said.

     

    How it feels to be 90

    On how she feels being 90 years old in this part of the world where life expectancy is pegged at about 50 years, Adeola said she feels fine and well. She thanked God for sustaining her.

    “I feel fine and happy. God has been kind. God has taken me this far. I thank God. I still feel fit,” she said.

     

    Advice to today’s teachers

    Drawing from her experience, she admonished those want to teach to ensure that they love the profession and are well prepared for it.

    She said: “Anybody who wants to teach should take teaching as a profession and go through teachers’ training, whether at the College of Education or at the university.

    “There, you are taught how to teach, how to impart knowledge. Because when you are a professional, you will know how to do it better than somebody who was not trained in that field.

    “If we do that, the quality of the students that will be produced, whether at secondary school level or university, would be better.

    “The foundation is part of the problem. The government should look into to that. I loved teaching and I was so devoted and committed to it. So my advice is that anybody who wants to go into teaching should do so because they love it, not just because they want a source of income. Otherwise, they will not be committed. Teaching is very demanding.”

    She also advised the government, at all levels, to pay closer attention to the training of teachers “so that there will be more qualified teachers to train our children and properly prepare them for the task ahead”.

    Mrs. Adeola also admonished the government on the issue of poor remuneration for teachers, noting that the saying that the reward of the teacher is in heaven could no longer apply because a teacher needs to manage his family and manage his career. He/she has social responsibilities and also needs to train his/her children so that they could also be well prepared to manage their future.

    “So, the government should ensure that teachers, at any level, are well remunerated to ensure that they put in their best,” she said.

  • SEGUN ODEGBAMI: I’ve no scandals, polygamy is part of Egbaman’s life

    SEGUN ODEGBAMI: I’ve no scandals, polygamy is part of Egbaman’s life

    Chief Segun Odegbami, a recipient of national honour as member of the Order of the Niger (MON), was one of the Super Eagles players known then as the Green Eagles, who won for the country the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980. Since he retired from football, he has had his hands on many pies including running a football academy, vying for the chairmanship of the national football association and taking a shot at the governorship seat of Ogun State on the platform of Zenith Labour Party. Currently the proprietor of Eagle-7 radio, he shares his experiences in this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI.

     

    You are into many things including sports, education and consultancy, to mention a few. How do you muster the energy to engage in so many ventures?

    I have to do things to survive. I have to work to eat. I have to live. I have to be engaged. And the only thing I can do to engage gainfully is to do the things I know about, the things I’m passionate about, so that I don’t get fed up. The things you have listed are just part and parcel of my life. They are the things that make me survive. I earn a living writing sports. I fulfill my obligation to humanity by running the school, and now I’m embarking on a project that I wanted to do many years ago but never happened until now. It is just part and parcel of daily life for me. I don’t need to get energy from anywhere; it is just part of my daily routine.

     

    What really brought about the idea of your new project: a radio station?

    It was the opportunity 20 years ago when the federal government liberalised the ownership of broadcast houses and advertised that those who were interested should secure radio and television licenses. That was when I did. I applied for the radio licence. My friend, Danladi Bako, was in charge. He was the Director- General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), so I went to him in Abuja. I was supposed to be part of the second batch of licencees. I told him that I had applied and he told me clearly that it was not possible for me to get a licence because I was seeking the licence for Lagos. There was no frequency for Lagos at the time. There was no way I could get a licence. He made it clear.

    And after that, I had the other chairmen of the NBC. Bolarinwa, who was my school mate, when he became the chairman, I went there again thinking that these were my friends. He was also categorical that they were not giving anybody licence in Lagos. Despite all my protestations, it never happened throughout the time he was there. So, that was what I faced.

    I was angry deep down because people were getting licences everywhere but they never gave me one. I just accepted it as part of my fate till another friend, Kawu  Moddibo, again became the director-general, and I pressured him. He too was looking for licence before he became the DG. So, when he became the chairman, I thought it was going to be automatic, but I found that it was not going to be. Until the tail end of his tenure, I still kept in touch with him.

    I almost blackmailed him when there was a big conference of broadcasters in Abuja and I was invited to come there. I saw all my friends in broadcasting, including Ambassador Yusuff Mamman. I complained to everybody: ‘How could you people treat me like this? It is me now. All I want is a radio licence.’  For 18 years, they couldn’t give me.

    He couldn’t believe it. Danladi Bako, Bolarinwa, all the people who didn’t approve it were all there. I think he must have thought about it that it was unfair. I even told him that I was willing if the station could be changed to Abeokuta, if Lagos was the problem. There was

    only one sports radio station in the whole country then. He was the one that influenced it.

    I got the licence after 18 years of waiting. I got it less than two years ago. Since then, I have been working to actualise it to set up the radio station. I’m not a financially rich person. I can’t afford tens or hundreds of millions of naira one needed to set up a radio station from the scratch, so I had to get some few friends to join hands with me so that we do it together. That is it.

    What next now that you have the licence?

    We are on an adventure to take radio station to where it has never been before. We want to make this radio station do what any radio station has never done before. There is new technology. With the technology you can achieve what you have never dreamt about before. We are on that trajectory right now. I don’t know where it will take us.

    Definitely, we are exploring all new areas in digital broadcasting. We are getting the best production equipment, best broadcast equipment and now we want to add best broadcast content so that people would hear a radio station that they can also visualise.

    In one year’s time, the world will know about Eagles 7 Sports Radio that is different, that is fantastic, that is the global radio station only located in Abeokuta which is the new emerging rural urban city.

    You said you don’t have the money to procure equipment. One would think that with your personality, you could get things done more easily, particularly with your closeness to people like Otunba Mike Adenuga, the owner of Globacom…

    Most people know me. I also know a lot of people. We had interacted in the course of life. Like Otunba Adenuga, he is my brother. We know each other. But we haven’t spoken to each other for some years because nothing has actually brought us together either socially or politically. I don’t have access to just call him and just speak with him.

    When I worked for him for about a year, we were almost on a daily basis having conversations. That was work as a consultant. These people who have money and resources don’t just take their money and invest in another person’s ideas or businesses. They are running their own businesses. He is into telecoms, oil and banking.

    They wouldn’t invest in my business. My business is too small. What I need to run a radio station is change money; the money he uses as change every day. Me I have to work and work, look for friends, do like ten different jobs to earn small, small monies. Nobody gives away their money, no matter how rich they are.  Dangote will not just come and say, ‘Segun, because you are a nice guy, take, go and do your business.’ Even though they know me, we are not in that kind of relationship.

    A few friends that have come to join me, I have invited them to see what I want to do, and I want them to be part of building this, because it is going to be profit making and they are going to benefit from it too in small small ways. It is not big money. As a matter of fact, one who is a shareholder, the moment he heard that I had got the licence and I put it on one of my write-ups, he just got in touch with me immediately and said, ‘Oh Segun, this is wonderful. I’m giving you for free five million naira for you to take and support what you are doing.’  I couldn’t believe it.

    We had only ever met once in the home of the Sultan of Sokoto when he came to Lagos. He is a well known Nigerian. He just said I will give you five million; just tell me where to pay. I shed tears because that was the first person that would ever do such a thing for me. I didn’t ask for anything. He just saw that I had a licence and he was giving me five million naira to support it. Nobody else has done that but he did it. I said okay sir, thank you very much. But for whatever it was worth, I said let’s covert this five million naira into some shares in the company I’m going to set up. He said no, I said no sir. I said don’t even do it because five million naira is nothing to you. I said you have even given me an idea, put it in the name of one of your children. It won’t be long I will go. We pray for long life, the business will go on. Let our children benefit from it because it is not a now project alone; it is going to go on for so many years. Let our children be the ones to inherit this.

    He said Segun,  that is beautiful. I now went, brought a business consultant to fashion out for me an ownership plan where I would involve a few of my friends in the business so that they could also bring in their children,  because the money to invest is so small that if we put their big, big names there…it is better we put our children. They agreed. A few people that have joined me and they have made contributions. I didn’t want a lot of money that would become a burden to anybody. I have been managing using a lot of goodwill.

    I managed and we have managed, with the help of friends, to put this together. So this model radio and TV, because part of this innovation is that it is not just audio you will be hearing in your car, you are watching on your phone and very soon we are going to get terrestrial TV licence. That makes it exciting.

    There are things we want to achieve with this. I got help from so many people and I must mention Baba Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been of immense help. He was God sent. I’m not talking about money. At times there are so many things people do that money cannot buy. He is my father here in Abeokuta. I didn’t know he would go to such extent just to make sure that my dream of modern radio station comes into being.

    What were the initial challenges you faced at the beginning of this project?

    COVID-19.  I got a licence in March 2020. That was the month COVID-19 struck, and we are still not out of it. I have not been working. I lost all my consultancies. I was a consultant to some organisations. These organisations were going through economic problems because of Covid.

    For the past two years, I have not been working and I have not had the resources to do much, but I have just been managing. This was my biggest challenge.  But rather than see it as a hindrance, I had to think outside the box and work with the challenge COVID-19 brought with it to still solve problems that came with it. I couldn’t wait till after COVID-19.  You would wait forever.

    Even with COVID-19, I was still doing things. But it slowed things down a great deal. The radio station could have started a year ago, but COVID-19 slowed it down. COVID-19, coupled with the fact that I wanted to use a mast that was in my village, because the location of the radio station was supposed to be in my Wasinmi village. I wanted to put the mast, which would have been the biggest structure in Wasinmi, but I found that there was an existing mast in Wasinmi. I said, ‘Ah, this is God-sent. I went to find out the ownership of the mast and I found that it is owned by the Ogun State Government. It is an abandoned old technology mast. Nobody uses that mast anymore. I got some engineers to help me look at the integrity of the mast; they said it had height but we would still need to do a lot of work.

    It is in my village. The place had been abandoned for 40 years. The inside was the home of reptiles. The small structure there had been interwoven with trees. It was terrible, but it was in my village. If it is something we can fix, it becomes one of the vehicles for social development; for social engagement. I was excited. It has taken almost two years, for some reasons I don’t know,  my government would not give it to me, would not lease it to me and it is dragging and dragging. I felt maybe there is something there I did not know, because it is abandoned and they will never use it. I said I better seek my fortune somewhere else. That was another challenge. But it was just a challenge. I know they must have their reasons.

    We give God all the glory because I have seen another mast, and in the next one month, our radio station will be on air. The station is not a local station. The content is not local; it is a global sports station. It will be located in Abeokuta. Its focus will be Afrocentric. We are not going to have a word of politics. We are not going to promote religion.

    I have known you since I was a little boy, and only a few things have changed about your appearance. What is the secret?

    I see myself in the mirror. Yes, life has been good to me. I don’t know why; maybe it is just in my genes and the grace of God that I’m physically active and mentally active also. I am always doing what I like. I do my sports, my writings, I read a lot, I engage in different activities that I’m passionate about.

    I don’t know what you see, but the bones are creaky, the pains are there. I have all manners of small, small illness, but it is all good. It is all part of life. I’m enjoying my life. Nothing is disturbing me. I’m grateful to God. Without the grace of God who am I? I’m not different from other people.  Somehow, I have responded to the universe giving me opportunities and I have made use of opportunities to the best of my ability.

    Thrice you tried to be NFA chairman, thrice it didn’t come through. What went wrong?

    I don’t know. I just did not succeed. One of the few things in my life I tried and I never succeeded. It is not an area I’m good at because it is politics. To become the president or chairman of NFF is politics, not merit. It is not because you are good. You may have the qualification, you can do it, it has nothing to do with it.  It is all politics. And it is not small politics, it is big time politics; it involves people from all over the country. These are people who are passionate about football. They may not necessarily need to be footballers, and you have to convince them, you have to bribe some of them, you have to cajole some of them. That is a totally different world where I did not succeed.

    It is not that I failed; I did not succeed because I’m not good at it. If I was good at it, maybe I would have wangled my way through. What it takes to become the president of NFA in Nigeria is not about you know it or you have the qualifications,  etc; it is about other unseen considerations and factors I have no control over. I don’t have money to bribe anybody. I don’t have money to spend like that. Everybody knows what I do. I don’t have the godfather behind me to take up the case. That is not a problem for me at all. My life is going on. I wish I had been so that at least I had a good vision for what I would have done for the Nigerian football, coaches, administrators, the youths, the grassroots. I’m not sure I would have been able to do them; I don’t know. But I had a clear vision. That would have been exciting to take the Nigerian football to the highest height.

    You also tried to govern your home state but you didn’t get it. What happened?

    When I wanted to be the governor of the state, it wasn’t that I thought I would win the election. I didn’t win the election to become the FA chairman; I now think I would win election to be governor when I knew what was required to become the chairman or president of FA. I‘m living and working in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, which is the source of knowledge, the source of culture, the source of black civilisation. I saw all of those in this place and this place can be the take-off point for the rest of Nigeria. Make the state the model of development in education, health, sports, industry, literature, because this place is so rich of people. The human capacity, it is unbelievable.

    I came to the realization what is going on? Why can’t we tap into these resources and change our environment. We have leaders who should have taken that to another level. Why are they not doing it? I wanted to go into it to see, to explore what is it in politics that people are running into?  That was the good intention for me to go in there and see what was there. I knew you don’t go into election without having money. I had petrol money in my pocket to run the election. I lost all of that. But the experience I gained, you can never buy it with money. When I went to visit Baba Obasanjo after the election, the man laughed and laughed. He said, ‘Segun, you are a brave man, you went and did this. But it is an invaluable experience for you.’ He said he was just watching me and he was interested in what I was doing. Not because anybody thought I would win, but as I was doing it, I was also reporting it. I had a diary, I was writing in my diary. I knew I was not going to win. Who would vote for me?

    There were 5,000 polling booths, and for you to win, you must man all the 5,000 polling booths, and you don’t put just one agent in a polling booth because you have to protect your vote and you have to protect the people coming to vote for you. You have to pay each of them to do the thing they have to do. You cannot monitor them, you cannot enforce anything. You give them all the money and they would do something else because somebody else will give them more. It was an impossible situation. There was no way I could monitor everything. I didn’t have the resources yet I had in all 5000 polling booths with my representatives. It was not that they were going to get people to vote for me. It was not that they were going to do anything. They were just to tell me what was going on in all the 5,000 polling booths.

    As I sit here, I have a reservoir of information or data. If I had the resources, I would unleash the biggest political force ever seen in Ogun State. And I’m not boasting, because I understand it now and the army is there now. I can identify them: angry people, hopeless people; they are disengaged completely from the governance. That was the motivation: to go and see and learn more. I have seen, I have learned more to be governor of Ogun State.

    People who win election don’t win by votes. Democracy is a big failure in this part of the world; it cannot work as it is stated, one man, one vote. We must create and domesticate our own solution. I don’t know what it is. It is like what Chief Obafemi Awolowo said; the situation is irredeemable.

    Does that mean there is no hope for this country?

    Me, I don’t see it. That is the truth. If I see that some things are happening correctly now I can start to have some hope. Nothing is happening. What is happening that gives you hope that we are going to have a country where things would work? There is no hope.

    Celebrities, important people always have bad press. How have you managed to stay without scandals?

    That is not true. I have had my own scandals in the past, if that is what you are saying. ‘He is going out with one celebrity woman’, one newspaper reported. ‘He had six children from four women.’

    That is not scandal for me. I’m not a thief. I don’t steal money. I don’t do crooked things. I don’t do illegal things.

    I’m just a hard working person, and everything I do, I try to do it correctly. I’m not a celebrity. I admit that I have lived a kind of life in the past, but not scandalous like that. Because when you say something is scandalous, by whose standards? I’m a Yorubaman. I come from Abeokuta.

    Do you believe in polygamy?

    It is not belief; it is an integral part of the life of an Egbaman.  When I came here, I saw it, even though I didn’t live here. My father told me before he died that you this man, how can you be living alone in your house? This is unhealthy. Meanwhile, my family, my wife were abroad. He said this is unhealthy; you either bring the woman back or you get married again. I’m just giving you as an example. Here, you find out that it is everywhere. The management of relationship, the Yorubaman got it perfect. The Yorubaman knows how to manage religion better than any tribe, any  race in the world.  Religion, the relationship between man and woman, marriages, we manage it better than anywhere in the world.

    The Yorubaman man, our history is too deep, our culture is too deep, our language is too deep, our knowledge base is too deep, our understanding of the world, our spirituality, you can’t match it.  So also is our customs, of which the marriage institution is one. The Yorubaman mastered it. Our colonial masters brought their own and they now told us that our own was bad and so we now started embracing their own, and what we did and handled well, we abandoned it and we now followed their own.  See where it has led us to. Now the things that worked for us and kept the society peaceful, we have abandoned because somebody said they are crude.

    They brought their own ways to us when our ways were better. That is it. You were talking about scandal; there is nothing like scandal. Everybody makes mistakes in their lives, and it will be wrong for people to judge you. Now I know better. I can handle things differently now in my life. I can do things freely without feeling guilty or carry the burden on my head. I could have fixed my life better but because I was a product of indoctrination by outsiders so don’t judge me by their own doctrines which are not working for them.

    Any regrets?

    Not in the classic sense of it. The past is gone. When you are talking of regrets, that means you are x-raying the past, saying I wished I had done certain things. The past is gone. Regret is a burden you carry. Life is too short for you to live with any regret because you have done it and it is gone. Everything that has happened in my life followed eternal order; the way I’m built in the universe.

    May 7ven was doing very well, then suddenly she vanished from the public space. What is happening to her?

    She is doing well. She is not active as a singer or an entertainer for now. For a brief period, she came and sold her genre of music and all that, but she now retired to do other things. She started to manage artistes. She started to manage shows. She bought her own franchise. She owns the Afrobeats trade mark. She is coming back. She is doing well.

    I thought she should have done more for music in Nigeria. Because she spent most of her life in the UK, she was influenced too much by western music. She wasn’t influenced much by our own African, though she was doing afrobeats. She has gone to research some Nigerian artistes from the past who did music properly. Because she left early and she couldn’t speak the language well, she couldn’t sing in local language. All of that is over now. She tells me she is coming back. This time, she thinks she will go to another level.

  • OKEY OGUNJIOFOR: Why I abandoned Nollywood for 25 years

    OKEY OGUNJIOFOR: Why I abandoned Nollywood for 25 years

    Among those who are conversant with the little beginnings of the Nigerian film industry, Okey Ogunjiofor is usually referred to as the father of Nollywood. That is because, among other things, it was his movie ‘Living In Bondage’ that set the pace for Nollywood’s prominence. Ironically, in later years when Nollywood found its tempo and its practitioners experienced a boom, Ogunjiofor was nowhere to be found. And just when everyone was wondering his whereabouts, he returned to the stage with a hit movie, Amina, at a rather difficult time when the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic is shaking the world to its very foundation. PAUL UKPABIO, the ever smiling movie producer tells the whole story about Nollywood, the locust years and his world record movie.

    Your latest work, “Amina”, is already a hit. What is the magic?

    I thank God for the success story of “Amina”. The main reason for making the movie was to re-define Nollywood preparatory for the investors’ market, just like “Living In Bondage” was the re-definition of film practice in the past. The aim was to make a film that would make the world celebrate Nollywood products rather than just tolerating them.

    I am glad that “Amina” did not just achieve this purpose, it surpassed our expectations when it rose to become the only Nollywood film since inception to make the top 10 list on Netflix globally.

    Do you think the movie has received the needed publicity so far?

    No, I don’t think “Amina” has received enough attention from the Federal Government of Nigeria or enough publicity as it ought to from the media, considering its success story not only for Nollywood but for Nigeria and Africa at large. But I must thank the few broadcast houses and online media organisations that have extended their goodwill to celebrate this feat with us.

    What do you think is the key factor behind the movie’s global acceptance?

    Amina is an indigenous African story told by Africans to the world, not only to entertain Nollywood’s growing global audience but to demonstrate that the African film industry has come of age, and that given enough resources, African filmakers can hold their own in the global arena.

    The concept of Amina centered on the fact that since ancient civilization in Africa, women have ruled on the continent. From Queen Nefertiti of Egypt (1292 BC), Makeba, Queen of Sheba (960 BC) and Empress Candence of Ethiopia (323 BC). Later, we had Queen Amina of Zazzau (c. 1533 – 1633), Queen Anna Nzinga of Angola (c. 1583 – 1663) and Yaa Asentewa of Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana (c.1830-1921), Queen Sarraounia Mangou of Niger (19th Century), Ranavalona of Madagascar, Beatrice of the Congo, to name a few. But despite the exploits of these great women in Africa, inequality, discrimination against women’s rights and other gender-based prejudices still persist not only in Africa but the world over.

    “Amina” raises an important question on why there are not many female leaders in the world today when history is full of women who have excelled as leaders. This is not just in the political arena but in business, the arts and sports.

    “Amina” is a locally themed, globally relevant narrative. United Nations’ present focus is on women empowerment, and Goal 3 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) makes a very strong case also for the empowerment of the girl child and women around the world. Therefore, Videosonic chose this feature film as a medium to drive this message of change to make our nation and the world a more equitable place, to give all humans, female or male, poor or rich, the opportunity to rise to national and global leadership.

     

    The authenticity of Amina story was verified through intensive research, which spanned a period of 25 years in addition to authentic exotic set, costume and props designs created and built for the purpose of its thematic actualization.

    “Amina” was executed using all the benefits of High-Definition Video origination equipment (ALEXA), up-to-date cinematographic support devices and computerised digital edit including VFX sound design, grading and 5.1 surround sound. In addition, a trained team of audio-visual professionals responsible for the entire film is composed of a mix of experienced professionals and quite visionary young people with an eye toward constant innovation. Employing simple but ingenious low-cost approaches, the film effectively achieved the level of awe-inspiring global pictures and universal sound quality only seen in foreign theatres.

    After a long while out of Nollywood, what prompted you into a comeback?

    You see, after my pioneering efforts in Nollywood with “Living in Bondage”, “Circle Of Doom”, “Nneka the Pretty Serpent”, “Brotherhood of Darkness” and other hits, the whole world took notice of our industry. I felt that there was more we could do to deepen the acceptance of the phenomenon called Nollywood. But most of my colleagues were not getting it, especially those in the market.

    So, since then, Nollywood products have remained on the fringes of global distribution due to defects in the quality of our sounds and pictures occasioned by very low investments in films arising from fear of losing huge investments due to linear distribution. And everybody continued churning out low budget films for fear of losing so much if the film failed to make it in the market. I couldn’t continue making films in the industry as it was. A situation where the DVD market is almost dead due to piracy and the cinemas replacing them were no different either.

    So, I felt there must be a “new way” to survive in the industry, for Nollywood became stunted because the practitioners got comfortable with individual small successes that no one was prepared to take the big risks required for our collective big successes. And I was determined to find that “new way” no matter how long it may take. The answer therefore, was to make “Amina” to show what is possible for all; a film that would make the world celebrate our products thereby opening up Nollywood for global investments. It was the quest to raise enough money to fund this “new way” that kept me away from mainstream filmmaking for 25 years. Now that I am back, there is a “new way” for all to follow.

    What we’re you doing in the period that you were away from Nollywood?

    During these years of my sabbatical to find the “new way” for our industry, I consulted for The Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and The Kennedy Centre, Washington, USA on gender-based research and programmes for the empowerment of Women and the girl child 1996-1999. After that, in 2000 I produced “Born to Win”, a film on Bishop David Oyedepo’s book with same title. By 2002–2005, I produced 86 episodes of “Rough Edges” soap opera series on 18 national television channels and cable television. Then by 2007–2010, another 78 episodes of “Cyberia” a soap series on 21 national television stations and pay TV, and by 2011–2012, I produced 20 episodes of “Hope Avenue”, a sitcom series.

    I also produced corporate documentary films for organisations such as CIBN 50yrs of Banking in Nigeria 2013, Director of World Economic Forum (WEF) in Nigeria 2014. By 2009–2012, I founded and organised The African Audio-Visual Awards (TAVA) in order to mentor young filmmakers as well as midwife Nollywood products to global standards. I also produced and directed five episodes of FCMB documentary series in 2019.

    Side by side the above productions within this period, I also found time to upgrade myself educationally, with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Government and Public Administration from Imo State University, and UCLA (School of Theatre, Film and Television Studies) University of California, Los Angeles. I also hold many Master Class certificates and other international professional certificates. Due to my pedigree in Nollywood and sundry youth interventions, I was invited to be one of the mentors and resource persons to visiting German youths in the “Go Africa Go German,” a German-African scholarship exchange programme; a joint initiative of the Federal Government of Germany and the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

    I am an author of many books: ”The Call, The Cross and The Crown, Vultures at Twilight, The Legend of Queen Amina, and The Mystery of Salvation”. I am an audio-visual consultant to a few organisations, a youth mentor, event organiser, and preacher of the gospel around the world. I also sit on the board of many private organisations and industry associations.

    Now let’s go back to the early Nollywood period. Do you miss those days? If yes, what are those things that you miss?

    Outside the strength of our stories that seemed to connect with our global audience more then, I don’t think I miss much of early Nollywood. Yes, there is a sense of nostalgia whenever I remember those days of early Nollywood, but then it is that of pain and loss, of being used repeatedly, of opportunities missed and gains squandered.

    Nollywood used to be Surulere, Idumota, Eweka Road, Onitsha but today it is a global phenomenon.  Can Nollywood’s success be ascribed to individuals who started it or should it be classified as a phenomenon that had to be?

    Nollywood is a product of providence; a phenomenon that began by Divine intervention which has continued to evolve through Divine guidance and intervention. Yes, the glory should go to God even though the credit should be given to those God used to start it and all those who have continued to contribute towards the deepening of this phenomenal brand.

    What do you consider the successes that Nollywood has made over the years and what do you consider its failures?

    There is a combination of factors that have endeared Nollywood to the world, which is why they are taking notice of what we are doing. The ability of Africans to evolve a new format for filmmaking through digital cameras, creating an industry out of it away from western style and format remains the major success story of Nollywood. Nevertheless, at the beginning, Nollywood lacked acceptance and recognition. Everyone tried to kill it at its inception. No one gave it a chance globally. There was no government support locally, and even the supposed distributors in the various markets became the pirates of the films they were distributing.

    Although digital filmmaking started in Nigeria then, nobody was there to take ownership and tell our story to the world. Older filmmakers criticised our industry and called it nonsense, but later, they joined the nonsense. Foreign groups derogatorily called us Nollywood – “Nothing near the Wood”. While some local journalists praised the feat, others took us to the cleaners rather comparing our experiment, especially quality-wise with the more established Hollywood and Bollywood film industries. But here we are still today by the grace of God, and by the prolific nature of Nigerians who are “never-say-die” people, changing the narratives about Africa, rewriting the history and what you would call negative prejudices that the world has always had about Africa. Above all, creating massive employment that grows African economies.

    But our major failure has been the inability of the practitioners to take deliberate steps, make the sacrifices needed to deepen the practice and expand the ecosystem to attract global investments.

    Nollywood has lost many to death. Which of them pained you the most?

    There are so many of them, like Amaka Igwe, Sam Loco, Hameed Oguntade, Justus Esiri, Bukky Ajayi, Rachel Oniga, Chico Ejiro, Chris Ekejimbe and others too many to mention here. May their souls rest in peace.

    What has been the passion that has kept you going all these years?

    Let me summarise the passion that has kept me going with the four (“4G”) below:

    God: I acknowledge and recognise the place of God as the source of all things creative in the creative process. I solely depend on God as the giver of insights and talents, not drugs or any other source. I have absolute faith in God, and I am conscious not to abuse that source so that I do not dry up.

    Guts: I have an intuitive capacity that tilts towards the prophetic. I am always clear in my thinking, decisive when I make up my mind, believe in myself and trust my judgments regarding any project I embark upon. Since film is about communicating the cultural tones of a people via sights and sounds, I try to read voraciously, well-traveled, have a broad world view to life issues in order to communicate effectively with my audience on any theme I choose to work on.

    Grit: I am a person of courage and resolve with great strength of character. I have a never-say-die attitude to my craft and anything I believe in. I am very passionate, painstaking and persevering enough to weather the storms till result comes.

    Grace: After thorough planning, I just must depend on God’s goodness to take care of those unforeseen things that may crop up from the beginning of the creative process till the exhibition, like timing, etc. I am a very good manager of men and resources.

    So, evidently my staying power is God; it is no secret. He alone stands me out. I am not better than anybody except that God has chosen to glorify Himself in me. I am just a vessel in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

    After all said and done, Nigerian Musicians are still far richer than Nollywood practitioners, at least so it seems. Should this comparison be made at all?

    No, there is no basis for such comparison.

    So how’s life with you? How do you catch fun?

    The ups and downs of life is fun on its own depending on the angle of elevation from which you view life. I read, write, watch global events as they unfold daily. Above all, I enjoy spending quality time with God and my family.

    Is “Amina” going on tour?

    Amina is not going on any tour; it is exclusively a Netflix Original for now.

    After Amina what next?

    For the next 7-10 years we are going to produce more locally themed globally relevant contents to entrench the 4th epoch of Nollywood and drive massive investments to the industry and to her practitioners across Africa.

  • EJD SOYANNWO: Skillful citizen of two nations

    EJD SOYANNWO: Skillful citizen of two nations

    At 88, Edna Jane Deinyo Soyannwo has had a blissful career as an author, composer and teacher in top schools in the UK, Ghana and Nigeria. One of her former students, TONY IYARE, an international journalist & development expert, discusses her life, family and accomplishments.

    POPULARLY called EJD according to her initials, Mrs Edna Jane Deinyo Soyannwo, a Ghanaian by birth, has made profound impact on the alumni of our school, United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos, who are distinguished professionals in different fields, leaning on the inspirational vibes of the lyrics and rhymes of our school song, “Arise and Shine”. Authored and composed by her in four stanzas, it has stirred many to greatness.

    At the thanksgiving service of the school’s 60th Founder’s Day held in October 2019 at Williams Memorial Methodist Church, Ebute Metta, even our young saxophone revelation, Rapheal Lasisi, who lent helping hand to EJD, was dazzled by her dexterity on the piano as she rendered “Arise & Shine”. Many still relish the ecstasy and thrills of the historic reunion of the UCOSA WhatsApp Group on Easter Monday in 2015 with EJD on the Piano as we rendered “Arise and Shine” both at the beginning and end of the memorable event.

    Born on Sunday January 7th, 1934, Mrs Soyannwo holds a BA (Dunelm) degree, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of London, an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM), and a Masters in Education from the University of North Wales (Bangor). She’s had a long successful teaching career starting from the UK, Ghana, and Nigeria.

    From 1960 to 1961, she had a stint at a Girls’ Secondary School in South of London during the PGCE course.  Mrs Soyannwo also taught at Winneba Specialist Training College, now University of Cape Coast, Ghana between 1961 and 1963.

    A daughter of the Konotey-Ahulu family of the Krobo ethnic group, the largest of the seven Dangbe ethnic groups in southeastern Ghana, she got married in December 1962 to a Nigerian Port Engineer, Sofoluwe Olumide Soyannwo, at the chapel of Achimota School, her alma mater.

    Between 1963 and1965, she accompanied her husband to the US, and returned to Nigeria in 1965 with their first child, Soniyi, to be followed by four more in relatively quick succession.

    Mrs Soyannwo taught at Ibadan Grammar School from 1965 to 1968. They relocated to Lagos where Engr Soyannwo got a job with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Apapa. She also got enlisted on the teaching staff of our dear alma mater, then called United Christian Secondary Commercial College, Apapa where she taught English and Music from 1968 to 1973.

    She later left for King’s College, Lagos where she taught between 1973 and 1984. She was appointed Vice Principal in 1983 and was granted a year’s study leave to pursue a master’s degree abroad.  She returned in 1984 and got appointed as Vice Principal in Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos from where she voluntarily retired in 1986.

    From 1986 to 1995, she worked as the first Administration Manager of Corona Schools Trust Council. Also from 1987 to 2018, Mrs Soyannwo worked with the MUSON School of Music, Lagos initially as a member of the school’s committee, then as part time piano teacher in the basic school, and later a full member of the staff of the MTN sponsored Diploma School as Deputy Director and Chief Examiner of the MUSON Theory and Practical Examinations till she voluntarily retired in July 2018.  She was also Director of Chapel Music, Chapel of the Healing Cross, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine between 1987 and 2004.

    Looking back at her formative stage, EJD was nurtured in the Scottish Presbyterian Mission Schools between ages 5 and 12 – three of those years in boarding school.  She continued for the next seven years at the renowned co-educational Achimota Secondary School, from 1948 to 1954.

    After her sixth form, she got a job on Tonal Languages at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies for one year before she got admission into Trinity College of Music London for a year. And after being successful at the Professional Piano Teaching Diploma, ARCM, she got admission to the University of Durham’s St Aidan’s College, where she graduated with a BA in 1960.  She spent the first year after graduation successfully pursuing the Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Senate House, London University.

    Reminiscing how she met her husband of 51 years, who died in 2013, she said it looked as if it was graciously arranged by the Lord who is present at each turn of her life.

    They met in 1960 at a British Council Reception for Overseas Students in London Bible College. She was one of the old students invited to entertain the new arrivals.  After she gave a very exciting piano solo recital, Engineer Sofoluwe Soyannwo was one of the spectators who came along to congratulate those who entertained the crowd, and she was singled out by the young Port Engineer for a talk.

    Narrates EJD: “The first time Sofoluwe met my father, Rev David Andrew Konotey-Ahulu, he prostrated in the Yoruba way, but my father, not understanding the Yoruba tradition, said he did not like being “worshipped”.  However, they later got along very well with each other because of his many visits to our flat during which the friendship blossomed.

    “It was when it was time to leave for Ghana after my long stay in Britain, whilst on board the MVAureol, in August 1961 bound for Takoradi, Ghana, just before they left the ship, my father prayed for traveling mercies and safety for the sea liner. Sofoluwe’s parting words were addressed to my father and he said: “Papayo, with your blessing, I plan, God willing, to resign my appointment with the London Ports’ Authority within three months, go to Ghana and get married to Edna.  You will be hearing from my parents.

    “I saw Papayo was emotional because traditionally, Krobo daughters, especially the eldest were expected to marry “at home” and be close to the family homestead when the older generation moved on.  When Sofoluwe realised that, he assured Papayo that we would raise our children in both Nigeria and Ghana.

    “He kept his “promise” and even long after my parents had passed on, he still took us to Ghana often.  Our eldest daughter, Oladunni, studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and she’s a lecturer there and married to Dr Edwin Laing. They have grown up daughters, both graduates.”

    For the past 50 years, the Soyannwos chronicled their life graciously guided by the Lord with newsy newsletters. They covered the corporate lives of the five children, named the “Quiverful” after Psalm 127v5 and in their teens, they became the “Olive Plants”.

    Music obviously runs in the family. “Starting from our parents, Rev Andrew and Mrs Chris Konotey-Ahulu.  Our father was taught the harmonium by the Basel Missionaries and played hymns at worship. Mother had been a women’s fellowship choir leader and taught tonic sol-fa and played the piano accordion, beautifully.  All their children, my siblings are musical and all our children have exhibited their talents in various ways, and in different instruments singing, the flute, violin, classical guitar, saxophone, the trumpet, and the piano.”

    Who inspired Mrs Soyannwo to take up a Music career?

    To that, she said: “Our home was full of songs so it was part of our upbringing. I attended a Scottish Mission Boarding School at 11. The missionaries, all young women, played the harmonium at morning and evening devotions. So I discovered that women could play the keyboard and decided I should play the keyboard when I grew up.

    “During school holidays, I saw my big brother, also from boarding school, playing the organ at the Manse…I used to listen to him with so much interest. If he could play, I should too when I got to his age!…Then, at Achimota Secondary School, at 13, I asked my father to write to the school requesting for paid piano lessons for me.

    “That’s how for the following seven years, I seriously studied the piano under Mr Robert Kwami, a great pianist; a professional from the Royal College of Music, and I later got a degree of Bachelor of Music. I was the first to take Music for A Levels. He then advised me to read  music…it’s a long story.

    “During my music studies, I concentrated on the composers of Piano Music, Chopin, Schumann, Mendelsohn, then the classics. After continuous teaching for 60 years, I have navigated towards Christian Church music, re-harmonising hymn tunes and writing  descants. I am still not ‘retired’.”

    How do I describe Edna Soyannwo?

    “She thanks God for being born into a strong loving Christian family,  and raising a similar family. At age 88, she continues to study whilst continuing to  teach all levels of musicianship, choral, piano and theory.

    “I thank God for His favour, and for giving me an understanding, supportive husband for 51years, and caring responsible children. The Lord has been gracious altogether.”

    Mama Soyannwo is the founder, Yopeyo Foundation, which is committed to providing vocational and educational support mainly for her native Krobo girls in Ghana. This is aimed at young girls experiencing covert discrimination thus making it difficult for them to realise their God-given potential.

    She is particularly grateful to the Almighty God for her many successes.

    “I have had a very comprehensive music career, entirely packaged by the Lord to whom I ascribe all honour and glory all parcelled and labelled GRACE,” she says.

    Life without her husband has not been too easy. “Since June 2013 when Pa So bowed out, taking decisions has been a solo affair; but I was helped by known prayer supporters and, thank God, the children with practical ideas to fill my empty hours. Continuing with my musical activities, which I enjoy because they are stress-free, have yielded good results”.

    In October 2016, the Soyannwo family gathered for the 3rd year memorial service of their patriarch and worshipped at St Paul’s Cathedral Church in his ancestral home, Odogbolu, Ogun State. The day also coincided with his 84th birthday.

    She recalls: “Our close family attended from Ibadan and Lagos. A small group I took with us provided the singing, accompanied by an Alto-Saxophone at the grave side.

    “The epitaph, a hymn by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 – 1892), was sung to the tune of ‘O Perfect Love’ and the last verse had the Descant I wrote to the hymn for Oladunni’s wedding 30 years ago.”