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Category: Sunday magazine

  • ‘How journalism became love of my life’

    ‘How journalism became love of my life’

    Apostle Bola Adewara is the Publisher of E-Life, a Christian digital magazine, committed to spreading the gospel. He spoke on his voyage in journalism and how his works are impacting lives. Excerpts: 

    What inspired you to become a journalist?
    My romance with journalism started from home because my dad was a literature enthusiast. Under our bed was a giant box containing all manner of newspapers and magazines of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Magazines like Flamingo, Drum, Trust, West African Pilot, Tribune, Nigerian Yearbook, etc. I was always visiting this box, reading those papers to know what had happened in Nigeria before I was born. My love for stories, writing and reading began from there. I still have so many of these publications with me till date in my library.
    When I got to secondary school, because I had read far and wide, I have stories to tell. I formed the press club called Zee Press and the cartoon end, called Scorpion. We did so many writings, even with our poor English. When I gained admission to Kwara State College of Technology in 1982, I also started writing and pasting on the wall. After Kwara Tech, I was home one day when a brother noticed that I was always writing, and he gave me his portable typewriter to upgrade me from using the pen. Later, my dad bought a brand new one for me. All the things I was writing them, I took to the New Nigerian Newspapers. I remember meeting with the editor who encouraged me to come to the office once in a while and I kept at it. Later, another newspaper came in Kaduna called Today and there was also Reporter by Yar Adua. I always went to these offices until I got admitted to the University of Ife to study Philosophy/History combined.

    One day, after my service years in Sokoto and returning to Lagos, I heard that my former lecturer, Dr. G.G Darah, was the Editorial Board Chairman of the Daily Times. I decided to pay homage to him and maybe he would give me some money to manage. I was unemployed and didn’t know what to do with my life. On getting to Darah’s office, he was glad to see me. He asked what I was doing. I told him I just finished my service year and was unemployed now. He stood up, held my hand, took me to the Newsroom of Daily Times, and handed me over to the deputy Editor, Toyin Makanjuola (TMack). The man took me to the sub desk headed by Abu Olanrewaju. These were the people who began to train me as a sub-editor. There, my journey as a journalist started professionally. So, the inspiration started from my background. You become what you feed yourself with.


    What was journalism like when you started after graduation?
    I noticed that journalism was a poor paying job. Very few journalists had cars. Virtually all the staff in Daily Times were on foot. Salary was so poor. But Dr. G.G Darah told me that I should not remain a sub editor that the beauty of journalism is in reporting, meeting people, seeing things happening. I can’t forget that advice. Immediately, I began to think of what else to do, rather than reporting in office every afternoon as a sub editor to work on the reports brought by reporters. I met with Mr Saliu Haruna, editor of Evening Times and he encouraged me to start writing on the emerging home video industry. He gave me a full page called Video Link. The home video industry was just starting then, I found myself going to all film locations in Lagos. The industry started at Meiran, then moved to Iyesi. I was on location of all the major early home videos. I saw the industry from its infancy. I know the history, the personages and manifestations of the industry. I was the only journalist in Nigeria concentrating on the Home Video Industry in the very early 1990s. From Aje niyan mi, financed by an Igbo marketer, by Kenneth Nnebue NEK to Ti Oluwa Nile, Ayo Ni Mofe by Mainframe in Osodi, Lagos, Living in Bondage, to these modern times, I saw it all. I was also the first journalist to interview many of these artistes. Many of them were poorly paid then. They only survived on interest. Please give it to the Yoruba artistes for keeping the faith until the Igbo people came in with big money to change the face of the industry.


    If journalism was poorly paid then, how could a young man like you opt for it?
    Just like the theatre industry, journalism also had a great challenge. Few papers were paying well then. Observer in Benin, Statesman in Enugu, Standard in Jos, New Nigeria in Kaduna, Tribune and Sketch in Ibadan, Herald in Ilorin, Chronicle in Port Harcourt, Triumph in Kano, many, if not all of them were owned by their state governments except Tribune by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
    Chief MKO Abiola started Concord newspapers in 1980 to build his political career and challenge the dominance of Tribune in the West, and by the end of 1983, Concord had become the most read newspaper in Nigeria. Abiola brought his money into the organisation and his early editors like Dele Giwa, Yakubu Mohammed, etc. became the first journalists in Nigeria to ride in Mercedes Benz. Guardian came as an elitist broadsheet on 22 February 1983 through Stanley Macebuh, Femi Kusa, Lade Bonuola, etc. It was financed by Alex Ibru. Vanguard came the following year in 1984 by journalist Sam Amuka-Pemu. Newswatch magazine came on 28 January 1985, after Dele Giwa and co had issues with MKO Abiola. These new publications tried to change the face of the media in Nigeria while Daily Times remained a training ground for them.
    Later, it was clear to me that there was no future in Daily Times. When people like Innocent Oparadike, Peter Enahoro, etc were appointed as the MDs of the organisation, it was clear to me that Daily Times was dying very fast. By 1998, many people were leaving the sinking ship. I was a young man, not ready to sink with it. I left for Vanguard in 1998, where the Sunday Editor, Fola Arogundade, a great man gave me an opportunity to write for the Sunday edition. From there to Sunday Post Express where Muyiwa Akintunde, the editor also gave me opportunities to work with him briefly. It was after that the God gave me the idea of Elife, when I was a member of KICC, Mende Maryland Lagos under the pastor who taught me purpose, Wale Adefuye.

    What did you intend to achieve with Elife? How far have you gone with it?
    Elife came at the worst moment of my life. When I left Post Express as a stringer, I got a job with a woman in Opebi Road, Ikeja. She was to produce a magazine called Meru, which according to her was to explain traditional healing, traditional medicine and exalt tradition institutions in Africa. With this woman, I started interviewing the babalawo, native healers, and chiefs, mention them. The woman would sit we staff under a tree in the afternoon, talking about energy all the time. She was driving us into Ifa worshipping gradually. The editor then was Dele Omojuyigbe. Thank God that he was a sound Christian who had the power of discernment, even as at that time. I believed Dele’s spiritual frequency jammed with the traditional frequency of the woman who was a chief in so many Yoruba towns. But at the end, Dele survived the challenge and left the organisation. It was a lesson for me and I also left not long after. The bigger lesson for me was the need to know Christ and that took me to KICC where I came under the influence of Wale Adefuye, the Lagos Pastor of the church. It was through him I heard a sermon by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo on Define your Future. That sermon made me to leave paid salary and think of what to do with my life. That sermon showed me that God has blessed every man with a gift which we should discover and run with. I found out that my gift is the ability to speak and write. So, I decided to invest this in a gospel publication which came as Elife.

    Can you share a memorable experience from your career that had a significant impact on you?
    There were many, like my encouter with Professor Peller. But the most memorable was the day Oba Funsho Adeolu, (Chief Eleyinmi in Village headmaster) the late Sataloye of Ode Remo drove me out of his palace because I was a journalist. I had gone to his palace one morning to have an interview with him. One by one, his chiefs came, and they began talking about another Oba who messed up. I was seated opposite him, not paying any physical attention to their discussions. I had a music player and an earpiece in my bag. I brought out the earpiece to put in my ears. Immediately Kabiyesi saw me, he shouted at me: ‘Bola! Bola! Ki lo fe se yen? (what are you doing) O fe record oro wa? (You want to record our discussions?) Get out of here immediately. He shouted at me angrily.

    I wanted to show him that it was a music player, not a recorder. But he was just angry and sent me out before everyone. I went out and left the palace. I walked to the street to get public transport out of the town. I was still waiting when someone ran after me and said Kabiyesi wanted to see me. I tried to refuse to go back. But realising I could be courting bigger trouble, I returned with the guy.
    Getting to his palace, Kabiyesi apologised, saying he thought I wanted to record their discussion and gave me the training I wouldn’t forget. He said being a journalist himself, he would have silently listened to what he and his chiefs were discussing and gone to publish.
    That was what he thought I was doing. I shouldn’t have brought out my recorder when I did. I should have just recorded it in my memory and downloaded it when I got to the office. Journalists, he added, should have sharp and retentive memories to record issues as they unfold without alerting people around. Learn how to eavesdrop on the conversations of some top people. You will need these facts someday. It was a lesson I will never forget. Don’t alert anyone that you are a journalist. As the situation warrants, record all events in your memory!

    What do you find most rewarding about your work as a journalist?
    I have thought about this recently and these are my findings: being a journalist can be a highly rewarding and impactful profession. I have been able to play a crucial role in informing the public about current events, issues, and developments, helping people stay aware and educated about their surroundings. A journalist is a chronicler of history. It has assisted me to give voice to the voiceless, to amplify the voices of marginalised people, less privilege, bringing attention to social injustices and giving a platform to those who might otherwise go unheard. Journalism ts are constantly learning about new topics, industries, and people. Acess is another benefit I got. I have been able to build connections with people I never imagined I would meet, interact with a diverse range of people, including experts, Church and industry leaders, and everyday individuals. Journalism has assisted me to hone my communication skills, both written and verbal. I have learned how to convey complex information in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. Travel opportunities is another.

    Are there any stories or issues you are particularly passionate about covering?
    I like to call it gospel journalism, after all, there is finance journalists, environmental journalists, economic journalists, Judicial reporters, etc. I see myself as a journalist of the gospel. Being a gospel journalist, specifically one who reports on Christian matters, comes with unique benefits and opportunities that are aligned with the focus on faith-based content. Reporting on topics related to faith, spirituality, and positive stories within religious communities can provide a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment and purpose, especially in a country like Nigeria where people are sensitive along religious lines. Gospel journalism gives the opportunity to promote positive values such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding, contributing to a more harmonious society. It inspires and uplift readers and viewers, providing them with stories of hope, faith, and resilience. Such stories can motivate others to overcome challenges and strengthen their beliefs. Gospel journalism educates our audience about religious traditions, beliefs, and practices, fostering understanding and tolerance among people from different faith backgrounds. It assists in promoting peace, contributing to personal growth, telling impactful stories that touch lives and shape destinies.


    How do you keep up with the evolving media landscape and changing technologies in your field?
    It’s difficult when you don’t really love this job. Journalism is not about the cash or wealth you can make from it. It’s about the interest thereof. However, it will get to a stage where you will have to face the reality of life, the reality that interest will not put food on the table. Reality that you will have to pay school fees, maintain your family and pick your responsibilities at home and in the society. At that level, you must be proactive and evolve ways to survive.
    For me, I delved into writing on a bigger scale; writing my own books, promoting and selling them, writing speeches for people, writing books on and for institutions and personalities, writing biographies, doing book projects, etc. I am also a web master, a job that brought me into another area of life, introduced me to another level of clientele. I told you earlier that I know my areas of gifting are writing and speaking. I soon found public speaking as another medium of expression. All I was writing on mentoring in newspapers and Elife magazine soon became what I began to speak on. You need to have good friends, men who will inspire you as friends. I have a couple of them around me who were always on me to start speaking rather than just writing. This is the genesis of Mentoring masterclass.

    You veered into internet publishing long before many news media embraced the platform. How was it in those early years…

    Those days, there was nothing like websites. If there was, it was not popular, and no newspaper was on the Internet. When the idea of E-life was being conceptualised between 2000 and 2004, I thought until I got the physical cash of N5 million before I could start. I had no business idea or experience. Yet, I wanted to create a magazine. I remember I made a proposal to Mrs. Connie Madubuko, now late. Connie was to assist me with about 250k, but in my ignorance, I told her I needed 5 million, and if she couldn’t give that, I was ready to go away. That was when I met a friend, Lekan Otufodurin, who suggested doing E-life on the Internet. I returned home for more research, and I got to know of Success Digest, published by Sunny Ojeagbase. I learned I needed to have a computer and learn how to design websites. I went for training here and there, and I hit the Internet with E-life. It came with a bang, but no money was made publishing it. What became my cash cow was building websites for Churches and several organisations.
    Because no newspaper was on the Internet, I was not encouraged to publish E-life. I never took it seriously because churches were running away from the Internet because of the initial scams and shenanigans that came with online publishing. It often amazes me now how churches bombard the Internet with their content. In those days, sites like www.god.com, www.jesus.com, www.bible.com were controlled by pornographers, pedophiles, and criminals. They woke up before the Church. I was active online, populating the Internet with various pro-gospel websites like nigeriansermons.com, nigerianchurchdirectory.com, nigeriagospelmusic.com, xtophotos.com, etc. I built over 250 websites for Churches locally and internationally. We thank God that Churches are doing well on the Internet today. All this experience I compiled in my first book, Become an Internet Evangelist.

    You have authored several books. Could you tell us about some of them and how they have been impacting positively on lives of Christians? 
    The happiest day of my life was when I released my first book, ‘Become an Internet Evangelist’. As a bibliophile person, I mean a lover of books, I had prayed that just as I collect other people’s books and keep them in my library, others too would collect my books and keep them in their libraries. As books written by others impact my life, so would my books also influence others.
    Being active on the Internet as early as the year 2000, I noticed that pornographers, paedophiles, etc. were also very busy online. It made many Churches run away from the Internet. So, the book was to narrate my experience and encourage the Church that the best way to respond to the shenanigans online was not to abandon the Internet but to flood it with gospel contents. All we need is to know how to go about it. The following books, ‘Diary of an Angry Christian’, ‘Message to the Ignorant Church’, and ‘MARRIAGE: 40 Things You Should Know’, are the collections of my posts on social media, especially those of them that went viral. The most successful of my books is Discover the Secrets of Mentoring, which sold over 15,000 copies online. To date, it’s still selling. Mentoring is a thing we hardly do in this part of the world. Some people mention mentorship but scarcely know what it’s all about. The book is an excellent piece of lectures on the topic. There are three others, ‘Unprofitable Relationship’, a compilation of 50 relationship questions people sent to me at various times as an online counsellor. The Lord told me to compile them, give answers to them and make a book of it so that people can learn from the mistakes of others. ‘Truths You Won’t Hear On Sunday Service’ is a compilation of thoughts, explanations and truths many preachers would not ordinarily touch on Sunday service. Sunday service is more of a celebration day, which is why the weekly Bible Study period is often called Digging Deep. The book is digging deep for Christians. Beyond Ignorance, another form of digging deep, answers 50 controversial questions in the Church. Those are the questions we ask daily and have yet to find satisfactory answers to. 

    Read Also: Steve Osuji: Lament for death of integrity in journalism

    You are a teacher, an Apostle, journalist and a writer. Which of these do you want to be primarily known for? 
    It is difficult to say which one I prefer. But, certainly, I wouldn’t say I like the pastor thing because apostles, pastors, evangelists, prophets, etc., are not titles. These are offices. Now, in Nigeria, the chase for titles has made people start calling themselves Pilot XYZ, Barrister XYZ, Surveyor XYZ, Town Planner XYZ. Nigerians have turned them into titles because of our craze for vanities and prestige. More so, I don’t like the pastor or bishop things because it tends to put you on the spot. Once people hear you are a pastor, they tend to watch out for faults. Others want to test your patience. Pastors are human beings. Let them breath. Stop putting them on the spot. While I am not ashamed of the gospel, I don’t like the titles. You don’t need to see titles before you know I am a Christian. 

    When you are not writing books or preaching and teaching, what else do you do? How do you relax? 
    It’s difficult to say I have other hobbies than reading and writing. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have a sound library in my home stocked with all the materials and gadgets I need for writing, printing and broadcasting Mentoring Masterclass, a program I run on YouTube. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I move to the library to relax. What is that relaxation? To write, read. However, I thank God that long ago, I bought many musical instruments like saxophone, viola, piano, and box guitar. I have it all in my home because I made sure all my children learn to play an instrument. I also play the saxophone very well. Perhaps, that, and chatting with my wife, is the only hobby outside the book thing. 

    What would you say is your vision for your ministries in the next five years? 
    I have a programme called E-life Mentoring Masterclass currently running on YouTube. I am working hard to do more speaking in the years to come. I discovered that there are so many liars and wrong preachers in our society teaching the wrong things, which is why there are so many miseries around. I have a 100-course outline on Mentoring Masterclass, which I want to invest the rest of my life. Our people must be mentored. The younger generation must change their perceptions so that Nigeria and Africa can change. Our people want a changed Nigeria but are not ready to change themselves. The change must start with us. My vision as a gospel journalist is to invest the rest of my life into Mentoring Masterclass so we can see a better Nigeria, a better Africa! 

    How do you see the reading culture of young Christians, especially in this age of technology? 
    I keep telling people that thinking people don’t read again is invalid. Don’t they read on social media? The issue is that writers should learn how to catch their desires. Writers should meet them where they are and know how to lure them into reading our works. More so, there is no union or association of writers again. Have you seen Christian writers or authors coming together? We are just on our own. There are so many things the Church can learn from the world. We should learn how to give freebies, organise local and international seminars, workshops, and book fairs, and how the Church leaders can help promote our books in our Churches. People do read. We are not harvesting them the way they are. 

    Would you say that Christian parents encourage their children sufficiently to imbibe the culture of reading? 
    Sadly, reading is a personal thing. It’s a hobby you consciously pick once you know what you benefit from it. Most parents are not setting good examples in most ramifications of life. In many homes, the father is on social media. The mother is on the phone, and the children are on the phone. Also, schools have started giving assignments that push children to be on the phone 247. This phone culture will not kill us. It has gotten so bad now that many old writers are not writing again. Christians who should put down their experiences in book form would say no one would read. We are sitting on a time bomb of gradual ignorance and illiteracy! 

  • Pastor Chris: A Remarkable Healing Minister Through the Healing Streams Live Healing Services

    Pastor Chris: A Remarkable Healing Minister Through the Healing Streams Live Healing Services

    • People all over the world have already started to prepare for the 9th edition of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, taking place from the 27th till the 29th of October 2023.

    Few individuals have left as significant an impact on the lives of countless people as Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Renowned for his unwavering dedication to spreading the Word of God and for his remarkable healing ministry, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has emerged as a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world.

    Central to his ministry is the transformative Healing School, which offers, among other programs, the Healing Streams Live Healing Services, which have become a powerful source of spiritual renewal and physical healing for countless individuals.

    A new session of the event is scheduled to run from the 27th till the 29th of October. Free registration is already open on the Healing Streams’ website.

    TheHealing Streams Live Healing Services are healing programs and are accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This global reach ensures that people from diverse backgrounds and locations can come together to experience the healing power of God.

    This powerful online platform was created to provide people worldwide with the opportunity to experience divine healing and restoration, regardless of their geographical location. Through the Healing Streams Live Healing Services, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been able to connect with millions of people, offering them hope, faith, and healing in their time of need.

    The services have witnessed countless miraculous healings over the years. Individuals suffering from a wide range of ailments, from physical illnesses to emotional distress, have testified to their healing experiences during these events.

    The Power of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services

    The Healing Streams Live Healing Services have become synonymous with miraculous healings that defy explanation and leave participants and witnesses in awe. These services, conducted by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, have been a source of profound transformation for multiple people, offering them a glimpse into the extraordinary power of faith and prayer.

    During these services, there have been several reports of participants experiencing instant and undeniable relief from a wide range of physical and emotional ailments. People who had battled chronic illnesses, debilitating pain, and emotional scars for years suddenly found themselves free from their afflictions.

    These healings often occurred in real-time, capturing the attention and faith of those who had gathered, both in-person and online from virtual healing centers or from their own homes.

    How Pastor Chris Heals People from All Walks of Life

    One of the most remarkable aspects of the healings that take place at the Healing Streams Live Services is their diversity. People have reported relief from physical conditions such as paralysis, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Mental and emotional burdens, including depression, anxiety, and trauma, have also been lifted.

    Multiple testimonies emerge from the Healing Streams Live Healing Services every time the event has taken place. People from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe have stepped forward to share their personal accounts of healing and transformation.

    These testimonies serve as a powerful testament to the incredible power of faith and prayer when channeled through the ministry of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. One can witness some of these testimonies on Healing Streams TV and also in the Healing to the Nations Magazine, a monthly publication published by the Healing School and used for publicity and evangelical outreaches.

    Read Also: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: Biography, family and influence

    These remarkable healings are not merely isolated incidents but part of a larger tapestry of spiritual experiences. They underscore the profound connection between faith, prayer, and the divine healing that occurs through the Healing Streams Live Healing Services.

    Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: A Man Called to Heal

    From a very young age, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of the Christ Embassy church, has been a man who has dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as a dynamic preacher, teacher, and healing minister. His ministry has touched lives in every corner of the globe, spreading the message of hope, faith, and healing.

    With a deep passion for spreading the message of Christ’s love and healing, he has dedicated his life to ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of people.

    Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s journey as a healing minister began when he recognized the profound need for spiritual and physical healing in the lives of people. He understood that many were suffering from various afflictions and sought solace in their faith. This understanding led him to embark on a path of ministering to the sick and the afflicted.

  • Synagogue holds crusade in Kenya

    Synagogue holds crusade in Kenya

    Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN), has concluded plans to hold its two- day crusade between the 13th and 14th of October in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The event will bring together Christian faithful from Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and even far away South Africa. 

    Speaking on the choice of Kenya at this point in time by the SCOAN, the leader of the SCOAN, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, said that “the two-day crusade in Kenya is holding in furtherance of God’s will for this Commission and mankind; for the salvation of souls and fulfilled destinies,” adding that

    Read Also:Top Madrid hotels overbooked for Synagogue Church crusade

     “We are also undertaking a charity programme as part of our mission. This is by God’s instruction in His grace, mercy and favour that the nation of Kenya should partake in the blessings associated with this divine assignment.”

    According to one of the spokespersons for the church, Mr. Dare Adejumo, the crusade is holding in Kenya is an answered prayer because they have been longing and praying for it without ceasing and God has finally answered them after all these years.

  • RCCG Rose of Sharon graduates 99 students from CSR vocational school

    RCCG Rose of Sharon graduates 99 students from CSR vocational school

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Rose of Sharon (ROS) has recently graduated not fewer than 99 students from its Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) Vocation School.

    The ceremony was held at its prestigious RCCG, GRA Ikeja Parish.

    The CSR Vocation School, now in its sixth year, has successfully graduated talented individuals after an intensive nine-month skill acquisition vocational training programme, all at no cost to the participants.

    The programme which has held three graduation ceremonies over the years offers participants the opportunity to learn various skills, including Textile Design, Digital Marketing, Catering, Hairdressing, Makeup/Gele Tying, and Fashion Designing, among others.

    To empower the graduates in their entrepreneurial journeys, the church awarded the best-graduating students from each of the five vocations a grant of N200,000 to kick-start their careers. The second-best graduating students were also given a grant of N100,000 each, while a reward of N100,000 was each given to two best-performing Instructors of the school to motivate them to do more. In total, the church provided N1,700,000 in financial support to these graduates and their instructors.

    During the graduation ceremony, Senior Pastor-in-Charge of RCCG, Rose of Sharon, Emeka Obiagwu, delivered an inspiring charge, urging graduates and attendees to cultivate unwavering focus, dedication, and a strong work ethic in the pursuit of their life goals.

    Read Also: RCCG announces Olulana as Soun’s successor

    He emphasized the importance of delivering excellent service and highlighted that skill is just as valuable as one’s character.

    Speaking on the topic, “You are a Champion (1 Sam 17: 50 – 52),” he reminded everyone that they possess the qualities required to excel in their chosen paths. He encouraged the graduates to serve as exemplary ambassadors of their training and to seize the opportunity they’ve been given to transform their lives positively.

    In his keynote address, Pharmacist Ochuko Omaruaye shared valuable insights on entrepreneurship. He stressed the competitive nature of the market and the importance of consistently improving service quality.

    He further emphasized the significance of building a loyal client base and ensuring customer satisfaction to generate referrals. He also discussed the benefits and pitfalls of utilizing social media for advertising services.

    Earlier in her opening speech, Pastor Rosemary Fowler, the minister in charge of RCCG Rose of Sharon CSR, expressed her delight and pride in the graduates’ accomplishments.

    She highlighted the profound impact of skills development and community empowerment.

  • Uneasy calm over who leads Lagos PFN

    Uneasy calm over who leads Lagos PFN

    There seems to be an uneasy calm within the fold of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter. 

    The body has been engulfed in a succession crisis since its former chairman, Bishop Olusola Ore passed on in 2021.

     The late Ore was succeeded by the erstwhile Vice Chairman, Apostle Eyinnaya Okuwonu.

     Okuwonu completed the late Ore’s four-year tenure which ended in June 2022.

    However, there was supposed to be an election of the new executive in July 2022, but that was put on hold for an unknown reasons.

    The Nation gathered that there are apprehensions in the PFN circles of Lagos State over who will emerge as the state’s new chairman.

    As of today, there is no substantive chairman and executive in the Lagos State PFN.

    But as a way out of the stalemate, the National President of the PFN, Bishop Wale Oke mooted an idea of a three-chairmanship position in the Lagos State PFN but was allegedly resisted by some members.

    PFN is one of the biggest blocs and major financiers in the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN).

    Since 1985, when it was created, prominent Pentecostal bishops have headed the movement including Bishop Benson Idahosa, Pastor Enoch  Adeboye, Bishop Ayo  Oritsejafor, Rev Felix Omobunde, and the present President and founder of The Sword of The Spirit Ministries International, Bishop Wale Oke.

    The Lagos arm of the fellowship is the biggest and the melting pot.

    Currently, the stakeholders in the PFN have diverse interests and that calls for concerns.

    Why lacuna in the election of the Lagos PFN

    Top officials of the PFN told The Nation that the decision about the choice of who becomes the Chairman of the PFN in Lagos will be reached soon by the National Advisory Council of the PFN and the Fathers of Fathers.

    While speaking with The Nation, he agreed to the insinuations that politics, ethnic sentiment, and lack of fairness on the part of the leadership of the PFN are at play in who chairs the fellowship in the state.

    He assured that PFN is a law-abiding institution and would not flaunt its constitution but will abide by the details of its constitution on the matter. “Lagos has the highest number of churches and it is the melting pot of the fellowship in Nigeria, you can understand that there may be a crisis, but I am very hopeful that it will be resolved,” said a top official of the PFN.

    How leadership will emerge

    It is obvious that the race toward the emergence of the new chairman for the fellowship will be an onerous task as many pastors are showing interest in the contest.

    The final decision of who emerged will be determined by the National President of the body, Bishop Wale Oke , and the various national organs of the fellowship. There are insinuations that tribe and money may come into play and the leaders are trying to be careful and tread softly on the matter.

    It was gathered that some pastors are making some moves behind the scenes to get to the position. Since the National President of PFN is the man who holds the ace, there will be no doubt that there will be pressure on him to pander to some whims. Even if he wants to follow his conscience and do what is right, he may find himself under undue pressure to satisfy some interests.

    On the method of appointing a new Chairman for the State PFN, The Nation spoke to one of the founding members and the National Chairman State Inauguration Committee of PFN, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, who said that the practice is that the State Advisory Council (SAC) of the PFN conducts an election and will elect the chairman and other executive members and their names will be presented to the National President who approves or disapproves the outcome of the election. It is not like the general elections done in politics.

    Ojo noted that the current Lagos State Chairman stepped in when the former Chairman, Bishop Ore died though he was not formally elected to run for a full term (Four years).

    “They are working toward the election but some people are not patient enough to see the process through. Everything will fall into place. PFN remains a united body.” Ojo said.

    Ojo, stressed that there is no lacuna, and until there is a new executive inaugurated, not only the Chairman, the secretary, and the treasurer, it is a complete executive that will be inaugurated.

    Controversy over three chairmanship positions

    On the recent proposal for a three-chairmanship position in the Lagos State PFN which was allegedly mooted by the National President, PFN, Bishop Wale Oke at the recent PFN General Assembly, and was allegedly resisted by some members, he said that it was a proposal and every proposal should wait and expect the implementation.

    Read Also: PFN celebrates return to physical service

    When The Nation reminded Ojo that the idea of having three chairmen was strange to the fellowship, Ojo said it was not the business of the public. “We know how to handle our issues. People, who are not in, want to dictate to us how we should do our things. No. Nobody who is not inside the house cannot tell us how the house should be built;  and how the house will be maintained. Every other person is an intruder and interferer, and their idea is inconsequential as far as the body is concerned, we remain one and undivided. Has the fellowship had a case when you have three chairmen emerge?”

     Ojo, however, noted that people were only making insinuations.

    “We can make a proposal, and until it is implemented, it remains a proposal. Whoever is coming under any assumption; acting on the proposal that person is out to cause trouble and cause division and disunity.

    “Any person, including our president, has the right to make a proposal and until that proposal is implemented, it remains a proposal.”

    On the issue that the current chairman is of Igbo extraction which may have caused some disaffection in some quarters in the fellowship as reported by a group, Pentecostal Association of Nigeria and Diaspora (PAND), in July, and which was refuted by Lagos PFN as ungodly and demonic, Ojo said that the PFN does not pander to ethnic, social or gender divides. “That is the bad belle some people have. Some people want to cause disaffection. That is not the reason for the proposal. Nobody is saying there will be three chairmen. Our focus is on Christ and what we stand on as a people.”

    Reacting to the choice of who becomes eligible to contest to be the chairman of the PFN in Lagos State, the Founding Bishop of City Gate International Churches, Bishop Roberto Akwazi was of the view that the PFN is not a political organization and any pastor is eligible to contest for any position within the fellowship in any part of the country.

    “PFN is not a tribal organization, neither is it a political organisation but an institution run by the Bible-believing Christians who happened to be a Pentecostal pastor and they cut across tribal, and ethnic lines.

    “I was once the State Chairman of the PFN in Bauchi State and those who were chairmen at various provinces were Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. They were duly elected and supported by God’s people in Bauchi State.”

    He asserted that the consideration of three chairmen would not work. Except they want to divide Lagos into three. Though, Lagos State PFN is big.

    Stakeholders allay fear

    In a report, the Director, Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter, Bishop Dr. Theophilus Taiwo Ajose, recently disclosed that money would play a role in the emergence of a new Chairman of the body in the state.

    Also reacting, Apostle Okunmade O. Isaac, in Ikorodu, Lagos said was reported  “This is the time for the Lagos movement to assert that eternal life is weightier than money.

    “There have been speculations that there is this character going about, throwing the weight of his money to become our leader in Lagos. Some of us have decided to watch and see the credibility of our leaders.

    “We don’t elect our leaders. We cede the power to people. We are regarded as fathers.”

    However, for the Lagos PFN to resolve the imbroglio, Bishop Oke needs to be guided by God, not tribal sentiment or other ephemeral conditions in the choice of who becomes the Chairman of Lagos PFN.

    He surely needs the prayer and support of the church at this time. The church must lead the way by doing what is right and proper.

  • Brace up for leadership, Achudume urges youths

    Brace up for leadership, Achudume urges youths

    The Lead Pastor and Founder of the Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume has blamed the state of the nation on bad leadership and empty promises by the political class. 

    The political class, he said, has succeeded in milking the nation dry. He called for attitudinal change across all strata of the  society while urging youths to rise to the occasion.

    According to Achudume, it is saddened that the problem confronting the over 200 million Nigerians is as a result of  the undoing of just mere one percent of the population who are the political gladiators feeding fat on the nations wealth.

    Apostle Achudume who went prayerful and philosophical observed: ” Nigeria, my beloved country, a  nation blessed by God. The wickedness of vain men will not stop you from becoming great in the comity  of nations as you were meant to be; your citizens will be great; we will not be a source of mockery because of less than 1% evil men and some mis-fit in government. Nigerians  will  rejoice and be at peace.” 

    He spoke against the backdrop of the 63rd independence anniversary specifically calling on the youths  to take their destinies in their own hands as the current crop of leaders have failed them, saying they should rather focus more on God.

    ” It is disheartening these days to note that our youths mostly rely on the social media which has succeeded in ruining the lives of majority of them. The youths should rather  focus more on God and take care of their future as no government can completely take them to the promised land”.

    While calling on the youths to be more determined and proactive to build a better future,  he reminded them that most past leaders such as General Yakubu Gowon took the mantle of leadership as youths 

    “The future is not tommorow, the future is now. Nigeria youths should not postpone their manifestation.  Many have management skills that can turn the nation’s fortune around”, he submitted.

    According to him, youths have what it takes to emerge as future leaders as they are Intelligent, and  resourcesful, but government need to create an enabling environment for them to actualize  their dreams and aspirations.

    Speaking further Apostle Achudiume posited that  in the last 63 years, the nations political journey has been laced with unmet  promises which ended 

     up in bad road network, infrastructural decay, economic downturn and hopelessness.

    Read Also: Achudume canvasses nation-building as Mbang is laid to rest

    ” The current  hardship being experienced across the length and breadth of the nation is another in the series of bad omen being packaged as political promises to hoodwinked the electorate and there  is the  need therefore for everyone to say no to these failed promises”.

    Apostle Achudume who expressed  the hope that the nation can still be great again however wants the entire citizenry to take their future into their own hands and stop leaning on false hopes and promises  as being handed to them by the political class.

    The man of God called on  the electorate to rise up to the occasion and work towards electing good leaders observing  that the electorate should no longer depend on leaders who make promises they can not  fulfill and embark on projects they can not complete.

    ” As the popular saying goes, a nation gets the type of leaders it deserves, it is high time the electorate begin to ask questions and also embark on soul searching to see to it that everyone is playing their part as expected ad there is the  needed for attitudinal change by all and sundry for the nation to again experience greatness, he concluded.

  • Buchi, Mike Abdul, others for Sound of Praise 2023

    Buchi, Mike Abdul, others for Sound of Praise 2023

    The second edition of Sound of Praise is set to take place tomorrow at Waterparks, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The worship concert powered by Apostolic Billionaires Club & Zion World Ministry, will showcase gospel ministers like Buchi, Mike Abdul, Joe Praise, Endy Paul, Blessings Ng, Monique, Fresh Mike and others.

    In a statement by AllBaze.com, the convener, Pastor Chinedu Ezenwa popularly known as Chibaba, urged Nigerians to join the Unusual Praise team and the anointed ministers for an unusual and spiritually uplifting time in God’s presence. 

    Read Also: Chioma Jesus, Akpororo, others for Sound of praise

     According to him: “Sound of praise is one programme that everyone is expected not  to miss. It’s going to be so great and impactful into the lives of individuals especially those that inspires to be great men and women in Christ. This gospel praise and worship concert is going to be a life transforming one.  A medium for youths to be that next generation for world recognition”. 

     The senior pastor/ founder of Zion world church, Pastor Jude Osobase will also be ministering in word.

    The convener said will be free bags of rice for the first 100 persons, 10 brand new phones and laptops to be won.

  • Work for the masses, Bassey urges governments

    Work for the masses, Bassey urges governments

    A highly respected Christian leader in Cross River State,  Bishop Josef Bassey has called on governments at all levels to make the people their priority in all their decisions and actions.

    The Bishop made the call during a parley with reporters on the occasion of his birthday.

    Josef stated that the average  Nigerian today is bleeding to death while families are famishing with small and medium scale business strangled into extinction because successive governments served only the government itself and the elites. 

    This situation, he lamented, has  turned the people into slaves in their own land.

    He admonished all those in positions of authority to think more on how to make their systems and organisations work for and in the best interest of the people. 

    Read Also: Calvin Bassey sees red

    According to him :”We all must put our hearts into coming up with decisions, systems and policies that will free the people from the untold burden and hardship that living in the Nigerian state has placed on them.”

    Bassey commended Cross River Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu for being discerning, empathetic and visionary by making the people the policy thrust and regulating conscience of his administration. 

    He said the free education policy of the government is a step in the right direction and has taken some loads off parents already. 

    He challenged other state governments to follow suit so that the people first agenda can become a national agenda.

  • MohBad: Muck beneath Nigeria’s multi-million dollar music industry

    MohBad: Muck beneath Nigeria’s multi-million dollar music industry

    The recent demise of young singer/rapper, Promise Ileriolowa Aloba aka Mohbad and the controversy that preceded and has trailed it has thrown up secrets and muck that lie underneath the multi-million dollar Nigerian music industry; but just how deep is the muck? Gboyega Alaka writes.

    As the reality of Promise Ileriolowa Aloba Aka Imole aka Mohbad’s demise settle in with Nigerians and indeed the global music community, two or three of his statements stand out, almost prophetically.

    The first was that he would be more popular in death. That started coming to past even before his spirit left his body. Before his death, only the youth demography and ardent music followers knew his name, although most of his hit songs resonated. Many knew his songs, sang them and even danced to them, but not all of them knew his name. But one week after he breathed his last, virtually everyone in the nation space called Nigeria knows that a songster has passed, and that a lot of controversy preceded and trailed his death.

    Protests, processions and rallies demanding ‘Justice for Mohbad’ have also been held across the country; while messages have been coming from as far as the United states of America, Germany, where a procession also held for him, Peckham in London, even Kenya, where a lady got so emotional that she put up a video, in which she stated that Sammy Larry, one of the main persons been fingered in Mohbad’s harassment and bully, was hiding in the East African country and called on the authorities in Nigeria to investigate, fish out and punish anyone culpable in his death.

    What’s more! His photos have adorned billboards in Times Square, with crowds gazing in awe at a needless loss of a blooming star. Suddenly, three of his songs- Peace, Feel Good and Ask about me now sit atop Billboard’s Top 10 trending songs.

    Even the football community is not left out. Spanish football club Cardiz FC wrote: We continue to be shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Nigerian rapper @iammohbad_. …We wish for rest and justice for the family…Your star will shine brighter than ever in the sky. RIP Mohbad

    The second notable statement was that should he die, Marlian Records should be held responsible. Hundreds of thousands of fans and people did not even wait for any form of investigation to commence before they sprang into action, castigating and condemning Naira Marley, his recording company and his goons.

    One other message he unwittingly passed was rechristening himself Imole (Shinny light). He had told Beat 99.9FM in an interview that he gave himself the name Imole, when he sang about Imole Oluwa in one of his Christian songs, and fans immediately started calling him Imole, which he gratefully accepted.

    That name has turned out prophetic, as his death has beamed a searchlight on Nigeria’s multi-million dollar music industry. Before now, the much the world knew about that industry were the beautiful globally trending music, alongside its fame, glam and huge financial rewards it was bestowing on Nigeria’s talented youths, who may otherwise have been wasting away.

    But today, courtesy of the controversy that has trailed Mohbad’s death, many now know that behind all that glitter and promise is a sordid muck. Most parents who have been excited about their wards’ talent in music and had been waiting for an opportunity to have them ‘blow’ through some big recording contracts, are now having a rethink.

    Like an observer recently put it, this could be the reason Burna Boy’s mum has remained glued to her son’s side, managing him and literally keeping an eye on him.

    Died or killed?

    With the numerous videos of harassment and bullying making the rounds, purportedly by thugs of musician and record label owner, Naira Marley, it is difficult not to conclude that he was hounded to death.

    In one of the videos which captured his travails, he could be heard running for dear life, panting and calling on Nigerians to save him from the Marlian hounds: “Everybody in the whole world please help me, if I die, na Marlian Music Naira Marley kill me. I don’t know these people have been hating on me.’

    In another video of him on a hospital bed, he could be heard in tears talking of drinking a certain water given to him by men of the Nigeria Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while blaming himself for being too trusting.

    His mother would later echo the two allegations above during a condolence visit by chairman, Senate Committee on Entertainment Economy, Senator Elisha Abbo, alongside actress Tonto Dike and Iyabo Ojo, when she narrated how her son told her that the NDLEA people gave him a certain water in a bottle.

     “He said he started feeling differently immediately he drank that water,” she said in tears.

    She also shared stories of how Mohbad repeatedly cried to her about the constant threat to his life by Naira Marley and his gang.

    “Please get me Naira Marley to come and answer to what he did to my son. He (Mohbad) told me how he was always threatening him. That is all I ask; help me look for him. …He told me that whenever he went for a show, they would be harassing him and beating him up. Shows that he was supposed to attend, he would not be able to attend for fear of being cornered and beaten up. And Sammy Larry; I don’t know him. But now that you powerful people have come, I know you can fish him out. He enslaved my son till death. When my son was with Naira, he never gave me any money. In his fears, he would be telling me, ‘mummy, please don’t let them kill me.’ That was what he kept saying until his death.”

    Responding, Senator Abbo pledged that the police would investigate the matter and bring whoever was responsible for the late musician’s death to book.

    “The police will investigate this. I am not a policeman, but I want you to know that the police will do their job, and nobody that is actually found guilty (will go free). … Nobody will cover anybody. A life has been lost but it’s not just about the life but the incident surrounding his death. We have heard a lot of stories, that he was living in fear, that he was being molested, running from pillar to post; so anybody that is found wanting in his death, the law would take its full course.”

    As if to drive home the need to sanitise the industry, the senator said: “My son is into music, so it is Mohbad today, tomorrow it could be another person.”

    The senator also handed the deceased’s mother some huge sum of money in a sealed envelope. He said it was his personal gesture to “support the family because when you lose the bread winner of the family, it is always very difficult.”

    He also promised to report to the Senate President, and relate with the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, to follow up on the matter once she returned from the United Nations General Assembly mission holding in the United States of America.

    Foremost music promoters, Paulo, also spoke of how he took him for a UK tour in London, and how he was literally unsettled all through, even asking for security.

    Paulo also said he never knew the artiste was going through something as serious as that.

    Popular singer, songwriter, Samklef, lending his voice, would later state that one of the reasons Naira Marley never wanted Mohbad to leave was because he was Marlian Record’s best songwriter, even writing some of Naira Marley’s trending songs.

    Music promoter, Olumide Ogunade, known professionally as I D Cabasa, would also state in a trending video that the music industry could not pretend not to be aware of what the young singer/rapper was going through, and that he was at a point contemplating bringing him closer to himself for guidance and even getting him police protection.

    Samklef would again testify: “He faced a lot of physical, spiritual and mental and emotional battle. He said he also had family issues, the frenemies, business enemies, internal vulnerability and external threats. He faced all these. He was fighting a battle but he was still able to sing and make people happy.”

    Read Also: No casualty at Lagos collapsed 3-storey building — NEMA

    A media practitioner and social commentator, Ayobami Ladipo, who obviously followed the young artiste closely in his lifetime, also testified to his struggles.

    Speaking on TVC breakfast programme, YourView, Ladipo said: “He left Marlian Records and released another record under Imolenisation. The last couple of months have been quite chaotic for him. After his death, we now saw videos of him being harassed on set in June. And the sad part was that the young man was talking to us with every of his song; talking about what he was going through, what he had gone through, his fears, his worries, the uncertainty about his tomorrow. … It was so bad that he actually recorded a song about life after death, saying that when he was gone, people would love him more… he had a premonition; he was basically living in fear. He wasn’t certain about his tomorrow.”

    A couple of lines in one of his songs succinctly captured his travails, when he sang:  “I know there is a day when all my pains will go away/till then I party away.”

    Reports also said he became suicidal and almost jumped out from a story building at some point.

    Was Mohbad into drugs?

    A school of thought has also urged circumspection, querying the kind of life the late artiste led. What kind of person walks with a Naira Marley, going by his widespread notoriety with drugs?

    Could it be that he suffered from past drug intakes while with Naira Marley and other industry friends known for notorious drug habits? This is not forgetting his brush with the NDLEA.

    Going by some of his lyrics, one could tell he was a church boy who got corrupted by the reckless life of the industry.

    But did he have any choice, when the industry is in the solid grip of certain godfathers?

    While it may be easy to blame Mohbad for joining the Naira Marley train and getting enmeshed in the life of drugs, booze and fraud (yahoo), and probably cultism, it may be important to take a look at his background. Where was he coming from?

    In some of his songs now trending, he spoke of his life journey: of how his dad earned no salary, how for ten years he was impoverished for lack of money and his step mother compounded his woes; how landlord was on their neck and his brothers went hungry; and of his own reckless truancy as a polytechnic student, which he later regretted and apologised to his dad in his song, Sorry.

    He sang of how all these hardships drove him into internet fraud and how he abandoned his God-fearing Christian background, capturing it in one line: Omo Pastor ti wonu aye (pastor’s son has been swallowed by worldly life).

    One could therefore conclude that music was the only way out for him, a survival and liberation thing for him, like he reflected in another of his lines. Possibly, he wasn’t aware of what he was getting into when he joined Marlian Records and took the ‘dangerous’ decision to opt out when he found he could no longer cope?

    Questions, questions…

    Autopsy carried out on body

    In a swift response to the general clamour, the police during the week exhumed Mohbad’s body. Recall that many had condemned the hurried interment of the star, wondering why the father was in such a rush when he wasn’t even a Muslim.

    Reports also say an autopsy has been carried out on the body and that results are now being awaited.

    In the meantime, the world waits.

    Industry of cultism, slavery?

    Cabasa would however carpet as fallacy of generalisation the raging allegation that the music industry is ridden with cultism, occult practises and enslavement. He added that it is not true that no one could survive in the industry now without going through either or all these.

    “I have run a record label before; when I was running Coded Tunes with my guys, it was never a cult, and it was never intended to hold anybody to ransom. And I will say this too, that it is hard, with the way things are now, to actually hold anybody to ransom.”

    But in the rage and anger that is sweeping through the country, Cabasa’s may just be a lone voice, or one of few who are not pandering to the popular theory/sentiment.The wave of protests and Justice for Mohbad demonstration is a testimony to that.

    In a particular video trending on the social media, a certain young artist who deliberately hid his identity, lamented how he was frustrated and hounded into hiding by big players in the industry, even tagging the industry ‘devil land,’ where nobody with fear of God or religiosity could thrive or survive.

    Speaking in Yoruba language, he alleged that most of the current industry leaders are exploitative people, who would go to any length to take advantage of young and upcoming artistes, even threaten them with death if they refuse to fall in line or cooperate.

    He said it was in the course of his spiritual battle with a certain industry leader that he had to transit from a practising Muslim to a Christian member of the Cherubim and Seraphim church.

    “Those established artistes have been cheating us, exploiting and victimising us. …Music industry is a devil land; so if you are a son of God, religious and you want to go there, you are deceiving yourself. You’re done. Because you must be ready to join them. It’s not a Bible thing.  Nor a Qur’an thing.”

    He went further: “I can tell you for free that it was depression that killed this Mohbad guy. They so pursued and annihilated him. It was so bad that if any promoter invited Marlian Records for a show and specifically requested Mohbad to perform, they’d tell him he’s not well, that he had mental problem. But it’s not true, they just wanted to make sure he no longer got jobs or had any opportunity to earn a living. He left them, started his own label, yet they went after him.”

    Interestingly, he singled out Wizkid’s StarBoy Entertainment Company as being different, citing how Wizkid once bailed him out of his trauma with five thousand dollars with which he rented the apartment he still lives in.

    But does that make Wizkid a saint?

    A Yoruba saying goes thus: “What faces one person is definitely turning its back on another.” While he is full of praises for Wizkid, stories abound, including that of an artiste, Alo Innas, who allegedly claimed he left Wizzy’s enclave when he noticed he had a shrine that he consulted before signing any artiste.

    Whether true or false, Wizkid only dismissed his allegation with a one-line tweet: ‘Alo Innas could not take risks;’ neither denying nor confirming the allegation.

    The anonymous artiste in the rant also asked why artistes are leaving their record labels in droves if conditions were good. “Where is Lil Kesh… where is Chinko Ekun? Why did Adekunle Gold leave YBNL?”  He asked.

    He even alleged that most of the established artistes are signing young brilliant talents to get them to write songs for them, after which they start mistreating them or dump them, outright.

    If there is a bit of doubt in that anonymous artiste’s rant, what would one say of the testimony of singer Harrison Tare Okiri aka Harrysong, who publicly alleged that his previous record label, Five Star Music, owned by E Money, tortured and abused him to the verge of death.

    “If not for the grace of God with the help of some very few good men, I would have also died in the hands of my former label.

    “The torment, attacks, abuses and operations back to back, just because I have served and wanted to move out and grow a little for myself.

    “It was hell for me. The general public believed everything they said about me then, fans, supporters show promoters bullying me everywhere.

    “In fact, one of my friends said he will buy drinks, celebrate if I die of hunger and depression.”

    He, however, admitted that his life and indeed career, was preserved courtesy of a few individuals who supported him and refused to swallow the falsehood being spread about him.

    “I’m alive today just for the few that stood by me because they know the true story and refused to be influenced by lies just to kill an innocent man.”

    He thus warned record label owners to desist from practices likely to resort to the killing and destruction of young talents.

    Artistes/record labels fight not new

    Interestingly, the Mohbad/Marlian Record’s saga and other artistes currently battling their label owners are not new. To put it mildly, it is legendary.

    Though deep in history, the story of a young King Sunny Ade’s battle for freedom against his mentor/label owner, Chief Bolarinwa Abioro of the African Songs Limited (ASL) will never be forgotten; not with the advent of the internet, which now preserves history and enables access with just one click of the finger.

    That story tells of how recording companies or record labels have always been exploitative. That can be the only reason ASL would sign KSA, sell his album for N6.00 and pay him only 20kobo per album, which further dropped to 15kobo, after the chairman deducted publicity and other running charges.

    That of course later created disaffection and animosity between the two parties, culminating in a prolonged court case that resonated and the involvement of young Gani Fawehinmi now late on KSA’s side.

    One could say that King Sunny Ade was lucky it only ended in court and the record label wasn’t the type that obtains in today’s world, where non complying artistes are threatened, harassed and bullied into submission.

    Recall that news of artistes’ disaffection with Kennys Music also abound, despite that company’s well-acknowledged reputation as the harbinger of the current success in Nigeria’s music industry.

    The case of Kizz Daniel with his then record label, G-Worldwide Entertainment, which forced him to change his name from Kiss to Kizz; and the N500million breach of contract suit slammed on him, is fresh. Wizkid also left Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment unceremoniously, setting tongues wagging.

    There was also Cynthia Morgan who accused Jude Okoye of Northside Entertainment of stripping her of everything she had amassed, while Okoye in turn countered her by going public with a copy of her contract with the outfit.

    Others include Brymo and Chocolate City, Runtown and Eric Many Entertainment, Temmy Ovwasa and Olamide, D’bannnj and Mo’Hits.

    Will Mohbad’s death and the secrets and lessons it has thrown up, plus the intervention of the police and the government herald positive changes?

    With the level of volatility and recurrent disagreements in the industry, experts and observers are advising upcoming artistes to be circumspect and not be desperate to sign for a label, even when they desperately desire the breakthrough.

    “My advice is always get a lawyer before signing any contract’,” Ayobami submitted in that TVC interview.

    But will they listen?

  • Empowering widows with skills, gadgets

    Empowering widows with skills, gadgets

    Widowhood can be a challenge to women, especially full-time housewives and the uneducated or unskilled; but it is not the end of the world, as Ayisat Ajoke Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) is proving with its numerous training programmes and support activities. Yetunde Oladeinde reports.

    Widowhood for many comes with trauma, frustration, and perseverance.

    This particular morning, this group of widows are seated in the hall at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) looking bright, bold, and beautiful. They were professionals and entrepreneurs in different sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, teaching, and small-scale enterprises.

    In a short presentation cum drama, six widows captured their stories to motivate and reassure others. They kicked off with the loss of their breadwinner and loved one, and how they had to start from zero, found their bearing, and rediscovered themselves.

    “It wasn’t a smooth ride but mentored and supported by others who had travelled the same road, I gradually began to rediscover myself,” Idowu Fisayo, one of the widows began.

    “When my husband died, I was a full-time housewife. I didn’t have any source of income and just didn’t know where to start. It was the hardest part of my life and there were times when I felt like committing suicide. Today, the story is different. I got support from friends who introduced me to the Ayisat Ajoke Afolabi Foundation. “Apart from helping me to get back on my feet, they supported me with my children’s school fees and upkeep. Today, I am empowered and I also mentor and support other women,” she further stated.

    She was not alone. The other women took turns to share their experiences and the turning points in their lives, moving many to tears in the process.

    Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, Executive Coordinator of the Ayisat Ajoke Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) talked about some of the things done to empower widows, their families and communities: “When they talk about gender-based violence, people tend to look at the physical aspect alone. We focus on widows and those are the people that are at the receiving end of violence.”

    Grill equipment were given out to empower some of the women.

    “We saw the way they are doing that thing and we want to help them repackage. We need to upgrade and we are also giving some of our widows security devices. We know of the lady that was raped in the BRT bus recently. But if you have a security device, it would be programmed to monitor and track the person. Just like you track cars, they can also track a human being in case anything happens. Also, in a bid to key into the digital age, we are going to do something in that regard”.

    She added: “As widows, beyond all this giving we must empower yourselves. Sometimes, we have opportunities for training. For instance, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council is working with us and I have reached out to some of our widows. They are also trying to help the people in agriculture. It is not just for you to be there, you need training in the Ogun State branch of the Council. “

    Women, she stressed, must be economically empowered, be ready to empower others, and not just rely on others for survival.

    “We want to see how they can train women to be able to key into the export market, to export vegetables. If you have that kind of training, it would make it faster. The essence is to see how we can pull people out of poverty because of what we do. We know women who were not working when their husbands were alive. We have a lot of young widows; some would come with tears. For some of them, it is difficult because they are not educated. Here, the kind of job they can have would be limited. So, we focus on skills training for widows and in terms of our advocacy”.

    “AAAF is focusing on how to use innovation and technology to affect. Recently, if you are aware, the Sexual Awareness Act was passed after Buhari left. The Bill was there and towards the end, we tried to reach out to the presidency.

    Mrs. Itunu Babarinde of the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had this to say: “We have some existing skill acquisition centers involved in bead making, sewing, crafts scattered around Lagos, which vulnerable women and widows can leverage on. We also have short-term skills which we do every other month, which we take from one local government area to another. “

    Babarinde also talked about AAAF’s legal departments that focus on advocacy and issues of widows and their rights.

    “We also have the NGO unit for NGOs in different thematic areas that they can leverage on. We have a programme that we do; it used to be called Mega Empowerment. Here, we empower people with skills that they can leverage with opportunities for gadgets like popcorn machines and sewing machines. We also have grants that we give these NGOs.”

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    The widows were also taught basic self-defence and safety tips by Kemi Aderinola.

    Looking at the trend of gender-based violence in society, she began her presentation this way: “A standing home today is when a man and a woman work hand in hand.  A tree cannot make a forest. The woman sees more in the future than men. It is the women that tell the men what is happening to the children when they come back”.

    She added: “It is deeply rooted in gender inequality and it continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations. Men believe that they have power more than women. So, the big question is whether we are equal or not. Some men are also facing violence in their homes. While I was in the higher institution off campus, I had a couple who were my neighbours. The woman is actually a boxer but she submitted herself to him and we never knew. The man was always abusing her, but the day she got angry, she threw the man down from the first floor. That was the day we all knew that she had a belt in boxing”.

    She also shared her personal story: “My husband never touched me for one day but he ruined me emotionally. But today, I’ve been able to stand out. I tell my friends that when you are going into marriage, you should have three weapons. The first is your education, to innovate anything that you do. The second is the ability to make decisions on your own, without the man, and to plan ahead for the good and bad. What if this goes bad, what would be the solution”?

    She continued: “I never knew I would be a uniform personnel but my training got better here. My boss would never allow you to say it is impossible. He would bombard you with questions and tell you many times that it is possible. The third weapon is the ability to do things by yourself. Be innovative; don’t wait for people to come and train you. Don’t wait for people to come and do things for you before you are moved”.

    Yemi Adewole, founder of Isaac Mercy Women and Children Foundation also made her contribution to the discourse. Her experiences as a widow motivated her to inspire other widows and help transform their challenges into new opportunities.

    Happily, she takes you into her world, experiences and the other things that spurred her interest in the sector.

    “I have been a widow for about eight years now. It’s been a very tough journey and I know the financial and emotional trauma involved. In some communities, the traditional belief and culture actually relegates widows to the background”.

    Adewole continues: “The little experience that I have had so far is that people hide under their predicament to become nonentities sometimes. I always tell the women that I work with that if they have lost their husbands, they can pick up the pieces and support their children to be better citizens. You have not lost your brain and you have not lost your God.”

    Widows, she added, must learn to stand on their feet and make things happen with or without support.

    “I usually advise a lot of people to stop indulging widows. There is grace and strength within. Widowhood for me should not be the end of the world. I am not saying women should not care about the death of a loved one”.

    Adewole also talked about the things she has done to empower women and the opportunities available to them.

    “This year, we marked International Widow’s Day with a walk with the theme Right of a Widow. In addition, we had a talk shop that focused on enlightenment and empowerment by our legal team. There were also free three days vocational training on adire, soap, and snack making for women, especially widows.