The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Rehoboth fetes 100 families in Makoko community

    In bringing God’s love and care to hapless Nigerians during Easter, Rehoboth World and Drama Ministry has given free food items to over 100 families in Makoko community in Lagos State.

    As early 9am, members of the community started coming in trickles to Khan College that was used for the programme.

    The exercise was thrown open to people of all ages and religious beliefs, and at the end, about 100 people were attended to.

    The programme tagged: ‘Easter Makoko Charity Outreach,’ had Christians, clerics, community leaders, civil society groups and youth leaders.

    Speaking at the event, Country Representative of Rehoboth World and Drama Ministry, Deaconess Omoyemi Olajugbagbe said that the initiative was one of the ways of giving back and sharing the love of Christ during the Easter season.

    She said: “we are not church but we want to ensure we commit the people that will give their lives to Christ to a reliable hand and we will be following them up in prayer, counseling, career, and every means and opportunity the Lord gives us”.

    Olajugbagbe described the opportunity to give back to the communities as an honour and privilege.

    She pointed out that Rehoboth World and Drama Ministry’s mission is to use the Bible stories to create poetry and drama skits to draw souls to God and charity to reach our world for God.

    In his sermon, the Coordinator of Youth Advocate for Change, Adeola Ogunlade said that Easter was not just a time for merriment but a moment of reflection of God’s infinite love for mankind in reconciling us back to himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    He said that God’s immeasurable love for us is the foundation of the Christian faith, for without Jesus being raised to conquer death, hell, and the grave; He would have been just another daring sacrificial victim.

    He added that this is why the gospel is called the good news and truly it is the ultimate promise of hope and peace the world needs to hear.

    Ogunlade added that Christians experience the life-changing miracle of God, so loving the world that He sent His Son to save us from our sins. He desires to restore us back into the personal fellowship that was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the Garden.

    He implored the people to come to Jesus and accept his atoning sacrifice on the cross for them to be saved and have hope of eternal life.

  • Cancer treatment: How Nigeria loses N21 billion to Ghana annually

    Cancer treatment: How Nigeria loses N21 billion to Ghana annually

    Taiwo Alimi examines Nigeria’s soaring medical/economical loss to Ghana, via cancer treatment.

    The first time breast cancer survivor Senanu Ladipo, 49, went to the ever-busy Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Cancer Centre, she begged her husband to take her elsewhere  for treatment.

    “There were hundreds of patients at different stages of cancer waiting to be enrolled for treatment. Some had been coming for many days. I felt many could die even before they were attended to. That put me off,” she recalled.

    Her own condition at the time was  cancer stage 1 and she eager to start treatment. Instinctively, the couple made inquiries for alternatives in Nigeria but  found little comfort in that venture.

    “We were told we could go to Abuja or Enugu.But upon our investigation, we found both were  worse than  LUTH,” the banker said.

    This was in February 2020 and LUTH had just acquired new Radiotherapy (RT) machines in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), about a year earlier, making the centre the best option for any Nigerians seeking cancer treatment in the public sector.

    Structured under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, the project cost NSIA $11 million in investment to be recouped after 10 years of ownership.

    So, it had the newest radiotherapy machines and chemotherapy services in government hospitals in the country.

    Mr. and Mrs. Ladipo got to know that patients even come to the centre from Abuja and Enugu, as well as from other states in the country for treatment, hence the influx they witnessed.

    Radiotherapy is vital during cancer treatment as 70 percent of cancer patients have multiple sessions in the process of cure.

    They also learned that in the whole of Nigeria, only three public radiotherapy machines are working at full capacity.

    The others, scattered, in the 20 university teaching hospitals in the 36 states of the country, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT Abuja), are either obsolete or in  comatose.

    “A couple of private hospitals in the coun try have serviceable radiotherapy machines but they are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Only the super-rich can afford their services,” Yinka argued.

    Dr. Jafaru Momoh, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, said  that aside from his hospital, which has two Linac radiotherapy machines, only LUTH, has two of the machines.

    Dr. Habeeb Muhammad, the head of the Radiotherapy Department, LUTH, confirming Dr. Momoh’s claim, explained that their machines can attend to about 120 patients every day.

    Yinka, who regularly accompanied his wife to LUTH, said he observed that patients and their loved ones come from the North, East, and South of Nigeria, for treatment in LUTH.

    MORE TALES OF WOES

    Swatkasa Gimba, 33, is also alive to tell her story. She described her two-year treatment in Abuja National Hospital (ANH) as an eye opener.

    “In Abuja (ANH), the number  of people waiting to use the radiotherapy machine was overwhelming. I was to use the machine for 25 days, but there was such a long waiting line that I kept going back and forth for one month before I was enrolled for the programme. Because of the pressure put on it and its age, the machine kept breaking down.”

    Gimba believed  that sometimes such delays can kill patients. “Cancer spreads and becomes deadly when patients don’t get treated quickly,” she added.

    “That is the major reason Nigerians go on medical tourism to other countries, Senanu said.

    Sidi Rabi,35, is one of the  unfortunate ones to  have lost the breast cancer  battle because her treatment was delayed.

    The late Bauchi resident  was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. On getting to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, she was told that the radiotherapy machine there had not been functional for some years, and was subsequently referred to the  Usmanu Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, about 726 kilometres away.

    Rabiatu, Sidi’s daughter, said in her ill-health condition, she had to travel the rough terrain for 11 hours to Sokoto only to meet another brick wall: the hospital’s radiotherapy was down. Thereafter, she was referred to ABU Teaching Hospital Kaduna.

    “In Kaduna, we met many patients waiting to see an oncologist. There were more names on the waiting list. After one week we were informed that the linear accelerator had bro ken down. My mother was then referred to ANH,” Rabiatu said.

    Two months after,Rabi was dead. Her condition worsened as she was already in stage 3 before she knew her medical travail was caused by cancer. Failure to get medical attention did her in.

    Rabi’s experience is akin to that of many cancer patients in Nigeria  who die in the process of being tossed from one medical facility to another.

    Dr. Demola Adewusi, Medical Director at Broadland Hospitals in  Ogun State, said the poor system is killing more patients than the ailment.

    “This is a result of not being able to access medical attention on time,” he said.

    Based on the recommendations of the  International Atomic Energy Management Agency, one radiotherapy machine is supposed to serve  a community of 250, 000 people. Metropolitans like Kano and Lagos states with a combined estimated population of over 30million people (World Population Review 2022) are supposed to have no  fewer  than 120 radiotherapy machines.

    “There are only three functional radiotherapy machines to cater for Nigeria’s population of   over 200 million. Isn’t that absurd?” Dr. Adewusi asked.

    The Ghana option

    Faced with the delay factor, Senanu and Yinka probed for an affordable solution outside the country. “All the experts, including my doctor, recommended Ghana, where, they said, many Nigerians now go for treatment.”

    They were seriously considering the possi bility when the COVID-19 induced lockdown thwarted their plan.

    “That was when a global lockdown was put in place, which stopped us from accessing treatment outside Nigeria. That was how we were condemned to go through the horrific experience of LUTH. If not for the lockdown I would have taken my wife to Ghana for treatment.” Mr. Ladipo added.

    Dr. Bankole Adebambo, a cancer consultant ,said the disease has become a severe issue for the government to prioritize.

    According to the Nigeria National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan (2018-2022), cancer is responsible for 72,000 deaths with an estimated 102,000 new cases annually.

    In 2018, a five-year National Cancer Control Plan was launched by the federal government (FG) to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer.

    Part of the plan is the establishment of a cancer treatment centre in each geopolitical zone. Five years on, that pledge has not been fulfilled.

    “Truth is that we don’t have adequate equipment to cater for the enormous cases we come across daily. It is overwhelming because even if you have your money, you will still need to wait for your time. The alternative is to seek a better option for your loved ones,” Dr. Adebambo said.

    Destination Ghana

    Ghana,according to him, offers a comforting option for Nigerians who can afford it.

    Thousands of Nigerians now go on medical tourism to Ghana annually for  treatment, especially for breast cancer.

    Cancer survivor Mrs. King was cured in a Ghana specialist centre. She joined the Ghana train five years ago, citing undue rescheduling in Nigerian hospitals as the chief cause of her decision.

    The 55-year-old narrated her journey from Abuja to Accra. “I felt a lump in my breast in 2017 and went for a check-up. A further test proved it was cancerous and they proceeded to search for more. Another one turned up on my hand.”

    The Abuja-based was to start treatment immediately but one month after; she was still on the  waiting list for radiation.

    “At a point, the machine broke down and that was the beginning of my search for treatment elsewhere.

    “My doctor recommended I go to India or England but the cost was way above what the family could handle.Then he mentioned a place in Ghana. I researched on the hospital and we made contact and that was it.”

    Mrs. King spent the first three months as an in-house patient in the hospital and returned  to Nigeria. Subsequently, she would go on  appointments. “I had radiation sessions there and spent some days there whenever I had to take chemotherapy drugs.”

    She was certified cancer-free about a year later.

    Asked to hazard a guess as to the number of Nigerians heading to Ghana yearly for cancer treatment ,she said: “I expect that a couple of thousands go to Ghana.”

    Mrs. King may just be right going by the rising cases of cancer in Nigeria.

    Dr. Adebambo noted that Mrs. King’s claim is not impossible. “When you observe the number of people on a waiting list and the numbers that go on medical tourism yearly, then it is appropriate to say that if they can get treatment in Ghana, they will go there.

    “That, however, does not mean that Nigeria lacks the expertise. We have qualified oncologists and surgeons. I consult for Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos and in a week I perform successfully, at least, two mastectomies. I could have done more if not for the power and personnel challenges I face often. You cannot work alone, you need nurses and in government hospitals, you have to plead, cajole and rub their egos for them to cooperate with you.”

    Mrs. King described the Ghana treatment as ‘less stressful.’

    Ghana’s population is only 31.07million (World Bank 2020) but boasts of better cancer facilities than Nigeria.

    While Lagos, with a population of  15.3 million (World Population Review 2022),half of Ghana’s, have two accessible radiotherapy machines (there are more in private clinics well beyond the reach of the  majority of Nigerians), Accra,the capital of Ghana  and with a population of  4 million,  boasts of three.

    This is made possible by Ghana’s success story in the area of medical and management partnerships with high-flying conglomerates.

    Ghana’s government provides an  enabling environment and space for the multinationals to build world-class cancer centres to cater to, not just the locals, but patients from across  the rest of West Africa.

    And Ghana keeps  sustaining  this initiative and attracting even more foreign investors.

    The reality is that Ghana is doing more than Nigeria, whose population is about half of West Africa combined, to create accessible caregivers for cancer patients, even though, Nigeria with its huge population produces more sufferers every year.

    Senanu said she was  enticed by the information provided by the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC)’s on its website including facility and treatment options.

    Located  in East Legion Hills, Greater Accra, the hospital is a joint Ghanaian-Swedish venture with Elektra and Swedfund (GMI-Global Medical Investment) as part owners. It has become Nigeria’s number one destination for medical tourism.

    According to Yinka, SGMC came highly recommended when they were seeking an alternative for his wife.

    Its bills are settled in dollars.

    But Dr. Adebambo said it is an open secret that cancer treatment does not come cheap.

    He  put the full cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria at between N4.5milion and N10million depending on the complexity of the case.

    “Cancer care is extremely expensive, even in government hospitals,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: : Averagely, to do mastectomy (breast removal) in a not-too-big Nigerian hospital is about N500,000. If you want to do chemotherapy, conservatively, the cheapest drug goes for about N100,000 per session and it may take a minimum of six sessions.

    “At times it may be more. I’ve seen patients that took 18 sessions. If a patient is taking expensive drugs it would be up to N450,000 per session.

    “In between chemo, PCV will drop and you will need to give blood, or Y Cell drops and you have to boost it. Then, we come to radiotherapy, and in government hospitals, the cost is about N700,000 and N900,000.

    “When you sum this up you already have a cost of N3million for a simple, straightforward case. And that is not the end.

    “After evaluation, a patient can be told to take a drug called adsetris and a full dosage is 18. One comes for 350,000 and imagine  having to take 18 doses. In seven out of 10 cases, it is not straightforward.So roughly, a patient will spend between N4.5milion and N5 million, on average. The cost can be up to N10millon.”

    Mrs. Ladipo said  that at LUTH, “to do only radiotherapy is N1 million. To consult with a doctor at the LUTH is N70, 000 for a start.

    As high as this may look, it is nowhere near what is obtained in Ghana and other countries Nigerians go to in the name of medical tourism.

    “It does not matter. Some Nigerians can afford it all they want is to be given the best of attention and expertise and on time,” Dr. Adebambo said.

    For example, In the UK, private consultation with a cancer specialist will cost around £300 per visit, and each chemotherapy cycle will cost  £2000.

    In the USA, radiation therapy can cost  between $10,000 and $50,000 or more, depending on the type of cancer, the number of treatments (radiotherapy fractions), and especially the type of radiation used.

    In Canada, the average cost for breast cancer radiotherapy treatments ranges between $5,500 and $14,500.

    In India, the cost of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (DCRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) lies between $800 and $1500 per fraction cycle of treatment.

    In Ghana cancer treatment is not cheap either.

    Mrs. King said her treatment cost over $15,000. “Even in Nigeria, I would have spent like N10million so what is $15,000. I did not add the smaller bills, including accommodation, travels, and feeding.”

    If the non-medical bills are added, we should be looking at $20,000, give or take.

    SGMC does not give exact detail of its total cancer bills online but compares them to what is obtainable in the UK, U.S, India, and Canada.

    So, on average a Nigerian patient will be spending no less than $20, 000 (including travel, accommodation, and feeding costs) for breast cancer treatment in Ghana.

    A chartered accountant working in the pharmaceutical field , Sola Ogunwale,estimated  that Nigerians spend on average $50million (N21billion) yearly on medical tourism to Ghana with breast cancer topping the list.

    His words: “Though this is a fraction of the $1.2 billion (N576billion) medical tourism projected figure released in 2021 by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), my point is that Ghana is getting new income in-road and Nigeria is paying for it.

    “From what Ghana is doing in the area of the healthcare system, monies that could have been invested in the development of Nigeria’s health care system now go to Ghana and they are employing it judiciously.

    A PriceWaterhouse Coopers (2016) report states that Nigerians spend $1 billion annually on medical tourism with 60 percent of it on four key specialties : oncology, orthopedics, nephrology, and cardiology.”

    Finance Minister  Zainab Ahmed, couldn’t agree more.

    She noted: “Wealthy Nigerians are compelled to travel outside our shores for healthcare due to the dearth of professional healthcare facilities and management in Nigeria.”

    Then, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) balance of payment data released in the 3rd quarter of 2021 indicated that Nigerians have spent the sum of $11.01 billion on health-related services abroad in 10 years.

    Going by The Nation’s findings, medical tourism to Ghana will swell in years to come and Nigeria’s loss to Ghana will double unless the trend is arrested.

    “While Ghana is busy building on its successes and investing more in healthcare, Nigeria is losing more ground by not investing in the sector. In five years, Nigeria would have lost N100 billion to boost Ghana’s health and in extension, economy.

    Aside from SGMC, which was birthed in 2012, other facilities have sprung up with the support of foreign investors and encouragement from Ghana’s government to develop Ghana into West Africa’s modern healthcare hub.

    In 1997, Ghana commenced the process with a National Centre of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide care for cancer patients from Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

    In quick succession came Immanu-el Cancer Help Centre/ Goshen Biomedical Centre, African Cancer Organisation, Pappis Cervical Cancer Initiative, Peace And Love Hospital Breast care International, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and the latest, HopeXchange Medical Center, a joint venture between U.S and Ghana governments.

    The Women’s Cancer Center, including a new Clinical Pathology Laboratory and Sur gical Suite, which, officially took off in 2021, was largely funded by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Yet, another gigantic health project, Eco Medical Hospital birthed in Accra-Ghana in 2017. The 500-ward accommodating 1,100 beds is the result of a $300 million financial deal between a Ghanaian investment firm, Eco Medical Village Limited, and a New York-based private equity firm, Milost Global Inc, under the Mesa Fund 1, a global opportunity fund.

    With sustained collaboration with western governments, Ghana has made sufficient strides to position itself as a health and medical tourism destination in Africa.

    This became evident in 2019 when Covid-19 became a global health emergency. Many Nigerians, who could not go to UK and U.S, due to the partial lockdown, proceeded to Ghana, where they did not need an entry visa.

    Yet, Ghana has not stopped building. In August 2021, Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the commencement of Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country.

    The project includes 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals in the newly created regions, two specialized hospitals in the middle and northern belts, as well as a regional hospital in the Western Region, and the renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

    The  ultra-modern health and medical infrastructure proposition is potentially the largest healthcare project in West Africa. And it will be achieved with major funds coming from investors in the U.S, Europe, and some African countries including Nigeria.

    Verifiable sources have confirmed that Nigerian investors are rushing more than NI billion into the project.

    When completed, it will triple the capacity of Ghana to take in more health tourists from Nigeria.

    Cancer’s alarming spread in Nigeria

    Sadly, Nigeria is not doing much to arrest the situation.

    Uche Orji, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, said the FG should see cancer care as part of a broader investment strategy.

    “Our strategy is to target areas that have been subject to medical tourism, where we believe Nigeria should be able to handle domestically,” he said.

    “Oncology is one of them, cardiology, renal care, and more lately, high-end surgeries. These are the four areas where you see Nigerians spend money going abroad for treatment.”

    The NSIA began its foray into cancer care investment with a partnership with the LUTH. They took over LUTH’s oncology department, rebuilt it, and expanded it as part of a “build, operate and transfer” partnership model.

    “As it stands today, we own it 100 percent, but the idea is when we’ve earned back our capital and returns we will transfer it back to LUTH.

    “So, it’s a way for us to provide the necessary input for us to develop the oncology department at LUTH, train people who are at LUTH, and then be able to expand from there.

    “To have this type of centre, for me, is important because then people can go somewhere. And it’s not just about affordability. Some people can afford it but can’t get a visa. Some people can afford it and get a visa but can’t afford to go with a family member to look after them and cook for them. So that’s why we built it here and we think it has impacted. The fact is that there is no need to go to India, no need to go to Germany, the United Kingdom, Israel, or Dubai. There is nothing they have in those places, we do not have here.”

    Ogunwale added that it does not cost a fortune to install a radiotherapy machine. “It costs between $3m to $4m to install one RT. It is not too much if we prioritize health care.”

    Until the FG can think along this line, the like of Mrs. King, Ladipos, and thousands of cancer sufferers in the country will continue to look up to  Ghana for treatment.

  • FEMI GBEDE: Life taught me not to give up on dreams

    Femi Gbede is an attorney listed in 2021 among Top 40 Black Lawyers under 40. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about his passion for the less privileged, mentoring young lawyers, running an arbitration academy, memorable moments in the sector and more.

    ELL us about your memorable moments as a Lawyer?

    I’ve always dreamt of becoming a lawyer, but while pursuing that dream I ventured into journalism having earlier studied Mass Communication. In my mind, I knew that was a detour. So, when I ultimately got admitted to the Nigerian bar as a lawyer, it was such a beautiful moment for me. You know it’s always joyful to the heart when you achieve your dream, but I think being admitted to the New York bar some years back aroused a different kind of feeling; a feeling of profound ecstasy and ineffable joy. Growing up, I never thought about the possibility of being able to practice law in New York. It was a big moment in the annals of my professional history.

    What does making the Top 40 black Lawyers under 40 mean to you?

    It means a lot to me. It’s an indication that I’m doing something right. It’s a call on me to continue to punch above my weight. Accolades like this, are catalysts that push one to attain greater heights, and reach for the stars. I’m definitely not relenting.

    What inspired you to sponsor Law graduates and how has this influenced you personally?

    I recall that sometime in 2017/2018 or thereabout, a young man that I didn’t know before, reached out to me on LinkedIn for assistance with his law school tuition. I didn’t think twice with my decision to support him. As a matter of fact, I was already thinking of starting a scholarship scheme at the time. So, it was as if he read my mind and knew that if he reached out to me, he would get the support he needed. He was right! His request was timely. I’m sure it must have felt like a jackpot for the young man as I didn’t stop with that initial support. I also decided to send a token to his bank account every other month while he was studying at the law school so that he could focus and wouldn’t be distracted too much by money issues. That’s something that I do for all my scholars. I have eight (8) of them currently studying at different campuses of the Nigerian Law School. That young man turned out to be my very first scholar. To be honest, I have been fortunate as a student myself, to study on scholarship, based on academic merit. So, what I’m doing now is a way for me to give back to the society, especially when one thinks of the economic travails that Nigeria is going through. Success for me isn’t about what you have done for yourself alone. It consists in what you are able to do for others, the impact you are making in people’s lives. My scholarship program is also a way for me to say thank you to God for what He has done in my life.

    Tell us about the African Arbitration Academy and some of the achievements?

    We started the Africa Arbitration Academy (AAA) to give young lawyers in Africa the much needed exposure and training in the field of international arbitration. Since we launched it in 2018, it has grown by leaps and bounds. Successful candidates get to travel to London at no cost to them, to receive trainings from reputable arbitration practitioners in top law firms in the world. The maiden edition which was held in June 2019 had close to 30 participants, drawn from different African countries, in attendance, for three (3) weeks. All that the participants need to do is to make themselves available, as their flight and accommodation expenses are all taken care of. The Academy enjoys the support of several big international law firms, the World Bank and arbitral institutions world-wide. It has become such a global success now that we receive applications from top government functionaries, including the Deputy Minister of Justice of a country. We also receive applications every year from Partners of big law firms in Africa. Our annual lecture, which is the highlight of the program, has featured prominent global figures and for this year, we will have the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone in attendance. The Academy is just another way to give back. The Academy is at the forefront of innovation. In response to the disruption in arbitration proceedings caused by the corona virus pandemic, the Academy came up with a Protocol on Virtual Hearings in Africa, which provides guidelines and best practices for arbitrations within Africa, where a physical hearing is impracticable due to health, safety and other considerations. Some arbitral institutions in Africa have already reached out to the Academy with a view to adopting the Protocol.

    You also have an investment company, what inspired you to set it up and what are some of the achievements?

    I’m excited about my collaboration with the Africa Health Holdings because it’s going to add tremendous value to my scholarship scheme. So, going forward, some of my scholars will have the benefit of doing summer internship and NYSC with the investment management company. In fact, it was because of this collaboration that I decided to have two application cycles since the internship opportunity will happen in the summer every year. Application for the early cycle will close sometime around the end of April every year to allow for review and selection in time for the summer internship. The regular cycle application opens around August/September.

    What are the other things that you are working on at the moment?

    The scholarship scheme is just one of the many things that I am doing. I have a foundation through which I reach out to the less privileged in Nigeria from time to time to help with basic things to live life. My foundation doesn’t solicit fund from anyone. It’s 100% funded with my personal money. So, I only work with the little that I have. There are many people in Nigeria who live on less than $1 a day, who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Those are my targets. I derive joy in lending a helping hand to those that need it. It’s a natural part of me and I believe that’s just basic humanity. It’s Humanity 101. I know when other people like me, especially those of us in Diaspora help in this way, many lives will be positively touched. Let me tell you one thing about giving. When you give, God just blesses you in a way that even you will not comprehend. May God continue to bless us!

    What are some of the challenges encountered?

    You know when God has put you in a comfortable position; the moral expectation is for you to help others. At the same time, there’s a limit to what you can do as an individual. The demands from people can sometimes be overwhelming. I cannot begin to tell you the number of requests I wake up to on various platforms every day, from friends, families. Those I know and those I don’t know, on whatsapp, LinkedIn, instagram etc. As you settle one person’s financial request, another one hops in to your phone. The requests never stop. I’ve also started seeing many requests for support from young lawyers who secure admission to top universities in Europe and America, but who weren’t granted scholarships. It’s a tough situation to be in because it’s a very huge amount in dollars and pounds that we are talking about here. Tuition can be in excess of $70,000 dollars in many of these schools. Whilst the focus of my scholarship is on law graduates in Nigeria proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, I’ve been able to assist some of these Europe and America bound graduate law students to the best of my ability. It can really be overwhelming, to be honest. You can’t help everybody.

    What advice do you have for young people who want to come into the sector?

    I’ll tell them to not feel pressured about the area of practice they want to specialize in. That will sort itself by the time they join a law firm, if that is the path they choose to toe. In fact, these days, many law firms will give them the opportunity to rotate practice groups at the beginning. That way, they can appreciate which one appeals more to them. For example, I wanted to be a litigator, but I ended up becoming a corporate attorney because I tried it out and I liked it. Again, for those who plan to ride it out in law firms, I’ll advise that they develop their people skills. Law is a business. So, a time will come when their technical expertise will not mean much.  At that point, a lawyer’s rain-making prowess assumes ascendancy. As a partner in a law firm, your business-generation strength is key. They should forge friendships with their colleagues in business schools and in other fields. They will turn out to be their clients’ years later.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    Life has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Winners don’t quit; and quitters don’t win, the saying goes and in fact, one who doesn’t throw the dice, will never score a six. I’ve learnt to always pursue my dreams even if heaven falls. I’ve also learnt that the way to actualize my dreams is by taking action. It’s fine to envision and talk about them, but it’s a complete waste of time if one doesn’t act. Make a conscious effort to actualize your dreams. There’s no harm in trying. The worst that will happen is that you will fail and when you do, you learn. Don’t believe anything is impossible. The only thing standing in the way between you and your dream is you.

  • My BEAUTY REGIMEN: I use Vitamin C serum and cleansers

    Helen Imoohi, popularly known as RealHelen is a teacher, an actress and a content creator. She shares her beauty regimen with Sam Anokam

    FOR Helen, the secret of looking good starts from making sure that you are well. “You must be healthy and then be happy. I believe that with God involved your beauty will radiate from inside and be perfect”.

    She continued: “Then, remember everything from your nail care to your hair do. All this can impact your appearance, so, I do not neglect any of these. Though I do not religiously do a lot of skin care routine but I do the very necessary. This includes scrubbing my face three times a week, using products made from natural materials. I have face creams, for both day and night. I use a lot of vitamin C serums and cleansers. I drink a lot of water and eat much vegetable. I take a few supplements some stable vitamin C. I consciously avoid people and things that can negatively affect my peace and even mood”.

    Happiness, she adds is essential to looking good. Sadness, she explains depreciates beauty. In addition, she puts in the extra effort to look good all the time.

    “I visit the spa once in a month, the experience is worth it. I feel better and lighter after each experience and I like the impact it has on my skin”.

    Next she talks about some of the things she does and the impact. “I use products that have natural ingredients. I read labels of products a lot. Though I trust products from Angelshine Cosmetics as they have really helped me overcome some skin challenges, I used to have especially breakout. They help with my facials too”.

    Now, you want to know the things she avoids in her diet and she responds this way:

    “Honestly I eat a lot. I mean I like food so much. I don’t avoid much on my diet. I avoid oily food sometimes because I have an oily skin. I make sure I eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruits. Seriously, I don’t play with those two”.

    Fashion, she is opines is an expression of once self, believe, culture, style and individuality. “I make sure I’m comfortable and modest in my dressing. I don’t do minis; I don’t expose the parts that are supposed to be covered. I can’t get a tattoo or pierce any sensitive part of my body”.

    Her best makeup product is Mac. “They are smooth and easy to use, because I’m not good at doing makeup for myself. My favorite makeup artist is Angelshine Cosmetics, it’s been a long time working together and so they understand my face and what I like. Not too simple and not too loud, depending on my mood and where I am going to”.

    Keeping fit with exercises is also very important. “I exercise every other day, it helps my overall health. Exercise keeps me strong and helps me to be in shape”.

    She also gives you a peep into her hairstyle choice and how it makes her rock. ” I don’t do much about my hair because I rock different kinds of wigs that gives me confidence. My best hairdo is lace wigs”.

  • Tinubu is God’s choice for 2023 presidency – Bishop Kayode Williams

    Tinubu is God’s choice for 2023 presidency – Bishop Kayode Williams

    The telephone conversation was brief and direct. “Mr. Yusuf, you have to help me deliver this message from God to Nigerians: my secret for 2023 presidential election is Bola Ahmed Tinubu sayeth the Lord,” Bishop Kayode Williams said when he called The Nation recently. Williams, who is better known for evangelism in prisons having spent time in prison himself for armed robbery where he met Christ, said thrice did he receive the message from heaven. An appointment for interview was thus agreed. He spoke exclusively to IBRAHIM APEKHADE YUSUF and FUNKE COLE. Excerpts:

    Can you shed more light on the message from God about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu winning the 2023 presidential elections?

    This story started in 2014 when God spoke and sincerely directed me to inform all the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). That was before the primaries. And I wrote to all of them, starting from the then Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the party. They were all struggling then. They didn’t know whether they should vote for Muhammadu Buhari or not. God said, no, Buhari was His choice; that I should tell the nation so. So, I wrote a letter to all of them that were in that contest including Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwanso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Everything is there: their names, the dates and copies of the letter. I hope they’re not going to deny me. Even God did not ask me to go and deliver the letters myself. He (God) asked me to connect Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso to give out those letters to all of them. Oba Tejuoso now decided to send the letters by DHL. All of them received their copies. Some of them stepped down for Buhari. I think one or two refused. But the result is history now. Later God told me that Buhari would defeat the incumbent president, the person there. It was a bit controversial because so many people who heard about it said the incumbent could not be easily defeated. And for the first time in the history of this country, the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was defeated. Shortly after that phase, there was something that happened in Ondo State; it was during the primaries for who would be the governor of the state; so everywhere was tensed. And God asked me to write Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the traditional rulers in Nigeria, particularly obas in the Southwest specifically for them to intervene and allow Rotimi Akeredolu to contest because that was what God said to me; that he (Akeredolu) would win the election. God specifically instructed the obas and Asiwaju Tinubu to support Akeredolu because God has a bigger assignment in the future for him (Tinubu); that all Yoruba must unite and respect Tinubu. That was what God told me. He (God) said Tinubu should be humble. I specifically took a copy to Akeredolu. God said that Akeredolu should humble himself before Tinubu because He (God) had chosen him (Tinubu) for the upliftment of the Yorubas and the Nigerian nation. When I took the letter to Akeredolu I didn’t see him after enduring some long hours of waiting. So, I said to myself, I have been in prison and since God brought me out I thought to myself that why should I be going to give messages to people. Thankfully, before Akeredolu became governor I had known him, so I called his phone number and delivered the message. Akeredolu was once my lawyer when I was in prison. Mind you, he wasn’t the one that handled my criminal case. No. The case he handled for me was another case entirely. They (authorities) said there was a riot in the prison and that I didn’t support them to silent the inmates because their action was capable of breaching peace in the prison. That was the case. So, Akeredolu heard about the case and came to assist. So, when I came out of prison, we became friends. Akeredolu won the primaries and also won the election and the rest as they say is history. Again, in 2018 and 2019, when the electioneering campaigns began, some group of pastors came together. Let me say this. All pastors in Nigeria are divided into three bodies. We have the bigger body, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), which is the umbrella body of all Christians in Nigeria. We have founders of churches; some of them are not against CAN neither are they regular members of CAN, but they are kings in their different cathedrals. We also have independent ministers of God, who have nobody to help them up there or even down below. So, they remain there but they are working according to God’s directives in their small way. They may not have a large congregation, but when aggregated they are more in numbers than the Anglicans, the Catholics, all other big churches put together. These set of churches by independent ministers are in large numbers and these are the people that really vote. Majority of our leaders don’t vote; it is not even convenient for some leaders in the church. Even if they receive messages they want to announce to the church that God Has spoken, you must follow this man or that man, it is not possible because church members don’t belong to only one party. But as for independent pastors, when God speaks to them, they can direct their members on what to do because the message is a mandate from God, which is different because there are pastors called hirelings, who are recruited and paid by some masters. As a hireling, you cannot go beyond what your masters say. I’m not using this to put down anybody. God sees my mind. I’m only trying to analyse things. The majority of people that will vote are within our organisation, the Integrity Ministers International Ministry Incorporated (IMIM). We have members across the different 774 local government areas in the federation. We’re seriously in control of the grassroots. And that is why my message must be general considering the respect that I have for all our leaders in big churches. I’m giving them the message of God. I’m not forcing anybody. I’m only saying the truth that they should look at it and consider whether it is from the Lord or not, because the Bible says they have the right to go into prophetical message and analyse.

    The letters you sent to the APC top shots you mentioned earlier, do you still have copies?

    Yes, I will let you have them.

    Most people know you as a minister of God involved in prison ministry, so at what point in time did you delve into receiving prophetic political messages?

    I have been receiving it but I didn’t want to go and be exposing things about governance and people would say someone who just came out of prison. Right from prison, immediately I gave my life to Christ, I have been receiving revelations about Nigeria. I was in prison during the regime of Shehu Sagari and I saw a vision that he was ousted in a coup. When I told my fellow inmates they mocked me. They said, “haha, Joseph alala. (Joseph the dreamer) what are you saying? Take it easy o. You just received Jesus o.” So I had to go back into my shell.  What most Nigerians don’t know is that they play politics in the prisons. Serious politics goes on in the prisons. There is APC, PDP, and all kinds of parties in the prison community. During electioneering campaigns, even prisoners mount the rostrum to canvass votes for their favorite candidates and parties. In the prisons, politics there is very serious because they can beat you to a pulp and you can’t escape the wrath if you say something stupid. I also remember I dreamt about Bola Ige’s murder. I shared the vision with a few pastors and they said how do you prove this? They said that’s not just possible. He is the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation with all security apparatus at his beck and call. Coincidentally, the day they killed Bola Ige, I was in Ibadan; my house is not far from Bodija. But now, boldness came particularly when Muhammadu Buhari wanted to contest in 2015. Buhari had been struggling to become president. He never achieved that aim; he had been failing. Most prophets prophesied at that time that Goodluck Jonathan would retain power. I was the only person, the lone ranger who said otherwise. Newspapers refused to publicise it. I don’t want to mention names of the papers. In fact, somebody told me when they were interviewing me that, “a o le ko eleyi jade” (We cannot publish this.) I was able to come out boldly at that time because I felt I was now in the shoes of leaders. So, I prophesied and said, “Thus sayeth the Lord. Buhari will win.” The argument then was that how would it be possible. According to what God has been telling me Tinubu will bring back the glory of Nigeria. That was why I sent all those letters. When I prophesied that time nobody believed me. But God that sent me made it a reality. Buhari won the primaries and the general elections in 2014-2015. In 2018, I came out again to say Buhari would retain power. But people were shouting, “ebi n pa wa o. Nigeria o da mo.” (People are hungry, things are worsening in Nigeria).You know all the noise. I came out at the time, even went on the radio, Lagos Radio to be precise. I was even interviewed by some newspapers including The Nation. I said Buhari was going to win the election. Even my own people started fighting me. Buhari won in 2019. Now 2023 is right at the corner. God spoke to me not just once but thrice.

    You said earlier that some clergymen congregate on the mountain to receive prophetic messages. Tell us how these things happen. Are they in form of trance or dream or the thought just drops on your mind?

    Since the last election, we have been holding our prayers every Friday on a mountain in Osun State. Some people curse the president and the nation, but we pray against such curses that bring condemnation to the nation. God knows what is happening because whosoever that is on the throne as a leader, God wants us to pray for him. So, there is nothing that you want to tell God that He doesn’t know. If you remember the Bible where the Israelites murmumed against Moses in the wilderness. They started cursing him, and God started reacting, fighting and killing the followers. And the Israelites were dying. Moses had to plead on their behalf and God instructed Moses to lift up a serpent because it was the serpent that was biting them, killing them with a poisonous serpent. And God gave Moses instruction that whosoever that had been bitten by the snake should raise his eyes above and watch the serpent He will forgive and heal them and it happened. This dispensation, there is no Moses; Jesus is in total control because as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. It is not for a pastor to sit down in the corner of his room and say thus sayeth the Lord, God revealed or I saw. But when you hear thus sayeth the Lord, there will be a voice under the inspiration and impartation of God through one of the prophets. After he might have spoken which will be written down by the secretary of the organisation, another person will speak. Because so many people might have been slain in the spirit so we would wait for a second person. Everybody will be quiet. There will be no more praying; prayers will stop either by ringing of the bell. But again, we don’t normally ring the bell otherwise other speakers will not speak again.

    There must be no break in transmission. So the prophetic message will come out. Thus sayeth the Lord. I’m trying to clarify your question. Then the third one will be heard. After the third one, we will stop because the witness must be from two to three then we will establish the truth.

    In 2020, God spoke to me to tell Nigerians to stop cursing but people did not stop. In 2021, God reminded me again. We would not have suffered greatly the way the COVID-19 pandemic devastated Nigeria. Before that time, we were saying we didn’t have money and in fact, were borrowing money to implement all manners of projects but when the pandemic broke out, we were all imprisoned in our houses, everyone was under lockdown. This happened because we had cursed the country with our mouths. God is not a joker. As I told you earlier, God told us in 2016 that He was going to raise Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria; you will all see. And the message was sent to obas and God mentioned specifically the name of the oba that must be given the letters through Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso. He is my best evangelistic pastor. He is the Chairman and President of the Christians Traditional Rulers of Nigeria. He was the one who gave letters to Buhari. The good thing is that we were able to pass the message across. When this one came out, three times, I called Oba Tejuoso and said, “It’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

    You said you received the messages thrice on how Tinubu will emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential elections. Can you mention these dates and times the messages came to you?

    I will need to check all those dates to be able to give you specific answers. But I remember sometime last year, 2021, I shared the message with Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, also known as the Baba Etoo. He is the Visioner/President of Christ Ambassador Soul Winners, because I believe he is closer to Tinubu. I went to his house. So when this message came, God told me to take it to Odumbaku. But he was not around. When he came back, he called me and said, ‘Bishop I saw your message for Tinubu.” I said, “e ma je ko tutu o, ogbonna oo. Tinubu ma wole.’ (It’s hot, let it not get cold. Tinubu will win).That time even the shenanigans we’re all seeing today was happening because nobody was even thinking about elections. Then, at another programme, I asked him last year, ‘have you given this message to Tinubu?’ And when I went back to Baba Tejuoso and said God Has spoken, he agreed with me, but said that we should go back and listen to God again. I’m quoting him verbally. He told me that last year. He said you have only confirmed it once, I want God to confirm it again. Then I went back and he (Oba Tejuoso) asked, “ki lOluwa tunso?” Se Tinubu yi naa si ni?  (What has God said this time? Is it Tinubu still?).Then I said, “Kabiyesi oun ni, Tinubu ni Oluwa tun so oo.” (Yes kabiyesi, he’s the one God confirmed).The third time was last month or two months ago. Elder Fajemisin was with me. We were writing and updating the notes and preparing the letters together. Because we could not just bring out a piece of paper and pass to Tinubu and say this is the message. We had to sit down. Fajemisin is a journalist of high repute. He retired as a Director of Programmes in NTA, Abuja. He knows my integrity and hence decided to join this ministry. He knows what I’m saying. He was the one writing. So, the third message now came. That was the last one and we were preparing how to take the message to Baba Akande because God mandated us to go and give Baba Akande. But they said Baba Akande was in Abuja. I don’t want to go to the gate of Tinubu and be lurking around like a nuisance. Even some pastors have been troubling me to lead people to Bourdillion Road saying that way I can gain access to Tinubu but I told them to wait for God’s direction. When Tinubu returned from London after his medical trip, they forced me and I had to dance to their tune, so we took my car and some others. Justice Shogbola, the president of this organisation; mama doesn’t believe in “nigbati ngbati woli kan so pe” (when a prophet said). But because of the integrity and trust she has found in me, she decided to accept the leadership because she has been seeing the consistency and the follow-up of all my prophetic messages. And I said Mama because you know all these things you’re a judge of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you retired from the National Industrial Court, you are part of us. This is just to confirm to the whole world that it is not an imagination because if a judge is part of this set up, any reasonable person will know we’re not joking here. This is a woman, not a frivolous person. You can go and check her antecedents. So, she accepted. So when I now informed Oba Tejuoso that Kabiyesi, this letter must be submitted, he said glory be to God. That is what is gearing us up to speak out now. The copies for Tinubu, we wanted to go through his daughter, Sade, because the Iyaloja lives in the same place with my wife. But my fear is that if I go anyhow, people will say it is manipulation. But I know Sade as my daughter but this is God’s message. But I told myself I cannot use that familiarity to say, Sade go and give your father because God said.

    Politics is big business which requires funding. You have mentioned that your group hopes to mobilise support for him. Who is going to be bankrolling this project?

    In the 774 local governments in Nigeria, we have members. God has decided in His infinite mercy to grant us the opportunity of the mandate in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria that we must mobilise people to be praying for the success of the election and success particularly of Tinubu in every area. Our mandate also is that because we are sure of what God hath said that it will come to pass, that immediately he starts his campaign, all our members in the city, we must mobilise to go and be praying and make sure that there’s no calamity. Kí ṣe wípé Olúwa jẹ ó wọ lé, ó ti wọle. (The prayer point is not that he should win; he has won already). This is not a prediction neither is it a forecast, permutation or guesswork. God said Bola Ahmed Tinubu is His choice for Nigeria come 2023. In fact, our members are no longer praying for Tinubu to win the elections because we know his victory has already been sealed in heaven above. We’re only praying that God protects him from all forms of evil machinations ahead of his inauguration in 2023. Note this down.

    You are a leader in the Christendom. Interestingly Asiwaju Tinubu is a Muslim. How do you marry this? Couldn’t the Lord have shown you a Christian, as against a Muslim?

    God does not see things the way we do. If God wants to send rain, He sends rain for both Christians and Muslims. God does not see anybody as a Christian or Muslim, He sees us as the work of His Hands. We have made a choice in the world to follow. That’s the way God is seeing us. It was when I came out of the prison that I went to the university to do diploma in Human Resource Management to increase my knowledge. God does not look at the people He created as Chinese or Russians. God sees them as human beings and that’s what the Bible says that in the beginning God created them male and female. Did He mention Muslim? When God speaks, I cannot go and query the integrity of God. Galatians 3:28 says that ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.’

  • Scripture Challenge 2.0: PFN urges participants to live by God’s word

    Scripture Challenge 2.0: PFN urges participants to live by God’s word

    The Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Eyinnaya Okwuonu has urged participants in the just concluded Lagos Scripture Challenge 2.0 to live according to the word of God.

    The Lagos Scripture Challenge 2.0 held at Agape Generation International Church, Mende-Maryland, Lagos, is collaboration between the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA), and Faith Comes by Hearing (FCBH).

    Justifying the need for the programme, Okwuonu said “There cannot be revival without the word of God, there cannot be revival until the word of God takes root in the life of the people. Charisma cannot do that, personality cannot do that. Influences cannot do that. But when the word of God takes root in the life of a man, every other thing would change.”

    He posits that the challenge is a spiritual renewal exercise designed to challenge Christians in Lagos to engage with the scriptures, both in audio and video format, for forty-five days.

    Okwuonu who was represented by Chairman, Ejigbo/Isolo Province of the PFN, George Anselm said the word of God is important in the day-to-day dealings of every Christian.

    “The scripture challenge 2.0 answers that question of taking the word of God to the people and awakening the consciousness of the word in the life of every believer. In fact, the Lagos Scriptural Challenge has really impacted me tremendously,” he said.

    Okwuonu, who expressed thanks to God for the opportunity to witness the Scripture Challenge because of the opportunity of making the word of God come alive in the lives of people.

    Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator, FCBH, Nicholas Okereke said the 162 active WhatsApp groups contain a total population of 5, 657 participants. According to him, 77 percent of all the WhatsApp group participants were located in Lagos State and 14.8 percent in Ogun State.

    “A total of 22 States in Nigeria were represented in the WhatsApp groups with some participants from outside Nigeria. The Local Government Areas in Lagos with the highest representation were Alimosho (14.8%), Ifako-Ijaiye (11.3%), and Ikorodu (11%),” said Okereke.

    He said that about 19 percent of the ‘Proclaimer’ listening groups were found outside Lagos (Ogun State). Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Ikorodu were the Local Government Areas in Lagos that have the highest number of ‘Proclaimer’ Listening groups.

    While commenting on the programme, tThe Founder and Senior Pastor of Agape Generation International Church, Toyin Kehinde urged participants at the event to continually surrender themselves to the word of God.

    The challenge was divided into three phases. Phase one took place from February 2-16. The Bible was explored in Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and English (KJV and ESV). About 380 WhatsApp groups were created for 380 trained facilitators during the challenge.

    The second phase began on Februray18 and ended on March 4. About 162 facilitators from 153 Churches across Lagos qualified for the phase and each received a free ‘proclaimer’ (Audio Bible device).

    In the third phase which took place from March 6 to 20, the Bible was projected in video format. Participants had the opportunity of having real-life experience of the scriptures in languages of their choice.

    About 130 facilitators from 123 Churches qualified for this category and each received a free ‘acclaimer’ (projector and tablet). At the end of the challenge, 124 facilitators from 115 churches qualified for the final.

     

  • The church has numbers without impact —Afolabi

    The church has numbers without impact —Afolabi

    Serving Overseer of First Love Assembly, Pastor Simeon Afolabi, spoke with reporters on challenges in the body of Christ on his 60th birthday. Sunday Oguntola was there. Excerpts:

    How did First Love Assembly come to being?

    First Love Assembly started in November 1998. It didn’t start as the First Love Assembly. It started as Revival People’s Church. It changed in 2007 when we moved to a new location. We changed physical location and then the name. The reason for change of name was spiritual and a product of exigency.

    When we were bearing Revival People’s Church, some people didn’t have the right sequence in the name. Some people will call it Revival Peoples Church; some will say People’s Revival Church. That time too we have many churches with revival connotations. So you couldn’t tell what is what. So, I was busy looking for revivals and a name so easy to call and identify with. As they say the last straw that broke the camel’s back was in 2006.

    I went to Calabar. I was invited by the wife of the then governor, Onari Duke. There was a group of women who attended a meeting of a female group and they have their programme. I was the guest speaker. When they invited me to Calabar, all the who is who was there, so a woman was anchoring, she was introducing the guest speaker and said Pastor Simeon Afolabi, the pastor of Revival People’s Party and that day I said we have to change it.

    I guess because she was in the environment of politicians and the only thing that can come up was political party’s name. So we had to change the name. The idea that was behind the change was revival. The talks about bringing back things to an earlier state. If a chair’s leg is broken, you need to repair it, when you do, it means you have brought it back to its original state. That is the idea of revival. I am a revival person; I don’t want to miss the touch with revival. So I needed a name that is close to that and yet easy to come by. The name I could think of was First Love. That is the kind of love that the first-century church had that nothing mattered to them than the Lord. That was first love, the kind of love the disciples had.

    You left school in 1987 and joined the work of the ministry in 1988. That was so close, how were you so sure that you heard God?

    I finished my Cambridge A’level in 1981 at the school of Basic Studies, Ilorin. I did that between 1979 and 1981. I didn’t get into the university until 1982. Between 1979 and 82, I did auxiliary teaching. There used to be auxiliary teachers in those days, people who did not go to teacher training were recruited because there was a short fall of teachers. I picked up a job as an auxiliary teacher in a village called Elerinjare in Kwara State.

    The principal of the school that time was one Mr. Adeoye. I used to gather the students at the Fellowship of Christian Students, the little I knew then I taught them. One day the principal of the school attended the fellowship. I don’t know what I was preaching then, after the fellowship he called me and said ‘Simeon, if you continue this way you would make a good preacher one day.’ I can’t tell what he saw, that was someone who was perhaps perceiving the grace. So when you begin to see endorsement without asking for it, it tells you something.

    Talking about First Love, can you cast your mind back to the 70s and now there seems to be how some people cry foul about what is going on in the church today. What is your rhythm of the transition between that time and now?

    I think it’s not so much about transition like you rightly said but the problem with us is that instead of having transition, we should have been having consolidation. In the 70s and early 80s, the basic understanding of Christianity was to give your life to Christ, get ready for heaven, forget about the earth.

    So Christianity of those days always focused on heaven and with nothing to do with the earth or have no regard for anything earthly. That is the reason in those days when someone says he is born again, his mother will mourn as if he had died because they believed they have lost this one. They would think this one can never be relevant, he can never do well, that was the picture in the early 70s up to 80s.

    Faith teachings began to come into the country by the 80s. Rev. Emiko Amotsuka and others like Rev. Ayodele used to attend Kenneth Hagin’s camp meetings in Tulsa, US. They would come back with materials on faith teachings. Then the faith teaching started; you can move mountains and all that. Later prosperity message came to climb on the back of faith teachings. They would preach God is not poor etc. so instead of transiting, we should have consolidated.

    When faith teachings came, prosperity message came; we dropped the holiness teaching that was the bedrock of the 70s and 80s. Instead of leaving that, we should have consolidated; adding the faith teachings and prosperity teachings to holiness teaching. We would have had a more solid church today but what we have today is a generation who wants to ride the prosperity, ride on the faith teaching, ride on the success teaching without still considering the fact that God is a holy God.

    That is why I said we moved from that phase, in those days we had no money, we had no buildings, we had no cars, but we had sincerity of worship, we had genuine of worship. No equipment, most meetings were under the trees, in primary schools, in secondary schools, we slept on benches, on sand but salvation was real.

    Today we have the number but we don’t have the impact, so when people talk about revival in the church today, I’m not trying to be derogatory, it is all about number, we don’t have the impact, we only have the numbers.

    You think we have lost something?

    Yes, I believe we lost something.

    What is your own experience in the transition phase?

    By and large, I still judge myself as a conservative Christian because I have a lot of our people coming up now. I have fought and fought with our people in Port Harcourt. When I see lights rolling during worship, I would ask them what is the effect of this light? What is this light doing?

    What about keyboard sounding while you are making a point as you are preaching?

    They won’t even try that with me. No, they won’t try that. When it’s time for worship, let’s worship. When it’s time for teaching, let’s teach. I’m trying to take advantage of what modern life and technology have made available and how we can lay a solid foundation.

    What about your colleagues in the ministry, do you have problem with them with your mindset about the practices and the trends?

    People just need to know what you stand for. We were in the pastors’ meeting in January and my pastors were fighting with me what I shouldn’t do. I still drive myself most time. I drive myself till tomorrow. Some things don’t just sit well with me. I warned our pastors. I used the word ‘designer pastors’, forget about celebrities, designer pastor who has no problem. That is not life; that is not ministry. I tell people when I’m tired, I tell them when I’m sick, when I’m hungry, I tell them I’m hungry.

    It seems you are pained that we have left this first love, what do you think is the solution?

    We need to get back to the basics, the foundation. Let’s see how we have moved in the Pentecostal setting. The bulk of what we call Pentecostal churches today walked out of what we called orthodox churches. We left Baptist, Anglican etc. We said they were worldly, occultists, of course the Celestial and the Cherubim, we condemned them because they used candles, water, they use oil, they bath by the river. Tell me what Pentecostals are not doing now, even worse.

    We should go back to the basics. In the 70s, and 80s, the basic way believers were raised was through bible studies. Deeper life Bible study in those days, one point can have ten scriptures and you must read all the ten. That was what produced sound, solid believers. Now they say ‘if your amen is louder than your neighbour’s own you collect your neighbour’s blessing.’ Where did we get that?

    The pollution is amazing. Success is deceitful. If someone has the crowd and the number, we take whatever he says as the authority and he may be far from the truth. They’ll ask ‘why is God blessing him?’

    “They’ll say if it’s good, then it’s God but Moses brought water from the rock and he was disobedient. There is what God will do independent of the minister; it is not as if He is putting approval on him.

     

  • I became colourist by accident -Bobola Oniwura

    I became colourist by accident -Bobola Oniwura

    Bobola Oniwura is best known for his work as a film colourist in the drama film ‘King of Boys’. He tells Yetunde Oladeinde about life as a Davinci Resolve trainer for West Africa, the journey so far and future plans in film grading.

    Tell us what you do and the journey so far?

    I am a Film Colourist based in Lagos, Nigeria. I have a background in Architecture but work mostly in the post-production end of the production chain. Specifically in finishing/color grading for films, commercials, documentaries and music videos using Hollywood’s powerful tool; Blackmagic Davinci Resolve. I am the Certified Davinci Resolve Trainer for West Africa, training users in color grading, and video editing. I am also a full member of the Colorist Society International (CSI); the globally recognized body for film colorists and DIT engineers.

    So there is a professional body for Film Colorists?

    Yes, there is. The Colorist Society International was founded at NAB 2016 in Las Vegas, USA. It has over 120 full members from around the world. And like other professional bodies such as the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), you will find CSI at the end of the names of full members.

    What is colour grading? What does a Colourist do?

    Color grading is the process of using editing/finishing software to stylizing the color scheme of your footage; to emphasize the visual tone of a movie/video, and making it look more beautiful.

    Colorists use color grading for artistic purposes to ensure that a film or video shot on digital cameras convey a specific mood, style, or emotion.

    Since the adoption of Digital Camera’s as the primary cameras for capturing films and videos, the need to color grade the footages to maximize the details these cameras capture have become important. Cameras such as Arri, Blackmagic, RED, Sony and many more capture so much details and allows colorists to work closely with a film’s director and/or cinematographer, to achieve the look intended.

    How did you get into the field?

    I got into this field quite accidentally. I was part of a company some years back as Creative Director and the business invested in Blackmagic Davinci Resolve, so as to be able to provide color grading services to both clients and the film industry in general. We had two in-house editors charged with the responsibility of learning the software alongside the $30,000 hardware – the advance control panel.

    A year went by and they were still trying to figure it all out. As head of the creative team, I decided to take a hand-on approach to the whole thing. With my background in architecture and graphics design, I relocated my office to the post studio, took the tutorials and started to learn to color grade. That was how my journey to being a colorist started.

    You are a Davinci Resolve Certified trainer, what is this all about?

    A certified trainer is someone with the knowledge of the software and has been empowered by Blackmagic Design to train others who want to learn to use Davinci Resolve. Either for editing, colour grading, sound post, effects or who just want to learn a single aspect of what the software can do. I became a certified trainer some years ago after being trained in Soho, London.

    Is there such a thing as a universal “dictionary” of meanings to colour choices to convey mood and emotion?

    Yes, there is something referred to as the Meaning of Colors & Developed and accepted over the years as the meanings certain colors evoke. For example, American Beauty (1999) uses more red in dramatic moments to represent anger, passion, and power. Maleficent (2014) with Angelina Jolie uses green to convey darkness, corruption, and danger. While blue represents coldness, isolation and cerebral as you would usually see as colors used in hospitals or asylums.

    Why is colour grading such an important aspect of film production workflow?

    It is important because it totally enhances what was shot. The aim of the story is defeated if the right emotions are not conveyed using colors. Noise, artefacts, and intensity of the colours distract the audience. These distractions lead to frustration especially when the paying audience goes the see the work in the cinemas. And for audiences who are also used to seeing films that are properly graded let’s say from Hollywood, they can’t help but to compare.

    You have worked on quite a few TV shows or films. How would you compare the pace of work on feature films and episodic television?

    It is quite different. Episodic TV is quite a pressure cooker. You have to work on several episodes in a very short period of time. You cannot spend too long creating a style or look for a single scene, except this has been achieved during production and you are only enhancing or accentuating it. For film, one has to pay more attention to details because these films are usually seen on big screens.

    Following on from Kemi Adetiba’s hugely successful 2018 film, King of Boys, it returned as a seven part series; the first Netflix Original Series from Nigeria, how did you get involved with the project?

    The producer reached out to me on recommendation. And the rest they say is history. It was an exciting project and it was great to be a part of it.

    What tools did you use for KOB: The Return of the King and Why?

    I use Davinci Resolve to color grade. That was the software I used for grading KOB the series. I took advantage of the new color management tool; the Davinci Wide Gamut that was introduced by Blackmagic in version 16 of the software. It is a wider color space, wider than ACES and it enables even higher quality image processing.

    What factors affects the quality of work you (Colourists) can achieve with a production?

    There are quite a number of factors that can affect the quality of work a colorist is able to do on a project. The quality of the picture captured is always very important and that is why one of my mentors will always say Fix it on Set. There are things that cannot be fixed by a colourist if they are not flagged and corrected on set. Over exposure or under exposure will ruin the quality of grade. The use of cameras from different manufacturers on same production or scene will have an effect on the color as these cameras have varying color science and capture color information differently. There is also a huge role played by costume designer and production designer in the look and feel of a film or video.

    What was the most challenging scene you have done and why?

    The most challenging scene would be a scene in King of Boys; The Return of the King in episode 1. The scene where Eniola was at the burial place of her children and having a dialogue with her younger self. Why? Because of the level of Key framing for light changes and transitions of day-to-night I had to do. From clip to clip and within certain clips. It took time but it turned out great eventually. A beautiful challenge. It is obvious patience is essential to being a good Colorist.

    What other characteristics do you consider essential?

    Listening and communication skills. Listening to understanding what the client wants and being able to communicate other options from a professional point of view. And then a colourist should be able to let go and simply do what the client wants especially if you have articulately made your case. Patience is really quite important.

    For upcoming Colourists, what advice would you give?

    I will say never stop learning. Never stop learning your tools whichever tool you choose to grade with. Never stop learning the art. Never stop trying out new things, and new challenges.

    Never assume you are there. I still learn every day. Learning on the job and learning when I am less busy. Watching tutorials, reading books and manuals. More like re-reading them. If you find colourists that you admire the films and videos they have worked on, follow them on social media. Look at their works, bring screenshots into Resolve and try to analyze what they did using the scopes.

    When you are not working on a project, what do you for fun?

    I watch series. I watch a lot more series than films. It relaxes me and I am also looking out for what they did to make the pictures beautiful.

  • IFEOMA ADIBE CHUKWUKA: I started my first organisation at 19

    IFEOMA ADIBE CHUKWUKA: I started my first organisation at 19

    Ifeoma Adibe Chukwuka is the CEO of Omaness Skinfood Company, homegrown company with an all women direct distribution and merchant force.
    She began her journey into social entrepreneurship at 19 when she founded AYECI Africa focusing on educational interventions and access to work opportunities for women and young people. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion, mentoring others and highlights in her career like being featured as the only African female entrepreneur in the Cherie Blair Foundation Global Campaign for female entrepreneurs.

    You became an entrepreneur at 19, what was the motivation at that point?

    I founded my first non-profit organization at 19 while I was a student at Lagos State Polytechnic. My campus was located in a low-income community and I witnessed first-hand the lack of learning opportunities and exposure that affected many low-income students.  This became my motivation for venturing into social entrepreneurship. I founded my first non-profit organization (AYECI Africa) and with funding from corporate sponsorship and volunteer support the organization provides access to learning, employability skill and dignified livelihood opportunities for young people and women.

    What were the challenges at the beginning?

    At the beginning one of the major challenge, I faced was securing funding to keep the programs and activities of the organization running. Because the organization was founded as a non-profit, we were not generating revenue and had to depend on the funding from external sources (private donations, corporate sponsorships) which were mostly one-off and short term. This was not sustainable so it posed a major challenge.

    What inspired you to go into the homegrown skinfood sector?

    Venturing into the homegrown skinfood sector presented an opportunity for me to empower and enrich the lives of more women across West Africa in a more sustainable and profitable manner. As I mentioned earlier, I had spent over a decade working and creating interventions for young people and women in low-income communities and it became a pressing concern for me as I observed women who struggled with financial inadequacies and lack of opportunity to earn a decent income.

    In 2016, while I was pregnant with my first child, I got a gift of shea butter from one of the women who were a beneficiary of my organization’s community learning program and I had my first real skin-enriching experience with that shea butter! The shea butter was so good and I wondered why this woman wasn’t making more money from her produce? It was during that period I started asking myself how I could help women like this who had amazing local produce sell more so they could move!

    That was when I had the light bulb moment – If I could get more people to know about this amazing local produce and gets them to buy then I would have created an impactful business model that would become a sustainable income source for local women. That was how Omaneess Skinfood was born!

    I started with one homegrown skinfood product “Shea Butter” and today we have over 40 variety of skinfood products made with ingredients locally sourced by women and sold by women!

    What was the experience like working with all female-distributors and what inspired the idea?

    The experience working with all female distributors has been empowering and given the Omaness Skinfood Brand a unique niche in the market.

    After we officially launched the company in 2018, I was faced with the challenge of how to get our products to the consumers? I quickly realized that with the limited funds I had I couldn’t invest in credit-stocking our products in retail shops so I had to come up with a distribution strategy that would align with the business model and vision I had for Omaness Skinfood to enrich women!

    Prior to that time, I had read up about global beauty companies like Avon and Solar Sisters an award-winning African social enterprise that distributes and retails their products through an all-female sales network.

    The impact of their distribution model was amazing and it also aligned with the vision I had for Omaness Skinfood so I decided to replicate a similar distribution model to onboard, train and support women to retail, earn and build their own business selling Omaness Skinfood products.

    You have also worked on interventions for women and young people in low-income communities.  What are some of the lessons learnt?

    One of the major lesson I have learnt working on intervention for women and young people in low-income communities is that handouts are not a long-term sustainable way to combat the problems associated with poverty. For people to escape poverty they need a sustainable way to earn.

    You were the only African female featured during the Cherie Blair campaign in 2020, what does this mean to you?

    Being featured on the Cherie Blair Foundation 2020 Global Campaign meant a lot to me and is a validation that the impact of my work as an African female entrepreneur is recognized.

    What was the turning point in your career?

    The turning point in my career was when I founded The Omaness Skinfood Company because today my impact business model has become a case study showing other African entrep reneurs that we can solve our own problems with our own resources.

    For me, what drives me as an African entrepreneur is creating interventions and products that enriches the lives of people, communities and changes the narratives.

    And at this point in my career what I am building with Omaness Skinfood exemplifies that we can maximize our local resources and talents to alleviate poverty and create shared prosperity for our people.

    What are some of the other memorable moments in your life and career?

    I have had a quite a number of memorable moments in my life and career but the two that stands out most to me would be when I became a mother and when I received my first angel investment. It meant a lot to me that someone would believe enough in my vision to want to see it come alive.

    What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

    Asides from overseeing the daily operations of my business and being a mother to my two beautiful daughters, some of the other activities that occupy my time is providing mentorship to other entrepreneurs, writing and spending time with my loved ones.

    1. Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

     

    Jesus Christ! His life was short lived yet very impactful. For me He is the greatest change agent of all time and his life exemplified how the vision of one man can change the world.

    Jesus Christ possesses the visionary leadership traits that I can only aspire to model.

    What advice do you have for female entrepreneurs?

    If as a woman you have been naturally wired with the biological, physical and mental strength to conceive birth and nurture a child to adulthood, you also have the innate ability in you to conceive an idea, birth it into a business and nurture it to become something truly exceptional!

    This is my advice to every female entrepreneur “You have it in you to be an exceptional entrepreneur, Play to your strengths, be authentic, stop comparing yourself to others and, above all, seize every opportunity to leave a lasting impact through your business”

    How would you assess Nigerian youths today?

    The Nigeria youths are one of the most resilient in the world! Despite all the shortcomings and leadership inadequacies we have had to deal with every day, we still find way to show up and do great things out of nothing!

    See what we have done with the entertainment industry, tech, fashion and even the skin food industry!

    Tell us about the people you admire?

    One female entrepreneur I admire is Sara Blakely, an American female inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Spanx, a global leading shapewear and undergarment brand. I admire how she built her company form the scratch into a global prominent brand now worth over $1billion.

    Next would be Tara Fela Durotoye, a Nigerian beauty entrepreneur and founder of House of Tara International. She pioneered the bridal makeup profession in Nigeria and prestigious Nigerian-owned makeup line.

    Finally, would be Madam C.J Walker, I got to discover her story through a Netflix true life inspired series. It was so inspiring watching her story about how she created a homemade line of hair care products for Black women and her rise from poverty to becoming one of the wealthiest African American women of her time! One thing that stood out for me about her was how she built her haircare empire and financially empowered over 20,000 black women who sold her products.

    Where do you hope to be in the next few years?

    In the next few years, I hope to be in the position where my company is leading the market as the African skinfood brand of choice and providing a sustainable source of income for at least 1,000 women.

  • “Crucify Him” after Praising Him

    “Crucify Him” after Praising Him

    Simon Peter was a man whose life and ministry were interspersed with the good, the bad and the ugly. The event cascading to his call, as recorded in Luke 5:1-11, brought him out as a man of diligence, selflessness and faith. He obeyed Jesus Christ mindless of toiling all night without catching anything. He cast aside the business failure of the previous night and surrendered his boat and services for dispensing the word of God at Jesus’ request. When the time for Jesus’ crucifixion was near, Jesus informed Simon Peter that “….. this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice”. Peter replied Him that “…Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:34-35). True to Simon Peter’s words, few hours later, Judas led the Chief priest and others to arrest Jesus Christ, Peter in a show of courage “…. stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Although he had displayed that act of gallantry, he no sooner thereafter became a turncoat and manifested spinelessness and betrayed Jesus thrice to the extent that at a time he denied with an oath and at another time he denied he ever knew Jesus Christ cursing and swearing (Matthew 26:72-74). He betrayed the man who few days ago he joined the multitude to herald into Jerusalem with songs of “Hosannah!”.

    “All the world’s a stage’, according to William Shakespeare, ‘and all men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages”. This gives further credence to the fact that life is surely not only a stage with different actors, but need be added that life is also in stages, acts, scenes and phases. One stage of life dovetails into another unpredictable stage; in fact, life is a continuum of stages. In view of the unpredictability of human beings, what is pertinent for everyone, particularly people that are dancing to the Victory songs of today is to learn from Jesus Christ’s experience on His way to the cross that human beings are unpredictable, unreliable and be mindful of the fact that after the Victory song of today, a hymn of betrayal can follow tomorrow. The only person who can and will never change or betray His children is the Almighty God (Isaiah 49:15-16). As this year’s Lenten season is ending, it is important to continue to stand with Him, the author and giver of life, and trust in Him alone; anything to the contrary is an invitation to disappointments, sadness, high blood pressure and sudden death.

    Paul, despite being a giant in faith, was once in a very hellacious state that defied human assistance at Asia. There, his travail, as recorded in Acts 19:22-41, was so serious that when the uproar ceased he departed to Macedonia following opposition which arose because of The way (Acts 9:2). In fact, there was a man called Demetrius, a silversmith, who was making shrines for Artemis and was losing business because of the Way (Acts 16:16, 19). Demetrius ganged up with other workers of similar occupation and they raised up great animosity against Paul. He was in a quagmire between who to follow – himself, loyalists, friends or God. He was helpless and hopeless but he “…. had the sentence of death …. not to trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2Corinthians 1:9). Paul sentenced himself to the fact that no matter what, he would not trust in himself or his ability or anyone but repose his trust in God who alone has the power to raise from the dead. In whatever dire situation you may be in today, as you put your trust in God, I join my faith with yours that He would send help to you and raise you ‘from the dead’, to the community of the living, in Jesus’ name.

    It is unfortunate that many people in the world today have faith or trust in ephemeral beings, things and positions – that are here today and not there tomorrow. In order to stay afloat in this world and be able to steer the affairs of life to where God desires to take you to, you must eschew the attitudinal traits of the Israelites who “…… committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). You must depend absolutely on the leading of the Holy Spirit and avoid putting trust in your education or knowledge (cf Acts 27:9 ff) or depend on any man because human beings alter their stands and positions at frequent will (Jeremiah 17:5-6; Micah 7:5-6).  No matter how sound or seemingly dependable a medical practitioner is for instance, Doctors have their limits (Mark 5:25-34). Even parents are not omnipotent and can fail (Isaiah 49:15-16).

    It doesn’t matter what you may be passing through now, hold tightly to Jesus Christ and remember that after the sufferings of Good Friday and/or the seeming silence of the Father on Good Saturday, there shall come the Supernatural intervention of the Father on Easter Sunday. You shall rise again with Jesus Christ! You shall be lifted, and you shall be celebrated! May the Almighty God intervene in the affairs of your life, send angels to you from above, roll away that stone of hindrance, bring to life dead opportunities, put an end to all the challenges of today and at last, give you grace to inherit eternal life, in Jesus’ name.

     

    Prayer: Lord give me grace to continually depend on you in this uncertain world and times, in Jesus’ name

     

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