The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

Ukraine: Our desperate escape to Romania, by Nigerian students

Gboyega Alaka in this piece, attempted to track the progress of Nigerian students, mostly medical students, who made their way to safety in Bucharest, Romania, following Ukraine’s invasion by Russia.

He also spoke with some volunteer Nigerians, the Nigerian Ambassador to Romania and an apprehensive parent.

“It’s a really terrifying situation out there. A Tanzanian was killed. No, he actually died of hypothermia, which was due to the cold arising from the long wait at the border. There was another African; he also died of hypothermia. It’s extremely cold in that region now. I don’t know any African that has been killed in the attacks, though. I also don’t know of any Nigerian that has died directly from the attack. But people have died of cold and starvation. I didn’t eat for about three days and was running on no sleep.

But then, we were trying to survive.”

The above are words of Vivian Rapheal, a 20-year-old Nigerian medical student, studying at the Kyiv Medical School, as she attempted to capture the predicament of Nigerians, Ukrainians and other nationals, as they made to escape to safety from the under attack Ukraine.

Of course, she was not spared of the impact of the cold, she said, but her state of mind spared her.

“I get cold easily, but I guess because I had adrenalin, I didn’t feel anything because I wasn’t thinking of myself. All that occupied my mind was how to get to safety. It was when I got to Romania that I realised that my entire skin was red, my feet were numb and I had rashes.

“My parents back in Nigeria were restless, but I tried to put their minds at rest by constant communication. I was in communication with them throughout my journey. Like every parent, they were scared, but I guess they had faith that we would be okay. I tried the best I could to save my battery too, so I could keep in touch with them. I charged it on the train and with my laptop.”

Recalling how she managed to get out of the troubled country, Vivian said, “The invasion started Thursday and we left Kyiv on Friday afternoon – I was with my sister and a friend. The train from Kyiv to Lyviv took about 15 hours because they were trying to find the safest routes. I got to Lyviv 8 am the next day. We had booked a train from Lviv to Uzhgorod but the train didn’t come on time. And since we didn’t want to waste any much time waiting because it was dangerous, we booked a taxi from Lyviv train station to Uzhgorod. We got to Uzhgorod in the evening of Saturday at 4 pm because there was traffic. My friend suggested that we rest in the hotel, but I didn’t feel like sleeping in Ukraine that day, so I tried my luck and got a taxi to Santa Mari County, Romania. The taxi driver wanted to drop us at some distance, but we were begging and praying; we even offered to pay him extra. So he took us as close as he could to the passport control of Ukraine. And then we walked to the border.”

Of the invasion, Vivian said the attack started in Kyiv, the capital, but they were also attacking Sumy; so people were trapped there. And then of course Kharkov, which is like the Lagos of Ukraine.

The case of Sumy is particularly pathetic, she said, because the city is on the eastern part of Ukraine and shares a border with Russia. They had destroyed their rail system, meaning there was no way for the people there to come out.

As at the time of this interview (Wednesday), Vivian said she didn’t know of anyone who had been able to get out of that city. She also acknowledged that there was a significant number of Africans there.

Would it not be better for them to escape into Russia then?

To this, she replied: “I don’t know if it makes sense to escape into the enemy country attacking you.” Asked if she experienced any form of discrimination as has been reported on cable TV stations, Vivian said,” None whatsoever,” she replied,” adding, “They were friendly, offering water, hot drinks and food.”

Asked to assess the effort of the Nigerian government and the volunteer groups, Vivian said,” I think they’ve done the barest minimum. As we speak, I’m in a hotel, the Nigerian embassy paid for it.” We didn’t think much of it Uthman Ismail and Badmus Abdullai, both 20-year-olds and Year 1 students of Kyiv Medical School, didn’t think much of the altercation between the two countries until the early hours of Wednesday when the first barrage of bombs started landing in Kyiv, blasting buildings and rocking the foundation of their skyscraper campus hostel.

Recalled Badmus, “The first three bomb blasts, I didn’t actually hear because I was sleeping until someone came to wake me up. I even thought he was joking until I heard another one after a while.

That really reverberated and I was really scared. I thought this was no joke anymore. I was on the 7 the floor and I quickly went to the ground floor and saw fellow students, Ukrainians, moving out. Even then, some of us still thought it was a one-off attack and it would pass.” Uthman actually thought it a rumour and never imagined it would snowball into what was unfolding and see them traverse hundreds of miles to take refuge in Bucharest, Romania.

“I actually thought it was a joke until I heard that first bomb blast around 4-5 am on Thursday. What further registered the enormity of the situation in me was when I saw Ukrainian students living for their homes. That left us stranded.”

Funny enough, Uthman said even the Ukrainians didn’t appear to take the threats of war seriously and went about their normal activities.

Once the reality dawned, it didn’t take both friends, who said they travelled together, long to take a decision. They actually wanted to go to Poland but changed their mind when they couldn’t access the train. It took them 35 hours, but they made it to Romania; first by train, and then courtesy of a Bolt taxi from Uzhgorod. The train was free whilst they paid for the taxi. Some good people in Romania also sent money to help facilitate their passage, they revealed.

At the time of this interview, there was no news of any Nigerian casualty, but they were aware that some people were still stuck in the city.

Asked if he would be willing to be evacuated to Nigeria, despite the risk of losing the time he had put into his studies, Uthman said, “Yes, I came here to study. When the war is over, I can always come back to complete my studies. As I speak, we have 15 days’ holidays but from what we are hearing, it is not something likely to end anytime soon.”

Recalling the terror in the atmosphere as they traveled, Badmus said “Everybody was scared. Even the Ukranians! We tried to communicate with them, but since they didn’t speak English, we had to let them be. I wasn’t so terrified initially; I was even doing videos. But when they started blowing the siren and telling us to go into the bomb shelter, I began thinking,” Guy, this is very serious.”

He expressed joy to have made it to Bucharest. “We feel safe here. It’s actually a nice place. And for the first time in almost ten months, we ate swallow. They call it grish. It’s like semo. We ate it with Igbo soup.”

Even dangerous situations come with their advantages.

However, even before the Russian invasion, Badmus said he had always nursed a hope of leaving Ukraine. “I just wanted a better place,” he said.

On the news of discrimination, the young man said, “I would not call it discrimination. They were just giving preference to women and kids.”

His friend, Uthman, is however just glad to be out of Ukraine. He also had some good words for the Nigerian government, through its embassy. “They surpassed my expectation.”

Like Uthman and Badmus, Onu Bethel, also a Year 1 student of Kyiv Medical School, never thought much of the row between Ukraine and Russia, until that Thursday morning invasion.

According to him, “There was a time we heard that the troops were being withdrawn; so we thought there would be a diplomatic solution. We heard countries were meditating and trying to settle it. Of course, if I knew it would get to this, I would have left Ukraine.”

He, however, had no regret about coming to the Eastern European country, stating, “If this didn’t happen, I would most certainly have finished within the six-year time-set. There would have been no interruptions.”

He also said Poland was his first choice of exit but said he ended up wasting too much time trying to get on the train. “I spent two days, actually, before we finally took a train to Uzzhorod en route Romania.”

Of the reception in Romania, Onu said, “They’ve been very helpful and very accommodating.”

On the craze for Kyiv Medical School among Nigerians, Onu volunteered: “I don’t know how credible it is but if you were to check online, the school is rated as the best medical school in Ukraine. It is also cheaper than other medical schools in the Diaspora.”

On the language barrier, all students spoken to said they were taught in English. And even though the Ukrainians aren’t so good at English, they got along with them, using the Google Translate app.

The Ukrainian For Etima Ukpe, a native of Akwa Ibom State, Ukraine is not just a country of study or sojourn but a home, as she kept repeating the phrase, ‘my city, all through the interview. Based in Ivanofrankvisk, West of Ukraine, Ukpe, 30, is a qualified medical doctor, and doing her post-graduate studies, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology.

She arrived Ukraine in 2013 and graduated in 2019. Her intention, as she stayed back, was to get her post-graduate certificate and relocate to Nigeria; but as it turned out, “It has been easier for me to get into the system since I studied here.”

Recounting what has now become a horror to both indigenes and foreigners, Ukpe said, “I was in my city when it all started. Ivano-Frankivsk is about 12 hours from Kyiv and happened to be the most peaceful and quiet city in Ukraine. You could call it the safest actually. In 2014 when the fight happened in Donetsk, it didn’t affect us; so we thought this too wasn’t going to affect us. But on Thursday morning, I got a call from work that there was no need for me to come because our city had been attacked as well and it was not safe.”

Still, she wasn’t scared and actually thought the worst that could happen would be to seek somewhere to hide. “Then we got information from the mayor that it’s more serious this time, and that everything had stopped. Unlike in the past, shops were not opening, schools were not opening and banks were not opening. Even buses were not running. That was when I realised that this was different,” Ukpe said.

Narrating how she migrated to Bucharest, Romania, Ukpe said, “I belong to a church, so they organised a bus for about 75 of us. At the border, it was tough, but compared to the chaos I heard played out at the Polish border, it was a lot better. The driver dropped us somewhere and we had to walk about three hours to the border gate, where we met a lot of people waiting. I spent about 16 to 19 hours before I could cross. It was pretty cold, but I had doubled up before leaving home.”

Would she be willing to go back home, albeit temporarily, should the Nigerian government make good at its pledge to provide a plane to evacuate Nigerian citizens?

“Yes, I want to be home. Definitely,” was her sharp reply.

What plans does govt have to resettle the returning students?

Aguda

For Mr Wale Aguda, who said he had two children studying at the National Memorial Medical University, Vinnitsia, Ukraine, his biggest headache was how the children would not lose the years they had put in a medical school. He spoke on this and more in this interview.

How have you managed since news of the invasion broke?

I have two children at National Memorial Medical University in Vinnitisia, Ukraine; the two of them are in Romania as we speak, having crossed through the Syrec border. Majorly, the challenges that Nigerian students encountered was that there was no arrangement to take them from any point within Ukraine to the border, so they had to make arrangements on their own. There was a time they make bookings with the train and it was cancelled, and then they were given different booking. But I didn’t want them to be separated because they are just 18 and 19. Ultimately, it was through the help of their Ghanaian friend that they eventually got a vehicle that took them out of Ukraine.

Fortunately, the Nigerian government is ready to commence the evacuation of Nigerians …

It is not about evacuating them back to Nigeria; what do they have in plan for them, to ensure that they don’t lose the years they have put in. What is in stock for them when they get back to Nigeria or should they stay in Romania and look for other options? Two years of a six-year programme is a lot if you have to repeat.

Would you be willing to have them reintegrated into a Nigerian university?

If that is what is available, we won’t mind. But the issue is that we don’t even know what is going to happen? The other day, I heard the Foreign Affairs Minister said, if you could have money to send your child abroad, you should be able to pay their way back. That, to me, is very unfortunate.

The moment the war broke out, how did you feel as a parent, knowing that your children were out there?

My brother, I have not had the smallest sleep since that Wednesday. I had to monitor every inch of their movement through Google. Thanks to Mr Sanusi, he sent the location map to me and I was monitoring them for more than 36 hours. If there was a break in transmission, it was as if the worst had happened. Thrice on that Thursday, they had to go to underground bunkers to hide when there were bomb attacks.

Nigeria Diaspora 4040 Initiative and other volunteers

NOTABLE among those on the ground to receive and ensure that Nigerians seeking safety from the Russia/Ukraine face-off into Romania settle in as comfortably as possible was Adeniyi Sanusi, Executive Director, Nigeria Diaspora 4040. He and other well-meaning Nigerians like Adebayo Nurudeen, a lawyer and a post-graduate student and a few others, and officials of the Nigerian embassy, were at the border in Bucharest to receive the Nigerians.

According to Adeniyi Sanusi, who facilitated the interviews with some of the respondents in this piece by setting up a zoom meeting, even connecting this writer with the Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Dayo Adeoye, who eventually facilitated an interview with the ambassador, a parent in Nigeria, had petitioned him to help look after his migrating children. That, coupled with his mission in Nigeria Diaspora 4040, meant he couldn’t sit on the fence anyway.

The NGA Diaspora 4040, Sanusi told The Nation, was formed on a social entrepreneurship level, to intensify Migration awareness-raising efforts of NiDCOM (Nigeria in Diaspora commission) and the Nigerian Orientation Agency (NOA). So what we do is to create a platform where Nigerians in the Diaspora can actually communicate directly with Nigerians back home by telling stories.

We have a journal that we are going to launch soon, in which we interviewed 40 Nigerians who have been living in Diaspora during the period 40 years leveraging on the Nigerian emigration trends from 1981 to 2021, where they shared their experiences of what it means to live in the Diaspora. The reason for doing this is to make Nigerians see the realities of living abroad and the challenges. “Our organisation is basically about goal number 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2030 goal number 10.7.2., which is to facilitate regular and orderly migration,” he said.

According to Adebayo Nurudeen, who also spoke via Zoom, “I was one of the reps who was fortunate to be aware of their location and quickly went to welcome them, provide them with one or two things and make them feel at home. We also let the Nigerian authority in Bucharest be aware of their presence in Romania.

“While I would not want to take away any credit due to Nigeria In Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), I would however say that much of what has been done to settle in Nigerians here, has been due to the efforts of Nigerians living in Romania. They have done wonderfully well with the collaborative effort of the Nigerian Embassy here.”

Even though they did not expect the mammoth crowd that came in, Adebayor said they have managed well, even taking in other African citizens.

We’re giving Nigerians good reception – Nuhu

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Romania, Sefia Nuhu, speaks on the quality of reception given to escaping Nigerian students and fellow African nationals.

What have you been doing to get Nigerians in Ukraine to safety and resettled?

Many of the Nigerians that crossed over to Romania got a very good reception at the border of Romania. The Romanian authorities decided to facilitate easy movement of people from the endangered territory to safety. They also extended assistance in terms of provision, food water, even accommodation for 24 hours. For most of them that arrived from Bucharest, the Nigerian embassy had to take up responsibilities for them.

Some of them have complained that there was no convergence point in Ukraine from where the people could gather and be evacuated.

Nuhu

For us, mostly, our responsibility is within the Romanian territory and at the Romanian border. In fact, our staff were unable to cross over to any Ukrainian territory. So, most of the difficulties that those

fleeing from Ukraine experienced were within the Ukrainian territory and borders. Again, part of the reason is the congestion at the borders because of the desperation to come in.

I learnt that some Nigerians were trapped in Sumy, which has been attacked. Is there anything you can do to get these people out to safety?

Like I told you earlier, my responsibility is strictly within Romania; so we would not have access to anyone outside Romania.

We are also hoping there would be a ceasefire so that it will be possible for them to get to safety and also cross over.

What are the provisions you are making for those who have crossed over?

For all those that came over to Romania, we’ve been able to accommodate them, about 900 of them in Bucharest. The first flight to take them back to Nigeria will start tomorrow (Thursday).

Are there any Nigerians who have indicated their unwillingness to return?

We have some who have indicated their intention to stay in Romania or other parts of Europe. A large percentage of Nigerians in Ukraine are students; some of them are in their second, third, even final year, and they wouldn’t want to lose out on the opportunity to complete their studies. Some have indicated an intention not to return but I have not been able to sit with them to know their preferences.

Hon. Abike Dabiri, in a broadcast, said some African countries have petitioned Nigeria to help evacuate their nationals, are you into that?

We have been extending consular services to other Africans that come in from the border. In Romania, there aren’t a lot of African missions; so the Africans that come together in groups are usually taken in buses, and we put them in the same accommodation as our own nationals and give them food and other necessities. Notably, we have extended these services to Ghanaians, Cameroonians, even Egyptians.

There are fears that the war may escalate and even get to Romania?

Well, there is a lot that one cannot predict. Even the way this conflict started is not something easily predictable. It’s something that is based on a lot of factors and uncertainties. So I do believe that there is a lot that would unfold in the next coming week. But we are hoping that the fear does not become reality.

March 6, 2022
TOYOSI ETIM EFFIONG: COVID-19 brought out the best in me

Toyosi Etim Effiong is CEO of That Good Media, talk show host, producer, author and wife of popular Nollywood actor. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion, achievements, new opportunities, challenges as well as having a supportive husband.

YOU are into different things, are you moving into a new area because of the challenges encountered?

No, that is not true. It is called evolution. You can compare this with a Caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It is a natural progression of things. I started off as a presenter, that was in front of the camera and I had people calling the shots, telling me what to do and how to do all of that.

Then I got to a point where I wanted to be behind the camera, so that I call my own shots and produce my own show. And you know that the media space is interwoven. I came to the realisation that why can’t I promote my show myself. I had people who helped me and I thought I should be able to help others on what to do about their brands, products or services. It is growth.

Are you going to continue with your TV program?

Yes. It will continue. A lot of things are happening and I am gathering content for another book. I am actually working on children’s book at the moment. It should be out this year.

Are you very comfortable being married to an actor?

I am extremely comfortable about it. We have conversations about it. Initially, I used to be so scared and I would ask different questions about some romantic scenes. Then he told me it is the job and the job brings money to the house. I am more comfortable now and I am well acquainted with a lot of the actors and actresses. They respect me, I respect them as well and I respect the job.

Where does your husband come in all that you do?

My husband is very supportive. He allows me to fly, he allows me to be whatever I want to be. He because in me, my dreams and passion.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, was the experience memorable?

The weekend has been memorable. I was very surprised. He took me to a private beach house; he rented out the entire place and had a chef make breakfast and lunch. There was also a masseur there and I got a massage. Then we went to Radisson Blu. When I walked into the room there were flowers and balloons. He had a photographer around to capture the moment.

Why did you venture into PR recently?

We are all exploring in life and this is the new phase that I have found myself. The funny thing is that I have been doing this for a while. Initially, I was just doing it for family and friends. That is something you don’t realise how good you are until you are at it. I realised that people kept coming back and I would help them with different aspects like branding. So, I decided to face it headlong to face it headlong, put some structure around it and put a cost to it.

What has been the experience in the past few years?

I started with rebranding and I can see the prospect for a Business even for an individual. I see things that can be done differently. One of my first major clients was Harvesters Church through Pastor Bolaji. I had a chat with him and he asked me to join his team, which was when I saw the potentials.

What are the challenges?

I once tried to get my husband to be my client but that was my most challenging experience and so I handed him over to somebody else.

It’s a very competitive sector; do you have a particular niche that makes you different?

I like public figures and I like to work with them. A lot of the people I have worked with are public figures and small businesses trying to be more visible, looking for more publicity.

Also, I treat each person as a family, a personal friend because it is not just business. Usually I want to know what you want to achieve and I want to help you to achieve that. I am interested in the growth of every client and a lot of times, I go beyond PR, begin to help them with the strategy, how to transform the business, business development and more. I put the personal touch into everything I do.

There were lots of challenges during and post COVID, how did you survive?

I want to say that 2020 was one of my best years. The COVID -19 actually brought out the best in me; I became more creative and innovative. Besides writing my book, a lot of people found that they wanted to brand themselves. They realised that there were more opportunities apart from the 9 to 5 job. Everybody was at home and everybody had time to think. So, I would say that year was a really good one.

How would you describe this phase of your life?

I would say that I am being transformed to the person that I really want to be. I have gone from playing small , from being timid and just wanting to work with people that know me , so that if I mess up they would cover up to actually being confident enough to know that if I take on strangers as clients, things would work out fine. So, I am more aggressive and determined. I know what I want, and I am going after them. In terms of the services that we render, some of them are niches and we have partners that we lean on. If you come to me saying you want we development for instance, we have a web development team that can get on that for you.

You believe in always standing by the truth, how do you intend to manage this with your clients?

We all know what happened recently, people taking things out of proportion or people telling lies and some people carrying it without verifying. Also, we had some celebrities also carrying things that were not true. So, my mission really is to encourage the truth, it sounds very broad and it is the truth. If you come to me with a story and I know it is the truth, then my mission would be to amplify it and it would drown out any lie that anybody wants to say. So, it is really about controlling the narratives. That is my desire.

This is the season for politics, are politicians part of your niche?

Why not! I think it is unfair to say every politician is not a liar. We are looking for change in this country and my dream is to identify politicians who are intentional about the change that they want to bring. And because of the elections, I have actually been doing some study and I discovered that there is a lot of red tapeism in getting things done. Some of these guys have good intentions but the steps to get it done or the system frustrates it. So, it is not as if they are coming out to lie when they say they want to give you electricity, they really want to give you electricity. I am not saying all but the system frustrates it because some people benefits from not having electricity.

So, we stand for integrity, we stand for truth. We are not driven by money; we are driven by morals and the right principles.

The image of the country is one that is entrenched in corruption. What do you have to say about this?

I think the people who should be speaking are not speaking. I think a lot of people who can make the transformation and the change required are too busy. One of my favourite parables is found in the Book of Kings, about the trees looking for a king and they asked the Olive king to be king but the Olive tree said he was busy, same with palm tree and all the other solid trees, they were all busy. Then they asked the tree that had no fruits, just sticks and he said sure, let me come and be king. I believe that is what is going on in Nigeria. People that can actually make a difference are too busy with their private lives. I am really hoping that those who have it in their heart will bring the change and the transformation that we need.

How do you intend to juggle all the roles especially with a young family?

This is a very good time to thank God for my support system. Also I have an understanding husband, then I have my mum at home. When you have a mum at home, to a large extent you are fine and she is fine in the house. So, she works with the children, monitoring them and all that. So, I would say that I can balance all that I do now because of God and a solid support system.

What message do you have foe women, as they celebrate the International Women day?

I would say Nigerian women; believe in your strength, you are stronger than you think. A lot of women are shy and timid, they are afraid to be seen. But that is no longer the truth. There are several women getting it right, women in decent careers, getting it right, making a change and they have family.

What are the advantages of inter tribal marriage from your experience?

In my marriage, we don’t see tribes. For us, it is one Nigeria and that is the way, we have seen things. It has never been about tribe. First of all, I am married to a wonderful man. Equally important is that I am married to a wonderful family. My in-laws are amazing.

March 6, 2022
I find time for special treats at the spa

Kemi Stone is an actress and producer. She is passionate about the creative sector and looking glamorous all the time. In this encounter, with Yetunde Oladeinde she takes you into her world, current concerns and the secret of looking good.

HAVING a calm and confident disposition, she informs has always been an advantage. “I believe that it all starts from your mindset. The secret to looking good is therefore mostly about your level of confidence as well as your sense of style. If you believe in yourself, exude confidence and carry yourself in high esteem then you are bound to stand out. I also believe in the view that everybody is beautiful and we all have our unique selling point”.

Kemi continued: “I drink enough water and that keeps me hydrated. The beauty routine must start from within and I must say that has really helped me”.

Next, she talked extensively about pampering her skin and the different things she does to maintain her glowing skin.

“I also take my skincare routine seriously. This includes taking good supplements which has always worked for me. Feeling happy and most importantly minding my own business has been a great therapy. That makes away stress and it gives me strength no matter the situation around me”.

Still on pampering her skin and body, kemi informs that it is better to look for professionals who are skilled to help keep and maintain the skin. “ I make use of House of Freeda body care all day and the experience has been worthwhile”.

Using the facilities at the Spa has also been very interesting with memories that thrill. “I visit the Spa at least two times in a month. This is because of my busy schedule, so I try to find time for this special treats that comes with results that are awesome”.

Kemi added: “It has been a very interesting journey and I love to pamper my skin with the best skincare products from house of Phreeda bodycare. I don’t joke with any of their products because they’ve been very helpful to keep maintaining this lovely skin. Also as mentioned, I try to go to the Spa as much as often”.

Now, you want to know some of the things that she avoids in her diet and she replied: “I don’t take too much carbohydrate. I try to balance my diet with all the classes of food that has protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and others”.

So, what are some of the things that she wouldn’t do in the name of fashion? “I won’t inconvenience myself while trying to look good in the name of fashion. Comfort is usually very critical for me and that has proved to be very useful. In addition, I always think about modesty, when it comes to the clothes and accessories that I wear”.

Happily, Kemi goes on to talk about your favourite products and make-up artiste this way: “I don’t have any favorite make-up products but any good product that won’t affect my natural skin is cool for me. You know that I don’t joke with my skin and everything I use to maintain it is from the houseofphreedabodycare. Also, my make-up artiste is @klassic.me . I have great confidence in their services and they have a crop of very good make-up artiste”

Exercise routine? No way! That appears to be a no-go area for her. “I must confess that I do not do this regularly. But I try to exercise at weekends, whenever I am free though”.

Kemi’s loves to pay great attention to her hair on a regular basis. That she noted, gives her that first impression that has paid off over time.” I actually love lace wig so much. It brings out the best looks and I just love to rock different types over and over again”.

March 6, 2022
Lagos Baptist West holds Lifeway conference

The annual LifeWay International Conference of the Lagos West Baptist Conference commences on March 11 and end on Sunday March 13,2022.

The LifeWay Conference is designed to enrich the spiritual lives of members of the Baptist denomination.

It is aimed at teaching key spiritually and scriptural issues to further deepen Baptist faithfuls..

The theme for this year’s conference is : “Baptist Autonomy:The Spirit, Principles and Practice”.

The special guest minister is the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Dr Isreal Adelani Akanji.

The President,Lagos West Baptist Conference,Dr Samuel Oladiran said this year’s theme is poised to equip and empower Baptist members with requisite information and In-depth approach about the distinctiveness of the Baptist denomination.

March 4, 2022
Remove your mountains through fasting
In our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no barrier that one cannot scale and there is no height that one cannot attain. If The Word of God (John 1:3; Col. 1:16,17) can lift up Joseph who was a prisoner to become the Minister of Finance and Vice President in a strange land (Genesis 41:14,39,40); with Him, there is no geographical barrier or hinderance, and there is no case that is hopeless with the Scent of water. Job 14:7-9 attests to it that, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.”

God, in His unlimited power, can remember a beggarly person in Mephibosheth who was confined to the valley of life at Lodebar and He catapulted him to the mountain top of life in the palace (2Sam. 9). If God can pay the debt of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets and upscaled her to the committee of the rich people in the society with a small jar of olive oil (2 Kings 4:1-7), I am sure that He can change your story before this month ends. If with a touch on His garment, the issue of blood of twelve years in the life of that woman which Doctors had regarded as a terminal ailment (Mk 5:25-34) was healed, there is no HIV/AIDS, Hole in the heart, Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Stroke, Childlessness or Coronavirus ailment that He cannot heal today.

From the passage of our text, Jesus promised that when we fast genuinely, pray very well (1Thess 5:17) and have faith like a mustard seed (Luke 17:6), He would release to us the power to move mountains. This is suffice to say that whatever mountain that is commanded to leave shall heed and be removed without hesitation. What is a mountain? A mountain is that frightening ‘Goliath’ in your life; it is that problem asking, ‘where is your God?’; it is that power that is behind aimless life journey and it is that problem that is capable of turning a 40 days trip to a 40 years journey. Beloved in Christ, the mountain is that power that introduced strange sicknesses into your life or problems into your family, education or staff of bread. A mountain can also be an animate being, that is, a person who is blocking your path at home, in your marriage, at your place of assignment or the issue lifting it’s head at your place of commission and declaring that you will never fulfil divine purpose or get to your Promised land (Zech. 4:7). Jesus Christ promised that, with a command whatever is called a mountain shall become history.

Dear beloved brothers and sisters, please note that when you fast with prayer and in faith, it doesn’t matter for how long the mountain had been with you, it shall relocate of it’s own accord and your life shall experience peace, in the name of Jesus. He promised that “…. whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:12-14) Halleluyah!

Beloved in Christ, it doesn’t matter what you may be passing through at such a time as this, I have good news for you: God has the capacity to move any human, spiritual or structural mountain standing before the manifestation of your glory, and I am sure that He is going to move them with His awesome power, no matter how mighty they are and how long they have stayed with or around you. Dear brothers and sisters, please believe me: it is not over with you! As long as He lives, and in this year of Divine satisfaction, your story is going to change for His glory. Where you have been regarded as a nobody, power will change hands very soon and you shall become somebody of great influence. What you need to do is to take the matter of your life before God in faith during this fasting season and your case shall be a testimony for the world to hear about.

Kindly be reninded brethren in Christ that the promises and blessings of Jehovah Elohim are not free. His promises and blessings are predicated on fulfilment of His terms and obligations. Therefore, anyone that struggles in the place of obedience with what is right will suffer before he is able to get what He likes. It therefore behoves anyone who desires to enjoy the full value of God’s promises to follow very strictly His commandments. With all the humongous benefits that are available in Nigeria by reason of our large economic market, enviable natural resources and huge human resources for instance, there are some people that will never be able to see or enjoy the benefits of this country. For you, God will position you to enjoy the benefits and blessings of this land in the name of Jesus.

To enable you benefit from this season of Lent, you need to come to Jesus Christ with a penitent heart, ask Him to forgive your sins and be your Lord and Saviour. Then, you must make a decision to forsake every act of wickedness, commit yourself to the ministry of doing good, be charitable to the hungry, attend to the poor, pay attention to the less-privileged and be a channel of blessing to your community. God has promised that “Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your reward. Then shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am.” (Isaiah 58:8,9a). This shall be your portion in the name of Jesus Christ. He who has ears to hear, let him/her hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
- Prayer: Lord, hear my cries, attend to my plea, remove my mountains and let my life continue to be a testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.
March 4, 2022
Theme: Requirements of an Effective fasting

It is an axiom of our faith that a deviation from God’s set order or demand, which is a prelude to the fulfilment of His pledge, weakens the potency of His promises, because He is a God of order and the Lord of set patterns. It therefore behoves anyone who desires to enjoy full value of God’s promises to follow very strictly His commandments because His promises are not free – they are predicated on fulfilment of certain terms and obligations. To eat the good of the land for instance, is not free; it is grounded on firstly your willingness and then your obedience to His command – any action to the contrary is an invitation to destruction. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:19,20)..

The pervasive lethargy across the length and breadth of the body of Christ to critically study (and not only read) the Holy Scriptures has however led to a gradual erosion of truth of His word and permanent tenancy with ignorance and falsehood. Paul told his adopted son Timothy that, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). There are unfortunately lots of Scriptural facts that have over the ages been distorted by ‘microwave Christians’ – people that are desirous of having the shortest cut to everything in life. Please be informed that to receive anything from God full obedience to His order or command is very key (Deut.. 28:1-13 cf 1Sam. 15:1-23). If you want to enjoy your marriage as an example, submission to your husband in everything and to love your wife with all you are endowed with are non-negotiable (Ephesians 5:22-28). And, if you want to live long and be prosperous as a child, you must honour your parents (Ephesians 6:2-3) – any deviation from those set patterns is an invitation to crisis!

One of the maladies of the Christian faith is with regards to fasting which is now being bandied as a mantra for resolution of problems or challenges. It is very common nowadays for certain people in the body of Christ to quickly recommend fasting whenever any ignorant person comes up with an untoward issue of life. Not only that, lots of congregation’s spiritual ego is massaged and lifted to high heavens when long days of fasting are declared either for a specific program, to climax a year or at the start of a new year among many others. There is no gainsaying the fact that fasting had been since time immemorial and has the endorsement of our Lord Jesus Christ; fasting activates miraculous happenstances and it is very necessary for Christian growth. It is however important to note that its effectiveness is hinged on compliance with His set order – any deviation from His set patterns is a mission in futility.

From the passage where we picked our text, a man brought a report to Jesus Christ concerning his son who was a lunatic and would usually fall into fire and water. The man brought his son to His disciples to heal him but all their efforts were in vain. With a word from Jesus Christ, He rebuked the demon and the son was healed instantly. The disciples now asked Jesus Christ why they were unable to heal the boy. Jesus told them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. However, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matt. 17:20-21).

For your fasting to have an effect on any mountain, and not serve as a religious affair or merely a hunger-strike; for it not be for weight reduction or serve as a means of detoxification, it is imperative to first accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you must ensure that you don’t have sin in your life and you must have also genuinely forgiven all that have erred against you (Is. 1:15-18, 59: 1-3; Matt. 6:12-14). In addition to that, an effective fasting must be complimented with regular prayers, and the prayers must be said in absolute faith in His name and acknowledgment that He has the power to save and deliver, for “..without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). It is after you have done all those that you can be assured of an unhindered access to His throne of grace and mercy, and whatever human, official, spiritual, economic or matrimonial mountain positioned before you shall be lifted up and your life shall advance in the name of Jesus Christ.

As this 2022 Lenten season enters Day 2 today, please ask yourself if you are merely observing a religious ceremony or you are on a personal hunger strike or you don’t want to eat in other to cut down on your excess weight or you are fasting indeed? If your intention is to fast, please take note of the fasting requirements and it shall be well with you in the name of Jesus Christ. He/She who has ears to hear, let him/her hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Prayers: Oh Lord, help me during this time of lent to do your will, and do not allow me to fast in vain, in Jesus’ name.

March 3, 2022
Essence of The Ash Wednesday

After God had assisted the less powerful King Hezekiah of Judah to defeat the more powerful and boastful King Sennacherib of Assyria (2Kings 19:8-13, 35), He sent the highly revered Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah on his sick bed that he should set his house in order because he would surely die. That message made the king distraught hence he turned from the prophet and cried to God because he didn’t want to die. God heard his cries and added an additional fifteen years to him (2 Kings 20:2-6). Eventually, (in 2 Kings 20:21), the Bible recorded that King Hezekiah died. This is to remind us that there is a time and season for everything, among which is a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2).

Beloved in Christ, death is an unavoidable contract that everyone had entered into (Hebrew 9:27). Either it is claimed or rejected (as many do ignorantly), everyone has an appointment with death mindless of age, state of health, threat of COVID, wealth, political power wielded or spiritual giftings, except those that are alive at His second coming (Psalms 89:48; cf 1Thess. 4:16-17). Kindly note that everything that had a beginning must surely come to an end (Job 7:1). Nothing and nobody will live or reign in perpetuity!

Like King Hezekiah, virtually every person, chiefly the economically and politically privileged in our land, are willing to do anything to remain here till eternity and continue to enjoy the bliss and comfort of life. It is consequent on this that people with the financial wherewithal expend lots of local and foreign currencies on first class medicare across the globe and some are enslaved to spiritual marabouts, all in their bid to escape death. Despite all their futile efforts geared at running away from death, when the time of its visitation comes, it rushes in like a fiery wind and visits its victim mindless of palpable fear, struggles, humongous wealth, privileged position in the society, spiritual standing and the retinue of prayer warriors at their becks and calls (2 Peter 3:10).

One of the messages of today’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a 40 day fasting season, is to remind everyone about the temporality of this world and that “…… dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19) and the expediency of setting our houses in order. This is suffice to say that we shall all one day return to the starting point of our lives – dust! On Ash Wednesday, the palm-fronds from the previous Palm Sunday are burnt and administered on the forehead of every believer as a reminder that nothing lasts forever – a new cloth will soon become a rag, an agile young boy will soon become a weak old man, a new vehicle will soon end up in a mechanic’s yard, a new house will become outdated, the marriage that is being celebrated today will one day become history, the certificates and degrees that you burnt the midnight oil to have shall be useless and the person in power today blowing sirens all over the place with vaunted immunity will be out of power and office one day (Ecclesiastes 12:3-7).

At such a time in our country where there is daily increasing wide polarity between the rich and the poor, where the dividends of democracy are not evenly distributed, where promises made by people placed in positions of authority are shamefacedly broken, where our words are no longer our bonds, a time when the world has departed from the waiting room of patience and now of microwave orientation; a time when we have abandoned the path of diligence at places of assignment and pitched camp with whatever course that will bring in money, power and recognition which have made many to relocate from the pavilion of discipline to the citadel of shameless behaviour; we are regrettably in a world of wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice and politics without principle.

We are presently at a junction where the wickedness of man to man is becoming alarmingly on the increase, where there is utter disregard for human lives, where security of lives and property and a time when the world is praying for divine intervention concerning the more powerful Russia government’s war with the smaller Ukraine government, God is calling us to the fact that death will come for us one day and that we shall all give account of our stewardship hence we need to seriously consider our ways and put our houses in order (Haggai 1:5). God is calling on people that are saddled with the responsibility to provide the physiological and safety needs of the people in our land to remembrance that they have a specific tenor in office and life, and when their time ends, they shall return to dust and give account of their stewardships hence the need to live and act right before it is too late.

This presupposes the fact that no matter how long you occupy any position or live in this world, one day will come when you shall give account of the stewardship of your time, talents, money, position and work before the Almighty God (Romans 14:10). It is possible to be ‘smart’ and escape the judgment of the land, pervert justice and buy the right of other people from the Tribunal to the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, but when all ends here and you get ‘there’, there is no retinue of learned silks that can defend you before the Almighty God (Job 9:3). He will give everyone according to his/her works (Rev. 22:12). If you fire arrow to the sky and cover your body with mortar, the king of this world might turn a blind eye or not even see you, but you can be assured that the King who sits in heaven and has the earth as his footstool (Isaiah 66:1) sees.

It is therefore instructive to note that nothing will last forever because man shall return to his creator – “dust thou art and to dust thou shall return” (selah!). The only thing that will last till eternity is who you belong to (Christ or self), your good works and how you have used your means to impact positively on the society. The responsibility of a wise person is firstly to the society then the family before himself. Where this order is reversed or altered, the end shall be fraught with regret and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).

This season of fasting is a time for introspection, soberness, re-examination, repentance and change. It is a time for the political cum religious class and leaders to return to God in repentance for their overt and covert acts as well as their schemes and actions; it is a season for everyone to eat the humble pie, close ranks, ask God for mercy and change our ways to the path of righteousness so that God does not remove our candlesticks abruptly and take it off in the middle of our ages (Rev. 2:5). Therefore, as you humble yourselves at such a time, as you take your gaze away from the temporality of this world, as you engage more in selfless services to God and humanity, as you are more committed to the details of your oaths of office, as you remain more resolute on love for one another, as you are more dedicated to charity works, as you continue to live a life of holiness and maintain peace towards all, the Almighty God shall continue to bless you and when your time is up here, you shall be acceptable before Him and welcomed with pomp and pageantry to receive your crown of glory, in Jesus’ name

Prayer: Oh Lord, give me grace to live a life that is pleasing to you so that when I see you at last, I shall be accepted by you as a child that has lived well in Jesus’ name.

March 2, 2022
‘How to vaccinate every Nigerian against COVID-19 in 100 days’

Mr. Ted Chaiban, an Inter-agency Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Country Readiness and Delivery, appointed by the UN Secretary at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, is in Nigeria to monitor and ensure accelerated delivery of vaccines, its safe storage and use. Working in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, GAVI, World Bank, many bilateral governments and civil society organisations (CSOs), he said his mission is to help Nigeria to succeed in the fight against COVID-19 in the shortest possible time that would look like a miracle, Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO reports.

His port of call at the weekend was Kano State, where he paid courtesy call on Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the Government House. The governor quickly requested that Kano should be made vaccines hub for the northern region; a request the visitor agreed to.

From Government House, Chaiban proceeded straight to the COVID-19 vaccination site at Gwagwarwa PHC, Nasarawa Local Government Area to see with his eyes the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines at service. He interacted with service providers and clients there to know the areas needing support.

The North-west Zonal Cold Store at Naibawa, Zaria Road, Kano, also played host to Mr. Chaiban, who assessed its existing capacity and space available for expansion.

He also visited the Emergency Operations Centre, Abdullahi Wase Hospital, Nassarawa, where he met with the Commissioner of Health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, and was given updates on COVID-19 vaccination performance, gaps and the need to scale vaccination at state level.

After the on-site visits and supervision, it was time to interface with media practitioners, and in a brief interview, Chaiban disclosed that the four types of vaccines: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson, Johnson’s Janssen and Moderna, which are available in the country, are safe and in good stock for mass vaccination. He hinted that the issues of short supply and short life span of the vaccines experienced in Nigeria last year have been addressed and Nigeria is now getting more supplies.

On February 23, the NCDC reported that 42 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.

“Till date, 254,352 cases have been confirmed, 230,861 cases have been discharged and 3,142 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The 42 new cases are reported from five states – Lagos (25), FCT (13), Kaduna (2), Kano (1), and Oyo (1),” the disease control centre said.

Nigeria has a population of 214.9 million persons as at today, according to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. And the country is currently at 6.7 per cent of vaccine coverage.

For several reasons, many believe it is practically impossible to vaccinate the entire population. But Chaiban said every Nigerian can be vaccinated within 100 days or latest six months.

How could this be done?

He said all Nigeria needs to do is to “accelerate vaccines delivery” by multiplying efforts, by tripling amount of vaccine teams in states. For example, Kano which has 477 vaccine teams should have 1,431 vaccine teams.

He suggested that Nigeria should not narrow vaccination in healthcare centres but should decentralise vaccination points to include shopping malls and markets, to motor parks where people catch the bus, to churches, mosques and to naming ceremonies, etc, where health workers can catch the population and vaccinate people.

He also emphasised that people who got their first dose must be actively called back to come and get their second dose (full vaccination).

practitioners to strengthen the UN’s, UNICEF’s efforts, by mobilising Nigerian people, educating them on the importance of the vaccine and encouraging them to be vaccinated.

Nigeria currently at 6.7% of vaccine coverage

Chaiban said: “In 2021, the supply of COVID-19 vaccine was limited. But the situation is improving and the concern is moving towards issues of delivery and getting vaccines into the hands of the people.

“Our mission, as COVID-19 delivery partners in Nigeria, is to support Nigeria for the acceleration. Nigeria is currently at 6.7 per cent of vaccine coverage when it comes to COVID-19, but is taking steps to accelerate that delivery.

“We had excellent discussions at the federal level and in Kano State, in terms of specific steps to be taken to accelerate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Among the steps agreed upon to be taken include doing state by state plan, one plan, one budget at the state level, increasing the number of vaccination teams so we have more vaccination teams in each of the wards across the country, using community volunteers to mobilise the population and accelerate delivery and continuing to invest in the cold chain so that vaccines, not just COVID-19, can be safely stored.

“We want to do the COVID-19 vaccination as quickly as possible because COVID-19 is a serious and deadly disease. It has profound health consequences on people around the world.

“It has had the worst economic consequences on development since the 19th Century and needs to be defeated, and Nigeria is poised to set example in the next 100 days in terms of acceleration.

“In Kano, we met with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and he has shown the leadership in his vaccination efforts by being one of the first to be vaccinated in March of 2021.

“We met with state officials including the health commissioner, the team from NPHCDA, and it is clear that there is very strong commitment to move forward with 2019 vaccination.

The Kano situation

“In the last 60 days or the last two months, Kano State had gone from 1 per cent to 21 per cent. People vaccinated with one dose, through a very strong mobilisation. If we can get the second dose into the hands of the people who had received the first dose, Kano will jump even further up the scale of national execution.

“We, as partners, are committed to mobilise the resources; help multiply the number of vaccination teams; actively follow up on people so that they come back for their second dose; to work with religious and traditional leaders in order to convince and encourage the population to get vaccinated and to invest in the cold chain so that the vaccines can be stored safely.

“Kano is the hub for the whole of the north and it can be an example of how quickly we can move to address this terrible disease. The partners involved include UNICEF, WHO, GAVI, the World Bank, many bilateral governments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), all working together to support Nigeria to succeed.

Improvement on vaccines’ life span and supply

“There were issues with the supply of vaccines and short life of the vaccines in 2021. But these issues have largely been addressed and Nigeria now has a good stock of supply and is getting more supplies.

“The vaccines’ short life and short supply have improved significantly, with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson, Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) and Moderna, all available now in the country.

“And we have predictability of what is coming. So, the big difference between 2022 and 2021 is that countries can now plan for

their vaccinations in the next six months and the plans are now country focused.

“The country itself can make its projections and ask for the vaccines it needs to be able to move forward, which is why we are now putting the emphasis on addressing the delivery bottlenecks.

“This is because the supply issues have significantly improved and largely been addressed and now we need to use the vaccines that are available.

Kano as vaccine hub for North

“I represent several agencies that we are working together -UNICEF, WHO and GAVI. We are working closely with the World Bank and other partners.

“On the issue of the vaccine hub in Kano, I am pleased to say that this is something that UNICEF and GAVI, as key partners in COVID 19 vaccine delivery partnership, have agreed to do.

“So this is something that has been committed to and the plans are under implementation. It is part of the strengthening of the cold chain accompanying this COVID-19 delivery acceleration and is also part of what will be done to strengthen routine immunisation because we want to do COVID-19 immunisation in a matter that it also strengthens routine immunisations. It is something that it is committed to and it will happen.

How safe are the vaccines available in Nigeria?

“Billions of vaccines of all different types of COVID-19 have been administered throughout the world to date and proven in a wide variety of context to be safe.

“What you need, in the case of any disease, is to weigh the risk of the disease against the risk of not being vaccinated.

“What is absolutely clear is that COVID-19 vaccination is a proven public health strategy that will protect you from serious disease and it is highly recommended by World Health Organisation and all the health centres including the health centres in Nigeria to get the vaccines.

“So, there is no vaccine that is administered in the Nigerian territory that has not gone to the global regulatory authority and the national regulatory authority. And when they approve these vaccines for use, they make sure the vaccines are safe.

“So, it is only essential that you are vaccinated, because it is one of your best protections against the disease, in addition to wearing face masks, washing hands and keeping reasonable social distance in public places.

“So, these are the measures with which we can fight this disease that has claimed so many lives.

Can one contract the virus after complete vaccination?

“No vaccine is 100 per cent effective. It is possible to still get COVID-19 even if you had done the full schedule vaccination.

“But what is important is that your risk of both getting and transmitting the disease is low, and especially effective is the role that the vaccine can play in making sure that you do not get a severe form of the disease.

“So, even if you do not get the disease, be fully vaccinated so that the chances or the risk that you get a severe form of the disease are very low. And at the end of the day, that is what you want.

“What you want is that you do not end up being hospitalised or do not end up with severe consequences as a result of the disease. Which is why anyone who gets the chance to be vaccinated, starting with front line workers, apart from the elderly people with underlined conditions, anyone who is eligible to get the vaccination should be urged to do so.

“And we really rely on the press to give accurate information about immunisation to the public domain. And actually, it is something you should have yourselves to say that you have been vaccinated, you have been boosted. Because that is the best protection that we have against severe disease and it also has positive effect in reducing transmission.

Improvement:

“I am very impressed with the commitments shown by the Governor Ganduje, the health commissioner, the team from NDHCDA, the frontline health workers and the vaccinators at the health centres that we visited today.

“Also, the staff at the facilities storing the vaccines, the volunteer community mobilisers that are working on other issues including polio and HIV, and traditional birth attendants who are also part of the mobilisation towards COVID-19 vaccination.

“We are impressed that they are all working together to get the message out there. It is an opportunity we cannot miss.

“The next 100 days are critical in moving forward. We can see a miracle in Nigeria, by turning around the fight against this disease and increasing vaccination.

How to accelerate vaccination:

“We can accelerate vaccination delivery by multiplying our efforts. Right now, we have 477 vaccine teams in the state. We need to triple that amount of vaccine teams; decentralise vaccination to more points without narrowing it in healthcare centres, to shopping malls and markets, to places where people catch the bus and to naming ceremonies, etc, where you can catch the population and give people the vaccine to get vaccinated.

“We shall also actively call back the people who got their first dose to come and get their second dose.

“Another way to accelerate vaccination is to work with religious and traditional rulers and social and traditional media to strengthen our efforts, mobilise and say yes we can vaccinate the population of Nigeria, using all the important tools in our arsenal to fight against COVID-19, in addition to public health measures.”

February 27, 2022
DIDI EDET: Happier people are more productive

Didi Edet started life designing outfits and running a fashion show. Today, she is a data analyst, debt recovery expert, author and relationship coach. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde she takes you into her world, the things that inspire her, challenges and more.

As an economist, you believe that happy people are more productive and efficient. Tell us more about this.

I absolutely believe that happier people are more productive and there have been some studies that support this claim. This is similar to how most economies use the GDP (gross domestic product) as a measurement indicator for value and productivity, the GDH (gross domestic happiness) is also a Measurement indicator of happiness and welfare which goes beyond income and includes having meaningful relationships. Bhutan is one country that uses the GNH—or Gross National Happiness to effectively measure the Happiness of his people. The citizens are surveyed based on criteria like health, psychological wellbeing, living standards, life balance, and cultural diversity. The fact the GDH takes the quality of life as an indicating factor is intriguing to me. Psychological wellbeing is an indicating factor to GDH. Being in a social or any sort of relationship that has a positive impact on your Psychological wellbeing, I believe will translate to some level of happiness which by GDH standards translates to a productive and more efficient economy.

What are some of the memorable moments in the sector?

There has been some memorable moments depending on the angle that question is focused on. In the aspect of the platform and it’s growth, I can think of 3 major memorable moments which made me feel like the platform was making a positive impact. One of which was being contacted by Phillipa Thomas to be interviewed on BBC World news as our dating in quarantine series had gone a little viral considering the situation we found ourselves in. I was still getting messages months later from Hungary, Ukraine and other countries as it was viewed at different times around the world. I also have 2 major memorable moments but it’s still in the works so I’ll probably discuss it at a later time.

Did you have mentors at the beginning of your career? What has been their impact?

Matchmaking is a new and growing industry in Nigeria so there was no template or experienced professional to look up to. We had to create our own path so I did not have a mentor in that aspect. But I did have a lot of support when it comes to entrepreneurship. Over time I tried out various businesses, like most people, and I’ve been lucky to always have support. Chief Edet Amana has been a huge support, from the very first thing I tried my hands into till today, he always tried to support in everyway. My first memory of entrepreneurship was designing the outfits for the Cheerleading Squad in my secondary school which also allowed me channel my interest in fashion and clothing and I eventually decided to do a fashion show in Calabar. Chief Edet Amana came all the way to my little show as a way to show his support. I didn’t know a lot about organising a show, so the turnout was low. Yet, I felt so supported by the sacrifice he made to be there. No matter how silly your idea is, he would never discourage you. I would say the impact I have received from his support is learning to try my hands in different things and not being afraid of failing.

Tell us about your books and the things that influence your writing?

I am yet to write my first book on dating! However I am an author of books centered on aspects of Nigeria’s economics. The first was on the banking consolidation that happened in 2004, and the second titled, Rollercoaster, essentially talked about the external debt in Nigeria and it’s rollercoaster-like movement. I am yet to write a book about dating but with the dating scene changing so often that it’s hard to keep up with. I will one day.

What dreams did you have while growing up?

As a Nigerian child, I’m not sure we were allowed to have dreams as in those days. Our parents had dreams for us that we were expected to live out. I remember in secondary school, you were put in the class of your best abilities which was Economics for me, but my parents like most Nigerian parents would have probably done, requested that I be moved to the Science class even though I had and still have no interest whatsoever in Science. My only interest was in the social science of Economics and I eventually found my way back to that – eventually pursuing it to Bachelors and Masters Levels. My sister is a forensic scientist by choice so at least they got the science part in one of us.

What are the challenges of the business?

I think we face pretty much the same challenges most businesses do. A major challenge I would say would be staffing. The duties expected of a staff of the platform are not as regular as roles in other work places. So, getting staff to understand the roles, training them in the roles and have them perform well in it can be very challenging. We are also very privacy focused so we should be able to trust our staff with confidential information which is very important so we limit the access to such information to a small group of people but that ultimately increases their work load as well.

You also worked in the debt management office, tell us about that.

At the point when I was pursuing a PhD, my topic centered on debt management, to be precise, external debt management in Nigeria. As a youth corper, I had worked briefly in Nigerian Import and Export bank (NEXIM). Combing through their extensive office library, I was able to find an aspect of Economics that was intriguing to me so I focused on it – External Debt Management in Nigeria. I eventually wrote a book on it as well.

What are some of the lessons learnt matchmaking people?

I think being single myself, I am learning everyday. I learn a lot from the platform on how dating has evolved over years – women are definitely more proactive these days without pursuing, what people want and what’s truly important in the grand scheme of things . There are aspects of a person that can be changed and this should not be the basis of excluding a person. However the platform focuses on dating alone and does not delve into the relationship part of life which is a whole different ball game on its own.

Have you heard of the term ‘coaches don’t play’?

Nobody bothers Arsene Wenger for not being a football player first and that’s because playing and coaching needs different skillset. A player needs to be good at running, dribbling etc while a coach needs to be good at seeing the big picture, strategizing etc.

I think that scenario applies to me as a dating coach or a matchmaker. Although I am single, I can see the big picture and can run the platform that brings people together. We all have blind spots, myself included. If I were to date seriously, I would also consider working with a matchmaker or a coach as that person would see my own blindspots.

The platform is focused on dating and not on my own experiences and status. In order to do my job effectively, I need to look at what is happening on the single scene, and match people up based on their wants. In the international matchmaking sceen, there is the founder of Bumble, Whitney Wolfe, who started the platform in 2014 while single and she got married in 2017. One of the most prominent matchmakers, Patti Stanger has been running her platform since 2000 and in 2022 she is still single but has made so many matches over the years. I also recall my professor of entrepreneurship at the University of St Andrews, who has never been an entrepreneur but has always been a professor on entrepreneurship. We, the students and the school board never once doubted his ability to provide the information needed to learn how to be a good entrepreneur.

I feel the focus should be on if the platform has been successful in connecting individuals and less focused on the personal life of the lead matchmaker and other staff members.

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

My parents have been wonderful influences. My mother has always been the entrepreneur parent and my father has always been the educational parent. So, they have equally influenced me in giving me a great blend that I feel everyone needs. It’s not enough to be in love with being an entrepreneur, the quest for knowledge and wanting to constantly get better in what you do is very necessary too. I think they both bring in the perfect blend. My father doesn’t shy away from challenges I would consider huge. So, that has also encouraged me, to be able to say yes to things I typically feared and thought were beyond my reach. My mother believes in my abilities more than I believe in myself. My sister Edak and my mum are really similar in that way. They are optimistic about everything and it’s very refreshing.

February 27, 2022
MY BEAUTY REGIMEN: I pamper myself with my spa kit every week

Queen Sophy Yah is a singer and UK National Director of Miss Commonwealth beauty pageant. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on the things that make her tick.

Looking radiant and beautiful, you want to know the secret of looking good and she takes you into her world. “I like looking after myself basically. I do this by drinking lots of water and taking good supplements. I also detox, take turmeric and black pepper teas, immune tea, green tea, lemon tea plus a slice of lemon etc without sugar or honey. In addition, I always eat a balanced diet”.

Next she talks about her visits to the Spa and how this works for her.” I visit the spa once a month. I also have my own spa kit at home, so I take time to pamper myself once a week, and then go for the big one at a spa outlet. It helps to relax my body and bring calmness.”

She adds that: “I invest a lot on my skin as I have oily skin, especially my face. So, I use very good high end body milk on my body and also a high end face cream. I am very particular about my face cream as I breakout easily. I do my facials once a week at home. To do this, I steam my face with my steamer, and I use Elevatione skincare range by Salvador Dali for my facials. I scrub my face with Elevatione scrub, after rinsing, I apply Elevatione mask then wash it off then I apply elevation 60 seconds serum. I then wash it off and cleanse with rose water after I moisturise using my cream de la mer. Then I use my Elevatione eye cream, serum and also lip serum”.

Sophy also uses eye cream every night as the skin under the eyes is very thin and sensitive. “It needs moisturising but not with my face cream as I avoid my eye area as I cream my face, but apply eye cream underneath my eyes, I have different brands of eye creams.”

Apart from her home routine and remedies, she goes for body massage/spa once a month. “I avoid sugar as much as I can, i drink all my tea plain without anything, just hot water and I allow it to brew and I just sip. I don’t drink fizzy drinks i.e coke, Fanta, Pepsi, sprite etc. I drink lots of water instead. I also eat lots of vegetables, salads, broccoli, carrots, spinach, beetroot, and cabbage. I basically eat clean; less red meat more fish especially the ones with fatty acid/ Omega 3 salmon and mackerel (what is called Titus in Nigeria) and white meat i.e Chicken and Turkey. ”

She continued: “I take dairy free milk (Plant base) and am gluten free. I scrub my body 3 times a week and I don’t joke with my supplements as I look after myself from inside. And also no matter how tired I am, I don’t go to bed with my makeup on”.

She therefore avoids sugar as much as she can. ” I use honey if it’s necessary. I also avoid too much oil and fried food. I grill my chicken and fish instead. I take dairy free milk, ice cream and I go for plant based. I am also gluten free, so I buy gluten free bread, and most of the time I make my own bread. I use Quinoa flour and I add a seed mix i.e Chia seed, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds etc and I put raisins sometimes. I use honey in all of my baking, I basically eat clean”.

She will not wear revealing clothes; show her boobs or too much skin in the name of fashion. “I am an advocate of modest dressing, I am a born again Christian, I am well covered when I dress up. Also tattoo is a no no for me”.

For favourite products and make-up artiste, Sophy answers this way: “I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite product, when it comes to makeup. I use what works for me as I breakout easily. I don’t have a particular brand that I am loyal to. Some of my lipsticks are from Mac brand, I don’t use compact powder, I use Revolution banana loose powder. Then I use a Mac highlights and also a Bobby Brown highlight. My go foundation is Phoera matte foundation full coverage. I tried it 5 years ago and it worked well with my skin, it didn’t break me out, so I stuck to it. For eyeshadows, I have several from different brands. I don’t wear makeup every day; sometimes I might just have powder and lip gloss. I don’t have a favourite makeup artist as I hardly use them”.

Exercise routine? “The only exercise I do is taking a long walk; I wouldn’t say I have a routine”.

Asked about her favourite hairdo and she replied with excitement. “I love braids and Ghana weaving, it brings out my face and makes me look very innocent .Also with braids, the packing styles are endless”.

February 27, 2022