The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Sonny Odogwu busy as bees

    Sonny Odogwu busy as bees

    Chief Sunny Odogwu, Ide-Ahaba of Asaba, has been rich as long as he has been around, being one of the early millionaires in the country.

    Now in his late 70s, Odogwu is a reputed businessman, with interest cutting across different areas of the economy, including telecommunication, shipping and publishing.

    His Grand Hotel in Asaba is one of the best in that part of the country and information filtering in to revealed that the Delta born billionaire is still  not resting on his oars.

    Insider revealed that his Grand Hotel Asaba, Delta state has been undergoing a facelift to give the hotel more leverage with competitors and the new project we learnt is gulping huge sums of money.

  • Divine blessing celebrates at five

    Leaders and members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Ayo Ni O), Chapel of Divine Blessing Alagbado, Lagos rolled out the drums for a week recently to celebrate its 5th anniversary.

    The week-long activities commenced with awareness rally from the church premises to Ahmadiyya Bus Stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

    Welcoming the congregation to Chemstar Paints Industry Limited Headquarter at Fine coat Bus Stop, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, the Chairman/Executive Director, Special Apostle Emmanuel Awode, thanked God for His mercy on the church.

    He lauded the members for their steadfast and unwary attitude towards the development of the church in the face of numerous challenges.

    Ministering at the Super Shiloh service/seminar on “Indiscipline in Churches, Special Apostle Pastor O. Sule, Chairman of Faith-In-Christ District, urged Christians to dedicate themselves to the service of God.

    He bemoaned the level of indiscipline in churches, saying Christians should see the church as the house of the Lord where they should worship the God in totality, without turning it to a place of gossip or backbiting and other uncomplimentary behaviour.

    Speaking at Ijamido Motherless Home in Ota, Ogun State, where the church donated food items, beverages and toiletries, the chairman of the anniversary committee, Special Apostle E. Oladeinde, said the visit was to heed the injunction of God to give to the needy.

    The grand finale witnessed the launch of a N500- million fund for the church’s cathedral under the chairmanship of Chief Babatunde Orija

    The guest preacher, Pastor Gideon Oyedepo, urged Christians to look unto God as the Jesus Christ is the answer and solution to every problem.

    While urging Christians to have faith in God, the cleric said without faith it would be difficult to get anything from God.

    He congratulated the leaders and members of the church on the anniversary, attributing the rate of growth of the church within five years to the grace of God.

  • About Harold Demuren’s son superlative wedding

    Despite his unceremonious exit from office, Harold Demuren, the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCCA, the Ogun State-born aeronautical engineer, has been enjoying life to its fullest. Last weekend, one of his sons, Micheal, got married in Dubai. The event attracted different personalities, including top Nigerian artistes, OAP Toolz and her beau, Tunde.

  • ‘You can’t give your best,if you don’t enjoy the job’

    ‘You can’t give your best,if you don’t enjoy the job’

    Betty Oluwasina studied law for her first degree from the University of Benin and later bagged a Masters degree in law (LL.M) from the University of Lagos, graduating with a distinction in International Economic Law in 1989. She later obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.

    Oluwasina, however, settled for banking and worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria for about seventeen years. At the moment, she is the Managing Director of Capstone microfinance bank. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the seasoned banker talks about her career path, challenges in the sector and how she carved a niche for herself in spite of the many odds.

    How did you get into the banking sector?

    I read law at the University of Benin and while I was in school, I discovered that most of my female lecturers were either divorcees or had never been married. I told myself that I didn’t want to live my life that way. I like giving my best to whatever I do and I know that if I did that it would affect my marriage. I practiced at Kehinde Sofola’s and Co for law internship. He was a great source of inspiration.

    I graduated in law, had masters in law and did an MBA at the University of Lagos. I did my National Youth Service (NYSC) with the ministry of justice in Kano. As a practicing lawyer, it was interesting but you had to travel a lot.

    I started with law and moved to the banking sector which was flexible enough, I got married and had all my children at the CBN; the working hours were good. At the Central Bank, they took me round and I started from Admin where I worked for a year, then moved to Trade and Exchange where I worked fourteen and half years  and later I was at OFID (Other Financial Institutions Department ) before I retired.

    I went through the different strategic departments in the organisation, acquiring and garnering invaluable experience in administration, international trade and foreign exchange management through policies formation. I also delivered a number of papers in international trade documentations, controls and foreign exchange guidelines in various financial institutions. I was also a bank examiner in OFID where I led various teams to community banks (now microfinance banks), primary mortgage institutions, finance companies and bureaux de change for examination and supervision.

    That is the beauty of working with the Central Bank and by the time you are leaving you have the experience required to be a director or CEO. If you do not enjoy what you are doing, you won’t give it your best.

    What was it like setting up your Microfinance Bank?

    I worked at the Central Bank for about 17 years before I retired to set this up. We have been in operation since September 2008 and I was the pioneer Managing Director. For a micro finance bank, you must have a stake. I am part owner, it is our baby and you must run it well.

    How would you describe the sector?

    Well, we used to say that it was new, but a baby that is more than eight years old is no longer a baby. It’s a child and so we have grown out of that teething stage. The first set of licences was issued in 2005. The sector is relatively younger than other micro finance services around the world. We are still learning; a lot of banks had their fingers burnt because they did not have experience to fall back on but we have experience to back on and we also operate as a family.

    We also learn from the experience of other banks and a lot of the microfinance banks started after the merger of the commercial banks and those who could not make up the required capital then came to the micro finance sub sector. They used the old mentality to come in and that was a problem. It was a major problem because they were doing things the way they were doing it in the commercial banks and it was totally different from the people you were dealing with in the commercial banks. It is important to note that some of the people at the bottom of the pyramid have never opened an account before. They have never operated an account as well as those who are afraid and are afraid that these people may carry my money away. Some had operated with community banks that had issues, and so you need to talk to them and sensitise them.

    The regulation says that you give loans with collaterals except for small amounts like ten or twenty thousand naira. By the time you are giving out about 50,000 naira loan there must be collateral, not necessarily a property like a house because this group of people may not have such. So what they do is to form themselves into groups, which act as a form of pressure to pay back. We help to form some into groups and after a while they are encouraged to form a cooperative society. It is structured and you are assured that they would pay back the loan.

    How do you sort out the problems?

    It is better to work with people who have not had such experiences before than to work with those who have experienced it and have broken trust. Fortunately, we were able to win them over. Unfortunately, there were also some microfinance banks that came on ground and had issues and closed shop; this affected credibility again.

    However over the years, we have been able to win the people over and shown credibility. We have also learnt our lessons; one of the problems we have is easy mobility. There is usually no form of identification and a number of people would take loan here and then go and settle down in another place. This therefore makes taking loans without collateral very difficult.

    How would you describe your management style?

    You must have a passion for the industry; the passion would make you succeed in what you are doing. There is hardly anywhere I go and discuss microfinance, it is done with passion. I live in Ikoyi and pass through Sura Market most times and I interact with the women. One of them came to me to give her N50,000 and that she would give me N75,000. I told her that I do not borrow people money but gave her what I had.

    Interestingly, her case motivated me later to do what I am doing now. There is another woman in Falomo whose life was also touched this way. She is a policeman’s wife and she has been our customer for a while. Her son got admission after trying JAMB for so long. When he got the admission, there was no money to pay, she ran here saying she needed N150,000 and we gave her the money. That was about four years ago and that boy is in his final year now. She paid back and can never forget us. The micro finance bank is meant to serve the community. The trust is there and that is what it is meant to be. Even the older people around here that cannot pronounce Capstone call it Caprisone. We also have another woman who was selling pure water, who started saving N200 in 2008 and then at a point, she was not saving again. We went to find out what was wrong with her and we found that her deep freezer got spoilt and she needed N13,000 and we had just started. She had no collateral but we gave her the money. In less than two weeks, she paid back the money. She continued her savings and increased it from N200 to N500. Now she takes loans as high as N300,000.

    Apart from being passionate, you must be hardworking; be ready to meet your customers and not just sit in the office. I go to the market, shops and offices of our customers from time to time.

    What about the Central Bank’s MSMEDF fund for women?

    I cannot speak for our association on that. I understand from our angle here that we have not collected; the conditions for it are a bit stringent. CBN says you can collect but you must disburse within 48 hours. So who do you disburse to and how much are you going to get?

    As a national trustee of the National Association of Micro finance Banks (NAMB), how has the organisation helped the sector?

    The association has tried in pushing the industry to where it is today. A tree can never make a forest, so the association has been there. When they started, there were some issues but those issues have been resolved now. I belong to the Lagos State association and we have been able to assist with experience sharing especially when members have issues with government agencies or CBN. In addition, the association has also tried for members in the issue of fund raising.

  • ‘I was labelled a mad man’

    ‘I was labelled a mad man’

    Abolaji Razaq Alausa, also known as Abohla Razac, is the brain behind wave-making Razac Gear Clothing Company in Dublin, Ireland. But success did not come to him on a platter of gold. He shares with Adetutu Audu his journey to the top and why style is an attitude.

    How did you come about Razac Gear Revolution?

    My childhood experiences lead to the creation of the company. If there was a free and accessible handcraft and technical centre for a man like me when I was growing up, I wouldn’t have gone through all the ugly experiences I went through. Each time I remember there are still many young people going through what I went through, wandering out there without direction, I believe I can make a difference.

    Razac is my Muslim name (meaning the Provider and Sustainer in Arabic). After I finished from college, the thought of moving to the next level came to me at the entrance of the company registration office in Dublin where I went to re-register the company name as Razac Clothing Inc. After a brief deliberation with my former colleague, I added my name to it.

    What were your initial challenges?

    The challenges of creating a value for a brand from the scratch abroad,

    especially when you are campaigning for unifying nationalities, without government funds or grants or help from any source means you have only you

    to start, to deal with everything. When campaigning for global unity

    you have to learn to endure, accept, tolerate, be humble, share your knowledge with people before they willingly believe in you. You have

    to dream with your family, co workers and communicate your dreams to

    the world before creation. After designing shoes and T-shirts with my social welfare payment weekly allowance, I realised that few Africans loved it on me but were not bold enough to wear it. I was only attracting some ethnic groups like the white community and I didn’t feel represented. I was labelled a mad man, a racist and called discriminatory names. I felt bad about it.  People thought I should get a job first before establishing my own. But I couldn’t work in a fashion industry because we had to travel to London for work experience and I could not get a visa to travel. I decided to get any job as the pressure was high. I needed money to support my family. I couldn’t keep most of the jobs as I was always sacked either for daydreaming with a busy colleague, challenging the manager for a rule to be changed or talking about irrelevant issues on the job. I was sacked from my last job because I was caught selling t-shirts to colleagues at work and I went back to the streets.

    When would you say the breakthrough came?

    The breakthrough first came after much wondering; I had a vision

    without direction. I was challenged by my mentor, Dayo Olomu.  One day, when I attended one of his seminars in London, he said that to make a real change, one must be the change. Blood ran through my spine when I first heard that, the voice was like an angel spoke to me. I felt that is it! I decided I should be the change instead of complaining; if I couldn’t get a job, why not create one? If I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I could create platinum on my body. Razac Gear was born.  This has helped us in learning the power of leverages and networking. I am blessed to be able to recognise talents, to involve people who I think are smarter than me in the business to help strengthen my weakness.

    Where do you draw your inspiration from?

    When I first started designing, the inspiration came from asking questions. Why are things like these? Why are the Nigerian Nollywood actors wearing New York inscribed t-shirts on the screen? Why wearing London inscribed t-shirts on the streets of Dublin? Why do we buy known brands just because of the logo without knowing what they stand for? Why not create a purpose built centre for learning, that would increase employment, production and decrease the rate of poverty? I

    imagined I could change that. I started with ethnic brand with the hope

    that people would want to represent themselves. The inspiration is timeless; I express my dream through fashion and style and writing. I design a mindset

    dream, a frequent coming vision. I believe in simplicity is elegance.

    I have also learned to build the business around my core values, my

    beliefs. So, it is a lot easier when you are living your dream. The passion is my driver. We stepped on toes; logistic problems, delay, disappointments and fulfilments questioned our credibility and integrity.  I realise I am fully responsible.

    What is your definition of style?

    My definition of style is attitude. For instance, when visualising pants (trousers) on ladies I try to focus on the style to bring out the design and not specifically on camel toe. In the big picture, we don’t want to turn heads, we want to break necks. Since my style must always have been seen in any design before the creation, I am justified for the outcome.

    What would you say is your key to success?

    Being a Nigerian has helped me in different areas. I understand class. I rediscovered myself. You can become whatever you aspire to be. Anything in life has a price tag to it. You can either pay the price by staying the same and complaining or you can make a positive difference. I have learnt a lot of lessons, self discovery and many questions answered. I became spiritually improved as I prayed hard. I realised that the same skills, intelligence, beliefs, knowledge and determination one uses to commit anything negative is the same one can use to impact a positive change. One only needs a twist in the right direction. Just like a job applicant would pray before attending an interview and a businessman would pray to build a successful business empire.

    When I realise that everything starts from the inside, I stop blaming people for my mistakes. We have designed exclusively for special occasions, for musical groups, individuals, according to their requirement. We are able to cloth my mentor, Dayo Olomu, the celebrity motivational speaker in the UK .The campaign is on- going and so is the challenge. Razac Gear’s vision is to become one of the world value created brand, the brand the world will take pride in; a brand from which each of many different groups will be making its own creative contribution. Aspire to become available on 10 major high streets of the world.

    Tell us your best and worst decisions

    The best decision was sending myself back to school. No worst decision as I

    think you are winning even when you fail because you learn from the

    experiences. I lived three lives; (1) when I was growing up, (2) the one life threw at me (3) the present life I created by myself. I am living my long-term dreams, I am doing what I love, and I am fulfilled.

    Would you say your background shaped you into who you are? Can you share this with us?

    I realised my second-to-none passion for fashion at the early stage of

    life but without the opportunity to actualise it as I lost my dad at the age of 12. My mum, a poor widow, had five of us to support, including our youngest sister who was aged eight to feed. I was the only son and second to the last born. At 21 years old, a young man without any money to sponsor his university education, no future prospect, I had to go on the streets of Lagos hustling to fight poverty. I didn’t come to Europe by flight, I dreamt it, but I couldn’t see myself flying on air. I trekked down. I was introduced to a man who promised to take us to Europe by road within few hours but eventually turned to five months. He absconded with our money and left us stranded on the beautiful north African Sahara desert with lots of mountains to climb, valleys, seas to cross, mission to achieve, energy and hope. That’s a topic for another day. This has helped and exposed me to appreciate the elegance in nature. I underwent determination, fear, focus, prayer, struggle, self belief, courage, the values of shelter. I learnt from meeting new people from different backgrounds, religions, races and cultures. I suggested and we created our own boat to cross seas, we became our only friends and family, we must love and help each other to triumph and survive. Hope, dreams, patience are the heroic solution at last.

  • PURSUE YOUR DESTINY (XIII)

    Dear Temilolu,

    I read your article on Spiritual Intelligence. It’s so thoughtful of you, insightful and most inspiring. I am a Muslim and I find it very useful after interpreting it in the Islamic way. May God increase your knowledge.

    Lawal Obagun

    Dear Temilolu,

    I just read your piece on Spiritual Intelligence. I lost my wife to breast cancer 3 years ago and I haven’t been myself since then. I have long decided not to remarry. Anytime I come across writings of this nature, I feel a little bit better and relieved. May God in His infinite mercies guard and protect you. Keep it up!

    J.T.Kaan

    Aunty Temilolu,

    Your article on Spiritual Intelligence is exactly what was preached in church today. Thank you for enlightening us always. May God bless you.

    Adebola Adeyemi

    Wonderful Nigerians,

    I am happy to be in touch with you again today and so excited because someone whose life has been swimming in black pits of despair is about to be lifted out by God. Such a life is about to shine like the sun out of a clear azure sky. If you feel you are the one I am referring to, shout 7 halleluiahs and get ready for the best days of your beautiful life. Congratulations! I welcome you all to school on Sunday.

    Developing Spiritual Intelligence (Contd.)

    Last week I gave Meditation of the word of God as the first key of developing spiritual intelligence. The word of God is energetic, powerful and purifying. Your spiritual life flows from your mind and you have to renew your mind on a daily basis by meditating on scriptures. Once you start working the bible and living the bible, you will start working in the super-natural. And once the word of God is in control, the Holy Spirit will take charge, ignite your spirit man and open your eyes, ears and soul. It will be difficult for you to commit the grievous error of following the wrong path. Also, if you want to move in power and live a fulfilled life, let the word of God take charge of your being. Your life will generate power and the power of God will move over every hurdle you have to cross.

    2. Fraternise your spirit with burning spirits

    Let your friends be spiritual friends. Large sums of people around you are waiting for your shame consciously or unconsciously because any mind devoid of the spirit of God can be easily controlled and manipulated by the devil to work against you. You can’t be wiser than God who inspired the scripture that says evil communications corrupt good manners. Whatever will corrupt your goodness is certainly from the devil-the enemy of your destiny. And if you are surrounded by more sons of men than sons of God- your glory will be turned to shame. Now check out the following scriptures-

    “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

    Romans 8:14

    “O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?

    Psalms 4:2

    3. Be a praying and fasting machine

    In a highly competitive and evil world as this, your number one confidant, friend and guide should be God. He is your source and knows better than anyone else. You can’t be addicted to communicating with Him and get it wrong. He will control, regulate and direct your life to suit His divine purpose for you. Elisha was notorious for prayers such that when he died, his bones raised up a dead man because he was saturated in prayers. Now shout this out loud in prayer- “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, breath on me.” 2 Kings 2:12

    Fasting sharpens our spiritual senses so that we can tap into our spiritual source. Jesus Himself often fasted as part of His ongoing life of prayer. He told the devil- “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Mathew 4:4. Throughout history, men and women whose lives have displayed the power and provision of God made fasting part of their spiritual arsenal. And this is the reason we as believers continue to engage in it: to tap into God. During a fast, you deliberately let go of that which binds you to this physical world–food–in order to receive all your sustenance from the spiritual world. You determine that for a period of time you will deny your physical cravings to focus on your spiritual cravings.

    4. Live a quiet life

    For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel …in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:” Isaiah 30:15

    Avoid a noisy environment, loud music, excessive gisting etc. It doesn’t matter if you are going through pain and need people around you. You may not believe this but the best time to develop a strong sense of spirituality is in the time you groan in pain and loneliness. If you are standing right before God when you are in great pain, He will be so close to you and you will generate so much power which subdues your tortuous pain and if your eyes are spiritually open, you will find yourself surrounded by angels! May you receive angelic intervention this week in Jesus name. AMEN!

  • Motailatu gets new Baba Aladura

    Motailatu gets new Baba Aladura

    Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW) has a new Baba Aladura.

    He is His Eminence Elder (Dr) Israel Akinadewo.

    He succeeds the founder of the church, Saint Baba Aladura Dr Isaiah Akinadewo, who passed on to glory last December.

    Akinadewo was enthroned as the new head of the church last Sunday in Lekki, Lagos.

    He paid glowing tributes to the memory of the departed founder who he described as a “perfect example of selflessness and godliness.”

    The new head recalled how his father planned his funeral service and even dug his own grave before passage to glory.

    He said: “He chose the songs he wanted. He even picked the preacher for his funeral service and dug his own grave. He was such a meticulous, detailed person who left nothing to chances.”

    Akinadewo extolled the virtues of the deceased founder, saying he bequeathed a legacy of faithfulness to God and service to humanity.

    According to him: “He left a standing instruction that we must have a new Aladura as soon as he was gone. I gave him N50, 000 few weeks before he died but he kept the money in the room and said we must not spend more than that for his funeral.”

    Rather than waste resources on societal funeral service, Akinadewo explained that his father instructed instead that a foundation should be opened in his honour for the formal training of ministers in Aladura churches and empowerment of the less privileged.

    The deceased, he said, instructed that those who wanted to donate for a lavish funeral in his honour should direct such investments to the foundation.

    Akinadewo assured that the foundation, which took off with his enthronement, will cater for the less privilege and fund the education of ministers in the Aladura movement.

    Ministering at the occasion, the General Evangelist of the church, His Eminence Elder (Prof.) Joseph Otubu, said the Aladura movement has a rich heritage that the current generation must appreciate.

    Tracing the historical evolution of some of the church’s doctrines, Otubu said they were founded on biblical percepts, lamenting that many of them have been abused by successive ministers.

    He called for reformation in the Aladura movement, saying churches under the umbrella must innovate to keep abreast of modern trends and developments.

     

  • Polls will make Nigeria stronger, says Meduoye

    Regardless of the tension and permutations to the contrary, Nigeria will not disintegrate on the account of the forthcoming general elections.

    The general overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Felix Meduoye, gave the assurance during a parley with reporters ahead of the 60th anniversary of the church in Lagos.

    He said: “We have a firm belief that God’s hand is involved in the affairs of this nation. We make bold to say that contrary to every prediction of doom, Nigeria will come out stronger and better in the years ahead.

    “Our confidence comes from the fact that our God answers prayers and we have prayed as a nation for the peace of this nation.”

    Meduoye allayed fears of disintegration, saying the nation will rather wax stronger after the polls.

    He challenged Nigerians to participate in the process by obtaining their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and electing only candidates with credible pedigrees.

    While promising that the church will pray for peaceful polls and sensitise Nigerians on their civil rights and obligations, Meduoye said: “The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and we counsel all political parties to run their campaigns based on the value they intend to add to the lives of the people.”

    He expressed delight over the rapid expansion of the church in the last 60 years, saying it the “Foursquare’s flag is in the 36 states of the federation while we have also extended the gospel to neigbouring countries.”

    Meduoye also said the church has planted parishes in the United States of America from where the gospel was bought to the country in 1955 by Rev & Mrs. Harold Curtis.

    He said over 3,200 parishes of the church exist in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria while several outreaches have ongoing to impact lives and empower people

  • Elshaddai Church lifts widows

    No fewer than 100 widows smiled home last Christmas with a bag of rice and vegetable oil during a empowerment summit by Elshaddai Covenant Ministries in New Oko Oba, Lagos.

    The summit was part of initiatives by the church to alleviate the hardship facing many of the widows.

    The General Overseer of the Church, Dr James Iruobe, encouarged the widows not to give up hope.

    God, he stated, was interested in helping them navigate through the path of life of greatness.

    According to him: “Don’t give up on hope; don’t give up on life. There is so much God has in store for you.

    “Your life can shine again and radiate the glory of God because it is not over for you. Life still has so much to offer you now and always.”

    He enjoined the widows to give their all to God, assuring that their lives would never remain the same again.

    Iruobe said the church decided to empower the widows during the commemoration of the birth of Jesus to underscore the love of God for them.

    “God loves you. He wants you to believe in Him. He means well. That is why He sent Jesus. If you embrace Jesus, I assure that life will take the best turn for you,” he stressed.

    When he requested for widows willing to accept Jesus, many hands went up.

    Iruobe later led ministers of the church to minister healing and deliverance to the widows.

    He vowed that the church will stand by them through several other interventions that will unfold with them.

  • Toyin Fajj hooks Poju Oyemade

    Popular Lagos big girl and founder of film production company,  StoryTeller Media, Toyin Fajusigbe, will be tying the nuptial knot with popular Lagos pastor, Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Centre.

    Toyin, a graduate of New York Film Academy, will be signing the dotted lines with the stylish pastor next month in a low-key celebration.

    Fondly known on social media as Toyin Fajj, she has worked with reputable media houses such as Ndani TV. Her documentary film, Unbroken: The John Sumonu Story, which she directed and produced, was nominated for best documentary at the 2014 Abuja International Film Festival.