The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Lawmaker seeks divine intervention

    An Honourable member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Hamed Omisore, has called on religious leaders to continue to pray to God for the survival and well being of the nation.

    Omisore made the call while speaking at the Consecration of Bishop (Mrs) Joy Oberiko recently by Divine Souls for Christ Church in conjunction with Endtime Apostolic Global Network (ETAGN) in Lagos.

    According to him, the devil is planning to destabilise the country and only the church that can help with their ceaseless prayers to God for divine intervention.

    He lamented the spate of graft, crime and corruption in public and private sphere which he noted is an indication that Nigerians lack the fear of God in their dealings.

    Omisore, who was awarded Honorary Doctor of Divinity by the College of Bishops (ETAGN), noted that the church must remain firm on their conviction in preaching the truth of God’s word that changes the heart and life for Jesus Christ.

    “I am very delighted to be honoured today and I will continue to be committed to this church that has made tremendous contribution to my life because they supported me with their prayers and advise during my campaign for the House of Assembly.”

    The Presiding Bishop of the Network, Bishop Ben Stephen, appealed to Christians who want to become Bishops to emulate the life of Christ and exhibit good works in their communities.

  • Diamond Bank unveils enterprise seminar

    Diamond Bank Plc said it is paying attention to instant delivery to assist in creating a market beating customer experience for gaining competitive advantage.

    Speaking during the bank’s business xpress enterprise series, the Head Retail Banking ,Jade Anele said the bank is building the managerial capacity of entrepreneurs to the level they can easily succeed in their respective businesses.

    He reiterated the commitment of the bank to impact positively on small and medium enterprises. Speaking at Diamond Business Xpress Seminar in Lagos, Anele explained that Diamond Bank is providing a lot of benefits targeted at developing the macroeconomic landscape of the country.

    He said the business Xpress enterprise seminar is designed for incubating and growing Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME’s) across the country, adding that it was developed bearing in mind the problems facing the real sector of the economy. “Diamond Business Xpress was developed specifically to add value to your business whether a micro, small or medium scale enterprise. The Business Xpress account aims to help you grow your businesses,” said Mash.

    He said said the objective of the seminar was not to win customers for the bank but to ensure that enterprises get rid of one of the challenges to their growth, which is lack of proper business and management information. He pointed out that besides the seminar, the bank aids businesses and enterprises with products and services that make it easy for them to do transactions at little or no cost thereby boosting their profitability.

    According to him,, Diamond Bank offers its SME customers a business account with three variants designed to take care of micro, growing and established businesses, all of which among other benefits, enjoy free Cost of Transactions (COT) in their daily banking activities. “With Diamond Business Xpress, the customer can attend our quarterly enterprise business seminars where he can learn the latest trends in management. In addition, the customer has access to affordable loans and business advisory services,” she added.

    He enjoined participants at the seminar to always imbibe the principles of planning, which according to her is imperative for success in all business endeavors. the bank is building the capacity of entrepreneurs to ensure that their businesses flourish and outlive them by teaching them to be better managers in order to reduce the tendency of business insolvency.

    The quarterly business seminar, dwell on empowerment of entrepreneurs and small-scale traders, will be graced by business consultants, entrepreneurs, bankers and customers. According to the statement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Superflux , Mr Tokunbo Talabi who was the key facilitator at the seminar, took the entrepreneurs through various avenues of maximising interactions to the benefit of their businesses.

  • Things will get better this year -Kumuyi

    Nigerians have been advised to continue to put their hope and confident is God in the face of increasing socio-economic challenges in the country.

    This was the focus of the just concluded annual Deeper Life Bible Church, 2012 December Retreat held recently at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, Lagos-Ibadan expressway on the theme: “Receiving All round Security in Christ”.

    The programme started penultimate Thursday had thousands of Christian’s faithful from parts of Lagos State including Ikorudu, Epe and Badagry. The retreat also was held simultaneously in every state in Nigeria and virtually all the Africa countries, including Europe and Latin America.

    There were 14 heart rendering messages with two sessions of Bible study. Messages included: Reproducing Christ’s victory in believers: the believers power of a conqueror’s purity: wining the conqueror’s crown and Militants Overcomers in the triumphant church among others.

    In his sermon, Pastor Kumuyi said that Nigerians should keep their hope alive in God as 2013 is a year of blessings, victory, testmonies, sucess and delliverance for God’s people.

    Kumuyi reminded the participants to exhibit the virtue of endurance as there is always a price to pay for every achiever in Life “there is a cross to bear and different challenges to face which must be endure. We must persevere in holiness as heavenly citizens to be able to inherit all things Christ has prepared for us there”.

    While commenting on the current national issues, he said “while we battle with the ever growing problem of unemployment, underfunded educational institutions, increase in crime rate and various form of ethno-religious violence, we must not lose hope as God is still able to turn things around for good for us.

    He pointed out in the scripture “righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people” added that no nation can ever surmount its challenges without acknowledging God and His desire in the scheme of things.

    The cleric asserted that Nigeria shall overcome. We have passed through this testing tie before and we overcame. As we lessen our negative sides and play down our perceived difference, wise counsel and the real propagators of violence will be indentified and apprehended.

  • God will do miraculous things this year – Otuya

    God will do miraculous things this year – Otuya

    The government of God will be progressive, and each progression will come with a shifting in the spiritual realm also. There will come a radical shift away from the Church as an institution in the culture, to a movement that will have the power to transform the culture. Christianity as an institution has to die in order for Christianity as a movement to be resurrected.”

    This revelation was made by Priscillia Otuya, the president of the United Gospel Churches Association of Nigeria (UGCAN) during the re-launch of the international arm of the organisation recently.

    The event was also an opportunity to talk about the State of the nation and how her organisation plans to make a way in the wilderness for Nigerians. “God is stepping in right now in the affairs of men and turning the tables. Behind all of history is the unseen hand of the Eternal God who is causing all things to work together according to His ultimate intention and purpose. First the natural signs , then the spiritual signs follows. God is definitely up to something.”

    In the coming days and years, Otuya warns that more structures in the society would be collapsing. “This would be a time where God will do things suddenly. A lot of miraculous things would happen and it will take us by surprise. Take another look at what is happening in the world today, and you would realize the Truth that the unseen hand of God is at work in the world stage.”

    She continues: “The truth was and is still that God rules in the affairs of men and He gives power to whomsoever He wills, even to the lowliest of men. But the problem is that while God wants His place in the affairs of men, men would not allow Him. We seek God in times of trouble: we seek Him in times of need and we seek Him for success in times of elections, but we relegate Him when solution comes. We relegate Him after we succeed in gaining power and worst still; we relegate Him when we made policies and take decisions concerning Nigeria and her people.”

    Otuya also advised that Nigerians should continue to pray and not be afraid of the things they see around them. “As we all are already aware, we are in a season of great ups and downs in the nations of the earth, Nigeria inclusive. There are great uncertainties which cause great tensions due to the lack of clarity about the future. We have reached a critical point in our nation’s destiny: in reality the nation is at a crossroad bedeviled with a strange plague. A plague, perhaps more deadly than AIDS affect our nation. It bestrides our landscape, snuffing our dear lives off our people, and bequeathing misery and fear.”

  • Night of harvest at CMCM

    Christ Miracle Church Mission will on Friday 18th January, 2013 hold “Night of Harvest.” It is scheduled for 2, Iyasuna Crescent, Off Ishola Bello Street, Akiode, Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

    Speaking on the programme during its new year prayer session, the Chief host and General Overseer of the church, Prophet David Abiola Adebisi, has assured everyone who attend the programme by the grace of God of uncommon bountiful harvest, will be blessed with fruitfulness in the new year and till the end of time.

    Those expected to minister in songs include midnight crew, Adegbodu Twins, CMCM Glorious Choir among others saying everybody is welcome.

  • Nunu custard named best custard 2012

    RESEARCH institute names Nunu Custard best custard food product. Recognition and honours came the way of Nutricima’sNunu ready-to-eat custard at the weekend as the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology named it the “Best Custard Food Product 2012”.

    According to the Abuja-based institute chaired by Dame Priscilla Kuye, former Nigerian Bar Association president, Nunu ready-to-eat custard“outperformed others” on the 10 parameters of assessment.

    The parameters include “product high quality, value creation and efficacy; product acceptability, track record and competitive edge; Nunu Custard passed quality tests and is NAFDAC certified; the product is hygienically processed and made from skimmed fresh milk.

    Other parameters include; product conforms with global acceptable quality for a good custard, compliance with professional codes and ethical standards, compliance with international standards, compliance with government regulatory laws and guidelines.”Nutricima Head of Marketing Mrs. Wande Oluwasegunfunmi led a company team that received the award from the Institute at the African Product

    Forum held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on December 8,2012.

    The African Product Forum Port Harcourt 2012 with the theme“Re-making an enabling environment” featured presentations by Prof. E.J. Etuk, dean of the faculty of management sciences, University of

    Calabar; Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Mr. Mike Omeri, Director General of the National Orientation Agency.

    Nunu ready-to-eat custard is manufactured to the highest standards atthe ultra-modern factory of Nutricima Limited where it also makes three milk brands, Nunu, Coast and Olympic.Nutricima Limited is a joint venture between PZ Cussons plc and Glambia Limited of Ireland, a renowned food-processing firm.

  • Cleric urges Nigeria to keep hope alive

    The spiritual leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Dr Gabriel Fakeye, has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country in spite of the challenges facing it.

    He stated this at the 22nd Inter-denominational Nine Lessons and Xmas Carol Service held at the church premises, Surulere, Lagos.

    Fakeye said: “I want us to know that two forces are at war, one is going to overcome the other. Satan will not and cannot overcome God. What is happening in Nigeria today shows that the more we pray the more the forces of darkness try to overwhelm us. And by the special grace of God Nigerians will win this battle against Satan.”

    He stressed that the country would make process no matter the challenges currently dogging its feet. According to the cleric, Nigerians should rekindle hope in the country and pray for divine help for those who are charged with the responsibilities of providing good governance.

    The carol which attracted prominent citizens from all walks of life, had people of different religious background at the event.

    Speaking, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun noted that it would take some maturity to handle the heavy burden currently confronting government, urged Nigerians to pray for divine intervention from above.

    He said: “It is a bit difficult for me to say that this is the way we are heading because it is obvious that things are difficult and it requires some maturity to handle. The issues of Boko Haram and other challenges have become a burden on government but I believe that if we get our act today we can get it right.”

    Adesegun urged leaders to live a God fearing life by doing what the people wanted, this he further remarked would bring orderliness to the activities of authorities. “We need to live a God fearing life, provide for the people their needs; we should not think evil of others and do what is good in the sight of God.”

    Also present at the event were Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd) and Senator Ganiyu Soloman. It was a total package of good musical artistry by the church choir with members dancing and praising God for keeping them alive. Guests and faithful were served given souvenirs and delicious take-away.

  • My nightmare bus trip to the East

    My nightmare bus trip to the East

    THE festive season is here again and I was looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my mother in Enugu. Flying was out of it for me because I had been in a near-airplane crash and since then developed air travel phobia. I went to my favourite road transporter, Aerostar (Jibowu,Yaba), that has fleets of Peugeot cars for transportation but unfortunately the company was not booking in advance. You have to pay for your ticket the day of your trip. I was travelling on December 22nd and I wanted to buy my ticket on December 20th to avoid the rush I was sure to encounter on 22nd.

    On second thoughts, I proceeded to ABC office at Jibowu, Yaba. I bought my ticket for N6,000.00 and to my pleasant surprise found they were selling half price for children between the ages of two and twelve years, so I also bought for two small girls travelling with me. The tickets stated that take-off time was 7 a.m and also clearly stated the weight of luggage a passenger is entitled to, which is 20kilos per passenger.

    Very early on the 22nd, I got to the ABC bus terminal at Jibowu . Professionally, our luggage was weighed and tagged, and we sat down at the station among the crowd travelling for Xmas holidays. Instead of 7 a.m, the stipulated take-off time, the driver left by 8.30a.m. It has been over seven years I travelled in such a big luxury vehicle, so I was happily excited with the interior of the bus. The air conditioner and vent were working, the bus was fitted with a toilet where passengers can urinate and an entertaining Nigerian movie was playing for us. Meanwhile it was the first time the kids I was travelling with have ever been in such a big vehicle, so they were all bursting with excitement.

    Half way through the journey, the bus attendant whom I later found out was called Anderson served the passengers rice in take-away plastics and soft drinks.

    Since I was travelling with kids, I had packed a lot of edibles to last us on the journey. So we were all happily munching away.

    Approaching Ore in Ondo State, we encountered traffic hold up and road diversions. At about 4.30p.m we got to Benin and the driver stopped to refill his diesel tank and for passengers to stretch their legs. Another passenger, a lady I had been chatting with in the bus, now took me aback by saying that the vehicle would not get to Enugu that day that passengers would be sleeping at Onitsha. I asked her if that was the destination, she replied in the negative, explaining that it was the usual thing with ABC vehicles going to Enugu. I pointed out to her that from Benin to Enugu would only take the driver about 4 hours so that we would get to Enugu about 8p.m, but the lady was sure of what she was saying as she was regular on that route and usually board ABC vehicles.

    I then proceeded to Anderson, the bus attendant, but he assured me we were going to Enugu straight as there was no need passing the night at Onitsha. According to the attendant, the road was free and there was still enough time to get to Enugu.

    Fortunately we got to Onitsha at about 7.30p.m but the driver drove straight to ABC terminal at Upper Iweka road and switched off his engine. He then came out of his seat, stood on the bus isle and announced ”passengers going to Onitsha can alight here but passengers going to Enugu will sleep here till tomorrow when we will continue the journey.”

    To my chagrin, no passenger challenged him; they just started trooping out of the vehicle as if they had gotten to their final destinations. I was so shocked at the announcement and the nonchalant manner it was delivered. No proper explanation was given why the journey had to be put on hold. But from the reactions of the other passengers they were used to such lousy treatment from the ABC officials. This is a journey of six hours, from Lagos to Enugu. Where are we going to sleep? Did I board an ABC bus to come and sleep at their bus terminal because I have no bed at home? I called the driver back to ask him why he could not proceed on the journey as the ticket I bought was meant to take me to Enugu. Without any apologies, he said he could not continue on the journey by that time as it was late. Okay, I asked him if he was lodging us in a hotel. He replied we should go to the bus terminal to sleep, and walked off.

    I was livid with anger, angry at the ABC officials and angry with the other passengers who just accepted the unfair treatment being meted out to them.

    The two kids with me were already sleeping, so how do I manage myself and two children without any bed till morning? I left the kids in the vehicle and entered the ABC office to see where we were supposed to settle for the night. What I saw got me more angry .There were about eight aluminum long seaters in the station. Maybe each of the aluminum chairs will seat four persons. Now each ABC luxury bus has about 56 passengers. How can those chairs serve 40 passengers not to talk of 56 passengers? As I was still trying to find a way out of the difficult situation, about five more ABC luxury buses drove into the station to wait till morning.

    From my interactions with some of these passengers, I found that some of the vehicles were heading to Owerri, Port Harcourt and other destinations. But the passengers would readily tell you that sleeping over at Onitsha was the norm with ABC transport. The drivers do not leave at scheduled times. Most of them stop at their bus terminals on their route to pick passengers and generally take their time, knowing that they will sleep over on the road.

    Of course that night was truly a nightmare. Mosquitoes made mince meat of everyone. There was nothing like sleep.

    I was sitting down and carrying two sleeping girls on my laps and very busy all through the night driving mosquitoes away from them.

    Some other women passengers threw wrappers on the bare floor and laid down. Most men resorted to drinking and chatting in groups.

    At 6 a.m on the 23rd, we took off for Enugu. We got to the ABC terminal at Ogui Road, Enugu at about 8 am. A normal journey of 6 hours from Lagos to Enugu took 26 hours on ABC Transport.

    Berating the driver who gave his name as Chuks for his nonchalant attitude, the Customer Service Officer of ABC Jibowu Yaba, Justina Olabalogun, explained that the bus drivers usually stop at Onitsha office if it was getting late in order not to run into armed robbers.

    But that explanation does not justify their actions. Most other transporters do not subject their passengers to sleep at their bus terminals. The management of ABC Transport should make their drivers to leave at scheduled times. After leaving the take-off venue the drivers should not stop again to pick passengers and the entire ABC officials should understand that without passengers, they will be out of jobs. The reason they still keep their job is because of patronage by passengers.

     

  • Year 2013 is a year of testimony—Bankole Jefferson

    Pastor Bankole Jefferson, the General Overseer of Mercy Tabernacle Church, Ogba Lagos organised the Christmas edition of his outreach tagged ‘Help from above’ during the week. The event where food items, clothing and other essentials were given to the less privileged pulled a lot of crowd in the area.

    It was also an opportunity for the man of God to talk about some of the revelations for the year 2013. “We have just finished our 12 days fasting to wait on the lord. Year 2013 is a year of testimony. People who have been waiting on God for children, for a husband, to build a house, promotion and miracle would get their breakthrough,” he informs.

    Jefferson went on to say that: Our nation has also gone through tests and trials, in the new year we will see visible improvements being tested. I think that Boko Haram is government ineffectiveness. I think that Mr. President should come out and be more pro active and not docile. Plane crash is everywhere but it is much in Africa because all the equipment they use is sub standard. The tragedy that is obvious in our land is hunger. If the government does not nail this there will be a revolution.”

    Jefferson admonished Nigerians to be thankful for the year 2012 .His words: “It has been most difficult for people but we thank God that we are standing by his grace. And we are at Christmas again and as usual we are doing our food distribution and we have done several. Particularly, I heard a testimony yesterday from someone who benefitted from our help from above for three consecutive months. Now, she has been empowered and she said she does not need our help again.”

    He added: “Her name is Hannah Ifeoma Okoro, she has a colourful testimony. She bought drum sets for the church. In fact, she bought me the costliest suit this year and she said she would put me on a monthly brand new suit and shoes. I feel fulfilled that this is what God wants me to do to transform lives. It shows you that there is nothing God cannot do. This girl came in here dressed in okrika and she wanted to hang herself at that point. She was brought in for help. She was able to send N200, 000 to her mother in the village. People who have means should give others leverage.”

    A cup of food, Jefferson said, can make a difference in someone’s life. “If we all share this world would be a better place. We can see the monstrous greed and my advice to Mr. President is to kill corruption. Corruptions has moved to every fibre and even as a pastor people make all kinds of illegitimate demand. If they are not the ones behind corruption they should make laws to show it.”

  • Shun peace talk in Saudi, says Erumaka

    The General Overseer of the Wordbase Assembly, Lagos, Bishop Humphrey Erumaka, has charged the federal government to shun any form of conditional dialogue on peace deal from the Boko Haram sect.

    Erumaka made this known in an interview with The Nation recently ahead of the church 14 days of Prayer and Praise Revival programme scheduled to hold early next year.

    Erumaka said the recent condition for peace talk initiated by the Boko Haram sect with the federal government in Saudi Arabia was a clear indication that the sect was not interested in the peace and stability of the country.

    According to him, the need for peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding in any society is very germane for national development but can be effectively done when people or the different parties involved show genuine interest for peace.

    He said “I generally believe in dialogue as a process of mediation but one can only dialogue with people who show real interest for peace. Nigeria can no longer be held ransom by faceless groups whose agenda is primitive and undefined. The condition of the peace talks in Saudi Arabia should be jettisoned in its entirety.”

    While calling for continuous prayers for peace and stability on the part of citizens, the pastor also advised government to put structure that will help protect the lives and properties of citizens in place.