Category: Sunday Interview

Anthony Abakporo is a social reformer who is passionate about the future of young people. In this encounter with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, he asserts that the youths are the future of any society. Unfortunately, a number of young people have resorted to crime and other vices.

The youths, it is said, are the future of any society. Unfortunately, a number of young people have resorted to crime and other vices, taking short-cuts and believing these would take them to the economic promise land. Anthony Abakporo is one of such young people, who got caught-up in the web crime but lucky to rediscover himself early enough.

Recalling how the streets exposed and almost destroyed him before a 360-degree turnaround that has seen him rescuing and transforming lives of young people lost in the throes drugs and crime through his NGO, United Breed Foundation, Abakporo said, “Yes, I did drugs and alcohol. I wasn’t really into women but had few women friends. I loved drinks far more than women. The lifestyle I was into was too bad that if I’d added women, I would have had several baby mamas. I had a son outside wedlock in 2009 September and, thankfully, got born again December 31st 2009.”

Asked what inspires him, Abakporo said, “Life as founder is very tasking but so far, I am enjoying it. The Holy Spirit of God inspires what I do.”

That Spirit of God and enthusiasm has seen Abakporo and his team going to the streets to rescue youths caught up in drugs, alcohol, gambling and other harmful vices.

“We talk to them about the dangers of ending up frustrated in life. Presently, we are on the rehabilitation of a rapper who went by the name, Lyrical Undertaker. But today he doesn’t want to be called by that name because he is born again. His name is Seyi; we found him on the street in Festac Town, frustrated. He was one of the rappers in Tony Tetuila’s Omode Meta shere. He also worked closely with Paul Play Dairo. As we speak, Paul Play is on his case trying to get him an apartment.”

“We fed him every day with the word of God that transforms any dead mind and meals too. Now he is so changed that people who knew him on the streets of Festac marvel. He is no longer under the influence of alcohol or any vice. In fact, Paul Play Dairo saw a video of him and requested a video call with him. After their conversation, Paul credited our account with N30,000 for his upkeep, pending when he would open a barbers shop for him and get him accommodation.”

As a way of keeping younger people busy and away from these vices, Abakporo has a free ICT programme and runs a football competition. “We assemble them at our meeting point to begin the transformation process. We have also gotten jobs for some of them – those that we believe are employable, while we work on others.”

Asked how this line of work has impacted his life, Abakporo said, “I can’t do without loving people. That is who I am and it is very conspicuous in my thoughts and actions. I don’t think I have been influenced differently.”

On what advise he would give to the government on youth empowerment, the young man said, “Human resources is greater than natural resources, and needs service at Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA). On that fateful day, Rev Yomi Kasali was preaching and taking us through real life experiences. He spoke on evangelism and how that’s the major assignment of every Christian.”

That message transformed his life and inspired him. “The scriptures that were read on that day hit me hard. I just couldn’t hold back the fire and it took me through a number of things that I needed to do to transform lives, lives that were wasting in the streets.”

He began thinking of ways of reaching out to the increasing number of young people stranded on the streets, clueless about the future and in need of help and direction. “For at least two weeks, I was ashamed to preach; the idea just came and went. Then the D-day came one faithful day. That day, I boarded a bus from Orile to Ojuelegba and the inspiration I had been waiting for came and it laid the foundation for so many other things to come.”

That was in year 2010 and Abakporo has not looked back since then.

The discussion moved to the challenges encountered and he immediately recalled a personal disaster which almost set him back at a point.

“I am a professional dry-cleaner and it is something that I am really passionate about. To make it a thriving business, I put in a lot into it. Unfortunately I have gone through a lot in that business.”

One of his survival strategies was to understand the details of the job like the back on his hands and put the customers’ need as a priority.

He also went a step further by understanding every skill as well as producing the items required for smooth production. I produce my soaps, local stain remover, bleach and perfumes. I produced all that and it was very interesting going through the rudiments when I went to learn how to make them”.

His beautiful wife, he says, is his strong pillar of support.  “My wife also knows how to produce all these too but we once suffered a big setback in the business. On the 25th of December 2018 at about 5am, my landlord called me that the place was on fire.”

According to him, he jumped out of bed, dashed to the place and was devastated at the ruins that stared back at him. “I lost millions in terms of people’s clothes that got burnt beyond recognition. A major fashion designer pardoned me; his items were worth about 1.2 million naira. It was a great surprise. He said he did that because I am a good man. I had to sort out the other damages through faith in Christ and that gave me the boldness to give funds to the United Breeds project.”

That incident took him back to point zero but he was not deterred. “Satan wanted to slow me down but I just didn’t give up. I, however, learnt a lot from that incident. It made me think out of the box and became far better than I was.”

That was not all. “After the fall, I was determined to get back on track again. Now, I have added two other businesses.”

Losing his parents early in life has also helped him adjust to the many challenges of life. “I am 100% Street in mind because I lost my parents too early and I am the first son of five siblings. The street schooled me.”

Now, you want to know about his educational background, and he takes you into another phase of his life. “I am still in school and I’ll tell you that I am studying life. Academically, I left the four walls of education in 1996 when my parents died. I was just 15 years old. I tried going back to school to study but somehow, it wasn’t working for me. The truth of the matter is that I had a lot of responsibilities to think of and other distractions.”

After conquering the odds, he decided to invest in books to get the knowledge he missed in the formal system. “Here, I saw the wellspring of education in my quest and hunger for knowledge. I became erudite as I studied some good books. I read a lot and I still love to read till date. Thank God for soft copies this days that helps me regularly upgrade my mental capacity and it has given me general knowledge.”

He added: “I am seen as cognoscenti by many in several fields. I have run a big business as general manager, which turned over N5 million in one branch; that’s aside other branches, until I resigned to start my own business. People still consult me because I have business knowledge like Cosmos Maduka (Coscharis) who never went to school. He stopped at primary 3.  I am a business pundit; I can turn 200k to an empire in 20 years.”

Tina Ndidi Ugo is a fashion entrepreneur, interior designer, travel consultant, business and Life coach, photographer and a blogger. Her brand DIDI Creations has  showcased her collections in some of the worlds fashion capitals like London, New York, Paris, Lagos and Nairobi. She has won several awards across the globe and hopes to keep winning. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on her passion, inspiration and some of her achievements in the sector.

WHAT or who inspired you to go into the fashion and bag designing business?

To be honest I’ll say the fashion industry was inevitable and innate for me as I always believed I had something to offer because of my creativity.

I had been told times without number by strangers, friends and family that I was quite creative, whenever I was seen in any of my designed custom made sample pieces hence I decided to pull the bull by the horn and made up my mind to start designing as a means of livelihood.

I started designing Clothing, Bags, Shoes and Accessories as a result of my fetish for these fashion pieces.

My personal love and preference for genuine leather and statement fashion pieces was also a huge factor.

I’m so passionate about fashion and style, to the extent that I’m a collector of most fashion items and accessories.

What was it like at the beginning?

DIDI Creations was launched in 2012, while DIDI Creations Kids was launched in 2016.

At the beginning, i knew I wanted to build a global fashion brand that would outlive me so I gave it my all.

Interestingly, DIDI Creations  was berthed in my Bedroom shortly after my graduation from Edgehill Business school; where I was awarded a Master of Business Administration in 2011.

I’ve always loved the fashion industry while growing up and I’m still fascinated by Fashion till date.

So upon my graduation, I was torn between getting a job in the financial sector or setting up my own business. I decided to settle for the latter and the rest is history today. I followed all the steps required to start up a fashion business.

What were you doing before this and what was the experience like?

Prior to launching my brands, I worked with three different corporate sectors (Insurance, Aviation and Publishing sectors) between 2002 and 2005.

I kept changing jobs every year as there was no real job satisfaction, however I’ll forever be grateful for some of the professional experiences I gathered while at my 9-5 jobs, because they helped prepare me.

I quit the corporate world in 2005 to pursue my entrepreneurial dream.This saw me setting up my first business (Black Cashmere Ventures) in 2005.

I have set up a few other businesses afterwards, including DIDI Creations Ltd, DIDI Deluxe Services Ltd, DIDI Deluxe Travel Ltd. and POP UP Nigeria Ltd.

Let’s talk about some memorable moments in your life and career?

My most memorable moment in life was my pregnancy journey and giving birth to my daughter. Words can’t explain my feelings when I saw her for the first time.

The day I officially launched DIDI Creations eight years ago remains fresh in my memory also.

One of my memorable highlights after launching would be when I had my first live interview in 2013 during the Woman’s Hour on BBC radio for discussing African Fashion prior to my first runway showcase in London.

Another was when I took my first bow on the stage as a Fashion designer during Africa Fashion Week London 2013. I have taken several other bows over the years in London, New York, Kenya and Lagos).

In 2016, I opened the show at Africa Fashion Week, London and took a bow with my 7 months old daughter; I’d say that experience and moment was priceless for me.

I’ve also cherished being featured in almost all the major fashion magazines in the UK, South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria over the years; including British Vogue, Elle, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Glam Africa, Pride, Genevieve magazine, TW magazine, Working Moms, Complete fashion and several others.

I won’t forget in a hurry the brand exposure I got when my brand was chosen alongside twenty nine other British brands by the UK Department for International Trade in 2017 to have our products retailed in a major mall in Paris for a whole month.

Finally, all the awards I have received over the years inspires and motivate me to work harder.

What are some of the challenges encountered?

One of the biggest challenge is production and quality control.

I’ve had quite a number of devastating experiences with manufacturers and artisans in Italy, Nigeria, Ghana and China.

Logistics is also another challenge, especially for those pieces we manufacture in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Finally, getting the products out there on the shelves of major departmental stores is another challenge.

Because no matter how good your product or service is, it needs to be visible and people need to be aware it exists.

Would you consider the business lucrative?

The fashion industry is very capital intensive but can be quite lucrative if you get it right or have a big break.

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

My late mum was my greatest influence and role model. She was such a hard working, beautiful woman and serial entrepreneur, so I grew up emulating her.

In her lifetime, she ventured into the Beauty sector, Food sector and Fashion industry respectively. We eventually became unofficial business partners at some point before her demise.

Let’s compare when you started doing this and now,  what has changed?

When I started, my retail outlets/stockists and clientele base were mainly in the UK and Nigeria. Whereas now, apart from those two, we do have a presence and clientele across the globe including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Holland etc.

In what ways has being an entrepreneur changed your lifestyle?

Being an Entrepreneur has made me become a workaholic, as I work round the clock.

What are some of the changes that you would like to see in the sector?

I’ll like to see African Fashion dominate the global fashion scene. I foresee this happening in the near future

What are some of the lessons that you have learnt?

Based on experience over the years, I have learnt to do more market research and product testing before going into full production for new lines and collections.

What is your definition of style?

Style for me is a way of saying who I am without uttering a word. Style radiates in everything one does not necessarily only in fashion. I wouldn’t follow a fashion trend if it doesn’t align with my personal style

Tell us about the things that you treasure most in life?

I treasure my daughter, family, peace, sanity, time and happiness.

How do you relax?

I’m an avid lover of nature. So I relax by watching and capturing the sunrises, seaside, birds, cloud formations and sunsets.

Who are the people you admire and role models?

I admire innovators and hope I can invent something new in my lifetime.

Where do you hope to see your business in the next few years?

I hope to see my business expand into new markets and also have a main stake in the sector.

If you had to advise young people who want to go into the sector what would you tell them?

I’ll let them know it’s a very capital intensive sector. Hence anyone venturing into it, needs to have the will to persevere and passion to continue when the chips are down.

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

Let’s just say, I literally work round the clock.

Apart from being a hands on mum to my daughter, I’m also a certified travel consultant, business coach, an amateur photographer, freelance web developer, freelance graphic designer, a blogger and vlogger. All of the above keep me on my toes daily.

D’LYTE is a lawyer, designer, hairstylist, skincare expert, performing artiste, singer and actress. She has worked with artistes like Ruggedman, Charly Boy as well as Tunde and Wunmi Obe. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on her passion for music, initial challenges, supporting female artistes as well as going into production.

WHAT are some of the things that you have done in the sector?

Some of the things I have done in the industry, apart from putting my songs out, is that I have done my own professional show before leaving Nigeria. I had a monthly show. That show wasn’t only for me because artistes are not usually called to shows, except some particular set of artistes. So, I told myself that I am not going to let the challenges in the industry bring me down and run away from my passion.

I started with D’LYTE and the stars. I feel every talented artiste is a star. In the first edition, Blakky, Jaywon and Righteousman were involved. I had lots of artistes coming to grace the occasion and I was able to recognise some young and fresh artistes.

The show was more of a platform for artistes to come and showcase themselves. You don’t have to wait for people to call you to a big show before you can showcase yourself. I didn’t have to wait to have all the money to be able to put up a show. It was successful. After this, I did hangout with D’LYTE. This was an every month show and you come in to hang out with me. I called the upcoming artistes, fresh stars, fresh talents. If those of us who have been in the industry don’t get paid shows, what happens to the fresh stars.

I did the shows before I left the country, it was crazy, it was challenging. People don’t believe in what they can do until they start seeing it. Even when they see it, they still want to discourage you. I also participated in a couple of movies and that inspired me to go into production, to do my own movie. That is what I am working on now.

Tell us about the memorable experiences and the things that inspire you?

Music is passion for me. As much as I would love to bring out the business part of music, I get inspired when I see female artistes inspirationsing. This gave me the to keep working hard. To also be one of those people that would bring up other female artistes. I get inspired by women helping women, sisters helping sisters. I get inspired by all that. Female artistes are lagging behind in the industry and the challenges does not give them hope to push more. So, in order for this kind of dream not to die, I decided to set up a production company to promote female artistes. I had so many memorable and beautiful memories  in the process.

What was the very first song you did?  What was the experience like?

The very first song I did was, ‘You go make me kolo. Then I did the remix with Ruggedman. He was versatile and that was my first time in the industry. I was also part of Tunde and Wunmi Obe’s musical videos as well as Charly Boy’s videos. Then I was appointed vice president of his fan club. My very first video, ‘Kolo’ was a nice experience. I did different productions with Teddy, Ramzo, Sunny T, one of the Olorioko guys. I had different versions of that song and I did a remix with Joe Kenny and Ruggedman. I had the original and the remix. It was great.

Immediately after that, I came out with Atiba ti de. It was more like a rap song because I was singing and rapping at the same time. I was popularly known as Atiba, the light. Atiba means lantern and I adopted the English version, which is D’LYTE, this makes it easier for people to connect with me. Truly, I am the light that truly brightens people’s lives.

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

I am more of a home person. I am always at home if I don’t have something to do outside. I write a lot, I am a creative person. I am into hair styling, clothing and skincare. I try to make income from them too because if you have to do music you must have other stuffs. I studied Law but I am a highly creative person. I love to learn things and work on them. Writing takes my time a lot, same with designing clothes and hairstyling.

What are some of the changes that you will like to see in the sector?

I will like to see females standing up, the way men stand up. I will like to see females do collaborations, men do this easily. We don’t really support each other. If women come together as a force, we are great. We have a strong force and if we can come together, it works. I found out when I was doing my shows, that it was easier to get a male artiste. And that is really bad because it won’t help us grow. So, I will like a good representation when there is a show, instead of ten men to one or two women.

Unfortunately, they always believe that we have a short lifespan because we get married, have kids and will stop music. So, they can’t pump resources in this person’s career. So, many things need to change in the industry.

What is your definition of style. What are some of the items you treasure most in your wardrobe?

Style for me is the manner in which you do things. Simplicity is it. The power to be simple. When you are simple, it shows humility. I am talking personally but style means a distinctive way of doing things. When it comes to fashion, I like to be simple. I don’t like it heavy. I cherish my jeans. You can take anything from my wardrobe but you can never take away my jeans and tank tops. Those are easy wears. I just put them on with my sneakers and I am out of the house.

I just started wearing gowns, they make you look sexy, cool and mature.

I love to do Make-up for people. I do Make-up professionally. When I go out, I make sure that my eyebrow is intact. I am light skinned, so I don’t want to look dull. I cherish my eye pencil and lip gloss. I am not a wrist watch person. I hardly wear earrings because I always have my hair down, long and it covers my ear.

Tell us about your role models and mentors?

My number one role model is my dad. I learnt a lot from his words, he gave me wisdom and also to be my own role model. I also learnt a lot from people in the industry, younger people.

Tell us how it all started?

I started singing when I was young, growing up and trying to get into the music industry wasn’t easy. I was more like the chief executive officer, I was the one financing my projects. There are so many challenges in the industry and I didn’t want to be used. So, I decided to work hard and use my money to finance my projects. So far it went well because at a point my song was reigning, my song was everywhere.

I took a break because I wasn’t liking some of the productions given to me. So, when I found the producer, I said I was really ready to go back into the industry. Right now, I am coming up with some songs, back to back and some music videos. I want to do Afro pop. I want to dance but a lot of people see me and say you are pretty, you are sexy, you should do sexy songs, show different parts of your body which is not bad. But I know where I am going to, I know where I am headed, I know how I want to inspire people. I feel like inspiring people and I want to do that through my music. You don’t necessarily have to be a gospel singer to inspire people.

We have to support the industry to grow, we have to believe in the industry and not look at it as second class. The government need to invest in and believe in the industry.

What advise do you have for young people who want to go into the sector?

My advise to younger people who want to come into the industry is that you have to be hardworking. Music is beautiful, music takes a lot of money, music takes a lot of time.

Your passion for music is there but you have to work first. I studied Law, I do Make-up, skin care, hairstyling, fashion in America and it’s helping me. That is what is giving me money to put into my music. So, if you want to go into music, you have to study, have skills outside music, so that you can work when music is not in especially when you are just starting. Nobody is going to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself at the beginning and invest in yourself. If you do only music, you would grow hungry, if you don’t believe in yourself, work hard and let the music be your food. You have to also have another job by the side.

That will help you pay your rent, buy food and be able to carry the stardom. Gradually do music production on your own pending when you will see people who will invest in you. Also, be truthful to yourself, I am a star but I also have to work, so that the light does not die.

How do you relax?

I like to travel, that is how I like to relax. I like to hang out with my friends, we go to the movies, dance and I also go to the spa. It helps me to relax my muscles, have a good massage and I bounce back to this busy life. But truly I like to relax, I like to travel. I like to go to parties, pick sea shells, go see some beautiful places. I like to go to some African countries, anywhere that is fun. I can make anywhere for me, I would love to go to Kenya, I would probably go next year.

What type of books do you like to read?

I grew up reading Sidney Sheldon, Daniel Steel. I also read some of Donald Trump’s books. It helps you business wise, but I love movies that has to do with detectives and crime.

 What are some of the things that you won’t do in the name of fashion?

I will never wear boubou, nothing will make me wear boubou, not even pregnancy. I don’t like it, any dress that is shapeless. I am thin, tall and wearing a shapeless boubou would be so weird on me. You can’t see me in boubou.

How will you describe the impact of COVID-19?

I have been living my regular life because naturally I like to keep safe. I have been so conscious of it from time. Living in a country where people regularly fall sick, you can get infected here. For COVID in Nigeria, I am still shocked to understand that some people still do not believe it exist in Nigeria. In my location COVID killed millions of people and it saddens me. Nigerians need to believe that there is Coronavirus and take precautions. Africa is blessed that God protects us, we believe in him and because of his mercy, we are keeping safe. know where I am going to, I know where I am headed, I know how I want to inspire people. I feel like inspiring people and I want to do that through my music. You don’t necessarily have to be a gospel singer to inspire people.

We have to support the industry to grow, we have to believe in the industry and not look at it as second class. The government need to invest in and believe in the industry.

Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Dr. Azubuike K. Onyebuchi, in this interview with Associate Editor, SAM EGBURONU, speaks on the leaps occasioned by the centre’s new $5.5 million NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre; its breakthroughs in in-vitro fertilisation and renal–transplant services and why the hospital needs to be upgraded to a teaching hospital.

The Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia recently inaugurated the multi-million dollar NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre; how does this excite you?

If you listen to the news, you would have heard that Nigerian trained doctors are always excelling outside the shores of this country – whether Europe, America or Canada; and the reason is that they have access to more advanced diagnostic equipment to work with, which compliments the thorough training they have been through back home. I am excited today because I know that when our doctors get modern diagnostic tools to work with, they will become excellent. With this facility, our doctors will be making more prompt accurate diagnosis. Once you make accurate diagnosis early, the patient will benefit because they will be better managed. So, I am excited because this will improve medical delivery around here and reduce medical tourism.

You reportedly said the facility will serve both the Southeast and Southsouth geo-political zones. Does that mean we didn’t have such a facility in the two regions?

Obviously; if you go around, you will see that the kind of facility that we have here, that is real time and fully automated, cannot be found in any other place in this part of the country. It is the first of its kind here; everything is real time, fully automated and the quality assurance is top notch. It is comparable to anything you can see in the UK, in America, in Canada, in Dubai, in India; anywhere people troop to for medical tourism. I must say this was made possible through the strategic investment in the health sector by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

You also said something about establishing a modern renal transplant centre. But you have, before now, been offering renal transplant services; how is this one different?

Yes, we have been offering this service here in FMCU. But the request I made is for further collaboration in a private-public partnership; so I requested for NSIA to help give us a modern renal transplant complex. Yes, we have been offering this critical service, but with the strategic investment by the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority, we will be one of the best in the country in terms of renal transplant. If we have this further investment by a private participator, it will help to improve the efficiency of what we are doing here and make it world class.

What kind of investment are we talking about?

We usually have a committee that will come up with the figure. For example, they invested about $5.5million to set up this diagnostic centre; this includes the running cost of the period NSIA will manage the facility before handing over to FMC. So, you can imagine the volume of investment.

How long will NSIA manage the facility before handing over to FMCU?

That’ll be until they recoup their investment; they have 90 percent equity and we have 10 percent equity. You know it is Nigerian money that they invested here; it’s Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, which is investing Nigerian money for Nigerians. When they’ve recouped their investment, they will hand it over to FMCU, which will then own it completely.

You also called on the private sector to invest in in-vitro fertilisation. Not many Nigerians understand what in-vitro fertilisation is.

In-vitro fertilisation is an assisted reproductive technique that we use to help our infertile couples; people who have been married for several years and the wife is yet to get pregnant. Technology has so developed that we can get the Gamete of the male and the Gamete of the female; mix the two outside, in the laboratory before transferring it back to the woman to carry the child. That is in-vitro fertilisation. We are offering that service in FMCU now and I am calling for public -private participation or funding to have a modern fertility centre where we can upgrade what we are doing so that we would give world class service.

Since we already have the skills, I believe the private sector should partner with us and bring in funds to help us improve on what we are already doing.

Have you approached any particular investor in Nigeria?

We have appealed to NSIA to help us with the renal transplant centre. We are calling on any other private sector willing to invest in the healthcare sector to come and let us have an understanding and set up a modern fertility centre.

As a federal government institution, does FMC have the legal right to seek private partnership?

We usually take the necessary permissions from the Federal Ministry of Health and the agency in charge of public private partnership. So, whenever we have such partnership proposals, we take it to the ministry and the PPP units for clearance.

You have also made an appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to upgrade FMCU to a teaching hospital; how will that benefit the hospital?

It changes FMCU from being a Federal Medical Centre to being a Teaching Hospital. That alone increases everything that comes to the centre in terms of investment, capital outlay, number of health workers and ability to help in training more medical manpower. We have shown enough capacity and have demonstrated that we can actually do that. Also, many other younger FMCs than Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, which is the oldest, have already been upgraded.

We are asking the Federal Government to allow Michael Okpara University of Agriculture to establish a College of Medicine because it has been done in other places in Nigeria. If that is not feasible, the Federal Government should give Abia a Federal University of Medical Sciences and upgrade FMCU to a university teaching hospital attached to it. Government can also give the state a conventional Federal University because Abia is the only state in the Southeast that has only one state-funded medical school and teaching hospital. All other states in the Southeast have a federal teaching hospital and federal conventional university, except Abia and Imo. But Imo, which has Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), a university of technology, is in the process of establishing a College of Medicine. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture started the process of establishing a college of medicine, when it started the buildings, but it was scuttled. So, it would be fair for that process to be revived or for the government to give Abia a Federal University of Medical Sciences as was done for Otukpo in Benue State and is being done for Abeokuta in Ogun State.

What is your drive and the challenges as Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre Umuahia?

I have served as CMD of FMCU for 15 months. The obvious drive for me is to ensure that Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, is known for quality healthcare services delivery. In doing that, we must motivate our staff and put the environment where people are coming to access health care to be nice looking and friendly. To achieve these, we need to attract funding, the right human resources and the necessary modern equipment. That is what we are strategically doing under our watch as the Medical Director of FMCU. By the grace of God, we must get there.

It was recently discovered that a Nigerian was the only African that fought in defense of Warsaw, the capital of Poland during World War II. In this report, ADEWALE ADEOYE reflects on the exploits of Agboola O’Brown, whose heroic contributions to European history of liberty have for decades been kept in the dark

September 1 this week, many people in Poland in Europe marked 81 years after the German invasion and the heroic underground resistance that took thousands of human lives during the Second World War. A new twist has been added: A Nigerian was the only African that took part in the resistance in Warsaw, Poland. He risked his life in the defense of freedom in Europe. Though nothing was heard about him until recently, his story is generating global interests.

His name is Agboola O’Brown. Little is known of what may have motivated the young boy in his 20s to leave Lagos in 1922 for a voyage which destination he was uncertain of. He was said to be of little education, except that he was known in downtown Lagos as a regular in club houses of the pre-colonial era where he played Jazz.

There are no records of his family lineage except that the information he gave when he arrived in Poland was that he came from Lagos. A visit to downtown Lagos last week by our correspondent did not provide a clue. Most people have extremely poor records of family lineage, typical of many homes in Nigeria. While the name Agboola is a family name known in some parts of Lagos, those who spoke to our correspondent said they could not remember him. There was no clarity whether he was an indigene of Lagos or had migrated from the hinterland.

“He may have used the term ‘born in Lagos’ figuratively. Maybe he was not from Lagos but he was certainly Yoruba”, Taiwo Adeleye, a member of the South West Professional Forum, (SOWPROF) and historian, whose group is working at establishing Agboola’s identity told The Nation.

Agboola, born in Lagos in 1895, the only African who fought against Nazi occupation of Poland, was not known until five years ago, even though reports about him still remain sketchy. The piece of information about him was first discovered in 2010 by historian, Zbigniew Osinski, who worked with the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

The young boy had taken a ship to Poland in 1922 – even though he had no relation or friend there – some thousands of kilometres away from his homeland. He was said to have secured a job as a drummer in one of the club houses in Warsaw City Jazz Club, suggesting that while in Lagos, he must have been reputed for drumming in the various clubs that dotted the then colonial city. He worked in pubs and restaurants in Warsaw and also in the city’s Department of Culture and Art.

Reports said he even debut an album in 1928, clinching the trophy of the first African to have done so.

The album was said to have sold many copies in Europe. It appears it was before the war that Agboola married a white lady of Polish extraction and had two children, Ryszard in 1928 and Aleksander in 1929. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland with Warsaw, the capital as prime target, marking the beginning of the Second World War. This was one week after Hitler signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. Poland, with Agboola as the only black face on the battle, put up stiff resistance. Some 133,700 Polish died while Germany lost 3,500 with some 30,300 missing. Hitler felt the invasion of Poland would offer Lebenstraum or ‘living space,’ opening the way to the conquest of Poland. The invasion lasted one month. Hitler captured the country but not the will of Polish people, who formed a government in exile made of armed forces and intelligence section which launched a blitzkrieg of underground resistance involving Agboola as a key actor.

The most intriguing aspect of his story was his participation in the bloody resistance against Nazi German occupation of Poland. He was linked with the publication of the underground tabloid, bubula and was said to have employed his Jazz music in cultural resistance against Germans.

“The story of Agboola is interesting. We are using him as a peg in our proposed film focusing on the participation of Nigerians in the Second World War and their contributions to peace building in Europe” Abiodun Abe, former President, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Art Practitioners, (NANTAP) told our correspondent. Abe has written to President Mohammadu Buhari and the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, defending the urgent need for the film. He said it will contribute to the fight against racism-related conflict in Europe and would help boost Nigeria’s global image.

More than 40,000 Nigerians were said to have fought in the Second World War; however none of them fought on European soil where the battle was most intense, being in direct confrontation with Hitler’s elite and most vicious soldiers. Agboola spoke six languages, including Polish. He was a member of the Polish Resistance Force. He fought as a distinguished icon in the “Iwo Battalion,” located in the centre of Warsaw under the code name “Ali” and was one of those who survived the scorching German attacks.

Even in the face of growing nationalism in the West and fledgling colour discrimination, the story of Agboola has recently stirred fresh debate about the contributions of black people to the freedom of Europe, especially at one of its most critical moments in history – a time, when the continent was under the pestilence of war and resistance against imperial warlords led by Adolf Hitler.

A group, The Peace and Freedom Prize, is planning to put Agboola’s statue in downtown Warsaw, a development that has been supported by the jazz musicians and officials of the Warsaw Uprising Museum and Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). After the war, Agboola lived in Poland until 1958, when he moved to London, where he lived until he died quietly and almost unannounced.  Official records only recently discovered described him thus: “August Agbola O’Browne was born on 22 July 1895 in Lagos, the largest city of modern-day Nigeria, to Nigerian parents, possibly from the Yoruba tribe. O’Browne immigrated to Poland in 1922. He lived at Złota Street in Warsaw. He was a professional musician, a drummer who worked in clubs in Warsaw. His first album, recorded in 1928, made history, for he was the first West African jazzman to achieve this. He married a Polish woman; they had two children – Ryszard (Richard) in 1928 and Aleksander (Alexander) in 1929. His friends and neighbors remembered him as a very intelligent, courteous person, and a polyglot (he spoke six languages).”

Reports said he enlisted in the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy. He was a member of the unit led by Corporal Aleksander Marciński, code-name “Łabędź,” which fought in Srodmiescie area of Warsaw. Another fighter, Jan Radecki, code name “Czarny” confirmed in recent discovery that he witnessed a black man at the office of the ‘Iwo Battalion.” Agboola moved to Britain in 1958. He lived in Camden Town and was often at a studio located in Soho area, the hub of jazz and swing music scene.

In another report, “Londoner Ela Grabinska-Raubusch, an affiliate of the Sikorski Institute, recalls her late mother, Wanda Grabińska (née Radzikowska), a Warsaw insurgent, speaking about Browne. “My mother said that he was very famous in Warsaw before the war, since he was probably the only black person in the capital,” she said. “Mum did talk about how she met Mr Browne, and that he was with his daughter. Either at Shepherd’s Bush Market or at the office of [a man named] Mehl, who dealt with transfers of money to Poland in the years 1950 to 1980. We lived in Shepherd’s Bush for a while. In the 1960s, Shepherd’s Bush Market was the hangout for the Caribbean community. The stalls were run by West Indians and various Polish Jews. My mother didn’t speak English, so she could go ahead and buy from them in Polish.” Agboola was said to have lived a secret life until 1976 when he died, and quietly, almost unannounced too. Tunde Ekundayo, who lives in UK is one of the researchers working with Abe. He told The Nation: “Agboola’s history is a signpost that can change the racist narrative in Europe.”

Toyin Alausa is an actress who has featured in a number of movies,Soaps and she is passionate about acting. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she opens up on how she started challenges, inspiration and the other things that occupy her time.

Tell us about your new passion for acting. What inspires the things that you do?

I have always had passion for acting. That is what I do, that is what I have been doing, all this years. Maybe, I have matured more in acting. I guess I now understand all the rudiments, the nitty-gritty of interpreting roles and I thank God for the knowledge and understanding.

What are some of the memorable moments in the sector?

These are times that I have the opportunity to act with great veterans, people of repute in the industry. For example, if I am performing a scene with someone like Mummy Lanre Hassan known as Iya Awero, Sola Shobowale and Iya Rainbow. So, when I have the opportunity to act along with such great Thespians, you get very excited and they are memorable moments for me. Also, memorable for me in the sector are times when I am applauded for doing well. Everybody likes a pat on the back. I really find it interesting and amusing if I finish a scene and my directors and my fellow colleagues are pleased with me. And when the people behind the camera give me that whaoh experience, like Mama you killed it.

I kind of enjoy all those times. There is no one that doesn’t like them to be awarded for hard work. So, when I get an award for a job, I am very happy about it.

What are your memories of how you started?

The memories of how I started is interesting. It didn’t come on a platter. I worked my way to the top.I started off in the English Movie industry and I went for castings and auditions that are memorable. I put in so many efforts though I had to be patient and was discouraged at some point.

Then I left the industry for about two or three years. I came back and started all over again. It was as if nobody remembered my face. It was as if I had never acted before. So, I had to start all over again, from the scratch and to God be the glory, I would say that it’s been a slow but steady progress.

Let’s talk about the recognitions on the job. How did this influence your personality?

It is always a thing of joy when you are recognised for hard work. When you are recognised for getting it right, for doing it right. It encourages you, motivates you to do better. So, for all the awards, for all the nominations, for all the appreciations, I am always grateful.

What are the challenges?

The challenges for the Yoruba genre is that at times you get costumes. And when they ask you to come with your costume, not every producer is willing to pay for your costume. So, striking that balance and being able to manage the little resources you earn with looking up to date for your character is a challenge for me, I must confess.

This is unlike the English sector, where they already know that person is coming for this character and we need to make provision for the costumes. And there are times, when you might have two or three jobs at the same time. At such moments, you would need to use the relationship you have with the producer or either chose based on the remuneration or other factors, which one to take and which one to drop. Also, you don’t want to offend people who trust you, believe in you, to give you a role and then you now have to drop their job. So, it is really not something nice. So, sometimes the schedule can be a challenge.

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

The other things that occupy my time apart from acting include trying to improve myself as a human being. I also do catering but I haven’t been doing that for a while. I am going back to that very soon.

Tell us about the people you admire?

I admire people who have dedicated their time to the craft. I admire mummy Joke Jacobs, Aunty Shola Shobowale, Iya Rainbow and Buky Wright. I admire any woman who has gone through thick and thin to achieve success in life. Women who are diligent and hardworking. Yes, I admire success stories. I read a lot about people, even people that I do not know. I have watched their lives, their journey so far like some of the names I mentioned earlier. I have looked at them thoroughly and they have influenced me positively. They have given me hope that it may take a while but you will succeed eventually if you are consistent, hard working and prayerful. So, they have influenced me positively.

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

My parents. I lost my dad a couple of years back, about six years ago. My mum is still very much around. I had an eventful and memorable childhood, though my parents got separated, it wasn’t a good experience for me. It changed the course of my life actually. But, prior to that time, I must confess that I had a wonderful early life. I was well taken care of, well loved by nuclear and extended family. Yes, I have great memories of growing up.

Tell us about your mentors?

They are Buky Wright, Shola Sobowale and Mummy Taiwo Ajai Lycett. Lycett is actually the first actress that caught my fancy, from when I was a child. I have watched her severely, I have read about her.. And of course, the other women I have talked about.. They have all been a great influence in my life.

What are you looking forward to in the next few years?

I am sure that I would have gone very far in my career, set up my business, a catering outfit for big events. And of course; I would have produced my movies, which is currently in the pipeline. I also intend to run a production outfit. Not just movies but also for documentaries and rentals of equipment by the grace of God.

Tell us about your favorite holiday spot?

This would be somewhere quiet and cosy, not so loud and noisy. A beach resort, something of that sort.

What is your definition of style?

For me, style is comfort. Style is what you are comfortable in, not what is in vogue, not what everyone is wearing. Your personality should inform your style. That is my believe and for those who know me, they know that I don’t run after what is in vogue. I run after what soothes my body shape and what I am comfortable in.

What are the things that you won’t do in the name of fashion?

The thing that I won’t do in the name of fashion is semi nudity or nudity in any form, all in the name of fashion.

How would you describe the impact of COVID-19?

For me, the impact of COVID-19 is great. It came to me first as a shock. By the time the realisation dawned on me, that this is real, this pandemic was all over the globe. Apart from the fact that it affected some plans that I had set out for myself this year, it also cost a little setback. However, I realised that it made me think deeply. It was more of a sober moment for me.

Did it make you think out of the box?

Yes, thinking out of the box was it. And I am like Lord, if this kind of thing can happen now and put the whole world at a standstill, what would happen with the second coming of Christ, which we have all heard of. You can imagine what would happen with rapture and all that. It was a reflective period for me especially.

What inspires the things you do?

I am inspired by the diversity of human beings, the depth of a story and also the director.The way a director looks or direct a scene, would also inspire how I will perform in a scene.

What are some of the things that you cherish most in your wardrobe?

I try not to attach too much importance to material things. That is the kind of person that I am. There is nothing that I take to heart as important that I cannot do without.

If you had to advice young people who want to go into the sector, what would you tell them?

I see a lot of people coming into the movie industry just because they want to be super stars. You can become a star but it is not going to happen overnight. It is not everybody that has the luck of first time appearance and boom you are already a star.

Even if that is the case, you would have to work hard to maintain that position. Like the saying, the beautiful ones are not yet born, if you don’t work hard, not diligent, not persistent; someone else will come and kick you out of the position.

I will advise that they should be focused, hardworking, prayerful. They should not just depend on having a relationship with the producer or director for them to attain success. Most times, it doesn’t work out that way. You don’t give sex for roles, it doesn’t speak well of you as an actor. If you believe in yourself believe in what you are doing, consistency is the trademark of success just grows gradually and with the steady growth, you will get to where you desire.

What are the new things that you are looking forward to in future?

I am looking into the future with high hopes. I am not anxious. I have set out goals and plans for myself. And I believe that with the backing of God, who makes all things possible I would achieve my dreams. And in the nearest future I will be a force to reckon with. Not just in the movie industry but the nation at large and in the world. I intend to do great things. I have an NGO for the less privilege and youths, especially those who have lost direction, lost focus and need support and encouragement.