The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Dr. Tessy Okoli, has declared compulsory ICT training for all students of the institution to give them an edge on graduation.

She said students of the college needed to be ICT compliant to be relevant in a world driven by technological innovations.

The Provost said this at the 32nd/ 10th joint matriculation for students of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), degree and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), held at the institution’s convocation arena.

Okoli said the College had introduced an ICT Academy to train students in various computer applications and programmes. She disclosed an ongoing effort to introduce digital classrooms to improve teaching and learning.

“Our college has made the acquisition of ICT skills compulsory for all students. With two gigantic ICT buildings constructed by TETFund, hundreds of computers have been provided for effective teaching and learning.

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) at its recent induction of over 900 graduates in our College, rated this institution high in ICT compliance,” she said.

The Provost said the college lays emphasis on entrepreneurship, ICT, and technical and vocational skills, which would equip the students with employable skills.

Read Also: Pharmacist seeks N2.5b for ‘unlawful sack’

She advised the new students to leverage on the high academic rating of the college to pursue excellence. She urged them to desist from cultism, examination malpractice and other indecent acts. According to her, the dollege does not tolerate bribe-for-marks, popularly called ‘sorting’ by students.

“We do not condone harassment or exploitation of students. We will continue to protect our reputation as an institution of choice, a fertile ground for academic honesty and a school for future champions,” she said.

She said the College made 75 per cent attendance to lectures compulsory for all students to prevent truancy and encourage regular attendance to classes. She encouraged new and old students to form study groups and join positive associations. This, she said, would enhance healthy academic competition and reduce social vices among young people.

The Provost also encouraged the new students to live in college hostels, rather than private lodges. She said college hostels guarantee closer supervision and security for young students, who might be leaving their homes for the first time.

 

•Students mull stop-gap measures

Students of Abia State University (ABSU), and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) who live off-campus are lamenting the terrible condition of the road linking both institutions— the Ikot-Epene-Umudike road in Umuahia North, following incessant rainfall. Nevertheless, they want the state government to repair the road to ease their hardship, reports FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU).

For students of Abia State University (ABSU) and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), in Abia State, who live off-campus, these are bad times. They suffer untold hardship getting to their campuses owing to the terrible condition of the Ikot-Ekpene-Umudike road, which was worsened by non-stop heavy rainfall.

Some months ago, before the rainy season, CAMPUSLIFE observed that some parts of the road had some potholes. Then, residents, including students, appealed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to fill them but nothing was done.

When the rains began, the  road deteriorated. The potholes became wider and deeper – such that commuters faced difficulties navigating the road.

Almost daily, cars, buses and heavy-duty trucks break down and get stuck on the road.  This in turn creates long and tiring traffic that results in loss of time that could have been put to productive use.  The traffic only eases when towing vehicles are around.

Students of MOUAU, who just finished their examination, found it tough getting transportation to their school. They usually paid through their noses to get to school on time for their examination. Those who could not afford that  usually depended on good Samaritans going in that direction. Sadly, sometimes, they either got to the examination hall late or missed their paper altogether.

ABSU students do not fare better.They also go through trouble getting to campus.

Students lament, call for urgent repairs

Students of both institutions are calling on authorities in the state and their schools to ensure the road is repaired.

David Henry, a 300-Level Mechanical Engineering student of MOUAU, said the road worsened daily, gradually becoming a ditch.

He said: “How bad does this have to get before someone steps in? This is becoming really bad; I mean people have to see the road we are talking about. It is never the same each day, that is, the way you saw it yesterday can never be the way it would be today. It gets worse daily and it is scary because before you know it, a ditch is forming.  So, I am begging people in power to do something before the situation gets out of hand.”

Victor Nwizu, a Law student of ABSU, complained of body pains anytime he returns from school.

“Do you know the pain I feel every day when I get back from school?  It is not from the stress of school; it is from that bad road. Do you know that some days ago, I was in a tricycle and it was so deep into the water that we all had to raise our legs up so that the bad water did not touch us? Just imagine that. Seriously, the Governor has to step in at this time,” he said.

For Richard Charles, a student of Veterinary Medicine, MOUAU, he almost missed his examination because of the terrible road. He wondered that politicians make use of the road, yet, nothing has been done about it.

He said: “From my lodge, one can hear the sirens of these politicians’ cars passing. They pass through this road at least down to Ahiake, but they have not done anything. It is not good enough. This road almost cost me my examination. I almost missed one of my papers. Mine is even better, I have a friend who missed his examinations. How bad should the road get before someone comes to our aid?”

Victor Chibuike, an Agriculture Economics and Extension student of the University of Abuja, was appalled by the state of the road when he visited his cousin.

“I came to visit my cousin and what I saw that was called road was amazing!You see when you school in a place with good roads as Abuja, you don’t worry about things like body pains or weakness of the body.

“Just imagine going to school and you already have headache courtesy of the road, how are you then to concentrate in class? These are some factors to consider. On behalf of my cousin, I call on the well-meaning Governor of Abia State to intervene and fix the road,” he said.

Read Also: Lagos-Ota road ready in December, Abiodun assures

Ayo Gbenga, a 300-Level Food Science and Technology student of ABSU, wants students to mobilise and do something, if temporarily, about the road instead of waiting eternally for government.

“Well, it will be a good development if students decide to take the bull by the horns and do something about it because we are the ones who know where the shoe hurts. With this road getting worse every day and at this rate, it is gradually turning into a ditch. We are the ones taking the pain killers not the people in power, so let us come out and do something before the situation gets out of hands,” he said.

A 400-Level Food Science and Technology student, ABSU, Rachael Anyanwu, agrees.  She said: “Gradually this is becoming a death trap for people if one is not careful. I am calling out the capable students and youths to come out and let us find a temporary solution pending when a lasting solution  would come. Who knows if the government, community and school management will swing into action if we start doing something because I am tired of the terrible road.

“I have a lot of engagements but by the time I think of the stress I would pass through on the road, I just stay back home and do other things, I am begging the governor, community and school authorities to do something about this situation.”

Patra Onyeji, another ABSU student, is calling on youths in the community to join students to fill up the potholes.

“Youths in the community should liaise with students so we can fill up these potholes with concrete block and sand. At least to an extent the road will become better for all because the way it is going, there will come a time when the road will become inaccessible and that is when people in power will swing into action,” she said.

Sadly, youths in the community have been exploiting the situation for gain rather than finding solution.They block the road with anything they can lay their hands and open it only after the driver has paid them some money.

Workers, traders, drivers, others affected

It is not only students that are affected by the bad road.  Commercial vehicle operators and other road users also feel the pain.

A lecturer of Food Science and Technology in ABSU, who does not want to be named, said he encountered great difficulty getting to school last Monday. He said he had an 8a.m.test to conduct, but ended up arriving school after 10a.m., because his car broke down and he had to wait more than an hour for help.

“The state government should try to find a lasting solution to this road because the people are suffering,” he said.

A tricycle operator, Okoroafor David, said: “Honestly, the road affects our keke.  We, as road users, have to service our keke every time we ply that road. Each time we take that route, our keke must hit something. The road is that bad that it is like our keke is swimming. We all have to raise our legs because of the pool of water. I am begging the governor to come to our rescue.”

A trader in Ahiaeke market, Monica Abraham, said the state of the road had made re-stocking her goods more difficult for her.

“I buy goods from Ndi-Oru market, but transporting is the major issue I have. The road is so bad that I have to hold my heart in my hand anytime I pass that road because my goods are so large that if one is not careful in driving, it can make the keke almost fall. In fact, one day, I was coming back from the market, rain had just stopped,  the road was flooded, the flood was so much that it was making the keke to swerve and before we knew what was happening, the keke fell with all my goods in it. In that large pool of water, I was only able to save few of my things, but all my vegetables, tomatoes, pepper, garri, etc. were destroyed and that was a huge loss for me; not only that, the amount I paid for transportation also was so high because of this bad road. For us traders, we are running at a loss plying this road. I am begging the governor to come and help us.

A non-academic staff member of ABSU who craved anonymity, said she leaves for work as early as 7am but gets there around 11am due to the congestion on the road as a result of the unending traffic, not to talk about the fuel consumed on the road. She said her car broke down and it took long before she could repair it.

“The road not only causes bottlenecks, but damages people’s vehicles. It is high time it was repaired,” she said.

 

By Princess Okafor

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skills training programme designed to expose and prepare students of universities and other tertiary institutions for the industrial work they are likely to meet after graduation.

Internship is a period when students leave school to organisations in the field of their study to practise what they learn in their course of study.

SIWES is also an effort to bridge the gap between theory and practice and expose students to necessary skills for even transition from the classroom to the world of work.

In the department of mass communication, in my first year, our lecturer asked us if we were in the department via omission: not of one’s choice but at the end found there or via commission: if it was merited.

I found out that 60 percent  of the students initially applied for Law but were unsuccessful and therefore moved to mass communication, including myself.

At our second level, we are told to go for the students industrial work experience scheme after second semester (during the vacation period), which is supposed to be for three months, and then we do  same after third year for three months, to complete the normal six Months Siwes period.

We are about rounding off the first IT and a lot of students have not been able to cope with it.

These three months have been cut short to one due to the pandemic last year, so the school can cover up its academic calendar.

My supervisor during my training, engaged the IT students and corps members in a programme to enlighten us on what Internship/service opportunity brings to the table.

“It is a period  you are allowed to make mistakes and be forgiven”, she said. It is a period where you put all your effort to learn because after then, no one can pardon you after a mistake. You are believed to know what you are doing, as a profession .

She shared her experience on how she wasn’t often appreciated for her effort, but she never gave up and kept on pushing as an IT student. “I was hungry to learn” she said about herself. At the end of the day, all the work she went through paid off as she became recognised after. She didn’t know she was getting better at what she does while she kept on repeating assignments given to her.

My supervisor had one year for IT as a mass communication student. Students from polytechnics often have enough time for IT too as i have colleagues from polytechnics who have been in the organisation for over a year now.

Most universities dont lend that much time to students when they need it. Students are finding it hard to know exactly why they are in school.What they’ve have termed La cram, la pour , la forget, meaning you cram to pass and then forget all you have read. This is because,we aren’t given much time to find purpose of what we are studying.

When my lecturer in first year asked us if we were in school by omission or commission, most students went for omission because they didn’t need the course to do anything. All they need is to be a certified graduate. Most students are working towards being Fashion designers, Actors, Musicians, Business men/women etc, which has nothing to do with their course of study.

Internship is that period that re-ignite the students’ interest. It is that period the students practise the theories they are taught in school, period to be exposed to the profession, period to make mistakes and be corrected, period to experience what comes after graduation, period to make contacts and grounds to stand on after school, period to get opportunities to grow and build yourself, opportunity to show what one is capable of, opportunity to get noticed for ones work.

Internship is indeed a beautiful privilege, but how are students supposed to make good use of this opportunity when the time given is so little. It is said that they use most mass communication IT students as errand boys and girls, this has discouraged many students to pay attention to this period.

The curriculum is tight, there are many things to read yet such little time to grasp hence the rush.

The school should restructure the curriculum and reduce the workload. There is so much to learn at the field than in a class room.

By Lawal Ogienagbon

Today,  parties in the Value Added Tax (VAT) case are expected back at the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja. The matter may not go on because of the appeal filed on Tuesday at the Supreme Court by Rivers State. Rivers started it all when it initiated the case at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. The outcome of the case sparked the raging controversy over who can collect VAT between the Federal and state governments.

The states, says Justice Stephen Pam, in his August 9 decision on the case. Since the judgement, the polity has been astir because of the political implication of the verdict. It is no longer a matter of law only. It has become a politico-legal issue. The judgment is being viewed from the prism of fiscal federalism. Nobody seems to be talking again about the seeming illegalities committed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in all the years that it collected VAT on behalf of the central government.

It may be argued that the FIRS acted on the strength of a duly passed law. The problem there is that the law is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, which do not give the Federal Government the exclusive right to legislate on VAT. Section 1 (3) of the 1999 Constitution is clear and unambiguous: if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.

Since something cannot be built on nothing, it goes without saying that the FIRS has been operating illegally all these years despite being the creation of a law. It was this lacuna that Rivers exploited to knock the bottom off the FIRS’ power to collect VAT. The law is no respecter of persons, principalities and powers, as Justice Oputa once said. It is there to uphold justice between parties, no matter their status. If the law were to be a respecter of powers and principalities, the FIRS would have defeated Rivers hands down at the high court.

Indeed, there is nowhere in the Constitution that the Federal Government is empowered to collect VAT. It only has right over stamp duties and taxation of incomes, profits and capital gains, which are items 58 and 59 under the exclusive legislative list. This power is emphasised in the concurrent legislative list which outlines the areas of authority of the Federal and state governments. It is important to note that neither the exclusive nor concurrent legislative list says anything about VAT. According to lawyers, that being the case, it becomes a residual matter – that is what is left unsaid. Under the residual rule, it falls on the subnationals, that is the states, to take up this residue (the left over).

Since it is thus, an open ended issue, can the national government not also make laws on residual matters? No, say lawyers. The courts will say whether they are right or not. The VAT rift may become a test case in the quest of advocates of restructuring for fiscal federalism. Ever before Rivers headed to the Supreme Court, watchers had said the case would eventually end up there. I see more states seeking to be joined in the case, just as Lagos has done at the appeal court. It is a matter which outcome will affect their resources. States with low internally generated revenue (IGR) rely on the sharing of money realised from VAT and other related sources for their survival.

This is why a state like Gombe is begging Rivers and Lagos to be “their brother’s keeper”. It remains to be seen how the case will be resolved at the Appeal and Supreme courts. Rivers has won the first round. It is Rivers-1, FIRS-0. With two more rounds to go, anything can happen. Some are canvassing for political solution because of the poor states, which need to be propped up by their rich counterparts. This is what Gombe’s plea of ‘brother’s keeper’ is all about. Perhaps, that will be the last resort after the legal tango.

Read Also: Businesses in dilemma over VAT collection, says LCCI

For now, the debate on the pros and cons of VAT collection is raging like wildfire.   How is VAT collected in other countries? What are the modalities for sharing VAT proceeds? Are large contributors to the pool of funds treated specially? What are the inherent risks, if subnationals are allowed to collect VAT in their own domains? How does the input-output mechanism work in VAT collection? Will consumers who move from place to place  be subjected to double payment of VAT? In the days to come, we will be sleeping and rising with VAT.

Prof at 70 

His 70th birthday caught us offguard. None of us knew that he would attain that milestone last Thursday. If only we had known, we, his proteges, would have gathered to celebrate the man of letters on September 9. I was going through a newspaper when I saw the advert congratulating the renowned essayist on his 70th birthday. “Our aburo is 70”, the advert read. I looked at the picture of the birthday ‘boy’ and rubbed my eyes again and again. “This is Prof.,” I said to myself. “He is 70 and we do not know in the office”. I immediately picked up my phone and sent Prof Adebayo Williams a congratulatory message.

If you know Adebayo Williams, you will fall in love with him. I became his fan long before I met him. It was on the pages of Newswatch magazine in the 1980s. I was drawn to this picture with the heading: wanted. That was how the late Dele Giwa introduced him as a guest columnist to watch out for in the magazine. I read his articles voraciously those days and I still do so today. Then I met him at this paper and the rest, as they say, is history. Whenever he called to commend me for the articles I wrote, I feel humbled. A master congratulating his protege. Congratulations sir. Agba yin adale.

 

Oba Akran is 85

BADAGRY is a town of many firsts and historic sites. It hosts the first first-story building in Nigeria, which was built in 1845. Also there is the landmark slave trade route, with the legend: Point of no return; journey to unknown destination inscribed on a slab near a building by the seaside where chained slaves went on trips from which many of them never came back.

The town, which is today under the reign of De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, Oba Akran of Badagry, will be in a celebrative mood as he turns 85 on Saturday.

The happening place is the Nigerian French Language Village at Ajara-Badagry, where the monarch’s children, including the petite Semande Akran-Olaleye, my family friend who I fondly call princess, are planning a great show for him. Oba Akran was a journalist before he ascended the throne 44 years ago. Happy birthday, Baba Akran. That is how his children address him.

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

Author The ABC of How to Industrialise Nigeria, a business magnate and CEO Caesar Engineering and Construction Limited, Dr. Caesar Osaheni Iyayi has said that an industrialised Nigeria, manufacturing her goods in Nigeria by Nigerians, should be the concern of all for the survival of the Black race. He strongly believes that industrialisation is the only way to create wealth, employment and development. The business magnate also hinted that the launch of his 390-page book, which addresses most of all the socio-economic issues confronting Nigeria, will hold early next year in Abuja.

The painstakingly researched, solution focused and innovative book is a treasure trove as a single document to understand the country’s crucial development profile and fundamentals. Covering almost all the aspects of what Nigeria’s priorities should be, the book is uniquely rich and deserves a wide-readership and long shelf-life.

The ABC of How to Industrialise Nigeria is also important as a development history of the country. It brings to a sitting President and governors, a step-by-step method on how the Federal and state governments can mobilise the Nigerian indigenous private sector to industrialise the country.

According to Iyayi, ‘’we must take urgent steps to transform Nigeria from an agrarian society to a manufacturing economy. There is no alternative. It is bend or break. If we fail to industrialise, we will never be able to defend ourselves and shall therefore be at the mercy of foreign powers that dealt ruthlessly with our forefathers. If we fail to industrialise, then we are doomed to suffer another wave of slavery or extinction on African soil’’.

Stressing the pivotal role Nigerians must play in transforming the country to an industrialised economy, he noted that there is no country in the world that was industrialised by foreigners. “It took the sweat, determination, sacrifice and investment of citizens to industrialise the United States of America, Britain, Japan, Germany and other developed economies in the world. Moving forward, this is the time for the Federal and state governments to start looking inward.

“We must not deceive ourselves; our people do not have a culture of manufacturing. All our efforts up till now were directed to importation and trading. In this regard therefore, we must put a premium on employing competent expatriates to execute specialised technical aspects of the manufacturing process. With the passage of time, Nigerians will eventually acquire the necessary skills that are required for specific applications. This will indeed usher in a new dawn because, the expatriates will serve as employees to Nigerian owned companies”, he said.

Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion in the foreword said: “If we ever needed a manual to drive effective change in Nigeria today, Dr Caesar Osaheni Iyayi has just delivered one into our very hands. From his detailed assessment of our problems as a country, down to his proffered solutions; it does not take a genius to understand that the power to drive industrial change lies within the shores of our beautiful country. This is a must read for everyone”.

Continuing, Chief Igbinedion said “industrialisation is understood purely in economic terms as the physical presence of industrial plants that are involved in manufacturing capital goods. It is the only sure way to economic growth and development and Nigeria since independence through various Governments have adopted several policies, incentives and schemes to promote industrialisation and they woefully failed. It is against this background therefore that the way forward postulated in this book should be read and implemented by the sitting President, all the Governors of the 36 States, the Minister of the Federal Territory Abuja, all members of the National and State Assemblies, all Vice-Chancellors and lecturers in all our tertiary institutions in Nigeria, organised labour and the general public.”

Taking a Cue from Asaba Nollywood, some young Nigerian visual artists are exploring new grounds to create a flourishing hub for the promotion of modern Nigerian art in Asaba, Delta State capital, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

In Asaba, the Delta State capital, Nigeria’s movie industry is fast emerging as a parallel market and creative forge for movies in Africa Magic Epic. These sets of movies tagged ‘B-movies’ have target audience, certain demographic and consumer space whose needs are served by films such as Ken Eric’s Tears of an Illiterate.  Beyond low budget, and possibly slim profit, Asaba Nollywood brings to the mix a rich diversity that complements the Lagos axis of Nollywood.

This trend seems to be playing out in the visual art sector where young artists, especially women, are pushing the boundary to attract patronage and investments from within and outside the state capital.

One of such artists is Chief Executive Officer, Glamour Artz Gallery on Ibusa Road, Asaba, Mrs. Chiamaka Iwenofu Ikemefune, a multi-talented artist with a knack for entrepreneurship.

Driven by her creative energy and passion, she combines painting with running of an art gallery and other ancillary services such as wig making, landscaping and commissioned artworks. To her, it is one sure way to empower younger artists, especially the women artists who may be inspired by her drive.

With her gallery providing affordable and quality artworks and other services to the market in the Asaba, she is growing the art business landscape in order to attract young female artists. Art business, she said, is not an exclusive of the male counterparts and as such must be open to all, irrespective of gender, age and class. Yet, there are challenges to overcome.

One of Nigeria’s leading sculptors based in Asaba, Mr. Philip Nzekwe, described art business in Asaba as an emerging market, adding that it is more of street business with vendors selling printed images of paintings online.

“The state of art market in Asaba is at its lowest level as there is neither government nor privately sponsored art events like exhibitions, fairs and biennale. The adverse effect is a decline in the level of visual literacy causing art shops and galleries to close as a result of inability to meet up with bills due to poor patronage.

The visual art market in Asaba has been reduced to street vendors who sell printed images of painting from online pages which are nicely framed and sold  at traffic light points and on traffic congestions. The image of a professional artist to an average person who lives in Asaba is a road side artist. But, on the overall, these vendors who I call mobile art galleries are the only hope for the sustainability of the Asaba visual art industry,” he noted.

But what has Ikemefune been doing differently? What has been her inspiration to dare where many men feared? What is her dream of the art business?

Few months into operation, her art gallery has in its collection over 500 artworks comprising her artworks and those of other artists, which she markets. The Oko Polytechnic trained artist had resolved not only to practise as a studio artist but also to own a gallery immediately she leaves art school. Little wonder she kept faith with the resolution last month to establish her gallery despite the economic situation made worse by COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.

She stated that art is both her passion and occupation, noting that getting into art school to study fine and applied art is primarily for certificate and not talent or skill. “First, it has always been my passion, but God gave me the talent. So, I have always wished and wanted to be in an art environment. Secondly, I see art as a good business opportunity that brings lots of profits. Interestingly, I can’t imagine myself without art because I won’t be whole or fulfilled.

“After my OND, I was determined to work hard in order to establish an art gallery of my own. In pursuance of this goal, I made lots of artworks for different celebrities and some rich people in the state in order to raise some money for the gallery. But it didn’t work as planned and I refused to give up. Instead I explored alternative. I then went into making of wigs for ladies while still producing sellable art works and handling landscape for hotels in and around Asaba.

“So already my art is taking me to a higher level as many collectors and enthusiasts are coming from different places to patronise my gallery. I market my own art and that of other artists’ from different states in the East. I sell paintings, sculptures, mixed media paintings, pencil drawings of different concepts.

Ikemefune, who got married in 2019, hails from Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. She studied Fine and Applied Art at Oko Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State.

On the challenges at the early stage of her gallery, she said: “Truth is I learnt making wigs from a YouTube video, and since then it became part of me. I used to create my arts in Anambra but people weren’t patronising me then. But, when I moved to Asaba in Delta State, I got more clients than when I was in my previous location. So, there is a strong prospect for art market in this area. But most times people from outside the country patronise me more than those here in Nigeria because art has less value and patronage.”

Asked how she is combining raising her kids with managing the gallery business, she said: “There is no clash at all. Raising kids is not going to be a distraction for me. I can cope with all.  It is just that I want to nurture the business to a certain level before going back for the Higher National Diploma (HND). For now, I specialise on drawing. My pencil is my best friend. But other art media are still in me, so I practically do all.” London-based Nigerian artist Mr. Kelvin Okafor, an award winning artist is her role model.

Lady of Africa Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation, organisers of Adire Street Carnival is targeting to raise 25,000  new adire makers and marketers as part of its contribution to the growth of the small and medium scale industry in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the National Coordinator of the foundation, Princess Bukola Fasuyi, the carnival will hold on December 25, 26, 27 and January 2, 2022 in Lagos at Lagos Island, lkeja, Badagry, lkorodu and Epe. when majority of Nigerians will be home on holidays with their families.

Every year, millions of people around the globe attend the Nottinghill carnival in London and we believe that like that popular carnival, Adire Street Culture Carnival revolution will be a good opportunity to showcase the rich Nigerian arts and crafts thereby promoting our culture. Princess Fasuyi stated that when it comes to fashion and textiles industry in Africa, Nigeria occupies a pride of place as  a country globally recognised for her rich culture and diverse traditions.

“We need to reflect on the state of our world the socio-economic and political crisis as well as the loss of values amongst others. It is our duty to reclaim our destiny and as Nigerian citizens, we must forge a new understanding and plant seeds of understanding, cooperation and development in order to make the world better for future generations,” she said.

She disclosed that the foundation in conjunction with Proclips Media Communication Limited has embarked on a mission to take fabrics to new level through exhibition and carnival, adding that carnival is open to all to experience the beauty and riches of the African culture.  Part of the programmes include traditional cuisine emu-fun fun (palm wine) Eran-lgbe (bush meat) Ayo-olopon (traditional game) among others. She noted that in the coming year the foundation will be taking Adire promotion to major cities in Southwest, West Africa, South Africa, Europe, Canada and America  to satisfy the craving of lovers of  Adire fabrics in those parts of the world.

The IBB International Golf and Country Club have solicited the support of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to make its 61st Independence Day golf tournament a success as delegation from the club visited  NCAC Director-General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, in Abuja recently.

Head of the delegation Mike Ikoja stated that their visit as members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament was firstly to show gratitude to Otunba Runsewe for his selfless contributions to the development of golf as evidenced in the IBB Golf and Country Club and to seek the support of NCAC for the 61st Independence Golf Tournament scheduled for September 24 to   October 1, 2021 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Ikoja said that the IBB International Golf and Country Club is the most prestigious Golf Club in the country with a diverse membership of over 5000 drawn from government agencies, captains of industries, senior diplomats and high net worth individuals.

Ikoja, who is the vice captain of the club, added that over the years, the club has provided a platform for Nigerians and foreigners, particularly those in the public and private sector the opportunity to recreate and network, while leveraging on the huge national and international brand values to enhance their businesses and goodwill.

“The Independent Golf Tournament is the biggest event in the club’s calendar in commemoration of Nigeria’s Independence anniversary and the highlight of the event will be an international match between IBB Golf Club and golf clubs from some African Countries” he added. He solicited the full support of NCAC in making this year’s tournament meet the expectations of the golfing family.

Runsewe thanked the delegation for the honor in recognizing his little contributions to the development of the game of golf noting that golf as a unifying game always provide a veritable platform for people from all spheres of the society to share ideas. He hinted that he was working on some cultural brands which he hopes to showcase during the tournament.

“Golf and Culture are closely knitted and NCAC hopes to use the platform provides by the tournament to showcase some of them” he added.

The Director General promised that the NCAC Cultural Troupe will feature prominently throughout the tournament to entertain guests. The Council, he added,  will also showcase it’s collections in culturally embellished stand during the tournament while the Executive members of the Club as well as members of the planning committee will be provided with cultural golf attires.

Prof Felicia Etim will headline this year’s conference and Annual General Meeting of Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters, holding from September 16 to 19, at Watbridge Hotel in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The event will feature reading sessions, sight-seeing and performances.

She will speak on the conference theme The Place of Public Libraries in the Age of e-Books and Challenge of Social Reading.

Also billed to speak is Dr. Nkem Osuigwe, who is director, Human Capacity Development and Training, African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) based in Accra, Ghana.

Other speakers at the conference include President Nigerian Publishers Association, Chief Uchenna Cyril Anioke, and the University Librarian at University of Uyo, Prof Ahiaoma Ibegwam.