The Nation Newspaper

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  • Shakira expecting her first child

    Shakira expecting her first child

    COLOMBIAN singer, Shakira has confirmed she and Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique, who is 10 years her junior, are expecting a baby together. She has also revealed that she has decided to cut down on her work schedule over the coming weeks.

    Writing on her website, Shakira told her fans: ‘As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby. At this time we have decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days.’

    The Hips don’t Lie singer, 35, was expected to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, but had now cancelled her appearance.

    Hiding the baby bump? Shakira was most recently spotted in Italy on September 7, and she wore a baggy T-shirt to go furniture shopping

  • Matters of sexual health: Common congenital conditions of the male and female reproductive system

    FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

    In humans and some primates, two structures present in the developing embryo, the mullerian ducts disappear in the male by the 9th week of pregnancy ,but the ducts in normal developing females go on to fuse, forming the fallopian tubes and the vagina. When this does not occur, affected individual will have double sets of vagina, cervix and uterus. The outward appearance will be normal, unless you take a closer look.

    In uterus duplex bicolis, the cervix and uterus are duplicated, but there is one vagina, where as in unicornuate uterus, one fallopian tube may be malformed. The presence of two uteri in a woman may be responsible for frequent miscarriages from one or both wombs ,the internal arrangement of which might not be favorable to implantation or growth of baby . Some women with two uteri have successfully harbored pregnancies in each of them to full term, and had deliveries actively managed.

    Attempts to clean up the uterus could also end in disaster for the same reason, and the woman may die from post abortal infection when products of conception are retained , hence Doctors now insist on trans vaginal or abdominal scan as routing procedure for even what may seem to the patient as minor problems in obstetrics and gynecology .

    Hernia uterine inguinale, otherwise called uterine hernia syndrome, is an inherited x-linked, or autosomal recessive disorder, where individuals look like normal males, but in the inguinal region(junction between the thigh and lower abdomen,) the womb(uterus) ,alone or with a fallopian tube appear in an inguinal sac .

    There is usually no problem with fertility but with time, the uterus in the inguinal canal will organize and set itself for various changes that will threaten life such as cancer. What you need to know then is that not every swelling you see in that region is a hernia, and medical help should be sought.

    It is now believed that these problems revolve round the mullerian inhibitory factor(MIF) , a homodimeric glycoprotein which belongs to the transforming growth factor superfamily, expressed not only in fetal but also in prepubertal and though in low levels, adult sertoli cells either, in its function or defective ability of the mullerian ducts to respond to it .

    The embryonic role of this MIF has been the subject of research into the possibility that it may posses the ability to suppress the growth of cancer involving the ovaries or endometrium, the former can affect females of all ages but more in the older age, and the latter, more of older females

    Problems associated with congenital conditions of the reproductive system may also be as a result of abnormal synthesis of androgens, at various levels, deficiencncy of hormone receptors, post receptor elements or pathways involved in the synthesis as well as uptake. Time and space will permit Only a few examples:

    MALE PSEUDO HEMAPHRODITES:- In this condition, the individual has female appearance at birth, but has testicless like males which instead of being inside the scrotum are located in the inguinal canal . As the child grows, to puberty, what happens depends on the extent of conversion(peripheral) of the naturally occurring Androstenedione to either Testosterone or Estrogen. The child may as a result develop female size breasts or large penis type clitoris and so early detection very important before gender identity is established, usually around the age of three.

    The other variety is where there is gonadotropin resistant testes; the individual unlike the one above is female, but has testes which also are located in the inguinal canal

    In these two cases, the real danger is the possibility of the testicles developing to become cancerous tissues

    INCOMPLETE MALE PSEUDO HEAMAPHRODITES— The major problem here is deficiency of an enzyme, 5 alpha reductase. Patient has under developed vagina, with severe Perineal hypospad, hence this entity was first called, pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias (PPV).

    INCOMPLETE ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY represents a spectrum of disorders, due to inherited x-linked recessive variants of incomplete testicular feminization.

    Two groups have been recognized; those with Lub syndrome appear much more like females whereas patients with Reinfensteins syndrome have predominant male characteristics.

    COMPLETE ANDROG INSENSITIVITY In this condition, there is Congenital insensitivity to male type hormones, It is tramnsmitted through maternal x-ressive genes. Mullerian inhibitory factor (MIF) is present and so mullerian activity is suppressed whereas Wolfian duct system fails to develop .

    Complete androgen insentivity is believesd to account for about 10% of all cases of women failing to experience their first normal menstrual flow(menarche) when the conditions of 47kg age of 13 and above plus other developmental milestones have been met. The affected Woman has a vagina, but it it is short and completely closed inside ((derived from Urogenital sinus only)the uterus and fallopian tubes are absent.

     

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    Avoid unprescribed drugs during pregnancy especially excessive intake of nutritional supplement. Avoid exposure to environmental chemicals as smoke from various pollutants Mind what you eat and drink especially once you become pregnant especially from the 3rd to 9th week when organs are forming

    Do family planning, each pregnancy should be taken as unique, and well planned

    Register for antenatal care as early as possible, Seek medical advice always

    Arrange your pregnancy and delivery to be managed by someone trained to do so and if you cannot afford Hospital antenatal care, see at least a traditional birth attendant

    Parents should check for anything unusual from when a child is borne, continue observation thereafter .When a child is borne, ensure there is proper examination and bring the child regularly as instructed by your centre for further examination, according to the protocol in the road to health chart, Ensure that penis is where it is supposed to be, and not where the vagina is supposed to be . See that urine is coming from the proper place. As the child grows, watch if he sits down or hides to urinate, and for any unusual or excessive shyness from your daughter

    Whenever anything unusual is found in the genital area draw attention of medical personnel, and check other parts of the patients body

    Watch out for normal regular activities such as child making urine, opening bowel, crying and suckling

    Listen well to complaints of abdominal pain from your toddler, teenager, wife, hysby, and watch out for any swellings of the vagina labia, scrotum, in the junction between the anus and vagina or penis,

    PARENTS, GUARDIAN, SCHOOLS COULD do well to carry out periodic physical examination of children ;Mom for daughters and Dad for Sons, school admission medical tests should also be taken seriously When discovered, the family physician or pediatrician should be seen immediately

    Caution is necessary when anything unusual is discovered, such words as abnormal should be avoided as they can permanently create psychosocial problems for everyone in the family

    Other things you could think about include:-

    Excessive tallness with feminine voice for a male at puberty

    Unusual hair growth for age and gender

    Unusually prominent clitoris (penis at 12.0 clock)

    Severe pain with swelling around the vaginal opening

    Unusually small breasts for age in the female. And unusually large breasts in the male

    Unusually prominent buttocks with evidence of steatopygea

    Unusual patterns of social behavior

  • Mixed fortunes for GUS 9 hopefuls

    Mixed fortunes for GUS 9 hopefuls

    THEY all came with the tag of ‘warriors’ and that was precisely how they looked. Even the female folks among them looked no less intimidating. With stern looks of concentration etched on their faces, they appeared to be prepared for the ultimate test.

    Given that what is at stake is the whooping sum of N9m, a brand new jeep and N500, 000 wardrobe allowance, then you can understand the reason for the seriousness of these young men and women. It’s day two of the screening of aspirants in the Gulder Ultimate Search 2012 and for these young men and women, it is probably the most defining moment of their lives.

    From the ancient city of Benin, to the fertile lands of Makurdi, Benue State, the stage was set for what is the curtain raiser of the Gulder Ultimate Search screenings. The screening exercise for potential aspirants ran concurrently for three days.

    For Makurdi, capital of Benue, the famed ‘basket of the nation’, this was the very first time that Gulder Ultimate Search would be coming to town. As early as 7am, what started as a trickle of people turned into a deluge as hopefuls turned up en mass at the Aper Aku Stadium. They had only one goal in mind: qualification to be among the final 12 that will storm the dreaded Usaka forest, Akwa Ibom State, for the ninth season of the Gulder Ultimate Search.

    For the natives and residents of Makurdi, this was surely a once in a lifetime opportunity to make their way into the highly competitive reality TV show. No wonder they were ready to seize the opportunity with both hands. The screenings also had hopefuls from neighbouring states like Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa and Abuja. In all, thousands had applied for this year’s edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search and yet only 12 will be picked in the nationwide screening exercise which will also hold in Lagos and Owerri.

    The Benin City leg of the auditions was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. If the crowd that turned up in Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, was a deluge then the screening in Benin certainly witnessed more participants. Unlike Makurdi, this year’s screening was not the first time that it would hold in Benin. As early as 6.30am, an anxious crowd was already waiting in the stadium. The crowd consisted not only of participants but also family and friends.

    But qualification would not come easy for them as they would have to undergo stringent trials to prove their fitness. When the screening exercise proper took off in Benin, it proved to be every bit as tasking as expected. The aspirants were put through various exercises from sprinting around the track field to squatting among other physically draining exercises.

    It didn’t take long for the strains to begin to take effect. Naturally, some of the aspirants did not make the grade. Tears flowed freely and the pains of losing out in the screening were evident amongst the unsuccessful contestants. Ehoma Okpopro, 29, from Edo State was one of those to taste the bitter pill of defeat.

    This marks the first time he would be participating in the Gulder Ultimate Search screening. It will certainly not be the last. “Though I am disappointed, I will accept my eviction as fate. The good thing is that, this year, I have tasted Gulder Ultimate Search screening. I need to work harder because next year I will come back,” he said.

    Joy Ekata, on the other hand, considers herself a veteran of Gulder Ultimate Search. After three failed attempts, the 22-year-old native of Delta State finally got invited for the screening. “I have being watching and applying for the Gulder Ultimate Search for three years, but unfortunately I was not invited until this year. Maybe I did not meet the registration requirements then but now that I have made it through the screening, I hope to be selected among the final 12 to go to the jungle,” she said.

    Just like the other hopefuls, Ekata has her eyes firmly on the N9m cash, brand new Jeep and the N500, 000 wardrobe allowance along with the N1m cash prize for best female in the competition. But she also has another motivation: “It was my late daddy’s dream that I participate in the Gulder Ultimate Search. That is why I am going to give it my best in order to qualify for the main event. If I get to Usaka forest, I know that I would be fulfilling my late father’s wish,” she said.

    Just like Benin, the first day of the screening in Makurdi also produced its winners and losers. However, the story of Erastus Ikpilla and Ambrose Evheosa epitomises the desires and aspirations of the hopefuls to make it through to the jungle at all costs. Erastus Ikpilla was involed in an accident just outside the venue of the Gulder Ultimate Search in Makurdi.

    Even with his face bleeding from the injuries he sustained, Ikpilla insisted that he would still be a part of the screening. It took the intervention of the medical team to certify him fit enough to participate. Ambrose Evheosa also had a similar experience. Moments after he got to the stadium, he suddenly began to throw up. Naturally, he was excused from the screenings.

    But he would not have any of it. “I have waited too long to give up just because of this small illness,” was his calm reply. The medical team had to step in and after extensive round of tests performed on the 29 year old; he was certified fit to participate in the screenings. Sadly, Erastus ikpilla and Ambrose Evheosa both did not make it. There were many others that failed to make the grade in Makurdi. But the screenings also had its qualifiers who made it through. Tawa Alihu, a 25-year-old banker practically abandoned his job as a banker in Jos to participate in the screenings and he made it through to the next round.

    The next day of the screenings produced even more casualties. It was time to test the hopefuls’ proficiency in swimming. The swimming test has, since the inception of Gulder Ultimate Search, proven to be a major hindrance to the dreams of many-a-Gulder Ultimate Search aspirant. This year’s screening in Makurdi and Benin was no different. At some point, it seemed like the hopefuls were more intent on showing their ‘drowning’ skills rather than swimming skills. Not even repeated warnings from officials would deter them.

    Most of the contestants would insist that they could swim only to completely embarrass themselves in the pool. Luckily the eagle-eyed lifeguards were on hand to rescue them. The sight of muscled men and well toned females, flapping awkwardly in the pool certainly helped create comic relief to ease the already heightened tension.

    But there were also adept swimmers among the lot across both screening centres in Benin and Makurdi. Emmanuel Ogbe and Prince Ebone, both from Delta State, made the long trip from Lagos to Benin for the screening. “We had to come from Lagos to brighten our chances because we know that Benin centre will not be as competitive as Lagos. We are fully prepared to go to Usaka,” Emmanuel Ogbe, who would be having his second spell in the Gulder Ultimate Search screening said.

    For Brandy Bracey who qualified from the Makurdi screening, there was little for her to celebrate. The native of Jos shed tears of disappointment for her friend Mercy Aduvie who was knocked out in the swimming trials. “My friend mercy is out of the race just because she could not swim. I am not happy at all,” she said.

    But the qualifiers are not out of the woods yet. The final batch of screening would involve oral interviews as well as another round of medicals. Then they will be taken to Lagos where they would meet other qualifiers for another round of screening. After Makurdi and Enugu, the focus would turn to Owerri and Lagos for the next batch of screening.

  • Understanding your uniqueness (3)

    Dear Reader,

    In the past two weeks, I have taught on the creation of male and female genders and also the difference in the male gender.

    In continuation of last week’s teaching, I will be enlightening you this week on the difference in the female gender.

    To say that men and women are the “same” is to deny physical reality. Science makes it plain that male and female are different from the moment of conception. The estrogen and testosterone hormones have a significant impact on the behaviour of the male and female. Some often wonder why boys typically like to play with trucks and girls with dolls. Activists usually claim this is the result of socialization, but there is growing scientific evidence that boys and girls are greatly influenced by their respective hormones.

    Similarly, it is important for you to know that the female gender, being a unique creation of God, is an incontestable fact! Everything about her person suggests that there is something special about her. God’s Word says: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (Genesis1: 27). That is, the woman was specially, wonderfully and skilfully made, built from a single rib of Adam in a miraculous way.

    So, from creation, we see that God decidedly made the woman as a complement of the man. He made her to make a difference in the life of Adam; He created her to spice up his world. I cannot imagine what the world would have looked like without the female gender. Some men think that the world would have been a much happier place without women, but that is due to certain negative experiences they have had in times past. The truth is that God created the woman different in the world.

    Primarily, I suggest a woman is distinct because she is God’s idea. But it’s quite unfortunate that some women don’t understand how unique they are. Adam hadn’t even imagined the woman, but God had her particularly in mind. God’s Word says: And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18). While Adam was busy around in the bush thinking of how to give names to animals, God said, “This is not good. This man needs help.” So, it was God who said that the man needed the woman. She was God’s idea. A woman is a product from God; this makes her God’s property. It is, therefore, advisable to you as a man that if you handle your wife well, you are handling God’s property perfectly.

    Briefly, let’s examine some of female’s mannerisms that make them different from the male:

    Companionship!

    Women like friendship all the time. While men oftentimes want to be alone, women want to talk. Women always like to be in the company of loving arms, go out together, hear your feelings about them, recognize their person, beauty, input at home and praise her, and give her listening ear always. She wants to be your best friend anyday, anytime. Time spent with her is no waste, but invested. To this end, it is important you know that as couples grow older, desires fade, but friendship remains. Thus, a female company will always be necessary.

    Compassion!

    This is one of Jesus’ characters as the head of the church (Matthew 9:36; 14:14, Mark 1:4). Women love and appreciate to be identified with, invested in, assisted and supported wherever and whenever you can. She’s concerned about being a help indeed, not a hurt. Thus, she expects that her husband’s strength should be for protection, not for bullying and barking. She wants the demonstration of tenderness and affection that you care. As a true husband, you need to let her know that she is a part of you in words and deeds.

    Responsibility!

    Responsibility is the price for greatness. Every woman needs a responsible man as husband, financially, physically and otherwise. That is why marriage is not for boys and girls, but for “men and women”. I’ve been privileged to counsel women who are separated, and who said that their marriages failed because their husbands were irresponsible. When asked in what way were they irresponsible? One response is that the husband just delegates his responsibilities to her. Another said he lets her work and take care of the finances, while he just stays comfortably idle. Another said that he would run away from problems, instead of facing them and finding solutions. Another one cannot handle the responsibility of taking care of children, etc. This happens vice versa, when the wife too does not live up to her role as a wife and mother. Maturity, to a great deal, will determine how responsible you are!

    Romance!

    In the context of marriage, every woman likes continuous courtship. So, as a husband, you must learn to be romantic. Continue to do better those things you used to do before marriage. Give expression to your love for her. Love grows; it is your responsibility to make it grow. Express your love to her in thought, words and in actions. Give her cards and gifts on special occasions; it is not the volume that counts to her, but the value you place on it. You shall not fail!

    You need to give your life to Christ to have all it takes to enjoy a blissful marriage. You can say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins.  Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Now I know I am born again!

    Congratulations! Till I come your way again next week, call or write, and share your testimonies with me through:

    E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches, and other leading Christian bookstores: Single With A Difference, Make Life Count and Marriage Covenant.

  • My desire to get married again —Nollywood actress Steph Nora Okereke

    My desire to get married again —Nollywood actress Steph Nora Okereke

    WHAT are you doing presently?

    I am working on my talk show called The Lounge with Steph Nora. The show is designed to celebrate icons that are doing things to project Africans and the world. The major target is to create positive role models for the youths.

    What brought about this idea of yours?

    The initial idea was to start from the Nigeria society. I realized that the media, and by that, I mean the entertainment industry, the social media, every aspect of technology that is used to pass information has been used to paint a very negative picture of Nigerians. It is like that because that is what has been used to feed the people out there. I realized that our youths are fast adopting the negative ways of life as a norm because that is what they get to see all the time in the papers, on TV, online and hear on radio. I just felt that for once, we should start painting good pictures of good Nigerians, and Africans. Let me narrow it down, there are people who are helping the society through sponsorships, helping the widows and helping their communities. I thought it is time to start showcasing these people, to affect the minds of the youths positively.

    When did you start this?

    I have been on if for a year and six months and you will not believe the level I am now. I have been shooting features and people for the project. Right now, I am putting it on studio link, preparing it to go on air next quarter, which is in January. It was to come out in October but I found out that to get airtime is not as easy as I thought. I have to wait and get the airtime that will be convenient for my target audience. That way, I just don’t work and put it on air at the wrong time.

    So far, do you have any sponsors?

    Right now, I am self sponsored. You know how it is with these things. When you put it on air and people start seeing it, sponsorships will come.

    Do you mind sharing your budget?

    I have to go back, sit and take a pen to do that. I told my director last week that one thing I have consciously refused to do is to calculate how much I have spent because I will be discouraged. From the onset, I had a budget of N10m, but right now I have spent way beyond my budget and I will not dare to take a pen and start calculating. I have travelled to places like Dubai, London, and I will be going to US in two weeks time to talk to Africans who have made a mark.

    Having spent so much and yet to start getting returns, are you not discouraged?

    The Lounge with Steph Nora is a part of a bigger picture. I have an NGO Big Sister Initiative, so the programme is like an introduction to a whole lot of things that I have packaged. The Lounge is a bit of a bigger show called Open Lounge, where all that matters come in. My driving factor is the fact that I want to do something that is different. I am not telling you that by the time I get on air, my money will be lost. It is still business, but I believe that by the time we start airing and the adverts start coming in, I will be able to recoup all that I have spent. I first have to invest and I believe that what I am doing is worth investing.

    Is this what has taken you off your first love; acting?

    No, I took a conscious break in 2008. It is like when you are driving on top speed and you get to a bend, you slowdown so that you can negotiate properly. It got to a stage where the movie industry was becoming repetitive. And I got bored. I am not a routine type of person that can be predicted so I just decided to take a break. I have done more than 200 films and it was still the same routine, it was the same thing. I produced eight movies too, the same way. But this show didn’t start until a year and a half ago, so my being off the movies was to enable me dig deeper into what I was doing. Art for me is a universal thing because I trained as an artiste; I did not dabble into it. I was made to understand that acting should be enjoyed without the actors being around to explain what they are doing to them. What we did in Nollywood, before I took a break was like almost feeding just our immediate society and I had the hunger for bigger things. Even after The Lounge, a whole lot of other things will spring up.

    What were you doing before you started producing The Lounge?

    I am a playwright and I have been writing scripts. I actually have three scripts that are big picture productions and I was in the studio in between 2009 and 2010, working on my album. I was going to release it but for some reasons, I had to put it on the low for now.

    Have you sorted out the issue between you and P-Square?

    It is a stale issue. You see I have discovered that people find a way of using a situation to settle their own scores, and I saw that happening so I put it off for the meantime. I got calls from people that I respect so much and I decided to let the matter rest so I don’t like talking about it.

    Is the album ready?

    I have four tracks ready and I am working on the fifth one now. I also had a single that I put out last year.

    When did you discover that you also had talent for singing?

    I actually started entertainment with music. But then I did not have any album or singles like we do now. In school, I used to sing and write songs but back then, my father won’t hear of it. When I was in O.A.U, I was in a musical band where we do shows though I studied Dramatic Arts, which translated today to Nollywood for me. Just coming out of school, which was the thin option open for me. If you remember towards late 80’s and 90’s, the music industry was on the dull side, and that was when Nollywood was coming up, so that was what I came up with. I have always had it in me.

    So what style of music do you sing?

    It is called Soul music.

    Do you think you can withstand the competition out there?

    Sometime ago, I told someone that I am in music to compete with anybody. It is like some people who are good at plaiting hair but have no saloon. When you go to them, and they make your hair well and ask them why they don’t have a saloon, they tell you they love doing it. Music is something that I do because it is inside me. I believe that what God put inside of you as a human being is meant to bless mankind and not necessarily for financial gains. You might also have a need for that thing, because it is what you have that you will need to survive in life. So I am doing my music because I am happy and good. It is something that someone that is driving or in a bad mood can listen to. I am not doing it to start touring and rubbing shoulders but if it comes, so be it.

    Did you work with any artiste on the album?

    For the remaining five, I intend to work with other artistes, though I did the first four tracks myself. Somebody told me they heard I want to feature Tuface on my album and I said cliché. Everybody wants to feature Tuface. If I want to feature him, it will mean that I have a song that will suit him and not just because he is Tuface.

    When are you returning to the screen?

    Coming back for me means when I see that very big production that I want to be part of, but I would not do that quickly. Next summer I am travelling to New York Academy for a course in Film Making and some other minor courses too. I am looking at the international picture. I am going there neither to join Hollywood nor Bollywood, but as the eye of Nollywood. I am here, I am back. I intend to shoot my own movie, which I intend to star in and get my hand on one or two scripts too.

    Since you want something big, why don’t you start with your scripts?

    The money I have put in The Lounge is about a quarter of the money I need for the kind of movie I would love to do. I used to shoot movies with between three to five million naira but the kind of movie that one can take to the cinemas, international film festivals and tours, like they say is not moi moi.

    You look slimmer. What could be responsible for this?

    I did not consciously plan to have a new look. It just happened. But if you have seen me frequently, you will see that I have always been like this. People assumed that I am bigger because of the soap Family Ties. In that production, they give me oversize clothes; they make me to look older. This is me and I feel I am fat. Since I took the break from what I do, I have been constant with Family Ties and people use that to weigh how I look. I just returned from where we went to shoot new episodes.

    When you are not busy with work, how do you relax?

    I sleep a lot because I am a work alcoholic. I drink a lot of water too. So If I am not out there seeing a movie, I am writing a script. Sometimes I read.

    In your opinion, why do marriages not last these days?

    It is actually an attribute of Western culture infused into African culture. Divorce is not an African culture. Growing up, our fathers and mothers lived together. I was listening to a radio programme on this same issue and somebody said that it is because women are over empowered. That is that person’s opinion. There has been a wrong adaptation of the Western culture by the Africans. It is the same way a government official gets into the office and does a wrong thing. Now people don’t pay emphasis on the traditional marriages anymore. To them it is like a ceremony, forgetting that the white wedding is the white man cultural wedding. If a lot of importance is placed on the traditional wedding, and they tell them if you do this, this is what happens, and people really respect those norms, I think marriages will last.

    With all these, are you willing to get married again?

    I tried getting married to someone, we had our introduction and all the yama yama started getting in so I told everyone to hold on. The thing there is that one should also pray that one gets a partner who understands things about the society, in such a way that he is not a confused person trying to fuse the western culture with African culture. Beneath all these, I think since the society has become a confused place to live, if one puts God at bottom line, one will then be able to walk the right direction.

    There is the belief that fame is one disadvantage to celebrity marriages. What is your take on that?

    If you go to Surulere High Court or Ikoyi high court, you will see people lined up for divorce. You won’t see one artiste present. Artistes are part of the society and marriages are having problems. The reason is that people do not have respect for values. When a man of God can marry and divorce at will and sill stand in front of the congregations. Values are dropping. That is why Catholics say if you no fit, no marry at all.

    Knowing all these, are you still willing to take that bold step again?

    I am not a negative minded person. And the fact that marriages break up, does not mean that all marriages will break up. You still have to take your chances. Yoruba people say if you close your eyes for the bad people to pass, you won’t know when the good one will pass by.

    How come you speak Yoruba fluently?

    I have been here all my life. I had my primary and secondary education here, although towards the end, I went to complete my secondary school in the East. I came back and went to Ife for my tertiary education. Except I am such a dullard, will I be here, that long and not be able to speak Yoruba?

    Don’t you feel lonely?

    How, because I am not married? Why should I feel lonely? I have family; I have brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours.

    What about children, don’t you feel bad about not having any?

    Why should I feel bad about things that I cannot do anything about? I am human. If I get married, I will have kids and all that. But if I am not married, why should I worry myself that I don’t have any kid. Should I start brooding about that? Except I want to have kids without being married?

    Are we to expect that soon?

    Well, I have not given it a thought yet.

  • Air passengers struggle for seats as Arik remains grounded

    Air passengers struggle for seats as Arik remains grounded

    Hundreds of air travellers stranded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday “hustled” for tickets in a bid to travel out of the city for the weekend.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the few airlines that were operating on the domestic routes, claimed that they were fully booked as some passengers struggled to get tickets.

    The situation followed the suspension of flights by Arik Air on Thursday after its operations were grounded by unions operating in the aviation sector.

    The unions said they undertook the action to get Arik and other debtor airlines to pay their debts.

    Following the development, only three airlines — IRS, Aero and Overland — have continued to operate.

    One of the stranded passengers, Dr Harrison Maduike, attributed the situation to the latest development in the aviation sector following the DANA plane crash of June 3 that has yet to resume flight operations and Arik Airline that was shutdown on Thursday.

    NAN reports that many of the passengers that were stranded in Abuja were those travelling to Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, while passengers travelling to other destinations such as Enugu and Ibadan went by Overland.

    Another passenger, Mr Mike Ozurumba, said he was ready to buy any airline ticket at any amount to Port Harcourt in order to meet up with an emergency meeting.

    “The situation would have not been worst if the other airlines were to be working but whatever decision the government has taken concerning any of the airlines is regarded as the best even though it is affecting us; I believe it is for a while.

    “I wanted to travelled urgently this morning with an Aero airline by 11:20 a.m. but I was amazed when an airline staff told me the seats were fully booked from now till Monday.

    “IRS also said the only available seats are for Monday and that they are not even going to Port Harcourt but Lagos and I have an emergency meeting in my constituency today (Friday).

    “Some of the passengers who had even booked before me and came late were advised to reschedule their flights against next week,’’ Ozurumba said. (NAN)

  • Subsidy claims: FG pays additional N56.7bn to marketers.

    Subsidy claims: FG pays additional N56.7bn to marketers.

    Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, on Friday said that the Federal Government had paid additional N56.75 billion to oil marketers out of the 2012 subsidy claims.

    While briefing newsmen in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala, also Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, said that the payments were made to 14 companies after being screed by the committee on oil subsidy claims.

    She said that the companies were Bovas and Company Ltd., Folawiyo Energy Ltd., Forte Oil Plc, Ibafon Oil Ltd. and Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd.

    Others include M.R.S Oil Nigeria Ltd., Nipco Plc, Oando Plc, Northwest Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Rainoil Ltd., Shorelink Ltd., Swift Oil Ltd., Tecno Oil Ltd. and Total Nigeria Ltd.

    “The ministry of finance has been making payments and screening the activities of the marketers,’’ she said.

    The minister said that the sum of N56.755 billion was paid this week to the marketers that had been screened successfully.

    According to her, the ministry has been on a mission to carefully screen and verify the oil marketers.

    “We are preparing to continue this new system where we carefully screen marketers of petroleum products.

    “We will carry out the screening before and after any payment is made,” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government said it had paid N78.9 billion to 43 oil marketers for 2012 subsidy claims as at Aug. 24. (NAN)

  • LAWMA’s recycling banks to keep Lagos clean

    LAWMA’s recycling banks to keep Lagos clean

    Despite being the major centre for economic activities in Nigeria and generating the large amount of industrial and residential waste estimated at over 9000 metric tons daily, Lagos State has remained relatively clean.

    Thanks to the efforts of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the state has been rated as one of the cleanest in the country and internationally, though a controversial survey by an international agency stated that it is the dirtiest globally recently.

    LAWMA was established in 1977 and since its inception the institution has employed different initiatives in ensuring proper waste management within Lagos State and it environ.

    According to the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Ola Oresanya, “the LAWMA of the past is different from now and all efforts are been made especially with the present administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola to ensure success in combating the menace of poor waste disposal in the state”.

    In a bid to ensure attainment to the proposed Africa Model mega city and a cleaner environment, LAWMA signed the approval of joint work with the private sectors in March 2007 called the ‘private Sectors Participation’ and a host of others to allow for proper waste management.”

    In compliance with the aim of providing efficient and sustainable waste management service to all Lagosians, the management has equally embarked on its latest strategy of combating menace of waste in Lagos state called the “Recycling bank”.

    The essence of strategy as explained by the agency is to bring a sense of collective responsibility to the heart of waste management in the state, making it a productive and participatory venture between the government and the people where all the school children and other identified stakeholders can help in waste minimization.

    To keep our environment cleaner by avoiding the waste becoming uncontainable and spilling into our houses, industries, forests, and water sources, there is need to curtail some measures which lead to the process of recycling. Recycling involves using used products as raw materials for making new products. It saves on raw materials and prevents harm to the environment. This will help LAWMA as part of its efforts in strengthening the current waste collection activities and expand the scope to facilitate additional value added waste recycler market.

    More so, recycling has been confirmed as ideal means of economic development as it contributes to the economy by helping to conserve our resources and save money, creates jobs and even generates revenue. It is equally cheaper to make products using recycled materials. For example, using fresh aluminum costs twice as much as using recycled aluminum. This is because a lot more energy (i.e. 90% more) is needed to extract aluminum from its raw forms and subsequently, products that are made from recycled materials can also be purchased at a cheaper price.

    For instance the compost fertilizer produced from the Ikorodu landfill is sold at cheaper prices than chemical fertilizer. It also benefits the economy by reducing expenditure, as more items are reduced, the amount of waste that needs to go to the landfill or incinerator is also reduce

    Subsequently, acres of landfill space can be saved and be diverted for other uses. Especially in Lagos state where land is scarce, saving on landfill space could mean savings by the million, and in fact earnings, especially if the land can be used for other revenue-generating functions. With recycling, everything can be used to its maximum potential. Nothing is wasted. Such cost-effective practices not only saves money, but the environment and our resources too.

    The benefit of recycling is far more than we can imagine, as in the case of the market waste which has been turned into fertilizer and now serving variety of purpose especially in agricultural fields. Over 250 bags of fertilizer are produced from LAWMA recycling plant on a daily basis and distributed across the country. Equally, pure water nylons with other nylon have been procured into a disposable bag through recycling activities.

    With this in mind, the institution has provided for four basic banks in form of materials in the following categories: Paper, Can, Glass and Plastic. Over twenty of these recycling banks have been made available to the entire state and deposited at different areas within the state to encourage waste sorting. About 30 former waste scavengers have been engaged as resource managers to see to the daily management of these recycling banks.

    Hence, residents of housing estates are required to embrace recycling by sorting waste from trash and keeping recyclable materials in separate containers/ bags to be disposed of appropriately at the LAWMA Recycling Bank. For instance, a person disposing glass bottles and plastic bottles should endeavour to separate them in different containers and dump them in their respective banks as against disposing them together. By separating the waste from source, it makes the process of recycling easier.

    Citizens are therefore encouraged to dispose their waste bin in these sorted banks as this will allow for easy recycling and also help LAWMA in carrying out its duty effectively as before. The institution will also reward as many people who sort out their waste by reducing their waste bill per month.

  • Lagos to attract young talents to agriculture

    THE Lagos State government is working to make agriculture an attractive alternative for younger talent ,the Commissioner of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal has said.

    Speaking in Lagos, the Commissioner stressed the importance of ensuring agriculture was seen as a long-term career opportunity for the brightest and most ambitious young people.

    To achieve this, he said the government is promoting modern farming, which requires a range of skills, including business and strong technical abilities.

    He said farming has to be seen in a more positive light, with the food security issue reinforcing the importance of the sector.

    He said the government is financing new entrants as a means of ensuring individuals gained an opportunity in farming.

    Gbolahan said new entrants received a structured training programme to develop a broad base of farming and business skills. He reiterated the commitment of the state to support agricultural production, storage, processing and marketing by providing the necessary incentives and support systems that will make them work.

    He emphasised that the present administration would provide the enabling support for small and medium scale industries and entrepreneurs to thrive, as a means of enhancing rapid economic development and solving unemployment problems.

    He said that increased agricultural production and industrialisation formed part of the cardinal programmes of the government, adding that his government would intensify its efforts in transforming all the farm settlements into model industrial centres, which would help to take thousands of youths off the streets.

  • Jonathan orders increase allocation for health institutions

    Jonathan orders increase allocation for health institutions

    President Goodluck Jonathan has directed increases in the 2013 budgetary allocation for health training institutions to ensure increase in the number of medical and dental specialists.

    The president announced the decision in Lagos on Thursday at the 30th convocation ceremony of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

    The president, represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chuwku, said the step was aimed at strengthening the training of medical specialists both within and outside the country.

    Jonathan said: “Similarly, I have also directed that there be increased envelope for the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. This will be in a step wise manner for the next two years.

    “Government has decided that 56 residents and young consultants will be sent for overseas training this year.

    “While some institutions have concluded arrangements, others have not done so.

    “The hospitals that have yet to comply should immediately do so before the end of this financial year.

    “I also want to urge the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to support these institutions in finding appropriate placement for the residents and consultants overseas.”

    The president said that government in collaboration with health professionals in the Diaspora, Association of Nigeria Physicians in Americas, and the Medical Association of Nigeria Specialist in Great Britain had produced a medical curriculum template.

    “The curriculum to which senate of universities could adapt for use, is important to address deficient areas that have been observed in schools,’’ the president said.

    Jonathan said he was aware that the college had not benefitted from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) in spite of the challenges facing it in the area of funding.

    “I have directed the Ministry of Health and the management of TETfund to meet and explore ways and manner the college can benefit from this fund,” he said.