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Tag: better

  • Marriage: for good, better and best

    Dear reader, you are welcome to a great and fulfilling ninth month of the year! This month, God will grant you a ninth hour miracle, cause you to laugh and all that hear your testimonies will laugh with you.

    Our teaching series for this month will center on the beautification of your marriage. However, this week’s message is titled: Marriage: For good, better and best. Some people already have a very wrong notion that marriage is a trap and the exchange of rings when saying the marital vows, represents a handcuff that puts one in bondage with his or her partner. Contrary to these very wrong beliefs, marriage was instituted by God for your good. It was designed to make life great, enjoyable and meaningful.

    Marriage is a gift from God; and one unique thing about those who married right is that they get to enjoy their journey through life. God has not designed anything evil for man. The Bible says: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). Therefore, marriage should take you from good to better and to best. It is meant to advance, increase and promote you. If you are a still a bachelor or spinster, you might probably be feeling complete, but there is always room for advancement and this is what a good and godly marriage offers. The Bible says:

    Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

    To get the good in marriage however, you must make adequate preparations. In life generally, we spend a whole lot of money and time (years) preparing and learning how to be successful in business, vocations and careers; yet, we pay very little attention to a journey that will last an entire lifetime.

    Don’t get married as a novice because you have not prepared adequately for life ahead. Once you begin a relationship with a brother or sister (which hopefully should culminate in marriage), pay attention to proper preparation, not just for the wedding ceremony but for married life. I can never emphasise this point enough. However, to prepare for marriage, you must do the following:

    1. Locate Your Purpose

    What is your vision for life? What is your goal? Where are you heading for? You need a proper understanding of these before you get married because this information will determine who you will choose to spend the rest of your life with.

    1. Invest in your Life as a Person

    Be the best you can be and enhance your worth. (a) Spiritually, grow in grace and draw closer to God daily via the study of His Word as well as communing with Him in prayer. As you do this, your discernment – will be sharpened and you will also be fervent enough to be able to build a God-honouring home tomorrow. By its very nature, marriage, involves a lot of giving and your spiritual stamina will, in no small measure, contribute, to your ability to build wisely.

    (b) Mentally, develop yourself to a great extent in your chosen field of endeavour or career. Create and embrace opportunities to better yourself, so that you will be an asset to your spouse tomorrow and not a liability.

    (c) Emotionally, develop yourself and your capacity to accommodate another person, unconditionally, for the rest of your life.

    As I mentioned earlier, marriage involves giving, not just receiving. Therefore, you need to learn in your single days how to be tolerant and to handle issues with your emotions under control.

    (d) Physically, you, also, need to see to it that you are fit for the new life ahead. As a lady, learn how to keep house, cook and generally manage a home. As a man, learn how to be responsible and to take care of someone else apart from yourself.

    1. Learn as much as you can about marriage

    Learn as much as you can about marriage from credible sources, not from negative examples around you. Study the Bible, the primary text on the subject of marriage. Study materials (books, tapes, magazines) written by those with not just knowledge of the subject, but also proven testimonies in their marriages. The main difference between a marriage that is working and one that is not, is knowledge (Daniel 11:32; 1 Peter 3:7). Study and understand God’s provisions for the family; how to run a home, how to relate with in-laws etc. Also, study the biographies of successful couples.

    The summary of what I am trying to pass across to you, is that your single days are days of building up yourself sufficiently enough for a successful marriage. That is what it means to be a distinct person. Don’t spend all your time looking for who to marry; that is misplacement of priorities. Build yourself first! Nowhere in scriptures is it recorded that Adam was pre-occupied with finding a life companion. He was simply busy with adding value to his life and pursuing his divine assignment and at the right time, God brought Eve his way because it was clear that he needed help. The same way, I see God bring your own partner to you in Jesus’ name.

    However, until God becomes your delight, your home cannot become a delightful place. If you really delight in the Lord, you also need to be certified a bonafide child of God. The Lord said:  COME unto me… (Matthew 11:28). If you are not a child of God, you don’t have a genuine access to these blessings. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Total ‘committed to better energy’

    Total ‘committed to better energy’

    Total Nigeria Plc has said the building of a hybrid solar system in Lagos is part of its commitment to better energy.

    The company said the high-end infrastructure would reduce energy costs by at least 30 per cent.

    The hybrid solar system was inaugurated in Lagos on October 24, last year.

    Total also installed at its corporate head office in Lagos last December, another system which utilises 333 Sunpower PV modules, which has also reduced the energy costs by 25 per cent.

    The installation was inaugurated on December 9, last year.

    In a statement, the organisation said: “Both solutions are complete hybrid solar photovoltaic solutions, which require a proper integration and perfect synchronisation of the different sources of electricity (solar panels, diesel generators and grid). It ensures a flawless stability of the plant’s micro-grid at any given time. This has in turn also helped to optimise the cost of energy.

    “In spite of space constraints, Total Nigeria Plc was able to achieve these capacities, using high efficiency Sunpower photovoltaic modules. The installation of the 109 kWp was achieved on an area of 550m2, while the 118 kWp of solar power was achieved on an area of 600m2 with only 360 modules. These panels have 40 years lifetime expectancy.

  • Total ‘committed to better energy’

    Total Nigeria Plc has said the building of a hybrid solar system in Lagos is part of its commitment to better energy.

    The company said the high-end infrastructure would reduce energy costs by at least 30 per cent.

    The hybrid solar system was inaugurated in Lagos on October 24, last year.

    Total also installed at its corporate head office in Lagos last December, another system which utilises 333 Sunpower PV modules, which has also reduced the energy costs by 25 per cent.

    The installation was inaugurated on December 9, last year.

    In a statement, the organisation said: “Both solutions are complete hybrid solar photovoltaic solutions, which require a proper integration and perfect synchronisation of the different sources of electricity (solar panels, diesel generators and grid). It ensures a flawless stability of the plant’s micro-grid at any given time. This has in turn also helped to optimise the cost of energy.

    “In spite of space constraints, Total Nigeria Plc was able to achieve these capacities, using high efficiency Sunpower photovoltaic modules. The installation of the 109 kWp was achieved on an area of 550m2, while the 118 kWp of solar power was achieved on an area of 600m2 with only 360 modules. These panels have 40 years lifetime expectancy.

    “This represents another step towards Total Nigeria’s (J1) commitment to better energy, as it is estimated to cut its CO2 emissions by at least 91 tonnes per year for its lubricant plant and 83 tonnes annually for its head office.

    “Aside from these new projects, Total Nigeria Plc now has about 15 service stations powered by solar nationwide, as well as a full range of solar home solutions offered to power homes and businesses across the country.”

  • N100b Islamic bonds raise hope for better infrastructure

    N100b Islamic bonds raise hope for better infrastructure

    The Federal Government will be raising N100 billion through the Sovereign Sukuk, also called Islamic Bonds offer which opened on Thursday September 14, to close this Wednesday. The fund will be used for the construction and rehabilitation of sections of key economic roads across the six geopolitical zones in the country.  The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has listed 25 road projects the fund will be used for. For the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Debt Management Office (DMO), Islamic finance is needed to take financial services to the grassroots, and open new investment frontiers in government-issued securities, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    With conventional deposits depleted and the need for cash to execute key infrastructure projects rising, many developing and developed economies see Islamic finance as a way out of the quagmire.

    Islamic finance development has in recent years, become very attractive to investors in many African economies. Both market development in line with Islamic principles and regulatory milestones have been recorded in Africa, in the last few years.

    Specifically, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa and Senegal, Kenya, Morocco and Niger, among other countries, have put in place necessary legal and regulatory frameworks to enable Islamic banking offerings in their respective jurisdictions thrive.

    For Nigeria, the Federal Government’s plans to raise N100 billion through the sovereign Sukuk, also called Islamic Bond has elated investors across the country, especially its non-interest component. The facility was unveiled by the Debt Management Office (DMO) in a nationwide roadshow that took place in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

    DMO Director-General, Patience Oniha, alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, told stakeholders in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja that the debut N100 billion is dedicated to building critical road infrastructure in the country.

    She explained that debut Sovereign Sukuk is an ethical-inclined investment in which rent is based on the investment bi-yearly and the principal sum paid at the end of the seven-year tenor. She said the product was designed as a revenue source to fund the construction and rehabilitation of key economic infrastructure projects across Nigeria, such as roads.

    “It is intended to diversify the sources of government funding, offer ethical investors an opportunity to invest in government-issued securities, achieve higher level of financial inclusion and serve as a reference for pricing Sukuk issued by other bodies, especially private sector issuers,” she said.

    Oniha, at the various stops on the roadshow assured potential investors that the Sukuk is backed by the full faith of the federal government and was one of the avenues it intends to raise funds for capital projects.

    “This is one of several efforts to raise funds for specific projects and this is backed by the full faith of the Federal Government. It is a rental product to cater for segment of our society that requires such services,” she said.

     

    Targeted projects

    The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, listed 25 road projects spread across the six geo-political zones of the country which the fund will be used for. Some of the projects include the Loko  Oweto Bridge, dualisation of a section of the Abuja-Lokoja road, dualisation of the Suleja-Minna road, the dualisation of the Kano-Katsina road (phase 1), rehabilitation of the Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, and the Enugu-Port Harcourt road (section one to three). Others are the Ibadan-Ilorin Road (Oyo-Ogbomoso), Kolo-Otuoke-Bayelsa-Palm Road (Yenegwa Road Junction), Kaduna Eastern By-Pass and Kano-Maiduguri Road (Potiskum-Damaturu).

    Experts said the offer would boost investments flows based on trends already witnessed in the Federal Government  bond, savings bond among others issued by the debt office.

    Benefits of investing in the Sukuk, according the DMO, include safety of investment, regular income which are tax free and liquidity as they will be listed and traded on The Nigerian Stock Exchange and the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange Plc.

    The debut Sovereign Sukuk is for N100 billion with a tenor of seven years at N1,000 per unit. The offers has been certified as ethically compliant by the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The product is also useful as collateral to access loans from banks.

    Also, the minimum subscription is N10,000, that is, 10 units at N1,000 per unit and in multiples of N1,000 (per unit) thereafter. The rental payment is semi-annually while the redemption involves a bullet payment of invested funds at maturity.

    “Sukuk is different from Convention Bonds in the sense that it represents ownership interest in assets while bonds represent a pure debt obligation due from the issuer. The funds raised from Sukuk issuance must be used only for ethical purposes. Bonds can be issued to finance any legal purpose. The sale of Sukuk represents the sale of the holder’s interest in an asset. The sale of a Bond is the sale of a debt,” the DMO said.

    It said all categories of investors, including retail investors, high net worth individuals, institutional investors such as commercial banks, insurance/takaful companies, pension funds, asset managers, private banks and others. Also, ethically inclined investors, cooperative Societies, religious bodies, state investment companies and foreign investors will find it really attractive.

    Assessing the benefits of the financial instrument, the president of Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Hajia Maimuna Bello, described it as a bold initiative to cater for a critical segment of the country and urged the DMO to deepen its awareness drive.

    In Abuja, a former executive director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibrahim Waziri, expressed the hope that the raised funds would be deployed to the listed projects. He stressed that as an ethical financial instrument, investors are assured of timely rental returns.

    The offer will be listed and traded on The Nigerian Stock Exchange and the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange Plc, with offer for subscription slated for September 14.

     

    CBN speaks

     The CBN has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the offer, stressing that it is geared towards infrastructural development and a worthwhile investment.

    Speaking at a one-day investors’ forum in Kaduna, CBN’s Deputy Director, Financial Markets Department, Demenongu Yanfa, assured participants  of the apex bank’s commitment to the smooth running of the Sukuk.

    According to Yanfa, the Sukuk will not only allow Nigerians take ownership of the roads with half yearly rental incomes, but will fast track the building of road infrastructure in the country.

    “The world is looking for new areas of investment. As of today, South Africa, Malaysia and some other countries of the world have embraced SUKUK to fund some of the construction and rehabilitation of key sectors of their economies,” Yanfa said.

    He expressed the optimism that Nigerians would embrace this novel funding alternative for government’s projects, promising that the CBN will work with other relevant government agencies to ensure the success of the Sukuk.

    Earlier, Oniha, explained that Sukuk is an investment certificate that represents the ownership interest of the holder in an asset or pool of assets, saying that the certificate entitles the holder to receive income from the use of the assets.

    A participant at the Kaduna investor forum, Acting Managing Director of Kaduna Industrial and Finance Company, Sanusi Maigeri praised the DMO for the initiative, noting that the Sukuk is a veritable tool for financial inclusion. “I call on potential investors to make use of the golden opportunity to available to them to invest in the Sukuk”, Sanusi said.

    The placement agents for the Offer are Access Bank, Citibank, Coronation Merchant Bank, EcoBank, FBN Merchant Bank, First Bank, FCMB Plc, FSDH Merchant Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, United Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc.

     

    Growth of Islamic finance market

     According to a report by the Malaysia World’s Islamic Finance Marketplace titled: “Islamic finance in Africa: Impetus for growth,” a lot of conventional banks across the continent, have started offering Shariah-compliant banking products through Islamic window set-up. In the Sukuk segment, the report showed that countries, such as Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritius, The Gambia had issued Sukuk.

    A recent milestone in this space was the maiden sukuk issuance by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). The global Islamic financial services industry had been estimated to reach $6 trillion in assets by 2020 with a growing number of new market entrants.

    That was why the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute of Nigeria (IBFIN), Sani Aminu Dutsinma, stressed the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities created by this banking instrument.

    According to him, Islamic banking and finance instruments have the potential to check greed, high handedness, selfishness and corruption, not only in the banking and finance industry, but also in the public sector.

    Dutsinma explained that Islamic banking and finance, being asset-based, should, in principle be less prone to financial crime.

    According to him, the Islamic finance industry has expanded rapidly over the past few decades, growing between 10 and 20 per cent yearly, as shariah-compliant financial assets are estimated at about $2 trillion, covering bank and non-bank financial institutions.

    Islamic banking assets have been grown faster than conventional banking assets, he said, adding that there has been an increased interest in Islamic finance from countries, such as the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, South Africa and Hong Kong.

    Within sub-Saharan Africa, he revealed that South Africa leads in terms of Islamic finance, with one of the largest international Islamic banking conglomerates namely, Al-Baraka Banking Group, he disclosed.

    Dutsinma noted that since the introduction of Islamic finance in Nigeria about 18 years ago, concerns and apprehension have been voiwwced that the introduction might be a ploy to Islamise Nigeria.

  • Nigeria: We are better together

    SIR What we have in our hands today is a nation in dire need of help and rescue. Nigeria is currently plagued by loads of existential challenges such as ethnic strife, mass hysteria, rising violence and other numerous vices. It appears the gods are angry with us. Things are gradually falling apart. This is certainly not the time to live in denial. We must be bold and sincere enough to own up our problems and find urgent solutions to them.

    Regrettably, emotions and doublespeak have taken the place of rational thinking even as we focus on the symptoms of what ails us. Even the intelligentsia who should ordinarily serve as torchbearers are neck deep in the confusion and crisis we are confronted with at the moment.

    All hope isn’t lost. We just cannot afford to give up on hope. Even as we disagree, let’s spare some time for sober reflection and also ponder on how far we have come as a people and what we have achieved together. This is not the time to flood the media space with divisive and poisonous information. Whatever we say or write for public consumption should unite, pacify and educate the populace.

    Violence is like an ill-wind, it doesn’t blow any good. It destroys, diminishes, hampers growth and stampedes development. The time we are now is very sensitive, and it is a period that tests our maturity and intellectual sophistication as a people.

    It is better for us as individuals and group to speak peace at this point; everyone must be an advocate of peace. The blood of any youth in Nigeria is not worth spilling for any reason. Thus, as youths, we must avoid being used as instruments of violence and destruction, at the whims and caprices of blood-hungry and political-fame-seeking individuals or group. We, the Nigerian youths today, hold the future of this nation, and we must rise up to this challenge and advance courses that will move our dear nation forward.

    While we acknowledge and are not in any way doubting the powers of the President under section 217 (2c) of the Constitution to deploy the military to suppress insurrection and to act in aid of civil authorities to restore order, it has to get to a point we can actually call “insurrection” so as to warrant such military deployment. It is not unlikely that the current situation might have arisen out of obstruction or spite of the non-venomous dancing python by a group of unarmed agitators; however a civil approach would have been proportionate.

    I wish to add to the voice of well-meaning individuals and statesmen to appeal to the President to call back the “pythons” to the forest and explore a more civil approach to the matter. We have to, as a people, focus more on the things that unite us, than the things that divide us.

     

    • Francis Ojima Akoji Esq. 

    Lagos.

  • How to become better leaders’

    If youths nationwide could be committed to their studies, live their dreams, be focused, aspire to be good leaders shun delinquent vices, and strive to protect their families’ name, the sky would be their limit.

    Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Dr. Ladele Omolola Aina, handed down this charge during the joint 2016/2017 matriculation of the School of Part – Time Studies (SPS) and the Centre for Evening NCE Programmes  of the institution.

    Aina, in her address, noted that AOCOED as one of the oldest colleges of education in the country, does not compromise standard, and adheres strictly to dictates of the curriculum enshrined by its regulatory body-National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

    “I am proud to inform you that the college is blessed with seasoned academicians who deliver these instructions leading to the award of NCE as it is being done in other world class institutions. We also have committed administrators who provide the much needed administrative supports. So, believe me, you are in safehands,” Aina assured.

    She admonished the students to use the pedestrian bridge provided by the government at the entrance gate, and dispose refuse by using refuse bins placed strategically across campus, avoid overcrowded areas and desist from self medication.

    Aina acknowledged the financial input of the Lagos State government particularly in basic education through the recent hosting of officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    Registrar Mr. Shehu Muhideen, cautioned the new students to refrain from any act of  violence likely to put the college into disrepute.

    “The College reserves the right to hand over to the police or any other law enforcement agency for prosecution in accordance with the laws of the land, any student suspected or found to be a member of secret cult or any other unregistered association,  during the period of study in the college would have himself to blame,” Muhideen said.

  • I am not better than Davido, says Mayorkun

    I am not better than Davido, says Mayorkun

    Davido Music Worldwide’s leading artiste, Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, aka Mayorkun, has cleared the air on his alleged competition with the label’s honcho, Davido.

    Speaking exclusively with with The Nation, Mayorkun said it doesn’t make sense to compare Davido with his protégé.

    When asked what comes to his mind when people say he’s better than Davido, Mayorkun said; “I don’t think I have ever heard anyone say that, Have you? It doesn’t make sense to compare Davido with his protégé. I’m learning from him. I don’t think I am better than Davido. It’s actually almost unreasonable.”

    Mayorkun further stressed that, Davido has been his role model, even before he got signed to his label.

    He said; “Davido has been my role model right from Dami Duro. I even did a cover of the song and paid a blog to put it up back then. That shows how much Davido has inspired and influenced me, even before I met him.”

    He however, claimed it will be Davido’s wish to see him making exploits in the music industry.

    “It will be Davido’s wish to see me doing excellently in a few years, I feel like I’m on the right path. So everything is cool,” Mayorkun stated.

    Speaking on his unique selling point among his peers at DMW, Mayorkun said, “Everyone at DMW is unique in one way or the other, I am an artiste who sings using punchlines. You can say I’m a singing/rapper. Everyone else has their own selling point. Yonda is fluent with the street hop vocabs, Dremo is an amazing rapper; he raps and you can hear every single word. It’s different strokes for different folks.”

  • Towards a better NDDC

    SIR: The current leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headed by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba had its hands full from inception, in its bid to remake the narrative that has hitherto plagued the commission. This piece takes a look at critical steps taken in this respect.

    Since the special intervention aimed at enhancing the sustainable development of the Niger Delta, a move which birthed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as it is known today by the NDDC Act of 2000, this laudable initiative, some say, has been fraught with all manner of irregularities, a narrative currently being reworked by the current management.

    This has been responsible, in part, for why the Chairman of the Governing Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, suggested a change in narrative, strategy and modus operandi as it were, if the NNDC must realise the aims and objectives for which it was set up while contending that the former ways of doing things have hampered the realisation of the agency’s objectives.

    This injection of a new policy direction seems to cascade down to the day to day running of the commission under the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Nsima Ekere, whose responsibility it is to run the affairs of the Commission day to day, and see to it that the objectives of the interventionist agency are in harmony with both the people in the relevant communities and the federal government’s overall plans for the region.

    To kick start and bring the new policy drive to life, a meeting with the executives of Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) was held, geared towards including them in the budgetary process of the Commission in carrying out relevant projects initiated especially by the IOCs and OPTS within the host communities where their major operations exist.

    This move is premised on the fact that since the oil producers are part of the major contributors to the NDDC budgetary allocations, allowing them to have a say as to where these monies are spent for the host communities contributing to the development of the region, seems logical and fair.

    At another level, the Inter-Ministerial Meeting chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to review the 20-point agenda of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with regard to the Niger Delta and take a critical look at abandoned projects under the NDDC with a view to doing something about it.

    The meeting also reassessed the environmental management in the Niger Delta under Federal Ministry of Environment and a review of the amnesty programme and the 16-point demand of the Pan Niger Delta Forum with a need to harmonise the agenda with that of Petroleum Ministry, State Government’s blue print and the Amnesty office, while ensuring that it is rolled up into one workable plan.

    Shifting gears, NDDC also directed contractors responsible for abandoned projects to return and recommence work immediately, setting a 30-day deadline with effect from 17th March, 2017, after which contractors would be prosecuted for failure to heed the Commission’s directives. This is a clear manifestation of the ‘business unusual’ nature of the current leadership.

    More importantly, awareness of the ongoing Niger Delta Clean Up efforts, which have since started, is to be reinvigorated, facilitated and sustained by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

    In the final analysis, Senator Ndoma-Egba, understanding that it may not be easy as the current move will need a total overhaul of the old ways of doing things, had canvassed and advocated increasing community participation by host communities and sense of ownership regarding NNDC projects as the way forward towards ensuring sustainability and maintenance of NNDC projects after completion and inauguration.

     

    • Clara Braide,

    Special Assistant on Communication to NDDC Chairman

  • OTUNBAJO: I’ll be back stronger, better after surgery

    OTUNBAJO: I’ll be back stronger, better after surgery

    Olaitan Otubanjo was undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s deadliest youthful striker last season when he struck 22 times in 26 appearances for Austria side, FC Blau-Weiß Linz to command huge attraction from clubs in Germany, Turkey and Italy.

    By the time the usual summer transfer frenzy was over, Olaitan who was a member of the Golden Eaglets that won Silver when Nigeria hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009 berthed at Slovakia top side MSK Zilina in a swoop he said ‘was too good to ignored.’

    Pronto, the 24-year-old striker was firing on all cylinders yet again and has already scored 11 goals in the Slovakia League and Cup when he copped an injury last November and was subsequently operated upon.

    “I twisted my ankle during our home game against Tranava FC   and thought it wasn’t serious but I ended up in hospital,” Otubanjo fondly called Oladinho told The Nation Sport & Style. “It was around 25 to 30 minute that I ran into a defender and twisted my ankle; I was out of the game thinking it was minor one until the doctor said I have to go through the operation after further examinations because s there were bruises and some pieces inside my leg. “

    Oladinho said he was under both physical and psychological pains watching his team mates filling out for duty week in-week-out he undergoes his regimen in the gymnasium.

    “It is painful not being able to play since November 21 last year,” he admitted.

    “I missed four games last year because of the injury and has already missed five this year and painfully, we have already lost out of the Cup and I’m not happy about this.

    “It’s painful to lose out of the Cup especially because we sacrificed so much even before getting to the quarter finals.

    “I’m always a positive person and I have belief in God almighty that I will be back and better once the doctors give me the greenlight to return to the pitch.; I would be hungry, aggressive for more goals and hopefully, I can continue where I stopped by banging in more goals.”

    The good news now is that Otubanjo is warming up to return to the pitch disclosing that his return might be sooner than expected: “The rehab is going well and I have already been doing some indoor exercises and my condition is improving though I have not been given a specific date of return.

    “I’m running well now and when the running is strong and good, then I can confidently say I’m good to go.”

    The youngster quit bachelorhood last year and revealed his wife, Ololade who joined him at his new base early the New Year has more than provided the needed succour: “Yes, I have Ololade with me now and I’m more than happy with that development.

    “She couldn’t join me immediately after we got married as she needed to sort out her papers; glory be to God she is here when I really need her most.

    “She has been very supportive and it is a great comfort having her around me now,” she added.

  • IMAGINE IF WE SOUNDED BETTER

    IMAGINE IF WE SOUNDED BETTER

    I’VE heard so much about this western media agenda of trying to debase black people or anything from the third world like ours and I think that the earlier we stop making excuses, the better. You don’t deck yourself in dry raffia and walk the edge of a fire set by your supposed detractor only to say when you are torched, ‘that has been his wish for me; to see me burnt.’

    I’ve always known the phrase, ‘If you can’t beat them join them’, and I think that Nigeria and Africa in general has got what it takes to be the best people in the world.

    It is amusing to think that the West which has exhausted their story ideas would reject the African entertainment if we do it right.

    Until the result of our showcase (irrespective of how hard we had knocked ourselves over our selected movies) start to trickle in before we appreciate the impression we have created to the world. The effect would be that, even for the films that didn’t make it to TIFF, there would be a gravitation of content search towards Nigeria and Africa in general. Several movie buffs said to me at TIFF that it was their first time seeing a Nigerian movie, and apart from some reservations regarding some of the technical areas, I saw in them a people who are ready to see more of these films.

    While some have queried why we think Nollywood needs Hollywood when we can sufficiently sell our stories to the over 170 million people in Nigeria who would appreciate them better, I am of the firm belief that we need to break boundaries if we must be at the top of the art and business of filmmaking.

    Apart from ‘glocalising’ our art, we can’t even be talking of subsistence filmmaking at this point in time, when the need to move from total dependence on oil is wisdom. In other words, how much can we make from 29 cinemas and just 147 screens even with our population? Indeed, we need the Netflix and Shoreline Entertainment of this world, as well as the cinemas in South Africa, America, China and India, if only for want of a Nigerian product to export. So, it is not about underrating the Nigerian audience when people advocate to play on the global stage. It is doing business and doing it well.

    It is on this note that the producers of ’76 have made us proud by inking that distribution deal with Shoreline Entertainment, which is one of the success stories of our sojourn to TIFF. And I bet, if ’76 sells well, it would further open up the market for other Nigerian filmmakers who aspire to make a film for the world.

    Suffice to say that while we still battle piracy and shortages that come from DVD type of distribution, online and the cinema outlets remain the surest path to take, and how wide we are able to explore those, the better.