The Nation Newspaper

Tag: book

  • Obasanjo’s book and judicial censorship

    Let me say right away that former President Obasanjo is not my favorite politician. I also probably do not count as one of his closest friends even though I had defended him when it was crucial such as when Abacha sentenced him to death and I was ambassador of Nigeria to Germany. I  mobilized the European Union by personally going to Hamburg to brief former chancellor Helmut Schmidt  of the situation of his friend and the latter got in touch with his successor Helmut Kholl who was then on state visit to South Africa asking him to return home because Germany at that material time headed the  E.U rotational presidency. I believe I am one of those who probably saved Obasanjo’s life. Obasanjo in his self-righteousness does not believe he owes any mortal being a debt of gratitude for any favour. It is not in his character! After his release he publicly said in Toronto Canada that all Nigerians, with the exception of the dead and those in detention supported Abacha. I was in the audience and I was pained to no end.

    My late brother Kayode was his physician and he was the last patient he saw before his demise. Obasanjo was under house arrest ordered by Abacha and my brother flew from Geneva to Lagos to see him and also in solidarity with him in his hours of travail. The soldiers will not let him see his patient and one of the soldiers threatened to shoot him. My brother dramatically brought out his stethoscope and asked the soldier to bring out his hand because he wanted to check his blood pressure. Since most human beings including soldiers are afraid of dying, the soldier involved complied and he was subsequently tested and pronounced hypertensive. My brother told him he was almost a dead man but that if he would buy amlodipine tablets and combine it with cholesterol reducing tablets of simvastatin he would get his hypertension under control. The poor soldier went and called his captain who was also tested and given the same prescription. At this point the captain told the physician he could come in at any time he wanted. This was how Prof Kayode Osuntokun got to his quarry! On Obasanjo’s own testimony, he told me he noticed Kayode did not look well. My brother died when Obasanjo was in jail in Yola. I visited him when Abdulsalaami  Abubakar pardoned and released him. He told me he heard I was in detention too. I confirmed in the affirmative. I had reviewed a view BEYOND FREEDOM written by some world leaders dedicated to Obasanjo’s freedom in The Tribune and granted an interview to a young man named Akande who turned out to be a spook of the Abacha regime in which I was critical of the regime. When this was combined with my spirited effort to save Obasanjo while I was ambassador, my cup seemed to be full and this led to my being in military detention on Child Street in Apapa, Lagos for months. I will be one of the first to testify that Obasanjo’s freedom was an act of divine mercy through the instrumentality of man. When Obasanjo had just left prison I could not recognize him. He was reduced to half his normal size. He was totally emaciated and only a close look revealed the man who was in the shrunken body. If he became hardened after his experience, he was justified. Obasanjo told me he was going to visit Professor Bopo Osuntokun, Kayode’s widow. He never did and never until today asked for her and her children!

    I write this for public records and to confirm Obasanjo s reputation of seeing himself above human and perhaps what he regards as sentimental gratitude and acknowledgement of other people’s contribution to his life.  I shared my anger with a family friend close to Kayode and myself who is also close to Obasanjo and from the North. What he said is that most great men use people and move on. Of course I did not agree with him.

    Having said this, I agree that Obasanjo remains a great Nigerian leader which is not the same as a great Nigerian. Certainly, of those who have held office as head of state of Nigeria, he remains head and shoulders above all of them with the possible exception of Muhammad Buhari. I also admire him because he keeps records. He may misuse or misinterpret his records, but he keeps records and has his eyes on history. All the lazy people who criticize him should shut up or write their own accounts!

    Most of Obasanjo’s writings are autobiographical and they are written from his personal perspective. This is why historians would not take an autobiographical account without cross checking it with other accounts before arriving at objectivity. It is almost impossible for one to write about himself in a negative way, so all those who are expecting Obasanjo’s to be totally objective, miss the point and even when our great Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, writes about his experiences in life, we can only take it as his own account and not the gospel truth.

    No court of law should impose censorship on the reading public. This is a fundamental and perhaps, almost inalienable right that no judicial officer paid by the public should peremptorily take away from us especially when such a right is guaranteed by our constitution. There are also provisions for whoever is wounded by the exercise of free speech to go to court and seek redress. No politically influenced and induced injunction is acceptable and I am surprised that our legal activists have not gone to court to enforce our rights which are no doubt justiciable. Since the book is going to be released abroad the futility of the Nigerian court becomes apparent.

    I disagree with the rather intemperate language of Professor Wole Soyinka in criticizing Obasanjo for allegedly mentioning him in the new book My Watch. I mean what entitles Wole Soyinka to take apart many people in the country with license why nobody can criticize him? He should be ready to take as much as he gives! If all Obasanjo allegedly said was that he did not respect his political  judgement and that he only respects his taste of wines and his ability to shoot partridges, how can such jovial comments lead to the savage criticisms of  Obasanjo by Wole Soyinka? I like our Nobel laureate but in this particular case he should have respected Obasanjo if not for himself but as a former Head of State of Nigeria. Because of the way Soyinka dressed down Obasanjo, others not deserving have been insulting the former Head of state. This is a case of being knocked down by an elephant and rats now start running over one. No one should get me wrong. We can criticize without being offensive. This is the point I am making.

    Obasanjo or his publishers should challenge the ban on the book and let’s see if anybody has the right to prevent us from reading what a former Head of state that is still being maintained by the public exchequer has written about his service to the nation. This is an issue of public interest.

  • Will book tariff work?

    Will book tariff work?

    The Federal Government has introduced 50 per cent tariff on printed materials to, in its words, “encourage local production”. But in the face of the dwindling naira value and lack of capacity for local production, stakeholders argue, imported books will be priced beyond buyers’ reach. This, they say, may spell doom for education, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.

    The Federal Government’s introduction of 50 per cent tariff on printed materials jolted the industry.

    Since the Ministry of Finance’s announcement, publishers, booksellers and others have been jittery.

    The tarrif is broken down into 20 per cent duty and 30 per cent levy on books.

    But, to stakeholders the move will be counter-productive, driving the prices of books beyond buyer’s reach and stifling the local industry.

    Last month, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said discussions were on with the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to resolve the issue.  “Pending the resolution of the issues, several options to address genuine concerns are being explored,” she noted, on the social media.

    While seeking ways to resolve the problems, stakeholders identified many factors that would make the policy impracticable. They also suggested what the Federal Government must do to make the local publishing industry vibrant.

     

    Likely scenario after introduction of tariff

    If the 50 per cent tariff is introduced, Ogbeni Lanre Adesuyi, Managing Director of Havilah Procurement  and Library Services Ltd (a leading company in books and publishing), said prices of books would rise by about 50 per cent, which would further reduce the number of books bought for libraries and read by Nigerians, especially at the tertiary level, and encourage piracy and smuggling.  He said the devaluation of the naira further compounds the problem as the cost of purchasing the books from source would automatically rise as well.

    “It is going to affect the entire populace because the prices of books will go up by 50 per cent.  Secondly, don’t forget that naira has already fallen against the dollar.  That is another added cost.  It will affect prices of books by up to 30-40 per cent.  It means people won’t afford books.  There will be piracy, which means authors will not reap the benefit of intellectual property; and government would lose revenue because pirates do not pay tax,” he said.

    Chairman of Safari Books Ltd Chief Joop Bekhout foresees misfortune for the Nigerian education sector if the policy should scale through.

    He said: “It means that libraries will be without books because nobody can afford them.  It is even against UNESCO Convention which Nigeria is a signatory.  Under the agreement, you cannot task educational materials.  The ECOWAS agreement was just passed two days ago.  Theirs is zero.  But Nigeria said no – that it is 50 per cent.  It takes effect from the 1st of January.  So, instead of making progress, we will go down.  Everybody must appeal to the government to cancel it.  Whose idea it is, we don’t know.  It is a very bad situation.  It means the people who implement it, they don’t care about our country; they don’t care about education.”

    Otunba Olayinka Lawal-Solarin, Chairman of Literamed Publications, publishers of Lantern Books, noted that books may be scares because local industry lack the the capacity to meet the demands of the Nigerian populace for books.

    “Yes, we should produce locally, but have we got the capacity?  How many books can printers in Nigeria print?  The number of books we need in Nigeria today is huge – for basic and secondary education, not to talk of tertiary,” he said.

     

    Why book imports are huge

    Apart from lacking the local capacity to produce books needed in Nigeria, Otunba Lawal-Solarin says some categories of books are not published locally.  He said most local publishers concentrate on publishing books for the basic and secondary education, while tertiary books are imported.  He largely attributed the importation of most tertiary books to the fact that there are few authors of tertiary books in Nigeria.  Since the authors are mostly foreign, he said Nigerian publishers need to purchase rights before they can publish such books, which may not be readily released.

    “Do printers in Nigeria print tertiary books?  Most of the tertiary books in Nigeria come from India, Europe and America.  They are mostly authored by foreign writers.  Unless publishers buy the rights, they cannot print the books else it would amount to piracy.  The authors must also be willing to sell the rights to Nigerian publishers,” he said.

    For Adesuyi, those in the manufacturing industry supporting the tariff policy are doing so with the hope of winning huge government contracts for publication of basic and secondary books without considering that they lack the capacity for tertiary books.

    “What they are targeting are the big government contracts because our printers don’t have the capacity to produce locally in large quantity.  Nigerian printers don’t produce tertiary books.  They (tertiary books) are not usually produced in large quantity (even by foreign publishers).  Publishers even print them only on demand,” he said.

    Bekhout added that publishing tertiary books in Nigeria is currently a disincentive because of the low patronage.  This may not be unconnected to the cost.  Some tertiary books sell N3,000- N5,000 or more, which many tertiary students cannot afford.

    “If you have an academic book that you only sell 500 copies in a year, you can’t produce it locally; it doesn’t make any sense,” Bekhout said.

     

    Cheaper to produce abroad

    With the country’s paper mills moribund and the paralyzing effect of epileptic power supply, the local publishing industry cannot compete with foreign book imports in terms of cost. Publishers say it is cheaper to print good quality books abroad than locally.

    “Printing is cheaper abroad,” said Lawal-Solarin, “which is not good for us local publishers.”  Without paper and power, it would always be so. “We don’t have paper.  All the paper mills are moribund.  We should go back to the basics and provide paper.”

    Adesuyi said many publishers in Nigeria print abroad where power is available, labour is cheaper and quality is assured.

    “It is cheaper to produce abroad because there is no power in Nigeria.  When there is no power, what does one fall back on, diesel.  How much does it cost?  The publisher has to provide his own power.  Again, he has to provide skilled labour.  Labour is expensive here compared to Dubai, China and India where it is cheap,” he said.

    As far as Behkout is concerned, the only local resource used in book production in Nigeria is labour.  With other components being imported, he said it is unrealistic to end importation of books.

    He said: “You know that in this country, we do not make any paper.  Every sheet of paper is imported.  Local production of books is only manpower.  Even electricity is provided by generators.  There is no local component of bookmaking in this country.  Raw material and every other component of local production are imported.”

     

    Book trade is international

    Stifling book imports poses the danger of limiting the knowledge of Nigerians, warns Bekhout, who noted that the book trade is in the purview of international because knowledge is universal.

    “We do local production.  But there are limits to local production.  And knowledge is not local; knowledge is universal; it is international.  Why do we call it university, because should be universal.  If you are in London, my son is a professor in london, there are over 46,000 students and staff from different nationalities in the country.  Education is a global idea; education is international,” he said.

     

    Way forward

    While publishers say the 50 per cent tariff on book import is harsh, they however said they were not against local production.  They recommended that the Federal Government should enhance capacity of local players before introducing other measures.

    Lawal-Solarin called for the resuscitation of paper mills in the country.  He also advocated a phase tariff plan on areas of strengths of the local industry.

    “We should do this gradually.  The Federal Government should revive the paper mills.  Printers in Nigeria must get paper.  Again, instead of a blanket levy on all book imports, the government could decide that the levy be on books in the basic education sector, where publishers are thriving but leave out tertiary books,” he said.

     

  • Kashamu should write his own book

    For a book that is so explosively controversial, the reviewer, Patrick Okigbo, was correct in describing My Watch, the new three-volume autobiography by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as “thought-provoking and revealing,” although he probably never intended certain meanings.  To start with, it is remarkable that a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest pillar, Prince Buruji Kashamu, moved to legally restrain Obasanjo from publishing his book. Also, it is striking that Obasanjo on December 9, despite a restrictive court order, unveiled the book at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

    Interestingly, there was a dramatic continuity as Justice Valentine Ashie of the Abuja High Court, in reaction gave Obasanjo 21 days “to show cause, via affidavit, why he should not be punished for contempt committed by publishing and distributing for sale to the public, the book, My Watch, in plain disregard of the pendency of the substantive suit and the order of this court made on December 5, 2014, restraining him from doing so.”

    Still dramatically, Jusice Ashie ordered the Inspector General of Police (IG), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DG,DSS), and the Comptroller of Customs to recover the published book from all book stands, sales agents, vendors, the sea and airports, and deposit them with the court’s registrar pending the determination of the substantive suit. It is not clear how far this particular order has been carried out, and whether the mentioned officials may also be eventually accused of contempt.

    It is noteworthy that the pending substantive suit in question is a libel case brought by Kashamu, relating to Obasanjo’s public letter to President Goodluck Jonathan in which he alleged that Kashamu is a fugitive wanted in the United States. Also, it is worth mentioning that Kashamu’s action to stop the publication of Obasanjo’s book was based on his fear that it would contain a reproduction of the allegedly libellous letter. So, his anxiety was a product of anticipation.

    The developing drama expanded when the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in a statement by Mr Vitalis Ortese, said: “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to state that the media report which conveyed the impression that he intended to “dare or confront a judge or the judiciary” is highly misleading. Far from this, on the contrary, the former president is a law-abiding citizen, who will only pursue his rights within the law and will not “dare” a judge or knowingly flout an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.” The spokesman further said: “The former president wishes to make it clear that in the first instance, no formal order from Justice Ashie was served and received by either himself or by proxy regarding any injunction restraining the publication of the book, “My Watch” which from the records was already in circulation.”

    More importantly, however, Obasanjo himself said at the ceremony to release his book: “The book had already been published and printed three months ago, only for the court to be asked to put a stop to it. Buruji went to a court to stop the book from being published and the hearing was fixed for yesterday (Monday). When that was not enough, he went to another court by 5pm on a Friday and got an injunction, saying the book should not be published. Unfortunately, the book was already completed three months ago. Secondly, I want the judge that gave such an injunction to be penalised.”

    Against the background that Obasanjo has challenged the “contempt of court” charge, and indicated his intention to seek a suspension or stay of execution of the court’s orders, it is clear that the unfolding show is far from a finale. Indeed, there may well be even more fascinating twists and turns before the denouement.

    Of course, the thought-provoking quality of Obasanjo’s book is not limited to these extra-literary gyrations. In content, the book is a veritable trigger of contemplation. To illustrate this point, it will suffice to concentrate on Obasanjo’s pictures of his immediate successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, and the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded him.

    Obasanjo wrote in his book: “I was heavily involved in the transition and exit process that saw me leaving office for my successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, as recounted in Chapter 37, the ninth chapter of the second volume of this book. The unprepared and unplanned transition from Yar’Adua to Jonathan was a more difficult exercise in some respects. One reason was the ‘cloak and dagger’ manner in which Yar’Adua’s illness was handled.” He continued: “The illness of a President cannot be regarded as private. His health has implications for the security and wellbeing of the nation. For the president and those around him to have attempted strenuously to keep the fact of the severity of his illness from public smacks of ignorance of the enormity of what the job entails and the level of provinciality of their understanding, attitude, and approach.”

    On Jonathan, Obasanjo wrote: “Jonathan is lacking in broad vision, knowledge, confidence, understanding, concentration, capacity, sense of security, courage, moral and ethical principles, character and passion to move the nation forward on a fast trajectory.”  He added: “Under Jonathan we seem to have gone from frying pan to fire. If in the past corruption was in the corridors of power, it would seem now to be in the sitting room, dining room and bedroom of power. If what is called ‘corruption’ is stealing, under the watch of Goodluck Jonathan, then government has become legalized and protected robbery.”

    There is no doubt that these portraits have revelatory features, but not only concerning the portrayed characters. In a profound sense, they also represent a self-portrayal by the portraitist, who is fixated on the canvass and cannot appreciate that he may need to remove the log in his own eyes, which suggests a hypocritical hypnosis. Obasanjo was fundamentally, and perhaps culpably, the prime puppeteer in the plots that produced Yar’ Adua and Jonathan; and so he may, with believability, make magisterial pronouncements on their political careers. However, he cannot offer these insights in order to achieve self-exculpation.

    It is conceivable that others have their own stories too, which they could tell by writing books. Sadly, an enduring minus of the country’s political class is the poverty of mind that prevents many of its major players from documenting their experiences for whatever it may be worth.

  • Encounter with Destiny from His Book! (3)

    Encounter with Destiny from His Book! (3)

    In our discourse of Encounter with Destiny from His Book last week, we described every true child of God as a redeemed Spiritual Eagle. We identified the general features of the Eagle and attempted to relate the bird to the redeemed Christian, who is a Spiritual Eagle.

    Today, we shall continue that discussion by situating the subject in the significance of the Bible, which is God’s special dream Book for our encounter with destiny. Let us understand however, that the Bible is a Book of instructions and our life cannot be worth any more than we are addicted to those instructions.

    In fact, our ultimate proofs are engendered by instructions and that’s why those who hate instructions cannot go far with God. Therefore, sensitivity and commitment to His leadings is vital to our making (2 Timothy 3:16, Proverbs 4:13, Isaiah 48:21).

    From the story of the eagle, the mother eagle goes outside her nest, bears the eaglet on her back, and soars to the skies. In the midst of the flight, the mother eagle suddenly removes her back, while the eaglet struggles for survival. When the eaglet is about crashing into the sea or on the rock, the mother eagle comes and bears him.

    There are too many believers who have remained eaglets all their lives, because they won’t get out of the ‘nest’ and take responsibility. Though there is an eagle in us, it takes discipline, focused spiritual exercises, being led by the Spirit among others, for the eagle in us to come alive.

    Our second picture from scriptures is that every child of God is redeemed a ‘Sun’ of Righteousness: We understand from scriptures that Jesus is the Sun of righteousness and as the Father has sent Him, so Has He sent us. It therefore means that we are redeemed as ‘suns’ of righteousness. However, we must understand that though redemption has made us a sun, it is revelation that helps us to see and actualise it (Malachi 4:1-2, Psalm 84:11, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 60).

    But, what is the Sun worth?

    •Scientifically, the sun is an entity of global phenomenon: The sun is worth all that engenders life on the earth. For instance, plants are absolutely dependent on sunlight; otherwise they will die. We also know that animals are absolutely dependent on plants, because they, including humans, survive by the oxygen that plants supply. Therefore, the sun is the fountain of life!

    Likewise, every child of God is redeemed a global phenomenon and a fountain of life (Matthew 5:13-16)

    •There is enormous heat in the sun: Naturally, no chaff can survive the heat of the sun and we understand that whatever is not planted by God in our lives is chaff. Thus, when the sun in us comes fully alive, nothing can survive except what is planted by God (Matthew 3:11-12).

    In scriptures, Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, is described as the burning and shining light. When He appeared, the demons couldn’t stand His presence and they cried out, “Have You come to destroy us before the time?” (John 5:35, Matthew 8:29). Likewise, redemption has made us ‘suns’ of righteousness and the overriding Sun (Jesus) dwells in us.

    How is this heat generated?

    The Holy Ghost is the fire from heaven, the Word is the wood and inside that wood is also fire. When the fire within the wood and the fire of the Holy Ghost come together, then we generate the heat of the sun. Also, we understand from scriptures that where there is no wood, the fire goes out. We generate and maintain the heat of the sun by our encounters with the heated Word of God(Jeremiah 20:9, Proverbs 26:20).

    We must understand that every one of God’s agenda requires a price to be paid. It is not enough to access God’s plan, we must know what it takes to actualize it and commit to press our way into it. The truth remains that the Bible is the custodian of every great destiny in the Kingdom. I pray today that no one will take your place in God’s agenda for your life! Remain ever Blessed!

    Friend, the grace to encounter destiny through His Book is free for those who are born again. You become a child of God, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Say this prayer in faith: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again!”

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. respectively.

     I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Encounter with Destiny from His Book!

    Encounter with Destiny from His Book!

    Welcome to October, your month of total recovery and the season of new beginnings. God will visit you in a special way this month and you shall not miss any of His blessings, in Jesus’ Name!

    This week, I shall be teaching you on how you can encounter destiny from God’s Holy Book, the Bible! Let us please understand that the Bible is a Book of visions for the redeemed and every encounter with the Word is an encounter with destiny. We also understand from scriptures that redemption entitles us to a glorious destiny and we are predestinated according to God’s purpose to obtain an inheritance. As it is written:

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will (Ephesians 1:11; see also Romans 8:29-30).

    Furthermore, every great testimony in the Kingdom is traceable to encounters with the Word. For instance, Abraham encountered the Word of the Lord, which made him the father of many nations and a symbol of trans-generational blessings. Jacob also encountered the Word of the Lord, which turned him to a nation (Romans 4:18-21, 22:1-18, Isaiah 9:8).

    Remember, God’s Word is the spiritual mirror that shows us God’s picture for our lives?who we are in Christ, what we carry, what we can do and how to do them (James 1:22-25).

    Let’s examine two pictures of who we are from scriptures:

    •Every child of God is redeemed a Spiritual Eagle: From scriptures, we have a picture of the Father God as an eagle. We also understand that we have been redeemed as sons of God and by the law of procreation, like begets like. If we are His children and we have an Eagle Father, then we are redeemed as eagles after the order of our Father.

    This connotes that we are redeemed to soar where others struggle; that is, ride in the high places of the earth, scale strange heights and enviable altitudes (Deuteronomy 32:9-13, John 1:12).

    However, we must see ourselves as spiritual eagles, before we can become one. God said to Abraham, “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” We also understand from scriptures that we are seeds of Abraham. Therefore, there is a demand on us, as seeds of Abraham, to see it before God can deliver it (Genesis 13:14-15, Galatians 3:29).

    For instance, in July 1977, I came across a devotional written by Oral Roberts, where I saw my picture as a spiritual eagle. From that moment, I refused to settle for anything less than high places. It is important for us to understand that whatever we cannot see, it is not permitted to be delivered. If we see ourselves as eagles and we are willing to align with the responsibilities, then we have committed God’s integrity to cause the eagle in us to be made manifest. However, although we have been redeemed as eagles and ordained to soar, it comes with a cost.

    I will continue with this teaching next week. The Exceeding Grace of God will culminate in His Strange Acts in your life this season.

    Friend, the grace and privilege to encounter destiny through His Book are available, but to the redeemed. Are you a born again? You become a child of God, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can be God’s child now, if you haven’t been, by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: Walking in Wisdom, Ruling Your World, Commanding The Supernatural, and Operating The Supernatural

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Niger promotes book, film

    Niger promotes book, film

    THE Niger State government is  promoting the book and film industries.

    The industries have received  government’s support for the promotion of book and film-related activities.

    The book industry, Niger State Governor Dr Babangida Aliyu M’uazu, said has okayed the publication of 24 works in various genres by the five established and over 20 new writers –the publications are tagged Minna Literary Series.

    According to the government, the literary series will be a yearly scheme, which shall comprise writers resident in the state “so as to saturate the immediate environmentwith books”.

    It will be recalled that, the Nigerian Writers Series being run by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), was endowed by Dr M’uazu and is on the completion stage.

    Like the ANA’s Nigerian Writers Series, the Minna Literary Series is sure to create a platform for young writers to hone their talents, in addition to developing a concrete reading culture. This will subsequently trigger the  public into flourishing creativity, innovativeness and inventions that will bring about development.

    Similarly, the governor has approved the construction of a Multimedia Unit for the promotion of film-related activities and Minna Art Gallery at the Niger State Book Development Agency.

    The Multimedia Centre will provideoptimal film-related services, including editorial, content development, scripting and other professional needs for the promotion of a flourishing indigenous film industry. On its part, the Art Gallery will be an artistic structure meant for the training and exhibition of art works as a medium of life-renewal and aesthetic bonding of the human heart with sense of good for a better humanity.

    Also, all is set for this year’s MBA International Literary Colloquium,  billed for November 10 and 12. The colloquium, which will run for two days, has also been approved by the governor, it was learnt.

    With the theme, Literature culture and social re-engineering for national development, among several literary activities, it would feature the inauguration of Multimedia and Arts Gallery (pre-colloquium day activity) and a pre-colloquium lecture with the theme: Post Centenary Nigeria: New Literatures, New Leaders, New Nation to be presented by Prof PiusAdesanmi of the University of Carleton, Canada. It is expected to host notable writers and literary critics from home and abroad, creativeperformers, literary journalists, social activists, politicians, students and academics. There will an interactive session on literature, creative writing, leadership and democracy among students, writers and politicians.

    •Abarah is an author and social critic from Niger State.

  • CJN to chair book launch on corruption, human rights law in Africa

    CJN to chair book launch on corruption, human rights law in Africa

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, will next Monday, August 18, chair the launch of a book, titled: Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa.

    The book was written by Dr. Kolawole Olaniyan of Amnesty International (AI) in London.

    Also expected at the book presentation are: Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, the chief launcher; Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Abdul Tijan-Cole and the Chief Registrar of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Dr Robert Eno.

    Also expected at the event is the Oba of Lagos, Riliwanu Akiolu II, the royal father of the day.

    Other dignitaries are: the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta; Prof Akin Oyebode of the Faculty of Law of University of Lagos (UNILAG); Lagos lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN); Lagos State Solicitor-General, Lawal Pedro; the Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs Dupe Atoki and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

  • Book for launch

    The stage is set for the official launch of a book, The perfect scholar, authored by Mr. Jimoh Braimoh, a first-class graduate of French, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

    Jimoh said the book was aimed at helping students improve their academic performances in biblical and practical ways.

    “The ideas in the book are proven, tested and practical. With hindsight and the benefits of divine grace, I employed some of the techniques laid out in this book to excel as an undergraduate in this university. And I am confident anybody can apply these ideas to improve their academic life,” he stated.

    Students who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE said the book would be helpful to all categories of students who were serious about achieving academic excellence.

  • Ajimobi for book launch

    Ajimobi for book launch

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Michael Koleoso, are some of the eminent Nigerians expected at the unveiling of a book on grassroots governance tomorrow at the Premier Hotel in Ibadan.

    The book, written by Oluyole Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, is titled: “Grassroots Governance in Perspective: My Experience in Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State”.

    It addresses local government autonomy, revenue allocation, true federalism, regional integration and other issues confronting the local government system.

    The book will be reviewed by a renowned local government administration scholar, Dr Isiak Aransi of the Department of Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U), Ile-Ife.

    The National President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero, will chair the ceremony.

    House of Assembly Speaker Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu is the guest of honour. A business man, Asiwaju Bisi Adegunyi, is the chief launcher. Oil magnate Chief Salmon Oladiti is a co-launcher.

    The Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, is the royal father of the day.

  • Writers’ residency at World Book Capital

     

    Port Harcourt is  in its third month as the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital.

    With a mind of fulfilling its mandate as the World Book Capital (WBC) expressed in the winning bid, it has kicked-off several projects, such as the Reading Tree and Book Clubs, the Walking Book and National Essay competition for students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Port Harcourt and the country, the Port Harcourt World Book Capital project administrators have said.

    According to them, they have started a monthly Book-of-the-Month discussions and drama performance, Books in the Air, and Library Support programmes.

    Besides these, they say, the Port Harcourt Book Festival, the Port Harcourt Book Centre, new Public libraries and the Writers in Residence projects are soon to be unveiled.

    The Writers in Residence project will bring together 12 selected writers (published and unpublished) from all over Nigeria to reside in the city of Port Harcourt for three weeks. Throughout their stay, they are expected to exchange ideas and engage in intense training sessions that will be anchored by seasoned literary professionals. They are also expected to draw inspiration and ideas for new works based on the theme of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014: Books Windows to our World of Possibilities, which would then be published in an anthology.

    The residency, the WBC administrators said, is expected to foster cooperation, unity and friendship among the writers thereby encouraging national integration and promote tourist activities in Rivers State. There would be Writers’ Workshops onScript writing and fiction with Mr Chris Ihidero and Chika Unigwe.

    “The objectives of the programme include inspiring a new generation of creative writers from all over Nigeria, showing the importance of intercultural communication and exchange in order to encourage creative collaboration, raising the profile of aspiring writers participating in the programme and enhancing the exchange of ideas, skills and experience amongst the participating writers.”

    They have announced a call for interested participants who wish to part of the residency programme. “The application is open to emerging writers from all parts of Nigeria with interests in fiction and creative non-fiction. To participate, writers must be Nigerian citizens or permanent residents of Nigeria, be at least 21 years old and possess a portfolio of good quality written material.”

    Applications for the Writers in Residence programme is expected to include a statement of what the writer hopes to achieve during the residency, a detailed curriculum vitae and a 1200-1500 words excerpt from a published or unpublished work. Application forms can be downloaded from the website below:

    www.portharcourtworldbookcapital.org<http://www.portharcourtworldbookcapital.org.

    Entries should be submitted electronically to wir@portharcourtworldbookcapital.org not later than Friday, August 22. “All enquiries should be addressed to the Writers in Residence Programme Coordinator via wir@portharcourtworldbookcapital.org  or via telephone on 08023187731.