The Nation Newspaper

Tag: challenge

  • Addressing the grazing challenge

    Addressing the grazing challenge

    For want of a grazing field, cattle have been invading farmlands. Such invasions have led to clashes between cattle rearers and farmers. Some experts are calling for the establishment of grazing zones in the North to address the problem, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The livestock sector makes large net contributions to food supply. Red meat provides protein for about 150 million people. The cattle that supply red provides food, and also other products, such as leather, traction and manure.

    Traditionally, farmlands in the West and South provide pasture and water for the cattle, which graze the land.

    But the challenge of feeding the cattle has negative social, environmental and animal welfare implications. This is because the cattle roam large areas, causing damage to properties as well as natural resources.

    Last month, farmers in Ondo State  counted their losses after the invasion of their farms by Fulani herdsmen. The siege led to the destruction of crops worth millions of naira by their cattle.

    The cattle grazed farms, trampling on crops, which included maize. The Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association demanded N2 billion compensation from the Federal Government for the colossal loss suffered by cocoa and oil palm plantations owners affected during the raid.

    In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Akinola Olotu and the Secretary, Obaweya Gbenga, the group called for “urgent government assistance” for the affected farmers. The group said the menace of the nomads transcended grazing on crops, with “a new dimension of bush burning, rape and physical attack with machetes, robbery, kidnapping and destruction being recorded across the state”.

    The group called for measures to tackle the nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

    According to the group, the activities of the normads make them more dangerous and destructive as they destroy properties during raids.The farmers said they were living in fear of the Fulani cattle rearers.

    They said they could no longer entertain Fulani herdsmen and their cattle because they’re not law-abiding.

    The group has despatched a petition to the National Assembly on the matter.

    Olotu noted that the activities of Fulani herdsmen had become a serious problem and that the nomadic system of cattle rearing was obsolete.

    Also, farmers and residents of agrarian communities in some local government areas of Ogun State, also had some gory tales to tell on the menace of Fulani cattle rearers. Following their invasion, many lives were lost while properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed allegedly by Fulani marauders. It was gathered that the Fulani herdsmen move with their cattle from one of these agrarian communities to the other wreaking havoc.

    Indeed, conflicts over grazing and watering resources have become a major livelihood challenge for farming communities and pastoralists. The struggles for grazing lands have brought conflict between the Fulani pastoralists and crop farmers.   Cattle rearers from the North come to the South to graze.

    This is because of the low level of productivity across pastoral areas in the North, caused by  heat, aridity, low soil fertility, and unusually sharp seasonality. Associated with this is rainfall variability and periodic droughts that disturb long-term growth of herds.

    To address this, the Federal Government is introducing improved pasture seeds from Brazil to increase availability of fodder for cattle.

    Globally, improved pasture seeds, help dairy farmers increase nutrition levels, growth rates and reduce reliance on supplementary feeding. Besides, pasture is the most efficient, effective and economic source of feed for grazing-based livestock enterprises.

    For the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, improved pasture is important to grazers, livestock owners and breeders.

    With improved pasture seeds, he stressed that Nigeria can get excellent grass and legume seeds that are guaranteed to improve the vitality of the national herds under proper management.

    Even if planted in marginal areas with poor  soil and harsh environmental conditions, he noted that they were able to produce forage of high quality.

    Ogbeh stressed that the government was promoting improved pasture seeds to help cattle rearers and promote profitable livestock production.

    Consequently, the seeds will be made available to seed suppliers and cattle producers.

    In addition, the Minister explained that the government would acquire deep water rigs and build windmills to operate wells that will provide water for the planned grazing grounds.

    He added: “The massive paddocks for animal grazing will not only improve the quantity and quality of beef and milk produced in the country but will also make cattlerearers more sedentary.”

    Ogbeh said the Federal Government would embark on programme to develop massive grazing grounds for cattle to bring rearing and its attendant problems, such as Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes to an end.

    Mainly, the improved pastured seeds programme is targeting pastoral herders in dry land hotspots of the North.

    This is besides the effort to find new ways to help communities living in the North to become more resilient and to increase their agricultural yields and incomes.

    The Director, Animal Production and Husbandry  Services Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Egejuru Eze, explained that the Brachiaria grass cultivars from Brazil  that government planned to introduce into the country is known for its productivity, vigour and high nutritive value and  would also improve the nitrogen level, over- all healthy structure of the soil.

    Mrs Eze said Brachiaria grass, which has good nutritional value that will result in higher weight gain per year per area, also has the ability to thrive in various ecological zones while the cultivation will be on commercial basis and privately led.

    She said: “We also have different type of seeds that can grow in different ecological zones of the country, we are going to bring improved pasture seeds/cultivars and plant them in different ecological zones where they will thrive to improve the pastures we have in those areas.”

    The director pointed out that improved pastures seeds were needed to be introduced and tested to increase pasture on commercial basis.

    She said Brachiaria was under evaluation in Brazil for over 18 years and was derived from an accession introduced from Nairobi, Kenya, citing the oil palm seed that was taken from NIFOR in Nigeria to Malaysia for development many years ago.

    She said Brachiaria grass is an excellent option that needs to be evaluated under Nigerian conditions.

    The director said governments would exploit the growth of Alfalfa, a leguminous pasture, which is suitable for dairy cattle production in the temperate areas such as Mambila Plateau, Adamawa, Jos Plateau and Obudu.

    To solve the problem, the  President, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama, canvassed that state governments in the North collaborate with FACAN to develop pasturelands systems that would support grazing of livestock by both landed and landless keepers.

    Experts believe Nigeria requires an increase in livestock production, especially, beef and dairy.

  • ‘Climate change is humanity’s greatest challenge’

    Climate change is the greatest challenge for humanity, with potentially huge, negative consequences for agriculture, Prof. Francis Adesina of the Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has said.

    He spoke while delivering a lecture titled: ‘Some thoughts on climate change, agriculture,’ at the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) Implementing Partners workshop in Ibadan.

    Adesina noted that the impact of climate change is felt most on “exposed systems,” which he said include rain-fed agriculture. He traced the genesis of global warming to 1880, noting that successive years since the 19th Century have been hotter, with 2015 being the hottest year. He regretted that Nigeria and other developing countries are most susceptible to the harsh effects of climate change due to poor water storage system, which he said has grave implication for all including agriculture.

    “Considering the very high consumption of rice in Nigeria, nowadays, if you must control climate change one of the crops you need to control is rice because of its high water demand,” he said, while emphasising the need for farmers to be climate smart. He noted further that climate change signs are evident and cited the example of the absence of an August break in 2015.

    Earlier in his address, a BATNF Technical Committee member, Prof Chidi Ibe, reiterated the need for all to develop the capability to adapt to climate change. One of the achievements of climate change adaptation, he noted, is the development of a drought resistant rice variety.

  • History and a chief challenge to Buhari

    A few years ago, a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, looked at history with disdain. He translated the disdain into policy.

    Barely a month ago, two key figures in our history were remembered. They were Sir Ahmadu Bello, who was the Sardauna of Sokoto, and Chief Festus Samuel Okotie-Eboh. The cerebral events took place in the north and south respectively.

    The one was the premier of northern Nigeria in the First Republic and the other was a finance minister in the same republic in the Tafawa Balewa government.

    During that Okotie-Eboh event, three-in-one minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), showed how our students no longer studied history. He noted that the students who studied abroad, especially in the United States, knew foreign histories more than ours. For instance, they know who Abraham Lincoln was and when he became president.

    An elder pitched in recently. He is the respectable J.O.S. Ayomike, a historian and chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought. He called for the return of history to the curriculum of schools. He made the call when he was honoured with an Exceptional Lifetime Achievement Award to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State.

    Hear him: “I use this occasion to make a call close to my heart. It has bothered many Nigerians that history, as a formal discipline, is no longer taught in our schools up to tertiary level.”

    To demonstrate his fidelity to the past, he presented a gift of history books to the famous college.

    Chief Ayomike’s gifts, which also included several other books, were emblematic of the value of the past. We cannot know who we are without knowing who we were.

    It is ironic that Chief Obasanjo who turned our schools against history has been under the spell of history all his life. Was that not why he fought some partisans over the Owu leadership? Was that not why he wanted to reign as civilian president after his time as military leader? Was that not why he wrote books, especially a historical book about the Nigerian civil war?

    If we neglect the past, we lose the future. That was Chief Ayomike’s point. It is high time the lawmakers and the new president returned us to studying our history.

  • Tackling tomato waste challenge

    Tackling tomato waste challenge

    Tomato is produced in commercial quantities in the North. But post-harvest losses are becoming a concern for farmers. This is because of poor preservation and its attendant waste, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    For tomato farmers in the North, moving produce to urban markets could be a nightmare — and a race against time. They must navigate bad roads from their farms, which takes hours; at the end, the produce rot.

    On the average, tomato growers lose 40 percent of their produce to rot because of lack of refrigerated trucking, bad roads and inclement weather and corruption.

    In most tomato producing towns in the region, fetid odour of decaying tomatoes welcomes visitors while overripe tomatoes which can’t withstand further transportation hassles are tossed aside, crushed underfoot, or dumped in overflowing garbage sites.

    Heaps of rotten tomatoes are found in Kano and other states which grow the produce. These have translated into lower incomes for farmers.

    With the ex-farm price of tomatoes as low as N200 per basket, loss-making farmers have no choice but to destroy the excess as it would cost them more to ferry it to markets than what they can get in return.

    Indeed, tomato farmers are producing at a loss but cannot stop because it is part of the staple food in the country.

    The Deputy Team Leader, Growth and Employment in States – Wholesale and Retail Sector (GEMS4), Mr Olatunde Oderinde, said lack of processing facilities for tomato in some parts of the North has caused a glut, resulting in some thousands tonnes of the produce wasting.

    The yearly loss, according to him, is as result of poor food supply chain management, price instability – no thanks to seasonal fluctuation in production, the supply and the absence of processors.

    He noted that the glut has made it  unprofitable for farmers to grow  the crop in some northern states, where prices dropped from N5,000 to N300 per big basket.

    He said that in developed economies, compared to Nigeria, the industry is characterised by efficient farming, adequate refrigeration, and top-notch transportation and communication which ensure that tomatoes make it to the market fresh.

    To him, finding a lasting solution to tomato wastage has become a major concern for the project.

    The major mandate of GEMS4, he added, is to create more business choices for farmers by facilitating linkages between small tomato farmers and processing plants to enable them serve each other on a commercial basis.

    It also involves linking the processing plants to markets through micro distribution and retailing initiatives.

    In line with this, GEMS4 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Spring Field Agro Nigeria Limited. The pact encourages the company to accept produce from local farmers for processing to save them from spoilage.

    Also, the deal is to promote food safety practices among the farmers and their produce through the value.

    On the part of Spring Field Agro Nigeria Limited there is a massive arrangement to address the problem.

    The programme revolves around a processing plant at Ikara Area of Kaduna State to receive produce immediately the farmers bring them from the farm.

    The company took over Ikara Tomato Processing Company, from the Kaduna State government in 2014, on a lease arrangement for 10 years. The leasing would be reviewed after every five years.

    For over 21 years, the Ikara Tomatoes Processing Company was shut.

    The plant processes 100 metric tonnes of tomatoes daily. There is also  a commitment to work with surrounding small tomato  farmers through an “out grower” programme.

    The Group Deputy Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Group, owners of Springfield Agro Limited, Mr. Victor Eburajolo, maintained that though in the past tomato farmers in Ikara were recording losses as a result of glut, now that the processing company is back, tomatoes produced in the state would no longer waste.

    On the whole, no matter where waste occurs, Eburajolo noted that it represents a lost opportunity to feed people.

    Apart from operating a plant with an installed capacity for processing of 16,950 tonnes of tomato, Eburajolo said the company has 700 hectares of land purposely for tomato farming. So far, the company efforts and the farmers’ engagement have already paid off. The farmers are supplying the company with tomato  produce and this will not only ensure greater income to them s but will also increase their crops’ added value to meet growing agribusiness demand. The company also facilitates access to input, such as seed and advisory services.

    Given the enormous quantities of tomatoes Nigeria consumes, keeping on top of the work requires the company to operate a functional tomato processing plant. This informed the decision to  give out part of its farmland to farmers to cultivate tomatoes for the plant.

    The Managing Director, Springfield Agro Limited, Mr Tarun Das explained that tomato is a perishable item that loses its value the moment it is removed from the farm.

    Also, farmers lose baskets of tomatoes that get rotten daily because they are not sold on time.

    Das attributed this to lack of facilities for preserving tomatoes, adding that the factory will help them to process the produce.

    This would help to reduce wastage and encourage the industry to produce locally.

    To supply the facility, he said the  factory sources tomatoes from its farms and other small farmers.

    Besides, giving out some lands to  growers for planting, he added that the farmers would be given improved seeds to increase yields and income. The factory will then buy the produce at competitive rates.

    The company has 100 staff.  Das said the company produces 100 tonnes  of tomato paste dail – about 2000 metric tonnes monthly.

    Das said there is potential for growth in consumption of processed tomatoes, especially when the crop is out of season.

    Nigeria has an annual demand of 2.3 million metric tonnes of tomatoes.

    Production stands at 1.8 million metric tonnes, 40 per cent of which is lost to waste, leaving a short fall of 1.22 million metric tonnes.

    About half of the local tomato crop rots because of a lack of storage facilities, poor pricing and access to markets, which has prompted many farmers to stop cultivation.

  • ‘Climate change is humanity’s greatest challenge’

    Climate change is the greatest challenge for humanity, with potentially huge, negative consequences for agriculture, Prof. Francis Adesina of the Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has said.

    He spoke while delivering a lecture titled: ‘Some thoughts on climate change, agriculture,’ at the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) Implementing Partners workshop in Ibadan.

    Adesina noted that the impact of climate change is felt most on “exposed systems,” which he said include rain-fed agriculture. He traced the genesis of global warming to 1880, noting that successive years since the 19th Century have been hotter, with 2015 being the hottest year. He regretted that Nigeria and other developing countries are most susceptible to the harsh effects of climate change due to poor water storage system, which he said has grave implication for all including agriculture.

    “Considering the very high consumption of rice in Nigeria, nowadays, if you must control climate change one of the crops you need to control is rice because of its high water demand,” he said, while emphasising the need for farmers to be climate smart. He noted further that climate change signs are evident and cited the example of the absence of an August break in 2015.

    Earlier in his address, a BATNF Technical Committee member, Prof Chidi Ibe, reiterated the need for all to develop the capability to adapt to climate change. One of the achievements of climate change adaptation, he noted, is the development of a drought resistant rice variety.

    Other contributors to the climate change discourse also called for greater agricultural water management programme and the development of a water harvesting culture. The Implementing Partners were also advised to regularly access information from the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) and interface with farmers in disseminating information on climate change. A case was also made for the proper inspection of beneficiary farmers by the Implementing Partners in some of the BATNF crop enterprise implementation projects to ensure greater compliance.

    The Executive Director, BATNF, Seyi Ashade, lauded the BATNF Implementing Partners for their cooperation and support with the focus on agriculture in Nigeria and how the sector could be enhanced to play a more meaningful role in Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

  • How OPS, others can tackle manpower challenge, by ITF

    How OPS, others can tackle manpower challenge, by ITF

    The Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) has said the Organised Private Sector (OPS) must partner with relevant stakeholders to address manpower and skills challenges.

    Speaking in Lagos during an interactive forum organised by the Ikeja Area Office of the Fund, its Director-General and Chief Executive, Dr. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko said ITF was repositioning itself in line with the Federal Governments’ policy direction.

    She said such interactive sessions would enable the agency to feel the pulse of stakeholders, such as the organised private sector, and address some of the issues they may have concerning the fund’s mandate.

    Onaeko said in order to provide training and entrepreneurial opportunities for youths,  ITF will continue to encourage its partners and contributors that fulfil their obligations to it.

    According to her, the Ikeja Area Interactive forum, like those of ot her area offices is organised yearly. They offer ITF platform to interface and interact with captains of industry and members of the OPS to acquaint them with emerging trends and issues in human resource development.

  • FUT Owerri tops Unilever Ideatrophy business

    THE Federal University of Technology Owerri, has clinched the Unilever Nigeria sponsored Ideatrophy business challenge.

    FUT Owerri tagged team ‘Blueprint’ slammed two other institutions-teams ‘Apex’ and ‘Idealist’ in a keenly contested battle to emerge first and second runners up in that order.

    Sponsored by Unilever, the Ideatrophy which hit its fourth edition this year, is a national competition which gives undergraduates from various universities in Nigeria the opportunity to develop and execute strategies that deliver business results.

    This year’s edition tagged: ‘The confidence to do more’ tasked the students to develop a communication and marketing plan for Rexona and also drive communication that Nigeria’s most popular and widely patronised deodorant: ‘Sure is now Rexona’.

    The competition featured personalities including; Prof Pat Utomi who delivered the keynote address, as well as the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi Etti.

    Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, congratulated the winning team on their outstanding success. He also praised other participating teams for their impressive performance.

    Nsarkoh expressed Unilever’s passion to help equip Nigerian undergraduates with invaluable business skills that would help them become successful entrepreneurs operating under a world class standard. He urged the students to continue aspiring towards more success.

    Said Nsarkoh: “This is not the end, it is only a beginning, we believe that whatever we call best in Nigeria should be able to hold its own against any team in the world.”

    He emphasised the need for creativity, which he described as necessary for survival in the workplace and life in general. He further highlighted the need for students to take advantage of the networking opportunity the competition provides.

    “Competition such as this provides room for development and networking as participants get to work with people from diverse backgrounds and learn ethics, co-existence and integrity as it relates to the workplace.”

    Utomi charged the students to take advantage of the opportunity for exploits.He identified fortitude, creativity, perseverance and goal setting skills as vital.

    “Principles   are   like   a compass that stirs you towards a destination, providing a guiding path,” Utomi said.

    “The problem in Nigeria today is that the country has become an instant gratification society where the   attitude   of   overnight   success   is   encouraged,   where   people   embrace   wealth   without   work, religion without sacrifice, education without character, pleasure without conscience and business without morality,”Utomi added.

    Utomi also advised the students to expand their creativity which he described as central to the creation of a better world.

    Durosimi Etti described Unilever’s initiative as laudable.

    He said: “Unilever has again demonstrated their love for the country, this shows that their investment in the country is not just about getting returns   but   impacting   on   the   lives   of   Nigerians.”

    Bella Victor, one of the winning team members,   said   coming tops in the   competition   was   a   dream   come   true.

    “This is a great moment for me,” Victor said. “I am grateful to Unilever for the opportunity to participate in this competition. We promise to consolidate on this success and use it as a platform to move on to greater achievements,” he added.

    This year’s competition also saw the introduction of the individual recognition award Also for the first time, individual recognition award was introduced, and was won by Jennifer Ikeokwu from Babcock University.

    The high point was the presentation by participants of their works to Mr Nsarkoh. Others in attendance include: Marketing Director David Okeme, Guest Judge, Titi Akinsanya and Marilyn Maduka, leadership development Manager. The event also featured a mock interview session for students, vetting of CV’s/resume and one-on-one networking sessions with business leaders, among others.

     

  • N3m for grabs in PZ Cussons Chemistry challenge

    Prizes worth over N3 million are to be won in the PZ Cusson Carex Chemistry Competition (PZCCC) for SS3 pupils, whose entry closes on November 4.

    The competition, sponsored by the PZ Cussons Foundation, will be implemented in three stages – the first of which is scheduled for November 7 in 10 centres across Lagos State.

    Those who score 70 per cent and above will progress to the second stage of the competition, which, like the first, will be a written examination to hold on November 14.  The best four that emerge from the second stage will feature in the practical-oriented final.  The final would be recorded in a studio on December 12.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement forum held last Tuesday at De Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Carex Brand Manager, Oluwaseun Ayeni, said the top 10 winners would be rewarded with cash prizes.  While the top four win cash and gift awards for themselves, their teachers and schools, the rest would get N50,000 as consolation prize.

    The winner would be rewarded with N700,000 cash prize, a trophy, laptop and gold medal.  His teacher would get N100,000, and the school N100,000 worth of chemistry textbooks.  The first runner up would win N500,000 and a laptop and silver medal, while his teacher would get N80,000 and the school, N80,000 worth of books.  The second runner up is to win N400,000 (N70,000 for the teacher, and N70,000 for the school); while the third runner up would get N300,000 (and N120,000 for the teacher and school).

    A member of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Tunde Oyelola, said the competition is one of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) programmes initiated to stimulate secondary school pupils’ interest in Chemistry.

    Mr Alex Doma, Managing Director, PZ Family Care, added that the winners would get an internship opportunity with the firm to develop new products – an initiative he described as the icing on the cake of the competition.

    “Beyond the cash prizes and the gifts, the four finalists will spend six weeks to work in our Research and Development functions.  They actually start to see how things in the chemistry text books work out.  It will stimulate their interest in the subject and we will begin to build a credible core of professionals for the industry,” he said.

    Mrs Modupe Badiru, General Manager of Redwood Consulting, which is handling the implementation of the competition on behalf of the foundation, said forms for the competition could be downloaded online or obtained from the Lagos State Ministry of Education or the headquarters of the six education districts.

    Past winners of the competition, which is in its third edition, are Emmanuel Ejiogu Onyekachi of Miketoy College, Ikotun (2013) and Nwaoha Justin of ISOLOG College, Ojodu (2014).

     

  • My biggest challenge… – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS NONYE MARVIS

    My biggest challenge… – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS NONYE MARVIS

    Rising actress, Nonye Marvis, finds it quite interesting interpreting any role given to her. The actress, who hails from Imo State. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, speaks on her career, and passions, amongst other issues that have helped shaped her life.

    AS an upcoming actress, what are your dreams? I believe I have a lot to offer the industry. My dream is to go beyond Nollywood. I desire to act in Hollywood and I know it will soon come to pass. And ever since I hit the lime light in 2011, my career has continued to witness an upward swing.

    Tell us more about yourself

    I’m Chinonye Marvis, the seventh child in a family of eight. My dad is a businessman while my mum is a trader. I hail from Orlu in Imo state, and studied Biochemistry at Imo State University. Basically, I would say my growing up was fun. siblings were very protective, and I grew up that way.

    How long have you been acting?

    I’ve been acting for about three years.

    How did acting begin for you?

    I can’t really say how it all began. I was at an audition for a modeling job in Owerri when a producer, Frank Ewujo saw me, and after a brief chat, invited me to be part of his production – for The Invasion of Owerri after which we did Nwa Mary, The Angry gods, and others. I also have a couple of unreleased jobs.  So it has been fun ever since. In 2011, I was part of the training project of NNDC-Youth Empowerment through entertainment which was produced by Ifeanyi Ezekwe (Mr. Fix It) who is also my mentor in Nollywood.

    Are your parents in support of your chosen career?

    My parents have never objected to it. But on the other hand, as parents who want the best for their daughter, they always advice, and warn me to be careful. They have been very supportive over the years.

    What informed your decision to embrace acting as a career?

    What inspired me is simply the desire to express my talent and be happy. I also cherish the opportunity to impart knowledge through drama.

    Are there roles you cannot play?

    Definitely there are roles I cannot play! I can’t get naked in front of a camera; I can’t act nude scenes.

    So, what has been your most challenging role so far?

    All roles are challenging; it depends on the storyline. So I can’t really pick out any one as the most challenging. They are all challenging in their different rights. But I’m looking forward to more challenging roles. On the other hand, I’m also really looking forward to being featured in Hollywood films. Yes, I have a Hollywood ambition. And I believe it will happen with time.

    What is the first thing you do when you get a script?

    When I get a script, I look out for the description of my character, after that I try to put myself into the character. But before then, I study the scripts, trying to find out the lessons such scripts can teach. Is there any inspiration in the storyline? What values does it teach? And of course, is it entertaining without porn? Basically that is what I look out for.

    The industry is highly competitive, how do you intend breaking into the A-list?

    I’m not aspiring to be like anybody in terms of A-listing. I rather want to be a good actor, and an ambassador. But there are a couple of actors I admire so much, actors like Omotola, Florence Onuma, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Stella Damasus, among others. For the male, I think I like Desmond Elliot and few others.

    It’s believed that most up and coming actresses trade their bodies for movie roles; what has been your response to ‘sex-for-roles directors’?

    First, one has to know what one wants in the industry. Then, how you present yourself also matters a lot, and determines how you will be addressed. If you present yourself as a desperate young lady who is ready to do anything, and go to any length to get what she wants, then you will fall into the trap and category of sex-for-roles actresses.

    Becoming a star is a gradual process, that’s what most people don’t know. Remaining in the limelight is not a matter of days but years of hard work. I’m not desperate; my good job will speak for me. I will wait for my time-I say no to sex-for-roles!

    So what has been your source of inspiration?

    God, and God alone has been the source of my inspiration.

    What is your philosophy of life?

    My simple philosophy in life is to be good, and fair to all, and treat others as I wish people to do to me. Life has taught me to be kind, and simple, and trust God in all I do.

    Have you ever been heartbroken?

    I have not. Let’s say I have refused to give out my heart to men who don’t deserve it.

    Are you saying you have always been with the right man?

    The truth is that it is not even long I started dating. It may sound strange to people. I can proudly say that I went into the university as a virgin and graduated as a virgin.

    Who deflowered you?

    I think that is my private life. What I am just trying to make you understand is that I have never been heartbroken; I have always been with one man and I am still with him till date.

    As an actress, are you not scared of marriage break-ups?

    I’m not scared because I’m a family-oriented person. On the other hand, it’s not just in Nollywood that broken marriages occur, it is everywhere. I believe in growing old with whoever I’m going to get married to, and he has to be my best friend so that whenever anything goes wrong, we’ll fix it rather than throwing away what we share.

    So what kind of man are you attracted to?

    I’m attracted to an intelligent, caring and confident man; a man who is focused, and knows what he wants in life.

    Have you seen such man?

    Yes. But I don’t want to talk about him. I like keeping my relationship out of the media.

    Some of your colleagues are into lesbianism; do you have a different sexual orientation?

    I believe in having a romantic relationship with the opposite sex and not the same sex. So lesbianism is a ‘no no’ for me. It is even disgusting. I hate it with passion.

  • Challenge before new service chiefs

    SIR: Now that President Buhari has finally parted ways with Jonathan’s men and has since approved the appointments of Major-General Babagana Mongunu (RTD) as National Security Adviser, Major-General Abayomi Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General T.Y Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Iba as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Morgan Riku as Head of Defence Intelligence, while Lawal Musa Daura has been appointed Director General of Directorate of State Security (DSS), with Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu appointed to man the NSCDC, the question on the lips of Nigerians is – could these be the long awaited “messiahs” that would finally do the needful that would effectively put a permanent end to the menace of Boko Haram in this country?

    One bears in mind that some of the problems that has hampered and slowed down the wheels of progress of Nigeria’s fight against insurgency also includes the activities of traitors and Boko Haram sympathizers within the rank and file of the military and para-military agencies, rivalry and lack of proper and elastic intelligence-sharing among the different security agencies, and human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by the military. Nigerians patiently and eagerly awaits how and what these new sets of service Chiefs would do differently, to bring BokoHaram to its knees.

    Corruption, indiscipline and fifth columnists are the issues which must first of all be “weeded” and effectively uprooted from the military if we are to make any meaningful headway in defeating Boko Haram. Systematic and intelligence measures should be put in place to identify and “fish out” Boko Haram informants and sympathizers. Cases of human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings must be properly investigated and perpetrators brought to book. The different security agencies must “pocket” their ego and needless rivalry and work together in intelligence-gathering and sharing to achieve a common aim of stamping out insurgency and other forms of violent crimes in the country. Whether the present administration or the new service chiefs knows this or not, the release of the Chibok girls and their subsequent reunion with their families and loved ones would be the high point of their success in the war against Boko Haram. The time to finally and permanently crush Boko Haram is now or never!

     

    • Hussain Obaro,

     Ilorin Kwara State