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Tag: competition

  • Nigerians win cash prizes in Korean cooking competition

    Nigerians win cash prizes in Korean cooking competition

    A gospel counselor, Mrs Patience Berepele, emerged winner of the Korean food (Hansik) cooking competition in Abuja and went home with N1m cash prize.

    Victor Mac-Adonai, who came second went home with a cash prize of N700, 000 and Yahya Bindir who came third, took home a cash prize of N400, 000.

    The first edition of ‘Hansik’ (Korean food) Korean cooking contest was organised by the Korea Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) in Abuja.

    The competition saw nine contestants, including one team of one and eight individuals compete for the top prize.

    The competition featured Korean foods such as Tteokbokki’, Ranyeon, Yukgaejang, Galbitane, Yakgwa, and Rice crackers.

    The winner prepared Ssambap with Bulgogi Ssamjang, accompanied by Doenjang Jjigae with three dishes like rolled omellet (Gyeran Mari), eggplant side dish (Gaji namil), and Bean sprout salad (Sukjulnamal).

    Read Also: De Genius Olivet shines at science competition

    Berepele said: “Coming to see that I emerged winner is an exciting experience and I sincerely appreciate God for that. I love cooking as well as being passionate about other people’s culture and it has helped me in this contest.

    “When I test a dish, I will be curious about the ingredients used to prepare it. This has really helped me, coupled with the fact that I participated in the classes, but I know that everything happened by the grace of God.”

    She appreciated KCCN for giving Nigerians the opportunity to participate in the contest.

    “I must commend KCCN, it is not easy bringing out such an amount of money they used to prepare us during the cooking classes. They tried to promote Korean culture in Nigeria by ensuring that we prepared a fusion of Nigeria and Korean dishes in the second round of the competition. They also ensured that everybody became abreast with other people’s culture, I am grateful to them.”

    The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, presented the cheque of one million naira to the winner.

    Pankyu said the embassy was planning to open a Korean restaurant in Abuja for Nigerians yearning for Korean cuisines.

    The envoy said: “Many Nigerians are in love with Korean food, but unfortunately, we don’t have a restaurant in Abuja that makes Korean food. However, we are planning to open a Korean restaurant in Abuja; I don’t know when, but very soon.

    “We want to do this so that Nigerians can enjoy Korean cuisines, and that will further boost the cultural relationship between the two countries.”

    The Director of KCCN, Kim Changki highlighted the success of the Hansik programme in bridging cultural gaps between Nigerians and Koreans through their shared love for food.

    He commended the winners for their enthusiasm and skill in Korean cuisine and announced plans to collaborate with the Association of Professional Chefs in Nigeria to further develop the programme.

  • 15 schools showcase talent at ‘Alluring Africa’ competition

    15 schools showcase talent at ‘Alluring Africa’ competition

    Over fifteen schools in Lagos have showcased the talents of young Nigerians in the annual “Alluring Africa”, competition covering drawing, music and dance.

    The event, which took place in the Anuwo Odofin area of the metropolis was hosted by Hands & Minds Consult as its seventh edition.

    Sponsored by Grooming Endowment Trust and Amadeus University, the competition featured the creative prowess of students at both senior and junior levels, with schools like Clemmy High School, St. Jude’s Private School, Preserved Generation, and Moral Ville Academy coming in first positions in different categories.

    Expressing his joy at the success of the competition, Co-founder and Managing Director of Hands & Minds Consult, Laurence Ekpe emphasized the impact the annual event has had on the participants over the years.

    He said: “Our joy has been the testimonials we get from the schools and from parents of the children who come out tops. The prizes we usually hand over to the winners are nothing compared to the fulfilment that the kids derive from merely being given a platform to showcase their talents.

    “For us, we are looking at improving the hands and minds of children. Since you can’t teach an old man a new trick, we are doing so from a young age, and giving the children a confidence boost. If children have talents that they hide or are afraid of showing, then their potential could be hidden forever. So for us, every child here is a winner whether they make a podium finish or not.”

    Read Also: Footballer slumps, dies during Oke-Ogun competition

    Mrs. Iziegbe Ekpe, co-founder of Hands & Minds Consult, elaborated on the theme of this year’s competition. She said Nigerian children are oblivious to the richness of African culture because schools are not promoting it enough.

    “Alluring Africa was the focus this year because we have realized that many Nigerian children seem to be unaware of the richness of African culture, and our heritage seems to be going extinct, especially in schools,” she remarked.

    “You see schools investing heavily in phonetics; they want their children to speak a certain way, to sound more British, more American, and they’re now forgetting their father’s culture. But we don’t want our African heritage to die. We know that bringing up a child is a communal effort, and we are providing this platform for them to freely express their talents.”

    “We see where the world is going now, that children are beginning to find their talents and giftings very early in life. So, we want to be one of the people providing the discovery platform, to the end that in the future, we would have them say, ‘Oh, it was at Hands & Minds Schools Competition that I discovered my talent.”

    The event was filled with vibrant performances and creative displays, celebrating the cultural heritage of Africa in music, dance and art.

    Also present at the event were, Amuwo-Odofin local council Supervisor for Education, Hon. Bimpe Doherty; a representative of Amadeus University, Joyce Ofua; and the Operations manager of Grooming Endowment Trust, Michael Adoghe, who all lauded the efforts of the organizers, saying they inspire and nurture the talents of young Nigerians, ensuring that the legacy of African culture lives on through the next generation.

    Other schools that participated in the competition include Caleb International School, Christ the King Primary School, Golden Ville School, New Fountain School, Tender Touch School, Ostra Height School, and Cedars High School, among others.

    Distinguished judges for the event included Uncle Sele, a values educator and parenting coach; Joanah Onasanya, a freelance dance and drama teacher; and Jonathan Ekowho, a marketing strategist at Pulse.

    The competition concluded with three schools making it to the podium in each category, with the winners, first and second runners-up receiving cash prizes and memorabilia to celebrate their achievements.

  • ‘Competition great way to engage pupils’

    Chairman, Planning Committee, Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI) Competition, Biola Yussuff, has underscored the important role competitions play in positively engaging pupils.

    Speaking during the seventh AEI competition won by Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi, Lagos State, Yusuff said competitions, guidance and counselling seminars as well as tutorials help improve pupils’ academic performance.  He said that was why the AEI organises on such programmes.

    “We realised that the academic standard is decreasing and learning environment is not encouraging, hence the need for this initiative to restore quality education.

    “Youths will rather go entertainment; but with this initiative, we are making them realise that they need education to strive in any other sector,” he said at the event held at Unity Senior High School, Oshodi.

    Deputy Director, Education District VI, Tosin Akinyemi, praised the organisers for the competition, saying it helps prepare the pupils for examinations.

    “It covers all areas of study, assists to develop the students, and all the questions asked are in line with the curriculum.

    “Government cannot do it alone, we appreciate partnerships as this would urge the pupils to put in more efforts in their studies because the result of hard work is more work. In the areas you have done well, keep it up, but in the areas you have not done well, check it out and improve on it,” he said.

    Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director, Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited, Alhaji Abdulhamed Solate, urged the pupils to see success in their academics as something they can achieve.

  • ‘NOUN Act vital for competition’

    Mr. Silas Joseph Onu, an Abuja lawyer,  is a former publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja branch. In this interview with Legal Editor John Austin Unachukwu, he speaks on the allegations of corruption against NBA President,  Abuja branch crises, the Electoral bill, role of youths in politics and national issues.

    Some people asked the NBA President to resign as a result of his alleged involvement in N1.4 billion fraud. What is your reaction to this?

    I am concerned that the manner in which the Economic Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) has handled this case has bungled it and now makes it to appear as a politically-motivated prosecution with the aim of getting at the Akwa Ibom State government.

    The danger in this is that, while Paul Usoro (SAN) is the legal counsel to the Akwa Ibom State government in his personal capacity in which he carried out the brief in question, his  prosecution is being handled in a manner that could rubbish the entire Bar.

    Why do you say this?

    The EFCC is sensationalising the entire issue, not because of Paul, but because of Paul’s current position and they hope that he will be forced to betray his client. It is not strange for lawyers to  face prosecution as a result of suspicious transactions done for and on behalf of their clients or suspicious payments made to them by their clients. Every day, lawyers answer such questions and do come out of them unblemished. I know very many Senior Advocates who are paid billions by states and Federal Government for jobs done and none is facing EFCC prosecution. Many of these SANs even own and maintain fleets of private jets they don’t manufacture anything, just fees from briefs.

    So, why is this Usoro matter different?

    The EFCC has for, sometime now, held that the Bar is a corrupt institution, and I don’t disagree with that. But, trying to destroy it because of such notion is also not right, especially when the move is politically motivated.

    I understand that the EFCC perceives Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN) as a pro-Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP)  NBA president and desires to rattle him into cooperating with the incumbent ahead of the 2019 General Election, along with the Akwa Ibom State government. Are you not concerned that this issue is coming up immediately after the attempt to take-over the Akwa Ibom State Legislature failed? The EFCC has no tact in their approach as their fight against perceived political opponents of the President is too obvious. So, in this  regard, I will not support the call for the NBA President to resign. I understand that the political division in the Bar will also play a part in the call for the resignation of the President, but that will be an unfortunate day for the Bar. If our leaders are to fall victims of political manipulation by the government, then the Bar is truly lost and I will not support that.

    Usoro (SAN) must be supported by all lawyers of conscience through this ordeal so that the Bar will have a voice before, during and after the 2019 general election, that is real issue in the entire prosecution drama.

    What is your reaction to President Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act recently amended by the National Assembly?

    First of all, majority of Nigerians are in agreement that the 2010 Electoral Act has a fundamental defect, even the President is in agreement here. The defect is solely the fact that, while the use of a computerised card reader has brought some level of sanity in our elections, especially with the recent improvements made on its effectiveness based on the lapses observed in the 2015 election, it has no legal backing whatsoever. Simply put, if former President Goodluck Jonathan, was desperate for continuation, as we are witnessing, he would have simply challenged the entire election for not having been conducted in accordance with our Electoral Act and he would have succeeded in court.

    So, what happened after that?

    President Buhari benefited most from that experience and the magnanimity of former President Jonathan. Therefore, it should be expected, and correctly so, that President Buhari will be the front runner in the quest to include the use of computerised card reader in our electoral law. But, we have sadly, seen a President who continues to place his individual  interest over and above that of the entire nation. His decision to reject the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018, which effectively enhanced the conduct and transparency of our election was solely selfish as his decision was anchored on his chances of winning election in 2019 if the process were to be credible, transparent and predictable.

    What of his reason that there are errors in the electoral  law as  passed by the National Assembly?

    There is no law anywhere in the world that is perfect. Even the Ten Commandments made perfectly by God were not able to solve human problems as humans are imperfect in adhering to the law of God. So, President Buhari should not hide under the canopy of seeking a perfect legislation before assenting same. The word “amendment” exists for a purpose. It is because of the fact that no human law is expected to be perfect that an amendment to laws became part of legislative functions. Since the inception of our democracy, the Electoral Act has enjoyed continuous improvement through various amendments. This amendment is no different from of  the past as it sought to take our electoral process a step further from where it used to be. But, we have seen a President who will rather than act Presidentially, do his selfish bidding against the entire interest of Nigerians. This is a betrayal of trust and should ordinarily cost Buhari his Presidency.

    His failure to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 did not come to many Nigerians as a surprise as his desperation for continuity in 2019 is visible even to the blind. Buhari is willing to burn down this nation if his second term bid will be realised afterwards. This is a shame and no one should feel any sense of pride in defending this failure by Buhari to be enthroned as a statesman, he lost a rare opportunity. That is why I am, just as many other Nigerians are, calling on the National Assembly to put aside partisanship and act in the overall interest of the nation by overriding the President’s assent and pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 into law as an Act of the National Assembly and take the credit of saving this nation from the chaos as a result of the greedy quest for power by an individual.

    What do you foresee as the effect of not passing this bill into law before the 2019 general elections?

    Not passing this Amendment Bill into law before the 2019 election is to allow the nation slip into electoral uncertainty that is capable of snowballing into a major crisis for Nigeria. This nation has already bleeding and any politically motivated crisis may be the end of us all. Let there be a Nigeria that is greater than any of its sitting President. After Buhari, Nigeria should exist. He is not Nigeria and our laws cannot be made to suit him or his interest. This all began with the sequence of election and he kicked because of his interest. The nation bowed to his will and since then he hasn’t backed down on imposing his will on the nation. We must move on and the National Assembly is once again called upon to save Nigeria as it once did in the past.

     The National Open University Act has just been signed into law. It permits graduates of the varsity to attend the Nigerian Law School and do the mandatory one year NYSC. What is your reaction to this?

    It is good for competition. We have few institutions to cater for the hundreds of thousand Nigerians seeking admission to study law. The National Open University (NOUN) has proven that it is capable of delivering the programme and they will be subjected to accreditation by the Council of legal Education. So, if they scale through the standard set by the council, I see no reason Nigerians who prefer that option should not be able to obtain it.

    The NYSC is an important phase of every graduate’s life. NOUN graduates must not be denied the opportunity of discharging their national duty in NYSC programme. It is their right as graduates to serve and I don’t even think that any further law is require for that to happen.

    So, I congratulate NOUN and all its prospective law undergraduates.

    You were the Publicity Secretary of the NBA Abuja branch and have followed events of the Bar closely. What is your view on how to resolve the Abuja branch crises?

    Yes, I was the Publicity Secretary of the Abuja branch, popularly called the  Unity Bar, between 2014 and 2016 and that was when the boiling rots in the Branch finally exploded. The crisis was one of injustice, corruption and impunity mostly perpetrated by the very senior members of the Branch (mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria) who believe that the Branch is their private possession and only what they approve of can take place in the branch. Members pay their membership dues dutifully and expect to enjoy some basic rights of membership. However, what used to happen was that certain big wigs want to dictate who can become what in the Branch. That culture of anointing candidates for leadership led the Branch into a messy reign of corruption and impunity by those leading it. A situation where a chairman will spend over N40 million  Branch money without the knowledge or approval of the Executive Committee or the General Meeting became my experience while serving in the Executive Committee.

    What did the branch do to checkmate such happenings?

    Well, some of us protested against such conduct as our by-law clearly stated how expenditures should be executed and that was the genesis of the crisis in the Branch. There are those who felt that even if the evidence against the chairman was so glaring nothing should happen as the Branch belong to them and in the word of one them “we have given you the money” (A very Senior Advocate speaking at the Branch AGM of 2016, alluded that even though the Chairman took money illegally, he, on behalf of the Branch, converted such illegality into a gift). So, with the sharp division predicated on what is right and wrong, the Branch went into election and the candidate that represented justice won that election and the big men struck again by declaring people who didn’t even qualify for election as chairman and secretary.

    What was the position of NBA national on the crises then?

    Then, the A. B. Mahmoud (SAN) -led National Executive Committee compounded matters by taking side with their friends, who are the big men to further sustain the crisis since then, even in the face of many Federal Capital Territory  High Court orders against doing so.

    What is the lasting solution to these problems?

    So, to sincerely answer your question on how the crisis can be resolved, I can only say that we have reached a stage of irretrievable breakdown of trust and only the creation of a new Branch for the dissidents can resolve the imbroglio. Many of us, the young lawyers, will never trust these big men or their surrogates with our time or money. No organisation, group, society or nation state can survive unrelenting acts of injustice.

    You have been very active in the affairs of the Bar, what is your view on the current state of the NBA.

    Just as the crisis of the Unity Bar, was ignited by mindless corrupt acts and lack of regards for law, rules or persons, that National body has become even worse as we saw in the immediate past administration. Offices not known to our constitution were created to accommodate cronies with fat salaries and allowances. We saw an office created with the name “Chief of Staff” in an association that already has an Executive Director whose job description encompasses what a “Chief of Staff” will do. We saw a General Secretary who took pride in breaking the law and asking people to go ahead and litigate the matter, simply because that will also give him a window to brief his friends at NBA’s expense. The last administration spent over N400 million of members’ dues on frivolous travelling and no one is shouting. The impunity of the immediate past administration and their total desire to finally destroy the NBA was made manifest in the conduct of the 2018 National Election.

    What do you mean by this? How?

    That election was nothing but a fraud and as usual, some unscrupulous lawyers now commit fraud and simply tell the victims to go to court. The mantra “Go to court” has become a very big cover for criminals, especially those with knowledge of law and access to the Judiciary, knowing that such an action will only end up being frustrated and thereby leaving the victim worse than he was when he/she went to court.

    Under the last NBA administration, we witnessed the highest level of disregard to court orders and judgments. We also witnessed the highest level of illegal activities by the leadership of the Bar.

     Can you give specific examples?

    One of such was the opening of a Branch Account for NBA Abuja by the General Secretary without the knowledge of the Branch. He operated that account alone and later handed it over to a Branch Executive appointed by the President and himself. This is a disgrace for a body of lawyers as the standard of operation was nothing but abysmal. The new administration that came in amid a fraudulent electoral process, one that I had predicted from the inception, in which financial members, including me, were brazenly disenfranchised and were asked to go to court. One would have imagined that an administration which came in with such a bad reputation will make haste to redeem its image by  exposing acts of corruption perpetrated by those who brought them in to do a clean-up. However, we recently saw this administration published a document it titled: “Forensic Audit” of the NBA Account, which was just a shameless effort to hide the infractions done by the immediate past administration. The audit was a generalisation of wastages as it blames the entire NBA for the financial recklessness of the immediate past administration. There is no indication or report about who did what and why it was done. The report was a massive cover-up of the rot that took place during the administration. So, the state of affairs in the NBA is that of gloom.

    How do you think we will get it finally resolved?

    As lawyers, each of us must be alive to our calling as ministers in the temple of justice. It is sickening that some lawyers have become so separated from their calling and are even worse than armed robbers. We must begin to deploy the mechanism of law against organisational infractions as an association. People must be punished for the wrongs they do while leading the Bar, not only when they steal money, but whenever it is established that such leaders fail or refuse to adhere to the provisions of the association’s Constitution. NBA is largely governed by the will of those elected to serve, instead of the provisions of the Constitution. The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has become a tool in the hands of the Bar leaders to harass dissenting members, who are seen as not being loyal to the leadership – it has lost its relevance.

    What is your view on the Not-Too-Young to run bill that was recently signed into law by the President?

     The Not-Too-Young-to-Run Bill signed into law by the President, which amendwd the Constitution, is a step forward though it has been overrated as a step forward for the youth, but I hold a different view. The challenge of the youth isn’t really the issue of age, it is the issue of cost of political participation in Nigeria. The ages that have been reduced aren’t really realistic as any serious young man or lady will still be in school at that age in Nigeria. So,   what we should be advocating for is to cut down the cost of politics in Nigeria and that can only be attained if we reform internal party politics by ensuring that party members have a determining say in who lead the party and who becomes the party candidate – no by special arrangements that will make an individual $55 or $80 million  rich at the end of party primaries.

    You were a prominent member of the Nigerian Youth Council to the extent that you contested for the Presidency of the Council. What role do you canvass for the Nigerian Youth in our current democracy?

    The Nigerian youth have come of age in our quest for leadership transition across board. As a Christian, I am a strong believer in the fact that while the youth will always be visioners, the elders are dreamers. The Nigerian youth can successfully discharge the duty of leadership without much huddles. We are aware of a few bad eggs, who unfortunately, are privileged to be Governors and have become bad representatives of the youth. They have, by their conduct, portrayed the Nigerian youths as not really prepared for the task of leadership.

  • African Beach Soccer Competition: Coach lists 11 players for Nigeria

    The head coach of Nigeria’s Beach Soccer team Audu Adamu has released the names of the 11 players that will represent the country at the African Beach Soccer Cup of Nations holding in Egypt from December 9.

    There were no usual suspects like Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Isiaka Olawale and few others who had etched their names in gold playing for the Beach Soccer team but the list has Victor Tale(who is the skipper of the team and a player of Kogi United), Abu Azeez (unattached), Dami Paul Danjuma(Katsina United), Emeka Ogbonna (Lead United, Ojo), Suleiman Mohammed (Nasarawa United, Emmanuel Ojukwu Titus (Iganmu FC), Idanosi Fayowale (Lead United, Ojo), Emmanuel Owofere (Owobesi FC), Tayo Adams (Owobesi FC), Karimu Ahmed Oladele (Owobesi) and Eric Dufegha (Katsina United).

    The team which only had three days of intensive preparations for the competition, will face Senegal, Libya and Tanzania on December 9, 10 and 11 in that order in Group B.

    The head coach of the team, Audu Adamu told NationSport that he had to go with 11 players after one of the players, Joshua Enaholo sustained an injury after his name had already been sent to the CAF.

    He said he expressed confidence that the players selected will do Nigeria proud in Egypt and grab one of the two tickets to the World Cup slated for Paraguay in November next year.

    “We are travelling to Egypt with 11 players after some administrative lapses ensured that we are going to go without Joshua Enahoro who got injured in one of our training sessions,” Adamu told NationSport.

    “He got injured but our effort to replace him has been successful. We are going with 11 players including one out and out goalkeeper but we have Emmanuel Ojukwu Titus who is a player and can also deputise as a goalkeeper. We are good to go.

    “We know that it is only Senegal that can prove to be our stumbling block because they are the defending champions. We shall try our best to start the competition on a good note against them.”

    The Beach Soccer team also known as Supers and Eagles left for Cairo, Egypt yesterday via Egypt Air and they are expected to continue with the rest of their preparations before their first game on Saturday.

  • 9mobile Photography Competition calls for entries

    Telecommunication company, 9mobile has called for entries for the 2018 edition of 9mobile Photography Competition. According to the company, submission of entries will commence today,  September 17 and will run until October 31, 2018.

    With the theme of the competition this year being ‘9ja: My Grind, My Hustle’ in celebration of individuals that labour daily to make ends meet, those who appreciate the importance of hard work, and have a drive for success and fulfilment. Interested participants are to visit the portal http://photo.9mobile.com.ng/

    Speaking about this year’s competition, Director, Brand and Experience, 9mobile, Elvis Ogiemwanye, disclosed that the “Top 100” will be selected from November 5 to 19, through a voting process by the general public.

    He added further that images received from the pool of entries will be pre-approved by an internal evaluation committee guided by the entry criteria. The qualifying entries will then be shared with the public, and the best 100 images will be selected through votes.

    The image with the highest number of votes will emerge as the Voter’s choice winner.

    “A Judging panel will also select the “Top Three” images from the Top 100. Winners from the panel and public voting will be rewarded with exciting prizes, while image submissions of the finalists will be showcased during a winner’s announcement,” Ogiemwanye stated.

    The winner of the competition will be announced on December 6, 2018.

    Ogiemwanye said that the objective of the 9mobile Photography Competition is not only to position the telco as a supporter of young budding photographers, but also as a brand that gives back to the community and promotes advancement.

    “Photography has become part of our culture when it comes to creating lasting memories, and with the technological advancements, the art of capturing photos keeps evolving,” he said.

    “A lot of creativity has gone into the art of contemporary photography in Nigeria, and this competition seeks to spark even more creative vision in participants who are expected to capture images of Nigerians’ daily hustle in an inspired and fun way.”

    Last year, budding photographer, Oluwaseun Otitoola, emerged winner of the 9mobile Photography Competition themed ‘Capturing Solid Memories in 9ja’, with his entry titled “Fragment of CMS Bookshop Building”, while the other two finalists were Amanda Ihemebiri (The NestOil Tower) and Taiwo Omotosho (Lines Side by Side).

  • Leadership, competition  and succession

    Any  political  party  that gains power in any political  system must admit that it has,  like Macbeth’s wife  murdered  sleep  and would    sleep  no more  in terms of  living  with  abiding  if  not extravagant public interest and  curiousity  in its  fortunes  and misfortunes,  as the case may  be.

    Such  is the fate  of Nigeria’s ruling party the APC  whose  candidate  won the presidential election in 2015  and is  seeking reelection in the 2019  elections.

    Today  I want  to  dwell  on the succession problem of the  party  in Lagos State which  the party controls  dominantly  but in which  there  has been  some serious brouhaha  over an automatic ticket  for  the incumbent governor  who  hails  from the party. The  threat  to automatic self succession for Governor Ambode as the APC candidate for the 2019  state  guber elections in Lagos State  occupy  our  thoughts today. We  shall  look  at the issues involved in this politics of succession in Nigeria’s  commercial  capital  where politics in Nigeria  has its roots in colonial  politics leading to Nigeria’s independence  in 1960.

    Especially  now that  the National  Leader of the party in Lagos Jagaban  Ahmed Bola  Tinubu  is  in the midst of speculation about a clash  with the governor  which has given rise to collection of  forms  by two  APC  guber  aspirants known  to be close  to  the  strongman  of  Lagos politics  for  the past  two decades.’

    It  is necessary  here  to  acknowledge  the importance  of  Lagos State as a key  element  of  Nigerian  and indeed  world  politics and that  makes the  state  elections  and campaigns  as important as any of the major  cities  or states  of the world including London and New York or  Delhi or  Kuala  Lumpur. Indeed  we shall  take a look at  some  succession issues on  competitive    platforms with a-bi-partisan’s flavour  in the US,  and  Malaysia  on a comparative politics  level. We  shall  ponder on how  and why Hillary  Clinton was not able to succeed  Barak  Obama  as  envisaged widely  at election time and how  and why a rank  outsider bamboozled  the Republican  party  to  win the party  primaries  hands down in spite of the opposition of traditional  party leaders. In  Malaysia  we shall  look  at the return of Mahathir Mohammad, the 92 year old  PM of  Malaysia  in an  election that saw him switch  sides  to his opposition while in government  years  back, when  he abandoned  his ambitious  protégé  then  and jailed  him  for  sodomy  and compare that with the politics  of succession going on in  Lagos State right now.

    I  want  to admit  again  the fact  that  I  read a statement  by the Jagaban  defending the governance record of both former  Governor Fashola, his successor  and that of  the present incumbent governor of the state. That  statement  was explicit  that the rumors  of a rift amongst  the three  political  leaders  was the handiwork or imagination of mischief makers  looking to destroy the amity  amongst the three. That was overtaken by news or  was it fake news  that even the President has waded in to mediate. Nevertheless  all  these are  in the public domain making comments on the  matter  pertinent  and necessary. Undoubtedly  the APC  and  its forerunner political  platforms  have been  good  for  Lagos State  and its citizens  in terms of provision of infrastructure and  social  development.  The  social facilities and roads, overhead bridges and night  lightings  making Lagos  State  safe to drive at night  are there for all  to see.  A major  snag  was the overzealousness  of    some  LASTMA  personnel and traffic revenue seeking VIOs  who  were  reined in and disappeared.

    Another blight was the ugly  sight of refuse that almost caused a pestilence recently  and seems to  be abating . In  terms of performance then  the APC  can claim  to have delivered  in  Lagos State. It  is natural  for  colleagues of the incumbent governor  in the oligarchy  leading the party  in the state  to want part of the action thinking they  would be better. That is a legitimate  ambition that could be ironed  out without descent  into violent confrontation.

    Similarly  if the governor feels he is on top of the competition  and  governance in  line with  the party  policies  then he has the right  to  a claim  of automatic  ticket  for reelection.

    Also  it  is the duty of the Jagaban  to lend  a listening ear  to all  claims. After  all he did it in the past  and sailed successfully  through  the mine field of succession  that  saw a Christian  governor emerge  to  save Lagos  for the party. As expected  he can put  his foot down as  a tested  pragmatist  and guide  the aspirants  on the best way  forward for the party so  that the APC  does not throw away  the baby  with the bath  tub in this explosive family  succession  politics. As  usual  in the game of politics  and the quest  for power or reelection, a  lot  of guile and  diplomacy  may  be necessary.  Which  may not be obvious to those blinded by malice  and partisanship in the present charged atmosphere and I wish  the leaders  the very  best in the explosive exercise.

    Needless  to say  succession  battles  can  be mischievous,  with intended  and unintended  consequences . In  the case of  Obama  and Hillary as successor  I  saw  some mischief  in the manner Obama’s Vice President  Joe  Biden  was pressured  to quit the  Democratic Party    Nomination race  for Hillary . The Vice  President then insisted that whoever  gets the Party’s  nomination  must  campaign on the Obama legacy  which  with the help  of hindsight was more of a political  burden  than  a lift  at least on foreign policy and the economy.  The  rest  is history. In  the  case of the cold war between  the Republican  Party  hierarchy  and  Donald  Trump  on his way  to  getting the presidential  nomination,  it  was Hillary from the opposite  side who gave Trump  the acceptability  that his party  was withholding.

    When  asked during the debates what she admired  about  Trump, Hillary  mentioned his well  brought up and organized family. That  boosted Trump’s  ego  and prestige  and was the last  straw  he needed  to take over the party for  a successful election and  he grabbed it with both  hands  and,  again, the rest  is history. Which  boils  down to the fact that elections and succession  battles are not over till they  are over.

    Occasionally they  may  look  like a potential  marathon    race and  end  up  unexpectedly  as sprints. Like  OBJ  said  at  the time Awo  lost  to Shehu Shagari  in that famous  election,  the best  man  does  not always win  the race.

    In  the politics of  succession  in any  polity, including Lagos State  APC, the maxim  – every body  for himself  God  for us all, or the devil take the hindmost,  is always  and    invariably  at play. Once again  long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Reps member lifts constituent with competition

    A member of House of Representatives, Jide Akinloye, has organised a 7-Aside football competition to empower youths in his constituency.

    Akinloye, who is representing Eti-Osa Constituency, promised to sponsor the youths for vocational skills.

    According to him, after football, or in case of injuries, players need to fall back on something.

    He said his love for football endeared him to empower them through it.

    Akinloye, who was joined by football manager Churchill Oliseh and ex-Super Eagles International Julius Aghahowa at Eti-Osa where the tournament final was played, said he had to bring them in to impact and share their experience with the players. He said more competitions will be held to groom the participants.

    The lawmaker said he had partnered with Coerver Coaching International for football development in Eti-Osa.

    This, he said, will aid coaching and players’ development.

    According to him, Eti-Osa would boast of players in all cadres of the national team in the next five to 10 years.

    The competition, which commenced on August 9 saw Osapa football club winning trophy.

    The team defeated Ajah Club.

    Coerver Coaching International Country Manager Yomi Kuku, said the partnership with the lawmaker would reduce crime in the society.

    Oliseh, an elder brother to ex-Super Eagles international Sunday Oliseh, urged the participants to make good use of opportunities at their disposal.

    Aghahowa praised Akinloye for this initiative, because “during our own time, there was never anything like this to harness talent, skills and empowerment in football.”

    The Chairman, Eti-Osa Coaching Council and member of, Lagos State Coaching Council Board, Mr Francis Orji, expressed his satisfaction at the level of the organisation by the Local Organising Committee (LOC), chaired by Prince Ademola Akinloye, who is also a footballer.

    Air Vice-Marshal Femi Gbadebo (retd) praised Akinloye for using sports to develop the constituency.

    “He has done well by mixing sports with human capital development. He did not just dole out money or organising competition for fun, he is sponsoring the finalist to vocational and Agro-economy empowerment. This is great,” he said.

  • ‘Capitalisation to drive banks’ competition’

    Coronation Research, a part of Coronation Merchant Bank Group, has said the ability to support risk asset creation in the real sector will differentiate winners from losers in the Nigerian banking industry over the next three years. This is according to a report from one of the leading research houses in Nigeria.

    While the quality of asset in the industry is generally improving, the firm believes the best capitalised banks will move well ahead of their competitors. According to the Head of Research, Guy Czartoryski, “for two years, Nigerian banks have had an easy time, earning good income on risk-free government-backed, Naira-denominated securities. That era is drawing to a close as T-bill rates fall. Asset yields are trending south, and it is almost impossible to re-price liabilities to match. So, banks must either find other sources of income or face an average 15 per cent drop in their Profits Before Tax expectation for 2018. For the banks to replace the portion of income threatened by declining yields on securities, they must grow risk-weighted assets. This means a 6-12 per cent rise in customer loans in 2018.”

    The report categorises banks into three tiers; Group A, Group B and Group C. Banks in Group A, being the most well capitalized, have the biggest opportunity to increase consumer lending. According to the report, Group A includes Zenith Bank, GT Bank and Stanbic IBTC, which have the ability to significantly expand their loan books by 69 per cent, 82 per cent and 182 per cent respectively.

    Group B, including UBA, Access Bank and Fidelity Bank, have moderate capital levels and some ability to expand loans books but may also pursue tier II capital raise in the form of long-term subordinated debt. Group C, including FBNH, Diamond Bank and Sterling Bank, in the short to medium term have limited ability to expand their loans books and will most likely focus on dealing with capital issues and might attempt to raise long term capital from the capital market.

    According to Coronation Research, “if equity markets are sufficiently strong, some banks might attempt equity capital increases (Tier-I) this year. However, currently we have market valuations so low as to make equity capital dilute the interest of existing shareholders. So, the preferred capital-raising route is likely to be long-term subordinated debt (Tier-II). We expect market share in customer lending to flow from banks in Group C towards those in Group A. With banks in Group B we see some, but perhaps not significant, market share gains.”

    Leaving capital raising aside, 2018 presents a golden opportunity for the stronger banks to expand loan books and gain market share.  Nigerian banks are coming off a low base: lending (when adjusted for currency depreciation) has hardly grown over two years, but the economic conditions look good for renewed loan growth. Loan growth, over the last two years, has been far from impressive and understandably so, since banks have remained cautious as they have grappled with the effects of oil price volatility and its impacts on their loan books.

    Even though we believe the underlying pressure on loan assets is getting lighter, there is still IFRS 9 to contend with. We expect a one-off uptick in impairment charges this year, given that banks will start reporting using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 9 this quarter.

    With oil prices largely stable and our optimistic economic outlook for the year, we view the risk to banks’ oil portfolios as significantly reduced. Also, the stability in the foreign exchange market, coupled with renewed economic growth, significantly mitigates the risks associated with the trading and manufacturing sectors of the economy.

  • NCC: competition stimulates performance

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday in Lagos, said the existence of competition in the telecoms sector has stimulated the growth of the sector over the years.

    Its Director, Policy, Compettiton and Economic Analysis, Josephine Amuwa, who spoke at the opening of a stakeholders’ forum on the Study of the Level of Competition in the Telecoms Sector, said competitive markets are the cornerstone of a vibrant telecommunications industry as it encourages innovations and fosters efficiency.

    She said: “In recognition of this fact, the Commission periodically conducts studies to assess the level of competition in the industry in line with its mandate of creating an enabling environment for competition amongst operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

    “The overall objective of the study is to provide current insight into the level of competition in the telecoms market and articulate strategies/recommendations to enhance opportunities in the market and to ensure the deepening of competition resulting in the provision of innovative services to consumers.”

    She recalled that the Commission, in the exercise of its regulatory functions as provided for under the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA), 2003, engaged the consulting firm KPMG Professional Services to conduct a Study on the Assessment of the Level of Competition in the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry in 2013.

    The outcome of that assessment, she said, resulted in the definition of relevant market segments and a determination of dominance in some of those market segments.

    She said following the success of the 2013 determination and activities in the telecoms industry since then, it became necessary to conduct another assessment of the competition in the market. “As such, the Commission has engaged the services of Messer’s CT Worx. Limited to conduct a study on the Level of Competition in the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry, using the 2013 as baseline year,” she said.