The Nation Newspaper

Tag: contest

  • ABUAD students shine in U.S. contest

    Four students of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) have excelled at a competition organised by the Microsoft Corporation in the United States.

    The quartet-Adeyemo Oluwaseun Kayode, Raymond Obinaju, Sobola Timilehin David and Ahwin Kevin-shone at Microsoft’s Imagine Cup where they showcased their invention named Asthma Visor, a device for a more effective and efficient way of managing asthma among children.

    Top executives of Microsoft showered encomiums on the four undergraduates  who were members of “ABUAD’sTeam LifeWatch” which participated in this year’s edition of the competition, which took place in Seattle, US, for its excellent performance at the yearly international event.

    For achieving the feat, Mrs. Jenny Lay-Flurie, a Senior Director with Corporation, described Team LifeWatch, as “the best team in Africa in five years.”

    Deputy Director of Bill and Melinda Gates, Jenine Firpo, in his own remarks, described the Team’s invention as “awesome”.

    Imagine Cup is a global student technology programme and competition that provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications, games and integrate solutions that can change the way the world lives, works and plays.

    Team LifeWatch, the inventor of AsthmaVisor, eventually emerged fourth out of the five teams nominated for ‘Imagine Cup Ability’ award on account of the potential impact their projects could have on the lives of people with disabilities and design principles, usability and potential in the market place.

    Other criteria included how the project has been tested with people with disabilities and overall quality of the execution. Team Prognosis (with a solution for Parkinson’s disease detection and intervention) from Greece won the award as their solution has already been deployed on a large scale and in use by disabled people for about a year now in Greece.

    The race to the finals of this year’s edition of the Imagine Cup competition among higher institutions in Nigeria commenced with ABUAD winning in Nigeria to qualify for the African Zone (semi-finals) where it defeated higher institutions in other African countries, including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Angola, Algeria and Morocco as well as Tunisia to qualify for the World finals.

    The panel of seven judges, made up of seven reputable industry experts were so impressed about ABUAD presentation that they opted for a 10-minute hands-on demonstration with ABUAD team to test its solution. The team also had the privilege of a private session with Microsoft Brand Manager, Dennis Tom. This, according to the judges, was a proof of how much they loved the project and how they “cannot wait to see it in the market.”

    During the private session which lasted for 40 minutes, important issues relating to how the solution can be improved upon and how a partnership can be established with Microsoft for making the solution a reality were discussed.

     

  • Abia Corps member wins Bible contest

    A CORPS member in Abia State Ayoola Oladejo has emerged the winner of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) Essay Competition held for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

    Ayoola beat five other participants in the contest held at the National Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Kinsley Egesi emerged first runner up, while Cyril Nnnadin came third.

    The fourth, fifth and sixth positions were won by Ebenezer Mustapha, David Umar and Gbenga Adeoya.

    Ayoola, who won an Ipad and books, dedicated the prize to his father, saying he was his inspiration. He said: “I feel great and happy. I was encouraged by my dad to participate. Midway, I was discouraged. It was frustrating at point but my dad told me not to give up.”

    The BSN General Secretary, Reverend Dare Ajiboye, said the contest is held yearly to support nation-building initiative of the NYSC, adding that the Society’s patron, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, established the NYSC during his time as Head of State.

    On the theme of the essay, National insecurity: Bane of economic growth and development in Nigeria,  Rev Ajiboye said it was carefully chosen, because of the security challenge in the country. He said there was need to engage the youth in solving the problem, noting that a medical doctor abandoned his practice in the North and relocated to Abuja to start from the scratch, because of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Ajiboye also listed people’s state of mind as another challenge, saying it has led to corruption and other vices. He urged the government to provide basic amenities to the people, adding that the facilities could act as catalysts for growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    The Assistant Director for General Duties of NYSC in Ogun State, Mrs Caroline Osoroh, praised BSN for sponsoring the event. She also thanked the stakeholders, saying the contest had brought out the best in the Corps members.

    The event chairman, Dr Nathaniel Danju, called for a review of education curriculum as a panacea to peace, saying schools should accommodate civic education that teaches good morality. He also advised parents to play their in role their children upbringing.

    Danju, who is the co-ordinator of Peace and Conflict Studies Programme of the University of Ibadan (UI), described Nigeria’s problems as multifaceted, saying they deserved urgent attention.

    He said the government was ill-prepared for some of the problems arising from the Boko Haram insurgency as there were no long-term arrangements.

    While he observed that many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North lacked basic amenities and medical personnel to cater for the needs of the victims, he advised the government to release funds to provide basic needs of the victims of insurgency.

     

  • Team Meddlelane wins contest

    Team Meddlelane has emerged winners of the edition of Fayrouz L’Original competition, grabbing the coveted N4 million grand prize.

    The jury, comprising ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; make up expert, Rhema Akabuogu from House of Tara; creative fashion designers, Mai Atafo and Kunbi Oyelese announced Team Meddlelane winner after a keenly contested competition against their opponent Team Hai.

    Team Meddlelane will enjoy fashion opportunities, including an automatic entry to showcase their designs at the Lagos Design Fashion Week while contending team Hai which came second went home with N1.5 million.

    Notable faces at the event include Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Walter Drenth; Corporate Media and Brand Public Realtions Manager, Nigerian Breweries, Edem Vindah; Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, Zaaki, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Toke Makinwa, Dotun, Adunni Ade, Gbenro Ajibade, Reekado banks, Dare Art Alade, Ebuka Obi Uchendu, Lamide Akintobi, Omalicha, Moet Abebe, VJ Adams, Tunde Demuren, and DJ Sose.

  • English students hold debate, public speaking contest

    National Association of Students’ of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has organised an intra-departmental debate and public speaking contest for its members.

    The event was held at the Arts Theatre. It was attended by students and lecturers in the Department of English.

    NASELS President Ibrahim Yusuff said the aim of the contests was to serve as a platform for students to improve their debate skills and public speaking.

    “The aim of this event is to serve as a platform in discovering good debaters and public speakers among students, who will represent the department in the coming Faculty of Arts Inter-departmental Debate,” he said.

    Emmanuel Afolabi, a 200-Level student, won the debate; Fredrick Okonji, a 100-Level student, came second.

    Olakunbi Fagbongbe, a 300-Level student, is the public speaker; Adeola Adetoye, a 400-Level student, came second.

    Emmanuel said the content of his arguments gave him an edge over his opponents, urging his colleagues to imbibe the spirit of determination.

    His words: “I am happy because the efforts I put into the debate are not in vain. I believe it is the extra efforts I put to my arguments that gave me an edge over my co-debaters and this made me to stand out. The logical presentation of my arguments also contributed to my win.”

    Lecturers at the event include Dr Austin Nwangbara, Dr Yewande Ntekim-Rex, Mr Nurayn Alimi and Mr Charles Akwen, among others.

     

  • Entries for contest open

    CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), has invited entries from undergraduates in universities, polytechnics and monotechnics to participate in this year’s CIMA Global Business Challenge (GBC).

    The GBC is an international business competition hosted in conjunction with Barclays Bank in 26 countries.

    This is the first time that Nigeria will compete in this competition.

    The national winning teams will travel to Warsaw, Poland, in August to compete in the global final for the title of GBC Global Winners.

    CIMA offers an international qualification in management accountancy and is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants with over 227,000 members and students in 179 countries.

    Full-time undergraduate students with a passion for business and finance are invited to register as teams of four online for the Nigeria GBC challenge by April 17.

    They would analysing a case study based on CIMA’s test of professional competence and submit a 3,000 word report by April 28.

    Four teams would be selected for the Nigerian final in Lagos on May 30, this year.

    Country Manager, CIMA, Ijeoma Anadozie, said: “We have experienced a positive response from our initial discussions with universities and are expecting to receive hundreds of registrations for the competition.  The teams then need to ensure that their reports are submitted on time for assessment and marking so that the shortlist of competing teams for the national final can be announced.  Last year’s GBC Global Finals held in Mumbai showcased talents from 24 teams.”

     

     

     

     

  • Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

    Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

    The Nigerian Political Class and the Citizens Quest for Good Governance” is the topic for the 12th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary school pupils.

    They have until May 15 to send in a 2,000-word essay on the topic, which will also be the focus of the 16th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture.

    The top 10 essayists would be rewarded on the day of the lecture, which would hold as part of activities to commemorate the 70th Birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on September 3 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    Bishop Okonkwo initiated the lecture in 2000 to sensitise Nigerians to issues of nation building. The competition started four years later to improve the writing skills of secondary school pupils and engage them in public discourse with the aim of challenging them to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

    Winners of the past 11 editions of the competition have emerged from both public and private secondary schools located in various parts of the country. One of the most outstanding winners was Matthew Adeiza, who won the second edition as a pupil of Community Secondary School Adavi-Eba, in Kogi State in 2005.

    He was sponsored on full scholarship by the church for his university education at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

    Adeiza has followed up with other scholarships, including one to study for his masters at the Oxford University. Some other past winners also won the competition more than once.  They include: Idam Ogonnia, who came third in 2006 and 2007 as a pupil of Queen’s College, Yaba; and Mark Nwanbiankae of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badore, who came third in 2012 and second in 2013.

    However Ahia Fego has the unbeaten record of winning the competition thrice.

    He came second in 2010, and first in 2011 and 2012 editions as a pupil of Brilliant Child College, Bariga, Lagos.

    This year the top three winners with get between N100,000 and N50,000 as cash prizes, as well as computers and printers for their schools.

     

  • APC, PDP in stiff contest in Badagry

    APC, PDP in stiff contest in Badagry

    For many reporters that monitored last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Badagry, finding their way around the historic town was the immediate challenge. Correspondent MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, who covered the elections in the town, looks at the contest between the two major parties and some of the hitches experienced during the polls. 

    The ancient town of Badagry was a beehive of activities on that fateful Friday evening when one arrived the former slave port for election duties. Residents were trying to do last minute shopping before the historic March 28 election. One’s first assignment on arrival at the town was to secure accommodation. The next thing was to make arrangement for transportation to move round during the exercise. This is because the usual restriction of vehicular movement during elections. To this end, a commercial motorcycle rider was engaged.

    But, moving around with the bike rider during the election was a tall order. One had expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pass in one’s possession will cover both the reporter and the bike rider. But, on approaching the Badagry Roundabout, en route to one’s place of my primary assignment, stern-looking military men stopped one and demanded to know why the bike rider was on the road. After due explanations, the reporter and his companion were allowed to resume the journey. But, only to be stopped once again a few meters away. After a brief dialogue, it became evident that, that was as far as the bike man could go with the reporter.

    So, the remaining part of the journey to the polling unit where the Peoples Democratic Party Deputy Governorship candidate Alhaja Sarufat Abdulkareem is registered was done on foot. Most of the reporters who monitored last Saturday’s elections in Badagry did so to keep tab on the governorship running mate’s constituency. Badagry is known for its conservative views and support for political parties with that orientation. That was perhaps why Alhaja Abdulkareem, who is from the town, was chosen as running mate to the PDP Governorship flag bearer Jimi Agbaje.

    Minor hitches were witnessed during the exercise, but it was largely peaceful. Prospective voters were at the polling unit as early as 7.30am in most polling units in town. But, the process of accreditation did not start until about 9.00am in most polling units. At least that was the situation at Alhaja Abdulkareem’s polling centre. Nevertheless, by 9.30am she had been accredited. In an interview with our reporter afterwards, she noted that the whole process was impressive, but added that the card reader was an issue. She said the card reader slowed down the process a little bit. In spite of that, she pleaded with the voters to be patient with INEC. She urged the commission to double its efforts, so that the process could be concluded in good time.

    She said: “The exercise is okay but the challenge is the machine. There have been difficulties identifying the finger prints of some duly registered voters. This has slowed the process a little. But, with the washing of hands, the card reader could easily identify the bearer of the card. So, I want to advise our people to wash their hands properly before presenting themselves for accreditation.”

    Moving round town was not easy. At every check point, all those monitoring the elections were stopped to identify ourselves.

    But, generally, the ancient community was calm; children were seen playing football along major roads. Adults who were not interested in the election were seen in the front of their houses, attending to domestic matters. At some polling units, some women took advantage of the large gathering of people, by putting up one food item or the other for sale.

    At Olorunda Local Council Development Area, the traditional ruler, the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Adekanmi Possi, was in the company of some of his chiefs. They were relaxing under one of the trees in the front of the palace. The chiefs commended the process and urged whoever wins to develop the kingdom.

    The monarch equally expressed optimism that the election would make politicians to sit up and deliver democracy dividends to the people. He said: “The days when politicians take the voters for granted is becoming a thing of the past. One could see that the people are more interested in those who lead them.

    “That is why people are coming out in large numbers to be part of this election. As a traditional ruler, all I can tell my people is to participate in the electioneering process. My people have shown keen interest; the people of Apa kingdom are part of the movement to usher a new beginning.”

    At the polling unit where the former chairman of the Badagry West LGA, Joseph Bamgbose voted, reporters monitoring the election spoke with the former chairman. Bamgbose claimed that the land border at Seme was opened to allow some foreigners in on the morning of the election.

    He alleged that the infiltrators were allowed in to undermine the voting process. He was however confident of victory despite the coming of the mercenary voters. He said the Federal Government that is supposed to protect the sanctity of the election is rather creating more problems for the process.

    He said: “We learnt some people were allowed from the neighbouring Republic of Benin. The border was opened at Seme, some people wanted to protest, but we don’t want a situation where that will become a problem.

    Bamgbose added: “Some people were not happy with the development; the infiltrators have Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC). That means they had come into the country before now, to collect their PVC.

    “I think it was pre-arranged; they had done what they wanted to do, we would go on with the election. This does not however mean we are crying foul. We are confident that we will win.”

    The Executive Secretary of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Ade Agoro said INEC performance is above average. He noted however that the batteries of the card reader do not last long. This, he said, compounded the problem.

    He said: “From what I can say, I think INEC has scored about 62.5 per cent. Again, Badagry West has been very peaceful during the conduct of this election. We have conducted ourselves in orderly manner and the outcome of the election will be embraced.”

    APC chieftain Sunny Ajose said the inability of INEC to get voting materials to some polling units on time was responsible for the delay in accreditation and the eventually the commencement of voting.

    He listed some polling units that were affected by the shortcomings. He said the electoral umpire needs to forestall similar challenges that are likely to surface in coming elections.

    “The peaceful nature of Badagry is one of the features that helped in the conduct of the election. However, INEC must get its act together during the next election such challenges.”

    At the Ward C, Unit 001 in Jossoro, Badagry West, youths in the community protested because over a 100 registered voters could not be accredited. The INEC ad hoc staff on duty had stopped the accreditation, because the time for the exercise had elapsed. The youths in the community threatened to beat the INEC staff if the remaining persons are accredited.

    Soldiers had to move in. They fired shots into the air to disperse the angry youths and during the ensuing melee, they whisked away the INEC official into a waiting vehicle. More solders were drafted to the venue, to facilitate the continuation of the election. Some of the youths had to flee.

    The people of Badagry were very enthusiastic about the election. In the event that the election is not concluded in daylight, generators and other sources of power had been procured to enable the Badagry people cast their votes.

    At INEC Secretariat, the Returning Officer for Badagry, Mr. Ayo Adeleke, was seen deploying relief materials to places where election was still taking place at night.

    By 2.00am, the INEC office had become a beehive activity. This is because stakeholders, including the commission staff, party agents, party supporters and reporters, had converged at the secretariat for collation of the final result.

    People were anxious to know the outcome of the election. But, a few hours after, it became obvious that the commission was not in a hurry to announce the result. The waiting game persisted till Sunday evening.

    In the interim, party members were seen cross-checking their records, to ensure that it tallied with what INEC would pronounce. Speculation was rife and tension kept mounting.  People were apprehensive that danger lurked around the corner. They advised their loved ones, particularly women and children, to leave the scene.

    The APC and PDP loyalists were confident of victory. But, INEC was not in a hurry to release the result. Soldiers had to be drafted to the secretariat to disperse the people.

    In view of the brewing crisis, INEC officials took the initiative to move the electoral materials to the INEC Office in Lagos, from where the results were finally declared.

  • Beauty queen to hold spelling bee contest

    The queen of Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Comfort Ogon, has announced her plan to hold spelling bee contest for pupils in the council to improve their communication skills.

    Comfort, a CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, said no fewer than 27 government-owned secondary schools would participate in the contest, which is part of her pet projects.

    She said: “It is shocking that technology has robbed many pupils of writing skills. It is a common sight to see students in contemporary times who cannot spell words they pronounce. The use of smart phones has compounded the decline of standard, because students cannot spell words without using spell-check icon to get the correct spelling. This also impedes them from communicating their thoughts properly.”

    The contest, tagged Miss Ipem Ihihe Spelling Bee Competition, would reward winners with mouth-watering prizes, including laptop, cash and scholarship to study in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    Comfort said the contest would reawaken the reading culture in the council.

  • 1, 537 candidates contest 469 NASS seats

    …as Catholic Church, others deploy 750 observers

    A total of 1,537 candidates from 28 political parties are slugging it out for the 469 seats in the National Assembly in today’s elections, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Seven hundred and forty seven (747) candidates will vie for the 109 seats in the Senate while 790 will contest the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.

    Among the Senate election candidates are 126 women and 621 men, while 254 women are among those contesting to be members of the House of Representatives.

    A breakdown of the list shows that no female candidate is contesting election into the Senate in Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kastina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo and Yobe states.

    There is one female candidate each aspiring to be senators in Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Ekiti, Kano, Kogi and Taraba states.

    Overall, in the Senate election, Abia has 20, Adamawa 22, Anambra 43, Bauch 15, Bayelsa 10, Benue 10, Borno 19, Cross-River 12, and Akwa-Ibom 12.

    Delta has 35 candidates for the Senate, Ebonyi 18, Ekiti 13, Enugu 27, Federal Capital Territory 11, Gombe 12, Imo 35, Jigawa 10, Kaduna 18, Kano 21, Kastina 13, Kebbi 25, Kogi 22, Kwara 29, and Lagos 20.

    Edo, Nasarawa, Niger and Rivers states have 16 candidates each for the Senate, Ogun 29, Ondo 20, Osun 30, Oyo 18, Plateau 12, Rivers 16, Sokoto 44, Taraba 13, Yobe 7 and Zamfara 38.

    While no woman is contesting the elections into the House of Representatives in Benue, there is one each in Borno, Edo and Kastina states

    Meanwhile the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and other civil society organisations have deployed 750 observers for today’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos.

    The JDPC Deputy Director, Mr. Joe Nkamuke, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that some of the observers would come from civil societies and religious organisations that had been collaborating with the Catholic Church in the past to monitor elections.

    Fifty of the observers, according to him, are from the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria, 50 from Anglican Church and its affiliate groups in advocacy for the entrenchment of good governance in the country.

    The Pentecostal Churches and others are contributing 50, while the coalition of non-religious civil society groups has 50 observers.

    He said that the Catholic Church and its societies would provide the remaining observers.

  • I will win if I contest election

    I will win if I contest election

    Indigenous rapper, Remilekun Abdulkalid, better known as Reminisce, hasn’t seen anyone working effectively on copyright issue in the Nigerian music industry. In this chat with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, the artiste, who will be releasing his album soon, declines the rumour that he sings to promote prostitution, his political ambition, among other issues.

    It has been very hard to get in touch with you these days, what have you been up to?

    Basically, I have been working on my album, my third album titled Baba Afusa. We’ve been trying to lay our hands on certain things, but a lot has been suspended because of the election. Apparently, it appears that I have to spend six extra weeks to work, get it done and put it out; as you know I represent a couple of brand as well, recording, doing photo shot, and a bit of campaign for them as well.

    You’ve been involved in campaigning, for what reason would you have done that?

    When I mean campaign, I’m talking about brands; Samsung, Orijin, and many more. I have also been with Enough Is Enough for a while. I represent them as well, it is an independent group, non-partisan organisation; the whole idea is just to get people to vote, and it is not sponsored by any party.

    How has it been for you to be part of the whole process?

    I feel good, I am a man with two children, so I should be able to stand up to situation that can make a better turn around. You know I can’t just sit down and say I’m a musician. Yes, fine I am. But I do pay my taxes as well. It is just something I have to do. I live in this country, and my kids also school here. I am just a Nigerian, that is all; and there is every reason for me to participate in what can make Nigeria a better place.

    How did you come up with your stage name, Reminisce?

    When I started, I was going to use MC Kalid, Kalid is my Muslim name. There are so many people using their Muslim names as their stage names, and I was like I needed to look for something very close to my name. You know Remilekun and Reminisce are reflections of each other. As at that time, Nass was my major source of inspiration. Reminisce reflects Nass as well in terms of lyrics and all of that.

    The Reminisce everyone is talking about today, what was coming up like?

    For me, it was a learning process, because it was actually I, 9ice, and Jahbless. I was the only rapper then, and there was a time I wanted to do English rap. I did it and it didn’t work out. People actually accepted the Yoruba. I can make music with any language I can speak

    As an artiste, what have been the challenges in your career so far?

    The major challenge is finance, as it is in every other business. Looking beyond that, I will say we have no structure for the industry here in Nigeria; it makes it difficult for people in the industry, and there is no distribution structure.

    You are talking about structure; can you emphasis more on it?

    I will want a place whereby I know how many copies I sold exactly and a place where I can interact with my fans. When there is a proper distribution system, where the government is in support of what we are doing, where we have finance; for example, I want to dabble on a very big project, as we know business involves a lot of risk. It is not easy, we have some situations where you see artistes like Beyonce releasing an album and shooting the video the same day; it is not easy she’s got backup. We have a lot of creative people and if that system is what we have here, it will help us go a long way.

    Will you say anybody hasn’t taken any step to make these things happen?

    Nobody is trying to work towards it, all man for himself lawa nibi bayi (is the situation here). Anyone that comes out and say they are trying to do anything; it is a normal Nigerian system they are just struggling for themselves.

    How have you in particular been able to cope with finance?

    I have been able to put whatever it is that I started making as early as I got to stardom to good use. One of the steps I took was that when I started making money, I didn’t look at it like I needed to get a big car. All the money I needed for myself to get a new car was spent on shooting videos.

    I kept developing myself, getting songs out, shooting videos in order to register my brand and my face. These are things the young ones fail to do; they don’t invest in themselves. Once they have a hit song, going to shows and the money keeps coming, they don’t tend to develop themselves, they wait for people or label to sponsor or finance them. From the little money I started making, I did it myself. For as low as 100k, we keep rolling till it got to millions. I saved that rather than buy a car. I shoot video and thank God here we are.

    Brief us on your educational background

    I started my primary school around Abule Egba, Queens and Kings International Schools. From there, I went to Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, Ogun State, and I studied purchasing and supply at Kwara State Polytechnic.

    If not music, what would you have been doing?

    I would have been a businessman, and I will later be a politician. You see, I’m still going into politics when the time comes and trust me I will win.

    What makes you so sure?

    I’m not saying this because I am a popular musician but I am telling you this as a grassroots person. I know what the people want; what they like, what they want to become, what they aspire to be, and the things they want to see, the kind of people they want to see represent them as well. So, I believe I will win once I’m ready.

    What have you done at the grassroots level as at now?

    I do little things individually. It is not that I have a registered charity organisation, I don’t have that because I believe it is not by registering, or making noise.  When you give, it should be between you and whoever you’ve assisted. It is not necessary for you to let the whole world know what you are doing; I believe in that principle so much. I support those that want to further their education; I give assistance to those that want to play football. I know a lot of people in Europe that are football agents and I recommend them; I push them without dabbling with their money. I assist people in all forms; a lot of people come to my doorstep where I live at Ojota. I don’t live in a posh area, and I don’t push them away, really.

    You started rap with English, what transpired?

    That is what the people prefer. As I told you, I’m someone who has to do what the people want, and that has made me more successful; so why not do what the people want?

    Does that make you feel comfortable?

    I feel comfortable with whatever fits me. I speak English, mo de le so Yoruba naa (I speak Yoruba fluently). I speak both languages fine. But, majorly, my fans are mostly Yorubas.

    As someone trying to break into the industry, how did people react to your style back then?

    It is a normal reaction when people get what they want. I am going to apply what I applied in music to politics; I know what the people want, I will prove myself worthy. Even when I started, they still compared me with a lot of people, like Olamide. The point is, if you compare me with Olamide, we are both successful. I feel very fine that you are comparing me to successful people. I have been able to prove myself letting people know what I’m up to.

    It is not just me doing this thing, we have a lot of people out there as well; there is Seriki, Base1, me and Olamide, there are a lot of people.

    Is there competition at all?

    Of course there’s competition. And if you look at it, we are competitors, we are rappers, local rappers like you people will like to put it. Definitely, local rappers are competitors, but the point is we are cool with each other. We do good songs together, and we support one another. In fact, whenever Olamide is doing something I go there. I don’t even invite him to anything I’m doing but he will definitely show up. I don’t remember him calling me as well that anything is going on like Egbon mofe se nkaan, (my brother, something is happening), but when I’m aware I go. It all boils down to respecting each other’s act and you know we should probably realise that it took a while to getting here. We should rather spend our time wisely and bring in more people and start helping each other.

    There is a lot to do rather than wasting time on unnecessary things; I have got money, he’s got that, I’ve got endorsement he’s got some as well. It doesn’t change anything; we don’t see ourselves that way, we enjoy making music, when you guys see us together you will be surprised with all these talks. We gist about past experiences, laugh, spend quality time in doing good music and we go home.

    What song brought you to the limelight?

    It is Kako bi chicken, and it is very obvious.

    Be honest, do you smoke?

    That is my personal life. I will just tell you I don’t take anything illegal.

    When you sang about prostitutes, which seems you’re trying to promote them. Do you promote prostitution with your song?

    I wasn’t promoting prostitution; they are humans like us, and that was done to like ‘they are part of us and we are part of them.’

    Can you recall the most harassing moment you’ve had since you started music?

    I have had many to be sincere with you, but I think I can recall one at the Lagos Countdown three years ago or there about. I was performing and it was like they weren’t catching the feeling with me; they started throwing bottles and stuffs at me while performing.

    Who is Sojay to you?

    Sojay is an artiste I have under my label, and he’s doing well. I am really glad to add such a talent to my brand, and you know there are much expectations in this regard, but I pray we both meet up to that someday.

    It is like you don’t have many artistes under your label…

    Yes and that is because I want to see things successfully done first before jumping to others. I have Sojay and we’ve been cool on pushing him, definitely we might be bringing more talented artistes as such, but we aren’t looking at that, not anytime from now.