The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CULTURE

  • ‘Culture, tourism promotion key to economic renaissance’

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has urged foreign and local investors to partner his administration to boost culture and tourism.

    He said this would diversify the economy.

    The governor said: “As a culturally-friendly state, we will partner investors in the creative industry. The sub-sector holds the key to economic renaissance.”

    Emmanuel, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, spoke at the opening of this year’s National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Uyo.

    Said he: “We are richly blessed with culture and tourism potential. With a rich history as the home to the reputed missionary, Mary Slessor, the creative wealth of raffia arts and crafts from Ikot Ekpene, the cane crafts of Itu, the pottery works from Nsit Ubium, the rich wild life reserves in Uruan, the great beaches of Ibeno and several other attractions; Akwa Ibom remains the preferred destination of global tourism and culture.”

    The governor urged the organisers, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), to use the potential in the creative industry to boost the economy. He described the theme of the festival: Exploring the goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s creative industry, as thought-.

    He nted that it challenged “our collective resourcefulness in providing alternative road maps out of recession.”

    Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to developing culture and tourism to a standard where the country would join other nations to reap the benefits in the sector.

    He said: “Two months ago, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Council in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom, to explore ways of harnessing the potential of our creative industries for economic empowerment.”

    The ministry also signed an MoU with the Tony Elemelu Foundation.

  • Sumptuous culture at Udiroko Festival

    THE   Udiroko Festival has become the most important cultural fiesta in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. Every year, it serves as platform to celebrate the growth and development of the city.

    The festival, otherwise known as Odun Olorunborun, marks the beginning of New Year in the Ado-Ekiti Traditional Calendar and offers the citizens the opportunity to gather in order to deliberate on issues affecting their community.

    The festival was a by-product of Ajase Ewi, the Ewi’s supernatural power of conquest as he was not only regarded as a king, but also as the supreme military commander of his army.

    When the kingdom became larger, the administrative and cultural demands of his office did not allow the Ewi to go on military expeditions anymore. He, therefore delegated his military responsibilities to his immediate senior officers who later became traditional war chiefs.

    During the period, Ado people would assemble under the Iroko tree in Ewi’s palace to welcome the military officers and the assembly was also a platform for celebrating the congregation of the indigenes, the return of military leaders and other mercenaries and emissaries from sub-ordinate kings, chiefs and messengers carrying different gifts and food items from the rulers of Ewi’s vassal states.

    Ado-Ekiti has come a long way since its ancestors left Ile-Ife, regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race for Benin and arrived at the present location via Ido-Ani, Oka Akoko (both in present-day Ondo State), Agbado and Iluomoba.

    History has it that Udiroko is as old as Ado itself as the name of the town literally means “here we have settled”.

    Having settled at the present location under the leadership of Ewi Awamaro, prayers were offered under the Iroko tree at the palace for God’s protection and to offer thanks for the achievements recorded in the previous years.

    Udiroko also gives an opportunity to the chiefs, groups, natives and guests to pay homage to the Ewi, who uses the opportunity to speak on key issues affecting his kingdom.

    The cultural landmark is also regarded as the beginning of a new planting season, as farmers go to their farms to clear the land to plant crops in expectation of a bumper harvest in the coming year.

    It should be noted that the reigning Ewi, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, the Aladesanmi III has taken Udiroko to a higher pedestal in terms of packaging, publicity, marketing, merchandising and etching it on the nation’s cultural map.

    Oba Adejugbe’s ingenuity and sophistication has transformed the Udiroko Festival to a national and international festival which is now accessed on the Internet, even as it attracts foreigners.

    The week-long event featured prayers at the palace for peace and development of Ado-Ekiti by Christian clerics, a news conference addressed by the Ewi, Festival Anniversary Lecture delivered by former Deputy Governor, Dr Sikiru Lawal, Health Talk, Ayo Olopon Competition, Ewi Football Cup Competition, visit to the sick and the aged, Jumat Service, performance by cultural troupes, Princes’ and Princesses’ Night and Church Thanksgiving Service.

    This year’s edition of Udiroko Festival has lived up to its billings as the people of Ado-Ekiti led by the Ewi used it as an opportunity to celebrate Governor Ayo Fayose who was credited with key landmark projects in the palace.

    The major project is the new amphitheatre in the palace square which was carried out by his administration to give people who attend the festival the opportunity to sit comfortably. It also added colour and glamour to the arena.

    The city was throbbing for several hours as indigenes, visitors, friends and associates thronged the palace amphitheatre, where robust traditional displays showcased the rich cultural heritage of Ekiti people.

    The festival was attended by Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Kenneth Kobani and Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole.

    The Ewi wore a special cone-shaped crown with colourful strings located on its edge all around. He sat calmly with his wife, the Eyesorun, Olori Margaret Abosede Adejugbe and at the raised steps to the palace door.

    The king waved his irukere (horsetail) intermittently in acknowledgement of encomiums, homage and obeisance paid him by his subjects and visitors who witnessed the festival.

    Those who paid homage to the Ewi included traditional chiefs, quarter chiefs, Iwarefas, the Elegbes (traditional warriors), the Efas, (traditional police), the Oloris (the queens), the Omo Owas, (princes and princesses), the market women, the Hausa community, the Igbo community, the Idoma community,  Ebira community, the Agbekoyas, politicians, artisans, drivers’ unions, youths and students.

    The homage of Chief Bafon, the traditional generalissimo of Ado-Ekiti, was breath-taking despite that he has advanced in age. His dance steps and wielding of traditional sword drew applause from the crowd.

    Politicians from the two major parties in the state, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared at the festival to test their popularity.

    Aspirants believed to be nursing ambition ahead of the next elections trooped to the festival with their friends and admirers to identify with the people of Ado-Ekiti whose votes they would need at the next polls.

    The President-General of Ado Progressives Union (APU), Chief Obafemi Ojo, said though the APU, the umbrella body of all associations in Ado-Ekiti, is non-partisan, there was no way the union would not commend Fayose for the various projects that are being executed in the town.

    Ojo, who is also the Bobajiro of Ado-Ekiti, described Fayose as an extra-ordinary person.

    “The Ado Progressive Union is non-partisan. I am neither a member of the APC nor PDP. This governor is not an ordinary person. In our culture, he can be described as Akanda eniyan. It is not common for a governor to be elected a governor a second time. He is a performer by every standard.

    “We, Ado sons and daughters, appreciate you for the various achievements in Ekiti State in general and Ado-Ekiti in particular. Your name will be etched on the amphitheatre in Ewi’s palace for generations yet unborn to see. We hereby say thank you for your contributions to Udiroko 2015 and 2016,” he said.

    Speaking in same manner, Oba Adejugbe described Fayose as Godsend ýto Ado and Ekiti State.

    “I am indeed very grateful to the Government of Ekiti State led by Peter Ayodele Fayose, a pragmatic , committed beacon of excellence and a hardworking governor for the massive road construction work being carried out in Ado metropolis such as Onala/Tinuola Road, De-Head (Bawa Estate)-Adetiloye Road, Awedele-Secretariat Road dual carriage way, Adunni Olayinka Women Development Centre, the Erekesan under construction, and the flyover under construction, just to mention a few; all within 18 months of assumption of office.

    “The ongoing flyover project deserves commendation. The government equally extends its developmental programmes such as road construction and provision of health facilities to other parts of the state.

    “I pray that Almighty God will give the governor the ability to complete all the laudable projects he has embarked upon for the overall development of Ekiti State.

    “I sincerely thank the governor for the completion of this Royal Gallery (amphitheatre) in Ewi’s palace. The community was getting fed up with financing the projects when he came to our rescue. Ado-Ekiti shall ever remain grateful to you.

    “Like Oliver Twist, I plead with the governor to complete the Oba Adejugbe Hospital for urgent and effective health care delivery,” he said.

    The Chairman, Ado Local Government Areaý, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, stated that the people would not forget Fayose’s contributions to the development of their community.

    “Ado people are behind you. You have performed well. You have stabilised the political arena and made things beneficial for us all. You have achieved a lot despite the poor finances of the state and the huge debt profile you inherited from the previous administration. I thank you on behalf of Ado people,” the local government chief said.

    This year’s Udiroko Festival also witnessed the foundation-laying ceremony of a new palace hall. It was performed by Governor Dankwambo who promised to support the project, attend next year’s event and witness the inauguration of the project.

    Dankwambo said: “Ekiti and Gombe have things in common. The two states were among the six states created about 20 years ago. What I saw during the Udiroko Festival really impressed me and by next edition, God willing, I will come with more people from Gombe to celebrate with you. I will also adequately support this hall project and hope to be here when it is inaugurated.”

    Fayose, in his remarks, advocated that the study of history should be reintroduced in the teaching curriculum of the nation, advising that “without the past, we can’t make out the future.” He described the development as “strange.”

    The governor said: “That’s strange; I heard that for the first time. That must be strange because without the past we can’t make out the future. History must be told for people to learn out of it. I believe in history and I believe in our culture.” Speaking further about the huge success of the festival and his contributions, Fayose said: “The Amphitheatre which I built is here for you to see, the fly over bridge and Oja Oba are on-going. The Onala, Awedele dual carriageway roads and others are being constructed.

    “Another thing that is of note is that since I assumed office, there have not been any politically-motivated killings or harassment and there would never be. Also, the peace in our state has been enhanced.  “The Udiroko Festival provides our people the opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritages with our monarch.

    “Udiroko has become a national festival. Look at the mammoth crowd here. Ekiti has never witnessed this huge crowd in the history of the festival. I will continue to support everything that would enhance our people’s culture, especially Udiroko.”

     

  • On decadence in reading culture

    SIR: As an avid reader and true lover of a serene reading environment, I had traversed most libraries only to find to my utmost dismay the unspeakable level of disorganization and disquietude. These are not just indices of slothfulness and inadequate commitment to intellectualism but a true show of our unpreparedness to take the centre stage on the global front. The obsoleteness and outdated volumes of books, periodicals, and research records replete in our libraries are definitely beyond talk now. You can call to reason the fate of a final year secondary school student preparing for the duo of certificate and university entry examinations in a remote village who does not have access to revised and improved texts. Yet he is expected to score well (if not better than the privileged elite). I was once a victim of this circumstance but fate had it that I made it to the university where I was re-routed from that downward spiral.

    What about my friends who couldn’t make it beyond these limitations? What await them in the nearest future when nature’s call of responsibility fall on their shoulders unprepared?

    In the Universities where there should be reprieve in some form, one find issues ranging from leaking roofs, to terrible seats, congested libraries, little or no leg room, and ultimately a non-committal effort by the university management cum authorities to better the lot of  expedient facility. Money would rather be spent on trivial infrastructural upgrades while the library is left as an eyesore to both divinity and humanity. I recently paid a visit to one library in a sub-urban area, and found the rusty public library situated below a church building, directly adjacent to a Petrol station and opposite a market! These attributes indubitably precludes the possibility of serenity in this environment. Reading not only develops the mind but expands one’s thought pattern and there is no squabble about this.

    How can there be positively stimulated growth when the right channel for it rapidly degenerates at an unimaginable rate under our watch? And how much meaningful and societal contributions can be made by the youths when their fathers who enjoyed British-styled libraries and state-of-the-art utilities play mute to these degenerative changes with no solution to proffer? These and many more questions demand an answer rather than verbal affirmatives and rhetoric, solutions should be action-centered.

    In an article managing the library and archive environment, Jan Henderson aptly highlights the importance of the organization of a library environment thus; “knowing the environmental conditions in a library or archive is essential for planning the best strategy for the preservation of collections and for targeting resources effectively”. These well written words, highlight the mood of the writer to a great degree and should form the basis of any counter-attacking measure embarked upon to stem this rot. It is unarguably true that the developed society hinged its development on positives like research. Now, how can research be carried out if the facilities to house it is a victim of neglect gone rampage?

    From  the city of Nnewi emerges the OneStop Bookshop and free access library built by Tobe Osigwe (a graduate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka) to help contribute to the rejuvenation of the reading culture in an academically decadent society. This act of unparallel magnanimity captures the gap in goodwill among the privileged few. Tobe, in his quest for a better reading condition in a largely commercial society, has shown the need for our books to be stored and kept in aesthetic conditions to facilitate reading, research and relevance. Despite the government’s age-long unrepentant neglect for public utilities, how do we complement this effort in our various domiciles? The panacea remains setting up private enterprises just like the OneStop library to mitigate the crippling effect of bibliophobia as it plays no mean role at all in destroying the tendrils of growth in any society. This is actually a workable alternative to the exaggerated claims of privatization that has never failed to put dashed hopes beyond repair.

     

    • Ogbonna Joshua Kelechukwu,

    Nnewi, Anambra State.

  • I’M SET TO REVAMP YORUBA CULTURE AMONG YOUTHS –ROSE ODIKA

    I’M SET TO REVAMP YORUBA CULTURE AMONG YOUTHS –ROSE ODIKA

    VETERAN Nollywood actress, Rose Odika, is set on another path to give back to the society. Revealing her intention to promote the Yoruba culture through the fourth edition of her pet project, Ewa- Asa, which will be hosted by Oba  HRM, Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, she noted that the star-studded event  “is an annual competition in which youths come together to showcase different talents and dance groups in undiluted Yoruba language, with the intention to promote integral talent development through holistic approach without any form of discrimination against any person or group.”

    Speaking on what inspired her to pursue her Ewa Asa dream, she posited: “The inspiration came when I was going through the culture of the Yorubas. I saw that in Yoruba culture, there is a lot to be celebrated. The Yoruba language is very rich and unique, but I noticed that most Yoruba folks do not allow their children to speak Yoruba, and it will be unfortunate if the language becomes extinguished. Thus, I thought about bringing forth an event which will bring out youths to speak in undiluted Yoruba for 15 minutes, and the first, second and third winners will be given handsome cash prizes, it is just my way of giving back to the society.”

    Despite being Delta State-born, she said: “I have lived here all my life. I am an actress who features in Yoruba films, thus, the Yoruba culture made me who I am, so I cannot teach what I don’t know. The event is still open to sponsors who want to identify with the Ewa- Asa brand and the culture in general.

    “We also want people to celebrate the Yoruba culture, as different ethnic groups have different dance steps, foods and peculiarities, which are unique to them, Some children have never come in contact with masquerades. An average Yoruba person doesn’t know what is Gelededance, and this is one of the things we want to showcase with the event which will be graced by many celebrities and eminent personalities.”

  • Safeguarding culture from extinction

    Safeguarding culture from extinction

    Schools are institutions where learning takes place.  Such learning include our cultural heritage, which also encompasses the language we speak.  In this age of globalisation, where the world is highly interconnected and within reach, it is very easy to lose sight of who we are as a people, especially if our identity is not projected to the world at the same rate at which other cultures diffuse into ours.

    The internet gives us immediate access to happenings around the world, which incidentally does not include our culture.   Our children incidentally, through the internet are really learning faster than we can actually keep up with them.  It, therefore, behoves us as a people to do whatever is necessary to preserve our culture for posterity and prevent it from being extinct.  Cultural extinction arises when the way of life of a people no longer exist; this way of life include our language, religion, food, social habits, music and art.  With over 250 ethnic groups and over 500 languages being spoken in Nigeria, the question arises as to how we can effectively and efficiently do this, bearing in mind the very nature of our multi-ethnicity and pluralism coupled with the many needs of the Nigerian society, which are competing among themselves for the limited available resources.  It, therefore, means that cost effective avenues need to be explored and used for this to be achieved.  While we may not necessarily be able to stop the constant intermingling of cultures and its consequent diffusional effects, we can, however, at least, keep records for the purpose of history so we can always read it up and tell our story ourselves and not have others tell it for us.  Cultural learning means that our culture has to be taught and our schools as instruments of formal learning are great places to do this.

    Why bother the schools we may ask?  The answer to this is we need to use what we have in a way that can give us better and sustainable results, bearing in mind that a school is an institution or place where instruction is given for the purpose of learning. It is also an instrument for change being cognizant of the fact that the broad objectives of our national system of education not only include the acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competences both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to live in and contribute to the development of this society, but also the inculcation of the right type of value and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the society.  The school, we must remember though a system, is actually a sub-system to the supra system called Nigeria and as such, has interactions as we all know with this larger system, Nigeria.

    Although our schools are already involved in teaching our children our culture, the purpose of this paper is to effectively and efficiently make use of the opportunities schools as instruments against cultural extinction. At present, it is compulsory for students attending public and most private schools to learn either Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba language, which are taught in these schools and compulsory for senior secondary school children to register and sit for during their senior secondary school certificate examinations.

    While these are good moves to make these languages relevant we, however, need to remember that these are only three languages out of over 500 languages.  We need to then ask ourselves how we can make sure that the remaining languages not taught in schools do no go extinct.  How do we justify emphasis on three major ethnic languages out of over 500?  This is a perfect recipe for cultural extinction if that is our objective. Furthermore, language is just one aspect of culture as stated earlier so we need to look at the broader picture which include food, dance, art, religion and social habits.  Commendation goes to our schools for teaching students at the pre-school, elementary and secondary level our culture through Cultural and Independence Day celebrations, which they mark with elegance encouraging children to dress in different cultural attires to represent our cultural diversity. Howbeit, we also know that as parents, who form part of this school society, we are usually found guilty of choosing the most readily available cultural attire to dress our children in and are only forced to do otherwise when the school chooses a particular tribe for a child, which they must comply with.  This simple example illustrates the power which the school has to be able to assist in keeping alive integral parts of our existence.

    What role should the school play and how can she play it so that we are not guilty of neglecting any Nigerian culture?

    Geographical location is a good place to start.  What this means is that every school should teach the students in their schools the language spoken where they are located with the collaboration of the community and make the culture of that community the integral part of any cultural celebration they want to have.  They will also be responsible for documenting everything about the culture of that area. Collaboration with the community is a must have because that is where authenticity will be guaranteed and internal or external criticism will not exist and even if it does, it can be easily rectified and corrected. The documentation ought to be done by the schools because it will be taught throughout the existence of that school. In other words, there should be a syllabus for it which will run for six years of both elementary and secondary school as the case may be. The responsible agencies will have to play their role.   Documentation of the culture should come not only in hard and soft copies but also in audio visual forms with copies of all forms sent to the local government councils, state and Federal levels for proper archiving.  Schools should be given a reasonable time frame to do this which should run in years and also be expected to submit a cultural aspect yearly. Documentation and posterity are no strange bed fellows as documentation is done for posterity and posterity needs documentation to trace its roots.  Have you ever searched for information that hits at the core of Africa and in particular Nigeria about who we are?  The majority of us don’t even know where to start. We rely mostly on the internet, which unfortunately has insufficient information because we haven’t put it there and anyone who puts it there apart from us will most likely misrepresent us. Available write-ups are either too expensive or not readily available and accessible. Our identity should be at our finger tips and within reach; cultural consciousness can help us do that.  As a people, we have fantastic stories to tell, folklores and legendary ones all waiting to be heard from the different ethnic groups which our diversity has created. As fans of legendary stories, how many do we know? A quick check and we discover that our knowledge of Nigerian legends, especially pre-colonial Nigeria is limited to a handful; Moremi, Queen Amina, Usman Dan Fodio?  Furthermore, if our culture is not properly documented, it will be like the case of “Dinosaurs, Did they really exist: Fact, legend or myth?”  It has been said that two of ours are already extinct. Rumour or fact:  A rumour means probability and a fact means reality; we should be concerned.  It is our duty to ensure that cultural extinction does not happen to the cultures we still have and if in reality two are already extinct it should be a constant reminder of what can be lost.  Every generation owes it to the next to tell the story of what happened in their time.  Our children and generations after them should always be able to look back through properly documented history and not question the truth or otherwise of their identity

    The International World Heritage Day

    The nation as a whole and schools in particular, should be encouraged to celebrate the World Heritage Day, a yearly event that takes place on the 18th of April.  This event was set up in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983 with the aim of creating awareness of the importance of the cultural heritage of human kind, and redouble efforts to protect and conserve the human heritage.  The celebration is usually centered round a theme which the schools can use to represent the culture of that community.  This year’s theme was titled “The Heritage of Sport”.  There is no society that does not have a local sport and if the suggestions of this paper were to have been in place, the local sport of each community would have been taught to the children and celebrated on that day.  One might say the date may pose a challenge as it sometimes falls within the second term holiday.  However, it could be viewed in a positive light as it will give children and parents ample time to get necessary materials and the event can be celebrated post factum.  The essence of all this is to be part of ensuring that our heritage is celebrated and kept alive.  As a nation, we should not contribute to cultural diffusion which happens when schools represent other cultures that do not belong to the community where they are located and in most cases completely ignore and neglect them which is not their intention.  As stated earlier, it is a communal and grass root effort, therefore in areas where there are no schools and the people have a culture different from the locality of the nearest available school, the local government council through its wards and units would play the critical role of cultural celebrations and documentation.

    There is an urgency to prevent the extinction of a vast majority of our culture as the world is highly interconnected and information and cultural diffusion is happening very fast and will most likely keep spreading.  Our rural communities are reducing demographically and at a quick rate.  Furthermore, our aged ones who grew up in the village and know these cultures very well are being replaced by those who have spent most of their lives in the city.

    As a nation that has one of its broad objectives of national system of education as inculcation of national consciousness and national unity we need to explore and use all avenues to ensure that we achieve this.  This paper is not exhaustive and it is hoped that it has reminded us of the need to prevent cultural extinction through the help of our schools.  Cultural education in schools is not new we can however use it in a way that can be beneficial to national unity as every ones identity is important in this society of ours that is very diverse both in culture and ethnicity.

  • Stakeholders worry about reading culture at book launch

    Nigeria is in danger of breeding  poor readers and semi-literates if the apathy towards reading is not arrested.

    This was the submission of some stakeholders at the launch of “When the Dead Loves”, a novel written by veteran journalist, Harry Awurumibe at the Nigeria Institute of Management in Lagos.

    They noted that the present generation no longer has the capacity to read even the shortest of written materials, describing the situation as disappointing and destructive.

    Overindulgence and misuse of the social media, they further noted, has further affected the youths while fast tracking their failure in public exams.

    The Book Reviewer and Chief Executive officer of All Season Mediacom, Dr Ken Onyeali Ikpe said there was no way leaders of tomorrow could compete favorably on the world stage without reading.

    “Those who rule the world are those who read and the best way to be the best is to keep reading,” he said

    Chairman of the occasion Chief Emeka Inyama, had earlier recommended continuous reading for all ages noting that it is the only way to keep pace with today’s realities. Inyama who is chairman of Abia Warriors Football club, gave the author a pat on the back, adding that anyone who is able to produce a book that can impact on the knowledge of others should be commended.

    Awurumibe, who has also published a book on female football development in Nigeria, expressed hope that the book would impact knowledge and check poor reading culture that is spreading like a virus.

  • ‘Nigerians need to develop energy conservation culture’

    ‘Nigerians need to develop energy conservation culture’

    Stakeholders  have advocated for discreet usage of power, following limited generation and other problems in the sector. They spoke during the  13th edition of the Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Lecture (DEEEAL) in Lagos, EMEKA UGWUANYI was there.

    •Procurement for Mambilla’s 3,000mw hydro plant begins

    Considering the numerous challenges including security, pipeline and equipment vandalism and power theft that militate against government’s aspiration of attaining stable power supply, it has become imperative for Nigerians to optmise available generation by cultivating energy conservation culture while the government finds sustainable solution to the problems, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Dr Oladele Amoda has advised.

    Amoda was the guest lecturer at the 13th Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Annual Lecture (DEEEAL) held in Lagos. In his paper titled: “Power distribution demand side management in developing economies,” Amoda stressed the importance of energy conservation, which can be achieved by switching off devices, lightings and other equipment when not in use.

    The paper dealt with basic concept of demand side management (DSM) and its proposed use as a tool to mitigate power shortages in Nigeria. To underscore the importance of DSM, Amoda said at an estimated annual economic growth rate of between seven per cent and 13 per cent, as well as an urbanisation rate of 3.8 per cent, Nigeria’s electricity demand is projected to grow from 15,730 megawatts (mw) in 2016 to 41,133mw and 88,282mw by the end of 2018 and 2020 respectively.

    He also noted that the increase in demand for electric power is noticeable in the residential sector. This is due to increase in population, greater need for housing and rural electrification. The demand by the industrial sector is difficult to estimate due to the fact most of the medium to large scale industries rely heavily on self-generated power, which is generally believed to be in excess of 40,000mw, he said, adding that energy is the central force behind our productivity, our leisure and our environment.

    Amoda said: “Low cost energy was abundant in the past, which made the cost of energy a small fraction of the cost of finished product. Use of low cost energy for home comfort became very predominant. The subsequent increase in oil prices increased the energy cost in every sector, domestic, commercial and industrial, among others. However, our energy resources are fast getting depleted. Thus energy saving or conservation is essential in developed and developing countries.”

    According to him, the goal of DSM is to encourage the consumer to use less energy during peak hours, or to move the time of energy use to off-peak times such as nighttime and weekends. The DSM is an energy conservation mechanism, which concentrates action at the user’s end rather than at the supplier’s side. At the supplier’s side, electric energy consumption can be controlled using a number of actions carried out by the utility on its own installations to manage electricity supply, he added.

    Amoda listed some energy conservation measures, which include building design that permits most of the spaces to be day lighted, adding that using day lighting reduces energy consumption by replacing electric lights with natural light, capable of reducing 40-60 per cent of electricity for lighting needs. Provision of enough windows for cross ventilation, can also reduce the use of air-conditioners in homes and offices, he said.

    “Substituting incandescent lamps with energy saving lamps is good energy conservation measure. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are generally considered best for replacement of lower incandescent lamps at homes, offices, commercial and industrial outfits,” he added.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was the guest of honour at the event, corroborated Amoda. He said the Federal Government is considering a new building code that would promote usage of glass buildings to enable utilisation of day light, more widows and use of materials that will keep the building illuminated and cool.

    Fashola said the new building code becomes imperative because the nation’s power generation remains at the lowest ebb. He also noted that the government is working on energy mix that will enable the country tap electricity from different sources because dependence on gas holds the country to ransom.

    He said: “Government will access any available source of energy in order to achieve not only affordable energy but also national energy security so that we are not dependent on one source of fuel. Our vulnerability to gas has been responsible for the developments we see today, so one of the things that the energy mix will do is not just taking power plants closer to fuel source but also help us to achieve national energy security.

    “So we will go beyond solar to some coal, to a lot of hydro – finishing hydro plants such as Zungeru and starting the biggest hydro power plant, Mambilla, which will give us in one place 3000 megawatts (mw). We are finalising procurement now. We will also explore biomass. There is a sugar processing and sugarcane plantation in Adamawa.  We are talking to the proprietors to see how we can use some of that to produce energy.”

  • Nigerian soccer & the culture of abuse

    PHYSICS teaches us that lightning rarely strikes the same spot twice. The depth of shock experienced by the nation last week is therefore better imagined when, within a space of 72 hours, the lightning of death did not only smite Nigeria’s two most accomplished football coaches but curiously at the same location: Benin City. The sudden death of Stephen Keshi and Shuaib Amodu is easily the worst sporting tragedy to befall Nigeria in a long time. Ironically, the latter had penned a moving tribute to the former in the condolence register opened in Benin penultimate Wednesday. Not knowing the terminal bell had begun to toll for him as well. Both champs personified what could be described as the golden era of the Nigerian football. Keshi (aka the Big Boss) pioneered the migration of our talents to Europe in the 80s, thereby initiating the country into the world soccer community.

    Later as coach, he continued to perform magic. In 2013, he would assemble a team of nobodies who, despite poor incentives, proceeded to shock the nation by winning the 2013 Nations Cup after a two-decade drought. It is, for instance, a testament to his genius that new stars like Sunday Mbah and Kenneth Omerua were discovered from the local league and unleashed on the global stage through the continental tourney in South Africa in 2013. Being a star himself, he therefore had no difficulty spotting another gem, even in the most unlikely place. Truly, only the deep can call to the deep. It is easy to define the Keshi edge. His organic approach to talent hunt and team-building sharply contrasted the lazy opportunism of the fly-by-night “world class coach” our soccer administrators always seem obsessed with. Of course, the tactical secret of such expatriate is often not a little more than the commonsense to simply compile the names of our soccer ambassadors “doing well” in the European league for the purpose of winning international engagement.

    Once the show is over, the smart “world-class coach” would hop on the next available flight to his home country, to return at the next payday or match. Amodu, on the other hand, signposted the coming of age of the local ingenuity in coaching that however remains un-acknowledged, much less celebrated, till date. With the Clement Westerhof-inspired superb showing of the Super Eagles in 1994 first at the Nations Cup and later the World Cup, the Nigerian football was thought to have matured into a distinct character roughly described as the “rattle snake style”. Its strength laid in the syncopation of swiftly clinical wings, sleek midfield and a rock-solid defense. Its power and beauty were very much in evidence in the KanuNwankwo-led Eaglets who, two years later, dazed the world by winning the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics. But typically, the talisman was soon lost by those who took over the management of our football.Years later, Amodu brought some redemption. By qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup in 2002 and2010, he defied all odds characterized by shoddy institutional support. Even at those sterling feats, he was hardly accorded the respect he deserved. A sad reminder of the biblical saying that prophet isnever recognized at home.

    Sadder still is the high probability today that both Keshi and Amodu died with some bitterness in their hearts on account of maltreatment they suffered at the hands of a nation they toiled so hard tomake great. The details of Keshi’s autopsy are yet unknown. But relations reported symptoms of heart attack. On the other hand, Amodu’s remains were interred last Saturday in accordance with his Muslim faith. But given that he also reportedly complained of chest pain, the cause may also not be too far from cardiac arrest arising from complications from a nagging diabetes his wife confirmed he had nursedover the years. Not surprising, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), which meted indignity to Keshi and Amodu while alive, almost emptied the dictionary the next moment with the torrents of adjectives deployed to describe their contributions to the growth and the development of the beautiful game in Nigeria. But the sick joke is actually on those who have been shedding crocodile tears in the past ten days. While I only met Keshi casually twice, Amodu I knew very well. While I served as Information Commissioner in Edo State, his path and mine inevitably crossed several times.

    Incidentally, the Information Ministry and the Sports Ministry share the same modest building in the Ezoti wing of the state secretariat. That proximity furnished us the opportunity to engage in debate from time to time. Ordinarily taciturn, he came alive whenever our chat veered to the subjects of values and leadership. In that mode, he would gesticulate animatedly to give depth to his words and emotions. Nothing ached his heart than watching the upcoming ones, some of whom were benefitting from his coaching clinic, thinking lasting success could be achieved without hard work and dedication. He was a study in humility. I can still picture hisregular boyish smile, accentuated with trademarklow-cut, with a parting on the left. He had a way with the little boys forever loitering the verandah of the Sports Ministry, dreaming a future of soccer, their boots often dangling on their shoulders, tied by their laces.

    Since the tragic news last Saturday, the social media has been awash with sometimes outlandish theories, some speculating on the list of debtors and enemies he kept. The most sensational perhaps being a letter purportedly written by him widely published by the traditional media Tuesday. It not only claimed that Edo State owed him up to N25m but also barely concealed his anger at being shoddily dribbled and maltreated specifically by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    Thankfully, a clarity was brought to the new controversy a day later with the state government making public a memo, said to have been submitted by Amodu to the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) penultimate Wednesday, which content and tone sharply contrast with the angry one earlier circulated. Contrary to the N25m earlier bandied, Amodu only claimed N8m arrears in the version presented by the state government. The big puzzle: who then could have doctored a letter presumably submitted to the state government confidentially and caused its circulation?What could possibly be the motive? Really, it would be very strange indeed for an ex-worker soliciting payment of a claim and desirous of quick result to adopt the insolent, if not incendiary, language of the first letter. Given the pervading grief, this obviously cannot be the most auspicious moment to seek answers to these big questions. But whatever the misgivings he might have had over the non-renewal of his contract last year, I believe the worst assault anyone could do to Amodu’s memory is suggest that he had forgotten or, even for a moment, became unappreciative of the solidarity andsuccour given him by someone in hishour of need back in 2010.

    True, there will never be a perfect working environment or relationship anywhere in the world. But I can attest that once to twice that our chat veered to his past ordeal at the hands of the nation’s soccer administrators, Amodu drew solace from the fact that his native Edo State came to his rescue when itmattered most after being literally humiliated twice on the national stage by the football federation. His reward for helping to qualify Nigeria for the 2010 World was an unceremonious sack. He had similarly helped qualify Nigeria for the World Cup in 2002, only to be dumped for someone else to leadthe Super Eagles to the tournament.

    While NFF quickly raised millions of dollar to hire a foreign coach and fund a jamboree to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, Amodu was left in the cold in Nigeria. It was at this point that Oshiomholeinvited him and made an offer to wipe his tears. As national coach, his earning was said to be N800k circa. So, there was now a snag: Commissioner’s net pay after tax was around N400k while governor’s was a little over N600k. To make up, Oshiomhole decided to designate Amodu as a consultant with a compensation package of N2mmonthly plus other fringe benefits. Apart from the payment of a sign-on fee. His job description was to run a coaching academy to discover and groom soccer talents from primary and secondary schools in Edo State. So, the state-owned Sam OgbemuduaStadium became his workshop.Was Amodu satisfied with the package? I bet he was, particularly given the spirit behind the gesture.

    Nothing best expressed this than the accustomed passion he brought to the job until the contract expired last year. That coincided with the onset of the cash crunch in the federation with more than twothird of the states owing back wages, with most left to reorder their priorities to stay afloat. Once it became certain that Edo was no longer buoyant to renew his contract, Amodu moved on to another job with the football federation as a technical director. It has been confirmed that his last employer (NFF) was owing him arrears of salaries before his death last week. One account even stated the cash woe had seriously weighed him down. It was most likely against this background that Amodu had no other option than return to Benin last week to file a claim for the period between when his contract expired and when the NFF job came believing Oshiomhole, who related to him more as a big brother, would approve on compassionategrounds.

    On the whole, Amodu’s case is quite reflective of the pervasive culture of abuse by the NFF that seems more fixated on dollars-earning foreigncoach but feels no qualms subjecting Nigerians performing tasks even more demanding to starvation, if not destitution, like the foregoing story clearly illustrates.While the NFF executives appear to lead champagne lifestyle with the guaranty of First-classtravels and hotels worldwide, players and coache mostly spend their latter lives in pain and penury. This endemic culture of abandonment, it would seem, is what in turn breeds the mercenary mentality among players still active in their careers. It speaks to the growing craze for instant gratification. Soccer internationals invited home to wear national jerseys would insist flight ticket and bonuses be paid before they even enter the field of play. Unsureof what tomorrow holds, they want to make the best of today when their feet can still carry them.If nothing at all, the Amodu case should serve as a wake-up call to reorder football administration in the country in a manner that will profit, not the fat cats at the Glass House exclusively, but also the hardworking coaches, players and club owners/ managers whose sweat and toil give life to thegame in Nigeria.

  • Culture lessons from Kwara pupils

    Culture lessons from Kwara pupils

    It was tagged Children’s Day, but it was converted to a veritable avenue to showcase the rich Nigerian cultural heritage by pupils of Roemichs International Schools in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. In fact, it was a cultural festival of sorts.
    Pupils of the school in different Nigerian costumes and attires a day after the May 27th children day celebration displayed some cultural extravaganza. Sprucely attired in Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, Kanuri, Edo, Tiv, Idoma, Efik and Ibibio etal, the pupil danced to the admiration of ecstatic parents and guests alike.
    The school’s Principal, Mr. Kevin Massey said the exhibition was to celebrate the cultures that are found in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    Mr. Massey said “so many cultures that bind the people together and we are trying to demonstrate that this can happen in a peaceful and harmonious environment.
    “Some of these children are not from the cultural background they have demonstrated. They have practiced and learnt and that we they are appreciating other people’s cultures from other parts of the country. That way everybody will learn to appreciate another person’s culture.”
    Some of the parents bared their minds on their wards’ exhibition at the event.
    A parent, Mrs. Kunle Idiagbon told The Nation his impression of the event.
    Mr. Idiagbon Said: “I am impressed with what they put together. We are Nigerians and we need to start promoting and embracing our culture. Each and every one of us has to make a conscious effort to embrace our culture. It is a fantastic idea. It is beautiful. All the children look beautiful in different costumes that the put on.
    “This school has set the pace here and everybody else has to follow suit. I mean it is only Nigerians that can promote what we have. So I will advise organizations, individuals and schools to support the promotion of our culture. This is just culture.
    To Mrs. Olayinka Nyang: “This cultural extravaganza shows that we as Nigerians are beginning to embrace our own culture. It is a good initiative. One thing that is commonplace now is that our children are growing too westernised. This is like bringing them back and showing that we are rich in tradition and culture.
    “It also shows that our heritage needs to be preserved. And they have done so fantastic and we are proud of them. I am proud of the school, the teachers and kids everyone has put in his best
    “I am extremely impressed. The teachers have put their best feet forward and they have done a lot in transforming these children, because at home we barely speak the traditional language. I, for one, my husband is from Akwa Ibom and I am Yoruba, So the lingual franca at home is English. But now coming here and my kids representing different culture; they are really happy and overwhelmed that this thing that can be interesting. I think they have really tried.
    “I blame the parents for the embracement of western ideas because, though I love culture but, I am married to an Akwa Ibomite it is very difficult to break that barrier of not speaking English in the house. If I speak Yoruba my husband will not understand, if he speaks Akwa Ibom I will not understand.”
    A guest, who simply gave his name as Gbenga Power said: “When I saw the invitation, I know the importance because culture in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Gbenga Power Foundation is for sports, youths and cultural initiatives. We are happy to be here today to know more about our culture. It is a pity that our culture is going gradually because of the borrowed culture from the Americas and Western countries. I think, it is high time we imbued our culture in our children so that we will not forget our culture.
    “It is important that we take advantage of this. Roemichs International School is placing a role model is this area now. I am so impressed by the effort of the school to bring our culture to our children.
    “Government needs to take advantage of this by investing more in our culture, tourism and our fore-fathers ways of doing things. We pray that in the next 50 years we will not be using money to buy our culture back. Because I heard about somebody in London that wrote on Yoruba culture and that book is being sold on a lot of Pounds and Nigerians are buying it when we have our fore-fathers whom we can learn directly from.”
    He suggested the inclusion of our cultural heritage in the Nigerian school’s curriculum “as this school is doing its own today, other educational institutions and groups should emulate this and make sure that our culture is not forgotten.”

    Guest speaker at the event and a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Dr Joseph Fayeye suggested some of the ways to protect, preserve and promote the country’s rich cultural heritage.
    Some of these ways according to Dr Fayeye include organization of cultural festivals; encouraging youths and young adults to wear native attires and eat traditional cuisines; reduction in the promotion of imported cultures above the Nigerian cultural heritage in primary and post primary schools and encouraging all to speak the local languages.
    The university teacher also urged parents to give their children basic cultural orientation, saying that “government and other organisations should organise and promote cultural programmes and initiatives.

  • What happened to our library culture?

    Sir, At a library in Port Harcourt the other day, I submitted an inquiry for a book authored by a late prominent writer, environmentalist – whose drama series ‘Basi and Company’ kept me glued to the television set in the ’80s.

    Surprisingly, the person to whom I was referred, and who is in charge of archival materials, said he had never heard of that book. Never? I was befuddled.

    Not long ago I met an ex-librarian in his 70s who could reel out names of books and their authors that I had never heard of, with copious narratives and even speech-marks from some of the books. It was nothing short of amazing!

    At the same library, I noticed that people who came to use the facility were few, through no fault of the management. But it would appear that our library culture is quickly dying away in Nigeria. Compare that to the number of people who love watering holes.

    Little wonder some librarians don’t see the need to be acquainted with the books they have in stock. Why it is that people don’t patronize our libraries like they used to do?

    Does the age of the Internet have anything to do with this? Aren’t our libraries with their culture worth preserving? The library in Sokoto when I was a lad was pretty far from the barracks and the few times I had cause to travel to use the facility, I announced with pride to my friends that I was going to the library in a cocky manner. Looking back and in sharp contrast with the practice I see now, I think I deserve an Earldom.

    It’s the same story in Kaduna and Abuja. In Abuja, I saw many folks come to read newspapers in the library and I took them seriously. I considered every woman I saw in the library as a very serious person. No disrespect to many who don’t. But only serious-minded people care something for the pains of research.

    On a visit to Ibadan not long ago and on my way to Jericho through Mokola, I saw a young lady busily looking for books (cheap paper backs) spread on the floor. I took her seriously and had to woo her for intellect’s sake. No regrets! How many people can submit such effort under the cloud of a scorching sun, when there is the alternative of watching a Kardashian or Telemundo under a cloud of comfort?

    * How do we protect our libraries from going into extinction, to be self-sustaining and encourage a reading culture?., ,

    * Maybe government needs to step up a campaign to not only promote a reading culture but also to build massive buildings in a secured environment owing to the security challenge in our country.,

    Libraries could be considered interesting places if they provide other services. For example, a daycare centre for tweens could be established to promote early childhood literacy.

    Again, all local government could be mandated to have a functional library which shouldn’t be only a repository for books but a place where all immunization services can be carried out.

    Rekindling the prospect of libraries being establishments of community focus has never been more urgent. At a time when there are too many self-professed academics, self-published authors, e-books and social media sites offering unadulterated drivel on the Internet, filled with grammatical errors, poor content, bad language and factual inaccuracies, change is needed.,

    • Simon Abah.

    Port  Harcourt, Rivers State.