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  • New home for orphans in Imo

    New home for orphans in Imo

    At the tender age of eight, Daberechi Egbu had already assumed the responsibility of taking care of her younger sibling, Paschal. She hawked pure water, cracked palm kernel, all in a bid to feed and send her brother to school.

    This burden of providing for herself and her little brother, as tasking as it that may be, was not the only nightmare young Daberechi and her brother were going through. They lived in a decrepit mud house, which had partly collapsed and contended with the rain and reptiles.

    Most nights according to Daberechi, who appeared to be withdrawn, apparently as a result of her experience, they slept without food in their damp mat, while neighbours looked the other way as if they were not aware of them.

    She narrated that most nights, she could cry all through, questioning why God allowed them to suffer such fate.

    There travail started after they lost their mother in 2007 and their father who was a petty trader shortly afterwards in 2013 in Amaifeke, in Orlu Council Area of Imo State.

    At that point, life for them became one long journey of agony, loneliness and frustration. They had no peers to play with, they were avoided like plague, obviously because of the circumstances that surrounded their parents’ death.

    Even close relatives could not offer them any form of respite, except for their poor uncle who took them in to live with him, in what later could be best described as running from the frying pan to fire. Their uncle it was gathered started to abuse Daberechi, until she summoned courage and ran away to their hut which had almost been reduced to ruins by the rain.

    But they were not deterred, they took every punch life gave to them and nursed the hope for a better tomorrow.

    Like the saying that in every cloud, there is a silver lining, the plight of the orphan finally caught the attention of the Imo state governor’s wife, Nneoma  Okorocha, after their matter was reported to her by the Transition Committee Chairman of the Council Area, Ijeoma Igboanusi, a lawyer.

    And thereafter fate which had shut her bowels of mercy against them for many years, suddenly smiled on them. Not only did they get brand new fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow, but were given enough money that will see them through university education.

    The council boss, who narrated her encounter with the orphans, said she was shocked by their tale of anguish and poverty, adding that, “the story is very touching and the fact that they lived in that kind mud house and survived is something to marvel about. After I visited them, I reported their case to Her Excellency who was deeply touched and quickly approved the building of the new home for the children”.

    Daberechi who was obviously dumbfounded by their sudden change of status, when asked to make a speech at the event, could only sing songs of praise amid tears, a situation that reduced majority of the audience to tears, especially the women that accompanied the Governor’s wife to the event.

    At the highly emotional commissioning and handover ceremony of the new house, Daberechi and Paschal, were shown the kind of love they never knew in their agony filled life. Highly placed individuals hugged them amid suppressed tears. People spoke glowingly about their courage and resilience and even those that despised them came back to make amends.

    Wife of the Governor, while handing over the keys of the house to the orphans, assured that her office will continue to see to their welfare and especially their education, assuring that they will never go through such ordeal again.

    Mrs. Okorocha, who fought hard to hold back tears, described the case of the children as pathetic, adding that with the new home, the children will no longer suffer the ordeal of sleeping in the old mud house where they were exposed to all forms of danger.

    She observed further that the only time the society can be better is when the people learn to care for each other, especially by assisting those who are needy and under privileged.

    It will be recalled that the Governor’s wife had built over 172 bungalows for indigent widows and other vulnerable people in the state under her pet project, She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP).

    Meanwhile, two other indigent widows, Hope Akali and Katherine Ihenacho, also got new homes, after their case was brought to the Governor’s wife.

    At Eziani-Mgbidi, in Oru West Council Area, one of the widows, Hope Akali, was all tears as she narrated her experience while living in an old mud house with her two children, after the death of her husband.

     

  • Home, in a blaze of glory

    Mirage — that about captures Nigeria’s oft-vanishing infrastructure; only yesterday, smooth and gleaming.

    The Ibadan-Oyo expressway is fast becoming once-upon-a-road!  Yet, it is barely five years old!

    A scant three years ago, it was a gleaming piece of work: blissful tyres, in purring tryst with ultra-smooth tar, in sheer driving poetry! Not anymore!

    It was the last filial duty to Iyabeji, my beloved mother: Madam Oludayo Ajoke Aina (née Olufojude); and to Oyo we all must head, for the best bargain, for the befitting burial cow.

    With me was Folu (Adefoluso Adelaja), a friend more precious than kin; and Prince Ademola Adelaja, his elder brother, who kindly volunteered his van and driver, from his Ibadan base.

    Uncle Ayole, 70, (the current Asoro Olufojude clan head, and sole survivor of the Iyabeji siblings), had pleaded we bought the cow at the Mowo livestock market, at Ijebu Ode; decrying a “risky” trip to Oyo by one about to bury his mother.  Strong superstition there!

    But the Mowo prices were cut-throat; and the scary expenses loomed and roared like mighty waves, from an angry ocean!  Besides, ‘risky’? — and  on that gleaming, new road?  No way!

    But it all ended a grand mirage.   The gleaming road of yore had become patchy and tacky; with a part so collapsed you had to skirt the road to escape entrapment by the crater!

    Whatever happened — and in scant three years?  That teaches the imperative of rail for bulk transportation.

    Back to Mowo, Ijebu Ode, but still on vanishing roads!  Near that cow market, the much touted ‘Ogun Standard’ of Ogun Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) is fast becoming a rebuke.

    For starters, the ambitious expansion of this section appears abandoned.

    It is the tail-end of the six-lane stretch that enters Ijebu Ode, via the flyover, off the Sagamu-Benin expressway.  It runs through Mobalufon; over another flyover at the Lagos motor park, below which is a roundabout, the first of the seven, on that long stretch.

    At this tail end, and on both sides, a section of the road is completely failed.  Indeed, the leprous fingers of road failure is felt all over: a pothole flares, by the second, near the Arigbabu junction and roundabout; while the mouth of the Lagos motor park flyover is already home to some ugly and rather crude patches!

    Were Ijebu Ode as heavily trafficked as Lagos and Ibadan — or even Abeokuta — these failed spots, near the Mowo cattle market, would be sure misery land of traffic paralysis!

    The damage cynically mocks Amosun’s ‘Ogun Standard’ road trademark.

    Indeed, negotiating the last of those roundabouts leads straight to Ijebu Igbo and Ago Iwoye, en route  to Ibadan; while branching right accesses the old Gateway Hotel road, which leads to Ijari-Ijebu.

    Its many junctions, to the  right, lead to Igbeba, with its famed Awujale private residence; to the left, Ogbobgo-Ijebu (theatre of activity, where Iyabeji now rests); and further down: Erunwon-Ijebu, the Chris Ogunbanjo country;  Atan, Isonyin and ultimately, Ilese-Ijebu — all contiguous communities but which nevertheless jealously guard their individual identities.

    If you want trouble, just tease these blessed folk that they are Ijebu Ode natives!  Then brace yourself for a full dose of the history and psychology of Ijebu settlements and kinship!

    But from failed road blues, to Iyabeji’s glorious exit!  Ogbogbo seemed to gush: no burial could be more befitting; for a humble woman that lived her entire life for her children, and children’s children!

    When, at the funeral party, Bishop Samson Musicals (aka “My Lord Bishop”, courtesy of Ripples), took the bandstand, Ogbogbo, Erigo and surrounding communities knew someone was exiting!

    Yet, all these are thanks to some folks.  First, the host Ogbogbo-Erigo community.  They, with open arms, welcomed back their daughter, despite that her husband hailed from Odo-Ayan, in Eredo, near Epe, in Lagos State.

    Thank you, Ogbogbo-Erigo, from the depth of our hearts!  The Revd Samson Akanji-led First Baptist Church, Erigo-Ogbogbo, that conducted the Christian funeral rights, the choir and other congregants that massed the occasion, and Uncle Ayole that spared no cost to give his elder sister a befitting send-off, golden cousin, Modupe Onadipe-Oladunjoye, who represented the Onadipes all of the way, Seyi and Ade, the Oguntuga-Jamaica siblings, thank you all!

    Then, our famed guests, who, present or not, made the day: Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.  Blessed are those lowly and humble, even while in power!  Tunji Bello, secretary to the Lagos State Government: you never saw a more kindly soul.

    Of course, my “Ojangbon” (scholar), Dr. Akintola Benson Oke, the Lagos commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension.  You never met a more solicitous  gentleman.  Mobolaji Sanusi, now managing director, Lagos State Signage and  Advertising Agency (LASAA).  They say a friend in government is a friend lost?  Not Bolaji!  Thank you, all.

    Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN — what can I say of this friend of 37 years I always call “my nomadic SAN”? Or his brother SAN, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye, aka KK: first, a most generous friend, until we found out, during the funeral rites, that we were indeed cousins?  Just that God bless you both!

    And my family at The Nation — what a giddy show of love and affection, as they came in their numbers, and made a distinct stamp, writing copies and strutting editorials on the dance floor! Fantastic folks!

    Victor Ifijeh, Vintage Press MD, Gbenga Omotoso, The Nation editor,  Mr. Ade Odunewu, director of Admin and Finance, Sam Omatseye, chair of the Editorial Board, the entire membership of the board, led by Sam’s Deputy, Tunji Adegboyega, the one and only media cyclone, Sanya Oni, Opinion Page editor, our in-house Ogbuefi, Steve Osuji, Femi Macaulay and his delectable wife, Funmilayo! Lekan Otufodunrin, The Nation online editor, with his beautiful wife, Ronke.  Capital folks, all!

    Then that intimidating delegation from The Nation Business Desk!  Emeka Ugwuanyi, dancing and spraying away, in the best tradition of Owambe!  The ever delectable Okwy, Mrs Oruegbu-Chikezie, who led The Nation dancing “ECOMOG” that so distinctively stormed the dance floor.  Graft into the picture “Health Ambassador”,  Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha, with her pastor husband!  It was really a glorious day.

    Thank you too, our in-laws: the Omosipe clan from Iju-Akure, Ondo State; the Ariyo clan from Ibadan; Sammy Adeniyi and Doja, his beautiful wife, and broadcast journalist of TVC.  Our appreciation too, Mrs Olubukanola Fayanjuola, and her staff at Ajumoni SeniornGrammar School, Okota and her staff; Pastor Godswill Nsofor of House of Glory Parish, RCCG, Okota; Charles Omobvude and Sunny Asaka, wonderful neighbours!  Thanks all, for showing love to Omoladun, my darling wife.

    Of course, my “Junior Ichie”, Ifesinachi, son of Ichie Ezeh, a friend across the Niger I have never met; who yet sent his son to the occasion!

    To Mrs. Kehinde Ikumoluyi, my elder sister, her husband and their wonderful children, led by Dr (Mrs) Adenike Babalola, who donated the party canopy, Iyabeji must be immensely proud wherever she is now.  And Sola Adesola, Omolola, his wonderful wife and children, thanks for a most glorious show.

    And finally Folu, the friend dearer than kin.  What can I say?  Just that that show could not have been possible without you.  Thank you, loads!

  • Pains at home, glory abroad

    •That is the contrasting fortune of Nigerian medical students, one of whom carted away almost all prizes at a convocation in Ghana

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” Charles Dickens, in these memorable words, opened his classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities, reporting the temper of London and Paris, in revolutionary France.

    Though that historical novel was written in 1859, the opening sentiments succinctly capture the mixed fortune of Nigerian medical students in Accra, Ghana, and in Lagos, Nigeria.

    At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences, Fathia Kehinde Kareem, a graduating medical student in that university, made a near-clean sweep of all the awards at the convocation, claiming 12 out of 15 prizes. It was a university record, dwarfing the previous record of eight out of 15 prizes.

    In Miss Kareem, the Nigerian youth never boasted a more splendid ambassador, showing how excellently our youth could perform, given the right atmosphere. Indeed, she was a worthy representative, in which her country must be immensely proud.

    However, her rare feat rudely challenges her country, which appears in perpetual decline, in about every field under the sun, even if her citizens keep on posting superlative performance elsewhere. Nigeria, therefore, must put in place basic blocks, for her nationals to excel, particularly at home. Time and time again on foreign soil, Nigerians have proved their excellence. This, however, clearly mocks the shambolic situation at home.

    So, while Miss Kareem was harvesting glory abroad, her counterparts at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), were drenched in the rain, protesting a prolonged stay in the university, due to perennial strikes that slowed down their academic calendar; and complications arising from failed accreditation, of their Dentistry programme.

    Within 24 hours of the protest, however, the Lagos State government did well to release funds to procure critical training equipment to aid LASUCOM’s full accreditation, to avert any future recurrence of such delays. That was prompt — and good.

    Still, the point must be made: the government need not have waited until the students went out protesting. Therefore, there should be more coordination between the LASU management and the Lagos government, which owns and funds the university.

    Having promptly responded to the challenge, however, the Lagos State government should ensure LASUCOM never again suffers any accreditation glitch. LASUCOM started well, for it is one of the better medical schools in the Nigerian university system. Indeed, according to Prof. Babatunde Solagberu, it boasts the only Dentistry faculty, among state universities in the country that run medical programmes.

    The university, with the full support of the state government, should take this accreditation challenge as a starting point to re-start its medical school on a path of excellence, that its early days so much portended.

    But away from local LASUCOM challenges, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MDCN) should be commended for mounting a robust and rigorous accreditation process that should keep medical schools nationwide on their toes, to ensure high standards.

    LASUCOM should therefore accept the challenge, and put the school on the pedestal it ought to be. It already has a teaching hospital that garners solid reputation by the day. Now, it is time to add cutting edge equipment, as well as quality faculty members. Medical training, after all, is too important to be left to chance.

    With world-class universities at home, more Nigerians would be encouraged to send their children to local universities. Nigeria can then conserve scarce foreign exchange, burnt on foreign education, but sorely needed to develop other sectors of Nigeria’s socio-economic life.0

  • ‘Graduands’ home training continues’

    The premises of the Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos, wore a cheerful look during its valedictory service held at the school pavilion.

    The Commandant of the school, Col M. Kadai, said the graduands should be celebrated because they made it through their determination even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

    The school pavilion venue of the event, was decorated with blue and a touch of gold, with graduads looking resplendent in black blazer suit, white shirt and a red tie to match. The girls styled their hair beautifully and the boys had nice haircuts. Their teachers and parents were not left out of the paparazzi. They were decked in their best attires.

    Col. Kadai urged parents to continue to counsel and not leave their wards  as this could make them vulnerable to outside influences.

    The guest speaker, Mrs Ngozi Onyemekara told graduands to be conscious of the decisions they make, as it will be recorded as part of their story in future.

    “Life is like a book and it can only be interesting if we read it in chapters. Your life in this school is getting to a close and you are about to open a new chapter. Be cautious of how you open this next chapter, because you are moving to experience new set of situations in life,” she warned.

    Father of the day, Ambrose Uduechi, urged graduands to remember their alma mater, embrace hard work and move closer to God in their quest for greatness.

    “Wait on the Lord to achieve great heights. Have accurate vision like the eagle, which flies directly towards the sun. Eat what is right. The eagle will never stoop so low as to eat dead meat. So reduce your consumption of junk food. Don’t dwell on your past success, rather, aim to achieve greater ones and never forget who you are. You are an eagle, not a chicken,” He said.

    The mother of the day, Haijia Hindatu Yauri gave tips on making a successful journey out of life.

    “Everything we have taught you, keep them, especially self-control and patience,” Yauri said.

    She added: “Life is a journey, so run with these values. Have a goal and a vision so that you would not be sidelined by bad company. Keep to your pillars of character as taught by Command Secondary School.”

    The event, anchored by special guest of honour, Maj Gen Isadore Edet, also featured presentations of awards and the launch the school magazine Comlag Star.

     

  • Woman murdered inside her home

    A 50-year-old woman, Mabel Okafor, has been stabbed to death inside her residence in Ajah, Lagos, the State Police Command confirmed yesterday.

    The incident occurred at House J68B, Close 9, VGC, at the wee hours on Saturday.

    It was gathered that police operatives attached to Ajah Division received information around 12am and went to the place.

    Upon getting there, they discovered that the woman was stabbed on the stomach and abandoned by her killers.

    Confirming the incident the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, said effort was on to apprehend her killers, adding that the matter was under discreet investigation.

    In another development, a truck driver was electrocuted along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday evening.

    The deceased, identified as Sani Mesidau, was said to have been killed after the truck, marked SBG111XA, had contact with a high tension cable.

    He was said to have been conveying a container to a terminal in Ijora-Badia when the incident occurred.

  • A befitting home for Rivers NDDC

    A befitting home for Rivers NDDC

    After years of operating from a rented apartment, the Rivers State office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) now has a befitting home, writes Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 16 years ago to ensure sustainable development of the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    NDDC is to improve on the performance and activities of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).

    The Federal Government’s interventionist agency (NDDC) is also to facilitate the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful, thereby offering lasting solutions to socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta.

    The commission took off from rented apartments in the old Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, before it moved to No. 167, Aba Road, an eight-storey building that belonged to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, before it was taken over by the Rivers government and the commission being its tenant.

    The interventionist agency is still building its permanent corporate headquarters on Eastern Bypass in Port Harcourt, while the construction work started many years ago, with so much work still to be done at the site by the road side.

    NDDC also started operating from rented apartments in the nine offices in the Niger Delta states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia and Imo.

    The magnificent and befitting Rivers State office of NDDC, located at No. 125, Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt, which was inaugurated on July 12, is the first state office of the commission to be completed and inaugurated, and has changed the skyline of Port Harcourt in a good way.

    The Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who cut the tape to inaugurate the imposing edifice, said it was an indication of the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure real transformation of the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.

    Mrs. Semenitari, a former Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, who was appointed as NDDC’s helmsman by President Buhari in December 2015, called for unity and peace, in order to move the Niger Delta forward.

    She said: “We believe that our core mandate, which is to facilitate sustainable development in the Niger Delta region, is to take development to our communities and improve the living conditions of our people.

    “To achieve this, it remains the vision of the NDDC to take development to the people, through projects and initiatives that would have direct positive impact in their lives and help boost traditional livelihoods.

    “To achieve this, we must strengthen our state offices, by providing a befitting edifice that encourages professional conduct, hard work and commitment to duties, as well as decentralising operations.

    “That is why the completion and commissioning of the Rivers State office is very important. We are making a statement about how important our communities are and how we must do the best we can to serve them.”

    The old site of the Rivers state office of NDDC was demolished in March 2014, while work commenced on the new building on May 1, 2014, with the project planned to be completed within nine months.

    In October 2014, within six months of commencement of work, about 80 per cent of builders’ work had been achieved, but the project lost traction in 2015, with the speed of work drastically reduced, due to delayed payments to the contractors by NDDC, occasioned by funding challenge.

    To avoid any hitch during the inauguration of the Rivers state office, with state-of-the-art facilities, the acting managing director of NDDC and some top officials of the commission, on July 11, embarked on pre-inauguration inspection.

    While speaking at the site, she disclosed that the built-to-purpose complex was the first to be completed, as part of efforts to strengthen the presence of the commission in all its mandate states.

    According to Mrs. Semenitari, it was a big relief for NDDC to be able to move into its own property, after sixteen years of working from rented offices.

    She said: “It is very gratifying, as it is one of the things we always wanted to do. Now, we will no longer be chased around by landlords. So, even when we do not have money, we know that at least we can enter into our office space and sleep well. This is why it is such a good feat for us as a commission.

    “Of course, more importantly is the fact that it is a purpose-built structure and our staff will be able to work in a better environment and also deliver better services to the people of the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers State that owns the state office.”

    The CNN award-winning journalist also assured that NDDC would try to ensure that the other state offices across the region were constructed as quickly as possible, for the comfort of staff in the offices, stressing that the new Rivers office would be a model for the other state offices, but with some modifications.

    Mrs. Semenitari revealed that with the Rivers state office of the commission completed; work on the permanent corporate headquarters of NDDC in Port Harcourt would be stepped up.

    She said: “We are going to speed that (work at the permanent corporate headquarters of NDDC) up a bit. It’s been a little slower than we would like, but that has been for several reasons. However, we are going to speed up the process there and we expect that very soon, we should also move into our own property at the headquarters.”

    Taking the NDDC boss round the new Rivers state office, the Acting Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision of the commission, Felix Aomuore, an engineer, revealed that the building is on four floors, with ample space for offices and a basement floor for archiving and car park.

    He said the new building had provisions for many facilities, including a large reception hall, conference/multi-purpose hall for 250 people, staff canteen, sick bay and offices for drivers on the ground floor.

    Aomuore noted that the Rivers state office would accommodate about 120 staff, with unique office suites for the State Representative and the Director of the state office, stressing that provisions were made for some head office directorates, such as Commercial and Industrial Development; Agriculture and Fisheries, Youth, Women and Sports.

    The project consultant, Michael Ukpeh, an architect, pointed out that Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras had been installed to capture activities on all corridors within the imposing edifice and activities on the immediate vicinity of the building, with a control point at the security office.

    Ukpeh noted that besides the two staircases, the building also had an elevator for ease of vertical circulation, with the entry and exit facilitated for the physically challenged, in compliance with the requirements of the National Building Code for public buildings, while the cooling system is centrally coordinated on floor-by-floor controls.

    The project consultant discloses that an internal courtyard complements the large exterior windows to provide ample day lighting in the offices and cross ventilation in case of power failure at the purpose-built office.

    On the inauguration day (July 12), the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike; Mrs. Semenitari; the monarch of Port Harcourt City (Eze Epara Rebisi XII), His Majesty Victor Nnanna Woluchem II and others described the new Rivers office of NDDC as a step in the right direction.

    Wike, who was represented by his Special Adviser on NDDC Matters, Aribitonye Okiri, stated that his administration had not been playing politics with development, making him to be at the elaborate inauguration.

    The Rivers governor, who is a former Minister of State for Education, noted that jobs meant for indigenes of the state, especially persons on Levels 1 to 6, should be given to people of the host communities, to ensure peace.

    While also speaking, the monarch stated that the edifice was the first state office to be inaugurated in the nine states of the Niger Delta, which he said was not by accident, but considering the peaceful nature of the people of the state.

    The royal father noted that the area had not been experiencing youth restiveness or cultism, stressing that the only weapon the people had was negotiation, while lauding President Muhammadu Buhari for the right choice of Mrs. Semenitari as NDDC’s acting managing director, describing her as very hardworking, courageous, disciplined, fearless and of integrity.

    The inauguration was also attended by Rivers Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mrs. Helen Amakiri, and an Assistant Commissioner for Police in Rivers state, Presley Dode.

    In her address, after cutting the tape to inaugurate the building, Mrs. Semenitari said the edifice was designed and completed with the staff members in mind, stressing that it was indeed, workers’ delight.

    The Director of Rivers state office of NDDC, Benson Udo-Asubop, said the building  would enhance the productivity of the workers.

    Udo-Asubop also lauded Mrs. Semenitari for her zeal and commitment to transforming the Niger Delta, in line with the vision of President Buhari and for believing in the abilities of NDDC’s workers at the Rivers state office to ensure service delivery and greater performance.

     

  • Tears as Mama Theatre goes home 

    Tears as Mama Theatre goes home 

    With undisguised emotions, fans, colleagues and family members have continued to evoke memories of veteran thespian and broadcaster, Bukky Zainab Ajayi, who passed on in the early hours of Wednesday.

    In life, she meant many things to many people.  While some celebrated the late theatre icon for her stage and cinematic performances, many extolled her religious fervour as a devout Muslim.

    Incidentally, Mama Theatre, as she was fondly called in some quarters, died a few hours to the Eid-il-fitr celebration yesterday, which signifies the end of the Ramadan fast for Muslim faithful.

    No doubt, it could be said that she died a fulfilled woman, as she survived Laylatul Jaaizah (Night of Prize giving), the eve of  Eid-il- Fitr. It is said that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) would not sleep on the night preceeding the day of Eid-il-fitr in order to dole out rewards. And, in a report by Ibn Majah, Prophet Muhammed said: “Whoever stands up (in worship) on the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die.”  Consequently, the late Octogenarian, who converted to Islam in the 80s, could be said to have had the rare opportunity of fulfilling her spiritual needs on earth.

    Whether the late actress had any premonition of her death or not, she lived her life expecting that at 82, she was moving towards meeting her Creator. So, it didn’t really matter to her that she was battling a knee problem that had confined her to a wheel chair or that she was reportedly suffering a heart-related ailment.

    It was gathered that she had expressed the desire to be buried without delay, according to Islamic rites, whenever she passed on. For her, the wish was granted yesterday with clerics praying at her Surulere, Lagos home, before her remains were interred at the Atan cemetery, Yaba, Lagos by 5:30pm.

  • Enyimba lose at home to Zamalek

    Enyimba lose at home to Zamalek

    Visiting Egyptian giants, Zamalek yesterday pipped Enyimba 1-0  in a CAF Champions League Group B match played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa now top the group with three points following their 2-0 win at Algeria’s Entente Setif on Saturday.

    Bassem Morsy headed Zamalek in front in the seventh minute, when his effort lobbed over goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.

    The waterlogged pitch caused by the heavy rain in Port Harcourt virtually made it impossible for both teams to string passes on the pitch for a large part of this encounter.

    Kester Kelly forced a save from Zamalek goalkeeper, Ahmed El-Shennawy after 21 minutes.

    Enyimba continued to press for an equaliser and in the 37th minute Ahmed Tawfik made a timely clearance to keep the Nigeria champions at bay.

    Joseph Osadiaye’s  free kick in additional time missed the target narrowly as both teams retired to the changing rooms with the Egyptians holding on to their lead.

    In the second half, Enyimba pressed even more in search of the equaliser, while Zamalek relied on quick breakaways to destalibise their hosts.

    New signing Ifeanyi Onuigbo was denied by a timely block inside the box on 54 minutes.

    Sundowns host Enyimba on June 29 in continuation of the competition.

  • Big Boss goes home

    Big Boss goes home

    •Keshi, a truly Nigerian football icon departs 

    As player and coach, Stephen Okechuckwu Keshi (1962-2016), who died in the early hours of June 8, left formidable records.

    He was the first and only Nigerian to win the African Nations Cup (AFCON) as a player (Tunisia, 1994), and coach (South Africa, 2013). In all of Africa, Keshi was only second to Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, in recording this feat.

    He captained Nigeria’s first-ever national team to qualify for the World Cup, at USA ‘94. But that was after leading that team to win AFCON, for the first time on foreign soil, in Tunisia ‘94. That would be a second win, however, after the first home triumph, in Lagos, 1980.

    So, out of Nigeria’s three AFCON wins, Keshi was involved in the last two, as player and coach, over a 19-year period! That shows his commanding influence on the Nigerian football of his generation.

    Still, the 1994 double was at the dusk of his playing career. Nevertheless, the start of his career was no less glorious. When in 1979 he joined ACB, with Henry Nwosu, another kid wonder and mate at Finbarr’s, with whom he had won the Lagos State Principals’ Cup in 1978, he was a chubby but commanding 17-year old. At 22 in 1984, he had become one of the youngest to captain the national team. That team, of virtual rookies, under Coach Adegboye Onigbinde, won silver at the 1984 AFCON, losing the final to Cameroon.

    But what seemed Keshi’s greatest benefit to Nigerian football — and the local economy — would come from putative disaster. The then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) had banned, for six months, Keshi and three of his New Nigerian Bank (NNB) FC teammates. The charge: tardiness to report to the Eagles camp, equating indiscipline. Keshi therefore signed for Stade Abidjan and later, African Sports, both of Cote d’Ivoire. His movement thereafter to Lokeren in Belgium, opened the floodgate for Nigerian professional footballers in Europe.

    When Keshi settled at champions Anderlecht, Belgium had become a Mecca for starry-eyed Nigerian lads, whose lives would never be the same again. Enter, Nigerian armada of foreign-based professionals! Though that somewhat underdeveloped Nigerian local football, the players’ forex repatriation romped their individual families into new prosperity.

    But Keshi’s mentoring was not limited to Nigerians alone. Nee Odartey Lamptey, former Ghana international and Keshi’s protégée at Anderlecht, broke down in tears on Brila Sports radio, 88.9 FM, recalling how Keshi “put food in my mouth”, by helping to midwife his professional career.

    On the coaching front, Keshi set a record no African had attained: the first to qualify two countries for the World Cup: Togo (2006) and Nigeria (2014). Keshi’s feat at Togo was particularly striking, for unlike Nigeria, Togo belongs to those normally regarded as minnows in African football.

    For Nigeria too, he was the first local coach to win a World Cup match: in Brazil 2014, with his 1:0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. All previous wins were under expatriate coaches.

    Keshi had his own share of failures: his crash with the Nigeria Under – 20 side (2001 African Youth Championship); and his controversial exit, after failing to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 AFCON, even as defending champions, to give way for Sunday Oliseh, who proved a dismal failure.

    But all taken, he lugged a sparkling career. Yet, both as player and coach, he never gelled with the Nigerian football aristocracy — why?

    As team captain, he fought for his players’ right. For this, the players revered him. But the NFF resented him. As coach, he pulled a stunt, “resigning” immediately after winning AFCON in South Africa — a protest, many say, against how the football authorities neglected and abandoned the team until it achieved unexpected glory.

    Keshi’s player/coach escapades, without prejudice to his own failings, would appear the same story: Nigerian football administration seriously lagging behind the footballers! Let the NFF therefore use Keshi’s death as painful reminder to up their game; and place Nigeria on its proper football pedestal.

    Adieu, Big Boss has exited, one of Nigeria’s most iconic players in Nigerian football history.

  • Some simple home cures for typhoid fever

    I wonder how many students of the 1964 – 68 class of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, remember Lawson Oviaghele and Ganiyu Jawando. Are you listening, Oladunjoye Rusewe, Gbenga Ige, Abayomi Adepoju and G.R.A Akande? Lawson Oviaghele and Ganiyu Jawando were among the best footballers of Olivet’s First Eleven team which was indomitable in the Western Region of Nigeria. Today, almost 40 year after they parted ways from us, I remember them as vividly as I did in the 1960s whenever I hear of typhoid fever or salmonella typhi, the bacteria which caused it. Lawson Oviaghele died in his prime, a schoolboy victim of this intestinal disease which may become organ afflicted or systemic, that is involving organs or systems of the body. Ganiyu Jawando escaped death by a hairs breadth. Theirs was the worst cases of typhoid attacks which some students picked up, I believe in Iwo Town, when the school went to play a friendly with the sister Baptist school there. For some weeks, Lawson Oviaghele and Ganiyu Jawando lay at the Oyo General Hospital. They received good care in the hands of Mrs. Scoth, who, I believe, was a matron. She was motherly.

    Two of her children, Kobna and Margaret, were fellow students at Olivet. Despite the care they got, the cases of Lawson Oviaghele and Ganiyu Jawando deteriorated fast that the general hospital after had to refer them to  the University College Hospital Ibadan and, according to grapevine stories stores which filtered to Olivet, both boys received several pints of blood, but their bodies rejected much of the transfusion. Eventually, Lawson Oviaghele died. Ganiyu Jawando survived miraculously, but didn’t return to school to play football. A brilliant chap, he passed the “Concession” examination of the University of Ibadan which shortened his degree programme from five years to four.

     S.O Okolade

    May his paths be blessed, wherever he is. He was the human Anatomy Physiology and hygiene (now called Heath Science) of the 1964 – 68 Olivet class. He taught to the last detail, his language was picturesqueue, no student wished to miss his class. I will ever remember three of the diseases he taught us… Cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea. He said cholera killed Alexander the Great of the Greek Empire, and Wilbur right, inventor of the aeroplane among other prominent people worldwide. He said, also, that Salmonella typhi could make a rag of the intestine. That means it could perforate it and cause the leakage of blood and fecal matter into body cavity. This may cause sepsis or even death. Any wonder typhoid fever took the life of Lawson Oviaghele and almost killed Ganiyu Jawando. This diseases kills many people in Nigeria every year.

    The attacks are often misdiagnosed as malaria fever until it is almost too late to tackle. This is why many doctors do not like to take chances. From the first consultation, they send their patients to diagnostic laboratories for tests to confirm or rule out typhoid fever. This test is one of the commonest tests in these labs. This is not surprising because, in the Nigeria environment, many people are exposed to various causes of typhoid fever which are not readily available in other countries.

    Water is a common infectious agent. Many municipal water supply pipes are broken, eposing drinkable water to microforms in the earth. Before the advents of “pure” (sachet water), drinking water in the bukaterias(make shift park canteens) where many people still eat, came from wells or leaking pipes, or they were fetched from pure tape in unclean containers by water sellers. Even where motor tankers brought the water, the tanks may not have been cleaned in a long, long while.

    These giant plastic reservoir overhead or underground tanks at home, too, are hardly cleaned. I do not remember cleaning mine in the last 10 years since they were installed. Somehow, many people trust sachet water. But many of the brands are not covered by certification of the food and drugs regulatory body.

    Where they are, they are not regularly inspected for compliance with production rules. The food we eat is not safe either. As a young man, I stopped buying moin moin (bean cake) from the woman who made it in the next street when I sighted her child defecating in the open near her mother’s cooking basin.

    The mother came out from the room to attend to her child outdoor where she was cooking the bean cake. I was standing by the fire place, waiting to be attended to. She picked a bowl, dipped it into a bucket of water nearby. Running the water on the child’s bullocks, she employed the other hand to clean poop from her buttocks. Then, she rinsed her hands with the remainder of the water, and was now ready to serve me. I bought the moin moin out of courtesy, but threw them away once out of sight and never patronised her again. Many of us will not eat out if we know the conditions under which the cooking took place. Have you ever watched pounded yam being made on a mortal? The men and women who do the pounding sweat profusely, and there’s no way their sweat doesn’t get into the mortal.

    As Mr. S.O Kolade taught my fourth form Health Science class, Salmonella typhi is a gram – negative bacterium which causes systemic infections. The body reacts to it by, among other steps, raising its temperature to about 104 degrees Fahrenheit, against a normal average of about 98.6 degree Fahrenheit. The bacterium causes inflammation and pain in the intestine as it attacks it, sometimes even perforating it with fatal consequences. It causes pain in the joints or generalised pain all over body. If the bacterium escapes into the bloodstream, it may find its way into choice organs, infect them as well, causing a systemic disorder which may lead to death. As the website http://microbewiki.kenyon.education.com teaches us today:

    “The two species of Salmonella are Salmonella enterica and Salmonella bongori. Salmonella enterica is the type species and is further divided into six such species that include over 2,500 cerovars. The species we hear most about is Salmonella, which is estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to effect over 17 million people worldwide each year. Salmonella typhimurium and Salmorella typhi are two of over 2,500 types of Salmonella enterica. Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhi are closely related. However, there are distinct differences in the type and infections severity of diseases they both cause. This difference in infections is a result of differences in their genetic make – up. Salmonella typhimurium can cause infections in human and animals. It is often associated with animals and animal’s products that are eaten.

    Salmorella typhimurium can be transferred to humans through raw, undercooked infected food, egg, meat and in poultry, Salmonella typhimurium is passed from one bird to bird, most community through their droppings. When the poultry are slaughter for their meat, the Salmorella bacteria are transferred from their gut to the meat, and can be passed from the birds ovaries to their eggs. Salmorella typhimurium causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gut) leading to diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. These symptoms may last up to seven days. People infected by Salmorella typhimurium rarely require antibiotics for them or hospitalisation. However, antibiotics or other treatment may be needed if an individual is unable to fight off the infections themselves due to an underlying condition, such as a compromised immune system.

    • Salmorella typhi can only infect humans
    • It causes typhoid fever
    • It is common in developing countries
    • The symptoms of typhoid fever includes fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache or loss of appetite.
    • Without prompt treatment, salmonella typhi infection can lead to liver damage, inflammation of the heart, holes in the gut, and internal bleeding.

    If appropriate treatment is not given, typhoid fever is fatal in up to 20 percent of affected individual.

    • People with typhoid fever can carry the salmonella typhi in their blood and intestines and spread the bacteria in their faces.”

     

     Some simple cures

    The destructiveness of typhoid fever nevertheless, it succumbs to many simple home cure remedies.These have anti-microbial effects. I am tempted to believe that it is because some people consume them regularly in their diets that they appear never to come down with typhoid fever, however exposed to Salmonella typhi that they may be. I confess to being one of the sacred cows. Alhaji Isiaka Tijani, of Oko Oba GRA scheme 1 informed me that when no medicine seemed to help his son, the saving grace was a combination of Bongo tea and lime. All symptoms literarily disappeared overnight, he said. Mrs. Bukola Afeez, of Budget Travels, Lagos, said her typhoid attack disappeared when she took a recipe prepared by her husband, Oyeniyi, from native Ogbomosho, one of the homelands of herbs in Nigeria. The recipe was Sandpaper leaves, bamboo leaves, juice extract of corn (omi didun… in Yoruba) the Ogbomosho’s call omi didun, omi kikan. Some people rely on the sap of pawpaw fruit, or the sap of the tree bark or of the seeds. There is something common to them all that may kill Salmonella typhi bacterium. That common denominator is Papain.This is a protein – digesting enzyme like Bromelain found in the peel or stem of the pineapple. Papain chemically resembles Pepsin, the protein – digesting enzymes found in the human stomach where its production is facilitated by the right amount of hydro chloric acid (about 0.05 percent concentration). Papain breaks down or digests any protein that i.e not produced by the body. In the body, there are two types of protein, the endogenous protein (made by the body), and exogenous brought in from outside. All germs, like Salmonella typhi, are exogenous proteins and are subject to destruction by Papain. In many therapies, Papain and Bromelain are employed as systemic enzymes. These are chemical substances deployed by the immune system to fight invading germs. This knowledge probably informs the concortion of herbs made by some people to tackle typhoid fever. To make this concortion, pawpaw (papaya) fruit is chopped into bit and added to the peel and juice of lime and lemon, and the peel of pineapple and boiled. The infusion is served and drunk. It has helped the users to achieve varying degrees of success in typhoid addition therapy.

    To this, or without it, I would rather go for proprietary Papain and Bromelain enzyme formulas. Typhoid is too serious a condition to punch or, with kid gloves as shown. It may damage the joints, muscles, the heart and the liver. To make these more effective good carriers of herbal warhead may be required. Here comes Alligator pepper. An antioxidant, aphrodisiac, energizer, metabolism stimulant, anti-pain and anti-microbial in its own right,  it has ably supported, as an adjunct recipe, many protocols to dissolve tumours and uterine fibroids, and should help typhoid fever therapy protocols as well.

    Many people pay glowing tribute to Lemon grass, the traditional anti-malarial leaf tea. I will blow the trumpet louder for Lemon grass Oil and Garlic Oil. Ditto Oregano Oil What about Slippery elm? This monopoly saccharide which soothes the damage of digestives ulcers system should also wrap up and mop up Salmonella typhi bacteria and heal the injuries they cause in the intestine.

    Now, we come to the realm of the “Hercules” class fighters of germs and diseases. I believe that, if one habitually takes some of them with the diet every day, one is unlikely to experience intolerable colonization of the intestine and organs by these germs. For example, I learned a long time ago that eating one or two bitter kolas with a meal can protect one against germs or their eggs which are present in most foods eaten, especially if an egg, for example, has been infected with Salmonella typhi bacteria. Bitter kola is always in my pocket. For one may never know when one may have to eat out, particularly when “off taste” fish or meat or infected vegetable will be involved. Food sellers never wish to lose money or throw away damaged food. In any case, do they not buy rotten pepper, because, it is cheap, for the sauce? Propolis is another class of natural antibiotic that may offer formidable protection against Salmonella typhi and other germs. It is that special part of honey that the honey bee employe to paint their hives. This Propolis coat of painting makes the hives impregnable for germs. It is also the reason honey never goes bad. Honey as old as over 300 years have been found, chemically unchanged, in the tombs of Egyptian mumies where it is used to preserve these corpses. When I had gum problems characterised by aches and gum boils and nothing seemed to help, I went for Propolis tablets. Kasly, a network marketing company, used to sell a Propolis Syrup spray, which was effective for gum, teeth and upper respiratory tract infections. In the absence of Propolis tablets and capsules, the syrup may be added to water in a glass, stirred and drunk on empty stomach or over meals. Diatomacues, otherwise called Diatomite, Diatom or simply DE is obtained from the fossils of marine plants and endowed with a lot of Silica. The raw form is used for pest control, the edible form is used in human health, to, among other uses, control high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, improve blood and tissue alkalinity, break tumours and fight disease germs. It has uses as an abrasive in toothpastes, as filter for water, beer and wine spray in  sanely covered or open shoes, skin  cleaning and bath soaps. It is better than arm pit roll-ons when used as a deodorant powder there and for athlete’s foot. Composed of about 85 percent Silica, it Diatom is an excellent source of this trace mineral which is needed by tendons cartilage, blood vessels, bones and the heart, liver and lungs, to mention a few places where it is found in the body.

    According towww.globahealingcenter.com “Diatomaceus Earth acts as a mild abrasive topically as well as internally. It can help to remove intestinal invaders and other harmful organisms from the digestive tract. As an internal cleanser, Diatomaceus Earth may aid cleansing by supporting regularity and assist in removing toxic metals. Some studies have shown Diatomaceus Earth to be very successful in ridding animals of harmful organisms.”

    The barn of Mother Nature is in inexhaustible. There is Aloe Vera, there is Grape Seed extract, there is Oregano, there is Pau d’Aro, there is Golden Seal root, my favorite antibiotic, there isMango Seed Extract and, of course Orange Peel powder.

    According to www.mdidea.com: “Golden Seal root has been used for infections in the mouth, lungs, intestines and urinary system. It has also been used for swelling (inflammation), indigestion, cold and flu symptoms, menstrual disorders gall bladder inflammation and liver disease (cirrhosis). Golden seal root is one of the most popular herbs sold on the American market, and has recently gained a reputation as an herbal antibiotic and immune system enhancer. American Indians used Golden Seal as a medication for inflammatory internal conditions such as respiratory, digestive, and genito-urinary tract inflammation induced by allergy or infection… it was not until 1798 that its medicinal virtues began to attract attention. From then on, its reputation as a powerful healing herb spread, both in England and America by about 1850, it had become an important article of commerce. It was popularly used as a bitter stomach digestive (to help stimulate digestion and improve appetite), to treat akin inflammation, and those of the eyes such as conjunctivitis. It was also used for inflammation of the mucus membrane of the throat and digestive system. Its traditional uses include the treatment of peptic ulcer, gastritis, dyspepsia and colitis. It is said to stimulate appetite and generally has a toning effect on the whole body.”

    Ladies and gentlemen, I have witnessed the healing of vaginal infections (by yeast, fungi, candida or trichomonas etc.) by Golden Seal Root and have no doubt that it can quash Salmonella typhi as well. So, sufferers from this disease need not suffer or have their bodies damaged. Some have recurrence over many years. Some are maimed. Yet the solution to typhoid fever is abundant in Nature. In their days,Oviaghele and Ganiyu Jawando had no access to Mother Nature as we do today.Our guilt would be multiple if Salmonella typhi can still disarrange us.