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Tag: Legend

  • Legend, Trojan partner on Africa’s first fibre-to-the-room

    Legend, Trojan partner on Africa’s first fibre-to-the-room

    Legend Internet Plc has partnered with Trojan Estates to deploy fibre-to-the-room (FTTR) technology across Royal Gardens Estate, making it the first fully FTTR-enabled residential community in Africa.

    Under the partnership, unveiled at a launch and contract signing ceremony in Lagos, Legend Internet’s premium connectivity solution, Legend Omni, will deliver fibre-powered internet directly into every room within Royal Gardens Estate.

    The deployment eliminates connectivity dead zones and ensures consistent high-speed access, positioning the estate for smart-home adoption, digital lifestyle integration, and future-of-work readiness.

    Chief Executive Officer, Legend Internet Plc, Aisha Abdulaziz, described the project as a major step forward for Africa’s digital ecosystem.

    “This milestone marks a new chapter in connected living across Africa. Royal Gardens Estate is not only the first to deploy Legend Omni in Lagos, but also a leader in defining what modern luxury living should look like—seamless, smart, and future-ready

    “FTTR is more than a connectivity upgrade, it is the new baseline for premium living. As consumer expectations shift toward uninterrupted digital experiences, our partnership with Trojan Estates demonstrates how technology can unlock new value for homeowners, developers, and long-term investors alike,” Abdulaziz said.

    Managing Director, Trojan Estates, Kunle Tinubu, said the agreement reflected a long-term commitment to technological foresight.

    “Today, Royal Gardens Estate becomes the first estate in Africa to deploy Legend Omni’s FTTR technology. This groundbreaking partnership is the culmination of Trojan Estates’ founding vision—one so committed to enduring value that over twenty years ago, we engineered the foundation for this digital future.

    “We are not just defining luxury living; we are guaranteeing a world-class resident experience and cementing our legacy in iconic real estate development,” Tinubu said.

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    According to him, the project is expected to serve as a model for similar deployments across the region, setting a precedent for how real estate and technology players can collaborate to drive Africa’s digital evolution.

    Investors and industry observers explained that the collaboration signals rising demand for digitally optimized housing and next-generation infrastructure. Legend Internet says the rollout forms part of its broader mission to elevate Nigeria’s connectivity standards and accelerate the adoption of smart residential ecosystems.

    The event also featured attendees from Huawei Technologies, which supplies the FTTR architecture supporting the project.

    Meanwhile, Abdulaziz was named Digital Luminary of the Year at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria’s (ATCON’s) Excellence Awards 2025.

    Analysts said the recognition underscored the company’s strengthening position in Nigeria’s competitive broadband market.

    The award, one of the industry’s most coveted, celebrates leaders shaping the strategic direction of Nigeria’s digital economy. ATCON, the umbrella body for telecom operators and infrastructure providers, cited Abdulaziz’s “exceptional leadership, strategic foresight, and commitment to expanding national connectivity” as reasons for the honour.

    Under Abdulaziz’s stewardship, Legend Internet has emerged as one of the fastest-growing fibre broadband providers in the country, reporting improvements in network performance, customer acquisition, and service delivery. Industry watchers note that the company’s aggressive fibre rollout and its engagement on national digital-policy discussions have positioned it as an increasingly influential player in the sector.

    The recognition is expected to boost investor confidence in Legend Internet’s long-term growth strategy as the company competes for market share in a broadband landscape driven by surging data demand, enterprise digitisation, and government-backed digital-inclusion initiatives.

    Reacting to the award, Abdulaziz described the honour as “a reflection of the hard work and resilience of the entire Legend team,” adding that the company will continue to “innovate, expand access, and strengthen Nigeria’s digital foundation.”

    With the accolade, Legend Internet signals its intention to deepen market penetration, scale infrastructure investments, and strengthen partnerships that support its ambition to deliver reliable, future-ready connectivity to individuals, businesses, and communities nationwide.

    Commenting on the achievement, Chief Marketing Officer Shakirah Alaga said the award reinforces the company’s brand momentum and market credibility. “This milestone validates the trust our customers and partners place in Legend Internet. It strengthens our commitment to delivering superior broadband experiences and scaling innovative digital solutions that meet the evolving needs of Nigeria’s households and enterprises,” Alaga said.

    Investors will be watching closely as the company leverages this momentum in what remains one of Africa’s fastest-evolving digital markets.

  • Exploring exploits of an army legend

    Exploring exploits of an army legend

    This volume of Legend of Buratai that has 9 chapters and is 238 pages long was published in 2022. It was preceded by two volumes. However, it was observed that the previous volumes did not quite discuss Lt General Tukur Yusufu Buratai’s (Gen Buratai) military career and the basis of his successes. Although Gen Buratai had planned to discuss his military career in his memoir, he yielded to the desires of his readers and devoted volume 3 to a narrative of the thoughts and principles that guided him on his way to generalship. And so very early in the book Gen Buratai declared that: “In my attempt to take a critical look at generalship and the road to that exalted circle in the military, I shall expound my understanding of what is leadership, types of leadership and the best leadership style that has worked for me, leadership and generalship, steps or things I did that helped me on the road to generalship, and pitfalls to avoid on the road. This is a recollection of my personal experience from the field and also theories I learned in the class” (p.6).

    In effect Gen Buratai’s military career begun in his boyhood days. According to him, he was a born soldier. His father was a World War II veteran and soldiering was his first choice as a profession even though it was providence that got him enlisted into the Nigerian Army. A friend of his at the Teachers College Potiskum that he also attended had intimated him of an ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He quickly applied, sat for the examination, passed, received his father’s blessings and got enlisted into the Nigerian Army as a cadet in 1981. There, begun his military career in earnest although his Indian teacher at the Teachers College Potiskum had noticed something extraordinary in his personality even at that youthful age as he kept referring to him in the class as a ‘great man’ (p.18).

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    As the narration goes, Gen Buratai outlined in details step-by-step the process of his rise to generalship with the sole purpose of guiding his fellow cadets and junior officers what to do for those of them who aspire from their lowly positions to be generals and even to a higher opportunity of the rank of a 3-star general that he proudly attained and served for 66months as Chief of Army Staff before he bowed out of service after 41years of military career. Gen Buratai went on to explain the purpose of writing this volume thus: “It is not an easy feat to rise to the level of a three-star general and Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria. There are principles and disciplines that I developed and learned from others that helped me to succeed in the Army. It will be a great disservice to humanity to keep them to myself and not to share (it) with those coming up; those who want work hard and smartly to succeed in the military” (p.30).

    In his prescriptions on the road to generalship, Gen Buratai laid emphasis on personal development as being very critical to any cadet or junior officer, male or female, who wants to become a military leader, more so, in the mould of general, adding that: “…the best thing to do for any officer on the road to generalship is to be a good follower, imbibe the principles of diligence, loyalty and excellence in all ramifications of one’s life. If you want to succeed as an officer and become a military leader, you must perform better in order to stand out from the crowd. Why? It is because good performance begets more and better opportunities” (p.31).

    As a demonstration of his personal development, Gen Buratai recanted how after qualification as a teacher and graduation from NDA, he proceeded to acquire first Degree in History at University of Maiduguri and a Master of Philosophy in Security Studies from the Bangladash University of Professionals. These are in addition to subsequent professional courses he went through as a military officer.

    In all modesty, Gen Buratai stated that in all this, he performed excellently well. It is on that account that he emphasized the benefit of education and reading which he said allow one to learn from the experiences of people one never met and who were widely reputed to be successful as military officers and as civilians in other professions in Nigeria and other countries. Gen Buratai said: “What usually distinguishes leaders from their peers and their followers is personal development for when others are busy partying and sleeping, the prospective leader is busy burning the midnight oil, reading voraciously, drinking from the fountain of wisdom and knowledge like a thirsty camel in the desert’’ (p.95), stressing that “…reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” (p.98).

    One should read widely and in-depth, digest or process what one has read, reflect and make concerted effort to practise what one has read, he further advised.

    The rest of the book and more especially Chapter 7, pp. 103 -154, are  devoted to discussions on the leadership principles and citing numerous personalities worldwide who were successful based on critical success factors that include and most importantly the virtues of trust, honesty, influence, communication skill, loyalty, selflessness, diligence, determination, confidence, ambition, commitment, physical fitness, physical appearance, spirit of camaraderie, optimism, alertness, personal character, professional capacity, art of moderation, acquisition of multilingualism skills, style of leadership, leading by example, winning mentality, prayers and avoidance of  pitfalls encountered by others.

    Gen Buratai cited numerous personal and other examples backed by several quotations on leadership of people who had been exceptionally successful in and out of this country and going back into history to include pronouncements by notable contemporary leaders and ancient philosophers of the likes of Confucious (551-479) and a famous military strategist Alexander the Great (356-324 BC).

    It is noteworthy that to underline the importance of self-discipline Gen Buratai, quoting Plato, stated that: “… For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of victories” adding that “…the military officer needs to be disciplined in all ramifications of his life, the way he dresses, eats, periods of sleep, talks, walks, and relates with superiors and subordinates. There is no way a military officer can rise to generalship without personal discipline” (p.118).

    It is equally noteworthy that Gen Buratai being a qualified teacher, rendered the entire narration of the book in a style of an instructor addressing his students which in this case are military cadets and junior officers. It is also a credit to him that unlike books written by former fellow military officers, there is not much of the use of military terminologies which sometimes make it difficult for the non-military reader to understand. His was written in simple English all through.

    There is no doubt that not only military officers but anyone else who reads the book stands to benefit immensely from the emphasis on self-discipline in everything one does as well as the imperatives and gains of persistence in development of the body and mind.

    Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai who hails from Buratai Town in Biu Local Government of Borno State, North Eastern Nigeria was born on November 24, 1960. He enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 1981 and retired in 2021. Post-military service, he served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, 2021-2022.

    ·               Usman is a former permanent secretary in the presidency, Abuja

  • Harrysong wraps up Legend’s ‘Real Deal Experience’

    Harrysong wraps up Legend’s ‘Real Deal Experience’

    Residents of Abakaliki turned out en-masse, as the nationwide ‘Legend Real Deal Experience’ concert came to an end last Saturday.

    Singer Harrysong, known for his energetic stage moves, left the crowd at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, Ebonyi State, asking for more with his performance.

    The ovation that greeted Harrysong’s appearance on stage was deafening and it got even louder as he began singing, starting out with the very popular ‘Reggae Blues’ hit and then proceeded with other hits like ‘Samankwe’ and ‘Baba for the girls’.

    Speaking at the concert, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout brands, Nigerian Breweries, Emmanuel Agu, said that although this isn’t the first ‘Real Deal Experience’ concert, it seems as though there’s a special feeling here.

    “The people of Abakaliki are loving and receptive and I’m glad they had plenty fun here tonight. The rave was beyond me. But most of all, tonight was a terrific experience, one that I’m sure the consumers here in Abakaliki won’t forget in a long time,” said Agu.

    As the Real Deal Experience makes its final stop in Abakaliki, the Brand Manager – Stout, Nigerian Breweries, Oluseun Lawal is satisfied at the year-long nation-wide concerts.

    “The brand’s nationwide tour has visited a lot of major cities in Nigeria this year and we’re excited about how great it turned out,” said Lawal.

    “2017 has come to an end and we hope our consumers had a great time with us all year round. I’m happy at how much of a success the Real Deal Experience has been and we’re hoping for even greater successes in 2018.”

    In keeping with the concert’s tradition, attendees also won prizes from a competition which held on social media and carted home gifts such as N50, 000, flat screen TVs and refrigerators. The Legend Real Deal concerts have held in Lagos, Nnewi, Port Harcourt and some other major cities in Nigeria.

  • Roger the Legend

    Roger the Legend

    •Federer claims a record 8th Wimbledon title 

    A few names would pass as legends of Wimbledon, one of the four “Grand Slams” in the professional tennis circuit; the other three being the Australian Open, the French Open at Roland Garros, Paris, and the US Open, at Flushing Meadows, New York.

    Wimbledon legends? The American, Pete Sampras, who until now held the Wimbledon record of seven men’s singles titles; the Swede, Bjorn Born, the tennis “ice man” with the highest Wimbledon consecutive wins of five (1976-1980), despite retiring early at 26; John McEnroe, the American “super brat” who, in 1981, terminated Borg’s consecutive runs, despite losing to the Swede, at the previous year’s final; Rafael Nadal, the clay specialist who nevertheless has annexed two Wimbledon titles; the Czech, Ivan “the Terrible” Lendl, who never won Wimbledon, but won the three other Grand Slams;  and of course, Novak Djokovic, currently among the best three, in the current pro tennis circuit.

    Still, none of these greats could match the Swiss, Roger Federer: Federer just won an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon title, beating Sampras’s old record of seven; and writing his name among the all-time tennis greats.

    Even without his latest win in the famous All England Club in Southwest London, Federer’s place in tennis history appeared assured. His overall 92 career titles included 18 Grand Slam singles: five Australian Open, one French Open, five US Open and seven Wimbledon, which equaled Sampras’s record. After turning professional in 1998, he has grossed a total career prize money of US$ 107, 299, 486.

    Still on records: Federer, by his exploits at this year’s Wimbledon, repeated Borg’s 1976 open era feat of claiming the title without dropping a single set; from the opening match to the championship set. His win also marked an unprecedented 11th Wimbledon final, out of which he won eight. His 2017 Wimbledon third round victory over Mischa Zverev also fetched Federer his 317th Grand Slam singles win, one more than Serena Williams’ 316. That made him the player, male or female, with the highest number of Grand Slam singles wins ever.

    Indeed, at 35, Federer appears to defy age and gravity, with the superlative posting he has put up this year. Earlier in January at the Australian Open, he blew away Nadal. Hitherto his nemesis, Nadal is the only guy, among his peers, who enjoys a two-to-one ratio win over Federer. Though most of these wins were on clay (Nadal’s favourite surface), one indeed was a triumph at Wimbledon’s famous centre grass court. But at Australian Open 2017, Federer was just too good for Nadal.

    Federer followed up his superlative Aussie show by, in the July 16 final, dispatching Marin Èiliæ in three straight sets, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4. Indeed, a sweet performance en route to a sweet record!

    Aside from the rare technical quality of his play, tennis would remember Federer for his durability and staying power. Just when he appears down and out, he comes up with that rare self-renewing verve that makes all the difference. That seems to explain the “ever-green” of his play, over a 19-year period, matched against an ever furious, if not brutal, competition.

    When Federer soars, he looks well and truly unassailable, with fitting company only among the stars. For 237 consecutive weeks, from 2004 to 2008 (a period not a few believed was Federer’s peak), he annexed the World No. 1 spot in the professional tennis circuit. That remains a record in the open era, which kicked off from 1968. But even years from that peak, he still remains top of his game, constantly reinventing himself.

    What can the Nigerian youth garner from the Roger phenomenon? Even with genius or talent, success doesn’t come cheap. Between peak and slump, Federer has over the years managed to maintain a competitive balance. That has come from his passion for his game, the iron discipline to push his body to the limit, and, of course, the caution to take necessary rest as part of the training mix.

    No matter how many years he has left to play — at 35, his playing days are coming to an end — he is priming himself to challenge  for the greatest tennis player of all time.

    But that, he would contend with the likes of Rod Laver, the Aussie who has logged the highest-ever career titles of 200; and the only man to have won the Grand Slam both as amateur (1962) and professional (1969). He was also ranked World No. 1 for seven straight years between 1964 and 1970.

  • Legend honours Ifeanyi Ubah

    Legend honours Ifeanyi Ubah

    Legend Extra Stout has embarked on a campaign to identify with, celebrate and reward local legends in the different cities where its show, the Legend Real Deal Experience is held.
    In line with that decision, the brand has conferred on Nnewi native, businessman, politician, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah the title, ‘Legend’.
    The 45 years old CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, and Chairman of Ifeanyi Ubah FC expressed delight that he was being honoured.
    An elated Ubah said; “It’s a great honour to be celebrated by Legend Extra Stout in this way. I am grateful for the award and for the fact that my Nnewi people get to unwind. It’s a good thing to take the evening off to just relax.”
    Speaking on why the brand is recognising and celebrating Legends, Portfolio Manager-Mainstream, Lager and Stout brands Nigerian Breweries Emmanuel Agu said; “We believe there is a legend in every man and by celebrating those that are well-known, we can inspire other men to come out of their shells and be real men. It was a great honour meeting Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah tonight and I’m glad the people of Nnewi came out to not only celebrate him but to also have a great time here at the Real Deal Experience.”
    The show, which also featured exciting performances from dancehall star Timaya, popular live band Tipsy Kelvano, and exciting onstage performances from popular comedian De Don and some local acts, saw thousands of Nnewi residents gather for a night of fun at the Kings Palace Hotel.
    Legend Real Deal Experience will visit Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, Abuja, and Enugu in the coming weeks.
    Legend Extra Stout was launched into the Nigerian market in 1992, and was named Legend because it suggested solid reputation and authenticity.

  • Kunle Afolayan, Funke Akindele to host Sons of Music Legend

    Kunle Afolayan, Funke Akindele to host Sons of Music Legend

    Movie producer, Kunle Afolayan, and actress Funke Akindele have been selected to host this year’sSons of Music Legend concert which will hold in few months time as plans are already going on for the second season of the show.

    Following the success of the first edition of the ‘Sons’ of Music Legends’, the organizers, Super Star Leketex (SSL) Entertainment company, have revealed that the event is designed to celebrate legendary works, which have been promoting the rich culture and traditions of Nigeria across the world as well as to honor both the living and departed legends who have made the industry and the country proud through their talents.

    This year’s event, according to the organisers, will include some international sons’ of music legends, such as Romeo, Ziggy Marley, among others.

    Sons of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, Femi and Seun Kuti, Tolu Obey, Dare Art Alade, Barry Showkey, Big Sheff, Paul Play, Musiliu Arunoishola, Daisi Orlando, among other Nigerian sons’ of the music legends will also be performing live.

    Popular comedians, such as Basketmouth, Seyi Law and Akpororo are also billed to crack ribs, while living legends are special guests of the event.

    The event, is also expected to be graced by premium net worth individuals, especially those that grew up with the legends music as well as fans of the various legends who are now captains of industries.

  • Ola Rotimi: Memories of a legend

    SIR: Olawale Gladstone Emmanuel Rotimi, popularly known as Ola Rotimi was an accomplished literary gem. A pioneer in the art from this part of the world and reputed to be one of the first Nigerian graduates trained in the art of performing theatre and craft from America.

    ‘Timi’ the dramaturgist remains of the greatest indigenous directors of our time, playwright, critique and distinguished actor whose mastery in the art of stage performance and craft accompanied with good sense of aesthetics and technical depth earned him accolades both in Nigeria and abroad.

    Ola Rotimi made use of good fusion of music, dance and mime. He believed that ‘theatre in the round’ is more relevant to our African culture.  Especially taking into cognisance the typical traditional African dances, wrestling contest, court jestings, drama performances etc. which allow for audience participation and interaction between spectators and performers even while the action is still on.

    As a writer he communicated to the world in plain, lucid language as quite all his works could be read and understood by any average literate, from a primary school leaver to a professor.

    As a playwright, his ability to relate literature to real life was quite unique and profound. “Our husband has gone mad again” easily comes to mind.

    Even though, Professor Ola Rotimi did not die as a wealthy man, but I make bold to say, he died fulfilled. This is so because he died doing what he knew and liked doing best, imparting knowledge and grooming young talents in acting, play-writing, directing and stage designing.

    Even at the height of the brain drain problem in our universities when many of his colleagues left the country, he chose to stay back. Although he left the country for a brief period, his zeal, desire to help improve our local theatre industry prevailed and he returned.

    I will always remember him for his humility, simplicity, hard work and respect for scholarly tradition and creative talents.

    Maybe if ‘Timi’ were alive, he might have directed one of the largest ‘circus show of shame’ where National Assembly members exchanged blows freely on the floor of the hallowed chamber. What a vintage theatrical experience that would have been.

     

    • Samson Ayooso,

     Port Harcourt.

  • Kanu reveals: Iwobi can be a legend

    Kanu reveals: Iwobi can be a legend

    Former Arsenal striker, Kanu Nwankwo has told SportingLife that he is pleased to be praised by his compatriot, Alex Iwobi for his hat trick heroics against Chelsea in an EPL tie on October 23, 1999 and that he regularly discusses with the Super Eagles sensation on how to improve his game further.

    Iwobi was quoted in a report published by SportingLife yesterday that he won’t forget in a hurry the three goals Kanu netted against Arsenal’s London rivals, Chelsea which turned the game on its head from 2-0 to 3-2 and Kanu in an exclusive chat disclosed that how he got those goals remain evergreen in his memory.

    Papilo, as fondly called by his admirers, told SportingLife that he was happy with the progress of Iwobi under Arsene Wenger and that he would continue to offer timely counsel to the nephew of Austin Jay Jay Okocha to ensure that he becomes even a great player like his elder brother and other Nigerians who have played in the EPL.

    Kanu took part in a recent charity game involving Arsenal’s former stars and AC Milan which ended 4-2 with the Nigerian scoring three goals.

    In a related development, Kanu  hinted that he had no qualms with the Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger who excluded him from the list of the Gunners Best XI which he coached.

    SportingLife recalls that on Thursday Papilo oversaw the 3km walk for life to mark this year’s heart day where he led other notable celebrities from MITV Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos in a power your life with a 3km walk and health consultation meant to create awareness on cardiovascular diseases.

  • Among legends, Muhammad Ali was the legend

    Among legends, Muhammad Ali was the legend

    Back in February 2000, Muhammad Ali showed up at a Michigan State basketball game. He was living at the time in the southwest corner of Michigan and had become enamored with Tom Izzo and his then rising program. (“His people called and said, ‘Can we get a couple tickets for Muhammad Ali?’ ” Izzo said at the time. “I was like, ‘Is this a prank call?’ “)

    It really was the Champ and now he was out in the postgame hallway of the Breslin Center, waiting to congratulate the Spartans after a victory over a good Connecticut team.

    Ali, dubbed the Louisville Lip for practically inventing modern sports trash talk and perhaps even the concept of rap music, didn’t speak much then. He didn’t float like a butterfly anymore either. Parkinson’s had ravaged him. He shuffled. He looked people in the eye. He feigned a boxing stance. That was it. That was all he could do.

    Word that Ali was in the hall brought a crowd, including Michigan State players out of the celebratory locker room. They’d met him before that season, but this never got old. They just wanted to see him, greet him, thank him, experience him. And soon news reached the UConn locker room too, and now here came the Huskies.

    Forty-minutes of hard-fought college basketball didn’t matter, there they were, side-by-side, every player awe struck, star struck, struck at the sheer moment in front of this man who despite not having won a single boxing match in most of their lives (his last triumph was in 1978) saw him for exactly what he was.

    The Greatest.

    The Greatest passed away Friday at the age of 74 in Phoenix area hospital. He wasn’t merely the only three-time linear heavyweight champion ever and arguably the finest boxers of all-time.

    He was, if you will, the most influential athlete ever, one of the first and still few global celebrities and a man whose impact extended long after he stopped speaking and will long, long after his death.

    The Greatest.

    There is no simple way to list all of his accomplishments. You can stack his career with anyone as a boxer – 56-5, with epic victories over Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Forman and others.

    You can do the same as a sheer entertainer, building and then thriving in a spotlight of promotion that turned things like the “Rumble in the Jungle” into global events.

    That is but a pittance of it though. Ali the Man was like no other. He saw the world clearly and then articulated it. He was the ultimate communicator; a skill that belied what he often joked was a lack of a natural intelligence coupled with a substandard education. Perhaps, but when it came to street smarts, he was but a genius.

    He broke the mold when it came to trash talk. He would colorfully and brashly predict victories – “I’ll beat him so bad, he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on,” he said before a 1965 fight against Floyd Patterson. His prefight routine was to so insult his opponent, rage would affect his strategy – “Joe Frazier is so ugly that when he cries, the tears turn around and go down the back of his head.”

    It was all good fun for Ali fans, and enraging behavior from the old-school, Puritanical establishment that had seen nothing else like him.

    The smack talk was nothing though. There have been a million imitations of that, on the playgrounds, in the ring, even through popular music. Ali wasn’t shallow. He was real, authentic, wise, incredible.

    His birth name of Cassius Clay was changed to Muhammad Ali as he became a Muslim, a concept that few Americans could even understand. In fact, many in the media kept referring to him as Clay.

    “Cassius Clay is a slave name,” Ali said. “I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name, and I insist people using it when speaking to me and of me.”

    Citing his faith, he refused to report for the draft board when his number came up to serve in Vietnam. This was principle he said, citing conscientious objector status. He then tore apart then entire fallacy of that war, and the state of racial affairs in America, with two succinct sentences that the finest political speechwriter could only dream to have thought up.

    “Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” Ali said. “No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.”

    His refusal to fight for the United States got him arrested (it was eventually cleared after lengthy legal battles that went all the way to the Supreme Court) and cost him three years of his prime as a boxer. It also meant he returned as the ultimate anti-hero, beloved in some segments of the country, despised by others that were threatened by the presence of a black man who refused to back down, yet was truly everything America is supposed to be.

    “I am America,” Ali said. “I am the part you won’t recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky. My name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me.”

    Later, after the attacks of September 11, 2001, perpetrated by Muslims, Ali mustered all the energy and voice he still had to try to explain to an enraged America that his religion, his beliefs, were not represented that day. “Islam means peace,” he said. With waning strength, he was still fighting for tolerance and thought and understanding. In fact, he surmised, Parkinson’s may have help sharpen the message – Ali finding a positive in anything.

    “Maybe my Parkinson’s is God’s way of reminding me what is important,” he said. “It slowed me down and caused me to listen rather than talk. Actually, people pay more attention to me now because I don’t talk as much.”

    There is nothing like him these days. There is nothing like him any days. That’s what hauled all those college kids out of their locker room in 2000, that’s what drew in the biggest sports heroes, celebrities, politicians and fans on earth until his final breath.

    So much of sports and society these days is protected, scripted, about making a buck, not changing the world. That isn’t all of it though. To ask any current athlete, any current anyone, to be Muhammad Ali, to possess that courage, that conviction, that sheer talent is unfair.

    Only one can be the Greatest … long live the Champ.

    Muhammad Ali to be honored at public funeral in Louisville on June 10

    The family of Muhammad Ali has released details surrounding his death and funeral plans for the legendary boxer and humanitarian who passed away on Friday at the age of 74.

    Ali spent five days at an Arizona hospital for what began as respiratory issues that worsened over time. At 9:10 p.m. on Friday, Ali finally succumbed to septic shock “due to unspecified natural causes” with his wife and children by his bedside.

    Septic shock stems from complications due to an infection where toxins in the body can initiate a full-body inflammatory response. It often occurs among the elderly as well as those with weakened immune systems. The infection causes inflammation and tiny blood clots to form, which block oxygen and nutrients from reaching vital organs. The blood pressure drops significantly and leads to respiratory, heart or organ failure and death.

    According to a tweet by Ali’s daughter, Hana, the heart of “The Greatest” continued to beat for 30 minutes after his organs failed. “A true testament to the strength of his Spirit and Will!” she posted. She wrote on her Intagram and Twitter accounts that “no one had even seen anything like it.”

    According to a release, the funeral service will take place at the KFC YUM! Center on Friday, June 10 in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. The service will be open to the public with limited seating beginning at 2:00 p.m. The service will also be streamed live from AliCenter.org.

    The service will include eulogies from former President Bill Clinton, journalist Bryant Gumbel and comedian Billy Crystal.

    In addition to the funeral, there will be a procession through Louisville, which will allow the general public to pay their respects to the man simply known as “The Greatest.” The route will include many locations that carried historical significance pertaining to Muhammad Ali.

    For those in the Louisville area who want to pay their respects to Ali, the Muhammad Ali Center (144 N. 6th Street) will be open throughout the week. The family has asked that donations be made to the center in lieu of gifts and flowers so that the center can continue to promote Ali’s legacy of humanitarianism.

  • Legend has empowered me, says promo winner

    Legend has empowered me, says promo winner

    As more winners emerge in the on-going Legend Extra Stout Taste and Tell campaign, Abdulrahman Shehu, a motorcycle operator who is the latest winner of a generator in Ilorin  said he will restart his barbing shop with his prize.

    Narrating his ordeal before winning the generator, Abdulrahman stated that after his internship as a barber a couple of months back, there was no money to buy a generator to power his barbing shop. Hence, he veered into riding commercial motor bike (Okada) to raise money to buy one for his trade.

    A few  months down the line, he still could not afford a generator but his dream came true when he won a generator at the Ilorin leg of the promo held in the city.

    There were many winners but 26-year-old Abdulrahman appeared to be the happiest because a pressing need had been met.

    Speaking reporters, he said he was deeply touched by the fortune that came his way. “I am very happy today because I have always wanted a generator for my  shop. Power is not constant and because of that, if you don’t have a generator, you can’t do the type of business I do. So I decided to lease and ride okada to raise money for the generator but today because of Legend, I now have a generator for my business,” he said.

    He said he was excited to go back to his shop given the risks he had been exposed to while riding commercial motorcycle. Abdulrahman expressed appreciation to the brewery firm  for empowering him through the campaign. He said the unique consumer reward scheme has saved him from the hazards of okada business and pledged to continue patronising the brand. Abdulrahman, alongside Ayo Samuel was able to taste and correctly identify Legend Extra Stout from three unmarked glasses containing three different stout brands in the game. Ayo Samuel won a refrigerator for his effort.

    Similarly, other participants who correctly answered question relating to the brand in a question and answer session that night won prizes including LED television sets and other consolation prizes.

    During the activation, the Harmony Cultural Group displayed the rich cultural heritage of the Emirate with the Baalu dance.

    According to Music Director of the group, Dosu Babalola, the dance was specially performed to highlight and extol the qualities that make Legend Extra Stout Nigeria’s fastest selling stout brand.