The Nation Newspaper

Tag: London

  • Tube strike shuts London underground

    Tube strike shuts London underground

    • The ongoing strike by London’s underground public rapid transit system has shut the capital city of England leaving millions of commuters stranded.

    The industrial action is London’s largest in 13 years and witnesses more than 20, 000 workers shunning works over pay and night shifts.

    Very significantly, London is hard hit by the strike as all four of the main Tube unions are involved as well as First Great Western rail services making the impact severe on London commuters.

    Tube is London’s underground public rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and parts of the home counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

    Tube but strike
    Empty tube passage

    Additional information from a UK based media house, TheTelegraph has it that the tube strike has caused misery for a number of commuters who have struggle to get to work – with some journeys taking as much as four times longer.

    Taxi firm, Uber has been criticised for increasing its prices by almost 300 per cent to cash in on the chaos. London’s Mayor Boris Johnson has said the strike was “totally unnecessary” and was causing huge disruption to Londoners and to businesses.

    London Underground said it had received no response to the latest “fair and competitive” pay offer made to unions on Monday, urging that it be put to workers.

    However unions say the 24-hour tube service due begin in September will wreck work/life balance for its staff. Business groups said the strike will cost the capital’s economy tens of millions of pounds.

    Consequentially, government as estimated the cost of each day the strike lasts to be worth $77 million even as the industrial action is expected to continue on Friday especially for workers.

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  • I wanted to see Buhari in London…

    The time was a little before midnight on Friday, May 22. The place was a small, quiet, almost rural city in the British East Midlands. Apart from a brief stroll to the university library to pay some fines and renew some long over-due school books, and the inevitable cross-over to the nearby Morrisons’ supermarket to buy a few groceries, I had been sitting up in my apartment all day, and all night, battling with a chapter in a long overdue PhD thesis.

    When I found that my mind was beginning to wander off the topic of my chapter, I went to the kitchen, unpacked the few groceries I bought at the supermarket and took a couple of bananas – my favourite fruit. I looked around the fully-fitted kitchen in the self-catering apartment. What a waste – I sighed ruefully. Yes, the kitchen was a veritable waste.

    When I felt I had had enough for the night, I closed the chapter and, before unplugging the laptop, I went to the Internet to read Nigerian newspapers online – a veritable companion when you are out of the country, and out of reach of hard newspaper copies.  Then, as I browsed leisurely through the papers, I saw an interesting piece of news:  “Buhari Jets Out on Private Visit to Britain”. The story went on to say that: “The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday left for Britain on a private visit, his first such trip outside the country since winning the March 28 presidential election.

    “In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its head, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Media Team of the President-elect said General Muhammadu Buhari will use the opportunity of the visit to take a much-deserved rest ahead of his inauguration on May 29th. He is expected back in the country a few days before the inauguration, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running once he is sworn into office,’’ he said.

    Suddenly, my lethargy was gone. The journalist in me kicked in quickly. As they say, “once a journalist, always a journalist”. As a soldier and a politician, General Muhammadu Buhari was news, any day, any night. And now, as the President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari is news, any day, any night – at home or abroad. Would he have any public engagements in the UK? Would he make another appearance at the Chatham House – to make a post election speech? I wanted to be there – to report it.

    My desire to see the newly-minted President-to-be in London was not for any frivolous purpose like organized visits and courtesy calls. The Taciturn One does not suffer frivolities gladly. It was for the purpose of journalism work: to see if I could do a couple of reports on the President-elect’s visit for a couple of Nigerian newspapers I sometimes contribute to. Journalism is a stern and jealous god…

    I hit the internet and started checking if I could find any public engagement listed for the President-elect in the UK. I drew blanks. I started working the phones. It was already Saturday morning. I called Akintayo Adetokunbo, a popular news anchor with the VOX television in London – and my erstwhile classmate in the PhD programme who has had the courage to complete and submit his thesis. Tayo called back a few moments later. He was also very interested in the news of the President-elect’s visit to the UK and would love to cover it – but he did not yet have any details of the programme.

    I called the London office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), listed on a second floor apartment on the famous Grays Inn Road. The line failed to connect repeatedly. They had probably changed lines. But I hoped they had not closed shop – with the funding problems NAN is reported to be having. I sent an email to NAN head office in Abuja to Isaac Ighure, NAN’s Editor-in-Chief and an erstwhile very good friend of mine who I have woefully failed to keep in contact with. My email promptly bounced back as “undeliverable”.

    Then I sent an email also to T.G. Adeniyi, the Minister / Special Assistant to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafilda – seeking information on any scheduled public engagements of the President-elect in the UK. Then I checked my train cards and bus tickets and settled down to wait – ready for a quick shuttle to London to see Buhari…

    And, sooner than later, the news broke on Saturday, May 23: President-elect Buhari had had a meeting in London with Prime Minister Cameron. In a press statement issued from Downing Street, a government spokesman said Prime Minister Cameron met with President-elect Buhari of Nigeria and the two leaders discussed the challenges facing Nigeria.

    The Statement said in full: “The Prime Minister welcomed President-elect Buhari of Nigeria to Downing Street this morning. Both leaders congratulated each other on their recent election victories and discussed the challenges facing Nigeria. The Prime Minister stressed the UK’s wish to work for a stable, prosperous and secure Nigeria.

    “The leaders discussed security in the region and the fight against terrorism, particularly the threat posed by Boko Haram. They discussed the need for a regional approach and agreed to continue working together to build the capacity of the Nigerian army, with the UK continuing to provide military training and intelligence support.

    “On tackling corruption, they agreed this was a priority to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and success. The Prime Minister agreed to look at what technical assistance and support the UK could provide to the Nigerian government as it looks to undertake its reforms. They also discussed the need to tackle organised crime and the links between the UK and Nigeria. Finally, they talked about the challenges posed by migration from Africa to Europe and the President-elect said he would do all he could to secure Nigeria’s borders.”

    If President-elect Buhari was to have such an important scheduled meeting in Britain with the Right Honourable Prime Minister David Cameron – surely, that is work, not rest, or isn’t it? I have not heard it said that Buhari was just walking past the doors of No. 10 Downing Street – and then, on a whim, decided to stroll into the Prime Minister’s residence to say hi to Mr. Cameron.

    When the story broke here in England about Buhari’s visit “to rest” and to “refresh” himself before his inauguration, it became a major talking point for many Nigerians here. Two Nigerians I met who were having lunch in a small, roadside Asian “chicken and chips” restaurant near the city centre were deeply engrossed in a discussion of Buhari’s visit.

    “These our leaders have no shame: from Governors, Senators, Ministers to Presidents. They jet into Western Europe and North America to ‘rest’ or to treat every minor ailment – from common colds to headaches. But they cannot bring themselves to provide the same facilities in Nigeria.”

    I finished my modest “meal deal” quickly and left – after exchanging brief banters with the Nigerians. I did not have the time, or the energy, to engage in a tedious discussion of Nigeria’s many ills. But as I walked away from London Road, back towards the University Road, I kept worrying about the import of Mallam Garba Shehu’s strange statement about President-elect Buhari’s visit to the UK “to rest”.

    The Taciturn One is not also the Soft One. On the contrary, Buhari is known as a tough, lean, no-nonsense general, given to a very austere, Spartan lifestyle. His media handlers do him a great disservice, so early in the day, if they create the general impression that he flew into the UK, at public expense, no doubt, just to rest and to refresh – in readiness for his inauguration – while the President-elect came obviously on a national assignment.

    ‘If President-elect Buhari was to have such an important scheduled meeting in Britain with the Right Honourable Prime Minister David Cameron – surely, that is work, not rest, or isn’t it? I have not heard it said that Buhari was just walking past the doors of No. 10 Downing Street – and then, on a whim, decided to stroll into the Prime Minister’s residence to say hi to Mr. Cameron’

    •    Onyemaobi, a journalist and development communications specialist, writes from the UK.

     

  • LOLO OF WAZOBIA SHOOTS IN LONDON

    LOLO OF WAZOBIA SHOOTS IN LONDON

    WAZOBIA FM’s OAP, Omotunde Adebowale David, better known as Omotunde Lolo 1, is presently in London, hosting Women For Africa 2015 programme. While abroad, the presenter seized the opportunity to work with Oyinbo Princess, the self-taught British who speaks pidgin fluently.

    Lolo, who is gearing up for the 4th edition of her show, Oga Madam Live On Stage with Lolo 1, held the third season of her comedy and music show tagged Definition of a Queen, last year.

  • The gods mount London stage to unite Africans in Diaspora

    The gods mount London stage to unite Africans in Diaspora

    Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame recently mounted London stage at the Lost Theatre on Wandsworth Road, London during the five-day theatre production, reports SOLA BALOGUN  

    In less than two hours of exciting drama, theatre lovers in England once again savoured Lookman Sanusi’s interpretation of Ola Rotimi’s classic; The Gods Are Not to Blame. It was the first night of the five-day theatre production which held at Lost Theatre on Wandsworth Road in the United Kingdom capital. The performance which was produced by Ayo Jaiyesimi, was also Sanusi’s second attempt at reliving African culture on London stage, following his earlier production of Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again during the London 2012 Culture Olympiad.

    The just concluded production of Gods was conceived by the Thespian Family Theatre and Productions in collaboration with Heavy Wind Media Productions with support from Ola Rotimi Foundation. The drama experimented ambitiously with the mediums of live stage and screen projection, thus thrilling the audience on a fresh, illuminating multi-media platform. The latter helped a great deal in decoding messages that bother on tradition and culture, with a  strategic mission of recalling past events and limiting the time of performance, without jettisoning both the didactic and aesthetic values of African total theatre.

    The audience first encountered the opening montage which depicted the rustic but culturally rich Yoruba setting. This was followed by the narrator (Dejumo Lewis) who spoke through the large screen to announce the birth of a baby boy to the royal family of Kutuje land.  Also seen on stage was the rejoicing royal train, comprising Oba Adetusa, his wife, Queen Ojuola, the chiefs and some of the townspeople. But the ominous message from Ifa oracle that the newly born would kill his own father and marry his own mother obviously set the play on its tragic path. As custom demands, such a baby carrying a bad omen must be sacrificed else calamity befalls the land and the people in the future. Two years later, the royal couple was blessed with another son, Aderopo (Felix Ologbosere), as a replacement for the first child who came with a bad omen.

    Meanwhile, the play developed with a succession of dramatic ironies and elongated suspense, as several attempts at reversing the Ifa prophecy (as relayed by Baba Fakunle) proved abortive. First, Gbonka who was asked to kill the child in the bush handed him over to two hunters; Alaka (Jubril Sulaimon) and his boss, Ogundele, who later named him Odewale and raised him into adulthood in the land of Ijekun. Odewale (Benson Williams) grew up with his tragic flaws of impatience and extreme anger, and this led him into slaying a prominent chief around Ipetumodu after a scuttle over land. The killing of this chief, which was revealed via the (screen) flashback, fulfilled the first part of the prophecy as the audience later learnt that Odewale actually killed King Adetusa, his own biological father.

    As a man of fate, Odewale fled his foster parents in Ijekun after consulting the oracle and learnt that he would kill his own father and marry his own mother. In the process, he rescued the people of Kutuje from the people of Ikolu who wanted to take advantage of the vacant stool in Kutuje to attack its people. Odewale’s heroic exploits in favour of Kutuje forced the people to crown him king hence he succeeded his father as king and subsequently fulfilled the second part of the Ifa prophecy by inheriting his father’ wife and his own mother, Ojuola.

    After eleven years of Odewale’s reign, the land of Kutuje was inundated with incessant tales of famine, disease and death. King Odewale’s family, which had grown in size with four children, was also not spared of disaster. The king and his chiefs sought solution from Ifa, using Aderopo as royal emissary. But the message from the oracle that the killer of the former king still lived in Kutuje spelt doom both for the land and the messenger as King Odewale suspected Aderopo of complicity. Odewale accused Aderopo of plotting his downfall hence his desire to get rid of him by all means.

    Eventually, Baba Fakunle, the old Ifa priest who was summoned to the palace by Odewale called him bed sharer and killer of the former king.  But Alaka’s visit to the palace from Ijekun threw more light on the circumstances that led to the death of Odewale’s foster parents and the true identity of Odewale himself. In the end, the duo of Alaka and Gbonka, aided by the Ogun priest and Balogun unfolded the mystery surrounding the identity of Odewale who was the same child that was ordered to be killed in the bush but who later grew up to become the killer of his own father and husband of his own mother. This revelation forced Ojuola to commit suicide while Odewale tragically plucked his eyes and led his four children into unknown destination.

    The production essentially mirrored the inevitability of fate in the affairs of men as commanded by the gods. It also emphasised how man’s innate weaknesses usually lead him into trouble and his ultimate downfall. As a tragic hero, Odewale was consumed by his own shortcomings, although he demonstrated love and generosity towards his people in times of need. The protagonist as played by Benson Williams depicted a fiery and temperamental character but who is also humane and considerate provided no one invoked his wrath like King Adetusa who insulted him by referring to him as  ‘a bush man from the land of Ijekun’. In the same way, the audience’s understanding of the play was boosted by such experienced characters as Alaka, Queen Ojuola, Aderopo, Ogun Priest and Balogun who interpreted their roles convincingly despite the short period of rehearsal and preparation.

    The cast and crew of the production were made up of mostly Nigerian artistes drawn from Europe and Nigeria. Among these are the Lagos-based Benson Williams who played Odewale and Segun Adefila (founder and artistic director of Crown Troupe) who doubled as one of the townspeople and Baba Fakunle’s apprentice. Other prominent artistes are the Germany-based Nigerian actor, Jubril Sulaimon (Alaka), UK-based Moji Bamtefa (Costume and make-up/insane woman); Cecelia Sanusi-Olawale and Simisola Sanusi (townswoman and Odewale’s daughter respectively) as well as Ahmed Aliu, formerly of the National Troupe of Nigeria. Others are Segun Ogunfidodo, Ayo Adedapo, Felix Ologbosere (Aderopo), Tolulope Yusuf, Nike Bammeke, Yemi Oyeyebi, Prince Tade Olusile and Frank Oluwole Williams. In the creative team were Christina Simakova (Stage Manager), Ibukun Fasuhan (Production Manager), Omoyemi Oni (Media) and Chermiah Hart (Technicals and Editing).

  • Nigerian wins Green Oscar for conserving apes

    Nigerian wins Green Oscar for conserving apes

    Nigeria’s Inaoyom Imong, has been announced the winner of a Whitley Award by the Whitley Fund for Nature, a prestigious environmental prize.

    Imong, a conservation leader, won the prestigious ‘Green Oscar’ for his work in protecting Africa’s most endangered great gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) in Cross River state, Nigeria.

    HRH! The Princess Royal presente Inaoyomd a Whitley Award, a prestigious international nature conservation prize worth £35,000 (N8.2 million) in project funding to Imong at a ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society, London.

    Globally recognised as a hotspot for primate, amphibian, bird and butterfly species, the tropical rainforests of south-eastern Nigeria are home to the Cross River gorilla, with only 300 estimated to remain in the wild.

    These primates and their habitat are under threat from lack of legal protection, deforestation and hunting to supply the illegal bush-meat market.

    The Princess Royal and 2015 Whitley Awards recipient Inaoyom Imong, Nigerian conservationist at The Royal Geographical Society, London, 29th April 2015
    The Princess Royal and 2015 Whitley Awards recipient Inaoyom Imong, Nigerian conservationist at The Royal Geographical Society, London, 29th April 2015.

    As Director of the Cross River Landscape Project at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Nigeria, Imong leads a community-based conservation project in the Mbe Mountains to protect the forest and its fragile population of Cross River gorillas.

    Imong has established the Conservation Association of the Mbe Mountains (CAMM), which brings together people from nine different communities in a joint effort to manage the Mbe Mountains area and secure its legal status as a community wildlife sanctuary.

    Imong’s efforts have not only kept the gorillas from being hunted – not a single gorilla has been poached since the inception of the project – but built capacity for their future conservation.

    Imong is helping people establish alternative livelihoods as eco-guards to improve the protection and monitoring of Cross River gorillas and other wildlife; giving people a sense of ownership over the conservation of the forest.

    In his speech, Edward Whitley, Founder of the Whitley Fund for Nature said: “The calibre of this year’s Whitley Awards winners is outstanding.

    “Although they each face remarkable and different challenges in their home countries, these exceptional individuals are passionate about securing a better future for both people and wildlife. The Whitley Awards are a celebration of their achievements.”

    Imong is one of seven individuals to have been awarded a share of prize funding worth £245,000 (N58 million) by the Whitley Fund for Nature, winning the Whitley Award donated by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

    Other winners in the 2015 Whitley Awards are: Panut Hadisiswoyo – Indonesia, Pramod Patil – India, Rosamira Guillen – Colombia, Arnaud Desbiez – Brazil, Jayson Ibañez – Philippines and Ananda Kumar – India.

    HRH! The Princess Royal will also present the Whitley Gold Award 2015 – a prestigious profile and funding prize awarded to a previous Whitley Award winner in recognition of their outstanding contribution to conservation.

    The Whitley Gold Award is donated by The Friends and Scottish Friends of the Whitley Fund for Nature and is worth £50,000 (N12 million).

    This year’s recipient is 2009 Whitley Award winner, Dr. Dino Martins from Kenya for his project – People, plants & pollinators: protecting the little things that power the planet.

    Dino is working with local people to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of more sustainable farming practices that conserve pollinators, boost crop yields, and benefit people in East Africa.

    Joining the Judging Panel to assist in selection, the Gold Award winner also acts as mentor to new Whitley Award winners receiving their Awards in the same year.

  • Nigerian wins Oscar Prize in UK

    Nigerian wins Oscar Prize in UK

    Nigeria’s Inaoyom Imong, has been announced winner of a Whitley Award by the Whitley Fund for Nature, a prestigious environmental prize.

    Imong, a conservation leader, won the prestigious ‘Green Oscar’ for his work in protecting Africa’s most endangered great gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) in Cross River state, Nigeria.

    HRH! The Princess Royal presented a Whitley Award, a prestigious international nature conservation prize worth £35,000 (N8.2 million) in project funding to Imong at a ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society, London.

    Globally recognised as a hotspot for primate, amphibian, bird and butterfly species, the tropical rainforests of south-eastern Nigeria are home to the Cross River gorilla, with only 300 estimated to remain in the wild.

    These primates and their habitat are under threat from lack of legal protection, deforestation and hunting to supply the illegal bush-meat market.

    As Director of the Cross River Landscape Project at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Nigeria, Imong leads a community-based conservation project in the Mbe Mountains to protect the forest and its fragile population of Cross River gorillas.

    Oscar Imong_Cross River gorilla_Nov13Imong has established the Conservation Association of the Mbe Mountains (CAMM), which brings together people from nine different communities in a joint effort to manage the Mbe Mountains area and secure its legal status as a community wildlife sanctuary.

    Imong’s efforts have not only kept the gorillas from being hunted – not a single gorilla has been poached since the inception of the project – but built capacity for their future conservation.

    Imong is helping people establish alternative livelihoods as eco-guards to improve the protection and monitoring of Cross River gorillas and other wildlife; giving people a sense of ownership over the conservation of the forest.

    In his speech, Edward Whitley, Founder of the Whitley Fund for Nature said: “The calibre of this year’s Whitley Awards winners is outstanding.

    “Although they each face remarkable and different challenges in their home countries, these exceptional individuals are passionate about securing a better future for both people and wildlife. The Whitley Awards are a celebration of their achievements.”

    Imong is one of seven individuals to have been awarded a share of prize funding worth £245,000 (N58 million) by the Whitley Fund for Nature, winning the Whitley Award donated by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

    Other winners in the 2015 Whitley Awards are: Panut Hadisiswoyo – Indonesia, Pramod Patil – India, Rosamira Guillen – Colombia, Arnaud Desbiez – Brazil, Jayson Ibañez – Philippines and Ananda Kumar – India.

    HRH! The Princess Royal will also present the Whitley Gold Award 2015 – a prestigious profile and funding prize awarded to a previous Whitley Award winner in recognition of their outstanding contribution to conservation.

    The Whitley Gold Award is donated by The Friends and Scottish Friends of the Whitley Fund for Nature and is worth £50,000 (N12 million).

    This year’s recipient is 2009 Whitley Award winner, Dr. Dino Martins from Kenya for his project – People, plants & pollinators: protecting the little things that power the planet.

    Dino is working with local people to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of more sustainable farming practices that conserve pollinators, boost crop yields, and benefit people in East Africa.

    Joining the Judging Panel to assist in selection, the Gold Award winner also acts as mentor to new Whitley Award winners receiving their Awards in the same year.

  • Coaching course: Salisu Yusuf hits London on Monday

    Coaching course: Salisu Yusuf hits London on Monday

    El-Kanemi Warriors’ Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, will travel to London on Monday for a coaching course.

    Yusuf is expected to depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday afternoon aboard Arik Air.

    A source told SportingLife that Yusuf, who has been tipped to work with Stephen Keshi as the Super Eagles’ assistant coach, will be in the United Kingdom for the second phase of the courses he started last month.

    Yusuf was part of 17 Nigerian coaches and former international players that travelled to London in March, for a nine -day capacity-building course in match reading, match preparation and backroom analysis.

    SportingLife scooped that Yusuf is the only coach that will be traveling with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee department this time for the five-day course.

    The aim of the trip, according to our source, is to help Yusuf practicalise what he was taught in the first phase of the course.

    “Coach Yusuf is not currently with the team. He is planning to travel to London on Monday for a coaching course. He was in London last month with some Nigerian coaches for a capacity-building course, but he is the only coach travelling with the NFF technical department this time,” a source told SportingLife.

    “What they did in their last trip was more or less theoretical, but this time he is going for full practicals on modern day football technology. He will be taught how to monitor players all over the world, football software, recruitment of players as well as match analysis.”

  • NFF chief hits London for Nike deal

    NFF chief hits London for Nike deal

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick is expected to travel to London today to finalise arrangements with kit company NIKE.

    The NFF boss told Sportinglife that talks have reached advanced stage with the kit manufacturing company to become the official kitting company for the Nigerian teams.

    It would be recalled that the contract, which the NFF had with ADDIDAS had expired in December 2014, and the Germany based kit company decided not to renew the contract following breakdown of certain aspects of the contract from the Federation staff.

    The Addidas contract was signed by the Ibrahim Galadima administration, and was improved upon by the Sani Lulu administration, which was  built upon by the Aminu Maigari regime, before it was terminated last December. NIKE was the first major company that was kitting the Super Eagles before 2002.

    The NFF President is expected to hold discussions with the new kit company on Wednesday before returning to the country. He was accompanied on the trip by NFF Director of Marketing, Idris Adama.

  • Peller’s son to open club in London

    Peller’s son to open club in London

    It will be stating the obvious to state that Shina Abiola, popularly known in the social space as Shina Pellers, is one of the richest and youngest entrepreneurs in the country. As the Group Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Group of Companies and CEO of Quilox Night Club, Shina’s fortune has continued to grow and his status as a business tycoon is reinstated at the dawn of each day. A year after he joined the league of club owners in Nigeria by opening the world class Club Quilox in Lagos, the young entrepreneur has decided to go international by taking Quilox to London in the next few months. Despite the massive success of Quilox, Shina is not slowing down and his plan to open one of the biggest clubs in London is in full swing.

    With great pleasure and excitement, top Nigerian artistes like Banky W and Tilla announced the soon-to-be launched Quilox in London. With so much glee and in support of the son of the popular late magician, R&B singer and EME boss took to Instagram to announce the birth of Quilox in London, when he simply wrote:” Hello‎ London” to a picture of the British flag which reads “Quilox London ” 1st May 2015, coming soon”. Since the sky was ignited with enchanting fireworks as Quilox was launched in Lagos in December 2013, it has thrived beyond expectations and as served as the hub of Island Big boys and girls who seek out classy joints to have fun. Shina Abiola Peller is happily married with a wife and kids.

  • Ex-Lagos Perm Sec dies in London

    Ex-Lagos Perm Sec dies in London

    A retired Permanent Secretary/Tutor-General in the Lagos State Ministry of Education Alhaja Teslimat Mosunmola Akinwade is dead.

    Alhaja Akinwande who passed on in London penultimate Monday was 55.

    At a prayer held for her in her Agege residence same Monday evening, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) and LAHA Chief Imam, Hon. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef said the nation has lost a great woman.

    He described her as a committed and devouted Muslim.

    “Alhaja Akinwade,” he said, “had a keen taste for decency, honesty and integrity in following the injunctions of Allah and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad. She was a community developer who brought about peaceful co-existence among members of her community and she always interacted well with the needy. She was also committed to learning more about her religion. She was a role model to a lot of people”

    He prayed Allah to forgive her sins and grant her Jannah (paradise).

    Abdullateef urged Muslims to always do good deeds bearing in mind that death is certain.

    The former lawmaker told the congregation that the purpose of creation is to worship Allah.

    “We are all going to become history one day and after a while, people would stop talking about us. Always seek repentance no matter how much your sins are. Allah always forgives for His mercy prevails over His wrath,” he said.

    The deceased former Personal Assistant, Mr Sulaiman Ogunmuyiwa described her as an extraordinarily good person.

    “I worked with her from 2005 to 2009 and I cannot think of any fault in her actions. She was always ready to assist people and touched lives of many. Her humility in discharging her duties was unequalled,” Ogunmuyiwa said.

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit in a condolence message also prayed Allah forgive her, shower His mercy on her and place her among the righteous.

    A statement by the Amir (President) Kaamil Kalejaiye said:“Alhaja Akinwande is no more but her righteousness and doggedness for Islam and Muslim remain and will be remembered; what do you want to be your remain after your demise? My brethren, let fear Allah and be righteous both in the open and secret.”

    Kalejaiye called on people in governance to emulate the deceased’s simple lifestyle and accountability.