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Tag: love

  • I’m a sucker for Love

    I’m a sucker for Love

    Despite being a mullato, Nigerian/American actress, Adunni Ade,leaves no one in doubt of her ability to speak her father’s language, Yoruba. Beginning with modelling during her stay in America, she dabbled into acting a couple of years ago. In this interview with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, the actress who has carved a niche for herself as a comedienne discusses her brand, her beliefs, and compares the Nigerian entertainment terrain to the West

     

    WE haven’t heard much about you of recent, what have you been up to?

    Yes and that is because I stay busy. I am very sure you might have heard much about me. I’ve just always been busy since the year I started. I have featured in four different productions. And all glory to God. I have constantly been working. Since I finished a production, God blessed me with another one. And that is what we prayed for.

    In the process of making the break into the industry, what were the challenges you went through?

    I say it all the time; I don’t see any gallop(stumbling block) on the road. And I don’t see anything as a challenge but as part of life. I will tell you, the only time I really have the time to rest, and bad to say, is only when I’m in the hospital.

    Like a lot of people know, I started up the year in the hospital. On January 1st, I managed to get to church. I was admitted in the hospital for few days due to the whole stress. As soon as I recovered, I went back to work. That is just the kind of person I am. And to be honest with you,my work is all I know how to do because it is my source of income. I cannot stay back and wait for someone to come take care of me. I have never been that kind of person. I have to stay working.

    Brief us on your educational background.

    I wasn’t born here; I was born in Queens, New York, by an American mother but my father is from Lagos. My primary school was here in Lagos,Entertainment All 21-2-2015. Chrisland School, and I went to Bells Secondary School which belongs to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I studied accounting in the University (of) Kentucky.

    I will just tell you, the whole entertainment has come from childhood and I say this with honesty. I have never wanted to be a doctor or nurse. None of that has ever been on my to-do-list. My father is such person that pushes a child in order to make sure he/she has a solid education.

    Are you saying your parent(s) are not in support of what you would have loved to become?

    No! My father, though my mum is not here. She is in the States. My step mother is here and raised me. They are both in support. My mother, father, step mum – the whole of my family, have been in support of what I do. They only pray for me, giving me words of encouragement also goes a long way and pushing me to be better.

    And I’m fortunate to have a lot of great friends. As you know, it is not everything that happens to you that you can tell your parents about. At least, you need somebody that you can trust. And I’m so happy to have a close circuit of true friends that I can always call at any point in time, ‘this is the challenge, the situation I’m facing.’ I will tell you that they are the best; these are amazing set of people that are glad I am alive. They are the most sincere set of people in my life and they tell you as it is.

    What is the biggest project you’ve ever worked on?

    I can’t say one project is bigger than other because the producers put a lot of effort, time, money, energy, and sweat into the production for them to tell the story, involving me, involving bigger faces to the accomplishment of a production. For me, I can’t say one is bigger because I think every of them has been a big production. I am just so happy and blessed to be part of it.

    What has been your achievement so far in the industry?

    This is just a starting point for me. I moved back to Nigeria in 2013 and the whole 2014 was spent working. I still want to do the same thing. My kind of life style is never enough. I know I am really blessed and I thank God for that.

    I am so proud for how far I have come; I haven’t gotten that far, but I will be honest, a lot of people that have been in the industry before I stepped in will love to be part of the opportunities I’ve gotten. I am never the kind of person that feels this work is enough for me. I have to stay working because at the end of the day, this is how I feed myself.

    Majorly, it is how I feed my kids and I have to stay working.I want to better myself in my career, in my craft, in my acting. I am not perfect because no one is perfect but I wanna work close to perfect. I won’t see myself as someone that has gotten to the apex of her career. I am still climbing.

    Who are you in relationship with?

    I think that is my personal life and my personal life stays personal. I try not to put my personal life out there. I put my kids out there for people to know well enough that I do have kids. I have two boys. Everything about me is out there but my personal life I will keep it private.

    Are your kids in the country?

    Yes they are. And they school here as well.

    By any chance, would you like any of your kids to be in this same profession you are into?

    Whatever is going to make my children happy, whatever they want to do, is what I will want them to do as well. Actually my eldest son is a kid model, a child actor. His debut movie is with Ruky Sandra(and) Monalisa plays his mother. The title of the movie is Dark and it will be premiering shortly this year. He had more than 27 scenes.

    The story was really involved around him, and I would stand outside because I don’t want to be a distraction to him. I don’t want him not to be himself and anytime I just want to go inside, I only want to check on him. He is amazing. He’s a one take child. If that is what he wants to do, it is fine, and if not, I will let him follow his dream.I know he likes to play soccer. He was into baseball and belonged to a team in America; but when he moved to Nigeria he has really found love with soccer.

    He tells me all the time that he is the best soccer player in his class. It is just so amazing (that) in this short period of time they have been here, he has learnt so much. They are even part of us here – not like they speak Yoruba but if you speak it to him, he understands you. He is intelligent, God fearing, respectful – just a child that anybody could ask for. I’m just so thankful to God that I have them both.

    You haven’t mentioned much about the father of your kids. What about him?

    Yes, and that is why I say that is my personal life. But we are not together and all these things are out there. Their dad is in America and the breakup even happened before I moved back to Nigeria. I think that is all that matters and they have God. They have a strong mother like me, oh Lord!

    For how long were you together?

    Six years (or) there about. It was towards the seventh year that I was given a ring but I never pushed for marriage. I just took the ring as a symbol of love or whatever. I didn’t see it as if I wanted to get married because I didn’t feel like everything was good enough for me to say I wanted to get married.

    The breakup was even shortly after the ring was given to me then. I decided that I don’t have to deal with pure negativity, pure unhappiness, and say you know what ‘I don’t have to go through this.’ I’m not saying I am scared of commitment. I am a very sincere person when it comes to relationship. But if I have to go through the miserable state,I won’t do it. We were just boyfriend, girlfriend and we ended up having kids during the whole thing.

    Do you see yourself getting married anytime soon?

    I don’t know about anytime from now but I would love to get married when the right man comes. I’m very careful. I don’t want my heart shattered into pieces again. I am a sucker for love. I have always been working and I don’t ask for too much. All I ask for is love, and when I have that, everything else is Gucci, I mean OK.

    What would you have corrected back then if you have been given a chance?

    To be honest with you, I wouldn’t have corrected anything because I am who I am. I do whatever it takes to keep my relationship, making sure that it’s on the right track. And one thing I learnt was that you can never change a person. I won’t try to change whoever it is that I am with because at the end of the day you are who you are. I cannot change your person. The whole time I was with my ex, I did try to change him to be better.

    What is that thing your ex was doing that ended up the relationship?

    Whatever that happens and makes a relationship go bad happened to mine. I have said it several times that I am a sucker for love. It gets to a point and no matter how people tell you to leave someone, that he’s not the right person, if you don’t feel in your heart to leave that person, you are not going to. It took me eight years to decide like Adunni,’you’ve had enough, it is time to go.’

    Would you have left your kids for him?

    No way would I have done that. That can never happen. Maybe, it is because I still have this whole African blood in me. But to be honest, I can’t do that.

    What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done in your life?

    (Sigh) I’m really thinking hard about that, but I don’t know. Actually, before I got into the entertainment industry, I had to sit myself down and talk to myself in a crazy manner, because I was thinking that I would be judged, criticized, ridiculed, because of my past and the things that I have dealt with. It was scary for me.

    What is the project you are currently working on?

    Honestly this year, people have a lot to wait on. Like I said, the whole last year was spent working, filming from one production to the other. So, a lot of them are going to be released at some point of the year. I have a couple that already came out last year.

    What will you say is the foundation of your being?

    One thing I have learnt from childhood and that has nothing to do with accounting is respect for others. And I learnt that here in Nigeria. Being respectful takes you a long way, and my own working career in America has always been customer service, how to treat people, how you take care of other people, how to make others feel important, it shouldn’t be about yourself all the time. I was fortunate to work with (the) Housing Authority in Kentucky, where we provide housing to the less fortunate and those that are not financially stable.

    You know, you have to solve somebody else’s issue and just give the best customer service ever. And that has been part of me even till today. I feel like, it is all about how you treat everyone around you.

    What have you done in recent times to continue the good work of customer service you enjoyed doing?

    This is something I don’t like to talk too much about. Whatever I have done for anyone or a group of people should be left within me. But if I have to talk about it, fine! I have been to orphanage home and I have done the little I can do. I am a big fan of helping, even if it is someone on the street. It doesn’t cost me anything.

    What else would you have been doing, if you haven’t been what you are today?

    Honestly, the only thing will be my customer service and helping those who do not have the power to do too much for themselves.

    Do you do anything outside what we all know you for as at now?

    Well, a little bit. My father owns his own industrial company called Westmart Nigeria limited. Sometimes, I do work for him and that is why I’m always too busy. I have to devote my attention to one thing and what has my 100% attention is my career, which is the entertainment world.

    Concerning the coming election, we haven’t heard much from you. What are you up to?

    (Laughs) I’m neutral with this whole politics; I’m just for my people, my people being Nigerians. I’m just for positivity. Whatever you’re gonna be doing, make sure it’s the right thing, regardless of who you’re going for. Make sure that in your heart, you’re doing the right thing for the right reason, because that would take us far. Not a lot of people have the courage to do the right thing. They feel like money can get you out of any situation, but I don’t believe so.

    Have you gotten your PVC?

    I wasn’t in the country during the starting of the whole registering process. I tried to get it when I got back, but honestly, I didn’t know where I could get one in my area. I was told I could get it from a particular place but when I got there, it wasn’t possible either.

    If you can still get it, who would you cast your vote for?

    (Laughs) Well, that’s for me to know and for you to find out. If I’m allowed to vote without a card, then I would vote for the person that I feel would take care of us, especially as Lagosians, because I’m a Lagosian. Make I throw that one aside, omoBadagrylawa. I’m a proper Lagos girl. I’m not one of all these adopted people that will come from other states and claim that they are from Lagos State. They should go back to their states and leave us. Everybody else is trying to chop all our resources here. But really, I will vote for the person that I feel will make a better change for Lagos and Nigeria.

    Who would you have appreciated for beinga leverage to you?

    Like I said, a lot of people motivated me with many things that words can’t express. But someone that really pushed me into doing funny skits ismy friend in the States, Irene TitiAdejuwon. She’s an entrepreneur who owns Omolewa Make-up.

    She’s amazing and she has so much positivity. I can never thank her enough. I can only ask that God blesses her in ways that she can never imagine.

    I would also like to thank everybody. I don’t call them my fans, I call them my ‘lovies.’ I will like to thank them for all the support they’ve given. To all my friends, thank you for always being there. God bless you all.

    Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

    I see myself at the top. I might still be climbing, but I’ll definitely not be at the same spot that I was five years ago. I want to have been involved in a lot of big productions. Locally, outside the country, in Hollywood, and in whatever you might regard as entertainment. Most importantly, I want to be known for positivity.

    I noticed that you aren’t wearing an earring, is it you don’t like it?

    I do wear earrings but I’m not a big fan of it. I have ear piercings like from the top to the bottom of my ear, but I took them out; I periodically wear earring. I have jewellery everywhere. I am a big fan of watches. I used to wear them even when I’m asleep. But for some reason, I got out of that. I don’t feel that jewellery should bring out the beauty in a person. Let your personality bring out the beauty in you. I also don’t believe that a lot of makeup should show who you are. I put on makeup, but it’s always simple. I like things very simple and plain.

  • The Nation man finds love

    The Nation man finds love

    A member of staff of The Nation, Abiola Adenekan, got married to his heartrob, Olapeju Adekola, of Natural Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), last Saturday at the  Folawiyo Bankole Memorial Methodist Church in Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, writes IBRAHIM ADAM.

    The family members of Adekola and Adenekan gathered last Saturday at the Folawiyo Bankole Memorial Methodist Church in Ikate, Surulere, Lagos  for their children’s wedding.

    The groom, Abiola Adenekan, arrived in a gold Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). He was all smiles in his black suit, white shirt, sky inner blue jacket and tie with a pair of black shoes.

    Soon, the bride, Olapeju joined him in a black Toyota Land Cruiser. She was a beauty to behold in her shiny cream flowery gown with a veil as she entered the church auditorium with her father, Rev. Johnson Adekola, who walked her to the altar and handed her to the cleric.

    The Circuit Minister, Rev. Olusegun Aiyedero, coordinated the service.

    It started with the church choir singing the processional hymn: “Praise to the Lord” after which the Presbyter, Rev. Oluyinka Akande, spoke. He said marriage is a sacred and life-long union between a man and woman who gives themselves to each other in love and trust.

    The choir sang another hymn:  “Blessed assurance”.

    Abiola unveiled Olapeju and both stood up to declare their wish for the marriage. Family and guests affirmed to the matrimony. After the vows, the couple exchanged rings and the cleric declared them man and wife. The couple consequently signed the marriage register.

    In a sermon, Rev. Akande charged the couple to love each other, constantly express love by word and action and depend on God for the sustainability of their relationship.

    The cleric urged them not to allow the prevailing economic situation to distract them.

    “Abiola, your home must be the home where the husband is the head and Olapeju, you should submit yourself to your husband. Don’t let your love to be based on what you get from the other. Constant expression of love encourages relationship and don’t allow selfishness or third party to separate you.

    “You must learn to pray together in all situations and don’t allow disagreements to also separate you. The best time to settle your misunderstanding is at bed where no man can disturb you both for the journey you started today needs strength, grace and power of God,” he said.

    Reception followed at Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Sports Ground Hall, on Bode Thomas Road, Surulere.

    Olumide Olagoke popularly called MC DAY, anchored the event; Blessed Band entertained guests.

    The couple were ushered in amid cheers. They were the cynosure of all eyes. Everyone stood watching them as they entered.

    Mr Timothy Adelowo Adedokun, who chairmed the reception, enjoined the bride not to take things for granted. He advised the groom to treat his wife the way he would treat himself.

    “Let there be sincere love, respect honour, care, appreciation, understanding, tolerance and perseverance for each other because without the body there cannot be the head and without the head there cannot be the body.

    “Olapeju, you are now the Chief of Staff, which means nothing should be taken for granted and you must always watch your tongue,” he said.

    The couple cut their three-layer cake, fed each other and sealed it with kisses. They moved to the dance floor and were joined by  their parents and guests.

    Rev. Adekola, described his daughter as a faithful woman, saying he would miss her patience.

    The groom’s father, Pastor Julius Adenekan, described his son as a good boy.

    Olapeju, a  chemist described her husband as her king.

    “I’m so excited for he is my king, my crown, my best friend and confidant,” she said.

    Abiola, a graduate of History and Diplomatic Studies, described his wife as calm, supportive and caring.

    “She is my queen, and does not complain. I feel so happy and honoured for this day and I give God all the glory,” he said.

  • Glo unveils Say it Loud – Say it with Love promo

    National carrier, Globacom has unveiled a new promo which offers lucky subscribers a grand prize of N5 million and several consolation prizes, including an opportunity to sing with their favourite Glo Ambassadors in a recording contract.

    In a statement, the telco said the promo is tagged “Say it Loud – Say it with Love, adding that it is a mega Interactive Voice Response (IVR) contest that allows subscribers to sing a song, recite a poem or tell a joke, all dedicated to their family in 45 seconds.

    To participate in the promo, subscribers are urged to dial a short code 54887 to record and upload their 45-second song, poem or a joke for N50 on the portal.

    The subscriber will then receive an SMS with his individual ID number (54888xxxxx). This number could be dialed to vote for the participant. N20 is charged per vote. Voters are also rewarded with exciting prizes. To vote for any participant, one can dial 54888, listen to the song, poem or joke and then vote for the content.

    The promo, which started on January 23, will last for 100 days.  Apart from the star prize of N5 million, three winners will each take home N2.5million monthly; 14 winners will receive N1million each in prizes weekly and there will be 3,600 hourly prizes of N2,500 in airtime and 200 daily prizes of N25,000 cash.

    In addition, 10 subscribers will sign a contract to have their songs as caller ring back tunes and composers of the top three songs will have the opportunity to record a remix of their entries with a Glo Ambassador, a proposition that will make the contestants rich and famous. Globacom parades an array of West Africa’s top music stars as brand Ambassadors.

    The list includes Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja), Jude Abaga (MI), Oyebanjo Oladapo Daniel (D’banj), Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe (Wande Coal), Chinedu Okolie (Flavour), Peter and Paul Okoye (P Square), Waje Iruobe, Omawumi Megbele, Chukie Edozien (Lynxx), Sammie Okposo, Bezhiwa Idakula (Bez) and Ego Ogbaro.

    Other top singers from Nigeria are Damini Ogulu (Burnaboy), Chidima Okebalama (Chee) and Naeto Chikwe (Naeto C).   The network’s Ambassadors in Ghana include Kwabena Kwabena (George Adu) , Irene Logan, Edem, Asem, Sherifa Gunu, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley  while Globacom’s Ambassador in Benin Republic is Zeynab Abibou.

  • Some truth you might love to hate

    Some say Muhammadu Buhari is a sentiment; who isn’t? Perhaps Goodluck Jonathan, they would say. Let’s not be trivial and given to hogwash, President Goodluck Jonathan is an unjustifiable sentiment gone wrong.

    Shall we write-off Buhari, just because…stuck in the intricate webs of our internalised and yet collectivised perversions, we are desperate to make a Hobson’s choice? Shall we continue to compromise and seek the consolation of wonderfully wrought intellectualisations just because it is socio-politically correct to do so?

    If not Buhari, who? Goodluck Jonathan? Show me the candidate without a splodge to his name. Of all the charlatans we launder, show us the self-acclaimed Messiah without some murder, pillage or unsubstantiated and yet uncontested allegation of fraud or corruption to his name, save Buhari.

    And so may I in response to those who consider President Jonathan as Nigeria’s only hope, aver in Rand-speak that there can be no compromise between a property owner and an intruder; offering the intruder a single teaspoon of one’s silverware would not be a compromise, but a total surrender – the recognition of his right to one’s property.

    Simply put, there can be no compromise, however exquisitely couched, between us and the looters we tolerate; offering them a jolly ride to our corridors of power in the spirit of socio-political expediency would not be a compromise but a total and cowardly surrender – the recognition of their right of ownership and monopoly over what is essentially ours.

    Whether we like it or not, there can be no concession or wanton sophistry acceptable on basic principles and fundamental issues. There can be no compromise between truth and falsehood, reason and irrationality. Imagine a compromise between food and poison, isn’t it death that would win?

    Nothing corrupts, nothing disintegrates a culture or a man’s character as the principle of moral agnosticism; that is, the idea that one must be morally tolerant of anything and everything and that ingenuity consists in never distinguishing good from evil and taking sides. It is obvious who profits and loses by such a precept, isn’t it?

    Even as so many of us indulge in the propagation of political claptrap in the interests of Goodluck Jonathan, it wouldn’t hurt to heed the subtle warnings of our individualised and wholly subjective realities. It couldn’t hurt to heed the caveat of objective reality.

    Given that we put ourselves on trial every time we think a thought and speak it, it is only fair that we seek to institute, however difficult it seems, a measure of checkmating every propaganda and irrationality we so desperately project. It is only in our peculiar culture of amoral cynicism, subjectivism and hooliganism that we arrogate to ourselves the freedom to utter any sort of irrational judgement and expect to suffer no consequences like pitiful presidential court jesters, Femi Fani-Kayode, Doyin Okupe and company persistently do to our chagrin.

    In as much as we seek to impeach every other candidate but our preferred candidate on the basis of their antecedents in governance and outside it; in as much as we have chosen to play the biased judge and jury with such impunity that teaches the just to recant, so should we expect to be judged and impeached by every judgement we pronounce.

    You see, the things we condemn or extol actually exists in the objective reality that is open to the independent appraisal of others. The values we project become the essence of our socio-politics and being. Every utterance we make, as our mildest insinuations, presents the clarity or absurdity of our individual perceptions as well as the rationality and otherwise of every politic we choose to celebrate or repudiate.

    If we did not indulge in such abject perversions and pitiable evasions as the argument that some contemptible liar “means well” – that a mooching bum “can’t help it” – that an unrepentant murderer “needs understanding” or that a desperate, power-thirsty politician is driven by concern “for the public good,” the history of our past few decades would have been different. And even today would offer ceaseless practicalities to compose the best odes by.

    In the light of ceaseless hardships and evils foisted upon us by President Goodluck Jonathan and company,every man who struggles not to acknowledge that his administration is pernicious to Nigeria’s wellbeing will find it very much dangerous to identify goodness in whatever form. To such character, a person of virtue presents a threat capable of exposing and toppling all his perversions and evasions.

    Can we now identify and root for the candidate capable of resolving the conflicting characteristics of our tribal mentality? Can we identify the candidate who can validate and attain a worthy equilibrium between, say, the expediency of wiping off our slums vis-à-vis the desirability and affordability of beautifully planned cities and suburbs?

    Can we identify the candidate who can evaluate and project our given concretes by an abstract principle while exacting the most probable if not practicable outcomes in the throes of ruthlessly objective and rational processes of thought vis-à-vis his enfant terrible gut-feelings or hunches?

    Do we know the candidate capable of instituting such blueprint that would guarantee the provision and sustenance of good roads and electricity, standard and affordable health care, security, stable economy and quality education among others?

    I guess we know the candidate undeserving of our mandate right now; that candidate is Goodluck Jonathan. Let Fani-Kayode and his fellow harpies know that the cult of sophistry they project would never succeed by their sneaky and open rebellion against reason. Let them know that their negation of reason would never amount to some sort of superior reasoning nor would their most brutal rebellion stifle morality or metamorphose into a superior kind of virtue.

    The cult of sophistry they perpetuate approximates nothing but the ugliness of muted confessions and a plea for blanket forgiveness for Goodluck Jonathan – despite Boko Haram, the missing Chibok girls, declining economies, devalued naira, dying industries, unemployment, and thousands of innocent deaths by Boko Haram’s bomb blasts to mention a few.

    The depth or shallowness of each candidate and his political form is further accentuated in the following joke currently trending in Nigeria’s social media:

    1. APC: We will ensure power stability.

    1. PDP: Where is Mrs Buhari?

    2. APC: We are going to fight corruption

    2. PDP: APC tried to hack INEC computers

    3. APC: We are going to fight terrorism

    3. PDP: Some APC elder statesmen are garage touts

    4. APC: We will invest in agriculture

    4. PDP: S/South will collapse the economy if Jonathan loses

    5. APC: We are going to upgrade standard of education

    5. PDP: I will expose failures of our ex heads of state

    6. APC: We will curb degradation of environmental pollution

    6. PDP: Buhari doesn’t know his phone number.

    7. APC: Nigeria’s wealth must be enjoyed by all of us

    7. PDP: Buhari put Umaru Dikko inside a crate

    8. APC: We will encourage rural development

    8. PDP: Buhari cannot use a computer.

    Camp Jonathan no doubt epitomises philosophical default, the intellectual bankruptcy that teaches promising hearts to exist in a vacuum of sort, like a paradise of weaklings and the perverted in thought. Pity this truth will be ignored by some, come February 14.

  • With love from Nigeria

    •That is the great story to the world, from Nigerian Ebola volunteers to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea

    An interesting set of ambassadors from the country’s health sector may help to redeem Nigeria’s image on the international stage.

    This positive contribution can be expected from the volunteer health workers dispatched by the Federal Government to Ebola-stricken Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in a commendable humanitarian move.

    The collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) is noteworthy; and a strong sign that the country’s health professionals are favourably rated in this respect.

    A health team of 250 volunteers, consisting of doctors, nurses and pharmacists from Lagos and Rivers states and the Federal Capital Territory, has been sent out already under the intervention programme.

    The initiative is remarkable not only on account of the country’s involvement but also because of  the continental dimension. Not only that: for once, the federal authorities have put politics aside, and reached for the very best vanguard against Ebola Nigeria could offer, tapping from the  expertise of Lagos and Rivers states.

    A second batch of 250 health workers is expected to leave the country for the affected nations in January. “Altogether we will be sending 504 volunteers to help contain Ebola in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia,” the Director-General, Nigerian Centre for Diseases Control, Abuja, Prof.  Abdulsalamin  Nasidi, said.

    It is reassuring that Nasidi further said: “The Federal Government and the AU have a MoU on this mission. Their allowances, life insurance and disabilities’ would be covered by the AU.

    The Federal Government has also opened up Ebola Treatment Centres in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja for any worker that may need to be evacuated back to Nigeria. However, we are hoping for zero casualty.”

    This arrangement reflects impressive seriousness, which is definitely appropriate, considering the gravity of the mission. It is hoped that the partners would be faithful to the letter and spirit of the agreement.

    It is worth mentioning that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has thrown the West African sub-region in particular into understandable apprehension, and there is no doubt that the epidemic constitutes a public health crisis of international concern.

    In this context, the Nigerian volunteers deserve credit for their courageous and risk-defying decision to be part of the answer to the deadly Ebola problem in the neighbouring nations.

    Indeed, it is worth contemplating the overriding motivation for such a rare display of self-sacrificing heroism, especially in a country where this kind of dangerous volunteerism is markedly uncommon.

    This development further highlights the possibilities and value of soft diplomacy; and it is a point to consider that the country may well be able to redefine how it is perceived  through such subtle but impactful image-building.

    Sadly, the country’s Ebola experience, triggered by the regrettable July visit to Lagos by the late Patrick Sawyer, a naturalised American of Liberian origin, was not without a few painful casualties.

    However, it is significant to note that the country’s current acknowledged Ebola-free status, a result of prompt and thoroughgoing intervention, particularly by the Lagos State government, understandably explains why its health personnel are believed to have something to offer.

    “Lagos also volunteered 28 experts. Almost 98 per cent of them were part of the team that helped contain Ebola in Nigeria, so we are prepared,” Nasidi said.

    Furthermore, it is instructive that, according to the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Tamuno Parker, no fewer than 100 volunteers were from the state and the state government also donated 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment to support the mission.

    He said: “We urge them to use the same strategy that we used in Nigeria. They must not get too complacent or overconfident. They will be working closely with the AUC and their experts and to achieve much, they must subject themselves to their command. The world is looking at what Nigeria would do in these countries to contain Ebola in West Africa.”

    So, importantly, this project should be considered as an opportunity to demonstrate that this country is still capable of good things, despite the heavy cloud of negativities generally associated with it.

  • Union of love birds

    Union of love birds

    The wedding reception for Babajide, a nephew of the former Minister of Transport and Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, and Mariam was held penultimate Saturday at Darlington Hall, Illupeju, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    It was a day of fulfilment for Babajide, the chief marketing officer, Daniok Nigeria Limited, and former Miss Mariam Osaji, an Information Technology personnel with Electronic-Purse Systems penultimate Saturday as they said: “I do”. A reception held at Darlington Hall, Illupeju, Lagos.

    Their family members and friends gathered in their numbers, looking elegant in uniformed traditional attires. Many of the women were decked in gold gele.

    Babajide, an indigene of Ilesa in Osun State, is the son of the younger brother of the former Minister of Transport and Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Pastor Segun Babatope; while Mariam hails from Asaba in Delta State.

    The hall was decorated in white and gold colours. The chairs were covered with white fabric and set around tables with golden overlays.

    As guests arrived at the venue, they exchanged pleasantries amid gospel music by Kool Jay sound entertainment.

    The event, anchored by Ademosu Ademola, began with hymns and accapela by The Veteran Voices, after which the emcee introduced the guests.

    The bride’s parents, Ogbueshi Paul Isichei Osaji and Joy, came in first. They danced from the entrance of the hall accompanied by family members and friends amid the spraying of new naira notes. They took to their seats and the groom’s parents did same.

    The entry of the couple in the hall caught guests’ attention. Many left their food, stood up to welcome the couple while some used phones, I-Pads and cameras to snap ‘the newest couple in town’ as said by the emcee. They came in with their friends and family members, took to the floor and displayed beautiful dance steps, wriggling their waists and flinging their arms around each other. They were smiled all through the event.

    Pastor Emeka Izeze led the opening prayer.

    The Chairman on the occasion, Pastor Solomon Odenema, took a reading from Exodus, 33 vs 14. He told the couple to allow the presence of God to follow them on their marital journey.

    He urged them to show perseverance and understanding, knowing that they came from different backgrounds.

    After the sermon, Pastor Odenema supervised the cutting of the cake. After which the couple fed each other.

    They had their dance after the bride danced with her father and other guests later joined them on the dance floor, dancing and spraying money.

    Telling her story with smiles, the bride said the journey has been good.

    “We have fought, broken up and made up several times. But I thank God we are here, today, as husband and wife. Babajide is a man with a good heart, a beautiful soul and a man willing to sacrifice his own pleasure and comfort for others,” she said.

    The groom said his wife is caring, homely, beautiful, and supportive in all areas.

    “When we first met in December 21, 2011, I saw that she was the centre of everybody’s attention; she is very cautious about how she looked and I really wanted to know who she was and here we are today. I feel so fulfilled,” he said.

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, advised the couple to hold on to God in the midst of all challenges.

    “God ordained the marriage and He is capable of keeping it,” Okupe said.

    Chief Ebenezer Babatope urged the couple to accommodate each other.

    “Be patient and sober; do not rush to judgment in the midst of any challenge and do not be sentimental nor jump to conclusion,” he said.

    The bride’s father said respect for each other is the secret of a marriage that will be successful.

    “The woman has to recognise that the man is the head of the family; she must respect her husband and the husband must do likewise,” he said.

    The groom’s father said there is more to life after wedding.

    “The couple must live a godly life so that they can experience the riches that are ordained in marriage by God. Marriages are breaking today because God is not in it; therefore, allow God to be in your marriage always,” he said.

    The bride’s mother described marriage as a sweet thing and urged the couple to be prayerful.

    The groom’s mother, Mrs Olubukola Babatope, Chief Executive Officer, B8 Shawama, told the groom to love his wife as he loved himself and the wife should be submissive and prayerful, noting that the decision of her husband must overrule her own.

     

  • Giving love to inmates’ kids

    Giving love to inmates’ kids

    For no fault of theirs, they find themselves behind bars, alongside their mothers.  Children born to prison inmates often have certain basic rights and comforts cut off simply by their circumstances. Organisations such as the Victorine Home for Children were established to restore some of those abridged rights such as right to proper care and education, among others.

    It is three years now since the Victorine Home has been nurturing children born to people behind bars and other needy kids. Their third Annual General Meeting of the organisation attracted many philanthropists who are equally committed to the welfare of the less-privileged.

    And it was just as well that at the AGM, more help came for the  children whose mothers are prisoners or dead or facing one challenge or another.

    The Victorine Home was established in 2012 by selected individuals to cater for the less privilege children. Some of its members are catholic worshippers.

    Those whose mothers are incapacitated were not left out. Women who were convicted while in pregnancy also had their children picked up.

    When a woman is sentenced to prison, the innocent child sadly partakes in the punishment, and are thus denied good motherly care. Those who also put to bed while serving jail term easily get attention of the Home. It was all a mission to care.

    A visit to the home revealed that the children were as little as two years old. Some could hardly talk while others were excited to welcome the unexpected strangers. They were furnished with all manners of gift. Already, the kids had different toys either purchased by the management or presented by humanitarians. So they enjoyed their day largely dependent on good Samaritans.

    The 2014 winner of Miss Aso, Ogenna Ekwubir, during her visit to the kids, shared her compassion alongside her team. She spent almost the entire evening playing with the less-privileged. They took pictures and had fun. The kids had another opportunity to play with an outsider. Their morale clearly was boosted having a considerable  sense of belonging.

    The expression on their faces told it all. Immediately they saw the goodies, they were filled with enthusiasm, jumping with full excitement.

    Eventually, the kids were presented with food items such as bags of rice, garri, tubers of yam, groundnut oil and toiletries, among other consumables.

    Ekwubiri narrated why she visited the home. She said it was her vision to help the needy at any opportunity, saying, it is part of her empowerment pet project.  The beauty pageant disclosed that the mother of the children should have something to live on, upon gaining their freedom from the prison. People are moved to action based on different variables. But she expressed how she was emotionally touched when she heard that the concerned children have their parents either in the prison or demised.

    According to her, after the imprisoned mothers have been reintegrated into the society, her initiative would provide further assistance especially in terms of empowerment through agriculture. she said the initiative already got supports from development partners while other government institutions such as Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

    “They deserve to be assisted when they get their freedom. It is only when they have something doing that they will be able to cater for these kids. So it’s important other Nigerians show love to these kids. It is our hope that with our programme, their mothers would have better chance to take care of themselves and the children. In fact, that is why we are partnering with the federal ministry of women and social development to further get to the grassroots.”

    In a chat with Matron of the Home, Sr. Jovita Nkem Nzeduru, it was discovered 20 children had left the home to meet their parent while 14 others are currently under tutelage of the home. She said the children are mostly reintegrated back into the society after being offered the needed care. It was gathered that a child recently got scholarship in one of the private schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    President of the Victorine Home, Okechukwu Onyejuwa told Abuja Review activities of the home centred on children whose mothers are in prison. He said the Home absorb children from the least age of one to about four years. “When these women delivered while in prison, the children are taken out of the prison and given best treatment the foundation can offer.”

    “We cater for them, put them in school and later reunite them with the mother when they are released. Some of them don’t even want to go back again because they are offered best treatment. The children don’t know religion; it cuts across religion and denominations,” he said.

    Onyejuwa went further to explain how medical doctors showed their kindness by offering free medical care to the children. The same also applied to pharmacists and other medical officials.  He narrated how the kids were made to experience what a normal child should enjoy while growing up. “They go to party. They attend church services, go to school and enjoy life just like every other kid. Perhaps that’s why they often feel reluctant to go back to their parent when necessary.”

    It was eventually gartered during the AGM that the home made N2 million as income while N13.4 million was made in 2013 accounting year. Though, the entire income was not in cash but some were quantified at market value. It had a physical cash of about N2.9 million in 2013 and made an overall running cost of N8.4 million for the year.

    The home appealed to generous Nigerians to support the vision by transforming lives of the under privilege children in the home and country at large.

  • ‘My love for Nigeria made me reject offers’

    ‘My love for Nigeria made me reject offers’

    Returning Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed that the patriotic spirit in him was the reason why he decided not to take offers from other serious African countries in the past.

    In the past the 2013 AFCON winning coach was linked with a number of clubs and countries, but all failed to materialise.

    “If I wanted a job outside the shores of this country, I would have stayed in Equatorial Guinea, and Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the former Nigeria Football Federation chairman, can bear me witness.

    “The offer I had in Equatorial Guinea is far from what they are offering me here, but I decided to come back because this is my country,” he said.

    Recent reports in Ghana had linked the 52-year-old to the Black Stars coaching job vacated by Kwesi Appiah – and was even quoted in the Ghanaian media as saying it would be a ‘dream come true’ to manage the team.

    It was a failed adventure, as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) dispelled such links.

  • ‘Keshi fired out of love’

    ‘Keshi fired out of love’

    NFF president Amaju Pinnick has explained the rationale behind the sacking of Stephen Keshi.

    The new NFF board showed Keshi the exit on Thursday morning as national team coach, despite his side’s 3-1 home win against Sudan that kept the Super Eagles in the running to defend their African title.

    Pinnick said the decision not to renew the contract of the former Nigerian international was in the best interest of the nation.

    “Does it sound right for us to say that the Eagles played for Keshi and not for the country? So if a new coach comes in now, what would they do? We took the decision in the best interest of the nation.

    “We also saw a lot of things that had happened in the past as there were issues that bordered on security because it was from the beginning of our game against Sudan that a hero in Keshi was booed.

    “We took this decision to save Keshi and let him know that he’s a hero and should remain a hero,” Pinnick said on Friday morning.

    The NFF supremo also added that Keshi and his assistants would be paid all their outstanding entitlements within two weeks.

    Meanwhile, unanimous approval was given for a consortium of coaches, led by Amodu, to lead Nigeria in their remaining qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa “after which an expatriate coach will be appointed”.

    Amodu’s re-appointment comes four years after he was sacked and stopped from leading the country to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This will be his fifth stint with the Eagles having first taken charge of the team in 1994.

    The 56-year-old will be assisted by El Kanemi Warriors coach Salisu Yusuf, who worked under Samson Siasia both with the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles, and Gbenga Ogunbote of Sharks.

    Their immediate task is to secure a win against Congo in Pointe Noire to stay in the reckoning for a place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in January.

    Nigeria have four points after three matches while Congo are second on seven points. Group leaders South Africa travel to Nigeria for the final qualifying game next month.

  • Love is just not enough!

    I realise that a lot of singles are so particular about finding the right person that they drain all their energy in the search, but when he surfaces, little or nothing is done to sustain the relationship. It is not getting into a relationship that matters. As a matter of fact, that is just the tip of the iceberg. It is one thing to find a relationship,it is another thing to sustain it. Staying in a relationship needs a lot of work. And for most singles, that is where they miss it.

    You see, although love cements a relationship, it takes much more than love to sustain it. As an individual, you need to work on improving your strengths, thereby downplaying your weaknesses. I know of a mature single lady who craves for a serious relationship, but is about to blow it because she is missing the point of sustaining her relationship.

    After Joke and I got acquainted, on studying her, I realized she was really a nice person with a good heart. Each time we talked, I could sense someone who craved for a serious relationship, but all the guys who came her way ended up dumping her and moving with another woman. Joke and I got really close and we even got spiritual about the whole thing. She fasted and prayed for weeks, concentrating on God’s word and all too soon he came.

    Anyway, he not only swept Joke off her feet, but he treated her with so much respect that there was no contesting he was heaven sent. All that was about two years ago, and guess what? Matt called me a few weeks ago to say he was calling off the relationship with Joke. I wasn’t surprised though because I realised that Joke although has a very good heart, but her attitude is nauseating. As a working class, she was able to give herself and their family some good comfort. But her financial independence got too far. Don’t get me wrong, it is good to be financially independent, of course. But Joke’s financial independence became her undoing because of the way she handled it. Perhaps paranoid from the fact that she had lost confidence in relationship I could sense her laid-back attitude to work on her relationship with Matt, as we fondly called him.

    Indeed Joke was optimistic about getting into a relationship and she indeed got one by the Grace of God, but she wasn’t doing anything to make her relationship work without actually realising it. Matt, at some point, had called me to speak about her attitude with me and I assured him she would turn a new leave. For the most part of their relationship, she took him for granted. After almost two years, she wouldn’t even accept to meet his family when he demanded for her to meet with them. She was too engrossed in making money that she didn’t seem to realise  she was taking him for granded. Her excuse was always that she loved Matt no doubt, but she needed to secure their future together. The truth was she wished that their relationship would end in marriage, but the kind of lifestyle she had imbibed as someone who was fortunate to get a well- paying job after her graduation from the university, she couldn’t sacrifice a little time for her relationship, not even weekends.  All Matthew’s complaints about her attitude seemed to fall on deaf years.

    Don’t think she was taking Matt for granted because she was seeing someone else. I can tell you for sure that she wasn’t seeing anyone and that indeed she genuinely felt something for Matt and was looking forward to becoming a bride, but her uncontrollable quest for comfort and laid- back attitude didn’t let that come to fruition. Joke always extended financial assistance to Matt, but he wasn’t that sort of man. He was a proud man who didn’t believe in living off a lady. He knew he could give Joke the kind of life that she wanted, so all he wanted from her was to give him attention. He was contended with a low-paying job and even would go out of his way to buy her some luxury items. So after close to two years of their relationship,, he decided to move on. But to my chagrin, Joke almost went mad because of the break-up. “So you really love Matt”, I asked her and she echoed, of course. “I’ve never loved any other guy the way I love him.” “ Yet you take him for granted, not giving him attention that he deserves? Living him to do the loving alone?” She kept looking at me. She further  said, “But I always reassured him verbally of my love for him just so that he’s not in doubt about it. So why is he doing this now?”

    My sister, love is not just enough. You need more than love to sustain a relationship. Ask our parents that have been married for years, they will tell you. Relationship is a lot of work. You have to work on improving your relationship, line of communication and  fire of love.

    So I advise all singles to work on themselves. If you think you’ve found the right person, then don’t take him for granted because we are meant to love and be loved in return. That is the only way a relationship can stand the text of time.

    Some sisters have terrible attitude that is a put- off for prospective spouses. Yeah, like Joke who so wanted to have a serious relationship. She got one, yet she is on the verge of blowing her chance with Matt just because she wouldn’t step out of her comfort zone to spend time with the one man who can’t leave without her. Matt and I have discussed their issue and I have begged him not to walk out on my friend because I know how she so loves him and wants to get married and start a family, but what I couldn’t assure him was if Joke will ever turn a new leave. Dear readers, do you think Matt should reconsider his stance or should he just move on. Just like my friend, Matt can’t wait to start his own family and has found someone (Joke) who he loves so much. The only snag in the relationship is her attitude. Do you think he will not regret his decision to marry Joke? Right now, he’s kept her incommunicado, just to teach her some lesson, but intends to go back to her so they can settle down, but what kind of future lies ahead of them, if she doesn’t eventually turn a new leave. Matthew wants to know if he should move on or wait to see if Joke will learn anything with the step he has taken already to call off the relationship, even though he intends to get back with her.

    Away from Joke now, what is that attitude that you have that is not helping you to settle down when we ought to. You need to make a conscious effort to dump them. You need to deliberately strive towards being a better person.

    Talking about attitude, for some people, their own attitude that’s not making them settle is their aura. The aura around some ladies can be a put-off to their would-be sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Please, let’s learn to put our best foot out. Don’t try to break family bonds.

    Love is never enough. Get a good attitude that fosters relationship. Some have lost potential husbands because of their attitude of not trying to improve their own life, but hoping that the man will do everything for them. A woman is a not a liability. If a man needs a liability, then he can get a luxury car and maintain it. Even that car has brand equity on its owner because he will be perceived as a successful man, especially in the kind of society we are in.  Strive to  build yourself, so that your partner can be proud of you. I am not saying a guy shouldn’t care for the lady he says he loves. Of course, he should, but don’t become lazy. Aspire to leave a meaningful life.

    I can go on and on and talk about attitude that are not helpful to sustaining a relationship. But let me stop here so that we do not lose focus of the main subject of today topic. Matthew who is at the  cross-roads and needs meaningful contributions that can help him to make a decision that he will not regret in future. Please, endeavour to send a text. Matters of the heart are a very serious issue and require constructive advice that will foster a good marriage. The reason why there are tons and tons of divorce cases today is because of the problem of choice. A lot of people make the wrong decision when picking a spouse. Having a good relationship begins with picking the right person.