The Nation Newspaper

Tag: My Dad

  • My mum didn’t protect me from my dad

    Rather that take action, a girl has told the police that her mother made life unbearable for her after she recounted how her father was sexually abusing her.

    The 14-year-old girl said she ran away from home to avoid her mother’s constant humiliation.

    She spoke yesterday at the Gender Unit of the Lagos Police Command  in Ikeja GRA, where detectives handling the case of rape against her 58-year-old father, Johnson Okon, asked her to narrate what transpired.

    She said: “I never believed that my mother would not believe me. It was very painful that I told my mum what my father did to me when she was away. But instead of taking action, she warned me that I should not tell anyone. I ran away from home when I couldn’t stand the pains anymore.”

    Okon, who lives in Ikorodu, was paraded yesterday  by Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal

    Edgal said it was painful that the girl’s ran to her father’s friend’s home for refuge when she could not find succour at home.

    “This case is being investigated. The victim has been referred to Mirabel Centre for medical examination,” he added.

    Edgal said the command was also investigating a 64-year-old carpenter, Habib Abdullahi for allegedly assaulting a six-year-old girl.

    He said the incident was reported by the victim’s mother, in Ikorodu.

    “During investigation, it was revealed that on December 3, at about 10am, the suspect took the minor to his room and inserted his fingers into her private parts.

    “However, her mother noticed that her daughter was unnecessarily irritated and withdrawn, so she began to ask her questions and she revealed to the mother what uncle Abdullahi had done to her. Investigation is on. The suspects will be arraigned soon,” said Edgal.

     

  • ‘My dad didn’t wait to eat the fruits of his labour’

    Daughter of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) ex-councillor, late Solomon Adewale Awokoya, yesterday said her father did not wait to eat the fruit of his labour.

    Ayomide Awokoya spoke at the wake held at 4 Akinsola Street, Bariga.

    The late Awokoya, represented Ward ‘C’ in the Bariga LCDA Legislative House, died on Saturday, a day to his 54th birthday.

    He was survived by his mother, wife, Ibukun, 50, and two children Ayomide, 22 and Olajide, 20.

    The deceased bought some empowerment materials, including a N125,000 industrial machine, to be distributed to the people in his ward on Sunday as part of activities marking his birthday.

    Ayomide, a student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, described her dad as very lovely, jovial and humble.

    “I promise to make you proud even in death,” she said.

    Many people, including All Progressives Congress (APC) members, neighbours and well-wishers gathered to bid the late Awokoya farewell.

    Temitope Awokoya described his late brother’s death as shocking.

    “He was a mentor and a good ambassador of our family,” he said.

    Bariga LCDA Chairman Kolade Alabi said the council would make every April 8 a memorable day in Bariga.

    According to him, the Health Centre in Oloja will be renamed after the deceased.

    “I want to assure the children that their education will not stop. The council will not abandon them. We will set up a foundation in your dad’s name. The proposed poverty alleviation programme of Wale Awokoya will not be cancelled,” he said.

    He urged those present to emulate the late Awokoya, who he said, lived a worthy life.

    The party Chairman, Otunba Dengel Anifowoshe, said he spoke with the deceased few hours before his death and promised to attend his poverty alleviation programme.

    Among those in attendance include a member of House of Representatives, Wole Diya, Lagos State House of Assembly member Rotimi Olowo, Bariga LCDA Vice-Chairman Adeola Kuponiyi, Jide Awokoya, Elder Ebenezer Adeleke, Elder Iyo Oyasodun, all councillors, supervisors and Special Advisers and Ward Chairmen.

    The late Awokoya’s funeral rites continue today with a church service at Ebenezer African Church, Popoola Street, Bariga. His body will be interred at Pakuro, Mowe, Ogun State.

  • My dad slept with my sister five times, boy alleges

    My dad slept with my sister five times, boy alleges

    •Father denies allegation

    A seven-year-old boy, Wisdom Adefemi, yesterday alleged that his father, Olusegun Adefemi, sexually abused his three-year-old sister five times.

    He also accused him of attempting to penetrate him and his five-year-old brother, Godspower, through the anus.

    Wisdom spoke with The Nation at the police headquarters in Ikeja.

    He alleged that their father beat him up for refusing his sexual overtures.

    The boy said: “My daddy slept with my younger sister from here (pointing at the minor’s private parts) He put her on the floor and did it. It was not once, it was five times.

    “He wanted to penetrate me from the back, but I refused. He wanted to do the same thing to my younger brother, Godspower. When we refused, he beat us up.”

    Police Commissioner Edgal Imohimi said the suspect was arrested on February 2 at 6, Ipakan Street, Ijede, Lagos State, after an official of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Adekoya Sesan, reported the incident.

    The suspect denied the allegation, insisting that he was innocent.

    He said the allegations against him were shocking, wondering what could have prompted them.

    Adefemi said: “I am shocked at the allegations. I am innocent. I have never done it and I will never do it. I heard that my children accused me of defiling their sister. They never said it before me.

    “I thought that they (the police) would bring them (my children) before me and ask them so that I can hear it from them, but they did not.

    “You should know they are children and can be lured by biscuit or sweet to say anything. I do not know where that came from. I know I usually beat up my kids when they do something wrong. I don’t think this is an offence because I don’t want my children to become wayward.

    “Their mother left over a year ago and since then, I have been with them. I do bricklaying jobs sometimes. At other times, I work as a conductor to provide for our needs.”

    The police boss said Adefemi separated from his wife over alleged spousal abuse.

    He alleged: “The man injured his daughter in the private parts as a result of forceful penetration. He caned the girl’s siblings each time they did not allow him to penetrate them from the anus.

    “The girl has been taken to Mirabel Medical Centre for examination and treatment, while her siblings have been accommodated in a temporary home. The suspect will be arraigned after investigation.”

  • My Dad is my biggest source of inspiration

    My Dad is my biggest source of inspiration

    From gaining admission at age 14 to study Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to building a multi-million naira printing and branding company, Dr Taiwo Oyewole, the young CEO of Solakat Print House,  is a reference point for excellence in business and enterprise.  A firm believer in the vast potential of African nations to become economic giants, he shares the secrets of his staying power with HANNAH OJO.   

     

    You have a degree in Dental Surgery, what informed your foray into printing and branding?

    My venture into printing and branding was a coincidence that became a passion. I wanted to get some materials printed for a non-profit organization I was involved with when I was on campus but I could not get a good print solutions provider. I went ahead to do it myself using some background knowledge I had in the past. My Dad runs a publishing house, Solakat Unik Publishers, and I had been privileged to go to the press with him a couple of times. That became the foundation of my inspiration and experience in business.

    Dentistry is a daunting discipline; how did you combine the rigour of academics with business demands? 

    That’s one question I get asked over and over again. First, I took some time to understand my personal capacity. I knew I could handle it because I cover quite a number of academic materials within a limited space of time. Secondly, I had to master the art of time management. I cut off unnecessary social distractions and always made sure my focus was preserved. Above all, the God-factor gave me an uncommon edge. I went on to graduate among the top five in my class and built a multi-million naira company. I also held several leadership positions before becoming the President of a reputable non-profit organization on Campus.

    The printing industry appears to be crowded, what digital techniques do you employ to set yourself apart?

    For us at Solakat Print House, we want to redefine the Nigerian printing industry through an unwavering display of integrity and outstanding customer service. We want customers to get the quality they want and at the time they are supposed to get it and change notion that the print industry in Nigeria is unreliable. We recently launched an e-commerce platform, www.solakat.com.ng, which we believe will grow to become Nigeria’s top online print and brand shop. On that site, you can get real-time quotes, upload or request designs, pay and have items delivered anywhere in Nigeria. Our price calculator system is flexible and allows users to order for just about any quantity. Also, unit prices reduce very significantly as order quantity increases. We also have the most affordable prices across the web and we deliver top-notch quality with a fantastic customer support system.

    As an entrepreneur operating in a tough climate like Nigeria where infrastructure is often lacking, what lessons can you pass on to aspiring entrepreneurs?  

    First, you need some good focus. It’s very easy to be discouraged in the Nigerian business environment. But, to build an empire, you must stay with it. Nobody builds an empire by hopping from one business to the other. Stick to your vision. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Make realistic goals and take deliberate steps daily towards its achievement. In all, don’t forget to give back to the society. Let’s contribute our quota to making our country greater and better.

    Do you have mentors who inspire you as an entrepreneur?

    Yes, I do. In fact, one of my biggest lessons in business is the place of mentoring. The biggest is that people are everything, that your greatest assets are the people on your team. Back to mentoring, when I started out, I made a number of costly mistakes because I had to learn my lessons by myself. However, when I got a business mentor, I learnt a lot vicariously. From just listening to his stories and watching him do business, I avoided a lot of potholes and my business grew dramatically. My Dad also remains my biggest mentor in business and a tremendous source of inspiration. If it were not for his unflinching support, the business would have died in its early stages.

     

    Who are your models in business and how do you hope to impact society?

    I have a number of them but Strive Masiyiwa and Aliko Dangote top the list. I have a passion for Nigeria and the African continent. I believe in the vast potential of African nations to become top global political and economic giants and I want to contribute to this through a number social innovative projects. I have a foundation that is committed to youth development through awareness clubs, scholarships and other programmes. By investing in the younger generation, we want to impact the future trajectory of Africa. I particularly want to take up social projects that tackle hunger, leadership, education and entrepreneurship challenges in Africa.