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  • Adeyemi, Awosika, others canvass financially accountable churches

    Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre Lagos, Sam Adeyemi, Chairman First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Founder Alder Consulting, Leke Alder and other stakeholders have appealed to churches to acquire management skills that will make them financially accountable.

    They stated that only such churches with good governance structure can shape the nation in the path of righteousness.

    They spoke last week during the official launching and inaugural conference of the Christian Financial Accountability Association (CFAA) in Lagos.

    The voluntary platform was conceived for Christian leaders and financial stakeholders to explore how churches can be structured to achieve proper governance standards.

    It is determined to embark on governance activities designed to improve transparency of church administration.

    Adeyemi, who spoke as the chairman of the CFAA Nigeria inaugural seminar, called for the sensitisation of the church on the needs to drive corporate governance and financial accountability.

    He said contrary to popular thinking, most churches are actually not rich because “about 75% of churches have less than 100 members and they are just managing their little resources but the fact remains that most of the leaders lack financial management skills. This is what CFAA is out to correct through education.”

    While acknowledging the roles of churches in developing economies, Adeyemi conceded they have invested so much in nation building.

    The efforts, he however pointed out, are being eroded by lack of accountability and corporate governance.

    He appealed to churches to strengthen capacity in becoming more efficient and effective.

    “CFAA as self-regulatory association of churches and Christian organisation is better positioned in helping to realise this by facilitating financial accountability, ethical and governance standards as well as biblical doctrine for all members,” he added.

    Awosika described the seminar as timely and valuable to churches to avert future ethical and administrative crisis.

    According to her: “The biggest model of influence in our nation is the church, which shapes the mind of societies in many ways. Hence the church needs to be pragmatic in its activities”.

    Awosika was of the view that churches should be structured by providing leadership portfolios and filling them up with individuals of the right character.

    “By possessing the right structure and working right, the church will serve as a model of integrity such that when the government comes there is courage to address challenges.

    “The nation is in troubled times as there is prevalent moral decadence. The overall essence of structure is that it allows for appropriate response,” she stressed.

    Alder highlighted the underlying problems that several church bodies face with government, noting that the CFAA Nigeria will reposition the Church as an island of best practices.

    Alder noted that the CFAA Nigeria was the commencement of a new era in the administration of churches which hope to achieve not only financial accountability but also spiritual development.

    Head, Tax and Regulatory, PriceWaterHouse Coopers, PwC West Africa, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said not-for-profits organisations, such as churches, must be accountable to achieve good public goodwill and perception.

  • Non-availability of local rice threatens FG’s programme

    Local rice traders, especially in Lagos and its environs, are lamenting the non availability of local rice as demand and price for the product increases due to the shutting down of land borders in order to curtail the influx of smuggled rice, which was already threatening the survival of the budding Nigerian rice industry.

    The traders are warning that the continuous scarcity of the product will greatly undermine government’s efforts to groom Nigerians off imported foreign rice to our locally cultivated rice. Consumers most especially affected by the border closure are those in border towns who have for many years depended on the foreign par boiled long grain rice.

    However, with the border closed and no more rice smuggled in, those consumers who hitherto consumed such rice have no option other than to turn to our very nutritious organic rice. But the problem is that we do not seem to have enough to go round everybody. The population of Lagos State alone according to the National Population Commission of Nigeria as at 2016 is over 21million.

    Market survey in major rice markets in Lagos, like Daleko Mushin market, Iddo Terminus and G CAPPA Iddo, revealed the numerous rice brands in Nigeria. What more, no foreign rice was on display except what the traders dubiously refer to as the ‘Nigerian foreign rice’, whereby local rice is deceptively bagged in foreign branded rice bags like, Royal Umbrella, Caprice and for those consumers who still insist on buying foreign rice, the traders direct you to such bags. They sell for about N18,000 per 50kg bag while local rice branded Nigeria sells for between N14,500-N17,000. Though if they see you are ready to pay any high amount for the real foreign rice, they retreat inside the market and produce it for between N20,000-N23,000.

    However, all the traders are complaining of lack of rice to sell to consumers. As at last week Tuesday and Wednesday when the reporter visited the markets, the traders disclosed that things have generated to the level that even rice manufacturers have stopped receiving money to supply rice to the traders.

    In an interview with one of the big rice dealers at No. 1, Taylor Rd. G-CAPPA rice market, Idowu Omogbemi, he said manufacturers like Olam, Stallion, Big Bull, Umza, Famous, Tomato King, amongst others, declined to take money from traders explaining they had run short of rice.

    “A majority of rice dealers who paid for truck load of rice since the last two weeks have not received their order. If you pay for 11 trucks, you get just one truck in order to make room for other traders. In fact at the moment, manufacturers are rationing the rice,” regretted the rice dealer.

    “Rice manufacturers are overwhelmed by the demand. They cannot meet up. Labana, Three Brothers, Super Champion, Al-Hamsad, etcetera are no longer taking money from traders. I tried to pay them today for consignment of rice but they refused to accept money,” lamented Mrs. Nky Okoro at the Iddo Terminus rice market.

    At Daleko market in Mushin, many traders were complaining bitterly that they could not find rice to buy. They complained that the major distributor of the product, Madam Jumilar, was not giving them enough to buy. She is rationing 10 bags to each trader daily through her agent, Tokunbo. If Tokunbo does not like your face, he will not sell to you. Those he does not sell to, patronise the traders he sells to at a higher price, resulting to un-uniformed rice price in the market. Besides, what is 10 bags of rice? One customer alone can buy them all and your shop becomes empty,” cried Mrs. Ethel of shop 409/416.

    The same tales of demand and the same tales of scarcity were everywhere. Of course, this has greatly affected the price. Virtually all the local rice brands sell between N14,500-N17,000 per 50kg bag. “The price keeps escalating,” lamented Mrs Effiong Orji.

    Acknowledging the scarcity and attributing the increasing price of rice to rice farmers who increased the price of Rice Paddy, President, Association of Rice Distributors in Nigeria, Mrs. Esther Akinsoye, said that government needs to stop owners of Paddy from hoarding the product and increasing the price.

    “Rice millers are complaining that farmers are increasing the price of Paddy because of high demand and as such forcing the millers to also increase their price, resulting in further increase by the manufacturer,” regretted Mrs. Akinsoye. “They should make the Paddy or rough rice to be surplus for the manufacturers and millers.”

    Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s leading rice merchant, the Iya Loja of Daleko Market, Chief Mrs. Ibilola Solaja popularly called Madam Jumlar,  appealed to Nigerians to be patient. “Rome was not built in a day. There is bound to be teething problems as we are just starting. In a few years time, we shall have more than enough rice to eat and export.”

    Admitting the scarcity, she said it will soon be over as many farmers have gone back to farms and millers have also gone back to their business due to the demand for local rice now. “I encourage the consumption of local rice so that we can grow our economy. I give to traders on credit and they remit money back to me when they sell,” said the delectable lady.

    However, in a telephone interview with the National President, Rice Millers Association, Arc Kabir, though he admitted that he heard of shortage of rice in some parts of the country, he said they were not experiencing much shortage in the north.

    In Enugu State, another big player in the rice industry, Ogbonnaya, regretted that the price of local rice has gone slightly up since the closure of the border but added that consumers in the eastern part of the country were not feeling it. “People here prefer nutritious local rice to foreign rice. Price went up because there is increased demand from places like Lagos State.”

    Another analyst, however, pointed out that majority of rice mills in the country are located within eastern and northern states. “It is only Olam that has a mill in Lagos State because consumers here preferred foreign rice. Rice farmers in the west send their rice Paddy to east and northern mills. Even Lagos State Lake rice is milled in Kebbi State. However, with the promise of Lagos State to open a mill in the state come March 2020, maybe we shall have enough rice for the residents.”

    To ease the immediate problem of scarcity in major states, stakeholders should find cheaper ways to transport rice from the hither lands to the metropolis. Investigations revealed that a truck load of rice from Kano town to Lagos is about N350,000 and this price is deterring some people. All hands should please be on deck to make this government’s noble project to succeed.

  • PRISCILLIA OTUYA: Men are good but they can’t speak for us

    Priscillia Otuya is one of the few female bishops in Nigeria. She is also the brain behind a number of initiatives that seek to empower women and better their lives in different spheres of life. One of such initiatives is known as Mothers of the Nation which has helped to transform the lives of women across the country for about two decades. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion for women, challenges and more.

    WHAT is the focus of your organisation for women?

    Our organisation is called Mothers of the Nation for Peace and Development. It is a faith-based organisation that works with female entrepreneurs in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. It is the first of its kind. We have faith-based organisations but they are not organised. We are trying to bring them together under one umbrella to help them work better and achieve their common goals.

    How long have you been doing this?

    It’s been twenty years now and still counting. Like every other Nigerian or African woman, we are born with this mould and whatever we have been taught. Within my heart, I began to say I would do something for womanhood. We go through a lot but we still dress to cover it all. Working with women as a minister of God, I noticed that most of them dress beautifully and you find them crying within. It then occurred to me that you need something to help them discover who they are and do better.

    For example, we talk about the things women go through. I saw it as mainly faith-based from our belief system. It is beyond what we are going through. Let’s think about affliction, violence against women and things like that. No matter how schooled you are as a woman, widely travelled, our belief system takes you back to the village. That village man or that young boy can shut you down as a woman. So, it goes back to our belief system and we want to change that approach by finding solutions to it.

    What are some of the challenges you have encountered while doing this?

    It is still within us as women and the system. For instance, being a faith-based group, they have this bias against women as they know; as not to be seen, not to be heard but be there. If you go to the bible, you would see that whenever there was trouble, God raised a woman. There are many women that we know that God had raised to solve problems but there is no platform. Also, even amongst the religious organisations, there are no rooms for women to really operate. So, we are looking at working to change that because no matter how schooled you are, if your church or mosque doesn’t give you room to operate or the backing, then you are not going anywhere.

    Working with women means that you are mentoring them. Tell us about some memorable moments doing this?

    We have what is known as Daughters of the Nation, too, amongst us. We noticed that some of these girls are really gifted, talented but they lack self confidence. They know what to do but they don’t know how to go about it. We have seen a lot of them grow out of their shell, come out to do certain things for themselves that they could not do before. So, it was really interesting and desirable.

    What are the new plans and projects for the next few years?

    In Nigeria for example, we have PFN, we have CAN, we have Islamic groups. We want to position Mothers of the Nation as the group for women. That would be the CAN for women, PFN for women; wherever you are and we are working towards that. We were in the US Department for Religious Affairs three years ago to discuss this.

    We want to be carried along. Now, when they do meetings abroad on things that concern us and religion or whatever concerns us. Our role as women is in the shadows; nobody is there to represent us and speak for us. We thank God for our men; they are the heads, they are really doing well but no man can speak for a woman the way they want. So, in the next few years, we would want to see ourselves taking that place as the platform for women on all grounds and on all fronts.

    A number of issues that affect women are on the front burner these days. Rape is one of it and there is a lot of controversy going on right now. What are you doing about it? First and foremost, we are educating our women to educate their girls and their daughters. When you are not enlightened, if you don’t have knowledge, you will fall victim. There is a way you carry yourself that would tell others who you really are. Let’s use the church that I belong to as an example. I am sorry to say that we are raising naïve people. We want to make Nigerians in Diaspora to know what we are doing and get their support. There are things that they are doing that we don’t know and vice versa and so we must breach the gap. A number of them don’t come to Nigeria but they have vision to support Nigeria and other African countries. We are therefore creating a platform to synergise and work together and make sure that the needed help is there. Secondly, we have reports of our American sisters being duped in love scandals and we want to help them. The most important thing we are also working at is to work with the American government to make sure that women are well represented when it comes to faith-based issues.

    Talking about foreign relationships, the attacks in South Africa comes to mind. What are you doing about it?

    I am of the opinion that it is time for us to come back to our nation. Nigerians have been a target for so long. We have everything we need in this country. I was in a flight recently and I met this foreigner who made a nasty statement about Nigerians and I cautioned him. We don’t grow drugs in Nigeria; it is coming from somewhere. South Africans and other nationalities, how come they got the drugs to your country?

    You have your security, immigration and everything. So, what are you doing to the point where these foreign nationals would come in and establish themselves? It takes evil to aid evil. You heard what happened in Saudi, other Asian countries and Malaysia. If you do drugs, they kill you instantly. If the South African government is clean as they claim, it would not be like this.

  • Our struggle with drugs, by survivors (1)

    What is it that attract youths to drugs. Is there really solace or some kind of El-Dorado in it? As Nigeria crosses the global benchmark and literally faces an endangered future, Gboyega Alaka takes a trip into the world of four survivors.

    NOT too long ago, NAFDAC issued a report that the rate of drug abuse in Nigeria is now at 15%,  far more than the world benchmark of 5%. This was more or less a reiteration of a 2018 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, which stated that nearly 15% (14.3million people) of Nigeria’s adult population was involved  in “considerable level”  of use of psychoactive drug substances. This clearly places Nigeria on danger list. The implication of course is that Nigeria’s future generation is endangered and by implication, the future of the country, even as she struggles with a bleak present.

    It then became imperative to take a trip into the drug world. What is the attraction? How come so many Nigerians, more especially youth, are getting entangled in its vicious web? Do they understand the implications? And that getting out of the habit is not an easy choice?

    Most importantly, this reporter aims to take unsuspecting youths into the grave world of drug addicts. While it was easy to identify drug addicts virtually everywhere one looked however, getting survivors of drug addiction willing to accept they ever went down that lane, was more or less akin to the biblical camel passing through the eye of the needle. And then, CADAM came to the rescue.

    CADAM, (Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry), is a not-for-profit faith-based rehabilitation arm of the Redeemed Christian Church of God based in Lagos, helping people get over their drug addiction habits. Four of the over 2,000 people it has helped overcome the nagging habit since its inception, volunteered to share their stories.

    Meek as a lamb

    For the purpose of anonymity, he shall be called Meekness; for he exudes an aura that can be likened to that of a lamb. Quiet, unassuming, meek. In fact, it was a big surprise to this reporter (having earlier interacted with him), when he was ushered into the interview room as one of the survivors who’d volunteered to share their stories. So when this reporter started with the line, “You don’t look like someone who’s been down that line;” his soft answer was, “We don’t do drugs anymore.”

    But he did do drugs. For one year. Before he was rescued. He did codeine, he did Rohypnol, Tramadol; and he did crack! Before then, he did marijuana.

    “I started with alcohol and cigarette because they are the getaway drugs. After that, I did marijuana. My days with marijuana actually extends beyond the one year. Then I moved to codeine, then codeine brought rohypnol and tramadol; and shortly before I went in for the rehab programme in late 2015/2016, I started using crack.”

    Asked what prompted the habit, Meekness simply said, “Adventure and curiousity.”

    When this reporter pointed out that he seemed to be downplaying marijuana by excluding it from the one year he suffered addiction, Meekness smiled and said, “Marijuana is addictive but you’re not just aware. You could roll up and smoke one joint, and be high for three to four hours. But the problem with crack is that it is so addictive, which means you have to be constantly taking it. There is no break, there is no stopping; you just want to be there and you can be there for a whole day. That is why it is highly addictive. That’s why I consider it the more serious one and it was the one that really got me. I did it for about a year and half, two years roughly.”

    “I started taking codeine in 2010. I did rohypnol and codeine roughly six to eight years; but when i started taking crack, I stopped every other drug. It was like the king of them all. marijuana wasn’t exciting anymore. So also codeine, rohypnol and co.”

    Asked what the feeling of crack is like, Meekness said, “I’d say crack is a drug nobody should go near. You simply can’t explain the high, you just enjoy it. It is soothing like sugar; very sweet, because you can just be there on your own and enjoying yourself. You’re not bothered about the world or anybody, or how you feel or look. You’re just in a world of your own and that world is perfect. And then it motivates you to want to more. The more crack you take, the more you want to take it and you just get hooked. So, it’s a dangerous high, very expensive and one nobody should try.”

    How then did he finance the habit?

    “I was doing fraud. Internet fraud. I left Nigeria and moved to Benin Republic where i got into internet fraud and made so much money. it was at a party that i met a lady who said to me, ‘Let’s try crack.’ I said ‘OK’ and that was it. While crack is very expensive, marijuana is cheap, skunk cheap. Skunk is a higher grade of marijuana. There is also Loud, which is higher. Marijuana is the plain grass while skunk is marijuana mixed with something. It may be heroine, it may be cocaine. It may be some other drug. Loud is marijuana that has been experimented on. That one, because of its potency, you cannot smoke a joint alone; you have to share or take a bit, keep and come back to it. They call it designer drugs because they have mixed it with many things. It is also expensive. An ounce could be as much as N5,000; and if you want to get four ties, you would need like N20,000. As for crack, a gram is like N12,000, and that’s like when you break a stone of gravel into half. And if you’re really addicted, you could smoke 12 of it in a day. No do the maths. Calculate it in a day, weeks and month.”

    Expectedly, he went broke and started selling his personal effects. He sold his car, started selling his clothes, shoes, watches, phones…. Soon, he had nothing more to sell and reality dawned on him.

    “I was like ‘Guy, you can’t continue like this o’. So I decided to come back home to my wonderful family back home. Of course they didn’t know i was hooked. When i told them I had a problem, they simply thought it was some routine issue. I tried to get a job and finally landed one at a government parastatal. But I couldn’t even function properly. If any money came my way, even if it was money I was to pay or deliver somewhere, I just take it and go get crack.

    “You may wonder how I got the job even in my state. I was an in-house smoker. It is joint smokers who look rough. I still had a house, wore fine clothes and looked good. Sometimes, I’d take office money, buy the drug, rent a hotel and blow it. At other times, I blow it at office convenience. After a while, I realised I could not continue, so i went to my dad and said, ‘Dad, I need help.’”

    He admits though that he was graduating towards that point where people would begin to point at him on the streets. He had started selling things from the house, which would ultimately have resulted in him being sent away from the house. Therefore, he said, so coming clean and crying out for help was effectively a good decision from him.

    Back to marijuana, Meekness says marijuana is a deceiver, as it makes the smoker feel he is in control. “It makes you think you are smarter than the next person, and that’s the saddest thing about it. You are not conscious about how much time you are losing; meanwhile, the people you are calling ote (fools) are moving on with their lives while you are in one particular state.

    About codeine, rohypnol and tramadol, Meekness says, “For every drug, there is a a high. When I started doing codeine, it was like, ‘Na codeine dey reign o. make we try am now.’ Actually, it was my depressed state that got me addicted to codeine. I was having problems in school at Obafemi Awolowo University. I got into school in 2005 and was supposed to graduate in 2009 but by 2013, I was still there. I was having problems with my lecturers, having to go to class with 100-Level and 200-Level students; so the best way to cope for me was to use codeine because it is a suppressant. It keeps you cool and calm. If I take a bottle of codeine, I could be here with you for the next four hours and you would not hear my voice. I’d just be feeling extremely chilled but it doesn’t stop me from understanding what the lecturer is teaching.

    Asked if marijuana enhances understanding as has been suggested by some, Meekness says, “It gives you an illusion and then its starts to wear out. That is why I said it’s a deceiver. Even cigarette and alcohol are drugs. I started using those in secondary school. At 100-Level, I met guys who introduced me to marijuana. I remember that first day vividly. It was raining heavily and I wasn’t even bothered. I liked the feeling but I didn’t understand it.”

    “Back to your question of whether it gives inspiration, I was studying Fine Art, I majored in Graphics. I felt it was giving me inspiration; but after a while, I tried to get the inspiration from it but it wasn’t coming. Everything was just blank. Even what was supposed to come naturally wasn’t coming anymore. And when you try to use the marijuana to get it, you just get stuck. And yet it leaves you with the false hope that it’s going to be better.

    Curiously, Meekness says an addict still has some sane moments when he reflects on his life and reassesses himself.

    “I can bet you that there is no marijuana smoker that has never gone through that moment. But you can’t just see yourself getting out of it. So I’d say if I didn’t smoke crack, I would never have got out of drugs. Crack was what pushed me to the bend. When I got into this place (CADAM), I was told that God brings us into a speed bump and crack was that bump. Otherwise I would never have paused to reassess myself.”

    Meekness, now 42, works in the ICT department of CADAM. After helping him to get out of the habit, CADAM also taught him to earn a living.

    I saw dogs feeding on a fellow junkie-Katrine

    Katrine (not real name) is a motherly figure. Like Meekness, you’d never know she’d been through such ordeal. And like Meekness, she currently works at CADAM, helping to pull out those still entangled in the infamous drug web.

    Her boyfriend introduced her to the habit thirty-something years ago when she was still in her late 20s doing sisi and she languished in there for 15 whole years,…until the miserable death of a fellow junkie jolted her out. That was 16 years ago. But it wasn’t entirely her boyfriend’s doing.

    “Initially, I had an aunty I wanted to be like who lived in England. I loved her style and the way she smoked cigarette. Usually, when she finished smoking, I was the one that cleared the place and I would take the cigarette butts and try to smoke them, silently wishing to grow up to be like her. So I started smoking cigarette even as a 13, 14-year-old teenager. And then of course, alcohol followed. I’m from Delta State and like you may well know, alcohol was nothing to us. We drank everything.”

    With her boyfriend, she started with heroine. A couple of times before then, she had experimented with marijuana, but she really never got addicted to it. So she said.

    Back in school, she met some girls with whom  she smoked cigarette. After a while, we started doing marijuana, but it wasn’t an everyday thing. Because of the smell, where to smoke it was always an issue until I travelled out. In Eng land, I continued with marijuana, and then I met this Nigerian guy. He was good looking, handsome and had money; and every girl wanted to be around him. So, choosing me was like he was doing me a favour. Of course his source of money was drugs and drug trafficking it. Inevitably, he introduced me to heroin and cocaine.

    In  a manner akin to Meekness, Katrine says, “Marijuana is cheap, so it was like child’s play, forgetting that it could easily make someone go mad. But cocaine and heroin were like the big boys and girls’ thing.”

    She was living with him, so she was never short of supply. Things however got to a head when some of the people trafficking for her guy were caught and were going to ‘sing’.

    “We hurriedly ran back to Nigeria to avoid arrest. But then we had to start buying because we were no longer getting supplies. Of course we still had money. But after a while, the money ran out and he left me. But I was still drenched in the habit and had to fend for myself. I started selling everything I had. After a while, I couldn’t hide it anymore and it became obvious that something was wrong. I thought I was managing to put up the babe look, but those who knew me could tell that this wasn’t me. They saw clearly that I was becoming a wreck.

    Asked what the cocaine feeling was like for her, Katrine sighed and smiled a knowing smile. “Out of this world. you feel perfect, no problems. you’re not thinking of anything. There is this euphoria and you’re just in your world.”

    And the bad part is: “You have to take it every day. It puts you on your feet 24/7. you’re always going to look for money to do it. If you’re working, at a time, you’d stop working; if you schooling, at a time, there’d be no time for school – because you have to get money to finance the habit. At a point, I had to involve myself in all kinds of vices, including stealing, prostitution and begging to finance the habit. Of course, by this time, i had become a real wreck. those who knew me knew i had gone beyond the precipice, but I didn’t care. At a point, I was living under the bridge in Ikeja and in uncompleted buildings.”

    Did she experience rape?

    Funny enough, she said no, because she was able to fight off such advances.

    Asked if the habit affected his subsequent love life, Katrine said, “In the thick of the habit, no. But after I stopped, I lost a lover. I told him everything, but seeing me on TV and radio advocating against the habit, he just chickened out. He couldn’t bear to have his friends and family know that his woman was an addict.”

    On how she got out of the habit, she said, “I came to CADAM. I went through rehabilitation for one year. I met Christ, I found purpose and I said I didn’t want to do any other thing  but work for CADAM and help others who have been caught in the habit.

    Turning point?

    It took the death of a friend who was also in the habit for me to discover myself. They said she had tuberculosis and drug overdose. She died and her body was thrown onto the dustbin and dogs were feeding off her. This was somebody I had known and with whom I smoked. Suddenly, I realised this could have been me. I thought this was not life and that I would not like to end up like her; so I took the decision and came to CADAM. Then they had an office on ACME Road. That was 17 years ago.”

    Even a cocaine addict can take such decision? You asked.

    “Yes,” she said. “There is always a sober moment… a time when you sit down and say to yourself, Ol’ girl, no be life be this o. But because of the strength of the habit, you still have yourself going back. So you need like a bang, a trigger, to say no. The fate of that friend was the bang for me.”

    Message to youth out there?

    It’s a no-go area. Total abstinence is the only solution. Don’t even try it. Don’t let anybody talk you into it. Some may try and may not like it and run from it, but some will get hooked. But how do you know whether you’d be able to come out of it? Also be careful on your dates. Sometimes, they’re putting it in your drink, without even knowing.

  • Ogun Agro-preneurs: Inside Abiodun’s scheme to feed nation

    It is the dawn of a new era in Ogun State where efforts are in top gear to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

    Under the three and a half months old administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme is also targeted at easing the problem of youth unemployment in the sense that the initiative has the capacity to take thousands of idle persons off the streets.

    For a start, 2, 000 persons have been enlisted under the scheme which signals the commencement of what can aptly be described as agricultural revolution in Ogun.

    The icing on the cake for the beneficiaries of the scheme, called Agro-preneurs, is that each of them will get a hectare of land free from the state government.

    There cannot be a better way to encourage our youths to go into farming.

    While flagging off the scheme at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta,  Abiodun said his government plans to turn the state into an agricultural hub capable of feeding itself and other states across the country.

    According to him, the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme is another avenue to boost the nation’s self-sufficiency in agricultural production in line with the Federal Government’s agenda on food security, and to save foreign exchange spent annually on importation of food items that could be produced locally.

    The 2, 000 beneficiaries, he announced, would be given Certificates of Acceptance and Leasehold.

    This is not a new scheme altogether in the country as it was started by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) some years ago as a tripartite scheme with state governments and beneficiaries.

    What is new, however, is that the previous Ogun administration failed to take full advantage of it while several other states keyed into it with the benefits now glaring for everyone to see.

    The governor expressed surprise that his predecessor shunned the funds available under the scheme to help farmers improve their production.

    The governor called on the recipients to be committed and responsible in their repayment plan.

    “Outside of the one hectare of land that we are giving out free to each of the beneficiaries, we will also provide clearing, seedlings, fertilizers, extension services and we will pay upkeep allowances until the first harvest,” Abiodun added.

    The governor disclosed that the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) is set to site the largest Agro-Processing Zone on the continent in Ogun.

    According to him, the development was the result of several engagements by his administration with officials of the AfDB who had been in his office twice in the last two and a half months.

    AfDB is headed by a former Minister of Agriculture and an indigene of Ogun, Prof. Akinwumi Adesina.

    “The bank decided that they were going to have two Agro-Processing Zones in Nigeria and Prof. Adesina decided that the biggest must be sited in Ogun State. This is the result of our constructive engagements with the Bank over the last 70 days or so,” the governor said.

    Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, described agriculture as a viable sector that could absorb the teeming unemployed youths, expressing delight that the state has signed its counterpart fund and keyed into the scheme.

    Head of Developing Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluyemisi Olukoya, said Ogun had not done well in accessing the scheme as only 5,249 farmers in the state were in the scheme as against 20,000 from Kebbi State.

    Chairman, Ogun State Anchors Borrowers’ Scheme, Prof. Bola Okuneye, said the programme was designed to link off-takers of agricultural products with producers so that farmers would know that there was demand for their products at an agreed and beneficial price to improve production so as to guarantee abundant agricultural products in the nation.

    “Ogun State is leveraging on its advantages in cassava, rice and maize value chain. There is a guarantee of off-takers, which means it is profitable from Day One,” Okuneye said.

    The Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme is a win-win development for not only the beneficiaries, but also for the state that is hungry for economic development and residents.

    For the 2, 000 beneficiaries, many of whom may have been graduates of many years standing but without job, it is a chance to make a decent living in line with the welfare agenda of the Abiodun administration.

    And they are only the first batch of the scheme as other batches will come in quick succession.

    This is a well thought-out scheme that recognises the fact that the beneficiaries are farmers and will ultimately require the market to dispose of their produce.

    Whereas there is already a market for those among them that may choose to go into cassava production, as a factory has said it can buy off their entire produce, the state government is said to be setting up a board for others as an avenue to prevent the selling of their produce at a loss.

    There is no doubt that the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme will ultimately boost food production in Ogun but when that happens and there is excess, it is incumbent on the authorities to put in a place a system to ensure that beneficiaries don’t sell their produce at a loss.

    Meanwhile the scheme has the potential to create more job opportunities. The current beneficiaries and successive ones will sooner or later break even and this will pave the way for employment in their different businesses.

    Now imagine the multiplier effect as youths who otherwise would have taken into social vices like robbery, cyber crime or even prostitution will have prospects of employment.

    Government also benefits as successful beneficiaries inevitably will have to pay tax to its coffers for the developmental agenda of the state administration.

    In the end, Governor Dapo Abiodun not only realises his dream of ensuring food security, but also solving the problem of youth unemployment and growing Ogun economy.

    • Adeosun contributes this piece from Kuto, Abeokuta.

  • ADE BAKARE

    Ade Bakare is a designer operating in Nigeria and the UK. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he speaks about his passion for designing, textile production as well as producing apparels for celebrities, high profile personalities and his current work with the cast of soaps like Tinsel and the current Big Brother Nigeria cast. 

    WHAT do you consider as the turning point in your career in fashion?

    Interestingly, I am not sure that I can pin point a certain turning point. For me, it has been a gradual long journey of sustained development. But looking and thinking back, one defining moment for me was seeing my collection displayed in the windows of a famous boutique in Knightsbridge, London, called Lucienne Phillips. She was a well-known buyer and she bought the whole collection I showed her and displayed it in her windows. That was a great turning point because lots of other buyers for shops and department stores soon followed.

    What were the challenges at the beginning?

    I started my career in fashion at a very early age; that was immediately I graduated from fashion school at Salford University in Manchester, in my mid 20s. At that point, all I wanted to do was conquer the world with my designs. I didn’t let anything hold me back, but finance and awareness of my brand were some obstacles I remember that I had to deal with.

    You initially studied history at the University of Lagos, before you studied fashion; what inspired these?

    I had always wanted to be a fashion designer as far back as I can remember. But my mum’s side of the family being very pro academia insisted that I had to go to university in Nigeria, because it was a country that might look down on you as a drop-out at that time. She also said it will bring you in touch with others, who will ‘become friends later in life and help you should you wish to be back in Nigeria.’ I remember protesting a lot, because I couldn’t really see myself coming to Nigeria again; but it worked out to be true. Moreover, she did say that if I really wanted to study fashion design, another four years won’t deter me. So I gained my degree in history and subsequently fled to England before she could convince me to do a Masters.

    I later studied fashion with great happiness and took it all in. I was a successful student and was called back to teach at my fashion school, Salford University College, Manchester.

    It’s ironic that my studying history/education combined honours at UNILAG enabled me to set up our design academy in Lagos (Ade Bakare Couture Fashion Design Academy). One needs an educational qualification to do this and it helped me. I also tend to do lots of research on the Africa textiles we use, which is also thanks to my first degree in history.

    What are some of the memorable moments as a designer?

    Most of my fond memories were wining competitions in design school. Also, memorable and interesting was showing at various fashion exhibitions around the world and designing for prestigious clients.

    Tell us about your designs; what makes yours different from others?

    Our style has evolved over the years. They say it takes about a decade to create your own look, which are designs you make in your collections that have a wider appeal and you continue to develop them. I have always loved designs that stand the test of time and using natural fibres such as cottons, linens, wools and silks. We pioneered the use of silk adire, which we have now become well-known for especially in Nigeria. Clients are able to recognise our styles; the details in the clothes are important. We designed a boubou with a collar which is currently very popular.

    Others such as our long coats and dresses, organza blouses, wrap dresses, palazzo pants in silk crepe, and jackets with the umbrella sleeves, to mention a few.

    How would you assess Nigerian designers today?

    There has been a surge in people calling themselves fashion designers, which is positive. But I am not sure if many have any formal training or experience. These developments are necessary if they want to build a sustainable career in fashion. Most developed countries would not even allow designers to show at fashion weeks, if they have had no formal training. Fashion is a profession, not a hobby. Still, there are lots of creative designers in Nigeria who are doing marvellous works, and indeed the west has taken note of this and there has been lots of attention to what Africa as a continent is offering.

    What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

    In Nigeria, we are often involved in projects. Currently designing for the DStv series Tinsel; and supplying designs for Big Brother Nigeria. I love travelling (off to ski in the Alps soon) then to China to see the Forbidden Palace. There’s an arts festival in Ghana called Chatte Wote, and hoping to be in Gabon for a show this year. Travelling, writing my fashion memoirs and trying to operate businesses in the UK and Nigeria.

    Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    The Lord, and my family, for me, is the greatest influence in my life.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    Life has taught me that patience is a virtue.

    Tell us about the people you admire

    I admire people who have been able to impact others in a positive way through their personality or business and yet remain anonymous.

    If you had to advise young designers, what would you tell them?

    We have a fashion design academy in Lagos, where we teach fashion basics such as illustration and ideas, pattern cutting and sewing. I noticed that most of the students are attracted to the glamour side of the industry, fashion shows, models and photo shoots. Usually, they say their generation want instant gratification and success. I advise them that such is not the case; that they have to build a strong foundation first which can only be achieved through formal training, apprenticeship or both. If not, they run the risk of fading out soon.

    Where do you envisage your business in the next few years?

    We have expanded to have other boutiques in Lagos and Abuja, hopefully Port Harcourt next. Then we concentrate on Africa. Senegal, Gabon, Ghana, Angola are some of the other countries we would like to have a presence in. We are in the process of now seeking investors.

    You just opened a new outlet. What stands it out?

    The new outlet in Lekki Phase 1 on Admiralty Road is for ready-to-wear, aimed at a younger audience. Beautiful, cutting edge designs at affordable prices, combining western and African influences.

    What is your definition of style?

    Style, for me, is beyond fashion; it’s a personal interpretation.

    How do you relax?

    Netflix comes to mind when it is time for relaxation. There’s always an interesting series; currently watching Billions (a story on stockbrokers in an American firm). I am intrigued with their drive and tenacity.

    Tell us about your experience working with the current Big Brother team

    For me, the experience of working on Big Brother Nigeria and other TV projects has been great. I must say that it’s an exciting opportunity working on Big Brother Nigeria. We have been very visible on Nigerian TV/films in recent years, working on the memorable Battleground series on DStv. We designed clothes for most of the characters, especially Adora, who was played by Shaffy Bello with such poise and sophistication. We were then approached by the TV series Tinsel to design for some characters. The process involves a lot of research, understanding the character and using clothes to capture the essence of that personality.

    Big Brother is a reality TV series, so the rules change slightly. But still a lot of research is involved. In addition, we are currently in the process of working with a producer on a film that involves the lives of two fashion designers that run rival couture houses. I can finally use it as a vehicle to show the best of African-inspired designs which would usher us into other things.

  • ‘My dream is a club that’ll mitigate against poverty’

    Call it a social media baby if you like, but Alfa Trust Investment Club (ATIC), founded at the instance of Deputy Police Commissioner Aderemi Adeoye on Facebook, is definitely defying odds and taking shape as a club for the future. Gboyega Alaka, reports.

    Based on his 30 years romance with the stock market, Deputy Police Commissioner, Aderemi Adeoye, currently serving at the African Union in Addis Ababa, had called on his friends on facebook to join him in taking full advantage of the stock market, which prices had fallen sometime last year. The result was Alfa Investment Trust Club (ATIC), which last week held its first Annual General Meeting.

    . “I didn’t see the stocks falling further, so I called on my friends to join me, so that we could take full advantage of the market.” He recalled.

    Reflecting on the journey so far, Adeoye said, “It is true that we started with N56.6m, which we invested in equities. It is also true that we could not have earned the ten million, which we eventually shared, if it was resting in a bank. That translates to 17.7%, which in mathematical terms, translates to 18%. Even treasury bills and bonds only give a maximum of about 14% return per annum. The implication of this is that in approximately five years, investors would have recouped virtually their invested capital, while their investment will remain to yield them dividend ad infinitum.”

    Explaining how it all happened, DCP Adeoye said, “When we started, we invested solely on equities of companies quoted on the stock exchange. And then there was the meltdown occasioned by uncertainties and political risks in the land. Foreign investors pulled out their funds and stock prices fell and we lost 28%.”

    “We realised that if we continued to invest solely in equities, we would be vulnerable, so we decided to diversify and one of the principal areas we opted for, was real estate. We settled for one of the foremost estate companies, Adron Homes and took advantage its promo, which gave 50% discount to old customers.”

    Today, that foray, which Adeoye made based on experience, helped the club recover its loss in capital and also a surplus to share as dividend.

    Speaking on the 28% loss in the equity market, Adeoye said 19 out of the 186 members of the club, a good number of whom were high value investors totaling N8.7m, fearing further drop, pulled out.

    However, in fulfillment of his promise that no investor would lose his money, Adeoye said he had started setting aside funds to pay anyone opting to quit. First, he made available N5million from his remuneration at the African Union Commission. That effectively took care of 18 of the 19 members who pulled out, as he simply bought over their shares and refunded their money. He also made enquiries from his estate agent in Ibadan about a plot of land he bought at Kolapo Ishola GRA six years earlier at N6.5million, and was told it had now appreciated to N14million. He was on the verge of giving instructions for its sale to offset a high value investor who had put in a whopping N4million, when a few other members opted to buy over the shares of the 19th member.

    As things begin to look up, ALFA Club members at the AGM took a decision to foray further into real estate, since it looks quite like the golden goose at the moment. There is a plan to transform into a cooperative and own a housing estate in Nasarawa State. Due to its proximity to Abuja, they figure it would be a piece of cake. There is also a plan for a seven-storey ATIC Plaza in a commercially viable location in the federal capital territory, while members also voted in favour of a proposed health insurance for members, loans at reasonable rate, as well as importation of fairly used vehicles from Dubai, for members and for sale to generate income.

    It also has plans to go into fix income instruments, by diversifying into treasury bills and bonds.

    What exactly is his dream for the club? You ask.

    To this, he said, “My dream is to create a club which is to become a cooperative society big enough to help members mitigate against the effects of poverty, deprivation, diseases and want. If the club is big enough, my hope is that by the time we have a contribution of N250million, our networth should be over one billion naira. What that means is that individual members’ investments would be a minimum of times four of their value. And that begins to really cushion against the harsh impact of unforeseen sickness (health insurance), unforeseen expenditure (loan scheme). The car importation scheme, will help members own a car and pay by installments. The ATIC plaza is to add value and boost the financial standing of the club, while the ATIC Estate will give members the opportunity of a free plot each, with more to generate revenue….”

    Even at conception, there is a projected minimum of N1billion to be made from the estate alone in the not too distant future. “So, you see, our intention is to create a club that is valuable and that stands in the gap for members.

    In the case of the inevitable, Adeoye said, “We have safeguards in place to ensure that people’s money is safe and that they have access to it. We have a stock broker who is custodian of our stock investment, and that is Morgan Capital. All they need is for an appointed member or representative to notify them, get a court administration letter and Morgan Capital will seamlessly transfer the assets in the name of our investments to the new administrators. In the case of real estate, we are buying from a company and our agent in the company is a member. What that means is that she is aware of all our purchases and would be on hand to advise correctly.”

    Adeoye added that the club is already developing a database of next-of-kin in the event of any member passing on and the club will be the one to contact members family in the case of death of a member.

    Already with about 170 members, the club will also be opening its doors to new members between October 1 and 30. But would there be a ceiling in terms of number of membership?

    To this, Adeoye said, not exactly. “We don’t have a ceiling. But we have set a minimum amount, which directly controls the number of members. This is unlike when we started out, when we received as low as N5,000. Those members have an opportunity to beef up their investments between now and end of September.”

    Unlike at the beginning, when shares were valued at N1 per share, the club has now created six times its value and its shares is now valued at N2 per share.

    It’s been worth our while – members

    A few members of the club were also on hand to bare their minds on its performance at its dinner held at Sinoni Chinese Restaurant, Wuse.

    Grace Ogunleye, an Administrator with Oyo State Primary Health Board, says though there have been hitches, it has been worth her while and she figures it is something big brewing.

    Kaykay Egbele concurred with Ogunleye and said he was encouraged to join in the adventure by the reputation of the man behind the club. He described DCP Adeoye as an officer with integrity.

    Lagos-based Babatunde Olanrewaju on his part said it was the testimony of people around DCP Adeoye and the fact that he is a complete gentleman and a man of trust that made him invest in the club. To him,  “the club has not even started. It is a whole bright future ahead.”

  • ‘It’s time to give Lagos special status’

    Oba Azeez Gbadabiu Asiwaju is a traditional ruler. The polished monarch rules over Ikotun, one of the most prominent and most populated communities in Lagos West Senatorial District of Lagos State. In this interview with ‘Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, he explained why the issue of a special status for Lagos state must be taken more serious now more than ever before He also spoke on other controversial issues including the alleged marginalisation of the Awori people in the state, the roles of traditional rulers in a democracy and the state of insecurity in the southwestern region of the country. Excerpts.

    WHAT is your stand on the clamour by some people that Lagos should be given a special status by the federal government?

    It is what should have been done a long time ago. Lagos state is heavily populated. Everyday people from other states migrate to Lagos state, and this put a lot of pressure on facilities in Lagos state.If Lagos state is granted a special status, it will benefit not only Lagosians but all Ngerians. Lagos state is a melting pot for all Nigerians. There is no ethnic group that is not represented in Lagos state. So if Lagos state is granted a special status, it is good news for all Nigerians. All Nigerians will be happy for it. Granting special status to Lagos state will bring a boost also in terms of infrastructural development which will benefit all.

    You recently joined other Awori Obas to allege marginalization of Aworis in Lagos. What is the situation now?

    We are still waiting to get justice for the Aworis in Lagos state. Aworis have always been supporting, and voting massively since 1999.We have qualified Awori professionals in different fields including technocrats, and also astute politicians who can serve Lagos state, and the nation at different levels, but what we get in return for our support ,and loyalty to the government over the years is not commensurate with  what we have been giving. Aworis are not getting what they deserve in Lagos state. Even non-indigenes are being treated in better ways than the Aworis who are indigenes. This is very unfair, and this is why we are crying out for the world to know what Aworis are going through in Lagos state. Our appeal to the national leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other leaders is that they should   take steps to ensure that  Aworis are given their rightful dues.

    A good proof of marginalization of Aworis is the new Lagos state executive council where Aworis were only given two slots whereas the Aworis are not only the original settlers in Lagos but also has a very large population spread across the state. Aworis own more than 70% of Lagos state. In a cabinet of over 25 Commissioners, and several   Special Advisers, Aworis were given only two slots, and Aworis are the original settlers in Lagos. Not only that, the Aworis occupy 17 out of the  20 local governments in Lagos state, and 26 out of the 37 LCDA’S in the state. And like I said earlier, Aworis have sons and daughters who are eminently qualified to serve as Commissioners, and Special Advisers, so we are baffled that Aworis were only given two slots in the governor’s cabinet. Aworis deserve more than this. We are not happy at the way Aworis are being treated.

    Why do you think this is happening?

    It is even annoying when you some people saying that Lagos is a no man’s land. This is an insult. I’m saying a big No to this. Aworis are Lagosians. We are indigenes of Lagos state. Lagos state is not a no man’s land. Aworis are Lagosians, and are the majority in Lagos state. It is unfortunate that some politicians have been using their positions to oppress Aworis in Lagos state. This was why some prominent Aworis recently tackled Prince Tajudeen Olusi who said that Binis own Lagos. What a falsehood coming from somebody like Olusi .

    If Aworis had not come out to put lie to his false claims, Olusi would have been spreading this falsehood. What we even expect from Olusi as an elderly man is to ensure that Lagos state is fair to all but instead of doing that, Olusi has been spreading falsehood all over the place over the ownership of Lagos. Let nobody make any mistake about it, Aworis are the first indigenous settlers in Lagos state. The fact that we welcome others with open arms should not be misconstrued, and distorted as sign of weakness. Aworis welcome everybody with open arms but we should not be marginalized, and relegated in the affairs of Lagos state.

    So the Aworis are angry with the ruling party?

    No group or individual can claim to love APC more than the Aworis. Since 1999, Aworis have been voting massively for the APC. We want Tinubu to intervene. APC not only get its bulk votes from the Aworis, Aworis have also remained 100% loyal to APC. In my own Alimosho local government area which is the biggest local government in Nigeria,APC always get 100% votes in every election since 1999,and these are Awori votes.

    While people from other states are being given appointments in Lagos state, have you heard  of any Awori from Lagos state being made a Commissioner or being  given any other political  appointments  in Oyo, Sokoto, Anambra, Gombe, Ebonyi, Bayela, Delta  or Osun state or any other state  across the country? It is only in Lagos state that it is happening that non-Lagosians are being given appointments over, and above Lagosians. This is an injustice of the highest order. We also want the current governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to look into our grievances.

    What is your reaction to the present state of insecurity in the country?

    It is sad, and alarming. Insecurity is gradually becoming a big monster which must be quickly tamed. It is sad that kidnappers and bandits are now all over the place making life difficult for people. Although government has been taking steps to redress the ugly situation but these efforts must be stepped up in order to ensure that the situation is quickly put under control.

    One of the solutions is to increase the Police manpower through recruitment of more policemen, and luckily the government is already doing that. But I will also like to advise government to take the issue of Community policing seriously. There is nothing wrong with us having State police. Even the United States where federalism is being practiced like Nigeria have state Police. Having State Police will make the task of combating crime easier especially at the grass-root. The Police should also be well equipped. They should have modern gadgets to combat crime.

  • Arsenal Starlet Joseph Olowu: Alex Iwobi inspires me greatly

    One of Arsenal’s next generation of youngsters, Joseph Olowu speaks candidly about growing up and how Arsenal picked him up at as a 13-year-old and the influence of Alex Iwobi on his career.     

    What were your dreams growing up and why did you settle for football?

    As a young boy growing up I always wanted to be a footballer even though I was good at many sports I was just really passionate about pursuing football as a career.

    Tell us about your growing up years and why did you choose Arsenal ahead of other clubs?

    Growing up I used to play Sunday League football at a local team called Docklands JFC for about 3 years, I really enjoyed playing in that team and I am still close to some of the boys and I also have a fantastic relationship with the manager. I was 13 years of age when I was spotted by Arsenal and I was actually playing for Charlton Athletic on a trial with them in a game against the Gunners. Later that night the scout who actually took me to Charlton called and told my parents that Arsenal had invited me on a six-week trial with them. I was playing as a defensive central midfielder but straight away I was asked to play centre back by the coaches at Hale End.  I was an Arsenal fan but was quite relaxed because I did not raise my hopes too high. I thought that Arsenal were such a big club, they have their choice of the best players from around the world so my chances of being taken on would be slim. My thinking was that I would at least have experienced the opportunity of a trial with my club.  Because I was so laid back about would happen I was able to play my natural game. I was five weeks into the trial and after a match against Crystal Palace, I was invited to sign.

    My parents are from Nigeria and I am eligible to play for either Nigeria or England. Alex Iwobi has really been an inspiration to me and to my team mate Tobi Omole who I also live within digs in Cockfosters. He came through the Arsenal Youth system and is doing so well. He scored against Zambia in the World Cup qualifiers the other week and his name is growing and growing in African football. My dad has also noticed that there is a lot of attention being given to Toby and I in the African football forums which must in part also be due to how well Alex has been doing. Arsenal was the first academy that gave me the opportunity to further my football education when I was 13 and it is something I’m really grateful for because I began training with world class coaches and players.

    What are your immediate and long term priorities at Arsenal, do you see your future at the Emirates or you are going to seek greener pastures elsewhere?

    Right now I am very happy at Arsenal and I am enjoying my football, hopefully I can push on and potentially get an opportunity in the first team this season.

    How were your sporting and football heroes, and reasons behind your choices?

    Growing up as a CB I was a massive admirer or both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic because they were both very dominant CB’s that defended very well and could also be composed in possession of the ball. I was also a big fan of Joseph Yobo because he gave everything for Nigeria whenever he played for the Super Eagles.

    We have a lot of Nigerian-born Britons who have played for Nigeria, are you ready to take that route?

    Yes. I feel that I am ready to represent the Super Eagles.

    Who are the Nigerian players that you are familiar with and what information have you gotten from them?

    I’ve spent quite a lot of time with Kelechi Nwakali and he says that there are some very good players that are playing for the U23’s.

    Describe your style of play and how would you fit into Nigeria plans if you so desire to play for your native country and not country of birth?

    I always think about defending first as a CB and organising players around me throughout the game. I also like being tough in tackles and heading but when it does come to playing with the ball I am very composed in possession and like to pass the ball around a lot.

    Tell us about your family and what role are they playing in your career?

    My family has been a massive help on my career because they always try to attend as many matches as possible to show their support and whenever I need words of encouragement and prayers they are always there to provide them

    What do you think about the crop of Nigerian players in England, who are your close pals?

    The amount of talented Nigerian players in England is endless and the ones I’m closest to are Tobi Omole, Tolaji Bola, Nnamdi Ofoborh and Tom Dele

    What’s your life philosophy?

    For me they are three simple words; honestly, loyalty, authenticity.

  • An entrepreneur’s passion for widows

    Taking care of widows, little orphans and the less privileged in the society is indeed a daunting task that should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

    Integrating them into the society as responsible and fulfilled individuals should be a source of concern not only for the government but also, to the well-to-do individuals to ensure they are better catered for and empowered to fend for themselves in the long run.

    The benefits of doing so are enormous to the society. They will not only going to become responsible fellows as they become empowered in one trade/profession, but also be taken away from poverty and other associated social evils.

    For Mrs Justina Aliam Chibututu, helping and empowering widows and the less privileged in the society is a divine call worthy of answering irrespective of the enormity of the task and challenges associated with it.

    Her passion for the wellbeing of the vulnerable in Nigeria seems unprecedented even when residing abroad currently. As a result, she frequently visits the country for the purpose ensuring they are catered for.  It is therefore not surprising that this passion catalyzed into two striking projects just for the less privileged in the society.

    Chibututu’s book entitled ‘Living Life’ and Aliam’s Care Foundation (a non-governmental organization, NGO) say it all. Her vision is building a world where all the less privileged are safe, strong, valued and self-reliant with the goal of creating a more peaceful world, a forum for attitude check, encouraging social empowerment for economic development

    “I am passionate about putting smiles on people’s faces and bringing their dreams of a new life in a new land into a reality. I have encouraged many that are discouraged and have helped many people to start their own small business to survive.

    I have given incentives to children that would enhance their betterment in school and society, Chibututu stated.

    According to her, ALIAM’S CARE FOUNDATION is into the business of catering for orphans, widows and under privileged in the civil society, expressing Gods love to them by encouraging social empowerment and enhancing economic development.

    The foundation which will soon be officially launched in Lagos is said to have been reaching out to widows and other less privileged in the country, the foundation boss is promising that it will continue to do just that.

    “I am a widow and I know how difficult it is So I will continue to reach at to them. The foundation has over the years helped, individuals, children, communities, motherless babies’ homes, orphanages the less privileged in Lagos and Delta states”, she stressed.

    Her book, Living Life is another door aimed at opening opportunities for the less privileged in the society by Chibututu.

    “Living Life discourses about life and living, it tells us that life is a mirage, a walking shadow which can terminate at any time but at the time of existence life should be lived for God and humanity by being relevant otherwise we have not lived life at all”, she opined.

    It is also an encouragement to people that it does not matter where one finds himself/herself but can live life wholly, happy and fulfilled it teaches about life  challenges, visions and other types of culture and how to have purpose in life, while giving insights on discovering  God given assignment on earth.

    According to her, ‘Sharing is Caring’ and in other to achieve is to be able to share and care, adding that “You need the grace of God to be humble, respectful, honest, diligent and be hardworking to meet up with God’s purpose in life.

    A retired banker, Mrs Justina Aliam is equally  a house wife, Mother, Widow, Writer, and a woman of God.  She is a Counselor, Anger Manager, Attitude Checker and J.P. (Jerusalem Pilgrim).

    Her experiences as a widowed house wife, mother, ex banker a skilled and compassionate leader led to the emergence of ALIAM’S CARE FOUNDATION.

    ‘I was motivated to do what I am doing now because I have suffered, so I know the pain people suffering have to go through and I have made myself available in various ways to console them. I have a great apathy to the less-privileged. There have been situations that my interventions through prayers, advises, and financial support to certain people brought changes to their lives and it has brought me great joy.

    “Furthermore living in Europe has inspired me because in Europe the less-privileged and vulnerable and children are charitably cared for.

    My dreams and vision led me to explaining in writing my heart’s desire available in my book ‘LIVING LIFE”, she stated.

    As a counsellor, she has helped to boost the mental balance of the discouraged to the extent of getting them up in life once more through start up their own small scale businesses to cater for themselves and family.