Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria and the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari is a cosmetologist, Beauty Therapist and Author.
Prior to acquiring her higher degrees, Mrs. Buhari pursued a career in Beauty and fashion. Since the start of the Buhari administration, Aisha Buhari has maintained a stately disposition, bringing back a certain modesty to the office of the First Lady.
Over the years, she runs a successful business as the founder of Hanzy Spa and Hanzy Beauty Institute, a beauty salon in Kaduna and Abuja.
She obtained a diploma in beauty therapy from the Carlton Institute of Beauty Therapy, Windsor, United Kingdom. Permanent Make-up, Mesotherapy and Micro-dermabrasion.
She holds a post-graduate diploma in cosmetology and beauty from Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France. She is a member of the United Kingdom Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health and Beauty Council.
A beauty therapist is someone who is professionally trained and specialises in beauty treatments of both the face and body. As well as making their clients look beautiful, they are also responsible for making them feel good about themselves.
She closed her beauty salon when her husband became President in 2015. She is married with 5 children and one grandchild.
She has since published a book “Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists” which has been recommended as a text for the NBTE curriculum.
Aisha Buhari is a vocal advocate of women’s rights and children rights and this was a focal point during her campaign for her husband’s election in 2015. She has, on several occasions, emphasised the need for young girls to get Primary and Secondary school education before getting married, saying that she believes no girl should get married before the age of 17.
In May 2015, on the sidelines of the Global Women Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aisha stressed the need for Nigerian laws that will protect the women from forced early marriages, sex trafficking and other issues Nigerian girls and women contend with. She raised concerns on Child sexual abuse in Nigeria, sex trafficking and the need for Legislation against early marriage.
Words are powerful and can be used to build an amazing relationship or destroy one.
Here are 10 things you should avoid saying to your wife because women can be quite fragile and emotional.
“It’s up to you.”
Ladies generally don’t always like to hear this. If you are trying to come up with a plan or something, and your wife seeks your opinion regarding it, “It’s up to you” can be a very frustrating response and could even make her give attitudes for the rest of the day. Please engage in conversation with her to find a solution that works for both of you.
“I don’t remember saying that”
Sir? Why won’t you remember? It is important to know that women are confident in their memory. Be careful how you handle this conversation or it could quickly turn into a fight.
If you feel confident in your own memory, try something different like “the way I remember it is…” and approach it from a neutral perspective. Saying something like “I don’t remember saying that” can feel like an attack and put your wife on the defence.
“I don’t know.”
Your wife is asking what you’d like for dinner, and you saying I don’t know. Even as a daughter, it gets really annoying when I ask my dad “can I serve your food now” and he says “I don’t know” please what do you not know exactly?
When your wife turns to you for some insight or help and you reply with “I don’t know” and keep doing what you’re doing, you leave your wife feeling alone. Instead, jump in and make some suggestions. Just say something that will benefit you both please.
“Nothing”
The “silent treatment,” is very dangerous to any relationship at all. It creates disconnection and frustration. Instead, tell your wife you need a short time to “cool off,” and then intentionally go back to the conversation later.
“I’ll do it later”
Please, what happened to now? Or at least why not specify when exactly. We all know that later could be next year. If you do say it, be the person who does it within a reasonable time.
“What have you done all day?”
Personally, I feel like this is the height of it all. This is just a big no, no! Some women stay home to take care of the kids while the husband goes to work, or perhaps works from home. I beg you to please never come home and ask your wife what she’s been doing all day. Maybe the house isn’t perfect or dinner is a bit late, just don’t ask such. It can be really really annoying.
“Get out!”
Okay, is there a crisis situation?, I mean, is the house on fire? did a tree fall on the house or somewhere near? Please and please, if any of these is not the case then do not order your wife out. She didn’t sign up to be bullied. No matter what the issue is, give it time to cool off.
“You always….” or “You never…”
You don’t have to criticize her or at least find a better way of doing it. Instead of discussing all of your wife’s shortcomings, again, be constructive. Simply tell her how you feel and what you would like her to do differently. Yes, you can still do this while married.
“It’s your fault.”
Even if it is her fault, you should find a better way of making her realize it. Assigning blame only takes you further into disagreements. It is nonconstructive. Remember, you’re a team, and you can be part of the solution.
“You’re fat”
Such a blunt statement will never be seen as helpful but hurtful. Your wife knows it that she has put on weight and she might have already made plans to drop off a few pounds. She might be already under some pressure regarding her weight gain, and saying she is fat will only worsen matters for her. So, please be gentle.
The Kaduna State Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded in prison, six teachers of the embattled Kaduna Islamic Centre, where 300 persons in chains were recently rescued by the police.
The six teachers of Ahmad Bin Hambal ýIslamic Centre were arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 16, presided over by Musa Lawal Mohammed.
Those arraigned were Ismail Abubakar, Umar Abubakar, Abdul’azeez Adam, Abubakar Muktar, Abdullahi Auwal and Salisu Ibrahim.
Police prosecutor Hassan .M. Malan, who read out the First Information Report (FIR) to the court, said the six defendants were accused of criminal conspiracy, ýwrongful confinement, cruelty to persons and unnatural act. The prosecutor told the court that the police investigation was still ongoing.
However, counsel to the defendants, Sani Shehu Surajo, told the court that the defendants were only at the court for cognisance only because the court lacks jurisdiction to take their plea.
He also tried to convince the court to allow the defendants to remain in police custody since investigation into their case was ongoing, but the police prosecutor rejected that, saying the police facility was overstretched.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Musa Lawal Muhammed said the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the defendants because one of the offences they were accused of was a capital offence, which only the High Court had the jurisdiction to hear.
He, therefore, said because of that they (defendants) will be remanded in Kaduna Convict Prison.
He adjourned the case till October 29 for further mention.
How to move your data from Android to iPhone or iPad with Move to iOS
1. Set up your iPhone or iPad until you reach the screen titled “Apps & Data”.
2. Tap “Move Data from Android” option.
3. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store and search for Move to iOS.
4. Open the Move to iOS app listing.
5. Tap Install
6. Tap to accept the permissions request.
7. Tap Open after it is installed
8. Tap Continue on both devices.
9. Tap Agree and then Next on the Android phone or tablet.
10. On your Android device, enter the 12-digit code displayed on the iPhone or iPad.
After entering the code, the Android device will connect with your iPhone or iPad over a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection and determine what data will be transferred.
It will ask whether you want to transfer your Google Account info (so that you can quickly log in on your new Apple device), Chrome bookmarks, text messages, contacts, and the photos and videos in your camera roll. Select everything you want to move over.
Your Android phone or tablet will transfer the selected data over to your iPhone or iPad and place the appropriate contents into the correct apps. The two devices will disconnect and Android will prompt you to take your old device to the Apple Store where they’ll recycle it for free.
Once the transfer process is completed, tap on Continue Setting Up iPhone or Continue Setting Up iPad on your device and carry on setting up a new Apple ID or logging into your existing one.
Once the setup process is completed, you’ll be prompted to log in to the accounts you transferred from your old Android device. Do that and you’re good to go!
The nation a player represents is often the subject of debate. Players with dual-nationality obviously have tricky decisions to make, often regarding which country they feel a closer allegiance to.
In some cases though, players use distant relatives or other such weaker arguments to play for a country which strengthens their chance of winning international honours, and it is these scenarios which are often frowned at.
Some players on this list had very justifiable reasons for playing for countries other than their native ones, while others are a little more questionable.
Here are the top 15 soccer players who didn’t play for their native country:
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
He is the youngest of five siblings and he is from Kabyle in Algerian. His parents, Smaïl and Malika, immigrated to Paris from the village of Aguemoune in the Berber-speaking region of Kabylie in northern Algeria in 1953 before the start of the Algerian War.
He is one of the most famous French football players of all time, widely regarded as a master of the fundamentals and techniques of the game.
He is known for his excellent control and dribbling skills, his magic ball touch, his focused vision and great leadership traits.
His excellence in football has bestowed him some coveted awards such as the FIFA World Player of the Year thrice, and the Ballon D’Or once.
During his active soccer years, no player would surpass the way he controlled and received the ball. He scored 31 goals, out of his 108 international outings.
Deco
Deco
The masterful midfield playmaker who won 75 caps for Portugal, proved to be a world class midfielder during his time with Porto, Barcelona and Chelsea.
He was ignored in Brazil, but Deco went to Portugal in 2003 making his debut against Brazil, in which he scored the winner.
Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram
France’s 1998 and 2018 World Cup winning squad featured a number of players born outside of mainland France. The former Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram is the first French international to feature on this list. He was born in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe but made his international debut for France in 1994.
He went on to become a crucial player for the team, scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup semi-final. Thuram had 142 caps for France, making him their all-time most capped player.
Mauro Camoranesi
Mauro Camoranesi
Mauro Camoranesi was a wonderful player who could have represented either Argentina at international level. Born in Tandil, Argentina, Camoranesi was eligible to play for Italy through a great-grandfather named Luigi who emigrated to Argentina in 1873.
As such, his ties to Italy were far from immediate, yet when Italy showed an interest in him before Argentina, he chose to tie himself to the Azzurri. He went on to win 55 caps for Italy, winning the World Cup in 2006.
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf
The Holland International who was the former Cameroon national team manager, is considered as one of the most successful player in UEFA Champions League History.
The former Ajax, Sampdoria, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan was regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders of his generation.
Seedorf won four Champions League trophies, as well as countless other titles, trophies and accolades. He made his Holland debut in 1994 and went on to win 87 caps for the country, twice being named Dutch Footballer of the Year
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira
Another recurring theme of this list and the last of a collection of 1998 World Cup winners, a titan of the French national team, Patrick Vieira was born in Dakar, Senegal. Vieira moved to France at the age of eight, and his allegiance to the country was never really in doubt.
He made his France debut shortly after joining Arsenal in 1997. He went on to become a star of the French team as their midfield enforcer, winning the World Cup, European Championship’s and Confederation’s Cup as he picked up 107 caps.
Eusebio
Eusebio
The former Benfica Striker is regarded as Portugal’s greatest ever player with only Cristiano Ronaldo in recent times forming his first genuine competition.
Not just Portugal’s but one of the world’s greatest ever talents. During his professional career, he scored 733 goals in 745 matches (41 goals in 64 matches for Portugal) Eusebio won 11 Portuguese titles and one European Cup with Benfica.
Eusebio was born in Mozambique, but made his Portugal debut in 1961, going on to win 64 caps, scoring 41 goals and winning the Golden Boot at the 1966 World Cup.
Another international who was not born in Portugal is former Manchester United winger Nani. The talented but inconsistent wide man was born on the island of Cape Verde.
Nani made his Portugal debut in 2006 and has since won 88 caps for the country.
Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain
The former Real Madrid, Napoli, AC Milan, Chelsea and current Juventus striker was born in Brest, France, as his father – also a footballer – was playing in France at the time. Higuain holds a French passport and had to apply for Argentine nationality in 2007 in order to play for the national team. He was successful and to date has 75 caps and 31 goals for Argentina.
Pepe
Pepe
Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira known as Pepe has become one of the first names on the team sheet in the Portuguese national team, yet he was born in Maceio, Brazil.
Pepe moved to Portugal in 2001, aged 18. Dunga reportedly approached Pepe with regards to playing for Brazil in 2006, which Pepe declined, and he made his Portugal debut in 2007.
The Besiktas defender has over 100 caps for Portugal, and was sent off in their 4-0 defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup also part of the Russia 2018 Portuguese World Cup Team.
Lukas Podolski
Lukas Podolski
Former Bayern Munich and Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski was born in the Polish city of Gliwice.
Despite this, Podolski’s decision to represent Germany is rather understandable. Eligible to play for both nations, when Podolski first broke through at FC Koln, Polish media asked the country’s manager whether he was in line for a call-up. He replied by saying that his country had “much better players in Poland”.
A year later, Podolski accepted a call-up to the German squad. Today he has 126 caps and 48 goals for Germany, winning the 2014 World Cup and finishing second at Euro 2008.
Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids
The former Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Edgar Davids is one of the best remembered players of the 1990s due to his distinctive dreadlocks and eye wear.
Davids was also a quality player, who was particularly noted for his combative style, short temper, energy and technique.
Born in Suriname, Davids played internationally for Holland, winning 74 caps.
Davids had no choice in the matter as the Surinamese FA do not allow those based outside of the country to represent them, and having joined Ajax at the age of 12, he was allowed to represent the Netherlands, a path a few others have taken, as you will see later in the list.
Eduardo
Eduardo
A Brazilian-born player who doesn’t represent his native country, former Arsenal striker Eduardo was born in the Brazilian capital of Rio, but plays his international football for Croatia.
He moved to Croatia at the age of 16 when he joined Dinamo Zagreb in 1999. Eduardo made his debut Croatia under-21s in 2004, with his chances of international football with Brazil looking unlikely.
He made his full debut a year later, and won 64 caps for Croatia, scoring 29 goals before retiring in 2014 following the World Cup.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Former Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Middlesbrough striker Floyd Hasselbaink who was born in Suriname. Hasselbaink moved to the Netherlands at the age of 12 and signed his first professional contract with Telstar as a teenager.
Hasselbaink later played in Portugal, England and Spain, winning 23 caps for Holland and scoring 9 goals.
Hasselbaink is now one of the brightest prospects in English football management as the head coach at Burton Albion, where he is doing an excellent job.
John Barnes
John Barnes
Liverpool legend John Barnes is considered the greatest Jamaican footballer of all time, yet he never played for the Reggae Boyz at international level. Kingston-born Barnes chose instead to represent his adopted nation of England, the country in which he moved to at the age of 12.
Barnes won 79 caps for England, scoring 11 goals and being a part of England’s fourth-placed World Cup team at Italia ’90. He did go on to become part of the Jamaica set-up, managing the country in 2008 and 2009.
NIGERIAN Exporters have not shunned government intervention and are accessing funds under the N50 billion Export Development Fund (EDF), being managed by the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, the bank has said.
Over the last nine months, more than N60 billion has been approved in support of commodity exports such as Cocoa, Sesame seed, Cashew nuts, Hibiscus, Ginger Shea products as well as Hides and Skin among others, in the different geological zones of the country.
Exporters are drawing down gradually in line with the seasonality of agricultural produce. Indeed, the volume of applications under EDF has increased of recent, with applications worth over N77 billlon currently under processing by the Bank.
It would be recalled that the EDF was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria last year to boost intervention in the non-oil export sector under favourable terms and conditions. The purpose is to promote economic diversification and sustainable growth in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
There seems to be strained relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Emergency road projects appear to be the bone of contention, writes OSAGIE OTABOR
The relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not been cordial since Governor Godwin Obaseki assumed office in Edo State. The strained relationship is connected to the shoddy and sub-standard jobs executed by the NDDC contractors.
Few months after Obaseki assumed office, he paid an unscheduled visit to some road projects being executed by the NDDC in the state. Obaseki was peeved that the contractors’ jobs were shoddy and the drainage were not linked to any primary drain. This, the governor observed, would make the water stagnant in the drains and make the road easily damaged.
Obaseki directed the NDDC contractors handling various road projects in the state to stop work immediately. He said the NDDC would not be allowed to execute any projects in the state without meeting the state’s specifications and designs.
The NDDC contractors were given seven days to submit the design drawings, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation of their respective projects to the State Ministry of Works.
After some grey issues were resolved, NDDC resumed construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state. Governor Obaseki entered tripartite agreement with the NDDC and the Edo State Oil and Gas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC) on the repair of the Benin-Abraka Road. The NDDC was to pay 40 per cent of the fund. Construction work has commenced on the Benin-Abraka Road and the NDDC is yet to meet its obligation.
Crack re-emerged in the relationship between Edo government and the NDDC over who was responsible for the massive repairs and construction of many internal roads in Benin-City and its environs.
When agents of Obaseki listed roads constructed by the administration, those opposed to second term coming of Obaseki were quick to point out that majority of the roads were constructed by the NDDC but there were counter-arguments that under previous administrations, the NDDC did not execute much projects as it is doing under Obaseki. Former Edo NDDC Commissioner, Hon Saturday Uwuilekhue, published list of roads executed by the NDDC apparently to out a lie to claims by agents of Edo Government.
However, many of the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads were washed away by heavy rains and developed potholes. Obaseki’s administration was criticised for constructing poor roads. The Apostolic Street in Bénin-City that was just asphalted was washed away and houses in the street were flooded.
Some roads such as the College Road, Joromi Street, Aiguobasimwin and others recently reconstructed by the NDDC have developed potholes.
Last week when the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on abandoned NDDC projects visited Edo State, Governor Obaseki opened up on his reservation for the NDDC and why probe into its activities should commence. Obaseki stated that the N20 billion emergency funds allegedly expended by the NDDC on projects in the state in the last six months must be probed.
Governor Obaseki said his administration was exploring the option of suing contractors handling the Commission’s projects for delivering sub-standard projects, which caused flooding in parts of the state.
Obaseki, who reiterated his desire to stop NDDC contractors from executing sub-standard projects said there was need for synergy between the state government and the NDDC in delivering quality projects.
He faulted claims by the interim management of the NDDC that the sum of N256 billion was spent on emergency project work, out of which N20 billion was spent in Edo State in the last six months.
“This kind of action is embarrassing to our administration and causing us political problems as our citizens are confused about the roads we are constructing and the sub-standard roads executed by NDDC contractors.
“I have instructed the state’s Solicitor-General to begin the process to take legal action against NDDC contractors, who execute sub-standard work in the state, particularly the contractor who handled the project on Apostolic Street off Sokponba Road, which led to flooding in the area. We will blacklist them.
“I am surprised that the NDDC management is here as I invited them months ago when I received complaints about the quality of work done by their contractors but they ignored the invitation. There is no need having NDDC in the state when they have total disregard for the state government.
“A year ago, barely 10 per cent of the NDDC budget for Edo State was implemented. The immediate past interim management team of the NDDC needs to come and show us how they spent N20 billion in the state.
“Beyond what the House Committee is doing, there must be a judicial enquiry into the activities of the NDDC. People must go to jail for their corrupt acts. The 13 per cent derivation fund collected from oil-producing communities that was supposed to be used for the development of the region has not been spent by NDDC.
“We have registered our displeasure on NDDC projects in Edo State and contest the claims of their spending N20 billion in the state for emergency work. We signed a tripartite agreement with NDDC. They were supposed to commit 40 per cent while the state provides 60 per cent. We opened an account but they didn’t remit one kobo into it,” he noted.
Speaking during inspection of NDDC projects in Edo State by the Ad hoc Committee, Governor Obaseki said the NDDC and its contractors must pay compensation for victims whose properties were affected by flooding at the Apostolic Street.
He said: “The contractor did the asphalt work on the road without taking into consideration the fact that there were manholes to channel water in the area. When the community advised the contractor not to block the manholes, he disregarded the complaints and blocked them. You can see the devastation that it has caused?
“We are holding the NDDC and the contractor liable and we will take legal actions to ensure they compensate the victims affected.
“The NDDC was supposed to contribute 40 per cent, while the state government and its agency would contribute the remaining 60 per cent to the Benin-Abraka Road project but the commission reneged on the agreement.
“The state government has commenced work on the road and it will be completed with or without NDDC’s counterpart fund because the NDDC is grossly mismanaged.”
Leader of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Sergius Ogun, stated that they were in the state to investigate abandoned NDDC projects.
Ogun, who expressed disappointment with the number of NDDC abandoned projects in Edo State, said some projects awarded since 2012 could not be accounted for anywhere in the state.
“It is obvious that NDDC has not partnered with the state government. We are talking about projects awarded by NDDC in 2012. Seven years after, we cannot see any visible projects. These are some of the things we will take back to Abuja.”
Uwulekhue berated the Ad-hoc Committee and Governor Obaseki for making what he termed unfounded allegations without asking relevant questions.
Uwulekhue said he attracted projects worth N20 billion to the state but the money was not paid to contractors as it was the NDDC policy not to mobilise contractors to site.
He said contractors must finish their jobs and certificate issued before payments are made.
On why the NDDC did not fund Benin-Abraka Road project, Uwulekhue stated that the contractor should show evidence of job done before money would be released.
His words: “People are talking without reading the NDDC Act. Once you bid for job, you go to site with your own money at your own risk. If our engineers did not certify the jobs as good, we will not pay.
“Any NDDC contractor that does substandard jobs will not be paid as files go through 43 offices before payments are made. NDDC cannot go to Treasury Single Account (TSA) account and make payment anyhow.
“I did my best to attract N20 billion projects but the question is whether the money was released. The Ad-hoc Committee does not have any information. They are just making noise. A right thinking person will not talk like that.”
Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are groaning under multiple taxation with the attendant low turnover by the company’s.
They urged government at all levels to harmonise their tax policies towards reducing the tax burden imposed on various categories of businesses in Nigeria, in other to promote business growth and job creation.
Speaking at a business forum in Lagos, an industrialist, Managing Director/CEO, Layus Investment Company Limited, Mr. Olatunji Lawal, said multiple taxation has been hindering steady growth of businesses and regretted that government at all strata have not n shown genuine concern to address the situation.
He relieved a scenario where government at all strata harass manufacturing companies and other SME’s operating at various localities within their jurisdiction, demanding all forms of taxes which are not healthy to such businesses and asked them to harmonise the taxes for the growth of businesses.
The industrialist implored government to encourage business growth through their policies including moderate taxation, and also improve on other enabling infrastructure like improved and regular electricity supply and good road network to facilitate industrial growth and development, leading to more job creation for our teaming masses.
Commenting on the menace of fake and adulterated health products in circulation, Mr. Lawal whose Company manufacture Cacatin, a brand of Skin & Hair care products with Herbal mixture for women, called on the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to re – engineer it’s product registration policy by establishing a training centre for local manufacturers/producers, where they could undergo training and also subject their products to proper scrutiny before approval.
He explained that by so doing, sanity would be brought into product registration, control and monitoring. He also advocated that Herbal Products producers should be made to go through the training school for Herbal Medicine practitioners established by the Lagos State government.
On his company’s projection for growth the industrialist revealed that Layus Investment Company Limited has put machinery and necessary infrastructure in place to become a full – fledge Pharmaceutical company in a few years time by going into production of drugs like paracetamol, blood tonics, and the likes to generate more employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He added that he was determined to promote youth employment in the country while also advising parents to encourage their wards to start small scale businesses on a low key rather than being idle away or waiting for huge elusive business capital before venturing into business engagements stressing that government alone cannot provide employment for our teeming youths.
In life they say, every beginning has an end and every newborn will someday grow old. With better health care and healthy living, people are beginning to live longer than before. Right now, it is estimated that almost 700 million people are over the age of 60. It is also estimated that by 2020, two billion people, which is over 20 per cent of the world population, will be 60 years or older.
While most societies care for their elderly ones through numerous initiatives and homes, the elderly in Nigerian are left to their families who sometimes abandon them or can barely take care of their needs due to financial difficulties.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja branch, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, explained that there are several laws that have been promulgated to address issues of older persons but that implementation has remained as serious problem.
She added that Nigeria has the relevant laws and other arrangements in place, but that there are no structures to get the initiative going. For this and other reasons, Ogunlana-Nkanga said it cannot be said in earnest that the older people in the country are being provided for or are being taken care of by the government.
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, a few groups came together to celebrate the elderly in Abuja. The elderly citizens were given free medical treatment, food and supplies.
Founder and President, Amazing Grace Foundation Abuja, a non-governmental organization (NGO) Dr Ifeanyinwa Obegolu, explained that her foundation was set up in 2004 when the elderly were dying in the streets. Some of them, she said, were found under bridges.
According to her, most of them were waiting in vain to collect their pensions, which they never got, while a number of them died while struggling to get their pensions.
Obegolu said it was the plight of the elderly that motivated the Amazing Grace to focus on the elderly poor, leading the Foundation to start fetching them from the streets. Now the Foundation has been providing them with accommodation, food and medical treatment.
“When most of them recover, they return home and are re-united with their families because this is not supposed to be permanent home”, Obegolu said.
She added: “The Federal Government is beginning to listen now because we have created enough awareness. Even old people and many NGOs are springing up talking about elderly people. And with that, government is beginning to listen to us and I am sure they will help.
“That is why we are here to create more awareness that people are not taking care of the elderly in the society. In fact, everything in this country is geared against the interest of the elderly. The roads we walk on are geared against the interest of the elderly.
For instance, in other countries, you create pathways for the elderly, for those of them who struggle to enter bus. In Nigeria, they are pushed down. Nothing has been put in place for their benefit.
“There is no foundation for the elderly. There is no medical welfare in this country. No social welfare, no laws protecting the elderly. We have sent this to the National Assembly. In fact, in 2006, under Senate President David Mark, they were able to pass one of the bills saying that parks should be created for the elderly. But the elderly need to eat before they go to the park. So, we want more of that legislation to ensure that the rest of the elderly are protected because in the present circumstance, the elderly have no laws protecting them.
“Government should make laws protecting the elderly and intervene to help the NGOs like us who are trying to help. If they give us land, we can do something more like building more houses for the elderly and make their lives interesting. The government does not need to do everything for us. If the government is able to provide land, we can get people to help to build old peoples homes everywhere so that the elderly people can become more comfortable and happier”.
Ogunlana-Nkanga also said: “You can start with widows. Widows are treated badly in some societies. We have seen a case of a widow that came and complained that she was being raped by a neighbour. We are talking a woman of over 80-years -old that was being raped. That is what we go through and nobody is taking care of them.
“We have to understand that the society itself is already stressful for the young ones to even be able to take care of themselves. Extending that same care to the older persons may not be easy for these young ones. Government has that duty to take care of our older persons. They deserved it, they have paid their dues. Let us create social contract and social welfare package that will take care of these people”.
She added that what should be addressed by the Federal Government is how to really take care of these older people without putting them through unnecessary stress. If they are told to come and receive their pensions, structures should be put in place to make them comfortable while they wait.
“Also we don’t have to make it so stressful for them, we have to make sure that whatever policies that are being done are properly implemented. For instance, government should take it upon itself to build old people’s homes and the elderly should not be seen in street corners, in shackles or in bad shape.
