The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Americanah

    I cannot remember exactly when I outgrew my crush on Stella Damasus, the Atlanta-based Nigerian thespian who is a pioneer of our movie industry known as Nollywood. I remain her fan though. A week and some days ago, Stella was involved in a twitter battle over the pending adaptation of Americanah, the amazing love story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

    The 2013 novel, for which Chimamanda won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Fiction award, tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates to the United States to attend university. She is in love with Obinze, who eventually relocates to London but finds life as an illegal immigrant difficult. He is bundled back home and fortune later smile on him. Distance breaks them up. Ifemelu starts another relationsh, and then another one, but her heart remains with Obinze, who also moves on by getting married and starting a family. But for the two of them, what goes up must come down.

    Of Adichie’s three novels, Americanah seems to have made the most impact. Like her Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah is set to go on the screen.

    Work on the television series, which the book is being adapted into, started five years ago. Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o is the brain behind it. Her Black Panther co-star Danai Gurira is serving as the series’ writer and show-runner. D2 Productions, Plan B Entertainment and Potboiler Television are actively involved in the project.

    The 10-part series is going to air on HBO Max. Its Head of Original Content, Sarah Aubrey, in a statement, said: “Americanah has sparked a cultural phenomenon and is revered by fans around the world. It has affected me deeply as one of the most moving, socially relevant and romantic stories of our time… This series will give viewers a uniquely heartfelt and unforgettable experience.”

    Lupita is going to play the lead role, Ifemelu — an Igbo lady. There lies the battle Stella had to do. She feels this is unfair and wonders why Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic or Stephanie Linus cannot be chosen to play the role. Respected Nigerian writers, such as Lola Shoneyin, Chika Unigwe and Molara Woods, took on Stella and insults were traded.

    Over the years there have been many Hollywood movies with Nigerian characters played by people from other nations. Their interpretations of the roles have always been subjects of disagreements. This is where Stella is coming from and I am sure this will continue when the series goes on air. People will watch out to see how Lupita, who is from Kenya, will pronounce Igbo names. Will she speak Igbo?

    Biyi Bandele’s adaptation of Half of a Yellow Sun was enmeshed in a similar controversy. Not a few felt the twins should have been played by Nigerians instead of Thandie Newton (Olanna) and Anika Noni Rose (Kainene).

    Nollywood is an industry that is cash-challenged. Acquiring screen rights of internationally-published works, such as Americanah, does not come cheap. By some agreement, ace cinematographer and director Tunde Kelani adapted some literary works of the late Akinwunmi Isola, such as Kosegbe and Oleku. Jude Dibia’s Walking with Shadows is also set to become a movie. I am sure no one dictated the choice of lead actors to either Kelani or Funmi Iyanda, the force behind the adaptation of Dibia’s book.

    Unlike Nollywood, the adaptation of literary works is commonplace. Movies, such as The Hate U Give, Crazy Rich Asians, If Beale Street Could Talk and hundreds of others, are made from books. Unconfirmed reports say over half of Hollywood movies were first books.

    Like Stella, I believe Nollywood is blessed with great actors. She is one. So are Genevieve, Stephanie, Rita, Omoni Oboli, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Olu Jacobs, Adesua Etomi-Wellington and many others. There is one particular actor that I am crazy about: She is Toyin Abraham. If you go to the movies now and there are three Nigerian movies on display, chances are that Toyin will be in two. Mama Ire and World Best, as her fans call her, had a fantastic run in 2017. The Auchi, Edo State-born girl finds it easy acting in English, Yoruba and Pidgin English.

    In one of her promotional materials for the sequel to Wives on Strike, ace actor and director Omoni Oboli predicted that the world would celebrate Toyin for her role as Iya Bola in the flick. I saw the film and could not agree less. Toyin was simply crazy. Not that other actors were not good. They were. But Toyin was the life of that film, which showed that comedy could be full of messages for us all to learn from. There is no scene with this crazy girl that falls below standard. As they say, she simply killed the role and my mind was simply made up about who should earn my trophy for Actor of 2017.

    In Pathetic, Tatu, Alakada Reloaded, Okafor’s Law, The In-laws, Celebrity Marriage and Wives on Strike the Revolution, Toyin gave her all in 2017. She was like the most-sought-after actor of that year and she has remained a hot cake this year. I am not sure even Ire, her baby, can slow her down. She seems to have so much energy and she burns them on the set. Her performance in Tatu was in a different light. She interpreted the role so well that one but felt the pain the character was made to go through. The scene where she was put in a hole was well delivered.

    While the talents of Toyin and many others are not in doubt, it is not an automatic ticket that when Nigeria-centred roles are available in Hollywood it will be waiting for them. Genevieve and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde have a measure of international fame, but, even at that, power (role) is never served a la carte. There are other considerations other than talents.

    My final take: He who pays the piper calls the tune. Movie-making, like publishing, is business and the investors are always concerned about how to recoup their investment. This is, for me, a genuine concern. They are not into charity. If they feel that they need Hollywood actors to get the return on their investment, we certainly cannot begrudge them.

    I have been told Nigerian novels, such as Night Dancer, On Black Sisters’ Street, The Fishermen, Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, In the Name of Our Father and Lakiriboto, will make good movies. I also believe Ayobami Adebayo’s Stay With Me will make a great screenplay. So, Nollywood should look for money, option these novels and decide who plays what role. It is ridiculous to tell a businessman how to recoup his money.

  • Private or pirate

    •Mushrooming of private schools is ruining education fast

    The public schools are in trouble, and they have been for a long time. The infrastructure is awful, the teachers few and need teaching, the environment seedy, and discipline sometimes decadent.

    So, parents have resorted to self-help in two ways. One, they send their wards to Europe, Canada and the United States. For those who can afford less, they go to Ghana or Benin Republic. The other alternative is to send their children to private schools in the country.

    Private schools, on the surface, are the exact opposite of the public schools. Their teachers are literate, erudite even; the classrooms are furnished with comfortable seats and desks and the blackboards or chalkboards intact. Some of them have air-conditioners.

    So, the parents think their wards are in the privileged class over the public schools victims. They are promised better education, better discipline, and an assured future. But the story is looking less sanguine these days. This is because the proprietors of such schools are seeing them more as businesses rather than centres of nurture and education.

    It has been suffused like many other national endeavours with the spirit of lucre. The owners are caring less about how much education they impart as how much money they make. But it is not helped by government policies that have continued to make the private schools compelling to the parents.

    All over the country, the private schools are of three main types. The first is of high quality by Nigerian standards. These schools are well-furnished, in well-heeled settings, especially in the top cities of the country like Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna, and the teachers and administrators are also well-trained and experienced. Some of them are even embraced by foreigners from the west, particularly because the foreigners have stakes in them. They are also secure with police deployed to protect the children. These schools cost a pretty penny. Some of such schools extract millions of Naira in fees.

    The lower level to that is often cheap only relative to the first category. But they cost hundreds of thousands a term and are often burden, though embraced reluctantly, by the parents who would not settle for bad schools. But these schools are furnished and have moderately good teachers. These are passable.

    But the third category is the most problematic. These are mushroomed. Some of them are built without roofs, without chairs or seats, without discipline, and with curricula of doubtful integrity. It is often a breath-taking sight often when newspapers publish students receiving classes in ramshackle buildings, the roofs only open the pupils for a drench-filled day. They have few books, their uniforms threadbare, and the teachers also uninspired.

    Governments like Lagos have clamped down on some of them in the past, and it seems that the private schools are feeding a need. The parents are often beguiled into thinking some of these private schools are in good shape.

    What seems to happen is that the schools are inspected on take-off. The proprietors have enough money to put the classrooms, equipment and facility in place, employ teachers and head teachers. But they do so in anticipation of profits so as to keep the investment going. But the returns do not catch up with the deterioration. And the schools lose seats, suffer broken windows, teachers atrophy, roof crack, and suddenly the school is no longer a school but a patchwork of infrastructure with a wrong name.

    These are even the best of them. Most of them are cynical enough to entice parents by just calling themselves private, and that flatters the parents who want the class distinction of having their children not attend public schools.

    The consequence is far-reaching for the society, and only governments can stop this by diligent inspection and saving public schools.

  • Birthdays: President greets Fasanmi, Onabule

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warmly congratulated national leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Ayorinde Fasanmi, who turns 94 today.

    He praised him for consistently projecting the noble and progressive ideas of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also joined family, friends, professional and political associates of the pharmacist who joined politics to serve the nation at a young age in his birthday celebration.

    The President noted that Pa Fasanmi has demonstrated his love for the country by working for the welfare of the poor and underprivileged, and holding leaders to account for their promise of good governance.

    President Buhari recalled that as a legislator, who served in the House of Representatives and Senate, Pa Fasanmi’s focus on people shaped his life philosophy and politics.

    He noted that government can only remain relevant when it caters for the needs of the vulnerable and voiceless.

    President Buhari acknowledged Pa Fasanmi’s courage in standing for democratic governance and fighting for democratic ideals and values.

    He prayed that the Almighty God will grant him longer life, good health and strength to keep serving the nation.

    The President also joined family and friends in celebrating with Chief Duro Onabule, renowned journalist and columnist, who becomes an octogenarian today.

    He congratulated the former editor for his courage and steadfastness in serving the country.

    In statement by Adesina, the President affirmed that Onabule’s consistency in his chosen career had benefitted the country a lot, starting out at the dawn of Independence in 1961 and rising steadily to work with many print media houses, like the Daily Sketch, Daily Express, Daily Times and Concord newspapers.

     

    President Buhari hailed the veteran journalist for upholding the highest standard of professionalism in journalism by investigating and projecting the truth, ensuring balance and accuracy, and confidently pushing for inclusive and responsive government that caters for ordinary Nigerians.

    As he turns 80, the President congratulated Chief Onabule for serving the country with his talent, treasures and time, especially in crucial times that deserved personal sacrifices.

    President Buhari prayed for longer life, good health and prosperity for the octogenarian.

     

  • KSA: King whose kingdom is the dancing stage

    Musical entertainment is a very important part of socio-cultural lives of the Africans.  Almost every aspect of their lives is affected by music. They often employ music as they work to its rhythmic beats and its soulful tunes especially to expedite physical actions at their often energy-sapping work at farms, market places, workshops etc. Indeed to mitigate the effect of work burden on their psyches and diffuse work tension, they often shrill, oozing out musical sounds through their lips and teeth.

    Nigeria, the largest black nation in the world and the largest country in the African continent has distinct music culture. For example, every weekend is seen as a period of respite from work pressure of previous days of the week. This period is usually agog with celebration of birthday parties, baby-naming ceremonies, wedding, burial ceremonies, house warming events etc. Music rendition often plays dominant role in these usually convivial events. Local musicians – each playing his own genre of music – are hired to play live at such colourful ceremonies, where celebrants and well-wishers often dance and drink to stupor, while variety of local foods and drinks are often at the beck and call of attendees.

    No doubt, one of the greatest musicians that have come out of African continent is the legendary King Sunny Ade who has rendered soulful music to the entertainment world ceaselessly in the past 52 years. The legendary artiste is perhaps one of the very few artistes on the planet earth who has played music worldwide for so long a period of time and is still found useful in the entertainment world till now. The energetic musician is still playing scintillating music and honouring almost all live engagements till today in every corner of the world.  A careful study of King Sunny Ade’s juju genre of music reveals that it has real African elements which have sustained his musical pattern till now.

    Ade’s, as fondly called in the US and European entertainment market has the knack to embellish his music with core undiluted Yoruba lexicon. It is the tradition of the Yorubas, the largest ethnic tribe in the south western part of Nigeria, to sing in praise of themselves especially to show appreciation for good deeds and encourage others to embrace philanthropic deeds. This is also true of most of many of the 250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria including the Ibos, Hausas, Edos, the Itsekiris etc. Hence it is common practice of most musicians to sing in their respective dialects in praise of their patrons. King Sunny Ade goes beyond rendering praise songs, he often lavishly applies descriptive names, cognomen – oríkì ìdílé, to embellish his adulatory songs to extol the sterling virtues of his fans.  Oríkì ìdílé involves deep research works on the part of a skilled musician to know the historical antecedents of a person in whose praise he sings. Hardly is there any of Sunny Ade’s music album that does not include copious application of oríkì ìdílé.

    King Sunny Ade’s music has deep philosophical messages for the wise to ponder upon. His ever-didactic lyrics always have some lessons or morals to teach every perceptive audience. This explains why the elderly people, the traditional rulers, and those who value native sense and moral scruples adore him like a saint.  While the lyrics often attract the elderly audience, his charming music with dynamic instrumental passage has titillated the youths who enjoy and latches on many elements found in his music. Sunny has the gusto to gravitate from pop to soul or to jazzy instrumentals from one breath to another even in a single musical rendition viz:  ”3-6-5 is My Number” track In Private Line, “My Pretty Suzzy”, “Igbeyin Lo Ju Esan A Ke”; “Mo fe Da bi Olorun Mi” in Sound Vibration album “Happy Celebration to King of Music” etc. all have either pop, jazz, or lullaby instrumentals.

    KSA enriches his beats with heavy and multiple percussion instruments whose sound flow at brisk tempo without running into discordance. The Yorubas enjoy dancing to the lead talking drum, the (iya’lu) which often reels out esoteric and abstruse messages which can only be understood by the initiated.. KSA easily understands abstruse messages of his talking drummers, most especially the iya’lu. Thus, he readily and spontaneously responds to such messages with precision, which subsequently explains his bizarre dancing style.

    The ebullient artiste remains the cynosure of entertainment public eyes for this long because of his avid love for intense research works, not only on African traditional music, but also on Yoruba anthology and lexical structure. He is renowned worldwide for his stagecraft and enchanting showmanship. A master in kinetics, even at 73 he has more reasons to sing his “Kó dùn. Kó pò. Kó pé. Olúwa ló n fún ni.” That is. to be sweet, and yet be sufficiently plenty, and to last long, is God’s blessings.” His sizzling performances hinge mainly on his passion and love for excellence on whatever he does. Sunny, a complete and unapologetic teetotaller has intense hatred for alcoholism and drunkenness. This epitome of humour with chameleonic image, sextuples as an artiste; and artist – most fans may not know that KSA sketches and designs the templates of his albums by himself.

    Rated one of the 100 greatest guitarists in the world, The Master Guitarist dominates the guitar world completely, even to the awe and amazement of its manufacturers; making the ubiquitous string instrument to do his bidding to provide any desire tune of his choice; from the mumbling sound of the tidal waves to the endless prattling of a loquacious parrot. And from the hee-hawing of a donkey to the endless barking of a rabid dog. Sunny is adept at creating with his lead guitar the stridulating voice of a cricket or the snarling tone of an enraged tiger.

    A consummate percussionist, King Sunny Ade is also an actor in many films, a consummate dancer, a poet and philosopher, who has successfully dazzled the entertainment world for over five decades. One of the most querulous personalities ever known by this writer, Sunny is hardly satisfied with any of his own albums. He has the knack for recording and re-recording, cancelling and re-packaging over and over again, all in a bid to get the best output.  And yet the best is never his best to him! Sunny can spend almost the entire 365 days of the year hibernating in solitude, ruminating on new ideas as concerns his genre of music; or spending and spending heavily to acquire latest equipment, which he masters and applies almost with computerized precision.

    Perhaps there are useful lessons to learn from this mercurial and enigmatic personality as he clocked 73 on Sunday, September 22. King Sunny Ade is known all over the world with millions of fans enjoying his music with its ever-didactic messages. The music ricochets and blares loudly beyond Nigeria’s shore. Sunny’s honour shimmers across the globe. Yet, he sings in Yoruba, his mother tongue and native language. His music does not only entertain, it is meaningful and thus evokes actions. A lesson? Our young and upcoming artistes should be proud of their origin, and should not despise the humble beginning. Nobody elevates the one who deflates himself. A river that forgets its source often dries up. Our upcoming artistes should learn to engage in research works aimed at playing good and meaningful music.

    KSA personifies excellence and dynamism in musical arts. A lesson? Be the best of whatever you are, and shimmering honour shall be in your pursuit. The indomitable KSA, an adjunct lecturer in music at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and several award honourees began his musical career in 1967 and still is found relevant in the entertainment world till today, honouring both local and international engagements, and giving exquisite stage performances.

    A lesson? Our modern-day youths should be consistent and learn to “grow up” with patience and forbearance, rather than “jumping up” in haste. A man that grows up gradually often remains on top with unblemished honours. But the impatient one that jumps up hastily, using short-cut methods; pursuing vainglorious activities and inordinate ambitions comes down spontaneously in utter shame. And that is the corollary. Verbum Satis Sapieti

     

    • Ajayi, writer, author and communication scholar writes from Lagos.

  • Bishop Oyedepo @ 65

    The Winner-Man, Bishop David Oyedepo, otherwise known as Papa by his teeming followers and admirers, is a no-nonsense fire-brand preacher, teacher and faith entrepreneur of the highest order. A stickler for excellence, this Christian professional (architect) is doubtless one of a kind! He has managed to form a perfect blend of discipline, spirituality, visionary leadership and entrepreneurship.

    Although his galaxy of achievements is up there for all to see, many still find it difficult to comprehend how an individual could consistently maintain such a flawless trajectory in life and still have enough smiles to spare.

    Bishop Oyedepo can safely be referred to as the Encyclopaedia Biblica. He reels out scriptures endlessly verbatim in his teachings and sermons even without opening the Bible. This is the result of ‘eating’ the word and ‘vomiting’ it fully digested, for the edification of his audience.

    The Bishop is also a voracious-reader of both scriptural and secular literature in an endless quest for knowledge. He is a believer in versatility and does not believe in mediocrity under the guise of spiritualism as lots of modern-day Christians are wont to do.

    In coming up with this write-up, it took a great effort to dig down deep enough to find any additional information about this exceptional man of God. Being an author par excellence, he has written a lot to provide uncommon practical ‘insights-to-life’ for his teeming audience. Similarly, a lot has been written about him, both online and offline. I discovered a key cited in the Biblical book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 33. This seemingly innocuous scripture known to all is the driving force behind Papa’s colossal imagery. He has been able to master its simplistic implications and blended it with personal discipline, honesty, forthrightness and complete faith in God.

    Another open-secret of Papa’s success is his amiable wife and partner, Mama Faith Abiola Oyedepo. Papa received double ordination together with her, first by Daddy G.O. Pastor Enoch Adeboye and later by Kenneth Copeland. To any man of wisdom, it’s clear that behind every successful man, there is a woman dutifully fulfilling her God-ordained role of helpmate. It’s no mere coincidence that Mama was rechristened ‘Faith’, which is the central theme of the entire Winners Ministries. Mama Faith Oyedepo is an authority on family life, marital success, youth and women empowerment. She has produced great offspring in David Jnr, Isaac, Joy and Love. She consistently makes great impact in the lives of the underprivileged through her Faith Abiola Oyedepo Foundation.

    Papa’s humble beginning started on September 27, 1954 in the quiet, ancient town of Osogbo. He was born into a mixed-religion (Muslim/Christian combo) parental background, native of Omu-Aran in Kwara State. Papa inculcated spiritual discipline early enough, especially in the areas of prayerfulness and tithing. These virtues provided a solid foundation for Papa’s astronomical success. Papa officially became born again in 1969 under the guidance of his high-school teacher, Betty Lasher.

    As an architect, he had a stint with the Federal Ministry of Housing before resigning into full time ministry. Papa would later receive a PhD in Human Development from the Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA.

    His major break in life came through in an 18-hour vision from God in May 1981. The vision led him to establish the Living Faith Church Worldwide, initially called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries.

    The Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel International) started in Kaduna and later moved to Lagos and then to the present headquarters at Canaan Land, Ota. The land area here which was virtually a virgin land covering over 500 hectares is an example of a well-planned urban development, including a university, a mega housing estate, a mega power plant, a mega church auditorium and everything you will expect from a well-organized government. The 50,000-capacity auditorium presently runs about four services every Sunday, each always filled to capacity.

    The Ministry of Bishop Oyedepo has a unique signature, centred on the theme of Faith and Dominion Prosperity. It is built on the principle of putting God first, as captured in the verse in Matthew 6:33. The Bishop deliberately encourages all his followers, mentees and associates to spare no effort in planting sacrificial seeds in the vineyard of God as the master key to personal and corporate exponential growth. This principle is openly practiced by Papa himself.

    The fighting spirit in him also recognizes the need for effectual deployment of the entire Christian arsenal, including praise-worship, fervent prayers, prophetic utterances and blessings. The father-figure in Papa spans the Nigerian religious landscape with many notable men of God openly affirming him as their mentor.

    The ministry of Bishop Oyedepo transcends spirituality to include service to mankind in the areas of basic needs, such as housing, education, charity, entrepreneurship, leadership and a host of others. Based on his effectual teachings, the church has experienced monumental growth, locally and internationally. An insight into the magnitude can be gleaned from statistics. The Living Faith Church Worldwide is a mega church with a global network in more than 65 countries. Between April and September alone, over 5,000 new branches of the church were established.

    Most of the achievements of Bishop Oyedepo are in the public domain. However, it is necessary to mention a few of the less visible ones, especially his authorship of many bestsellers on themes such as Faith, Destiny, Breakthroughs, Wisdom, the Supernatural, Prayers, Divine Health, etc. We capture some of his philosophies in quotes such as, “it’s character that gives birth to capacity. The loss of character is equal to the loss of everything”; “don’t let life master you. You must learn to master life”; “your dream of getting to the top may not be fully realized if all you are doing is merely wishing and not working”. Times magazine once asked Papa why he works so hard and does not take off time to rest, since as the saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. His response was simply, “it depends on the kind of work Jack is doing”.

    As the whole world celebrates Bishop Oyedepo @ 65, l do join others to wish him many more fulfilling years ahead. It’s my fervent prayer that God Almighty blesses this nation with more entrepreneurial champions of Papa’s ilk.

    May Papa’s later life be greater than the sum of his existence so far! Long live Papa, Bishop David Oyedepo!

     

    • Aibangbe, a Media & Public Relations Expert wrote from Lagos.

  • Buhari decries Nigeria’s loss of $157.5b to illicit financial flows

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria lost an estimated $157.5 billion to illicit financial flows between 2003 and 2012.

    He quoted the figure from the 2014 Global Financial Integrity Report in his address to the High-Level National Side-Event organised by the African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A).

    The event was on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with the theme: Promotion of International Cooperation to Combat Illicit Financial Flows and Strengthen Good Practices on Assets Recovery and Return to Foster Sustainable Development.

    The Nigerian leader noted that such massive loss of assets resulted in dearth of resources “to fund public services or to alleviate poverty” in the country.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President added: “This is why, as Africans, we have no choice but to break the back of corruption.”

    Acknowledging lack of sufficient capital and corruption as impediments to socio-economic development of the continent, the President emphatically restated his administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

    “That is why our government has made it a war we intend to win.  We will give all it takes to ensure there is no hiding place for purveyors of corrupt practices who are truly enemies of the people,” he said.

    Harping on the need to strengthen good practices on asset recovery and return, President Buhari said: “In the last five years, our government has made significant progress to curb corruption. We have recovered millions of dollars stolen from our country.”

    The President stressed that his administration faced some hurdles in the fight against graft and recovery of stolen public funds.

    “There are still a lot of other funds that are stuck in foreign bank accounts due to international laws, different jurisdictions and justice systems that make it difficult for repatriation,” he said.

    Describing Illicit Financial Flows as “illegal movement of funds from one country to another,” President Buhari regretted that “these flows deplete Africa’s internally generated revenues (IGR), foreign exchange earnings, reduce tax revenues, drain natural resources, facilitate corruption and stunt private sector development”.

    He cited tax avoidance as another form of illicit financial flow, quoting the Tax Justice Network and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that estimated over U.S$200 billion per year was “being lost by developing countries when multinational enterprises do not pay taxes in the countries where they made the profit”.

    “This amount is significantly higher than the annual development aid received by these countries which are estimated to be about U.S$143 billion,” President Buhari added.

    Commending the organisers of the meeting designed to finding “pragmatic ways to promote international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on asset recovery and return, as an arm of sustainable development policies in Africa,” the Nigerian President also lauded their “shared commitment to root out corruption from our continent”.

     

  • NGO helps parents pay fees

    After struggling to see that her daughter through primary school two years ago, Mrs Rosalind Olajide, a single mother can now breathe easy thanks to the Seed of Deborah Foundation, which will pay for her secondary education.

    Mrs Olajide said despite enrolling the girl in a public secondary school which offers free education, she could not afford the N20, 000 needed for her admission until the foundation stepped in through its Back to School Kids project.

    The trader who sells fried yam and bean cake said her daughter ought to be in JSS2 but could not go to school last year because of lack of funds.  She thanked the Foundation for stepping in.

    “I am so happy because they have wiped away tears from my eyes. I have been thinking of how to do this but now I am here,” she said.

    Another parent, Mr Ejindu Nnachi, a commercial motorcyclist cried as he shared how his daughter dropped out of school two years ago for lack of funds.

    “I just want her back in school even if it is a government school. She is supposed to be in JSS 2 now but because of lack of money, I have not been able to put her back in school,” he said.

    Thanks to being active in church, Nnachi said his daughter learnt about the Foundation’s project from her pastor.

    Speaking on the project, Isimijola Titilayo, a member of the foundaiton said it was meant for single mothers whose children could not continue their education because of lack of funds.

    She said 14 parents and 16 beneficiaries had received N25,000 or N20, 000 each to pay school fees.

    Isimijola added that some school bags and school shoes were also available for the beneficiaries.

    She said members of the Foundation contribute from their personal funds to pay fees of beneficiaries.

    “One of us even had to take a loan for this project pending when his salary will be paid” she said.

     

  • ‘Navy using military grade phones to curb maritime insecurity’

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it has been using military grade phones with inbuilt tracking facilities to tackle maritime security challenges.

    Already, Commanding Officers of NN warships carry such phones to enable them track vessels and their locations within the country’s territorial waters for improved operational efficiency, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas said.

    Ibas spoke in Lagos during an aside interview with reporters at the opening ceremony of a transformation workshop on performance thinking, leadership and organisational agility for naval officers within junior, middle and senior cadre.

    The CNS, who was represented by the Chief of Navy Transformation (CTRANS) Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, said the Navy was running its operations with technology.

    He noted that the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) and Falcon Eye facilities, which cover the entire stretch of the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), were also practical examples.

    The Nation reports that 60 officers, from Commander to Rear Admiral, were undergoing the training organised by the naval headquarters in conjunction with the EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA in Apapa.

    Ibas said: “Indeed, the Nigerian Navy has infused technology into most of its operations and, as I speak to you, we are able to cover the entire maritime space of Nigeria with the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) infrastructure. With this facility, we are able to see up to 200 nautical miles to sea.

    “We also have the Falcon Eye, which gives us not just the radar signature but also the live pictures of ships. With that, we are able to vector our various platforms to go and intercept any criminal activity that is taking place at the sea.

    “As I speak, most of our commanders carry phones with facilities that are able to track both our vessels at sea and vessels that are of interest to the Nigerian Navy. With this, we will know at any time where a particular vessel is and then deploy platforms on a particular operation and get feedback in real time.

    “The Nigerian Navy operations have improved significantly and we can beat our chests and say indeed our operational efficiency has improved through the transformation planning.”

    He expressed optimism that the workshop would improve the performance thinking, leading for organisational performance and transformational leadership of the participants.

    Ibas explained that 40 senior officers would benefit from two trainings in Abuja next month.

     

  • Read to write well, SAN counsels pupils

    The first woman to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke, has underscored the importance of healthy reading habit to gaining good writing skills.

    She counseled young people to read widely, just as she warned them against stealing content that is not theirs online.

    She spoke recently during the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which also served as platform to reward winners of the Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition for secondary school pupils.

    Mrs Solanke said young people must invest in improving their reading, writing and speaking skills and not depend on what she called “cut and paste” methodology from the internet.

    She said: “In this day and age, in the world, not only in Nigeria, there is a serious diminishing culture of reading.  It is to be emphasised that you must read well, so you can write well.  If you do not read well, you cannot write or speak well.  There is a dangerous misconception among students now in relying on the ‘cut and paste’ methodology which means copying other peoples’ brain work on the internet and not using their own brains. Concerning those who do not read, the world-acclaimed Wole Soyinka – the Nobel Laureate for Literature – has this to say: ‘Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth.’”

    Mrs Solanke advised the pupils to use the internet properly – as a tool for learning, not for negative things like pornography, breach of privacy and the like.

    On her part, the chief examiner of the essay competition, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, also expressed concern about the improper use of the internet by young people as evident in the entries received for the competition.  She said some of the entries received contained plagiarized content lifted from the internet without proper acknowledgement of the original owners.  She called for the inclusion of Internet Use in the Civic Education curriculum.

    Winners of the competition, Esigbone Ferdinard of Roshallom International Secondary School, Egbeda, Lagos; Oluwaseun Aremu of Shepherd International College Ado-Ekiti ; and Adeola Ifeoluwa of Chrisfield College, Itamaga, Ikorodu got N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000 each.  Their schools also got computers. Four other finalists will get a consolation price of N20,000.

     

  • Don warns govt, farmers, on fertiliser use

    A Professor of Soil Science and Environment Conservation and Dean of Postgraduate School, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Mrs Nnenna Oti has warned farmers, state and federal agencies to use fertilisers with caution as the toxic content is harmful to human health and wellbeing.

    Delivering the 35th inaugural lecture of FUTO titled: “Man and his Environment”, the erudite professor said that the continuous use of large doses of fertilizer and waste products could lead to accumulation of toxic levels of heavy  metals such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel, lead and mercury which are injurious to human health and wellbeing. “Therefore, fertilizers should be used with caution,” she warned.

    She noted that even though Nigeria is a signatory to most environmental protection protocols, state and federal agencies are reluctant to fully implement the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports even when such are commissioned.

    “Authorities tend to downplay negative impacts and are reluctant to grant access to sensitive information. This should change,” she said.

    She said that emphasis in soil science should shift from soil resources management, increased crop yields, characterisation and soils mapping, to food quality, human health, climate change, environmental protection, ecosystem services and alternative energy production.

    As this shift happens, she advocates that soil science should be domiciled in faculties of Natural and Environmental Sciences, adding that soil quality and human health should receive a lot of research attention in the universities.

    “We must improve the research culture of Nigerian universities, by attracting and keeping the best brains, regular training workshops in the fundamentals of basic and applied research, enhanced funding, linkages with other institutions and reward for excellence, ” she said.