The Nation Newspaper

Tag: started

  • It all started in Lagos

    Since it crept into the calendar of national holidays, Southwest states, under the progressive umbrella, especially Lagos, have never reckoned with May 29 as the Democracy Day.

    The ‘real’ Democracy Day is June 12, 1993, when Nigerians shoved aside religion and ethnicity to vote a candidate of their choice, Chief Moshood Abiola as president.

    It was learnt that leaders of thought advised then president-elect Olusegun Obasanjo to organise a nationwide thanksgiving in appreciation of the enthronement of democracy. But, in his inaugural speech, Obasanjo proclaimed May 29 as Democracy Day.

    However, save for the holiday that was declared, the first anniversary of Democracy Day was without any activity in the Centre of Excellence. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who held forte as governor, proclaimed from the outset June 12 as Democracy Day.

    He demonstrated faith in June 12 by building monuments in public spaces to immortalise those who staked their lives in the battle to actualise the results of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    Some of such cenotaphs are for the acclaimed winner of the poll, Abiola, at Ojota; his wife and “Heroine of Democracy” Kudirat Abiola near the old Toll Gate Plaza at the Ojota end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the giant-size statue of Campaign for Democracy (CD) chieftain Beko Ransome-Kuti at Anthony.

    Tinubu’s successor, Babatunde Fashola, built the Freedom Park for rights’ crusader Gani Fawehinmi at Ojota. All the monuments are being maintained by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    For the eight years that Tinubu was in the saddle, lectures and symposia were organised to keep the hope alive.

    All the Southwest states but Lagos observed May 29 as Democracy Day between 2003 and 2007 following the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “tsunami” that dislodged the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in its stronghold.

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was so enamored by the agitation for the revalidation of the election that he declared June 12 as holiday in the Southeast state, despite being under PDP.

    Beginning from next year, Democracy Day will no longer be observed on May 29, following the proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari that “June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions, expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence.”

    The President said: “The investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12th, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29th, in celebration of Nigeria Democarcy Day.”

     

  • ‘I started my business with N1,250’

    ‘I started my business with N1,250’

    Growing a business is not easy in Nigeria, especially for start-ups. The challenges are many, ranging from seed fund to production, power supply, marketing and stabilisation. A young man, Ocheni Onuche Simon, a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Abuja, has gone through the harrowing experience of a Nigerian producer. But today, he is standing tall to tell his story. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE met him producing “Kasso Flakes-Soaking Wakkis”in Lagos.

    He is a success story. Recounting his long walk to success, Ocheni Onuche Simon spoke of  how the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was instrumental to what his business has grown to be.  Today, his brand of garri with suya, milk and sugar has grown in popularity that the Nigerian Army purchase in large quantity to feed her troops in the North East.

    “I was sponsored by the NYSC to participate in the USAID Market 11 Programme on entrepreneurship. After the programme, I was also sponsored by the Association of  Entrepreneurs and Technologists of Nigeria (ASET.Nig) for a  a training.

    “My business kicked off on June 7, 2013, with an initial capital of only N1, 250.00 during my service year at the Nigerian Army, Abuja, where I served. At the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, I had a lot of customers and that made the business to spread to other arms of the Armed Forces,” he said.

    Ocheni told The Nation that as his business progressed, the Bank of Industry (BoI) through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED), an arm of the NYSC, supported him with a loan of N 3,821,659.15 that gave him a turn around. He said the life line from BoI gave rise to a factory, which has enabled him to put his product in the public domain.

    He plans to ensure that his products are available in major cities of the country and become a household name. “We would also like to embark on the exportation of our products to overseas so as to prove to the world that Nigeria has all it takes to feed the whole world because Nigeria is ranked the highest producer of cassava tubers followed by Brazil and to take home to Nigerians in  the Diaspora.”

    On the products, Ocheni said they are indigenous and found virtually in every home. “Every Nigerian knows it as garri, but my company gave it the name “Kasso Flakes-Soaking Wakkis” which simply means cassava only flakes. According to him, the name ‘soaking wakkis’ simply means “soak and eat” with varieties such as meat (i.e Kilish), milk, sugar and groundnut. Others are garri with groundnut only, garri with groundnut and sugar, garri with Kulikuli better known as ground nut cake.  This is also in addition to our premium product “Sollo ‘G’, derived from swallow garri. This category is best for dough i.e Eba,” he explained.

    Commending the Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi, who encouraged him by buying up a large percentage of his products for the soldiers combating insurgency in the Northeast, he advised that youth empowerment through job creation is very crucial as an ‘idle hand is a devil’s workshop

    He said: “In the NYSC DG’s bid to counter terrorism, he’s been patronising us and making our products available for the Nigerian Army troops in the Northeast combating terrorism. This is part of his contribution to the military as the package can serve an appetiser before the regular meal.” Simon also appealed to NYSC state coordinators to patronise them by making the products a part of the diet regime in the orientation camps.

    “We ask that the coordinators make our products “Kasso Flakes-Soaking Wakkis” available for each corps member in their respective state for the mandatory one year service. This will encourage corps members to take the entrepreneurship training seriously in order to have more entrepreneurs among the youth than job seekers.”

    As an encouragement to youths, he urged them to believe in themselves and de-emphasise God fatherism, insisting that the only difference between impossibility and possibility lies in determination and persistence.

     

  • ‘Obiano has started well’

    ‘Obiano has started well’

    From assessment of the states to ravages of Boko Haram to the government Ebonyi State deserves and the forthcoming elections, the Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Anglican Communion, the Right Rev. Paul Udeogu, holds nothing back in this interview with OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE. Excerpts:

    We sincerely congratulate our beloved brother, Chief Willie Obiano and his Deputy Dr. Nkem Okeke on their election. This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight. We are happy that he has started very well. His first100 days in office were remarkable. He was able to do what “Napoleon could not do’. His resilience in the war against crime and insecurity, doggedness to see Anambra State join the league of oil producing states by the ongoing construction of roads from Aguleri to Orient petroleum drilling site Aguleri Otu, the new face he is giving Awka, the State capital, his bumper investment in agriculture, his selfless and determined infrastructural development of the state have within his few months in office won the confidence and admiration of Ndi Anambra. The peaceful and crime free atmosphere he created has attracted over $800m investment to the state. We pray Almighty God to give him the grace, wisdom, courage and strength to take Anambra State to the next level.

     

    On the Centenary

     

    We praise and glorify the Almighty God who has sustained our nation for the past 100 years. The journey of Nigeria has been a challenging one as we have experienced civil war, political, economic and religious crises. However, we can say, like the Biblical preacher, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

     

    On the National

    Conference

     

    The National Conference over, what is crucial now is the implementation of the recommendations made. Having followed the pre-conference discussions from different parts of our country, the discussion proper at the national conference and the recommendations of the conference, we can say without mincing words that if at least 50% of the recommendations of the conference is implemented, Nigeria would be a better country. We are aware that the majority of the recommendations of the previous National Conferences were swept under the carpet. We hope that such should not be the same with the 2014 National Conference. We call upon the President, the National Assembly, and the Council of State to ensure that the recommendations of the Conference are passed into law.

     

    On Boko Haram

     

    Our newspapers are dominated by the moral evil, inhumanity and wickedness and terror perpetrated by the Islamist terrorist group known as Boko Haram. The abduction of Chibok girls, the massacre of innocent people in Kano, Maiduguri, Damaturu, Taraba and Adamawa, the declaration of caliphates at Gwoza and Mubi area, the Islamisation and killing of Christians in the North by the Boko Haram are all devilish acts which we condemn completely.

    Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and they now live in refugee camps. This alone has its own social implication as children who are supposed to be in school are out of school. The capture and renaming of Gwoza in Borno State and Mubi in Adamawa State, particularly the capture of the hometown of the Chief of Defense staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh is a bad omen for our country.

    A critical assessment of the security challenges in our country reveals that Boko haram still holds sway due to infiltration of our security operations by the sect, sabotage, religious and Northern bias, political bias and lack of willpower on the side of the government to deal decisively with these terrorists.

    Moreover, defenders of Boko Haram before now told the world that the insurgency was fuelled by poverty and bad governance and not Islamic extremism, but events have proved them to be liars. What has poverty to do with the killing of innocent school children? It cannot explain the abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of some 200 girls in Chibok, the declaration of caliphate at Mubi and Gwoza. It is high time that the international community saw Boko Haram as examples of Islamic extremism.

    We believe that trouncing Boko Haram can’t be achieved overnight. It calls for patience, prayers and cooperation of every Nigerian. Boko Haram is a criminal enterprise which must be ruthlessly crushed at the earliest opportunity.

    We appeal to Nigerians of goodwill and conscience irrespective of their tribe and religious affiliation to rise to these challenges and cooperate with the government to win the battle against terrorism. We call upon our President Jonathan Goodluck to invoke his powers as the President of this country on this matter. The activities of Boko haram are now a very big embarrassment to our county. The integrity of Nigeria is at stake. The sovereignty of Nigeria is being challenged by the declaration of a caliphate at Mubi. Boko Hararn must be stopped now.

     

    On the elections

     

    It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our love for our country by electing credible leaders for the country. As things unfold daily, one is worried because the country is being heated up. The political rascality with impunity, political maneuvering, selfishness, greed and wickedness being exhibited by our politicians are issues of great concern. Politicians should be reminded again that power belongs to God. It is the right of the electorate to elect their leaders. We advise our politicians to be humble, sincere and play the game according to the rule. Let things be done decently and in order.

    We encourage our people to vote for credible and trusted candidates and not voting necessarily on party basis. We must remember these scriptures “righteousness exalt a nation but sin is a reproach” (Prov. 14:34). “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice but when the wicked man rules, the people groan” (Prov. 29:2)

    We call upon the Church of God in Nigeria to pray God to give us leaders after His heart. However, the role of the church should not be limited to prayers; Christians should also be involved in the process. The church should engage in enlightenment campaigns, providing information through the mass media, social media to educate our people, on why we must vote, the kinds of people to be voted and how to defend our votes.

    We call on INEC to be firm and sincere in their conduct and judgment and appeal to the police and other security agencies to double their efforts to see that the nation does not witness any violence before, during and after the election.

     

    On Ebonyi

     

    We commend Ebonyi State Governor Chief Martin Elechi, his wife, Mrs Josephine Elechi for their efforts on the ongoing Ochudo City, Oferekpe Water Project, the international market and the unity bridges across the state but we are yet to see the Ebonyi State of our founding fathers’ dream. Poverty is on the increase, majority of our roads are bad.

     

    On the governor

    the state needs

     

    We must state categorically that the governor we need must be a God-fearing man, a dynamic and visionary man with great foresight of what is needed to be done, man with a burden and great concern on the state of affairs in the state, a well-informed and experienced man who has excelled with good testimonies in his career or civil service, a servant-leader, a man with onus to provoke the economic viability of the state, through profitable investment, youth empowerment and creation of enabling environment for business, a prudent manager, a listening governor, an unprejudiced leader that will involve all the interest groups and sections in the state, a focused man, a man with a well articulated, road map to the greatness of Ebonyi State, a man with a stable family record, a selfless and contented person, a man of his word and not a stooge.

  • ‘I started business with N600’

    ‘I started business with N600’

    Not all small scale enterprises (SMEs) are capital intensive. Some require small capital to start.This is the story of Dr. Samson Makinwa, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Techno Quip Limited, Lagos.

    Speaking with The Nation about how he made his breakthrough in business, he said a fresh school leaver should not go into a business that requires a huge amount of money.

    He said with N25,000, a buding entrepreneur can go into the production of liquid soap, laundry soap etc. “I also know that you can produce candles with N50,000, while with N100,000, you can produce garri, toilet rolls, beverages, exercise books and chalks.

    However, he said the production of any of these – nylon, paints, cosmetics, animal feeds – is not cheap, adding that it can take about N500,000 to start any of them.

    Makinwa said he started his engineering business in 1999 with N600, from a room with three chairs, suitcase and other things in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb. Today, experts put the worth of its assets at N3billion, excluding cash. His firm fabricates the following machines: nylon, plastics, soap, laundry, cassava processing, rice processing etc.

    Noting that it’s only manufacturing that we can grow the economy, he lamented: “In Nigeria, we are not producing. We talk only of marketing. We need more of manufacturing; that is the only reason, we will not waste our scare foreign exchange. For example, our bags are from Dubai, France etc and that is where our money goes instead of spending it here.”

    To succeed in business, Makinwa advised that the owner should learn some marketing skills. It is not enough to have the technical knowledge, he said. He further said Nigeria with its wide population has a large market.

    He said: “There is nothing you produce that you can’t sell. Take water, for example. Abroad, when you eat in a restaurant, you get free water. It was like that here before. But now with the advent of satchet or bottled water, water is sold here to those who want to eat and this is helping the business of water.”

    Besides, he asked: “If you produce candles, why sell it in Ikoyi? You can’t sell them there. The people who live there buy mainly generators, not candles. So, you must locate your market and take the product there.”

    Also, he advised that one should go into one’s area of interest, but this must be limited to essential products. ‘’Generally, the economy is down. As a result, people buy mainly those goods that are essential to their living,” he explained.

    He advised SMEs’ owners on prudent management. ‘’You don’t need to have a large space. I told you earlier that I started from a room. Why would I have to rent offices when I can’t afford it?” he asked.

    On how to tackle challenges, he said: “Nothing comes easy. You must be ready to stand, to succeed. Be determined to succeed. If I tell you what I have seen in business, you will be surprised. Since early this year, for instance, we have not made up to four per cent of what we used to get in the same period in those days. Yet, I must pay staff and spend money on other things.”

    For starters, he said prospective enterpreneurs need a consultant who would act as a coach for them. “They don’t charge. I act as a coach to some people. Jimoh Ibrahim used to organise training for potential business. Also, they need the services of government agencies, such as Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) and the Incubator Centre in Agege, Lagos. Their services in some areas are free. There are several others such bodies.”

    Makinwa, who is a consultant to many organisations and groups, said: “From research,we established that in the last 20 years, 80 per cent of SMEs died between one and the fifth year; the balance we don’t know if they will die. I gave this research to SMEDAN and I also interviewed the people that I fabricated machines for. I discovered that what helped them was that they didn’t start big. “In my time we used to wear only our technical wears to show the profession we belong.”

    He advised retirees not to remain idle. “They must have something to do,” he said. “For the youths, running from the country and going abroad will not help them. Abroad, the jobs are not there as they used to. It is not as rosy as it used to. The best thing is for the youths to stay here and build their country,” he advised.

    He appealed to the government to help the people more through training and funding of SMEs.

    An engineering graduate, Makinwa has come a long way. He was a member of the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP); Chairman, Technical Committee, Lagos State Enterprises Committee in the Otedola administration and a lead Consultant, Ekiti State Enterprises Development Bureau in Oni‘s Administration.

    He has 32 awards to his credit. They include United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO’s) Africa Industrialisation award and the National Productivity Merit award, which he received in 1996.

     

     

  • ‘Suntai has started speaking’

    The Senator representing Taraba South, Emmanuel Bwacha, has said Governor Danbaba Suntai, who was involved in a plane crash and flown to Germany, is recovering fast.

    Bwacha, who is the governor’s friend, had been with the governor at the Specialist Hospital, Yola, and the National Hospital Abuja, where the governor was taken to before he was flown abroad.

    He was also with Suntai at the German hospital. Bwacha returned to Nigeria yesterday.

    Bwacha, who spoke to reporters in Jalingo, said: “The governor started speaking before I left for Nigeria. But he has spoken more audibly and clearer on telephone with me now.

    “His wife initially spoke with me, and then she handed over the phone to the governor who spoke with a discernible voice.”

    Bwacha allayed fears that Suntai would be incapacitated. He dispelled the rumours that the governor has a spinal cord injury and was bleeding from his head.

    He said Suntai, at the time of the accident, was injured in the abdomen, had a fracture on the hand and his body was swollen, which made him unconscious.

    The lawmaker said: “The governor is recovering fast. He is stabilised now. I am surprised to hear the rumour in Nigeria that he has a problem with his head and spinal cord. It is not true.

    “Ideally, a plane crash is not a bicycle accident; he needs time to recover well. In fact, it was by divinity from God that he even survived. Those with evil wishes would be put to shame and would definitely not go unpunished.”

    Bwacha said two of the governor’s aides: the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Timo Dangana and Chief Detail Joel Dan, who were also on board the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft, have been discharged from the hospital.

    “The CSO and the Chief Detail are on their way to Nigeria today (yesterday).

    “The governor is now left with his Aide de Camp (ADC), Dasat Iliya, in Germany,” he said.

    Suntai was involved in an air crash on October 25. The plane was flown by him.