The Nation Newspaper

Tag: story

  • Printed word beyond the spoken story

    The gripping collection of 10 short stories, Blood Will Call by Sola Osofisan, aptly depicts a committed soul laden with the call of writing by blood.

    Sola showed early promise while living in Nigeria with the unprecedented double-barreled winning of twin Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) prizes in the same year. He achieved the feats through the manuscripts he submitted which beat published books to the coveted awards.

    The books were eventually published by Heinemann Nigeria in 1991 as The Living and the Dead and Darksongs. The publishing outfit Malthouse also released another  of Osofisan’s book Darkvisions. It is noteworthy that Sola now resides in New Jersey, United States after his family won the American Visa Lottery.

    Sola’s vision as can be gleaned from the titles of his books is dark. In the new short story collection, Blood Will Call, darkness still rules the roost. The first story, “A Mother Screaming” is a heart-rending tale of a mother going into labour in the forest with her five-year-old daughter Ebitimi totally helpless. The stricken woman asks her poor daughter to flee with her new blood brother before the advent of the evil men of the wild who ensure that “she was dragged upright and added to the end of the jangling chain link” of the slave traders. Ebitimi bears witness to a reality that can unman the strongest of men thus: “Only the patch of drying blood on the ground was left of her mother.”

    The title story, Blood Will Call props attention from the oral to the scribal and even to the audio-visual. The story starts ominously at a time that “was not a Storyteller’s night” because the moon “clung desperately to the night, seemingly fearful it would lose its grip and plummet in shame like a fallen god …” Itanpadeola, the acclaimed Storyteller of storytellers, comes to the village of Ifeoloju to tell his stories only to end up in bitter disappointment. His lament rings true: “Time has moved on…” He opens up to his brother Ogunbodede that the modern times have overtaken them, stressing: “How can one out-talk the radio, out-dance their television, out-run their motor car and in the same breath out-electrify electricity? If you know the secret, pray share. Tell me, how?” It is in accepting the book of stories, Tales My Father Gave Wings, authored by his son Itangbemi who had gone to the city that he learns that “more people may be reading it and hearing his son’s words than he had performed before his entire lifetime on the road.” Crucially the one message the son sent to the father is just a word: Forever. For the celebrated storyteller of yore, the city beckons.

    Violence and desolation are twice-told stories of the oil-rich Niger Delta as limned by  Osofisan in “Shifting Sand”. Kalada is the tragic prop of a terrain besieged on all fronts as he bears the heavy burden of post-imprisonment: “Kalada pushed himself to his feet, still reeling from the ailments that had gnawed away at his flesh in prison. Each bone in his body cracked reluctantly awake to feel the half-blind sun. It had been a while since he had witnessed the morning a free man. He swallowed two pills from the small stained envelope the prison nurse had shoved indifferently into his hand as he was released the previous day.”

    The celebration of the so-called American Dream is never within the hemisphere of the characters that dominate Osofisan’s stories set in the United States. The American Nightmare suits their bill as in the story “Fallen” in which a Nigerian immigrant who speaks in “my carefully cultivated African American accent” is promptly laid low by the shady racist David Marone with the note: “You are not black American.”

    The longest story in the collection “Don’t Come To America, Emeka” is hip and contemporary, starting out with the exchange of text messages between two medical doctor friends, Dr Emeka Asike in Nigeria and Dr Uche Ofoegbu in the United States. Uche’s advice to Emeka goes to the heart of the matter: “Don’t come to America, Emeka. If you must come, follow the example of the Northerners; they fly in for a brief spell to study, negotiate a big deal or purchase equipment for their factories and before the temptation to remain here germinates, they are back home in Nigeria. I can’t say I have encountered a single Hausa man in the African markets or on a bus in the time I’ve been here. Not one. It may be that my current psychological state keeps me from the circle within which they thrive, considering they tend to have deep pockets and I don’t. Nevertheless, stay in Nigeria where your wife treats you like a king and looks to you to provide for the family.” He of course defies the warning and comes to America, but fails for a fourth time to pass the America medical license exam, thus becoming a woe to his wife Martha who is a rich qualified Nurse and family breadwinner. He hits the wife in frustration but the wife does not call the police. The poor soul cannot wait long enough to quit America and his wife and kids for trouble-strewn Nigeria, only he has no money to buy the return ticket…

    Osofisan has a gift for the demanding art of the short story. He can do arresting dialogue and delineates his diverse characters adroitly. Blood Will Call deserves celebration.

  • Sukuk and Aregbesola’s education story

    Osun State raised a sukuk bond worth N10 billion (some $62 million) from the capital market to fund educational development – the first of such by Africa’s biggest economy. Governor Aregbesola is aware that Islamic financial instruments such as sukuk have been used to finance infrastructure projects in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, and in the Middle East, and could attract investors from such countries. The governor knows that Islamic finance requires a clear link with real economic activity and transactions have to relate to a tangible, identifiable asset, which comes in handy in the case of infrastructure financing.

    After the recent trend of Eurobond issuance by African countries, the Osun’s offering was sowing the seeds for more African sukuk.  Prior to Osun, only Gambia and Sudan had issued local-currency short-term domestic notes (Sudan sold local currency sukuk worth $160 million in 2012).

    Aregbesola had worked hard to introduce a sustainable framework, including training quality staff destined for Islamic finance industry. “The huge demand for Islamic finance products had prompted the Osun government to introduce new bond laws with provisions to establish Sharia-compliant bonds. Aregbesola believes that the potential of Islamic finance can also attract investors, operating in Middle East market to come and invest in Osun. By introducing Islamic bonds in finance market, Osun will be favorably positioned to become a hub of resilient and robust Islamic finance in Africa.

    In March 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved new guidelines for the issuance of sukuk bonds to Osun State only months after new guidelines were also approved for the operation of takaful (Islamic insurance). A local credit ratings agency, Agusto and Co, was given the note – to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange – an A rating. The seven-year bond was issued through “a book-building process,” which would earn returns for sukuk holders through a semi-annually paid rent structure called the Ijara.

    The funds were used to finance construction of education projects, among other development initiatives with which Governor Aregbesola hopes to lay a solid foundation for the future of the state. Eleven High Schools with a total of 720 classrooms are at various stages of completion across the state. Two other High Schools are proposed for construction in Osogbo to accommodate the total population of high school students in Osogbo metropolis. There are 11 schools in all to be financed by the sukuk bond.  The bond is exclusively for high school development.

    The High Schools are: Wole Soyinka High School, Ejigbo, Ataoja High School, Osogbo, Fakunle Unity High School, Osogbo, Oduduwa High School, Ile Ife, Ila High School, Ila-Orangun, Adventist High School, Ede, Iwo High School, Iwo, Akinorun High School, Ikirun and  Ayedaade High School, Ikire.

    The planned seven-year paper would be the first sukuk bond to be issued by Africa’s largest economy. Aregbesola’s story is that Osun State was pioneering the alternative and less burdensome financial service in Nigeria. Ìcun State’s planned multibillion naira sukuk fund for education represents Nigeria’s most innovative and ambitious attempt thus far to promote Islamic finance. The move came within the context of ongoing efforts to attract Middle East investors and consolidate Nigeria’s latest foray into alternative financial services. It is a very commendable step in our drive to buy into alternative financial services, which will in turn attract investors from the Islamic world and Asia.

    Aregbesola believes that globally, the sukuk market has experienced tremendous growth. Though sukuk market issuances declined in 2008 as a result of global market turmoil, long-term prospects for the sukuk market remain strong.  Global sukuk outstanding rose to more than USD231.4 billion at the end-2012.

    This decade has witnessed the accelerated development of the global sukuk market. The global sukuk market which has now reached USD$270 billion outstanding is evolving to become a distinct platform for fostering greater international economic and financial linkages. The success of the sukuk market reflects its ability to meet the changing and differentiated demands of the modern economy, to develop innovative and cutting edge structures and products, and to achieve such issuances at competitive pricing.

    Aregbesola has exposed Nigeria to the sukuk market which has drawn increasing interest from sovereigns, multilateral institutions, multinational and national corporations both from developed and emerging economies to finance investments in a wide range of economic activities and development projects. The geographical reach of the sukuk market has also become more extensive, with the global sukuk outstanding now being domiciled in more than 20 countries, while the investor base that spans from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

    There is clear indication of the growing relevance and importance of the sukuk market in Osun State, with the growing interest from both emerging and developed jurisdictions and the strategic approaches taken to diversify the funding sources through the sukuk market by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.  The overall direction and potential of the global sukuk market are certainly well recognised, particularly in its role in contributing towards greater economic development of Osun State. There is significant potential for the sukuk, in particular to fund infrastructure projects. This is particularly relevant for the Osun State and African region given the infrastructure needs going forward. This would contribute towards building deeper and more liquid, efficient and effective global sukuk market. The dynamism of the sukuk market also contributes towards strengthening financial stability and in facilitating the expansion of inter-regional investment flows. As we move towards increasing this internationalisation of Islamic finance, and thus towards greater global financial integration, it will contribute towards a global growth process and financial stability that will be mutually reinforcing.

    When Governor Aregbesola adopted Sukuk, an Islamic bond to help the state execute it projects, his critics were calling for his head. Many said it was part of his ploy to islamize Osun. Not quite long, the government of United Kingdom also stated its resolve to obtain Islamic bond, Sukuk to execute government projects.

    With this calibre of governments following suit to obtain Sukuk, it is now crystal clear that Aregbesola is not just a leader, but a leader that set positive pace globally.

     

    • Donald, a public affairs analyst writes from Benin City.
  • A champion’s amazing story

    A champion’s amazing story

    Kemi Busari, a Political Science graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, cut his journalism teeth as a CAMPUSLIFE reporter. Last Friday, he won the Online Reporter of the Year category in the 2016 Promasidor Quill Awards. He praised The Nation for his feat, saying the paper helped him to hone his journalism skill. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI writes.

    His is a story of tenacity and strong will. Having written several stories, with none published, Kemi Busari, then a Political Science student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, did not give up. His never-say-die spirit rekindled his determination to hone his journalism skill.

    Kemi’s effort was recognised at the Promasidor Quill Awards held last Friday at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Ikeja. At the event, the former CAMPUSLIFE reporter and graduate of Political Science, beat Esther Mark, another ex-CAMPUSLIFE reporter, to win the Online Reporter of the Year category. His entry: Ours is a forgotten generation was published on Thenewsvendor.com, an online news platform.

    It is the second journalism prize Kemi is winning after cutting his journalism teeth as a CAMPUSLIFE reporter. The first was in 2013 when he won the Entertainment Report prize in the yearly The Nation CAMPUSLIFE Awards sponsored then by Coca Cola Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited.

    Kemi would have forgortten about writing after his initial experience of not getting his stories published. All that changed when The Nation started CAMPUSLIFE – a pullout that gives students in higher institution a platform to hone their skills. Kemi said he owed his achievement to the series of workshops organised by The Nation for student-writers.

    Recalling how he started as a student-journalist, Kemi said his classmate, Sikiru Akinola, introduced him to CAMPUSLIFE. Several weeks after, his stories were not published. “But, I never gave up,” he said.

    He could not conceal his joy when his first story was published in the December 31, 2011 edition of CAMPUSLIFE. Though he shared a byline with his classmate, the publication rejuvenated his spirit to turn in more stories.

    He said: “My first story published in CAMPUSLIFE gave me energy to keep writing more stories. Since I registered my byline, I knew I had an opportunity to change students’ condition on the OAU campus. After that, I wrote several reports to expose ills in the school and among students. I wrote on many issues around the campus environment.”

    Kemi graduated in 2014 as one of his department’s best. After he completed his National Youth Service, he took to human angle journalism, telling the stories of people in rural communities. He worked breifly with Thevendornew.com before joining Nigerian Bulletin, another online newspaper.

    Reliving how he came about the story that earned him the Promasidor award, Kemi said his former editor called and told him about the 25 children killed by measles in Otodo-Gbame community in Lekki, Lagos. He was told to go to the community to ascertain the veracity of the report.

    From his base in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Kemi travelled to Lagos the following morning to pursue the story. “When I got to the community, I realised the problem was more than measles,” he said.

    He went on: “After speaking with the head of the community and some residents, I knew I needed to write an in-depth story about the incident. It took me more than five weeks to get to the bottom of the issue. What is surprising is that, the community is close to a highbrow settlement where the rich live. For me, I found it ironical that certain people living in affluence are living side-by-side with a suffering population, which is battling deadly health challenges.

    “I felt I needed to tell the story of these people for the government to attend to the community’s plight. At a point, I became a part of them. I wrote to tell the world what ‘we’ are going through.”

    Since the settlers in the community are Egun from Badagry, Kemi said communication was one of the challenges he faced because majority of them could not speak English and Yoruba fluently. He spoke with them through an interpreter.

    He noted that initially, members of the community did not trust him. “It took me many visits and conversations before they allowed me to talk to anyone. The community is in conflict with the neighbouring Ikate Kingdom, and this makes it difficult for them to embrace visitors,” he said.

    On how CAMPUSLIFE has helped to shape him, Kemi said the platform taught him all he knows about journalism.

    He said: “The best experience I have today came from CAMPUSLIFE. Like many student-reporters, I never took any course in journalism, but I received first-hand journalism training through my reportage on CAMPUSLIFE.

    “Most of us learnt the practice under the tutelage of CAMPUSLIFE editor. The family-like relationship among campus reporters and the encouragement by CAMPUSLIFE editor aided the development of my journalism skill. I will forever be grateful to The Nation and Coca-Cola in Nigeria for this beautiful opportunity. They have given me hope and made my life meaningful,” he said.

    On his future expectations, Kemi said the feat would make him to use his skill to change the condition of the poor in the society. He also wishes to return to the classroom as a lecturer.

    Since its debut in 2007, CAMPUSLIFE has become a platform for raising a generation of young writers and advocates of change.

    Last year, Gilbert Alasa, a former CAMPUSLIFE reporter at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), won the Future Writer category of the Promasidor Quill Awards.

    Other past CAMPUSLIFE reporters, who have won journalism prizes, include Femi Asu, Toluwani Eniola, Ayodele Obajeun and Hannah Ojo.

     

     

  • Sammy drops new single, Story

    Up and coming singer, Sammy Davies, who recently dropped a dancehall single, Story, has decried lack of support by top shots in the industry, piracy, among other challenges he is facing.

    “One of the major challenges I have been having in this industry is that most stars find it very difficult to support up and coming artistes. Some of them feel that as an up and coming artiste, you either do not have something to offer or that you are too small to work with them thereby not giving you the needed support,” the budding artiste who also identified piracy as  a major challenge stated.

    Story is coming after the success of his 2015 track, Down, even as Sammy says that he is determined to break through the barriers to his passion.

    “My latest single, Story is a thanksgiving song to God Almighty for his blessings upon my life and it was inspired by the challenges up and coming artistes face in the industry,” he said.

    The talented singer has also worked with artistes like Reekado Banks, Toby Grey DJ Spinall among others and is set to release the remix of, Down anytime soon.

  • Maye Hunta reminisces on 20 year old love story

    Like fine wine, love gets better with age especially for well-matched lovers as Olumayowa Adekunle Odejimi stage name Maye Hunta posited in a Valentine day Instagram post dedicated to his lovely wife. Celebrating the last valentine day with his wife and partner, the Ekaette crooner serenaded his spouse for being with him for two decades.

    Reminiscing on their love story spanning two decades as a couple, he said, “20yrs STRONG! And the award for the best Actress goes to my baby for the so many roles she plays so well in my life. Best friend, Hottest Cheerleader, No 1 Chef, Special Adviser, Prayer Partner, Soulmate, Night Nurse, honest critique, no 1 crush, girlfriend, and fiancée turned wife. You mean the world to me my Cradle. ’96 was a very good year…After you na you!!#HapiValsDay/Anniversary!”

    The singer, who was popular for his 2009 smash hit single Ekaette, has a new single out, Gbemisaya and it is still receiving airplay.

  • Governor Ahmed: Story of hope

    The month of December is special for us in Kwara State in several ways, spiritual and mundane. The birthdays of the world’s greatest beings, Prophets Muhammad and Issa (may peace be upon them). This month the global community shares goodwill with one another in celebration of their lives.

    Coincidentally too, and possibly with deep spiritual connection, is the fact that the month of December also marks the birthdays of my principal and boss, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, who equally became a year older this month.

    But no matter the degree of quietness we are commanded to observe in marking the birthday, it is still definitely not out of place to use this medium to celebrate Ahmed who is on the way to completing a second term in office as governor of Kwara State.

    Ahmed deserves commendation on a day like this; for keeping the flag flying; unwavering and untiring in the expected commitment to the ideals and ideology of the political structure that brought his administration into office. That ideology puts the well-being of the populace at centre stage and this celebrant has not only kept it at that but also himself moved to the same stage with the people.

    This commitment is noteworthy; given the array of betrayals around us, a greater majority of them doing so purely in the interest of their stomachs. The commitment is also commendable given the challenges that most states in Nigeria have had to pass through in the last one year and even more so states not under the control, then, of the ruling party. Those without a heart of faithfulness would easily abandon ship and like foul lovers, enmesh themselves with the offers of another suitor.

    Thus if there is one lesson I have learnt from standing, walking and working with Ahmed, it is that of faithfulness to common ideology in making the people happy and satisfied. Such ideology stood out late Baba Saraki. Such faithfulness will sometimes demand great sacrifices from partners which when done brings greater joy to the greater majority.

    Another great lesson I have learnt from Governor Ahmed is unlimited humility highly uncommon with people in his shoes. Ahmed not only recognises that God gives power to whom He wills, but determine to make the most use of it to the benefits of the majority of the citizens. Ahmed knows that power is transient and ephemeral and therefore remains constant and connected to his long standing constituencies, including his age long friends. To the admiration but amazement of those around him, my boss often forgets or ignores protocol while relating with friends, relatives and immediate staff. This singular but God-given act ensures that the cabinet works more like family and remains united and committed to the common goal of the shared prosperity mantra.

    It is not any secret that Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed faces one of the greatest challenges of governance any governor of the state had ever faced. The challenges of an unprecedented economic downturn resulting from profligacy of the immediate past federal government. But for a man from the private sector, schooled in the political economy of prudent resource management, he remained undaunted, resourceful, innovative and unyielding in getting positive results.

    Kwara deserves greatness and surely that must be why God allowed a man like Ahmed to take over from an achiever like Bukola Saraki notwithstanding the terrible war of attrition mounted by the few number in opposition during the last polls who believed that without casting their votes at home, Aso Rock would easily deliver Kwara to their laps.

    As we marked this birthday on Tuesday December 29, the story of Ahmed has given hope and confidence to every young person out there. He was not born into affluence. He was not brought up in wealth. He was not trained abroad. Like a typical Nigerian youth of his time, life did not offer him any golden handshake. But through perseverance, commitment to vision, humility and steadfast faith in the Almighty God, he got a break that has given him a breakthrough.

    His greatest break was through the political structure in the state which the ignorant vilify and call names when in actual fact it is a veritable platform for the fulfilment of aspiration without consideration for your background as influential factor. If background, rather than competence, resourcefulness and loyalty to common but collective good, were to have been a factor for succeeding in the Saraki political dynasty, then the likes of Ahmed would have remained outside the gate.

    And rather than closing the door of opportunities once he gained entrance as some would have done, Ahmed has worked within and without so tirelessly to see that many more people who were like him, have access to opportunities either in the political arena or in equally enabling engagements.

    Ahmed, the Share Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State-born politician does not hide his feelings, setting a veritable agenda for Nigeria and her people on any national discourse but with a cautious warning on the states of the nation’s economy, before its implementation.

    His views on the agitation for the creation of a state police attests to this claim. According to the governor, “state police is desirable to the extent of advance society, especially when you look at Nigeria that has population of over 150 million people and when you look at the current level of policing as we have it today vis-à-vis the level of crime, level of challenges of insecurity and other areas. But at the same time, the current political, financial and social situation we have found ourselves will require to be put into serious cognisance before taking that big step of moving towards creating the state police.”

    Speaking out his mind on his aspirations for his people in Kwara he said, “I remain focused on my resolve to empower the people of Kwara and grow the state’s economy through this administration’s robust “Shared Prosperity Programme. I pledge to serve wholeheartedly without sentiments in bringing continuous developments and progress to my humble State..Insha’Allah!”

    Therefore, as we had marked the birthday of this scion of our generation, it is my special privilege to send these words of appreciation to a dynamic and humble personality whose way of life has given meaning and living  to many around him. Thank you, sir, for sustaining this structure. Thank you for putting our collective aspiration over personal consideration. Thank you for taking Kwara to the path of prosperity. Thank you for giving us hope for a better tomorrow. Thank you for giving us these rare opportunities to contribute our quota towards achieving the Kwara of our dream.

    • Abdulwahab is Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Ahmed of Kwara State.
  • An entrepreneur’s success story

    An entrepreneur’s success story

    Starting a business is a challenging endeavour and achieving success under any circumstance is a great accomplishment. Alhaji Kabir Bawa, overcame some obstacles to establish his thriving food business, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Alhaji Kabir Bawa is the founder and Chief Executive Officer, Afro Foods and Spices Nigeria, a food processing company.

    Bawa’s path to becoming an entrepreneur has been an interesting one. His education and training provided him all it takes to  launch a  career in the civil service.

    He  holds   a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies from Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) and   a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. Besides, a graduate certificate module in International Financial Services of University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom as  well as  combined Masters Degree of Arts (MA) in Globalisation, International Development and Transition Emerging.

    Bawa started his career as an accountant with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) where he spent 12 years. All the years, he tried to make a career out of civil service but he just couldn’t. He was struggling to stay while his heart was seeking exploits in  self employment.

    He  was suffering from a  family  trait. His grandfather was an astute trader and a business man and so was his late father. He said: “I grew up in a family business of construction and general trading.This had positive impact on me.”  So in 2006, he resigned to establish Afro Dimension Company Limited, a building and civil engineering company, which was  into real estate and manufacturing.

    In no time, the company  became one of the biggest concrete manufacturing companies in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Though a  firm believer that “food is at the centre of our whole society”, his   diversifying into food processing   was as a result of the frustration, he went through in the hands of Customs/Quarantine officials of the United Kingdom. He said: “Each time I carry food stuffs to family and friends who live in the United Kingdom they get  confiscated at the Heathrow airport because of lack of effective labelling and packaging. The last straw was when I carried Ogbono in black nylon bags for my doctor friend  and was asked at the airport what it was and I stood there helpless telling the white man it was Ogbono and he was looking at me. What language is this guy talking? I was perplexed how on earth I would not know Ogbono was not English.

    “Eventually, the  foodstuff was  confiscated at the airport. After  that  experience, he   decided to do something to save himself and other Nigerians from further embarrassments in the hands of Quarantine officers across the world.

    For five years, he  began  to research into what makes Indian and Chinese food get global attention and the result led to the setting up of Afro Foods and Spices.

    Today, his   company  is involved in processing a wide range of products, including cowpea, bean flour, fonio, ginger, garlic, whole wheat meal, yam flour (Elubo), brown beans, peeled beans among  others, using modern processing equipment.  The products he said just got into the markets a couple of months ago after going through rigours checks and procedures by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and are certified fit and offered registration numbers. His vision is to revolutionise the market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. He  started with  his savings and support  from the   Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin). He  has   put quite a lot of resources into the business. His passion for food and a desire to ‘disrupt’ the food industry  will see him turn a humble idea into national  food business. For him,  the   potential in the food industry is unlimited.  This is because people will never stop eating. He continues to see opportunities everywhere.

    His  mission to make  the  company  a multi billion naira food processing company engaging about 10,000 farmers and providing employment to about 3000 skilled Nigerians in the long run. He wants to see Afro foods not only in the kitchen shelves of every household in Nigeria but in Wal-Mart in the United States, on the shelves of Tesco, Sainsbury and ASDA in the United Kingdom.

    Bawa and his   company are a real inspiration, because they are testimony to the power of perseverance, tenacity, confidence in a great business idea, and a desire to build a powerful brand that can make a difference in the marketplace.Most of the product ideas in Afro came about as a result of observation and acquiring knowledge through asking questions and processing answers. Example is the introduction Afro peeled beans.

    He  said: “One day I called my wife from the office and told her I was craving for moin-moin and I knew I couldn’t get it when I needed it because the socking and washing takes time and effort. “When I came back home, I asked if the moin-moin was ready but lol and behold the beans was still undergoing washing. I stood in the kitchen watching the processes and in the end sympathise with all moin-moin and bean cake lovers. “At that stage I came with up with the idea of providing ready for use peeled beans.”

  • Joshua: Same old story

    Repetition is a powerful weapon in the hands of a spin doctor, and a body known as the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) is using it for the purpose of laundering the image of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos. Of course, the effort to show that the church is not as black as it has been painted is also an effort to paint its leader, Prophet Temitope Joshua, as an innocent player in the tragic drama in the church’s compound in September last year. According to official figures, 80 South Africans, 22 Nigerians, two Beninoise and two Togolese died following a building collapse at the church.

    Based on a Coroner’s inquest into the disaster, the Lagos State government indicated that it would take legal action against the church and certain individuals. Specifically, a statement by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s spokesman, Habib Haruna, said the government “would prosecute the contractor, Akinbela Fatiregun, of Hardrock Engineering Company Limited, and Structural Engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who built and supervised the collapsed building, for professional negligence.”

    In addition, the government said it would prosecute the church for failing to obtain a building approval, contrary to the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010. Reports said the collapsed building was originally a three-storey structure, which was being raised to accommodate three additional floors.

    Nothing about the position of the state government is mystifying. But NHRC, self-described as “a coalition of 135 civil society groups spread across Nigeria”, introduced mystification when it said in a statement: “We use this medium to call on the United Nations (UN Human Rights Commission) to compel the Nigerian government to ensure full investigation into the matter so as to establish what was the cause of the collapsed building beyond the claims that the building fell on its own.”

    Carrying the confusion further, NHRC said it “believes that there are new evidences that link the collapse of the building to terrorism”. According to the body, “Islamic extremists may have attacked the building due to Nigeria’ s war against Boko Haram, which found a new wave of support from South Africa.”

    It is curious that NHRC repeated the same old story that Joshua told a disbelieving public when the tragedy happened. At the time, Joshua claimed that a “strange aircraft” flew over the church a number of times before the guest house collapsed. He also mentioned that an email he received showed that his church was targeted for bombing by the Islamist guerilla force Boko Haram. Joshua seemed fixated on the idea that the building must have collapsed as a result of an outside machination by those who do not wish him and his church well.

    It is clear enough that Joshua’s presentation and the NHRC’s repetition cannot invalidate the points that support culpability, namely, identified professional negligence and failure to act in accordance with regulations. In this case, repetition has served no constructive purpose. The repetition of this particular angle sounds like a fictional construction; it is farcical.

  • Story of the river people

    Written in first person narrative, the short story was set in a village called Obir in Port Harcourt, South-South of Nigeria. (The writer’s maternal village).

    The writer focuses on the time of his life from the early 90’s to the year 2000; during this period the British had built gigantic oil refineries in the Niger Delta but the people were impoverished and their youths were not employed in the companies, yet the community suffered oil spill.

    He described his mother’s village as more civilised than his father’s. According to the writer, just like his father’s village he imagined his mother’s village to be characterised by “rustic setting where children played hide and seek with relish; where they frolicked in the sand and listened to moonlight tales of Tortoise, the antagonist of lore. I dreamt of a place where elderly men made merry with companions as palm wine flowed from calabashes to enthusiastic throats in front of huts roofed with bamboo and raffia. And I envisioned maidens with lithe limbs returning from the farm or marked with trays of ukwa and ogiri balanced on their heads.”

    But when he got there to spend his holidays as his father had travelled to England to study, he discovered his mother’s village had big structures of oil refinery and a maze of oil pipelines.

    In irony, the writer showed that even with the difference, appearance of the villages, the people of his father’s village were happier as they didn’t suffer oil spill or lived in abject poverty.

    Ogochukwukamma (The writer) soon settled in his mother’s village and had a friend called Sangha who showed and took him everywhere.

    The writer showed he was an intelligent child when he mentioned that he was only nine and read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from his mama’s library, and Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s Weep Not Child and many other African books even though they were just to overcome the sultry tiring days.

    He expressed this when he stated that his mama was surprised that he could read the books at that age.

    In the beginning of the story he said ‘Tuesday died on Thursday’ but didn’t explain who Tuesday was until he and Sangha were coming from the River Pama, they arrived at a field crossed by an oil pipeline, Sangha asked him to wait then went to defecate. A man materialised from nowhere and Ogochukwukamma froze.

    He described the man as looking grim, “his eyes were jaundiced, the colour of sunset. Fear gripped me and my heart beat faster. The man was huge and dark in complexion. When he said, ‘how are you?’ his voice appeared to come through a loud speaker. A lump in my throat stifled the reply forming in my mouth. ‘What are you doing here, he said with greater, if intended menace.”

    He continued: “Trembling I let go of the fish. ‘Are u waiting for somebody?’ No, yes, I said as I stopped to pick the sand-ridden fish. When he walked past me with a cutlass in his hand onto the path we had just left, I watched him from the corner of my eyes to make sure he didn’t swing at my neck with the double-edged machete that looked more like a sword.”

    Sangha revealed the man’s identity to be Tuesday, popularly called old soldier because he was a former soldier.

    Sangha further explained that Tuesday owned the fish pond near where he defecated, how many people are afraid of him and how he is fearless of even the British. “He told us that one day he would chase all those oil companies away if they were not willing to employ our youths in their companies, Sangha told Ogochukwukamma.”

    When he got home he was told by his mama that his holiday has been extended due to an indefinite strike by teachers.

    Ogochukwukamma didn’t bother about the strike or any other thing but instead in his child’s mind, he imagined how strong old soldier is and how he can single-handedly chase all the company owners away if they refuse to employ their youths. He imagined that old soldier would go to them and say: “Come I am sick and tired of all your troubles in our land. Now, pack your things and go!”

    He also imagined that old soldier would gather all the companies and their machinery into one gigantic wheel-barrow, the size of an ocean liner, and, with muscles bulging and veins bursting, push them off the land.

     

  • A monarch’s story as a film

    A monarch’s story as a film

    In Nigeria, there are no two kings with his kind of story. He became a king as a 28-month  baby following the death of his father. He was actually crowned, but since he was too young to rule, he was taken overseas to escape being hurt by ambitious people in Agbor, his kingdom in Delta State.

    From 1977 when he was crowned till he was 20, he lived in the United Kingdom growing up like every other child and was addressed with his Roman Catholic name Benjamin. His years in London have left him with a West London accent. He returned home over a decade ago to take his seat.

    The Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikechuku, Keagborekuzi I, has inspired award-winning filmmaker Tamara Gordon to do a film titled ‘The King Within’. The film, according to Gordon, will reveal the monarch’s years growing up in London among other facts.

    Gordon said: “I first became aware of story at an exhibition of Nigerian Monarchs by  the photographer George Osodi, curated by Ziggy Golding. The subject matter proved fascinating, Nigerian monarchies have experienced massive changes in the last century, and although stripped of their constitutional power in the 1960s, they still rule their kingdoms and function not just as living symbols of customs and traditions, but as portals of ancient wisdom.

    I decided immediately that I wanted to make a film about Keagborekuzi’s life. For this is the story of supposed ordinary kid from the streets of West London, who returns to his ancestral land and turns out to be a king. For all intents and purposes, his life is the perfect modern fairytale, but also reveals the complexities of today’s multicultural world.

    “Nestled in the premises of Keagborekuzi’s fairytale lie more complex issues. Today, the clash between traditional cultures and imported elements of modern Western culture is playing itself out across the world. Many of us have dual identities, and as a consequence, don’t necessary have a fixed concept of ‘nationality’ and ‘home’. Yet often we feel forced to take a side, which in effect, neglects another part of ourselves. I’m setting out to make a film that essentially examines how a king navigates between contrasting worlds, and ask if it’s possible for him to reconcile the differences; how does he use the many facets of his experience to his advantage, in a ever-more globalised world?

    As a filmmaker, I am tired of the stereotypes and negative images of black youth in the British press. A report conducted as recently as  2013 by The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that in some areas of the UK, young black people are 29 times more likely to be stopped and searched than any other group. It’s  shocking statistic, and media portrayals undoubtedly have a role to play in the cultural assumptions behind it.”

    Ordinarily, the traditional ruler of Agbor is known as Eze or Obi. But the current Obi of Agbor goes by Dein, the name of his ruling house instead of Obi. Dein is an Igbo word used to address older men as a mark of respect. Dein is the dialectal variant of “De” and “Deede” used in other Igbo areas. In Agbor and in many other Igbo communities, the word “Dein” evolved to become a revered title for the oldest man in the community, and by implication, a title meaning the leader of the community. In many areas of Igboland, Umude or Umudei or Umudein means the lineage that produces the King, that is the descendants of the King. Umudei is the same as Umueze, Umuezeala, and Umuezeora.

    Agbor, also known as Ominije, is an Igbo town in Delta State, Nigeria. The indigenes of Agbor town are of Ika descent, an Igbo-speaking group. Agbor, originally called Ominije, was founded by Omini from Aguleri. Ominije means “Omini Eze Ije” which translates “Omini the King of Travel”. The city of Omini or Ominije was later renamed Agbor an Igbo word for “lineage” (a dialectal variant of “agburu”). The people of Agbor have traditionally relied on farming and fishing for their food and commerce. Its history is dominated by the many warriors it has produced. Agbor was once affiliated with the Benin Empire before the British conquered Benin, although the idea of Agbor being a colony of Benin is disputed.

    Gordon’s film will reveal more about the people of Agbor and their special monarch. Will the film also reveal the truth about his last year’s encounter with the police in the United States who ticketed him for a driving offence? You have to wait and see.

    A report said Saratoga County prosecutors in the United States were baffled when a man who received a traffic ticket in Ballston identified himself as Nigerian royalty and an occasional resident of Saratoga Springs.

    A county sheriff’s deputy ticketed him  for improper passing after he was in a minor vehicle accident while driving east on Route 67 last July. No injuries were reported in the incident.

    The monarch was behind the wheel of a 2014 Jeep with a female passenger. The case took an unusual turn when he identified himself to court officials as the Dein of Agbor Kingdom in Nigeria, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi the First (Keagborekuzi I).

    He told the court the Guinness Book of World Records named him the youngest monarch in the world.

    “Africa is a place where young people are to be seen, and not to be heard,” Ikenchuku told the Albany Student Press in an  interview. “But God has judiciously afforded me with the opportunity to be a young person who has to be heard.”

    His royal status came up during negotiations over how to settle his minor moving violation because he comes in and out of the U.S., law enforcement officials said.