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  • Drug and substance misuse: Resist the temptation (4)

    Kidney may also fail in case of septicaemia. Brain damage may occur as I mentioned above. It may or may not be reversible.

    The person may become disfigured. Drug may affect a person’s fertility and ability to have children

    In women, who are pregnant, the child may be severely affected and may present as a “drug addict” at birth with craving or withdrawal symptoms. That may affect the child for life. This is commonly seen in alcoholic pregnant mothers. Some drugs my stiffen life out of the unborn child, especially in early pregnancy. Cigarette do damage the lungs of the new born.

    Nicotine in cigarette has been linked to cancers of the lungs and bladder and it has effect on other cancers such as breast cancer especially in women. Alcohol is known to cause or be associated with cancers and also contributing to many of such diseases in women and men. In short, alcohol misuse causes cancers.

     

     General effects

    Economic: Someone suffering any of the clinical effects cannot be described as being healthy. Certainly, productivity may diminish due to diseased state.  Business and work may suffer as a result. Cost of caring for the user and the loss in productivity will affect incomes. It may as a result affect career.  Many political aspirants who took drugs in teenage years have fallen by the way side later on in their political career.  In the least, they have had to explain to the public and possibly apologise for ever taking drugs in ignorance. Thus, drugs can affect future ambitions.

    School and education may suffer considerably. Many individuals have had their schooling cut short on the account of drugs misuse. I have clients now and in the past who had been impaired by alcohol, prescription drugs, cannabis and heroin with serious effects on their academic performance.

    Social and family: The impact of drug is widespread.First, it may affect the children who may copy the user. I have seen many spouses and relationship ruined because a partner introduced drug into the family and relationship.

    This may lead to disease states and fragmentation of the family.

    Legal effects and crimes: It has been proven beyond doubt that drugs misuse from alcohol to heroin and cocaine and indeed any form of drugs that distorts reality may aid commission of offence. Commission of offence may lead to imprisonment and or detention in mental health institution. The person may begin to act out of character. This may be the start of a trend in which there is drug use leading to crime and the beginning of the ruining of a life that started as a bright star.

    The situation of drug misuse in Nigeria

    Let us face it: with a lax rule of law in practice, poor infrastructure to support economic development, no social welfare benefits, wide disparity between the rich and poor and with 62  per cent of her people living below poverty line and per capital income recently risen to about $1200 (UNDP) and a teeming population of over N160M, Nigeria is essentially a drug-consuming and producing country.  Nigeria is also a significant transit and courier country.

    According to available public records,”former Chairman of NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency), Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, described illicit drugs as “alien” to Nigeria. Cannabis, now locally grown in most states of the federation, was introduced to the country by foreigners. Ms Dagmar Thomas, the Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), says Nigeria was one of the largest cannabis growers in Africa, with over eight per cent of the population abusing cannabis. Yearly cannabis seizures increased from 126 metric tones in 2005 to 210 metric tones in 2007.

    The NDLEA describes the Southwest as one of the main centres of illicit drug production in the country. About 196.5 acres (0.795 km2) of cannabis farmland were discovered and destroyed in the region in 2008.

    Edo State has the highest rate of seizure of cannabis in the country. In April 2009, the NDLEA confiscated 6.5 tones of marijuana from the home of a man in Ogun State who claimed to be 114 years old. In September 2009, the NDLEA reportedly destroyed a 24-hectare Cannabis Plantation in a forest reserve in Osun State.

    In January 2009, the NDLEA publicly burned 5,605.45 kilogrammes of drugs seized from traffickers in the historic town of Badagry, Lagos.

    The bonfire included 376.45 kilogrammes of cocaine, 71.46 kilogrammes of heroin and 5,157.56 tonnes of cannabis in 2015… Between 2006 and June 2008, over 12,663 suspected drug dealers were arrested, with seizure of over 418.8 metric tonnes of various hard drugs.

    For example, in July 2009, a woman about to board a KLM flight at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was arrested by NDLEA officers. She later excreted 42 wraps of cocaine, weighing 585 grammes.

    In September 2009, the NDLEA arrested a Guinean woman en route  Brazil to Europe with 6.350 kg of pure cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.”

    Yet, about 20 percent of Nigerians are mentally unwell with drugs misuse contributing a significant proportion to the scourge of mental illness.

  • Drug and substance misuse: resist the temptation

    •Continued from last week…

    Poverty (and ignorance): As in (3) above, with unguided individuals who is poor, there is greater likelihood of alcohol misuse, nicotine misuse and cannabis. Heroin and cocaine appears to be the preserve of the rich though not exclusively.

    • Abuse of Prescription Drugs. As our definition clearly stated, any chemical can be abused be it prescription drugs or recreational drugs. Some individuals do suffer long standing and painful conditions. In such a state, some believes that taking more than what the doctor has prescribed would provide corresponding greater healing effect. In fact, the opposite may be true. It may cause considerable damage beyond what the user had ever contemplated. Yet, there are many people who out of ignorance, poverty or both refused to attend a medical consultation. Instead, they prefer going to the local chemist or pharmacy to get over the counter medications. Paracetamol or other pain killer as well as sleeping tablets belong to drugs that are frequently abused by the public. Abuse of over the counter drugs and prescribed medications are extremely dangerous. Illnesses are better handled by clinician and trained professionals.

    In similar situations, there are individuals who use drugs to “suppress” the effect of a disease. Cannabis, illegal as it is for example, is used by some in the belief that it helps the pain of chronic diseases. To be truthful, it is to this end that a prescribe-able form of cannabis has now developed.  Cannabis causes, depression and paranoia. Some mental health patients who ironically developed paranoia tend to believe that their depression and paranoia could get better by use of cannabis. The opposite is in fact true. It could and does get worse.

     

     Ways of using drugs?

    The ultimate aim of drug user is to get the drug to the brain: however it gets there.

    Therefore, the common routes are:

    • The mouth as in tablets such as ecstasy, various forms of preparation as in chewing of some of our traditional medicines. Some is taken as liquid as in alcohol and gas as in cigarette  and cannabis (also known as marijuana, skunk).
    • Through the nose as in cocaine sniffing.
    • Through the blood vessels (injection) as in heroin
    • It may also be through the vagina or anus as in drug courier and other shrewd users.

    How is drug presented? What does some of these drugs look like?

    • It can be in its natural form of leaves as in cannabis or heroin or cocaine as in coca
    • It can be in tablet forms as in LSD or ecstasy. It may look very innocent in presentation.
    • It may be in powder form as in cocaine powder which is often “white” in colour.
    • It may be in liquid form as in paint, petrochemicals and alcohol (ethanol). Some drugs such as cocaine and heroin may also be dissolved chemicals as a way to conceal their usage and carriage.
    • It may have been transformed by the barons in which case they may mix it with other products to disguise the real content of it.

     

    Effects of drug abuse

    Clinical:

    I will not be detailing the effects of each of these drugs. To do so will undoubtedly complicate the discussion. Suffice to say that the principal effect is that drugs of all classes interfere with the way the brain works. Drugs interfere with the thinking process, the data processing by the brain and the way the person perceives things from the environment and the way the person reacts to the environment.

    Drugs such as alcohol do also cause real and tangible damage to the substance of the brain which may lead to mental health diseases such as dementia.

    Ultimately, drugs can contribute to or lead to psychosis, schizophrenia, paranoia (undue suspicions), delusions, hallucinations (hearing of voices, seeing strange things, and feelings of unrealistic sensations on the body, smelling things that feel abnormal or unreal), mania and unreasonable euphoria. It may lead to distortion of reality. Drugs may cause or contribute to depression, panic attacks and anxiety and sleeplessness. The list is endless.

    Physical effects: The person abusing drugs may not now be well without the drugs (called addiction). He or she depends on it for daily “boost” (called dependence). If the person is injecting the drugs, it may leave marks on the skin. In fact this is probably the simplest effect.

    The person may contact infection such as AIDS/HIV/hepatitis especially if needles are being shared between drug users.  Substance misuse may also lead to other forms of less known infection that may kill the individual.  Septicaemia or blood poisoning may be what will ultimately kill the person.  I have seen someone, a drug user who developed abscess of the groin and had to have his leg and hip amputated as a result of what is known as osteomyelitis.   If death or other severe damage has not occurred, organ damage may occur such as liver disease for example: cirrhosis of the liver as in chronic alcohol misuse.  Continue from last week…

  • Drug and substance misuse: resist the temptation

    •Continued from last week…

    As we shall see below, there are lots of impacts of drug misuse on the society, friends and not the least the individual drug miser. In the least, it gives a certain community and nation a bad name and image. In neighbourhood where drug misuse is common, the image projected by the drug usage is clear for everyone to see. For example, the community is branded as drug misuser, crime rates are higher, unemployment is high, property and social development is such community are low. Drug misuse has serious impacts on the said community not to mention the serious implication on mental health.

     

    Drugs that are commonly misused/abused

    Strictly speaking, anything and any chemical can be abused. They range from tobacco (nicotine), alcohol, smoking tea (!), petrochemicals, paint, kerosene, to cannabis and to more serious ones like cocaine, heroin, LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms and many more. Just anything can be a drug. It may be common plants or cultural plants such as khat commonly used in Somalia and now used in the Western World. Probably the commonest drug of abuse is alcohol and nicotine (cigarette) and marijuana.

     

    Why do people abuse drugs?

    1) Lack of knowledge / Ignorance. The old saying that ignorance is a disease and that ignorance kills is ever so perfectly true as in drug misuse.  Most innocent people especially adolescents and children are introduced to drugs without them ever being aware of what they are getting into. The reasons are that:

    • Some parents do abuse their children: Parents who are on drugs (see above list of drugs but especially alcohol and nicotine) will most tacitly or directly introduce the drugs to their children. Children of course learn from parental habits or learn from the habits of guardian. They will simply pick up the behaviour.
    • The “mates” and friends effect: Hardly does it ever occur that anyone, for the first time and without prior knowledge of drugs, could walk along the street looking to buy heroin, cocaine or even alcohol. Someone must have first, introduced the substance to the person. This is where “mates” and friends come in. Pressure groups, in schools, streets, rave parties’ gives the drugs to the unwary, the easily led and innocent person who wants to “belong” to his mates or “be like them”.  In my clinical experience, this is how teenagers get into drugs. The “mates” often “market” the drugs as “happy” substance and asking the innocent person to try it.  On the other hands, the drugs may be marketed as helping users to be bold and less shy especially in approaching the opposite gender.
    •   Illegal administration/ criminal acts: Sometimes in parties and to the unwary, drugs may be put in drinks and food belonging to the victim who innocently takes the drugs. On other occasions, the drug may be presented as sweats or something pleasant that the victim may benefit from. Actually, in law, this is both an illegal administration of drugs and this act is seen as poisoning the victim.  This is what happens, sometimes between children and parents. It also occurs between “mates” or between opposite genders. Males may put rape drugs in drinks of a female whom the male intended to subdue for the purpose of rape when the drug had taken full effect. The victim being unaware takes the drink and subsequently get attacked.
    • Supposed pressure of life/ Desire to excel in life: There is a false belief that, using recreational drugs can give relief of some sort such as “stepping down” from a pressure of unemployment, family issues, pressurising job positions, career and school pressures: Relieve may indeed last for a while. Once it becomes a habit, the damage may have gone too far and beyond repair. So, taking illegal drugs is an escapist method of dealing with failures and pressures of life.  The desire to excel is linked to success. As I mentioned earlier, drug taking is almost always an act of cheating the rest of the society. This is the situation that occurs in sports and games. In the end, it does not pay to take performance enhancing drugs as we have witnessed with so many lives cut short, sport career banished, athletes are banned from games and money in the hands of drug misuser is filtered away.
    • Duress: If you are poor and you are looking for way out of it and you happen to fall into the wrong hands, you may be forced into the drug ring. In the first, you may actively be looking for the way out of your poverty. This can be by your voluntary action in which case you choose to be part of the drug team as either a courier and or a user. Of course, it makes loyalty sense that if you are going to be part of a team, you should show your commitment to the leadership by taking the drugs, somehow. The loyalty factor ties the drug courier and user to the baron. On the other hand, you may be actively recruited and be forced to take or carry drugs under the threat of death or any other harm In return couriers and users are promised a handsome reward. In the end, your action may lead to your mental health breakdown or you end up in prison or both. Continue from next week…

  • Drug and substance misuse: resist the temptation

    What is a drug?

    Part IV Section 44 of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Act 1990 described and gave definitions to what constitute drugs and substances.

    In this article and to make things simple for us, I will look at drugs from two other definitions. The first definition is one that is within the confine of the professionals:

    • Under the USA Federal Law: A drug is:
    • any substance recognized in the official pharmacopoeia or formulary of the nation.
    • any substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals.
    • any article, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or other animals.
    • any substance intended for use as a component of such a drug, but not a device or a part of a device.

    2)The American Heritage Science Dictionary defines “drug” as a chemical substance such as a narcotic or a hallucinogen that affects the central nervous system and is used recreationally for perceived desirable effects on personality, perception, or behaviour. Many recreational drugs are used illicitly and can be addictive.

     

    Uses of drugs

    From the above definition, we can see that, in fact, drugs actually have their good uses. They are intended to be used in certain ways such as for diagnosis (detecting) diseases, prevention of diseases, treatment of diseases in both human and animals. Drugs are also used to treat plant diseases.

    Drugs are chemical substances that are found in different parts of the world. What constitute a drug will also depend on how it’s used. Therefore, drugs can be just any substance. The important thing though is that, apart from food and water, it must affect and make changes to the body of the person taking the drug. These changes can be physical and it can be mental.  Drugs are in general supposed to be useful clinically. Examples: cocaine is used for anaesthesia.  Morphine and its class is used for relieve of pain.

    Alcohol, (methylated spirit) can also be used as a cleansing and disinfectant at home and in hospital. In most mouth washes, there are some alcoholic content. Heroin in prescribed form is used as a pain killer after operation and in people with serious disease conditions with pains. There is probably no tangible use for LSD. Amphetamine and related product can be used for slimming in controlled clinical conditions. So, these substances have their clinical uses. Cannabis in under scientific formulation is now in some conditions prescribed to control some diseases. The problem is that the usefulness of these substances is being manipulated by barons, couriers and users under the shadow of illegality.

    What is abuse the (ab= abnormal; use hence ab/use)

    Abuse simply means, abnormal use, improper use: A use that is a deviation from its intended purpose. You will remember that, all things (please put emphasis: ALL THINGS)  and not the least, drugs, have their intended use and purpose. Any departure from such intention is therefore an abuse or misuse.

     

    Why is drug abuse so important?

    Every action has its consequences you will remember. Like child abuse or abuse of anything for that matter, drug abuse has its own results. Very often these results are fatal or it may have long term damaging effects on the individual and everyone around the person. Someone may claim that, they are using drugs though it does not cause anyone else any harm. The fact is that they cause many people

    some harm, ultimately. In the mind of the drug user who says she or he causes no one else any harm, such user (misuser) should understand, that her or his behaviour is causing unhappiness or even depression to the spouse, parents, children and the community around the drug user.  Further, the misuser may constitute a nuisance to the society.

    Every one of us in a given society is supposed to be productive and somewhat support each other in that community. If someone steals, the society will punish the person for stealing because stealing is classed as bad. If someone harms another, the law will take its full course if caught because; the person that is harmed may become less productive and may become a burden on the community. Punishing the offender is also a deterrent that causing harm is damaging to the common good. In the same way, someone who takes drugs is cheating on the others or the rest of the community. While he may not directly cause physical harm, he or she may become injured or dies. The injury will cause the person to be less productive against the overall common good of the rest. He or she may become mentally unwell. Someone will have to pay for the gaps in productivity that is opened up by the person. Even if the drug miser is multi-billionaire, his drug habit will have impact on his children, wife, employees with their dependants and fans or the larger society that look up to the drug user.  This is why drug misuse if so dangerous.

    He, the drug user, will cause others to be unhappy and possibly depressed even if the drug user does not cause these things or agree to be causing the harms directly.  Continue next week…

  • Buhari: between image and substance

    No hee-hawing: Muhammadu Buhari, president of the Federal Republic, is provincial!  But is that necessarily bad?

    In a multi-national country, with a parlous record of northern political domination, that would appear a disaster.  The image of the Nigerian Presidency as bastion of northern hegemony creates a disturbing déjà vu: we had seen it all, in those bad old days, many would sneer.  Now, are we condemned to living it all, in this season of purported change?

    Believe it, the image is not exciting!  But the substance?

    Put another way, does provincialism automatically negate Buhari’s fine natural traits which, in part, powered him to the Nigerian presidency?

    Before you answer that question, just ponder these two situations, between President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo — Osinbajo, said to be as cosmopolitan as his principal is provincial — on account of picking their very close staff: chief of staff and senior special assistant for Media.

    If you discount Femi Adesina, Buhari’s and Osinbajo’s picks, for chief of staff and chief of media, follow the same geographical parallel.  The president picked Abba Kyari, as chief of staff; and Garba Shehu, as senior special assistant (SSA) media; both northerners.  The vice-president picked Ade Ipaye, as chief of staff; and Laolu Akande, as SSA media, both Yoruba.

    Now, what is the definitive difference between these two picks?  Still, that Osinbajo picked fellow Yoruba as closest staff — does that then re-make him as provincial; or even make his choice evil?

    And if both cosmopolitan and provincial end up with similar principles to choose close aides, shouldn’t it be clear there could perhaps be more fundamental dynamics driving both — indeed, everyone — beyond the political correctness of being “Nigerian”, to hypocritical applause?

    Indeed, there is a deeper principle; and it is that Nigeria is a federation.  A federation is no fancy tag: it is a country peopled with different peoples, though it is hoped these different peoples will eventually yoke, in a melting pot; and that alchemy would produce a “national” culture.  Still, a person gets to know first, families and friends; and not a few go through life trusting this immediate environment, no matter how limited or extensive their exposure has been.

    In Nigeria’s often emotive media, such people have often been demonised as tribalist or bigoted; but go ahead to glamorise the other extreme as detribalised, whatever that means.  So, to be a proper Nigerian, you must erase your cultural nativity?

    This emotive imaging has caused a lot of havoc in the political space, though it is fair to say such havoc resulted from mutual distrust, which emanated from real and potent fears of unfair domination.  Three names, in Nigeria’s political history, past and present, will just anchor this point.

    Obafemi Awolowo.  He was the most rigorous political thinker of his generation.  Yet, conventional “Nigerian” wisdom dismissed him as “tribalist”.  Why?  Because his closest aides were generally Yoruba; who he often despatched to sensitive duties all over Nigeria, even during election time.  Still, there is no proof the tribalist tag diminished his rigour or vision.  But on that sole score, he never became Nigeria’s prime minister or president — hard as he tried.

    Olusegun Obasanjo.    He is Awolowo’s very opposite, unabashedly “Nigerian”; and his admirers followed up to gift him the eulogy of “father of modern Nigeria”, which Baba Iyabo merrily lapped up.  As elected president, he went ahead to reflect perhaps the most pan-Nigeria outlook in appointive decisions.  But after all that, what?  Not unlike the Biblical white sepulchre: all-gleam outside but all-rot within — for beyond imaging, Obasanjo’s pan-Nigeria ensemble didn’t appear to have got the job done.  If they had, Nigeria won’t be in this terrible pass today.

    Muhammadu Buhari.  By Nigeria’s terrible political-speak, Buhari would be the first “tribalist” to make the Nigerian presidency.  During electioneering, his opponents threw everything at him: tribalist, northern irredentist, religious bigot.

    Yet, such was the rot; and such were his perceived sterling basic qualities that they shone through the clouds of negative coloration, that his coalition powered to the presidency: on account of massive votes in the core North; and his make-over in the South West and the Middle Belt.

    But the distemper of electioneering would appear to linger, coupled with new-found panic in the South West.

    That brings the discourse to the rather unflattering reaction to Buhari’s latest appointments which, in truth, is skewed in North’s favour.  And the South East, somehow not unusually, has been most strident.

    No doubt, the South East, as any other part of the country, has the right to yell and kick, if it feels short-changed.  And despite that region’s clear general anti-Buhari electioneering and electoral posture, some South Easterners still stuck out their neck for the president.  These presidential allies would be most hit.  They face “we told you so!” jeers from their people, but little to cheer from their stubborn electoral choice.

    Still, the South East stridency would appear hobbled by its mainstream political elite’s culpable indifference, particularly when such appointive injustices are in their people’s favour.  Strictly on principle, Buhari’s perceived northernisation of his government is no worse than Goodluck Jonathan’s easternisation of his.  Yet, the South East elite appeared comfy with the Jonathan-era injustice — a case of the Achebe quip that you don’t spew out palm kernel put in your mouth by benevolent spirits?  If that were so, what is the justice in the present South East’s shriek of alleged injustice?

    As for the South West and South-South, the dominant political elite would appear a confused lot.  In Ripples‘ opinion, Lagos’ Babatunde Fashola and Rivers’ Rotimi Amaechi would appear the best two governors in the national gubernatorial class of 2007-2014.  Yet, both blocs, though fired by different motivations, went on over-drive demonising the duo.  But when the dust cleared, and appointments had gone elsewhere, they suddenly jerked awake to bawl “northernisation!” and “marginalisation”!

    Even if Buhari was really “northern” in his outlook, what chances did these sniping South West and South-South ancestral warriors give him, to essay a change of heart?  Please note that the Fashola and Ameachi examples are only metaphors of the wilful lack of strategic thinking demonstrated by these two blocs.  It didn’t mean both Fashola and Amaechi were in contention (even if they were, Ripples was in no position to know), though either making the list would have drastically changed the Buhari Presidency’s perception as “northern”.

    Still, nothing from this piece should be interpreted as an endorsement of Buhari’s northernisation of his presidency, perceived or real.  Just as Obasanjo’s pan-Nigeria imaging shielded his government’s rot until it was too late, Buhari’s emerging image of a northern presidential laager may too early blind the polity from the president’s promise of a nation-changing tenure.

    If Buhari’s electoral coalition could boast a pan-Nigeria mandate (though located more in the North’s three geo-political zones and the South West), it should be capable of pan-Nigeria citizens of quality and  character, from all parts of the country.

    Any rationalisation short of that standard is nothing but presidential cant — and presidential cants can’t agree with the president’s mantra of change.

     

    Quote: “Buhari’s perceived northernisation of his government is no worse than Goodluck Jonathan’s easternisation of his.  Yet, the South East elite appeared comfy with the Jonathan-era skewing“

  • NDLEA arraigns man over alleged attempt to export narcotic substance

    NDLEA arraigns man over alleged attempt to export narcotic substance

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned a middle-aged man, Emmanuel Nzubeka, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged attempt to export 1.050 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.

    Nzubeka is standing trial on one-count of exporting narcotic substance.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu, said the accused was caught with the narcotic substance on June 4, at the SAHCOL Export Shade of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said the substance was found inside Nzubeka’s luggage, adding that Methamphetamine was a drug similar to cocaine and heroin.

    Nwagu said the alleged offence contravened Section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of Federation 2004.

    “Due to the plea of innocence by the accused, I urge this court to remand him in prison custody pending trial,’’ the prosecutor said.

    Nwagu also said that the court should refuse to hear any bail application because of the gravity of the offence.

    But Counsel to the accused, Mr Oreofe Ogunleye, said that the offence was the kind that an accused can be granted bail.

    “I ask this court to neglect the prayer of the prosecutor and instead grant bail on liberal terms to my client,’’ he said.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa said the accused should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to September 3 for ruling on bail application.

  • Women of substance

    Women of substance

    To commemorate the International Women’s Day, the University of Lagos Women Society (ULWS) gave awards to three women for excelling in their fields, writes NNEKA NWANERI.

    Gone are the days when women stayed the background; when all they did was to mind the children and keep the house. These days, many are making impacts in their fields; indeed, many have broken the glass ceiling, dared the challenges and made tremendous strides in their careers.

    So, when on March 3, the University of Lagos Women Society (ULWS) honoured three women as part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, it didn’t come as a surprise.

    The honorees are Emeritus Professor of Medicine Yetunde Olumide; multiple award-winning literary giant Prof Akachi Ezeigbo and the first female Registrar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs Folashade Olumide.

    The  Julius Berger Auditorium was filled with women and a few men.

    Everyone in attendance had a symbolic orange scarf around their necks.

    The event began with a prayer followed by a welcome address by ULWS President and wife of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Mrs Memudat Bello.

    She said the  awardees were chosen because they excelled in their professions and have become role models for every woman in the institution and worldwide.

    According to her, the awardees, despite  that they have retired, are still radiant and gorgeous in retirement.

    The event was chaired by the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Omatek Computers, Mrs Florence Seriki.

    A Lagos Magistrate, Mrs. Jumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, the guest speaker, spoke on the theme for this year’s Women’s Day: Make it Happen.

    She urged women to play their roles as homemakers, custodians of their families and take necessary steps to attain greatness and ensure that Nigeria attained greatness.

    There was a break from speeches during which a short drama on the gains of women empowerment was performed. It was followed by the reading of the awardees’ citations and awards presentation.

    After each presentation, the awardees, who were accompanied by their spouses, made a short speech. Their husbands and children were there to share in their joy.

    Prof Olumide, thanked the society for counting her worthy. Olumide, the first woman professor of the over 50 year-old- university, dedicated her award to children. She urged some secondary pupils at the event to see their self worth in life primarily as their relationship with God.

    “I never compromised on the time I give to my family; and to keep it, I woke midnights to do my research works,” she said.

    Mrs Seriki described Prof Olumide as a light to the country.

    Prof Ezeigbo, former head of Department of English, said she is grateful to God for making her a woman. She relived events that almost led to her not getting married to her husband, whom she said is rsponsible for her success. She advised other women not to run their country down with what they say.

    Mrs Olumide, 71, said there is a thin line between being successful and being honoured. She worked in UNILAG for 34 years and the university was the only place she ever worked.

    Giving the vote of thanks, Channels TV Vice Chairman Mrs Olusola Momoh, represented by a newscaster, Amarachi Ubani, lauded the awardees for doing extraordinary things. She paid tribute to every mother, who has an opportunity to recreate someone’s destiny.

  • Women of substance

    Women of substance

    The 5th Inspiring Women Conference has been held at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos, report NNEKA NWANERI and OMOLARA OGUNWALE.

    They came from all over the world. Career women and entrepreneurs gathered at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos, last Thursday. They came to learn from one another the distinguishing traits that made them to excel in their chosen fields.

    The early morning rain  could not stop them.

    The room was filled with  notable women, looking trendy and classy with alluring hair dos.

    Some of  the women include: the first woman President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Mrs Boma Ozobia; former Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the Bank of Industries Ms Evelyn Oputu; Chief Executive Officer of Famfa Oil, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun.

    Mrs Amosun was represented by the wife of the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral Agencies, Mrs Olufemi Shopade, who delivered a speech from the governor’s wife.

    As Mrs Shopade, Mrs Alakija, Mrs Ozobia and Ms Oputu entered the arena, they were led to the high table and the event kicked off.

    They shared their experiences with others to motivate them and demystify the impression that some professions are no go areas for women.

    The conference was the fifth in the series of the yearly Inspring Women Conference, a vision initiated by Kemi Ajumobi and organised by Businessday.

    Businessday Publisher Frank Aigbogun, in a welcome address, said the event was aimed at improving the womenfolk.

    “Society can become better with more women succeeding. Homes can be more peaceful because stronger families bring successful nations. So with dedication and hard work, yes a woman can.” Aigbogun said.

    He urged women to believe in their abilities, use their vocations to lift others and emulate the good virtues of those who have made it to the top.

    “Stay motivated and reach for the sky.The future is yours, so go for it,” said Mrs Boma Ozobia.

    She nearly caused a stir at the beginning  of her speech  but that session later became interactive.

    She  was decked in an ash colour suit and skirt, it almost seemed like she was there for a court session as she mounted the podium. She spoke with confidence, convincing her listeners with ease.  She is a partner at Sterling Partnership, Nigeria and she is among the few allowed to practise Law in Nigeria, England and Whales.

    She described women as role models who should show the world that success is synonymous with what they do and how they do it.

    Ms Oputu, in her usual traditional attire, looked more like a South African. She told the gathering that women should ‘play like a man, win like a woman’, because power never gives them authority, so it has to be taken.

    She condemned the notion that  women are  care-givers, but  cannot  give orders. That creates the impression that only a few women can get to the top.

    “Family relationships are longer lasting than any career, so there should be a balance. Believe in yourself and know that those who failed had no will. Take a chance on yourself and believe in the beauty of your dreams because if you fall and remain down, people will trample on you.”

    Mrs Alakija, the woman with a sense of style and focus, just like the late Rosa Parks who inspired blacks, said there are still a few women in Nigeria who inspire. She mentioned the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; first female Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; first female elected African Head of State and Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mrs Hilary Clinton, who all double as wives and mothers but conquered all barriers and remain shining examples.

    The conference ended on a friendly note with questions and answers and photograph sessions, where participants  interacted with speakers.

     

  • A woman of substance

    Mrs Elizabeth Olomofe-Kufeji, 67, and proprietress of Starland Private School in Ogba, Lagos beamed with smiles as she was installed the District 911 Chairman of International Inner Wheel.

    Mrs Olomofe-Kufeji, the Vice-President and Chairman, Education Committee, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Southwest Zone became the 30th chairman of Inner Wheel at an elaborate event at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja.

    She joined the club in the early ’80s and served in different positions before becoming the chairman of District 911, Nigeria. Her district comprises Lagos and Ogun states.

    She wore a blue lace with a yellow damask gele to complement her looks.

    Most of the guests and Inner Wheel members at the event turned out dressed in various attires. Some wore suits; others were in natives with gele on their heads. Wrappers and blouses, Iro and buba, skirt and blouse and gown competed for the best attire trophy.

    The few men there looked good in suits and ties, others donned native wears with caps.

    The event started with the Inner Wheel anthem.

    Guests, members and executives, both past and present, were all recognised, including some Rotary Club members.

    Lagos and Ogun Inner Wheel Club presidents danced to the podium with their banners flying high.

    Awards were given to The Sun Deputy Managing Director, Mr Femi Adesina, and The Guardian Newspapers for their contribution to the progress of the club.

    After the citation, the immediate past chairman, Mrs Taiwo Adisa, removed her collaret and placed it on Mrs Olomofe-Kufeji.

    Thereafter, the new executive was inducted.

    Before stepping aside, Mrs Adisa mentioned two people who were assisted by the club for hip replacement surgery.

    They thanked the club for giving them a second chance to “come back to life.”

    The new chairman welcomed her team on board and prayed to God to see them through the year. She promised to do her best.

    She called on members and guests to continue to assist the club financially to achieve its goals.

    “I feel fulfilled being the new district chairman and I want to also feel fulfilled by the end of my tenure that I have done my best,” she said.

    Mrs Adisa enjoined the new leader to look up to the Lord and she promised to give her support to the new executive.

    She wished them a successful tenure and urged them to ceaselessly put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.

    National representative/President of the Club Ifeyinwa Ndefo congratulated Mrs Olomofe-Kufeji. She told her to work hand-in-hand with her executive and club members to achieve success.

    The guest speaker, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said the executive should give priority to looking after orphans and widows.

    Afolabi, who was represented by director, Sifas Group, Major Henry Ajetunmobi,, said the district must work towards uplifting people.

    He also said they needed to look for more opportunities to make greater impacts in the society.

    Guests at the event included the 9110 District Governor of Rotary International, Olugbemiga Olowu, and his wife, a retired Director of the Budget Office of the Federation, Margaret Olaore.