The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ultimate

  • God’s ultimate desire for your marriage (2)

    Dear Reader,

    I am grateful to God for the privilege to share God’s Word with you today. Two weeks ago, I taught you how to keep yourself pure.  Last week, I taught on divine favour. Today, I want to examine: How Abundance Is God’s Desire for You.

    The first family that ever existed was born into abundance.  The Bible says: …Male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be FRUITFUL …have dominion over fish…, …fowl… and …EVERY living thing… I have given you EVERY herb, EVERY tree to you (Genesis 1:27-29). This, as an example, tells us that abundance implies surplus, more than enough, prosperity, excess, plenty, an increase, etc. The Lord’s desire for your home is abundance. Prosperity is meant to be your portion not only in your office, Church or with friends, but most especially in your home.

    God has said concerning your home that it shall be: …A watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not (Isaiah 58:11). ‘Fail not’ means you will not be short of provisions at home both spiritually and physically. Thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens (Proverbs 27:27). Yet, you are wondering: Why is God slow concerning His promises? Has He changed His mind concerning me? Is He angry with me? Maybe He has not forgiven me that sin I confessed to Him the other day?  Or the one committed in my youth?

    The Lord is a God of mercy and slow to anger; at the same time, He is a Holy God Whose eyes are too pure to behold sin in your life (Habakkuk 1:13). He wants your home not to only reflect increase, blessing and joy, but also holiness, righteousness, grace and peace. Both sides of the coin are necessary: you can’t have one side without the other. You can’t desire the Lord’s prosperity and increase in your home, and reject His holiness and righteousness. The Word of God says: Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and BLESSED him and INCREASED him (Isaiah 51:2).

    Abraham our father of faith enjoyed abundance and: …Was VERY RICH in cattle, in silver and in gold (Genesis 13:2). But how did the Lord bless Abraham? Did he just wake up one day to see riches, cattle, men and maid servants, etc.? No! The Lord blessed Abraham and his household because he fulfilled a major requirement. The Word of God says: …Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do. ….For I know him, that HE WILL COMMAND HIS CHILDREN  AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AFTER HIM, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken to him  (Genesis 18:17&19).

    The Lord’s will and desire is to see you and your household swim in abundance but are you willing to fulfill the requirements? That is, will you command your children and household to follow the Lord or will you turn away from God when abundance arrives? God can’t afford to bless some men financially because they will just use the money to acquire more wives and begin to do things that cause their household to turn from God. It was Abraham’s diligence in commanding his children (household) in God’s ways that secured abundance for him and generations after. He was not only an example of what the Lord required, because God was able to say, “I know him; He will make sure everyone follows his example. In your home, can you boldly say others can follow your lifestyle? Can they look at how you live and see God’s glory, holiness and commendation? If you can’t answer this questions positively then something is wrong somewhere. Don’t be too quick to say, “Yes.” Instead, closely examine your lifestyle. Can you tell the little children at home to follow your example and God will be pleased with them?  The Lord knew Abraham was able to do this. From the above passage, the Lord reveals something vital to us. “…That the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:19).

    The fervency which Abraham gave to conduct his life and household according to God’s Word, determined how much of God’s abundance and prosperity he enjoyed. It was Abraham’s diligence in applying God’s Word that secured God’s blessings and abundance for him. You need to follow the instructions you have heard God speak concerning your home, your family, your marriage, your parents, etc, before you can see his promises come true in your life. For almost every instruction God gives, there is a reward; and for almost every reward or promise of God, there is a responsibility.

    Abundance in your family life is the Lord’s desire for you.  However, it must be accompanied by a God-fearing lifestyle not only for you, but also everyone under your roof. Note: There is no success without a successor.

    Abundance in the home is not just financial wealth. You can have all the money in the world and still not be prosperous. Also, you can have all the children, furniture and possessions you want, but still lack true prosperity.

    You may ask: How do I enjoy abundance in my home? The Lord Jesus said: The thief comes only in order that he may steal and may kill and may destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in ABUNDANCE to the full, till it overflows (John10:10 Amp). The Lord’s presence in your heart and home is the first step to abundance. Allow Jesus to come into your heart now and your story will change. Say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Ultimate discredit  

    Alamieyeseigha is truly dead. I have heard people who claimed that he faked his death. It is not true. In Ogboin community, we don’t fake our death. If anybody claims that he is dead and he eventually comes back, the person cannot live for more than three months. It is our tradition. If you fake your death, you are gone because you cannot live again. Even if the whole world says he is not dead, I the traditional ruler of this community will tell you that he is dead.”

    That was Major Graham Naingba (retd), the traditional ruler of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He is a cousin of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Bayelsa State who died on October 10 last year in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Alamieyeseigha was  62.

    The clarification came with the news of the dates for the final rites of passage for Alamieyeseigha. A report said: “The burial ceremony…will commence on March 24 and end on March 26, a family source said.”  The report continued: “It was gathered that Alamieyeseigha would have been buried on November 16 last year, the day he would have marked his 63 birthday.”

    The report further said: “But it was reportedly put off because of preparations for the  governorship election and lack of agreement between the government and the deceased’s family. The silence over his burial had led to speculations especially outside the Niger Delta region that Alamieyeseigha’s death might have been faked to stop his extradition to Britain on corruption charges.”

    It is interesting that, even in death, Alamieyeseigha is haunted by his background as a former governor stained by the oil of corruption.  After being convicted of money laundering and fraud, which fetched him a two-year jail sentence, he was controversially pardoned by the then President Goodluck Jonathan, who served as his deputy in his gubernatorial years from 1999 to 2005.

    Alamieyeseigha’s contentious presidential pardon and his subsequent nomination to represent Bayelsa State at the National Conference, which had the odour of political patronage, were not enough to rehabilitate him.

    That is why the doubters say he may have faked his so-called death. What he is accused of this time may be called death fraud. It is the ultimate discredit to suggest that Alamieyeseigha may be a death fraudster. But he brought it upon himself.

  • ‘Winning awards not the ultimate’

    ‘Winning awards not the ultimate’

    They all came for one event. But, the younger artists had different missions. While many were fulfilled participating in Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), in Enugu, others eyed the coveted prize. Of the hundreds of artists that entered for the competition, Benin City-based studio artist, Aisien Harrison, won the Best Overall prize of N500,000 amid jubilation, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    In spite of the traffic jam on the Nike Lake Resort Road, guests, especially most of the shortlisted 98 artists for the awards and grand finale exhibition, arrived the function in high spirits. The Convention Hall, Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, venue of this year’s Life In My City  Art Festival was filled to capacity. The anxiety got to its peak when 30 of the 98 participants were shortlisted winners in various categories by a five-man jury led by Prof Tonie Okpe of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    But, when Aisien Harrison, a Benin-based full-time studio artist, was announced the overall winner by is Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Acbebe, Obi of Onitsha, there was wild jubilation in the hall.

    Harrison’s Melodius Struggle, a wooden sculpture won him a cash prize of N500,000.

    The other 29 winners included Muoneme Uzuchukwu (Best painting, mixed media and drawing), who got N250,000. Badru Taofeek Abiodun (Best multimedia) N250,000, Nattey Gregory from Ghana won the Photo Africa award of $1000, Idongesit Esong (Ufon Usoro-Uyo/Calabar zone N200,000, Okoro Emmanuel won (Dr. Pius Okigbo award for technical proficiency) N150,000 and a plaque, while Ibrahim Rashidat Folashade (Justice Aniagolu prize for originality) got N100,000.

    Others were Stephen Osochukwu (Best in Edo/Delta zone) – N100,000; Samuel Ilori (Best in Abuja) – N100,000; Raji Bamidele Abdulgaffar (Best in Lagos) – N100,000 and Godwin Ejike Ugwuagbo (Best experimental in Enugu State).

    “This is my third attempt in this art competition. Last year, I made the consolatory prize. Thank God I made it this time. I have always had the belief and faith that I would one day win one of the big awards, but never knew it would come so soon. With this award, I will continue to work harder and be a model to younger artists,” elated Harrison said.

    The Auchi Polytechnic-trained sculptor said his winning piece Melodious Struggle is a commentary on the way Nigerian youths struggle to become a musical star at all costs. Melodious Struggle is a medium size wooden work measuring 30cm that reflects the many challenges most youths face in the struggle to produce hit songs for the music industry. The reclining shape and the skinny frame captured all the hurdles.

    “In rendering the piece, I omitted some forms, such as the head and toes of the figure. But at a closer look, the seeming invisible forms can be seen by discerning art lovers,” Harrison added.

    Igwe Achebe, who chaired the event, enjoined participants to see participation in the festival as much more important than winning the awards. He said the festival has scored high in today’s art scene and has emerged as the most sustaining art event in the country, praying that it continues to grow in strength. He, however, lamented that the government does not appreciate art, which according to him, explained why National Gallery of Art has no gallery of art. The Obi of Onitsha disclosed that he is planning to establish a private museum at Onitsha very soon.

    Appreciating the support of distinguished Nigerians, such as Ms Anne Okigbo, who recently endowed an award in honour of her late father (Dr. Pius Okigbo) for the festival, LIMCAF board chairman Elder Kalu Uka Kalu said such efforts have come to swell the growing list of endowments which began in 2010. They include Justice Anthony Aniagolu, Tayo Adenaike (African Photography award), Bisi Silva award for Lagos zone, Jeff Ajueshi’s Thought Pyramid Gallery, Abuja award for Edo/Delta zone and Mrs Mfon Usoro’s Uyo/Calabar zone award.

    He said it was a great pleasure to see the eager faces of young artists, who gathered at the event not just as contestants, but more especially as aspiring young professionals in training. “They come here every year surely to expand their vision through interaction with older and wiser generations and to test their talent in a conducive atmosphere against those of their peers as well as superiors. In that regard it is a noteworthy pointer to their future that scions of prominent art aficionados of yesteryears, whose parents bought the works of the older generation artists many years ago are now endorsing LIMCAF and its promise by endowing prizes in various categories to encourage the young ones of today,” he added.

    Continuing, Kalu said: “These prizes are, of course, in addition to the four main national prizes including the Overall prize and three best in category prizes. It is our hope that the list will continue to grow as the festival grows in stature and inclusiveness. The Board and its Organising Committee are in fact poised to examine the possibility of promulgating a new and more structured order of category prizes all in a bid to increase the number of young persons, who benefit financially from participating in the festival.

    Present at the award night were former Director-General Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mrs Mfon Usoro, Ms Anne Okigbo, Elder and Mrs Kalu U Kalu, Chief and Mrs Robert Oji, Igwe LOC Agubuzu, Mr. Peter Eze, Cultural Attache, French Embassy in Nigeria, Miss Aude Urcun, and Mr. Orji Ndem.

    The 9th Life In My City Art Festival, which has as theme, Beyond All Odds, was supported by First Bank Plc, Rocana Nigeria Limited, Alliance Francaise Network in Nigeria, CCA, Lagos, Nike Lake Resort and Hotel, Tachi Studio and CLAM among others. It featured multimedia workshop and presentation, interactive session with top 25 artists, and exhibition.

     

  • ‘Winning awards not the ultimate’

    ‘Winning awards not the ultimate’

    They all came for one event. But, the younger artists had different missions. While many were fulfilled participating in Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), in Enugu, others eyed the coveted prize. Of the hundreds of artists that entered for the competition, Benin City-based studio artist Aisien Harrison won the Best Overall prize of N500,000 amid jubilation, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    In spite of the traffic logjam on Nike Lake Resort Road, guests, especially most of the shortlisted 98 artists for the awards and grand finale exhibition, arrived the function in high spirits. The Convention Hall, Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu venue of this year’s Life In My City  Art Festival was filled to capacity. The anxiety got to its peak when 30 of the 98 participants were shortlisted winners in various categories by a five-man jury led by Prof Tonie Okpe of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    But, when Aisien Harrison, a Benin-based full-time studio artist, was announced the overall winner by is Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Acbebe, Obi of Onitsha, there was wild jubilation in the hall.

    Harrison’s Melodius Struggle, a wooden sculpture won him a cash prize of N500,000.

    The other 29 winners included Muoneme Uzuchukwu (Best painting, mixed media and drawing) who got N250,000. Badru Taofeek Abiodun (Best multimedia) N250,000, Nattey Gregory from Ghana won the Photo Africa award of $1000, Idongesit Esong (Ufon Usoro-Uyo/Calabar zone N200,000, Okoro Emmanuel won (Dr. Pius Okigbo award for technical proficiency) N150,000 and a plaque, while Ibrahim Rashidat Folashade (Justice Aniagolu prize for originality) got N100,000.

    Others were Stephen Osochukwu (Best in Edo/Delta zone) – N100,000; Samuel Ilori (Best in Abuja) – N100,000; Raji Bamidele Abdulgaffar (Best in Lagos) – N100,000 and Godwin Ejike Ugwuagbo (Best experimental in Enugu State).

    “This is my third attempt in this art competition. Last year, I made the consolatory prize. Thank God I made it this time. I have always had the belief and faith that I would one day win one of the big awards but never knew it would come so soon. With this award, I will continue to work harder and be a model to younger artists,” elated Harrison said.

    The Auchi Polytechnic-trained sculptor said his winning piece Melodious Struggle is a commentary on the way Nigerian youths struggle to become a musical star at all costs. Melodious Struggle is a medium size wooden work measuring 30cm that reflects the many challenges most youths face in the struggle to produce hit songs for the music industry. The reclining shape and the skinny frame capture all the hurdles.

    “In rendering the piece, I omitted some forms, such as the head and toes of the figure. But at a closer look, the seeming invisible forms can be seen by discerning art lovers,” Harrison added.

    Igwe Achebe, who chaired the event enjoined participants to see participation in the festival as much more important than winning the awards. He said the festival has scored high in today’s art scene and has emerged as the most sustaining art event in the country, praying that it continues to grow in strength. He, however lamented that the government does not appreciate art, which according to him, explained why National Gallery of Art has no gallery of art. The Obi of Onitsha disclosed that he is planning to establish a private museum at Onitsha very soon.

    Appreciating the support of distinguished Nigerians, such as Ms Anne Okigbo who recently endowed an award in honour of her late father (Dr. Pius Okigbo) for the festival, LIMCAF board chairman Elder Kalu Uka Kalu said such efforts have come to swell the growing list of endowments which began in 2010. They include Justice Anthony Aniagolu, Tayo Adenaike (African Photography award), Bisi Silva award for Lagos zone, Jeff Ajueshi’s Thought Pyramid Gallery, Abuja award for Edo/Delta zone and Mrs Mfon Usoro’s Uyo/Calabar zone award.

    He stated that it is a great pleasure to see the eager faces of young artists who gathered at the event not just as contestants but more especially as aspiring young professionals in training. “They come here every year surely to expand their vision through interaction with older and wiser generations and to test their talent in a conducive atmosphere against those of their peers as well as superiors. In that regard it is a noteworthy pointer to their future that scions of prominent art aficionados of yesteryears whose parents bought the works of the older generation artists many years ago are now endorsing LIMCAF and its promise by endowing prizes in various categories to encourage the young ones of today,” he added.

    Continuing, Kalu said: “These prizes are of course in addition to the four main national prizes including the Overall prize and three best in category prizes. It is our hope that the list will continue to grow as the festival grows in stature and inclusiveness. The Board and its Organising Committee is in fact poised to examine the possibility of promulgating a new and more structured order of category prizes all in a bid to increase the number of young persons who benefit financially from participating in the festival.

    Present at the award night included former Director-General Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mrs Mfon Usoro, Ms Anne Okigbo, Elder and Mrs Kalu U Kalu, Chief and Mrs Robert Oji, Igwe LOC Agubuzu, Mr. Peter Eze, Cultural Attache, French Embassy in Nigeria, Miss Aude Urcun, and Mr. Orji Ndem.

    The 9th Life In My City Art Festival which has as theme, Beyond All Odds was supported by First Bank Plc, Rocana Nigeria Limited, Alliance Francaise Network in Nigeria, CCA, Lagos, Nike Lake Resort and Hotel, Tachi Studio and CLAM among others. It featured multimedia workshop and presentation, interactive session with top 25 artists, and exhibition.

     

  • Jega: The ultimate test

    One man I find very difficult to assess is the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was heralded into office by high reputation garnered from years of struggle as a socialist, academic and unionist. When he replaced Professor Maurice Iwu in 2010, many had heaved a sigh of relief. At last, we’ve got it right, they said. While commending the choice back then, I challenged him to focus on building INEC as an institution based of cherished and enduring principles, processes and systems. I also pointed out that the real assessment would come at the end of his tenure.

    Now, his tenure is running to an end. In one month after inauguration of a new government, I expect the respected Political Scientist to bow out irrespective of the disposition of the government to his performance. It is almost certain that whatever the outcome of the presidential and legislative elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if re-elected, would not want to be saddled with managing “the stubborn” electoral umpire. And, is the All Progressives Congress (APC), however tempting the offer of another tenure may be, I do not expect the former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano to accept.

    What jega owes posterity, humanity and Nigerians now is conducting an election as free and fair as the June 12, 1003 presidential poll. We are tired of being told that someone emerged despite hitches and critical errors, but “would have won anyway if it were indeed credible. Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua told a stunned nation at his inauguration that he was the product of a flawed election. However, his principle did not dictate that the flaws should make him reject the result. Even the Supreme Court affirmed that the election was not credible as all the Justices confirmed that the electoral commission failed to meet up with the standards. A slim majority of 4:3 however said, the President who had already assumed power, should be allowed to hold on for the four year term. The other three called for a fresh poll.

    Professor Jega was a member of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that made far-reaching recommendation accepted only half-heartedly by the government. Jega went in to accept the offer to give Nigerians credible polls.

    To me, the 2015 elections would prove whether the encomiums showered rather prematurely on the INEC chairman in 2015 was deserved. He has introduced some new features into the election process. He has introduced electronic registration of voters, pleading that it would offer a credible platform for elections in the country. If he succeeds, I would not hesitate to congratulate him, but should he fail, he would deserve all the knocks he would get. I will not be satisfied with suggestions that he has so many men to work with and is not in full control of the. Neither would I be appeased by suggestions that he tried his best in the prevailing political environment. He had enough time to assess the process and take a decision to continue or ship out. Until February 7, he insisted that his commission was ready for the presidential election. Since then, more PVCs have been produced and distributed and the ad hoc staff trained on the use of the card readers.

    Should Professor Jega fail, I will not hesitate in recommending that the next President looks the other side in picking the election umpire. Top on the list of my nominees would be Deacon (sorry, Chief) Femi Fani-Kayode. Others are such accomplished Nigerians as Chief Chris Uba, Commodore Olabode George, Chief Emeka Offor, and Senator Joshua dariye, Government Tompolo, Diepreye Amamieyeseigha, Tafa Balogun, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, Lucky Igbinedion and the irrepressible Ayo Fayose. This is a winning team anytime, any day.

    Jega must not fail. If he does, he would have let down the progressives, the academic community and set the country back by many years. It could then prove the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo right that the transition to democratic government may yet take about one century or more.

  • ‘Ultimate Search is boosting Gulder’

    The Guilder Ultimate Search (GUS), which is on its 10th  season, has enhanced the beer’s growth, the Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend and Life Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc Emmanuel Agu has said.

    He said: “The Gulder brand is experiencing exponential growth year on year. Gulder Ultimate Search is still a platform for the Gulder Brand. The impact ofGUS continues to rise and the popularity continues to grow brand equity.”

    Despite the show’s success, the brand handlers said the reality TV programme remains a major platform for the  brand to grow.

    Agu said: “Whenever you talk to any beer drinking person in Nigeria and ask if the person knows Gulder, even if the individual cannot remember any other thing about the brand, he will recall the Gulder Ultimate Search. Gulder Ultimate Search has helped grow Gulder’s brand awareness. I can tell you that if the return on investment were not positive, we would not be able to sustain the programme. Nigerian Breweries Plc commits a lot of resources to the production of Gulder Ultimate Search and this is only possible because the brand is very profitable.”

    He said strong consumer yearning for the reality TV programme remains one of the critical success factors of Gulder Ultimate Search.

    He added: “We are hosting Gulder Ultimate Search this year because it is still relevant to the lives of our consumers. And that is why we will keep on producing the programme until we get the feedback from the consumers that Gulder Ultimate Search is no longer relevant to them.”

    Also, the Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc. Edem Vindah, who represented the firm’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem, said  the deep Aguleri forest of Anambra State will play host to the 11th Season of Gulder Ultimate Search.

    Vindah said: “For 28 days starting October 3 to October 30, 2014, we will be entertained by an original Nigerian adventure programme produced to international standards. The daily highlights will be aired on national terrestrial and satellite TV stations.”

    While the Ultimate Winner will go home with N10 million and a brand new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the second, third and fourth placed winners will earn N3 million, N2.5 million and N1.5 million. When evicted, the remaining contestants will win various sums, ranging from N1.45 million to N1 million.

    On why the brand chose Aguleri forest instead of other locations in Anambra, Agu explained: “When we set out to explore possible locations for GUS in Anambra State, we had three places in mind: Ogbunike Cave, Owerre Ezukala waterfalls and Aguleri forest. There were several factors we took into consideration like looking for a terrain with a suitable ambience for the kind of GUS tasks; places that have natural habitats and also with the least human interference and so on. The Aguleri jungle satisfied these criteria.”

    However, the Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Onyeka Okoli, said the 11th Season of GUS would be exciting.

    He said: “This year’s GUS would be innovative and suspense-filled. There are a lot of things that we are not revealing. We are keeping these secrets because we want you to really pay attention to this year’s edition. These secrets will be unravelled as the show progresses.”

  • Education: A nation’s ultimate investment

    Education: A nation’s ultimate investment

    I recently encountered Fareed Zakaria, the internationally acclaimed author and famous host of GPS Show on CNN at Airtel’s Night of Influence in Lagos. Many years ago, I was an avid follower of Zakaria’s seminal thoughts as a columnist and my week was never complete without Newsweek Magazine. Meeting this renowned journalist was therefore like realising a very long wish.  Zakaria who attended Indian schools and colleges before moving to the United States exemplifies home grown success. So when he spoke, he addressed the heart of the matter. He also directed his attention to Nigerian leaders: “take charge of your country’s future by investing heavily in the education sector in order to provide quality foundation for Nigerian children” he warned in his opening remarks.

    Zakaria, to my mind, could not have said anything better. He spoke the minds of a good number of our country men and women. The central theme of his message dealt with what we should have known all the while but erroneously neglected. But he again admonished the political elite warning that rather than “subsidising the present or buying votes, leaders should invest in education, invest in infrastructure, invest in healthcare and invest in the future. There is so much human talent in Africa and in Nigeria. These talents need to be unlocked through education. It is an irony that countries experiencing high GDP growth are countries without natural resources. Look at Taiwan. What they have is typhoon….they do not have any natural resources; yet, they have managed to emerge as one of the countries with the highest GDP growth rate”, he had said.

    In another breath,  Zakaria also drew attention to the United States which currently exports human capital in almost all spheres of human endeavour because the country had invested heavily in education, research and training.

    For a moment, my mind gravitated between two possible realities: a future Nigeria that is secure, stable, investment-friendly and prosperous and another Nigeria that is the exact opposite of the first and I just wondered. No nation, no matter how wishful she thinks, can just wake up to greatness. Greatness, either for nations or individuals is a product of great planning, thinking, focus, concentration and preparation. As Zakaria spoke, I was agitated by one question: where are our own Zakarias?  And how can we make meaning from his undisputable gospel on education?

    Like most Nigerians, I know that our education sector is in very serious trouble. Apart from our distorted educational policies, outdated curriculum, acute dearth of infrastructure, many have also argued that our students are not learning the right things or are not learning problem solving skills and solution generation fit enough to address our peculiar needs. At other times, many of them drop out long before they get the opportunity to understand why they are in school in the first place.

    At the secondary school level for instance, the assessment is damming.  According to Alliance for Excellent Education, Nigerian secondary school students’ academic performance fluctuates from mediocre to poor. On the other hand, only 40 per cent of university students eventually earn a degree. A good percentage of those who earn the degree cannot think creatively and thus are unemployable. Sadly, international ratings of Nigerian university degrees are abysmally low in international labour market because our students are more often out of school due to incessant crises.

    For any serious country therefore, these statistics are grim and as a people, we cannot afford to stand aloof. It is convenient to blame government, policy implementers and school administrators but it is also important to note that we cannot talk about school failures and dropouts  without looking at how we treat our children. About 70 per cent of Nigeria’s children live in poverty, one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the entire developing world and this seriously hinders the quest for knowledge. Research also shows that young Nigerians spend almost 40 hours a week watching television whose content centres principally on violence and mind-corrupting programmes. This is compounded by the fact that some of our leaders across board view artistic and intellectual pursuits with scorn and disdain.

    In Finland, there is a lesson for Nigeria. On all the international education measuring standards where Nigeria did so badly, Finland came tops. According to the World Economic Forum, Finland has one of the most competitive economies in the world and this is one of the reasons for their excellent outing in education.  They also have another advantage: the country offers high quality and free early childhood education.  The most interesting part of Finland’s success story is their collective believe that “education is an investment in their economy, in their healthcare and in their environment, which is why they provide free college and graduate school to all eligible applicants”.

    But how did we get here? And how can we escape from this accident waiting to happen? The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said that “he who fails to prepare, prepares to fail”.  Are we failing to prepare and therefore preparing to fail?  I believe education still holds the key and we must seriously pay attention to Zakaria’s admonition.

    Ghana, our next door neighbour represents what determination, hard work and planning could do to a serious nation. That country’s tragic story of economic recession is well known. However, at independence in1957, Ghana had what she had called an expanded basic education that was world-class. But by 1980, Ghana’s education sector was in ruins: dilapidated classrooms, fewer desks, no teachers and in several instances, a single textbook was shared by an entire class.  Then shortly after, government embarked on an education reform programme that almost immediately increased enrolment, improved access, learning outcomes and better education system management. In fact, government went in search of partners and donor agencies and collaborated with them to strengthen private education.

    Today in Ghana, there is a thriving Teacher Training, Information Communications Technology and Technical/Vocational education systems.  And our children gladly apply to their premium university, the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra where they are happy paying discriminatory fees. But this stable education landscape in Ghana is a product of major and consistent policy initiatives in education. And to read that the country is inspired with the hope that education remains the only investment in reducing Ghana’s high level of poverty is particularly humbling for me.

    This generation of Nigerian leaders have a duty to ensure that the good old days of Nigeria’s superb education returns.  I believe that the next generation will judge today’s leaders on this score because the future depends largely on education. Part of this revolution should begin with greater funding for our public schools.  Secondly, I think it is high time we restructured our curriculum and learning environment so as to make scholarship interesting and pleasurable. A critical element of the reform should include providing qualitative primary and secondary education free and compulsory to every Nigerian, including the physically challenged. We must therefore revisit the Individual with Disabilities Education Act if we wish to achieve the Nigeria of our dream. And if we all desire a great country with a strong middle class and an employable youth, then we must all appreciate that education is the only way to our collective aspirations.

     

    • Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives is Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream)

  • Gulder Ultimate Search 9: Expectations, suspense, surprise

    Gulder Ultimate Search 9: Expectations, suspense, surprise

    The Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) train landed in Usaka hills and forest, Akwa Ibom State, this week. It is the ninth edition of the award-winning reality show from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc designed to empower young Nigerians as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). This year’s edition will be full of surprises as captured in this preview by JIMI DAVID.

    The die is cast. The posturing is over. Now it’s time for the real thing. It will surely be the defining moment for the 12 finalists of the 2012 edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS). By now, the chosen 12 will be sequestered in the belly of rugged Usaka hills and forest, Akwa Ibom State, venue of this year’s edition. They would surely have felt tremors running through their bodies when this year’s anchor, Nollywood hunk Chidi Mokeme was introduced to them during the final selection party recently in Lagos.

    After a seven-year hiatus from the reality TV show, Mokeme’s return will surely spell something different for GUS this year. The Anambra State-born actor did not mince words when he was officially introduced to the audience as well as the 12 contestants. For the 12 contestants, the journey to winning the ninth edition of GUS is far from over. If anything, the journey just got a whole lot harder.

    Indeed, the journey has certainly been an interesting one for the 12 finalists. The 12, who would be going to the jungle to slug it out for who becomes the Jungle King, or Queen, as it were, are: Ujam Emmanuel, Nuhu Haruna, Ogbuefi Michael, Ifet Aniobong, Ojezele Pascal and Adah James. The others are Kofya Brown, Bornford Patience, Ayo Ojueromi, Uzor Osimkpa, Udodi Onyinyechukwu and Ezeh Priscilla.

    They were a part of the thousands that made it from the regional screening held in Makurdi, Owerri, Benin and Lagos. Making it past the regional screening was anything but easy for them; they had to undergo strenuous physical tests, including, sprinting, swimming and others.

    Passing the physical test was just one step of the hurdle as they also had to go through oral interviews before a panel.

    Then the 30 qualifers were assembled in Lagos for psychological evaluation before they were whittled down to the final 12.

    Now that they have made it to the main stage of the competition, they must all be at their best to stave off competition.

    Exciting prizes await the winner. The cash prize is N9 million.

    The highest since the inception of GUS, a an SUV and N500,000 wardrobe (or swagga) allowance also await the winner. That is in addition to entering the GUS Hall of Fame reserved for only a few. There is also an additional incentive of N1 million for the best female in the competition.

    Apart from the winner, the other 11 participants will also be rewarded with cash pruzes ranging from N1 million for the 11th placed contestant to N3 million for the first runner- up.

    Last year’s edition was won by Christopher Okagbue who, against all odds beat 30 others to the top prize.

    This year’s edition will see Akwa- Ibom State hosting GUS for the first time since its inception. The competition has moved across some of the most rugged areas across the country from the Snake Islands, Lagos to Ososo Hills and Forests in Edo State, to Shere Hills in Plateau State, to NIFOR forest in Edo State, amongst others.

    For Chidi Mokeme, his return would surely be a welcome relief for followers of the TV reality show. While Tin Tin and more recently Bob Manuel Udokwu have performed as presenters in the GUS, many followers have still expressed preference for Chidi Mokeme. Now, that he is back as anchor, it remains to be seen whether he would pick up from where he left, and even do better than his performance in the first two editions or whether he has become rusty.

    Mokeme is not the only exciting addition to the GUS. This year’s edition has been tagged ‘The Gate Keeper’s Fortune. The Gate keeping role in this edition has been assigned to three former champions in GUS; Dominic Mudabai, Michael Nwachukwu and Christopher Okagbue – winners in the fourth, fifth and eight editions.

    The three ‘wise’ men, who were voted back by the public in a poll that involved all past winners would also put the contestants through their places in the competition. This is the first time past winners of GUS will be returning back to the show in that capacity and it certainly promises to be an exciting affair.

    With all of the excitement the GUS is generating, the exciting TV series has certainly entrenched itself in the hearts of followers.

    When it berthed on national television nine years ago, there was a deluge of reality television series. Yet GUS, Nigerian’s first and only 100 per cent local content reality television show, has managed to worm its way into the hearts of TV viewers across the country.

    Today, Gulder Utimate Search is one of the most followed reality TV shows across the country.