The Nation Newspaper

Tag: World

  • Great women inspire and make the world go round

    Last Thursday was International Women’s Day with the theme #Pressforprogress.

    I read many interesting stories of the progress women have made and still need to make in the quest for gender equity.

    One particularly touching tribute on the outstanding leadership roles women play in our society was by an award-winning journalist, Arukaino Umukoro, in appreciation of the mentoring he got from his former editor, Mobola Lanre-Badmus.

    The piece reproduced below is a good example of how every willing person has a chance of being someone’s guiding light.

    “I’m blessed to have beautiful, strong and intelligent, super amazing women in my life; that I could write a bestseller about each of them.

    This Facebook post is for one of these special amazons. They say people make the world go round; I think women make the trip worthwhile  🙂

    “I remember walking into her office in Lagos about 10 years ago, not knowing what to expect. She had fixed an appointment after one of my closest mentors had introduced me to her. Fresh from the university, I was simply armed with a degree in Industrial Chemistry and untapped potential, waiting to be ushered into a professional world I didn’t really know much about at the time. And I wondered if I could fit into it.

    “But she welcomed me warmly after I had introduced myself. She had that vitality and effervescent personality. She asked me about my passion for writing and then gave me my first ‘journalism’ test. About an hour later, I was ushered back to her office with my ‘script.’ She read it. Although she said she was a bit impressed with my writing; she noted that it needed more polishing. But then, she asked me to resume that week in the magazine where she was Editor-in-Chief. Just like that.

    “She gave me my first chance to become a professional journalist. I took it like my life depended on it. I knew I had to make my closest circle proud.

    “A few months after swapping my chemist lab coat for professional journalism robe, I won my first major award, as the magazine’s “Writer of the Year.” It was a brand new standing fan, which she presented it to me. I felt on top of the world. She had so much confidence in me and belief in my raw talent, it was almost like I was her special somebody. It was a huge statement of her faith in me, and that unexpected gesture spurred me to greater heights.

    “For over a year, I learnt the ropes of quality journalism, excellent writing and leadership from this amazon; from hours-long pep talks, discussions to editorial meetings at the office. She gave me daunting assignments, because she just had faith in my abilities, even when I didn’t believe I could. She was my boss, teacher, mentor and big sister, all rolled into one. The editorial meetings were brainstorming sessions; she drove everyone to perform better; ‘No, you can do this and that better!’ She would always insist. Sometimes, it seemed she was hard, but simply getting the job done wasn’t enough, she wanted it to be the best, and for you to be the best at it.

    “Nine months after I had joined the magazine, I was to go for the compulsory national youth service in the Northern part of the country. She paid for my flight ticket to the NYSC camp. Then she insisted that I got redeployment to continue my job with the magazine in Lagos. Although it didn’t work out, she still gave me a few editorial assignments to do from my NYSC base, and assured me that a job was already waiting for me as soon as I finished my youth service.

    She kept her word.

    “Mobola Lanre-Badmus. Thank you for the platform you gave me to explore and harness my potential and talents; for the opportunities to grow and excel; for simply being amazing to me.

    “Thank you for the standing fan too. I’m out here, eternally standing, because being outstanding in one’s calling or profession is one of the many great things I learnt from you. Thank you so, so much, from the depths of my heart, with love.”

     

  • Making sense of a world in motion

    Making sense of a world in motion

    I couldn’t make it to the Lagos Social Media Week this year but I did my best to follow up on the week- long activities at the venue online.

    Social media has become a major feature of how we communicate globally that we all need to pay attention to what it makes possible.

    The various platforms can be a major distraction in our daily lives, but it’s up to every user to decide how he or she wants to maximise the potential it offers. Like every other thing, it has its good and bad sides which must be understood by anyone who wants to use it.

    Not being on any of the platforms is not an option for anyone in this age who does not want to be left out of the global inter-connectedness which social media offers.

    There is a Yoruba proverb which I usually use to explain why everyone should use social media one way or the other. Literarily translated, the proverb means, whoever closes his or her eyes to allow a bad person to pass bye, he or she will not know when a good person will pass bye.

    For me, being on social media requires being discerning and deciding what to use it for. Originally designed for social communication, the platforms have now become professional tools for advancing personal and corporate brands.

    The problem is that many don’t know what to share or hold back on social media. There is need for a lot of restraint as whatever we share remains part of our life story that can be accessed long after we have forgotten about it.

    One session I would have loved to attend was the one where the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr Segun Agbaje, spoke on how to make a sense of a world in motion. The world is indeed in motion and everyone must understand what is changing and what is not, to survive.

    Nowadays, it is so easy to be left behind in whatever endeavour except one pays attention to the changing landscape around in all sectors. There is need for constant innovation and review of how things used to be done.

    The disruption caused by social media and other technologies is such that only those who are alert to them can remain relevant.

    Despite the changes, there are things that remain sacrosanct, which Agbaje drew attention to.

    “You can’t feed people with what you think they want, you have to give them what is important. Honestly, for me, I think those values will remain values and in whatever business modules you do, it’s got to be value-centred and value-driven because values are not going to change.

    “In this fast moving world where everything seems to be going at speeds that nobody understands, you can develop the ability to see it in slow motion.

    “If you get to the point where you can see this world in slow motion, even though it’s moving very quickly, you would have built a competitive advantage that will allow you to beat your competitors,” Agbaje stated.

  • ‘Lagos among most recognised sub-national economies in the world’

    ‘Lagos among most recognised sub-national economies in the world’

    The Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera, yesterday said the Lagos State economy has become one of the largest in Africa and among the most recognised sub-national economies in the world.

    Irukera spoke when he led a delegation of the CPC, top officials of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The CPC chief said Lagos is strategic to Nigeria’s growth and development, adding that the state had become a model for other states in Nigeria and a force to reckon with in the global space.

    He said: “Lagos State is one of the largest sub-national economies in Africa and one of the most recognised sub national economies in the world. That is something, because it means that the economy of Lagos is far larger than many countries’ in the world. To lead that kind of a state is an incredible thing because, in many respects, you are leading a sub-national entity that is greater than many nationals all over the world.

    “So, you actually have Presidents who are actually smaller than the governor of Lagos.”

    Ambode urged the CPC to look beyond the rights of people to have quality products and services and beam its searchlight on other key sectors which have direct impact on the standard of living of Nigerians.

    “The kind of services that we provide in terms of transportation; is it the kind of thing that our people should have, should we just label them and say that is what their own lifestyle should be? These are things that we should find some platform to talk about,” Governor Ambode said.

    While pledging support for the ‘National Quality Infrastructure Project’ the Governor said the campaign would ensure that the right of Lagosians and Nigerians in general to quality goods and services is guaranteed, adding that concerted efforts must continue to be done by all stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians are only exposed to the best.

    He said his administration had already queued behind the advocacy with the setting up of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), chaired by consumer rights advocate and lawyer, Mrs Olufunmilola Falana.

    “I am very excited that the Consumer Protection Council is on this advocacy. We are excited also that barely three weeks ago, we were also able to set up our own agency and with a charge that they must commence operation immediately to be able to do that missing part between the ordinary Nigerian citizen and the product of goods and services in this country.

    Governor Ambode had earlier in his opening remarks said he had initially wanted to cancel the visit due to the demise of his Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Deji Tinubu last week Thursday who ought to have coordinated the visit by the CPC delegation.

    “We should have cancelled this courtesy visit but again you know the business of government will always go on because we had actually agreed about two weeks earlier that we would receive the Consumer Protection Council.

    “As at this morning, Deji should have been sitting beside me here, because we are yet to have a Commissioner for Commerce. This was one of the last assignments he was actually doing on Thursday to clear this visit.

    “So, in his memory, we had to ensure that we do this courtesy visit. That’s how government business is. I don’t want to start Monday on a solemn note. So, I do this courtesy visit with all sincerity and all sense of responsibility.”

    Those at the event included the National President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson; Chief Technical Adviser for United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr. Shaukat Malik; Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adamu Mohammad Abdulhamid and Chairman of Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Mrs. Funmilola Falana.

     

  • UN chief issues 2018 ‘red alert’ to the world

    UN chief issues 2018 ‘red alert’ to the world

    United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued “a red alert for the world” in the New Year.

    In his New Year message, Guterres expressed regret that in 2017, the world went in reverse to the appeal for peace.

    He said when he assumed office one year ago, he appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace.

    Guterres said: “On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert – a red alert for our world.

    “Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War.

    “Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing.

    “We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise”.

    As the world begins 2018, the UN chief called for global unity.

    Guterres added that he truly believed we could make our world more safe and secure.

    “We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together,” he said.

    The UN chief urged leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: “Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals.”

    Guterres, who assumed office on Jan. 1, 2017, stressed that in 2018, “unity is the path” adding, “our future depends on it.

    “I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado,” the ninth UN chief said

  • Jerusalem: The world’s bitter harvest

    Jerusalem: The world’s bitter harvest

    “…And fear a calamity that may descend not only on those who caused it (but also on others who had no hands in its cause); and know that Allah’s retribution can be very severe”. Qur’an 8, Verse 25

    Preamble

    Foresight is a product of intuition. A person without intuition cannot be foresighted. And intuition is Allah’s special endowment for some rightly guided human beings.

     

    Admonition

    On Friday, January 20 2017, the day a new American President, Donald Trump, was sworn into office as successor to President Barak Obama, yours sincerely intuitively wrote an article published in this column. It was entitled “Welcoming A Trump of Sadism”. An excerpt from that article goes thus:

    “Like the hands of a clock, many democratic countries in the world swear in a new President every four or five years at the exit of an old one since that tenure of office is often renewable. Now, it is the turn of the United States of America to do that again. And the man to take charge as from today, for the next four years, all things being equal, is called Donald Trump, a man that most people including Americans, have seen as a wild bull surging into a china shop. Two weeks before the publication of that article, another article relating to the same subject had been published also by yours sincerely in this same column. It was entitled “Waiting for January 20, 2017”. In the latter article, yours sincerely cited the example of Adolf Hitler’s oath of office and his inaugural address of 1933 that culminated in history’s worst disaster called  World War II which started in 1939 and ended in 1945. The dramatic events within that period of 12 years were the dominating factors of the 20th century history. Here is the excerpt:

     

    Oath of Office

    “As from today January 20, 2017, Donald Trump’s oath of office will become the symbol of despotism for the seeming global anarchy ahead. His assumption of Office as the 46th American President, subsequent to that oath, will confirm the loss of America’s long time cherished glass house that has always been a proud heritage.

    From the look of things, a wild bull may be taking over in the world’s china shop most likely to confirm the contents of a popular 20th century Irish poem by W. B. Yeats published in 1921 by William Butler. (W. B. Yeats was the original author of “Things Fall Apart”).

    In that sadistic poem, Yeats really proved to be the drummer for certain future dragons that would dance sadistically on the surface of a tragic brook.  One of those dragons was Adolf Hitler of Austria who became the Fuhrer (the Leader) in Germany. Another is a 21st century American President named Donald Trump who the world is unlikely to watch with comfort. Incidentally, both ‘dragons’ cultivated their satanic pedigrees in Germany….”

     

    Yeats’ Poem

    “The Yeats’ poem that formed the drum to which Trump will dance with uncalculated steps starting from today is as follows:

    “Turning and turning round in the widening gyre, the falcon cannot hear the falconer;

    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world;

    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere, the ceremony of innocence is drowned;

    The best lack all convictions, while the worst are full of passionate intensity”. The Falcon in that poem is Donald Trump while the Falconer is the United States herself”.

     

    The meaning of Trump

    “The name TRUMP is a short form of trumpet, a musical instrument with which the decision of a tyrant is often announced in a local cultural setting. Ever since he was declared the winner of the American Presidential election of November 2016, this Trump has been trumpeting his tyrannical plans for the world for the world to note. And the jitters rolled out from that trumpet have started gripping the world with icy hand. That an American President elect had begun to rule before taking an oath of office is a clear indication of what the world should expect from the china shop in which a bull will start to operate as from today…..”

     

    Illegal recognition

    On December 6, 2017, almost one year after assuming office, President Donald Trump of the United States addressed a Press Conference in at the White House in Washington in which he declared the whole of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The rumour about that illegal declaration had been dustily thick in the air before now. Although President Trump gave two reasons for his illegal declaration none had a realistic genuineness. The first reason, according to him, was fulfilment of his campaign promise to the American electorate. The second was what he called the reality on ground in the disputed Jerusalem territory. The real truth of the matter is that Trump is ambitious to be an American hero. Thus his short course to realizing that ambition is to call the illegal declaration his greatest achievement in one year when he celebrates one year in office in January 2018.  It must be recalled that in the UN resolution on the status of Jerusalem to which the US is a signatory, it was agreed that to ventilate the atmosphere for permanent peace in the Middle East, a two state solution should be adopted in the controversial land whereby Israel and Palestine would co-exist as two separate states sharing one capital city as a matter of expediency. That resolution had proposed West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. But with Trump’s unilateral declaration of the whole of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel last week, without any consideration for the UN resolution and the plight of the Palestinians whose home land had been forcefully occupied in 1948 by the Zionists with the aid of Britain and the US, a declaration of another World War seems to have occurred.

     

    The grand design

    The Israeli/Palestinian crisis is not new and it did not start in 1948. The design for that crisis had been placed on a clandestine table about 115 years ago.

    That grand design was first expressed in 1902 by a British Prime Minister, Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman as follows:

    “There are people who control spacious territories teeming with manifest and hidden resources.  They dominate the intersections of world routes. Their lands were the cradles of human civilizations and religions. These people have one faith, one language and the same aspirations. No natural barriers can isolate them from one another….If, per chance, these people were to be unified into one state it would then take the fate of the world into its hands and separate Europe from the rest of the world. Taking these considerations seriously, a foreign body should be planted in the heart of this nation to prevent the convergence of its wings in such a way that it could exhaust its powers in never- ending wars. It could also serve as a spring board for the West to gain its coveted objects”.

     

    Follow Up

    Sir Bannerman’s observation was in further pursuit of an earlier demand by Theodor Herzl, a leader of the Zionist movement founded in 1879. Herzl, an Austrian Jewish lawyer and journalist demanded thus:

    “Let sovereignty be granted us (Jews) over a portion of the globe large enough to satisfy the rightful requirements of a nation; the rest, we shall manage for ourselves…”

     

    Balfour Declaration

    In response to Theodor Herzl’s clandestine demand, another British Prime Minister, James Arthur Balfour issued a devastating declaration that now bears his name which conceded a major part of Palestine to the Zionists as a home. That (Balfour) declaration has since put the Middle East in an incessant turmoil. It read thus in part: “His majesty’s Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use its best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this objective…. The rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country shall not be prejudiced by the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”. The original thought was to secure the Present Uganda, an African country for the settlement of the Jews which would be named Israel. But the remembrance of  Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising during that country’s struggle for independence from the British colonialists changed the thought as Palestine was found more suitable as Jewish settlement because of common traits among the Jews and the Arabs.

     

    Implementation

    To facilitate that objective effectively, some other Middle East countries had to be incapacitated economically and politically by excising from them, a juicy chunk of their lands. Thus, Lebanon was excised from Syria and Kuwait from Iraq to create a passage route for the Western countries to the East. The strategy was to cause a dissention among the citizens of those Arab countries with the intention of breaking the yoke of the Muslim unity which Bannerman had targeted in his infamous observation quoted above.

     

    Occupation strategy

    When the British colonialists that had ruled Palestine for decades wanted to leave that territory, they just suddenly did so without handing over authority to anybody. The strategy was to enable the Jews who had been secretly invited to the land and militarily equipped under the British rule to take over the land by using the weapons in their possession. And that was precisely what the Jews did to gain the control of the Palestinian land in 1948.

     

    Reactions

    Shortly after Trump’s catastrophic pronouncement, prominent people around the world started to condemn it as an illegal unilateral decision that would never be implemented. Among those people were the Secretary-General of the United Nations, The Pope, The President of France, The Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Britain, the Presidents  of Turkey, Egypt, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and a host of others. The Kings of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Qatar have also condemned Trump’s reckless pronouncement and described it as outrageously rude.  Even some scores of Israeli citizens including members of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) who know the implications of Trump’s illegal decision have staged (peaceful) demonstrations in front of American Embassy in Tel Aviv to express their objection to that unilateral and disastrous decision that could subject them to unnecessary insecurity. And in the US, quite a number of prominent people including top Republican party members and Senators have described Trump’s decision on the status of Jerusalem as an embarrassing major flaw that could entail dangerous backlash for America.

     

    UN’s Emergency Meeting

    Meanwhile, as a practical demonstration of its expressed condemnation, the United Nation’s Security Council quickly called an emergency meeting to assess the implications of Trump’s unilateral decision and to deliberate on the Council’s next stage of action as well as global way forward. When the matter was put to vating, 14 out of 15 members voted against Trump’s decision.

     

    EU’s position

    On its own, the European Union as a conglomerate of major countries in Europe with common belief in matters of common interest has taken a position on the controversial issue. It will be recalled that for many years since the end of the World War II, EU has been in strong alliance with the US through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). And that military alliance has strengthened their economic ties with the Us inspite the random inadequacies of the latter. But  in recent times, the relationship between the two blocs has been deteriorating at the instance of President Trump whose unbridled arrogance has become an unmanageable embarrassment to EU. Just a couple of months ago, Trump suddenly pulled the US out of the global climate change group with total disregard for appeals against such decision. Now, with the current crisis created by his unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital, EU has started a tacit review of its political and economic relationship with the Cow Boy’s country called America. If that position is backed up by law, the US may shrink back into her pre-World War II Isolationism that may remove her from the position of the first role player in the world.

    This is an indication that if Americans do not act fast to checkmate this 46th US President called Donald Trump, he may become the final nemesis of the American Empire.

  • Media stakeholders set up committees on 2018 IPI World Congress

    Media stakeholders set up committees on 2018 IPI World Congress

    Preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the 2018 World Congress and General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI) have kicked off with the constitution of nine planning committees.

    The committees, set up at an extraordinary meeting of Nigerian media stakeholders  last Tuesday, at  George Hotel,  Ikoyi, Lagos are: the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the committees on finance; sponsorship; programme and events; media and publicity; transport and logistics; contact and protocol; venue and accommodation and security.

    The LOC is headed by the President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Prince Nduka Obaigbena, with Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Mallam Garba Shehu as deputy chairmen.

    The Secretary, IPI Nigeria, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin, will serve as a member/ secretary.

    Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, LOC Chairman, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, said the Nigerian media was ready to host the world.

    “We have the whole world to host in six months; and we are prepared to host the world in six months, to showcase the best of Nigeria and the best of Africa,” he said.

    Obaigbena also promised that the host committee “would promote an agenda on issues that matter to us (Nigerians) and that matter to Africa”.

    The committees are to meet this month to fashion out a work plan and submit their reports to the LOC in January.

    Other members of the LOC include Mallam Ismaila Isa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mallam Wada Maida, Lady Maiden Ibru, Dr. Kalu Orji Kalu, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Mr. John Momoh, Mallam Yakubu Muhamned, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Dr. Tonnie Iredia and Sir Folu Olamiti.

    Also in the LOC are Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Mr. Waheed Odusile, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, Mr. Emma Agu, Mallam Mohamned Idris and Mr. Eric Osagie.

    Heads of the other committees, their deputies and secretaries are:

    Finance: Mallam Ismaila Isa (chairman), Mallam Kabiru Yusuf (deputy chair), Mr. Waheed Odusile( member/ secretary).

    Sponsorship will be chaired by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prince Nduka Obaigbena is the deputy chair and Victoria Ibanga(member/secretary).

    Programme and events is to be chaired by Mallam Kabiru Yusuf,  Mr. Eniola Bello (deputy chair) and Tracia Ubani (member/ secretary).

    Transportation and Logistics has Sir Folu Olamiti as chairman, Mr. Nnamdi Njemanze (deputy chair) and Dr. Qasim Akinreti( member/secretary).

    Media and publicity is headed by Dr. Tonnie Iredia as chairman, Mr. Eric Osagie (deputy chair) and Mr. Yemi Ajayi (member/secretary).

    Contact and protocol has Mallam Garba Shehu as chairman, Mrs. Comfort Obi (deputy chair)and Hajia H.H. Sanni (member/secretary).

    Venue and accommodation is to be chaired by Mallam Wada Maida, Mrs. Funke Egbemode (deputy chair) and  Catherine Agbo (member/ secretary).

    Security will be chaired by Mallam Idris Mohammed, Mr. Madu Onuorah(deputy chair) and Madam Rafat Salami (member/ secretary).

  • On World AIDS Day 2017

    On World AIDS Day 2017

    SIR: Nigeria presently has an estimated 3.2 million people living with HIV, the second largest burden in the world after South Africa, but only an estimated 1.1 million of these know their status (just over 30%). Though 88% of those who know their status are on treatment and 81% of those have achieved viral suppression, the statistics look worse when put in the perspective of the total number of people living with HIV, revealing that only 30% of people living with HIV in Nigeria are on treatment. This means that we still have a long way to go in ending AIDS in Nigeria despite the 90-90-90 target.

    Between 2010 and 2016, new infections in Nigeria reduced by just 5% and the total number of people living with AIDS increased slightly. Most new infections are among the heterosexual population but key populations like men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs are estimated to contribute about 40% of the total HIV burden in Nigeria.  Only 24.4% of people aged 15-24 have knowledge of HIV prevention, the report also showed a low to average usage of condom among individuals aged 15 – 49 years.

    Achieving 90-90-90 and ultimately zero AIDS involve community effort. We must all work together to push for behavioural change for men to reject harmful versions of masculinity, prioritizing and protecting key populations, empowering women and girls. It is also key that stigma and discrimination are addressed, as these serve as barriers to people who need access.  More work also needs to be done on educating and informing Nigerians on safe sexual practices especially condom usage and other HIV prevention strategies.

    We must address harmful masculine gender norms, which contribute to greater risk-taking and poorer uptake of health services among men as well as criminalization and high levels of stigma and discrimination of members of key populations. Consent laws and insufficient access to comprehensive sexuality education deny young people the services and knowledge they need.

    We must continue to aggressively work towards ensuring that 90% of those who are living with HIV know their status, and improve on linkage of newly detected positives to sites where they can access treatment. This must also be coupled with increased capacity for offering treatment especially in underserved areas and locations.  The prospect of achieving this goal has increased with new deals on more effective and cheaper dolutegravir, a medication used for HIV treatment, which will be made available next year in African countries, as well as the ongoing test and start strategy. Most importantly, we must hold our government accountable to increase its funding to tackle AIDS and quit relying only on external donor funding.

    Yes, 90-90-90 is possible in Nigeria. Together we can end AIDS.

     

    • Dr. Owoyemi Ayomide,

    Lagos.

  • Nigeria leading the world in extreme poverty?

    Nigeria leading the world in extreme poverty?

    I woke up two days ago and accessed my emails as usual, and was confronted by a story emailed to me by a young friend, a story concerning our country, Nigeria. The story was so shocking that I immediately went into a serious act of prayer for Nigeria. The story says that “According to the World Poverty Clock…Nigeria will by February 2018 (be) the country with the most people in extreme poverty (in the world). Currently, 82 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, which is 42.4 percent of Nigeria’s population”.

    The story explains that the World Poverty Clock was created by the World Data Lab to track poverty estimates in about 99.7 percent of the countries in the world, using data obtained from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, United Nations, and the governments of the countries themselves. Using all these data, the Poverty Clock estimates the rate at which poverty is being reduced globally, and also how many more people are becoming extremely poor in the countries of the world.

    The story further explains that living in extreme poverty is defined by the World Bank as living with under $1.90 per day. “People living in extreme poverty are unable to meet their minimal needs for survival”. To reverse the trend towards more and more extreme poverty, and to be able to eliminate extreme poverty completely by 2030 (as the United Nations hopes for all countries), Nigeria needs to have 11.9 people rising above extreme poverty every minute right now. But instead, Nigeria presently has 6.8 people falling into extreme poverty every minute.

    Various factors are, according to the story, responsible for this constant growth of extreme poverty in Nigeria. One major factor is rapid population growth. “Nigeria’s population is growing faster than its economy. Between 1990 and 2013, Nigeria’s population increased by 81 percent. By 2050, going by the speed of its present population growth rate, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world. By passing the 400 million mark, it will be taking over from the U.S.A. (as the world’s third largest country) and be only behind China and India”. Another factor is the decline in Nigeria’s oil revenues in recent times, oil being the main pillar of the Nigerian economy. The decline led to a recession recently, and after the recession passed, the economy has been growing only slowly.

    Yet another factor is Nigeria’s deeply unfair wealth distribution. More of Nigeria’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of the elite – politicians, public office holders, civil servants, crony capitalists, and various kinds of rogue millionaires. Most of this concentration of wealth in the hands of only a minority of Nigerians has been attained through a culture of rampant corruption.

    The outcomes of all these failings are the lack of basic social amenities for the vast majority of Nigerians, poor and worsening infrastructures, serious difficulties in doing business in Nigeria, high and rising levels of unemployment, and massive hopelessness.

    As a result, concludes the story, “Nigeria’s rising extreme poverty numbers isn’t unexpected. Instead, it’s a direct result of years of negligent and ineffective government policies… dependence on oil for years and an inability to generate non-oil revenue. Even now, Nigeria’s 2018 record budget is running on a deficit and will be funded by much borrowing with government debts also on the rise. The solution to this problem would be the formation of a credible policy aimed at eradicating poverty. The clock is ticking”.

    What all these mean is that the Buhari presidency is pushing or pulling our country towards something truly frightening. What this will be if he continues unchanged, only God knows at this point. But President Buhari does not have to continue unchanged. There are many other options that he can choose now to guide our country away from the present perpetual decline into extreme poverty. In the interest of our country, and in the interest of the nearly 200 million of us Nigerians, he must stop, look around, and consider other options.

    First, one very important option is that Nigeria must liberate the inherent energies of each section of Nigeria, empower each section, and thereby allow for many centres of potent development initiatives. In short, let many centres across our country have the capability to make serious contributions to development and socio-economic growth. This is one major reason why many leading Nigerians have been demanding the restructuring of our federation. Removing much of the powers and resources which the federal government controls now, and vesting them in strong federating units, will create the situation whereby resource development and wealth production will no longer be given to one large and ponderous federal centre, but will be given to a number of competing centres. What this means is that every section of Nigeria will be able develop its own homeland in its own way and make its own kind of contribution to the overall progress and prosperity of Nigeria. That means, we need to restructure our federation rationally. The capricious structure given gradually to the Nigerian federation since the 1960s, the massing of all power and resource control and development in the hands of the federal government, and the use of 36 states that are essentially impotent, dependent on federal fund allocations, and grossly expensive, has not worked and it can never work. It is a path to the economic and, ultimately, political death of Nigeria. And it needs to be changed expeditiously.

    Secondly, Nigeria must begin to invest heavily in our youths in all corners of our country.  I mean in quality education, in modern job skills training, in entrepreneurial skills training, in job ethics and business ethics training, in leadership development programmes, in business support programmes, etc. All of these should be a mandated agenda in all our states, and should be strongly shielded from infestation with partisan political germs and viruses. The objective must be that our men and women will soon rank among the world’s best modern workers, best managers, best chief executives of companies, most prolific inventors and business starters, most professional and dignified civil servants, etc.

    Thirdly, we must definitively crack the naughty problem of our infrastructures. In particular, we must zero in on electricity, and make partial, haphazard and spasmodic supply of electricity a thing of the past in all parts of our country. This will serve as an incentive to draw countless Nigerians out to scramble for, and push, a modern economic and industrial culture in our country. Centralization of electricity supply has failed our country; we need to diversify in various ways.

    Fourthly, we must create various incentive policies to encourage investment – investments by Nigerians and by foreigners, in all facets of our economy (industrial, commercial, service, agricultural, research and development, tourism, social services, real estate, etc). We must devise ways and means to attract Nigerians scattered all over the world to be part of this investment movement. And we must establish various incentives to encourage businesses in Nigeria to pursue an aggressive export orientation – to produce high quality products that can easily penetrate the most sophisticated markets in the world, and to evolve superior and efficient export management practices.

    Fifthly, we must de-emphasize politics as a means of livelihood among our ambitious citizens. We must drastically reduce the emoluments and perquisites earned in politics and public offices, shut down the unrestricted and uncontrolled access of public officials to public money, revive the public service rules and regulations that guided the handling of public money during the 1950s (rules and regulations that were destroyed by the military regimes in 1966-99), and institute enforceable limitations and controls over political and electoral expenses.

    All these will deal a heavy blow at public corruption in our country – in addition to whatever other methods the Buhari presidency may choose to use to fight corruption. To crush public corruption effectively and abidingly, we need to reform or change the pubic structures, institutions and practices that uphold public corruption in our country. Merely striking at the manifestations and culprits of public corruption at the top cannot really eliminate corruption. If it subdues corruption to some extent now, it cannot ensure that corruption will not return.

    We do not deserve to live in poverty. Our country is naturally rich in resources, and our people are ambitious, creative and pushful. The poor organization of our country, and the consequent inefficient and wasteful management of our country’s assets, and the greed and corruption that these generate among the elite of our country, are the things wrecking our country. We can change all these.

  • Help, the world is closing in on me!

    Help, the world is closing in on me!

    •Man fighting daughter’s rape laments job loss, eviction and torment by neighbours

    Following the publication of his story in The Nation of October 8, where he alleged his daughter’s rape and an alleged police cover-up, which  led to subsequent, prosecution and remanding of the suspect in Kirikiri; Rashidi Olalekan is now pleading for help following series of problems after him. He shared his story with Gboyega Alaka.

    For pursuing justice in the matter of his 13-year-old-daughter, allegedly raped by an 88-year-old neighbour, the world seems to be closing in on Mr Rashidi Olalekan, a resident of Amosun Street in Badore community off LASU-Igando Road in Lagos.

    First, he was relieved of his driver’s job; next, he got a notice to quit his residence, where he has lived, albeit free of charge, for fifteen years; and to make matters worst, the whole community now seems to have ganged-up against him, condemning him for putting an ‘innocent’ man in jail and hounding him with verbal insults.

    According to Olalekan, the only thing his neighbours have not done to him is to physically attack him, whenever he ventures out of his compound. He says the matter has got to a level where even his children are taunted and abused. His two sons, who freely mixed in the neighbourhood, were recently chased away from a compound, where they had gone to charge their GSM phones. Yet this was a place they had always gone to for the same purpose. Even he now has to sneak out as early as possible, whenever he needs to go out – like he did on the occasion of this interview – and wait until it is dark, before returning.

    It will be recalled that the 88-year-old Omobolaji Ayoade, a Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor, who lived in the same residence with Olalekan, was alleged to have raped Olalekan’s 13-year-old daughter. According to the story, as told by Olalekan and reported in The Nation of October 8 (2017) titled: “Rape: 13-year-old victim’s father cries out for help,” that incident, which occurred Monday September 25 around 10am, would not be the first time Ayoade would be violating the girl in question, having once fingered her private part, causing her to bleed, when she was a mere 8-month old.

    Subsequently the case was heard  at a magistrate court in Ikeja,  and the judge, based on the evidence at his disposal ordered that the accused be remanded in Kirikiri until the next hearing on November 21.

    What now baffles Olalekan, is how the same neighbours who had once blacklisted their compound on account of Ayoade’s untoward behaviour, would turn around and blame him for his incarceration. “I really don’t understand what’s happening. Maybe they think I have taken the matter too far, but I think it’s all sentiment. Should I have allowed him to get away with this act once again. As far as I’m concerned, I did what I had to do because I owe it to my conscience; to my role as a father, and to my daughter. How many of them would have their daughters abused sexually twice and fold their hands?”

    Appeal

    Olalekan’s major appeal now is to fellow Nigerians. He is in dire need of a job and an accommodation, having lost his job and on the verge of losing his 15-year-old accommodation. Olalekan says his landlord, whom he once worked as a driver for, has issued everyone in the house quit notice, owing to the negative images the house has been drawing on account to this rape matter and others.

    “In truth, ” Olalekan says “the quit notice is not for me alone, but my case is really critical because I have also lost my job. My landlord has given us until December to move out. He says he wants to renovate the house, which in actual fact needs some work. I must however use this opportunity to appreciate my landlord. I worked for him as a driver for years and it was on account of this that he gave me a room in the house to live in for free. As I speak, this is my fifteenth year in the house; so all I have for him is gratitude. He even allowed me to continue staying in the house (for free) after an eye problem forced me to quit working for him at the time. He also paid me off with N64,000, which I believe was from the total N400 he was deducting from my monthly salary while I worked for him. In fact it was with that money that  I took care of my family while recuperating from the eye surgery.

    “Lest I forget, I was fortunate to have another benefactor, a member of my mosque congregation, pay for the surgeries at the Isolo General Hospital, Lagos. ”

    Asked what led to his sack, since he told this reporter in that initial report in The Nation that his boss excused him to go and take care of the problem, Olalekan said it turned out to be an indirect way of sacking him. Before then, he had worked for his immediate past boss, also as a driver, for about six months, without any record of carelessness, incompetence or accident.

    But he traced the sack to two major incidences: “The first occasion was shortly after the rape incident , when I drove my boss’ step-grand-daughter to Mowe on the outskirt of Lagos. As we got to the Long Bridge just outside Lagos along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of the car tyres punctured, but I could not stop, one because it was still about 6am in the morning and because that stretch was notorious for deadly attacks and robbery. So I continued until I got to the end of the bridge, where there was a bus stop and a turning and people were waiting to board buses. There, we met another driver, who was busy changing one of his tyres. He said it was pierced by a sharp object on the bridge but he refused to stop because of the stories he had heard of the place. So we concluded that some dangerous elements might have thrown sharp objects on the road, hoping some drivers would stop once their tyres got punctured.

    “Unfortunately, when I returned, my boss, rather than commend my effort, tongue-lashed me for being careless. He blamed me and the lady for driving such long distance and damaging the tyre. Meanwhile, this was somebody I drove for a whole six months and never for once had a tyre problem.

    “On the second occasion,  we were travelling to Abeokuta, when, as we approached the Tippers’ Garage,  my boss ordered me to stop for him to ease himself. As I made to pull over, I bumped into a big crater – and everyone would agree with me that there are lots of them on that road. In my attempt to prevent the car from rolling into a ditch, I manoeuvred it on the edge of the drainage until it rested safely. In the process, the exhaust pipe tore and my boss got furious.  But God knows, I did the best I could under the circumstance.”

    So now I’m appealing for help. I could make do with any kind of job, so long as it is legitimate. I can ride Marwa (tricycle), I can drive buses, cars and I can even man a school gate; anything legitimate, just to earn money to take care of my family. Aside the girl in question, I have two sons and a wife and they all need caring for.

     

  • Chivita Active vegetable fruit juice, Hollandia Choco malt win marketing world awards

    An evening of glitz and glamour at the recently held 2017 edition of the Marketing World Awards saw two of the most innovative brands from the stable of Chi Limited recognised for delivering superior values to the market and exhibiting excellence in upholding effective marketing strategies. Whilst Chivita Active Vegetable Fruit Nectar came tops in the Best Use of Packaging category, Hollandia ChocoMalt Drink was recognised as the Emerging Brand of the Year in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) category.

    For Chivita Active Vegetable Fruit Nectar, while its offering of vegetable and fruit in one mix is the first of its kind in Nigeria, it is the brand’s ambient and aseptic packaging, which also its the first of its kind, that saw it pick up the award for the Best Use of Packaging.

    The offer of vegetable and fruit juice in a packaging that does not require refrigeration and is free from contamination, along with a cutting edge design, rich vegetable, fruit and juice visuals combined perfectly with an appealing colour pallet, is one that resonates with consumers who lead an active lifestyle and are primed to achieve more.

    While it was awarded the Emerging Brand of the Year for a FMCG, Hollandia ChocoMalt Drink is the first ready-to-drink chocolate, malt and milk drink in the Nigerian market. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, and takes away the hassles and inconvenience associated with preparing a choco-based drink the traditional way. As a product, it is fast reshaping consumption trends for a choco-based beverage because of its ready to drink convenience and offer of instant “sharp sharp” nutrition.

    According to Akin Naphtal, Chief Executive Officer of Instinctwave, this year’s edition of the Marketing World Awards showcased the latest industry innovations and initiatives, while recognising the exceptional work of marketing champions over the past 12 months. He reiterated that like the proverbial golden fish, innovative brands like Chivita Active Vegetable Fruit Nectar and Hollandia ChocoMalt Drink deserve the recognition.

    “Chivita Active Vegetable Fruit Nectar and Hollandia ChocoMalt Drink have not only pioneered new segments in the juice and choco-based beverage markets but have also within the last 12 months, achieved consumer preference status in their respective categories through innovative offerings and packaging,” he said.

    Chi Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, indicated that the recognition of two of the company’s most recent innovative brands at the Marketing World Awards was a reflection of the resourcefulness and value-driven processes that have ensured product quality, from conception to packaging.

    “The awards received by both of our brands at the Marketing World Awards show our continued desire to meet up with changing consumer needs. As always, the consumer is king; and thus, it is important to provide consumer satisfaction at all times. Innovation is key to achieving this. We are proud of these brands and their amazing stories of consumer satisfaction and achieved recognition,” he stated.