Showing posts with label Edition 206. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edition 206. Show all posts
Monday, 12 October 2009
Pay it forward
(Strictly for the young)
BY TOSYN BUCKNOR
THE movie was Pay it forward, and it was a simple, touching story, featuring a little boy, his mum, a teacher, and his school. The movie had us laughing and crying, and is definitely on my list of ‘must watch again’ movies!
The movie, Pay it Forward, more than launching just a beautiful movie with a long title, it also put forward a thought process, an instruction and a teaching. And all these are contained in those three words — Pay. It. Forward.
The principle is simple. When someone helps you, makes you happy, does something for you... Do not pay it back, pay it forward.
Give to someone else, Change someone else’s life, make someone else happy. This could also apply to negative things, but you know what? For those ones, we like to apply the principle of letting things go! Jo!
So positive!
Here is a question. Have you ever observed that there are some people, who seem to play the role of the givers in your life? Money, advice, help, joy... you seem to always run to them for these things and they give lovingly and willingly.
And then there are those who seem to always receive for you. No, not ‘take’ as this carries with it, negativity. But, ‘receive’. As if you give to these people naturally, and ask nothing in return.
Ever noticed it?
With some people, there is giving and receiving, but not the same thing. You give advice, they give laughter. You give money, they give ideas. You give shelter, they give peace. And we could go as literal or as figurative as you like!
SOME say relationships are about give and take. And it is never fun when just one person is the one giving.
I argue that we all give different things! And the crucial instruction is to give. Expecting to receive from those you give to, sometimes feel like ‘collecting’ or pay back. Who am I? The Mafia?
Abeg o!
And ever felt yourself feeling entitled to something? Like, I buy Wande Coal’s CD, so, he must shake my hands when I see him in the bathroom? Or, I lent Joshua N50,000 last year and I am now broke so why is he not offering to loan me money?
It is sometimes easier to give and move on, than waiting to collect, for if we do not get back the measure we gave, well to borrow a line from P Square’s new hit single, Wahala dey!
But if after all is said and done, you remain the type of person who hates to be indebted to anyone, then I would say, pay it back. But don’t just pay it back... pay it forward!
Speaking of principles...
Or philosophies...
I stumbled upon one recently, and it involved Coca-Cola!
Let me explain...
HI. My name is Tosyn. And I am a cocaholic. But one day, I decided to give in to pressure. Not only had people warned me that drinking so many soft drinks would be bad news for me health wise (blood sugar, back aches, insomnia), beauty wise (just not good for the face), body image wise (sugar equal weight), and psychologically wise (sugar and caffeine are addictive and make you irritable)
My hyperactivity and practically everything wrong with me (including possibly my height or lack thereof) was blamed on the drinks I consumed so I decided to stop. For a month. To see.
Not willing to rely on willpower alone, I prayed to find some overwhelming reason, and stumbled upon one — Up for charity.
What are you willing to give up for charity?
Thirty days.
One habit or something you are dependent on.
Donate the amount you would have spent on that habit or item per day to any charity of your choice.
Sounds interesting?
tosinornottosin@yahoo.com
Interviewer, Interviewee
(Just Life)
BY OMOLIGHO UDENTA
HE told me that he had prepared very well for the job interview and to make sure he was telling the truth we ran through some possible questions he might be asked. I cleared my throat and used my best “interviewer’s voice” to ask the questions.
How old are you?’
Thirty two, madam.’
I checked his CV to be sure that his answer was correct. I didn’t want his case to be like that man who had changed his age so many times that he lost track of what age he had stated at a particular company when he finally went for the interview! I also did not want his case to be like the other man who based on the information in his CV seemed to have finished secondary school at the ripe age of seven! But everything was okay, at least for Nigeria, for if an interviewer had asked that same question in a place like the United States of America he could get accused of discrimination!
Questions not to ask if interviewing someone in America include
‘When was the last time you were arrested?’ (Criminal Record)
‘Are you female?’ (Gender);
‘Are you divorced?’(Marital Status)
‘Are you Chinese or Japanese or Nigerian?’(National origin)
‘How will you handle the long commute?’ (Residence)
‘Are you gay?’ (Sexual preference)
Meanwhile back here (in this our absolutely wonderful country where anything seems to go and usually does), anyone who has attended an interview knows that you’ll get asked at least one of the above questions (except perhaps for the last one).
Come to think of it, I do believe all of these (except perhaps for the first and last one) are usually clearly stated in most CVs here!
HNCE, a long time ago when I’d just had my first child, I attended an interview where when the interviewer asked how many children I had and I said one, he proceeded to tell me that he didn’t think they could take me because I would most probably be needing breaks as I was sure to have more children!
Anyway, if you’ve been fortunate to be shortlisted for an interview then the least you can do is to prepare for it as best as you can. Do try to complete all your preparations at least a day before the interview.
It is also really important dress appropriately for the job you are applying for. You may need to visit the offices of the company if possible to see what the employees in positions similar to the one that you’re applying for are wearing.
Remember not to visit the office on a Friday, because if they observe ‘casual Friday’ there you may find yourself dressed in your best jeans and shirt for the interview!
Interviews can be nerve racking but you should do your best to project confidence and a positive attitude and always be aware of your tone of voice, your posture, energy level, and enthusiasm.
Oh yes, no one will usually tell you this but try to clear your bowels before the interview.
Man sometimes reacts to tension by releasing ... and you don’t want to be running off to the toilet instead of the interview room when your name gets called do you? Good luck if you have an interview this week.
omoudenta@yahoo.co.uk
Offering
(GOOD manners)
BY MIKE EKUNNO
NO. It’s not about churches now. This one is about generic offering; the art of giving, if you like.
There are people you accept stuff from and you feel demeaned and diminished thereafter. Others there are who make it easy for you to accept their offering because they make the proposition all so sweet. It is a matter of style. How can we benefit somebody without being condescending?
Offering is a very delicate thing because of the way modern society works. There is an inadequacy gap in most people and these ones go about looking out for whom they are better than before they can feel good with themselves. These types will therefore seek to play benefactor in order to satisfy their egos.
The way the psychotherapist puts it is that they’d rather have you in the wheelchair so they can be the ones pushing you.
May be because of the attitude of these types, a counter attitude has been developed in the camp of receivers of favour. Some choose to die in silence than receive favour from others. You can’t rule out pride from this group.
My daughter’s overgrown wears recently had us doing a lot of soul-searching before we could broach the matter with the family we intended to pass them on to. Thankfully the mother of the receiving girl welcomed the gesture enthusiastically to our great relief.
There is another group of givers who practice what in our parlance we call: Take don’t kill me. These ones offer as if it is by compulsion.
They are caught in situations where custom and etiquette ‘compel’ them to give against their wish. I had discussed in a previous piece the curt, half-hearted, ‘join me’ which some use to invite others to a meal.
But these ones are even the few who still nurse any scruples about sitting down to eat alone in the midst of others who may be hungry. When offering a meal to a guest, do not ask: ‘Have you eaten?’ or ‘What will I offer you?’
Instead say: ‘I‘ve got food for you; will you prefer rice or garri and egusi soup?’ for example. This is a more positive approach.
THOUGHTFULNESS and cheerfulness accompany a good offer. Thoughtfulness has to do with the amount of prior thought you give to satisfy another person’s unspoken need.
If at a public function you notice that your partner or a guest is having mouth odour from keeping closed lips for long, you can go out and buy some menthol-based chewing gum or sweet.
When you return, you open the pack in his presence, pop some into your mouth and offer him the open pack with a positive: ‘Have some for yourself’ while looking into his eyes encouragingly.
If you are offering somebody some used clothes, make sure they are clean and possibly ironed. Be sure they are the ones you know you can still wear yourself if not for your increased size or the desire to change your wardrobe. In other words, do not give out a dress because it is old – not even when the recipient is faceless like a church or charity.
While growing up, we can still recall those aunties whose offer you could not turn down. ‘You’re spending your vacation with me’ and that does it.
What makes these ones so successful with offering? They couch their offer in positive language and are cheerful.
We grow up and meet the younger equivalents of our favourite aunties who sell wares with so much positivism and cheer that we end up buying in order not to appear rude. Even the Holy Book affirms that God loves a cheerful giver.
chudiekunno@yahoo.com
Achieving the Nigeria of our dream
(LIFE COACH)
BY AGBOLADE OMOWOLE
OUR behaviour determines the kind of response we get. Your words may even determine if you will get a positive or a negative response in an interactive process. Consider these statements.
You must get to the office by 7am every morning!
Please, kindly get to the office by 7 am every morning to enable us serve our customers better!
The first statement will trigger a negative response while the second will trigger a positive response. Effective communication is more than what you say; it has to do with how you get your message across to others. If you communicate with others based on your emotions-how you feel, you will likely trigger a negative response. Great communicators gear their interaction on what they want to achieve, not how they feel.
Neuro Linguistic Experts tell us that communication is determined by the response you get. So accept responsibility for the other person’s reaction to what you say.
Our behaviour triggers a positive or negative response. If you make your request look like you are making an order or insisting on something what happens?
The other person will probably disagree with you or resist your request. He or she may present an alternative request or suggestion equally forcefully.
By inviting people to consider your request or suggestion, you trigger a positive response. The other person will probably consider your request, request for more information or fine-tune your ideas and suggestions.
He or she may, however, give a genuine reason why they feel it will not work and provide an alternative.
In tricky situations, emotions can run high and it is easy for us to gear our behaviour to our dominant emotions rather than to the outcome we want.
Has someone ever shouted at you while making a request? How did you feel? Whenever you are communicating, do not let your emotions override reasoning. Let your anticipated response determine how you communicate with others.
Accept responsibility for the responses you get. If you get a negative or a positive response, your behaviour triggered it. Do not vent your anger on others. Be careful of how you communicate when you are emotional. If you don’t, you may trigger a negative response.
Tone determines the kind of response you get. A high tone makes your request look like a command; it may trigger a negative response. A low tone may also trigger a negative response. The other person may feel you do not mean what you are saying. In most communication, a neutral tone of voice does the magic. It makes your request inviting.
Gestures add meanings to our words. Frowning when making a request may trigger a negative response. Smiling is more inviting and may trigger a positive response. Experts tell us that only 7 per cent of our communication are determined by the words we use. More than 50 per cent of our communication is determined by our body language. The human eye can give about 250 different expressions. Make your body language congruent with your words. Learn to pay attention your gestures. They matter.
Being positive triggers a positive reaction. A positive person is optimistic and sees only the good side of every thing. A positive disposition is communicated to the other person subconsciously. The reason you like being around some people is perhaps, because they are positive.
Your behaviour determines the kind of response you get. The response can either be positive or negative. When emotions run high, they can override logical reasoning, and one might trigger a negative response in the process. You have to accept responsibility for the responses you get. Remember that gestures improve communication.
• Agbolade runs Interpersonal Skills Trainings for corporate organsations.
nigeriaslifecoach@gmail.com, www.101youngentrepreneurs.blogspot.com
BY TOSYN BUCKNOR
THE movie was Pay it forward, and it was a simple, touching story, featuring a little boy, his mum, a teacher, and his school. The movie had us laughing and crying, and is definitely on my list of ‘must watch again’ movies!
The movie, Pay it Forward, more than launching just a beautiful movie with a long title, it also put forward a thought process, an instruction and a teaching. And all these are contained in those three words — Pay. It. Forward.
The principle is simple. When someone helps you, makes you happy, does something for you... Do not pay it back, pay it forward.
Give to someone else, Change someone else’s life, make someone else happy. This could also apply to negative things, but you know what? For those ones, we like to apply the principle of letting things go! Jo!
So positive!
Here is a question. Have you ever observed that there are some people, who seem to play the role of the givers in your life? Money, advice, help, joy... you seem to always run to them for these things and they give lovingly and willingly.
And then there are those who seem to always receive for you. No, not ‘take’ as this carries with it, negativity. But, ‘receive’. As if you give to these people naturally, and ask nothing in return.
Ever noticed it?
With some people, there is giving and receiving, but not the same thing. You give advice, they give laughter. You give money, they give ideas. You give shelter, they give peace. And we could go as literal or as figurative as you like!
SOME say relationships are about give and take. And it is never fun when just one person is the one giving.
I argue that we all give different things! And the crucial instruction is to give. Expecting to receive from those you give to, sometimes feel like ‘collecting’ or pay back. Who am I? The Mafia?
Abeg o!
And ever felt yourself feeling entitled to something? Like, I buy Wande Coal’s CD, so, he must shake my hands when I see him in the bathroom? Or, I lent Joshua N50,000 last year and I am now broke so why is he not offering to loan me money?
It is sometimes easier to give and move on, than waiting to collect, for if we do not get back the measure we gave, well to borrow a line from P Square’s new hit single, Wahala dey!
But if after all is said and done, you remain the type of person who hates to be indebted to anyone, then I would say, pay it back. But don’t just pay it back... pay it forward!
Speaking of principles...
Or philosophies...
I stumbled upon one recently, and it involved Coca-Cola!
Let me explain...
HI. My name is Tosyn. And I am a cocaholic. But one day, I decided to give in to pressure. Not only had people warned me that drinking so many soft drinks would be bad news for me health wise (blood sugar, back aches, insomnia), beauty wise (just not good for the face), body image wise (sugar equal weight), and psychologically wise (sugar and caffeine are addictive and make you irritable)
My hyperactivity and practically everything wrong with me (including possibly my height or lack thereof) was blamed on the drinks I consumed so I decided to stop. For a month. To see.
Not willing to rely on willpower alone, I prayed to find some overwhelming reason, and stumbled upon one — Up for charity.
What are you willing to give up for charity?
Thirty days.
One habit or something you are dependent on.
Donate the amount you would have spent on that habit or item per day to any charity of your choice.
Sounds interesting?
tosinornottosin@yahoo.com
Interviewer, Interviewee
(Just Life)
BY OMOLIGHO UDENTA
HE told me that he had prepared very well for the job interview and to make sure he was telling the truth we ran through some possible questions he might be asked. I cleared my throat and used my best “interviewer’s voice” to ask the questions.
How old are you?’
Thirty two, madam.’
I checked his CV to be sure that his answer was correct. I didn’t want his case to be like that man who had changed his age so many times that he lost track of what age he had stated at a particular company when he finally went for the interview! I also did not want his case to be like the other man who based on the information in his CV seemed to have finished secondary school at the ripe age of seven! But everything was okay, at least for Nigeria, for if an interviewer had asked that same question in a place like the United States of America he could get accused of discrimination!
Questions not to ask if interviewing someone in America include
‘When was the last time you were arrested?’ (Criminal Record)
‘Are you female?’ (Gender);
‘Are you divorced?’(Marital Status)
‘Are you Chinese or Japanese or Nigerian?’(National origin)
‘How will you handle the long commute?’ (Residence)
‘Are you gay?’ (Sexual preference)
Meanwhile back here (in this our absolutely wonderful country where anything seems to go and usually does), anyone who has attended an interview knows that you’ll get asked at least one of the above questions (except perhaps for the last one).
Come to think of it, I do believe all of these (except perhaps for the first and last one) are usually clearly stated in most CVs here!
HNCE, a long time ago when I’d just had my first child, I attended an interview where when the interviewer asked how many children I had and I said one, he proceeded to tell me that he didn’t think they could take me because I would most probably be needing breaks as I was sure to have more children!
Anyway, if you’ve been fortunate to be shortlisted for an interview then the least you can do is to prepare for it as best as you can. Do try to complete all your preparations at least a day before the interview.
It is also really important dress appropriately for the job you are applying for. You may need to visit the offices of the company if possible to see what the employees in positions similar to the one that you’re applying for are wearing.
Remember not to visit the office on a Friday, because if they observe ‘casual Friday’ there you may find yourself dressed in your best jeans and shirt for the interview!
Interviews can be nerve racking but you should do your best to project confidence and a positive attitude and always be aware of your tone of voice, your posture, energy level, and enthusiasm.
Oh yes, no one will usually tell you this but try to clear your bowels before the interview.
Man sometimes reacts to tension by releasing ... and you don’t want to be running off to the toilet instead of the interview room when your name gets called do you? Good luck if you have an interview this week.
omoudenta@yahoo.co.uk
Offering
(GOOD manners)
BY MIKE EKUNNO
NO. It’s not about churches now. This one is about generic offering; the art of giving, if you like.
There are people you accept stuff from and you feel demeaned and diminished thereafter. Others there are who make it easy for you to accept their offering because they make the proposition all so sweet. It is a matter of style. How can we benefit somebody without being condescending?
Offering is a very delicate thing because of the way modern society works. There is an inadequacy gap in most people and these ones go about looking out for whom they are better than before they can feel good with themselves. These types will therefore seek to play benefactor in order to satisfy their egos.
The way the psychotherapist puts it is that they’d rather have you in the wheelchair so they can be the ones pushing you.
May be because of the attitude of these types, a counter attitude has been developed in the camp of receivers of favour. Some choose to die in silence than receive favour from others. You can’t rule out pride from this group.
My daughter’s overgrown wears recently had us doing a lot of soul-searching before we could broach the matter with the family we intended to pass them on to. Thankfully the mother of the receiving girl welcomed the gesture enthusiastically to our great relief.
There is another group of givers who practice what in our parlance we call: Take don’t kill me. These ones offer as if it is by compulsion.
They are caught in situations where custom and etiquette ‘compel’ them to give against their wish. I had discussed in a previous piece the curt, half-hearted, ‘join me’ which some use to invite others to a meal.
But these ones are even the few who still nurse any scruples about sitting down to eat alone in the midst of others who may be hungry. When offering a meal to a guest, do not ask: ‘Have you eaten?’ or ‘What will I offer you?’
Instead say: ‘I‘ve got food for you; will you prefer rice or garri and egusi soup?’ for example. This is a more positive approach.
THOUGHTFULNESS and cheerfulness accompany a good offer. Thoughtfulness has to do with the amount of prior thought you give to satisfy another person’s unspoken need.
If at a public function you notice that your partner or a guest is having mouth odour from keeping closed lips for long, you can go out and buy some menthol-based chewing gum or sweet.
When you return, you open the pack in his presence, pop some into your mouth and offer him the open pack with a positive: ‘Have some for yourself’ while looking into his eyes encouragingly.
If you are offering somebody some used clothes, make sure they are clean and possibly ironed. Be sure they are the ones you know you can still wear yourself if not for your increased size or the desire to change your wardrobe. In other words, do not give out a dress because it is old – not even when the recipient is faceless like a church or charity.
While growing up, we can still recall those aunties whose offer you could not turn down. ‘You’re spending your vacation with me’ and that does it.
What makes these ones so successful with offering? They couch their offer in positive language and are cheerful.
We grow up and meet the younger equivalents of our favourite aunties who sell wares with so much positivism and cheer that we end up buying in order not to appear rude. Even the Holy Book affirms that God loves a cheerful giver.
chudiekunno@yahoo.com
Achieving the Nigeria of our dream
(LIFE COACH)
BY AGBOLADE OMOWOLE
OUR behaviour determines the kind of response we get. Your words may even determine if you will get a positive or a negative response in an interactive process. Consider these statements.
You must get to the office by 7am every morning!
Please, kindly get to the office by 7 am every morning to enable us serve our customers better!
The first statement will trigger a negative response while the second will trigger a positive response. Effective communication is more than what you say; it has to do with how you get your message across to others. If you communicate with others based on your emotions-how you feel, you will likely trigger a negative response. Great communicators gear their interaction on what they want to achieve, not how they feel.
Neuro Linguistic Experts tell us that communication is determined by the response you get. So accept responsibility for the other person’s reaction to what you say.
Our behaviour triggers a positive or negative response. If you make your request look like you are making an order or insisting on something what happens?
The other person will probably disagree with you or resist your request. He or she may present an alternative request or suggestion equally forcefully.
By inviting people to consider your request or suggestion, you trigger a positive response. The other person will probably consider your request, request for more information or fine-tune your ideas and suggestions.
He or she may, however, give a genuine reason why they feel it will not work and provide an alternative.
In tricky situations, emotions can run high and it is easy for us to gear our behaviour to our dominant emotions rather than to the outcome we want.
Has someone ever shouted at you while making a request? How did you feel? Whenever you are communicating, do not let your emotions override reasoning. Let your anticipated response determine how you communicate with others.
Accept responsibility for the responses you get. If you get a negative or a positive response, your behaviour triggered it. Do not vent your anger on others. Be careful of how you communicate when you are emotional. If you don’t, you may trigger a negative response.
Tone determines the kind of response you get. A high tone makes your request look like a command; it may trigger a negative response. A low tone may also trigger a negative response. The other person may feel you do not mean what you are saying. In most communication, a neutral tone of voice does the magic. It makes your request inviting.
Gestures add meanings to our words. Frowning when making a request may trigger a negative response. Smiling is more inviting and may trigger a positive response. Experts tell us that only 7 per cent of our communication are determined by the words we use. More than 50 per cent of our communication is determined by our body language. The human eye can give about 250 different expressions. Make your body language congruent with your words. Learn to pay attention your gestures. They matter.
Being positive triggers a positive reaction. A positive person is optimistic and sees only the good side of every thing. A positive disposition is communicated to the other person subconsciously. The reason you like being around some people is perhaps, because they are positive.
Your behaviour determines the kind of response you get. The response can either be positive or negative. When emotions run high, they can override logical reasoning, and one might trigger a negative response in the process. You have to accept responsibility for the responses you get. Remember that gestures improve communication.
• Agbolade runs Interpersonal Skills Trainings for corporate organsations.
nigeriaslifecoach@gmail.com, www.101youngentrepreneurs.blogspot.com
Time out with the Fame lady
By Mark Ehidiame John
AFTER years of living in the Diaspora, exploring the London broadcasting and Hollywood film industry, Adora Oleh is back home to impact on the country positively. The lady, who was one of the comperes of the recently ended MTN Project Fame West Africa. She reveals her plan to start her pet project, The Adora Oleh Show, in Nigeria, which is going to be spectacular with lot of excitement beyond your imagination.
I believe MTN Project Fame West Africa is your first in the Nigerian entertainment scene, how did it start, who brokered the deal and how were you contacted?
Well, I was actually in Nigeria earlier in the year, April to be precise. I came home to conclude arrangements on my show, The Adora Oleh Show. While in Lagos, I heard of the audition for Project Fame, and I decided to go for it. I heard that I was successful when I got back to London, so, I had to rush back home to co-host the show.
Where were you before the fame project?
I was in London where I was born and raised. I was hosting a two-hour live interactive show, which was a lot of fun. At the same time, I was working as an International Film Marketing Promotional Manager with Paramount and Universal Film Studios in London, I was responsible for the international marketing strategies and film distribution across Europe for a variety of Hollywood blockbuster movies.
In the course of your media duties, can you mention some of the celebrities you have met and interviewed?
Yes, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing an array of established personalities from rap and RnB superstars such as 50 Cent, T- pain, Young Joc, Kelly Rowland Lemar, 2 face, John Legend, D’banj, P squared, Estelle, Marlon Jackson, Akon, Banky W, Damien Marley, Sasha, Joe, Olu Maintain, Dare Art Alade, 9ice. Sway and Amerie to acclaimed movie directors such as Quentin Tarantino; business entrepreneurs and international presidential hopefuls, governors, ministers and ambassadors to name a few.
Obviously, you have travelled around the world, can you mention some of the remarkable events you have been involved in before coming to Nigeria.
Well, in my previous role at Paramount and Universal Film Studios, I was required to travel to Los Angeles, New York, The South of France and other cities for various film festivals and premieres. It was quite an amazing experience for me as during the time, I was involved in movies such as Miami Vice with Jamie Foxx, The Dream Girls with Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. And Sex and The City The Movie with Sarah Jessica Parker to name a few, which was great!
I know that you have told us some of the things you’ve done with Paramount and Universal but can you please now tell us a bit more of what you were doing for a living before Project Fame?
Okay, before Project Fame, as a broadcast journalist, in 2005, my sister and I had already registered our own TV Production Company, Chiad TV Productions, where we co-produced two TV shows. One of which was a two-hour live interactive show and the other a music chart show. We also hosted and managed corporate events, which Chiad Productions still continues to do, some of the shows that we have been involved in include: The Nigerian Music Awards in London, Miss Nigeria UK, The Ghana Professional Awards, The Nigerian Institute of Accountant’s Award. We have also worked with the Princes Trust (Prince Charles’s official charity) and the MOBO Music Awards. Last year, I also had the pleasure of hosting the London leg of the ThisDay Music and Fashion Festival, hosting along side Trevor Nelson (MBE) at the Royal Albert Hall, which was absolutely fantastic!
Are you crowd phobic?
No, I’m definitely not crowd phobic, I really enjoy what I do, and I regard myself as a people person.
Can you recount the first time you stood before a large crowd and what happened?
My earliest memory of hosting a big crowd was the Nigerian Music Awards in London with Soni Irabor. He was wonderful to work with and the crowd was encouraging, very energetic and lively, which made my job easy, so it was a great first experience.
What is your ultimate goal in life?
Wow! Now that’s a question! Humm… My ultimate goal is to achieve everything that God has in store for me and so far I feel very grateful and blessed.
While you were growing up in England what were your dreams like?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in the media industry. When I was young, I actually thought about what I’m doing now! So right now I feel like I’m living my dream.
What is the most challenging period of your life?
While living in London, I guess it would be the time I was working five days a week with Paramount and Universal Film Studios, which was a very demanding job and at the same time hosting and co-producing a two hour live interactive show every Saturday. Yes, looking back, that was quite challenging.
What do you have to say about your sudden change of environment, how are you coping?
It’s a pleasure to be here, I’ve been coming back to Nigeria for many years, before this time, so I’m used to the environment.
Greening talks with Mosunmola
S he had intended to study Medicine, and actually got admission to the Bayero University, Kano; but had to relocate following riots and crises in the North in 1997/1998 and never returned. She then settled in for Zoology at Lagos State University. “I was curious with regards what life would be upon graduation. I then began to take elective courses in Fisheries”, recalls Mosunmola Umoru in an interview recently; as she reflects on her agricultural business, among other issues.
Farming is a male dominated field, how have you been able to rise above so many others?
I have been elevated solely by grace through diligence, focus and a strong determination to be the best in all I set out to achieve.
Where did you find the courage to dare to be different?
It is innate and I owe that firstly to God, as He deposited in me the ability to be all that I wanted to be. All through my journey in life, I was not sure I felt anything too big or impossible to achieve. I just dared to venture. I must also say that my father, Mr Bamidele Umoru, also identified this intrinsic characteristic and encouraged the enterprising spirit in me. I learnt early in life that if I dared to be different, then greatness was certain. All my life, I have desired to be an agent of change and this was greatly influenced by my upbringing.
Did you ever ask yourself if you were in the right field?
Oh yes! I did that in my moment of solitude, particularly when things got very tough and rough; and almost impossible as is apparent with the challenging business and socio-economic terrain in Nigeria. The beauty, though, is that each time that question came up, it gave birth to an elevation, which reassures me that, I am on the right track.
What do you do in moments of doubt?
I must confess that when I started out and got to the point of doubt, I cried when everything seemed to overwhelm me. In those early days, I cried my eyes out and sincerely asked God to help me. Now, I talk to older people in business, who encourage me and share their experiences with me when the going gets tough. Along the line, I learnt to trust solely on God for direction by praying and meditating on God’s promises.
Did you always want to be a farmer; what did you love so much about farming?
On the contrary, as a young girl, I wanted to be a medical doctor, but you know life is one interesting puzzle. In secondary school, I was an active member of the Young Farmers Club at Eva Adelaja Girls’ Secondary School, I enjoyed seeing the crops grow and eventually harvested. The bigger twist came when I started my undergraduate programme at the Zoology department of Lagos State University. The urge to nurture is an intrinsic characteristic of a woman. This I soon discovered about myself in my final year in university, which gave birth to my desire to become actively involved with agribusiness.
What is your driving force; your inspiration?
I am a great dreamer, as a result, I see no impossibilities. Every mountain is a step to a great destination for me. My cause in life is a rather intrinsic one. Thus, I approach life’s journey with the end in view. I am totally convinced that I can be all that I dare to dream. I am my own greatest motivator drawing inspiration from God. I learnt early in life that I alone could demotivate myself. Finally, I enjoy celebrating other people’s successes and achievements particularly in my low moments. I have learnt to overlook my pain and be a source of comfort or support to other, and through that phase, God sorts me in an unusual way. I am not intimidated by anything, because I am simply limitless. I look forward to seeing youth participation in relevant sectors of the economy in the near future. With this in view, I am fired up to aspire, strive and achieve. My dreams are huge and inspirations come from the deep-rooted knowledge that I can influence my environment positively and as I result, I am always willing to serve.
Did you have a mentor, putting you through the ins and outs of farming?
I didn’t have a mentor in farming! Though I have other mentors. My knowledge of agribusiness has been largely from personal education and research. The Internet has served greatly as my resource bank.
Has your work brought more attention to farming in Nigeria?
Gradually, I can say yes, though it took five years to gain relevance. My involvement in the agribusiness sector is really impacting people particularly young people like me, who I always hear say ‘if you are involved with farming then it is probably not as bad as it seems’. Farming, before now in Nigeria, was termed business of low-lives and with the barrier to entry being so high for young people to actively participate. I have successfully, in my little way, impressed on my generation that farming could be glamorous and cool enough for us to trade places with the business executive in the large conglomerate and also the bank’s middle management cadre, which is the initial attraction for most young graduate in Nigeria.
Do you think you have encouraged more women to enter the farming field?
That is an ongoing process. I am encouraging female participation on an on-going basis. My advocacy campaigns are not entirely for women to be involved in subsistence farm practices, rather it is further to educate female participation on a commercial scale with great focus on running structured and successful businesses, to encourage women to stop running their businesses out of their handbags but rather invest in operations that would outlive its founders. Like one of my mentors puts it “ Building businesses that last”.
What are the milestones you have achieved in the past year?
I woke up on the first day of the year 2009 with such huge dreams and aspirations for the year. On January 19, I was announced winner in Future Awards Business Owner of the Year category and that has greatly impacted on my life and business. Several Stories and articles in prints have been circulated in the last year; I have been able to adopt better business practices at Honeysuckles Ptl Ventures. Since winning the awards, I suddenly realised so everyone around expects much more from you, and that did keep me extremely focused. I have been able to influence more people in a subtle manner with a few individuals in my business incubator scheme. I have been able to reach out to so many people across the nation, preaching the agribusiness development and adoption gospel. I have also worked closely with other youth agencies to empower many more young people to aspire in Nigeria. One of such agencies is the Harambe Nigeria Endeavour. We are also working on new alliances. Just to mention a few
Do you think that having a mentor makes work easier for those that want to excel in their chosen fields?
Life is a continuous process of giving, receiving and learning, so, I believe that having GOOD mentors has great ways of impacting your life as a start-up entrepreneur. However the greatest mentor I have found is the Holy Spirit, who would lead you in the way of truth. One of my mentors is Pastor Taiwo Daniel Odukoya. We all need mentoring for different phases of our lives. Trust me, mentoring helps a great deal. Most times, people think you need money when starting out a business. In my journey, I have come to cherish the support and physical involvement of my mentors more. Those times they sit to listen to me and just ask the right questions save me from making unnecessary mistakes. As a young entrepreneur, in my very early days, I lost a lot of the seed capital I got from financial mentors to poor and bad business decisions I took because their was no one to talk to.
You have been working with the Future Nigeria project, tell us about that?
My journey with The Future Nigeria project started in March when we began the Post awards seminars, which involved “telling my story” around secondary schools in Nigeria. The aim of which is to educate these youngsters to aspire, strive and achieve. The project also afforded me the opportunity of interacting and meeting with key public officers within and outside Nigeria. I, alongside other winners, had to travel, albeit, but it was all fun in the last nine months. We were hosted Lagos State by several schools such as Binta International Secondary School and Kings College, Lagos. Now I am reliving the whole experience. The expression on the faces of these students each time I was introduced to them as a farmer. They just wondered and asked ‘why I would choose such an unattractive, non-lucrative venture’. This always ended up in an educating and extremely interactive session. I remember our trip to the Henry Alex Duduyemi Memorial Secondary School in Ile-Ife. We had such an interactive time with the students and I for the first time I tasted yet another Nigerian vegetable soup a delicacy in the town called efo-woro wo. It was heavenly. In June, I also had the privilege of being invited to join a delegation on a youth exchange programme in Latvia, Europe. We also paid a few courtesy visits to The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. (Mrs) Dora Akinyuli at her office in Abuja. We visited the British High Commissioner, His Excellency, Mr. Bob Dawer, at his residence in Lagos. That was a great meeting. The last official visit this year is scheduled for this month to the Vice President, Jonathan Goodluck. We had one charity visit to the Hearts of Gold hospice and I was awed by the kind gesture of the proprietress of that facility. I can go on and on.
You have also done some work with Harambe, you went to Liberia with them could you shed some light on that?
My journey with Harambe is also an offshoot of the Future Awards. In June this year I facilitated the monthly workshop with the HISARD Fellows at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife and we interacted a great deal and eventually accepted to be on the youth panel of their yearly conference in August. It was at that meeting that gave room for the invitation by Father Godfrey Nzamujo of the Songhai Centre to the Federal Republic of Benin, at his Farm Institute in September. That visit saw us meeting with two African Presidents H.E. Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi President of the Republic of Benin and his Liberian counterpart, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in one day.
What is Goldman Sachs?
Goldman Sachs is - the United States and world’s most powerful investment bank. In 2008, they launched an initiative, 10,000 Women, across the globe in collaboration with Enterprise Development Services of Pan African University, Nigeria. 10,000 Women Over Five Years Will Receive a Business and Management Education: Goldman Sachs is supporting partnerships with universities and development organizations that will lead to 10,000 Women receiving a business and management education over five years.
You received a Goldman Sachs Award? How has that affected your life and work? It was indeed a humbly experience to be part of the premiere recipients globally. I enjoyed Mentoring and Post-Graduation Support. In addition to funding my tuition for business and management education, 10,000 Women is establishing mentoring and networking channels for women. Programs provide career development opportunities that extend the benefits of the 10,000 Women beyond the classroom, leveraging the overall impact of their educational experience. We had such great facilitators to handle the workshops that women were just completely engaged to through the period. I applause the generosity of the Team at Goldman give this great privilege to me as a GS Scholar which is how we are termed. The networking within the past year has been truly overwhelming and I have been able to fully articulate a sense of my future potentials in business. since being on 10,000 Women project, I have been able to truly work with the Enterprise for Development Service organizations to better understand the local challenges women must overcome so I can ultimately realize my potential through access to greater economic opportunity. This exposure is truly awesome for me. I was truly amazed by the time commitment and Dedication of Goldman Sachs People: In addition to the firm’s financial commitment, Goldman Sachs is also contributing its most valuable asset – its people – to the success of 10,000 Women. Building on the firm’s strong history of service and community engagement, the people of Goldman Sachs are volunteering their time and expertise through various opportunities such as interacting with scholars on the I-MENTOR platform. I met with Senior executive of Goldman Sachs and we had a few exchanges. The company also paid for us to get one year free Business mentoring and support form Consultant in Nigeria and during one of the Expert In Residence (EIR) sessions, I met an expert Mrs Mope Abudu of Nexton Business Services. She took an exceptional interest in my dream, project and business model above all my willingness to “pay it forward” and she has worked closely with me in restructuring my business and has also volunteered in developing the frame work for Abira. I have in the last one year enjoyed support from great individuals from the EDS such Dr Christopher Kolade, Banky, Nneka-Okeakaru and most recently Dr Audu Ogbeh. My Business journey has changed tremendously and I Life has become a lot easier. I am no longer the lone entrepreneur I used to be running my business out of my handbag.
You own the Abira Foundation, what is the inspiration behind that?
My whole life has been one bundle of testimonies and scholarships Upon graduation from EDS on the platform of the 10,000women project in October 2008, I was greatly touched by the generosity of an International company giving to me from such distance. It dawned on me that I as a Nigerian really had to pay it forward to my fellow NIGERIANS. This made me rethink my community service project. Firstly I started a one-on-one personal advocacy campaign by enlightening men and most especially women within my circle of influence over the need to acquire formal business education and it thrills me to announce that it has started yielding results as two (2) ladies from my church are currently on the CEM 9 programme at the EDS, whilst some of the women who cant afford to come to the EDS are enrolling with The FATE Foundation a smaller enterprise development education center. Within my cell group at church, I make good every opportunity to enlighten everyone over the need to gain enterprise education, and above all empower themselves by acquiring formal business training If good success must be achieved. My window came right after I was announced the Business Owner of the Year 2009 in January by The Future Nigeria Awards. I am currently involved with the Future Nigeria in the post award seminars by “telling my story” around secondary schools in Lagos State and. The aim of which is to educate these youngsters to Aspire, Strive and Achieve. This further birthed my current project Abira Business Support- we have two platforms namely: Abira Womens Agribusiness Support { Abira WAS} and Abira Youth Empowerment Scheme {Abira YES}.
Could you shed some light on what you hope to achieve with this project?
Abira Foundation is offering a blended MSME solution that comprises a hands-on business development support and an on-going training and information services consultancy to clients, within the Agric-business sector. Our approach is unique in the sense that we intend to get ourselves involved with the success of our clients’ business enterprises on an on-going basis. Up on till now, the trainings available to intending entrepreneurs in this industry are short termed. Usually for two days with no follow-up on the effect of the knowledge imparted.Product Focus: Agric Enterprise development, Business promotion and Youth Advocacy/Engagement. Our mission: To support economic growth and employment generation through agribusiness development.
Objective: To enable agribusiness enterprises to effectively utilize Business Development Services to enhance products, productivity, market diversity/ penetration and profitability. This Project would be on-going but has an initial Impact Pilot phase of Three (3) years.
We would focus our work within certain Local Government Areas but we are focusing on three (3) major cities for now Lagos and Benin and Ile-Ife in Nigeria. This cities where chosen for adequate impact assessment. Lagos is a Metropolitan State, I am an Indigene of Edo State and finally I am already working with the HISARD (Harambe Incubator for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development) fellows of the Harambe Nigeria Endeavour at the Faculty of Agriculture at The Obafemi Awolowo University as a mentor and an advisory council member.
An installation message for motherland
BY TAJUDEEN SOWOLE
THE now popular expression — among opposition politicians and observers of the fumbling political fortune of the nation — that Nigeria is a ‘failed state’ may have informed an installation work by Victoria Udondian, as she prepares for her maiden solo show.
Filling a segment of the wall of her studio is an assemblage of bottles she calls Survival of the Fittest.
It’s a graphic depiction, in conical form, of a class culture taken to the state of slavery: the higher, the fewer; the lower, the multitude.
Survival, therefore, assumes certain tones such that a status down the ladder is hardly appreciated until you suddenly realise, as the installation suggests, there are others, who are yet to even lift up from the floor.
But class is a natural setting anywhere in the world, so what is new or different here?
“The situation in Nigeria is that the rich and the politicians have widened the gap between the wealthy and the masses,” declares Udondian.
Class, to her, is a beauty to behold in a society where equity reigns: the man down the cone would not have bothered how stupendously rich anyone is if he has basic things of life “not necessarily riches.”
Udondian’s art is pregnant with anti-dotes, waiting to be delivered, and unleashed, to the virus stalling the growth of her motherland.
For artists such as Udondian, who want to make some strong statements with their art, particularly in the installation genre, space could be an inhibiting factor: most galleries here lack the required space for installation.
While still hoping that one of the galleries can create a date for her work before the end of the year, the artist does not want to be stranded, hence, the regular and traditional paintings as ‘back up’.
She has them in shades, as her view dictates: Sisters, Return, acrylic on canvas; Aquatic Culture, water colour; Negritude, oil on canvas.
Hardly is there a line drawn between her skill for installation and brushings, as the underwater content extols the beauty of creatures from that part of the ocean in a cinematic style of creating artificial lighting to enhance underwater cinematography.
Udondian’s lighting, similarly demystifies the oceanic-blue colour that eyes are used to and renders a fantasy kind.
“The uniqueness of arts lies in the individuality of the artist. I believe that there is an inexhaustible deposit of knowledge lying dormant both in nature and in our subconscious mind.”
And abstract works such as Sisters and The Return, confirm the deposit of skill in her, irrespective of form or style.A self-portrait suggests that portraiture in design form is worth giving a space in the menu of portrait paintings.
Beyond the ordinary, the artist also believes that she is gifted with a third eye; as she claims an “ability to see through the mind’s eye as the window to discovering one’s fate. My other language is spoken in colours, brushes or even knife, enriched with limitless diction of visual expression.”
HAVING spent a larger part of her life in Uyo, she is currently in Lagos, attempting to find her level in the mainstream art scene.
As Publicity Secretary of the Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA), practising outside Lagos would have been absurd.
The Lagos exposure has been paying off: her works were featured, simultaneously at ‘Open House’ — an exhibition of contemporary Nigerian art by the Visual Artists Society of Nigeria (VASON) held at Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos; International ArtExpo Nigeria, at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.
Also this year, she showed at the inaugural group show of the SNA, Blossom, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Garki, Abuja, by the FCT chapter and Plight of women, an exhibition by Female Artist Association of Nigeria, National Museum, Lokoja.
WITH degreein Painting from the University of Uyo, Udondian’s post-academic activities go beyond painting, but politics in her profession, as well.
She is a member Catalyst Women Arts and Science Portsmouth, Hampshire, U.K; member, Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FAAN), among others.
Computer giant, UN expands scheme to stem ‘brain drain’
BY TOPE TEMPLER OLAIYA
MORE than a dozen universities in Africa and the Middle East will benefit from a joint project between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and United States computer company Hewlett-Packard, which seeks to provide the technology and tools needed to stem the migration of graduates and reduce the ‘brain drain’ from the regions.
Building on the successful pilot phase of the project, which benefited institutions in Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe, 15 universities will be involved in its expansion that will also include schools in Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal and Uganda.
The ‘Brain Gain Initiative’, set up in 2003, allows schools to collaborate with experts worldwide in innovative education and research projects with the help of advanced grid and cloud computing technologies — hardware and software infrastructure — that clusters and integrates high-end computer networks, databases and scientific instruments from multiple sources to form a virtual environment. It seeks to quell the exodus of academics and scientists, who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home country.
“We have suffered in the past from our best talents leaving Senegal to further their careers elsewhere,” said Ibrahima Niang of Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), one of the beneficiaries of the scheme during its pilot phase.
“This project helps us to plug into the world of research,” he said. “We can build connections with colleagues in other countries, which benefit our own work, and this link also provides an opportunity for our own academics and researchers to further their careers from Senegal.”
UNESCO and Hewlett-Packard hope that 100 universities can be reached by the initiative by 2011 with the help of additional partners.
SSANU, NASU shut UI gates, force everybody to jump fence
BY ABRAHAM OLADIPUPO
THE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) made good their threat when they shut down the University of Ibadan (UI) last week. Not even the gates of the university were spared.
Throughout last week, whoever gained entrance into the premier institution had to jump over the fence to find his or her way in.
The high point of this interesting scene was when a professor had to jump over the fence.
Many students had gathered at the gate early on Monday with the hope that the strike would be called off, the students had returned in large numbers to start preparation towards the second semester examination that was suspended when ASUU went on an indefinite strike.
A member of NASU, who spoke with The GuardianLIFE, on the condition of anonymity, said, “imagine the Federal Government giving ASUU 65 per cent increment, while giving NASU just 25 per cent. This is unacceptable.”
Another added, “as far as we are concerned, the universities will not be opened, we have just started; let the students go back to their homes, because we will make the university ungovernable.”
A principal officer of the university had condemned the closure of the university gate, while promising the university community the all efforts is geared towards resolving the industrial dispute.
In a related development, the UI branch of ASUU arising from its congress held on Wednesday, October 7, had agreed unanimously to put the strike on suspension for two weeks.
This much, Life Campus gathered at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan where the congress was held.
Arising from its NEC meeting, the ASUU president had called on all branches of the union to call its congress and discuss the Federal Government’s proposition.
SSANU, NASU vow to continue strike
By Kayode Bello
Following the intervention of the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) three months ago, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), have vowed to continue the strike action unless the Federal Government called them for negotiation over their demands.
This was made known in Ibadan during the week when the unions locked the gates leading into the University of Ibadan (UI) to express their grievances over the segregation tactics of the Federal Government. According to the NASU Chairman, UI Chapter, Olusola Fatoki, the Federal government’s invitation for negotiation ought to have been extended to other unions who embarked on strike for similar demands.
“But unfortunately, what we heard from the Presidency is that they are not going to invite the non-teaching unions because they are not relevant in the system. We would let them know that there is no way ASUU can only operate alone in the system.” Nonetheless, Fatoki affirmed that they were ready to continue the strike unless the Federal Government resolved to negotiate with them.
In a related development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed that the branch congresses of the union would decide whether the strike action should be suspended or not as confirmed by Dr. Ademola Aremu, ASUU Chairman, UI Chapter.
Skills festival at LASPOTECH
BY MARY AKPARANTA
A FESTIVAL for Vocational Skills was staged recently by the British Council, in partnership with the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and Highbury College Portsmouth, UK, as part of efforts to provide high quality vocational education and skills training for youths in Lagos State.
Held October 8-10 at the Ikorodu Campus of LASPOTECH, the Festival of Skills, is an activity meant to publicise and market the proposed Vocational Skills Village that will be sited at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus.
As part of programmes for the festival, there was a road show on Thursday, October 8. The train took off from LASPOTECH, Ikorodu Campus. The official launch of the Village held on Friday, October 9, while demonstrations, master classes and shows were staged yesterday.
Briefing journalists on the event, Registrar of the Polytechnic, Princess Adetope Kosoko, said the idea for the project started in 2006 when the Tenders Board of the Polytechnic received the Chief Executive Officer of Highbury College, Mrs. Stella Mbubaegbu; who had come to discuss possible areas of collaboration between Highbury College and Laspotech.
After a series of understudy and visits to explore areas of collaboration, she said a memorandum of understanding was signed in the area of development of skills in Lagos State, particularly in the area of Plumbing, Electronics, Plastering, Building, Construction, Hospitality trade, hairdressing and others.
“The idea of the skills festival is to create awareness and enlighten the public of the wonderful opportunity available to them to acquire skills by undergoing training in line with British standard. The idea is to enlighten the public on the proposed village as well as solicit the support of other corporate bodies. The Vocational Skills Village (VSV) is an initiative borne out of the quest of the Polytechnic management to find solutions to the dwindling technological standard of the nation. The village when finally completed will serve as training and re-training ground for persons inclined towards vocational and technical skills,” she said.
Also, plans are already on to commence partnerships with industries in the technical and vocational sector, which would also work with the polytechnic to ensure that persons trained at the VSV are absorbed into the labour market. These include Briscoe Motors, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI).
Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Ayodeji Iginla said “ We are expecting both the unskilled and already skilled to take part in the programme. Highbury has a very high technological drive supported by high digital technology techniques that we will find beneficial and apply in most of the things we do today. Everyone can benefit from the programme whether literate or semi literate. Our goal is to ensure that those who will pass through this programme go through informed apprenticeship as well as prepare them for self employment or use in the industry”.
He advised that Nigerians should take advantage of the programme to learn how to use modern technology to work perfectly in their various fields.
According to him, the country will in future depend less on certificate qualification but rather on hands- on-skills that bring rapid development to the country.
To ensure that the training received at the centre meets up to global standard, the Polytechnic has also explored its partnership with Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK by sending some its staff to the college for advanced trainings, which will be displayed during the Festival of Skills and which will serve as the basis for the training to be received at the VSV on completion.
MORE than a dozen universities in Africa and the Middle East will benefit from a joint project between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and United States computer company Hewlett-Packard, which seeks to provide the technology and tools needed to stem the migration of graduates and reduce the ‘brain drain’ from the regions.
Building on the successful pilot phase of the project, which benefited institutions in Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe, 15 universities will be involved in its expansion that will also include schools in Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal and Uganda.
The ‘Brain Gain Initiative’, set up in 2003, allows schools to collaborate with experts worldwide in innovative education and research projects with the help of advanced grid and cloud computing technologies — hardware and software infrastructure — that clusters and integrates high-end computer networks, databases and scientific instruments from multiple sources to form a virtual environment. It seeks to quell the exodus of academics and scientists, who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home country.
“We have suffered in the past from our best talents leaving Senegal to further their careers elsewhere,” said Ibrahima Niang of Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), one of the beneficiaries of the scheme during its pilot phase.
“This project helps us to plug into the world of research,” he said. “We can build connections with colleagues in other countries, which benefit our own work, and this link also provides an opportunity for our own academics and researchers to further their careers from Senegal.”
UNESCO and Hewlett-Packard hope that 100 universities can be reached by the initiative by 2011 with the help of additional partners.
SSANU, NASU shut UI gates, force everybody to jump fence
BY ABRAHAM OLADIPUPO
THE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) made good their threat when they shut down the University of Ibadan (UI) last week. Not even the gates of the university were spared.
Throughout last week, whoever gained entrance into the premier institution had to jump over the fence to find his or her way in.
The high point of this interesting scene was when a professor had to jump over the fence.
Many students had gathered at the gate early on Monday with the hope that the strike would be called off, the students had returned in large numbers to start preparation towards the second semester examination that was suspended when ASUU went on an indefinite strike.
A member of NASU, who spoke with The GuardianLIFE, on the condition of anonymity, said, “imagine the Federal Government giving ASUU 65 per cent increment, while giving NASU just 25 per cent. This is unacceptable.”
Another added, “as far as we are concerned, the universities will not be opened, we have just started; let the students go back to their homes, because we will make the university ungovernable.”
A principal officer of the university had condemned the closure of the university gate, while promising the university community the all efforts is geared towards resolving the industrial dispute.
In a related development, the UI branch of ASUU arising from its congress held on Wednesday, October 7, had agreed unanimously to put the strike on suspension for two weeks.
This much, Life Campus gathered at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan where the congress was held.
Arising from its NEC meeting, the ASUU president had called on all branches of the union to call its congress and discuss the Federal Government’s proposition.
SSANU, NASU vow to continue strike
By Kayode Bello
Following the intervention of the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) three months ago, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), have vowed to continue the strike action unless the Federal Government called them for negotiation over their demands.
This was made known in Ibadan during the week when the unions locked the gates leading into the University of Ibadan (UI) to express their grievances over the segregation tactics of the Federal Government. According to the NASU Chairman, UI Chapter, Olusola Fatoki, the Federal government’s invitation for negotiation ought to have been extended to other unions who embarked on strike for similar demands.
“But unfortunately, what we heard from the Presidency is that they are not going to invite the non-teaching unions because they are not relevant in the system. We would let them know that there is no way ASUU can only operate alone in the system.” Nonetheless, Fatoki affirmed that they were ready to continue the strike unless the Federal Government resolved to negotiate with them.
In a related development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed that the branch congresses of the union would decide whether the strike action should be suspended or not as confirmed by Dr. Ademola Aremu, ASUU Chairman, UI Chapter.
Skills festival at LASPOTECH
BY MARY AKPARANTA
A FESTIVAL for Vocational Skills was staged recently by the British Council, in partnership with the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and Highbury College Portsmouth, UK, as part of efforts to provide high quality vocational education and skills training for youths in Lagos State.
Held October 8-10 at the Ikorodu Campus of LASPOTECH, the Festival of Skills, is an activity meant to publicise and market the proposed Vocational Skills Village that will be sited at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus.
As part of programmes for the festival, there was a road show on Thursday, October 8. The train took off from LASPOTECH, Ikorodu Campus. The official launch of the Village held on Friday, October 9, while demonstrations, master classes and shows were staged yesterday.
Briefing journalists on the event, Registrar of the Polytechnic, Princess Adetope Kosoko, said the idea for the project started in 2006 when the Tenders Board of the Polytechnic received the Chief Executive Officer of Highbury College, Mrs. Stella Mbubaegbu; who had come to discuss possible areas of collaboration between Highbury College and Laspotech.
After a series of understudy and visits to explore areas of collaboration, she said a memorandum of understanding was signed in the area of development of skills in Lagos State, particularly in the area of Plumbing, Electronics, Plastering, Building, Construction, Hospitality trade, hairdressing and others.
“The idea of the skills festival is to create awareness and enlighten the public of the wonderful opportunity available to them to acquire skills by undergoing training in line with British standard. The idea is to enlighten the public on the proposed village as well as solicit the support of other corporate bodies. The Vocational Skills Village (VSV) is an initiative borne out of the quest of the Polytechnic management to find solutions to the dwindling technological standard of the nation. The village when finally completed will serve as training and re-training ground for persons inclined towards vocational and technical skills,” she said.
Also, plans are already on to commence partnerships with industries in the technical and vocational sector, which would also work with the polytechnic to ensure that persons trained at the VSV are absorbed into the labour market. These include Briscoe Motors, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI).
Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Ayodeji Iginla said “ We are expecting both the unskilled and already skilled to take part in the programme. Highbury has a very high technological drive supported by high digital technology techniques that we will find beneficial and apply in most of the things we do today. Everyone can benefit from the programme whether literate or semi literate. Our goal is to ensure that those who will pass through this programme go through informed apprenticeship as well as prepare them for self employment or use in the industry”.
He advised that Nigerians should take advantage of the programme to learn how to use modern technology to work perfectly in their various fields.
According to him, the country will in future depend less on certificate qualification but rather on hands- on-skills that bring rapid development to the country.
To ensure that the training received at the centre meets up to global standard, the Polytechnic has also explored its partnership with Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK by sending some its staff to the college for advanced trainings, which will be displayed during the Festival of Skills and which will serve as the basis for the training to be received at the VSV on completion.
P-Square to gig Face Off
Hip-hop group, P-Square, has disclosed plans to participate at this year’s edition of Face Off, which holds on October 24, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Aside being part of the basketball team, the twins have promised to thrill the audience with songs from their latest album, Danger, which is currently enjoying massive airplay on radio and TV stations across the country.
“Because Face Off is a classy and unique show, we will gladly thrill audience with songs from our latest album and also display our improved skills in the game of basketball. The last edition was a thrilling experience for us and other artistes as it revealed our hidden talents in sports especially in basketball.”
The Anambra State natives have since taken time out from their busy schedule to improve their skills in the game. “Just like last year that the artistes won The Islanders on their own game, we will ensure the feat is recorded again in the forthcoming edition.”
Gxploits, Steel for Singapore Reggae Festival
Ahead of the first edition of Singapore Reggae Festival, different artistes from across the continent have been selected to perform at the event scheduled for next month, Bushmen, Pure Vibration, Brick & Lace, Steel, Michael Ross, Steven & The Coconut Treez, Gxploits, Kai-jo Brothers, Jiang Liang, Krazy Kulture, Ras Muhammad and many others have been contacted to thrill fans at the event. Interestingly, Nigeria artistes such as Steel and Gxploits, who recently released their debut albums, have been called to be part of the international gig, which is already generating interest from neighbouring countries that have indicated interest to attend the event. Singapore Reggae Festival is a music fest that will showcase seasoned reggae acts from different parts of the world, including Jamaica, UK, Asia and Africa. The event, originally scheduled for October 17, will now hold on November 28, at Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island. The first-ever Singapore Reggae Festival is a one-day extravaganza with live music concert from 8.pm till 6.am the next morning. Aside from the diverse and talented International reggae artistes lined up, Rita Marley, wife of the legendary Bob Marley, will be the reggae ambassador of the night. She will be doing a tribute performance in unison with the other artistes based on the legendary song, One Love. There will also be a half-hour musical tribute to celebrate the 64th birthday of the late Bob Marley. The show, which would be spiced with talented acts from other genres, is put together by Yes Media and Ferehmo Pte. For sure, the exposure will avail Nigeria’s Gxploits and Steel the opportunity to perform some of the songs on their new albums to reggae fans from across the world. Meanwhile, the organisers of the show, Playcentre, has promised to not only add more flavours to the show, but also go the extra mile to ensure a complete thrilling experience for everyone present. Smirnoff Ice, the premium brand, which sponsored the last edition, has also taken up the sponsorship again with C Pay records, a fast rising record label and Dana airline partnering to ensure the success of the show. Face Off is a celebrity basketball show, which debuted on November 1, 2008 at the Expo Hall of Ocean View in Lagos. The show was a bang as it featured top rated artistes, comedians, actors and actresses, who slugged it out in a basketball match with The Islanders, a Lagos-based professional basketball team. The match was spiced by various performances by the artistes and comedians.
Nneka … And she glams up the MOBO
AS already predicted by keen observers of the local music scene, Nneka has begun her journey to exploding like a dynamite ready on the world stage. She launched out this month grabbing headlines when she won the MOBO 2009 Best African Act Award. Nneka is my friend, and maintaining the objective distance between a journalist and subject is difficult, but with a friend like Nneka it is futile. Nevertheless, in this interview, you would discover why I am convinced Nneka represents the renaissance of Nigerian music.
How does winning the MOBO award feel like?
Definitely, something that I did not expect. I would say that now that my music is being acknowledged worldwide, I’ve not even broken into the UK market. This is just my second month, I just brought out my second album in the UK and for the fact that I’ve gone that far winning a MOBO awards, I was shocked, surprised that my music is acknowledged as something more special than I thought it could ever be; and that kind of definitely overwhelmed me. It was difficult accepting an award because I myself would not rate myself that high. I wouldn’t give myself an award if I were to choose from a bunch of artistes. So, it’s like, wow! I still have to understand why I got that award. It’s a blessing, I think.
When you recorded your album and this particular song that won you the award, were you certain that you had a groundbreaking work, considering the people that were nominated with you?
Not at all, considering people like Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Femi Kuti, Baba Maal, who are actually African legends that I’ve seen performed before and I look up to and; know they’ve been into this business more than double my age years. It’s like I’m being disrespectful towards these people winning that award…
Are you saying your album wasn’t good enough to win?
No! I wouldn’t say so. I just wouldn’t have thought I would go that far. I know that I won the award because of Heartbeat, a track that has given me a wider audience, opened doors to the European market. Before Heartbeat, my audience used to be 80 per cent black audience whether in Europe or Nigeria. Then, when Heartbeat came out, I started getting more feedbacks from the other side, worldwide. So it’s like for the fact that Heartbeat is also very outstanding when it comes to the musical elements I used to create that song; this up tempo drum and bass, not strictly African, a kind of reggae-ish rhythm and then at the same time Rocky in a way sound; I think that has kind of given me more publicity applicable to the Pop market. What people should understand is that that song doesn’t necessarily represent my style, it’s just one style from many styles, you know. It’s like Heartbeat is just a little part of Nneka’s style, yeah.
In one of your interviews, you said you were influenced by the likes of Ken Saro-Wiwa. What are the other influences you draw from the Nigerian environment that affect the way you write songs?
Many things; the way I grew up, especially my personal experience, my family, at the same time, my school, people I met, the work I did living and growing up in Warri and; of course, my movement around the world, living Nigeria and going to Europe, having to cope with a totally different mentality, despite the fact that I am half-German, but being confronted with my White side for the first time and having to digest it more or less, or get along…So basically, I would say my independence is what has made me who I am now and has triggered me to write those lyrics I write. Okay, of course, the present state of Nigeria is something that is always very inspiring (laughs), not only in the negative aspect when it comes to corruption, electricity or tribalism, but also of course the positive sides of life that people are confronted with these problems on a daily basis but they still can smile, they still know what it is to live and be happy. That inspires me.
Do you see yourself first as an artiste that is using music as an instrument of social engineering or basically you see music as a means of entertaining people?
Exactly. I couldn’t stand on stage without having any proper depth; content with depth. It’s like I would be feeding the masses with stupidity and ignorance if I would just stand there and sing about shallow superficial, shake-your-ass vibes. I’m not trying to judge anybody, but that is what I stand for. And for the fact that I’m very passionate about what I do, I’m a very passionate person in general. And also because I’ve been through certain things in my life that have carved me into whom I am today, I think it is necessary that I stand and encourage people who have, might have gone through or are going through the same that I had gone through and; give them hope or speak about issues such as the Niger Delta or change in general. I see myself as responsible to do that.
You have a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology and obviously also well read, judging from the depth of your songs, which book would you say actually has made a big impact on you?
Khalil Gibran, The Prophet. It’s about life and basically every aspect of life, love, happiness, pain, togetherness, hatred, religion, politics, commitment and even sex. You should read it. It’s just basically this kind of book that teach you how to live your life, how to accept that we are vessels of both negative and positive, polarity must be for us to exist. In other words, we have to accept that we are made of both negative and positive….
Was it a personal experience or somebody’s that influenced Heartbeat?
Heartbeat is a very personal, and at the same time political, song. It’s about Africa, Africa has been exploited right from missionary times and through colonialism, it is about us, not being able to get rid of that colonial mentality, maintaining that mentality and basically we hurt ourselves. So it’s like Africa is taking its own air.
Critics recently raised issues about the seeming lack of depth in Nigerian popular music; what’s your take on new sound, new Nigerian music, that is, popular music, from the like of D’banj, Tuface, DJ Zeez?
When it comes to depth, zero, isn’t it? It’s mostly entertaining music except for…
Depth?
Yeah, I mean I don’t really like, mostly entertaining music
But some of them say that is what they are there for, to entertain, they are not really concerned about…
If you are entertaining, that doesn’t mean you should start copying because everything sounds alike lately. A lot sounds alike. Let’s be real. You have this same beat every time, and sometimes you just don’t even know the difference anymore. Like, I don’t even know who is who anymore, and I wouldn’t say that I’m not attentive. But anyway, when it comes to lyrics-wise, oh boy…
So, how would you rate Nigerian popular music compared to other music from the world?
There is also crap music from the United States. I think it’s that we’re just too focused on what is happening outside Nigeria in America in a way, especially when we’re doing videos, flashy cars and women, drugs, chains and golden teeth. But that’s not who we are. It’s like we’re stealing or taking someone else’s identity and wearing it. What we are is way different than that which we reflect to the world. So, basically, musicians, like Seun Kuti for instance, that’s real music, as far as I’m concerned. This guy raises issues that are real. Femi is the same. People like Asa or Keziah of course, he’s brilliant. Tuface is like kind of in-between. He does talk about serious, social issues, but he would put a serious topic on a danceable beat, you know. I don’t want to condemn the entire thing.
It’s okay that we do entertainment music, but it’s not just all about entertainment. Listen to the type of music man, you have small kids, three-year, four-year olds singing “I want the koko, do you want the koko,’… For heaven’s sake, that’s like a child having sex at age four and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think we need to change that, definitely. Musicians should start thinking of what befits, what they give the people. Most of them are between 20s and 30 they should know. But, they, we have to take responsibility.
You were involved in a movie and that is another part of you. Forgive the comparison, but we’ve seen Beyonce crossing over to acting, we’ve seen other musicians doing the same thing, from Will Smith crossing over from a rapper to being an actor now. Do you see yourself towing that line too someday?
I don’t see myself… I did it because the director is a good friend of mine and I read the script, I loved it and then eventually, while reading the script, he gave it to me and asked me for my advice, how I liked it. I then realized I could identify with one of the characters in the script. Anyway, I gave him a feedback and then he came back telling me, yes, he thinks that I could be the main character.
And what role was that?
Her name is Honey and she is a prostitute, an intelligent prostitute that doesn’t look like one and is willing to change her lifestyle. So, with some of her characteristics I could identify. But that was not the character I wanted to play, it was some other smaller character, because I didn’t see myself as the major issue of the movie. But it turned out that Andy Okafor, the director, chose me. Relentless, that is the movie. And it was worth it going through all that experience. But I notice that I don’t have enough patience to slip into a character or personality that I am not. I am very sensitive and when people tell me to do something like more than 15 times, the same thing, I just lose it and my passion goes away very fast, you know. So, if I do something the first time, I do it with so much passion, that when you tell me to do it again, it wouldn’t be the same; it wouldn’t have that same fire. And that was my problem with acting. So, I don’t know if I would go back there. Maybe when I’m acting some milder, like maybe a witch or some witch doctor… I don’t know.
You are opening for The Roots in the US — now, and I know The Roots is in one of your favourite groups — how did you feel when you were invited to open for them in the US and when is the tour going to take place?
The tour is taking place, I think, in middle of November?
Is it like a dream come true playing with one of your favourite hip hop groups?
Man, QuestLove on drums, that’s some serious issues. And then Black Thought, the rapper, who I always was in love with, you know; that’s like big time, that’s heavy (laughs). But I think he’s old enough to be my father, so I wouldn’t even go there. Their style is amazing. And I’ve always kind of wanted my sound, I felt my sound was similar to the Roots’, like having this live band and then the digital stuff, mixing digital stuff and a live authentic sound together; I always wanted to make that happen in my music. So, I think I would be learning a lot being on tour with these guys. I would learn a lot.
Right now, most people see you as a role model. You’ve won an award. You have an album that is doing well. You have your videos enjoying heavy rotation. What’s your advice for aspiring musicians?
It’s important that you use your heart, whatever you are doing, whether you are an artiste or a doctor or an orange seller or wheelbarrow pusher; it’s important that you involve your heart in everything you do. And if you go to a place, when you know that you are not there, a 100 per cent, then you have to get out, no matter how much energy it takes here and how big the sacrifice would be. Sounds crazy! I think the Bible says, do not break bitter breads, always break bread with love so that people are content and that’s what I’m saying. Love what you are doing and do not allow anybody to change you, if you know that you’re with yourself at that point in time, a 100 per cent, always maintain it. Be rooted.
A lot of women think sex sells, especially some female singers…
It does, though…
Then how come you’re not toeing that line, you’re not shaking your booty, you’re not doing all that stuff…?
I can’t. I don’t want to. It would make me so sad.
Why?
I would feel like, you know like when Jesus was in the wilderness, and the devil said, ‘you are hungry, man, why don’t you just turn this stone into bread?’ And that is exactly what I would be doing. I would be eating that bread like a mad person. It’s better for me to starve than to go that way…
Doing raunchy videos and selling sex?
Yes, that big wide road to hell, man, please, no. I’m not judging anybody o. As I said before, polarity must be. So, they have to be for me to identify vice-versa and myself. So, maybe at the end of the day, when Judgment Day comes, maybe good is bad and bad is good, you know, I don’t know. Maybe black is white and white is black or grey. Maybe everything doesn’t even exist. I don’t know. Just live your life… as long as you don’t hurt anybody, as long as you respect someone else’s dignity, respect the kids, respect your parents, respect your loved ones and the ones you don’t love. That’s what life is about. And of course, be good to yourself because God lives within you.
www.samumukoro.blogspot.com
TEETH 4 TEETH
BY JUSTIN AKPOVI-ESADE
Chuma’s Fish
NOLLYWOOD actor and new General Secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Chuma Onwudiwe, has discovered a new talent aside acting. T4T watched with mouth agape as Chuma devoured what could be termed a ‘baby whale’ at the celebrity hangout in National Stadium, Surulere, last Sunday. The actor walked in at about 7pm and took a seat near T4T who was with a friend (na frend I talk o o before people start getting ideas). In record time, he ordered a coke and ice. Under a minute he was done with the coke and demanded for the fish and a big bottle of water. When the steaming grilled fish arrived, many heads turned at the massive size. It covered a big tray. That fish could serve as dinner for four, but dear old Chume took it to the cleaners in less than 10 minutes. He ordered for another bottle of coke and sat back with a satisfied grin playing on his lips. Hmmm, that was real cool, but wait a minute, what did the bible say about unwise eating?
Ejike Asiegbu’s mobile phones
LAST week was a busy one for former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, as he struggled to get used to life after AGN presidency. But that is not the issue. He has found a new vocation, knowing how mobile phones work! T4T ran into Ejike deeply engrossed with a lady at the celebrity hangout, they were bending over the actor’s three mobile phones. One after the other, the lady worked on the phones with Ejike grunting in approval. One found out that the lady was helping in making sure that the Internet in all the phones work. After she was done, Ejike thanked her and looked up smiling, “I can now check my emails on the move now.” Hmmm, so a whole former presido all this while was not checking his email on the move? So, he had to wait till a small girl comes to assist him in fixing his phones.... There are certain things wey suppose make old man shame small. Na dia I talk reach o o.
K.O.K, Now What ?
AFTER Ejike Asiegbu blindsided the AGN-led ‘executive’ of Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, also known as K.O.K, and held an election that saw Segun Arinze emerge as new president of AGN, some rumour mongers have gone to town alleging that K.O.K’s camp is in disarray. So many meetings are being held in the actor’s Surulere office and as it is now, the centre is falling apart. T4T will keep you updated as events unfold, but a close source said all efforts to bring in a veteran actor to make a pronouncement on the Segun Arinze election has failed. The actor who was a victim of some small boys who showed him the real side of life (different from the TV world) by kidnapping him recently, according to the source has refused to be drawn into the fray, claiming he was yet to recover from the shock of his real life experience. K.O.K, who has since graduated from interim committee chairman to ‘president’ of AGN, is planning to pull a joker. You will be the first to know.
Lolo’s got her groove back
NOLLYWOOD giantess Lolo refused a drink and her favourite Nkwobi (meat in oil sauce) offer from T4T last week at O’jez. Reason: T4T was not there to solidarise with her when she was re-contesting as AGN National Treasurer. She, however, recalled how she went the whole hog alone. Accept my sincere apologies Lolo, but remember that it is only the tree that wants noise bears fruits. Na ya hand you take carry soldier ants Lolo, naim make dem bite you well well. Anyhow sha, epele. The happy ending to the story anyway is that she won her position, so Lolo’s got her groove back.
Zulu, Nanke, Onwochie... The Three Musketeers
NOLLYWOOD stars Zik Zulu, Francis Nwochie and advertising/PR expert, Harry Nanke were sighted at the open air section of the celebrity at the National Stadium. Well, there is nothing wrong if this trio decided to hang out together (they have been doing that for long anyway), what was strange that evening was that, while Onwochei and Zulu drank soft drinks, Nanke was gulping a big bottle of a particular brand of stout that prides itself as ‘black’. On enquiry, Francis Onwochei claimed he had kicked the ‘bad’ habit of beer.T4T finds it hard to believe, further probe revealed that he was still fighting hard to keep his shape (which was reported to be going out of proportion). Recall you were told how Francis became so big, he was waddling instead of walking? So my advice to you bros is that if you are indeed watching your weight as you claimed, mineral water (that contains sugar) is not the right thing to drink (dis T4T na doctor o o). I am afraid, you have more years of waddling, sorry, walking, ahead of you.
Tari West, a publisher?
NOLLYWOOD director, producer and writer, Tari West, is an all rounder. There was a time she told T4T she was floating a church for celebrities, last week, she has a new project at hand; she is on the verge of producing a magazine that everybody can read, from mechanic to artistes and even touts. Plans are in top gear she revealed. Please, when next you see a bus conductor reading a magazine perched dangerously in his danfo, note that it must be Tari West’s magazine he is reading. To God be the glory!
Opa Williams’ All White
HAVE you seen comedy merchant, Opa Williams, lately? If you have not, please rush to his Surulere, Lagos office ASAP to behold the man with his hair all gray!
T4T was shocked when a man with a crown of gray hair welcomed him to Opa’s office. It took a while to realise that it was the same Opa that one was seeing. He was duly informed that his present condition will attract a mention in this column, he dared me to, but I am fulfilling my promise, that is why you are reading this piece. The debate now is, should Opa join the likes of proudly gray haired veterans such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Amb. Segun Olusola etc in the Gray Haired Elders Club (who all have reasons to be gray haired anyway.)? The irony of it all is that, Ose as Opa is referred to, is less than 50 years!
ogbuus@yahoo.com
Chuma’s Fish
NOLLYWOOD actor and new General Secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Chuma Onwudiwe, has discovered a new talent aside acting. T4T watched with mouth agape as Chuma devoured what could be termed a ‘baby whale’ at the celebrity hangout in National Stadium, Surulere, last Sunday. The actor walked in at about 7pm and took a seat near T4T who was with a friend (na frend I talk o o before people start getting ideas). In record time, he ordered a coke and ice. Under a minute he was done with the coke and demanded for the fish and a big bottle of water. When the steaming grilled fish arrived, many heads turned at the massive size. It covered a big tray. That fish could serve as dinner for four, but dear old Chume took it to the cleaners in less than 10 minutes. He ordered for another bottle of coke and sat back with a satisfied grin playing on his lips. Hmmm, that was real cool, but wait a minute, what did the bible say about unwise eating?
Ejike Asiegbu’s mobile phones
LAST week was a busy one for former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, as he struggled to get used to life after AGN presidency. But that is not the issue. He has found a new vocation, knowing how mobile phones work! T4T ran into Ejike deeply engrossed with a lady at the celebrity hangout, they were bending over the actor’s three mobile phones. One after the other, the lady worked on the phones with Ejike grunting in approval. One found out that the lady was helping in making sure that the Internet in all the phones work. After she was done, Ejike thanked her and looked up smiling, “I can now check my emails on the move now.” Hmmm, so a whole former presido all this while was not checking his email on the move? So, he had to wait till a small girl comes to assist him in fixing his phones.... There are certain things wey suppose make old man shame small. Na dia I talk reach o o.
K.O.K, Now What ?
AFTER Ejike Asiegbu blindsided the AGN-led ‘executive’ of Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, also known as K.O.K, and held an election that saw Segun Arinze emerge as new president of AGN, some rumour mongers have gone to town alleging that K.O.K’s camp is in disarray. So many meetings are being held in the actor’s Surulere office and as it is now, the centre is falling apart. T4T will keep you updated as events unfold, but a close source said all efforts to bring in a veteran actor to make a pronouncement on the Segun Arinze election has failed. The actor who was a victim of some small boys who showed him the real side of life (different from the TV world) by kidnapping him recently, according to the source has refused to be drawn into the fray, claiming he was yet to recover from the shock of his real life experience. K.O.K, who has since graduated from interim committee chairman to ‘president’ of AGN, is planning to pull a joker. You will be the first to know.
Lolo’s got her groove back
NOLLYWOOD giantess Lolo refused a drink and her favourite Nkwobi (meat in oil sauce) offer from T4T last week at O’jez. Reason: T4T was not there to solidarise with her when she was re-contesting as AGN National Treasurer. She, however, recalled how she went the whole hog alone. Accept my sincere apologies Lolo, but remember that it is only the tree that wants noise bears fruits. Na ya hand you take carry soldier ants Lolo, naim make dem bite you well well. Anyhow sha, epele. The happy ending to the story anyway is that she won her position, so Lolo’s got her groove back.
Zulu, Nanke, Onwochie... The Three Musketeers
NOLLYWOOD stars Zik Zulu, Francis Nwochie and advertising/PR expert, Harry Nanke were sighted at the open air section of the celebrity at the National Stadium. Well, there is nothing wrong if this trio decided to hang out together (they have been doing that for long anyway), what was strange that evening was that, while Onwochei and Zulu drank soft drinks, Nanke was gulping a big bottle of a particular brand of stout that prides itself as ‘black’. On enquiry, Francis Onwochei claimed he had kicked the ‘bad’ habit of beer.T4T finds it hard to believe, further probe revealed that he was still fighting hard to keep his shape (which was reported to be going out of proportion). Recall you were told how Francis became so big, he was waddling instead of walking? So my advice to you bros is that if you are indeed watching your weight as you claimed, mineral water (that contains sugar) is not the right thing to drink (dis T4T na doctor o o). I am afraid, you have more years of waddling, sorry, walking, ahead of you.
Tari West, a publisher?
NOLLYWOOD director, producer and writer, Tari West, is an all rounder. There was a time she told T4T she was floating a church for celebrities, last week, she has a new project at hand; she is on the verge of producing a magazine that everybody can read, from mechanic to artistes and even touts. Plans are in top gear she revealed. Please, when next you see a bus conductor reading a magazine perched dangerously in his danfo, note that it must be Tari West’s magazine he is reading. To God be the glory!
Opa Williams’ All White
HAVE you seen comedy merchant, Opa Williams, lately? If you have not, please rush to his Surulere, Lagos office ASAP to behold the man with his hair all gray!
T4T was shocked when a man with a crown of gray hair welcomed him to Opa’s office. It took a while to realise that it was the same Opa that one was seeing. He was duly informed that his present condition will attract a mention in this column, he dared me to, but I am fulfilling my promise, that is why you are reading this piece. The debate now is, should Opa join the likes of proudly gray haired veterans such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Amb. Segun Olusola etc in the Gray Haired Elders Club (who all have reasons to be gray haired anyway.)? The irony of it all is that, Ose as Opa is referred to, is less than 50 years!
ogbuus@yahoo.com
Their earlier career interest…
BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
Some wanted to end up as actors from the word ‘go’; others had other career interests. Some Nollywood celebrities share their earlier career interest with Moviedom…
Funke Akindele:
From law to acting
In as much as I love acting, I also wanted to be a lawyer. My love for the Law profession heightened after my diploma programme. However, by that time, I was already acting. I just returned home one day and told my parents that I had the mind of going to the university to study Law and my father just shrugged. None of them pushed me into it. It was all I wanted to do. And I must say that my parents have been quite supportive, especially my mum. I recall how she used to take me around in her car to attend auditions or shooting sessions. Even when I wanted to produce my own movie, she was all over me. They are very liberal and supportive.
Gentle Jack:
From bodybuilding to acting
I was a professional body builder before I ventured into acting. I also trained as a masseur and owned a lot of body building equipment. But Basorge Tariah Jnr introduced me into acting. We normally strolled together and it was during one of our outings that he told me that I had what it took to act. He later told me that there was an audition at Zeb Ejiro’s office. I dismissed the idea, but he insisted that we went; so, I obliged and we found ourselves there. So, we got there late but at the end I got a role. It was Blood Money. It was shot in 1997. Since then it has been a success story and God has been merciful in keeping me to this level.
Robert Peters:
Geology was my beginning
Recently, I asked myself how I got to this level; because a lot of things just happened that I couldn’t explain. I am sure if you meet some of my friends today particularly my schoolmates, they are going to tell you that they don’t know what I am doing as an actor. Many had thought I was going to end up a lecturer or an oil worker. The closest to acting that I did as a child was being a debater. Then, I was in the acting department in church. I would say that my membership of that group influenced my incursion into acting. But it was after I lost my job in a small oil service company that I thought of the next move and it was for me to come to Lagos from Warri. It was while in search of a ‘good job’ in Lagos that acting beckoned and it started with Mama Sunday. That was my very first production. I had gone to the studio to do a voice over for a church when I got a call that I was needed for an acting job — Mama Sunday. I hesitated because I had come out of a production where I was not paid. But here was the producer actually negotiating with me and right there, he gave me some money up-front. It was something else for me. The first thing I did with the money was to pay the debt I owed my mother. She had given me some money to accomplish a task but I blew it on a date. So when my mother asked where I got the money from, I quickly declared that I was now a movie star and that was how it started’.
Doris Simeon Ademinokan:
I wanted to be a newscaster
As a child, I always wanted to be a newscaster. I was always fascinated with the way they spoke so fluently and with so much confidence. I wanted to be on television reading the news, but hey…I’m on television now though it is not newscasting. So, I always wanted to be on television reading the news but to do that one would have to study broadcasting or mass communication or such related courses. But I didn’t. Anyway, the movie industry was already booming and I had friends who were already scampering into it. One day, a friend of mine told me about the auditions for Papa Ajasco, the popular situation comedy and I went there for it. I got a minor role but that was the beginning of my journey into the movie industry.
Chika Ike-Ebiriere:
Was inspired by the big names
While growing up, I used to watch big names such as Regina Askia, Liz Benson, Auntie Joke Silva, Uncle Olu Jacobs, RMD (Richard Mofe Damijo) and Ramsey Nouah. Even while in secondary school, I watched Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Ekeinde a lot. So, they all inspired me to pursue my dream as an actress. I was not lucky to start with a lead role. I played waka pass (an extra in a movie that is) before I got my first lead. I met an actress and asked for a good producer she thinks I can work with because I was new and didn’t know anyone. So, she gave me a number and then my sister and I called him up and he the producer invited us for an audition. After the audition we waited for like five months before we were called back to come and pick scripts. My sister was lucky she got ten scenes to play but I got just three. Initially I was reluctant but I later gave it a try because I considered it a stepping stone. So that was how I started.
Around and about Nollywood...
American Film Week berths in Jos
THE first edition of the American Film Week organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation/National Film Institute and the American Embassy in Nigeria is scheduled to hold in Jos, the Plateau State capital from October 12 to 15. According to a statement signed by the head, Public Affairs of the NFC, is the Main Auditorium of the National Film Institute, Jos. The Ambassador of United State of American, Her Excellency Robin Renee Sanders and Afolabi Adesanya, managing director of NFC, are expected to present papers on the reasons for the film week and the advantages of the new partnership between the American Embassy and Nigeria’s premier film institute, the NFI. Furthermore, there shall be the re-enactment of American Folklore, dance and music principally in the education and documentary platforms, which will include Something the Lord Made, an HBO film produced by Mike Drake and directed by Joseph Sargent and The Ron Clarke Stay, a Johnson and Johnson Production, directed by Randa Haines. The film week, which will also have a symposia, seminar and talk shops as part of the programme will draw on the fortunes of the American Film Industry popularly known as Hollywood and what the Nigerian motion picture professional stands to learn from that industry in terms of content, technology, (Production), marketing and distribution. The high point of the activities for the film week will be the live/set/stage, command performance by one of Hollywood’s actors, Dan Hoyle, in Tings dey Happen. The film week, which has become a permanent feature in the calendar of events for the NFC/NFI, is opened to members of the public especially, students of film studies, filmmakers, film enthusiasts, film tutors, critics and journalists. The Chinese, Indian, Spanish and the French embassies in Nigeria have collaborated with the NFC/NFI in mounting their film week whose main objectives is to provide a platform for the exchange of information on the various film cultures around the world with a view to providing opportunities for Nigerian motion picture professionals the opportunity to adapt to emerging and new technologies in film making.
AMAA drops new diet for youngsters
YOUNG film makers between age 10 and 18 have opportunity of showcasing their works, as the African Movie Academy (AMAA) has introduced the first AFA Youngsters Short Film Competition. The international short film and video competition for filmmakers from African descent worldwide is intended to be yearly. Peace Anyiam Fiberisima, president of the movie academy stated that the short film competition, whose focus is on creating opportunities for young filmmakers by bringing support and recognition to excellence in the art of filmmaking, is to serve as a yearly platform for young filmmakers to feel the pulse of filmmaking. Said Fiberisima: “The idea is to catch them young and train them right. They will receive international exposure using the Africa film Academy’s platform.” Fiberisima also announced that winning filmmakers would receive awards and cash prizes. She added: ‘They are to enter short films in any of the categories of Comedy, Drama, Horror/Thriller, Animation, Documentary, Action / Adventure, Family/Children, Music Video. Winners will be selected by a judging panel that is comprised of industry professionals and practitioners who are looking for the next generation of creatively talented filmmakers out there’. While it is expected that entries must be 1 to 10 minutes in length, entries must be in PAL format and where entries are submitted in a foreign language, they must be subtitled and or dubbed in English. Deadline for submission of entry is December 15, 2009.
… Introduces short film competition for African universities
AMAA has announced the inauguration of the AMAA Short Film Competition for African Universities. The competition has been conceived to complement the AMAAs. The AMAAs are barely half a decade old – but within this relatively short period, they have made a significant impact on the African motion picture industry. They have created vast opportunities for linkages, for networking and for interfacing within and outside the continent. This synergy has diversified and intensified the reservoir of creativity in the industry. It has, also, diversified and intensified the industry’s production capital resource base; and has, thereby, set in motion the onerous task of aligning the industry to the larger industrial sub sector of the continent’s industrial complex. So far, the aims and objectives of AMAA are already translating into direct and indirect benefits for the African cinema. Consequently, every edition of the AMAAs is as much a celebration of achievements in virtually every profession or trade in the industry as it is the most significant and reliable catalyst and barometer for the growth and development of the African film as an art and an industry. The AMAA Short Film Competition for African Universities is in accordance with the vision and mission of AMAA. It is hoped that through the AMAA Short Film Competition for African Universities, the Academy will provide a platform for interaction by African universities whose curricula bear on the training of content creators for the cinema and broadcast industries and strengthen the support structures for capacity building in such institutions. The short film competition for African Universities is also intended to challenge and excite the creativity of the would be content creators in those institutions; and call attention on the creative potential of such would be content creators. The theme for this maiden edition is: Renewal/Regeneration and interested participants are required to keep their films for as short as 20 minutes maximum.
And Ande ‘baba blue’ Folorunsho sleeps
THE Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has announced the untimely death of the actor, endorser and voice over artiste, Ande Folorunsho. Popularly called ‘Baba Blue’, an alias he earned from being the face of one of the earliest experiential campaign of the blue variant of the Vicks brand of lemon plus, Folorunsho according to a release signed by the NANTAP Lagos Public Relations Officer Sam Uche Anyamele passed on Sunday October 4, 2009. The statement extended the condolence of the leadership and members of NANTAP to the family of the devoted thespian who was passionate about the arts. The statement also informs that burial arrangement will be announced by the family.
WAKA PASS
Producer- Amebo A. Amebo
Director- Mr. Gossip
Actors- Nollywood Celebrities
Hey we saw Genevieve Nnaji
LET us be the first to shame bad people who didn’t allow us to rest with the tale that Genevieve Nnaji has decided to live and work with Oprah Winfrey in the United States since that rumoured ground breaking interview with the queen of the tube and acclaimed philanthropist. In fact, the waka pass who sold the news to us and who has ‘dodgingly’ refused to provide a link with which we can also see that interview hinted that the actress of many credits has declined to remove the clothes she appeared with on the rumoured interview with Oprah because ‘e still be am like film say she appear for Oprah Winfrey show’. Anyway, we hope it was not the same clothes that Genny wore to Kunle Afolayan’s premiere of The Figurine at the Palms the other day. Well, we ran into the actress around the ‘mat carpet’ (na mat Kunle take torchlight the way to the hall) area of the premiere and the clothe we saw on her was worth ‘washing and wearing’. Something simple, that revealed those Genny legs that have no counterfeit. But wait ooo, was there a problem between Genny and her hefty manager? The lady ran after her on the mat carpet area. Genny kept a straight face and didn’t even notice that she just walked past Ramsey Noah. Abeg Genny, easy on your dutiful manager ooo, even though we think say she need such a ‘race’ to slim down
Rita Dominic is in town
GLO Ambassador, Rita Dominic, is in town. We ran into the star actress at the premiere of Kunle Afolayan’s The Figurine. All attempts that waka pass made to reach the actress so as to follow up on her holiday experience in London and the United States proved abortive as the paparazzi won’t just let that happen. They descended on the Imo State-born actress with their flashes as soon as they sighted her with her quietly effective manager. I am sure that it was because the paparazzi were overwhelming that the actress glowed with humility (this time not with pride) straight into the hall to sit down. This was why waka pass like us, who wanted to also feel her about the ‘Monalisa and Dejo-Richard break up matter’ lost the chance to get her talk koro koro. Anyway, welcome back sis….your attire that evening showed that beyond resting, you also took time to swell your wardrobe…you have no option o jare, not with being an ambassador.
This Wale Adebayo too do sef
WAS there something that the actor of Sango fame, Wale Adebayo, lost that he was searching for at the Palms in Victoria Island where the Premiere of The Figurine held? Well, waka pass saw him pacing up and down and waving to people as he paced along. We wanted to find out what the matter was but someone, one waka pass said we shouldn’t. The fellow said that the gangling Wale was fond of pacing up and down movie premieres, especially if he is a major actor in the flick. The fellow said it was his own way of saying ‘I am in the film you have all come to watch’. Did we believe the fellow? Well we know no book ooooo. But Wale played waka pass raised to power five in The Figurine…To God be the Glory.
The Bliss of Ijebu Ode
BY ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA
IJEBU Ode is one of the cities in Ogun state located in the South - western part of Nigeria. Although it is about the smallest cities of the eight cities that would host FIFA Under 17 Youth World Cup in the next couple of days however, it is the second largest city in Ogun State with Abeokuta, the capital city as the biggest city. Historically, Ijebu Ode is one of the famous ancient settlements in Nigeria. It once served as capital of the former Ijebu kingdom. It was one of the powerful and revered kingdoms then in Nigeria history. The indigenes of the city are a breed of Yoruba people called the Ijebus and are noted for their industry, austere and conservative outlook however their love for the good life and partying is something that set them apart from others. Traditionally, the people are farmers and traders with a rich traditional institution that is headed by the traditional a ruler known as the Awulale of Ijebuland. Visitors to the city would have a lot to savour as it is blessed with a warm tropical climate and is located within 100 kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Ogun State. The city’s proximate to Lagos and Abeokuta stands it in advantageous position as people can have the best of both cities even from their Ijebu Ode location. Access to both cities from Ijebu Ode is very easy with commercial transport available round the clock. As for the tournament itself, the players and officials should have a good tournament as Ijebu Ode stadium is reputed as one of the best and of course, the newest besides Teslim Balogun in Lagos. Part of its qualities are that besides the main bowl with Astro turf (Synthetic pitch), it has three training pitches, which are also synthetic and these training fields are all located within the large stadium complex unlike the other centres, which have their training pitches separate from the stadium and are sometimes in far flung areas of the cities. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the state, which many visitors would find very appealing is the fact of the historical antecedents of the state as it has suffusing and enduring history ranging from the political realm to religion. In teems of politics, the state is reputed as having produced awesome numbers of political and human rights activities. The endless list include the late political sage of Nigeria Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Ransome Kuti clan from which we have the late musical icon and Afro beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo. The immediate past president of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo is also from the state as well as the late Moshood Abiola, a former presidential aspirant that was believed to have won the botched June 12 Presidential election of 1993. The biggest Nigeria literary icon and symbol of political and human rights activism as well Nobel Laureate in Literature in Nigeria, Professor Wole Soyinka hails from the state too while the state is also popular for championing the Christian religion evangelism and the birth of modern journalism and printing in Nigeria. As one explore the entrails of Abeokuta, which is about 40 minutes drive from Ijebu Ode, one would certainly come across many of the footprints left behind y these historical figures. Also to be find in the landscape are various monuments and iconoclast heritage that have by raised by the people in honour of these men.
Checklist of attractions
(Abeokuta)
Family Historical Heritage Museum In honour of these men and women the Gateway Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), the government tourism board in charge of tourism development and promotion in the state, has put in place in a project to preserve and promote the various relics bearing the imprint of these historical figures. The first of such project is the Sodeke Bakare family heritage museum The Sodeke’s are noted for their war and religious exploits with the founding father of the race regarded as the man that led the Egbas to their present location in Abeokuta. He was also the first Christian convert in the town. Besides, one of the family members was also the first Iman of the town. Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Later Rain Assembly is from this lineage. His father’s house in Iporo – Sodeke that was built in 1921 has now been recreated and turn over to the state as the first family heritage museum. Other such homes to visit those of the Kutis and Soyinka.
Hill Top Holiday Resort
It is one of the foremost tourist attractions in the state and it currently being transformed from its present stage to a holiday resort. However, visitors to the resort, which is located in a vast undulating and hilly forested area of the state certainly do have a lot to savour. Golf enthusiasts have the challenging 18 – hole golf course to pay while conservationists can explore the forest for a fresh wilderness experience. The Rock beach, which is one of the latest developments of the resort offers opportunity to relax and feel the freshness of the environment while nursing a glass of your favourite accompanied with some of the local snacks. There is also a club house with a bar and a restaurant where continental and Africa dishes are served. There is also the bamboo groove section where one can relax and enjoy the bliss of nature. The lake offers avenue for sport fishing and boating. The lake section is one of the most appealing sections to many visitors to the resort. Alake’s Palace The traditional ruler of the Egbas is known as the Alake of Egbaland and his palace is located in Abeokuta. It comes with a lot of fascinating items and relics that tourists would found appealing and a pointer to the vast and rich history of the people. Besides the art and craft on display at the palace, there is the old bible encased in a glass compartment for public viewing. Olumo Rock Tourist Complex Also found within Abeokuta, the complex has come to signpost the tourist attractions of the state. It is a vast region with a massive and undulating rocky outcrop. It is one of the ancient sites in the city and tells a lot of the history and cultural heritage of the people. Visitors would find the complex an interesting and exciting place to catch fun. It has an escalator that leads to the topmost region of the rocky enclave. From this region one can have a bird eye view of the rocky city. The centre also has a museum, a fast food spot and other relaxation spots and seat out areas for people to explore nature.
Centenary Hall
Located within the same Ake region as the palace of the traditional ruler, Centenary hall is a testimony to the historical antecedents of the city. Tie and dye market The market, which is located in the Itoku area of the city is very popular for the production of local fabrics others known as ‘Adire.’ It attracts a lot of following to the city on a daily basis. It is a must visitor market for tourists to view the various processes that the people go through in producing the fabrics and also to purchase some souvenirs. St. Peters Anglican Church It is the oldest church in the city and it comes across as a very massive structure. Even though the church has undergone some levels of transformation the old worship centre has been preserved over the years.
(Ijebu Ode)
Yemoja Tourist Centre
A garden-like resort with natural ambience and a big river flowing through it. Offers opportunity to commune with nature and savour a blissful interaction with the locals. Some of the activities in the resort include swimming, boating, sort fishing and sports leisure. Sungbo Eredo There is a lot of historical tales surrounding this rampart (wall), which reminds people of the popular Benin moats, China walls and the city walls and gates found in the northern region of the country. Believed to be a defensive wall round the town dug by the legendary Bilikisu who is otherwise regarded as the Queen of Sheba. Measuring 14 metres high and stretching into 160 kilometres long, the wall, which connects all the Ijebu landscape, is fast disappearing. A visit to the shrine and grave of Bilikisu located in Erin – Ijebu less than 10 minutes drive from the main town is recommended for one to relief the tale of the famed queen. The state government plan to turn it into a flourishing resort some time in the near future. Omo Elephant Forest For a rich wildlife experience, the place to explore is the forested part of the state known as Area J4 where the Omo Elephant project is located. The wildlife sanctuary, which is few kilometers from Ijebu offers ample opportunity for tourists to have a feel of wilderness. The enclave, which is a rich rain forest estate has array of flora and region for nurturing forest elephant.
Awujale palace
The traditional ruler of the Ijebu people is the Awujale. He is one of the most revered and powerful rulers in the state. His palace is a rich repertoire of the people’s cultural, art and craft heritage. Other areas of interest to visit in Ijebu Ode include Obanta Cenotaph; Suna Cultural Centre; Iwopin Beach (Ijebu Waterside) and Ebute-Oni Water (Ifo Area)
Lisa Memorial Arcade
For the Ota area of the state, Lisa Memorial arcade, site of the in-fated Bellview Airline crash has been turned to a tourist site with the memorial arcade and other facilities now put in place.
Imeko
A very serene area of the state with a lot of water can easily pass off as the religious capital of the state. The site, which serves as the Headquarters of Celestial Church Of Christ Worldwide, is soon to be an acclaimed religious tourism site. Some other attractions in this area include Akarigbo’s Palace in Sagamu; Orisagamu Ewa Shrine also at Sagamu; Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo Mausoleum and Heritage centre at Ota
Winners Chapel Canaan-land
This is a massive worship centre built by one of the Christian religious group in Nigeria known as Living Faith Bible Church otherwise called Winner Chapel. Other attractions within this zone are the second storey building in Nigeria located within the premises of St. James Anglican Church, and River Jordan at Ijoka – Ota. Agbara Industrial Estate It is one of the foremost industrial estates in Nigeria and is built on an expansive land where you different types of industrial and manufacturing outfits.
Saam Health Farm
It is a beautiful and cute resort with different facilities for accommodation and leisure ranging from sport leisure to musical entertainment. Although it is far remove from Ijebu Ode area however, it would be nice for tourists visiting on a day trip to see this resort and enjoy the natural environment as the place is located within a forested region with pockets of streams running through it.
Hotels (Ijebu Ode)
Little Venice Hotel; Yisade Hotel; Hotel Wacus International; Joyse B Guest House; Batco Hotel; Erinlu Guest House; Ramdat Hotel; Banuso Hotel; Beverlys Hotel; Luvly Guest House; Aroboth Hotel; Christian Hotel; Deen Hotels; Scorpio Inn; Gateway Hotel; Lad Hotel; Golden Guest House; Thuraya Guest House and Don Emilia royal Hotel. (Abeokuta) Wenby’s Suite; Lisabi Court; Continental Suites; Wuraola Inn; Adesba Hotel; Charity Hotel; Gateway Hotel; Frontline hotel; Edola presidential hotel; Dusmar presidential hotel; Whitney Guest House; De – Bliss; and Maltina Guest House Dining out (Ijebu Ode) Little Venice; Mosun Café; Curry’s; Mr. Bigg’s; LA .T Restaurant; Pebble Restaurant and Golden Guest House (Abeokuta) Abeokuta Sport Club; Sweet Sensation; Mr. Bigg’s Treat; My Kitchen; Maranatha Tasty Meals; Maranatha Fork and Fingers; Madojutimi Restaurant; Ori Oke Restaurant; Guarantee Food Canteen; Tantalizer; Wanmore Bakery; and Mama Cass. Others are Hill Top Garden; Rock Beach; Super Foods; Wetlands and Joydate Beer Parlour. *Additional material and photos sourced from Gateway Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)