published in the Guardian Newspapers
By; Yemi Olakitan
IT is no longer news that the advent of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) has raised issues among practitioners: knocks keep coming the way of the agency.
Perhaps it is important to take another look at the development, with the aim of delivering better dividends to the outdoor advertising practitioners, clients, citizens and visitors to the state alike in 2010 and in the future.
A visit to some of the big outdoor advertising agencies in Nigeria showed that they are truly a shadow of their past glory. Some of these advertising companies who have enjoyed robust profits and long list of clientele in the past are now faced with low patronage, downsizing and indebtedness. Some have even closed down their operations, an indication that the practitioners' complaints were genuine.
The gloomy business situation of some of the agency should concern any serious government, particularly, a popular government under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
It was recently reported that UAC, a multinational company took LASAA to court. All these squabbles are avoidable if all parties will embrace constructive dialogue. It will seem that LASAA was set to hunt the operators of the outdoor agencies. However, this is not in line with the aim of the agency, announced when it kicked off in 2006. It stated, among other policies to bring sanity and decency to our environment and ensure that the streets of Lagos are not clustered with all manner of billboards and signboards in a way that does not project orderliness and decorum. Governor Fashola had among other things, embarked on a beautification exercise. All over the state one can see beautiful flowers, lawns and tree that adorn our highways. Outdoor advertising is perhaps an offshoot of the beautification drive of the Lagos state. In fact, one of its avowed objectives is civic beautification.
The Agency, headed by Mr. Makanjuola Alabi went about uprooting numerous signboards and signposts all over the state; religious organizations were not spared. According to the agency the state has become a city of riotous outdoor advertising, which must be cleansed thoroughly and totally.
These activities however have not gone well with many of the practitioners who have not mince words in expressing their grievances: practitioners have found it hard to adjust to the new system, as it seems that their means of livelihood was been taken away.
One of the major advertising agency that did not want its name mentioned, complained that business has not been going on as it should since LASAA stepped in. They have to pay heavy fee to the LASAA. According to a senior officer of the agency who pleaded anonymity, "LASAA has made it hard for them to operate, as salaries are not been paid, staffs are been asked to leave. ''If this can happen to us, as big as our company is in the industry, you can imagine what has happened or will happen to the smaller companies. As it is now, everything is grounded to a halt,'' he said
LASAA has brought out guidelines for the operators: "to provide a system for controlling signage and advertisement displays which is fair, consistent, efficient and responsive to change, with a view to enhancing environmental aesthetics and thereby benefiting the citizenry and visitors alike." Perhaps, the only thing that is permanent in life is change and change can only be brought about through pain. However, pain is not the only route that change can be achieved. If a painless change is possible should we take pleasure in unleashing pain on ourselves? This is the basic question practitioners want LASAAA to answer.
It was reported that LASAA's Director Alabi paid a business visit to the office of the OAAN, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, after embarking on what was described by one of the practitioners as 'thunder and volcanic eruption' in the sector. According to reports, the billboards and signposts that the agency uprooted were estimated to worth millions of naira. True, The agency had acted with a vision to turn Lagos state into a mega city, majority of the agencies have not recovered from the loss and many are groaning in pains. The visit of Alabi was described as 'medicine after death.' This mean that what the director should have done first was what it is now doing. LASAA should have worked together with the association before it started uprooting the billboards, thereby killing many businesses, as reported.
Makanjuola was reported as saying that there are about 104 registered outdoor practitioners in the state but only about 60 are active members. This should be a course for concern.
Taiwo Ayodeji, CEO of Tee-mark Limited, an integrated marketing company with a focus in general marketing communication services, particularly outdoor advertising stated that the state government should ensure that its rules on outdoor advertising did not make it impossible for agencies to operate in the state, as this would push them to other states. A situation whereby only 60 registered outdoor advertising agencies are operational is not good for Lagos state, he argued and asked: "who will advertise under so much charge imposed when Lagos is not the only market in the federation?" According to Ayodeji, outdoor advertisers will be forced to go to other states. He said the highly proactive agencies would create innovative means of advertising outdoor.
According to him, advertising agencies can make use of channel marketing and this kind of marketing ensures that you create the desired noise for product visibility and popularity. Another area, which could be explored, is events management. He explained: "AGMs can be used to expand one's customers base by creating a continuum of communication to your target customers. You must beat network problems, create ideas and reach your target audiences. These ways, government regulations would not kill one's business. Creativity would take one to the next level and out of the comfort zone. ''About five years ago, we started Tee-mark Advertising. I have about 20 years experience in advertising but as a result of innovative ideas, we have remained in the business."
He however argued in favour of LASAA, noting that the Lagos State government wants to ensure that the streets are orderly and that billboards are not placed haphazardly.
Publisher of Billboard Magazine and Managing Director of Executive Options, an outdoor advertising company Mrs. Maureen Umanah, urged LASAA to go back to its drawing board and create a level playing ground for the falling agencies. According to her, the regulatory body has made it difficult for people to thrive in business. She also reiterated the fact that many companies are no longer doing well.
However, a Managing Director, who prefered anonymity noted that LASAA is accessible and he would rather engage the agency in serious dialogue than allow his business to suffer. According to him, ''no matter our complaints, they are the regulatory body and they are in charge,'' he warned.
In order to create a mega city, LASAA should ensure that it does not create mega problems: it must work in partnership with the practitioners; not to create an oligopoly system where few operators reign in the state. It should ensure that its fee is not too high for the agency to afford. It is only through dialogue that progress can be achieved.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Yoruba Music and Film Awards Comes on Sream
Yoruba Music/Film Awards comes on stream
By Yemi Olakitan
All is now set for the first edition of the Yoruba Music/Film Awards scheduled for December 30, at the Blue Roof Events, Lagos State Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Initiated by Leo-gold Entertainment, an outfit that specializes in packaging entertainment, the award was instituted as a platform to reward excellence in the two industries.
Unveiling plans for the event, the CEO of the outfit, Gbenga Leo Taiwo, informed that the aim of the event is to promote Yoruba arts and culture, as well as to honour practitioners, who have made the Yoruba tribe prominent in the entertainment sector. "It was necessary to create such an event because there are over 150million Yoruba people scattered all over the world. The huge population of the Yoruba people and their spread in different parts of the world has made the impacts of their creativity more pronounced all over the world."
Taiwo observed that the contributions of Yoruba artistes in the entertainment should not be overlooked.
"The list of high achieving Yoruba artistes is too long to be ignored. The achievements of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Sade Adu of England, Asa in France, Ara in Nigeria, Prince In Cote Divoire, Ceel Olumide in the US and many others ought to be celebrated'' he said.
He hinted that the award would celebrate Yoruba artistes at home and abroad, adding that the event is being planned as an international ceremony that will promote unity. .
"An event such as this was long overdue. We must not forget that Yoruba people started Drama and Cinema in Africa; the tribe pioneered the advent of home video drama, when Alade Aromire produced the first home video drama. Hubert Ogunde, Victor Olaiya and Ade Love also played vital roles in the development of the industry. This kind of achievements by a people should be celebrated and acknowledged by all."
According to the organizers, some of the categories of wards to be presented at the event include Best Actor of the Year, Best Actress of the Year, Best Supporting Actress of the Year, Best cinematography, Best Costume, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste and others.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Babatope Bamidele, is being expected as the Chief Host, while the Director General of Lagos State Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo is the host. Chief Dr Taye Afolabi is Father of the day, while Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole is also expected to attend as the mother of the day.
Gbenga Leo Taiwo, a musicologist and entertainment entrepreneur, had in the past produced artistes such as Pasuma, Daddy Showkey, Saidi Osupa, Atorise, Malaika, Idris Abdul Kareem, Atawewe, Alapanla and others. He is also packaging other entertainments projects such as the Most Beautiful Yoruba Girl n the World and the Yoruba Music Show, in partnership with Ben TV, UK.
Tools
By Yemi Olakitan
All is now set for the first edition of the Yoruba Music/Film Awards scheduled for December 30, at the Blue Roof Events, Lagos State Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Initiated by Leo-gold Entertainment, an outfit that specializes in packaging entertainment, the award was instituted as a platform to reward excellence in the two industries.
Unveiling plans for the event, the CEO of the outfit, Gbenga Leo Taiwo, informed that the aim of the event is to promote Yoruba arts and culture, as well as to honour practitioners, who have made the Yoruba tribe prominent in the entertainment sector. "It was necessary to create such an event because there are over 150million Yoruba people scattered all over the world. The huge population of the Yoruba people and their spread in different parts of the world has made the impacts of their creativity more pronounced all over the world."
Taiwo observed that the contributions of Yoruba artistes in the entertainment should not be overlooked.
"The list of high achieving Yoruba artistes is too long to be ignored. The achievements of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Sade Adu of England, Asa in France, Ara in Nigeria, Prince In Cote Divoire, Ceel Olumide in the US and many others ought to be celebrated'' he said.
He hinted that the award would celebrate Yoruba artistes at home and abroad, adding that the event is being planned as an international ceremony that will promote unity. .
"An event such as this was long overdue. We must not forget that Yoruba people started Drama and Cinema in Africa; the tribe pioneered the advent of home video drama, when Alade Aromire produced the first home video drama. Hubert Ogunde, Victor Olaiya and Ade Love also played vital roles in the development of the industry. This kind of achievements by a people should be celebrated and acknowledged by all."
According to the organizers, some of the categories of wards to be presented at the event include Best Actor of the Year, Best Actress of the Year, Best Supporting Actress of the Year, Best cinematography, Best Costume, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste and others.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Babatope Bamidele, is being expected as the Chief Host, while the Director General of Lagos State Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo is the host. Chief Dr Taye Afolabi is Father of the day, while Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole is also expected to attend as the mother of the day.
Gbenga Leo Taiwo, a musicologist and entertainment entrepreneur, had in the past produced artistes such as Pasuma, Daddy Showkey, Saidi Osupa, Atorise, Malaika, Idris Abdul Kareem, Atawewe, Alapanla and others. He is also packaging other entertainments projects such as the Most Beautiful Yoruba Girl n the World and the Yoruba Music Show, in partnership with Ben TV, UK.
Tools
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
INTERVIEW WITH YENI ANIKULAPO KUTI.
INTERVIEW WITH YENI ANIKULAPO KUTI.
By Yemi Olakitan
published in Dog's World Magazine
Dog’s world Magazine’s publisher, Bomi Rosiji and its Managing Editor, Yemi Olakitan were on a visit to Yeni Anikulapo Kuti's house.Yeni is the beautiful daughter of Nigerian, legendary, afro-beat musician and political activist, late Fela Anikulapo Kuiti.
Yeni is a passionate Dog Lover, who has 11 dogs! A passion she mentioned she inherited from her father who had 8 dogs.
This makes her a perfect guest of Dog’s world Magazine.Yeni is pretty, lovely, funny, interesting and radical like her late father. She spoke about her love for dogs, the state of the nation, and how far she and her brother, Femi Kuti with the support of others have been able to keep Fela’s legacy alive.
Below are the excerpts of the exclusive interview. Enjoy!
Who is Yeni Anikulapo Kuti?
Aah! I don’t know who I am oh. (Laughter) I’m just Yeni Anikulapo Kuti.
I used to dance, I don’t dance so much anymore, I have now left that to the younger ones. I now manage the shrine; I try to manage my brother’s band. Try.
The key word there is trying, but, am not a manager.
I can’t manage his kind of voice. I just tried to help him out, but I can’t. He has agents and all sorts of people that work with him
What’s your relationship with your dogs like?
My daughter is the real dog lover in the house, so I’m the inheritor of my daughter’s dogs,
These are my daughter’s children, I’m their grandmother really.
We got Leo, he is about Seven or eight, and he was taken from the other house which was a rented apartment and she was very vicious and use to bite people especially women. He used to really attack people. This one, he has mellowed with age now and had a cancer, we have to remove his bowels since then he has soften up, he is still a wild dog, he disciplines all the dogs in the house, he is the Alfa maid and he thinks he is my husband. This is what my daughter doesn’t like.
She doesn’t like him at all. He was very attached to me. I like him, I remember when he was sick I thought he was going to die, we were all so sad even my daughter who doesn’t like him was so sad.
She’s got him into the house, but he is still my own dog because he is really fond of me.No body likes him in the house except me
Why?
Because he was wild. He used to bite and we pay so many hospital bills because of this dog oh. He has bitten so many people. So many (Laughter)
Does he still bites
He hasn’t bitten anybody for over a year, may be two years, because of his health, but he is still the one that barks, he is the real man, the man of the house.
Tell us about the other dogs?
Let me see if I can get them in the house for you .This is snowy, this one has almost lost his life several times. We got this from a friend. We used to have this dog Zanda that was from the same parents, and he was so beautiful. He was so nice, he was very active. He used to bark, he backs at people, he was tiny o, but very vicious and then there was this commotion at the shrine, and he ran outside and he was hit by a car and he died. It was so sad, so sad so, when the parents were pregnant again I said I need another dog from them and this is how we got this wretched fellow here. This one (Laughter) and he is a wretched fellow.
He is supposed to be in an exile o, but he as refused to remain there, his children are in exile, but Leo has a daughter there that is in exile. Most of them are family now. These are Leo’s children. They won’t come in, they might come in but they are very afraid of people and Susie, she bites, she is not very friendly. She doesn’t even let you stroke her. She is so slim, but I can’t stroke her. Not that she would bite me o, but she just won’t stay.
My grandmother used to have dogs in her room, and when she stopped them coming to her room, they used to attack my grandmother.
I hope you feed them with JO-JO
We don’t know Jo-JO dog food. They eat meat and fish; we used to buy one dog food. (Not Jo-JO) It is expensive, quite expensive.
Why don’t you buy the dry one, it’s cheaper than the can food.
I don’t know oh, I don’t know
Dr.Tunji recommends this noodles dust to us. You can buy the noodles dust for N2000 and it seems they like the noodles more than the rice. You can see the rice is all about, I left some yesterday. We use Titus fish; you know Titus fish is soft, when you mash it to the rice, they like that.
Tell us about Mimmy,
Mimmy died about 13, he just died naturally. He just past out here, he was, Leo has bitten the nonsense out of his body, by that time. When he first came to the house he used to attack Leo. This was what happened, when Leo was small, mimmy used to attack Leo, by the time Leo became a man, Leo disciplined him. This was what happened with Terror and Lambo.Lambo became a man and killed Terro, in the end, so they killed each other. His head was always shining, very lovely, he was a lovely dog. When he died it was so so sad. Very lovely dog.
How does it feel, having to take care of so many dogs?
It’s stressful, when you get their vet bills well, since I found Dr.Tunji oh, it’s been a bit cheaper because he does house calls. He will come and deworm them here, take care of them. You know weigh them and everything, but before then we have to transport all of them to the vet, you will take taxi, you will take money aah. It’s a bit easier now. It’s a lot of food. You buy a bag of rice for every two weeks.Susie, for instance eats a lot. She’s coming, (Susie comes around while she strokes her) She will only, let me stroke her for a few seconds. She’s so boisterous.
Where did you get your love for Dogs, is it in the family?
I don’t know, I think it’s hereditary my mum and Dad love dogs, before they burnt my father’s house, he had about 8 or 9 dogs. We love dogs, we have them. When I was much younger, I used to see many ugly, skinny, hungry dogs all over the place so I promised myself that when I grow up, am going to have a big house, I will lock up all the dogs in the neighborhood in one place and feed them very well. When you love dogs, you just love them. You share their pains, you share their happiness. Its God’s gift.
So, how many dogs do you have in all?
Eleven! We don’t have canoes in this house. We don’t chain any of the dogs, so they don’t develop anti-social habits. They have to learn how to be friendly with people.
Who assist you in caring for the dogs?
I have People here who assist me, Esther feeds them, and we have some birds too. Once it is five ‘o clock, they will come for food. What’s happening was, They used to come around at first to eat the crumbs when the dogs are been fed, but they used to get killed by the dogs, because sometimes they will forget themselves and start eating from the dog’s plate, so we built a cage for them to eat their rice and fish up there, and that short one, like a sausage, Strappy, he’s the one that used to attacked the birds, It’s really a lovely sight really to watch the birds up there now. If you look around the house, they have their nests around everywhere.
Unless I have appointment outside my house I‘ll stay in the house and read my books and buy the new drinks we used to buy for the shrine.
I do some exercises too, I used to skip and walk round the pool. For now I’m a bit lazy so I’m just into swimming.
Do you have a swimming pool here?
Yea we have a pool here.
What’s a typical day like for Yeni Kuti?
If it like today. We had a show yesterday, it’s a rehearsal but a lot of people come. We don’t charge for gate fees, but a lot of people come around and I have to buy the drinks we need to buy
I account for the shrine. We have a restaurant at the shrine, as well, because we employed about 70 people at the shrine. We have to pay salaries and we have monthly and weekly salaries. I have to do that.
I still save, in as much as I’m paying because we have to pay the musicians , the dancers , about 70 people that we employed and the maintenance of the shrine because if you come to the shrine its a very big place .
You keep on paying, paying, paying. You are paying for electricity, you are paying for lights, and you are paying for the plumbing. It’s too much.
My daughter is always calling you know, to ask me how the dogs are doing. I said you got eleven dogs in the house and your are not even here to take care of them. I bought a ticket in April for her to come home, she didn’t come. She is in the UK pursuing a degree course. She said she’s not coming till June.
Don’t you think you really should be dancing? Its seems that’s where your passion lies.
I do. I wish I could go into dance and choreographing. I do, because that’s where my love lies, but don’t forget that I am 46 am not getting younger.
So, what do you do full time?
I do the books and I do it because if I give it to other people, they will cheat us. They won’t do it as much or as well as I’m doing it because it’s our business, That’s one of the things that stops businesses in Nigeria, because people are not dedicated. They are not; they won’t do your business like they do their own.
If you are not involved in your business what happens is your business will die. For instance, there, is this bar in Victoria Island, some people who are customers of the bar, were coming and saying they arranged beer at the nightclub they drank beer of thirty thousand naira but the waiters only let them pay eleven thousand. Can you imagine, that means that those waiters are making money off that bar? I give that bar about two years, they will fold up. I don’t know where the owner is, that’s what happens, because the owner is not there, she is not there on full time like me. I know everything that is coming in and going out of my business.
Because I have the numbers of all the suppliers, I know what they supply, I check some people, how much did he drink, how much did he buy this drink. Like somebody reported to me on Sunday that he bought a drink that was supposed to be N350 for N400, aah! So I did my investigations, it was a problem for them, because they know I’m on the job and I’m not going to take it.
Now, we have a price list, everyone knows how much.
It’s not so easy but it’s the only way because when I was going on tour, there was nobody to run the shrine and everything, its was a big problem, we were not making money, I remember, there was a boy, a very, very nice looking boy, very handsome, a young boy that you just wanted to help. I say ah, he is the future of Nigeria; he was an undergraduate in the university, He was in Unilag, which was really like either mid- year or just graduation, I can’t remember sha. So I gave him a job as the Bar- manager.
One day I got up and say let me go and check the drinks, the prices of a crate of star have increased. Then a crate of star was between N300 or N400, suddenly the price was N700. Then I said ah ah star is becoming so expensive. so I check the price out with the supplier. Star was N300 that guy has been collecting N700 from me. Can you imagine? The orientation is so bad with some Nigerian youths.
The boy is even a thief because one day I caught him in my brother’s room, He didn’t know I was there (Femi Kuti’s room) he didn’t know I was there and I saw him stealing my brother’s money.
This is the future of Nigeria; so sad, he was just a young boy, nice looking boy that we wanted to help. Our situation is so bad, so wrong here in Nigeria that when you want to help people, they will end up stabbing you in the back. So terrible!
This same boy we introduce him to the guy doing a documentary on Femi, the shrine and my father and the guy likes him because he’s an educated boy, so he takes him around.
The boy doesn’t come around us again since I caught him stealing, he is too embarrassed to come around us because we got him arrested and was taken away by the police and that is why he is so ashamed that he stole. Everyone at the shrine knows that he stole, and this is not stealing through the books; this is stealing by picking up the money; caught re-handed.
So that one now, send him 4,000 Dollars to go and clear the rights to use the tape he got from AIT.That guy send him 4,000 Dollars, I saw the boy about three weeks ago, in a car; I said Okay, no wonder he has the money to buy car and He was looking at me so proudly that even though I am no longer with you I am getting on.Aah!! He was getting on through someone he met through us, whom he has duped of 4,000Dollars. I just told the guy abroad that he is not going to pay any rights to AIT.He has bought car with your money. it so difficult to work with some Nigerian youths.
Tell us about your experience on tour.
I met Dbanj on tour last year, I joined Femi in Italy and in England, and I did a workshop there before the show, a dance workshop and this year, I Intend to go to America, not with them, but I intend to take Femi’s son to go and join his father after school. I want to do a couple of shows with them. I might not perform but I will definitely be there, and when am there, the girls, they have to smile on stage. If am not there they will not smile as much as I like. Its like am very stern.
What kind of Dance workshop did you do while you were there?
Afro beat dance, an hour. An hour workshop, They really enjoyed it .In the evening when I was going for the show, so many people were saying, beautiful workshop, and lovely workshop and say ah you know, and I was so happy with that!
Was it part of something else?
It was part of a festival, womant Festival, Redden, so they said they wanted to do the workshop, so when the agent finally found out that I was going to be there. He said I should do the workshop, so I said I would do it.
Somebody, you know, there was this Lady, she works with Genevieve now, she was at the workshop and when I met her she said oh I saw your workshop. She comes to shrine regularly and so gentle, dance and you know…..she was even here last week.
Which days do you perform at the shrine?
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I like going on stage because I just want the members if they don’t know it or are missing it I will, you know, show them.
Sometimes may be one or two persons will want some dance lessons, they have to have come earlier and I will show them how to move their waists.
Do you dance with the girls?
Me personally I don’t. You have to remember that I’m 46. The girls that dance now are in their 20s. 25, 26. There is no way my energy level will match theirs. So you now look like an ‘’Agbaya,’’come down now, and all my hair is white. You outgrow certain things. I still love to dance I still dance. I danced yesterday. I will not put on my costumes with all my folds. I will be ashamed to show my fat stomach anyway, in a sexy costumes, if I say I don’t like dance, I must be lying. I still love to dance. I still love to perform that’s why I perform at rehearsals; I can do 1 or 2 numbers and then move out of the stage. But if you are doing a new show, you have to stay on stage like 2 or 3 hours. Do I still have that energy level? For a dancer is a lot of energy.
Am sure you still want to do something on Dance in the future.
I keep on saying I am going to open a dance School. It’s still very much on my mind, am going to open a dance School What I need is money but am paying for my daughters university education right now right now.
We should expect a dance School.
Yea hopefully. When I finish with my daughter’s education. I’ll open a dance school hopefully, I only have one daughter. I want the best education for her.
A dance school In Nigeria?
Of course in Nigeria. We live here. I don’t even want to be part of the category of people that takes their money abroad. Femi when he goes abroad, he takes his money back home. He has no account anywhere in Europe or America.
What happens is that we make our money and take them abroad and they use our money to make their country great. Why don’t we take our own money back to us and make own country great.
Nigerians are not investing in Nigeria, they are investing abroad. Why will I go and buy a house in England and be maintaining it with precious pounds. You know how much a pound is to a naira? It’s N250.
What’s your opinion about PMAN problems, Bolaji Rosiji, Charlie Boy and all that?
Me, I’ve been very vocal, to be sincere, I’ve never heard of Bolaji until he became the PMAN President and I was very impressed with the little I saw about him. Let me give you an example. When we were organizing Felabration, He came to the shrine and asked what PMAN can do to support Felabration Festival. I noticed, instead of running away from the shine, he was embracing the shrine. No other PMAN President as done that, except Bolaji Rosiji, and he wasn’t doing it to make himself popular, because he did not come with any journalist. He was coming with a lot of foreigners.
We missed a lot of foreigners through other people, because when foreign artistes come here and ask to see the shrine, Nigerians discourage them, they don’t bring them there, saying it’s a dangerous place, there is no security. You are taking people away from this place. Instead of bringing them here, it’s your cluture, and they will enjoy it. Most of them that come enjoy it. I’ve met so many, a lot of these American artists when they come many of them don’t come to the shrine.
They don’t bring them. They said to me, I’m not very conversant with these Americans. What’s his name o? I ve forgotten his name. He called me saying he would come to the shrine, he didn’t come then I asked why he didn’t come he said; they told him that the security is not tight.
Even this one that just came, is it Akon? Akon came with some other guys. I ve forgotten, one other American guy. The musician spoke to me they will always come to the shrine, they didn’t come. They didn’t let them come, they said it’s dangerous. Snoop doggy dog said he was looking for another venue, when he saw the shrine he said ah ah why didn’t they let Snoop use this kind of venue? They said its dangerous .He must be telling them that they came all the way here and they did not visit the shrine.
The percentage of Nigerians that actually saw Fela performed was very minute.
Nigerians Love Fela more now that he is dead, than when he was alive, because when he was alive they did not go to shrine. I ve met so many of them especially the silver spoon so- called silver spoon children. They used to say I wish I saw Fela performed, when he was alive. Fela when he was alive o .This man was on your doorstep why didn’t you go and see his show; he was very of important to you. There was no reason for you not going. Now that he is dead, the world is celebrating his death; they are all saying ah we love Fela. You are saying you love Fela, how many times did you see him perform? Many of them can’t say they see him perform, many of them cannot say so because they have signed on the bad news, they smoke Igbo there. Where don’t they smoke Igbo in this world No-body forces you to smoke Igbo when you come to the shrine. It’s a peaceful place. You listen to the music. It’s your culture. If Michael Jackson plays anywhere in America, it will be a sell out.
What more can you say about Fela.
I remember when Fela went to America once, he abused Nigerian government, talked politics, the way Fela talked politics, Fela was not going to be saying there is change, Nigeria is changed, in Nigeria papers they abused a whole lot out of Fela .Why was he washing our dirty linen in public. I read about it. I was very angry. Is not right, but now that he is dead they are all over the place.Oh he was a prophet.oh he was great.
It is the real people of Nigeria that really love Fela, that are passionate. Nigeria is not only V/I and Ikoyi .I remember when Femi sang sorry, I picked up a Nigerian newspaper, and they abused him. Why should he sing sorry for Nigerians, is he not sorry for Nigerians? He is watching our dirty linen in public. We are concerned about image without providing basic amenities that makes life good for the common man. It’s the same thing about this Tinapa project. In my opinion it’s a white elephant project.
You don’t have light; you don’t have water you are opening a resort. Does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense to even an idiot. Are they all right? No light and water in your community, in your country, your state, everybody is planning to open a multi billion naira, trillion dollar resort, and they are all hailing Donald Duke as the big one. Put light and water. Where are the roads to even get there?
He could have presented us with solar Energy for electricity power supply. Repair the refineries. They can’t do that for eight years. Look at your presidential elect. He went abroad for medical treatment .That means the hospitals are not good and we are here, we sit down and hail such a person that went abroad for medical care and he is a president elect. The vice president was sick and went abroad. It is disgraceful with the presidential jet. If you can not patronize our hospitals here in Nigeria that means our hospitals are not good. The only one that didn’t go abroad for treatment was Abacha that was because he was rejected. He was facing international sanctions.
What is it about Felabration Festival?
We are celebrating his love and it’s something that we hope will continue because, we really, we don’t have a festival culture in Nigeria.
A lot of my brothers’ income is from various festivals abroad. And when you go to these festivals, they are so lovely. It’s a place for people to make money, a place for people to enjoy and appreciate life. A place to share and to give. If you go to a festival ground, there are shops everywhere, where people are selling different things, it’s a whole, may be four or five days. So many festivals that I can’t mention right now. And we don’t have anything of such in Nigeria. If you come to the shrine, you‘ll see a lot of influence outside there. And that is what I call learning and sharing knowledge. Come and fix whatever you learn from anywhere you go and bring it to your people and share that knowledge and tell them to tell you their observations. I have a situation where there are things that Nigerians are looking for. I have seen some people so worried that get uplifted at the events to the extent that so many people have been coming from abroad. Someone call me from France and said she is coming for Felabration this year.
When is the Festival coming up?
October, 15th because 15th is the day we traditionally kill the cows and sell food to Fela’s fans. Because that is Fela’s birthday ‘gangan’. We are celebrating his life, a life of a great man and then it’s like trying to bring this festival awareness into Nigeria.
The carnival we had last year was not as good as I would have hoped, Like the Northing hill carnival, The masses were thrilled with beautiful dancers from all over Nigeria. Nigeria is showing its culture and people. We have the Ijaw people, Ishekiri people, Calabar people, each one had its own thriller performance and the day was joyous. They went around the streets of Lagos and they all ended at the shrine and we had the major festival.
What would you say are the benefits to Nigeria?
I think celebrating the life of such a great man and bringing business to the state, to the country during that festival which am sure my father will be very proud of. The people that made money during the festival period, after the festival, they are coming to pray for us and say you children God will bless you.
They all made their money, their things got sold because we had a show outside, we had a big screen outside .We had three stages, we have even written to the governor to put more gates and they agreed.
How about the sponsorship from corporate Nigeria?
How can I beg you for what I know it’s good?
We believe that corporate organizations should use this medium to actually come and support the project. We are going to pay all the artistes that are coming to play. Most of the artistes that play at the festival Last year did it for little or no money. I mean we can’t continue to ask them to do it for free. We need people to support us. We don’t make any money from it. The issue is not the money but the service to the people.Guiness did a lot for us last year. We are hoping they will still come on board this year and support us. I brought this promoter Laface, who helped us out with the marketing. I personally do not know much about the marketing, so I’ let the other people that are good at it do it.
We are expecting a lot of artistes from America and other people.
By Yemi Olakitan
published in Dog's World Magazine
Dog’s world Magazine’s publisher, Bomi Rosiji and its Managing Editor, Yemi Olakitan were on a visit to Yeni Anikulapo Kuti's house.Yeni is the beautiful daughter of Nigerian, legendary, afro-beat musician and political activist, late Fela Anikulapo Kuiti.
Yeni is a passionate Dog Lover, who has 11 dogs! A passion she mentioned she inherited from her father who had 8 dogs.
This makes her a perfect guest of Dog’s world Magazine.Yeni is pretty, lovely, funny, interesting and radical like her late father. She spoke about her love for dogs, the state of the nation, and how far she and her brother, Femi Kuti with the support of others have been able to keep Fela’s legacy alive.
Below are the excerpts of the exclusive interview. Enjoy!
Who is Yeni Anikulapo Kuti?
Aah! I don’t know who I am oh. (Laughter) I’m just Yeni Anikulapo Kuti.
I used to dance, I don’t dance so much anymore, I have now left that to the younger ones. I now manage the shrine; I try to manage my brother’s band. Try.
The key word there is trying, but, am not a manager.
I can’t manage his kind of voice. I just tried to help him out, but I can’t. He has agents and all sorts of people that work with him
What’s your relationship with your dogs like?
My daughter is the real dog lover in the house, so I’m the inheritor of my daughter’s dogs,
These are my daughter’s children, I’m their grandmother really.
We got Leo, he is about Seven or eight, and he was taken from the other house which was a rented apartment and she was very vicious and use to bite people especially women. He used to really attack people. This one, he has mellowed with age now and had a cancer, we have to remove his bowels since then he has soften up, he is still a wild dog, he disciplines all the dogs in the house, he is the Alfa maid and he thinks he is my husband. This is what my daughter doesn’t like.
She doesn’t like him at all. He was very attached to me. I like him, I remember when he was sick I thought he was going to die, we were all so sad even my daughter who doesn’t like him was so sad.
She’s got him into the house, but he is still my own dog because he is really fond of me.No body likes him in the house except me
Why?
Because he was wild. He used to bite and we pay so many hospital bills because of this dog oh. He has bitten so many people. So many (Laughter)
Does he still bites
He hasn’t bitten anybody for over a year, may be two years, because of his health, but he is still the one that barks, he is the real man, the man of the house.
Tell us about the other dogs?
Let me see if I can get them in the house for you .This is snowy, this one has almost lost his life several times. We got this from a friend. We used to have this dog Zanda that was from the same parents, and he was so beautiful. He was so nice, he was very active. He used to bark, he backs at people, he was tiny o, but very vicious and then there was this commotion at the shrine, and he ran outside and he was hit by a car and he died. It was so sad, so sad so, when the parents were pregnant again I said I need another dog from them and this is how we got this wretched fellow here. This one (Laughter) and he is a wretched fellow.
He is supposed to be in an exile o, but he as refused to remain there, his children are in exile, but Leo has a daughter there that is in exile. Most of them are family now. These are Leo’s children. They won’t come in, they might come in but they are very afraid of people and Susie, she bites, she is not very friendly. She doesn’t even let you stroke her. She is so slim, but I can’t stroke her. Not that she would bite me o, but she just won’t stay.
My grandmother used to have dogs in her room, and when she stopped them coming to her room, they used to attack my grandmother.
I hope you feed them with JO-JO
We don’t know Jo-JO dog food. They eat meat and fish; we used to buy one dog food. (Not Jo-JO) It is expensive, quite expensive.
Why don’t you buy the dry one, it’s cheaper than the can food.
I don’t know oh, I don’t know
Dr.Tunji recommends this noodles dust to us. You can buy the noodles dust for N2000 and it seems they like the noodles more than the rice. You can see the rice is all about, I left some yesterday. We use Titus fish; you know Titus fish is soft, when you mash it to the rice, they like that.
Tell us about Mimmy,
Mimmy died about 13, he just died naturally. He just past out here, he was, Leo has bitten the nonsense out of his body, by that time. When he first came to the house he used to attack Leo. This was what happened, when Leo was small, mimmy used to attack Leo, by the time Leo became a man, Leo disciplined him. This was what happened with Terror and Lambo.Lambo became a man and killed Terro, in the end, so they killed each other. His head was always shining, very lovely, he was a lovely dog. When he died it was so so sad. Very lovely dog.
How does it feel, having to take care of so many dogs?
It’s stressful, when you get their vet bills well, since I found Dr.Tunji oh, it’s been a bit cheaper because he does house calls. He will come and deworm them here, take care of them. You know weigh them and everything, but before then we have to transport all of them to the vet, you will take taxi, you will take money aah. It’s a bit easier now. It’s a lot of food. You buy a bag of rice for every two weeks.Susie, for instance eats a lot. She’s coming, (Susie comes around while she strokes her) She will only, let me stroke her for a few seconds. She’s so boisterous.
Where did you get your love for Dogs, is it in the family?
I don’t know, I think it’s hereditary my mum and Dad love dogs, before they burnt my father’s house, he had about 8 or 9 dogs. We love dogs, we have them. When I was much younger, I used to see many ugly, skinny, hungry dogs all over the place so I promised myself that when I grow up, am going to have a big house, I will lock up all the dogs in the neighborhood in one place and feed them very well. When you love dogs, you just love them. You share their pains, you share their happiness. Its God’s gift.
So, how many dogs do you have in all?
Eleven! We don’t have canoes in this house. We don’t chain any of the dogs, so they don’t develop anti-social habits. They have to learn how to be friendly with people.
Who assist you in caring for the dogs?
I have People here who assist me, Esther feeds them, and we have some birds too. Once it is five ‘o clock, they will come for food. What’s happening was, They used to come around at first to eat the crumbs when the dogs are been fed, but they used to get killed by the dogs, because sometimes they will forget themselves and start eating from the dog’s plate, so we built a cage for them to eat their rice and fish up there, and that short one, like a sausage, Strappy, he’s the one that used to attacked the birds, It’s really a lovely sight really to watch the birds up there now. If you look around the house, they have their nests around everywhere.
Unless I have appointment outside my house I‘ll stay in the house and read my books and buy the new drinks we used to buy for the shrine.
I do some exercises too, I used to skip and walk round the pool. For now I’m a bit lazy so I’m just into swimming.
Do you have a swimming pool here?
Yea we have a pool here.
What’s a typical day like for Yeni Kuti?
If it like today. We had a show yesterday, it’s a rehearsal but a lot of people come. We don’t charge for gate fees, but a lot of people come around and I have to buy the drinks we need to buy
I account for the shrine. We have a restaurant at the shrine, as well, because we employed about 70 people at the shrine. We have to pay salaries and we have monthly and weekly salaries. I have to do that.
I still save, in as much as I’m paying because we have to pay the musicians , the dancers , about 70 people that we employed and the maintenance of the shrine because if you come to the shrine its a very big place .
You keep on paying, paying, paying. You are paying for electricity, you are paying for lights, and you are paying for the plumbing. It’s too much.
My daughter is always calling you know, to ask me how the dogs are doing. I said you got eleven dogs in the house and your are not even here to take care of them. I bought a ticket in April for her to come home, she didn’t come. She is in the UK pursuing a degree course. She said she’s not coming till June.
Don’t you think you really should be dancing? Its seems that’s where your passion lies.
I do. I wish I could go into dance and choreographing. I do, because that’s where my love lies, but don’t forget that I am 46 am not getting younger.
So, what do you do full time?
I do the books and I do it because if I give it to other people, they will cheat us. They won’t do it as much or as well as I’m doing it because it’s our business, That’s one of the things that stops businesses in Nigeria, because people are not dedicated. They are not; they won’t do your business like they do their own.
If you are not involved in your business what happens is your business will die. For instance, there, is this bar in Victoria Island, some people who are customers of the bar, were coming and saying they arranged beer at the nightclub they drank beer of thirty thousand naira but the waiters only let them pay eleven thousand. Can you imagine, that means that those waiters are making money off that bar? I give that bar about two years, they will fold up. I don’t know where the owner is, that’s what happens, because the owner is not there, she is not there on full time like me. I know everything that is coming in and going out of my business.
Because I have the numbers of all the suppliers, I know what they supply, I check some people, how much did he drink, how much did he buy this drink. Like somebody reported to me on Sunday that he bought a drink that was supposed to be N350 for N400, aah! So I did my investigations, it was a problem for them, because they know I’m on the job and I’m not going to take it.
Now, we have a price list, everyone knows how much.
It’s not so easy but it’s the only way because when I was going on tour, there was nobody to run the shrine and everything, its was a big problem, we were not making money, I remember, there was a boy, a very, very nice looking boy, very handsome, a young boy that you just wanted to help. I say ah, he is the future of Nigeria; he was an undergraduate in the university, He was in Unilag, which was really like either mid- year or just graduation, I can’t remember sha. So I gave him a job as the Bar- manager.
One day I got up and say let me go and check the drinks, the prices of a crate of star have increased. Then a crate of star was between N300 or N400, suddenly the price was N700. Then I said ah ah star is becoming so expensive. so I check the price out with the supplier. Star was N300 that guy has been collecting N700 from me. Can you imagine? The orientation is so bad with some Nigerian youths.
The boy is even a thief because one day I caught him in my brother’s room, He didn’t know I was there (Femi Kuti’s room) he didn’t know I was there and I saw him stealing my brother’s money.
This is the future of Nigeria; so sad, he was just a young boy, nice looking boy that we wanted to help. Our situation is so bad, so wrong here in Nigeria that when you want to help people, they will end up stabbing you in the back. So terrible!
This same boy we introduce him to the guy doing a documentary on Femi, the shrine and my father and the guy likes him because he’s an educated boy, so he takes him around.
The boy doesn’t come around us again since I caught him stealing, he is too embarrassed to come around us because we got him arrested and was taken away by the police and that is why he is so ashamed that he stole. Everyone at the shrine knows that he stole, and this is not stealing through the books; this is stealing by picking up the money; caught re-handed.
So that one now, send him 4,000 Dollars to go and clear the rights to use the tape he got from AIT.That guy send him 4,000 Dollars, I saw the boy about three weeks ago, in a car; I said Okay, no wonder he has the money to buy car and He was looking at me so proudly that even though I am no longer with you I am getting on.Aah!! He was getting on through someone he met through us, whom he has duped of 4,000Dollars. I just told the guy abroad that he is not going to pay any rights to AIT.He has bought car with your money. it so difficult to work with some Nigerian youths.
Tell us about your experience on tour.
I met Dbanj on tour last year, I joined Femi in Italy and in England, and I did a workshop there before the show, a dance workshop and this year, I Intend to go to America, not with them, but I intend to take Femi’s son to go and join his father after school. I want to do a couple of shows with them. I might not perform but I will definitely be there, and when am there, the girls, they have to smile on stage. If am not there they will not smile as much as I like. Its like am very stern.
What kind of Dance workshop did you do while you were there?
Afro beat dance, an hour. An hour workshop, They really enjoyed it .In the evening when I was going for the show, so many people were saying, beautiful workshop, and lovely workshop and say ah you know, and I was so happy with that!
Was it part of something else?
It was part of a festival, womant Festival, Redden, so they said they wanted to do the workshop, so when the agent finally found out that I was going to be there. He said I should do the workshop, so I said I would do it.
Somebody, you know, there was this Lady, she works with Genevieve now, she was at the workshop and when I met her she said oh I saw your workshop. She comes to shrine regularly and so gentle, dance and you know…..she was even here last week.
Which days do you perform at the shrine?
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I like going on stage because I just want the members if they don’t know it or are missing it I will, you know, show them.
Sometimes may be one or two persons will want some dance lessons, they have to have come earlier and I will show them how to move their waists.
Do you dance with the girls?
Me personally I don’t. You have to remember that I’m 46. The girls that dance now are in their 20s. 25, 26. There is no way my energy level will match theirs. So you now look like an ‘’Agbaya,’’come down now, and all my hair is white. You outgrow certain things. I still love to dance I still dance. I danced yesterday. I will not put on my costumes with all my folds. I will be ashamed to show my fat stomach anyway, in a sexy costumes, if I say I don’t like dance, I must be lying. I still love to dance. I still love to perform that’s why I perform at rehearsals; I can do 1 or 2 numbers and then move out of the stage. But if you are doing a new show, you have to stay on stage like 2 or 3 hours. Do I still have that energy level? For a dancer is a lot of energy.
Am sure you still want to do something on Dance in the future.
I keep on saying I am going to open a dance School. It’s still very much on my mind, am going to open a dance School What I need is money but am paying for my daughters university education right now right now.
We should expect a dance School.
Yea hopefully. When I finish with my daughter’s education. I’ll open a dance school hopefully, I only have one daughter. I want the best education for her.
A dance school In Nigeria?
Of course in Nigeria. We live here. I don’t even want to be part of the category of people that takes their money abroad. Femi when he goes abroad, he takes his money back home. He has no account anywhere in Europe or America.
What happens is that we make our money and take them abroad and they use our money to make their country great. Why don’t we take our own money back to us and make own country great.
Nigerians are not investing in Nigeria, they are investing abroad. Why will I go and buy a house in England and be maintaining it with precious pounds. You know how much a pound is to a naira? It’s N250.
What’s your opinion about PMAN problems, Bolaji Rosiji, Charlie Boy and all that?
Me, I’ve been very vocal, to be sincere, I’ve never heard of Bolaji until he became the PMAN President and I was very impressed with the little I saw about him. Let me give you an example. When we were organizing Felabration, He came to the shrine and asked what PMAN can do to support Felabration Festival. I noticed, instead of running away from the shine, he was embracing the shrine. No other PMAN President as done that, except Bolaji Rosiji, and he wasn’t doing it to make himself popular, because he did not come with any journalist. He was coming with a lot of foreigners.
We missed a lot of foreigners through other people, because when foreign artistes come here and ask to see the shrine, Nigerians discourage them, they don’t bring them there, saying it’s a dangerous place, there is no security. You are taking people away from this place. Instead of bringing them here, it’s your cluture, and they will enjoy it. Most of them that come enjoy it. I’ve met so many, a lot of these American artists when they come many of them don’t come to the shrine.
They don’t bring them. They said to me, I’m not very conversant with these Americans. What’s his name o? I ve forgotten his name. He called me saying he would come to the shrine, he didn’t come then I asked why he didn’t come he said; they told him that the security is not tight.
Even this one that just came, is it Akon? Akon came with some other guys. I ve forgotten, one other American guy. The musician spoke to me they will always come to the shrine, they didn’t come. They didn’t let them come, they said it’s dangerous. Snoop doggy dog said he was looking for another venue, when he saw the shrine he said ah ah why didn’t they let Snoop use this kind of venue? They said its dangerous .He must be telling them that they came all the way here and they did not visit the shrine.
The percentage of Nigerians that actually saw Fela performed was very minute.
Nigerians Love Fela more now that he is dead, than when he was alive, because when he was alive they did not go to shrine. I ve met so many of them especially the silver spoon so- called silver spoon children. They used to say I wish I saw Fela performed, when he was alive. Fela when he was alive o .This man was on your doorstep why didn’t you go and see his show; he was very of important to you. There was no reason for you not going. Now that he is dead, the world is celebrating his death; they are all saying ah we love Fela. You are saying you love Fela, how many times did you see him perform? Many of them can’t say they see him perform, many of them cannot say so because they have signed on the bad news, they smoke Igbo there. Where don’t they smoke Igbo in this world No-body forces you to smoke Igbo when you come to the shrine. It’s a peaceful place. You listen to the music. It’s your culture. If Michael Jackson plays anywhere in America, it will be a sell out.
What more can you say about Fela.
I remember when Fela went to America once, he abused Nigerian government, talked politics, the way Fela talked politics, Fela was not going to be saying there is change, Nigeria is changed, in Nigeria papers they abused a whole lot out of Fela .Why was he washing our dirty linen in public. I read about it. I was very angry. Is not right, but now that he is dead they are all over the place.Oh he was a prophet.oh he was great.
It is the real people of Nigeria that really love Fela, that are passionate. Nigeria is not only V/I and Ikoyi .I remember when Femi sang sorry, I picked up a Nigerian newspaper, and they abused him. Why should he sing sorry for Nigerians, is he not sorry for Nigerians? He is watching our dirty linen in public. We are concerned about image without providing basic amenities that makes life good for the common man. It’s the same thing about this Tinapa project. In my opinion it’s a white elephant project.
You don’t have light; you don’t have water you are opening a resort. Does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense to even an idiot. Are they all right? No light and water in your community, in your country, your state, everybody is planning to open a multi billion naira, trillion dollar resort, and they are all hailing Donald Duke as the big one. Put light and water. Where are the roads to even get there?
He could have presented us with solar Energy for electricity power supply. Repair the refineries. They can’t do that for eight years. Look at your presidential elect. He went abroad for medical treatment .That means the hospitals are not good and we are here, we sit down and hail such a person that went abroad for medical care and he is a president elect. The vice president was sick and went abroad. It is disgraceful with the presidential jet. If you can not patronize our hospitals here in Nigeria that means our hospitals are not good. The only one that didn’t go abroad for treatment was Abacha that was because he was rejected. He was facing international sanctions.
What is it about Felabration Festival?
We are celebrating his love and it’s something that we hope will continue because, we really, we don’t have a festival culture in Nigeria.
A lot of my brothers’ income is from various festivals abroad. And when you go to these festivals, they are so lovely. It’s a place for people to make money, a place for people to enjoy and appreciate life. A place to share and to give. If you go to a festival ground, there are shops everywhere, where people are selling different things, it’s a whole, may be four or five days. So many festivals that I can’t mention right now. And we don’t have anything of such in Nigeria. If you come to the shrine, you‘ll see a lot of influence outside there. And that is what I call learning and sharing knowledge. Come and fix whatever you learn from anywhere you go and bring it to your people and share that knowledge and tell them to tell you their observations. I have a situation where there are things that Nigerians are looking for. I have seen some people so worried that get uplifted at the events to the extent that so many people have been coming from abroad. Someone call me from France and said she is coming for Felabration this year.
When is the Festival coming up?
October, 15th because 15th is the day we traditionally kill the cows and sell food to Fela’s fans. Because that is Fela’s birthday ‘gangan’. We are celebrating his life, a life of a great man and then it’s like trying to bring this festival awareness into Nigeria.
The carnival we had last year was not as good as I would have hoped, Like the Northing hill carnival, The masses were thrilled with beautiful dancers from all over Nigeria. Nigeria is showing its culture and people. We have the Ijaw people, Ishekiri people, Calabar people, each one had its own thriller performance and the day was joyous. They went around the streets of Lagos and they all ended at the shrine and we had the major festival.
What would you say are the benefits to Nigeria?
I think celebrating the life of such a great man and bringing business to the state, to the country during that festival which am sure my father will be very proud of. The people that made money during the festival period, after the festival, they are coming to pray for us and say you children God will bless you.
They all made their money, their things got sold because we had a show outside, we had a big screen outside .We had three stages, we have even written to the governor to put more gates and they agreed.
How about the sponsorship from corporate Nigeria?
How can I beg you for what I know it’s good?
We believe that corporate organizations should use this medium to actually come and support the project. We are going to pay all the artistes that are coming to play. Most of the artistes that play at the festival Last year did it for little or no money. I mean we can’t continue to ask them to do it for free. We need people to support us. We don’t make any money from it. The issue is not the money but the service to the people.Guiness did a lot for us last year. We are hoping they will still come on board this year and support us. I brought this promoter Laface, who helped us out with the marketing. I personally do not know much about the marketing, so I’ let the other people that are good at it do it.
We are expecting a lot of artistes from America and other people.
Miss Insurance promotes insurance at Covenant University
By Yemi Olakitan
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
LAST year, Miss Brenda Nwakama became a beauty queen from the insurance sector, when she was crowned Miss Insurance 2009. This shows that beauty queens are not the exclusive preserve of the entertainment companies or campuses alone, but various sectors and industries in our national life can showcase their beauty queens as well. These beauty queens are also not mere figureheads; they pursue meaningful objectives that add value to the economic and national development of the country as a whole.
This was the case when, as part of her pet project for the remaining part of her tenure, the reigning beauty queen of the insurance sector gave an insurance awareness lecture, titled "Insurance: Mechanism of risk control," at the Covenant University Otta, Ogun State, recently.
Miss Brenda was crowned as the Miss Insurance 2009 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, last year.
In a statement released by Scib Nigeria Limited, her employers, the company said the lecture was aimed at creating awareness among the students on insurance and encouraging them to take up careers in the industry after their degree programme. Brenda said that as future managers and leaders of tomorrow, it was critical to educate them early enough to the importance of insurance at micro and macro levels and also through this deepen market penetration for future potential buyers.
Activities of the day also included a talk by Asthma Relief Campaign Project, an NGO collaborating with Miss Insurance on educating the populace concerning asthma, a silent killer that is not yet considered a serious public health issue. Mr. Ugochukwu Nwangoro who led the NGO team to Covenant University presented the talk on asthma.
Present at the event were the CIIN team led by the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Joseph Obah, Scib Nigeria & Co. Limited led by Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu, head, Business Development and others.
The programme also featured young insurance professionals with various academic backgrounds testifying to the fact of the changing face of the industry from what it used to be.
At the awareness lecture Brenda explained that insurance is a strong tool for the assessment and evaluation of risks and the exposures and formulation of a cost effective cost mechanism to control the risk. She also went on to explain the process of Insurance-Risk Transfer Mechanism whereby insurance institutions accept risk in consideration for receipt of premiums. She explained that the broker on behalf of the insured advises and decides on how best to handle the risk exposures. He is thus an authority on risk exposure and an expert in the insurance market.
The seminar explained the role of insurance in strategic business continuity and economic development, locally and globally.
Brenda said that insurance empowers individuals and institutions to handle risk contingency exposures, which are beyond budget provision due to the unpredictability. This is because risk can be complex and sometimes of catastrophic nature. She gave the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombing, Ikeja Cantonment bombing and Hurricane Katrina as part of her illustrations.
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
LAST year, Miss Brenda Nwakama became a beauty queen from the insurance sector, when she was crowned Miss Insurance 2009. This shows that beauty queens are not the exclusive preserve of the entertainment companies or campuses alone, but various sectors and industries in our national life can showcase their beauty queens as well. These beauty queens are also not mere figureheads; they pursue meaningful objectives that add value to the economic and national development of the country as a whole.
This was the case when, as part of her pet project for the remaining part of her tenure, the reigning beauty queen of the insurance sector gave an insurance awareness lecture, titled "Insurance: Mechanism of risk control," at the Covenant University Otta, Ogun State, recently.
Miss Brenda was crowned as the Miss Insurance 2009 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, last year.
In a statement released by Scib Nigeria Limited, her employers, the company said the lecture was aimed at creating awareness among the students on insurance and encouraging them to take up careers in the industry after their degree programme. Brenda said that as future managers and leaders of tomorrow, it was critical to educate them early enough to the importance of insurance at micro and macro levels and also through this deepen market penetration for future potential buyers.
Activities of the day also included a talk by Asthma Relief Campaign Project, an NGO collaborating with Miss Insurance on educating the populace concerning asthma, a silent killer that is not yet considered a serious public health issue. Mr. Ugochukwu Nwangoro who led the NGO team to Covenant University presented the talk on asthma.
Present at the event were the CIIN team led by the Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Joseph Obah, Scib Nigeria & Co. Limited led by Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu, head, Business Development and others.
The programme also featured young insurance professionals with various academic backgrounds testifying to the fact of the changing face of the industry from what it used to be.
At the awareness lecture Brenda explained that insurance is a strong tool for the assessment and evaluation of risks and the exposures and formulation of a cost effective cost mechanism to control the risk. She also went on to explain the process of Insurance-Risk Transfer Mechanism whereby insurance institutions accept risk in consideration for receipt of premiums. She explained that the broker on behalf of the insured advises and decides on how best to handle the risk exposures. He is thus an authority on risk exposure and an expert in the insurance market.
The seminar explained the role of insurance in strategic business continuity and economic development, locally and globally.
Brenda said that insurance empowers individuals and institutions to handle risk contingency exposures, which are beyond budget provision due to the unpredictability. This is because risk can be complex and sometimes of catastrophic nature. She gave the 9/11 World Trade Centre bombing, Ikeja Cantonment bombing and Hurricane Katrina as part of her illustrations.
With Exquisites, Orhonor finds a voice for pots
By Yemi Olakitan
Published in The Guardina Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
ALTHOUGH she is not trained in the art of pottery, her love for this genre of sculpture makes her an emerging name in the business of decorative pot.
The art promoter, Lovett Orhonor, recently held another exhibition titled Exquisites at the Moor House, Ikoyi, Lagos, where pots of various sizes and designs were on display to the admiration of art lovers, who visited the show.
Speaking about her new set of pots, Orhronor said her inspiration comes from a sense of deep respect for arts and culture, adding that her team of potters assisted in producing the pots.
She was hopeful that all lovers of creative art would find their choice in the body of work on display.
According to her, this work can be used to beatify public places, homes, hospitals, hotels, schools, and offices. They are especially relevant in the Christmas seasons because they can be given out as gifts.
"Sometimes, you want to stand out from the crowd in the season of goodwill, and there's no better way than with unusual Christmas gifts. If you're looking forward to pleasing a person you love, you need some unusual gift ideas for your Christmas shopping list and there are plenty of unusual Christmas gifts to choose from right here at our exhibition of Exquisite Decorative Clay Pots and Designs.
"The best gifts are those that serve as a memorial; last beyond the seasons in which they are given. This is one area the African spirit of excellence and beauty has been expressed," she said.
She noted,''hampers and the regular gifts have become very boring. A lot of people and organisations can't find gifts worthy as presents for friends, family and clients. Thus the best gift is an artwork that speaks creative languages.''
Orhonor said the pots were made of total clay as the raw materials were imported from Ghana and Togo, arguing that Nigerian clay is sandy and salty and cannot be used for such creative arts. "They cannot be used to produce high quality pots. Some of the raw materials include radia and cowries shells."
Orhonor is a graduate of Mathematics from the University of Caliber and worked with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for about seven years before she quit the job to work in the arts business.
This was as a result of her passion for the arts. She has staged similar shows in Port Harcourt, Abuja and in several venues in Lagos.
She was invited by the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) to showcase her works at the presidential Villa, Abuja alongside other notable Nigerian artists.
The exhibition in Port Harcourt, she recalled attracted an impressive art collectors from various works of life because of the uniqueness of the presentations.
Other past exhibitions were at the IBB Golf Club and the DiDi Museum, Terra Kulture Victoria lsland, Lagos.
She hoped that her company Honeycomb Resource Services Limited would do more shows in the future.
Published in The Guardina Newspapers
Friday, December 18th 2009
ALTHOUGH she is not trained in the art of pottery, her love for this genre of sculpture makes her an emerging name in the business of decorative pot.
The art promoter, Lovett Orhonor, recently held another exhibition titled Exquisites at the Moor House, Ikoyi, Lagos, where pots of various sizes and designs were on display to the admiration of art lovers, who visited the show.
Speaking about her new set of pots, Orhronor said her inspiration comes from a sense of deep respect for arts and culture, adding that her team of potters assisted in producing the pots.
She was hopeful that all lovers of creative art would find their choice in the body of work on display.
According to her, this work can be used to beatify public places, homes, hospitals, hotels, schools, and offices. They are especially relevant in the Christmas seasons because they can be given out as gifts.
"Sometimes, you want to stand out from the crowd in the season of goodwill, and there's no better way than with unusual Christmas gifts. If you're looking forward to pleasing a person you love, you need some unusual gift ideas for your Christmas shopping list and there are plenty of unusual Christmas gifts to choose from right here at our exhibition of Exquisite Decorative Clay Pots and Designs.
"The best gifts are those that serve as a memorial; last beyond the seasons in which they are given. This is one area the African spirit of excellence and beauty has been expressed," she said.
She noted,''hampers and the regular gifts have become very boring. A lot of people and organisations can't find gifts worthy as presents for friends, family and clients. Thus the best gift is an artwork that speaks creative languages.''
Orhonor said the pots were made of total clay as the raw materials were imported from Ghana and Togo, arguing that Nigerian clay is sandy and salty and cannot be used for such creative arts. "They cannot be used to produce high quality pots. Some of the raw materials include radia and cowries shells."
Orhonor is a graduate of Mathematics from the University of Caliber and worked with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for about seven years before she quit the job to work in the arts business.
This was as a result of her passion for the arts. She has staged similar shows in Port Harcourt, Abuja and in several venues in Lagos.
She was invited by the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) to showcase her works at the presidential Villa, Abuja alongside other notable Nigerian artists.
The exhibition in Port Harcourt, she recalled attracted an impressive art collectors from various works of life because of the uniqueness of the presentations.
Other past exhibitions were at the IBB Golf Club and the DiDi Museum, Terra Kulture Victoria lsland, Lagos.
She hoped that her company Honeycomb Resource Services Limited would do more shows in the future.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
For the entertainment industry, Kennis Music partners Ben TV
For the entertainment industry, Kennis Music partners Ben TV
By Tony Nwanne and Yemi Olakitan
published by the Guardian Nespapers
Thursday, November 12, 2009
KENNIS Communication, the parent company of Kennis Music, has entered into a partnership with United Kingdom-base Bright Entertainment Network (BEN TV). According to the Chief Executive Officer of Kennis, Kenny Ogungbe, the synergy between the two outfits is aimed at placing Nigerian artistes on international platform, as well as showcasing culturally inclined activities.
"With this strong initiative, most of our contents here will be broadcast live in UK, so that Nigerians in the diaspora will feel our local contents over there too. Different genres of songs that depict our cultures will be played through Kennis music on BEN TV for UK viewers".
From being credited as the major catalyst that bridges the gap and keeping the African communities informed of issues and events in the continent, BEN TV, today, has become a media force to reckon with in the UK.
Under the agreement announced recently in Lagos, the London based music channel would broadcast content from Kennis television for more than four hours every day. The new arrangement would provide Kennis with the opportunity of marketing and distributing their products across Europe. On the other hand, Kennis would also provide windows for the broadcast of the TV station's content on terrestrial and cable stations across Nigeria.
Speaking on the partnership, the CEO of BEN TV, Alistair Soyode said, "along with an extensive co-production deal, the two companies would also distribute, market and see to each other's affairs in the country where they are individually based. BEN TV will co- produce with Kennis Europe, content, and manage concerts and events, while Kennis will represent BEN TV in collaboration with the Lagos office in Nigeria in the aspect of marketing, production and Events."
Speaking further on the partnership, Ogungbe said Dr. Sowode has done a lot in promoting Nigerian entertainment abroad. A member of the committee on re-branding Nigeria, Dr. Sowode is passionate about promoting positive messages about Nigerians and de-emphasing the negative reports of foreign media. He said Ben TV gives the most accurate information about Nigeria to the outside world. This information is spread across all aspects of life through news and current affairs, talk shows, documentary, movies and musical videos. ''This partnership would help both companies to take Nigerian artistes to the next level by introducing Nigerian artistes to larger markets.'' he said.
Dr. Sowode, on his part, said both companies would also work together on other areas such as programming. He said the companies have been able to generate numerous ideas since they began discussion. He also said there would also be major concerts across Europe so that the artistes can also be seen on stage in addition to the screens.
One of the most versatile and consistent outfit in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Kennis Communication recently made a loud appearance on Satellite Channels HI TV, and Daar Sat, and has a wide reach which covers more than 15 states in Nigeria.
By Tony Nwanne and Yemi Olakitan
published by the Guardian Nespapers
Thursday, November 12, 2009
KENNIS Communication, the parent company of Kennis Music, has entered into a partnership with United Kingdom-base Bright Entertainment Network (BEN TV). According to the Chief Executive Officer of Kennis, Kenny Ogungbe, the synergy between the two outfits is aimed at placing Nigerian artistes on international platform, as well as showcasing culturally inclined activities.
"With this strong initiative, most of our contents here will be broadcast live in UK, so that Nigerians in the diaspora will feel our local contents over there too. Different genres of songs that depict our cultures will be played through Kennis music on BEN TV for UK viewers".
From being credited as the major catalyst that bridges the gap and keeping the African communities informed of issues and events in the continent, BEN TV, today, has become a media force to reckon with in the UK.
Under the agreement announced recently in Lagos, the London based music channel would broadcast content from Kennis television for more than four hours every day. The new arrangement would provide Kennis with the opportunity of marketing and distributing their products across Europe. On the other hand, Kennis would also provide windows for the broadcast of the TV station's content on terrestrial and cable stations across Nigeria.
Speaking on the partnership, the CEO of BEN TV, Alistair Soyode said, "along with an extensive co-production deal, the two companies would also distribute, market and see to each other's affairs in the country where they are individually based. BEN TV will co- produce with Kennis Europe, content, and manage concerts and events, while Kennis will represent BEN TV in collaboration with the Lagos office in Nigeria in the aspect of marketing, production and Events."
Speaking further on the partnership, Ogungbe said Dr. Sowode has done a lot in promoting Nigerian entertainment abroad. A member of the committee on re-branding Nigeria, Dr. Sowode is passionate about promoting positive messages about Nigerians and de-emphasing the negative reports of foreign media. He said Ben TV gives the most accurate information about Nigeria to the outside world. This information is spread across all aspects of life through news and current affairs, talk shows, documentary, movies and musical videos. ''This partnership would help both companies to take Nigerian artistes to the next level by introducing Nigerian artistes to larger markets.'' he said.
Dr. Sowode, on his part, said both companies would also work together on other areas such as programming. He said the companies have been able to generate numerous ideas since they began discussion. He also said there would also be major concerts across Europe so that the artistes can also be seen on stage in addition to the screens.
One of the most versatile and consistent outfit in the Nigerian entertainment industry, Kennis Communication recently made a loud appearance on Satellite Channels HI TV, and Daar Sat, and has a wide reach which covers more than 15 states in Nigeria.
How graft hurts development, by Gambia's CJ, Soyinka, others
How graft hurts development, by Gambia's CJ, Soyinka, others
From Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja), Yemi Olakitan and Helen Amajo (Lagos)
TWO principal officers of The Gambian judiciary joined the unending debate on whether or not to expunge Section 308 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, which provides immunity from prosecution for the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on the fight against corruption, the Chief Justice of The Gambia, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Esther Awo Ota, said corruption and embezzlement accounted for the slow pace of development in Nigeria.
The duo, who are Nigerians, blamed Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution for corruption and looting of public treasury as they identified the shield thereof as a big incentive for its beneficiaries to fearlessly embezzle public funds.
In Lagos, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and others spoke in a similar vein, warning of the dangers ahead if the problem was not sincerely tackled urgently. Soyinka's remarks were made at a ceremony in honour of former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Agim said whereas immunity clause was not altogether bad, it should only be in place against civil action and not on issues of crime and corruption.
He said although it would serve national interest best to expunge the criminal immunity, "it is impossible."
He remarked: "Who are those to remove the immunity? The beneficiaries of the immunity themselves. They will never let go of their immunity. So, that they will be vulnerable to arrest and prosecution."
Also, Ota said: "The main problem facing Nigeria in the battle against corruption is the immunity clause provided under Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. By that section, the leaders know they are already protected before they go into office and so what is stopping them from stealing public funds?
"The immunity is unnecessary because it places corrupt leaders above the law. It is my view that once the immunity clause is removed from the Constitution, our leaders who hitherto looted public treasury brazenly will be careful about stealing public funds they are meant to hold in trust and administer for the common good of the people. I see no reason why there should be immunity for any public office holder if we are to show that nobody is above the law; the immunity clause clearly show that some sets of Nigerians are above the law and that is not even good for the national psyche."
Justice Ota advised the adoption of The Gambian style of immunity, which she said, had helped the country to combat corruption and reduced it to its barest minimum.
Her words: " Immunity in The Gambia is qualified in that there is immunity from civil actions, but as far as it relates to issues of crime or corrupt practices, there is no immunity as you are made to answer for it immediately."
The Nobel laureate, speaking at the award of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award to Ribadu organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and supported by the Dutch Embassy in Nigeria, said there was a massive wave of cheating and corruption in the country.
Soyinka said all hands must be on deck to check the waves of corruption. He referred to reports that over-aged football players were allowed to play for the national team during the Under-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria. He said this was another clear signal that corruption was still alive and well.
The professor demanded an investigation into the matter. He said those who are responsible for such display of dishonesty must be punished and made to pay the price for their irresponsibility. He asked: "What message are we passing across to the younger ones and the next generation?
Soyinka also disclosed that the journalist who reported the matter has been receiving calls from Nigerians who accused him of being unpatriotic.
But Soyinka said: ''The question is should we be patriotic in dishonesty?"
The Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Aire C.A. van der Wiel, also spoke extensively on corruption in Nigeria and urged the to people to eradicate the malice which has eaten deep into the national life. He, however, noted that corruption was not an only a Nigerian problem but a problem of humanity.
In a joint statement, the Centre; Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), which made up the award jury, named Ribadu as "our own equivalent of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk."
It went on: "This is an exceptional gathering for an even more exceptional man. Today, the world celebrates the International Anti-Corruption Day, and we consider it a special day to celebrate the courage and commitment of a man who despite obvious personal risks, decided to say 'enough is enough', and to give his all to the fight against corruption in Nigeria."
The groups also called "on the Nigerian authorities to immediately withdraw all politically-motivated charges against Mr. Ribadu, and stop using constitutional authority and the machinery of the state to harass, intimidate and victimise him. The Nigerian authorities must publicly guarantee Ribadu's safety and security; and grant him full citizenship rights."
According to the groups: "Mr. Ribadu was chosen for the Civil Society Anti-Corruption Defender Award for leading a courageous anti-corruption drive in Nigeria as a former Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and because of the persecution, harassment and intimidation he has endured and suffered and continues to suffer in the hands of the Nigerian authorities solely on the ground of his anti-corruption work. It is fair to say that today, no other individual has been so persecuted, harassed and intimidated.
"Mr. Ribadu provided outstanding leadership in fighting corruption at all levels of Nigerian life. He tracked down high and low-level officials. Mr. Ribadu recorded over 300 criminal convictions in four years, which included governors; ministers; members of parliament; bankers, and former Inspector-General of Police. He has recovered over $5 billion stolen public funds.
"Mr. Ribadu has endured many sacrifices since he was forced out of the EFCC, including two assassination attempts on his life, and his unlawful sack from the police. Persecuted at home, separated from his family; and lonely abroad, Mr. Ribadu is now paying the price for his commitment and his work as anti-corruption defender. But he remains a source of tremendous inspiration for all anti-corruption and human rights defenders in our country. Mr. Ribadu is indeed our own equivalent of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk. As such, he deserves recognition and better protection."
"Every government has the duty to bring to justice those responsible for crimes. But when people are subjected to unjust punishment and unfair trials, justice cannot be served. The unjust punishment Mr. Ribadu has received over the years demonstrates the Yar'Adua government's lack of respect for the rule of law and shows that the government is not genuinely committed to the fight against corruption. It is no surprise that Nigeria has performed very poorly in the Transparency International 2009 Corruption Perception Index, ranking 130th of the 180 countries surveyed."
Born November 11,1960, Ribadu graduated from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1984 before joining the Nigeria Police, where he rose to become head of the Legal and Prosecution Department, Police Headquarters, Abuja. His 18-year service in the Nigeria Police culminated in his appointment as the pioneer Chairman of EFCC by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2003.
Ribadu has been recipient of several awards, as a police officer, prosecutor and EFCC chairman. He received triple Inspector-General of Police Awards in 1997, 1998 and 2000 and the Special Commendation of the Accountant-General of the Federation for successfully prosecuting some corrupt public servants in 1999. Notable Nigerian newspapers, including ThisDay, The Sun, Leadership, Nigerian Tribune and NewAge, declared him Man of the Year in 2004 and 2005. On April 15, 2008, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) selected Ribadu for the Jit Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.
Meanwhile, human right crusaders assembled at the United Nations Information Centre, in Lagos yesterday to renew their campaign against human rights abuse worldwide.
The parley tagged, "Embracing Diversity and Ending Discrimination," was in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day.
In his speech, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, whose message was delivered by UNIC's Officer-in-Charge, Nosa Osazuwa, said it was saddened to realize that no country was exonerated yet from human rights abuse.
Moon said discrimination is seen everywhere, in many forms, old and new, covert and blatant and in the public and private sectors. He added that discrimination may appear as institutionalised racism, ethnic strife, episodes of intolerance and rejection, or as an official national version of history that denies the identity of some others.
According to him, discriminatory attacks are usually launched at individuals and groups that are disabled, women and girls, the poor, migrants, minorities, and all those who are perceived as different.
Moo said these vulnerable people are frequently excluded from participating in the economic, political, cultural and social lives of their communities.
From Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja), Yemi Olakitan and Helen Amajo (Lagos)
TWO principal officers of The Gambian judiciary joined the unending debate on whether or not to expunge Section 308 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, which provides immunity from prosecution for the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on the fight against corruption, the Chief Justice of The Gambia, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Esther Awo Ota, said corruption and embezzlement accounted for the slow pace of development in Nigeria.
The duo, who are Nigerians, blamed Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution for corruption and looting of public treasury as they identified the shield thereof as a big incentive for its beneficiaries to fearlessly embezzle public funds.
In Lagos, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and others spoke in a similar vein, warning of the dangers ahead if the problem was not sincerely tackled urgently. Soyinka's remarks were made at a ceremony in honour of former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Agim said whereas immunity clause was not altogether bad, it should only be in place against civil action and not on issues of crime and corruption.
He said although it would serve national interest best to expunge the criminal immunity, "it is impossible."
He remarked: "Who are those to remove the immunity? The beneficiaries of the immunity themselves. They will never let go of their immunity. So, that they will be vulnerable to arrest and prosecution."
Also, Ota said: "The main problem facing Nigeria in the battle against corruption is the immunity clause provided under Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. By that section, the leaders know they are already protected before they go into office and so what is stopping them from stealing public funds?
"The immunity is unnecessary because it places corrupt leaders above the law. It is my view that once the immunity clause is removed from the Constitution, our leaders who hitherto looted public treasury brazenly will be careful about stealing public funds they are meant to hold in trust and administer for the common good of the people. I see no reason why there should be immunity for any public office holder if we are to show that nobody is above the law; the immunity clause clearly show that some sets of Nigerians are above the law and that is not even good for the national psyche."
Justice Ota advised the adoption of The Gambian style of immunity, which she said, had helped the country to combat corruption and reduced it to its barest minimum.
Her words: " Immunity in The Gambia is qualified in that there is immunity from civil actions, but as far as it relates to issues of crime or corrupt practices, there is no immunity as you are made to answer for it immediately."
The Nobel laureate, speaking at the award of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award to Ribadu organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and supported by the Dutch Embassy in Nigeria, said there was a massive wave of cheating and corruption in the country.
Soyinka said all hands must be on deck to check the waves of corruption. He referred to reports that over-aged football players were allowed to play for the national team during the Under-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria. He said this was another clear signal that corruption was still alive and well.
The professor demanded an investigation into the matter. He said those who are responsible for such display of dishonesty must be punished and made to pay the price for their irresponsibility. He asked: "What message are we passing across to the younger ones and the next generation?
Soyinka also disclosed that the journalist who reported the matter has been receiving calls from Nigerians who accused him of being unpatriotic.
But Soyinka said: ''The question is should we be patriotic in dishonesty?"
The Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Aire C.A. van der Wiel, also spoke extensively on corruption in Nigeria and urged the to people to eradicate the malice which has eaten deep into the national life. He, however, noted that corruption was not an only a Nigerian problem but a problem of humanity.
In a joint statement, the Centre; Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), which made up the award jury, named Ribadu as "our own equivalent of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk."
It went on: "This is an exceptional gathering for an even more exceptional man. Today, the world celebrates the International Anti-Corruption Day, and we consider it a special day to celebrate the courage and commitment of a man who despite obvious personal risks, decided to say 'enough is enough', and to give his all to the fight against corruption in Nigeria."
The groups also called "on the Nigerian authorities to immediately withdraw all politically-motivated charges against Mr. Ribadu, and stop using constitutional authority and the machinery of the state to harass, intimidate and victimise him. The Nigerian authorities must publicly guarantee Ribadu's safety and security; and grant him full citizenship rights."
According to the groups: "Mr. Ribadu was chosen for the Civil Society Anti-Corruption Defender Award for leading a courageous anti-corruption drive in Nigeria as a former Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and because of the persecution, harassment and intimidation he has endured and suffered and continues to suffer in the hands of the Nigerian authorities solely on the ground of his anti-corruption work. It is fair to say that today, no other individual has been so persecuted, harassed and intimidated.
"Mr. Ribadu provided outstanding leadership in fighting corruption at all levels of Nigerian life. He tracked down high and low-level officials. Mr. Ribadu recorded over 300 criminal convictions in four years, which included governors; ministers; members of parliament; bankers, and former Inspector-General of Police. He has recovered over $5 billion stolen public funds.
"Mr. Ribadu has endured many sacrifices since he was forced out of the EFCC, including two assassination attempts on his life, and his unlawful sack from the police. Persecuted at home, separated from his family; and lonely abroad, Mr. Ribadu is now paying the price for his commitment and his work as anti-corruption defender. But he remains a source of tremendous inspiration for all anti-corruption and human rights defenders in our country. Mr. Ribadu is indeed our own equivalent of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk. As such, he deserves recognition and better protection."
"Every government has the duty to bring to justice those responsible for crimes. But when people are subjected to unjust punishment and unfair trials, justice cannot be served. The unjust punishment Mr. Ribadu has received over the years demonstrates the Yar'Adua government's lack of respect for the rule of law and shows that the government is not genuinely committed to the fight against corruption. It is no surprise that Nigeria has performed very poorly in the Transparency International 2009 Corruption Perception Index, ranking 130th of the 180 countries surveyed."
Born November 11,1960, Ribadu graduated from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1984 before joining the Nigeria Police, where he rose to become head of the Legal and Prosecution Department, Police Headquarters, Abuja. His 18-year service in the Nigeria Police culminated in his appointment as the pioneer Chairman of EFCC by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2003.
Ribadu has been recipient of several awards, as a police officer, prosecutor and EFCC chairman. He received triple Inspector-General of Police Awards in 1997, 1998 and 2000 and the Special Commendation of the Accountant-General of the Federation for successfully prosecuting some corrupt public servants in 1999. Notable Nigerian newspapers, including ThisDay, The Sun, Leadership, Nigerian Tribune and NewAge, declared him Man of the Year in 2004 and 2005. On April 15, 2008, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) selected Ribadu for the Jit Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.
Meanwhile, human right crusaders assembled at the United Nations Information Centre, in Lagos yesterday to renew their campaign against human rights abuse worldwide.
The parley tagged, "Embracing Diversity and Ending Discrimination," was in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day.
In his speech, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, whose message was delivered by UNIC's Officer-in-Charge, Nosa Osazuwa, said it was saddened to realize that no country was exonerated yet from human rights abuse.
Moon said discrimination is seen everywhere, in many forms, old and new, covert and blatant and in the public and private sectors. He added that discrimination may appear as institutionalised racism, ethnic strife, episodes of intolerance and rejection, or as an official national version of history that denies the identity of some others.
According to him, discriminatory attacks are usually launched at individuals and groups that are disabled, women and girls, the poor, migrants, minorities, and all those who are perceived as different.
Moo said these vulnerable people are frequently excluded from participating in the economic, political, cultural and social lives of their communities.
Enters, Nigeria: The future I see
published on Tuesday, November 17, 2009,
The Guardian Newspapers
Enters, Nigeria: The future I see
By Yemi Olakitan
LESS than a month after it was announced, African Artists Foundation (AAF)'s second national art competition has been receiving responses across the country.
This development, AAF Chairman, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu, said shows that Nigerian youths are aware of their artistic potentials and ready to explore them.
The competition, which is being organized in partnership with the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc "is reaching out to schools, art organisations, and international bodies nationwide."
To ensure that Nigerian youths make the best of this opportunity, Nwagbogu said: "some of the winning artists of last year's competition are also on a mission to spread the word in different parts of the country. One of AAF's curators Zainab Ashadu is currently at Abuja to meet with schools, organisations and the media."
The competition is opened to artists who are 30 years and below. The young artists are expected to submit an artwork inspired by the theme: Nigeria: The future I see.
These works are to be taken from four genres: new media, photography, painting and sculpture. They are to be submitted at any British Council office nationwide.
These works may also be submitted at Alliance Franaise and any Nigerian university campus. The artists are to ensure an acknowledgement is received after dropping the entry to ensure their entry is not lost. "All entries must be on CD/DVD formats," he said.
The competition carries a cash prize of N750, 000 each for four winners and instant catapult to fame would open up the four to numerous opportunities in the art sector across the nation and in the international community.
He said the foundation had concluded arrangements that would ensure that the winners derive the utmost benefit from wining the competition. One of them is a two weeks training workshops in which winners of the competition would be exposed to fresh ideas and techniques in creative art.
Project Coordinator, Chineye Olugazie said the NB Plc and the AAF are truly committed to making the competition national by assembling the best talents around, which is one of the major objectives of the AAF.
Mr. Vivian Ikem of NB Plc., traced his company's involvement in the competition to its determination to be socially responsible.
Ikem said the company is also involved in education, sports and culture sppnsorships.
While declaring that NB Plc is committed to sustaining the growth of arts and all artistic expressions in Nigeria, he noted that such sensitive areas are not left entirely in the hands of Federal and state governments.
"Only the private sector can effectively reach the grassroots and develop human resources and potentials to enviable standards,"
He added that the Nigerian Golden Pen Awards, which was organised for journalists, was designed to develop creativity and professionalism in the country.
The Guardian Newspapers
Enters, Nigeria: The future I see
By Yemi Olakitan
LESS than a month after it was announced, African Artists Foundation (AAF)'s second national art competition has been receiving responses across the country.
This development, AAF Chairman, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu, said shows that Nigerian youths are aware of their artistic potentials and ready to explore them.
The competition, which is being organized in partnership with the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc "is reaching out to schools, art organisations, and international bodies nationwide."
To ensure that Nigerian youths make the best of this opportunity, Nwagbogu said: "some of the winning artists of last year's competition are also on a mission to spread the word in different parts of the country. One of AAF's curators Zainab Ashadu is currently at Abuja to meet with schools, organisations and the media."
The competition is opened to artists who are 30 years and below. The young artists are expected to submit an artwork inspired by the theme: Nigeria: The future I see.
These works are to be taken from four genres: new media, photography, painting and sculpture. They are to be submitted at any British Council office nationwide.
These works may also be submitted at Alliance Franaise and any Nigerian university campus. The artists are to ensure an acknowledgement is received after dropping the entry to ensure their entry is not lost. "All entries must be on CD/DVD formats," he said.
The competition carries a cash prize of N750, 000 each for four winners and instant catapult to fame would open up the four to numerous opportunities in the art sector across the nation and in the international community.
He said the foundation had concluded arrangements that would ensure that the winners derive the utmost benefit from wining the competition. One of them is a two weeks training workshops in which winners of the competition would be exposed to fresh ideas and techniques in creative art.
Project Coordinator, Chineye Olugazie said the NB Plc and the AAF are truly committed to making the competition national by assembling the best talents around, which is one of the major objectives of the AAF.
Mr. Vivian Ikem of NB Plc., traced his company's involvement in the competition to its determination to be socially responsible.
Ikem said the company is also involved in education, sports and culture sppnsorships.
While declaring that NB Plc is committed to sustaining the growth of arts and all artistic expressions in Nigeria, he noted that such sensitive areas are not left entirely in the hands of Federal and state governments.
"Only the private sector can effectively reach the grassroots and develop human resources and potentials to enviable standards,"
He added that the Nigerian Golden Pen Awards, which was organised for journalists, was designed to develop creativity and professionalism in the country.
At African media forum, experts push for improved content, structure
By Yemi Olakitan
Publishd in the Guardian Newspapers,
November 23rd, 2009
RECENTLY, more than 100 media practitioners gathered in Lagos under the umbrella of Africa Media Initiatives (AMI) to discuss issues concerning media development in the continent.
The forum, which attracted delegates from 48 countries, held at the Federal Palace Hotel and the Civic Center, Lagos.
Keynotes at the forum were by the famous ABC Nightline anchor, Mr. Ted Koppel; Co founder of Huffinghton Post in the US, Arianna Huffinghton and publisher of the Next Newspapers, Dele Olojede, as well as the Dean of Medil School of Journalism, John Lavine.
The forum built on the outcome of the first, which, among other things, called for the development of a charter structure to guide the work of African Media Leaders Forum.
It also reflected on the commitment of media owners to seek common ground on problems and prospects of the industry.
The platform also looked at common problem solving methods, alongside high profile advocacy for an enabling macro-economic and socio political environment in which media institutions could thrive.
Some other issues discussed include the possible future and the practice of journalism in Africa in an age of radical media and technological change, drawing examples from other parts of the world.
While it envisioned and pinpointed new media business models, the forum considered the evolving media development and possibilities of financing the ventures it engenders. It also linked the overall governance agenda in Africa to the media, including its merits and demerits as a fourth estate of the realm. It analysed the implications of monetising content for the development agenda and also explored the African Media initiative as strategy for an improved media landscape.
Hosted by THISDAY and attended by media owners and practitioners from the continent, the forum urged the industry in Africa to hold their governments accountable.
Speaking before the first session, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, who is the founding chairman of AMLF, said the forum was designed to create a new experience to chart the course of development on the continent.
Obaigbena said the second forum became imperative to build on the outcomes of the maiden conference in Dakar, Senegal last year in such a way that it would be beneficial to practitioners on the continent.
In his remarks, Mr. Eric Chinje, Co-President AMLF and Manager, External Relations of the Africa Region of the World Bank, said the forum was aimed at critical reflection and common problem solving along with concerted high-profile advocacy for an enabling macro-economic and socio-political environment where media institutions could thrive.
Chinje said the African Media Initiative (AMI) was expected to generate support for the continent, adding that media owners are better positioned to talk about issues involving them.
The Co-President AMLF and President, All Africa Global Media, Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, said each delegate represented a powerful voice from their respective countries.
Ba urged the delegates to work together to present African views to the rest of the world.
In his keynote titled: What are the Possible Futures of Journalism with the Experience of New Media," Koppel said new technology of Internet cannot kill the newspaper industry. He added that he does not want the continent's media to become obsessed with the new technology.
He said the polarisation of news had drawn a lot of people back to the traditional media, which they had discovered carry verifiable news.
He said the Internet conveys millions of facts everyday, but it does not mean that those facts are true.
On Media and Governance: Myths and Realities of a Fourth Estate, Huffington said the evolvement of the new media was very important to the industry.
Huffington cited the instance of U.S President Barack Obama, who won his election on the strength of the Internet.
She said another advantage of the new media is its ability for instantaneous correction especially as it relates to the polarization in the mainstream media.
Also speaking as a panelist, Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, advocated an interface between the old and the new media in the practice of journalism.
Jijiwa said the future of democracy in Africa depended on how the media engaged the new and old media in presenting information to the people of the continent.
Jijiwa also talked on the relevance of community radio in the emerging African democracy. He was of the opinion that community radio is the most effective media in Africa, as it cannot be hindered by illiteracy.
He called on African leaders and policy makers to embrace community radio, as this will help the continent immensely in its quest for effective information dissemination.
There was also a session on "Media Development: Financing Media Ventures," moderated by CEO Africa International, France, Marie Roger Bilos, where the hurdles faced by media entrepreneurs in securing loans for their projects were highlighted.
The forum was rounded off with the third plenary discussing "Media Development: Financing Media Ventures". On the panel were Tayo Aderinokun, Group Managing Director, Guarantee Trust Bank; Ncube; George Twumasi, CEO, African Broadcasting Network, UK and Kate Senye, CEO, Southern Africa Media Development Fund, Namibia.
Marie Roger Biloa, the CEO of Africa International, France, moderated the plenary.
There was also a gala dinner night hosted by the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the country's Governors Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Civic Center, Lagos.
The forum ended with a call on owners and operators of media organisations in Africa to embrace the digital revolution for seamless information dissemination on the continent. It also provided opportunity to present a draft of AMLF's charter.
The forum had Trevor Ncubde, Executive Vice Chairman Mail and Guardian South Africa; Linus Gitahi, CEO Nation Media Group; Kenyan Pius Njawe; Cameroun's Keneth Best, publisher of the Liberian Observer, Robert Kabushenga; CEO New Vision, Omar Ben Yeder, Publisher, IC Publications, UK's Marie Roger Biloa, publisher Africa international; France Mathatha Tsedu, among others in attendance.
Publishd in the Guardian Newspapers,
November 23rd, 2009
RECENTLY, more than 100 media practitioners gathered in Lagos under the umbrella of Africa Media Initiatives (AMI) to discuss issues concerning media development in the continent.
The forum, which attracted delegates from 48 countries, held at the Federal Palace Hotel and the Civic Center, Lagos.
Keynotes at the forum were by the famous ABC Nightline anchor, Mr. Ted Koppel; Co founder of Huffinghton Post in the US, Arianna Huffinghton and publisher of the Next Newspapers, Dele Olojede, as well as the Dean of Medil School of Journalism, John Lavine.
The forum built on the outcome of the first, which, among other things, called for the development of a charter structure to guide the work of African Media Leaders Forum.
It also reflected on the commitment of media owners to seek common ground on problems and prospects of the industry.
The platform also looked at common problem solving methods, alongside high profile advocacy for an enabling macro-economic and socio political environment in which media institutions could thrive.
Some other issues discussed include the possible future and the practice of journalism in Africa in an age of radical media and technological change, drawing examples from other parts of the world.
While it envisioned and pinpointed new media business models, the forum considered the evolving media development and possibilities of financing the ventures it engenders. It also linked the overall governance agenda in Africa to the media, including its merits and demerits as a fourth estate of the realm. It analysed the implications of monetising content for the development agenda and also explored the African Media initiative as strategy for an improved media landscape.
Hosted by THISDAY and attended by media owners and practitioners from the continent, the forum urged the industry in Africa to hold their governments accountable.
Speaking before the first session, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, who is the founding chairman of AMLF, said the forum was designed to create a new experience to chart the course of development on the continent.
Obaigbena said the second forum became imperative to build on the outcomes of the maiden conference in Dakar, Senegal last year in such a way that it would be beneficial to practitioners on the continent.
In his remarks, Mr. Eric Chinje, Co-President AMLF and Manager, External Relations of the Africa Region of the World Bank, said the forum was aimed at critical reflection and common problem solving along with concerted high-profile advocacy for an enabling macro-economic and socio-political environment where media institutions could thrive.
Chinje said the African Media Initiative (AMI) was expected to generate support for the continent, adding that media owners are better positioned to talk about issues involving them.
The Co-President AMLF and President, All Africa Global Media, Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, said each delegate represented a powerful voice from their respective countries.
Ba urged the delegates to work together to present African views to the rest of the world.
In his keynote titled: What are the Possible Futures of Journalism with the Experience of New Media," Koppel said new technology of Internet cannot kill the newspaper industry. He added that he does not want the continent's media to become obsessed with the new technology.
He said the polarisation of news had drawn a lot of people back to the traditional media, which they had discovered carry verifiable news.
He said the Internet conveys millions of facts everyday, but it does not mean that those facts are true.
On Media and Governance: Myths and Realities of a Fourth Estate, Huffington said the evolvement of the new media was very important to the industry.
Huffington cited the instance of U.S President Barack Obama, who won his election on the strength of the Internet.
She said another advantage of the new media is its ability for instantaneous correction especially as it relates to the polarization in the mainstream media.
Also speaking as a panelist, Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, advocated an interface between the old and the new media in the practice of journalism.
Jijiwa said the future of democracy in Africa depended on how the media engaged the new and old media in presenting information to the people of the continent.
Jijiwa also talked on the relevance of community radio in the emerging African democracy. He was of the opinion that community radio is the most effective media in Africa, as it cannot be hindered by illiteracy.
He called on African leaders and policy makers to embrace community radio, as this will help the continent immensely in its quest for effective information dissemination.
There was also a session on "Media Development: Financing Media Ventures," moderated by CEO Africa International, France, Marie Roger Bilos, where the hurdles faced by media entrepreneurs in securing loans for their projects were highlighted.
The forum was rounded off with the third plenary discussing "Media Development: Financing Media Ventures". On the panel were Tayo Aderinokun, Group Managing Director, Guarantee Trust Bank; Ncube; George Twumasi, CEO, African Broadcasting Network, UK and Kate Senye, CEO, Southern Africa Media Development Fund, Namibia.
Marie Roger Biloa, the CEO of Africa International, France, moderated the plenary.
There was also a gala dinner night hosted by the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the country's Governors Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Civic Center, Lagos.
The forum ended with a call on owners and operators of media organisations in Africa to embrace the digital revolution for seamless information dissemination on the continent. It also provided opportunity to present a draft of AMLF's charter.
The forum had Trevor Ncubde, Executive Vice Chairman Mail and Guardian South Africa; Linus Gitahi, CEO Nation Media Group; Kenyan Pius Njawe; Cameroun's Keneth Best, publisher of the Liberian Observer, Robert Kabushenga; CEO New Vision, Omar Ben Yeder, Publisher, IC Publications, UK's Marie Roger Biloa, publisher Africa international; France Mathatha Tsedu, among others in attendance.
More Articles
At 20, APCON strategises for future, confers honorary fellowship on Babangida, others
By Yemi Olakitan,Monday,
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
November 16th,2009
WHEN in 1988, the former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, signed into law, a decree establishing the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, he possibly did not know that he was making himself an integral part of the history of advertising practice in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
He possibly too, did not realise at the time that he had mid-wifed the birth of a child, who would grow to become a great man and also give birth to other great men.
This child is the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. A council that has since then, taken advertising to a greater height, making it one of the most advanced sectors of the Nigerian economy; yielding billions of naira in revenue every year, employing hundreds of professionals and training a handful of practitioners yearly.
These were some of the reasons for the gathering of stakeholders in the marketing communications sector, guests and Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos on Thursday, November 12, to celebrate 20 years of robust growth and unprecedented achievements in the advertising sector and to honour those, who have been a part of the success story of APCON such as Badamasi Babangida, past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola and his counterpart then, Prince Tony Momoh (Information).
APCON was established by Act No 55 of 1988 and revised by Act No 93 of 1992 to regulate advertising practice in Nigeria.
The event, which started with a cocktail and the rendition of the National Anthem by an orchestra of violins, had Prof. Akunyili on the high table with the chairman of the occasion, Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jnr, Prince Ajibola, Alhaji Farouk Usman and Mr. Bayo Atoyade.
The Chairman of APCON, Mr. Christopher Awusa Doghudje, in his welcome address, congratulated the three eminent persons who were conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Awards of the council.
These people, he said were the ones who brought advertising to the forefront in Nigeria. The chairman said without them; APCON would not be celebrating its 20th anniversary. According to him, it was an honour well deserved.
The chairman said the former President, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Adamu Aliyu, ensured that the council had a legal footing by enacting a law that backed it up.
Doghudje, who at an earlier media briefing took stock of the progress recorded over the past 20 years, said APCON, has succeeded immensely in professionalising and regulating the practice of advertising in Nigeria.
Other Nigerians who were also honored included Professor Charles Okigbo, who was the first chairman of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe, who was honoured for being the third chairman and Chief Olu Falomo, for being the second. They were conferred with the APCON Special Recognition Awards.
Falomo, in his remarks, said through the 14 years that he served; he knew that the council would go places. He expressed gratitudes for the honour done him and his colleagues.
He said the awards was not for any individual but for all those who worked as a team to bring APCON to a fine peculiarity with international advertising organisations all over the developed world.
A number of distinguished practitioners also became fellows at the event. They were Mr. Yinka Adepoju, and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, who became the first female practitioner to rise to such a level in the industry. Mr. Rufai Ladipo of Angel Communications and Feyijimi Awosika of Insight Communications were also honoured as fellow.
Speaking at the event, Professor Akunyili enlightened advertising practitioners on relevance of the national re-branding effort of her ministry to national development.
According to her, advertising is a major stakeholder in re-branding Nigeria project. She said the project is about changing the negative image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the international circles.
"We have allowed others to tell our stories for us," she noted. "We are not treated well at airports around the world, once they see the Green Passport, you will be asked to stand aside. This is as a result of our battered image, many foreigners who come to Nigeria have discovered that what they see is far different from what they were told in their countries.ÕÕ
She continued, "when I came to the office as the image-maker of the nation, I felt strongly that the negative image of Nigeria should not be left alone. We studied the situation and came up with the re-branding project. We also came up with a slogan for re-orientation and attitudinal change with the aim of imbibing the spirit of patriotism: ÔNigeria, Good People, Great CountryÕ
"We have people that have excelled in their various fields of endeavour and achieved international acclaim. Nigerians are very hardworking people and honest. Our nation has spearheaded peacekeeping operations in many parts of Africa. We were at the forefront in the struggle against Apartheid. Many Nigerian civil servants donated their salaries to fight the Apartheid regime in South Africa. We have helped in bringing peace and stability to many countries but we have allowed other people to define who we are. We donÕt talk about our contributions to global peace, stability and progress. We have allowed a few criminals to define who we are as a country. We must make a statement and we must make strong impressions that our nation will not continue to be defined in negative information. Nollywood is the second most vibrant film industry in the world. We must say these things loud for all to hear."
She added, "we are working with over 17 millions Nigerians in the Diasporas. We are going to establish units in schools to encourage the spirit of patriotism in young people. Re-branding will complement infrastructure and economic development. It is important to national development it does not stop it."
The celebrations, which started on November 11, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, with an advertising career seminar for undergraduates and fresh graduates continued at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers on Friday, of November13.
The event attracted members of the governing council who are from the key stakeholders in the advertising industry and other interests.The stakeholders and interests such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Federal Ministry of Health and Tertiary institutions offering advertising related courses.
By Yemi Olakitan,Monday,
Published in the Guardian Newspapers
November 16th,2009
WHEN in 1988, the former Military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, signed into law, a decree establishing the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, he possibly did not know that he was making himself an integral part of the history of advertising practice in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
He possibly too, did not realise at the time that he had mid-wifed the birth of a child, who would grow to become a great man and also give birth to other great men.
This child is the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. A council that has since then, taken advertising to a greater height, making it one of the most advanced sectors of the Nigerian economy; yielding billions of naira in revenue every year, employing hundreds of professionals and training a handful of practitioners yearly.
These were some of the reasons for the gathering of stakeholders in the marketing communications sector, guests and Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos on Thursday, November 12, to celebrate 20 years of robust growth and unprecedented achievements in the advertising sector and to honour those, who have been a part of the success story of APCON such as Badamasi Babangida, past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola and his counterpart then, Prince Tony Momoh (Information).
APCON was established by Act No 55 of 1988 and revised by Act No 93 of 1992 to regulate advertising practice in Nigeria.
The event, which started with a cocktail and the rendition of the National Anthem by an orchestra of violins, had Prof. Akunyili on the high table with the chairman of the occasion, Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jnr, Prince Ajibola, Alhaji Farouk Usman and Mr. Bayo Atoyade.
The Chairman of APCON, Mr. Christopher Awusa Doghudje, in his welcome address, congratulated the three eminent persons who were conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Awards of the council.
These people, he said were the ones who brought advertising to the forefront in Nigeria. The chairman said without them; APCON would not be celebrating its 20th anniversary. According to him, it was an honour well deserved.
The chairman said the former President, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Adamu Aliyu, ensured that the council had a legal footing by enacting a law that backed it up.
Doghudje, who at an earlier media briefing took stock of the progress recorded over the past 20 years, said APCON, has succeeded immensely in professionalising and regulating the practice of advertising in Nigeria.
Other Nigerians who were also honored included Professor Charles Okigbo, who was the first chairman of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe, who was honoured for being the third chairman and Chief Olu Falomo, for being the second. They were conferred with the APCON Special Recognition Awards.
Falomo, in his remarks, said through the 14 years that he served; he knew that the council would go places. He expressed gratitudes for the honour done him and his colleagues.
He said the awards was not for any individual but for all those who worked as a team to bring APCON to a fine peculiarity with international advertising organisations all over the developed world.
A number of distinguished practitioners also became fellows at the event. They were Mr. Yinka Adepoju, and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, who became the first female practitioner to rise to such a level in the industry. Mr. Rufai Ladipo of Angel Communications and Feyijimi Awosika of Insight Communications were also honoured as fellow.
Speaking at the event, Professor Akunyili enlightened advertising practitioners on relevance of the national re-branding effort of her ministry to national development.
According to her, advertising is a major stakeholder in re-branding Nigeria project. She said the project is about changing the negative image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the international circles.
"We have allowed others to tell our stories for us," she noted. "We are not treated well at airports around the world, once they see the Green Passport, you will be asked to stand aside. This is as a result of our battered image, many foreigners who come to Nigeria have discovered that what they see is far different from what they were told in their countries.ÕÕ
She continued, "when I came to the office as the image-maker of the nation, I felt strongly that the negative image of Nigeria should not be left alone. We studied the situation and came up with the re-branding project. We also came up with a slogan for re-orientation and attitudinal change with the aim of imbibing the spirit of patriotism: ÔNigeria, Good People, Great CountryÕ
"We have people that have excelled in their various fields of endeavour and achieved international acclaim. Nigerians are very hardworking people and honest. Our nation has spearheaded peacekeeping operations in many parts of Africa. We were at the forefront in the struggle against Apartheid. Many Nigerian civil servants donated their salaries to fight the Apartheid regime in South Africa. We have helped in bringing peace and stability to many countries but we have allowed other people to define who we are. We donÕt talk about our contributions to global peace, stability and progress. We have allowed a few criminals to define who we are as a country. We must make a statement and we must make strong impressions that our nation will not continue to be defined in negative information. Nollywood is the second most vibrant film industry in the world. We must say these things loud for all to hear."
She added, "we are working with over 17 millions Nigerians in the Diasporas. We are going to establish units in schools to encourage the spirit of patriotism in young people. Re-branding will complement infrastructure and economic development. It is important to national development it does not stop it."
The celebrations, which started on November 11, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, with an advertising career seminar for undergraduates and fresh graduates continued at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers on Friday, of November13.
The event attracted members of the governing council who are from the key stakeholders in the advertising industry and other interests.The stakeholders and interests such as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, Federal Ministry of Health and Tertiary institutions offering advertising related courses.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Voice of Nigeria ... boosting music and drama quality with new facilities
By Yemi Olakitan
WITH the commissioning, last Friday, of its ultra-modern Music and Drama Studio, the Voice of Nigeria (VON) is providing a platform for stakeholders in marketing communication and entertainment industry to produce their TVC and jingles in the country. Producing television commercials off shore, especially in the United Kingdom and South Africa, has become a common practice among the advertising agencies in the country. The reason has always been that the facilities available in the country do not offer the high quality demand of most advertisers.
But the new facilities including a new drama production and editing studio will also serve musicians and moviemakers better. Also commissioned was the Pent House to address the accommodation challenge of members of staff who are always on shift duty to open the external radio station of the federal government as early as 5a.m. However, the new facilities, according to the Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, are geared towards realizing the 24-hour transmission target of the radio organization in the nearest future.
The event featured Information and Communication Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili and some former bosses of the external broadcasting outlet as well as the veteran broadcaster, Ambassador Segun Olusola among others.
In fact, the facilities were named after two former Directors of Voice of Nigeria. The Pent House was named after Alhaji Yaya Abubakar while the Music and Drama Recording studio was named after Aremo Taiwo Alimi; both were former Directors- General of the Voice of Nigeria. The Music and Drama Production studio was named after Professor J.O. Uruku who was represented by her daughter, Eno Uruku. The studio is an extension of the Taiwo Alimi recording studio, which is tagged Studio 9.
Prof. Akunyili thanked the VON Director General for what she termed "kind demonstration of true leadership" in recognizing the contributions of the past Directors General of the radio organisation and naming the facilities after them.
According to her, the facilities will enhance broadcasting at the Voice of Nigeria. Akunyili was happy that VON had identified with the re-branding project of the information ministry. She stressed that in rebranding the nation, efforts must be made towards re-branding key institutions in the country. She said when key institutions are re-branded, the nation's rebranding efforts would become tremendously fruitful. The new facilities, she said, underscored the fact that "Voice of Nigeria has fully re-branded itself."
The Minster insisted that the new facilities were the best in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to her, when all the facilities (including the new transmission studio in Abuja) are commissioned, VON will become a force to be reckoned with not only in Africa but also in international broadcasting.
Akunyili expressed satisfaction about the feedback she has been receiving concerning VON. "I receive commendation letters from different countries of the world on your services and it shows you are doing a great job because documents don't lie,'' she said.
She thanked the management and members of staff of the radio station for their hardwork and dedication to duties, which have inspired such international outpouring of commendations from across the world. Her words: "Only a selfless leader will honour his predecessors the way the present Director General has done."
Commenting further on Mallam Jijawa, she described him as a good leader. "We have a Director General that says my predecessor conceives an idea and I am going to actualise it and name it after him, such an attitude is rare. It is a true sign of good leadership.''
While commissioning the facilities, especially the Pent House, Akunyili urged the staff to use the tools to send out positive messages about their country. "We must tell the world the true stories about Nigeria because most of what you hear from foreign media are negative reports about the nation. "Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in the world; neither do we have the highest incidents of rape. We must tell the world the positive stories about our great country.''
She congratulated the duo of Alhaji Yaya Abubakar and Aremo Taiwo Alimi for the great honour bestowed on them.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, Jijawa had described the commissioning of the Musical and Drama Recording Studio, the 10 Compartment Editing Studio and the Penthouse as well as the state-of-the-art editing and news gathering gadgets, the mini museum which displayed some of the awards received by VON over the years as the results of massive renewal, renovation, regeneration and rehabilitation process embarked upon by the organisation in the last four years.
The rehabilitation of the Pent House, he said, became necessary "because of the shift-staff would need a place to stay when they work odd hours in order to meet up with the 24 hours broadcasting regime of the station, as they will have to resume at 5.a.m everyday.
According to him, the Music and Drama studios will be used for musical recordings. VON will be able to escape all the copyright issues that accompanied musical usage by composing its own music and recording them through the use of its digital studio. The studio will also be available for musicians and moviemakers.
Speaking further on facilities, Alhaji Jijiwa said all desks and offices in VON could now boast of modern computers with Internet facilities. He used the occasion to announce that VON has contracted and is now test running the largest most modern and digitally compliant radio transmitting project in Africa at Lugbe, Abuja, which is 98 per cent complete.
He also disclosed that the media organization had acquired the rotating antenna technology. Alhaji Jijawa said this technology allows VON to rotate its antenna and beam signals to any region of the world with the touch of a button.
He also said the VON would add more languages to its list. Right now the station broadcast in eight languages: Arabic, English, French, Fulufude, Swahili, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. But efforts, he stated, were being made to add Portuguese, German, Mandarin, Chinese and Hindi.
In an emotional speech in response to the honour done to him, former VON Director General, Alhaji Yaya Abubakar thanked Mallam Jijiwa for remembering his contributions to VON. He however said the honour was not meant for him alone but for all the past Directors-General of VON who were not present at the occasion. His words: "We must remember that all of them have contributed in one-way or the other to the success story of VON."
Chief Taiwo Alimi on his own part said he was socked to hear the news that the studio would be named after him. He expressed gratitude to Mallam Jijiwa, management and the staff of VON who have considered it worthy to honour their past leaders. He concluded that those who honour others would themselves be honoured. He thanked the Minister of Information, Prof. Akunyili for her support for VON. Also, he had kind words for the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information for what he termed "his dedication to the development of the media sector in Nigeria."
EKO ATLANTIC CITY: HOW FEASIBLE?
By Yemi Olakitan
The proposed Eko Atlantic City has had everyone babbling or talking since the Lagos State Government announced its plan to transform the Bar Beach areas into a mighty city within Lagos state. The huballoo created by the project is to be expected, judging from the experiences of residents along the Bar beach vicinity who have suffered persistent ocean surge along the Bar Beach coastal areas until the former state Governor; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought succour to the people by building a lengthy dam that permanently ended the relentless Ocean surges.
Many are excited about the Eko Atlantic City project. Some are sceptical. While some people have lauded the plan as a good step in the right direction, others have criticised it and looked at it like a white elephant project that might not be attainable. Some have even described the project as a possible gateway to disaster such as the much publicised tsunamis and hurricane Rita of the United States. No matter how experts have tried to explain the enourmous benefits of the project, some are still fearful, doubtful or disapproving.
The sheer magnitude of this project has left many people in wonderment. Some commentators have even said that government would soon abandon the idea.
The City is among other things, expected to have residential structures, first Class hotels, restaurants, architectural edifices that might serve as tourists’ destinations for the rest of the world. It is expected to boast of numerous commercial, financial and holliday havens; making the city a hot cake for the property and investment market in the country. This is however, the 21 st Century and Nigeria is catching up fast with the rest of the world, so there is every possibility that the project is attainable like the Tunapa project of Governor Donald Duke.
In a chat with news men on the various concerns of critics and commentators; Lagos state Commissioner for Lagos State Water Front and infrastructural Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru gave assurance that there would be no negative environmental effects as a result of the project. He said; all scientific calculations and investigations have already been concluded. The commissioner said the state Government has also worked on the Environmental Impact Assessment, (EIA) because of the size of the project. The Commissioner hinted that the Eko Atlantic City will be as big as the present day Victoria Island. Speaking further on the project; the commissioner said the city is targeting 250,000 residents and 200,000 commuters flowing to the island on a daily basis for work or relaxation. The commissioner said, if such cities can be built on deserts and seas in other parts of the world, it is possible to achieve the same in Nigeria.
The benefits of the projects are innumerable to mention. One is the creation of thousands of jobs for Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole. The City when completed will also attract businessmen and tourists. It will bring investment to Lagos state and create opportunities for the citizens. The Lagos beaches are presently being used for criminal activities; prostitutes, miscreants, pickpockets and the likes have made the beaches their dwelling place. A project such as this will eradicate its present status and turn our shores into a place of recreational beauty, promoting business and noble objectives.
Another question on everyone’s lips is how the state Government will fund such a big project? Is the Lagos State Government counting on the federal Government to fund this ambitious project? The face off between the Federal Government under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the local government fund is still fresh in memory.
The Lagos state Government however said the project will be financed entirely by private initiative.
Eko Atlantic City will be sponsored and promoted by the Chagoury Group. The Chagoury group is the leading Construction and Property Company in West Africa. The group is heavily involved in dredging, land reclamations and infrastructural developments. It is the owner of the biggest Hotel in the state; Eko Hotel and suites and has experienced architectural, building and construction Engineers and Scientists, who are well trained on such projects. The Chagoury Group are not new to such projects, currently, the group are reported to be involved in the development of two major projects; Banana Island in Ikoyi which is a residential complex on reclaimed land of approximately 1.8 million square meters and Eko Akete, an infrastructural development of approximately 400 hectares and 30 km from Victoria Island. The Chagoury Group seems to have the right credentials and experience for the enourmous Eko Atlantic City project.
On the modus operandi, Honourable Commissioner for Lagos State Water Front and infrastructural Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru said, the sand on the beach will be taken back to where it was formerly in the 50s and 60s about 5km back into the ocean. The commissioner said as soon as the land is reclaimed both foreign and local investors will be invited for allocation. He added that the investors will be given a deadline to develop their land because failure to do so within a given timeframe will lead to forfeiture of the allocated land. The project, as reported, will be carried out in phases. Structures on the land will be available in the next five to seven years as planned by the state government and its private developer.
Media reports said the design of the Eko Atlantic City includes protective breakwaters on its outer perimeter to provide shelter from the oceans waves. According to the Chagoury Group, the breakwater will be designed as a submerged and immerged wall utilizing advanced X-blocs which are enourmous X shaped concrete blocks designed to dissipate energy from the waves. The land itself will be reclaimed through a sand filling, concrete and rocks filling that will create a strong foundation for the structures that will be put in place.
Eko Atlantic City, instead of being a potential disaster as many thought, will keep the Bar Beach Ocean surge permanently eradicated and turns the beach into a paradise city. On this note, The Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola has began promoting his new dream for Lagos state. The state Governor was reportedly present at “This Day Special international Summit’ which was held in New York, USA. The Governor led the drive for investors’ participation in the Lagos of his dream at the summit which was titled: Nigeria Meets the World: Turning Challenges into Opportunities. Reports say, the issue of the Lagos Mega City project was discussed and investors were encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
Eko Atlantic City is part of a bigger project; the Lagos state Mega city Project. Part of which is the development of Badagry and the creation of a link between it and the rest of the state. This will include a modern transportation system. The Mega city Project also includes the provision of infrastructure, mass housing, creation of employment and tourism as well as the creation of Eko Atlantic City.
In the final analysis, great economies are been run today through private participation and involvement. The state and the Federal government do not have all the resources nor the expertise to transform a developing economy into what it should be or what it can become. They may have the idea and the concepts. It is only through the involvement of the private sector that goals and visions can be achieved and fully realised. A government that claim a monopoly of knowledge and resources can not do well in the new generation of advanced economy and development. By involving private investment it is most feasible that the Lagos state Government will achieve its lofty objectives of transforming Lagos state into and haven of business opportunities and tourism.
The Guardian wins Newspaper, Editor of the Year
The Guardian wins Newspaper, Editor of the Year
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The newspaper's editor, Mr. Debo Adesina, also beat two other nominees, Steve Ayorinde of The Punch and Simon Kolawale of ThisDay Newspapers to emerge the Editor of the Year. A Senior Correspondent of the newspaper, Chukwuma Muanya, also bagged the Ernest Ikoli Prize for the Best Newspaper Reporter of the Year after beating two other nominees, who included his colleague in The Guardian, Debo Oladimeji and Dipo Kehinde of Punch Newspapers. But the event, which took place at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, was nearly marred by the long delay in its take-off as the organisers waited for the arrival of the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, to no avail. There were 47 awards in all, 35 in print, six in radio and six in television media. Other winners were Olushola Fabiyi who won the Abubakar Imam Prize for Features Writer of the Year, the Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the year was won by Lateef Ololade of Punch Newspapers while the News-Photographer of the year was won by Lukman Ajisegiri of Tell Magazine. The UBA prize for Money Market Reporting went to Salife Adejoko of National Life Newspapers. Editorial Writing of the Year award was won by The Punch while Louis Odion of National Life bagged the Columnist of the Year award. The Telecommunications Reporter of the year awards, which was sponsored by MTN, went to Seun Igbalode of IT and Telecom Digest. The Agriculture Reporter of the year award was given to Stella Sawyer of TELL Magazine while the Oyinlola Prize for Culture and Tourism went to Sina Fadare of Champion Newspapers. The Bashorun MKO Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter went to Okereochi Chikodi of Broad Street Journal and the Capital Market Reporter of the year went to Emmanuel Uffot. The Political Reporter of the Year award was given to Anayochukwu Agbo of TELL Magazine. The Environment Reporter of the year award went to Temitayo Sanyaolu of TELL Magazine. The banking and Finance award went to Raymond Mordi of Broad Street Journal. Sola Alabadan of Daily Independent received the Insurance Reporter of the Year award. The Cartoonist of the Year award went to Azeez Sanni of The Nation. Wale Alabi received the CRS Reporter of the year award. The Business Reporter of the year award went to Manuaka Tony of BSJ while the energy Correspondent Reporter of the year was Chucks Isiwu. Other major awards in the electronic section include Radio Production of the Year, which went to Shola Solanke, Radio Programme of the Year went to Abiodun Bannola. The Radio Station of the Year was Rhythm 93.7 while the Television Reporter of the Year was given to Deji Badmus. This year, the media sector in Africa celebrates 50 years of television broadcasting in Nigeria. Channels Television took the Television Station of the Year award. Most of the award winners went home with computer laptops, cash prizes, and a book-- Democracy Watch-- written by former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh. The NMMA was inaugurated in December 1990 to celebrate and reward media excellence. The objectives of NMMA have been sustained and achieved through the years. Lagos was the official host of the awards in the early years. It was later decided that the yearly award ceremony should go round the various states of the federation on the advice of the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the Grand Patron of the NMMA. Guests were seated at about 6.00 p.m. when the event was billed to begin and waited till 10.30 p.m., when members of the committee decided to call off the opening ceremony activities to go into the award presentations. Attempts by government officials present, including Secretary to the State government, Martin Ilo, Chief of Staff, Ifeoma Nwobodo and some commissioners to stand in for the governor were rebuffed by the organisers. When finally the event started, some guests had left. Announcing the awards at the 19th edition of the NMMA held in Enugu, Chairman of the 2009 Award Nominating Panel, Prince Tony Momoh, one of Nigeria's foremost journalists, lawyer and renowned media manager, said The Guardian's in-depth reportage, fairness and reach marks it as the best in the country, stressing that the paper had truly lived up to its name as the leader in the industry to win the Babatunde Jose Prize. The newspaper, he said, had maintained high standards, stressing that it met the requirements and satisfaction of the 25-man nominating committee for this year's award. Describing Debo Adesina as a high-profile editor, who had in 2005 and 2006 won the Dele Giwa Prize for the Best Editor of the Year, Momoh said that Adesina has continually distinguished himself since he became the youngest editor in the country then at the age of 27, just about four years after joining The Guardian stable in 1988. Board Chairman of NMMA, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, a newspaper columnist of note, popularly known as Allah De, while explaining the activities of the organisation so far, said the event was created to promote excellence in the Nigeria media and foster unity, stressing that despite all odds, it had been sustained. | ||||||
Craig, ace broadcaster, dies at 60
By Chuks Nwanne and Yemi Olakitan,published in the Guardian Newspapers ONE of Nigeria's foremost sports journalists, Yinka Craig, is no more. He passed on after a long battle with lymphoma, cancer of the immune system, the ace broadcaster, died yesterday at 60. According to David Olamide Craig, a member of his family, the AM Express presenter on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) died at 6 a.m. yesterday in Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America (USA). Survived by his wife, Dr. Kehinde Craig, his sons, Olayinka and Olamide and his only daughter, Temilola, the late Craig was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster, sports journalist extra-ordinary and a national icon. Medical experts described Craig's ailment as "cancer of the lymphatic system, which is a network of tubes, glands and organs that are parts of the body's defence against infection. The broadcaster is said to have started the battle with the infection about one and half years ago. His close associates expressed shock over his passage. Femi Jarret, renowned music promoter and actor, exclaimed: "Oh God! I'm just hearing. He had been in the U.S. for treatment and we were hopeful that he would regain his health..." To the head of Creative Arts Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Duro Oni, "Craig's passage is unfortunate. No more comments for now." "I'm in shock actually," reacted Bayo Ogori, one of Craig's producers on the AM breakfast show. "Was he sick? I've not been around for a while. This is a great loss to the media profession. Craig was a thorough professional, very friendly, charming and nice person to work with. It is a great loss!" Ogori mourned. In the view of the renowned cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, "it is a terrible loss. Craig was a friend, a colleague and he was very knowledgeable about so many things. Highly devoted and he loved his profession with a passion." The former Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Danladi Bako, described Craig's death as "a very great loss. He remains one of the most effervescent, most professional, and most irrepressible broadcasters Nigeria ever produced. He knew a bit about everything and everything about a bit. He could discuss anything from quantum physics to cerebral malaria to David Bwie or Graham Central Station. He remains a quintessential gentleman. I knew him since 1977 at NTA: my office was porter cabin 8A while his was 9A; we were very, very close." The Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, yesterday described Craig's passage as a great loss not only to the media industry but Nigeria as a whole. Daniel said in a statement issued on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo: "The late broadcaster could be counted among the first 11in doing the nation proud in his chosen profession. "Yinka Craig's passion, professionalism and sense of patriotism in a profession that prides itself as epitome of quality service was almost without equal." The governor prayed that the Almighty God would grant his family, colleagues and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Craig had been diagnosed with cancer since last year; and had been receiving treatment at an American hospital for months. He hailed from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Craig spent the better part of his 60 years of life in radio and television broadcasting, running oft-innovative programmes - from sports to Weekend Newsline, to morning magazine programmes -warming viewers' hearts with his inimitable style of presentation, genteel humour and a characteristic toothy smile. His 40 years in broadcasting, from the days of the old Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service (WNBS), is almost as old as the history of broadcasting in independent Nigeria, and certainly synonymous with it. Throughout his journalism career, Craig was regarded by many as a mentor and role model. He had numerous admirers in nearly all areas of human endeavour in Nigeria. His humour and good nature will be missed in many events where the list would not be complete without his name. Younger media men who have worked under him would remember Craig as the man, who helped them cut their teeth, especially in sports journalism. He was amiable and easy-going. His presence was dignifying as he carried himself with so much respect. Former Sports Manager of NTA and Craig's boss then, Fabio Lanipekun, described his death as a great loss. Lanipekun, said Craig was the most accomplished all-rounder broadcaster the nation ever produced. "If he were to be the citizen of any other country, he would be celebrated. "There was no programme he could not handle and he gave joy to millions of people. May his soul rest in peace." Waheed Olagunju, Craig's junior colleague at NTA, believed that his death would give him the needed rest, "it is very painful, very painful indeed. He was my boss at NTA. "It is very sad, but it is also good that he is resting. We just thank God for his life, the last few months have not been easy, but what can we say but to thank God for his life." Akinloye Oyebanji another junior colleague of Craig at the NTA described his death as a serious blow. "He was a thoroughbred professional who was always thinking ahead. "He was always talking about broadcasting, even when he was ill, he has been thinking about programme, which he promised would shake the world when it eventually came out." |
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