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.
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