Citizen Lolade

#OccupyNigeria

2012-01-11T20:34:00.001+01:00

Interesting times we live in.

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An Army Without Commander - #OccupyNigeria

2012-01-06T10:59:00.000+01:00

By Seun Akioye

(An eye witness account first published on TELL website)

The police and protesters on January 3: Photo by Sunday Adedeji/TELL

I joined the rally as the crowd began to move from Yaba towards Ojota around 10:18am on January 3, 2012. All the major civil society leaders were there; Femi Falana [ lawyer], Abiodun Aremu [activist], Richard Akinola [activist], Ayodele Akele [activist] , Ganiat Fawehinmi [widow of feary lawyer Gani Fawehinmi] , Dr Dipo Fasina [former preasident of ASUU] , Dr Demola Aremu and a host of others. These were mainly the same old battle weary soldiers. The government knew they would be there; the government was prepared for them. I looked around to see any familiar face from the Twitter/Facebook warriors, these young men and women who are so vocal and militant on social media -some of them had vowed to go on hunger strike until the fuel prices are reverted- but I was really disappointed not to see any of them. They confirmed my theory that these people giving themselves online awards are only grandstanding and they are the same people that will be there at the “Presidential Lunch” with youths.

The other groups were made up of civil society activists from CDHR and other affiliates, there were some young people- mainly student union leaders and disciples of the civil society groups-they were charged and hardened. When we got to Fadeyi, the leaders, Dr. Fasina, and Comrade Aremu, said we should sit on the street on the right lane of the expressway. The youths, who had now gone ahead of the leaders, thought taking over the whole expressway would be better, so they did. They began to chant and dance. At this stage, the traffic both outgoing and incoming had come to a standstill.

But I noticed a certain division between the leaders of the protest. While Femi Falana and others were granting interviews to the media, Biodun Aremu and Akele were worried that there seemed to be a breakdown in the coordination. Aremu seized the megaphone and called the attention of the media. He expressed worry that the rally was turning to a personality interview slot and that is not good for the coordination. While the comrade was struggling with his worries, some youths who had gone ahead began to make a bonfire using old tyres. As Aremu spoke, the first whiff of dark smoke from a burning tyre went up into the sky.

I was apprehensive at the turn of events. My concern was that if the rally should assume a violent direction, then when the police came, they would have justifiable reason to unleash terror on all of us and it would badly taint the reputation of the rally coordinators. The youths, who by now were beyond caring, began to turn back motorists coming towards Yaba. Commercial vehicles were forced to a stop while private cars made a U-Turn right in the middle of the expressway facing the oncoming vehicles.

Some articulated vehicles were forced to block the expressway while residents of the area quickly shut their doors and windows. I found Comrade Akele and expressed my worry that things were getting out of hand. The other leaders like Dr. Fashina also expressed the same concern and told Comrade Aremu to ensure that tyres were not burnt. But Aremu told us that in Nigeria, burning of tyres is part of the mobilisation and there was nothing he could do about it. I was alarmed by this frank confession and began to worry that I was in the wrong crowd. The youth were now joined by some really frustrated Nigerians who said we should turn the whole rally into a Libyan Revolution.

Afrobeat singer Seun Anikulapo-Kuti arrived wearing a black T-shirt. He greeted some of the leaders and told Aremu he had stopped the boys burning tyres up front and that everything was calm. We proceeded and got to Onipanu. This time communication between the leaders who by now had been left behind and the rampaging youths had broken down completely. Cars were forced to park in the BRT lane while the owners were thoroughly intimidated by the youths. The frightened commuters quickly concurred with whatever the youths asked of them.

By the time we got to Anthony, things were out of hand. The youths threw down the police posts, rough handled a traffic police officer and on the other side, an OP MESA van was accosted by the youths. The van forced to a stop and the two soldiers inside had to fight their way out. Anthony was really hot but contrary to some reports that area boys hijacked the rally, burning cars and shooting in the air, I can confirm that it never happened. In fact, the area boys seeing the rampaging youths quickly cut down leaves and began to shout in solidarity, vandalising properties. Banks were closed so were other business interests while the owners and workers looked at us through the safety of their windows. I found comrade Akele again and we began to beg the youths to stop. They turned a deaf ear.

When we moved towards Maryland, the situation was restored to calm, the leaders wanted the rally to continue towards Ojota at the Gani Fawehinmi Park. But some sections wanted to occupy Maryland, so while the main group went under the Independence Tunnel at Maryland, another group went up to Maryland junction. I was part of that group.

Comrade Aremu made a speech to the rally at the Independence Tunnel while we watched from the top of the bridge. He spoke about the wickedness of the regime and how the subsidy removal would further impoverish the poor. While he was speaking, a contingent of mobile policemen came. Activist Gbenga Sonoiki and I were the first to meet them. The leader told us they were there to keep the peace and ensure no law is broken. We assured him nothing of such will happen and that we will release the traffic as soon as we are done with the speech. Later, I spoke to the officer in charge of the unit and he told me that he is fully in support of the rally. He lamented the hardship brought about by the fuel hike and said majority of the officers would support the rally. This same feeling was expressed by three other policemen I spoke to.

By this time, the rally had moved on to Ojota, but we still kept watch over the Maryland bonfires and occupation. Ten minutes later, we released the traffic and began to put out the bonfire. But that was when chaos began too as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tunde Sobulo, reputed as a fearless crime fighter and also a wicked officer led some mobile policemen to Maryland. Sobulo and his men jumped on both passersby and protesters. I had interviewed the man in 1999 when he was the RRS coordinator and as I stood rooted there trying to remember where we had met, I heard his sneering voice ordering his men to arrest me.

I was dazed and stood rooted there. Was it me this man had just ordered arrested or someone else? By the time I came to realisation, three mobile policemen were close on me and like in a trance, I dialogued with my legs jumping bonfires and running over cars. There was chaos. Sobulo began to shout that the policemen were there and did not shoot and disperse us, he was angry that they even gave us protection. In an uncontrollable rage, he lashed out with the butt of his gun at an Inspector of police, and chased him all the way down towards Mende. The scene was a sorry sight. I saw the two coming towards me and ran again to the other side towards Bank Anthony way, and then I heard a shot ring out and then teargas. I looked back to see a youth wearing a green shirt being arrested and beaten up by the Police. The boy stood his ground and refused to beg as he was being dragged behind Sobulo towards the police van.

Then the unthinkable happened, the boy in a smart move freed himself from the grip of the police and ran across the road back to Mende side. I looked in front and was accosted by two Policemen. Raising my hands in surrender, I screamed “press, press” and that was when they allowed me to go. Along with the TVC crew, I ran towards Mr. Biggs at the Mobile filling station. We continued to run towards Protea Hotel in a panic, it was a sorry sight. After some calm we came back to the street and saw Sobulo in a mad fit, swinging his gun round and round. I saw one of the policemen I spoke to earlier and asked him whether Sobulo was alright. “He is a madman he said people should not protest when we too as policemen are suffering. He has millions in his account, but I suffer to pay my children’s school fees. He is a mad man, if you have a way to report him please do.”

I laughed to hear this astonishing revelation, but then Sobulo had started running wildly towards Anthony, holding his gun by one hand in the air. His officers stood around in amazement as he ran screaming, puffing and heaving. I tried to find out what he was chasing after and saw two elderly women.

-Akioye, is a tobacco activist and freelance journalist. He can be found on Twitter @seunakioye

Happy Independence Day Nigeria: 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria

2011-10-01T00:49:00.002+01:00

For too long, Nigeria and Nigerians have been readily associated with the online scams, financial crime and impersonation - termed ‘419’. However, beyond the unfortunate stereotyping, there are several positive characteristics and cogent intriguing traits of the country, Nigeria and its people, some of which are highlighted below as part of the ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ campaign which enlisted 100 volunteers and bloggers to share reasons why they like Nigeria. These reasons echo the voices of Nigerians, with resonating similar themes. The campaign is being facilitated in partnership with ‘The 419Positive Project’.

The full list of ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available here (www.419Positive.org)

The list of contributors to ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available here

If you would like to say something positive about Nigerians and Nigeria, please do so here.

NIGERIA - THE LAND OF POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY

v I like Nigeria because it is a land of endless opportunities and possibilities. Nigeria is one country I believe the world is yet to experience it true potentials. I believe Nigerians are sharp, brilliant and accommodating people. Giving the right enabling environment the world will marvel at what Nigeria will become.

v Nigeria is the most populous black nation - and a buying one at that. From a capitalist point of view, this makes for a great investment opportunities.

v The fact that Nigeria currently lags behind so much - in infrastructure and developmental terms - hints at the size of the potential for innovation and transformation, and at the huge number of vacancies that exist for 'transformers'. What I think this means is that the world will be hearing a lot about Nigeria and high-achieving Nigerians (in the public and private sectors) in the near future.

NIGERIA - THE COUNTRY

v The Nigerian Green and White flag is a notable national symbol. The green color symbolises agriculture, seeing that the country is endowed with masses of arable land, while the white colour signifies unity and peace. Other national symbols include the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which depicts an eagle on a black shield, tri-sected by two wavy silver bands, and supported on either side by two chargers. The national motto underlies the coat-of -arms: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress." Her national symbols convey great meaning to its people.

v The Nigerian accent is currently ranked by CNN Global Experiences as the 5th sexiest accent in the world.

v Nigeria is home to Nollywood, one of the world's biggest film industries.

NIGERIA - THE CULTURE, THE FOOD, THE WAY OF LIFE

v Something great to like about Nigeria is our cultural diversity. A strong affinity exists, despite our differences. Learning about other ethnic cultures in my country really helped me personally relate to other cultures when abroad.

v I think the food is tastier in Nigeria than that I have found in other countries.

v Nigerians live a communal life style. The extended family is part of the immediate family in a Nigerian home.

NIGERIA - THE MUSIC, THE MOVIES, THE DANCE, THE ART

v Nigeria has produced many world class musicians. A notable mention in this regard is Fela Anikulapo Kuti. A Broadway show titled ‘FELA!’ was produced in 2009 depicting the life and times of the Afrobeat musician.

v Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood, is reputedly the 3rd largest film industry after Hollywood and Bollywood, and has grown gradually into a $250 million industry in more than 10 years.

v Nigerian indigenous musical instruments are unique, soulful and rhythmic. They comprise the popular Talking Drum, producing proverbial and storytelling sounds, the Shaker (shekere), the Udu drum, the Lute, the leg and arm Rattle, the Omele, the Ogene (Gong originating in Eastern Nigeria), the Ekwe drum and the Kakaki (A 4m metal trumpet popular in Northern Nigeria). Many of these instruments have been incorporated in South American music over the years

NIGERIA - GEOGRAPHY and NATURAL RESOURCES

v Nigeria is a nation blessed with rich human and natural resources. As the 8th largest exporter of Oil in the world, with the 10^th largest proven reserves, our blessings cannot be overemphasised. No earthquakes, no tsunamis, no droughts, an evergreen land. The rest of the world should live here.

v The beauty of the Nigerian state cannot but leave one in awe. Blessed with captivating physical features and abundant wild life. From the rolling hills to the vast plains in the North Central Nigeria and the forests in the South, the beautiful scenery of the country is more than breathtaking and with the wildlife spread all over the country; Nigeria is surely a beauty to behold and a tourist's delight all year round.

v Nigeria is blessed with tremendous agricultural resources. Cotton in the North, Cocoa & Oil palm in the south amongst many others. The flag is green for a reason

NIGERIA - WEST AFRICA, AFRICA and THE WORLD

v Nigeria has the largest population of any country in Africa. Approximately 1 out of every 2 West Africans, 1 out of every 4 Africans, and 1 out of every 5 persons of African origin is a Nigerian.

v Nigeria is the largest contributor of troops to the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and by extension, is the largest force for peace and stability in West Africa.

v A Nigerian will stand out anywhere you find him/her, from Libya to London, Tokyo to Timbuktu. Well known examples include Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets, USA), Olumide Oyedeji (Seattle Sonics), Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family), Sunday Adelaja (Ukraine), Chris Aire (US), etc.

NIGERIA - INDUSTRIOUS, INNOVATIVE and ENTERPRISING, with ACHIEVEMENTS

v Nigerians are intelligent, brilliant minds who have proven their mettle in various fields - Wole Soyinka was the first African to win the much coveted Nobel Prize for literature in 1986. Chinua Achebe’s classic novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ was ranked as number 14 in a list of top 100 books in the world by Newsdesk in 2009. Others include Cyprian Ekwensi, Mabel Segun, Chimamanda Adichie and Helon Habila whose literary works have won both international and local awards at various times.

v We have budding fashion designers. Yes! It's a line every Bunmi, Amaka and Amina has decided to tow but to disregard the effort and originality of our Fashion Designers would be disrespectful. Tiffany Amber, Lanre Da Silva and Deola Sagoe are building world renowned brands, not to mention the legacy developed by the likes of Abba Folawiyo, Maureen Onigbanjo, Remi Lagos and Zizzi Cardow.

v Nigerians have excelled in the fields of economics and finance, managing well established global bodies. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the current Minister of Finance, was until recently a Managing Director at The World Bank. Obiageli Ezekwisili is currently the Vice President for Africa at The World Bank. Mr Adebayo Ogunlesi is a first class graduate of Oxford, and Managing Partner of Global infrastructure Partner (GIP), a concessionaire of London’s Gatwick International Airport.

v We take technology and expand it in ways those who created it could not have imagined. For instance, take the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) which allows you to send broadcast messages to all addresses on your contacts list; Nigerians recently found a unique way of advertising the different businesses they do. Someone started a message highlighting the fact that many people in Nigeria are entrepreneurs or provide a service and included his BB PIN in the message and sent to all his contacts with the charge that they state the service they provide, include their PIN and send on to all their contacts too. This seemingly small campaign has gone “viral” with whole lists of entrepreneurs and their BB PINs being passed from phone to phone. This is a clear sign of the ingenuity of Nigerians!

NIGERIA – GREAT PEOPLE

v Nigeria is the 7^th most populous nation in the world (over 160 million) and most populous in Africa - a gold mine of energetic, determined and talented people in each and every field. From Lagos to Aba to Kano, the Nigerian business spirit and desire to succeed is visible. It requires just proper harnessing of these human resources before Nigeria becomes the super power she was meant to be.

v Nigerians are passionate, friendly, welcoming, hospitable, and well cultured people. The average Nigerian reflects a combination of vivacity, intelligence, energy, talent, and resolution.

v We are a nation of people that can hardly hide their excitement at seeing family and friends. Some misconstrue this thinking we are loud but let's just say we are EXPRESSIVE! If you see us on the streets of New York making a big ruckus and hugging? No sweat. We are just happy to see each other.

NIGERIA – THE RESILIENT SPIRIT

v The Giant of Africa: Not ignoring the current challenges, eventually, when we get our acts right, we will reign supreme on the global scene. We have the potential and as is much touted by the Warri people - "Naija no dey carry last"

v The 'survivor-mentality' hard-wired into the DNA of Nigeria's people. The fact that against all the odds (and there are many of them), Nigerians continue to live, hustle and seek to triumph. It is not by mistake that Nigeria is regarded as one of the "happiest" countries in the world, despite its challenging economic and social conditions.

v We are hardy. The average Nigerian does business under circumstances that are unimaginable to people from other parts. In a place where there is no power, no credit, and scant regulation, people do business and do very well for themselves too. If you can make it in Nigeria, you can make it anywhere in the world.

NIGERIA – TOURISM and SPORTS

v Nigeria is an amazing tourist haven and is home to the Obudu Cattle Ranch, located in Calabar. It is only 45 miles from the Cameroon border. The Obudu Plateau is spread over 40 sq. miles and is 5,200 feet above sea level. The Obudu resort features a Gorilla Camp where tourists may observe gorillas in their natural habitat.

v Nigeria has two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa. UNESCO world heritage sites are places designated as being of cultural significance.

v Nigeria has produced great footballers like Teslim “Thunder” Balogun (the first Nigerian to play for an English Club – QPR), Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini (who scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup), Nwankwo Kanu, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, John Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, to mention but a few.

v Nigeria has excelled in athletics over the years, still holding continental records in the 100m men and women, 4x100m men and women, 400m men and women, among others. Over 100 skilled Nigerian professional footballers played in First Division leagues in different countries all over Europe in the 2010/2011 season, 9 in England; 8 each in Finland, Norway; 10 in Ukraine and 7 in Sweden.

NIGERIA – UNITY in DIVERSITY

v Nigerians, despite our diversity are a united people who always strive to help one another. With 774 local government areas, multi religious and ethnic affiliations, 36 States, and population of over 160 million, we still stand undeterred to move forward together.

v Even outside the country, Nigerians remain united. This gives a quiet assurance somewhat that you can get on a plane and go to any country of the world and find a Nigerian there who will not only make you feel welcome but will go out of their way to be of really good help. I have experienced this several times on my travels and each time it amazes me how all I need to be is a Nigerian, not Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa and once I run into another Nigerian, I will immediately feel at home.

v Our greatest strength lies in our diversity.

The ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ Campaign is in partnership with ‘The 419Positive Project’.

Esiebo’s Alter Gogo goes to Photoquai 2011

2011-09-07T19:27:00.001+01:00

Grandmothers playing football

Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo will exhibit his work body of work Alter Gogo, a diptych portrait series featuring grandmothers who play football with the Gogo Getters Football Club in Orange Farm, a large township in South Africa at PHOTOQUAI 2011, in Paris, France. The exhibition starts on September 13 and will end on November 11. Esiebo’s Alter Gogo also offers an alternative image of African women. Quite often in the mainstream imagination, African women are located in the sphere of "tradition". For them, playing the football has become a passport to a better life, giving the women social relevance in their community, as well as better health. Playing football is their solution to many social and physiological problems like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and alcohol addiction.

Esiebo explores life on and off-field for grannies

Created in 2007 by the Musée du quai Branly and dedicated to non-Western photography, the 3rd edition of the PHOTOQUAI biennial exhibition of world images takes place on the quays of the Seine alongside the Musée du quai Branly, extending for the first time into the museum garden. This third edition of PHOTOQUAI presents nearly 400 works by 46 contemporary photographers from 29 countries: South Africa, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Iraq, Belarus, Russia, China, South Korea, India, Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Colombia, Brazil.

For more photos visit his site

Social media as a tool for social change

2011-07-11T18:14:00.000+01:00

Saturday July 9, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of young students at the Obafemi Awolowo University who are members of the Young and Emerging Leaders Initiative (YELI) on the need to use social media to positively engage their communities and spheres of influence. In my talk I made reference to the impact of social networks in the events of the Arab Spring and how it helped in the monitoring of Nigeria’s elections in 2011.

I thereafter challenged the group of eager young people to create blogs, Twitter handles and Facebook pages in order to bring attention to social ills in their community and environment. I told them how messages on social media platforms can be used to galvanize public opinion among young people and what they can do to begin making use of the mobile internet platforms that they have, to engage their circle of friends positively.

I’m glad to write that the message was received enthusiastically and with time I hope that these young Nigerians will see themselves as change makers and begin to ask tough questions. I asked them to ask, why? Why do things have to be the way they are, why can’t things be better? I believe the best way to begin change is to ask, why? It is the questioning mind that gets answers.

I concluded by saying this: “One thing that has to be understood is that social media in itself does not make change. It is the person behind the computer, the lady holding the Blackberry, the young man hooking up to YouTube that makes change happen. It is from your mind that change happens from where it is transferred to your network. It is in your mind first where the yearning for change begins. It is what you feed your mind with that will feed your social network. Let change begin from your mind and let us transform our community and our nation with it. It is the only way we can hold everyone to account for the enormous trust we put in them.”

What is the problem with GTBank?

2011-05-11T14:00:00.002+01:00

So TELL did an article painting the real picture of the problem with Nigeria's best loved bank the Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank. And it touched nerves. Why not? It's the truth. The customers of the bank, I am one, are suffering.

There are increasingly long queues at their banking halls and branches all over Lagos. Even their ATMs are always crowded.

When I opened an account with them in 2008, it was like heaven. You entered into the smiling cosy space of any branch and you were properly served with utmost courtesy. Today, all that is no more.

Longer queues make smaller number of staff members weary with work. The smiles have disappeared. The magic is gone. It has become like in the old days when going to the bank was like a deadly chore.

I remember at Ile Ife in 2000 when my friend Akinyele would receive money from home in minutes at the Chartered Bank branch only to go and queue for 30minutes to deposit it in his First Bank account. It was his way of saving for rainy days as the thought of even going to withdraw from the bank was enough to drive one crazy. That was then.

Today's GTBank is now competing with the murderous services we had back in the day. A bank that was synonymous with excellence is now teetering on the brink of incapability.

Many have said it is a result of management problems. Apparently, their hands-on boss Tayo Aderinokun is said to have slumped recently and is in bad health in a hospital outside the country. Aderinokun it was who built the reputation that the bank has today.

But must the corporate image of the company suffer annihilation because of his ill health?

Recently the bank has been trying to reach out to customers through Twitter. Several apologies have been sent through their social network handle in order to assure customers that they're feeling our pains. GTBank needs to make things better otherwise they'll begin to lose customers like refugees fleeing Misurata.

I have stopped using their ATM in Ojodu. These days I prefer to slot in my GTBank card at the old First Bank branch that has no hassles. The customer is king, you say? There are many fishes in the ocean o.

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Fatherhood - Bill Cosby

2011-05-10T20:01:00.001+01:00

So I've been reading Bill Cosby's Fatherhood and I feel like I want kids.

Cosby writes: "Poets have said the reason to have children is to give yourself immortality; and I must admit I did ask God to give me a son because I wanted someone to carry on the family name. Well, God did just that and I now confess that there have been times when I've told my son not to reveal who he is. 'You make up a name, just don't tell anybody who you are.'

Yes, having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act two people in love can commit".

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Social Media- Sowanbe Awards 2011

2011-02-08T17:09:00.000+01:00

Think you are social media savvy? Then the Sowanbe Awards might just be for you. Sowambe, the pan-African social media lifestyle brand will recognize and celebrate the best social media adopters, talents, celebs, brands, professionals as well as social web platforms in Nigeria. The Awards has about 25 categories and will allow participants to nominate and vote online for a period of one month for their favourites, based on a clear understanding and good judgment on activities in the social web.

Categories

Best Social Media Personality

Best Social Media Celebrity

Best Social Media Blogger

Best Social Media Politician

Best Social Media Site

Best Social Media Activist

Best Social Media Designer

Best Social Media Thinker

Best Use of Twitter

Best Use of Facebook

Best Use of YouTube

Best Social Media Community

Best Social Media On-Air Personality (TV/Radio)

Best Social Media Newspaper

Best Social Media Startup

Best Social Media Jobs Platform

Best Social Networking Site

Best Social Media TV/Radio Station

Best Micro-Blogging Platform

Best Social Aggregation Tool

Best Ad Campaign on YouTube

Best Ad Campaign on Facebook

Timelines: Nomination Period: February 1 to February 10.

Voting Period: February 15 to February 28.

Winners will be announced on March 1.

For interested sponsors and partners, kindly email info (at)

sowambe.com or visit www.sowambe.com/sponsors.

You can follow @sowambe on Twitter.

For more details, please visit www.sowambe.com

Contact:

Loy Okezie

loy.okezie@gmail.com

07030851462

Tolu Iroye: The Kid With The Magic Box

2011-02-08T16:52:00.001+01:00

Tolu Iroye, 27, dropped out of school after his O’Levels due to his family’s inability to continue paying his fees. The electronic designer did not allow his lack of further schooling to limit his future. He has created what he calls the Magic Box, a device that allows its user to switch off electrical appliances in their home or office from a mobile phone. A video demonstration of this technology at the magazine’s premises recently struck one with awe.

Tolu Iroye receiving his award for best use of technology at The Future Awards

The Magic Box began as an idea to create a non-line of sight remote control that would work for his TV set without him being in the room. “I’m motivated by the need to create solutions to problems,” Iroye said. And so he began work with components that he sourced from the Alaba Electronics Market. It took about one year to complete the Magic Box, an equipment that allows one to switch off any electronic device in the home or office with a phone call from anywhere in the world. The user makes a phone call to a sim card located in the Box which gives a voice prompt that offers options to the caller on how to switch on or off their TV, power generator and light metre through a micro-controller.

Iroye’s recent victory in The Future Award’s best use of technology category brought out the life story of the brilliant techie which began many years ago. As a child, Iroye’s curiosity got the better of him and the quiet albeit stubborn kid loved to look at pictures in science books. Even though he could not read them, his older siblings took out time to explain the concepts to him. At age six years old, Iroye built his first invention, a cell battery using ground charcoal, a disposed carbon rod, a tin of milk, lime water, grass and herbs all picked from the neighbourhood rubbish mound.

Amused by his resourcefulness and sometimes-destructive streak - Iroye would tear apart the family’s transistor radio looking for the magical voice that came out of it - but his parents left him to explore. He left many an electronic gadget in their Festac, Lagos apartment in tatters. From out of these he built new stuff. It was the beginning of his inventor’s journey.

At age 10, he built a battery-powered toy car from his heap of scrap. At 12 Tolu began purchasing scraps from friends with his pocket money. While the other boys at school spent their lunch money on hiring bicycles, he used his to purchase equipment for constructing homemade antennas that neighbours bought to enable them unscramble signals from the Cabletel satellite channel. “I still don’t know how to ride a bicycle,” Iroye joked.

More was to follow. He created a land telephone network that enabled him to communicate free with friends in their apartment block. An audio transmitter followed and then a voltage stabiliser to help the family adjust the low voltage they were supplied by the power company when they moved to Badagry. This was all before he turned 14.

Iroye's Magic Box

Constrained by an environment that stifles creativity, Iroye has taken to selling his inventions across the border in Cotonou, Benin Republic where he is hoping to gain a foothold soon enough. “This is the least of my inventions,” he says of the Magic Box. “There’s more to come in the future.”

The Future Awards Journalist of the Year Is Tolu Ogunlesi

2011-02-02T15:25:00.000+01:00

Next's Tolu Ogunlesi emerged as the journalist of the year at the Future Awards on Sunday night.

The Future Awards journalist of the year winner Tolu Ogunlesi. Photo by Lolade Adewuyi

It crowned an eventful year for Tolu who has been a shining light for young people in the profession.
For the ten of us who were all nominated in that category, it was a recognition of our efforts. In an industry that doesn't usually celebrate its own, being celebrated by young peers is a really good thing.

Tolu was the winner on the night but journalism was the big winner because the work of all the nominees means that the future of our trade is brighter than what many detractors would admit.

I have known Tolu for more than two years and I've been an admirer of his wit. He has become synonymous with the power of youth, the voice of a new generation, the future of Nigeria.

Our industry shall not die with young men and women like Tolu Ogunlesi, Toyosi Ogunseye, Yinka Ibukun, Lolade Adewuyi, Kemi Ajumobi, Segun Adeoye, Nicholas Ibekwe, Latasha Ngwube, Arukaino Umukoro, Chilee Agunanna etc, young people who are in the forefront of credible and intelligent journalism in Nigeria.

They are the future.

L-r: The Future Awards journalist of the year nominees Arukaino Umukoro, Yinka Ibukun, Lolade Adewuyi, Kemi Ajumobi and Chilee Agunanna at the Nominees Party

The Social Media Revolution

2011-01-26T21:04:00.000+01:00

The fall of the Tunisian government is the first in a long list of tyrannical regimes waiting to be toppled by frustrated citizens and social media-inspired activists.

It took the death of an unemployed 26 year-old graduate in Tunisia for the country’s repressed population to stand up to evict old tyrant Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali from the country. The frustrated youth of Tunisia were, however, helped in their anger by social media tools as they organised and massed while evading the watchful eye of the regime’s secret police. In those hot times, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube came in handy. The #Sidibouzid hashtag was all that one needed to follow the revolution in Tunis when all the king’s cookies came crumbling down. And like a dog beaten in a fight, Ben Ali took flight. The first successful revolution by social media to topple an Arab regime was solidified.

Apparently taking note, Egyptians, Algerians, Yemenis and other sit tight Arab leaders have begun to receive a bashing from their own citizens who have taken to the streets in protest. In Cairo last week, Egyptians massed on the streets protesting against the three decades old government of President Hosni Mubarak. Protesters chanted and marched as police fired tear gas into their midst. Even as the Egyptian authorities tried in vain to stifle the use of social media tools like the Tunisians did, demonstrators were able to find a way round it to organise groups to meet. The world as we know it is changing and the impact of social media more than ever before will be felt in countries around the world, for good or for bad.

Goodluck Jonathan Is PDP Winner But Sarah Jubril The International Star

2011-01-14T19:46:00.000+01:00

President Goodluck Jonathan emerged the winner of the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Abuja, Nigeria last night.

He defeated his main opponent former vice president Atiku Abubakar by a whopping 2,736 votes to Atiku’s 805.

However, it was the lone vote scored by Sarah Jubril that became a hot internet topic projecting the four-time aspirant into fame on Twitter. Since yesterday, Jubril has become a trending topic on the social networking site.

Figure out how tough it is to be a trending topic that is mainly something a few music stars, footballers and celebrity types achieve in their lifetime.

But the politician who has failed for the umpteenth time in her bid to become president of the world’s largest Black nation has now found success online. Talk about greatness coming out of misfortune, Sarah Jubril has become one of the most famous Nigerians on the net. No longer will people exclaim Sarah who?

Sarah Jubril has become a celebrity and is the biggest winner on the night not Goodluck Jonathan who has another battle to fight in April.

Can we get an autograph Sarah?

How the Nigerian church is plotting to hijack 2011 from politicians

2010-12-08T20:08:00.000+01:00

Half a million voices raised in supplication at The Experience 2010

The Experience concert was all it was billed to be. It was the largest Gospel music concert in the World. Over 500,000 people gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square on the night of December 3 to praise and pray for Nigeria. Artist bands came from as far as the United States and Jamaica to usher the huge gathering into the spiritual presence of the Most High. Sweet music was rendered by popular Christian acts like Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton, Phil Driscoll, Mary Mary, Chevele Franklyn, Sammie Okposo and Mike Aremu.

The arena was packed to the rafters and many like myself (attending for only the second time) had to endure a nine-hour vigil on our feet. What this fifth edition of The Experience showed is that the Nigerian church is finally waking up to its political strength. For it was clear that night that this was more than a concert, it was turning into a political movement as church leaders, one after the other, led prayers for the nation. Guest preachers prayed for the Niger Delta, constant power supply, better roads, better leaders, peace in the religious troubled North, and above all credible elections in 2011. (See my 2006 article How the church got her groove back)

But instead of just prescribing more prayers like they are wont to do, the clergy went further by encouraging all Christians to register to vote when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, commences its voter registration in January. Through a video slide, leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, headed by the irrepressible Ayo Oritsejafor urged Christians to become more involved in the choice of who leads them next year.

"The church has the responsibility to make Nigeria one. We are one and we will remain one. The troublers of Nigeria will be troubled," Oritsejafor told the crowd who echoed a big amen in the open night air that echoed all around the Lagos Island and environs. "Go and register, you will vote, there are right people to vote for. Nigeria will not break," he concluded.

And it wasn't just a night for the men of cloth. President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the gathering via a recorded video message where he praised the ingenuity of the organizers House on The Rock church led by Paul Adefarasin. Jonathan said it is a great achievement in the life of Nigeria that the world's biggest Gospel music concert is being held in Lagos in the country's fiftieth anniversary year.

As part of the high political profile given the event, Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola as the crowd to begin creating a change in their own domains.

"If we leave here tonight with the mindset to become a part of the solution and not part of the problem I'm sure we will begin to have 24 hour electricity in our nation," said Fashola. And in reference to the various industrial disputes he's been locked into with labour groups in the state he said, "We need the value of sacrifice to put an end to any form of strikes so as to enjoy the best years of our nation".

Above all, it was a show of political force by the Nigerian Christian community which had been content to stay on the sidelines on political issues in the past. Christians had always believed that politics was a dirty game that believers ought not get entangled with. However, cases in other countries have shown how revolutions have been led from the pulpit onto the streets. Churches led by Martin Luther King, Jr among many other clergy championed the Civil Rights movement in America. Even in Nigeria Pastor Tunde Bakare has become a leading voice in constitutional rule through the Save Nigeria Group.

Is the church finally rising up to its potential after all these years of sitting on the fence with arms folded as political jobbers took the country for a ride?

Adefarasin offered an answer that will make 2011 a very interesting period in Nigeria's political experiment with its over sixty million members. "The sleeping giant, the church, is about to wake up and take its rightful place in the nation," said Adefarasin.

We Need Peace In Ivory Coast - A Personal Account

2010-12-03T15:30:00.001+01:00

I saw on CNN this morning images of looming chaos in Ivory Coast. The army has shut all land, air and sea borders and the citizens are all scampering for safety. No one really knows what havoc is happening in the country that fought a civil war not long ago.

You may think that it is a far away country but it's not when you realise that it is human beings like you and I that inhabit that country.

After posting a prayer for peace in the country on Facebook this morning, and pondering on what next to do, I got into a chat with a friend who expressed shock at the events in Abidjan.

That conversation with Tony brought to fore the urgent need to create awareness about the looming crisis that is an outcome of the presidential elections.

In our chat, Tony, a Nigerian photojournalist who has lived and worked in Abidjan and whose wife hails from that country told me a few things that I have reproduced here by permission.

"Ha, when I thought peace will come back to Cote d`Ivoire. My pastor still lives there and I have been trying to reach him on phone" Tony said.

"Is the phone working" I asked.

"No," he responded. "God please intervene."

"It's serious," I said.

"I have not gotten through," said Tony. "I am still trying. My brother in law is there too. My wife has refused to eat".

"Ol boy you have people there o, I feel ur pains bro".

After a long pause.

"His phone is not going. All the phone calls I am making no one is to be going through. That`s my second home Lolade. I'm confused may God help me", he said.

And so this is the dilemma we face in an increasingly shrinking world.

You may think that Abidjan is far from you and do not care about what may be going on but remember that every human being is family and we need to care about the fate of the world.

For my friends reggae singer Ayouba Karamoko and journalists Kingsley Kobo and Rhokia Kone who live in Abidjan, my prayers are with you and I hope that your country will find peace.

Please sign up for a petition here .

Why Jonathan must not run

2010-11-30T16:02:00.001+01:00

A president that lifts the ban on the importation of 15 year old cars.

A president that has lifted the ban on the importation of toothpicks.

A president that has lifted the ban on import of textiles when his country's textile manufacturing companies are suffering.

A president that has no spine but will acquiesce to all demands in order to make political gains.

A president who shuts down Lagos Island because his wife is in town.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has no reason to contest in 2011.

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Music, unlike politics, is what's uniting Africa's young people

2010-11-19T22:51:00.001+01:00

Is music uniting Africa's young people? Music is like no other weapon for reaching out to the human mind. It crosses boundaries seamlessly. It breaks barriers set up by race, class, borders, education, etc.

Never has the African youth been more involved in the music movement than at this point in history. There's African hip hop everywhere one turns to these days. The African hip hop revolution is led by Nigerian MCs whose music has taken the continent by storm.

While taking the continent hostage they've begun to create a synergy with other young Africans through collaborations that will surely break down the artificial barriers foisted on us by colonialism.

Just watching MTVBase on a late night will bring home this truth. Female MC Sasha dueting with Mozambique's Dama do Bling, South Africa's HHP featuring Naeto C, Wande Coal and Ghana's R2Bees or J Martins dancing soukous with DR Congo's Fally Ipupa. Never in the history of African music have musicians been able to collaborate across boundaries like they're doing at the moment.

And before you're quick to say it's all because of MTVBase, Channel O, Sound City, etc, I would like to say that it is the strength and the hunger of the African young person that has ensured this. If young people had not taken it upon themselves to create the music they are making now, the music channels would have no business being in business.

It is the African youth who through all the trouble of every day hustling and finding a meaning to existence who have carved an enviable niche for themselves. This in the face of government neglect.

The schools are hardly teaching knowledge that is necessary to exist in modern Africa. The politicians are busy running down the economies leaving nothing for the future. Yet the music industry has risen up out of nothing and keeps creating jobs for thousands of young Africans.

While the politicians talk at round tables about creating an African Union for their self importance, it's today's music stars who are actually creating a borderless continent.

While the politicians are stuck with their colonial mindset where they cannot create a visa-free continent, today's young singers are showing that with their collaborations they can cross borders and speak to the minds of other young people on the streets of Mombasa, Bangui, Dakar, Kampala, Alexandria, Akure and Dansoman that they can be as great as their dreams. That they can aspire to success like their idols. Wonder why many of today's kids would aspire to be singers, actors, footballers but not politicians?

And the message this should send to the politicians holding back the progress of Africa's youth is that we do not need you to make a life for ourselves. In the ancient times, a people could kill an evil god by starving it of worship. We need to send the message to the politicians that we are capable of starving them of their authority if they insist on holding us back.

We have the power of music, the power of youth and we will not hesitate to starve you if you continue to stop us from traveling around our own continent with spurious visa controls. We will starve you of attention if you continue denying us of proper schools and a good education. We will no longer come to you if you keep pretending as if you don't owe us anything.

We urge you to pull down the artificial borders that keep us from relating with other African youth. The internet has done so much for us. Now you have to remove the remaining barriers. You have to create better schools and access to healthcare facilities. You have to, you owe us the best.

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Dwindling fortunes for Goodluck Jonathan on Facebook

2010-11-18T16:17:00.001+01:00

At a time President Goodluck Jonathan's Facebook posts used to gross an average 100,000 comments and likes. That was then. Perhaps it signified his popularity at the height of the clamour for sanity in the nation's topsy turvy political waters.

These days the once popular Facebook president averages less than 200 comments and likes per status update.

Is the President losing friends? Or are the people just tired of reading vague exposition while government gets richer by the day?

Like a friend sarcastically said, perhaps the President's followers are now learning to face their jobs, the ones he has created?

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Running tummy and Mama Cass' sausage

2010-11-18T14:17:00.000+01:00

Just ate a Mama Cass sausage that I got from the meeting attended earlier this morning at R&A Hotel, off Allen Avenue. But I've been having stomach problems since. Hello 911 this is a health scare!

Already visited the toilet once. The sausage was warm and good to taste but I'm sure there was something wrong somewhere in the production line.

I hope somebody at Mama Cass checks their quality control.

The Punch and a wrong Eucharia photo

2010-11-18T08:01:00.001+01:00

A case of misplaced identities. So the online editors at The Punch do not know the difference between football coach Eucharia Uche and actress Eucharia Anunobi? Check out the angry "idiot" comment by one of the readers. LOL!
http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011184223879

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General Pype's World Champion on SuperSport

2010-11-17T22:19:00.001+01:00

Isn't it nice listening to General Pype's hit single World Champions as one of the main theme songs on SuperSport, the self-styled channel of champions on DSTV?

I recently discovered this and I often catch myself humming along every time the clip is played. Never was a fan of the song until recently.

Pype's song is now among the classics employed by the channel over the years to promote the spirit of competition in sports. I remember the track Stand Up for the Champions that was really popular about five years ago on the same channel.

Well done Pype for representing the aspirations of all African youth to become world champions in all fields of endeavour.

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So much for Teju

2010-11-17T08:13:00.001+01:00

I saw the Teju Babyface show last night with Nasir El Rufai as guest. Nasir took a hit at the EFCC calling the body now brainless and unschooled, unlettered, etc. Harsh words you'd say but considering that the head of the now inane anti-corruption body is Farida Waziri makes that statement close to the truth.

Since Farida's ascension the EFCC has become inept and he was right in chastising it for being hauled in front of a court for a case whose law no longer exists.

However, as cool as I thought Nasir was last night, Teju had to conspire to spoil it by dishing out gifts of Loya milk cartons at the end to Nasir departing from his norm of dancing to KSA's Ojiji. The gifts were needless on screen. I know he's pandering to advertisers but it took a shine off the show that we've grown to love.

Please stop this aberration Teju otherwise you'll lose intelligent viewers.

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Singularity University Alumnus Emem Andrew Dreams African Technology Revolution

2010-10-25T16:12:00.005+01:00

*Emem Andrew at a NASA lab in California. She says that young Africans need to begin embracing technology in order to safe guard their future.

Emem Andrew stormed the TELL newsroom on a Friday afternoon recently armed with nothing but a laptop bag and a cheerful smile. The 37 year-old former engineer at Shell Oil had just returned from a wonderful Graduate Studies Programme at the world renowned Singularity University at the Silicon Valley, California, United States. At SU she was elected the class speaker on graduation day to give a vote of thanks on behalf of the 80 students who had been selected from all over the world to be part of the ground breaking programme that is meant to raise world leaders in the field of technology.

It was no mean feat for Andrew who was one of only six Africans that were selected to attend the school that was created by Google and NASA among many other high technology-based companies. Its motto essentially is to "assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s grand challenges." Futurists, in science speak.

“[SU] helped me to shape my purpose and frame it in a way that I can articulate how to achieve it. I knew all along that my purpose was to affect lives but I didn’t know how best to achieve it but at SU I was able to find my path” Andrew said. Realising that one should not be limited by their minds, circumstances of birth, gender or ethnicity, Andrew found a big secret that would change the way Africans and indeed the world will live in years to come.

“Technology is the future,” said Andrew who left her job at Shell in search of a greater purpose in life. “We are moving to a time when everything will be free. Technology is going to usher in a life of abundance and Africa should become partners in ushering in that life and not be a charity case.” She cited the fact that crude oil will lose its relevance in the scheme of things in the next 20 years, not because it will run out but because technology will overtake it. Instead, the role of oil in the scheme of things will be taken over by solar energy which is readily abundant in Africa. Hence, Africans need to start thinking of ways to develop their immense opportunity in solar power to sell to Europe.

Part of the aim of Singularity University is to affect positively the lives of one billion people through its fellows. Andrew already has plans to begin making technology more appealing to young people in the country as part of her life’s goal. “I want to make young people love technology just like they love rock stars” she said. “Let us create a technology revolution in our country so that our young people have somewhere, something to do with which they can change the world and impact people. It’s our environment that breeds what we are, technology is the future”.

Still Grazing: Masekela’s Half Century Jazz Affair

2010-10-21T18:27:00.004+01:00

Hugh Masekela and the author in Accra, Ghana 2007

South African jazz trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela weaves a tale of intense passion for music, women and drugs in his life story which spans many continents amidst the upheaval of the apartheid era.

By OLOLADE ADEWUYI

One man stood out among the prominent African musicians that performed during the opening ceremony of the recently concluded World Cup in South Africa. At 71, Hugh Masekela, the doyen of African jazz, blew the trumpet with so much vigour compared with the energy of a sixteen year-old as the world’s biggest sporting event opened in Africa in early June. In his performance with Nigeria’s Femi Kuti who reprised his world famous hit “Bang, bang, bang”, Masekela continued a tradition of collaboration which had begun with the older Fela Kuti in Lagos in 1973 when he made a musical pilgrimage across West Africa. In Lagos he discovered the eclectic musical combination called the Afrobeat by its author Fela who helped him find his feet in West African highlife and dance rhythm which greatly impacted on his sound. He called

However, Masekela’s sojourn into music had begun earlier in his country back in the 1950s at the height of the racially debasing apartheid regime. In his book Still Grazing: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela, the trumpeter tells of his upbringing in the Alexandra Township of Johannesburg; his discovery of his musical talents at the St Peter’s School where he got his first trumpet as a gift from jazz great Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong; the explosion of the mbhaqanga township music which saw him tour South Africa as a teenager amidst the racial turmoil of the apartheid era; his eventual escape from the tightening racial segregation laws of his country to the United States via London to study music and the many hits and near misses of his career spanning more than fifty years.

Music for Masekela and his compatriots was a liberating experience from the day to day harshness of life in the townships that they were forced to live in away from the whites. “The government despised our. They couldn’t figure out how Africans could still find any pleasure under such harsh social conditions” Masekela writes. “They were particularly annoyed when Africans jammed with white, Indian, and coloured entertainers. Race mingling of any kind was resented by the apartheid government”. As much as the blacks were restricted from mixing with other races, they were also prevented from mixing with other Africans from outside the country, an act which according to Masekela is responsible for today’s xenophobia in South Africa.

In Still Grazing, Masekela and his co-author African-American professor D. Michael Cheers explore the themes of love, life, music, drug addiction, racial oppression, activism, and AIDS. Masekela does not hide his various dalliances with the women in his life beginning with the most famous of them all Miriam Makeba, his first wife who even though older than him took him through life, musically and emotionally. The book tells about their romance from when they met singing on the local circuit in Alexandra and began a whirlwind romance that will take them across oceans till when they married while in exile and their eventual divorce which Masekela put down to irreconcilable differences, something that deeply hurt Makeba for many years as he walked out on their marriage. His marriage to Chris, Cab Calloway’s daughter which ushered him into the black elite circles of America and his eventual divorce from her due to drug problems highlight the crazy times that 1960s America was.

In Masekela’s journey one gets to meet all the big time jazz greats and famous entertainment personalities who made the bebop era what it is. He was on a first name basis with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Coltrane, Don King, Herb Alpert, Harry Belafonte, Marlon Brando, Bill Cosby, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix among so many others. In his lifetime, Masekela has dined and wined with many African leaders while also getting caught up in some of the most terrible political pogroms that happened on the continent in the years after independence. He was a guest of Sekou Toure in Guinea when Cape Verdean leader Amilcar Cabral was murdered in 1972; while he was granted honorary Liberian citizenship, his benefactor President William Tolbert was massacred alongside his cabinet members by Samuel Doe in 1980; he was in Lagos as Fela’s guest when Murtala Muhammed was assassinated and had to stay put until the state of emergency curfews were lifted several weeks later; and he escaped with his life in Botswana when the South African apartheid regime’s death squads bombed many exiled activists in that country in a bid to keep opposition figures quiet.

From his own eyes, we see how his addiction to sex, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol ruined many of his business and personal relationships and almost took his life but for a rehabilitation programme in London that made him clean after almost 40 years of abuse. Still Grazing chronicles his many hits from his greatest album Grazing in the Grass to the flops and misses that characterize every artiste’s career. In his own words one comes to a realization of the pains of living in exile for more than thirty years due to the evil perpetrated on his home by the Afrikaner government which in turn drove him to explore mind numbing substances to send away the pain of losing his mother in violent means. At the turn of every page, Masekela’s humanity cries out to the reader and while not begging to be accepted and understood, he remains thankful for the forces that have made him live a rewarding life that has impacted his country through his musical journey.

On returning to South Africa at the end of apartheid in 1991, Masekela discovered that not much has changed because the white establishment still controlled the civil service and the black African communities were now fighting themselves over political territories. Instead of giving up on his country, he decides to find other ways of helping out with the reforms process even though he is disillusioned by the reconciliation process which does not punish perpetrators of the evils against his people. With the HIV/AIDS pandemic that swept through the country came another attack on his peoples’ way of life. Losing his sister to the disease made the denial strategy of the government a sad process. Masekela went to press five years later stating that his sister had died of AIDS thereby shedding light on the pandemic and causing many more people to take up the fight against the disease.

These days, Masekela lives with his Ghanaian wife Elinam on their farm called Polinam, a combination of his mother’s name Polina and his wife’s, a hundred kilometres west of Johannesburg. He still makes music and encourages young people to take to the art. In many of his concerts he can still be heard playing a cover of Fela’s hit “Lady” to the admiration of audiences. While acknowledging the vanity of life he tells whoever cares to listen, “I am truly lucky to be around. Let the music play.”

Happy Independence Nigeria!!!

2010-10-01T15:33:00.004+01:00

I am lucky to be a Nigerian as my country clocked 50 today. I look back on the life I have lived and bless the Lord for the opportunities that have come my way.

Nigeria is a very important country in the world and Nigerians have made an appreciable impact on all spheres of life.

We love life. We love to work. We love to help people. However, we sometimes get carried away with the perquisites of office to forget to lend a helping hand and work for the improvement of our country.

The journey to the next 50 years has already begun. I make my vow to help improve, in every way I can, the fortunes of my country.

It is interesting that I am typing this post in Accra, the same city, where I wrote the first post on this blog three years ago during Ghana's 50th anniversary.

The issues which both countries face are different. We must all keep striving to the best we can and hold our leaders accountable for their actions.

I love you Nigeria. I am proud to be African in the 21st century.

World Cup 2010: Africa Arise!!!

2010-06-02T14:12:00.001+01:00

It is time for Africa to take her place in world football as the World Cup kicks off.

It is with great joy that I write as the World Cup kicks off in South Africa next week. We have waited for more than six years in anticipation of our turn to host the world’s most important sporting event.

Every fours years the stars of football come out to shine at the World Cup and this time we have the opportunity to host them on our land with our impressive cultural heritage.

Africa welcomes the world to this great continent of beauty, hopes and dreams. We open our arms wide and we say welcome, Akwaaba, Ekaabo, Sanu da zuwa, and Sawubona to everyone that will be visiting our continent during this period.

Football is more than a sport, it is our life blood in Africa. When our national teams play we forget all of our differences and gather round with one goal in mind, victory.

We follow with every breath and every blinking of the eye as our stars kick the ball all over the field. We forget our ethnicity, our religions, our prejudices and hug each other on the streets whenever our teams score.

Football has been a force for good in our continent. It has brought an end to wars. Ask Didier Drogba how he was able to bring peace to his former troubled Ivory Coast. See how the great Pele made the warring factions in Nigeria declare a ceasefire just to see him play during the Biafran War.

Football is more than a sport, it is a passion. The World Cup is the biggest shrine of football and it is where many of us dreamed of being as kids. To see our heroes play means more than a thousand treasures.

As the World Cup begins in our Africa this week, I will be supporting my team the Super Eagles to victory. No matter what happens during the tournament, I will be the number one fan of the Super Eagles. And if the Eagles fail to make it further, I will support football.

For football is much more than nationality, it is a lifestyle, it is a religion, it is a calling and a gift to mankind. Football is a force for good for us so let us embrace this beautiful gift that has been given to Africa and rise up to celebrate it.

It is our time.