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Just as every agreement has its terms and conditions, there are some criteria which you will need to meet in getting your bank to finance your local purchase order (LPO) or contract. While the details may vary from bank to bank, the general criteria can be grouped into 4 main categories:
Your Credit Worthiness:
This is the most critical of all as the main reason why a bank reviews your loan request is to determine your credit worthiness. To do this, the bank relies on your bank statements i.e. do your accounts get overdrawn, have your cheques ever been returned (bounced) as a result of insufficient funds? A credit check will also be conducted from at least two credit bureaus to find out if you have non-performing loans in any financial institution.
Ability to execute the LPO/ Contract:
Often, it is expected that you would have executed similar contracts in the past. If this is the case, you will need to provide copies of such Purchase Orders or contract agreement, completion certificates, payment invoices from the contract employer and the bank statements that reflect these payments.
Bank
Commitment:
You will be required to make an equity contribution. This may vary from 10-20% of the cost of executing the LPO/Contract. For example: you have been issued an N10m purchase order to supply telephones and the cost of purchasing and delivering the telephones is N7m; your equity contribution will be 20-30% of N7m.
Payment Ability of the Issuer/Contract:
Whilst this is totally out of your control, the ability of the issuer of the LPO/contract to pay and also pay on time is often times a deciding factor on whether your LPO is financed by your bank or not. As this is the primary repayment source of the LPO finance the bank will want to be assured of the payment of the contract proceeds on time. You may be required to show proof of payment from the contract employer; however the bank reserves the right to only finance LPOs from issuers that they are comfortable with. Delayed payments of contract proceeds can have a negative impact on your profitability and your ability to repay the loan as a result of the prolonged interest payment.
Other areas which you have to consider include:
Are you a registered business or limited liability company? Do you have your registration/incorporation documents?
Validity of the LPO or contract- was it duly signed by a designated representative of the issuing company? Has the contract expired? Does the time before the expiry of the contract give you ample time to execute it?
Do you have invoices from suppliers? Are your suppliers local or foreign based? If foreign, what payment mode are you adopting- LC, Bills for Collection?
Have you reviewed the terms and conditions of the LPO/contract to ensure that you are able to abide by them. Are there some clauses in it that may make the bank uncomfortable?
PASTOR of Ajayi Dahunsi Memorial Baptist Church, Lagos, Rev. 'Sola Idowu has encouraged Nigerians to be resolute and not give room for distraught in the face of current economic challenges, saying that God is still in the process of reviving Nigeria, reports OLAYINKA LATONA.
Speaking at the church’s 50th anniversary, Rev. Idowu urged the Nigerian masses to be steadfast and focus their attention on God for all their needs who only has the power to bail the nation out of the current depression.
"Economists have proposed all kinds of theories which have not worked, so we must keep on praying and be hopeful that God will continue to stir the ship of our nation, and guide our leaders. We must also keep in mind that our leaders are human beings who are limited and can only act on what they know and the strength that they have,” the cleric stated.
"God is able and faithful and He is able to bring us out of the situation. This is a country with many religious people and this is the time we have to rally round our faith and hold on to God, it is a time to really showcase the God we have been talking about all this while," he said.
On the church anniversary, Rev Idowu thanked God for His faithfulness towards the church in the last 50 years, adding that the church will continue to expand through its core values of corporate social responsibilities and evangelism.
DETERMINED to make the Bible available to over 1.8 million Nigerians with hearing impairment, the Christian Mission for the Deaf Church, Nigeria in collaboration with DOOR International, the Presbyterian Church Nigeria and the Bible Society of Nigeria recently launched 77 Chronological Bible Translation for the Nigerian Sign Language Bible.
The General Secretary, Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, Rev. Dare Ajiboye expressed delight that 77 Bible stories were added to the previous translation that contained 32 stories which was launched in 2014, adding that with the bible the deaf would be able to, through the signs in the DVD, read and understand the Word of God.
Ajiboye therefore urged churches in the country to assist the physically challenged, maintaining that they need help.
In his words: "We are happy today that we are dedicating another 77 Chronological Bible stories for the deaf. It is capital intensive but we believe that with the latest addition, the deaf in Nigeria will have more access to the word of God and will no longer be hindered knowing the mind of God for them.
“The sighted have the Bible in different versions, the blind have the Brail Bible but the deaf until 2014 in Nigeria have no access to the Word of God in sign language and that is why we believe that this project will go a long way to win more souls to the kingdom of God in the community of the deaf,” he noted.
Continuing, he appealed to all Nigerians, especially Christians to support the project by making Bible available for the deaf, believing that the provision has the capacity to reduce social vices in the country; “that is why we believe that if government supports us, it will improve their literacy and they will be more useful to the society instead of begging."
Representing the moderator of the General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nzie Nsi Eke, chairman, Nigerian Sign Language Bible Committee, Rev. Comfort Okoroafor challenged the deaf to read the Word of God, obey His commandment and tell others about Jesus Christ.
The National President of Diocesan Priests of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Onmoke has enjoined those entrusted with the leadership at all levels in the country to discharge such responsibilities with the fear of God and with a sense of responsibility to the poor, needy and the less privileged in the society, reports PETER DURU, Makurdi.
Fr. Onmoke said it was only by so doing that one could claim to have contributed positively to the development of humanity on earth.
He spoke during the homily at the burial mass of late Sir Stephen Adole, father-in-law of the immediate past senate president, Senator David Mark, at Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The clergy said; “it would be worthwhile to do that which will positively impact humanity in whatever place or position we find ourselves that, is the only way we can make the world a better place to live in.
While acknowledging the good deeds of the deceased, the priest noted that it was the good work of the late philanthropist that compelled all and sundry to gather from all works of life, to celebrate him saying that his lifestyle was worthy of emulation.
Supporters of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe chanting “tongai, tongai baba” (rule, rule father) endorsed on Saturday the 92-year-old leader for a 2018 election run.
The endorsement, which is likely to result in his 36-year rule being extended, was greeted with thunderous applause by thousands of party faithful attending the ruling ZANU-PF’s annual conference.
Mugabe accepted dressed in a green floral jacket bearing his own portrait and a map of Zimbabwe.
The veteran leader has held power since independence from British colonial rule in 1980 and has always avoided naming a successor or laying out plans to retire.
He once quipped that he would rule until he turned 100.
The conference, held in the southeastern town of Masvingo, expressed “its support to the president and first secretary comrade Robert Mugabe as the sole candidate for the forthcoming 2018 elections”, deputy secretary Eunice Sandi Moyo said.
The absence of a clear successor to Mugabe has sparked infighting including verbal exchanges on social media in recent weeks between factions angling for his position.
Accepting his endorsement, Mugabe called for unity.
“We agreed that conflicts should end. Infighting should end. The party ideology should be followed,” he said.
Mugabe, who has been dogged by rumours of poor health and is usually animated during lengthy political addresses, spoke slowly during his short acceptance speech.
– ‘Rule forever’ –
He stressed that discipline among party members should be maintained and that “leaders should be respected”.
“Let us be one. We are one family, the family of ZANU-PF, bound together by the fact of understanding between its members,” he said.
Large portraits of a younger Mugabe were displayed around a huge marquee where the conference was held, with the majority of about 9,000 delegates donning shirts emblazoned with their leader’s face.
“We want President Mugabe to rule forever and ever because of his clear leadership,” one elated delegate, Janet Mazviwanza, told AFP.
Despite his popularity within the party ranks, Mugabe this year faced unprecedented calls for him to step down, including a series of rare public protests over his failure to turn the ailing economy around.The 92-year-old Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, on Thursday in Harare maintained that even though is party would choose a successor, he planned to contest the next election in 2018.
Critical cash shortages prompted the government at the end of November to introduce the much disliked ‘bond notes’ — equivalent to the US dollar.
Zimbabwe abandoned its own dollar currency in 2009 after hyperinflation hit 500 billion percent rendering it unusable.
Unemployment in the country is currently at about 90 percent, and thousands of companies have closed in the last three years.
Among the protest groups at rallies in recent months have been university graduates who wore their caps and gowns to show their anger at the lack of jobs.
The street protests led police to ban demonstrations in the capital Harare, with some activists arrested.
Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped government has on several occasions failed to pay the salaries of civil servants on time, and workers have this month been informed that they will only get their pay in January.
During the five-day ZANU-PF conference, the party raised concern at the abuse of social media and the national flag.
Recently the Zimbabwean flag has been used as a symbol of political defiance by protesters and social activists who challenged Mugabe’s government.
Early this year, #ThisFlag social media movement led by Pastor Evan Mawarire saw a wave of internet activism, as people expressed anger at the growing economic meltdown.
“There are however some concerns about the use of social media at a time when political parties are preparing for 2018 elections,” read a report by the party central committee.
“This phenomenon has been worsened by people who want to create chaos and destabilise the country.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United secured their fourth consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The Swedish striker struck early in each half as Jose Mourinho’s side pursued their recent upturn in form to move alongside fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on 30 points in the Premier League table.
United are now just three points off the four Champions League qualifying places, albeit having played a game more than third-place Arsenal and fourth-place Manchester City, who meet on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic put his team on course for victory in the fifth minute at The Hawthorns when he finished off a splendid move in style.
France international Paul Pogba, who dominated midfield throughout, set the ball rolling with a crossfield pass to right-back Antonio Valencia.
Valencia’s lofted pass sent Jesse Lingard hurtling past left-back Allan Nyom before a wonderful, pinpoint cross eluded Gareth McAuley and allowed Ibrahimovic to nod past Ben Foster from 10 yards.
Wayne Rooney came close to doubling the lead when his goal-bound header was blocked by Craig Dawson.
He would have been forgiven for thinking he had equalled the watching Bobby Charlton’s all-time record of 249 goals in United colours midway through the first half. Ibrahimovic – Mourinho The United captain set his sights on goal from the edge of the penalty box and his powerfully struck, rising shot looked certain to strengthen his team’s grip on proceedings.
But Foster brilliantly tipped the ball onto the crossbar to deny his former England and United colleague a moment of history.
There was, though, no keeping Ibrahimovic out of the limelight and moments later, Baggies fans demanded his dismissal when the giant forward flattened Dawson with a crude aerial challenge.
The yellow card shown by referee Anthony Taylor was greeted with a chorus of boos.
– Rondon-Rojo flashpoint –
West Brom, currently in seventh place, struggled to make home advantage count, but David de Gea was finally tested when Chris Brunt tried his luck from 20 yards following good work by Nacer Chadli.
Salomon Rondon, who scored a 13-minute hat-trick of headers in the midweek 3-1 defeat of Swansea City, then procured a chance to show he was head and shoulders above United’s defence.
The Venezuelan striker escaped the attentions of centre-backs Marco Rojo and Phil Jones, but nodded Matt Phillips’s cross wide of the target.
Back came United and Lingard, in for the dropped Juan Mata, should have given United a two-goal cushion just before the break.
But the composure he showed when teeing up Ibrahimovic early on deserted him and he shot wildly over with just Foster to beat following Matteo Darmian’s miscue.
It was left to Ibrahimovic to double United’s lead 11 minutes into the second half, but this time he needed the help of Lady Luck to get the better of Foster.
After picking up possession from Rooney just outside the box, the 35-year-old sprang between two defenders before unleashing a low shot that beat Foster with the help of a deflection off Dawson.
Tempers flared briefly when Rondon tangled with Rojo, the West Brom striker appearing to slap the United defender, and both were cautioned.
But there was no knocking Mourinho’s players out of their stride as they defended with discipline and determination.
Ibrahimovic, who now has 16 United goals to his credit, showed his selfish side when he went for goal himself rather than setting up Pogba as United broke and the latter made his disapproval clear to his colleague.
Pogba’s heart would have been in his mouth when the locals, including Albion manager Tony Pulis, screamed for handball after he was struck by McAuley’s header following Chris Brunt’s corner.
But that was as close as the home side got to halting United’s momentum.
New York – The U.S. Government has put a 25 million dollars offer on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an increase from the initial 10 million dollars.
The U.S. Government announced the new reward in a statement issued by the Department of State.
"The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program is increasing to 25 million dollars its reward offer for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Ibrahim 'Awwad Ibrahim 'Ali al-Badri, also known as Abu Du'a.
"This represents a significant increase from the previous reward offer of 10 million dollars announced in October 2011."
The statement said in recent years, ISIL has gained the allegiance of jihadist groups and radicalised individuals around the world, and has inspired attacks in the U.S.
"Under Al-Baghdadi, ISIL has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Abu Bakr al-Baghdad
"The group also has conducted chemical weapons attacks in Iraq and Syria in defiance of the longstanding global norm against the use of these appalling weapons, and has enabled or directed terrorist attacks beyond the borders of its self-declared caliphate."
In June 2014, ISIL, also known as Da'esh, seized control of portions of Syria and Iraq, self-declared a so-called Islamic caliphate, and named al-Baghdadi as caliph.
In 2011, the Department of State designated Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.
Al-Baghdadi was also added to the UN Security Council ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in 2011.
Al-Baghdadi was the leader of al-Qa'ida in Iraq (AQI), which subsequently morphed into ISIL.
"More information about Al-Baghdadi is located on the Rewards for Justice website atwww.rewardsforjustice.net.
"We encourage anyone with information about al-Baghdadi to contact the Rewards for Justice office via e-mail (no2daesh@rewards4justice.co), by phone (1-800-877-3927 in North America), or by mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA).
"All information will be kept strictly confidential," the statement read.
The Rewards for Justice Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of 125 million dollars to more than 80 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. (NAN)
Lagos – The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would from Monday, Dec. 19 to Thursday, Dec. 22, hold an induction programme for the recently-appointed career Ambassadors-designate.
The Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Clement Aduku, said in a statement that the induction programme would be for the 47 career Ambassadors-designate recently screened and confirmed by the Senate.
Aduku said that the four-day programme, which would be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, would hold in Abuja.
"The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has announced a four-day induction programme for the newly-appointed career Ambassadors.
"The programme, which will run from Dec.19 to Dec. 22, 2016 will involve the 47 career Ambassadors-designate recently screened and confirmed by the Senate.
"The programme will be declared open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja,'' he said.
According to him, the programme is to acquaint the newly-appointed Ambassadors-designate with the foreign policy agenda and priorities of the current Administration, including the domestic programmes of national development.
Aduku said that it was also aimed at reminding them of the basic elements of diplomacy, expectations and the role of the Ambassadors abroad, as well as expectation from their spouses.
He also said that resource persons had been invited to deliver lectures and exchange experiences with the Ambassadors-designate on the different aspects of Nigeria's foreign policy
Aduku said that the resource persons would also expose them to diplomatic and consular relations, government policy and strategy for trade and investment promotion and relations with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The Ministry's spokesperson said that all the Ambassadors-designate had already started arriving in Abuja, ahead of the four-day induction programme.
Evangelist Gabriel Mete in this 125-page book, The Office of a Bishop, X-rays the level of decadence the Nigerian 21st century church has slumped into.
He lashed out at some clergies who now want to add the title of the Most High God to their names, ride in the latest cars or jets, just to project their ego. According to MOG as he is popularly called, the love of money (1 John 2: 15-20) has blinded their spiritual foresight and as such are less concerned about the perishing souls.
The new meaning and craze for titles in the church has given birth to such funny titles such as His Holiness, Archbishop, Most Senior Apostle, Superior Apostle, Bishop, Rev. Dr (JP) and others too numerous to mention. He explained that God only recognises the five-fold ministry of Apostle, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist and Prophet and wonders why pastors will demote themselves to the level of deacons or brothers. He said a bishop in the bible or a deacon or an elder was just a committed Christian brother who was appointed or ordained in a local church to help in conducting church activities when the pastor is not around.
In fact, most pastors, prophets, Rev. Drs, bishops, and archbishops of today are not even qualified to be called the brothers of those days.
The come-as-you-are syndrome in today's church has given rise to importation of religious titles and immoral foreign cultures like non covering of hair, ladies putting on trousers and dressing half naked, painting and make ups, titanic earrings, in place of our better home culture
People now want to answer pastors, prophets, bishops, Rev. Drs, Archbishops not because they want to gather and prepare souls for heaven but because they want to buiId earthIy empires. If the pastors who are laying the faulty foundations are morally and spiritually sick, Christianity will remain a shadow of what it ought to be.
It is sickening that people have to pay through their noses to acquire the title of a bishop. While men in the church are enjoined not to cover their heads in the church, bishops cover their heads with caps with costly chains. What a double standard!
Mete advises those who have been deceived into taking the title to retrace their footsteps and repent while calling on other ministers of God to focus on their calling as titles will never add any anointing to their ministries.
By Candida I have always eagerly looked forward to Christmas. Not for what I can get out of it, but for the juiciest events I usually find myself smack in the middle of. Take the last Christmas eve, for instance. Every year, we usually have a low budget annual party for the current participating group at the regular courses I co-run with a 'partner'. Last year, we decided to splash out a bit and shifted base to a club-house down the street – a bit cheesy, but after the ingenious decoration by some of the ladies, the air was filled with the spirit of Christmas.
When I sauntered in around 4p.m, the club looked really festive – the atmosphere was thick with perfume and after-shave. The deejay was beside himself with excitement wriggling to the music he dished out as everyone sang along. The ladies who couldn't get home in time to come back had brought a change of clothing, emerging from the loo with fancy hair dos and glittering tops. Then, I spotted Sule – the classroom nerd. A very intelligent IT expert, his thick lack-Iuster glasses matched his quiet mien.
He didn't speak a word of Yoruba and the ladies who did, heck-led him mercilessly. It was obvious he had the hots for Linda, a lively divorcee who constantly thumbed her nose at Sule's offer of a night out. As she joked about his clothes to her friends, Sule would go. "What are you saying"? "Oh, we were just saying how incredibly intelligent you are!"
Linda would often assure.
Decoration in preparation for Christmas at Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island in Lagos on Saturday
Anyway, there was Sule at a corner, nursing a glass of what looked like red wine at the party. The others were a bit woozy as they guzzled the free booze. Spotting Sule, Linda went up to him, obviously urged on by her friends, and plunked herself on a seat opposite him. I watched, amused, as he looked at her warily. "Have a top up," Linda sniggered, filling his glass to the brim. He tried to protest, but Linda took a big gulp from his glass and that sort of did the trick. As he tried to match Linda drink for drink, the booze went to his head. He was now dancing in his chair and Linda left to dance with a few other guests.
In a flash, Sule was on the dance floor and was gyrating with Linda. She was stunned. So was I. The nerd had suddenly metamorphosed into an aggressive master! The girls were in hysterics as they teased him endlessly.
Then, he stopped dancing, shook his head and asked the girls in flawless Yoruba: "You think I am Suegbe, don't you? Well, I'm not, I'm pako!" On and on he went as most of the ladies gasped. Linda looked really uncomfortable, obviously imagining all the put down she'd thought Sule
knew nothing of. But, it was the season of goodwill and Sule was soon back on the dance floor, a different man entirely. He even bumped and grounded with some of the girls.
Shortly after, it was obvious Linda had had one drink too many. Just before midnight, she must have been overcome by a huge wave of nausea and tried desperately to get to the loo but it was too late. She threw up near the loo and quite a number of guests recoiled in horror as the stench of vomit became almost overwhelming. Who should come to Linda's rescue but Sule? He got the club management to clean up the mess and casually asked Linda if he could take her home. She agreed gratefully. I was bemused.
Who could have imagined anything like this happening between those two?
I didn't see the two of them until after the New Year. Sule was his serious self, but with new confidence. No more teasing. Everyone now knew he could understand all those nasty put-downs. Linda was the one subdued.
A few days later, we had an opportunity of a gossip. "1 hope Sule didn't run you into a ditch – he looked quite drunk at the party?" Linda shook her
head. "That man would excel as an actor," she said admiringly. "He took me home, made sure I got really cleaned up and before I knew what hit me, he'd clamped his lips to mine in what he termed his 'killer' kiss. I was frozen with shock. I wanted to push him off, but he was such a smashing kisser. As excitement shot through me, I wondered who this man was!
"I want you", he suddenly growled, running his hands all over me. He completely took over, nudging me to the bedroom and kicking the door shut! My goodness, I thought. I was in between boy-friends and my two kids were spending Christmas with my sister. What a stroke of good fortune!
He was incredible in bed. Like a prisoner released after years of incarceration. By the next morning, he had left. As the memories of all that happened came back, I groaned, I had actually slept with Sule. I never imagined I could ever even allow him to hold my hand let a alone sleep with him. But, no regrets at all, he was one of the best! We more or less spent the rest of the holiday together and the sex got better and better. He is married but doesn't bother me. When we resumed the course and the gossip about him continued, I didn't chip in. Instead, it was Sule giving as much as he got and winking at me conspiratorilly. Would these people ever believe that the class nerd is a stallion?
Which goes to show you don't judge a product by its wrapping. Christmas has a way of weaving its magic but in the most unexpected way. You might think it would be a dull one this year only to find Linda's type of surprise.
Senator Adego Eferakeya, a professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, at the weekend, Amukpe, Sapele, Delta State, presented his Autobiography titled; "My Life Journey So Far," to mark his 76th birthday anniversary celebration.
Professor Omamurhomu Okobiah in his opening remark as the chairman of the occasion, described Sen. Eferakeya as embodiment of academic excellence and a genius who achieved great feat through determination.
Eferakeya
He noted that the Sen. Eferakeya who represented Delta Central Senatorial District in the 5th Senate braced all odds to attain enviable position in life, stressing that no man is born without abilities to succeed.
The book reviewer, Prof. Ray Ozolua, his former student and a colleague at the University of Benin, stated that the book which has 14 chapters with 492 pages, chronicles Sen. Eferakeya's life from birth, early life, education and work life, his family, religion, community life, his brief adventure into politics, opinions of others on the man Eferakeya, recognitions and awards, his academic publications and worldview.
Unveiling the book, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, former minister for information, urged the younger generation to form the habit of reading books, adding that the craze for internet is gradually eroding book reading culture.
Frank Momoh, is the president of Frot Group, an energy and construction company based in Lekki, Lagos and founder and Chairman of FROT Foundation. The Edo State born philanthropist and art collector has been providing sponsorship and other support for Nigerian sports and arts. This year alone, he has sponsored three exhibitions in Lagos. Sunday Arts caught up with him during the closing ceremony of Insanity, which he sponsored at Omenka Gallery and he bared his mind on a lot of issues. Excerpts.
Tell us about Frot Foundation
I am the founder and chairman of Frot Foundation. Our foundation is focused on four cardinal areas. Which are water, education, sports and arts.
Frot Foundation tends to be there when help is needed. But, our major focus like I said is what I mentioned earlier. Primary education, in providing infrastructures and providing the right learning environment for primary schools because I believe that is the foundation of education. Infrastructures like tables and chairs, learning materials and a conducive environment. Outside these four cardinal areas I have enumerated, Frot Foundation has been very vocal and very supportive in helping the health sector. We are a partner with Noah's Ark foundation for sickle cell.
Also, a partner for cancer awareness in Nigeria. We have sponsored several events, promoting awareness for sickle cell and providing funds and monthly drugs. Noah's Ark is fully responsible for that . But, for cancer awareness Nigeria, our aim is to continue to educate the Nigerian public as we realised that our women are dieing by large numbers daily. And we also realised that the major reason is ignorance. They don't even know what to look for. Outside that we have a passion for providing a hand in any work of life that needs help. Personal medical attention to people, and we sponsor that, we are also strategic partner with the Lagos state motherless baby home, Lekki. Right now, we are working heavily on providing ten boreholes for the IDPs in the North East. And our slogan is very simple,"Every little counts." So, every little we can , we always be there.
What motivated Frot Foundation to sponsor arts
The idea of sponsoring artsor my interest comes from my collecting habit of arts. I have always appreciated arts and I can tell you that am one of the major collectors of African arts in Nigeria and also the patron of arts. Arts for me is life. I feel complete when am in any art environment. Am also a very big ambassador of creativity, anything that has to do with skills and talents, I support them heavily. For me arts is something I have grown to appreciate and love.
Frank Momoh
At what point did this connection start?
I do not come from an art family. The passion and love for arts started because of my love for creativity. That point I cut the bud where I see a very good work of art and I can't go to sleep without thinking about it actually started about ten years ago. Somewhere in England, I want into a gallery and the attendant was very vast and understood arts. He talked me into arts and made me to understand the different benefits of arts. So since then, I have grown to love it and research on it. I go to exhibitions and auctions even when I don't have money. I go to exhibitions, go to view and auctions to listen. And then, the energy arts enthusiasts exhume will compel you to fall in love with it.
Insanity is just part of it. It is an offshoot of our resolve to encourage arts in Nigeria and beyond the shores of Nigeria. From what I understand and seen in the art and culture sector in Nigeria. There is a huge gap between the masters and the young ones. So, I kept asking myself, when are we going to fill this gap. By the time these masters are getting too old to paint. What are we going to appreciate, who is going to remind us of our heritage. Who is going to remind us of our purpose in life? Which is appreciating creativity.
So, I decided that youth development is always the key to any vacuum. Like in sports, we focus on youths development and in arts too. Insanity actually started from a programme we did called Artist connect where we invited artists all over Nigeria. About 250 attended and they came with their works, it was a fantastic event as exchanged ideas and we did a shortlisting of about 20 artists and streamlined it to 12. The whole idea of doing that was to focus on a small group and use it as a pilot programme and create a platform that talented youths can leverage on and have hope and grow among themselves in the arts world. Insanity came for the purpose of the platform and exposing young artists to the world.
Is this the first exhibition you are sponsoring?
This is our third exhibition this year. The man I respected so much, I call him Daddy, Kolade Oshinowo. His solo exhibition at TerraKulture was partly sponsored by Frot Foundation. Then, the people I called the 12 disciples, the Olakus, the Odogwus, Nwokolos, Babatundes etc. ,they had a group exhibition called " Infinite treasure." That was 100% sponsored by Frot Foundation before Insanity.
What are the criteria used?
Value creation. Like I said, I respect and value these people a lot. They have done well for the arts industry, done well in encouraging the young ones. Like Insanity for example, most of these artists I mentioned came on the opening day to encourage the one young ones. For us, it is like partnership with these outstanding artists.
Your take on lack of support for arts by private sectors?
I am not going to use the phrase, lack of support because we have a lot of companies in the private sector that actually support arts. But the support is poor and it is about value system. It depends on the value these companies place on arts. I can tell you that it could have been better. I know a lot of companies that support arts heavily. They sponsor exhibitions and attach their names to exhibitions and auctions . That is encouraging. But, like I said, I expect a lot more from the private sector. But, again, it is gradually increasing. Even the appreciation of arts is gradually increasing. Youths and people under 50 are beginning to love arts.
Next for Frot Foundation?
We can only get bigger . Like I said Insanity was created as a platform for future events like this. So, right now, we now have Insanity as a platform. We have a lot of young talented Nigerians, Africans who saw Insanity and said to themselves, " I can even do better. Thank God there is a platform I can showcase my talents and my work," so, there is going to be Insanity 2017, 2018 . Now, it is a platform that every young talented artists will be looking forward to showcase what they can do.
Does their works show the quality of talents we have?
Absolutely, if Frank Momoh can recognise this one. Imagine the young ones that have not be discovered yet. Like I always say, for example in Sports, Hussein Bolt is not the fastest man on earth, he is the fastest man discovered. So, I believe we have a lot more people who are even better than these ten young men that have exhibited now.
My bigger goal in this whole art scenario is to see private museums springing out. That will be open to the public for them to see how deep and rich our cultural heritage is .
Interest in other arts?
Of course we have interest. Like I said, anywhere help is needed, as little as much as we can we always lend a hand. Because, we believe in our mantra which says , " Every little thing count." We want to say , it does not matter the amount, it is about the principle behind it. So, for performing arts, we have a hand in that. So, this is visual arts, and we will sponsor other arts as long as it promotes our cultural heritage.
On the 20th of this month, the name of a new Tor Tiv, the paramount ruler of the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria will be announced. James Ayatse, 60-year-old Professor of Biochemistry, who contended for the position, was at a time Vice Chancellor of two federal universities in the country. In this interview, he spoke about his aspiration to become the fifth paramount ruler of the Tiv people of central Nigeria.
Excerpt:
Why are you in the race for the Tor Tiv stool?
I've indicated interest to be considered for selection as the fifth Tor Tiv so that I'll make my contribution towards the upliftment of our people traditionally and developmentally. I've taken this decision because by the grace of God I've had the opportunity to serve in public office and I think I have the experience and the exposure that I think will be relevant in that office.
James Ayatse
I'll bring that experience to bear in administering the affairs of the Tiv people. I could say that we need to look at our culture and see the positive aspects and use them for the development of our people. Those cultural aspects that develop the improvement of the people we'll promote, such cultures like songs and dances can be used positively instead of using them negatively.
We can use them for purposes of worshipping God, for example, and for purposes of entertainment in a way that will not expose or bring out negative aspects of human life. I've seen that it's important that as a people we draw near to God and it will be my intention to encourage the Tiv nation to return to God, to submit to God and invite God into the affairs of our people so that God will guide and help us to overcome the different challenges that our people are going through individually and collectively as a Tiv nation.
I want to be able to use that position to uplift the Tiv nation because our people have a lot of potentials which are not being harnessed and we would be in a position to encourage our youths, encourage skilled people to come forward and showcase the skills they have for development and promotion of our people. These are very important aspects that I think would be useful.
We also discovered that in our lives we've borrowed some cultures that are not very useful positively and such cultures are becoming a nuisance to our society. We can look at burial ceremonies. Ceremonies in general consume a lot of resources. We were not doing this before so we need to take a second look at it to see how we can modify some things. I will also be thinking in the direction of promoting the Tiv language which is getting more or less extinct among the younger generation.
We need to encourage the teaching of Tiv language in schools and the teaching of Tiv language at home because once you lose your language you lose your culture. What I think is also important for me to do is to set up structures that will address the security of our people at the local level. We will have the vigilantes at the different levels of chiefs to coordinate with the local governments to ensure that security issues that are arising will be tackled at the local level so that the burden on the central government in the state will be reduced.
I will also promote the study of science and professional courses among my people. A lot of people go to school but they read mainly the arts and social sciences. These are useful courses but we want to see more people going into engineering, medicine, technology, and so on.
We need more people in the science-oriented areas, in information and communication technology, ICT, in the new sciences, in genetic engineering and so on for better development. Our people, especially the young ones are not taking agriculture seriously and farming is the mainstay of the Tiv nation. When by God's grace I occupy that stool I'll use it to encourage young people to go back to the farm instead of just loitering around in the streets and being idle. These are the key areas I would want to address if I have opportunity to occupy the stool.
You've held positions of influence, how have you deployed these to the benefit of the Tiv people?
By the grace of God I've held public office twice. I was Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi for five years between 2001 and 2006. When I was in the University of Agriculture, the student population was less than 2,000 when I started, by the end of my tenure the student population rose up to over 7, 000. I created a lot of admission opportunities and opportunities for university education for our people.
The population of students increased and the intake from the Tiv nation went up astronomically as the majority of the students in the university were Tiv speaking. New courses were introduced; new programs, new departments and new colleges and that benefited our people a lot. They had opportunity to read choice courses, many of them are engineers now and many of them are agricultural scientists and so on.
With the expansion of the student population we also expanded employment opportunities and a lot of Tiv people were employed when I was the Vice Chancellor and they were also given positions of responsibility in the university. The participation of the Tiv people increased beyond what it had been before when I assumed office so they had a fair share of the activities in the university.
Many of them were also awarded contracts in the university to build structures; some functioned in the area of consultancy or in the cleaning services of the university. I also had opportunity to serve as a board member of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme and when I was there I was able to facilitate the employment of 35 Tiv people and I believe that was the first time in history that they had that kind of massive entry into that agency.
In the course of your public career, have you ever had an encounter with anti-graft bodies?
I've been in public life in the two places I served in the universities and I want to say of a truth that public life is open to people saying a lot of things, all kinds of allegations come up. But I want to say that there has never been any proven allegation against me in my public life and I've never had any anti-graft body taking me to court because of any allegations against me. I'm also aware that some people who want to assassinate my character are publishing that I have issues with ICPC but as I speak I've never received any invitation from ICPC.
There is the controversy that the Tor Tiv should take the oath of office either by the Christian Bible or the ancestral Swem; if given the opportunity, on what would you swear?
If given the opportunity I would swear by the Bible which stands for the truth and which is the word of God, the Almighty God, the compassionate and merciful, full of grace and the one that created the heavens and the earth. That is my conviction, I’m a Christian, I'll swear by the Bible.
Why should the Tor Tiv come from the Kwande area?
I'm from Shangev-ya in Kwande and my conviction and belief is that the Kwande axis or the intermediate area referred to as Kwande has never occupied the Tor Tiv stool. The Tiv people have been compartmentalized into intermediate areas and these intermediate areas have come to stay and there is no way you can wish them away, therefore, we must consider the intermediate areas in sharing opportunities that are available.
When I looked at it the Jechira intermediate area has benefited, I also see that the Jemgbagh intermediate area has benefited, the Minda and Sankera intermediate areas have also benefited. The intermediate area that has not occupied that stool is Kwande and my belief is that in fairness it's proper for the next Tor Tiv to come from Kwande. Fairness would demand that all the intermediate areas taste it first so that if you want to change the formula, after everybody has tasted it, we'll sit down and then agree on the formula that will be more acceptable. But that is my personal view, I'm not a king maker.
Do you have any appeal to make to the king makers and fellow contestants?
My appeal, first to fellow contestants, is that we should look at the whole exercise as sports which should be without bitterness as we know that only one person will emerge. Let us do the contest in a very clean manner; this is not politics where sometimes politicians would say that the end justifies the means. But here we're talking about tradition which requires truth and fairness and so we should have an attitude of sportsmanship and that any of us could be the Tor Tiv.
We don't need to go into character assassination and blackmailing the other contestants so that we would have an advantage. That is my counsel to my fellow contestants. We are in the race but we know only one person will win and whoever wins we should all rally round that person and put all our ideas on the table to help him succeed for the good of the Tiv nation.
To the king makers I would advise that they should be fair and be guided by the truth and the tradition in which the Tiv people do their own things. They have a culture of sitting down and talking until they agree without being violent and being negative about certain things so we believe that they would do that. Secondly, they should not allow themselves to be influenced by whatever means.
They should see and do what is right because the Tiv nation is at a point in their history that they need to bring out the best that is available to lead them at this point in time. Therefore, they should allow God to guide them, be honest and pure in their motive in selecting who will occupy the next Tor Tiv stool.
As encomiums continue to pour in for President Muhammadu Buhari, who turned 74 on Saturday, December 17, Civil Society and Pro-democracy group, Wailing Wailers, has felicitated with the President, urging him to endeavour to tackle the hardship in the country amid the biting recession.
President Buhari was born on December 17, 1942.
President Muhammadu Buhari arriving for events during a brief colourful Special 74th Birthday Parade to honour the President at the forecourts of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
The group in a statement in Abuja, by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Usman Abubakar, said: “We want to congratulate the President of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion and celebration of his birth, we wish him a happy birthday. On an occasion as this, it should be a time for the celebrant to reflect on his deeds and see to how he can do things according to the fear, teachings and guidance of God Almighty which we are all accountable to after our life here on earth.
“The President who may have reasons to thank God almighty for his personal accomplishments, should also know that the state of the nation, entrusted to his hand since May 29, 2015 has been so unfavourable to the Nigerian masses.
“Since the assumption of office as President, Nigerians had hoped that Buhari’s reign will bring blessings, and solutions to the problems befalling the nation; such problems as Boko Haram, Corruption, Economic downturn, poverty, hunger, Education, Healthcare, and most critically, the issues of erratic power supply that has subjected most household to total darkness. In addition are bad road networks, internal security, protection of lives and properties of the citizens, free speech, improved democracy e.t.c., but instead, the problems are now worse than they initially were.
“The President has not fair nor performed well in tackling any of the problems facing the country. Expectations and hopes of the people have been dashed, and many are expressing doubt that it can’t get better, even before the expiration of his tenure in 2019.
“Under President Buhari, corruption has become uglier than it was. A recent indictment of his Secretary to Government of Federation Babachir Lawal, Chief of Army Staff Buratai, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Solid Minerals Mr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of power Mr Babatunde Fashola, illegally Acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu e.t.c are examples of how bad corruption has become under his nose.
“Electricity availability have become near non existence; businesses are folding up, job loss is in its highest since the advent of democracy. The number of children dropping out of school has increased, and more Nigerians have been brutalized and massacred by state security forces under the watchful eyes of President Buhari and he seems not bothered about them.
“Democracy has been in the state of total clampdown, subverted and subdued, as Police, Army, SARS and other security forces have now replaced thugs. They freely and openly snatch election ballot boxes and intimidate voters in favor of Mr. Buhari’s ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). This was manifested in the recent election held in Rivers as captured on Video and Pictorial evidences, circulating In the media for all Nigerians to see. Impunity and flagrant disobedient to court orders under Buhari’s regime is unimaginable and unprecedented.
“We want the President to know that Nigeria, more than ever needs healing, unity, peace and love. The nation has been more divided under Buhari than any President that has ruled Nigeria. The economy is tending towards a total collapse, we are in critical recession. President Buhari’s government must know that the nation is shutting down economically because, his spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu has announced that Nigerians will experience Famine in 2017.”
“We are therefore forced to ask that, what is the usefulness of a government that will watch her citizens killed by hunger, starvation, poverty, anguish and brutality by the government security forces? Why will such government wants to remain in the office instead of resigning to allow by giving the competent hands the chance to come in to salvage the economic situation of the country?
“It is worrisome that with over N10 trillion budgeted for 2015 and 2016, there is no tangible and visible achievements by the Buhari’s administration. The President has made more noise about fighting corruption than actually fighting it and working to return the Nation to the path of economic boom.
“We urge Mr President to focus on how to use the the N7.3 Trillion budget for 2017, currently before the Senate, to upturn the severely damage economy under his watch rather than creating more bottle necks that will not allow the good people of Nigeria to feel the impact of the budget in their lives.
“We want the President to use the occasion of his birthday to reflect on and correct all the problems and challenges the Nigerian people are facing daily, which many of them were created by his government. We want to state it that, many Nigerians have lost hope In his leadership, because what the President focuses his time and energies chasing may not take the nation out of the present economic doldrums, if cares are not taken.
“As the President goes into merry-making with members of his families and friends celebrating beautiful personal achievements, he should also see to how the Nigeria state will be returned to the path of greatness as handed over to him in 2015,” added the statement.
*Releases 10 hot consumer trends for 2017 By Emeka Aginam
While mobile broadband subscriptions are growing by around 25 percent across the globe annually, , increasing by approximately 190 million in third quarter 2016 alone, according to latest Ericsson report, the Managing Director and Head of Ericsson Nigeria , Ericsson, Johan Jemdahl, has said that Low cost 4G enabled devices will boost broadband penetration in Nigeria.
The insights in the 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2017 report are based on Ericsson ConsumerLab's global research activities over more than 20 years, as well as data points from an online survey of advanced internet users in 14 major cities across the world, performed in October 2016.
Although the study only represents 27 million citizens, their early adopter profile makes them important to understand when exploring future trends.
Jemdahl who stated this at the weekend while presenting Ericsson Consumer Lab, the sixth edition of its annual trend report, The 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2017 and beyond to Technology Journalists in Lagos said that there was need for device manufacturers to produce more low cost 4G devices will change broadband access in Nigeria.
Johan Jemdahl
He said that beauty of 10 hot consumer trends for 2017 is that it will improve quality of education, economy, health, and many more.
Meanwhile, Ericsson Mobility report said that smartphone penetration in the country is increasing at a fast pace, driven by increasing availability of devices at an affordable price points offered by a number of phone manufacturers.
Presenting Ericsson's 10 hot consumer trends for 2017: AI and virtual reality, Jemdahl said that consumers expect artificial intelligence (AI) to move from assistants to managers, adding that virtual reality will be indistinguishable from physical reality in only three years.
According to him, more than a third of respondents believe digital privacy no longer exists. He said that 35 percent of advanced internet users want an AI advisor at work, and one in four would like an AI as their manager.
Reflecting on the rise of virtual reality, Michael Björn, Head of Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, says: “Beyond real time, I believe we should be talking about reality time. In fact, what we call reality becomes ever more personal and subjective. Consumers not only surround themselves with the like-minded on social networks, but also are also starting to customize the way they experience the world with augmented and virtual reality technologies.
"Consumers also want the future to remain fully mobile, implying that demand for battery-friendly, instant and fast connectivity is set to grow rapidly. In that sense, reality time means it is time for 5G networks."
Highlights of the 10 trends for 2017 and beyond:
*AI Everywhere: 35 percent of advanced internet users want an AI advisor at work, and one in four would like an AI as their manager. At the same time, almost half are concerned that AI robots will soon make a lot of people lose their jobs.
*Setting the Pace for Internet of Things: Consumers are increasingly using automated applications, encouraging IoT adoption. Two in five believe smartphones will learn their habits and perform activities on their behalf automatically.
*Pedestrians Drive Autonomous Cars: Car drivers may not exist in the future. One in four pedestrians would feel safer crossing a street if all cars were autonomous, and 65 percent of them would prefer to have an autonomous car.
*Merged Reality: Almost four out of five virtual reality users believe VR will be indistinguishable from reality in only three years. Half of respondents are already interested in gloves or shoes that allow you to interact with virtual objects.
*Bodies Out of Sync: As autonomous cars become reality, car sickness issues will increase, and three in ten foresee needing sickness pills. One in three also want motion sickness pills for use with virtual and augmented reality technology.
*The Smart Device Safety Paradox: More than half already use emergency alarms, tracking or notifications on their smartphones. Of those who say their smartphone makes them feel safer, three in five say they take more risks because they rely on their phone.
*Social Silos: Today, people willingly turn their social networks into silos. One in three says social networks are their main source of news. And more than one in four value their contacts' opinions more than politicians' viewpoints.
*Augmented Personal Reality: Over half of people would like to use augmented reality glasses to illuminate dark surroundings and highlight dangers. More than one in three would also like to edit out disturbing elements around them.
*The Privacy Divide: Two in five advanced internet users want to use only encrypted services, but people are divided. Almost half would like to have just reasonably good privacy across all services, and more than one out of three believes privacy no longer exists.
*Big Tech for All: More than two out of five advanced internet users would like to get all their products from the biggest five IT companies. Of those, three in four believe this will happen only five years from now.
The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) has honoured Bishop Charles Ighele as the Peoples Advocate Clergy of the Year 2016.
The award was presented at the annual lecture and award ceremony of CRAN in Lagos.
Bishop Charles Ighele receiving the award from Muhammed Babandede
The award was presented by Muhammed Babandede, the Controller General of Immigration Service. Ighele has a degree in history and political science from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1980. A tele-evangelist, Ighele is the presenter and general superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission Church, also known as the Happy Family Chapel.
Stakeholders in the child protection sector have decried the towering spate of child sexual abuse in the country and called for a support system devoid of bottlenecks for victims, saying one in four girls and one in ten boys now experience the menace before age 18.
Among them were the Executive Directors of Cece Yara Foundation, Project Alert, Mirabel Centre and Media Concern Initiative, Mrs Bola Tinubu, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba and Dr Princess Olufemi-Kayode, respectively.
They spoke in Lagos at a stakeholders' forum organised by the Cece Yara Foundation to announce its child advocacy centre and toll-free helpline, 08008008001, opening next February for sexually-abused children in the country.
According to Tinubu, "the helpline will encourage more disclosures and provide children with access to professionals that can help them in a manner that is tailored to each child, among other benefits."
The stakeholders also expressed the need for the establishment of a database of all support services available in the country for victims of child sexual abuse, so as to aid seamless referrals and cushion the trauma of victims.
WARRING Aladja community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, and Ogbe-Ijoh/Isaba in Warri South West LGA have been urged to find the courage and integrity to resolve their lingering boundary dispute.
Udu LGA Chairman, Chief Solomon Kpomah, who spoke in Warri, said the call became necessary to find lasting solution to the recurring loss of lives and property arising from frequent hostilities in the area.
According to Kpomah, "The government of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa is now more determined to make the difference in nipping in the bud, this avoidable crisis between neighbors who should be living as brothers and sisters.
"My thinking is that Governor Okowa would feel fulfilled over the matter, if the communities themselves buy into the current administration's intervention in sincerity and will to embrace peace.
"I have come to the realisation that the unending litigation, propaganda, attacks and counter attacks will not yield the desired peace. It is therefore high time both sides, in an atmosphere of give and take, embraced themselves and let bygone be bygone".
The Udu council boss further challenged all in position to resolve the lingering crisis not to be discouraged by the repeated hostilities, adding that relentless interventions were necessary to keep hope alive for a workable solution to the crisis".
