My Success, A Dream Of Many Years – Deji-Folutile, CU’s Best Grad

With thunderous ovation that rented the University Chapel- venue of the event, Winner Eso-Oluwa Deji-Folutile was elated, as he walked to the podium to receive his scroll as the best graduating student of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. It was at the 11th convocation ceremony of the faith-based private university, owned by the Living Faith Church Worldwide.

The success story of the 21-year-old student, the first child of a family of three, is full of many coincidences, which confirm the power behind a name, vision and spirituality. Like the Chancellor of the university and Founder of the Church, Dr. David Oyedepo, an architect, who Deji-Folutile claimed to be his role model, the student also studied Architecture. Also in the manner of the Bishop, who is regarded by many not only as a man of God, but also as a symbol of sound and qualitative leadership, Deji-Folutile has also graduated not only as the best students’ union leader in the history of the 14-year-old institution, but also as the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 points.

Presenting the 21-year-old to the audience, comprising top government functionaries, captains of industry, principal officers of the university, clerics and parents, for the Chancellor’s handshake, the former Registrar of the university, who is also an alumnus, Dr. Olumuyiwa Oludayo, described Deji-Folutile as a winner, an achiever and a trailblazer. “To you the Chancellor Sir, it is gratifying to inform you that our overall best student this year is not only the best in academics, but also the best Chairman of the Students’ Council,” Oludayo said. 

According to Deji-Folutile, the journey to stardom did not start on the campus, but right from his secondary school days at the Faith Academy, also owned by Oyedepo. He said: “Well, right from when I was in SS2, I could picture this day coming. Every day, I was writing it somewhere in my book that I wanted to be the Covenant University’s best student and the best Council Chairman. So, I had dreamt it and I worked for it both spiritually and academically.” Speaking on his dream, Deji-Folutile, whose father is a veterinary medical practitioner and his mother a journalist, noted that the spirit had directed him. “The first thing is that God is my strength, but I was determined too.”

But how was he able to cope with the burden of union leadership and academic workload, Deji-Folutile said: “God gave me the grace and gave me the lecturers, who were understanding and cooperative. They used to call me to order whenever they felt I was going astray.” He said though he had a good social life on campus, there was no room for love affair with students of opposite sex. 

According to Deji-Folutile’s mother, the Saturday Editor of The Punch newspapers, Mrs. Olabisi Deji-Folutile, the circumstance of the birth of her son had informed the choice of his name, being a product of parents’ perseverance and strong belief in God, having been childless for some years after marriage.

She explained: “So, once I was confirmed to be pregnant, we decided to name him ‘Winner’ even before we began to attend the Winner’s Chapel church. And, since then, it has been one victory story or another. He had the best results in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in his school, and was the third best candidate with NECO result in Ogun State in 2012.

So, once he told us his ambition to achieve the feats, we made it our prayer points.” Deji Folutile, who hails from Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, described his success as overwhelming and thanked God for His grace in his life, even as the best graduating student commended Bishop Oyedepo for his investment in education. “Covenant University is a moulding ground where spirituality is key,” he stressed, saying, “Everything we were taught and the core values instilled in us have really impacted us. This degree is just a class that can go at any time, but the experience is what I really cherish.”

Speaking about his career choice, he said he had loved Technical Drawing, Mathematics and Fine Art right from his secondary school days. His words: “As far back as when I was in JSS 3, I had wanted to study Architecture. And so after my Masters programme, I hope to work as an architect at an architectural and interior design firm. I hope to wow the world with unique creative designs.”

https://newtelegraphonline.com/success-dream-many-years-deji-folutile-cus-best-grad/

Meet The 35 Year-Old Entrepreneur Who Owns Nigeria's 2nd Largest Rice Farm

This is an Interview by Mfonobong Nsehe, contributor at Forbes,
with Nigeria's dynamic and driven Agropreneur - Rotimi Williams...

Nigerians consume more than 5 million metric tons of rice every year, with a significant portion of its consumption needs sourced from imports. Rotimi Williams , an ambitious 35 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur and rice farmer, is on a quest to change that.

Williams, a former Journalist, is the owner of Kereksuk Rice Farm, the 2nd largest commercial rice farm in Nigeria by land size. His farm, which is situated in Nasarawa state in northern Nigeria, currently sits on 45,000 hectares and employs more than 600 indigenes of Nasarawa.

I recently caught up with the budding entrepreneur in Lagos, and had a brief chat with him where he recounted his journey and mused on how Nigeria can attain self-sufficiency in rice production in the near future.

What’s your educational and professional background?

I attended King’s College in Lagos. After attending secondary school at King’s College I proceeded to obtain my first degree at University of Aberdeen where I graduated with a degree in Economics. I also obtained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the same institution. My quest for more knowledge led me to enroll for yet another Master’s Degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London where I gained an MSc. in Finance and Development Studies.

Upon graduation, I landed a role as an analyst at the European Economics and Financial Centre in London. Afterwards, Euromoney Magazine- employed me where I covered the African space.

I would say that this is where my journey truly started.

Given your background as a journalist, what informed your decision to venture into rice farming?

While at Euromoney, I had the opportunity to travel around a few African countries. These trips exposed me to countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Ghana. A common thread amongst the aforementioned nations is agriculture. Agriculture is at the very core of these countries and this got me thinking. After a few more trips, I decided to move back to Nigeria and sink my teeth into the agricultural space. Nigeria remains the largest economy in Africa from both a GDP perspective and also the strength of the size of our population.

Upon my arrival back in Nigeria, I got a job at a premier Bank where I was promised to sit on the agriculture desk – my hope was that I would gain enough knowledge of the Nigerian agricultural industry and develop myself from there.

Unfortunately, the agricultural desk at the Bank never quite achieved its set goals. I pushed hard for the Bank to adopt policies and gain inroads into the agricultural industry but my attempts were somewhat frustrated. I sincerely feel that the bank wasn’t quite ready to launch fully into the agricultural space.

As my frustration grew, I decided to quit banking and planned to go it alone into agriculture. Frankly, my decision led to a challenging sojourn as attempts to raise funding with my partner proved difficult. We started a Structured Trade and Commodity Finance company. After a while I started consulting for small agriculture companies seeking to raise capital both locally and internationally.

You currently own the second (2nd) largest rice farm in Nigeria with 45,000 hectares in Nasarawa, Nigeria. What’s the story behind your acquisition of such vast land, and what are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in farming in the volatile northern region?

Two years had past and we still had no funds, so I made an offer to the farm owner, that with a 50-50 split, I would develop the farm with both personal funds and external funding. He agreed and that’s how I became part owner of 17,296 hectares of farmland. Knowing that agriculture would become the integral area of focus in Nigeria, I was bullish and ramped up the land to 55,000 hectares. I later parted with my partner as a result of unaligned views and strategy. I maintained 45,000 hectares for myself and today we have started producing, with our quality paddy being sold to major milling companies in Nigeria. However, I must add the following, I often have people ask how I learned abut farming, as everyone thinks you need a special degree in agriculture to be a farmer, but I always tell them the truth, I learnt it all on Google . I downloaded every article I could find on rice production, consumed it and then practiced it in the fields.

Frankly, my experience working alongside indigenes of Nasarawa state has been exceptional. I have learnt over the years that if you approach people with respect even more so while one seeks to set up a business venture. Having a healthy sense of community makes all the difference in attaining one’s set objectives. I lean heavily on the wisdom and cultural approach of the indigenes to carry out farming on such a scale here in Nasarawa.

In the news today, there is a lot of talk about Farmers clashing with Fulani Herdsmen, but we think our approach has been successful. We created a scheme called the Farm Out Of Poverty initiative which I will talk about a bit more later. Under the FOOP, we are able to train approximately a hundred Fulani women in rice farming, at the same time, employing their men as our security and finally, feeding their castles from the rice straws after harvest. Today, we live in peace and all work towards the success of the farm.

What’s your fundamental objective in rice production?

In recent years there has been a concerted effort by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adopt more wholesome agricultural reforms and policies. These initiatives are highly commendable as they seek to empower Nigerians to also engage and thrive in this industry. Quite frankly, with Nigeria’s swelling population we simply have to look inwards and increase our agricultural prowess as a nation. These initiatives have been further highlighted when we take a candid look at our importing structures. Nigeria imports a whole lot and the numbers reveal that this is not sustainable.

Kereksuk seeks to contribute its own quota to reduce the weight on our economy to keep importing rice – which is consumed in such high demand in our country.

Your farm, Kereksuk, is currently not running at optimization. Why is that?

Kereksuk’s land mass stands at 45,000 hectares; as such, we have been focusing on developing the land in phases – based on our modular plan we seek to reach full optimization by the year 2020. Our expansion plans require significant fund raising too – the scale of our planned operations would explain this.

So how much rice are you producing annually?

We’re currently doing 8,000 metric tons a year, but we are embarking on an expansion programme that’ll see us doubling our output next year.

Have you taken any steps to make your farm more environmentally friendly?

Kereksuk has taken a few initiatives to adopt environmentally friendly measures. For example, we apply organic fertilizers – fertilizers we gain quite seamlessly through our healthy relationship with the indigenes of this beautiful state. Furthermore, we feed straw from our rice to livestock and while I am not at liberty to divulge the details, we are actually working on a project that seeks to generate power from rice.

I see myself as a social entrepreneur – I appreciate engaging the collective through community involvement. This has actually inspired Kereksuk to set up a few initiatives.

Our pioneer initiative is the farm-out-of-poverty initiative. This strategic initiative targets secondary school children. The Nigerian secondary school system is evenly split into two halves – the Junior Secondary School (JSS) years and the Senior Secondary School (SSS) years. Each half lasts for three (3) years. We focus primarily on the Senior Secondary School years by selecting ten (10) students per SSS year to visit our farm.

While on the farm, the 30 students are exposed to the production and economics of rice farming. At the end of the year we set aside N50,000 ($160) per student per year. This accrues to N150,000 (approximately $500) at the end of the 3-year programme per student. We ensure that this sum is matched by a like-minded cooperative organization and the cumulative amount of N300,000 ($1,000) goes towards paying fees at the tertiary education stage.

This programme seeks to alleviate the burden of debt often associated with students and empowers the student through experience in a real-life work environment.

Kereksuk is confident that this initiative inspires and acts as an incentive to those at the lower education cadre to remain in school and aim for excellence in life.

The second phase of the FOOP involves the engagement of Fulani women in rice farming. This concept is unprecedented as there is a misconception that Fulani people are only

What reforms must government implement to ensure that Nigeria attains self-sufficient in rice production?

There is a lot of talk at the moment about rice production and self-sufficiency, but I believe that the Government needs to look at its approach closely. The aim of the government is not only to create jobs, but create wealth and at the same time boost production. However, I believe that for jobs to be created, the notion is quite straightforward, create a plan and make funds available, however, for such development to be sustainable and for wealth to be created, there is much work yet to be done. For example, in rice production, simply growing paddy and selling at market price would not create the necessary wealth for the farmer, without appropriate value addition such as milling. However, because the government lays much emphasis on integrated rice mills and par-boiled rice, these small farmers are already priced out. So for the newly created job to be truly attractive and sustainable, government needs to start thinking about the value additions by the same farmers to enable them grow their operations organically.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2016/06/27/meet-the-36-year-old-entrepreneur-who-owns-nigerias-2nd-largest-rice-farm/#326630071fd5

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2016/06/27/meet-the-36-year-old-entrepreneur-who-owns-nigerias-2nd-largest-rice-farm/2/#62ebc67d12f8

Lagos to take centre stage at Toronto Int’l Film Festival

Lagos State Government on Monday said that the State’s tourism and entertainment potentials will take the center stage at this year’s edition of the City to City Toronto Film Festival, saying that eight films produced in the State would be selected to feature at the festival.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, his counterpart in Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, who briefed journalists alongside the Artistic Director Toronto Film Festival, Mr. Cameron Bailey, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the development would help project tourism potential of Lagos to the team audience at the festival.

Ayorinde said the move was in line with the State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode’s campaign promises to make the state a hub for tourism.

He said the eight films to be selected does not necessarily have to be about Lagos, but films produced by directors based in the State.

According to him, “What is important is that the films that will be selected will be films by film makers that are Lagos based it won’t matter what subject matter you are dealing with, it is about the creativity the talent you are exhibiting as a Lagos based film maker that Toronto is interested in. “

Ayorinde said the State Government would be fully involved in any collaboration to celebrate the city and market its potentials as well as appreciate the talent of the motion industry.

“What this government policy implies is that the Government will promote any initiative that will project Lagos as the home of film making not only in Nigeria but before the entire world,” Ayorinde said.

Folarin-Coker on his part said the move falls in line with government’s policy that entertainment can be used to drive consumption to create employment and improve the revenue generation in the State.

“This falls clearly in line with Governor Ambode’s mantra of THESE which stands for Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Sports for Excellence,” Coker said.

He also revealed that the long term plan of the Government is to take back dead public spaces such as under the bridges across the State and develop it for residents to exhibit and develop their talents.

The Commissioner also informed that the State is collaborating with Federal Government to build a car park at the new museum to help drive tourism.

Explaining the drive behind the Lagos and Toronto spotlight for the Festival, Cameron said much of the films Lagos produces are not being showcased in Toronto, explaining that the idea is to seize the opportunity of this year’s festival to begin a new dawn for Nigerian films.

“We have had films like Tunde Kelani’s Abeni feature at the festival as well as Half of a Yellow Sun, which is a collaboration between Nigeria and the UK, but I think this is an opportunity to do more and to go bigger. So what we are doing this year is a spotlight on the film makers who live and work here in Laos. We have been so impressed with the ingenuity and creativity of individual film makers who have made the Nigeria film industry one of the largest in the planet,” Cameron said.

He said Lagos, like Los Angeles, Paris and Mumbai is one of the big capitals of film around the world.

He said films produced in Nollywood have spread all over the world, saying though the Nigeria Film business has gone global; the next step was to fully integrate it into the international film industry.

“The films that are bought and sold at our Festival, the films that are written about and reported on by the critics and film journalists, the audiences that embrace the films that go on to win the big prizes like the Oscars, those films should include the films from Nigeria, the films from Lagos; the heart of this industry that has become so large and dominant around the world. This is what really projects the image of Lagos and Nigeria, the stories that are being told resonate with the people whether or not they set foot on this country,” Cameron said.

Nigeria's Njideka Akunyili Crosby Wins the 2016 Prix Canson Prize

By Christiana Acha - Associate of The Unknown Nigeria

Tuesday June 21st at the New York's Drawing Centre, was a day of honor for Nigeria's Njideka Akunyili Crosby, an International Artist who was awarded the Prix Canson Prize which recognizes achievements of Artist who work primarily with paper as their expressive medium. 

Akunyili Crosby was born in Enugu Nigeria in 1983, where she lived until the age of sixteen and in 1999 she moved to the United States, where she has remained since then. 

Her cultural identity combines strong attachments to the country of her birth and to her adopted home, a hybrid identity that is reflected in her work. 

Akunyili Crosby's painterly compositions are complemented and enhanced by carefully chosen and integrated collage elements, predominantly acetone-transfer prints of small photographic images. Some of these images are from the artist's archive of personal snapshots, magazines and advertisements, while others are sourced from the internet; they feature images with a thematic resonance to each particular work. These elements present a compelling visual metaphor for the layers of personal memory and cultural history that inform and heighten the experience of the present.

For Brett Littman, the president of the jury and the director of the Drawing Center, Akunyili Crosby has ''a unique voice in the way that she thinks about and approaches portrait''

Akunyili Crosby's was awarded Foreign Policy’s Leading 100 Global Thinkers of 2015 alongside the Next Generation Prize, New Museum of Contemporary Art, 2015. She is the recipient of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's James Dicke Contemporary Art Prize, 2014 and many other awards.

Ajayi Crowther’s 179-year old letter: My capture into slavery and rescue

Ajayi Crowther was ordained as the first African bishop of the Anglican Church. However, his background was rough. He was 12 years old when he was captured, along with his mother and toddler brother and other family members, along with his entire village, by Muslim Fulani slave raiders in 1821 and sold to Portuguese slave traders.

In his 1837 letter to Rev. Williams Jowett, then Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, Crowther narrated his capture into slavery and rescue

By Samuel Ajayi Crowther

Letter of Mr. Samuel Crowther to the Rev. Williams Jowett, in 1837, then Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, detailing the circumstances connected with his being sold as a slave. Fourah Bay, Feb. 22, 1837

Rev. and dear Sir,

As I think it will be interesting to you to know something of the conduct of Providence in my being brought to this Colony, where I have the happiness to enjoy the privilege of the Gospel, I give you a short account of it, hoping I may be excused if I should prove rather tedious in some particulars.

I suppose sometimes about the commencement of the year 1821, I was in my native country, enjoying the comforts of father and mother, and affectionate love of brothers and sisters. From this period I must date the unhappy, but which I am now taught, in other respects, to call blessed day, which I shall never forget in my life.

I call it unhappy day, because it was the day in which I was violently turned out of my father’s house, and separated from relations; and I which I was made to experience what is called to be in slavery – with regard to its being called blessed, it being the day which Providence had marked out for me to set out on my journey from the land of heathenism, superstition, and vice, to a place where His Gospel is preached.

For some years, war had been carried on in my Eyo (Oyo) country, which was always attended with much devastation and bloodshed; the women, such men as had surrendered or were caught, with the children, were taken captives. The enemies who carried on these war were principally the Oyo Mahomendans, with whom my country abounds- with the Foulahs (Fulbe), and such foreign slaves as had escaped from their owners. Joined together, making a formidable force of about 20,000, who annoyed the whole country. They had no other employment but selling slaves to the Spaniards and Portuguese on the coast.

The morning in which my town, Ocho-gu (Osogun), shared the same fate which many others had experienced, was fair and delightful; and most of the inhabitants were engaged in their respective occupations. We were preparing breakfast without any apprehension; when, about 9 o’clock a.m. a rumour was spread in the town that the enemies had approached with intentions of hostility. It was not long after when they had almost surrounded the town, to prevent any escape of the inhabitants; the town being rudely fortified with a wooded fence, about four miles in circumference, containing about 12,000 inhabitants, which would produce 3,000 fighting men. The inhabitants not being duly prepared, some not being at home; those who were, having about six gates to defend, as well as many weak places about the fence to guard against, and, to say in a few words, the men being surprised, and therefore confounded – the enemies entered the town after about three or four hours’ resistance.

Here a most sorrowful scene imaginable was to be witnessed! – women, some with three, four, six children clinging to their arms, with the infant on their backs, and such baggage as they could carry on their heads, running as far as they could through prickly shrubs, which, hooking their blies and other loads, drew them down from the heads of the bearers. While they found impossible to go along with their loads, they endeavoured only to save themselves and their children: even this was impracticable with those who had many children to care for.

While they were endeavouring to disentangle themselves from the ropy shrubs, they were overtaken and caught by the enemies with a noose of rope thrown over the neck of every individual, to be led in the manner of goats tied together, under the drove of one man. In many cases a family was violently divided between three or four enemies , who each led his away, to see one another no more.

Your humble servant was thus caught-with his mother, two sisters (one an infant about ten months old), and a cousin – while endeavouring to escape in the manner above described. My load consisted in nothing else than my bow, and five arrows in the quiver, the bow I had lost in the shrub, while I was extricating myself, before I could think of making any use of it against my enemies. The last view I had of my father was when he came from the fight, to give us the signal to flee: he entered into our house which was burnt some time back for some offence given by my father’s adopted son. Hence I never saw him more-Here I must take thy leave, unhappy, comfortless father! – I learned, some time afterward, that he was killed in another battle.

Our conquerors were Oyo Mahomendans, who led us away through the town. On our way, we met a man badly wounded on the head struggling between life and death. Before we got half-way through the town, some Foulahs (Fulbe), among the enemies themselves, hostilely separated my cousin from our number, here also I must take thy leave, my fellow captive cousin! His mother was living in another village. The town on fire – the houses being built with mud, some about twelve feet from the ground with high roofs, in square forms, of different dimensions and spacious areas; several of these belonged to one man, adjoined to, with passage communicating with each other. The flame was very high.

We were led by my grandfather’s house, already desolate; and in a few minutes after, we left the town to the mercy of the flame, never to enter or see it any more. Farewell, a place of my birth, the playground of my childhood, and the place which I thought would be the repository of my mortal body in its old age.

We were now out of Osogun, going into a town called Isehin (Iseyin), the rendezvours of the enemies, about twenty miles from my town. On the way we saw our grandmother at a distance, with about three or four of my cousins taken with her, for a few minutes: she was missed through the crowd to see her no more. Several other captives were held in the same manner as we we were: grandmothers, mothers, children, and cousins were all led captives. O sorrowful prospect! The aged women were to be greatly pitied, not being able to walk so fast as their children and grandchildren; they were often threatened with being put to death upon the spot, to get rid of them, if they would not go fast as others, and they often as wicked in their practice as in their words. O pitiful sight! Whose heart would not bleed to have seen this? Yes, such is the state of barbarity in the heathen land. Evening came on; and coming to a spring of water we drank a great quantity; which served us for breakfast, with a little parched corn and dried meat previously prepared by our victors for themselves.

During our march to Iseyin, we passed several towns and villages which had been reduced to ashes. It was almost midnight before we reached town, which we passed our doleful first night in bondage. It was not perhaps a mile from the wall of Iseyin when an old woman of about sixty was threatened in the manner above described. What had become of her I could not learn.

On the next morning, our cords being taken off our necks, we were brought to the Chief of our captors – for there were many other Chiefs– as trophies at his feet. In a little while, a separation took place, when my sister and I fell to the share of the Chief, and my mother and the infant top the victors. We dared not vent our grief by loud cries, but by very heavy sobs. My mother, with the infant, was led away, comforted with the promise that she should see us again, when we should leave Iseyin for Dah’dah (Dada),- the town of the Chief.

In a few hours after, it was soon agreed upon that I should be bartered for a horse in Iseyin, that very day. Thus was how I separated from my mother and sister for the first time in my life’ and the latter not to be seen more in this world. Thus, in the space of twenty-four hours, being deprived of liberty and all other comforts I was made the property of three different persons. About the space of two months, when the chief was to leave Iseyin for his own town, the horse which was then only taken on trial, not being approved of, I was restored to the chief, who took me to Dada where I had the happiness to meet my mother and infant sister again with joy, which could be described by nothing else but with tears of love and affection; and on the part of my infant sister, with leaps of joy in every manner possible.

Here, I lived for about three months, going for grass for horses with my fellow captives. I now and then visited my mother and sister in our captor’s house, without any fears or thoughts of being separated any more. My mother told me that she had heard of my sister, but I never saw her any more.

At last, an unhappy evening arrived, when I was sent with a man to get some money at a neighbouring house. I went; but with some fears, for which I could not account; and, to my great astonishment, in a few minutes I was added to the number of many other captives, unfettered, to be led to the market-town early the next morning. My sleep went from me; I spent almost the whole night in thinking of my doleful situation, with tears and sobs, especially as my mother was in the same town, whom I had not visited for a day or two. There was another boy in the same situation with me: his mother was in Dada.

Being sleepless, I heard the first cock-crow. Scarcely the signal was given, when the traders rose, and loaded the men slaves with baggage. With one hand chained to the neck, we left the town. My little companion in affliction cried and begged much to be permitted to see his mother, but was soon silenced by punishment. Seeing this, I dared not speak, although I thought we passed by the very house my mother was in. Thus was I separated from my mother and sister, my then only comforts, to meet more in this world of misery.

After a few days of travel, we came to the market-town, I-jah’I (Ijaye). Here I saw many who had escaped in our town to this place; or those who were in search of their relations, to set at liberty as many as they had means of redeeming. Here were under very close inspection, as there were many persons in search of their relations; and through that, many had escaped from their owners. In a few days I was sold to a Mahomendan woman, with whom I travelled to many towns on our way to Popo country, on the coast much resorted to by the Portuguese, to buy slaves.

When we left Ijaye, after many halts, we came to a town called To-Ko (Itoko). From Ijaye to Itoko all spoke the Ebwah (Egba) dialet, but my mistress spoke Oyo, my own dialect. Here I was a perfect stranger, having left the Oyo country far behind. I lived in Itoko about three months; walked about with my owner’s son with some degree of freedom, it being a place where my feet had never trod: and could I possibly have made my way out through many a ruinous town and village we had passed, I should have soon become a prey to some others, who would have gladly taken the advantage of me. Besides, I could not think of going a mile out of the town alone at night, as there were many enormous devil –houses along the highway; and a woman had been lately publicly executed (fired at), being accused of bewitching her husband, who died of a long tedious sickness. Five or six heads, of such persons as were nailed on the large trees in the market-places, to terrify others.

Now and then my mistress would speak with me and her son, that we should by- and bye go to Popo country, where we should buy tobacco, and other fine things, to sell at our return. Now, thought I, this was the signal of my being sold to the Portuguese; who, they often told me during our journey, were to be seen in that country. Being very thoughtful of this, my appetite forsook me, and in a few weeks I got the dysentery, which greatly preyed on me. I determined with myself that I would not go to Popo country; but would make an end of myself, one way or the other. In several nights, I attempted strangling myself, one with my band’ but had no courage enough to close the noose tight, so as to effect my purpose. May the Lord forgive me this sin! I determined, next, that I would leap out of the canoe into the river, when we should cross it in our way to that country. Thus was I thinking, when my owner, perceived the great alternation which took place in me, sold me to some persons.

Thus the Lord, while I knew Him not, led me not into temptation and delivered me from evil. After my price had been counted before my own eyes, I was delivered up to my new owners, with great grief and dejection of spirit, not knowing where I was now to be led. About the first cock-crowing, which was the usual time to set out with the slaves, to prevent their being much acquainted with the way, for fear an escape should be made, we set out for Jabbo (Ijebu), third dialect from mine.

After having arrived at Ik-ke-ku Ye-re (Ikereku-iwere), another town, we halted. In this place I renewed my attempt of strangling, several times at night; but could not effect my purpose. It was very singular, that no thought of making use of knife ever entered my mind. However, it was not long before I was bartered for tobacco, rum and other articles. I remained here, in fetters, alone, for some time, before my owner could get as many slaves as he wanted. He feigned to treat us more civilly, by allowing us to sip a few drops of White Man’s liquor, rum; which was so estimable an article, that none but Chiefs could pay for a jar or glass vessel of four or five gallons: so much dreaded it was, that no one should take breath before he swallowed every sip, for fear of having the string of throat cut by the spirit of the liquor. This made it so much more valuable.

I had to remain alone, again, in another town in Jabbo, the name of which I do not now remember for about two months. From hence, I was brought, after a few days’ walk to a slave-market, called I-ko-sy (Ikosi), on the coast, on the bank of a large river, which probably was the Lagoon on which we were afterwards captured.

The sight of the river terrified me exceedingly, for I had never seen anything like it in my life. The people on the opposite bank are called E’ko. Before sun set being battered again for tobacco, I became another owner’s. Nothing now terrified me more than the river, and the thought of going into another world. Crying was nothing now, to vent out my sorrow; my whole body became stiff. I was now bade to enter the river, to ford it to the canoe. Being fearful at my entering this extensive water, and being so cautious in every step I took, as if the next would bring me to the bottom, my motion was very awkward indeed. Night coming on canoe, and the men having very little time to spare, soon carried me into the canoe, and placed me among the corn-bags, and supplied me with an Ab-alah (abala) for my dinner.

Almost in the same position I was placed I remained, with my abala in my hand quite confused in my thoughts, waiting only every moment our arrival at the new world” which we did not reach till about 4 o’clock in the morning. Here I got once more into another dialect, the fourth from mine; if I may not call it altogether another language, on account of now, in some words, and then there being a faint shadow of my own. Here I must remark that during the whole night’s voyage in the canoe, not a single thought of leaping into the river had entered my mind, but, on the contrary, the fear of the river occupied my thought.

Having now entered E’ko (Lagos), I was permitted to go any way I pleased; there being no way of escape, on the account of the river. In this place I met my two nephews, belonging to two different masters. One part of the town was occupied by the Portuguese and Spaniards, who had come to buy slaves.

Although I was in Lagos more than three months, I never once saw a White Man; until one evening, when they took a walk, in company of about six, and came to the street of the house in which I was livivng. Even then I had not the boldness to appear distinctly to look at them, being always suspicious that they had come for me: and my suspicion was not a fanciful one, for, in a few days after, I was made the eight in number of the slaves of the Portuguese.

Being a veteran in slavery, if I may be allowed the expression, and having no more hope for ever going to my country again, I patiently took whatever came. It was not without a great fear and trembling though that I received, for the first time the touch of a white man, who examined me whether I was sound or not. Men and boys were at first chained together, with a chain of about six fathoms in length, thrust through an iron fetter on neck of every individuals, and fastened at both ends with padlocks. In this situation the boys suffered the most: the men sometimes, getting angry, would draw the chain so violently, as seldom went without bruises on their poor little necks; especially the time of sleep, when they drew the chain so close to ease themselves of its weight, in order to be able to lie more conveniently, that we were almost suffocated, or bruised to death, in a room with one door, which was fastened as soon as we entered in, with no other passage for communicating the air than the opening under the eavesdrop.

Very often at night, when two or three individuals quarrelled or fought, the whole drove suffered punishment, without any distinction. At last, we boys had the happiness to be separated from the men, when their number was increased and more chain to spare: we were corded together, by ourselves. Thus, we were going in and out, bathing together, and so on. The female sex fared not much better. Thus we were for nearly the space of four months.

About this time, intelligence was given that the English were cruising the coast. This was another subject of sorrow with us – that there must be war also on the sea as well as on land – a thing never heard of before, or imagined practicable. This delayed our embarkation. In the meanwhile, the other slaves which were collected in Popo and were intended to be conveyed into the vessel the nearest way from that place, were brought into Lagos, among us. Among this number was Joseph Bartholomew, my Brother in the service of the Church Missionary Society.

After a week’s delay we embarked, at night in canoe, from Lagos to the beach; and on the following morning were put on board the vessel, which immediately sailed away. The crew being busy embarking us, 187 in number, had no time to give us either breakfast or supper; and we being unaccustomed to the motion of the vessel, endured the whole of this day in sea-sickness, which rendered the greater part of us less fit to take any food whatever.

In the very same evening, we were suprised by two English men-of-war, and on the next morning found ourselves in the hands of new conquerrors, who we at very much dreaded, they being armed with long swords. In the morning, being called up from the hold, we were astonished to find ourselves among two very large men-of-war and several other brigs. The men-of-war were, His Majesty’s ships Mymidon, Captain J.H Leeke, and Iphigenia, Captain Sir Robert Mends, who captured us on the 7th of April 1822, on the river Lagos.

Our owner was bound with his sailors; except the cook, who was preparing our breakfast. Hunger rendered us bold; and not being threatened at first attempts to get some fruits from the stern, we in a short time took the liberty of ranging about the vessel, in search of plunder of every kind. Now we began to entertain a good opinion of our conquerors. Very soon after breakfast, we were divided into several of the vessels around us. This was now cause of new fears, not knowing whether our missery would end. Being now, as it were, one family, we began to take leave of those who were first transshipped, not knowing what would become of them and ourselves.

About this time, six of us, friends in affliction, among whom was my brother Joseph Bartholomew, kept very close together, that we might be carried away at the same time. It was not long before we six were conveyed into the Mymidon, in which we discovered not any trace of those who were transshipped before us. We soon came to a conclusion of what had become of them, when we saw parts of a hog hanging, the skin of which was white – a thing we never saw before; for a hog was always roasted on fire, to clear it of the hair, in my country; and a number of cannon shots were arranged along the deck. But we were soon undeceived, by a close examination of the flesh with cloven foot, which resembled that of a hog; and, by a cautious approach to the shot, that they were iron.

In a few days we were quite at home in the man-of-war; being only six in number, we were selected by the sailors, for their boys; and were soon furnished with clothes. Our Portuguese owner and his son were brought over into the same vessel, bound in fetters; and thinking that I should no more get into his hand, I had the boldness to strike him on the head, while he was shaving by his son – an act, however, very wicked and unkind in its nature. His vessel was towed along by the man-of-war, with the remainder of the slaves therein. But after a few weeks, the slaves being transshipped from her, and being stripped of her rigging, the schooner was left alone on the ocean – “Destroyed at sea by captors being found unseaworthy, in consequence of being a dull sailer”.

One of the brigs, which contained a part of the slaves, was wrecked on a sand-bank: happily, another vessel was near, and all the lives were saved. It was not long before another brig sunk, during a tempest, with all the slaves and sailors, with the exception of about five of the latter, who were found in a boat after four or five days, reduced almost to skeletons, and were so feeble, that they could not stand on their feet. One hundered and two of our number were lost on this occasion.

After nearly two months and a half cruising on the coast, we were landed in Sierra Leone, on the 17th of June 1822. The same day we were sent to Bathurst, formerly Leopold, under the care of Mr (Thomas) Davey. Here we had the pleasure of meeting many of our country people, but none were known before. They assured us of our liberty and freedom; and we very soon believed them. But a few days after our arrival at Bathurst, we had the mortification of being sent to Freetown, to testify against our Portuguese owner. It being hinted to us that we should be delivered up to him again, notwithstanding all the persuation of Mr. Davey that we should return, we entirely refused to go ourselves unless we were carried. I could not but think of my ill-conduct to our owner in the man-of-war But as time was passing away, and our consent could not be got, we were compelled to go by being whipped; and it was not a smalle joy to us to return to Bathurst again, in the evening, to our friends.

From the period I have been under the care of the Church Missionary Society, and in about six months after my arrival at Sierra Leone, I was able to read the New Testament with some degree of freedom; and was made a monitor, for which I was rewarded with seven pence-half penny per month. The Lord was pleased to open my heart to harken to those things which were spoken by His servants, and being convinced that I was a sinner, and desired to obtain pardon through Jesus Christ, I was baptised on the 11th of December 1825, by Rev. J. Raban. I had the short privilege of visiting your happy and favoured land in the year 1826. It was my desire to remain for a good while, to be qualified as a Teacher to my fellow-creatures, but Providence odered it so, that, at my return, I had the wished-for instruction under the tuition of Rev. C.L.F Haensel who landed in Sierra Leone in 1827,through whose instrumentality I have been qualified so far, as to be able to render some help in the service of the Church Missionary Society, to my fellow-creatures. May I ever have a fresh desire to be engaged in the service of Christ, for it is perfect freedom!

Thus much I think necessary to acquaint you to the kindness of Providence concerning me. Thus the day of my captivity was to me a blessed day, when considered in this respect; though certainly it must be unhappy also, in my being deprived on it of my father, mother, sister and all other relations. I must also remark, that I could not as yet find a dozen Osogun people among the inhabitants of Sierra Leone.

I was married to a Christian woman on the 21st of September 1829. She was captured by His Majesty’s ship Bann, Captain Charles Phillips, on the 31st October 1822. Since, the Lord had blessed us with three children – a son, and two daughters.

That the time may come when the Heathen shall be fully given to Christ for His inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for His possession, is the earnest prayer of your humble, thankful, and obedient servant.

Samuel Crowther

Source: A Patriot to The Core. Bishop Ajayi Crowther by Professor J. F. Ade-Ajayi

http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/06/ajayi-crowthers-179-year-old-letter-my-capture-into-slavery-and-rescue/3/

SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR PROFITABILITY IN YOUR AGRIBUSINESS

By AgropreneurNaija - Associate of 'The Unknown Nigeria'

Agriculture should be viewed as “agri-profit” since business is all about making profit. Once you have a chosen agribusiness venture, your key profit drivers need prioritized strategies to ensure growth. In making your business more profitable that is increasing sales and revenue as well as decreasing cost and having savings, you should choose and focus on effective agribusiness growth strategies.

Agribusiness strategies transform subsistence activities of low productivity and low value addition to commercially oriented, innovative and modern agribusiness. It will enable you invest your resources technically to trigger profit and growth, and change your thought of just producing to producing to solve problems and meeting market needs. When you choose to implement agribusiness strategies, it means you choose to allow your produce/product find a positionand meet competitive demands in the market.

Core values that will drive these strategies include:-

• Efficiency which will be driven by the aim to reach higher competitiveness.

• Innovation which will be driven by the aim to be impactful.

• Positivity which will be driven by the aim to sustain performance.

The prioritized strategies include:

Putting Markets at the Center of all Production, Processing, Product Development and Packaging

• Collate, update and provide relevant, timely and accurate market information to your customers and potential customers.

• Be specific about your target market and the agribusiness you are into, so as to ensure optimum use of your resources in a particular direction.

• Promote your produce and products by value addition, for example increase the quantity of your produce or products and still sell at the same price. This definitely doesn’t mean your business will run at a loss. Don’t forget I said agribusiness means agri-profit.

• Be informed on agribusiness marketing, you can do that by using the internet appropriately and attending organized seminars and programs on agribusiness marketing.

Joining Vibrant Agribusiness Organizations and Forums

• Connect, network, collaborate and share ideas with people of like minds.

• Be part of a collective action that will lead to increased bargaining power.

• Be active in the organization, dialogue and share information that will establish favorable business relationships with other agribusiness managers. This act can spur a member to refer you for business or link you with people that need your services.

• Be part of organized seminars and programs by the organization or forum. There will be an opportunity for you to market and promote your agribusiness.

Improving on Quality Service to all Customers and Potential Customers

• Treat all your customers well, definitely loyal customers should be well recognized but all customers deserve a great treat.

• Satisfy your customers beyond their expectation, they will be motivated to continually patronize and refer you to other people.

• Motivate steady customers by acknowledging their loyalty and by rewarding them; this can be with a discount, extra produce/ product or gift item. They can also be appreciated with a thank you message or call.

• Provide concise information of your agribusiness services to all customers and potential customers.

• Issue receipt to your customers, even if your agribusiness is small. Look at your agribusiness as a dressing that needs to be addressed appropriately. So step up and start issuing receipt.

• Promote your business on different media (facebook, whatsapp, bbm, twitter,instagram). You can read on digital marketing for more information.

• Be informed on climate, diseases, market trends to guide against low quality of produce/products and loss, through various means like paying attention to agribusiness news, joining interactive groups and platforms on social media.

• Be informed about credit services, be part of a mentorship scheme and have a model farmer.

Read And Apply These Strategies To Your Agribusiness And Make Your New Profit Level A Reality. SUCCESS!

British monarch to honour 3 Nigerians with Queen’s Young Leaders Award

Queen Elizabeth of England will present a Queen’s Young Leaders Award to three exceptional young people from Nigeria at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London on Thursday 23rd June.

As the Commonwealth celebrates The Queen’s 90th birthday, this year’s Award winners, including Olanrewaju Adeloye, Imrana Alhaji Buba, and Olumide Femi Makanjuola, all aged between 18 and 29 have been recognised by The Queen for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities. As a Queen’s Young Leader, they will be representing Nigeria as they join winners from 45 different Commonwealth countries in London for five days of high-level engagements, all designed to help them further their life-changing work.

Before receiving their Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace, the winners will visit 10 Downing Street and the UK headquarters of global social networking company Twitter, and meet with senior executives at the BBC World Service. They will also meet the Commonwealth Secretary General, take part in workshops at the University of Cambridge, have meetings with UK business leaders, and visit projects that are changing the lives of vulnerable people in the UK.

Selected from a competitive process where thousands of young people from all over the Commonwealth applied to be a Queen’s Young Leader, Olanrewaju Adeloye said: “I am so happy to be a recipient of The Queen’s Young Leaders Award. To be recognised for my work and be presented with an Award by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace is such a huge honour. I can’t wait to meet all the other winners in London and get involved in all the exciting activities that are taking place throughout the week.”

This year’s Award winners are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of issues including education, climate change, gender, mental health and improving the lives of people with disabilities.

The application process to become a 2017 Queen’s Young Leader opens at 8:00pm BST on Friday 24th June 2016. The programme is looking for people aged between 18 and 29 who are dedicated to creating positive changes to the lives of people in Nigeria.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/205004-british-monarch-honour-4-nigerians-queens-young-leaders-award.html

Lagos State Government Signs Historic Smart City Deal With Dubai

The Lagos State Government and the City of Dubai on Monday entered into a historic partnership that will see Lagos emerge as the first Smart City in Africa.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Lagos Smart City was signed at the Emirate Towers by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.

The signing of the MOU, which would make Lagos the home of the very first Smart City in Africa, was witnessed by the Chairman of Dubai Holdings, His Excellency, Ahmad Bin Byat who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the success of Dubai’s innovative knowledge-based industry clusters to empower business growth for companies and knowledge workers all over the world.

Governor Ambode in a statement signed on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the Smart City (Lagos) is expected to bring multi-billion dollars investments to the State, create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and the entire Lagos State in general.

“This is a deliberate attempt by us to establish a strong convergence between technology, economic development and governance.

“The MOU is between Lagos State Government and Dubai Holdings, LLC, owners of Smart City (Dubai) to develop a sustainable, smart, globally connected knowledge-based communities that drive knowledge economy, ” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor stated that the collaboration is part of the larger vision to make Lagos safer, cleaner and more prosperous.

He said: “A Smart-City Lagos will be the pride of all Lagosians just as we have Smart City Dubai, Smart-City Malta and Smart-City Kochi (India). We are encouraged by the fact that we do not, as a government, need to develop at a slow pace, but take full advantage of the digital age and fast track development of Lagos to a real megalopolis that we can all be proud of.

“The future is ours to take. It also marks the first smart city in Africa when completed.”

The Governor added that apart from creating jobs for the people, the project would also become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

“Lagos,” he said, “will become an important centre for innovation in smart technologies, wellness and destination for green tourism.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister, Bin Byat said the Dubai authorities were impressed with the conduct and readiness of Lagos State Government and were eager to proceed with the State Government and the Smart City Lagos project.

When completed, the Smart City Lagos will have, among other features: a 12-lane road, hotel resorts, world-class technological education facilities, a rail metroline, to mention but a few.

The signing ceremony was also witnessed by the Chairman of Smart City Lagos Ltd, Prof. Pat Utomi; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Oshun, Hon. Dipo Famakinwa and Mr. Obafemi Saheed.

Arts, Culture, Pivotal Tool For Good Governance

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday in Brussels, Belgium, underscored the importance of using art and culture to promote democratic governance and advance people-oriented policies.

He spoke at the Center for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels while attending the Center’s 2016 Summer Photography Exhibition as a Special Guest of Honour.

The exhibition, which largely focused on Lagos under the theme ‘Dey Your Lane - Lagos Variations’, was an attempt to understand Lagos through those who feel it the most and can express these cognitive and emotional responses in an engaging and creative manner.

Governor Ambode seized the opportunity to call on all political leaders to partner with artists so that they can benefit from their creative and artistic imagination to tackle some of the challenges confronting megacities such as exponential urbanization.

He also used the medium to announce his administration's determination to develop a new museum in the State.

Governor Ambode emphasized that his government’s engagement with the art, culture and entertainment sector, was in fulfillment of one of his key campaign promises, to vigorously pursue Project THESE, which stands for: Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Sport through Excellence.

The event was attended by Belgium’s senior government officials including the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Mr Didier Reynders and his wife, the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Folarin Coker, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass.

Earlier in the day, Governor Ambode met with the Managing Director (Africa) of the European Union’s External Action Services, (EEAS), Mr Koen Vervaeke, in Brussels.

The meeting explored possible areas of collaboration between Lagos State and the European Union.

Mr. Varvaeke commended the progress Governor Ambode’s administration has made in the last one year, particularly in the area of security and infrastructural development.

Responding, Governor Ambode said his strides so far in the State were aimed at complementing President Muhammadu Buhari’s strong leadership since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

The Governor said, "What we are doing in Lagos is to implement the policy direction from Abuja upon which we campaigned. We are lucky to have this synergy between Lagos State and Abuja and that can only be for the good of Lagos State and Nigeria in general."

Meet Gbenga Abiola, Youngest Council Boss in Nigeria @ 28

By Tope Templer Olaiya

He looks calm but he exudes confidence that belies his young age. He speaks so fluently and eloquently. For him, service comes naturally.

But he is only 28 years old. On Monday, June 13, 2016, he stood out among his peers. He had just been sworn-in as the Sole Administrator of Agege Local Government by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Gbenga Abiola was the cynosure of all eyes at the event. He was the beautiful bride. Everyone wanted to talk to him, particularly the media. At 28, Gbenga was perhaps the youngest ever council boss in the state and of course one of the ladies at the event said, “so cute, he is the most handsome among the lot.”

As the boss of Agege Local Government, Gbenga has a heavy burden on his young shoulder but he is confident of delivering the goods. “I have confidence in God and I’m equally confident that my political leaders are there for me. I also have confidence in the staff of the local government. By the special grace of God, we will deliver,” he said humbly.

Gbenga had his primary education at the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Nursery and Primary School, Epe and proceeded to both Government College, Ketu, Epe and Folbim High School for his secondary education.

He attended the University of Lagos for his tertiary education graduating with honours as a Bachelor of Science degree holder in Psychology. He had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ekiti.

He was Director, Featland Children School; Internet/Business Strategist for e-Script and until his appointment as a Sole Administrator, Special Assistant on New Media and Publicity to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

His hobbies include: strategic communication, table tennis, football and high jumping. 

Photo News: Interesting Moments With His Majesty - The Ooni of Ife In The US

The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) who is presently on a visit to the U.S continues to receive recognition from the people of America and Nigerians over-there.

The Unknown Nigeria brings to you some interesting moments during His Majesty's visit.

GOVERNOR OBIANO APPOINTS 30 YEAR OLD MARK OKOYE AS COMMISSIONER

Anambra State Governor, Mr Willie Obiano has received world praises and commendation from Nigerians at home and abroad for appointing the youngest Commissioner in Morden Nigeria.

Mark Okoye 30 , possesses a unique combination of experience spanning governance, policy formulation, public sector financing, public budget analysis and corporate finance. 

Prior to his current role, he served in his current capacity for twenty months during the last administration.

Mark also served as a senior member of the investment banking division at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited where he was instrumental in executing numerous capital raising and financial advisory transactions. 

Key transactions include the restructuring of UBA Plc in line with new Central Bank of Nigeria banking guidelines (2012), US$80mm debt and equity capital raising for Kano Shopping Mall (2012), the first and largest shelf registration in Nigeria, US$2.3bn Lagos State Government bond issuance program (2011).

He holds a B.Sc. Finance from George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA and is an alumnus of several executive education courses and programmes, including Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Euromoney, Dubai, UAE.

June 2015, he was appointed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning and budget. 

He has just been made a Commissioner with same portfolio.

The Incessant Persecution Of Pastor Sunday Adelaja

By Sola Ojewusi

My friends all, I am inspired today to pay tribute to another Nigerian icon whose admirable sense of mission has done so much good for our country.

In a season of great national decay, when the international image of our country has been so battered by a myriad of self-inflicted ailments, quite a few patriotic Nigerians abroad stood out to help launder our image and convince the world that Nigerians are essentially good people. Through their courage, dogged honesty and hard work, they have excelled in their callings and have stood tall, convincing their host nations that really, Nigerians are not as bad as they are being portrayed. One of such patriots is Pastor Sunday Adelaja, the Ogun State born evangelist who rose from being a common student in USSR to the founder and pastor of the largest religious congregation in Europe, the Ukraine-based Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nation (aka God’s Embassy). This is the story of a man who against all odds established a church in a communist country and nurtured it through dint of hard work and utmost faith to greater heights. He became the symbol of the never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian people. Over the years, Pastor Adelaja has debunked the notion that Nigerians are a bunch of scammers and fraudsters by helping to transform millions of Ukrainians through the instrumentality of his hugely popular church.

His huge contributions to the development of Ukraine notwithstanding, there is however a sore point in his relationship with some of the people of his host country who not only feel threatened by his ever rising profile as a successful black man in a predominantly white nation but are hell bent on taking over his church and sending him back to Nigeria. For a long time, due to envy, the machinations of rivals and uneasy vibes from the ever threatened Orthodox church, Adelaja was placed under probation by the government of Ukraine.

As soon as he got to the pinnacle of his calling his many travails began. From among fellow Christians, especially some members of the Orthodox Church Adelaja got his most fervent opposition. I first got interested in Pastor Adelaja during the hay days of this persecution by the communist Government of Ukraine between 2009 and 2012. Here was a man who in spite of untold skepticism stayed dogged in his quest to transform his ministry to the largest, most resourceful organization of its kind in Ukraine. Unfortunately, he had powerful forces in the Orthodox church who felt threatened by the skyrocketing growth of this African-led pentecostal movement, on the one hand, and even a tiny section section of his congregation who had still not reconciled themselves to a black man leading the church so powerfully and had been nursing a take-over bid. The Ukraine Orthodox Church at a point even attempted to nail him with the false accusation that he was “spreading strange Christian doctrine and using voodoo” to attract new members to his church. They could not understand how an African could lead a church to such phenomenal growth and this hugely evident evangelistic prowess that resulted in the restoration and rehabilitation of the wretched of the Ukrainian society – alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and vagrants’ etc – to the path of peace and progress.

Besides that, it is alleged that there are certain fifth columnists in the church who, in their quest to wrest the church from him have determined to put so much encumbrances on his path. One of such is the alleged move to hang the scandal of adultery on his neck, one of the most convenient ways, nowadays, of getting rid of “erring” or “stubborn” pastors. The question is how feasible is it for a pastor to be dating twenty (20!) women in his church and the church is still waxing strong! This is not Africa where there is so much secrecy and reverence attached to Men of God. This is Ukraine, one of the hotbeds of atheism during the Soviet era and a European society with little time for the kind of cultural inhibitions we harbour here. So it would have been easy feast for the the vibrant Ukrainian and other European media. To me, this allegation of serial adultery against Sunday Adelaja looks like a rather convenient way of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. More than any other individual in Ukraine, indigene or alien, Sunday Adelaja has moulded and re-ordained destinies and has helped so many dysfunctional families regain their grooves. He has mended so many broken homes and restored couples to loving ways through his teaching and counselling prowess.

Adelaja’s success came against the odds of a post-communist Ukrainian society still finding it hard to recover from decades of state-sponsored repression and atheistic tendencies. Has he not been blessed with such admirable quality of grace under fire, the kind of travails he suffered daily from a then-hostile pro-communist government would have broken him. If they were not threatening him with deportation today, or using state power to stymie the great trajectory of his ministry, they were using series of grave allegations to tarnish his image and by so doing snatch the leadership of the church from his hands. On scores of occasions was he charged to court by the government of then – President Yanukovych with nothing particularly untoward found against him. 

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry also leveled accusations of defrauding the country’s citizens of money, to the tune of $100m. It turned out to be false, unfounded and Adelaja was vindicated by the country’s legal system. That time, observers believed that this was not unconnected to the fact that members of the Adelaja’s church allegedly took active part in the demonstrations that ushered in the successfully carried out Orange Revolution between November 2004 and January 2005 which ousted then president Viktor Yankovic. When Yankovic re-captured the presidency in 2010, it was clear he was ready to pay back the church for supporting the Orange Revolution. When all other shenanighans failed, the Pastor’s detractors now appear hell-bent on using the instrumentality of sexual scandal to pull him down.

And Nigerians, in the usual pull-him-down syndrome are not helping matters. Rather than rising to protect our own, we are ready to jump at the slightest hint of scandal, excoriating and pillorying our heroes without proper investigation into the roots of their travails. To me, the tendency to blow the Pastor’s challenges out of proportion is a great disservice to the good work he has done for our nation. Rather than help detractors pull him down, we should stand by one of the nation’s worthy ambassadors in the Diaspora. Sunday Adelaja, to me should be celebrated rather than maligned with unfounded allegations aimed at tarnishing his hard-earned image. Sometimes we tend to see celebrities as super men and women who cannot be hurt. So we don’t mind hurling insults, insinuations and blackmail at them with impunity. But celebrities are humans too. They hurt and when innuendos are hauled at them unrelenting, especially when they are glaringly unfounded, we are surely guilty of insensitivity. Among these, Adelaja’s case is unique. Not only does he deserve the benefit of doubt in the current spate of effort to destroy his reputation, we should rather honour him for the many doors he has opened for Nigerians abroad; the door of respect, success for his compatriots coming to Ukraine and the door of a second look at our people not as criminals but as normal people, a race of determined, hard working and adventurous souls.

As his compatriots, we should not be hoodwinked by the shenanigans of a very few envious blackmailers. We should rather see an icon in danger of the malignant act of jealous iconoclasts who are hell bent on wrestling from Adelaja’s hand a church that has defied all odds to get to the pinnacle of evangelism internationally.