BIOGRAPHY OF CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO G.C.F.R., S.A.N (March 6, 1909 – May 9, 1987)

BIRTH

Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo was born on March 6, 1909, to Chief David Sopolu Awolowo and his wife Mary Efunyela Awolowo in Ikenne, Remo, in what is now Ogun State of Nigeria..

EDUCATION
He had his primary school education at St. Saviour's School, Ikenne, and at Imo Wesleyan School, Abeokuta. His education at this early stage was interrupted for several years by the sudden death of his father in April 1920, an event that left him without financial support and compelled him to fetch firewood for sale, and do similar jobs, to support his schooling.

He had higher education at Wesley College, Ibadan (a teachers' college) in 1927, and much later at the University of London as an External Student. He was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) and the Bachelor of Laws by the University of London. He was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple on November 19, 1946.

MARRIAGE
On 26th December, 1937 Obafemi Awolowo got married to Miss Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana. They remained each other's best friend to the end; together they fought for the cause of justice and for the release of their fellow man’s mind from ignorance and the freedom on his body from disease. They had 5 children: Olusegun (1939-1963), Omotola, Oluwole, Ayodele and Tokunbo.

After a brief spell as school teacher, stenographer, and Daily Timesreporter-in­ training, Obafemi Awolowo set himself up in Ibadan as a produce buyer and a transporter. It was in Ibadan that his political life began to unfold: he served there as secretary of the Nigerian Youth Movement before he went abroad to study Law in Great Britain.

Back home from Britain, Awolowo formed the cultural group known as “Egbe Omo Oduduwa” in 1949 and a political party, the Action Group, (AG), in 1951 also known as Egbe Afenifere in Western part of Nigeria as part of the Social Programme for the emancipation of Yoruba race. His party won the first elections ever conducted in Western Nigeria. As a result of that victory, the AG formed the first elected government in the Western Region and Obafemi Awolowo, now a Chief, became the Leader of Government Business and Minister for Local Government in 1952. In 1954, Awo (as he had come to be fondly known within his party) became the first Premier of the Western Region. His party won the elections again in May 1956 and Awo retained his position as Premier. He voluntarily gave up that position when, on December 12, 1959, he was elected into the House of Representatives where he became the Leader of Opposition in Nigeria's central legislature.

He stood up stoutly against mediocrity and drift in government, and began to define alternative channels along which Nigeria's government should go. His own concept of a Nigerian nation was probably too advanced for his opponents, who began to see the Awolowo-led opposition as a major threat. Following a trial for treasonable felony, he was jailed for 10 years in September 1963.

By July 1966, Nigeria's problems had become so interactable that disintegration of the country seemed inevitable. A new Federal Military Government promptly opened the gates of Calabar Prison, brought Awolowo out and appointed him as a minister to take charge of the country's treasury and to provide political support as Vice Chairman in the Federal administration. In those two roles, he was one of the major architects of Nigeria's victory over s~cession in the 3D-month Civil War. When the war ended, Awo waited just long enough to give Nigeria a National Development Plan; as soon as the Plan was completed, he resigned from the government, although, to his last day, he remained grateful to the man who gave him an opportunity to serve his country.

When Nigeria's Armed Forces lifted the ban on civilian participation in politics in September 1978, Nigerians who believed in Awo’s political ideas and principles joined him in forming the Unity Party of Nigeria which presented Nigeria with a dynamic programme of socio economic change along democratic socialist lines. Awo led the party until it was banned, along with Nigeria's other political parties, during the military take-over at the end of 1983.

Chief Awolowo was a great political thinker who committed many of his thoughts to writing. From 1946, he had started a long career in political writing, which flourished whether he was in freedom or in detention, whether he was in power or out of it. It continued to flourish till the very end of his life.

ACHIEVEMENTS:
Chief Awolowo’s greatest achievements resulted from the foresight, clear sense of direction and sheer competence that he brought into government.

At the beginning of his career in government, Chief Awolowo quickly reformed the Local Government system of the Western Region and took revolutionary steps to Nigerianise and improve the Western Nigeria Civil Service. An extremely good judge of men’s qualities, he had also put together a very efficient team of ministers. Having taken those steps, he was set to achieve within 5 years a string of "Firsts" in the history of Africa. Between 1954 and 1959, his government­ evolved, and was served by, the most efficient Civil Service in Black Africa;introduced and successfully implemented the first Free Primary Education programme in Africa;introduced and successfully managed the first Free Medical Service programme in Nigeria - for children up to the age of 18;established the first Television Station in Africa;built the Liberty Stadium, the first such modem sports facility in Nigeria;introduced and successfully implemented the first minimum wage policy in Nigeria and actually paid to Western Nigerians from October 1954 a minimum wage that was doublethe amount paid to workers of the same level in some other parts of Nigeria;set up Nigeria’s first industrial complex at Ikeja;set up Nigeria's first commercial Housing Estates at Ikeja and Bodija, Ibadan.

Besides these, Chief Awolowo’s government had­ laid the foundation for development in commerce and industry by creating an efficient Western Nigeria Development Corporation, the ancestor of the present-day O'dua Investment Company;taken successful bold steps to revolutionise the production and marketing of cocoa by farmers in Western Nigeria; and .created the infrastructure for rural development by promoting 900 cooperative societies in about 3 years and by providing within 5 years almost 10 times as many miles of road as he inherited from the British administration.

There is a not-so-visible achievement arising from all these. By making election promises and fulfilling them within a few years, Awo had led his region to evolve a culture that demands and evaluates a socio economic programme from those who seek to govern them.

In the Federal government, Awo managed the finances of Nigeria so shrewdly and so competently that the Federal Government successfully waged an expensive 30-month war against secession without resorting to foreign loans and without compromising its sovereignty.

HONOURS:
In recognition of his intellectual contributions, Awolowo was honoured by the following institutions of learning:
University of Nigeria, Nsukka: LL.D. (1962)
University of Ife, Ile-Ife: D.Sc. (1967)
University of Lagos: D.Litt. (1968)
University of Ibadan: LL.D. (1972)
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria: LL.D. (1975)
University of Cape Coast, Ghana: LL.D. (1976)

He was Chancellor of the University of Ife (1967 -1975) and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1975-1978).
In recognition of his professional contributions at the Bar, he was made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978.

In recognition of his invaluable service to Nigeria, he was given the highest honour in the land, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)in 1982.

He was honoured with many chieftaincy titles, including the following:

Asiwaju of Yoruba
Asiwaju of Remo
Losi of Ikenne
Lisa of Ijeun
Apesin of Osogbo
Odole of Ife
Ajagunla of Ado-Ekiti
Odofin of Owo and
Obong Ikpan Isong of Ibibio Land.

In recognition of his esteemed contributions, he was awarded the Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa by the Republic of Liberia in 1968, and made Grand-Officer de l’Ordre National du Lion, Republique du Senegal, in 1972.

PUBLISHED WORKS:
Republished many books and still had some in the press at the time of his transition. Among his best-known works are: Path to Nigerian Freedom (1947), Awo - an autobiography (1960), Thoughts on the Nigerian Constitution (1966), The People’s Republic (1968), The Strategy and Tactics of the People's Republic (1970), The Problems of Africa: The need for ideological reappraisal (1977), Adventures in Power­Book 1: My March Through Prison (1985). He had planned to launch Book 2 entitled The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Lawon 6th June 1987.

The oldest privately owned newspaper in Nigeria, the Nigerian Tribune, and two other newspapers (the weekly Sunday Tribune and Irohin Yoruba) were founded and owned by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Acknowledgement : Obafemi Awolowo Foundation

Young Nigerian Living in Sokoto Who Designs Super-cars

PHOTO NEWS

Bashar Aliyu is a Nigerian teenager from Sokoto who has a talent and passion for designing cars and he looks forward to studying Automotive Design in the university.

Photos:

AMBODE RENDERS SECOND QUARTER ACCOUNT, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SERVE LAGOSIANS

• Renders Second Quarter Scorecard
• Says Crime Rate Reduced by 65 Percent
• Approves N2.5bn For Schools Upgrade
• Commences Construction Of Ajah, Abule Egba,    Berger Flyovers

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to remain resolute to serve and justify the trust reposed in him, assuring that he would continue to work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

The Governor, who spoke while rendering his account of stewardship at the Second Quarterly Town Hall Meeting held at the City Hall, Lagos, said his administration will continue to stay true to its overall policy built on a tripod of security, infrastructural development and job creation.

Addressing a large gathering of party chieftains, market men and women, captains of industry, members of the diplomatic corps as well as top government functionaries, Governor Ambode said his administration is fully aware that a safer Lagos will attract more investments from local and foreign investors, hence he kept to his promise in the first quarter to improve on the security in the state with investment in security equipment worth over N4.7billion.

The Governor reported that the investment in the security equipment has led to the reduction of crime rate in the state by 65 percent in the last quarter of 2015.

“I am happy to report that our State is a lot safer today as statistics show that crime rate reduced by 65% during the last quarter compared to Year 2014,” he said.

Governor Ambode said his administration, in another spirited effort to tackle crime, invested towards the “Light Up Lagos” project, which has since restored light on major highways and inner roads in the state at night.

He said an Advisory Committee on Power, chaired by the Deputy Governor was also set up to keep faith with the promise to ensure that every nook and cranny of the state is lit-up, just as he urged residents to key into the project in return for a reward.

“In the past few months, we have fixed street lights from Berger in Ojodu to Lekki, Ikorodu to Lagos Island, the entire Ikeja axis, Victoria Island and Ikoyi. We are taking this project to every part of the State. If we are not yet in your neighbourhood, give us a little time; we will soon be there. As we light up the State, we expect crime to reduce as criminals will have nowhere to hide and operate.
“I call on individuals and corporate bodies to join our “Light Up Lagos” project by adopting a street and lighting it up either by connecting it to your meter or your generator. In return, these individuals and institutions will receive special concessions on Land Use Charge and commendation from the State and Local Governments”.

The Governor also said in the last quarter, 49 transformers were donated to communities that were hitherto in darkness for five years, while electricity has now been restored to 63 Communities starting from Eleko to Ode-Omi in Ibeju Lekki Local Government.
“We also commissioned the 33kva Electrical Sub-Station in Gberigbe Community, Ikorodu. This is expected to improve the electricity situation in that axis,” he said.

On infrastructural development, Governor Ambode said that over 300 roads were rehabilitated during the period under review, adding that 66 major road projects are at various stages of completion while 80 road grading and surface dressing projects will soon be completed in all the LGs & LCDAs of the State.

He listed some of the completed roads to include Afa Nla Road, Agege, CIPM Road, Alausa, Ijegun-Ikotun Road, Mba Street, Ajegunle, 1st and 2nd Avenue, Festac Town, Afolabi Ege Street, Ojo, Thomson Road, Ikoyi, 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Ebutte Ero Road, Lagos Island and Akin Adeshola Road, Victoria Island.

“In addition to this, the construction of two roads in each of the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Government Development Areas in the State was flagged off last week. A total of 114 roads will be delivered through this intervention in the next six months at a cost of N17.5b,” The Governor said.

Governor Ambode also listed other strides of his administration in the last quarter including the injection of 434 new BRT buses, the commencement of construction of fly-overs in Ajah roundabout, Abule – Egba Junction and Berger Bus stop as well as the resumption of work on the Blue Line Rail Project expected to be completed by December 2016.

He also said that the state government has embarked on the rehabilitation of schools, construction of new classroom blocks and provision of furniture to the tune of N2.5b, jointly funded with the Federal Government under the UBEC scheme with the State adding an additional N526m.

On the projection for the first quarter of 2016, he assured that with the budget already in place his administration will kick-start the N25billion Employment Trust Fund, employ new staff into LASTMA, Fire Service and Hospitals, strengthen the state security infrastructure as well as take the Light Up Lagos Project to more areas. 

He said, “As your Governor, I am resolute in my commitment to you; to serve and justify the trust you have reposed in me and work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

“All we need is your support and cooperation. We thank you for your direct feedback to us. We take them on board but we also need you to always fulfill your side of the social contract by ensuring regular payment of your taxes and willful compliance with the State Laws.

“There are better days ahead. Together, we are building a Lagos that we are all proud of”.

You have to venture to win

By Joseph Chibueze

When Mr. Tunji Olugbodi left Prima Garnet in March 2007 to set up his own company, Verdant Zeal, many saw it as a right move that was wrongly timed. But the question is ‘what is the right time to move?’ It is this fear of the unknown and waiting for the ‘right time’ that has kept many who would have been successful entrepreneurs locked up in what could be described as a fool’s paradise called the comfort zone even when they are no more comfortable.

It was an election year with all its uncertainties, businesses were not willing to make new commitments and investors were holding back to know the direction the country would go after the elections. It all looked gloomy, even more so as he took off from ground zero, with no clients and just a few hands to work with.

But he was not deterred because for him, it is not about how much you have in your pocket or how fair the weather is, but the values you are bringing to the table. 

Just under eight years, Verdant Zeal has become a multinational marketing communication group comprising various corollary businesses. F2M (First to Market), the experiential marketing arm of the group, Gr8 Measures Media (Media Independent), Brainbox I Media (New Media), Red Gecko (Pr & Content development) and Neo Mantra (an intellectual property company with interest in brand and events management).

The company is also now the only Nigerian marketing communication company that has full fledged offices across the West Coast- Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Background
Born in Lagos on March 26, 1964, to the family of Pa Joshua Oyedele Olugbodi, from Ara town in Osun State; his father retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria while his mother, Mrs. Grace Olabisi Olugbodi, a trader, hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State. Tunji attended Salvation Army Primary School, Iyun Road, behind the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos between 1969 and 1974, but had to move to Ejigbo, Osun State for his secondary education, where he attended Baptist High School between 1974 and 1979. “I really couldn’t explain why my parents just decided I should go to Osun State for my secondary school education,” he says. “But my parents knew why they took that decision and I have come to realize that they meant well for me. Today, I don’t have any regrets because part of my experience in my formative years was informed by my experience in Ejigbo. My stay in that rural environment allowed me to appreciate people from different backgrounds. There is something original in that rustic environment. I was lucky to have schooled in a society where people value lives. The spirit of being one’s brother’s keeper is still in me up till now.

“I attended what could be termed ‘regular’ public schools, but I must say these compared well with some of the best private schools we have today. There was professionalism and dedication by the crop of teachers, who took great pride in the development of their pupils.”

For his university education, Olugbodi attended the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, between 1983 and 1987 and read English Language. His father actually wanted him to study law ostensibly so he could accomplish what he himself could not accomplish having dropped out of law faculty of the then University of Ife because he had no one to fund the programme for him. “My father saw my admission as an opportunity for him to realise his dream. I didn’t want anybody to dictate my course of study to me and I decided not to pursue the admission.”

Career
Olugbodi started his career first as a journalist with The Guardian as a judicial reporter and sub editor. After about five years he became a bit restless and wanted to explore new horizons. He then moved to a medium sized agency, called SAAL as a copywriter and just after three months moved on to Promoserve where he had the first real taste of professional marketing communication as a client service and business development. “Promoserve was one of the biggest and most active agencies then, with several blue chip accounts. I had the privilege of working with some of the best brains in the industry then and it was quite enlightening; a great eye opener,” he recalls.

In January 1992, he joined Prima Garnet where he spent 15 years and rose to the position of an executive director. He however quit Prima Garnet in March 2007 to start Verdant Zeal.

His person, his philosophy
Olugbodi who likes to describe himself as a clear minded, easy going person, also sees life as an opportunity God has given to man to be able to do something positive. He believes that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. “And for you to think of getting something done means that you have the mindset of somebody who wants to venture, somebody who wants to step away from his comfort zone. For many years I was unable to do the things I needed to do because I was living in what I can call a fool’s paradise. I was in a comfort zone where I did not want to rock the boat and I wanted to maintain the status quo. It took time for me to realize that the only way you can make progress in life is by taking a risk, a calculated risk and every risk has its own reward. 

Sometimes it may not be positive but even if it is not positive, it is usually a temporary set back because for every venture you step out to take, there is always something to learn, even if it is to learn how not to do certain things, so that next time you know how to avoid those pitfalls.”

Making a move
For Olugbodi, God has given to each person a fair amount of gifts and aptitudes to do certain things. The only problem according to him is that most people do not take time to search out and understand what these gifts are. In his words, “Because we have not understood what has been deposited inside of us to enable us succeed, sometimes we devalue ourselves which makes us sometimes to look down on ourselves or sometimes makes us lack the confidence to be able to move ahead. So for me if there is anything you want do, you have to make a move.

“In making a move, you also have to know whom to trust, for me, I put my trust in God that if God is with me in anything it will not fail. Next to that is that you have to have faith in yourself. Because you are a reflection of God, if you don’t have faith in God, there is no way you are going to have faith in yourself. So the measure of the faith you have in yourself, is also the measure of the faith you have in God because really, every day living is a risk, every step you take is a risk but if you trust God, he will never leave you nor forsake you. You are not running on your own skills even if it appears so, but you are running God’s programme because he has given you brush so that you can make your own strokes. That is very comforting and reassuring.

“Tied to that is that there must always be a vision. I am driven more by what I see as greater vision of many things that I need to do rather than the small things. And that in itself helps a great deal because it gives the eye of the mind the ability to plot a trajectory, a sort of roadmap and I have discovered that in my own case every road map that I have given some thought to, prayed and meditated over, written down formerly, most often than not usually comes to pass almost the way I have written it down. So that is a big encouragement.”

Sustaining power
What is it that keeps him going even in the face of difficulties? He replies that there are no secrets. According to him, “Every victory and every defeat starts first of all from the mind, so the mindset is extremely important. I will give you an example, as we sit here, I do know there is going to be many challenges in 2015 and maybe beyond, it is obvious, the price of oil is going down, it is not likely to go up any soon and the reasons also are very obvious, politics in Nigeria come with its uncertainties, there is insecurity, so everything points out that the indices are heading south. But what I do know is that in spite of that, in fact most often than none, when there are problems or challenges is when there are opportunities. So in our mind, what we have done is to say we prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So you look at the worst case scenario and say this is the worst that can happen, how do you survive, how do you navigate? In doing that you are able to look at the opportunities that will come from the challenges that we have in the environment, in the economy. And in doing that, you say to yourself, I am going to survive by doing XYZ because I can envision what those challenges will be. So your mindset is extremely important. First and foremost is to accept the reality of challenges and not to live in denials.

“The second thing is, what are the concrete steps that you need to take to make things happen, what are the adjustments you need to make? So for me those are the indices where you have success or victory, it is really about micro managing the issues before they emerge and it is even better when you are able to anticipate what the issues will be and that helps you to take steps that will help you over come those challenges. So you have to think ahead.”

NUGGETS
-Have faith in God and yourself
-Whatever you have to do, do it well
-It is not about the dept of your pocket, it is about the values you bring
-Trust God

First Published in the CRS Watch International Magazine 2015

First Viola Competitions Presents ''Hours with the Masters'' – A Choral Competition Fused With An Art Exhibition

First Viola Competitions - Nigeria's First International Choral Music Competition Platform...

Come 13th February 2016, First Viola Competitions (FVC) - Nigeria’s First International Choral Music Competition Platform would be debuting an event in Nigeria tagged ''Hours with the Masters''.

This event is a Chorale Competition among-st chorale groups in Nigeria which is also fused with an Art Exhibition from Artistes around the world. In addition, there would also be entertaining performances from celebrity singers.

According to the organizers, the idea behind the event is to further develop chorale excellence in Nigeria and beyond, whilst promoting arts and culture.

The aims and objectives of FVC also include the organization of international chorale festivals and competitions to further raise the quality of chorale art and to foster international peace and harmony. 

Furthermore, having regular activities aimed at bringing young people closer to indigenous choral art music, identify, nurture and develop talents among-st other things are key objectives of this organization. 

Choral competitions add value and meaning to the Nigerian life by fostering the creativity and positive impact of choral art music whilst engaging the public in the extraordinary experience of competition performances. It also helps participants develop their talent which leads to a lifelong learning as well as experiencing teamwork, self-discipline, life- long friendships and individual expression.

FVC is managed by First Viola, a global leader in music projects / events that combines high principles of management with a wide range of services.

Details of ''Hours with the Masters'' would be fully unveiled by the organizers, in a crescendo-like-manner, later in the month of January 2016.

Nigerian Lecturer, Opeyemi Enoch Solves 156-Year-Old Mathematics Problem, Wins $1Million

A Nigerian lecturer, Dr. Opeyemi Enoch who lectures at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) has made a name for himself across the globe after solving the 156 years old Riemann Hypothesis, the most important problem in Mathematics.

This enviable feat makes him the fourth person to be able to resolve one of the Seven Millennium Problems in Mathematics. The Riemann Zeta Hypothesis is one of the seven Millennium problems set forth by the Clay Mathematics Institute with a million Dollar reward for each solved problem for the past 16 years and he has won himself a million dollar reward.

The mathematicians is said to have made his presentation on the proof during the International Conference on Mathematics and Computer Science in Vienna, Austria on November 11, 2015. Making it more interesting is that it coincides with the exact day and month 156 years after the problem was delivered by a German Mathematician in 1859.

Prior to this achievement the Kogi state born genius has worked on mathematical models and structures for generating electricity from sound, thunder and Oceanic bodies.

http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/2015/11/16/photo-nigerian-lecturer-opeyemi-enoch-solves-156-year-old-mathematics-problem-wins-1million/

Fatima makes history at Law School

A genius, Fatima Bombom Sani, made history on Wednesday, 21 October 2015 when she was honoured with standing ovation by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, other members of the Body of Benchers (BOB) and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), other dignitaries and the new wigs (her colleagues just called to Bar).

Fatima broke existing record in the Nigeria Law School by bagging nine separate awards compared to existing record of seven awards ever received at the Call to Bar of Nigerian Law School.

The awards include the “Best Student of the Year (1st Prize)’’ donated by Sir Adetokunbo Ademola , Dr. Taslim Elias and Justice Atanda Fatayi-Williams; the ‘’Council of Education Star Award’’; Corporate Law Practice donated by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN; Best Overall Female Student of the year award donated by National Association of Women Judges; and Best Female Student in Criminal Litigation award donated by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Doherty.

The rest are Best Student in Civil and Criminal Litigation award donated by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN; and the prize for 1st Class Students donated by the Director General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS).

Born to the family of Mr and Mrs Engr Abel A. Sani 26 years ago, Fatima hails from Adavi-Ege in Adavi LGA of Kogi State and attended University of Abuja where she had her LLB with Second Class (Upper).

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/law/fatima-makes-history-at-law-school/116555.html

Meet NSFDW’s Most Creative Designer Of The Year 2015 ‘Miss Hauwa Liman’!

Complete Fashion in this interview brings to you Hauwa Liman the overall winner at the 2015 Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week (NSFDW) as the most creative designer.

Q: Who is the person behind the “AFRIK ABAYA” Brand?

Hauwa: Hauwa Liman is the one behind the “AFRIK ABAYA” Brand. She is from Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State. I had my early school days in Kaduna and Katsina States. I attended Federal Government Girls College Bakori for my secondary Education and proceeded to Bayero University in Kano where I studied Economics and Development Studies. I am a self taught tailor with a passion for Arts and craft and an advocate for women empowerment.

Q: How did you find your way into fashion as an Economics student?

Hauwa: This is an interesting one. I have always had a love for fashion. The way fabrics are cut, twisted, folded and in some cases even pressed to produce outfits really fascinates me. I can say that the consciousness of my present day entrepreneurial pursuit in fashion design was influenced by fascination of class work in the study of Art and Craft back in secondary school and my mother who happens to be a seamstress. While the Art and Craft module exposed me to the early rudiments of patterns, designs, and use of color, having a sewing machine at home made it easy for me to keep trying to change the style of my Sallah clothes each holiday. That was how I taught myself how to sew and have been sewing my clothes since 1998, but I never planned on making a career out of it. Matter of fact, I never saw myself becoming a fashion designer full-time. My dream was to become an educationist and lecture in the university and I have worked towards that since gaining admission into the university by striving to be among the best in my class. I was the best female student in my class. However,at a point I thought of doing the two but along the line, I realized that it was not possible for me and the vision I have cannot be realized if I continue to see my fashion interest as a mere hobby as such. The constant demand for my clothes from family and friends ,that informal attention to details of tailoring at home coupled with my love for originality, artistic work, African fabrics and above all, that of the Abaya, crystallized the passion for garment making that today becomes the bedrock of our business at “AFRIK ABAYA” where we focus on Abaya (The traditional Arabian outfit), Kaftans and Kaftan tops by creatively infusing African fabrics and accessories to give it an African touch.

Q: How did you hear about the Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week?

Hauwa: Sometime in 2014 around November to be precise, I accidentally came across the NSFDW on the internet. I instantly became interested told myself I should be part of this next year. With that on my mind, I kept checking the website for updates. Around March /April this year, while going through the website as I frequently do, I saw that the registration of designers for this year’s edition has started. I tried registering but encountered some difficulties, I then called the phone number that was there and an application form was sent to me and I registered. That was how this journey began.

Q: You were shortlisted for the Tony Elemulu Entrepreneurship Programme, tell us more about your experience?

Hauwa: The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) as you are aware is an entrepreneurship programme of the Tony Elumelu Foundation that was launched this year. It is aimed at identifying 10,000 African startups and entrepreneurs with ideas that have the potential to succeed in the next ten years. The programme plans to help grow the businesses through business skills training, mentoring, access to seek capital funding, information and membership in the Tony Elumelu Foundation Africa-wide alumni network. It provides the much needed supportive platform to young compelling businesses with strong market feasibility, clear financial models and run by capable teams. I happen to be among the first 1000 that made up the first class (TEEP2015) those that were selected out of the 20,000 that applied. We just completed the twelve weeks online training programme and the Boot camp that took place at Convenant University in Ogun State. The online training and Boot camp were intensive, highly impacting and offered an excellent opportunity for networking with young entrepreneurs from 50 African countries. It gave me the opportunity of meeting other young fashion entrepreneurs from across Africa and we are helping each other. I connected with entrepreneurs from South-Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Zambia, South Africa, Sudan, Madagascar and Mali aside the many that are from all over Nigeria. It was indeed a life changing experience and opportunity. I am glad and proud to be part of it all because the benefits can only be quantified in the long run. As my business is centered on exploring African cultures particularly different African fabrics that represent different cultures across the continent, the networking opportunity on this platform is enormous and will help me greatly. Matter-of-fact, I have already started seeing the impact of it because the NSFDW took place a day after the Sallah celebration, my family and friends from the North couldn’t make it to Lagos to show me support as I showcased, but I did not feel it at all because my TEEP FAMILY were there and one interesting thing was that I have not even met some of them even at the boot camp or via the learning portal before, but the fact that I was a TEEP15 member, they were there an some even invited their friends.. I am still relishing in the euphoria of it all. With the completion of the 12 weeks training, and mentoring. We were able to come up with a comprehensive business plan that was examined and an access to a seed capital. The boot camp gave us the opportunity of having top-class resource persons and established entrepreneurs lecture us. Having the likes of Mr. Tony Elumelu himself, The vice president, Gov.El-Rufai,Mr.Lanre Olusola (The Catalyst),Mr Adewale Ajadi,Sam Nwanze, Mrs.Arunma Oteh, Mo Abudu, Omotola Jalade, Rasheed Olaoluwa of the Bank of Industry and others. It was a once in a lifetime experience that really shaped us and gave us all it takes in moving our businesses, country and Africa forward. It was a fulfilling and rewarding experience. I urge all young aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups especially women to watch out for the next TEEP in 2016 as it will definitely take their businesses to the next level

Q: What made you think up this collection?

Hauwa: Like most of my designs, I was driven by the richness of two cultures, and the quest to merge two fashion trends. Inspired by the way floral patterns are beautifully combined with geometric elements in the Vlisco fabric and some unique fabrics, I thought of creatively incorporating these African fabrics into the traditional middle-eastern fashion trends. Thus, combining modesty, creativity and style. THE AFRIK INVASION celebrates the stylish modest fashionista.

Q: Does African design necessarily involve the infusion of Ankara because we noticed that in your collection?

Hauwa: No, not at all. Africa is diverse and rich in culture. Ankara is not the only African fabric as such African Designs must not be defined by the infusion of only the Ankara fabric. I used the Ankara for this collection and I intend to explore other African Fabrics like the Adire, Kente and many more in my coming collections. Also,Its not only the fabrics that define African designs. So many other things that tell the African story can give a designer the inspiration for a collection. For example, I was fascinated with the last collection from Lanre Da Silva Ajayi where by the inspiration came from the famous “OLUMO ROCK”. Clearly, African designs go beyond the infusion of the Ankara fabric alone.

Q: What determines the “African-ness” of a design?

Hauwa: To me, the African-ness of a design can be determined from the “AFRICAN TOUCH/CONTENT” incorporated into it. The diverse culture of Africa revolves around our numerous life settings from east, west, north and south of the continent, our lives, lifestyle and trends to dynamism of inward and outward, looks and feels are wrapped in grandeur all telling our rich cultural history and showing the ease at which we explore each others culture. Take for instance the ability of Africans irrespective of regional divides to cross-sell their diverse apparel uniqueness to one, another and the world at large. Kente for example is traditionally from Ghana. It is unique and cherished not only in Ghana. It commands a mass appeal around the globe for those who respect and have the desire to uphold African originality.

Q: How does it feel to have emerged as the most creative designer at the Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week?

Hauwa: Matter of fact, I am overwhelmed. A feeling of excitement that I just can’t express .The fact that out of the about 30 designers that showcased I was adjudged the most creative. It gives me the encouragement to work harder and remain focused. It has also given me the zeal to go all out and achieve my goals.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learnt as a brand during the show?

Hauwa: The most important lesson I learnt is to always believe in myself and my ideas. When I registered and was preparing for the show, many people tried to discourage me. It was like-What are you going to do in a Fashion show in Lagos? Your designs are not for Lagos. Lagos is not your market, focus on Kano, Kaduna and Abuja! It is not worth the stress, it’s a waste of time energy and resources! But deep inside me, I believed in myself and my ideas. I knew what I wanted, I am fully aware of the path I was threading; I know that my designs can be styled in different ways. A lady in Lagos can style my top without a jean or leggings, a lady in Abuja with a jean and a lady in Kano can wear same top with a skirt and they will all look gorgeous. So also the Abayas. They can be styled in an African way with the Ankara head or the Arabian way with the veil, and a lady can rock the Abaya alone as I demonstrated at the Fashion week. It was a pointer to me that the Nigerian Fashion industry is really thriving and it’s left for us to tap into the gaps as upcoming designers.



Q: What do you think it takes to establish a successful fashion brand in Nigeria?

Hauwa: So many things are involved but looking at the competitive nature of the Fashion industry, I can say that creativity is one. The ability to come up with new ideas .This is necessary because everyday many fashion designers come on board. So, to be successful, the fashion designer should be able to deliver something different, something new and unique, and something that defines that brand and makes it appealing. Also, Mr Kola Kuddus of KOLAKUDDUS COUTURE once said that it takes PLANNING, FOCUS AND PERSEVERVANCE to succeed in the Nigerian fashion industry. In my candid opinion based on my own experience so far, these three words summed it up. With them, a successful fashion brand will surely be established.

Q: Your showcase fee will be fully funded at the African fashion Week Nigeria 2016, how does that make you feel?

Hauwa: I am so excited. It is really interesting and pleasant. In this business lots and lots of factors always interplay. Growing up from the North of the country and being exposed to the elementary rudiments of cloth making then the flairs that comes with nominal classroom art and craft session. I have always understood that my heart desires are not far away from the glorious heights of industry pioneers and pacesetters such as Mrs. Abbah Folawiyyo, Mrs. Bensons, Zizi Cardow ,Tiffany Amber, Deola Sagoe,Lisa Folawiyo,Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and lots of others too numerous to mentioned that lighten up the torch. To be candid, I feel so excited that am being sponsored for such a huge project and it further ignites the passion for excellence in me. I believe my aspirations of following in the footsteps of the above mentioned industry top-notchs is gradually unfolding. I am delighted beyond words knowing I now have the opportunity of showcasing on a bigger and better platform. It is awesome and thanks a million for this wonderful opportunity and all the support and encouragement I am getting.I am proud to be part of NSFDW. AFRIK ABAYA will surely do you proud there!

Q: What should people expect from you?

Hauwa: To be a participant at the African Fashion Week is more likened to the center-stage of a global fashion event .Of course, that is exactly what it is to me at the moment. It is an opportunity to roll-out a masterpiece collection. AFRIK INVASION was rolled-out at the NSFDW with lots of mass appeal .Definitely; we are raising the bar with sizzling trends at the AFRICA FASHIION WEEK because it is time to conquer hearts with the uniqueness of AFRIK ABAYA with lots and lots of creative and beautiful designs that are a statement of African grandeur and uniqueness.





Q: What was the highlight of the NSFDW for you?

Hauwa: It was the applause that welcomed the appearance of the first AFRIK ABAYA design unto the runway and the scenario that unfolded backstage .It was amazing. So many people were like- Are you the designer? This is great, This is lovely, Wow! And some people were even congratulating me and saying- AH!e be like say na you start the show proper o. See as people just dey clap for all your designs. Imagine,people began to request for some of the outfits as the models were undressing backstage. It was awesome and I just wished the people that tried to discourage me from coming all the way to Lagos to participate were in that hall at that time. It was a great feeling. It actually gave me the opportunity to understand and appreciate the mass appeal for AFRIKABAYA by Nigerian fashionistas

Q: What are the major challenges you face as an emerging designer?

Hauwa: The challenges faced are not different from those faced by virtually all emerging small businesses in Nigeria. Issues of high cost of production resulting from erratic power supply, international shipping of certain fabrics and accessories that are not available locally and inherent tariffs, as well as quality control and the difficulties that comes with promoting a new brand as well as the lack of access to existing governmental policies to strengthen entrepreneurial dynamics. Issues of high cost of renting shops, finding good tailors and getting them to bring out the designs the way I want them is not easy at all. Also I can say that the issue of “Founder Dependence” is really affecting this business. May be because my workaholic nature is rubbing off on that as I find it difficult to let go off some responsibilities. But Thank God, I am gradually adjusting (smiles).All the same, we are striving to excel.

Q: What should we expect generally from your brand in the nearest future?

Hauwa: My desire was to break away from the norm, do something different and certify my brand with originality and appealing ideas that will always create a memorable impression. Therefore expect more creative designs that rock the jingle bell with lots of “ETHNIC INFUSIONS”.As the name implies-AFRIK ABAYA ,we are definitely going to go all out and explore different African cultures and experiment with them in our designs. AFRIK ABAYA will set a new trend in modesty fashion Nigeria and beyond in the nearest feature.

Q: Words to aspiring designers on the platform of Winasbet NSFDW?

Hauwa: They must understand that their chosen profession is a platform that connects globally, thus what you seek, you find. Aspiring designers must passionately strive for excellence and understand that the Nigerian Fashion Industry is thriving, meaning they must pursue excellence at all times in order to make it. NSFDW gave me the opportunity to reach out to the larger section of Nigerian fashionistas. NSFDW is an excellent platform that promotes new designers. As emerging designers, we need a medium to express and communicate our products and services to the larger part of the Nigerian Fashion Industry. NSFDW is an excellent platform for that. As the Biggest Fashion Week in Nigeria for Student Designers, the NSFDW is not all about the showcase alone. It comes with so many opportunities that are useful to upcoming designers; as such I will urge all aspiring designers on this platform to tap into these opportunities. An important aspect of it is the platform for business and social networking it provides. It connect designers with other emerging and upcoming fashion designers and stylists,marketers,etc.For example, we that participated in this year’s edition, all that were interested were given the opportunity of selling their products on many e-commerce platforms such as Konga, Jumia etc courtesy of NSFDW. Moreover, It it provides a link with the media particularly the fashion journalists as they are important in reaching our targeted customer segments. Therefore,I urge them to utilize the NSFDW platform judiciously and promote their brands.

                             

                              Originally published in Complete Fashion

http://completefashion.org/exclusivetocompletefashion-meet-nsfdws-most-creative-designer-of-the-year-2015-miss-hauwa-liman/

National Arts Theatre Lagos, 199 other monuments to be lit blue on Saturday – says UN envoy

United Nations – The National Arts Theatre in Lagos would be among 200 iconic monuments, buildings, statues, bridges and other landmarks across the world that would be lit up blue on Oct. 24 to mark the founding of UN.

The theatre, located in Iganmu, Lagos State, was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.

Ms Cristina Gallach, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, told reporters in New York on Monday that other monuments include the Empire State Building, UN Headquarters, Tokyo’s SkyTree Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Athen’s Temple of Zeus, Edinburgh Castle, and many others.

She said that the lighting up of the 200 monuments was part of an exciting new global campaign which helped unite global citizens and promoted the message of peace, development and human rights.

According to Gallach, the day is dedicated to the global efforts and achievements of the UN.

The under-secretary-general said this year’s observance would begin on Friday with a special concert featuring a Korean Traditional Music Orchestra and other renowned international artists.

The UN, she said, would celebrate an extraordinary event marking its 70th Anniversary as renowned artist Cristobal Gabarron unveils his monument entitled: “Enlightened Universe” in New York’s famed Central Park.

The monument, she explained, was an interactive sculpture formed by a sphere and surrounded by a spiral of 70 figures, one for each of the 70 years since the UN was created.

She said that the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, would make opening remarks and would be joined by UN officials, staff, diplomats, city officials and global citizens.

She added that the event would take place in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield entrance on East 72nd and 5th Avenue in New York.

After its display in New York, she said the artwork would be displayed in major cities across the globe.

Oct. 24, 1945, the UN came into force when the five permanent members of the Security Council ratified the charter that had been drawn up earlier that year.

The members were France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Since 1948, the event’s anniversary had been known as United Nations Day.

It is an occasion to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the work of the UN and its family of specialised agencies.

Meanwhile, many activities are organised by all parts of the UN, particularly in the main offices in New York, the Hague (Netherlands), Geneva (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria) and Nairobi (Kenya).

These include concerts, flying the UN flag on important buildings, debates on the relevance of the work of the UN in modern times and proclamations by state heads and other leaders. (NAN)

http://linkis.com/www.vanguardngr.com/kiwUu

AUN STUDENTS DEVISE SOLAR OVENS FOR VILLAGERS

Students of the American University Nigeria creates Solar Ovens and Chicken Tractors... 

Wood-free cooking and organic gardening make for a better life. Professor Charles Reith's students in CDV 107 worked toward that end on Saturday, October 3, when they fabricated solar ovens and chicken tractors to give to the nearby villages.

Rotimi Ogundijo and Matthew Abedoh helped the professor prepare and lead the learning experience.

The student teams worked at the recycling center and used simple materials, recycled when possible. The solar ovens were fashioned from recycled cardboard, glue, masking tape, and aluminum foil. 

Each oven took about 45 minutes to make based on a design first developed in the 1990s at a refugee camp in Kenya. The team used one oven to cook a pot of noodles, which took about 10 minutes to be ready for sampling by Professor Reith and others. Tender and delicious!

Two student teams also created chicken tractors from scrap metal and pieces of chicken wire that had been thrown away. Chicken tractors are screened-in boxes or portable cages used by organic farmers to prepare soil for planting; they confine the chicken in the tractor until it has eaten all the weeds, scratched the soil, and fertilized it with its guano. This is one of many ways organic growers fertilize their farms without using harmful and expensive chemicals.

The students will deliver the ovens and tractors to local villages on a November trip in which they will also install an in-ground composting system such as they built for AUN several weeks ago.

Acknowledgement : www.aun.edu.ng

Babcock University Performs First Heart Surgery

BABCOCK University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State recorded another milestone last Thursday, as the first heart surgery was performed in the institution’s Teaching Hospital, by its doctors. The operation lasted six hours.

The first beneficiary of this feat in the history of the university is a 34-year-old woman, who brimmed with exceptional spirit as she calmly walked through the door with gaiety into the theatre for a life saving venture in the human hands of cardio thoracic surgeons, Professor Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Michael Sanusi, Dr. Mudashiru Lawal and Dr. Edward Anderson, all resident doctors.

According to the institution, there are other 15 critical care personnel in the operating theatre to provide specific required services. They included perfussionists, cardiac operations nurses, internists and anesthesiologists.

Friday’s surgery was a milk valve replacement. Yesterday, another set of patients’ hearts received care from the surgeons’ hearts that care. Dozens of other patients are on the roll call and will have their turn as scheduled from now at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

The senior vice president of the university, Professor Iheanyichukwu Okoro, who is also a surgeon said, “So, what is going on now at the Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre of the University is not the last of such operations until all afflicted hearts are rid of that which prevents their effective functioning.”

Okoro and the institution’s Vice president, development and strategy, Mr. Olukunle Iyanda, said the medical feat couldn’t have happened at a better time than this. “This is inspirational and praiseworthy; another achievement by God through mortal men.”

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/10/babcock-university-performs-first-heart-surgery/#.Vhpggx1ZhCg.twitter

Youth creates mobile device for the Nigerian market

A Nigerian youth, Ololade Otayemi has created a mobile device that is specifically for the Nigerian market with features that could help Nigerians communicate via text easily with the aid of a keyboard that has their local languages without any misunderstanding.

Speaking during the launching of the device in Abuja, Otayemi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Orbra, an ICT firm based in Nigeria stated that his goals and objectives of creating the device was to give Nigerians a product they would be comfortable with.

Otayemi said: “We wanted to create something for the Nigeria market. Nigeria market is quite peculiar and most of the devices we use are produced for the general market and not for Nigerian market.

“We are tailoring our device for Nigerians. That is the reason the Naira sign have been included in the keyboard, which are not in other devices in the market. Nigerians would be able to send text messages in their indigenous language without being misunderstood. This device will enable us express ourselves well," he said.

According to him, the sale of the device was also aimed at helping the less-privileged in the country, adding that for each device that people buy, N500 was set aside for charity, stressing that government cannot do it alone in providing the basic amenities for the people.

"There are a lot of people we need to take care of. We should be responsible for our country. We don't want to leave the issue of helping the people that need help only to government alone. For each device people buy, N500 is set aside for charity. There are families who cannot survive. The insurgency has brought about many IDPs, we intend to use this medium to help those type of people," he noted.

According to him, what we do basically is that we design mobile Smartphone devices, which we call Orbra Avalanche, Orbra Inferno, Orbra Smart Bracelet, which helps monitor ones fitness.

While speaking about his challenges in starting up his dream, Otayemi stated that when he started designing the device the acceptance wasn't good, adding that so far it has been increasing and the acceptance is getting better.

The young entrepreneur however, noted that Nigerian youths are creative and smart, stressing that the problem most times is that they are not always encouraged and urged government at all levels and individuals to help encourage young people as they strive to achieve their dreams.

Photos of the 2015 Osun-Oshogbo Festival by Ife Martins

The origin and story of Osun festival started over 700 years ago when a group of settlers led by one great hunter Olutimehin, settled at the bank of the river to escape the famine in their former dwelling place. Osun, the water goddess was said to have appeared to Olutimehin and requested him and his group to move up some bit to higher ground – the present Osogbo town.

Osun revealed herself to be the goddess of the grove and of the river and pledged to protect the group and make their women fruitful if only they would offer the annual sacrifice to her in return. The group agreed and vowed to sacrifice annually to the goddess if she would honour her vows. Today, the annual sacrifice has gone past just offering sacrifices to a river goddess, it has become an international celebration of cultural events attracting people from all over the world.

The Osun festival started as an annual sacrifice to a river goddess, it later became a celebration of a river goddess, but today an international celebration of cultural events with attendees from all over the world. The Osun Osogbo festival is no longer a cultural event of the Osogbo or Yoruba people, it has become a global event with tourist or believers in the Osun goddess travel from all over the world to attend the annual cultural event in Osogbo, Osun State.

The Osun Osogbo festival usually lasts for two weeks, and it is celebrated every year in the month of August. The festival commences with Iwopopo, the traditional cleansing of the town from evil, and three days after this the Ina Olujumerindinlogun (16-point lamp), a 600-year-old is lighted.

Nigerian photographer Ife Martins brings to you a few photos that captures the essence and culture of the Osun- Oshogbo Festival 2015

Acknowledgment; Nigerian Bulletin, OkayAfrica.com