Ndi Ebe Abam needs a well constructed bridge urgently

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!! Senate Rejects Buhari’s 46 Ambassadorial nominees

The Senate has rejected the 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for legislative approval. - Hope For Nigeria

Another Nigerian Lt Col killed by Boko Haram

BREAKING: Another Nigerian Lieutenant Colonel ambushed, killed by Boko Haram
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/breaking-another-nigerian-lieutenant-colonel-ambushed-killed-by-boko-haram/171801.html#sCcYH5S8H670wgoH.99
-Daily Trust

popular musician, Oritsefemi hospitalised

Oritsefemi

Lying on this hospital bed is a popular musician, Oritsefemi. We gathered that he was beaten up by bouncers at a club in Lagos.

Sultan Of Sokoto Dies At 93

A great leader, former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, is dead. He died on Monday and will be buried today, according to Muslim rites.

The late Sultan Dasuki, father of ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was deposed in 1996 by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, after he was installed by Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1988. He ruled for eight years before his deposition and banishment to Zing, in Taraba State.

Dasuki was the first Sultan from the Buhari line of the House of Dan Fodio. He was a close associate of Ahmadu Bello and held the traditional title of Baraden Sokoto before becoming Sultan. The late Sultan attended Dogondaji Elementary School before proceeding to Sokoto Middle School in 1935. He finished his secondary education at Barewa College on sponsorship from Sokoto Native Authority. After finishing high school in 1943, he worked as a clerk in the treasury office of the Sokoto Native Authority. In 1945, he took up appointment with Gaskiya Corporation, a publishing house that published the Hausa daily, Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo. He joined the civil service as an executive officer and later became private secretary to Ahmadu Bello. In 1957, he filled the position of regional executive council deputy secretary and was sent to Jeddah as Nigeria’s pilgrimage officer. Between 1960 and 1961, Dasuki worked in the Nigerian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan and was later brought back to Nigeria by Ahmadu Bello to work in Jos, following which he became the permanent secretary in the regional Ministry of Local Government.

May his soul rest in peace.

IYABO OBASANJO SAYS NIGERIA IS BEING RUN ON OLD IDEAS

Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo

Former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State and daughter of the former president of Nigeria, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo,
Asked to assess the developments in Nigeria, she said: "Sad! How a country with so many talented people could be in such mess is saddening. It is the future that actually is frightening. How are children and grandchildren going to do in the future when no one is planning for the future?
Do you see the “Change” Nigerians made at the federal level last year leading the country in the right direction? Twice recently I have come across interviews of the President (Muhammadu Buhari) and it seems his focus is just on oil and gas. Focusing on oil and gas, a natural resource we have no control over is what got us to where we are and somehow he thinks it will get us out! The time of oil as a king commodity is past and never coming back. In the history of humanity, the commodity that becomes king changes from time to time. From the time of the OPEC formation in the early seventies till now, oil had been king. It will no longer be because if we continue using it at the rate, we have in the last 100 years we will not have a planet.

Presidency 2019: Dangote says he has no interest in politics

Dangote

Following a recent publication in a national newspaper that Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote,  was being wooed by the Northern power brokers, who call the shots in Aso Rock, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, he said he has no intention to contest in any election.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has dismissed reports of his being wooed by powerful close-knit, Northern power brokers, who call the shots in Aso Rock, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Mr. Anthony Chiejina, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, who spoke on behalf of Dangote, to The Authority on phone stated that, “As a professionally run organisation with the interest of its shareholders in mind, we don’t think politics is our priority.”

Givers and Takers by Uzor Ngoladi

Givers and Takers

Giving gives you relevance. Taking gives you obscurity. Giving makes you an asset. Taking makes you a liability. Giving is a higher realm in the work of God and humanity. The world marvels at givers. The world loves givers. Every giver has the potential to be self sufficient because the natural laws of God has a time tested means of enriching givers. No giver will go unrewarded. The reward for giving is irreversible. With time, every man will receive as much as he has given. Reset your mindset to the mode of giving. There is nothing wrong with taking but do not get comfortable being at the receiving end. No man is too poor to give. Task your mind to be a giver.

How LagosPhoto Festival 2016 featured aesthetic works from 42 photographers

The foremost international festival of photography in Nigeria, LagosPhoto, recently had its seventh edition of exhibition, workshops, screening, artists’ presentation and large scale outdoor installations in Lagos.

The Festival, which featured 42 photographers spanning seventeen countries, according to its organizers, aimed to provide a platform for the development and education of contemporary photography in Africa by establishing mentorships and cross-cultural collaborations with local and international artists.

Titled: “Rituals and Performance,” the Curator, International Projects,

Day documentary photographers- Adigwe fruithloop Ndubuisi and Ralph Eluehike unveiled their maiden exhibition

Adigwe Fruithloop Ndubuisi

The opening of the maiden edition of photography exhibition by two documentary photographers took place on October 31, 2016.

Ralph Eluehike

The exhibitors, Adigwe  fruithloop Ndubuisi who specializes in documentary photography and portraits and Ralph Eluehike, a documentary photographer and photo journalist, used the exhibition that took place at Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Ajah, Lagos, to draw the attention of governments at the local, state and federal levels as well as the rich to the untold hardship many Nigerians face in order to survive.

The title of Ndubuisi’s work is “Country Folks”. He revealed that he grew up in a remote area in Ejigbo, Lagos, that was what pushed him into photography.

“I use my works to bring out people in remote areas so the world can see them and help them. They are living under one Dollar per day in this country. They are striving to survive even as they are going through pain of hardship. They are struggling that they become somebody great,” says the 26-year-old native of Obior, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.

Despite the economic hardship many Nigerians are facing, Ndubuisio does not stay in one location. He moves around Nigeria to uncover interesting people and places. One of his works has three naked children in a boat. He sheds light on that: “I normally move around with my camera. When I saw them in a boat in Bayelsa State one hot afternoon, probably they just returned from school and their parents asked them to go and take shower. Normally, they go to the river to swim after school hours, so they were actually having fun there.”

There is a photograph of a woman in Ibadan, Oyo State, who works in an abattoir. “She said it would be nice if the government can be giving them stipend every month. She fetches water for people at the abattoir and they normally pay her little amount of money by the end of the day. She was tired when I saw her. So she asked me to tell the government to come to their aid, that they are really suffering.

“In another photo where three men were sitting down, the man at the middle is the security man at the abattoir. The two men sitting with him asked me to take them pictures with the man as a remembrance of him because he has been working there for many years.”

Ndubuisi has been into documentary photography for three years, professionally and that is what he does for a living. He suggested that photographs can be used to transform Nigeria and the world through the stories he tells using with his camera.

 “If I was not into photography, I am not expected to be in this life. Everything I do is photography. I live and breathe photography. It is my passion and what I love doing. In the next five years, I see the industry turn around for me. I can’t really explain it but, I know something good will come out from my profession.”

He disagreed with the statement that a lot of people don’t patronise photographers and artists in Nigeria. On how he makes it financially, he said, “People love art and patronise us. I have never met anyone that does not like art. I am surviving with my job and it is paying my bills.  I don’t do any other thing apart from photography.”

Ndubuisi attended the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa, where he studied Fine and Applied Arts. At 300 level in school, he specialised in Photography and Graphic Design. He graduated in 2014. “I love Arts so much.  Art has been of my life, art has been what I love doing. I draw a lot and that is what led me to the university to study Fine Arts.”

His role models in art sector are Karly Tailor and Kelechi Amadi Obi,

He advised the Nigerian youths to improve on whatever they know how to do. “If you know how to wash clothes, improve on it. Be the best, people will locate and patronise you.”

A documentary photographer and photo journalist, Mr. Ralph Eluehike, also a street photographer has been doing photography professionally for eight years. He partnered with Adigwe whom he has working with for some time. “If you go through our images, there is some kind of similarity. We shoot almost alike. Being someone I know and feel I can work with, we both decided to hold the exhibition since we have couple of good works and a project we are working on. We were motivated by a good friend of ours, Mr. Jess, who encouraged us till now.”

The titles of Eluehike’s works are divided into three, namely: “Domestic Work: Lights and Shadows; Where we live and Deception.”  “Domestic Work: Lights and Shadows , as the name implies, I am trying to bring to limelight what goes on in homes, to let them know that there are some persons in homes who do work, by the end of the day, they suffer seriously. They are neglected, not well catered for, some of them actually go through series of violence including rape. If they tell their pains and the horror they encounter, you will know that many things are happening at homes. I showcased them with images staged and some not staged. In one of the images, two young ladies were standing with a covering on their heads. There is a rope tied with two clothes on them. These two girls symbolise domestic workers. It shows how humiliated they are. The covering of their faces depict that they have ideas and dreams that are impeded and blocked. They have hurdles to cross to achieve their dreams but their ideas have been captured by individuals who are more powerful than them in terms of social status.

“Where We Live is a series, talking more about poverty in the midst of abundance. Irrespective of the degree of affluence in the nation, some persons are suffering deeply. Go to the creeks and some rural areas and see how horrible where they live is, no hospitals, some of the children don’t go to school because there is no school there. Some even live on top the water. These persons have no voice, nobody cares about them. The little we artists can do is to use our images to bring to limelight what happens in these places, at the same time, pass the message to the government with hope that these images will touch the minds of those who have the ability to come their aids.

“In some of the images titled Deception, some of their bodies were covered which mirrors what life is in general. In everything you want to do or know in life, there are some factors that hide certain things from you. It is political and social. People or things can hinder you from knowing some things, nobody knows everything.”

Eluehike hails from Umunede, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State. graduated from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State in 2007. He studied Geophysics.

Thereafter, he got a certificate in Creative New Media from School of Media and Communication, Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Ajah, Lagos, through a scholarship awarded to him by Samsung Electronics. According to him, love for images inspired him to go into photography. “When I see images, I adore them, from there, I became creative with graphics and later delved into photography. I find joy in doing photography.”

He stressed that he is not motivated by money, but by passion and love for photography. “Money is secondary to me. What pulled me in is passion and love for photography. There is money in photography but you have to do your best and be different from others. Before now, I had many things on my mind to do as my career but after my encounter with photography, I felt satisfied.”

In the next five years, Eluehike sees himself touring round the world, exhibiting his work. “I see myself in New York, London, Paris, Germany and other cities of the world showcasing my work to people, especially, those who appreciate artworks.”

His role models are George Oshodi, Uche Iroha and Kelechi Amadi Obi. “Their images really encouraged me to do photography.”

“Do what you are meant to do and do it the best way you can” is his philosophy of life.

Eluehike reads novels when he is not working. He appealed to the government in local, state and federal levels to encourage photographers, stressing that, “We help to bring out what is happening in the bedrock of the society to the surface. We relate with people and transmit their opinions, pains and worries in form of images to the government.”

The exhibition  ended on Friday, November 11, 2015.

How SNA Lagos held joint ‘October Rain’ exhibition with Rivers State Chapter

At least 50 practicing visual artists under the aegis of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State Chapter and 32 artists from Rivers State converged in Lagos and showcased their artworks in their annual exhibition known as October Rain.

Tagged: “Perspective of Change, the exhibition which will take place at the Nike Art Centre, #2 Elegushi Road, Ikate Roundabout, Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lagos, from Saturday, October 29 to November 4, 2016 is dedicated in honour of Late Samuel Olagbaju.

How SNA Lagos held joint ‘October Rain’ exhibition with Rivers State Chapter

At least 50 practicing visual artists under the aegis of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State Chapter and 32 artists from Rivers State converged in Lagos and showcased their artworks in their annual exhibition known as October Rain.

Tagged: “Perspective of Change, the exhibition which will take place at the Nike Art Centre, #2 Elegushi Road, Ikate Roundabout, Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lagos, from Saturday, October 29 to November 4, 2016 is dedicated in honour of Late Samuel Olagbaju.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos last week, Mr. Dotun Alabi, the Chairman, SNA Lagos State Chapter, explained that two things make this year’s exhibition unique include:  “live performance by top leading artists - Mr. Jelili Atiku, Mrs. Odun Orimolade and Mr. Durodola Yusuf at the opening ceremony and for the first time, we are having two chapters collaborating for an exhibition- Lagos and Rivers SNA. It promises to be a very interesting exhibition because people will be introduced to view works from artists who basically live and practice outside Lagos.”

On why they dedicated this year’s exhibition in honour of Late Olagbaju, Mr. Alabi revealed that Mr. Olagbaju was a very passionate art collector in Africa.”It was really sad for us to hear of his demise last month (October 15, 1939-Sept 23, 2016).”

According to the host, the exhibition was chaired by Mr. Lanre Adesuyi, while the Special Guests of Honour include: Mr. Tunde Imoyo, Mr. Oladele Olagbaju and Mr. Dennis Akenuwa.

“Guests saw at the exhibition aesthetic artworks from notable artists including himself, and Kolade Oshinowo,  Idowu Sonaya, Biodun Badmus, Animu Oborien, Omoligho Udenta and Mr. Demola, among many others, Dotun added.”

Also speaking, the treasurer of the association, Mr. Idowu Sonaya, emphasised that they came up with the theme, “Perspective of Change” and expected everybody to come up with their ideas. “We all know what change means to Nigerians, we did not want to box anybody into that. That is why we asked them to come with their personal expressions or views of what change is to them. From the works we will exhibit, viewers will see a lot of expressions from us in that area. So expect so much from us. We are inviting the general public to come. I am assuring them that they will like what they will see and we will enjoy patronage from the public.”

In his view, member of the exhibition committee, Mr. Biodun Badmus said he was not basing his change to the national situation, but also to international level. “My work has to do with change and I am also trying to bring out the political change that affects the whole world. Talk about terrorism, how can we conquer and stop terrorism in the whole world? My work is kinetic in nature and I believe it is going to be so unique when people see it.”

The exhibition opened at 4 pm on October 29, 2018 and from 10 am to 6 pm from October 30^th to November 4, 2016.

I don't believe that Dasuki stole S2.1 b - Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that firmer national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, did not steal $2.2bn meant for the purchase of arms for the military.
He said this while responding to questions concerning the alleged misappropriation of funds by the administration on Monday at the Oxford Union, United Kingdom.
His words: “They said the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion.
“We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth, and you are still saying $2.2 bn [was stolen]? So where did we get the money to buy all those things?”
He maintained that allegations of corruption against his government were blown out of proportion, but admitted that there some cases of the problem in his time.
“Yes, there were some issues; yes, there are still corruption issues; but some of it were blown, I’d say exaggerated, and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible.
“One thing about the issue of corruption is that these matters are in court, let’s allow some of these processes to end. Lately some judges’ homes were also invaded. There are so many things involved and we have to follow up these matters to conclusion before we know the fact.
“I don’t want to be seen as a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them. You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government.
“I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria, there is corruption. If you look at corruption there is almost no country that is free, the degree varies, the perception varies.
“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies, why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived, it depends on the issue raised in the media every day," he added.

Afenifere accuses Miyetti Allah of terror threat

The Afenifere Renewal Group has criticised the statements attributed to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, over the recent inauguration of Anti-Grazing Enforcement Marshals in Ekiti State.
In a statement Monday, the Yoruba socio-political body said the cattle breeders group’s reaction to the creation of the Marshals is an assault on Yoruba people and “will be treated as a terror threat until an apology is tendered”.
“Such open threat against the people and government that accommodate your business interest is terrorism,” said Kunle Famoriyo, ARG’s publicity secretary.
Governor Ayodele Fayose, last week, inaugurated a team that would enforce the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing law in Ekiti State.
The law restricts animal grazing to designated ranches within the state and between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.
But the Miyetti Allah group accused the governor of using the Marshals to harass their members and to seize their cattle.
“We have been reliably alerted (by) an impeccable source in Ado-Ekiti that the Anti-Malu vigilante group (as the Marshalls are referred to in the state) shot five cows and carted away with the meat but the herdsmen (sic) was able to flee with the rest of his cattle,” a representative of the group, Othman Ngelzarma, said in a statement last weekend.
“We are hereby constrained to implore the federal government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this macabre incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.”
In its statement on Monday, the ARG said the Miyetti Allah group, MACBAN, had always exonerated its members from herdsmen’s crimes, blaming it on “foreigners from other countries”.
“Sanity therefore prescribes that MACBAN should be happy for the enactment of such law that will ensure genuine cattle breeders are not stigmatized by these criminals from other countries,” said Mr. Famoriyo.
“The new law, being first of its kind, may not be perfect and its enforcement may not be smooth initially.
“The responsibility therefore lies on major stakeholders to organise sensitisation workshops for its members so that the new law can achieve its objective of stemming crises arising from herdsmen-farmers relations.”
“MACBAN has so far shunned this democratic approach and preferred to use intimidation and warring tactics and languages.”
The ARG said the right of governors, as the chief security officers of their respective states, to make laws consistent with the culture and rights of their people should not be wished away by intimidation or threat.
“We recall that in 2013, the Hisbah Police in Kano reportedly destroyed more than 20,000 crates of beer bottles,” said Mr. Famoriyo.
“Despite the freedom of movement and trade guaranteed by the Constitution, what mattered then was that Kano does not want beer within its jurisdiction – even though it hypocritically shares from the VAT generated from sales of alcohol in other states.”
Between 2013 and 2015, the Kano State Hisbah Board, the state’s religious police, destroyed 326,151 bottles of beer, in enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages in the state.
“Why should governors of northern states have the freewill to protect their people and religious disposition, while their southern counterparts are subjected to intimidation?” Mr. Famoriyo asked.
“Nigeria is not a slave camp of any ethnic nationality and MACBAN’s statement is therefore considered an assault on Yoruba people and will be treated as a terror threat until an apology is tendered.”
-Premium Times

NAF calls for 9th National Art Competition entries

 

African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) in partnership with Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc invites entries from Nigerian artists for the 9th edition of the National Art Competition. Entry began from August 25, 2016.

With the theme: ‘Shifting Boundaries’, its organizers stated that the competition aims to promote the conceptual development of contemporary art in Nigeria with the mission of raising awareness on relevant social issues through the use of creative artistic expression.

The entry is divided into three parts: the first part is call for entry; the second one will be artists’ retreat in Lagos while the third part will be the exhibition, announcement of the winners as well as the day prizes will be given to the winners.

“In its eight-year span, the National Art Competition has showcased emerging talent in such diverse mediums as painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, installation and video art. The African Artists’ Foundation is happy with the partnership and the same vision it shares with the NB plc which aims to nurture talents to positively impact the society,” says the Director, African Artists’ Foundation, Mr. Azubike Nwagbogu.

Explaining this year’s theme, he stressed that art has the capacity to create social change, “and we are concerned with the global migration, the local migration and the boundaries we have to redefine through poem, writing and anything artistic. We are challenging these talents to help us change the narratives.”

When Gloria Ibru Serenaded Fans At Club Rumours Lagos

It was all fun and glam when entertainment hangout Rumours played host to the 4th edition of the GLORIA IBRU and Friends tour tagged #GIAF.The club tour of select fun hangouts in Lagos by Gloria Ibru and her G Note band is a prelude to the  album launch of the Jazz Empress who has concluded plans to make the album available to fans before the end of the year.
The #GIAF show in months gone by had been to Ikeja, Surulere and Lekki in the last 3months and this time was the turn of Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin and Rumors Night Club to play host to the epoch event.
During the night, Gloria performed alongside her Live band “The G Notes ”some lovely classic melodies and also some songs from her upcoming debut album which includes tracks such as AFRICA ft Dede Mabiaku, Only for Sometime ft Vector and Onitemi ft new hip-hop revelation Day9.
Other artistes who also added spice to the night includes Special guests likeDede Mabiaku and Rayce, Alula, Day9, Soma, D-O,Yungbest, Alo and Oby.
G Notes the official band for the night thrilled guests present with their expertise and left no one indoubt that that they were Africa's number band.
It was also a night when Gloria the one also known as Mama G unveiled her 22 year old Daughter to guests and much to the surprise of all Alula performed alongside her mother, backing her up and showing much promise of the singer she is to become in the coming years.
The compere's for the night were OAP Lawrence  of Classic FM 97. 3and Justice D'Guru Atigogo
While special guest for the night were in the persons of  Ambassador Elajoe and DJ Moonlait and DJ Tommy (Rhythm 93.7 FM) who provided music that kept guests on their feet long after Gloria Ibru had left the stage.  

Why I wrote the book "This Is LAGOS Our Legacy" -Abbey Wilson

Abby Wilson

The enlightening book, This Is LAGOS Our

Legacy', authored by Princess Architect Abbey Wilson has received accolades from many people.

The book, according to Wilson, was written to equip pupils, students, Lagosians and non Lagosians with vital information about the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State.
This was corroborated by many people who witnessed the public presentation of the book held recently in Lagos. They attested that the 172-page book contains historical information about Lagos.