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naijaTimesfor what we were, are and will be

Fela Durotoye on slum makeover

Lost In The Woods

The Cries of Lady Nitel

29 Things You should Do This Year

Will Super Eagles Fly?

DAKORE EGBUSON, tells us about men

BANKY W, tellsus about Women

Creative stylesthis year

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Jan 2010 | ISSN 1758-6275

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The Young

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Credits:

Published by:

Publisher: Dayo Elegbe

Chairman: Foluso Phillips

Editor: Funke Adetutu

Copy Editor: Derin Adefulu

Writers: Adedoyin Johnson, Kweku Brown,Odiri Etireri, Onodome Jakpor, Soromfe Uzoma,Tosin Olaiya, Gbonjubola Babalola

Associate Writer: Omolola Ogunbadejo

Advertising Sales (UK): Korede Atiba (Korede@naija-times.com)

Advertising Sales (Nig): Sam Omoruyi (Sam@naija-times.com)

Art Director: Nick Lay

Distribution: Sam Omoruyi

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QuizJanuary 2010

Welcome to 2010!

Editor’s note

We are back from the holidays and ready to resume our storytelling to you, our readers. We hope you had a nice holiday season. As I write this note for this maiden edition in 2010, I recall what an anonymous author once said: give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully; memorise your favourite poem; don’t believe all you hear; spend all you have or sleep all you want; when you say, “I love you”, mean it; believe in love at first sight.

As we warmly welcome you into another year, we ask that you show love to as many people as you can. It is this message of love that our cover story on Fela Durotoye reinforces. Fela has a vision to start a community project he names “Area Makeover”. He started last December with the Mushin Makeover project which had in attendance about 5, 000 volunteers who gave a facelift to Mushin. For more on this, why not flip over the pages to discover the painter of slums we found in Fela. In addition, we highlight 29 things you must do this year just as we share with you why some people keep or find it difficult to keep New Year resolutions.

On Fashion & Lifestyle, Lola Ogunbadejo predicts new trends that will rock the UK fashion scene this year while also Odiri Etireri highlights creative styles to watch out for in 2010. And we have a new Sports section where we ask the pertinent question: ‘will the Super Eagles fly?’ as the World Cup commences. Of course, this edition will be incomplete without the regulars: “Let Me Tell You About Men” and “Let Me Tell You About Women”, “Career & Development”, “the Mysterious Shopper”, “the Shop” and the Health section among others. Why not make it a date with us again next month when we shall celebrate another season of love? Remember to put a smile on someone’s face this month. Happy New Year!

- Funke Adetutu

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Wao! That’s how I describe your magazine, it’s beautiful, loaded, educative and interesting all in a nice glossy well colored book. What’s more; it’s free. Kudos to this dream that has come true.

NB: Mr. Fine boy I really had a good laugh

Ramotu Mahmud

A nice innovation from the crew, keep itup....all my hands up for you guys

Gbenga Oladimeji Olayemi

I came across the last 2 editions of Naija Times.. i must say i really liked it.. keep up the good work!

Daisy Mo’ Animasaun

Keep up with the excellent work

Joshua Ikponmwosa Erese

Nice effort to keep Naija faithfuls abreast ofrecent gists and trends. You will break the limits.

Sanni Olusiji Philip

I got a free copy of this at Wrangler outlet Palms.

Olajide Ademola

This is the kind of thing we need to project our country in a good light.

Dickson Shegun Orugun

I would love to distribute NAIJA TIMES around the festac catchment area. call me: 0802XXXXXX

Harrison Othuke Akadidi

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Your Letters

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naijaTimesIn The Next Issue...

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Top 4 THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN JANUARYThe African Cup of Nations on 12 January at Complexo da Senhora da Graca (Benguela) Economist Conferences tagged CEO Agenda will come up January 11- 12th 2010 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island , Lagos Music Concert at Okiki Hotels BMJWA’s

10th writing skills workshop comes up on 26th -27th January in Abuja, Nigeria

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January 10Travel & Culture

My Lagos 10

Of Red Indians and Native Nigerians 14

The Homecoming 18

Fashion & Lifestyle29 things you should do this year 20UK Fashion in 2010 22Creative styles this year 24 Why not give that resolution anothershot this year? 26

Campus LifeCampus News 30 Model Reader 28

Cover Story

Fela Durotoye on slum makeover 34

Careers & Development

The upside of a downturn 38

Money

The Cries of Lady NITEL The Young Entrepreneur 43

Entertainment

Let Me Tell You About Women 44

Let Me Tell You About Men 47

Grandma’s grandson 48

Lost in the woods 52

HealthFibroids: the bane of reproductive health 56

The Shop

At Aimas, it’s accessorised t-shir ts and more 58

Mysterious Shopper 59

Sports

Will the Super Eagles Fly? 60

Game Of Hope 65

Directories

Business Listings 66

48Grandma’s GrandsonMr FineBoy

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Travel & Culture

My LagosMy family has always had some connection with Lagos Island and this stems from my father’s involvement with Western House because of his connection with the Action Group. He was a politician as well as a businessman.

He was however, better known for the estate he built in Maryland. My father, Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare, was a very astute businessman generally recognised as a man well ahead of his time. He acquired

Onigbongbo village from the Onigbongbo family. He recognised that the proximity of the Onigbongbo village to the proposed airport would make it a gold mine. He acquired it then for £5,000. Many of his generation thought he was mad because it was basically a village but he was proven by time to have been very intuitive and smart.

It was acquired under the name of Chief S.O Shonibare but in 1958 after he took a loan from Barclays bank DCO for a sum of £280,000 to execute the project, he changed, as part of the conditions of the loan, the title deeds which was in his name to a new company which

Chief Mrs Taiwo Taiwo he formed called Shonny Investments and Properties Limited in 1959 and built what is now called the Shonibare estate. He didn’t call it Shonibare estate then, it was called Maryland Estate and it was arguably the first mixed residential estate in Nigeria.

It contained eight blocks of two bedroom flats and 13 bungalows. It had special features that were remarkable because he had a borehole made for the estate and had gas lamps fitted in the sitting rooms even though, at that time, there were no problems of water or light. And apparently there were plans to get generators and this was in the 1960’s. So,

he was visionary enough to envisage the problems that could come in future.

After my father died very prematurely at 44 in 1964, my mother took over the business of running Shonny Investments and Properties Limited and helped not just to keep his dream alive, she continued to dream, redeveloped and continued to develop Shonibare estate.

So, after he died, my mother who was an incredibly smart and self-effacing woman, created the Maryland hotel, a 50-room hotel which she developed from inception. It became

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a huge success with a restaurant and dance club.

She paid back the loan to Barclays bank in 1970. However, in 1968 she acquired the interest to the Elephant House in Lagos Island, from the Pearse family. Now Elephant House is widely recognised as one of the most interesting examples of Brazilian architecture in Nigeria. It stood magnificent on Broad Street and one of the conditions attached to her acquiring this building was that any building that had to be built there must be called Elephant House. So this was the original Elephant House, a historical monument which people like John Godwin have fought very hard to have listed.

It took ten years to get the permission to build Elephant House because in those days the Lagos state government was very strict about the conditions under which you could build a high-rise property. You had to have at least 50 feet setback at the front and at the side. You had to do a survey of the impact of the construction on the environment. I guess you had to submit what you now call, an environmental impact analysis or assessment.

I was just 29 but it didn’t matter to her. She informed me that she had done the difficult part, all I had to do was to go and raise the money. “Your father was very young when he put together Western House so you go ahead”, she said.

Even though I was 29 I had been running the Maryland hotel then. We hadn’t been there for long when the beginning of the destruction of Lagos Island set in. It started gradually and it was an insidious process because you didn’t see it happening. There were many factors including failure of government to invest in urban renewal because if you leave a city without renewing

it things go bad and that was accelerated when the “Area Boys”, that terminology which is now known all over Nigeria, moved in and the failure of Local government to enforce their rules and failure on our part as stakeholders to stop the encroachment, because we could have insisted that it stop the first time somebody banged on your window and asked what you would give him.

The Area Boy thing is a new phenomenon. It didn’t exist before the 90’s. In fact people used to walk all the way down the streets of Lagos Island at lunch in the hope that they would bump into someone important and exchange cards and make some business connections. Literally, it was like walking down Wall Street. That was what it was because the Central Bank was there, the Stock Exchange was there and there will never be another hub with such variety of businesses.

We all got together (stakeholders and concerned members and owners in Lagos Island), set up 3 committees, established the group and then tried to work out what had gone wrong and what we needed to do to get Lagos Island back and the then Lagos State Governor was part of the group. We invested a lot of money and the State Government under Governor Tinubu got it and we said we will do this and you will do that and the story now is that Lagos Island is back and the Elephant rises again.

Look at the traffic, it’s gone. You can go from Elephant House to Ikoyi in 10 minutes. You can get to the Mainland with ease. It’s so strategically located and safe too and in December the Lagos state Government, in conjunction with the LIMGE (Lagos Millennium Group On The Environment), will be holding a month-long celebration to mark the revival and transformation of Lagos Island into a world-class central business district.

Of Red Indians and Native Nigerians

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So I hear Sade is now engaged to one Red Indian fellow? Goodness Mother! The term ‘Red Indian’ is not p.c. these days. You should say ‘Native American’ instead.

What is not p.c? I’m asking you about a serious matter and you are telling me something is not p.c. or c.p. or whatever you call it. My friend, is she marrying a Red Indian or not?! Yes, Mother. Sade is engaged to a Native American brother. O pari o! Whose brother? So he is now your brother, abi? You mean you approve of this madness? Of course I approve, Mom. Big Mountain is a great guy, and he treats Sade like a princess. Ki lo pe? Big Mountain, ke? So Sade is going to become Mrs Big Mountain? Ah! O ma se o! No wonder her poor mother is crying like it’s the end of the world. Well, it’s not the end of the world, ok?

What’s the big deal anyway? The most important thing should be that Sade is happy. What has happiness got to do with anything? We sent you children abroad to get a good education not to get married to big mountains or small molehills! What is this world coming to? Why are you all overreacting? You haven’t even met the man yet and you’ve already condemned him. That’s not very fair. Well, we are not living in a fair world. Is it fair that Sade’s father is threatening to throw her mother out of the house over this matter? Don’t you children realise that it is we, your mothers, who suffer the consequences of the stupid things you do?

Travel & Culture

“He had better be a decent Nigerian boy from a good home o. In fact, he must be a Yoruba boy”

“What’s the big deal anyway? The most important thing should be that Sade is happy.

Sade’s mother is now an object of ridicule in the whole neighbourhood. Now tell me, is that fair? I think that if everybody sat down and discussed this matter like rational adults, we would soon see that there really isn’t any reason for all this panic. You see that is the problem with sending you children abroad. You have lost your culture. See the way you are even talking to me – everybody should sit down and discuss this like rational adults. See your mouth like rational adults. Are you trying to say that I’m not behaving like an adult? Why don’t you kuku go ahead and call me a mad woman now?

Mom, you’re taking this a bit too far… I will take it as far as I want o. Or do you want to tell me to shut up now? In fact, why don’t you just go and get a cane and start beating me?! Stupid girl, you no longer know the difference between your mates and your elders. O ma se o! And it’s not as though we didn’t train you these children o. OK Mom, I see you are determined to be emotional about this issue... Shut up jo, you this stupid girl! What have we asked you and what are you answering?! You think you know everything now, abi? Because you have a Master’s degree, abi? Let me just tell you now, in case you don’t know: no matter how many clothes a child has, he can never have more rags than his grandfather! Mom, what are you talking about? Ask me again! Look, I am your mother and I know more than you, finish! Now tell me, who is your own boyfriend?

He had better be a decent Nigerian boy from a good home o. In fact, he must be a Yoruba boy, preferably from Abeokuta or thereabouts. Because you know your father wants you to marry from a good Egba family. Ha! Ha! Ha!!! Mommy, you won’t kill me o! Where would I find an Egba man in Wisconsin? If Daddy was

so certain that he wanted me to marry an Egba man then he should have sent me to the University of Abeokuta. Oh but I forgot, there is no such university, is there?! Ha! Ha! Ha!!! Eh-en! Is it me, your mother, that you are talking to like this? Is this how young ladies in America talk to their parents these days?? Anyway, I don’t have time to play cat and mouse games with you right now. Just tell me who your boyfriend is! Boyfriend? Mom, how are you so certain that I have a boyfriend? What if I tell you that I have a girlfriend? That I’m a lesbian? Les-kini?! Lesbian ke? Ki lo n je be? Yes, a lesbian. A woman who likes other women. If I told you that I’m a lesbian, what would you say? I reject that in Jesus’ mighty name!!!! My own daughter? Olorun

Kemi Ogunleye

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naija ManYou are what you wear.

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m’aje! Tufia kwa! Tufia kwa? Mom, since when did you start speaking Ibo? Ok, ok, I’m just kidding about the lesbian thing o. Before you start speaking in tongues on top of my head! I knew you were joking. You had to be joking. Lesbian l’ati bo? But you should know that I don’t appreciate such silly jokes. You are really turning into something else in that America o. I warned your father about sending you so far away, but of course he didn’t listen to me. He wanted you to have a broader life experience. We can all see exactly how broad an experience you’re getting now. Nonsense!

But seriously Mom, I think you need to open your mind a little bit. So if I were really a lesbian, would you disown me? The fact that a person’s lifestyle does not conform to your own notions of right and wrong, doesn’t mean that the person should be condemned.

It’s the whole different strokes thing. But instead of talking about things openly, you just want to bury your head in the sand and pretend that certain things don’t exist. It’s because of attitudes like yours that Nigeria isn’t progressing. Hey, will you mind your mouth there! Who do you think you’re talking to gan paa paa? I’ll have you know that I’ve been around a lot longer than you, so I know a thing or two about the world that we live in. And that’s my point Mom. You have been around, and you do know about all these things, so why do you act like any of it is news to you? You think that if you refuse to acknowledge this stuff, it’ll just go away? You think if you wish hard enough, perhaps all the gay people in Nigeria will just disappear?

Well, it doesn’t work like that. And in fact, it’s this culture of silence and denial that we have that allows all sorts of atrocities to go unacknowledged, unpunished and

unabated. A young girl is molested by her relative. Everyone knows it happened, but no one discusses it openly. The molester goes scot-free; free to inflict his barbarism on some other innocent victim. Police officers brutalise a young lady because she doesn’t get out of their way as quickly as they would like. A few people make noises about how lawless the police have become, but most people believe that it’s really the lady’s fault. She should have done what she was told; she shouldn’t have challenged the officers. The lady’s family bundle her out of the country “for her own protection.” And the police are free to continue their reign of terror. But silence protects nobody, Mom. If one person is victimised, then ultimately, we are all victims. It’s a warped society we have – criminals walk freely, while the rest of us are held captive in prisons of our own making.

Ok, ok, enough with the lecture! Because you’re studying for a Masters degree, now nobody can rest abi? I thank God that I also went to school o! Mom, be serious for a minute! Listen, my daughter, agitation and activism are luxuries I can no longer afford at my age. I’ve been through the fire myself and I didn’t come out unscathed. This spirit of yours, this fiery spirit, you didn’t come about it by accident. You inherited it from me, your mother. I was labelled a troublemaker in my youth because I was never afraid to confront anyone or ask questions. I had been blessed with a brain and a voice and I used both as weapons of warfare. So then what happened, Mom? Where did that warrior go? The warrior was once dead but has now resurrected in you, my daughter. You are the one who has gone to places I’ve never been, and you are the one who will do things I never could… to be continued

Travel & Culture

The homecoming

When people tell me they want to move back to Nigeria, I respond with the question, why? Sometimes I get a puzzling reply bordering around the fact that Nigeria is after all home, like it or not! Other times I get a response on how much better things appear to be in Nigeria and how so-and-so came back a few years ago is earning a fat salary. I listen while they rant and go on and on and once they are done, my reply is the same. ‘Don’t come back if you have nothing to offer Nigeria, we have enough people in Nigeria who are just here for the taking, we don’t need any more.’

Now I don’t mean to sound like a patriot, but I have a deep-rooted feeling and belief that I am here for a purpose. Yes, I was in the UK for over a decade, schooled there, lived there and at one point was quoted to have said I couldn’t imagine living in Nigeria.

It has been seven years since I returned to Nigeria and I would not trade it for anything. My return to Nigeria was the beginning of many positive changes in my life. With my return, I decided I would only work in a field I enjoyed. I took stock of myself and decided to work with my strengths for a change. I developed a new philosophy around the premise of leveraging on my innate abilities rather than my learned skills. I

took myself back to a time when I was well known for talking and writing -the tender age of seven. My friends had told me I was good at giving people advice. Therefore, armed with that extra bit of information, I had my top three innate abilities--- talking, writing and offering advice.

The career finding exercise paid off. My first job in Nigeria was in consulting. A profession that never ever crossed my mind when I was in the UK making the most of my IT career with a leading telecoms company in the UK, designing software for mobile phones. A place I cherished for the exposure I had world-class computers, but a job more mundane than a picking and packing job in a factory.

Returning home to Nigeria is not an easy option because the situation is not as blissful as may be painted. Returning to the country for a holiday does nothing to prepare you for the shock associated with coming back for good. It is easier to cope with blackouts when you are on holiday but when you are here for good you cannot cope, it also bites right deep into your pocket all through the year. More than anything else, I detest the traffic, the potholes, the insecurity and the terrible driving habits- I have even developed a driving phobia. I tell anyone who cares to listen that you must be sick of your present state abroad to come back here otherwise that decision to return will never be made. There must be a trigger and you must have reached the end of your tether. There must be a deeper than superficial reason to come back to Nigeria because on the surface it appears to be a crazy decision. When people tell me 101 reasons why they cannot come back yet I tell them not to worry because they are not quite there yet. When you are there you will know.

Coming back to Nigeria for me marked my ‘coming to self.’ A time when I came full circle in deciding what career path to follow. Nigeria provided the atmosphere for me to be me. My first job here was the most exciting of my whole life. Sunday blues, a feeling that lingered throughout my career in the UK became a thing of the past. As a young consultant, I looked forward to going to work every morning. The people I worked with were like me; they spoke like me, behaved like me and understood my being. We joked at work, faffed around sometimes and even when we worked crazy hours on those crazy projects with manic deadlines we still loved what we did. It is different for everyone I guess but for me coming home brought out the best of my career. Career for me is not a job but an assignment strongly linked to my mission in life. Career for me is the God given gifts and talents I have naturally made beautiful by the skills I have acquired over the years. So understand why my decision to return to Nigeria is one I am grateful to have made.To my brothers and sisters that want out of Nigeria I say, by all means go. It is a good thing for one to be exposed to the ways of the rest of the world. There are so many things I learnt in the UK. My UK experience has been an added advantage to a lot of career moves I have made. I encourage exposure with a plan. Without a plan, it is easy for one to get lost in learning the rudimentary skills required to thrive in a foreign culture. Also, it is not necessary to be in Nigeria to be part of the change; we have so many Nigerians in the Diaspora that are doing a better job of uplifting Nigeria than the multitude of Nigerians back home.

Travel & Culture

ADORA IKWUEMESI

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a karaoke bar, and if you are afraid of teddy bears, go to bed with twenty! You will discover that fear is really what it is - False Evidence Appearing Real! 6. Find a reason to throw a party and invite everyone you really want to be there, it could be to celebrate your birthday, or even your break up, or just because it is another Friday! Have fun being celebrated. 7. Find your passion and be involved in a cause. Donate your time, money or even blood. Volunteer with organisations working in that field and help spread the word too. 8. Forgive someone. Make a deliberate decision to forgive someone that has hurt you in the past, let go of your pain and bitterness, whether the person is sober or not. 9. Have a junk food day! Spend a whole day eating all the junk food you love without feeling guilty. 10. Keep a gratitude journal. Do not be carried away by your never ending to do lists. Take time out to count your blessings and be grateful for every progress you make 11. Learn not to say yes when what you want to say is really no. Say what you mean and mean what you say. 12. Learn something new. Salsa dance, how to make apple pie or even how to speak Spanish. Add new knowledge to yourself and meet other people who share the same interests.

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Fashion & Lifestyle

29 thingsyou should do this year

13. Love yourself, Love others too. Do not hold back all you can give and be to yourself and to others. Love without fear. 14. Listen to elderly people’s stories of what life was like when they were younger; let them tell you about their regrets and victories, and what they would do differently if they had a new shot at life. 15. Make a collection of everything you love in a scrap book. Insert pictures of your favorite actress, your favorite chocolate wrapper, a ribbon from your old sexy lingerie and even your favorite bible passage. 16. Make a list of all those who have touched your live positively and you will be really surprised how long the list could be. Send them a mail, a text or postcards to appreciate them. 17. Make friends with children, learn to communicate with them and understand what makes them tick. Experience what life is like in their world of possibilities. 18. Make new friends and stay in touch with old ones. Get connected with a childhood friend that you have not seen in a long time and visit her. 19. Plant a flower or vegetable, in a garden, at your backyard or in a jar. Nurse it and watch how it changes from a seedling to a full grown plant. 20. Put on your best clothes, have a makeup session done on you and have a photo shoot. You know how you admire models in magazines and try out different poses in front of a mirror? Now go do it without inhibitions, express yourself before a camera.

21. Reflect on your greatest weakness, and your greatest strength and how they can make you a better person. 22. Re-visit your favourite childhood books, movies and music. What really made you tick when you were younger? 23. Send a message to an unknown person. Write something, put it in a bottle, close it and throw it in the ocean, hoping someone, someday will get it. 24. Sleep under the stars. When was the last time you looked at the sky and marvelled at the beauty? Spend a night looking at the stars and sleep off while admiring the sky. 25. So what if you get lost? You will find your way again! Throw the map out and go on a drive in an area near you that you do not know well, explore the area and figure out how it’s all connected till you find your way again. 26. Spend a day at the beach with your loved ones. Run, swim, eat, laugh and build an elaborate sand castle. 27. Spice up your sexual life. Take a break from the old routines. Try out new and daring things. 28. Take a vacation from the world. Switch off your phones, log off the internet, and spend time alone with yourself doing the things you love. 29. Talk to God. You might not fully understand the role He plays in your life, or what He really expects from you, maybe it’s time to unravel the mystery, talk to Him and listen to Him.

This Year, forget huge easy-to-break New Year’s resolutions and think about small steps toward a well-rounded you. Maybe what you need is not the drastic change you have always planned for, but finding meaning in insignificant activities that can instill freshness into your hectic and nerve-wrecking lifestyle. Focus on these priceless moments with immense passion and have a new perspective to life. Some of them will need planning, others will only take a few hours out of your day, but at the end of the year, when you look back at all you have accomplished, it will be worth it. 1. Attend a funeral. It has a way of reminding us that life is finite, and tells us we should treasure every moment we have on earth. 2. Bath under a waterfall, climb a mountain, or drive through a game reserve. Whatever you do make sure you see nature at its best, like you have never done before. 3. Be the answer to someone’s prayer and a solution to someone’s problem. Guide the lost stranger, feed the poor, teach the ignorant, serve a sick person breakfast in bed, and maybe give your maid a day off. 4. Do you have a favourite author, designer, actor or musician? Write a fan letter to all your favourites and send it to them. Some will get it, some never will. 5. Face your fears. If you hate crowds then by all means go to a stadium, if you are afraid of having all eyes on you then go to sing at

Shola Okubote

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A new year, a new trend. 2009 has ended, fortunately the trends won’t be!

2009 was the year. Face it, we couldn’t even keep up with the trends set in the UK even if we had a trend tom-tom. Okay, bad joke but the fact is 2009 was the year of high fashion. There was a rebirth of the 80’s, we witnessed the creation of jeggings; we blinked at the flop of the faux fur and we saw the bold shoulder return to its ‘wear me anywhere, not just on the catwalk. So, the big question is… What can we expect from 2010? It is the obvious question to ask, so let the predictions begin!

Towards the end of 2009, we saw faux pearls really come into the fashion spotlight. Debenhams had them, Primark had them, Marks & Spencer had them, New look had them, and even Asda had them. But what was it about these almost glamorous accessories that separated them from the rest?

‘They look just like real pearls. Problem is who would wear real pearls on the local high street? -Everyone knows they’re fake. It’s wannabe glamour, that’s what makes them so appealing.’ – Priscilla, a student from London says..

Will faux fur still find a place in 2010? The answer is a big NO! With more people starting to care about wildlife and the environment we’ve concluded that wearing fur is only going to make you unpopular. Also, Faux Fur can also look very tacky, especially if it’s a ten-pound fur jacket off the

UK Fashion in 2010local market, but I don’t need to tell you this because you aren’t thinking of buying one, are you?

Finally, in the new year it’s the jeggings. The denim patterned leggings. We still very much believe these will be around for 2010 but you have to be careful with them because if you get the cheap imitation your whole outfit is guaranteed to be a disaster! Buy it right and wear it right and you’ll be smiling! Best worn with a huge shirt and a belt with pumps or boots.

You can hope to get more trends even as the year unfolds.Here are a few things you should look out for and get rid of for 2009:

Keep an eye out for:

Lampshade skirts

Tie dye

Fish net tights

Bold necklaces

Ditch

Fluorescent colours

Tutu’s

Over the top make up

Glitter leg warmers

Lola Ogunbadejo

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Fashion & Lifestyle

Creative styles this year

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Throughout history, clothing has served as a social status symbol conveying information about the class and rank of the wearer.To stay on the cutting edge of fashion trends this year, you have to take a look at what is hot. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Fashion week held in November of 2009 provided some insights into the hottest new looks and fashion trends for the New Year. Below are some of the top trends to watch out for in 2010.

AnkaraThis trend has been on since last year. Using Ankara to make fashionable styles will definitely stage a come back this year. More people are likely to use Ankara to make unique beautiful tops that would be suitable on jeans.

The Ankara fabric is gradually unfolding already as men and women are already seen in beautiful Ankara creations in offices, churches and other places. These days, Ankara can be combined with satin, chiffon, linen, and even lace fabric. The outcome of the designs brings out the ‘Africaness’ in us.

Zippers

It used to be found only on trousers, skirts and bags, but it is now on virtually every item of clothing. You will find zippers on boots, bags, T-shirts, slippers, shirts, shoes, face caps etc. However, lots of zippers are simply cool and trendy, though not functional. Many are simply a fashionable embellishment.

Satins/SilksFor those who plan to get married in 2010, if you are looking for the perfect style to suit your bridesmaids, you may like to consider the elegant satin dress for the occasion. Silk is no longer fashionable as underwear but it can be used to make stylish dresses. If you want to add a bit of elegance to your personality, silk and satin will simply prove to be perfect choice for you. Its vibrant and exotic colours will make you look like a true princess.

ODIRI ETIRERI

Bulky beadsAccessories are back in vogue. Traditionally, dresses were beaded with stones or wood that were polished and had holes drilled through them with native tools. This year, beaded dress will stage a comeback. Fashion designers in Nigeria are really taking advantages of beads this season.

Oversized bags

Last year, ladies were obsessed with very big bags and this year the trend is likely to continue. Oversized bags also make it possible for you to be spotted from a distance.

Fashion statement for men

in 2010Accessories for men are few and far between, but with the gradual revitalisation of men’s fashion coupled with a greater proportion of men willing to express themselves without fear of sexuality, this year, it is okay for men to go pink. Pink will no longer be a girly colour like it used to be.

Fashion mistakes men should avoid this season

Anything with a wreath on a shirt

is a huge mistake.

No animal prints and please, no hearts or smiley faces.

No wearing of chunky shoes, since it has been out of fashion since the

late 1990s.

The days of blaring designer names

are out

Socks with sandals are a definite no.

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As the year 2010 gradually picks up and best wishes rapidly get clichéd, one phrase is undoubtedly making the rounds at many workplaces, schools and families: “Promises were made to be broken.” No surprise there. The proverbial New Year resolutions have again been buried under the hustle and bustle associated with daily living. Assurances about cutting spending, fighting the flab, perusing college textbooks and keeping bad tempers in check have been forgotten, to be dredged up again next year when they also stand little chance of being fulfilled.“I can’t remember when I last made New Year’s resolutions because I always end up breaking them,” says Yemisi Nnamdi-Manuel, a sub-editor with a media outfit in Lagos .

“So I don’t bother anymore. To me, everyday is a unique opportunity to make myself better. Can’t have it any other way.” Historians say the yearly custom of making resolutions can be traced to the early Babylonians who, at the start of a new year, were in the habit of returning borrowed farm equipment and thereafter buying new ones for themselves. With time, the practice was extended to positive changes in personal lifestyles. Yet another ancient lore links the tradition to the mythical king of Rome , Janus, who in 153 BC was placed at the head of the calendar (January), and could reflect on past events while making projections into the future. Subsequently, the Roman

citizens followed his footsteps by seeking the forgiveness of their enemies during the period, exchanging gift items and generally starting off on a fresh slate. Whatever spin history buffs may give it, New Year resolutions are “short or long-term yearly goals that help us overcome bad habits built up over time.” So that begs the question: ‘Why do such resolutions get broken year in, year out when individuals make promises daily that they oftentimes keep?’ “Sometimes we take on too many changes and create too many goals all at one time,” explains Erica Wright, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who practices in New York City . “Instead of being able to maintain these new habits, we fail because we become overwhelmed.” If Erica’s explanation sounds a little far-fetched to those who make just one resolution each year which they still end up breaking, Peter Eghiator’s own take is outlandish because he claims there have been no such resolutions in his life. “This whole idea about resolutions gets me angry because for me, each day, each moment is a brand-new opportunity to improve on my lifestyle,” says the graphic designer. “I guess change is more sustainable that way rather than having to wait until each New Year before getting over bad habits. Since my childhood till date, I’ve never made such resolutions.” So does that sound the death knell for New Year resolutions? Are they, in fact, unrealisable? Not for experts in the mould of Lynn Bode who provide time-tested tips that can get families and individuals on the ‘fulfilled resolution’ path. “Avoid choosing a resolution that you’ve been unsuccessful at achieving year after year. This will only set you up for failure, frustration and disappointment,” she advises.

“If you are still tempted to make a promise that you’ve made before, then try altering it. For example, instead of stating that you are going to lose 30 pounds, try promising to eat healthier and increase your weekly exercise.” Lynn also recommends some sort of roadmap that would pave the way towards fulfilling such goals. But she is quick to add that they should be broken down into bite-size pieces that wouldn’t scare anybody at first glance. “Most experts agree that it takes about 21 days to create a habit and six months for it to actually become a part of your daily life. So give it time!” the personal fitness trainer urges. “If you’ve stuck with your resolution for 2 months, treat yourself to something special. But, be careful of your reward type. If you’ve lost 5 pounds, don’t give yourself a piece of cake as a reward. Instead, treat yourself to something non-food related, like a professional massage.” She also recommends flexibility when such resolutions seem like hard nuts to crack, keeping a journal where progress can be recorded, and like most experts always advise, limiting the number of promises. But in the event that all these measures should fail, Lynn proposes professional help: “Sometimes you need the help of a trained professional. Don’t feel that seeking help is a way of copping out. Research studies have shown that assistance from a professional greatly improves people’s success rates.” Resolutions may be kept or broken time and again, but the fact remains that they provide that extra spark which makes life worth living. They give each year new meaning, provide a measure of hope that past mistakes would be avoided and life-changing traits imbibed. Strings of broken promises may span a mile, but another crack at keeping them is certainly worth it, like experts suggest. Who knows? Those pledges may just be fulfilled this time. Happy 2010!

Why not give that resolution another shot this year? ONODOME JAKPOR

Fashion & Lifestyle

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Campus Life

As I got onto the train leaving London set to arrive in Loughborough, multiple thoughts ran through my mind about university life. I was filled with so many emotions: the joy of finally going to university, the independence and freedom I had, the nervous feeling of a new beginning and the fear of the unknown.

As soon as I got off the train at the station some returners directed me to the bus stop where I anxiously awaited the bus to take me to my new home. I eventually got a ride on the bus and the bus driver announced that anyone looking to get off at David Collett Hall should get off at a certain bus stop. I knew this was my stop as the hall I was assigned was David Collett.

When I got out off the bus, I noticed there where so many other clueless people around like me. I was wondering if they could see through my ‘I am not nervous’ expression to tell the true mix of feelings I had.

I was directed to the reception of the hall by some “fresher helpers” where I formally registered with the hall. I was given my key, and one of the fresher helper’s helped in carrying my bags to my new room.

As soon as I got to my room, I jumped onto

my bed and stared at the ceiling for about 10 minutes thinking about the sort of challenges I was soon going to encounter. Some thoughts were particularly pleasing, while others were quite distressing. Nevertheless, I was hoping to look forward to a period of time where there would be a mix between hard work and fun times.

I very quickly unpacked my bags, trying to put everything in a very decent order, which my mum had thoroughly laid emphasis on. As I unpacked, my mum was on the phone, talking about all the beautiful things she thought about the place.

Later on in the evening, we were all given our fresher’s tops, which we were supposed to wear to most of the events in the fresher’s week. Our hall logo included a duck with two hockey sticks behind the duck forming an “X”. The logo was printed largely on the front of the tops.

Then all freshers were told to assemble in the dining hall by 5:30 in the evening. When I got there, I introduced myself to other freshers as “Ade” as I already knew most of them would have problems with calling me by my full name.

In the dining hall, the security officers, as well as the hall wardens, all gave various speeches, welcoming us to the hall and the university and also telling us how to go about our daily lives following the universities rules and regulations.

After all the speeches by various personnel in the university, the returners who were on the committee of the hall taught us various chants which we were meant to shout round the university campus in groups and also at various events during the fresher’s week. Most of these chants were to tease other halls while others were point blank, disrespectful.

We went out that night to four different venues in our fresher’s t-shirts. As we went to the first place, we shouted all our chants at the top of our voices as we passed the other halls on the campus of the university. And of course they shouted back at us.

The first stop was the student union where people were able to get cheap drink and shout as loud as they liked. Many people seemed to get right into the banter but it was all so new to me. Overwhelming sometimes.

We went to a pub in town by bus, which had been organized to take us there. It was nice because we could get some food (chips and chicken) as well as mingle with other freshers from other halls. Although most people had a lot of drinks, it wasn’t my idea to have any alcoholic drinks or beer as I do feel they have negative after effects and I do not even like the tastes of these drinks, so I ordered myself a simple bottle of coke.

We then went to a club, which had the cheapest drinks you can find anywhere. The clubs were offering drinks at giveaway prices. You could buy a drink and get another free! I eventually understood why so many people where encouraged to drink.

Afterwards, we went to ‘Rain’, a very good club that is apparently, always overcrowded. To make matters worse, it was fresher’s week. It seemed like almost every first year student was in that club at the same time. It was quite an experience I must say. All the pushing and shoving, drunken people who couldn’t remember a thing and the way they danced was probably one of the funniest things I had ever witnessed in my life. Their movements on the dance floor possessed no rhythm whatsoever and made for a good laugh once in a while.

I spent most of the net day relaxing in my room. Later in the afternoon, I decided to take a walk around the university campus, hoping not to get lost. I also went to town to pick up certain things I needed for my room and also explore the small town of Loughborough.

As I walked through the campus, I took a look at other halls in the university. I noticed that a lot of them looked very nice and new and wondered why my own hall looked considerably old! I did not like my room. It just didn’t appeal to me. I got the old side of the David Collett hall!

That night was Neon night. I thought it was only girls who ever wore so many colours but to my amazement, the guys wore outfits and I just could not understand why a male individual would want to wear such. These guys wore tight brightly coloured clothes and acted in manners so weird to me.

We all went down to the union that night. By this time I had made a few friends, some Nigerian, some English and even students from other countries. Everyone was friends with each other in this week though.

The trip to Nottingham was another memorable event during this week. There

My Fresher’s Week

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were over 150 tickets available for our hall. I got one. We drove down in buses to Nottingham. I entered the venue, not sure if it was a club or a place to chill, as most people just sat down around tables chatting away. There were other people from other halls. As I was chilling at a table, I saw my friend from primary school - what a small world, right? We were both happy to have each other’s company.

After a few hours, we finally went to the club – Oceana. “Must be the biggest club in Nottingham”, I thought to myself as the place was literarily overcrowded. There were over 2000 of us in there. I found a less crowded spot upstairs to hang out with my friends.

Afterwards, there was a bit of a scramble as we all struggled to get on the bus back to Loughborough, as it was cold and everyone’s feet was aching from all the dancing. I bought myself some fast food and finally got on the bus back to Loughborough.

There was a leisure basketball game for freshers. I went, played in the game and it was good fun. I had more competition than I had anticipated. I thought my height would give me a massive edge against everyone but it hardly did, as there were other people taller than I was and a lot of people were also very good. Then I remembered that Loughborough was always reckoned as a top university for sports in UK, which explained why so many had been asking what sport I played.

Later on in the week, I went for the basketball tryouts for my hall and was very pleased when the coach announced my name for the hall team. We had about two more training sessions in which we were taught new techniques and moves to enhance our skill and fitness. We were also told about the IMS – The league in which every hall competes in various sports to earn bragging rights as well as a friendly competition

to enhance positive relationships between students.

We also had our electric and electronic engineering induction where they told us about the course, assessment methods, modules, how to get help and so much more. It was also good to meet people in my course. This was encouraged by the group work we had to do to get us started with working with other people during the course. There were many other fun times during fresher’s week such as the foam party, in which we were all told to gather round in the center of the dancehall. As we were all dancing, all of a sudden, foam was loaded on all our heads from some massive barrel above our heads. As we partied late into the night, the foam continued to pour onto our heads continuously throughout the night. We also had the competition for loudest hall, in which we all had to shout our chants and literarily make the most noise as we did so, and so much more.

On Sunday, I also went for my first Church service in the university. I went to a church called GVC, and the service was pretty short and interesting. The message was brief and easy to understand. At the end of the service, the preacher prayed for all freshers and wished us luck.

However, the fresher’s ball was the final event of our fresher’s week. I had to wear a suit. The ladies looked beautiful. There were a few artists there to perform as well. It was all fun.

Everything was all fun and games, until work commenced the following week.

By the end of fresher’s week, I knew my way around campus (at least the parts that I needed to know), I had made many friends in first and second year and I had started getting involved in sports. It was very well organized and worth going to.

Campus News

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Campus Life

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A bouquet of crises for

students at ESUT

Students living in hostels at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) have been forced to study with hurricane lamps, candles and rechargeable lamps. This is as a result of an electrical fault at the transformer dedicated to the hostel. Although the university’s promise to fix the problem is yet to be fulfilled. The agitated students logged their complaints to the district office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, only to be told the affected transformer was ESUT property.

“The management does not care about our welfare,” lamented Roseline Okeh, a student. “First, it is our environment, now it is power supply, next it will be water.” True to her words, water scarcity hit the hostel.

HND I student wins media award

For those students who think dodging difficult work during their mandatory Industrial Training period amounts to being smart, Temitope Damilola Sanyaolu’s story may give them a change of heart. Today, the HND I student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta is among the recipients of the 2009 Nigeria Media Merit Award trophies. Temitope has achieved a feat that gave her the opportunity to rub shoulders with professional journalists, some of whom have

plied the trade for decades. Her NAFCON Environment Reporter of the Year award was for an article titled “Flowers of Fortune” published in the Broad Street Journal , a publication of Tell Magazine, during her one-year internship with Tell. “I was in school when they called me to come down and enter for the NMMA. I was surprised when they called again to inform me from that I had been nominated and I was very happy,” the 24-year-old said.

UNAD VC justifies 400% fee hike

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), Dipo Kolawole, has justified the 400 per cent increase in fees to be paid by incoming students of the institution. Addressing a news conference in his office during the week, Kolawole said the new fees were “to save the university from going into extinction” and shore up its internally generated revenue.

New students will pay between N90,000 and N120,000 when the 2009/2010 academic session gets underway next year as against N19,000 before. The announcement of the new fees has sparked criticisms in many quarters in the state, with parents and guardians expressing shock at the astronomical increase.

Fees payable by fresh students for the 2009/2010 session would see those wishing to be admitted into the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences paying N100,000 per session while

those entering the Faculty of Arts would part with N90,000. Education Faculty students would also pay N90,000 while the new fee charged in the Faculty of Engineering is now N120,000. Fresh students in the Faculty of Law are also expected to pay N120,000 – the same fee payable in the Faculty of Management Sciences. The first set of students to be admitted into the College of Medicine would cough out an unprecedented fee of N200,000 per session, while fresh students in the Faculty of Social Sciences are expected to pay N90,000. The former fees range between N19,000 and N36,000 per session depending on the faculty.

Describing the decision to jerk up the school fees as “very unfortunate but reasonable”, the VC said it was not because the university authorities enjoy inflicting hardship on parents and students but “there was need to strike a balance between idealism and realism.”

AAUA VC receives SIFE

contingent

The acting vice-chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Oladele Awobuluyi, has received the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) contingent of the university that won seven laurels and came second in the National SIFE competition that was held in Lagos.

The projects that won the awards are: “Captain Coal” and “Tree of life” projects. The first is a washing agent derived from

firewood ashes, scales of broken eggs and other waste materials in the rural areas, and it can be used to wash plates, pots and other household utensils. Tree of life is a fuel energy derived from the shaft of palm oil, which aids mechanised palm oil production.

Awobuluyi congratulated the team for doing the school proud. “For this young university to come second in a competition where several universities that have been in existence long before ours competed is a thing of joy, and I must say that I am very proud of you,” he said. The SIFE team leader, Henry King, said: “We feel like 21st century titans, and I am very sure that we’ll do better come next edition.

UNIBEN gets substantive VC

A substantive Vice- Chancellor of the University of Benin for the next five years has been named by the Governing Council of the university. He is Osayuki Godwin Oshodin. A statement by the university’s Public Relation Officer, Richmond Omagbemi, said the appointment takes effect from November 30, 2009. Prof. Emmanuel Obaseki has protested the process that led to the selection of Oshodin as the VC. He said he came first in the ranking of the interview exercise and expressed surprised that Oshodin was announced as VC without voting for trial choice. In a letter to the Minister of Education, he said, “I need justice, fairness and due process to be followed because we are in an academic society to restore confidence in the academic system”.

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Mushin is often visited by anyone and the dual carriage Agege Motor Road is used by those who live at Sango and its environs while commuting to work on the Island or other parts of the Mainland.

However, at night, certain neighbourhoods in this area are dangerous to pass through without guides. On a certain November evening, there was a major fight between youths on Akala Street. Machetes were drawn, there was a lot of shouting but only one man was slightly hurt, cut on the arm. A few youths were later arrested outside the slum. Akala Street it seems, polices itself, defends itself from outsiders and keeps to itself yet it is sometimes raided by police.

It was to this volatile area that Fela Durotoye, head, Visible Impact had a vision to give a facelift through his Mushin Makeover project. The vision came after he visited the area. “I think that Mushin chose me, I have visited Mushin over the past two years about four times,” he says while recalling how it all began. I have been invited to speak at various programmes in Mushin and on the 30th of October 2009 I was speaking at a summit organised by a group called Paul Signature and the Local Government chairman of Mushin was there. The first thing that I sensed was that God said to me: ‘do you know where you are?’ And I wondered: ‘where am I?’ And he said you are at the place for making unique stars and heroes in Nigeria and all of a sudden the whole concept for what Mushin was for me changed. One of the things God said to me was to make sure that we could galvanise 5,000 people to come in and renew the area and that everyone that comes in will be a star and a hero in Nigeria. I think that Mushin was the one that chose me because that was where God spoke to me.”

The Mushin Makeover was held on the 12th

of December, 2009 where 800 professional painters and about 5,000 volunteers painted buildings, and cleaned drainages, painted culverts and roundabouts. It was truly an urban renewal activity.

How was it possible to paint the whole of Mushin in eight hours? Is a mind-boggling question and to this Durotoye says: “We did a lot of pre-planning work and we knew the number of houses that were there. We estimated that if we had the number of people that we should have, we should be able to finish the work in eight hours. And we did.”

However, the group only painted seven prominent streets in Mushin. They were: Agege Motor Road, Olateju Street, Palm Avenue, Fafolu and Ogunmokun Roads among others.

For Durotoye, the idea is not for him and his team to paint the area or go there to change the people. The idea is for people to see what their little contribution can make to a collective effort to make a positive impact. “The message we hope people will get is that ‘I’ individually and the ‘I’ in everybody can make a change and if you can come along with another person, together we can make a bigger change but very few efforts in the world can give you instant gratification like a paint job. You can see what it was before and what it is like after, you can see the reward of your labour in that one day. For me, the Mushin makeover as well as the Area Makeover project is one of nation building.”

While explaining how the project worked, Durotoye says every house had about four to five people attached to it and the painters did not just paint, they literally spoke with the

Cover Story

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Fela Durotoye on slum makeoverFUNKE ADETUTU

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Cover Story

people and explained to them what the project was about.

“We showed through the project that an individual can make the same difference as we did. We told the people in Mushin and all around Nigeria that they can have a better home. The whole Mushin project was about revealing the power in the individual as a catalyst for change.”

After the painting exercise, Durotoye believes the residents of Mushin will begin to see things differently. “We cannot change human beings over night but we can change the way they see things. If we change the way they see things, then they will begin to change. If they realize that Mushin is a place for bringing up unique

stars and heroes they will ask how they can be stars and heroes. After the painting has been done, at about four we will gather everyone to a mass rally and the message of the rally is very simple ‘you can make a difference’. We are hoping to train about 25-50 young men and women who have a passion to do something with their hands but do not have any employment. D.N Meyer will be running a training as well as visible impact on life skills, financial management and the techniques of painting. At the end of that we will give them tools for them to start out their lives as painters and hopefully we will start up some kind of employment with Mushin so that those people will no longer be considered miscreants by the society, they will now earn an income, so this is what we are hoping we can do.”

“We cannot change human beings over nightbut we can change the way they see things”

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Across the globe a good number of financial analysts have opined that the current economic slide has “bottomed-out”. In other words, things can only get better from here. Experience however teaches that a lot of the time analysts tell you why the market should head in one direction, and can - with quite the same flustering depth of analysis - explain why it went the other way. This piece neither presumes the optimism of a short-term recovery nor the pessimism of a further slide. It is limited in scope to what is, and the overlapping opportunities that may be gleaned whichever way the world’s

The upside of a downturn A consequent observation would be that in a positive or upbeat market/economy people relatively, tend to earn a bit more for their skills, in a downturn they get paid less for the same skill set and somewhere in between there is a theoretical balance.

A closer look will show that there are two things an employer offers every employee, remuneration of some sort and the opportunity to acquire new skills - the first explicitly and the second implicitly.

Using a hypothetical firm A to illustrate the above, in an upbeat market, firm A can afford to recruit people for every and any role or job function, business is good, expansion into new markets is pursued, new business opportunities are explored. In this situation, firm A is likely to offer very competitive remuneration, but the abundance of required skill as a result of optimistic recruitment drives, ensures that there are very few (if any) opportunities for taking on new challenges as there will always be other employees who are “perfect” for the job. In this scenario, for the employees, while your current skills may earn you more, it is relatively more difficult to acquire new skills and take on new challenges.

Conversely in a downturn, firm A may close down some offices, lay off some employees and reduce salaries across board. The goal is to keep the company as “lean” as possible, avoiding any unnecessary costs, and cutting back on recruitment. As a result of this, certain job roles and functions are now “left hanging” without being clearly assigned to anyone. Here, for the employee, while the remuneration is much less, the positive trade off is the increased opportunity to acquire new skills by shrewdly stepping into roles

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economy chooses to go. It is certain that some people will come out of this downturn better off and this piece looks at a simple strategy that should pay off in the long term.

Economic downturns usually trigger off lay-offs, pay cuts etc. Within organisations, these actions eventually lead to fewer people having to carry out the same amount of tasks. It is upon this characteristic of a downturn that the suggestions within this article will be based.

The effect of the alteration within the functional balance of an organisation during an economic downturn is that for a period of time vacuums are created. For the purpose of this piece let us refer to these vacuums as job-gaps. We will describe a job-gap as a role or set of tasks that are currently not assigned to any specific employee. Most times the management of the organisation may wish to recruit replacements but may not deem it financially expedient to do so at that time. Whatever the reasons though, these job-gaps tend to either last until the organisation can afford to recruit or until someone steps in and takes on the job as an additional responsibility.

If we choose to view workplaces as some sort of market with employers and employees trading some form of value with each other, the employer believes that by combining the skills of a number of employees he can provide a product/service and generate an income that exceeds what he needs to pay each employee for their individual skill. The employee on the other hand is willing to offer his skill for the relative certainty of a fixed income.

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Careers and Development

Soromfe Uzoma

and functions that align with ones long-term career goals.

As job roles are left vacant, the usual tendency in a down turn is to attempt to only stick to previously agreed responsibilities, morale is low, frustration sets in and job security becomes critical. The question then becomes “if the pay isn’t good enough for the amount of work you have to do, why take on more responsibilities?”

The reason is simple, skills gained in a downturn economy will attract adequate recompense as the economy recovers. Employers are more open to letting employees “have a go” at some previously sacred task during a downturn and in most cases will have an increased ability to tolerate your mistakes. Downturns from this perspective are a chance to learn on the job, to increase ones skill and to take on greater responsibilities. It also offers the opportunity to create a genuine cross-functional work experience.

Before accepting these responsibilities employees must evaluate the future prospects within their field/industry and objectively predict skills that will be in high demand once fortunes change. Then employees must search for “job-gaps” that offer the opportunity to acquire and sharpen these skills within their organisations.

Always remember that the goal is to adequately position oneself for the market turnaround whenever it happens, by taking on roles and functions currently available in ones organisation because of the temporary state of the economy.

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They started making money and it took away my husband’s love. His wealth was no longer enough for him as his sources of wealth dwindled, he found the money my children made for me as a good alternative. Soon I became the neglected wife. My husband gave me no money and the money made by my children that was to take care of me, he took away. Though I had the capacity to give birth to millions of children, by 1999, 14 years after my blissful wedding to my darling husband I could only boast of 400,000 children well below my capacity of more than 5 million children.

The millions of unborn children who stood outside my birth window desiring a place in my family soon hated me because I could not give them access to the world. They cursed me every day for depriving them the pleasure of living. I begged my husband to stop eating the golden eggs laid by my children to enable me give access to the millions of the unborn willing to come into the world. He ignored, despised and humiliated me.

I was saddened by the fact that the young man I married had become overtaken beyond measure by greed. He cared for nothing except his pockets. The cries of the many unborn for access to the world fell on his hardened heart.

After he got tired of me, in 1999, my dear husband invited new brides into town and showered them with his love. Accusing me of non-performance he decided to divorce me offering me to new suitors. I was happy when

to all and sundry that my husband’s love for me did not go beyond the money that he made from being my husband. From over 400 children, soon I had none to boast off. My children had all changed their maternity to new brides in town, like MTN, Zain and many others. They were now the preferred mothers.

By now, I had become a burden to him. My milk was dry and actually depended on him for sustenance. Seeing how bad the situation was, he quickly arranged a new suitor. This time the suitor was not completely a stranger. His name was Trancorp. He came like a knight in shining armour promising me paradise with honey and milk. He promised a new life with lots of love. I dared to wish. Alas again, I rejoiced too early.

It did not take too long for my husband to find the right excuse to send my new love packing once more. Passed between three suitors and my husband in ten years, I have little love left. I am weak and broken, raped and depleted, rejected and cursed. My husband does not want me because I am now a liability but at the same he cannot stand another suitor having me.

Now I am back in my husband’s arms once more. I am not deceived. He does not love me. His cronies are all over examining my weak bones and innards looking for what drops of blood to suck. Like vultures and hyenas, they are scavenging looking for the last pieces of meat that can feed their greed and lust. As usual they pretend, they are here to nurse me back to health. They have told the world how they will make me wealthy once more. However, their real intention is clear. My only worry remains, when will this cycle end? Who will save me from these vampires of fortune?

many suitors lined up to grab me. I was full of joy knowing that though neglected by the husband of my youth, I was still cherished by strangers who seemed to know my worth more than my husband.

My joy was complete when Mr. ILL put up a whooping $1.2 billion for my bride price. My joy knew no bounds that I could still be valued this much by a stranger. It gladdened my heart and it brought untold joy to my soul. Alas, my joy was too soon. My husband was not ready to let me go easily. He who has taken part very actively in the selection of my suitor, suddenly found my suitors unsuitable and undeserving of my love. Accused of different offenses including not being rich enough to buy me, they refused his offer and sent him away poorer and indebted and me, sad and frustrated.

Then my husband embarked on another elaborate pretence. This time he said he was not divorcing me completely but will hand me over to another husband for a while so that I can experience what love means on the other side of life. So came Mr. Pentascope, another stranger from a foreign land. He took me in his arms and proceeded to nurse me to health and wealth. But he did not go far before my husband started raising several issues; some genuine, many framed. The end result was pre determined. Mr. Pentascope had little time to pack his bags out of my house before he was chased out living me totally deflated.

My husband then pretended he wanted me back to himself and boasted he could turn me into the beautiful bride I once was. He pretended to show some love but it was all pretentious. His intent was clear, to rape and humiliate me further. Soon it was obvious

The Cries ofLady NITEL

Money

I was the pride of most women, the envy of most mothers; the reason my husband once stood tall in the vast conference of the high and mighty. My name is NITEL, known by some of you; but those of you in your early twenties may actually not know me. I forgive you. I know you are now the children of MTN, Zain, Starcomms, Multilinks, Visafone, Etisalat and Zoom. I must let you know however that, before all these were, I was.

I was not always like this, battered and dejected; afraid of my shadow. Even now, my voice sounds strange to me, time and circumstance, not age, have dealt me a lasting blow. Yet I still stand, waiting, waiting.

I came into being in 1985. As a beautiful lady in my prime, I got married to a handsome man, with so much prospect; his first name was Government and surname name, Nigeria. In short you can call him “Government Nigeria.” I was pretty and much sought after by the high and mighty. But my eye was only on Mr. Nigeria, young, vibrant, rich beyond measure and any woman’s pride. The love was mutual. He had eyes only for me and I for him.

He spent his money on me to make sure I looked good. He hovered over me. I was the jewel of his eyes. Before long, I began having children and in no time I had more than 200,000 children. The children grew and became wealthy like me. They were fertile and their productivity level was high.

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KWEKU BROWN

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Money

Olufolakemi Ann-Melody Areola is the 29 years old CEO of Vivacity PR. She studied Electronic and Communications Engineering in London Metropolitan University UK. In her early university years, she was involved in event management and promotion both in the UK and in Lagos. In her last years at the university, she created a modelling agency called Vivacity Models. The idea came when she observed that the ethnic model experienced difficulties breaking through to the mainstream modelling industry.

She went on to set up an all American style clothing store called Urban Vivacity. From this Vivacity PR was born. It served as the mother company that encompassed her as an artiste, model and her roles in corporate public relations, event planning and promotion including media / multimedia expertise and so much more. Vivacity Public Relation has organised and supported many shows like Nigeria’s independence UK, Miss Nigeria UK, Laffs and Jams, Crack ur Ribs and many more. She has worked with most of the Nigerian artistes. Vivacity PR is currently the official public relations company for a few of them.

The next step for “Kemi Vivacity”, the name by which she is widely known, is to be a TV presenter. She began to present a weekly TV show on BEN TV (Sky channel 184) called Club Ntyce TV. While she was a presenter on the show, she began to notice that there were less women in the entertainment industry and the few that did make it found it really tough to reach the peak of their careers. That was when she decided to start a movement called

“Women in Entertainment and Arts”. On the 27th of February 2009, the first event in UK was held by the movement, which was titled “A Celebration of Women in Entertainment and Arts Appreciation Night”. It was attended by many female musicians from Nigeria and the UK like Sasha, Bouqui, Kefee and Yolanda Brown. Also male colleagues in the industry such as African China and DK came supported the movement. Currently, she is in the process of putting together the next appreciation night on February 26th 2010 and has invited global brands and celebrities from all over to support the movement in rewarding female acts for their greatness and also to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and the Kanu Heart Foundation.

The Young Entrepreneur

Tosin Olaiya

Women are emotional in different ways, unlike men who are less expressive, women are more expressive. That is why when I perform they do not hold back the shouting and crying unlike men who conceal their feelings.

I have had many experiences where female fans have grabbed my crotch, but I understand that it comes with the job, however I was thrilled. Women act on feelings, that is how God created them. They are emotional beings.

The reason people believe that women go for love

“Women act on feelings, that is how God created them. They are emotional beings.”

“The best gift a woman ever gave me is the gift of life, by my mum.”

Entertainment

unlike men who go for sex is that they are not as visually attracted to things they see. Women are not easily stimulated by physical attraction like men. However, in today’s world, women too desire love, sex, security and stability like their male counterparts. However, every man wants a woman who can satisfy him sexually and at the same time support him in fulfilling his dreams. Women have needs and they desire security in every relationship. However, they also desire intimacy. That is what women consider as an ideal relationship.

Women are so complex that you cannot really classify them. I am still trying to figure it out. We have the good, the bad and the ugly among them. They are a unique specie that one has to be very careful in picking for a relationship. It is a matter of life and death.

My mum is the most incredible person that ever lived on planet earth. She is humble and

very beautiful, intelligent and as strong as a rock. She is my source of inspiration in every area of my life. She is a constant reminder of what I measure myself against.

My ideal woman must be God fearing and ambitious. I also love intelligent women. I will always desire a woman I can have a conversation with. She must possess a sense of humour and must also be a good dancer. I love women who can play both roles; I mean a woman that I can get wild and crazy with and who is also supportive.

I will not go into details discussing my most memorable experience with a woman! This is because I do not feel comfortable discussing it. However, I can tell you that I have fallen very deeply in love with someone absolutely wrong for me. It is a decision I actually regret and I hope never to make that kind of mistake again. The best gift a woman ever gave me is the gift of life, by my mum.

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“Let me tell you about Women”

BANKY W, MUSICIAN

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“Let me tell you about Men”

DAKORE EGBUSON, Actress

Of course women are just that way they are. Women are more in tune with their inner selves. Men are poignant, don’t get me wrong but they are better at hiding their feelings.

It depends on where you act in your mind, women can be in a relationship for sex as well. It is just the state of your mind, whether you are ready for love or sex, it is up to you as a woman. Our society is more permissive now, you can date as many people as you want but it is better to go into relationship for love, love is the reason we are all here.

I think men are wonderful beings, we are partners in this whole relationship affair, but you need to understand them. Women should not expect men to be like them. We have to understand that they are different, let us accept them for who they are and focus on their strengths than their weaknesses. Men are protectors, they are providers, they drive the society, they drive everything. Their weakness is that they think they know everything. They reason this way because of the position they have in the society, They don’t tend to listen to women when they advise them. They don’t understand that most times women act on intuition which often comes true. As an individual, I don’t like categorising people because individuals are unique and different.

My dad is very strong and protective. Very loving to a point that people really wouldn’t understand when I tell them. His attributes have really helped me to love myself. My dad is my first male role model.

My ideal man must be God fearing because a man who fears God will think twice before he harms or hurts me. And of course, he must have confidence in himself. Being who I am, I need somebody who is sure of himself.

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Hehe….I know what you’re thinking….Fine Grandma is a bad-ass o. She arrived last week, and she has been really cracking me up. I love her ‘cos she’s a real streetwise Lagos madam. She’s actually my great-aunt, my maternal grandmother’s younger sister, but we’ve always called her grandma. I was literally her handbag when I was a kid...the woman is alright with me men.

“Fineboy o o strong o! You only drank three Heinekens and you’re blinking like an idiot. What would you do when you drink two Gulders?”

“I can’t handle Gulder o. I like Star..”

“Star? Stout nko?”

“Can’t drink it. Too bitter.”

“Weak boy! You don’t know it’s good for Finebabe?”

“Huh?”

“If you drink it, you’ll be very solid for Finebabe o. Strong and solid! She will never leave you.”

“Oh!” I got the message and burst out laughing.

Imagine! This seventy-one year old mama. Yesterday, we were reminiscing about Nigeria and I almost died of laughter men, especially when she reminded me about our ‘armed robber’ ordeal.

Make I yarn una. Ha! See your ears! You like toooory!

Anyhow, like 10 years ago, there was a bunch of us at my grandma’s house in ‘Lere. There was Fine grandma, my Uncle Remi, me, my lil’ cousin DJ, and my aunty Yinka and her husband, Uncle Tre. Aunty Yinka, Uncle Tre and DJ were visiting from London.

We were all in my grandmomsi’s bedroom gisting, apart from Uncle Remi, who was downstairs. We were clowning Uncle Tre, because the guy went to chop Isi-ewu the day before and it had upset his stomach. The guy is from the Bahamas, but always wants to be doing like a real naija man. That’s when we heard noise outside o. We ran to the window and saw the gateman being dragged my two armed tout-looking guys.

Omo, na so everybody begin shake. My aunty quickly took off her jewellery and stuffed them down DJ’s pants. The boy sef wan refuse, but obviously couldn’t say no to his momsi. Meanwhile Uncle Tre started rolling up his shirt.

“I’m about to knock somebody the fuck out!”

He went towards the door and my aunty screamed at him, “Come back here jo! You think this is your country? Ode!”

Fine Grandma begin shout. “Ooooooooole! Ooooole! Armed robbers o!”

Men, she was screaming at the top of her voice o! We were scared shitless. I looked up at the ceiling, then at the closet, then under the bed. Chei, nowhere to hide.

“OOOOOOLLLEEEE!! Ooooo…….” Two guys burst into the room.

“Mama you dey shout?”

“Ha! My son no o. I’m not shouting o.” She covered her mouth and sat on the bed.

“Everybody lie down! Lie down!”

Uncle Tre started staring at one of them. The armed robber goes, “My friend lie down!”

“Motherfuck!” Uncle Tre said.

Morrafuck ko, morrafuck ni. The guy was still speaking oyibo. This one na Lagos o. Then two other guys burst in with guns. They ushered my uncle Remi into the room. Men, he looked pissed! The guy pushed Uncle Remi, and he reluctantly started to lie down.

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Grandma’s grandson Mr FineBoy

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Meanwhile, me I just peppy on the floor men. No complaints, nothing. I just chill.

Armed Robber 1: Lie down flat! Flat!

Uncle Remi: Who are you talking to? You’re very stupid.

Armed Robber 1: Hehn!! You wan die?

Fine Grandma: Please please my son. Please…

Armed Robber1: No mama! O fe ku ni? (Does he want to die?)

Uncle Remi: Iwo lo ma ku. (Na you go die!)

Armed Robber 1: Me? I must kill somebody today! Get up, oku ni e! (You’re a corpse!)

Fine Grandma: My son, please don’t mind him. Ori omo mi o pe! (My son is mentally deranged.)

Uncle Remi: Who is sick in the head?

Fine Grandma: Remi shut up! Idiot.

Armed Robber 2: Shoot him dead jo! Pata pata dem go burn us! Who dey fear die? Kill am!

Fine Grandma: Ehn?? E jo o! Please o my son, they won’t set you on fire in Jesus’ name. God will bless you o, they won’t catch you in the name of God! Please.

Meanwhile they started taking jewellery and all the money they could find. But Uncle Remi no wan gree o.

Armed Robber 1: Make them catch us! We must kill person for here! You go die today, you this man.

Fine Grandma: Heee my son. I’m begging you

in the name of God. Please don’t listen to this boy. This my son is a madman. I gave birth to him, I know him very well. Were ni. Since birth, babanla mumu ni. (He’s been daft since birth.)

Uncle Remi: Mummy, who’s mad? Who’s mad?

Fine Grandma: You see? A ni oponu ni! (I’m telling you he’s an imbecile!) Don’t listen to him please, my son. God bless you ehn? You will live long for your mother.

Uncle Tre: Man, this is some bullshit.

Uncle Tre looked across at Uncle Remi, like he thought they could take these guys together. He started to get up.

Armed Robber 3: Americana, you sef wan talk? My friend lie down!

Uncle Tre: Yo, back up off me dude….

WATAI! If you see the hot slap that they gave the guy ehn? The guy just lie down straight.

God knows how long we were there for. The armed robbers took all they could and one of them pointed at my uncle Remi.

“Oya, na now I go open fire.”

Fine Grandma: My son, why would you kill a fool? Please ehn. God will bless you… ati kekere ni, ara e o ya. (He’s been mentally ill since he was a child.)

Armed Robber2: Kill am! Pata pata, they will shoot us or set us on fire.

Fine Grandma: That will not be your portion in Jesus’ name!

Armed robber1: You this man, na mummy save you o. If not, you for die like fowl.

That’s how they locked us inside the room and escaped o. For hours after the ordeal, everybody was still shaking, apart from uncle Remi and Uncle Tre, who were fuming!Uncle Remi was pissed at my grandmother for calling him a lunatic, and I suppose Uncle Tre was mad because he had chopped a hot Naija slap for the first time in his life.

To this day, Uncle Remi gets pissed when he remembers. He says Nigerians are too timid to stand up against armed robbers, which is why, he believes, we keep getting robbed. He kept accusing us of “cooperating” for ages.

That was a long time ago though... I’m pretty sure that if that happened today, me sef I no go gree. Yeah right! Omo life sweet men, who wan die?

Meanwhile Fine Grandma isn’t usually timid like that o. I remember one time, as a kid, I was relaxing with her at her house, when she got a phone call telling her that my Uncle Remi had been arrested.

She went crazy. We jumped into the car and raced to Sabo police station. We met my other Uncles Damo and Ladi there. Apparently, Uncle Remi had gotten arrested because he didn’t have his license on him or something trivial like that.

Fine Grandma: So why did you arrest him? He’s allowed 24 hours to produce his license!

Policeman: Madam, are you a lawyer? Go and sit down!

Fine Grandma: Are you mad? Do you know who you’re talking to?

Policeman: I don’t care if you’re the Inspector general’s mother. We will arrest all offenders!

My Uncle Ladi went livid when he saw how his mother was being disrespected. I don’t remember how everything jumped off, but all I know is that a major scuffle ensued. Uncle Ladi and Uncle Damo were in the thick of it with three policemen, and my grandma flung one skinny one off Uncle Damo.

The skinny policeman flew across the room and landed in the corner. I couldn’t believe it. What a chump! Long story short, the cops got a good thumping until some more policemen came in and locked Uncle Ladi and Damo up as well. Fine Grandma was not having it.

“Release my sons right now!”

Skinny Policeman: Release wetin? Move back, you this witch mama!

Fine Grandma: Yes, I’m a witch! In fact, it was your mother and I who flew to the meeting together last night. We wanted to use that your big head for money but the oracle said you were too ugly! Idiot.

The guy was silent. In the end, Fine Grandma made some phone calls, and my uncles ended up getting released. The DPO damn near lay flat on the floor for her, and promised to dismiss the policemen. Grandmomsi suggested that they be suspended for a little while instead, and that’s what happened.

Anyways y’all, Fine Grandma’s pounded yam and efo beckons!

- Mr. FineBoy

ADEDOYIN JOHNSON

Lost in the woods The gate of the grand house opposite Prince Alaba Oniru Way, Lekki is about fourteen feet high and could withstand the threat of a small army. The pillars are imposing and they support a balcony so fascinating, that it would invoke covetous urges in even the most satisfied man.

However, it seems this splendour does not extend beyond the confines of the compound. Just outside the gate there is a gutter disgorges brownish water. Across the road a refuse bin is pregnant with waste, some of which has spilled over on to the street. Close to the bin, on a green lawn, a horse lays, dying.

Bands of stray horses have roamed the rugged and beautiful Lekki axis for more than two years. Since the beginning of the year, loose and neglected horses are uncommon close to The Palms Shopping Mall and the Simeon Akinlonu Cresent, Lekki, grazing.

While stray horses cause considerable damage to, and represent a health and safety risk on roads and open spaces, yet the members of the Iru/Victoria Island Local Government have not proffered any solution to deal with the stray horses. Some of these horses graze freely on the road to the detriment of motorists.

“I see these stray horses every morning with no idea where they have come from,” says Bayo Adeoye, a resident of Oniru Private Estate. “There has been a continuing problem with these horses, they litter the whole area with their faeces and urine. Someone once told me that they were formerly owned by military personnel and have been abandoned to waste away. They are in no one’s care. My

concern is that a number of serious road accidents could result from their constant roaming on the roads.”

There have been numerous complaints about the dozens of animals that have been illegally left to roam the streets, where they have caused danger and disruption by straying onto on-coming vehicles. They are seen as a major safety threat to motorists on a busy road like Prince Alaba Oniru Way, which in the last few months has served as an alternative route to the Palms Shopping Mall.

“They have also blighted the lives of some locals when roaming loose on the road,” explains Mohammed, a security guard in the area. “In recent months there have been two near misses on the Oniru Palace Road and it is feared that it would only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed in a collision with a stray horse.”

Mohammed says attempts in the past to trace and persuade irresponsible owners to remove their animals have failed yet the appropriate authorities have not intervened. “In western countries, the local authorities and the police will take exceptional action,” says Uche Anya, a resident. “Police officers would have moved in at dawn to seal off the area. But that is not the case in Nigeria. There are no laws backing up the whole process, nobody cares about the welfare of animals in this country.”

Some residents of the area posit that the owners should come forward to clear or claim their animals away from the area and they should be made to pay several hundred thousands as damages to the local government authorities. “All the animals should be checked to see if any have been reported as stolen. Those not claimed will be

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dealt with appropriately. This area has been plagued with abandoned horses,” says Seyi Oloruntoba, another agitated resident.

The treatment of horses in Nigeria is pure cruelty, which Akin Adedayo describes as inhumane and shameful. “Horses work very hard during a whole day at the end of which they get no food or very little. They are overworked, underfed, exhausted and often beaten. When they become useless during the dead season they are abandoned, left to die of starvation,” he says.

“Horses are not considered living creatures that can feel pain and fear. Everywhere in the country one can see dead or nearly dead stray horses. We don’t have an animal welfare organisation in the country. The government is not willing to take action. Therefore we ask for your help.”

Owning a horse is a great responsibility says Akin Ogunranti, a veterinary doctor. “Horses are, by their nature, companionable animals designed to graze in open spaces with their herd. While they will learn to adapt to stable life, it is vital to exercise the horse to satisfy its physical needs. Also, a horse will become bored and discontented if it does not have the regular company of humans and other horses,” he explains.

According to him, while there is no exact acreage requirement for horses, it is generally considered that one acre of pasture per horse is sufficient. Before pasturing the horse, it is important to check the pasture for trash, holes in the fencing, and other hazards. But the Nigerian environment does not offer such comfort.

“It’s understandable that we live in a country where few people or nobody at all cares for animals. But it is not good that horses should be left to stray on the streets. They should be properly kept in a pasture where they can be properly taken care of.”

However, some people say dead horses are often cleaned up and sold as barbequed meat by the roadside meat sellers popularly called Suya Mallams. “It could be pose a serious health risk if people eat the meat of a dead horse since the cause of their death cannot be ascertained,” explains Ogunranti.

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Fibroids: the bane of reproductive health

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Health

The young lady walked into my office with an unassuming look on her face.Her complaint was that of a swelling she suddenly discovered in her abdomen. My examination revealed a large stony mass of about 20weeks size around the umbilicus. An ultrasound scan was done and my suspicions were confirmed. Fibroids! “What?!”She exclaimed! “I am 28, I only just got married, and I was expecting a pregnancy, not this.” Her cries continued while I tried to allay her fears.

Medically called myomas or leiomyomas, fibroids are benign tumours which originate from the smooth muscle of the uterus. They are the most common tumours in females. Many patients mistake them for pregnancy

especially when they have been trying to get pregnant for long. In the past, there was a general misconception that it was a disease of older women, who had gone past child bearing age. But, recently, this condition has defied all odds, affecting both the young and the old, married and unmarried, rich and poor.

Fibroids are the most common tumour in females, affecting women within the middle and later reproductive years, they are twice as common in blacks than in whites and they are also prevalent in obese women, due to high oestrogen levels.

Fibroids when detected should be carefully examined by a doctor, especially if the woman

GBONJUBOLA BABALOLA

is keen on getting pregnant. Questions which should be raised include: Can the fibroid co-exist with the pregnancy? How large is the fibroid? What changes have the fibroid undergone? Has the woman concluded having children? These factors will help determine what should be done to the fibriod, whether a surgery is required or conservative management.

Lately, however, it has been discovered by health workers that many patients are being deceived by quacks into believing that some medication can actually dissolve fibroids and make them disappear totally. This idea is untrue and should be discarded outrightly.

Like every other health condition, it should be treated with all the urgency it deserves. They may be asymptomatic and rarely one in 1000 cases become cancerous especially if they grow after menopause. Complicated fibroids can cause pain, dizziness, painful sexual intercourse, excessive bleeding during menstruation resulting in aneamia, pressure effects on surrounding structures (bladder and ureter especially) and in some extreme cases, death.It is about time women take issues relating to their sexuality more seriously and take charge as early detection and prompt intervention go a long way in preventing any complications that may arise.

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The Shop

I went out for lunch recently with a friend who took me to a place called Delina’s Bistro Café situated on Oko-Awo Street in Victoria Island. My initial impression of the place wasn’t so positive since the generator situated outside the café was smoking so badly it seemed like it would explode.

We ordered our meals and I must confess, I was pleasantly surprised when my meal arrived on time. I had ordered a “homemade burger” and it was truly homemade (I have been misled in the past as to what “homemade” truly means, so excuse my cynicism), the burger was the right temperature, tasty, moist and just perfect. The café was a regular spot for workers of the various offices situated in the area and quite a number of people who came in appeared to place their usual orders.

At the end of my lovely meal, I made a dash into the loo since my tummy had been overstuffed, this decision almost ruined a perfect lunch! I’ll save you all the nasty details, but the loo was in a “bad state” and appeared unkempt, it was not befitting for the good impression the café had made and the great quality food which was served

I decided on the spot that if I ever returned to the café for lunch, I would simply order my meals to take away, and even if I decided to eat in, I would never venture near the toilets.

I must mention that for a first time parker, parking could be tricky since the café appeared to be a popular spot (a good sign, I guess) and it also shares its parking lot with other shops in the same vicinity.

My rating for the Delina’s

Bistro Cafe

Ambience: 8/10

Tidiness/Cleanliness: 6/10

Toilet: 1/10

Parking: 6/10

Mysterious Shopper

At Aimas, it’s accessorised t-shirts and more

“I was pleasantly surprised when my meal arrived on time”

Aimas was birthed in the UK in 2003, and is run by Tayo Shonekan, the creative director of the brand. She moved back home a couple of years ago and discovered that Nigerians were really keen on her unique offering of handmade t-shirts.

“We offer hand made accessorised t-shirts for ladies, men and kids. We also make beautifully hand crafted bags as well as fashion and home accessories” says Shonekan. It is amazing to discover that the fabrics used on her T-shirts are locally sourced and everything is handmade.

Located in the quiet suburb of Lagos, Ikoyi, Aimas is fast becoming a hotspot for lovers of handcrafted fabrics. According to Shonekan, the vision behind Aimas was born of necessity. “I was living in the UK with a new baby and having to stay at home was the motivation behind setting up the Aimas brand,” she adds. “The vision was to bring a bit of my ethnicity to an audience that would otherwise not have access to African inspired designs.

Although Shonekan was born and raised in Lagos Nigeria, she attended Coventry University in the UK where she obtained a degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. She however took a detour and a lot of her work experience in the UK was in sales. “ Though I do not have any formal fashion design training, I have always had a keen eye on fashion and trends” says Shonekan, “however, I have done a couple of short courses in fashion and graphic design, and I

have worked with the London Fashion Forum, organising all the fashion exhibitions”.

The name Aimas

The name is actually derived from “Aimapoyo”, which was given to Shonekan by her mother’s family who hail from the middle belt of Nigeria. “ I shortened it to “Aima” and I knew that when I set up shop I would name it Aimas.”

As part of her ongoing expansion plans, Aimas is planning to include home accessories and maternity wear to its existing line. “My target market (men and women between the ages of 16 – 45) desire this and we are keen to deliver. We also offer bespoke services both for personal, group and corporate jobs.

“What I have found to be the most challenging in the industry is sourcing decent staff and maintaining them. I would not say I have tackled it yet, but I am continually spending time to develop existing staff.”

Are Nigerians receptive to embellished T-shirts is a question which readily comes to mind. And to this she responded: “Yes they are!. I do think that Nigerian women are extremely fashion conscious. I am not surprised, though I must say that not many are trendsetters or have an individual style, but regardless, they generally turn out looking good most of the time.” Aimas is by appointment on 0809 88Aimas.

Derin Adefulu

Will the Super Eagles fly?

“Qualifying for major tournaments remain a perennial headache for Nigerian teams as they never seem to get their acts right”

Yemi Shofolu

Sports

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After the characteristic fumbles that tend to accompany our qualifying campaigns, the Nigerian senior national football team, the Super Eagles, finally secured the tickets to play in the 2010 African Nations Cup and FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Angola and South Africa respectively. Qualifying for major tournaments remain a perennial headache for Nigerian teams as they never seem to get their acts right. The recently concluded qualifying campaign amplifies this fact as the Super Eagles waited till the final day and relied more on the outcome of the match between Mozambique and Tunisia to determine their fate.

Other leading African teams like Ghana and Ivory Coast qualified before the last round of matches and only used the games as a platform for a run out for new players while also fine tuning their tactics and formations. The level of performance put in by these countries require proper planning and extensive preparation. The Nigerian football administrators must learn the rudiments of timely preparation for competitions. The only route to enduring football success remains planning, commitment and the will to sacrifice in the short term to achieve medium/long term gains as against the current fire brigade approach. As the saying goes, “he who fails to plan, plans to fail”.

This time around, it will be a double-header on African soil. The Bi-annual African Cup of Nations will be hosted by Angola in January 2010, while South Africa will host the FIFA World Cup. With both venues located within the Southern African region, it is expected that the African spirit of sportsmanship will reign throughout the period.

Once again the sight of fans decked in their

different national colours singing, dancing and cheering their national football heroes as they sweat, kick, tackle and dazzle for glory would be a common sight throughout the duration of the games. Established and up coming talents would once again catch the fancy of ardent football followers in and outside the stadia who will decide whether to hail or boo as their moods dictate. The attendant economic benefits accruing from hosting major tournaments are also welcome.

The last time the Super Eagles of Nigeria played in the Nations Cup and World Cup in the same year was in 2002 in Mali and Japan/South Korea respectively. Even then, the aura of the team had begun to diminish. After squeezing through qualifications, the Eagles landed in Mali with high hopes aiming to clinch their third African crown after the 1980 (Nigeria) and 1994 (Tunisia) triumphs. That ambition never materialised. The Eagles, then led by the coaching crew comprising the present head coach, Amodu Shuaibu and assisted by Stephen Keshi along side the goalkeepers’ trainer, Joe Erico, never showed any championship winning traits. Their slim goal margins and overall quality of play in that tournament proved that the eagles had lost steam.

Drawn in a group in which they were expected to stroll into the knock-out stages, they beat Algeria 1-0, drew 0-0 against hosts Mali and won 1-0 against Liberia in the group stages. The Eagles recorded another 1-0 win over Ghana in the quarter-finals before finally bowing out to Senegal 1-2. A player/management crises during the course of the tournament further compounded the woes of the team and eventually led to the ouster of Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George and Taribo West (who was later pardoned for

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showing remorse), three of the squad’s most experienced players. From that point on, the Eagles never remained the same. Under the charge of the newly appointed coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, the Eagles parading an almost entirely new squad were eliminated in the first round of the 2002 World Cup. They lost their opening game 2-1 to Argentina, lost the next game to Sweden by the same margin and drew 0-0 to the Beckham led England. The Eagles quickly packed their bags after elimination from a group, which had already been labelled the “group of death” at the conclusion of the first round of matches. Nigeria’s only solace was the emergence of a few new players whom were thought would form the core of the next generation of Eagles. Nigerians were proven right, the current vice-captain Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Osaze Odemwingie and John Utaka were all products of that adventure.

The year 2006 was worse and can only be labelled a disaster. Egypt 2006 (African Nations Cup) and Germany 2006 (FIFA World Cup) were tournaments we believed our dear and maturing Eagles would reward us for, but alas, we found out as early as October 2005 that we did not even qualify for the world cup. Led by Captain Austin J. J. Okocha, who suddenly developed a phobia for honouring “away fixtures”, the Eagles were dumped by Angola who grabbed the sole ticket available in that group and flew to Germany to attend their first ever world cup tournament. Players failed to report early to camp in preparation for matches but chose that time as most appropriate to shoot commercials for their sponsors. The Nigerian Football Federation, then the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) led by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima chose the most inappropriate venues to host the most

crucial of the qualifying games. And finally, we can never forget the contribution of our dear coach, Christian Chukwu who was replaced by his former assistant and wards Augustine Eguavoen (Cerezo), Daniel Amokachi and Samson Siasia who succeeded him during the qualifying campaign. The young coaches were still in charge when we arrived Egypt in January 2006 for the MTN sponsored African Nations Cup. Still parading the full compliment of the players who failed to qualify for the World Cup, Nigerians were hoping for nothing short of lifting the trophy in Egypt. Once again, the Eagles settled for third place and their third bronze medal in succession after clinching the same trophy in Mali 2002 as well as 2004 in Tunisia.

2010 is finally here and so are continental and world football competitions. Therefore, I ask the pertinent question, will the Eagles fly? Only time will tell, so I am compelled to wait for the answer. However, I am burdened by more questions. Who should be our coach? Who should be our captain? How should we play? Which opponents will truly put us to the test in friendly games? Where should we camp? There is still more, but it is not my duty to bore you with questions. All I ask is that you join me in searching for these answers.

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Football pools betting, a cultural import from 1920s Britain is as popular in Nigeria among old men, retired workers and unemployed. The bettor places a stake of money to forecast the result of 49 league matches played across all divisions of the English Football League available on coupon sheets.

The promoters of these football pools are mostly Lebanese or Syrian immigrants who operate with licenses issued by the Nigerian federal government. They are barely visible and yet all the money circulates through them.

The agents, who are most visible, link between the prompters and bettors aren’t always Nigerian, run pool houses across country. There, the bettors, play every week in the hope of winning the jackpot of up to 400, 000 Naira and equivalence of an annual average earnings in among workers in Nigeria. However, most bettors walk away empty handed and console themselves in the company of friends who gather at these pool houses to relax and engage in other forms of recreational activities like card games, draughts and Ayo ( a Yoruba board game).

Game Of Hope

Sports

66 naijaTimes

The Chariot

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Anmak Limited (Academic Gowns, Uniforms etc)4th Floor, 106/110 Lewis Street, Lagos Island.0707 2114901

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