Court orders Navy to pay N200m over illegal detention of vessel

By Onozure Dania

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian Navy and the Chief of Naval Staff, jointly and severally, to pay an oil company, Mercury Oil Limited, the sum of N200 million as damages for illegally detaining its vessel M T SAPPHIRE 1 and siphoning 280,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil contained in the said vessel.

Navy-officials

Trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said: “The present case has brought to the fore once again, the arrogant, brutal, callous and capricious manner our law enforcement agencies commonly adopt in the exercise of their functions to the consternation and embarrassment of any discerning and decent mind around. We are in a democracy and must do everything to enthrone and nurture democratic ethos for the good of the society.”

The judgment was sequel to enforcement of rights suit by Mercury Oil Ltd., its vessel M T SAPPHIRE 1,and four crew members on board, Folorunso Olayiwola, Joshua Arthur, Asabalashe Johnson and Wale Alade, through their counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers, SAN.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, the Managing Director of the firm averred that sometime in February, 2014,Mercury Oil company was engaged in offshore operation to load Automotive Gas Oil, AGO after relevant approvals were obtained. However, the vessel and its crew members were arrested on suspicion of engaging in illegal operations.

After due investigation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which is the body responsible for such investigation, the vessel was cleared of any wrong doing or illegal activities and it was recommended that the vessel should be released, but the Nigerian Navy refused and during the period the vessel was in detention, the 280,000 litres of AGO in the vessel was illegally siphoned by the Nigerian Navy.

The product on board of the vessel, the MD averred, was financed by a bank loan to the tune of N170 million.

The claimants had demanded N200million as general damages and also urged the court to declare their arrest and detention illegal and also declare as illegal and unlawful the siphoning of 280,000 liters of the AGO on board of their vessel.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/court-orders-navy-to-pay-n200m-over-illegal-detention-of-vessel/

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

Writing books as a woman is challenging – Djevwudu

The Leader of the South South Women Organisation, Vickie Djevwudu, and authour of the book, “Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects” has said that the process of writing books by women is challenging due to their effort in trying to combine family, work and others.

•Vickie Djevwudu

Djevwudu who authoured the book on aviation said she had no prior training or knowledge on the industry but joined a group, Aviation Round Table and read so much of aviation books.

This gave rise to the overall success of the book publication, she highlighted, explaining that as a media practitioner in the Public Relations field, she is a readymade tool. The book has 10 chapters and 215 pages produced to aid aviation students and stakeholders.

By Providence Obuh

THE book: “Aviation in Nigeria: History Issues and Prospects” was thought out of a simple and single question that I asked someone in the year 2000 in the aviation industry.

All I did was to say I want to read a book on the history of aviation in Nigeria and they told me such books would be difficult to get, and I was shocked to hear that I can’t find such a book in an industry like the aviation industry and that was how I summoned courage to write, even if I knew nothing about the aviation industry.

Sourcing for materials

I contacted a lot of professionals in the industry and that made me join “Aviation Round Table” a Non Governmental Organisation in the industry and I read a lot of books on aviation and that was where I realised that safety and security were major constraints besetting the aviation industry. I met a Doyen in the industry, Captain Dele Ore who gave me the boldness with which to stand and became a trustee member of the aviation round table, so that was the starting point and I became more involved in the industry.

To what extent has this book addressed the issues in the Aviation industry

It did and don’t forget that I couldn’t have done all the work alone, it involves a lot of research from various people, I had to meet a lot of expert and professionals, in fact what some of them did was to give me paper presentations they have made at one occasion or the other to work on, many of them I spoke with and some via interviews so from there I got a wealth of information of what I actually needed and of course my daily confrontation with happenings in the industry helped me to learn further and example is, we have one of the airports where once it is 6:00pm, they close for the day because there is no lighting facilities for planes to come in at 9:00pm, this is a problem but however, the industry will continue to grow and it is growing, only the leaders need a  vision to move things forward.

   Challenges of writing

You write and the editors will make corrections again and again until everybody has punctuated. Anybody I tell I am writing a book, they shout and tell me I must be a genius. All together, it is not easy combining work, family life and a whole lot of things with other business to writing a book, it was not easy but one thing about a vision or dream is that if you drive it to a point with love and zeal, at a point it turns around and the dream will now start driving you, that was what happened in my case and that was the driving force but if it was me driving the dream, it couldn’t have been possible. Don’t forget that you write and take it back to the professionals to look at and do addition and subtraction.

Who should buy the book

It is strictly for the aviation industry and aviation schools, travel agent, it good for upcoming people in the industry.

And the women association

We started even before former President Jonathan, came into power, as Women in South South but in 2004/2005 we changed the name to South South Women Organisation.

I was born and grew up in Lagos State and had seen the way the Western women have been into humanitarian business, they see the other woman who cannot measure up to them as their problem and they find a way to alleviate that problem which is why NGO’s became rampant in Lagos.

You will see these women come together in groups fighting for the cause of each other. Our objectives is to Educate, Empower and to give Humanitarian services

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/writing-books-as-a-woman-is-challenging-djevwudu/

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

Japanese mobile phone that can be cleaned with soap

The device, named Digno Rafre, can be "cleaned as thoroughly as a piece of tableware" and will be released in Japan next week.

A Japanese mobile phone company has created a phone which it claims can be washed with soap without any damage to the device.

On the average, a mobile phone is thought to be covered in more bacteria than the average toilet, which means mobile phones harbor numerous germs from clothing and hands.

British online tabloid Mirror.co.ukreports that Japanese company Kyocera has designed a new phone that can be cleaned with soap and water.

READ: Indigenous mobile advertising app officially launched

The device, named Digno Rafre, can be "cleaned as thoroughly as a piece of tableware" and will be released in Japan next week.

The developers of the phone have not released any information on what keeps the phone working while wet except that it has no speaker and transmits sound through “connective tissue” as opposed to a traditional speaker.

The phone will run Android 5.1, sport a 13MP camera and measure 5-inches in length. It will cost £310 but unfortunately, will not be released outside Japan.

Buhari Presides Over Emergency FEC Meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held what the federal government called a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting within the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa.

Before addressing the meeting, President Buhari swore in two Permanent Secretaries, Olakunle Bamgbose and Mahmood Dutse.

Both of them were unavoidably absent during the swearing in of other permanent secretaries a few weeks earlier.

Although details of the meeting was not  made known to State House correspondents, indications show the council is putting final touches to the 2016 budget with special attention to the medium term expenditure framework.

Source: http://www.channelstv.com/2015/12/07/buhari-presides-over-emergency-fec-meeting/

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

75 million Africans Paid A bribe in 2014

A majority of Africans say corruption has risen in the past 12 months and most governments are seen as failing in their duty to stop the abuse of power, bribery and secret deals, according to a new opinion poll from Transparency International (http://www.Transparency.org).

In the report People and Corruption: Africa Survey 2015, part of the Global Corruption Barometer, Transparency International partnered with Afrobarometer, which spoke to 43,143 respondents across 28 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa between March 2014 and September 2015 to ask them about their experiences and perceptions of corruption in their country.

The majority (58 per cent) of Africans in the surveyed countries, say corruption has increased over the past 12 months. In 18 out of 28 countries surveyed a large majority of people said their government is doing badly at fighting corruption.

Despite these disappointing findings, the bright spots across the continent were in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Lesotho and Senegal. Citizens in these countries were some of the most positive in the region when discussing corruption.

For the first time, people reported business executives as highly corrupt. Business ranked as having the second highest levels of corruption in the region, just below the police. The police regularly rate as highly corrupt, but the strongly negative assessment of business executives is new compared to previous surveys.

Many Africans, particularly the poor, are burdened by corruption when trying to get access to key basic services in their country. 22 per cent of people that have come into contact with a public service in the past 12 months paid a bribe.

Of the six key public services that we asked about, people who come into contact with the courts and police are the most likely to have paid a bribe. 28 per cent and 27 per cent respectively of people who had contact with these services paid a bribe. Across the continent, poor people who use public services are twice as likely as rich people to have paid a bribe, and in urban areas they are even more likely to pay bribes.

“Corruption creates and increases poverty and exclusion. While corrupt individuals with political power enjoy a lavish life, millions of Africans are deprived of their basic needs like food, health, education, housing, access to clean water and sanitation. We call on governments and judges to stop corruption, eradicate impunity and implement Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals to curb corruption. We also call on the people to demand honesty and transparency, and mobilize against corruption. It is time to say enough and unmask the corrupt,” said Transparency International Chair José Ugaz.

It is increasingly clear that citizens are a key part of any anti-corruption initiative. However, the survey finds that corruption reporting mechanisms are often seen as too dangerous, ineffective or unclear. More than 1 out of 3 Africans thinks that a whistleblower faces negative consequences for reporting corruption, which is why most people don’t report.

“Our work as civil society is clear: we have to spread a message of hope across the continent. Corruption can be tackled. People need to be given the space to stand up against it without fear of retaliation and governments need to get serious about ending the widespread impunity.”

Transparency International recommends:

– Governments strengthen and enforce legislation on corrupt business people and anti-money laundering to curb the high volume of illicit flows from the continent. This could address the negative perception of business if those profiting are held to account.
– Governments establish right to information and whistle-blower protection legislation to facilitate the role of civil society in making public institutions more transparent, accountable and corruption-free.
– Governments show a sustained and deep commitment to acting on police corruption at all levels by promoting reforms that combine punitive measures with structural changes over the short- and medium-term. Cracking down on petty bribery has direct impact on the most vulnerable in society.
– The African Union and its members provide the political will and financing needed to implement the review mechanism established for its anti-corruption convention.

Unless it’s stopped, corruption slows development and economic growth while weakening people’s trust in government and the accountability of public institutions.

Source: http://naija247news.com/2015/12/75-million-africans-paid-a-bribe-in-2014-ti-poll-says/

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

MASSOB expels Uwazuruike, appoints new leader

The leadership crisis rocking the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereignty State of Biafra (MASSOB) has taken a new dimension as the group on Monday expelled its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, over alleged corruption and deceit. This is even as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has warned traders across markets in Aba, Abia State not to open for business today (Tuesday) as they continue their protest calling for the release of the detained leader of the IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

It was gathered that IPOB members visited Ariaria International, Ngwa road, Cemetery and Ekeoha markets with public address system announcing to the traders to shut their shops. Meanwhile, announcing the expulsion of Uwazuruike, MASSOB alleged that since 1999 to 2014, members of the separatist group had contributed over N300 million cash to his account and N200 million also allegedly paid into Zenith Bank Accounts of Confidence Uwazuruike. According to them, the MASSOB leader bought houses in various locations in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as well as 28 plots being part of money contributed by MASSOB members. The group also further alleged that MASSOB members had contributed over N4 billion since its inception 16 years ago which the group alleged that Uwazuruike has converted into personal use.

In a communiqué read by newly elected National Secretary, Mr. Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwoke, at Okigwe, the MASSOB headquarters, the group said the vote of no confidence and total rejection has been passed on Uwazuruike and his leadership of MASSOB. Ugwuoke said Uwazuruike’s inability to maintain Ojukwu’s dream of Biafra Actualisation, deviation into mainstream of Nigeria politics, abandonment of Biafra struggle, using the struggle to enrich himself were some of the reasons for his expulsion from MASSOB.

He said: “The introduction of Biafra International passport was a gross and dubious means he generated about N100 million to himself. The existence of the passport without Biafra sovereignty is illegal, as many who attempted using them were landed into trouble. Today, this passport is useless to thousands of holders even Uwazuruike does not see it”. The MASSOB National Secretary noted that Uwazuruike had continued to romance with some enemies of Ndigbo which posed serious danger to the actualization of Biafra.

Source: http://dailytimes.com.ng/massob-expels-uwazuruike-appoints-new-leader/

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

RIP Jonah Lomu

HRest In Peace #Unstoppable Jonah Lomu. Gone too soon.

Liberia's Abraham M. Keita Wins International Children's Peace Prize 2015

In the presence of the world press in The Hague, the Netherlands, Abraham M. Keita received the Prize from Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, who in 2011 was the first Liberian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in Liberia's peace-building process.

Gbowee said, "It is a great honor to award the Prize. It is very special and inspiring that Keita, already at such a young age, demands that perpetrators and would be perpetrators be held accountable. I recognize in him a true change maker--fighting to end the extreme violence against children!"

In September, Keita was nominated by Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu, Patron of KidsRights and the International Children's Peace Prize, together with Aziza Rahim Zada from Afghanistan and Jeanesha Bou from Puerto Rico. Keita's tireless work as a campaigner, bringing attention to crimes against children and campaigning until the perpetrators are locked away, stood out and convinced the jury. He also played a leading role in the Liberian Children's Parliament where he successfully lobbied the Liberian Parliament to adopt the Children's Law to protect children's rights.

The KidsRights Youngsters, the group of winners of the International Children's Peace Prize, which includes Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai, congratulated Keita wholeheartedly: "We are happy to welcome Abraham to the Youngsters. Together we will continue the fight to improve children's rights and advocate for an immediate end to violence against children."

Upon receiving the Prize yesterday, Keita confirmed that their work will continue: "Together with my peers and I have successfully lobbied for children's rights laws, but they now need to be put into practice. Children worldwide are still exposed to violence and injustice while thugs often go unpunished. I want people across the globe to acknowledge that this is unacceptable and that every world citizen, whether young or old, can be an agent of change."

The International Children's Peace Prize is an initiative of KidsRights, the foundation committed to defending children's rights worldwide. The award ceremony is held annually in The Hague, the Netherlands, the international city of peace and justice.

KidsRights Report 2015 - The Silent Majority: Justice for child victims of violence

To celebrate the 11th Anniversary of the International Children's Peace Prize, the KidsRights Foundation in association with Leiden University Law School has published the report The Silent Majority: Justice for child victims of violence. The comprehensive report focuses on the rights of children as victims of violence, and how justice can be achieved to offer these children opportunities to recover and reintegrate into society, and to prevent violence against children in the future. The report can be found on KidsRights.org.

Culled by Ike Onwubuya 

Vatican arrests 2 over leaked documents

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican said Monday it had arrested a high-ranking priest and another member of a papal reform commission on suspicion of leaking confidential documents - a stunning move that comes just days before the publication of two books promising damaging revelations about the obstacles Pope Francis faces in cleaning up the Holy See's murky finances. 

The developments threatened to become a new "Vatileaks" - the 2012 scandal that began with the publication of a blockbuster book by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi detailing the corruption and mismanagement in the Holy See. The scandal ended with the conviction of Pope Benedict XVI's butler - and Benedict's resignation a year later. 

The latest arrests of two advisers hand-picked by Francis to help in his effort to overhaul Vatican finances threatened to further expose infighting and rifts surrounding the pontiff's efforts at reform and a more open church. 

Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, a Spaniard, and Francesca Chaouqui, an Italian public relations executive, had served on a now-defunct financial reform commission set up by Francis in 2013 as part of his drive to clean house at the Vatican, especially in its scandal-tainted economic affairs. 

A Vatican statement said the arrests followed a monthslong investigation and that the two had been interrogated over the weekend. It said Vallejo Balda was being held in a jail cell in Vatican City, while Chaouqui was released Monday because she was cooperating with the investigation. 

The Vatican's statement stopped short of linking the latest leaks probe to the two potential bombshell books that go on sale Thursday. 

But a clearly irritated Vatican contended publication of such exposé works risk hurting Pope Francis' clean-up drive. 

The Vatican described the books as "fruit of a grave betrayal of the trust given by the pope, and, as far as the authors go, of an operation to take advantage of a gravely illicit act of handing over confidential documentation. 

"Publications of this nature do not help in any way to establish clarity and truth, but rather generate confusion and partial and tendentious conclusions," the Vatican said, noting that "the leaking of confidential information and documents is a crime" under a law enacted in the first months of Francis' papacy. 

Nuzzi's 2012 best-seller, His Holiness, based on leaked papal correspondence detailing corruption, infighting, and intrigue in the Vatican has been cited by some as inspiring Benedict XVI's stunning resignation in 2013. 

According to the publishers, Nuzzi's new book, Merchants in the Temple: Inside Pope Francis's Secret Battle Against Corruption in the Vatican, promises to reveal "heretofore untold, unbelievable stories of scandal and corruption at the highest levels." 

"A veritable war is waging in the Catholic Church," a news release quotes Nuzzi as saying. "On one side, there is Pope Francis' strong message for one church of the poor" and on the other, "there is the opaque and aggressive power systems within the Vatican's hierarchy." 

The other book, Avarice: Documents Revealing Wealth, Scandals and Secrets of Francis' Church, is by Italian journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi. According to the publisher, the book maps out the church's financial empire, from the luxurious lives of the cardinals to the big businesses of Catholic-run hospitals in Italy.

Profile of Ogunwusi Ooni-elect - Culled by Ike Onwubuya

Profile of Ogunwusi Ooni-elect

Forty-one years ago in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, a prince was born into the Giesi Ruling House, Ojaja Royal Compound of Agbedegbede in Ile-Ife. He was named Adeyeye Enitan. 

Many years before the birth of the young prince, it was predicted that a child of prominence that would impact the lives of mankind would be born into the family at exactly 1pm. Indeed, Adeyeye came into this world at exactly 1pm on a Thursday, the 17th of October, 1974. 

With the news of the arrival of a new born prince, he was specifically named Adeyeye by his grandfather Pa. Joseph Olagbaju Adewole Ogunwusi Jnr. The name Adeyeye in English translates to ‘A Crown Befitting for a King’; Pa Ogunwusi on setting his eyes on the new born prince began to call him Adeyeye Ooni from that very day till he passed away. 

The young prince’s late mother also named him Enitan which in English translates to ‘A child of great story’.Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is the 5th direct descendant of the Giesi Ruling Family (Ooni Ojaja Orarigba – Ayikiti ninu Aran reigned form 1878-1880, he was the 44th Ooni of Ile-Ife to rule. 

He begat Adegosan Adewole Ogunwusi, who was an extremely powerful prince in Ile-Ife and a war veteran that never lost any battle for Ile-Ife and the Yoruba race. He begat Pa Joseph Olagbaju Adewole Ogunwusi (Jnr.), a very bold prince who took after his father. 

He begat Prince John Oluropo Ogunwusi, a radio and television anchor and star presenter that spanned the entire mid-1980s to early 21st century in the South-Western part of Nigeria. He begat Prince Adeyeye Enitan. 

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was quietly delivered into the humble family of Prince Ropo and late Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi (Ile Opa family compound, Ile-Ife). Like the proverb, “A golden fish has no hiding place”, young prince Ogunwusi’s excellence and outstanding acumen would soon start to announce it for the world to see. 

Prince Adeyeye is best described as an astute entrepreneur driven by turning impossibilities to ‘possibilities’. The Young Prince’s power of imagination has set him aside, hence, revolutionizing his approach to creativity and innovation. He is a distinct achiever with the conscience of youthful excellence. 

The ambitious young Prince with exceptional business ideas delved into Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) locally and abroad for over 12 years. He is also actively involved in the development of over 2,500 housing units with various consortia of developers within the last 8 years. 

In Nigeria, he set up and fostered strong trade relationships through the Association for International Business (AIB) with presence in over 200 member countries across the globe. One of the laudable achievements of this body includes the trade facilitation between the United Arab Emirates (Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone Development) and the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). 

Furthermore, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi led the Government delegation to Canada in 2002 that promoted strategic alliances through a partnership with the Ondo State Government on solid mineral (Bitumen, Dimension Stones, Granite, etc.) potentials of the state, which gave rise to the formation of the ‘Amalgamated Mining and Exploration Company Limited’ – wholly owned by the Ondo State Government. 

In addition, he facilitated the development of Sparkwest Steel Galvanizing Plant (the only steel Galvanizing Plant in Nigeria), National Iron Ore Mining Company Limited and Jakura Mines resuscitation projects, which has eventually become the major limestone feedstock to Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Nigeria. 

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was involved in the trading and marketing of commodities as the main facilitator for Dangote Group’s break into the ‘up-country supply chain consortium’ between 1996 and 1999. To mention a few, he also traded for Dohagro Allied, Global Apex, Olam, Clemco, Stallion Group and Milan Group at about the same period. 

This was where he gained his expertise in marketing which till date is one of his core strengths. He also facilitated the biggest Lead and Aluminum recycling plant set up in Nigeria by the National Steel Company of India in Ota, Ogun State. 

In 2002 Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was able to revitalize the processing of rice and setting them into different groups and sub categories. In addition he was able to donate rice and tilling equipments to the Oyo and Ogun State chapters of the “Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria”. 

The Young Prince was a major force in propagating the Ofada rice production; which was made possible under the chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Wodi of the “Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria”. 

The industrious Prince began his strides in the Real Estate sector with various dredging and land reclamation projects in Lagos State. Prince Adeyeye is the initiator of Essential Homes, a real estate product launched in January 2014, formed to deliver affordable upscale homes to middle and low income earners. 

The 1st phase of the product (the Southpointe Estate, Lafiaji Road-Lekki, Lagos State) started in February 2014 and has been successfully delivered within a year with approximately 60% occupancy recorded. 

This attests to the huge market demand and acceptability of the Essential Homes brand. He also led the team that developed the prestigious Northpointe Estate Phases I, II, III and Midland Court on Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos. 

In addition, Prince Adeyeye has successfully undertaken numerous multi-billion Naira projects across Lagos and its environs; Jacob Mews Estate Yaba, Lakeview Park I and II Estate Lekki, the ongoing Golden Leaf Estate, Lekki and Grand Lake Estate Ajah, Lagos. 

The Lord’s Estate which is in partnership with Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, the piling of Lagos Home (a residential project powered by Lagos State Government), Ilubirin, Lagos and the upcoming Ife Grand Resort and Leisure. 

Prince Adeyeye has a clear track record of community development starting with his home town. Four years ago, during the occasion of his Mum’s funeral, the community was without any form of electricity. The Prince embarked on a ‘Power Project’ to install transformers and light poles that generated electricity which till date is serving the good people of that community. 

This ‘Power project’ was also extended to the other parts of the town. The Lafiaji community, off Orchid Hotel road, Lekki – Epe expressway, Lagos also benefitted from his community development projects with the opening up and reconstruction of 6.5km road, with a 1.1km green extension without Government intervention. He also made possible the electrification of this whole stretch powered by his company, Gran Imperio Group. 

Within a year, to actualize his dream of the development of one of the best resorts in Nigeria, he led a team that opened up a remote jungle called Inagbe Island in Amuwo-Odofin LGA, Lagos. 

His vision and creativity transformed Inagbe Island into a whole new community offering world class relaxation and recreational facilities. The multi-billion Naira Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure, Lagos, Nigeria is the first of its kind in the whole of West Africa bounded by the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. With this feat, he is set to increase the country’s GDP through tourism and reduce unemployment by providing direct and indirect employment. 

At the launch of this magnificent project in December 2013, The Managing Director of First Bank plc., Mr.Bisi Onasanya, told The National Newspaper(published on December 13,2013) that tourism remain a veritable means of entrepreneurship and a source of revenue for Nigeria. Hence, it should be given necessary support. 

At the unveiling of the signage of the resort, Mr Bisi Onasanya said” It is a shame to some of us that we have waited this long for a younger person to come and wake us up and show us what we are able to do.” 

Prince Adeyeye is very passionate about people and their pursuit of happiness. Alongside his vibrant personality, he is very down to earth and enjoys being in the midst of his workers. He celebrates and dances with them, dines with them, cracks jokes and of course gets on the work grind with them. 

Early this year, Prince Adeyeye disclosed his plans to take Ile-Ife to greater heights by rebranding the ancient town and replicating the Grand Resort in Ile-Ife, having already acquired a good land mass for the project. On the 7th of March 2015, Prince Adeyeye was a recipient of the prestigious NIDSA (National Ife Descendant Students’ Association) GOLD AWARD for 2015 on the occasion of the Ife Day celebration. 

He is a grassroot fellow to the core, whose humility is second to none and a lover of youths. As a philanthropist, Prince Adeyeye has sponsored numerous less privileged children and youths in his hometown of Ile-Ife and likewise in Lagos where he lives. 

Many youths till date are beneficiaries of Prince Adeyeye’s scholarship platform. 

Prince Adeyeye is currently an employer of over 300 indigenous youths at the Inagbe Cocowood Factory-Essential Homes Furniture brand, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria using 100% indigenous raw materials for production. He has over 450 direct employees across his various companies and over 3000 indirect employees. 

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is a Director on the Board of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes) which is a leading National Mortgage Bank and former subsidiary of one of the biggest banks in Africa; GTBank plc. 

He is also a Director at Fina Trust Microfinance Bank Limited; one of Nigeria’s foremost Microfinance Banks focusing on SMEs and micro credit facilities. He is the founder and Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group, which is the holding company of his Real Estate and Construction, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Leisure and Tourism companies in Nigeria. 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND & FAMILY LIFE Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi attended Sobuola Memorial Nursery and primary school, Ibadan and completed his primary school education at Ibadan District Council (IDC), Akobo, Ibadan. 

He then attended the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan in 1985, led by Reverend G.B Daramola, the principal of the college. He later proceeded to Ile Ife at Saint Peter’s Secondary School, Omi Okun, Ile Ife led by Late Johnson Adebisi. 

He holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Polytechnic Ibadan, where he started cutting his teeth in outstanding entrepreneurship, even as a student. 

To mention a few, the royal prince of Ile-Ife (the source) is a member of some dignified professional bodies namely; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Accounting Technician and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Nigeria. He is also an active member of the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI) having participated at various levels. 

He is married to Adedokun Adebisi Ogunwusi and blessed with a daughter, Adeola Aanuoluwapo Ogunwusi. 

To be a Prince in Yoruba land in itself is outstanding. However, to be a prince of the source, Ile-Ife, the Cradle of Civilizations is to be truly blue-blooded. The young Prince is very passionate about what he believes in; people and possibilities and thus has achieved giant stride from his very youthful age. 

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi over the years has fostered numerous remarkable partnerships with dignified Royal Fathers of Lagos(Yoruba Land) in some of his Real Estate developments; HRM Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, Elegushi of Ikate Land, Lagos(Development of Lake View Park 2, Lafaji, Off Orchid Hotel Road, Lekki-Epe expressway), HRM the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, (development of Northpointe Estate, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos), HRM Oba Oyekan, Onilado of Ilado-lnagbe Island, Lagos(Development of Inagbe Grand Resorts and leisure, Lagos), HRM Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, The Oranmiyan Osile Oke Ona of Egba Land, Abeokuta (development of the Lord’s Estate, Buckswood College Abeokuta), HRM Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu, The Oloworo of Oworonsoki, Lagos (partners in the proposed Oworonsoki Redevelopment Scheme, Lagos), HRM Oba Akinloye, Ojomu of Ajiran Land, Lekki – a host to several developments which Prince Adeyeye has embarked on. HRM Olofa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi (partnership during the rice and sugar merchandising for Dangote Group and others). 

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is indeed a highly dignified man, fearless and daring, a self-made man who not only has passion for his home town but for his country as a whole. He has forged respectable alliances with some of the most esteemed Royal fathers, leaders and kings of our time. 

It is without doubt that the young prince of Ile –Ife through his vision to impact the lives of everyone around him and his fervent passion for humanity has broken grounds as an investor in people and a preservationist of the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife. He is loved and highly admired by the people of Ile-Ife and importantly, he remains in tune with his roots and tradition.

Package Yourself - Humour

BTo Package urself no be crime....

NEW JOB TITLES:

*Gardener: Landscape Executive Officer (LEO)

*House Maid : House Upkeep Manager (HUM)

*Receptionist : Office Access Control Manager(OACM)

*Typist : Printed Document Handler (PDH)

*Messenger : Business Communications Conveyor Specialist (BCCS)

*Window Cleaner : Transparent Wall Technician (TWT)

*Temporary Teacher : Associate Tutor (AT)

*Tea Boy : Refreshment Specialist (RS)

*Garbage Collector : Public Sanitation Engineer (PSE)

*Watchman : Theft Prevention & Surveillance Officer (TPSO)

*Thief : Wealth re-Distribution Expert (WrDE)

*Driver : Automobile Propulsion Specialist (APS)

*Maid : Domestic Operations Specialist (DOS)

*Employee without Portfolio : Administration Manager (AM)

*Bus Conductor:Chief Exit Officer(CEO)

*Cook : Gastrointestina l Nourishment Management Executive(GNMO)

*Barber: Dead Scalp Cells Removal Specialist (DSCRS) 

Do Not Forget 

*Unemployed : Town Surveyor (TS)

*Gossip : Research & Communications Manager (RCM).

*Bad Belle pple: Research, Analysis & Criticism Specialist (RACS)

*Local Drunk: Alcohol Testing & Maintenance Executive (ATME)

*Mechanic: Automotive Fault Tracing & Correction Engineer (AFTCE)

*Tailor: Couture Fabrication Specialist (CFS)

 Wealth re-Distribution Consultant (IWDC)

Enjoy your day. Ike Onwubuya

India hosts biggest Africa summit

India hosts its biggest-ever Africa summit this week as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to challenge China’s dominance on a continent that is blessed with vast natural resources and has the world’s fastest-growing population.

The national capital wants to project its soft power and historical ties to Africa, in contrast to China’s focus on resource extraction and capital investment that has sparked a backlash in some countries against Beijing’s mercantilist expansion. 

Of the 54 countries invited, more than 40 to be represented by their heads of state and government who, after a series of ministerial meetings, will hold a full summit on Thursday. India’s trading ties with Africa date back to antiquity and both found common cause in the struggle against colonial rule. Yet India’s influence faded over the course of the Cold War as it withdrew into non-aligned isolation. Now Modi, self-styled chief salesman of a “Make in India” export drive, wants to capitalise on an economic slowdown in China to highlight the country as an alternative partner for trade and investment.

“India is the fastest-growing major economy. Africa is experiencing rapid growth too,” Modi told African journalists on the eve of the summit. Although India’s headline economic growth has overtaken China’s, its economy is one-fifth the size and it lacks the financial heft to challenge Beijing in a head-to-head contest for the African market.

“We can’t match the Chinese in terms of resources - but any engagement we do with the Africans at least gives them a choice,” said C Raja Mohan, a foreign policy commentator at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. The India-Africa Forum Summit is the third of its kind and, since the first was held in 2008, two-way annual trade has more than doubled to $72 billion. That lags trade between China and Africa, which has exploded to $200 billion as the world’s number 2 economy sucks in oil, coal and metals to feed its industrial machine. 

The world’s largest democracy has been criticised by human rights groups for inviting Omar al-Bashir, the president of oil-rich Sudan wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

Exploitation and extraction

For India, business comes first. State-run oil company ONGC, which has fields in Sudan and South Sudan, is on the hunt to buy $12 billion in foreign assets over the next three years and has identified Africa as an investment target. India is also in talks with South Africa to buy coal mines producing up to 90 million tonnes of coking coal each year to feed its growing steel industry. 

South Africa is already a major coal supplier to India. Still, India wants its involvement in Africa to be less transactional than China’s, seeking a development partnership for two regions that account for a third of the world’s people, but seven in 10 of those living in poverty.

“Our partnership is not focused on an exploitative or extraction point of view, but is one that focuses on Africa’s needs and India’s strengths,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesman for the Indian ministry of external affairs. Trade ministers from India and Africa are looking to make common cause at a World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Nairobi next month, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. 

Although India dropped its veto against a WTO deal to streamline customs procedures a year ago, it remains uneasy over Western pressure on food stockpiling it says is vital to ensure its 1.25 billion people don’t go hungry. “India and Africa are on the same page,” Sitharaman told reporters.

Culled by Ike Onwubuya 

Boko Haram: Chief Of Army Staff Disagrees With Buhari Over Deadline

Contrary to reports by Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, that the war against Boko Haram may not end by December, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen Tukur Buratai has said that the deadline remains intact.

President Buhari, had through Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), expressed fears over the deadline he had given to flush out the insurgents, but Buratai has informed that the military has stepped up the battle against the terrorists.

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Major-Genreal Tukur Buratai is in sharp disagreement with President Muhammadu Buhari over December deadline on Boko Haram

Speaking during his visit to officers and soldiers of the 3 Division, Nigerian Army Jos, on Sunday, the COAS said that the tempo of the operation, the number of troops and the equipment being employed by his men, have all increased.

“Our strategy and operational plans have continued to evolve with the daily challenges that we have,” he added.

According to Vanguard, Buratai however, expressed worries over the increased spate of bombings by the group in some cities, especially on soft targets, in the last two weeks, but remains optimistic that the army, in conjunction with other security agencies would soon be able to quickly find a solution to the spate of bombings.

While commending the soldiers in the battle front for a job well done so far, he peladed with Nigerians to fully support the fight by providing useful information to security agencies, while also adding that his vision remains to reposition the army and make it more professional and more responsive to its responsibilities.

Only yesterday, the Nigerian president sent a delegation to troubled Adamawa and Borno to commiserate with them over the recent spate of bombings in their states.

Posted by Ike Onwubuya

Two Arik Air Aircrafts Collide

Two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft belonging to Arik Air were grounded by the carrier on Tuesday afternoon after they were involved in a ground collision on the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

According to the airline, nobody was hurt in the incident, which occurred at the General Aviation Terminal of the airport.

Arik Air’s spokesperson, Mr. Ola Adebanji, said the incident happened when one of the aircraft was on its way to embark on a scheduled flight.

He said the aircraft’s wing brushed that of another plane belonging to the carrier, adding that the situation was adequately handled by the firm’s team.

Adebanji said in a statement, “Two of our aircraft, Boeing 737-800NG, were this (Tuesday) afternoon involved in a wing-tip brush at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

“One of the aircraft, 5N-MJP, was marshalled out of the ramp for a scheduled flight when its wing brushed that of another aircraft, 5N-MJQ, parked on the ramp. There were no incidences as the safety of passengers was not jeopardised. We have grounded the two aircraft and are looking into the incident.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, told our correspondent that it was compulsory for the airline to file a Mandatory Occurrence Reporting with the agency, telling it of the incident.

Although he stated that he had not been briefed of the incident as of the time of filing this report, Adurogboye stated that it was expected of the carrier to report the incident to the NCAA for appropriate action

He said, “It is an incident. Once there is a disruption in a flight operation, which does not involve damage to the aircraft or fatalities, then it is an incident. Once you operate an aircraft, there are bound to be incidences and the regulation requires that they file the report of any incidence with the NCAA immediately by telephone and putting it in writing thereafter.

“So, they are bound to call us within the hour. Our people will now be sent to ascertain the incident and if it is something that is worth maintenance, we will ensure that after it is done, we recertify the aircraft before they return to operation. That is the regulation.”

Posted by Ike Onwubuya 

Copyright PUNCH.

Meet Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau

Justin Trudeau, the dashing eldest son of political legend Pierre Trudeau, has ushered in Canada’s first political dynasty with a stunning come-from-behind victory. But the new prime minister’s win may owe as much to voters’ fatigue with the outgoing government as to the legacy of his father.

The younger Trudeau defeated Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Monday’s elections, ending a nine-year reign that had shifted Canada politically to the right.

The victory comes just weeks after Trudeau’s Liberal Party was running third in the polls, behind Harper’s Conservatives and Thomas Mulcair’s center-left New Democratic Party.

Both Mulcair and Harper had taunted the athletic Trudeau, 43, in campaign ads that referred to him as “Justin” and made fun of his “nice hair.” Critics said he was too young and inexperienced to become prime minister.

[Trudeau leads a Liberal landslide in stunning election victory]

But Trudeau ran a tireless 78-day campaign based on change and optimism at a time when many frustrated voters wanted “anyone but Harper.” Trudeau, a former schoolteacher, ran on a centrist platform, to the left of the Conservatives but to the right of the NDP. He also benefited from many Canadians’ fond memories of his father, a public intellectual who was prime minister from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.

“The reason he got the job of leadership is the same reason Hillary [Clinton] and Jeb Bush can run — name recognition,” said Nelson Wiseman, director of the Canadian Studies Program at the University of Toronto. “He is personable. He is a family man. He has three kids. That is appealing. But he doesn’t have much gravitas. He is an intellectual lightweight compared with his father.”

Canadians wanted Harper out. He was accused of being stiff, autocratic and out of touch with Canadian values on environmental issues, race and immigration.

Harper, 56, who was seeking a fourth term, had made a controversial push to prohibit use of the niqab, a face veil worn by some Muslim women, at Canadian citizenship ceremonies. Many Canadians were also upset at Harper’s reluctance to accept refugees from Syria. The government said at the start of this year that it would accept 10,000 Syrian refugees over three years. But only a fraction of that number have been admitted.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien wrote in a column published in the Globe and Mail and other Canadian newspapers that Harper’s stance on the refugee crisis created an international impression of Canada as a “cold-hearted” nation. “What has happened to the country that was a model for peace and stability in a tumultuous world?” Chrétien wrote that he is frequently asked.

Trudeau had called for the government to accept 25,000 refugees.

The Conservatives also were hurt by recent political scandals, including one involving a senator on trial over fraud suspicions.

“Two-thirds of Canadian voters said the Conservatives lost the moral authority to govern,” Wiseman said. “The election revolved around one issue: Do you want to keep the government of Harper or not.”

Harper had called in August for the election, thinking a longer campaign and a bigger Conservative Party budget would wear down the Liberals and the NDP. Very few predicted a Liberal victory. But days before the election, polls showed a Liberal surge. The party wound up capturing 184 seats, enough to form a majority government.

Trudeau becomes Canada’s second-youngest prime minister. The youngest was Joe Clark, of the Progressive Party, who took office in 1979, a day before his 40th birthday.

During his victory speech, delivered in French and English, Trudeau told a cheering crowd in Montreal: “Lots of people will have lots of opinions about why we were successful.”

Against the backdrop of a Canadian flag, Trudeau said his campaign had simply used an old-fashioned political strategy.

“We met with and talked with as many Canadians as we could,” he said. “We won this election because we listened. We met with hundreds of people in the dead of winter in the Arctic and people in the middle of Brampton. You built this platform; you built this movement. . . .

“You told us it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet and to get ahead. You told us you were concerned about your retirement. . . . I am not the one who made history tonight. You are.”

[Quiz: What do you actually know about Canada?]

Not once during the nearly 30-minute speech did he mention his father by name. Under Pierre Trudeau, Canada officially became a bilingual country. The elder Trudeau had pushed for multiculturalism, a constitutional bill of rights known as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the end of provisions that gave the British Parliament a say in Canada’s laws and constitution.

Posted By Ike Onwubuya

Source  - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/meet-canadas-new-prime-minister-justin-trudeau/2015/10/20/41dea584-772a-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html