Operatives of the Department of State Security Services, today, arrested and detained Deputy Editor of The SUN newspapers, at the venue of the ongoing National Conference, raising eyebrow amongst the delegates who condemned it. The arrest almost disrupted the proceedings of the conference.
The editor, who is one of the accredited newsmen covering proceedings at the confab holding at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, was picked up at about 2pm and whisked to their office within the NJI. He was detained for over 30 minutes but eventually released after some journalists besieged the area, where he was being detained.
Nwosu told his colleagues after his release that though the authenticity of the report on which he was arrested could not be faulted, but that his captors said that they were embarrassed by the report because they were queried by their superiors and the Presidency over the ugly scuffle which reportedly took place on Tuesday.
The action of the DSS operatives was condemned by delegates with Mr., Niyi Akintola (SAN) raising a point of order when the plenary resumed after break. He warned that in a democratic dispensation, it was wrong for security operatives to infringe on the rights of a journalist who was carrying out his legitimate responsibilities.
According to him, the era of abuse of human rights must not be revisited in the present democratic dispensation.
His submission was supported by other delegates who condemned the action of DSS operatives.
A delegate representing the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, also condemned the arrest and detention when he took Nwosu to meet the leader of the SSS team at the confab venue.
The Deputy Chairman of the Conference and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Adeyemi, warned security agencies to respect the rights of people who were carrying out their lawful duties.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to completely stop the advertisement of tobacco products in Nigeria with strict restrictions on cigarette smokers, especially in public.
Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu who disclosed this shortly after the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council (FEC) today, said that the Council approved a bill which seeks to ban tobacco advertisements and impose a 6- month jail term and/ or 50,000 naira fine on people who smoke in areas which will be designated as non smoking areas. “The bill is to protect Nigerians against the harmful effects of tobacco. We know that tobacco is dangerous. Tobacco is the cause of many deaths and many illnesses. There are four main non communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory disorder and diabetics. Tobacco alone causes three out of these four illnesses- Tobacco causes cardiovascular diseases. It is known to cause heart attacks, hypertension and stroke. Tobacco, indeed, causes cancer, cancer of various organs, especially cancer of the lungs. Tobacco is the cause for chronic respiratory disease “We have done surveys in Nigeria. In 2008, Nigeria conducted the global youth tobacco survey and the youth that were surveyed were between the ages of 13 to 15 and in that survey, it clearly showed that 15 per cent of our children between the ages of 13 and 15 were already smokers and 55 per cent of our children between the ages of 13 and 15 were exposed as passive smokers.” The minister said that even among adults, ten percent of men spoke in Nigeria and that one out of every ten Nigerian male adult smoke, even as among the women, it is 1.1 per cent.
“If you combine it in term of men and women, almost six per cent of all adults in Nigeria smoke or use tobacco products apart from 20 per cent of those who did not smoke but exposed as passive smokers.” Professor Chukwu said that the bill, if passed by the National Assembly, will also impose a fine of between one million to five million naira on companies that advertise tobacco products in the country. The owners of such companies, he said, will also risk a jail term of between one to two years. “The major ingredient of the bill is that there are stiff penalties for individuals. For instance, individuals who fall foul of what will eventually become the National Tobacco Control Act 2014, may pay fine of between N50,000; that is for someone who goes to a place clearly designated non smoking area. The judge could either give you an option of fine or combine it with imprisonment of up to six months, whereas, for companies, it varies from N1 million to as much as N5 million. Imprisonment of owners of those companies could vary from one to two years.”
The minister said that the areas that are being targeted, include the environment, saying: “we want to produce hundred percent tobacco free environment for people who do not want anything to do with tobacco.”
Professor Onyebuchi said that a fund to be known as the Tobacco Control Fund will be established by the bill to be funded by Federal and State governments as well as individuals. “The bill also proposes to ban every form of sponsorship by any tobacco company of any public event. When government is doing anything, they cannot sponsor, whether in sports or seminars. “We will not accept gifts from them. If a tobacco company wants to build school, we will reject but we will accept when they have stopped producing and selling.”
Earlier this week, Nigeria ascended to the position of Africa’s largest economy following a recalculation of its GDP by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. The long overdue exercise (the last one was in 1990) nearly doubled the country’s economy pushing GDP up to $510bn from $270bn. There is a general consensus among economic analysts and commentators that the changes are merely cosmetic — they certainly do not affect the daily lives of most average Nigerians, and their timing might be politically motivated given the upcoming 2015 elections which are expected to be highly contested. However, from the perspective of managers and CEOs operating in Nigeria, there are some important implications.
First, there will be some changes in the competitive landscape. Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala mentioned the “psychological impact” of the announcement on foreign investors. Before the announcement, the stock market capitalization to GDP ratio for Nigeria was 33%, compared to 270% for South Africa. Post announcement, the ratio is 18%. Emerging market investors looking for upside potential in Africa will look at those numbers with interest. At the same time, inbound foreign direct investment into Africa may become more comfortable with basing operations in Nigeria or using the country as an entry point into Africa. The result for managers presently in Nigeria is that they will likely face more competition for assets and human capital. To succeed, they will increasingly need to craft a differentiated strategy based on superior knowledge of the Nigerian market.
In providing a better picture of the Nigerian economy’s constitution, the rebasing calculations also highlight the growing importance the Nigerian (and African) consumer. Before the rebase, oil and gas represented 32% of the economy; under the new set of data it contributed 14%. Much of the balance comes from previously unreported, consumer-driven sectors. For example Nigeria’s Nollywood film, music, and mobile phone industries have experienced rapid growth over the past decade. Managers that can develop disruptive strategies to tap into this booming consumer market will place themselves in a good position for success in Nigeria. They will need to innovate on platforms for marketing and distribution in order to overcome the persistent infrastructural challenges that the country faces.
Finally, Nigeria’s rise to the position of Africa’s largest economy provides the perfect sales pitch for raising foreign capital and recruiting foreign talent. Managers and CEOs launching new ventures should exploit the opportunity market to attract new investors with relatively low familiarity to the Nigerian market. They should also take measures to build their talent pipeline by marketing aggressively to well-educated diaspora members and foreign talent abroad.
Nigeria’s GDP rebasing can indeed be considered an exercise in window dressing. But it also provides the perfect opportunity for companies already operating in the country to pause and rethink their strategy for long-term success in what will be a very important market for Africa and the world.
Bryan Chidubem Mezue is a member of the Forum for Growth and Innovation, a Harvard Business School think tank developing and refining theory around disruptive innovation. Follow him on Twitter at @bcmezue.
Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 6.39 million vehicles worldwide over a defect of its steering, spiral cable and other components, the carmaker said today.
The carmaker said in a statement that it announced five recalls involving 27 models, including Corolla, Yaris and Tacoma, the Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia, for 6.76 vehicles.
According to Toyota, since a few models are involved in more than one recall, the total number of vehicles affected by the five recalls is 6.39 million units.
Toyota said that of the 6.76 million, about 3.5 million vehicles were being recalled to replace the spiral cable assembly attached to the driver’s side airbag module.
The carmaker was also recalling 2.32 million cars to look into seat rails of three-door models and 760,000 units due to a possible steering defect. About 160,000 Toyota Ractis vehicles in Japan are being recalled to replace the windshield wiper motors.
In Hong Kong and Japan, Toyota is recalling 20,000 cars to replace engine starter relays and the engine starter motor. It said that the carmaker has received two reports of relay fires for this problem.
It, however, said the carmaker was not aware of any crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by these conditions. Of the 6.76 million vehicles, 2.3 million units are recalled in North America, 1.39 million in Japan, 810,000 in Europe and 310,500 in Australia.
It is the second largest recall for Toyota after the carmaker recalled 7.43 million vehicles in October 2012
Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the redeployment of some permanent secretaries. The redeployment, according to a statement from the office of Head of Civil Service, Bukar Goni Aji, has just been endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
In the new system, Linus Awute, formerly in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (General Services Office) moves to the Ministry of Health with Malam Mohammed B. Bukar, who was the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Special Duties) replaces him in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (General Services Office).
Also, Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs, is to be in-charge of the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology; while Rabi S. Jimeta formerly in the Federal Ministry of Science & technology is to administer the Federal Ministry of Environment. Taye Haruna has been transferred from the Federal Ministry of Environment to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs.
According to statement from the Director of Communications in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Tope Ajakaiye, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, directed that all handing and taking over should be completed on or before next week Wednesday.
Chelsea Football Club and its fans across the world went wild on Tuesday night when it sent out tough Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge in London in the European Champions League quarter-final second leg. Chelsea needed two goals to overcome the 1-3 first leg loss to hit the semi-final and at the end of the match Tuesday night, it recorded a goal in each half, giving an aggregate of 3-3 result. It qualified via the away goal rule. Chelsea star began to shine when Schurrle, who replaced injured Hazard, netted the opener in the 32nd minute. A long throw from Ivanovic on the right, a flick on by the head of David Luiz, and a calm first-time finish from 12 yards by Schurrle as the ball dropped onto his right foot did the magic. A substitute, Demba Ba struck again in the 87th minute to seal the Blues’ qualification. A long ball into the box had met back Azpilicueta, whose 20-yard shot deflected across the box. Ba, lurking at the far post, reacted quicker than Maxwell and dragged it over Sirigu from six yards. With that goal, the Londoners zoomed into the semi-final of Europe’s most glamorous club competition. In the other second leg quarterfinal, Real Madrid survived Borussia Dortmund’s scare to secure a place in the semi-finals. They lose 0-2 but came on top of the German side on 3-2 aggregate.
A budden musician, Zainab Sule got proceedings going with one of her new singles, “Fire Down Below” at the Guest Writer Session, the flagship event of the Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF) on March 29. It was a good teaser to set the mood for an encounter with fun and excitement and it was evident her performance was enthralling as the audience sat transfixed, gazes locked at her like the future depended on their picking out every word of her lines and guitar strumming. A situation that would repeat itself when she came back in between the writers to run through a couple of her songs. The sobering highpoint of the evening came when Lagos-based Olayinka Oyegbile, a widely travelled and multiple award-winning journalist, read from his book, “Home AwayFrom Home.” He described the book in a recent interview as “my offering to making Nigeria a great nation as some of the ones I have visited.” Though the book is solely about the history of the Ogbomosho people in Jos, the scope turns out to be far beyond that. It actually tells the sorry story of the collapse of the inter-ethnic harmony that existed among Nigerians who had lived together in peace for so many years. The book chronicles the arrival of Ogbomosho people in Jos, their settlement there over the centuries, the peace, love and unity they enjoyed as they lived with, did business and mingled with the indigenes and other settler-tribes. However, tribal and religious differences suddenly crept into the picture and turned erstwhile friends, neighbours and brothers into sworn enemies. He recalled that in his days as a little child in Jos, his Christian family bonded so well with their Muslim neighbours that they would sometimes follow them to the mosques and the friends would also follow them to churches. Oyegbile decried that such a scenario is impossible in the city today, with the incessant religious and tribal fights that have erupted over the years, claiming thousands of lives and reducing the city into a theatre of violence. According to Oyegbile, his father got to Jos before the amalgamation in 1914 that gave birth to Nigeria. At the time he left Ogbomosho, the father, he said, was too young to pay tax. He settled in Jos, worked there for decades and paid his taxes to the Plateau state government. By the time he returned to Ogbomosho, he was too old to pay any taxes. In spite of his father’s loyalty to Plateau state however, Oyegbile said if he wants a scholarship, he would have to go and apply for it in Oyo state. This, he said, often makes him wonder if indeed we are ready to live as one nation. Oyegbile did not only paint a picture of the grim situation, he also proffered solutions to the strained relations between Nigeria’s ethnic and religious groups. He advised that citizens be educated on the gains of peaceful co-existence; recommended the prosecution of criminals who are caught in the act of sectional aggression and the development of the right political will by our leaders, towards mending the broken relations among the various divides of the Nigerian people. The audience had earlier savoured poems from Iruesiri Samson Kukogho’s debut collection: “What Can Words Do?” Samson said of the title of his collection, that he derived it from the importance that words play in our daily lives as humans. “I have seen words start and also end war; words have broken marriages and mended broken hearts,” he said. The question of what words can do, he said, is to bring to the consciousness of the reader, the importance of the words we speak and is one that everyone should ask themself often so as to guard their choice of words when they speak to others as they have the potential to hurt and heal, give life and also kill. From the themes, Samson explores in the poems in his collection, it is obvious that he is motivated by true-life experiences and is also driven to add his voice to issues of social justice and the general enhancement of society. His voice rails against rape, violence against women and social disorders. His passion for the family institution is also clearly depicted. “Society is being torn apart because families are collapsing,” he lamented. The poet emphasized that the more we lose the family, the more we lose our society and called for a show of concern by all citizens, especially parents whom he advised not to let the proper upbringing of their children and the responsibility to show them love and care, suffer because of the search for daily bread. After the writers did their bit, Zainab Sule took her turn with a set of enthralling songs. The Unijos graduate of Mathematics and web designer proved why she is referred to as Nigeria’s queen of soft rock. After the performance, Zainab told a member of the audience who sought to know how long she took to perfect her handling of the guitar that she started playing the instrument in 2001 when she was a student at the University of Jos. She said that she did a lot of online study on how to play the guitar which has paid off with her ability today. Zainab’s sounds have been referred to as a “mixture of Tracy Chapman and Avril Lavigne, mixed with a touch of soul.” A collection of beauty and talent, when she is not writing songs, or on some musical tour somewhere, she works as a consultant to some major companies under her company name and alter ego, Pishon Designs. Maiden graduates of the Abuja Writers’ Forum Creative Writing Workshop Advanced Set collected their certificates, while some members of the audience won free books from a raffle-draw, and the three guests were given mementoes. The Guest Writer Session, which started in June 2008, holds at the prestigious Nanet Suites located at the Central Business District in Abuja, and runs from 4-7pm on the last Saturday of every month. The Abuja Writers’ Forum is a community of writers and book lovers. The forum creates opportunities for writers to develop their skills, helps in promoting and celebrating established and upcoming writers and also developing the book culture among Nigerians.
Lyorngurum is a Poet, Writer, Editor and the Secretary of the Abuja Writers’ Forum.
Nigeria with her population of 160 million-plus is at the door-step of a major disaster-the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) unless by some miracle it steers away it’s course or we take deliberate policies and actions that shut our door against it. Ebola is a cruel disease. It kills easily but painfully. It also spreads easily. One person infected by the virus can infect the entire passengers in a bus or a passenger aircraft. What is the Ebola Virus Disease? The World Health Organization (WHO) describes it as a “severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain,headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.” As of April 5, the World Health Organization reported 127 cases of Ebola, of whom 86 people have died in Guinea. The current wave of outbreak is believed to have originated from that country. As of this date, Liberia has reported six suspected cases, two confirmed deaths. On April 3, Mali reported three suspected cases. Sierra Leone has equally reported possible cases although WHO has reported no confirmations. In reaction to these incidents, many countries have taken various measures to shield their populations from the EVD attacks. Saudi Arabia has taken their preventive measures by blocking visas for Guinea and Liberia. Morocco early last week announced extra health screening measures at entry points to the country, in particular, Casablanca airport. Senegal has closed its border with Guinea. Also last week, participants at the 16th International Congress on Infectious Diseases called for joint efforts by West African Governments to contain the spread of the disease. So far, our government in Nigeria has been giving assurances that there are no reported cases. No alarm has been raised, which is good because while there is need for measures in place to avert the EVD spread, governments have a responsibility to ensure that they don’t create panic situations. This then calls for carefully designed strategies to mobilize the population in a way that is effective. You also have to deal with the problem of the credibility of the informant. In this country, as in many others, it has become fashionable for sometime, for health authorities and multilateral agencies to issue frequent warnings about this or that outbreak of disease or some so-called research such that it has become impossible to take them seriously. Too much of such warnings have left the population generally confused. Crying wolf too often ensures that there will be little or no vigilance when the actual threat comes. This is the unfortunate situation our authorities must take into cognizance in dealing with the work of public enlightenment concerning the EVD spread. Although we are fortunate that we have not recorded a single case so far, but we still need to be aware and steadfast. Information is power. Once government provides the necessary awareness, it will trigger efforts among the population to protect themselves. WHO encourages countries to strengthen surveillance, “including surveillance for illness compatible with EVD, and to carefully review any unusual patterns, in order to ensure identification and reporting of human infections under IHR (2005), and encourages countries to continue national health preparedness actions.” The WHO requests these critical practices in outbreak communication: Build trust: Build positive public perceptions of the motives, honesty, and competence of authorities. Announce Early: Early announcement contributes to early containment and transparency. Be transparent: Foster communication that is candid, easily understood, complete and accurate. Respect public concerns: Effective risk communication is a dialogue between technical experts and public; do not describe how the public “should react.” Plan in advance: outbreak communication must be part of outbreak management planning from the onset. The Ebola virus, according to medical authorities, is spread through contact with body fluids, such as the sweat, blood, and saliva of an infected person or animal. According to Google, Doctors say the only way to contain the outbreak is to stop further infections. And to avoid the infection, people are generally advised to avoid handshakes, bush meat, travel to areas with suspected outbreaks and to avoid contacts with people who have the infection. Nigeria must in addition step up surveillance at all points of entry. So far, those countries affected have, with international help, managed their crises fairly well. A country with our type of near-absence of public order would have witnessed a reign of chaos.
Nigerian entertainer turned politician, Tony Muonagor, popularly known as Tony One Week, has come a long way in the entertainment industry. Since making his Nollywood debut in 1998, Tony One Week has conquered the three major genres of entertainment in Nigeria: comedy, acting and music. Now a politician, Tony One Week, who is currently a minority leader in the Anambra State House of Assembly, is encouraging more entertainers to venture into politics. In this interview with NET, the Anambra State-born entertainer talks about how he became famous, his life as a politician and his ambitions.
How did you become a musician, comedian and an actor?
I was born in Enugu, grew up in Abakaliki and went back to Enugu for my secondary school. When I finished serving, I came to Lagos for holidays in 1997. My brother Peter told me about an audition at Ajao Estate for the movie Betrayer 2. When I got there, Kenneth Okonkwo just saw me and just shook my hands and said, ‘You are in this movie but I don’t know the role you are to play’. I hadn’t auditioned, and he didn’t know me before. At the end of the day, they gave me the role of a minister. It was an Igbo movie, and I was paid two thousand naira for it in 1997. I borrowed my brother in-law’s babariga to play that role as a minster.
How about music?
When I was in the higher institution I was in a Kegite club. We’d take a Christian song and turn it into a gyration song. After Betrayal 2, I started writing songs. For the next 12 months I slept in Okey Ogunjiofor’s office at number 56, Enitan Street in Surulere. You know God comes to you at your lowest; in 1998, God gave me the opportunity. We were writing a movie for Amaco Investments in Mascot Hotel in Surulere. One Stanley Okorie, a fair guy that did this song popular song ‘Goodness of God’ and I were there writing the script when our chairman wrote a cheque of three hundred thousand and gave him and he left. I went to my Chairman and said, ‘Chairman, wetin dis guy do wey you dey give am dis kind money?’ Then he told me, ‘Ah the guy music dey sell now.’ I was shocked; I told my boss, if that be the case, I will record my songs and give it to you. He was rolling in laughter. After that I started writing gospel songs because the musician that got that huge cheque from my boss was a gospel musician too. After some months, my boss asked me, ‘Where is the song you said you were going to record for me?’ I collected my N20, 000 from him for the scripts I wrote for him and from other people. I wanted to go and pay for a self-contained with the money but I went to a studio to book session. That night, I recorded the album that changed my life.
What does it tell you?
That the best things in life are free. In one night, the Tony that you see was transformed, and to the glory of God. I want to do a remix now, and I may bring in Naeto C, or any rap artiste.
You came back last year to release a song with 2face Idibia, are you planning a comeback? It’s not really a comeback because I only started thinking of an album after I had done the song. I just did the song with 2face because of the relationship I had with him. I am building a better relationship with 2face’s management company that can partner with me, to empower the talented youths of my local government (Idemili north). When I was campaigning, I promised my people that I was going to discover one or two people in the areas of music, movies, comedy which was my main area. Now Muzik has signed K-slim, the winner of the talent hunt competition I organised in my constituency. At the end of the day we had the first, second, and third, and gave them prizes, but the winner has been signed by Now Muzik and that promise is what we are fulfilling now.
Tell us how you joined politics?
People think Tony One Week is a very lucky guy but I just thank God. I joined the PDP in 2005 after I left Lagos in 2005. I left Lagos after the Actors’ Guild election; I felt I was cheated by the marketers because they came from everywhere to support my opponent. I am not saying this because it makes me feel bad; if they didn’t cheat me I wouldn’t have been where I am today. Just to tell you that everything that happens in life is for a reason. I went to anchor an event in Abuja and when I came back I told my wife we have to move. That was how I relocated and joined the PDP in 2006. I tried getting a ticket in PDP in 2007, but I failed. I left the PDP in 2009 because I knew I wouldn’t progress there. I campaigned and at the end of the day people appreciated me more because I am Tony One Week. I contested and won and to the glory of God again, inside the house I was made the Minority Leader in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Awka.
How do you combine being a politician and a musician?
Initially I wasn’t doing music after I got into the House of Assembly. Then at some point I made it public that I can only do charity events or maybe ‘one of my friends wan do something e can call me make I come’. Nothing stops me. I can go to a wedding and when I get excited, I can sing. However, I cannot be standing on stage singing with a bottle of beer; that wouldn’t go down well with my person and what I represent. When you listen to the lyrics of ‘Ifedinmma’, you’ll see that it makes sense, and when you watch the video you’ll see that there’s no nudity and vulgarity or these things that are dominant in what we watch today. We have to be responsible because that’s important.
You know once you are an entertainer you’ll always be an entertainer and I am still doing very well as a politician. As I’m talking to you now, that same musician that people did not give any chance has the highest number of motions in the House of Assembly in Anambra State. If you go there and ask they will tell you. In the history of the assembly, I don’t know if anyone has had 23 motions and 3 bills in less than four years in the house and these motions are related to road, education, erosion and social welfare for my constituency. Speaking about that, when you got into the house, did they look at you differently because you are Tony One Week? In a way, they did. I remember the first day the governor presented a budget and he was trying to tell the people how serious he is as a human being. He said something like, ‘I have not come here to play, I’m not a comedian’. He suddenly looked at me and said, ‘Ah,tony you’re here’. Most times they depend on me for some level of humour in the house. There are times that I know that the speaker just wants me to talk because he knows I’m going to say something that will be funny. How did you become a comedian?
That one started long time ago while I was still in Federal Polytechnic, Oko. I set up an entertainment outfit called Thriller Entertainment with my friend Dennis Onwuzurike Junior who is now a pastor. I was anchoring events, making people laugh; we were doing that and paying school fees. We were doing shows in school; it started right from there and I’ve always had a good sense of humour. When I started making my own movies I concentrated on comedy and my first movie was ‘Hooligans’ which I shot with my money, produced and directed. What do you think entertainers can offer as politicians? We are like children. An entertainer does not keep anything in his mind. We are not very rigid. We are jolly fellows and this is the kind of mindset we need in the leadership of the country. If you have an entertainer that has the basic educational qualification and is exposed, then you can get your perfect leader. I schooled in the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, for my H.N.D then to University of Nigeria for P.G.D and M.B.A. I’m not just a musician. You may say who be dis musician wey just come enter house? But when I start talking, when I start blowing grammar you go say dis person nah correct person.
You have been married for a long time now, tell us about that
My father was a wonderful man – he was happily married but he died early, when I was in class 2. Somehow within me I’ve always wanted to marry in time. In 1998, God made me a star; by 1999 I performed at the Benson & Hedges show which was the biggest event in Nigeria at that time. That same 1999, I got married….
Nairobi-born boxer, Erick Ochieng fainted in the boxing ring at York Hall, London after winning over North Ireland’s Paddy Gallagher.
The 26-year-old boxer ran out of strength after the match and fainted. Paramedics rushed in and gave him oxygen before carrying him from the ring in a stretcher.
Ochieng, who won the quarter-final match of the Prizefighter tournament, is set to meet Mark Douglas in the semi-finals.
Ochieng later announced on his social media account that he was fine. ‘In all things I give Christ glory. I am fine and in good health, it was too hot in the venue, for that cause I was feeling dizzy after a great performance and the paramedics were doing their job for health and safety reasons and routine. God bless, Eagle,’ he wrote.
Ochieng was born in Kaloleni, Nairobi, and later moved to London to join his parents….
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to completely stop the advertisement of tobacco products in Nigeria with strict restrictions on cigarette smokers, especially in public.
Chelsea Football Club and its fans across the world went wild on Tuesday night when it sent out tough Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge in London in the European Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Nigeria’s GDP Just Doubled On Paper: What It Means In Practice, By Bryan Mezue
Earlier this week, Nigeria ascended to the position of Africa’s largest economy following a recalculation of its GDP by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. The long overdue exercise (the last one was in 1990) nearly doubled the country’s economy pushing GDP up to $510bn from $270bn. There is a general consensus among economic analysts and commentators that the changes are merely cosmetic — they certainly do not affect the daily lives of most average Nigerians, and their timing might be politically motivated given the upcoming 2015 elections which are expected to be highly contested. However, from the perspective of managers and CEOs operating in Nigeria, there are some important implications.
First, there will be some changes in the competitive landscape. Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala mentioned the “psychological impact” of the announcement on foreign investors. Before the announcement, the stock market capitalization to GDP ratio for Nigeria was 33%, compared to 270% for South Africa. Post announcement, the ratio is 18%. Emerging market investors looking for upside potential in Africa will look at those numbers with interest. At the same time, inbound foreign direct investment into Africa may become more comfortable with basing operations in Nigeria or using the country as an entry point into Africa. The result for managers presently in Nigeria is that they will likely face more competition for assets and human capital. To succeed, they will increasingly need to craft a differentiated strategy based on superior knowledge of the Nigerian market.
In providing a better picture of the Nigerian economy’s constitution, the rebasing calculations also highlight the growing importance the Nigerian (and African) consumer. Before the rebase, oil and gas represented 32% of the economy; under the new set of data it contributed 14%. Much of the balance comes from previously unreported, consumer-driven sectors. For example Nigeria’s Nollywood film, music, and mobile phone industries have experienced rapid growth over the past decade. Managers that can develop disruptive strategies to tap into this booming consumer market will place themselves in a good position for success in Nigeria. They will need to innovate on platforms for marketing and distribution in order to overcome the persistent infrastructural challenges that the country faces.
Finally, Nigeria’s rise to the position of Africa’s largest economy provides the perfect sales pitch for raising foreign capital and recruiting foreign talent. Managers and CEOs launching new ventures should exploit the opportunity market to attract new investors with relatively low familiarity to the Nigerian market. They should also take measures to build their talent pipeline by marketing aggressively to well-educated diaspora members and foreign talent abroad.
Nigeria’s GDP rebasing can indeed be considered an exercise in window dressing. But it also provides the perfect opportunity for companies already operating in the country to pause and rethink their strategy for long-term success in what will be a very important market for Africa and the world.
Bryan Chidubem Mezue is a member of the Forum for Growth and Innovation, a Harvard Business School think tank developing and refining theory around disruptive innovation. Follow him on Twitter at @bcmezue.