The Day Arnold Schwarzenegger slept under his statue

The free fall of Naira did not happen overnight

THE MAN BEHIND TECNO PHONE-NNAMDI EZEIGBO

Nnamdi Ezeigbo is the founder and CEO of SLOT systems limited, and also the brain behind TECNO and INFINIX, the fastest selling phone brands in Nigeria. Many people are not even aware that these popular phone brands are the brainchild of a fellow Nigerian. His success story is a very remarkable one.

Nnamdi Ezeigbo studied Electrical Electronics Engineering at the Yaba College of Technology in 1988, and got a Higher National Diploma (HND), before serving his country, Nigeria, during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year at Guinness Nigeria PLC, in 1996.

After completing his youth service year, Nnamdi Ezeigbo tried to no avail to secure a job with a company in Nigeria. With no promising signs of any potential employment, he went on to work as an apprentice learning how to repair computers. After which he launched out on his own to repair computers for individuals. Since he didn’t have any cash at the time, he had to squat with a friend of his at Ikeja, who owned a book store. His customer base grew, largely because of his honesty and the premium he placed on customer service.

The mutual trust and good relationship with his customers, was what gave him his first break in business. One day, an old customer he knew from his days as an apprentice, came to his little shop to see him. He told him he would love him to continue fixing his computers, but would prefer he operated from a larger and more serene environment. To help him out, the customer brought some printers for Nnamdi to sell, from which he used the proceeds to setup a new shop for himself. He paid for the store at a then price of 180,000 Naira (He later bought that same store many years later for 100 million Naira).

From his new store, he began to sell computers. As his business grew, a lot of customers started to both demand for slot stores in areas close to their vicinities, and to ask if they sold mobile phones. With a keen eye to spot opportunity when it presents itself, Nnamdi Ezeigbo immediately expanded his business to also cover the sale of mobile phones.

With no real knowledge on how to manage a growing business, Nnamdi decided to enrol for an MBA program at the prestigious Lagos Business School. He also began to attend many workshops on entrepreneurship, and that helped to sharpen his business acumen and develop his legendary entrepreneurial prowess.

During this process, he and his team decided to take a 5 year route to build a strong reputation for their brand. By the time the projection had elapsed, the Slot brand name was the most reputable mobile phone retailer in the whole country.

The rise of telecommunication networks created many opportunities in the Nigerian market. Their poor services caused many Nigerians to purchase more than one mobile phone, so they could try a different network when the other was bad. Nnamdi realised this problem early on, and approached Nokia in a bid to convince them to manufacture dual sim phones for Nigerians, so they would carry only one mobile phone at a time instead of two. They refused to listen because, seeing people carry more of their phones meant more phone sales for them.

According to his interview with Nairametrics, Nnamdi said;

*“So I went to China and got a guy who had worked with a company called Bird then. Bird was into phones but they got choked and lost market share. I met with the guy and asked the guy to let us do something. I came with that name and I registered it here and brought the guy to Nigeria. And that was the high point of our business. We came together and I designed the first Tecno phone, Tecno T101. We started it but the market did not accept it and we also had problem with the dual SIM not working together and we had to make corrections and we came with Tecno 201 and that was a bit accepted by the market. But we were basically giving marketers on credit to sell the phones and then pay us later. And I was funding it all alone.”*

*“Since I was funding it alone, we were finding it difficult to get the right quantity to sell until the market started accepting us. What I now did was to make them pay in advance, I mean the dealers. So we started using their money to order the products. This was around 2007. The introduction of Tecno brand was the turning point of our business.”*

*“Like I said, Tecno is my baby and we kept improving. I knew a day would come when the middle class would accept Tecno. Initially, it was a phone for low income people but based on improvement and upping our game, the middle class had to accept it and when the economy went down in 2008 that helped Tecno to move to the top. Since purchasing power had dropped, they had to go for something that have same capabilities but cheaper. So with N15,000, you could buy a Smartphone and thank God for 3G network. The advent of 3G network actually helped Tecno to move up. So students who could not afford to buy phones in the range of N30,000 could buy one for N15,000 and enjoy features of Smartphone like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and so on.”*

Today, Nnamdi Ezeigbo is a phenomenal success story in Nigeria and indeed Africa. From a humble repair man, he has built a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR company and one of the most recognizable brand in Nigeria.

There are many lessons in this story.

Pay attention to your business no matter how small it is today, it can be the seed of a global company tomorrow.

Integrity in business is extremely important, it will open doors for you, and speak for you, even when you are not present.

When you see opportunities, grab it and run with it. Nokia refused Nnamdi’s idea, Nokia was mighty and Nnamdi was nobody, but today because Nnamdi believed in his idea and grabbed the opportunity, Tecno is everywhere, and Nokia is dead. How are the mighty fallen? Run with your idea, and this too will be your story.

Keep improving your products and services every day. Nnamdi kept improving Tecno steadily until it became an accepted brand in Nigeria.

Most importantly, the greatest investment you will make is an investment in yourself. As a business man, if you can afford a business school, enroll.

Don’t waste your time crying over the economy of the nation, there is nothing you can do about it, but there is a lot you can do about yourself.

Think positive.

*Like Nnamdi you can change your world.

This is highly motivational …Get up brethren and ‘Rule your world’ with God-given ideas.
Copied & shared.

MY PROBLEM WITH THE DEGREE. MY ENCOUNTER WITH GRADUATES/UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. By Henry Mutebe

Below happened in Uganda, but it’s equally relevant here. Please read if you care.

Yesterday, a friend called to check on me. It had been long since we talked. He asked if I had sometime so I could roll over and check on him. I was happy to go check on him. After we had finished University, he had started a small restaurant in town. It has grown exponentially over the years. When I arrived at the restaurant, I was very impressed by how many leaps he had made, in what I believe to be a short time for a business like his. We shuffled through the memories and had a hearty laugh.

As hours went by, I noticed that when customers entered and took seats, he was attending to them and doing a lot of the serving. I asked him if he didn’t have enough staff. He told me that one of the girls working at the restaurant was sick while another guy simply didn’t show up or call to let him know…so he was short of labour. I asked if I can help. He joked, ‘Henry you know I can’t afford you. Here I pay 10,000shs to the attendants. How will I manage to pay you?’ I told him am happy to work.

I quickly oriented myself on the etiquette and customer care rules …and most importantly what was available. So we started serving people that came in. In total, I served about 8 clients before something interesting happened.

As we talked and laughed about the crazy things we did in school, two students I taught at University (a gentleman and lady) came by. They did not immediately notice I was the one but their eyes kept preying on me to confirm they were seeing the ‘real person.’

To confirm their disbelief, I asked my friend to let me serve them. So I went over, humbled myself, bent slightly, greeted them and asked to take their orders. They were very surprised and asked me, ‘What are you doing here sir?’ I told them that am there to serve them. They looked at each other and with the face of mixed feelings wondered why I would be working in a restaurant.

The girl asked, ‘Sir, but why are you working here? You can’t serve us. I mean…?’ she nodded her head in disbelief before continuing, ‘…you can’t work in a restaurant?’. I told them I would serve them and am happy to take their orders. You could easily notice that they were very surprised and reserved about placing their orders.

They had mixed feelings about my presence there and the type of work I was doing. After a very interesting exchange, they finally made their order which I delivered promptly. They had their delicious meal as we also continued conversing and reminiscing the years gone by. From time to time, I kept checking on them and asked if they needed anything else. When they were done, my friend punched in the bill, printed the receipt and I delivered it to them.

Their bill was 24,500shs. I placed it on the table and took the plates away. The guy placed two notes (a 20k and 10k shs) on the table and they left. I delivered it to my friend, who was now serving as manager, cashier and sometimes a waiter. He gave me back the change of 5,500shs which I happily slipped into my wallet. By the way …by this time, I had 15,000shs in tips from the other 8 clients I had served. So by adding this 5500shs, I was 20,500shs rich already.

As the couple (my former students) went out, they each looked back in disbelief. I looked at them and raised my hand to say bye. They walked into the street and faded away into the bright light from approaching cars. A couple of other clients came in and I served them. My friend was very pleased and paid my 10000shs and a bonus of 2000shs which he says he offers once a waiter exceeds a certain number of clients. At 11pm, I left the restaurant and went home.

As I sat in the car to head back home, I couldn’t help thinking about my students. Their disbelief was innocent…but it speaks a lot about a general problem we have in our society. These two students represent thousands of others. They made me think, very deeply, about our Ugandan graduates. I do not blame them, its a general problem.

I have had the opportunity to travel and study from elsewhere or in other cultures and I have always been surprised by how people in other countries don’t despise jobs. My good students could not imagine their lecturer serving them in a restaurant. Since they know my work and qualifications, they could not understand how I can be in a restaurant at this time. As if it takes away my degree or other job. It gave me a lot of thoughts about our graduates. The more I have travelled, the more I have learned and unlearned.

In 2012, while at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in England, one of my classmates used to drive a BMW, park it at a restaurant and work as a waiter. He came from a very wealthy family but he still worked. He told me that as soon as he completed high school, he had to take part time jobs to earn some money to pay rent to his father and contribute to household bills. It shocked me quite a lot considering what I have grown up seeing in my part of the world.

As if this was not enough, I also found out that, when students finish high school in these countries, as must, they have to find some work and either rent out, or pay their parents some money for rent if they are to continue staying in their parent’s house. I was shocked by the idea of a son paying rent to his father. It took time to sink in. The more I interacted with more of these people, the more I realised that this is a common culture. They teach a child responsibility from a very early age. Work is not for money per se, it is a service.

The lesson I learnt from them is that working is a value. One has to work and parents teach their children that they have to work and earn. Just because your parents are wealthy doesn’t mean your life is already worked out. You have to contribute to the home bills and somehow find something to do. The work doesn’t have to be white collar …but as a must, you have to find something to put your hands to. You cant seat your bums and just wait for a white collar job.

When I went to Norway, I found the same story. Most university students, unless they simply can’t find time due to course overload, have to have some form of temporary work. Students often work as attendants, waiters in restaurants, cleaners in hotels, shop attendants, drivers, newspaper vendors, et cetera. It is a value to work and few people dont despise jobs.

By the way, they don’t work because their parents can’t give them money. They work because it is a value that has been embedded in them from childhood. Once a student finishes high school, they take on a part time job and save money for use at university or travels. Few parents will buy their child a ticket to come to Africa to tour. You have to work and save for your luxuries.

If you want some money from your parents, you borrow and pay back. Nothing comes free. They teach you to live on your own. Being at University or having a degree is ‘nothing.’ You are not the first or the last. Serving people in a restaurant does not make anyone look less a graduate. Service is service! Work is a value.

As a matter of fact, most of the places near Universities are filled with university students working as part timers. University students are encouraged to take up these part time jobs. The white people we like to imitate are doing what we think is too dirty or casual for a graduate in Africa.

It got me thinking about students in our Universities here in Uganda. I thought about all the restaurants around Wandegeya, Banda –Kyambogo, MUBS, and the attitude of University students and graduates about these type of jobs. I thought about the poor attitude we have towards work. I looked at the chapatti boys and girls we despise who are minting money and doing great things in their lives and for their families. I thought about the people who fear nothing, who go out and just do it while we sit back.

The more I thought about it the more I realised why we are going to take longer to develop. We have a generation of young people who feel they are too educated to do certain jobs. We have a generation of children who have been prepared for a life that doesn’t exist. We have a crop of young people who are whiter than the whites. My time in Europe taught me that we need to get back on the drawing board and re-orient our graduates.

Students in our universities should be oriented to appreciate the value of work. There is no reason why a University should not employ students to clean the Library, kitchen, dining halls, hostels. It is improper that a university canteen should find external staff when it has over 30,000 students who can work in shifts and serve other students.

See, through this kind of work, being able to do ordinary jobs and be seen as a servant makes you true leaders. When students grow up with a sense of entitlement and a higher standard of living, it translates into greed when they get into national politics. They apportion themselves good things, higher privileges and want to float above everyone because work is about money, status and not service. Such humble work makes true leaders.

People who are willing to serve, and not merely earn make better leaders. Such work raises a generation of leaders who don’t do things to be seen or be thought of as higher and more qualified, but leaders who get things done. In some firms in western societies, when they look at a CV, such experience, demonstrates the attitude of a person, their humility, values and philosophy towards work.

We are raising a generation of children whose only image of the west is what they watch on TV. They speak using enhanced accents, know what is the latest, they are ‘cool’ but they have no idea what makes the west what it is. My experience in the west shows me something different. People work and do ordinary jobs and that’s how things get done.

If we are to get good leaders, we must first change the attitude of young people about work. An inflated self-image creates bad leaders who want to further segregate themselves from the ordinary people they consider low and less qualified. We have a big problem in our society and we have to find a way to deal with it.

Students despise these jobs because they believe work is about status and money. Taken further into their lives, it means they may likely want to maintain status and money as their pursuits when they get into leadership positions. If we must correct our leadership and governance problems, we may also need to do something about the attitude of students and graduates about their philosophies and values about work. In there, lies a very big problem.

Do not despise work, go out there and just work. The pope was once a bouncer at a club. Today he is one of the most powerful men in the world. Imagine that you had nothing to fear, what would you do to earn a living? Imagine that you had no degree or that anyone cares, what would you do to earn a living? Imagine, that no one is going to help you find a job, what would do?

I am not saying go do what you dont like…but may be…just may be you may need to develop a new attitude towards work, serve people (in whatever opportunities unfold) and be happy to have served. You can never tell what the future holds, and you may never know who you will meet at your humble place of work. Most interestingly, you may never know the untold story of those who work and serve you in those places where you go as the bosses or the rich.

Even for you that are already employed in ‘high’ places, don’t mind going out and just find a part time job (if you have time) or offer services in the evening or weekend at any place where your services can be of use. Meet people, network and just keep yourself active. Degrees are everywhere…literally every one has them…so just forget about the whole hype about it and be true to yourself. As you look for other opportunities…dont be afraid to branch off a little and keep yourself at something. Don’t despise jobs. Serve.

**This orientation is what we want for our generation next**

19 Mind-Blowing Medical Advances in the Past 8 Years

Driverless cars, artificial intelligence, smart watches – the future is truly upon us. With science and technology developing so quickly, medical breakthroughs continue to be made every day around the world. But what are some of the most profound advancements in recent years and how can they change the way we treat medical conditions? Here are 19 of the most most-blowing medical discoveries of the past eight years.

1. 3D printed body parts

3D printing is widely regarded as being industry-changing technology when it comes to consumer goods and manufacturing. But what’s not widely known is that scientists have successfully created human body parts using 3D printers.
In 2013, researchers from Cornell University managed to print an outer ear that works like and resembles the real thing. Researches from the University of Pennsylvania and MIT have reproduced blood vessels using similar processes.
Researchers from Wake Forest University in North Carolina were able to print skin cells onto wounds for rapid healing. A San Diego company called Organovo has committed itself to printing human livers, and a 3D printer partial liver transplant is expected by 2020.

2. Gene therapy

The use of gene therapy technology to treat blood cancers such as leukemia is one of the most exciting medical developments in recent history. Recent experiments have revealed the potential for gene therapy to be used in reversing other types of cancers, such as breast cancer. There’s some promise that gene therapy could one day be used to eliminate the need for traditional treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. In March this year, gene therapy was used to cure a teenage boy with sickle cell disease, showing the potential for this therapy to be used to combat common genetic diseases as well.
In the past year, developments have occurred in relation to the use of gene therapy to treat symptoms of aging. If muscle mass and stem cell depletion can be effectively treated with gene therapy, this technology has the potential to significantly slow the human aging process.

3. Gut bacteria treatments

As our understanding of gut bacteria and how it impacts the rest of the body develops, scientific breakthroughs in relation to gut flora continue to shape how we treat illness. Amazingly, scientists have discovered that the mix of bacteria or microbes in our digestive system could affect how our brain functions and the way we think. There is also research demonstrating a potential link between obesity and the mix of gut bacteria in our bodies.
The medical field is only just beginning to understand the degree to which gut bacteria affects human health. Gut bacteria may one day be used as part of possible treatments for diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as well as common allergies and cancers.

4. Cancer therapies

The field of cancer therapies has also seen some breakthroughs, with a better understanding of cancer fingerprinting. Cancer fingerprinting is a new approach to analysing how specific cases of cancer react to different treatments. Every incidence of cancer has a unique fingerprint or identity code and cancer fingerprinting allows medical staff to analyse the mutated genes of tumours and understand how sensitive particular cancers will be to different types of chemotherapy.
Additionally, there have been advances in cancer immunotherapy, which treats cancer by boosting the body’s immune system rather than removing or targeting the tumour cells through surgery or chemotherapy.

5. The bionic eye

In 2013, Second Sight, a California-based company, received approval from the US government to start marketing a bionic eye. The artificial eye uses a camera set into the user’s glasses.The camera transmits electrical messages wirelessly, into the user’s retinal implant. While the bionic eye doesn’t fully restore normal vision, it does enable certain patients to attain a level of vision and some patients have even been able to see colour.
In 2016 in Australia, Bionic Vision Technologies was given $23.5 million in capital to develop their bionic eye. They intend to use the funds to begin surgical trials in Melbourne in the coming months.

6. Hormones for heart treatment

There’s positive news for patients at risk of heart failure. While around a quarter of patients who are hospitalised for serious heart conditions do not live beyond a year after their hospitalisation, a new drug may potentially improve this outlook dramatically.
Serelaxin, a synthetic version of the hormone relaxin, has been shown to boost survival rates in these patients by 37 per cent. The drug opens up the blood vessels and has an anti-inflammatory impact on the system.

7. Fecal transplants

Fecal transplants have been used to successfully treat people infected with C. difficile, which is a type of infectious diarrhea responsible for around 15,000 deaths each year. Fecal transplants involve the removing good bacteria from a healthy person’s faecal matter and transplanting it to the patient’s colon. While the idea of taking someone else’s fecal matter into your own body may seem off-putting, the process has the potential to save thousands of lives.

8. Cure for Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal disease that causes 12,000 deaths every year. Around 30 per cent of people cannot be cured, and those who are cured undergo a heavy anti-viral-drug treatment program that lasts for nearly a year and is associated with major side effects.
A new drug, Sofosbuvir, could help patients avoid the extended treatment period and improve the rate of people cured from Hepatitis C. The drug has a 95 per cent cure rate and a treatment program lasting only 12 weeks.

9. Seizure stoppers

Around 50 million people around the world suffer from epilepsy. The disease causes sudden seizures and can have a debilitating effect on a sufferer’s lifestyle. A new invention, the NeuroPace, could make life easier for epileptics. Sensors implanted into the brain automatically send electrical pulses that counter the onset of seizures, so seizures are stopped in their tracks before they even begin.

10. Synthetic cells

In 2010, the first completely new synthetic cells were created by Dr J Craig Venter, who is known for being one of the first to sequence the human genome. The cells were created by stitching together chemicals to synthesise the full genome of a bacterium. This could open the way to new treatments in synthetic biology that could have applications in a range of industries, from biofuels to healthcare.

11. Treatment for cluster headaches

Cluster headaches – commonly known as “suicide headaches” – are chronically painful headaches which can last up to several weeks. Fortunately, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic may be close to an effective, practicable treatment for the condition.
The research involved successfully implanting a small device behind a patient’s upper jaw. The device works by sending electrical pulses into the patient’s head and can be operated via remote control. The electrical-pulse stimulation was shown to reduce the impact of headaches.

12. New class of antibiotics

The emergence of superbugs makes discovering new antibiotics more critical than ever. The discovery of the first new class of antibiotics in 30 years was therefore welcomed news in the medical field. This new type of antibiotics, known as teixobactin, can kill serious infections such as tuberculosis and septicaemia without encountering resistance. It could eventually be used to treat drug resistant infections caused by the superbug known as MRSA.
Currently, MRSA is treatable only with a combination of drugs. Without new classes of antibiotics being discovered, basic operations can carry a high risk of untreatable infection. Human testing of teixobactin will begin in 2017.

13. Cheap, high quality graphene

Graphene is a transparent, single-layer lattice of carbon atoms. Valued for its super strength and ability to conduct heat and electricity, graphene can potentially be used in anything from medical treatments to solar cells. While graphene has excellent potential for a variety of applications, a major factor preventing its wide distribution is its high cost of production. Until now.
Scientists have recently found a way to produce high-quality graphene at a fraction of the cost of previous manufacturing methods. This new technique involves applying graphene on copper foils. Other researchers have found new ways to eliminate the need for highly controlled production environments by growing graphene film in ambient air with a natural precursor. This not only speeds up the production process but makes it much more cost effective.

14. Melt-away cataract treatment

Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness around the world. Current treatment options are limited to painful operations to replace the clouded lens with an artificial one. Fortunately, researchers have discovered a non-surgical treatment that uses eye drops. These eye drops contain compounds that dissolve the cataracts, eliminating the need for surgery.
The researchers who discovered the compounds reviewed almost 2,500 different chemicals to identify two sterols known as lanosterol and compound 29 that could be used to melt away the amyloids that lead to cataracts. People in the developing world, where access to surgery for cataracts is limited, will stand to benefit greatly from this new medical discovery.

15. Reprogrammed T-cells to treatment leukaemia

Programming T-cells to fight a particular type of leukaemia has resulted in an extraordinary success rate in experimental trials. Of the patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who received the trial treatment, 94% experienced an elimination of symptoms. More than half of the patients had a complete remission of their cancer.
This new immunotherapy treatment involves taking immune cells from patients and reprogramming them with receptor molecules to target specific types of cancer. The cells are then infused back into the body. What’s more, the technique holds promising potential to treat other types of cancer and diseases.

16. The world’s first artificial pancreas

Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G measures your blood glucose every five minutes using a sensor with a protruding needle. Known as an artificial pancreas, the device also delivers insulin through a pump worn on your abdomen, adjusting the dosage according to your readings.
The MiniMed was approved by the American FDA in 2016. It’s expected to significantly reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia and make life easier for those with type 1 diabetes by saving them from having to check their blood sugar levels throughout the day.

17. Effective Psoriasis medication

An effective psoriasis drug might be on the horizon for those that suffer from this chronic skin condition. Johnson & Johnson’s drug Guselkumab has achieved the highest ever response rates in psoriasis patients, in a phase three study. Administered via injection, Guselkumab had 85.1% of patients achieving clearance or minimisation of their symptoms within 16 weeks, while only 6.9% of placebo patients achieved this.
At the 16 week stage of trial, 73.3% of patients had 90% skin clearance. By the 24-week stage, 80.2% of patients had 90% skin clearance compared to only 53% of patients who were given Humira, the current top-selling psoriasis drug.

18. Opioid dependence treatment

Probuphine, an implant to treat opioid (pain-killer) dependence, has been approved by the American FDA. Probuphine is used to automatically administer low doses of buprenorphine to opioid dependent patients to support their recovery process. While buprenorphine tablets are already widely available, an implant is considered a ‘breakthrough’ development because it eliminates the need to take multiple pills throughout the day.

19. Mitochondrial replacement therapy

The world’s first baby born with a new three parent technique has avoided the risk of developing the fatal Leigh syndrome thanks to mitochondrial replacement therapy. The child’s mother is a carrier of the syndrome, and before the delivery of their health baby boy, the couple’s attempts to start a family had ended in tragedy. They endured four miscarriages before having a daughter who died at six and another child who lived for only eight months.
A team of doctors created an embryo by using the nucleus from the mother’s egg and inserting it into a donor egg that had the nucleus removed. The egg was then fertilised with the father’s sperm. In doing so, the doctors successfully created an embryo able to develop into a healthy baby boy.
The future of medical breakthroughs
These 19 developments only scratch the surface of the incredible medical breakthroughs that have occurred in the last eight years. Though there are plenty of technological advancements to be concerned about – weapons, surveillance and an increasingly virtual world, to name a few – these advances in medicine show the potential for humans to work together to engineer a brighter, healthier future for all.

https://www.syberscribe.com.au/…/19-mind-blowing-medical-a…/

Mass Media: An Estate Under Siege

Mass Media: An Estate Under Siege

Any system that declare war against the Media and the Legislative arm of government for no reason than refusing to be a RUBBER STAMP can not be called DEMOCRACY but a DICTATOR in Civilian Uniform.

From my archive, I authored 118 columns in Print and Online News Platforms against the PDP led administration from 2011 till date without being questioned at any police or DSS formation.

However,  today, the APC government in Nigeria at all levels who enjoyed the support of the media and civil society groups while in opposition have declared a war of attrition against the MEDIA and the Legislative Arm of government via the instrumentalities of the Law, the police and the DSS. What they encouraged us to do against the PDP government, they can’t take it from US Now.

Jone Ebiri, a local publisher in Bayelsa State was hounded into custody by the DSS for Two years: they said From his publications, he has  classified information About the activities of some Niger/Delta militants wanted by the FG. His source of information must be disclosed or remain in custody.

And For two years, the poor Ebiri languished in prison, thanks to Judiciary and Social Media for rescuing him on Tuesday.

Samuel Ogundipe, an Investigative Journalist working for Premium Times is currently in police custody, arraigned in court without allowing his lawyers to appear for him. He was accused of publishing a letter written by the Police IG to Acting President on the failed invasion of National Assembly a week ago. Ogundipe must disclose the source that gave him the letter, Police IG,  Ibrahim Idris said.

Channels TV was fined N5 million in the month of July 2018 for refusing to be the propaganda machine of the government against National Assembly and Senator Bukola Saraki.

Kiss FM in Lagos is dying in silence. Cool FM is complaining. City FM along Ogba-Ikeja road in Lagos is about to die due to over FINE.

A radio station in Ibadan was fined N500,000 because a jingle critical of Fulani Herdsmen was aired therein.

Star FM in Ogun State is currently in dilemma.

Sweet FM in the gateway state is battling to retain its licence. Wazobia FM must declare all guests to feature in their programmes to NBC or face FINE.

The frequency of Rhythm FM has been suspended five times in 2018 for refusing to stop inviting some Public Analysts critical of President Buhari.

Today, Ekiti TV and Radio are under lock and key because the state Governor, Ayo Fayose exposed how results were altered and rigged during the July 14th governorship elections in the state against the wishes of the people.

As usual, Some, due to party sentiment, clapped when Ekiti TV and Radio were shut.

And among those who clapped when Ekiti Radio and TV stations were recklessly locked down by the APC led government in Abuja without any letter to that effect was DAVID AJIBOYE, head of Corporate Affairs of FRESH FM, IBADAN, OYO STATE.

Ajiboye is a native of Okemesi-Ekiti who want Governor Ayo Fayose cut down politically by all means necessary. Ekiti Radio Shut indefinitely, Ajiboye was everywhere on social media jubilating.

Today, Ajiboye’s place of work, FRESH FM is up for DEMOLITION courtesy of the APC led government in Oyo State without any justification.

Ajiboye is now shouting and sending SOS to all lovers of democracy to save FRESH FM from demolition.

Allegation against FRESH FM:

The building which has been in existence for about SEVEN years and once visited and hailed by the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, contravened town planning law.

BUT THE REAL OFFENCE OF FRESH FM:

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Tayo Arulogun want the station to stop inviting some public affairs analysts for commentary.

Also, Arulogun,  according to the owner of FRESH FM,  Yinka Ayefele, is not happy that his repeated calls to the station to have some propaganda aired against some opposition figures in the state were rebuffed and still being rebuffed.

Like a normal Nigerian politician, Arulogun must revenge.

FRESH FM building is the cause of accident in Challenge, Arulogun ALLEGED,  railroading the state commissioner for Urban Development, Land and Housing into the scheme,  alas, they succeed in coercing the Mr. Constitutional Authority Governor, Abiola Ajimobi into the agenda.

 A demolition notice issued:

FRESH FM has 5-day notice to quit or face DEMOLITION!!

Well, As Ajiboye pleaded, all Entrepreneurs and lovers of democracy must rise in support of Mr. Yinka Ayefele’s FRESH FM.

A man who survived a ghastly car accident, lost his legs, refused to be derailed, hustled, made money, impacted lives and built a brand boast of over 100 employees does not deserve to be HUMILIATED.

I wish to inform Mr. Ajimobi that every radio station in Ibadan cannot sound like BCOS.

Oyo State Government through Tayo Arulogun chased Edmund Obilo out of SPLASH FM,  chased out Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat, now it is Ayefele’s Fresh FM.

The media must not be allowed to be intimidated and Caged.

And to those of you still defending illegality, please learn from Mr. David Ajiboye’s current predicament.

*EVIL IS EVIL NO MATTER WHO DOES IT, WE NEED TO CONDEMN IT. KEEP CLAPPING FOR THEM YOUR OWN TURN IS COMING, I MEAN THEY WILL SOON REACH YOUR MEANS OF LIVING BY THEN YOU WILL CRY HARD*

 *IDRIS pause for now!!!*

20 BUSINESSES YOU CAN START WITH 100K

1. Bedsheet/Beddings Production.
Pay a visit to Lagos Island, or Aba where they sell bulk materials, pick good designs and I tell you they guys who will sew it for you are just within the same Market. You can start will less than 100k and diligently grow your money.

*2. Shirt Production:*
A sweet side hustle. There are tailors in Lagos Island or Aba,better learn the skill it will save you all the heartbreaks imaginable. . Materials ranging from 700 – 1k per yard, sew for 1500/2k, Sell for 5-7k.

*3. Boxers:*
Schedule a trip to Aba Market, The cost of production of boxers, you can get one for as low as N300, all you need is to package it in 3s, and market these babies properly beg your friend on twitter for RTs, we buy 3s pack boxers for 1500-2500 sell yours for 1200 gradually grow.

*4. E-Payments and POS Business:*
You can get POS machine from your Bank, and activate online banking: If you live in a place where banks aren’t much you can handle e payments for people and make your small change. I paid someone N200 to withdraw 10k most places, ATM queue can be crazy.

*5. Mobile and Electronic Accessories:*
Mobile and electronic Accessories such Pouches, Chargers, USB cables, HDMI cables, earphones and more, can be sourced on Alibaba, Ali Express, Deal Extreme, etc. The more you buy the lower the price. And they are light so shipping won’t be a burden. Sell on here or Jumia and co.

*6. Popcorn:*
We all know this ….We buy every time. Bags of corn – Branded Nylon Sugar, Salt & Butter. The beauty of this is when properly made, its aroma will attract its customers. Manual sealing machine -7/9k Popcorn Machine is 65k on Jumia Popcorn can be served anywhere. It costs less than N40 to make a pack of popcorn

*7. Branding – Sales and Customizing:*
Sales and Customizing of Football Team Football team supporters always want to show how much they’re rooting for a team.

*8. Snail Farming:*
Snail farming in Nigeria is even more popular, due to its relatively cheap cost of startup and If you market your products well, your business will thrive. This is a business you can start from your backyard. Best in mind, snails take almost a year to mature so Patience is Key!

*9. Fairly Used Goods:*
Fairly used goods such as Jeans, Tops, t-shirts, shoes etc. They could be sourced at Badagry, even Cotonou. 100k can’t get you a bale but you can select and mix them. Wash then and pack neatly. Marketing is all it takes, you’ll Sell and see your money multiply.

*10. Cleaning Services:*
Some people find it hard to clean their apartments cos they’re busy from Monday to Friday and Saturday they have engagement and on Sunday all they wanna do is rest. Your tools won’t cost you up to 30k and you can clean 6 apartments a weekend.

*11. Home Cooking and Delivery:*
You can cook a variety of meals well and apply customer service, People will pay good money for your services, You can run this from home ‪@Hot Pots are more than capable when to comes to training you on how to start up.

*12. Digital Marketing:*
The success of any business is in its ability to effectively reach its teeming customers and this is achieved by effective marketing: Get a Used Laptop and Smartphone, temporarily your smartphone can double as your hotspot Persistence and Passion is Key ‪@I_pissVodka‬ ‪@OlisaOsega‬ are your friends in this regards, I’m sure they are more than willing to train you on how to go about it from the foundation.

*13. Cakes and Confectionery:*
This is one business that always comes to play, people celebrate, and bakers are always consulted. Get the required skill, a decent oven, passion and customer service! You’ll grow.

*14. Aso-Oke Beading and Stoning:*
Aso-Oke Beading and Stoning has become sometimes in vogue now, and this is another sweet business one can start with 100k. You just have to learn how to bead and unlock your creative mind. Ask my friends ‪@wuragold2‬ , the Aso Oke Girl and @ Funchrisaso_oke , the Aso Oke Empress both started from the confines of their homes in Ibadan.

*15. Bead Making:*
I’m not sure there’s really much to say here. All you need is training, passion, creativity, unique designs and styles, then adequate marketing. You absolutely don’t need 100k to start this.

*16. Home Service Barber:*
This is another profitable small-scale business. The beautiful thing about this is you bring your services to your clients for an extra token above regular. The starting capital to get the equipment and I’m sure you know we have rechargeable clippers.

*17. Tutorial Classes:*
No matter your age, this is another well-paying job, either as part-time or full-time. Many families are willing to spend what it takes for their children’s success and there’s one subject you’re well versed at. Just close the gap, meet their need for a fee.

*18. Internet Services:*
Forget the extensive coverage of internet and the fact that people can assess it on their phones, Do you know how much applicants pay just to have Jamb applications filled online? You need a good system, printer & ISP. People pay as much as 1k per application

*19. Production Of Zobo, Smoothies, cocktail, small chops, cupcakes and chinchin!*
You’d realize the importance of this combo cant be ruled out. You can render these services with 100k startup capital + proper marketing, branding and packaging….just get a good place to learn how to make them.

*20. Re-Invest Your seed Capital in an existing business:*
Not everyone has the head for business but they can sniff opportunities. You can always sow your money as operating capital and draft an agreement on profit sharing. You can at least support your investment by bringing customers so the business can thrive. Market it on all your social media pages and who knows.

100k can do a lot!!!!

Let me give you another Jara!

*Production of Hand-Made cards:* Do you know people pay good money for these thing made of paper and strawboard. This is one business you can start with less than 100k. My friend ‪@CraftsVillageNG‬ started from his bedroom! And his cards went far.

Imagine you want to give a dignitary something they won’t forget, you certainly can’t buy them clothes or shoes. Cos they have it all.

Truth is there so much one can do with very little, it takes persistence, focus, interest and above all hard work. We can’t all be rich but we all shouldn’t be poor.

( Copied )

ONLY GOD HAS POWER TO CROWN : A LESSON FROM AWOLOWO’S TRIAL

STOP STRUGGLING TOO MUCH FOR THIS WORLD. ONLY GOD HAS POWER TO CROWN ANYONE , EVEN WITH LESS EFFORT.

Awolowo was investigated for Corruption under Coker Inquiry, later tried for Treason in a regular court, he never said it was becase he was a Christian or Yoruba. He defended himself, and when his lawyer was denied entry visa to Nigeria, and his first son, an acclaimed international lawyer, was coming to the court to defend him, he died in a road accident on his way to the Court..Abraham Adesanya broke the news to Awo inside the Court, he expected Awo to start weeping but he did not.

Awo called the attention of the Judge to the development and asked for permission to defend himself and other Accused.

“Segun is dead already, we that are alive must defend ourselves so that we dont die too. This is treason, we must defend ourselves first before we mourn my beloved son”

LEADERS are made!

AWO was a true leader that served his people altruistically unlike the egocentric “LEADERS here in Nigeria…… You know them now.

WHAT ATIKU AND SARAKI DON’T KNOW.

BALEWA never struggled to be Prime Minister. BELLO was qualified but gave it to BALEWA……
SHAGARI never wanted to be President…….but he ruled!

ABIOLA wanted it since 1983……he never got there even in 1993….We loved him but he did not get it…..

OBJ never lobbied for or desperate to be President. Falae wanted to since 1992 but he never got it…..OBJ did.

ODILI struggled and spent billions to get it….he never got it…..Yar’adua was not even physically strong enough yet he got it without spending his personal cash. ODILI got nothing!

JONATHAN has neither the cash nor the finesse to be President but he got it. He defeated desperate IBB and ATIKU in the primaries and BUHARI in the general!

BUHARI resigned to fate. He declared that he will not contest again. That is when GOD handpicked him and made him the President after HE had earlier watched him exhausting his personal energy and killing his desperation!

The time when JONATHAN had no strength, he defeated mighty BUHARI….But when he had all the strength and money…he lost to a BUHARI who had given up!
Osinbajo was eating amala in his house when he was made the Vice President and eventually an acting president.
Leave all struggles for God to do them for you. Allow all the stacked money to be used for the benefit of the people. When it is your time God will surely spend your money as he has done to Balewa, Shagari, Obasanjo,Yar’adua, Jonathan and Buhari/Osinbajo.

This is for our reflection. I Pity my country! Nigeria

I pity those who allow their destiny to be determined and controlled by so-called LEADER who careless about their future & that of their unborn generation!

10 Fela Songs That Are Still Relevant In 2018, 21 Years After His Death

1. Original Sufferhead (1981)

This song describes the problems and sufferings that abound in Africa as a continent, despite its rich resources. He condemns the ‘big big man’ and ‘white man’ for taking up everything and leaving nothing but suffer and anguish for the average African man.

This song, released over 37 years ago sadly still applies greatly. The economic disparity between Africa and other continents is displayed in the fact that basic resources like food, water, electricity and the likes are still unavailable to a large number of people living in this part of the world. Such disparities are even found within countries, where we have the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

2. Suffering and Smiling (1977)

Fela describes the life of the average Nigerian who is constantly suffering, but smiling through the pain, believing in the rewards that await them in the afterlife due to the teachings of religious leaders, who themselves live the most lavish lives, enjoying the so-called earthly pleasures. He warns people to open their eyes to this injustice and stop being blind followers of religion.

Things haven’t changed much today, as people still blindly follow religion (and religious leaders), without necessarily understanding its true meaning.

3. International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (1980)

Fela uses the abbreviation of International Telephone & Telegraph (IT&T) to directly attack the company’s CEO, Moshood Abiola, and other politicians like Obasanjo who continuously betray the continent and their fellow Africans in their bid to get rich off the white man’s wealth.

This song is relevant in today’s world as seen in the violence that goes on in the Niger Delta as a result of the insufficient resources and recognition that the region is given despite being the major supplier of oil and the bulk of the county’s wealth.
Politicians are still looting, extorting and selling out their people in their bid to get richer.

4. Authority Stealing (1980)

This song, like may others, talks about how the government steals and loots the country’s resources on a daily and goes unpunished, while the petty thief gets killed and burned on a daily basis. For him, the people in authority are just civilized thieves who get away with their crimes because of their position.

Our government still steals from us and feeds us lies and we let them get away with it. The petty thief gets thrown in jail while the political robbers remain scot free and given liberty to continue looting.

5. Coffin for Head of State (1981)

This song also condemns politicians. Here, he speaks about the corruption that abounds in religion, especially by hypocritical leaders like Obasanjo and Yar’adua. These leaders were the most corrupt people in the world, killing and stealing from innocent people, yet they openly condemn such activities and hide behind Christianity and Islam.

Today, we still see a great deal of corruption and hypocrisy in the guise of leadersgip and religion. Our leaders are still stealing from us, but yet are the quickest to attend church programs and quote bible verses.

6. Beasts Of No Nation (1989)

This song talks about the many unusual happenings in the country and how the citizens all behave like crazy people. It touches political, economic, social matters and talks about the silence of the Nigeria people against government oppression and brutality while speaking up against apartheid in foreign nations like South Africa. According to him, these could only happen in a crazy world.

This song remains relevant today as the same hypocrisy and silence in the face of government injustice is still the order of the day in our beloved country and continent as a whole.

7. Yellow Fever (1971)

In this song, Fela warns about the dangers of skin bleaching that was becoming a trend for women. He lists the many unappealing aspects of bleaching and tells women that they were better off leaving their skin in its natural form.

Today, bleaching has become even more rampant than in the times of Fela. According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria has the highest number of women in the world who use skin-lightening products.

8. Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense (1980)

This song highlights the fact that the white man seems to be living our lives for us, while they make their own decisions based on their culture and tradition. The white man, instead of condemning the bad leadership that goes on here, overlooks them while doing the exact opposite in their own countries.
He condemns the so-called democracy and begs Africans to open their eyes and realize that they are being misled and stolen from.

Today, instead of drawing away from the chains of colonialism, we still rely on foreign countries to help us make some of our major decisions and try to imitate every aspect of their lives, forgetting our cultures and traditions in the process.

9. Colonial Mentality (1977)

He speaks about the fact that Africans have colonial mentality and still live in the past despite having gained independence. They embrace everything foreign and believe theirs to be inferior, from basic things like food and clothes down to their names and religious practices.

This song is still very relevant today, as Africans in general would rather purchase foreign made products and would use foreign names instead of their traditional ones.

10. Confusion Break Bone (1990)

This song talks about the confusion that abides in the country and the lack or proper organisation. His tone here sounds sadder and more resigned to the fact that things might never get better for the country. He highlights all the problems he had mentioned in his earlier songs and says that nothing has changed and wonders at the insanity of things.

Nothing has changed today. The country is still in a permanent state of disorderliness and disunity. The government still gets away with being corrupt and unjust, and the innocent man still gets punished for crimes committed.

Former Senate President, Sen Ameh Ebute Writes Saraki To Resign

The letter reads below.

Let me begin by extending my greetings to you and other members of the National Assembly. It is exactly eight years since God crossed our path and must be bold to say that knowing you as a friend has been an interesting journey all the way.

As a senior citizen of Nigeria, I feel I owe the younger generation of Nigerians the moral obligation to offer advice and counsel when public institutions are mismanaged. It is more compelling, especially, whenever I see the ship of state derailing or democratic tenets blatantly abused, as in our experience now with your leadership of the National Assembly. This is why I have decided to write this open epistle to you.

We all know that democratic governance rest on the pillars of the legislature, whose main responsibility is to enact legislations that would deepen democratic practices and good governance in any country of the world. A corrupt legislature is a bane to the country; while an upright, focused and virtuous legislature is an asset to Nigeria. The entire wheels of democratic governance are propelled and energized by the legislature.

Therefore, those who should populate the hallowed chambers ought to be men and women of proven integrity and trustworthy. The demands of morality and integrity on the Parliament, which is the conscience of democratic governance is very strict.

It is no longer in doubt to all discerning minds that your lofty position as the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigerian places a serious a moral burden on you, which your actions and utterances in the last three years have exposed you as very deficient.

Nigerians have watched with utter amazement how you have redefined leadership of the legislature in the negative sense. This to me as your friend is very shameful and immoral to say the least but still not too late.

The Senate under your watch has imported despicable autocracy and despotism into parliamentary engagements. And the resultant effects include, the dictatorial muzzling of opposition voices of colleagues during plenary and abusing their inalienable right of freedom to hold and express opinions on the floor of the hallowed chambers.

Your leadership of the Senate has shown an absolute proclivity to vindictiveness and witch-hunting of colleagues who share views opposed to your disposition. Such members are goaded to the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee peopled by your acolytes, who have accepted the loathsome job of serving as your hatchet men. They unduly or unlawfully punish dissenting voices for the audacity of holding an opinion contrary to your thinking.

The suspension of Senators Ali Adume and Omo-Agege are some of the few examples of your aberrational leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly. You have turned the Red Chambers into a combat theatre, protecting the abominable, but despising truth. This is the extent of your moral deficit, which has disqualified you from belonging or even leading an assemblage of honourable men and women.

Mr. Senate President Sir, you have consistently failed to pass the integrity and morality tests to continue to preside over Nigeria’s parliament. Nigerians recall with much sadness, your scandalous alleged purchase of the N298 million bulletproof Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), with fake documents and the evasion of Customs duties, which was impounded by Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

There is also the issue of your alleged false declaration of assets, a case still hanging at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), but you are frustrating judgment with frivolous court injunctions. This again testified to the obvious that you still own the Nigerian people an apology.

And your recent alleged shadows in the Offa bank robberies which claimed the lives of over 30 Nigerians, including security agents have cumulatively placed a moral burden on your leadership and disqualify you from holding the noble identity of a Nigerian parliamentarian, much more holding such exalted positions of Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly.

Sir, in my humble opinion, you are barren of every essential ingredient and honour to continue to preside over any parliament anywhere in the world. The abysmal performance of the Senate under your watch, the padding of national budget or the simmering regime of corruption your leadership has allowed to creep into the Senate strips you of any qualification to be a member of Nigeria’s National Assembly.

Nigerians have tolerated your leadership deficit enough and time has come for you to have a rethink and do the needful.
We are tired of your scandalous outings at every point. It is either, you are fingered in armed robbery today, or some illicit monies are traced to your account abroad, which are matters the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not approve of any public office holder.

My friend Senator, I have no hesitation to say, you have regrettably become an opposite of honour or integrity, both at home and abroad and a shame to Nigeria, a country President Muhammadu Buhari is spending sleepless nights to reposition and rejuvenate on the path of progress and public morality. We cannot allow you to reverse these gains.

Though, the mistake was made right from your home state of Kwara, where the people of Kwara Central senatorial district failed to see your odd characters, underserving of leadership patronage and proceeded to entrust you with their mandate. Even this is now questionable having listened to some criminals confess openly how they manipulated your elections to give you victories against the people’s wish .

These negative virtues are innately part of you, and there are no restrictions. You even irresponsibly besmirched and desecrated, the Elder Olusola Saraki, your own father by shamefully humbling a man that brought you into this world and even politics by extension.

Therefore, at the behest of all men of good conscience and lovers of Nigeria, I am advising you to do the needful. Please, withdraw your membership of the National Assembly by resigning your position. And the time to act appropriately is now. It is the collective desire of all Nigerians to see their country progress. We cannot continue to stomach or tolerate a leadership liability like you anymore.

Thank you for the patience of reading this open letter and may you be guided accordingly.

You may permit me to share this with our friends in the diplomatic circle as witnesses to my call for you to do the needful. This is to put everyone on notice should masses decide to emulate your style of doing things by removing you from office in the days ahead.