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Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:20

Project Fly With Us Afrika Unveils Award

In its renewed bid to support sports tourism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, the Project Fly with Us Afrika has unveiled the  Face of Africa Sports and Tourism Awards ASTA. This was done at Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, Cote Divoire.

Project Fly with Us Afrika began operation in 2022 with Destination Travels and Tours, recently it became more focused on Sports tourism, recognising and appreciating those who have carved a niche for themselves in the sporting world either as professionals, organisers or ardent supporters of sports and tourism in Africa.

According to the brain behind the Project Fly Afrika initiative, Ambassador Peace Onuiri, the ASTA awards currently taking place in Cote D'Ivoire is the first of its kind and slating to hold during the AFCON 23 football tournament.

He said, this is to show that the organisation is passionate about projecting the impact of sport tourism and rekindling the love of sports, whilst promoting sport and tourism destinations in Africa 

Amb. Onuiri informed that  during the ongoing Africa Cup of nations, the organisation had so far presented awards of Honours to the Nigeria Football Association, (NFF), President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and  Africa Football Legend, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha for their indelible contributions to the growth and development of Soccer in Nigeria and Africa, noting that the recipients also won 2 tickets each for a luxurious tour of East Africa Safari, coming up in few weeks. 

Amb. Onuiri further revealed that  logistics arrangements were also made for those flying to Cote D'Ivoire to cheer the Nigerian Super Eagles to victory in form of round trip flights, luxurious accommodations, guranteed tickets for up-close match experience, as well as guided tours to immerse guest in the whole local atmosphere of the city. 

She noted that it was not just about the match experience but a celebration of culture, camaraderie laced with unforgettable moments to be cherished for long afterwards. 

Amb. Onuiri implored well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to key into the initiative by supporting in any possible way, saying it would not only promote the industry but also go a long way in promoting Nigeria as the 'Giant of Africa' where sporting and tourism activities are concerned.

L-R: Boluwaji Matthews of Oyo State Broadcasting Corporation, Ayo Ibidapo of the NFF media, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, former Super Eagles Striker, Ambassador Peace Onuiri of the Project Fly with Us Afrika and other members of her Media team during the Presentation of the Face of Africa Sports and Tourism Awards ASTA to Okocha at the ongoing 2024 African Cup of Nations in Cote D'Ivoire.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been showered with praises by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, regarding the proactive role he played during the search and rescue of the kidnapped school children in the state recently. 
 
In a release issued by the party spokesperson, Segun Dipe, on behalf of the State Chairman, Barrister Paul Ayodele Omotoso, APC described Tinubu as a "constant and consistent President who does not just revel in being regarded as a president, but has soaked himself in the challenges and responsibilities of being one, even in times of serious crises." 
 
"We are thanking Mr. President from the bottom of our heart for playing the role of a true father when it mattered most to our dear state, as noted by the governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO." 
 
Earlier, Governor Oyebanji was full of appreciation to the President for his unwavering support that led to the timely release of the kidnapped pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Eporo, Ekiti. 
 
According to the governor, President Tinubu gave specific directives that put the search and rescue mission on top gear and indeed, the president did not rest until the pupils were found, rescued and brought back alive. 
 
"To be the president of Nigeria, the leader of our great party and the father to all Nigerian children at this crucial time when the nation is battling insecurity is a gift from God that we will not take lightly." 
 
"We have come to identify in our president some strong qualities, such as empathy, courage, strategic thinking, problem solving, and decisiveness. He has showed the entire world that he is prepared to make decisions, particularly when under pressure. 
 
"We are grateful, we are delighted, we do not regret your choice as our president and we will continue to bask under your love, guidance and protection as our true leader," APC assured. 
 
The party also seized the opportunity to thank those who actively involved themselves in the search and rescue for the haplessly kidnapped school children, and most importantly, God for dousing the tensed situation. 
 
Regarding our hard-working people's governor, we say: "BAO maa ba ise re lo, ise re nte wa lorun..."
 
Signed:
 
Segun Dipe
Publicity Secretary, 
All Progressives Congress, APC, 
Ekiti State.
Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:07

Segun Dipe: Fayemi, Yet an Altruist @ 59

I have known Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, CON, initialled JKF, for what now seems ages. I dare say that his leadership qualities are legion. So, it should not surprise anyone that despite all that has been said about him in the past, people cannot stop talking about those values he espouses in different tones and ways. 
 
For starters, Dr. Fayemi deserves all the accolades he has been getting in and outside of office as governor, minister, lecturer, activist and globally sought-for speaker. He reads, he writes, he talks and he walks his talk in a passionate manner. 
 
What makes Fayemi an unusual leader is his approach to issues. Nothing ruptures his confidence. While there are plenty of admirable leaders, only a handful will match Fayemi in the ease of infusing energy, passion and connection. Add to this a clear and well documented vision, mission and commitment to integrity that guide him in everything he does, plus conscietising his followers the way they should go, then you have a man unfazed by challenges. 
 
For this his 59th Birthday anniversary, however, I have opted to narrow down my perspective of Dr. Fayemi to just a single quality, which is altruism. 
 
Altruistic leadership is characterised by a leader's willingness to sacrifice personal interests for the good of all, and it is a transformational quality. Exceptional leaders like Fayemi understand that true greatness lies in sacrificing personal interests for the betterment of others. 
 
As a leader, an altruist is proactive in bringing a team together within acceptable standard and policies, and on time. He can be cautious with delegating tasks due to anxiety of things being done the right way. He is also respectful of authority and considerate of others. 
 
According to the late sage, Nelson Mandela, a leader is like shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go over ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realising that all along they are being directed from behind. 
 
That is the Fayemi I'd known over time. He does everything carefully and quietly without making a fuss of them. The cornerstone of his leadership style entails establishing and nurturing of trust within the team. He is an example of a leader who believes that trust is not something granted automatically but must be earned. And one of the means by which Fayemi himself earns the trust of his people is through his unwavering commitment to their collective success. Yes, Fayemi continually prioritizes the interest of his people over his personal ambition, thus creating the atmosphere of trust and reliability. 
 
Cognizant of his dedication to the people's well-being, many of us have come to feel secure and valued. When he assures, we concur. Such sense of security and value provided by Fayemi's altruism is what has become the bedrock upon which the trust of the people in our continuity agenda is built today, knowing that when such trust is present and well driven, it engenders a high level of cooperation and commitment. 
 
Now you know that continuity did not just happen in Ekiti and that Fayemi's successor as governor did not just emerge. Fayemi's altruism made it so. 
 
Happy Birthday to the leader in the true sense. May the lines continue to fall for you in pleasant places. More wins for Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, CON.
 
Segun Dipe is the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ekiti State.
Nationalism and patriotism can be thought of as consequences of national identity that represent positive evaluations of one's group but imply different social goals. In the golden words of Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle, a French army officer and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946 to restore a republic in France. 
 
The former French President Charles de Gaulle summed it up best when he said: “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism when hate for people other than your own comes first.” As a conservative statesman, de Gaulle comes from a mindset where patriotism offers a pathway toward order and stability. Patriotic feeling fosters a shared experience that brings together people from all walks of life.
 
True patriotism is a love for one’s country. Therefore, in our current situation today as a nation - I would argue that true patriotism is a sort of tough love—a recognition of the issues that plague one’s country and the passionate, relentless pursuit of a solution.
 
Though our beloved country Nigeria has done an abysmal job of following through on its founding principles, the principles themselves—a strong sense of equality and justice, the idea that “all men are created equal,” the celebration of social mobility, constitutionally binding freedom of expression—are exceptional and the core reason for Constitutional Democracy.
 
A more explicit link between nationalism and patriotism can be found in the work of German philosopher Johann Gottfried von Herder. In Herder’s view, patriotism refers not to a political virtue but to a spiritual attachment to the nation. In this context, the fatherland becomes synonymous with the nation and its distinct language and culture, which give it unity and coherence. Thus, instead of linking patriotism to the preservation of political liberty, Herder associates the love of one’s country with the preservation of a common culture and the spiritual unity of a people.
 
Following from the above, the Nigerian National Team 'Super Eagles' in demonstration of team spirit 'Nationalism and Patriotism' applying the philosophy of Turn back! Face your fear, and win! Symbolically, Nigeria wins despite the craziest moment in the history of VAR.
 
 Sadly, many deaths were recorded while watching Nigeria vs South African semifinal football match on Wednesday 7th, 2024.
 
1. My friend Cairo Ojougboh, Ex-NDDC director, a former member of the House of Representatives
 
2. Kwara State University deputy bursar.
 
 3. A Corp Member
 
 4. Chief Angus Obi, a Nigerian Businessman; and most likely many other enthusiasts.
 
The sad events occurred as a result of a second goal for the Nigerian team that was unceremoniously canceled and in a twist of fate, the referee, Amin Omar, awarded a penalty kick to South Africa. Teboho Mokoena, South Africa's ace midfielder rose to the occasion. With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Mokoena calmly slotted the ball into the net during stoppage time, leveling the score and injecting a fresh dose of suspense into the match. The unexpected equalizer has left the outcome of the match hanging in the balance, with both teams still vying for a spot in the final. That was the craziest moment that was responsible for the deaths of our compatriots.
 
Essentially, Nationalism and Patriotism played significant roles in the outcome of the Nigeria/South Africa match. Characteristically the epitome of RESILIENCE was noticeable in the Nigerian team the Super Eagles. 
 
 “Our team has a huge state of mind. The team fights together, There are 25 of us (in the squad) and it’s difficult to beat us,” said Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro.
 
 “Deep down, thinking about that second canceled (Nigerian) goal and the (South African equalizer), a lot of teams would have given up.
 
 “I am very happy, the players are happy, they deserve it, we deserve it, the Super Eagles deserve it, and the Nigerian people deserve it.”
 
So, as we reflect on the subject of Nationalism and Patriotism - let us begin to reinvent the glorious old days as exemplified by the then-youngest governor of Abia State. The pillar of sport in Africa and a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Orji Uzor Kalu promoted nationalism above primordial sentiment as seen in the formation and success stories of Eyimba football club of Aba where Musa Aliyu a Northerner was the team captain.
 
Conclusively, in the spirit of Renewed Nationalism and Patriotism that enveloped and currently working amongst us - just as we unite to support the Super Eagles, we must also unite to restore HOPE, HEALING, PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE and work for a stronger nation living in HARMONY and PEACE. - as we join millions of our compatriots at home and abroad in wishing the Super Eagles a resounding victory in the Final march.
 
Finally, I like to join millions of our citizens home and abroad to dedicate this article to the unforgettable and loving memories of the departed compatriots. Goodnight our beloved compatriots – REST IN POWER.
 
UP NIGERIA
 
Richard Odusanya
 
Saturday, 10 February 2024 09:02

Face Of Africa Sports, Tourism Awards Unveiled

In its renewed bid to support sports tourism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, the Project Fly with Us Afrika has unveiled the  Face of Africa Sports and Tourism Awards ASTA. This was done at Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, Cote Divoire.

Project Fly with Us Afrika began operation in 2022 with Destination Travels and Tours, recently it became more focused on Sports tourism, recognising and appreciating those who have carved a niche for themselves in the sporting world either as professionals, organisers or ardent supporters of sports and tourism in Africa.

According to the brain behind the Project Fly Afrika initiative, Ambassador Peace Onuiri, the ASTA awards currently taking place in Cote D'Ivoire is the first of its kind and slating to hold during the AFCON 23 football tournament.

He said, this is to show that the organisation is passionate about projecting the impact of sport tourism and rekindling the love of sports, whilst promoting sport and tourism destinations in Africa 

Amb. Onuiri informed that  during the ongoing Africa Cup of nations, the organisation had so far presented awards of Honours to the Nigeria Football Association, (NFF), President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and  Africa Football Legend, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha for their indelible contributions to the growth and development of Soccer in Nigeria and Africa, noting that the recipients also won 2 tickets each for a luxurious tour of East Africa Safari, coming up in few weeks. 

Amb. Onuiri further revealed that  logistics arrangements were also made for those flying to Cote D'Ivoire to cheer the Nigerian Super Eagles to victory in form of round trip flights, luxurious accommodations, guranteed tickets for up-close match experience, as well as guided tours to immerse guest in the whole local atmosphere of the city. 

She noted that it was not just about the match experience but a celebration of culture, camaraderie laced with unforgettable moments to be cherished for long afterwards. 

Amb. Onuiri implored well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to key into the initiative by supporting in any possible way, saying it would not only promote the industry but also go a long way in promoting Nigeria as the 'Giant of Africa' where sporting and tourism activities are concerned.

L-R: Boluwaji Matthews of Oyo State Broadcasting Corporation, Ayo Ibidapo of the NFF media, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, former Super Eagles Striker, Ambassador Peace Onuiri of the Project Fly with Us Afrika and other members of her Media team during the Presentation of the Face of Africa Sports and Tourism Awards ASTA to Okocha at the ongoing 2024 African Cup of Nations in Cote D'Ivoire.

Dear Mr, Festus Keyamo, 

Our epistle is today addressed to you as a contact point because our object of reflection is aviation, in reality though, the content of our considerations affects all of us citizens, operators, regulators and consumers of the aviation sector of Nigeria. They are considerations about a sector that was conceived to make all fly but in Nigeria it has the knack of making the most prominent drown. 

 

I invite you to think of and read about the rise and fall of many Nigerian airlines and allied companies in the sector to get a feel of the gist here. 

 

Let us start from the personal. Well over two decades ago, my son who is now a computer scientist but seems more interested in making money than computerising the world, expressed a desire to become a pilot, and many in my family expressed their concerns about the dangers of flying and the concern each of his flight would give the family. 

 

Amazingly, my late papa, an economist turned accountant and practicing auditor who had spent over four decades in aviation, simply quipped that “the real endangerments in aviation come from the offices and management not in the sky…”. He was a man that firmly believed that “accidents in aviation are planned and achieved via bad management and negligence of the rules of aviation”. 

 

Whilst still on a personal note, let me invite you, Honourable Minister, to consider that the most noticeable of your predecessors in the ministry of aviation you head today are noted in the industry not for their contributions but for their troubles with the law. Messer Femi Fani-Kayode and Stella Odua are two names that should suffice to making this point clear to all within and beyond the aviation community. 

 

Your immediate predecessor has not disappointed those expecting the wings of aviation to drown many. Former Minister Hadi Sirika is a man who lately tweets about Islamic teaching, in Hausa, and copiously quotes the Quran. Before then however, he was a man who about 20 days before leaving office got the Federal Executive Council to approve over half a million dollars for the engagement of consultants for the master plan of airports, then about three days before leaving office he launched an airline that had no plane and Air Operator Certificate to operate. 

Like the children of his generation that believe that packaging is everything and that the “why” trumps the “what”, the then minister and his team hurriedly arranged an Ethiopian Airlines plane draped with the logo of “Nigeria Air”, and made it fly to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a few hours to the end of his tenure in office. The logo of “Nigeria Air” was first unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, we were told then that the project was expected to cost $8.8 million in preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.

Readers of this page will remember me saying that the “Nigeria Air” so dear to the minister was “conceived on PowerPoint, presented in PDF and will die on twitter”. The project was suspended two months later….

When the “Nigeria Air” fantasy reared its head, or shall we say logo, again in May 2023, we, on this page, called for an independent public inquiry that will allow all those involved and interested to give and get a clear, detailed and final understanding of the process, negotiations, partnerships, expenses, and parties involved in the “Nigeria Air” project. It is now close to a year since then and we are still waiting. 

As if to respect the tradition of notable ministers of aviation in Nigeria, former Minister Hadi Sirika has returned to people’s mind because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is having conversations with his brother over contracts awarded by aviation ministry and have frozen an account with over N8 billion, please note that given the rate of the naira to the dollar when the money got into the account, the frozen funds must have been nothing less than 10 million dollars then. The former minister’s brother is a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

As citizens respectful of the law, we must assume all are innocent until proven guilty and we must give the minister and his brother the space and the right to explain and defend themselves in a clear, detailed and final way on why a civil servant will be getting millions of dollars worth of contracts awarded by a ministry headed by his own brother, what happened to the contracts and the source of the money in the account. All those are criminal matters and we can leave such to the EFCC and the courts to deal with. 

We must however remind the operatives of the EFCC from investigators to prosecutors to make sure they have a clear, tight and convincing case. Sensationalism will lead us nowhere, what we desperately need are more looted funds refunded and paths to future looting blocked. 

The rest of us however need to look at the political, institutional and financial elements of the aviation industry. You, Hon Minister, need to call and promise yourself not to follow the tradition of the noted ones that came before you, yes, a promise to be good is not enough but it gives you a vision to follow. Operators in the aviation sector need to find a way to ensure that no one is allowed to abuse office, disrupt plans and hinder the many progress that the aviation industry can bring to our economy and country. 

No minister can manage or mismanage the aviation sector alone, those around the office of the former minister too should be looked at and those around the current minister should look at themselves.

Outside government, operators in the private sector need to find their voices, before that, they even need to discover or rediscover their worth and consequence in the country’s economy as a whole and in the aviation sector in particular. A well organised, invested, committed and self-regulated private sector that strives for excellence can and should take the lead in aviation, treat regulators as guests not as owners, so that the wings of aviation will make all fly not drown. 

Join me on Twitter: @anthonykila, to continue these conversations. 

The new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has, so far, demonstrated a hands-on determination to make a difference regarding the fate and fortunes of the Naira. The forces arrayed against him and his team include the following: (1) A volatile and economically insensitive political environment, (2) Elite consumption patterns, (3) Overall low national productivity, (4) Limited public understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy issues, (5) Incredibly high demand for the dollar and, very importantly, (6) The new-found use of the dollar as a major Store of Value.

The points I made on this page on November 15, 2021, Under the title “What the CBN Cannot Do” are even more poignant today, as the new leadership of the bank grapples with great odds today. Those points are so relevant, and so painfully responsible for the crisises of the moment that the article under reference will be reproduced in large measure here; so that Cardoso does not draw undeserved flack for the systemic, contrived and institutionalized shadowboxing that has taken over the profile of our national currency. Here we go, as was said here two years ago.

“The CBN cannot do much about the value of the Naira, for as long as we produce very little, consume much that is not produced here and retain a monocultural economy that is driven by a leadership elite that focuses on distribution and consumption, rather than production. The calls for diversification of the economy have been on for over two decades now. These calls have been so strident, repetitive, and over-dramatised by successive government. That is why, today, the concept has become all but threadbare, tiring, boring and of little interest to many people.

Yet the point remains, that only the diversification of the economy, redemption of our national road infrastructure, reversal of the current state of insecurity in the land, rescuing the power sector, making realistic and sustainable investments in education and health, among other critical interventions, can save the national currency, the national economy and the people.

Looking at some of the issues in detail, it is a matter of record that general insecurity and banditry have been undermining the massive national investments in agriculture for years now. Banditry has laid waste massive farmlands, reduced farmers’ access to their farms and their farm produce, in addition to outrightly wiping out or chasing away large farming communities. When financial outflows into the agricultural sector do not yield the expected returns due to insecurity, the projected gains in terms of food availability, food security and forex earnings from food exports go up in smoke.

Thus a “silo” conversation on diversification of the national economy, especially with agriculture in focus, which does not also simultaneously address insecurity and national road and transport infrastructure is an exercise in self-delusion. You do not drive foreign exchange earnings by designing wonderful projections and making speeches about them in airconditioned halls, when farmers cannot go to their farms.

It is the same thing, that is, misplaced priorities and wrong leadership orientation, when many states of the federation mistake investments in health and education infrastructure for actual investments in “education” and “health services.” They need to be told that brand-new health centres, schools, new classroom blocks and massive stockpiling of teaching equipment are procurement contracts. They do not translate into investment in health and education unless, and until, these states also have commensurate and possibly higher investments in health workers, teacher recruitment, teacher skills upgrade, training of new teachers and retraining of old teachers.

An investor who spends money setting up new baking ovens and launching them is not a baker. Bakeries produce and deliver edible bread. So, state governments that are awarding construction contracts, importing furnishing material for new public and private facilities, have no idea of how much damage they are doing to their states and to the national economy. They are not offering needed health services or producing the needed human capital for development. When misapplied funds are retired under the heading “investment in health” or “education and human capital development,” the people and Nigeria are swindled. But we are digressing.”

The foregoing, which was said over two years ago, reads like it was written for the first time this morning. The reason it sounds so fresh is simple: Nothing has changed. The problems  are still the same today.

The article under reference continued thus. “That the value of the naira continues to plummet, as I write, is not the work of the devil; no! That many big and small businesses have lost value and shut down, is because of high replacement cost for goods sold out and their inability to obtain long-term facilities that would make sense in a Third World economy.

To understand the “replacement cost” narrative, let us suppose that you sell bicycles. If you buy fifty bicycles at twenty thousand Naira each, that would mean that you spent one million naira to stock up your shop. If you sell the bicycles at twenty-five thousand naira each, it will mean that you have made a profit of two hundred and fifty thousand Naira on your current batch of bicycles. It is up to you, whether to keep aside your profit of two hundred and fifty thousand naira, or buy more bicycles; after removing other costs. Whichever way you look at it, or whatever you decide to do, you have enough money to “replace” the bicycles you sold.

Now imagine what would happen if, after selling your 50 bicycles you discover that the price of bicycles has jumped from twenty thousand naira apiece, to N50,000 apiece! That is a 150 per cent increase in bicycle prices. This means that, all of a sudden, you will now need N2.5 million to buy the same number of bicycles! It also means that your “replacement cost” has moved up astronomically. If you do not have the new replacement cost, and your original business capital can only get you twenty bicycles, your business has lost value by a whopping percentage.

Which means that 80 per cent of the shop space may not be needed anymore. Which means that at least 50 per cent of you workforce may have to be laid off. Which means that property rate for shops, and related, real estate will drop at the same time that young traders are becoming jobless and declining income is becoming the norm. Which means that some parents won’t be able to pay school fees, etc., etc. Which then further means that most sellers who still have some old stock will do “anticipatory” mark-up, because of the difference between their original “procurement cost” and the new replacement cost.

That is the reality of the Nigerian wholesale and retail trade economy and situation today. This is in addition to the fact that more is being imported from outside than what we are sending outside for sale. But assuming that, by some as-yet-unknown magic, the CBN grabs the naira by the neck and yanks it back to one dollar to one naira, what then? Will this increase national productivity, diversify the economy, or remove the fact that the problem is much broader than the CBN as such? Will it remove the fact that our foreign exchange problems are connected with our taste patterns, limited productivity, elite excesses and poor integrated national planning? With agriculture, education, health, power, tourism and security in the doldrums as major national challenges, we cannot save ourselves from the avoidable foreign exchange constraints the nation is saddled with at the moment.

A nation with a predominantly consumption-drive economy cannot suddenly catapult itself into the Neverland of foreign exchange El Dorado. You make money from what you produce and sell, or from what you can do and be paid for. You also buy with what you have earned from either goods or services you offered. You get paid nothing when you produce nothing. You spend more than you earn when you produce and sell far less than you buy. The person who produces nothing and earns nothing, but buys a lot, must be getting the money for his purchases from somewhere. If in addition to producing nothing, the person also has some savings, then he must be depleting his savings. But what if this person also has no savings, in addition to producing nothing, that means he must be borrowing. And to borrow is to get credit for present needs, with payment deferred to a future date, right? Well, that is our lot in Nigeria today. And we are still borrowing!

The Igbo man will tell you that you do not borrow money in order to take the Ozo title, or to marry a wife. If you borrow for either of these endeavours, how about maintenance – and other matters arising? But we are digressing, again!

It is largely because we are consuming more than we are producing, and also buying more than we are selling, that the speculation for “phoney money” and profits without productivity have overrun the land. Thus arises the predicament of nations and individuals with “unbalanced” market profile and appetites. Thus also stands the crisis of the Nigerian state and economy today, in bold relief. Thus also shall it remain, no matter the ingenuity and efforts of its central monetary and fiscal regulatory mechanisms, until the right things are done.

Truth be told, our monocultural economy, or overdependence on one major source of foreign exchange revenue, is a drawback that can only be remedied by real diversification of the economy. We are yet to see the alleged gains, or the promised food sufficiency, of the tenure or Adesina as Minister of Agriculture, or the food exports of Audu Ogbe’s intervention.

Are we producing enough to save the Nigerian economy? Is our foreign exchange capacity not constrained because we are not producing, or exporting enough? What is the impact of our energy problems on overall national productivity? If I must buy an industrial generating set in order to set up a big business outfit, and a pepper grinder must also do the same in order to be in business, will the demand for generating sets of all makes and sizes not remain? And will this not mean a continuous demand for forex by importers to buy generating sets from outside the country? And what do you expect when the outflow for all sorts of things, including furniture and kitchen napkins, is not only higher but continues to rise even as the inflow is smaller than the outflow and also dwindling?

As a farmer trying to water and nurture the naira, the CBN “alone” cannot rescue a currency that is surrounded by thorns, dangerous weevils and inclement weather.”

With the above coming from my intervention of two years ago, I conclude today by pointing out that Cardoso is no magician. The man is swimming in very turbulent waters. Besides policy support, he needs resolute political backup as he takes the necessary hard decisions. And take them he must.

Saturday, 10 February 2024 08:38

Africa Cup Of Nations Final: Nigeria Factfile

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will tackle the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations Final on Sunday.

Ahead of the potentially explosive encounter, here is the fact file of 2024 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Nigeria:

 
 

Path to final: Group A – Equatorial Guinea 1-1, Ivory Coast 1-0, Guinea-Bissau 1-0; Last 16 – Cameroon 2-0; Quarter-final – Angola 1-0; Semi-final – South Africa 1-1 (4-2 penalties)

 

Scorers: 3 – Ademola Lookman, 2 – William Troost-Ekong, 1 – Victor Osimhen, own goal – Opa Sangante (GNB)

Rankings: 6 Africa, 42 world

Captain: William Troost-Ekong

Coach: Jose Peseiro (POR)

Previous appearances: 19

 

 

 

 

Best placing: Champions 1980, 1994, 2013

Record win: South Africa 4-0 (2004)

Record losses: Sudan 0-4 (1963), Algeria 1-5 (1990)

Nickname: Super Eagles

Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa Utd/RSA), Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba), Francis Uzoho (Omonia/CYP)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem, Bruno Onyemaechi (both Boavista/POR), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Semi Ajayi (West Brom/ENG), Calvin Bassey (Fulham/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa/TUR), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce/TUR), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto/POR), William Troost-Ekong (PAOK/GRE)

Midfielders: Joe Aribo (Southampton/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Fulham/ENG), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge/BEL), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Alhaasan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp/BEL)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan/ITA), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester/ENG), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/ITA), Terem Moffi (Nice/FRA), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor/TUR), Victor Osimhen (Napoli/ITA), Moses Simon (Nantes/FRA), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor/TUR)

[DailyTrust]

From the pre-show at the Peacock Theatre to the main event at the Crypto.com Arena, the 66th edition of the Grammys, which was held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, was laden with drama.

DAILY POST takes a look at some of the events that defined the 2024 Grammys.

Nicki Minaj’s Prank

 

The Recording Academy sparked controversy after it appeared to have pranked rapper Nicki Minaj – the Grammy organisers announced ‘Barbie World’ by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice as the winner of the Best Rap Song category on their website and social media handles but later deleted it.

The organisers made a new announcement, flaunting Killer Mike’s ‘Scientists & Engineers’ as the rightful winner without any statement or apology for their initial error which angered fans of Nicki Minaj who hasn’t won a Grammy in over two decades of her career. The development means that Nicki Minaj is yet to have a Grammy to her name.

Jay-Z’s Outburst

American hip-hop legend, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter appeared to have called out the Grammy organisers while receiving the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 2024 Grammys at the Crypto.com Arena, in Los Angeles, on Sunday.

Using his wife, Beyoncé’s Album of the Year snub as a case study, Jay-Z criticised the Recording Academy’s sense of judgment, pointing out that despite Beyoncé being the most awarded person in the Grammy’s history with a total of 32 awards, she has never won the Album of the Year category.

The Roc Nation boss said, “She [Beyoncé] has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. Most Grammys never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”

He went on to accuse the Grammy organisers of “robbing” some nominees and awarding undeserving recipients.

“Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category.

“Sorry, when I get nervous, I tell the truth,” Jay-Z said.

Killer Mike’s Arrest

Rapper, Killer Mike was arrested shortly after winning three golden gramophones at the 66th Grammys on Sunday night.

Chris Gardner, a senior staff writer for Hollywood Reporter, revealed via X that the rapper was “taken away handcuffs,” in the Crypto.com arena during the telecast for the main categories.

According to a statement by the Los Angeles Police Department, Mike Killer was booked for misdemeanour battery after being detained and questioned at the Grammys.

The statement added that the rapper was in the process of being released around the time the Grammys ended.

Nigeria’s Miss Out

The poor outing of Nigerian artists at the 66th Grammys appeared to be one of the major talking points from the event.
DAILY POST reports that the Nigerian quintet of Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Asake, and Olamide were snubbed at the 66th Grammys on Sunday, with Tyla, the only non-Nigerian nominee in the maiden Best African Music Performance category, picking up the award.

Davido and Burna Boy also lost their nominations for the Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance categories.
Burna Boy lost his nomination in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category as well.

Nigerian artists’ Grammy loss angered many of their compatriots, with some alleging that they were deliberately snubbed in a bid to suppress the buzzing Nigerian Afrobeats genre while others called for a boycott of the Grammys.

Davido’s hypeman, Special Spesh accused the Grammy organisers of trying to control African music, vowing that Africans won’t give them the power to downplay Afrobeats or any other African genre.

“We won’t give you the power to dumb Afrobeats down or Afrofusion or anything African!

“That’s (white) America’s problem! When things start to take over and get massive they always want a part then try to have a say then try to control,” Spesh wrote via Instagram.

Similarly, British-Nigerian media personality, Adesope Olajide, aka Shopsydoo, called for Africans, especially Nigerians to boycott the Grammys, accusing the Recording Academy of using Nigerian artists for promotion.

Speaking via an Instagram live session, Shopsydoo claimed that the Recording Academy does not care about African music, stressing that the Grammy band playing Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s ‘Water’ after ‘Water’ when South African singer, Tyla was announced as the winner of the inaugural Best African Music Performance category, was enough reason that the Grammy doesn’t have a clue about African music.

[DailyPost]

Some players in the Nigerian football team recently got pranked by content creator, Napi.

In the clip circulating online, the man dressed tattered with holes in his trousers with no footwear and carried a piece of luggage on his shoulder.

He tried to frighten the players by getting close to them and in turn capture their reaction.


He pulled the prank on Moffi, Omeruo, and other players who all reacted differently.

However, Osimhen’s reaction got the attention of many. The Napoli striker who was about to get off the elevator was shocked upon seeing the man waiting at the entrance. Osimhen who obviously didn’t want to risk it simply retrogressed as he chose an alternate floor to alight.


Reacting to the clip

@amara_shuga wrote: “This is not prank,this is nonsense this should be allowed in hotels and reservation centers,deep down those players are not even liking it that much.”

@jeff3xl wrote: “Victor think say na Ivory Coast send devil come ????????????????????????????????.”

sossiofficial wrote: “Osimhen bombastic side eye na real street ????.”

shegs16 wrote: “So all these boys wey Dey shout no gree for anybody, na only for field ????????????????.”

dike_writes wrote: “Osimhen think say village people don show????.”

domingo_loso wrote: “Osimhen no waste time. E move, he elevated.”

iamwillsteel wrote: “Osimhen be like “na u dem send to injure me, not today”

jennyadams101 wrote: “Oshimhen belike shey na eyes dey pain abi watin be this????????????????”

tinacharlez wrote: “I no blame Osimehen abeg. Make mad man no go bite am ????????”

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