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for what we were, are and will be

OCT 2009 | ISSN 1758-6275

Go Fineboy!
It’s your Birthday

Odia Ofeimun
on the books that made him

Ifeoma Williams
Projecting Nigeria’s image at 49 r e
n th
e
e
Whe ts beco ion
p
me
t
st o
only
the

P Square on Let me tell Tosin Dekalu on let Osun Osogbo Festival: In

you about women me tell you about men the stride of the ancestors

naijaTimes 1
For a chance to win a fabulous jewellery set from Credits:
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Publisher: Dayo Elegbe

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Editor: Funke Adetutu
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Writers: Adedoyin Johnson, Kweku Brown, Odiri

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naijaTimes 3
Nigeria at 49

Editor’s note
How does it feel to be 49? Honestly, this is
a question I cannot answer because I don’t
have a personal experience yet. But our dear
country Nigeria clocks 49 this month and I
believe I can borrow a leaf from that.
Well, you may not know the magnitude
of that double-digit number until you try
counting them on your fingers and toes. This
may not be an easy task at all. This reinforces
the fact that Nigeria has come a long way,
49 years of independence is no joke and the
question that has been on the lips of many
Nigerians is: what do we have to show for
being 49 years old? A fool at 40, the popular
adage says, is a fool forever. Nigeria at 49
is what? This is a question that our cover
personality, Ifeoma Williams seeks to answer.
As an image consultant, Ifeoma talks about
the Nigerian image at 49, it’s past, present
and future.
their plans for the future. Bamidele Odufuye,
The Young Entrepreneur in this issue, offers
another dimension to the Nigerian struggle
as he narrates his success as an entrepreneur.
In the same vein, astute poet and literary
critic, Odia Ofeimun talks about the books
that made him.
Of course, this edition will be incomplete
without the Mysterious Shopper, who has
gone mystery shopping since last month in
other to serve you another interesting story.
These and more are in this independence
edition. Happy independence! Goodbye and
see you again next month.
- Funke Adetutu

Also, in this same spirit of independence, the

main feature story titled: When the streets
become the only option looks at the pains
and frustrations of street hawkers including

naijaTimes 5
 Say You’re One of Them by
Uwem Akpan, Oprah’s latest
book club pick was leaked!
Oprah alert! According to Ron Charles
of the Washington Post, Say You’re One of
Them by Uwem Akpan was Oprah’s next
Fashion Statements at the
New York fashion week
In a sea of neutral shows, DKNY and Marc by
Marc Jacobs were a refreshing breeze at the
recent New York Fashion Week with their mix
of colours and prints. DKNY showed bright

l k i n g A b o ut Book Club pick, though before the d-day, florals and graffiti prints bursting out from

Is Ta the top secret was revealed. The short story
collection is a “powerful and vivid debut
collection describing the plight of children
caught up in difficult and often harrowing
situations throughout the continent of
Africa” according to the blurb.
Body Of Art is the new Skin
under a slouchy grey suit. The dresses were
short and sexy and a delicate peony print top
was teamed with a bold miniskirt.
Marc by Marc Jacobs was reminiscent of
the Desperately Seeking Susan 80’s - more
is more, then shove a large bow on top.
Guardian.co.uk

Everyone beauty trend for 2010

With new body art being inspired by tribal

references, make-up is no longer restricted
just to the face but rather, it is celebrated in
the form of body art also. The fashion trend
for the year 2010 is being projected by some
beauty experts to be tattoos. Tattoos are
extensive and may take forty minutes on
each person interested from start to finish.
Vogue.co.uk

6 naijaTimes 7
 naijaTimes
In The Next Issue...
- Meet the winner of One million Dollar prize at the One 9ja
Million Dollar Gameshow Grand Finale
- KC Presh on “let me tell you about women”
- Omowunmi Akinnifesi on “let me tell you about men”

Make sure you don’t miss out, subscribe to NaijaTimes, and have your own copy delivered to your door.
Visit www.naija-times.com/subscribe-today for more details.

October 09 One9ja Million Dollar Night 48

Fashion & Lifestyle Money

Top 5 Things When the Streets Become the The Young Entrepreneur 38
to watch out Only Option 10 How to Protect Yourself From ATM Fraud 40
for in October Osun Osogbo Festival 14 A Dwindling Middle Class? 44
Let Me Tell You About Women 18
1. Independence celebrations as Nigeria Let Me Tell You About Men 20 Entertainment
turns 49 on October 1 Books That Made Me 22 Projecting Nigeria’s image at 49 46
My Three Letter Style 24 One9ja Million Dollar Gameshow 48
22 2. the Grand Finale of Etisalat’s One9ja Do Men Look Better at 49 26 Go FineBoy It’s your Bir thday! 50
Million Dollar Game show
Wish List 28 Religious hypocrisy in The Swamp Dwellers 54
18
3. The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Championship starts on October 24 Campus Life Health
46 Campus News 30 Dangers of Skin Bleaching 56
4. Nigeria Consumer Goods Fair takes Model Reader 32
place in Abuja from 8-19, October College Life 34 The Shop
2009
Mystery Shop 59
Careers & Development Taé! 60
5. Tarzan Monologues, a stage play, every
50 40 Sunday in October at Terra Building a Career Path 36 Nigerian Home Videos 62
Kulture

8 naijaTimes 9

It is a scorching Friday at the ever-busy
Iyana Iba market in Ojo, Lagos. 25 year old
Okechukwu Nwachu is back on the daily
grind. Dressed in a sweat stained yellow
T-shirt and faded blue jeans, his tired eyes
flit from one end of the road to another. He
is on the look-out for soldiers and street
urchins whom he claims harass him at every
turn, or deny him the proceeds of his life’s
work – selling egg rolls to passersby from a
‘show glass’ mounted on a cart.
In a flash, Okechukwu darts across the road
with his wares in tow. He perches right in
the middle of a dirty car park close to the
market, nimble limbs and watchful eyes at the
ready. The pesky ‘task force’ is on the prowl
again.
“I just got out of secondary school and only
took up this business to sustain myself,” he
explains sighing heavily. “It is certainly not
interesting and I don’t really make much
profit. Most times, the police and area boys
seize our wares at will and even lock us up.”
Okechukwu’s plight is not an isolated one,
because many youths his age and even far
younger have turned to the street trade for
lack of any alternative means through which
to earn a living. They can be seen on most
busy roads across Lagos and other states,
waiting for the usual traffic logjams just to
peddle their wares to commuters. Sometimes
Onodome Jakpor they stay out late into the night and a few of
When the streets
them have been ushered to their untimely
graves in the process- usually due to road
accidents and the activities of kidnappers or
become the only option…
cultists.
“I get the egg rolls from a nearby company
here in Iyana Iba,” says Okechukwu
dejectedly. “The profit margin is really nothing
10
Fashion & Lifestyle
to write home about, but it is much better
than doing nothing at all. Government should
provide us jobs that match what we are
skilled at so we can avoid living this kind of
life.”
While Okechukwu’s situation is pathetic and
questions the government’s responsibilities
towards the nation’s youths, Kemi Oyebanji’s
foray into the street trade is much more
outrageous because she is a female. Besides
exposing her to untold dangers from reckless
motorists and bikers, her gender and trade
leave her susceptible to the antics of sexual
predators since she sells late into the night.
As she narrates her ordeal, Kemi rests against
an abandoned vehicle close to the popular
Lagos Trade Fair Complex, she tiredly wipes
a bead of sweat from her brow. She is careful
not to overturn the basket, which contains
her wares- two bottles of La Casera, three
bottles of Cascade spring water, and a bottle
of Coca Cola and Sprite respectively.
“I started this business because I’m trying to
save up to establish a call centre,” explains
Kemi in fluent English. “Sometimes I don’t
make any sales throughout the day and have
to depend on a friend for sustenance.”
Oddly enough, her meagre trade serves as
a means of support for her younger siblings,
even though her family frowns at the stress
that comes with it. Kemi, like her peers in the
trade, has an existing channel of distribution
which enables her buy on credit from the
wholesalers. “I buy my wares wholesale from
Article Market close-by and sell to the public
in pieces,” she says. “I have an arrangement
to pay back the following day after each day
sale. There really isn’t much profit. I only make
naijaTimes 11
 money from the bottles of water but not
from the drinks. I’m really looking forward
to the start of the next Trade Fair because I
always make huge sales during that period.”

The 23-year-old lady, who admits she will

proceed to the university if she can be
funded, wants the government to construct
stalls for traders like her. This, she assures,
will get her out of the street trade once and
for all.

Meanwhile, Uchenna Nwaegu’s case bears

out the popular slogan, “different strokes for
different folks’ quite well. Unlike Uchenna
and Kemi, he wears a shy smile on his face
as he sells Gala (a brand of sausage roll) to
commuters at Okokomaiko car park. “I have
no option. I must love the business because
it is what feeds me,” he admits, “I have been
in this business since I completed secondary
school in 2005. I had no money at all during
that time, so my friends got me into this.”

He notes that he will only stop selling snacks

if the government can provide him something
better, which he is not about to wait for. “I
get the snacks wholesale from a Gala sales
outlet here in Okokomaiko. On days when I
make huge sales, I make much profit. But the
reverse is the case when I do not,” he says.

However, the sad story of the street trade

does not end with Okechukwu, Kemi and
Uchenna. It continues in the life of almost
every individual who, on a daily basis, is
forced to take up the business for lack of
a better alternative. Since their families are
either too poor or busy to care, the street
traders want the government to provide
them jobs tailored to their skills. Until that
is done, they seem to insist, they will remain
on the streets at a huge personal cost just to
make ends meet.

12 naijaTimes 13
 Travel & Culture

The bustling activities heralding the the Osun Osogbo festival is as much about

Osun Osogbo Festival: commencement of this year’s festival,

highlight the fears that the celebration of
business as it is about faith.

in the stride of
the Osun river goddess might wane after Yet in the midst of these activities, everyone
the death of the Austrian born priestess, is waiting for the Arugba Osun (virgin bearer
Susanne Wenger, having been laid to rest. It of the Osun calabash). The Arugba Osun is an

the ancestors
is hard to describe the expansive tapestry of offspring of the first Ataoja of Osogbo, and
the festival’s grand finale that is taking place as tradition maintains, she has been specially
that morning, or the massive influx of people chosen to carry the ritual calabash from the
ADEDOYIN JOHNSON into the primordial Yoruba town, which left Ataoja’s palace to the Sacred Grove.
hardly any walking room in the grove and the
surrounding streets. Her walk to the grove is a long procession,
before her are a number of maidens carrying
It is a cool Friday morning in August. The On this sunny morning, it is clear that the
management committee of the Osun grove
carved images, and behind her, at the tail of
the procession, is the Ataoja himself, flanked
sleepy town of Osogbo is made alive by the
is not relenting in its effort to maintain the by his wives. Her entrance signals the peak of
influx of people from different parts of the
grove and keep its tourism appeal. An Artists’ the festival, a time when the crowd goes into
country for the annual Osun Osogbo Festival.
Village is under construction somewhere a frenzy.
The road leading to Oju’bo where the grove is
within the sacred forest while a concrete
located is quite impassable.
staircase leads down into the grove, unlike On the final day of the Osun festival such as
last year when people had to shove one this, the Arugba carries the ritual calabash
At the entrance of the grove, I joined the
another to get to the river. containing the sacred brass figures and
throng of people walking slowly into the
others symbols of Osun in a procession
grove. It is some distance to the riverbank. The
The entrance of the grove and the adjoining from the Palace to the Osun Osogbo Sacred
road leading to the interior of the grove is an
streets are filled with a sizeable number Grove.
untarred road, lined in parts on both sides by
of hawkers selling a wide range of goods,
stone images of different deities. The grove is a
ranging from kola nuts to ice-cream, to foods If the Arugba trips or falls on her way to the
dimly lit expanse of land with sunlight filtering
like moin-moin (local bean cakes) and rice, river, it is seen as a bad omen for herself
in through a thicket of green foliage overhead.
among others. Like most religious festivals, and all the worshippers. A ring of guards
On the far side of the road, people are seen
rushing up to a woman clad in white, to be
blessed by her. She prays for them according
to their needs, what they expect the goddess
“it is clear that the
of the Osun River, the Yoruba god of wealth
and fertility, to do for them before the next management committee
festival. Down by the river bank there is a
mass of devotees busy filling plastic bottles of the Osun grove is not
with water from the river, having their
fortunes told, washing their heads and faces relenting in its effort to
in the river, while some others are just
loitering around. maintain the grove ”

14 naijaTimes 15
 and police officers surround the Arugba on
her journey to the Osun River. The guards
are young men with long switches used to
whip back the crowds. The switches that the
young men carry represent the presence
of the ancestors. This year’s celebration is
largely successful since the Arugba neither
faltered nor tripped on her way to the
grove.
The origin of the festival dates back to
the 13th Century and it remains the most
famous of all traditional festivals in the
South Western part of the country. The
source of the river is traced to Igede, in
the present Ekiti state. However, it is widely
celebrated in Osogbo following a historic
relationship between the river goddess and
the founding father of Osogboland. The
Ajaguna of Osogbo, Gabriel Oparanti, says
the historical background of the celebration
is connected to an incident which occurred
in the 13th Century, when the community
was preparing for the next planting season.
A tree fell into the river and there was a
loud voice, saying ‘Larooye Olutimehin, you
have destroyed all my dying pots,’ but the
lesser spirits within the groove pacified the
goddess of the river by saying “Oso Igbo
pele o, oso Igbo rora o” meaning spirit of
the forest sorry, spirit of the forest take it
easy over the unfortunate incident,’ and that
was how the name Osogbo was derived.
The goddess of Osun advised the
community to move to the other side of
the river, because human beings could not
live with the spirits, and they obeyed the
order and moved to “Ontoto” where they
established another palace, and a flourishing
market. While in Ontoto, Olutimehin, being
a hunter, went on a hunting expedition
and suddenly saw spirits within the groove,
16
dancing round a 16-point lamp. The lamps
were seen through incantations and brought
back to the palace to show to Oba Larooye,
the then Ataoja of Osogbo.
The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove,
on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, is
one of the last remnants of primary high
forest in southern Nigeria. Regarded as the
abode of the goddess of fertility, Osun is
one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods. The
landscape of the grove and its meandering
river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines,
sculptures and art works in honour of Osun
and other deities. The sacred grove, which
is now seen as a symbol of identity for all
Yoruba people, is probably the last in Yoruba
culture. It testifies to the once widespread
practice of establishing sacred groves outside
all settlements.
The Osun River runs through the forest. It is
peaceful and beautiful, reflecting the sacred
nature of the place. The goddess of the river,
Osun, is also known as Oso-Igbo, and is an
important figure in local mythology, credited
with magical powers that were once used to
help settle the city and build the power of the
region.
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P-Square (Peter Okoye & Paul Okoye) My girl friend is good looking and knows
“Let me tell you how to take good care of me. Although, she
doesn’t need to die for me, but my mum can
die for me since she kept me in her womb
about Women” for nine months and was there when I was
nobody. That is the difference between them.
I have learnt not to dwell on myself especially
Women are more emotional than men because men are strong hearted. Women blow up as P-Square but as Peter.
issues quickly. The insinuation that women go for love while men go for sex in a relationship is
wrong. Women go for the same thing like men. After sex, women gain 70% satisfaction while men My kind of woman must be good-looking and
gain 30%. have a charisma. The heart also matters. I also
admire confidence and self-control. She must
However, women are so sensitive and fragile and need to be pampered. They are like eggs that also be independent.
need to be taken care of. What I don’t like about women is that some of them claim to be what
they are not. They put up a front and all that. Yet the good thing about them is that we can’t do Paul Okoye
without them.
When some women are in a relationship
Recently, when I was in Jos, I met a woman who kept me waiting outside for nearly six hours. I they forget about the facts of life and push it
had to wait for her at a nearby shop where I drank almost a full crate of soft drinks while waiting around as a do or die affair largely because of
for her. I also had another experience when I got hooked to another girl whom I thought could their emotions. Career-wise, it still affects me
become my girlfriend. Then, I was still an up coming artiste. She never liked it when I took off my because they tend to lose focus easily when
shirts, especially after a show. The truth is that I love taking off my shirts after a performance and something bothers them, especially when it has
throwing it to the crowd. She always took offence over that and whenever we returned to the to do with a good relationship going bad. In my
hotel she would be really angry. We broke up because of that. I have also had a girlfriend who opinion, that is what differentiates them from
asked me to choose between breaking up with her and keeping my female fans. I had to break up men -who tend to live a double life - shuttling
with her because I chose my female fans. I have a woman right now who has a child for me and between relationships and hustling to survive.
she takes good care of him. I have had experiences with women who love me not because I’m Women can also get carried away easily.
P-Square but because I am Peter.
In a relationship, it is not the guys alone
What ticks me off in some women is when they over-react. In a situation where patience is that go for sex, but the girls too. However,
needed to settle things amicably, their over reaction tends to spoil things, which then aggravates they prefer sex and love to go together in a
the situation. However, in the midst of all these, I can boldly declare that women are worth dying relationship. God created something unique
for. The reason is that they are simply indispensable. inside men, they have soft hearts. Hence when
a man is angry, irritated or agitated, it takes
a woman to calm him down- this ability and
beautiful quality is what I love about women.
The other side of some women which I hate
is their love for material things. It is wrong.
Every human being has the right to work
hard and hustle for him or herself. However,
some women are dependent and don’t care
18
Fashion & Lifestyle
about how a man makes ends meet. Women
with such attitudes see men as money making
machines to cater for all their needs. They are
too demanding. The ugliest side I hate about
some women is prostitution. Some women
prostitute themselves to sugar daddies and
treat their male counterparts with disdain.
Some are in relationships and are still engaged
in such acts and funny enough, they pretend a
lot about it.
There was a lady I dated in school when
I was busy recording our second album. I
was in my final year and I dated her for two
months, yet I never knew that she was having
an affair with my room mate. It was so bad
that my neighbours told me about it. One
day, I told her I would return on a Friday
and intentionally returned on a Wednesday. I
travelled by night bus and arrived at 3. 30am.
When I opened the door, I saw her naked
with my room mate. There was also lady I
dated for four years as an undergraduate,
all the while she encouraged me to behave
responsibly and out of the blue dropped the
bombshell that she was getting married in our
final year to another man!
What I do not like about some women is
their deceitful nature and some even combine
it with pride. They can also be boastful. I do
not think women are worth dying for because
we are all struggling to survive, we want to
live, and that is the truth.
My mum is my reflection and my girlfriend
is the best thing that has ever happened to
me since my career picked up. She is a friend
indeed. Over the years I have learnt not to
give a woman my whole heart. It is good to
be blunt, yet hide your emotions. My ideal
woman must be well behaved. For me, it is
more about her personality than the facial
attraction or beauty.
naijaTimes 19

Tosin Dekalu, the Lady Cobbler
“Let me tell you
about men”
M y brother just moved home after about
13 years of not visiting Nigeria. For many
girls that he is friendly with, he is not viewed
as the typical Nigerian man. He told me that
since he returned, the women he has met are
strong and hard working. He believes that it
is some Nigerian men who have problems
with women.
There are many good girls around, living their
lives and doing their own thing. They don’t
have a man beside them to support them and
encourage them, because some men want to
have their cake and eat it. Some men don’t
care; they go for the next person whether
it is your best friend or sister next door. Yet
Nigerian women after going out to hustle
20
they realise their mistakes, they get along well.
I am not saying all men are bad, most of them
are bad, a few are not though. A man can have
three or four girlfriends but when he makes up
his mind about you that is it.
My dad is my first love and I say this with
all honesty. I respect him a great deal and I
admire him. He is an amazing person. If I have
will still go back home to take care of the
a man that is half as decent as my father, then
I have done a good job. My father is a dad
home front including their husbands. Women
in every sense of the word. My father has
look for love loyalty, somebody to care for
never raised his hands to beat me. Yet, I fear
them but some men are not like that. To be
my father more than my mother who used
honest with you, l believe Nigeria is like a sex
to beat us when we were kids. My dad is the
pool where men do as they please. The society
most giving and selfless man. I am so blessed
in which we are in is not balanced. The man
to have him as a father. I am his greatest fan.
will continue to look for sex and the woman
for somebody to love her.
When I was very young, my parents were
financially buoyant, but by the time I
When a man makes up his mind to love, he
completed my secondary education, they
doesn’t change his decision no matter what
were not as financially buoyant as they were.
people say. That is one good thing about men.
My older siblings had already gone to school
The bad thing is that if they make up their
abroad. Hence they suggested I should school
minds and is not favourable to you, there is
at the University of Lagos. My dad objected
nothing that can be done about it. For men,
saying that if he could send one child abroad,
their wounds heal with time. After a while when
then all his children would go abroad for
their education. He could not stand the
idea that one child would have a complex
over his sibling. My father packed his bags
and psychiatry certificate and went back
to England to work, all this was to enable
him send me to school in England. This was
somebody that owned a well-established
business back in Nigeria; he returned to
England because of me.
I am what I am to day, a confident young
entrepreneur in her 30’s because of my dad’s
sacrifice. I did not understand the type of
sacrifice he made then, it was when I grew
Fashion & Lifestyle
older that I understood it. I don’t think I
can do that for anybody. My dad does not
shout or beat, he will seat you down and
talk to you about your life. Anytime I want
to do something irresponsible, I pause and
remember the words of my father. I thank
God for that because it has made me what I
am today. My dad is my best friend through
thick and thin.
My most memorable experience with a man
was not even crazy but strange. A man once
sent me a very expensive gift and I was a bit
scared. I had never seen him before in my
life. I think he read one of the interviews I
had granted and decided to send it. I don’t
know what he was thinking but, based on
my background I could not accept it. I had
to send it back with a thank you. I believe
nothing comes for free. That is men for you.
Such a gift should come from a very close
friend not somebody I have never seen face-
to-face.
l have come to realise as I get older that men
are like babies, it is all about managing that
grown man baby so that you don’t offend
them. I have admirers that are my very good
friends. I am diplomatic when dealing with
men. In my dealings with them, l have learnt
to listen less to opinion from friends, not
that they don’t mean the best though. I have
learnt to be fair to everybody, I make up my
mind on issues, either good or bad. I know
that the result is based on the decision I
have made. I listen to myself more than the
opinion of friends because I am the one in the
relationship. I have learnt to be more wary
of men, more careful and prayerful about my
relationships.
naijaTimes 21

BOOKS THAT
MADE ME
Odia Ofeimun
W hich book do I consider my favourite?
A book? Just a book? Ah, no o, it’s difficult
to tell. I can tell you there are authors I find
very difficult to give up. I mean, I have always
read them and I still read them. Among poets,
I still read Ruken any day. Ruken is one of
those poets I read as a very young person
and will never cease to read. Pablo Neruda,
I will always read. Wole Soyinka has always
been closer to my skin than any other poet
in the world and I have said this in some of
my essays largely because he urged what I
would call a raw nerve in my upbringing.
Soyinka’s choice of Ogun as his patron
helped me resolve a problem in my
childhood. As a motor mechanic, my father
was an Ogun worshipper. However, growing
up with my maternal grandparents who were
Christians made me treat my father’s Ogun
worship as fetish, as to be out of the way of
what a modern person does. But Soyinka
helped me reconcile myself to it. I am not
an Ogun worshipper today because by the
time I started reading Soyinka, I had also
read enough about the philosophy of religion
and history of science to know what is just
wish-fulfilling in local traditions and what is
something else; what is science and what is
just every day folk wish.
Soyinka’s Ogun Abibiman is not my favourite
but Samarkand and Other Markets I Have
Known is my beloved of all Soyinka’s
collection of poetry. Samarkand is a
storytelling quintessential text. It is like a
22
philosophy of freedom and of self-expression
which gives you a piece of what Soyinka
consistently talks about, freedom and justice
in the society. It is not just a defence of
an individual, but the society. He gives the
individual the chance to create the society as
the society creates the individual. The market
that he talks about is not about one person’s
view but everybody’s. I find the book explicitly
defensive of political freedom, the need for a
plural form of the society.
When I talk about novels, I don’t start reading
novels until they strike something in me.
Garcia Marquez is one of those authors that
have done something unusual to me. It is
impossible to use a measure of why a writer
like Marquez takes me over. Among African
novelists, I can tell you there is no author who
makes me feel the way I do when reading the
best of the Marquez that I like.
Therefore, I am not one of those who would
go looking for an African standard of measure.
For me, good literature is just good literature.
I am not someone who would succumb to any
particular notion of orality like many critics
want writers to do in order to measure how
good the work of art is. For instance, if I say
that Arrow of God is the novel I prefer of
all Chinua Achebe’s novels, it’s because I am
measuring it in terms of other literatures
that I have also enjoyed. If I move beyond
this unnecessary dichotomy between the
African in literature and the non-African and
I start designing cross-cultural standards for
determining what is actually good literature, I
would find that the best authors in the world
tend to look the same way. They tend to
work the same way.
One does not need to consult a soothsayer
to know that among American novelists, a
William Faulkner is not in the same party as
so many other authors. That a Tony Morrison
is not of the common breed just like when
one takes Soyinka as a dramatist. It is like
reading The Lion and the Jewel as a play by
another dramatist, you are most likely to
take it as a great play but because it is from
Soyinka, you treat it like one of his other
plays and you concentrate on those ones
you regard as a big deal like A Dance of the
Forest, Kongi’s Harvest, Madmen and the
Specialists. So, if you are really asking me who
those authors are, I don’t have the author, I
have authors. I mean those Russian poets and
the rest of them that I enjoy; those Italians.
But these days, I no longer read the way I
used to read. In those days, after I finished
a novel or any book, I could almost tell an
individual chapter by chapter in what I read.
It was as if I had a camera inside me that
recorded everything I read. But that period
passed because I entered the world of more
books. It became obvious that I could no
longer read books the same way because I
am not getting any younger.
Life at the University of Ibadan spoilt me as
a self-taught bard. I found that I had to read
so much extra curricula work because for
the first time I had a very good library that I
didn’t want to let go. The University of Ibadan
library was a fantastic library. I simply had
to take it from the top to the bottom. First
when I entered, I had all the journals from
all over the world on all manner of subjects.
Fashion & Lifestyle
I couldn’t miss out all those things. I had to
quickly finish them before the next batch of
journals arrived.
Somehow I learnt to read faster and to read
more books and to diversify my reading. But
I could no longer read with the same graphic
caption that I used to. When I say I no longer
read, it’s not that I don’t read but I no longer
read the way I used to. Where every book I
pick was important in and of itself without
any foreign admixture. I picked the book and
I literarily gobbled it. I no longer read like
that. That I must say has also affected the way
I write. Because, you see, there is a sense in
which one gets very educated and one is not
tapping enough of the consciousness with
which you are reading the books. But then
when I say I don’t read it has nothing to with
the number of books that passed through me.
There is hardly any new trend in literature or
in modern literary philosophical debate that
I don’t plug into. I cannot afford to be behind
the trends.
Much of what appears to be new is
sometimes so trendy that if you are a
conscientious student of history, literature or
philosophy, you will know that nothing new
has come of it. It is like dealing with the post-
modernist theory. And if you take it closely
you will suddenly discover that it’s just an
empty stuff. It is just there as hype, to enable
those who have made a profession of it, earn
their living.
naijaTimes 23
 Fashion & Lifestyle

I define style as the way I co-ordinate
my dressing and project myself. My style is
my label and I connect it to my personal
brand. My style is an image which creates
an impression in the minds of people. My
personal style is summarised in three letters:
ESD- Elegant, Stylish and Decent.
I see fashion as a platform for expressing
my creativity. Fashion is an art, hence, the
designer is a sculptor who crafts fabrics and
trimmings into creative pieces. Fashion is
everywhere, from the label on my clothes to
the design of the mobile phone in my pockets.
to the rubbish dump of a garment factory
near my home to pick unwanted fabrics which
I used to make clothes for my baby dolls. The
foundation of what people see today was
laid while I was a student at the International
School, University of Lagos (ISL). When I got
to ISL, I took a course in Clothing and Textiles
and it was then that I knew I had really found
something I was passionate about. As a result
of my passion, interest and hard work, I won
the award for best student in Clothing and
Textiles for three consecutive years.
I have been in the fashion industry for well
In the fashion industry abroad, I greatly
admire Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani.
Behind these designers are sometimes quiet
fashion entrepreneurs that do the bankrolling.
Among these, I most admire the guts of
Bernard Arnault of LVMH (Moet Hennessey
Louis Vuitton), who in my opinion is the
richest man in the fashion industry. Locally, I
admire Nike Ogunlesi of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble and
Ibukun Awosika of Sokoa Chair Centre.

My
It is an integral part of our everyday life. over 20 years and that includes my secondary
school days. Then, I used to sew my school
I derive much of my inspiration from nature uniforms and that of my younger brother.

three-letter
and from my environment. Such inspiration After completing my secondary school
is ultimately from God because he is the education, I started sewing for people and

creator of nature and the environment
around me. Some of my winning designs
for the Best Designer Award at the Nigeria
Fashion Show were inspired by nature. The
outfits had names like Cane sticks, Reptilia,
(inspired by reptiles) and Tarantula (inspired
by giant monkeys, spiders and cobwebs).
Tarantula was my entry for the bridal
segment at the competition. The bride’s
outfit had an A-line skirt with multi-layered
web flares garnished with handmade beaded
spiders. The top was a fitted corset with
lampshade sleeves. This was complimented
with a towering turban to match. It was quite
technical in execution and it brought out the
best of my creative instincts. Making such
fitted and well designed bridal gowns is a
piece of cake for me.
Creativity is inborn in me and I have always
loved to work with my hands even from my
primary school days. As a child, I used to go
style
I continued this into the university. I began
rather early and luckily, I was encouraged by
my father.
However, after graduating from the university,
I did not get the desired white-collar job, and
I then resolved to follow my passion. For me,
that was the natural way to go. The inspiration
to go full-time came from my husband. And
in 2005, I won an award as the Best Fashion
Designer of the year at the Nigerian Fashion
Show.
A core winning strategy for me is that I have
built my business on the foundation of my
skills. I know this job and I know it well. Thus,
I cannot be held to ransom by any tailor in my
store because I can do everything myself. In
fact, I have to train tailors to suite my tastes
before I can use them. In the process, I have
also learnt to transfer the knowledge I have to Henrietta Agboola,
other people so that they help to relieve me CEO, House of Henri
of the burden.

24 naijaTimes 25
 Fashion & Lifestyle

DO MEN LOOK MORE to stay in shape, the same goes for women, we

APPEALING THAN
desire men who are young at heart and who at
least make an effort to stay in shape. Women

WOMEN AT 49? should invest in effective deep wrinkle creams and

anti-aging products known for their effectiveness in
removing unwanted wrinkles.
Odiri Etireri

A Woman’s perspective
Women are like fine sculptures, and every
curve in a woman is beautifully crafted for
aesthetic purposes.
“My friends and colleagues have always
complemented me on my looks,” says 49-year-
old Katherine Asoro. They still do not believe
that at 49 I still look attractive after having six
children.”
For Asoro, getting the children ready for
school, preparing breakfast for the family
before she gets herself ready for work could be
a huge strain on a woman. It takes having the
right attitude and excelling at juggling so many
things at once, to achieve the right balance.
A Man’s Perspective
A ccording to Benson Oyanaghakie, studies show
that women age faster than men, in fact the general
notion is that men become more distinguished as
they age and whilst women just keep getting older
and older.
Though it could be the result of the women giving
birth to our lovely children but then, some of
them just sit, relax and watch themselves go out of
fashion because they know that they are married
and so, don’t watch what they eat and go fat within
a blink of an eye.
I always advice men to avoid excess alcohol since
it can cause liver damage. Apart from going to
gym for exercise also lend a helping hand to your
wife at home.

“In my opinion, women are more attractive

than men although some people claim this is
so because women take great care of their
bodies,” says Asoro.

Bunmi Adeleke is a 49-year-old, single parent

with two children. She works all days of the
week and believes that women take care of
themselves and are no longer the weaker
sex. “Even after having my babies, I have kept
myself in shape. I go to the gym always to
ensure I maintain my figure.

Some men of my age are out of shape with

protruding bellies. Just as a man does not
desire a woman who does not make an effort

26 naijaTimes 27
 October

Wish List
Carvela Kebash Carvela Kocktail
gold sandals orange sandals flats

Marc Jacobs

Clive Christian
most expensive perfume The Cinderella Slipper is the name
for the world’s most expensive pair of $90,000 Diamond Encrusted
women’s shoes BlackBerry Pearl

Louis Vuitton Damier

Graphite Grimaud Diamond studded platinum Most expensive shoes Jimmy Choo
handbag $1.63 million 1 million pounds face clutch

28 naijaTimes 29

lllegal Universities to face
sanction says the NUC
The National Universities Commission
(NUC) has announced that the establishment
of additional universities across Nigeria, will
not only ease off the admission problem on
tertiary institutions, but will also curtail the
problem of illegal universities.
Speaking about the legal universities
which are underperforming, Mr. Ignatius
Uvah, deputy executive secretary, NUC
(representing Julius Okojie), said the
commission will require legal backing
to enable it withdraw their licenses as a
deterrent to others and keep them on their
toes. “We rigorously scrutinised them before
issuing them licenses, but you find out that
after some years, they slack and fall short of
set standards. Our problem is that there is a
legal lacuna which inhibits us from arresting
them. We are asking the National Assembly
to assist us in this so that we can withdraw
the licenses of erring institutions,” he said.
LASU may sack 10
lecturers over examination
malpractices
No fewer than 10 lecturers of the Lagos
State University (LASU) Ojo, may be
dismissed over various charges of gross
misconduct and examination malpractices.
30
The vice chancellor of the university,
Professor Lateef Hussain, disclosed this at a
news conference on the ongoing crisis in the
institution recently.
Hussain, who described the crisis as a plot by
some elements to thwart his uncompromising
method of administration, stated that the case
of the affected lecturers was being handled by
the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee of the
institution.
According to him, 3 lecturers had earlier
been dismissed by the university authorities,
following their involvement in examination
malpractices due to their involvement in mark
variances.
UNIZIK students expelled
for forgery
Victor Awuzie, a student of the department
of Philosophy, Amarachi Grace Igbokwe and
Chioma Chinasa Oraezue, both from the
department of Computer Science, and Samuel
Onyekwelu Udefi of the department of Civil
Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University
(UNIZIK), Awka, have been expelled following
their alleged involvement in forgery.
Victor was expelled after the management
decided his case on the forgery of his
statement of result. It was gathered before
now, that some fresh graduates of the
university forged their final statements of
result, which they tendered to the public as
originals. The university issued a statement
saying that the expulsion of the few would
serve as a warning to those contemplating
forgery of their statements of result.
According to the university’s Director
of Public Relations, Communication &
Marketing, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu: Igbokwe,
Oraezue and Udefi were involved in forgery
of the university’s statement of result
during the last issuance of the National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letters.
Apart from being recalled from the National
Youth Service Corps with immediate effect,
the three students have been ordered to
surrender their identity cards.
Campus News
Campus Life
Lecturers, students quizzed
over exam malpractice
About 360 lecturers and students of the
Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin are under
investigation over alleged sharp practices
carried out by them in their last semester
examinations.
The chairman of the Governing Council of
the institution, Musa Yeketi disclosed this
when members of the Education Committee
of the State House of Assembly paid a
working visit to the institution.
Yeketi stated that appropriate punitive
measures would be meted out to anyone
found guilty of the offence at the end of the
ongoing investigations to serve as deterrent
to others and also, to bring about continued
discipline, probity and accountability in the
Polytechnic.
naijaTimes 31
 Model
Olamidun completed her high school
education within three and a half years and
graduated early. She then enrolled at the

Reader
University of Maryland- Baltimore County
where she is the first freshman (first year
student) under the age of 18 to be chosen
(through a highly selective process) for a
Name: leadership development internship with the
Olamidun Majekodunmi Target Corporation after only one semester in
college. Her hard work and dedication has led
Institution: her to meet and network with various high
University of Maryland, executives in this top company.
Baltimore, USA
Currently studying business and economics,
Course of study: Olamidun hopes to graduate with excellent
Business management major grades in the next couple of years and to
continue to drive change in all her future
endeavours.
“Never settle for less than your
dreams, Olamidun Majekodunmi is a young
“If you would like to be our next “Model
lady who gets her motivation and enthusiasm
Reader” please send an email with a high
to drive change in her environment. Born
resolution picture of yourself attached, stating
and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State she received
why you should be the next model reader to
a modest upbringing and relocated to the
modelreader@naija-times.com”..
United States of America at the tender age of
nine. Olamidun obtained her education in the
state of North Carolina where she was the
star athlete in track and field sports at her
school. She was the secretary of the student
council and went on to become the vice
president in her senior year. Her knack for
fashion led her to start the first fashion club
in her high school. She was also an active
member of business and entrepreneurship
clubs whilst there.

At the age of 16, Olamidun, along with her

sister, founded two companies; the first
being a non-profit organisation that aims
to bring together Nigerian youths to foster
positive change in the nation and “Torera and
Pinky Collections”- an innovative designer
jewellery line. Both companies have achieved
great success and continue to grow and
FSDH
FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED

develop.

32 33
Payments can be made through network and Skye Bank

College
Life
I attend a relatively small private university
where everyone knows everyone and the
students are friendly with both the teaching
Tobi Ibukun Jaiyeola and non-teaching staff.This is unlike the
Freshman (first year student) at
Nigerian system where your professor is not
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
exactly your best friend. A full education here
means meeting with your teachers in and
out of the classroom; you can send emails,
have lunch together, go to their homes and
meet their families. Most colleges provide a
holistic education for their students and it is
not strange to find a computer science major
taking an acting class, or an economics major
taking a music class.The whole idea is to foster
an environment where students are aware of
different fields including theirs.
In a university as small as mine, the number
of students taking a class could range from as
little as five students, to as many as a hundred
students or over. In large classes professors
are assigned teaching assistants, the whole idea
is to help professors to be able to meet each
student’s specific needs. Since some classes
require movie clips to be shown, most rooms
have projectors and screens in them.Typical
infrastructure include science labs, art studios
& galleries, a writing centre where you can
have your papers reviewed before submission,
music studios for music classes, a theatre for
performing arts, a language lab, running tracks,
football or baseball fields, a gymnasium, a tennis
court, department buildings, a chapel, the
cafeteria, a large pool for water polo players in
particular and so on.These facilities are non-
excludable and therefore expose students to a
lot of things.
There is a nursery rhyme that goes “Some like
it hot, some like it cold. Some like it in the pot,
34
Campus Life
nine days old.” This rhyme comes to mind
when I attempt to describe what social
life in a typical college abroad would entail.
There are so many things to choose from.
On campus, there are a lot of activities to
indulge students as well as other associations,
fund-raising events, on campus concerts,
school plays and acts among other things.
Most campuses also have different societies,
particularly the Greek societies, which
comprise mostly fraternities and sororities
(social organisations for undergraduate
students). However, off-campus social life
could range from going to see a movie to
trying out a new restaurant with friends,
going sky-diving, attending a concert, or going
to a crazy party- all while having to go to
class the next day.
In college, the exposure is such that students
have the opportunity to participate in
international programs that take them to
foreign countries. From these visits, students
are inspired to take up causes to help people
around the world. Recently at Pepperdine,
there was the “Keep Ignoring Burma” project,
with a sarcastic yet thought provoking tagline,
initiated to provoke people to respond to the
needs of the south-east Asian nation.There
are numerous other projects on issues that
most students were unaware of till they took
some classes.
One of the things you learn to appreciate in
a college abroad is diversity. Students meet
people from different parts of the world that
they will spend the next few years with. It is
a scary yet exciting interaction. Imagine being
around the world all at once, cultures are
exchanged and new ways of reasoning are
discovered.While it is not an entirely blissful
experience, especially if interacting with
narrow-minded people, it is very fulfilling.
naijaTimes 35

Building a
career path
Sorom Uzomah
T here is a fundamental relationship
between a career and a job. A career is
essentially a long-term projection of an
individual’s path to ‘the top’, a job should be
a stone on that path. It should always fit into
this long-term projection.
However, some career experts and coaches
have noted that people are likely to change
careers roughly five times in the working
phase of their lives. The primary reason for
this may be an initial poor assessment of
one’s abilities and passions, a critical factor
in deciding on a career path. How do you
contrast the need to break out from the
common, or to have a fresh start against the
safety of consistently treading predictable,
sometimes less satisfactory career paths?
Prevaricating on your career goal will
have positive and negative influences. The
consequent effect will be determined by
the stronger influence in your specific
circumstance and your ability to recognise
and leverage opportunities as they present
themselves. While it is true that certain
opportunities present themselves which have
the potential either to ‘increase your pay
36
Careers and Development
be anticipated), all occur within this phase. cumulative effect of which leads to a slow
An important pitfall here lies in the fact that downward spiral. Staying focused in this phase
self evaluation (especially where strengths is very important as it is quite easy to be
and weaknesses are the subject of such swept off with attractive offers that are way
evaluation) is usually a bit off the mark, off your intended goal.
sometimes with more than a tinge of self-
flattery. While it is important to have a goal The retention phase starts off with a feeling
check’ or position you for ‘that promotion’,
from the offset, it is equally as important to
be open to much more accurate evaluations
of comfort and some sense of achievement.
As you settle into your chosen career and
those same opportunities may effectively
from colleagues, bosses and subordinates. job you begin to learn the ropes and rise
derail your long-term goals. Quite often,
These external evaluations are sometimes through the ranks. It is at this phase where
people are faced with the tricky choice of
subtle pointers that could effectively help in personality types kick in and a few people
taking today’s best against the probability of
determining plausible career options. get stuck. For some they simply float along
losing tomorrows gains.
a very predictable path, choosing to remain
Depending on pervading economic within their comfort zone, and are content
As your career kicks in, you will be faced
circumstances (availability of jobs/ with rising through the ranks. However
with a lot of choices much like the type
unemployment indices) there is usually a for others, they either become bored with
described above, i.e. trade an average paying
phase in which you then try to match your the predictable pattern, or see emerging
job with a high career growth potential for
self-assessment with the market. Obviously, opportunities in either branch-off career
a very lucrative one with relative career
this only occurs in economies where job paths or entirely new career paths. It is this
stagnation (or something close to that). It
seekers have a bit of choice. However even second group that make career development
may seem that the right choice is obvious
under more difficult circumstances, it is a continuous cycle and who usually get the
– “stick to career growth potential and
important to ensure that you target jobs most out of their careers. There is obviously
eventually you will be financially rewarded”,
that enable you develop your key strengths some risk here, but continuous career
however it is a bit more difficult when you
or give you an opportunity to work on your development pays off handsomely.
are the one in the picture.
weaknesses. As mentioned earlier, every job Usually, there is a transitory period in which
should fit into your long-term plan. Even the pros and the cons of making career
Understanding the various phases in the
where that career plan changes or is altered, changes are evaluated, current skills are
career development cycle can help in making
adhering to this career strategy means that matched against the necessary skills for the
the right decisions. While it may not offer a
anyone looking at your employment history new career path, and necessary decisions are
simple formula, it clarifies all the grey areas,
can detect a trend, this subtly sells you as a made.
pointing out the natural pitfalls at each
purposeful, deliberate and steady person to
stage and effectively helping you to guard
prospective employers – a huge plus in the The challenges of building an enviable career
against self-sabotage – a situation where you
eyes of any discerning employer. should not be under-estimated. A few wrong
repeatedly make wrong choices based on
choices will most likely be made. Learning the
‘hunches’ which in a lot of cases are disguised
In the next phase on this cycle you begin to lessons from these mistakes and quickly re-
personal proclivities.
make decisions, you apply for jobs that meet aligning with your career objectives reduces
your criteria and begin to negotiate job offers the effect of such mistakes. Understanding
Everyone who takes on a job unwittingly
based on some of the goals and targets you the unique challenges of career development
may have gone through the assessment
have set in the previous phases. It is clear and its advantages is essential for the success-
phase. Evaluating personal potential, future
that attempting to skip the previous phases driven employee. It is easy to see that the
prospects, as well as drawing up a sketchy
and just jumping to this may eventually leave insight and experience garnered in the
career path (usually fitted into a much
you dissatisfied with your job, which in turn process of developing a fulfilled career are
shorter time frame than may pragmatically
affects your performance on the job. The priceless.
naijaTimes 37
 Money

Starting this kind of business was not easy at Age: Less than 30

The Young all, but perseverance is the watchword. I just

had to strive to achieve a lot with minimal
My fear: Losing my head now
Sense of style: I can’t say. I’m not a stylish person.

Entrepreneur resources. That is the survival instinct I have

always had.
Favourite colour: Sky Blue
Survival strategies: Have faith and have a plan
B and C.
Bamidele Odufuye, MD/ The challenges I face as a young business

CEO, Nextek Platforms person are numerous. First, I have been

M y interest in Information
Technology began when I was
in primary school. I could
recall that my parents once
bought me an Atari Computer
game, I was so inspired that
i attempted to beat the
computer logic. I grew up in
Abeokuta, Ogun State and I
attended the University of
Agriculture, in Abeokuta,
where I studied Environmental
Management and Toxicology.
The idea of Tsaboin Tech
World (predecessor of
Nextek Platforms) began
while I was in school. I
discovered that my hobby, which is computer programming, could actually do more for me than
being a mere hobby. I discovered that I could realise a lot practising it as a profession. I started
preparing myself for the big job, so to speak. As a result of this vision, I started the business
immediately after school. Firstly, I partnered with some other companies who already had clients.
I joined them in providing solutions. However, Tsaboin Tech World was recently acquired by a
bigger firm with a global outreach. The transformation was what led to the current “NEXTEK
PLATFORMS”. It is geared towards showing the world, the next phase of technology.
Tsaboin is a pet name from my parents who are close to me. It is as old as my name, Dele. The
word ‘Tech’ connotes something different. We are ‘Tech’ in the sense that we provide technology-
based solutions to business issues. The name is unique, and we decided to use the name because
we felt that it would set us apart.
generating my own power everyday for
Role models:
For Information Technology - Steve Jobs
the past four years. Also, getting a reliable Entertainment - Dele Momodu
internet service provider is expensive yet I Business - Jim Ovia
have no choice but to pay for it. Internet is Success - Sam Adeyemi
the lifeline of my business. In addition to that, Achievement -Wole Soyinka
unethical business practices are still prevalent
in Nigeria, especially, as people are slow to
respond to business deals. This of course, is
no fault of theirs, it is because some clients
find it difficult to trust those whom they deal
with. Yet I have been trying to cope in this
part of the world where those in business do
not treasure ethics.
I offer technology services that cut across
the board and I have clients in the banking
sector, the oil & gas sector, media, real estate
and engineering. I have recently released a
product targeted towards creating equal
web presence opportunities, which big
organisations have, for SMEs.
The secret behind my success is service!
service!! service!!! I seek to create excellent
customer satisfaction, through innovative
solutions. This is the secret of any successful
business. If you are successful in doing this,
then all other things shall follow.
My plan for the future is to create a platform
where business and technology from across
the world would need to latch on so as to
advance. Technology advancement must come
from Nigeria, and I must be part of it. Based
on my experience so far, I can confidently say
that it is possible to be successful in Nigeria
as a young person.
Info:

38
38 naijaTimes 39

Increasingly, Automated Teller Machines
(ATM’s) are becoming a preferred means
of withdrawing cash from individual bank
accounts in Nigeria. Details from banks show
that the transaction volume from this mode
How to protect
of cash handling is on the increase.
yourself against
Arising from this has been an equally
increasing incidence of fraud associated with
ATM transactions. Thousands of people are
ATM fraud being duped daily as fraudsters have devised
ingenious ways to get Nigerian cardholders
to part with their cash.
Kweku Brown, Financial Analyst
As a means of curtailing the activities of
these fraudsters, Bank PHB recently released
a detailed guide on how to ensure that its
customers protect themselves against ATM
fraud.
“Phishing” has been identified as a commonly
used method for fraud. It is a form of online
identity theft that is used by fraudsters
to steal personal and financial data from
unsuspecting victims. It involves the use of
bogus e-mails, mobile phone text messages
and counterfeit websites by fraudsters to
deceive unsuspecting customers into giving
away confidential or personal information
that can be used to defraud them. It may
also be used to spread malicious software to
people’s computers.
Typically, fake e-mails that appear to come
from a reputable organisation or trusted
source e.g. Bank PHB, Interswitch, UBA, etc.
are sent to unsuspecting victims. The name of
a real company employee may even be used
in the e-mail.
The e-mail includes what appears to be a link
to the organisation’s website. However, when
victims click on the link, they are connected
40
Money
to a counterfeit of the website. Any sensitive
information supplied by unsuspecting victims
at the bogus website e.g. account numbers,
PINs or passwords, falls into the hands of the
fraudsters and are used to commit fraudulent
withdrawals or purchases.
There are several ways to identify suspicious
e-mails or text messages from fraudulent
sources. These include; use of generic
greetings e.g. “Dear Valued Customer.”
If a bank sends its customer an official
correspondence, it should have the
customer’s full name on it.
Rules that will significantly reduce your
chances of falling victim to online fraud
Requests for personal information: Most
businesses do not ask for personal
information by phone or through e-mail,
and this is even before phishing became a
widespread practice.
Threats to your account and requests for
immediate action: e.g. “Failure to respond
within the next 48 hours will result in your
ATM card being disabled.”
Presence of Suspicious links: Usually in such
fraudulent mails, you may be directed to
follow a link present in the email. Watch out
for misspellings and poor grammar.
To protect yourself, some e-banking teams
advise that: You should never respond to
e-mails that request your personal and/or
financial information. Always look for signs
that an email is “phishy”. Visit bank websites
by typing the URL address into the address
bar and not through the provided link.
Keep a regular check on your accounts:
naijaTimes 41

Check if the website you are visiting is
secure. Be cautious with e-mails and personal
data. Always report suspicious activity. Keep
your computer secure from strangers and
people you do not trust. Furthermore, never
respond to emails that request personal
financial information.
Be suspicious of any email that asks for your
password, PIN or account details or includes
links to other websites for supplying same.
Once released, such information can and will
be used to defraud you.
Make additional enquiries: Make enquiries
from the Bank or company involved to verify
the authenticity and source of such emails.
Banks and e-commerce companies will
never ask you for your personal/ confidential
information through non-secure channels
such as email
Be cautious with emails and personal data:
Be familiar with the Bank’s advice on carrying
out safe online transactions. Don’t let anyone
know your Personal Identification Numbers
(PINs) or passwords, do not write them
down, and do not use the same password for
all your online accounts. Do not open or
reply to unsolicited e-mails as this validates
your address to the sender and makes you a
target for future scams.
There are several phrases commonly used
If your world waits on you for direction, you need the right support.
in fraudulent e-mails: These include alarming
MTN XTRASPECIAL claims and threats to your account with
requests for immediate action: e.g. “Your
account details have been stolen or lost.
Failure to respond within the next 48 hours
3.5G Data Card will result in suspension of your ATM card.”
BlackBerry Smartphones from MTN Requests for personal information: e.g. “Click
Pre-paid Roaming
on the link below to confirm your account
MTN Sim Plus
number, card number and PIN”.
To migrate text 730 to 131
42
www.mtnonline.com
Money
Presence of Suspicious links: e.g. “Click on the
link below to update your account and card
details” e.g. http://www.bankphbonline123.
com
Use of misspelt or substitute characters:
e.g. “1nformati0n”, in an attempt to bypass
security software. Always ensure that; the
web address in the address bar (top of the
browser) of the website you are visiting starts
with “https://” (“s” for secure) rather than
the usual “http://”. Also look for a locked
padlock icon on the browser’s status bar
(bottom of the browser). This tells you that
all information you supply on the website
is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by
fraudsters. Promptly report suspicious activity.
If you receive an email you suspect isn’t
genuine, to your bank. Keep your computer
secure always.
Ensure that up to date antivirus, anti-spam
and other such security software are installed
and enabled on your computer at home and
at the office. Also ensure that your internet
browser software has up-to-date security
patches.
Practice safe internet browsing: Avoid using
public or shared computers and especially
Cyber cafes for online banking transactions
and online purchases using debit or
credit cards. Such systems may have been
compromised by fraudsters who have installed
on them software and tools designed to steal
user names and passwords for defrauding
people.
Follow these simple rules and you will reduce
significantly your chances of falling victim to
online fraud.
naijaTimes 43

Has the economic
meltdown spawned a
dwindling middle class?
Onodome Jakpor
Twenty-six-year-old Emmanuel Chukwuka
holds a degree in mass communication from
the University of Jos and was raised in what
used to be termed a “middle-class” family in
the 1980s. As such, he always got the best
that money could buy- designer outfits,
fresh-off-the-rack shoes, top-of-the-range
electronics and even a personal car before
his 18th birthday. But that was before the
onset of the global economic recession which
saw his father, a banker, lose his job and his
mother who was once a housewife resorting
to petty trading just to make ends meet.
“I completed my National Youth Service in
2007 but I haven’t succeeded in holding down
a job yet,” laments Chukwuka who sports a
frayed polo shirt and faded blue jeans. “We have
only been able to survive as a family through
divine providence. Sometimes it is a single meal
that gets us through the day. My father is a little
too old to secure another job. Simply put, our
living standards have plummeted.”
Emmanuel’s experience is shared by many,
who hold the view that Nigeria’s economic
recession (which was spurred by prolonged
military rule) and the more recent global
financial crisis have combined to virtually
erode the emerging middle class.
Uche Nworah, founder and director of Total
Projects, a non-governmental organization
that promotes e-Learning in Africa, puts the
age bracket of the middle class between 25
and 50. He explains that this age bracket
44
Money
always argued that every economy needs the Meanwhile, Nworah is a little more practical
middle class to drive growth, owing to their in his online article: “Meeting the Needs of
demand for standards of living that suit their Nigeria’s Re-emerging Middle Class.” He backs
status, and aspirations towards the upper class. up his assertion that there is, indeed, a distinct
middle class in the country by citing the
But has the combination of poor leadership numerous financing products made available
and the global economic downturn really to the public by commercial banks. Such
eroded the nation’s middle class? Samuel products, he explains, include cars, mortgages,
comprises people who are reasonably
Ranti, a senior lecturer in the Sociology
Department at the Lagos State University
home furnishings and electronic goods finance
schemes, among others, which are targeted at
educated and possess degrees and other
does not think so. “The middle class is ensuring the middle class are not denied their
qualifications that should ordinarily place them
beginning to re-emerge gradually, owing usual standard of living.
on the path towards success.
to the nation’s return to civilian rule,” he
maintains. “Yes, we may have an economic “Professionals in certain fields are now more
“They are probably mid-level and senior-level
downturn, but its effects cut across all well paid than in the past,” Hassan Usman,
managers or their equivalent at their places
classes-the upper, middle and lower classes. It an Abuja-based human resource manager,
of work… have steady incomes which may
is not peculiar to the middle class. In any case, is quoted as saying in the online newsletter,
seem to set them apart from members of
the ‘economic downturn,’ to my mind, is just TradeInvest Nigeria. “An entry-level telecoms
other social groups,” says Nworah. “They may
a language coined by the capitalists.” professional could earn up to N100, 000 and
desire to spend their annual holidays with
the one in mid-level as much as N350 000.
members of their families in several places
Ahonsi’s thoughts are pretty much the Now, with an earning power like that, tastes
within and outside Nigeria. The underlying
same, because he feels however intense the would have to change.”
characteristic among this group is the desire
economic downturn may be, it simply cannot
to enjoy life with their family and friends, to
render the middle class extinct. In the event that all these commentators are
be compensated adequately for their talents
“A widely held but mistaken view about right, the Nigerian middle class may well be
and be appreciated....”
the middle class in Nigeria is that it has immune to the effects of the global economic
collapsed…significantly as a result of the recession. Whether or not this trend will
Babatunde Ahonsi, an editorial columnist,
near-permanent state of economic crisis the last is a matter of conjecture, however, one
however believes that members of the middle
country has been in since the early 1980s,” fact remains: members of this class are not
class are not just defined by status, but actually
he observes. “We are all now supposed to ready to forgo their quest for the good life in
serve as catalysts for change in every society.
be either very rich or very poor. But just as a hurry, especially when they measure their
“It is virtually impossible in modern society
the rich and poor are always with us, so are living standards by those of the upper class.
for transformational change to take place
members of the middle class.”
without the full engagement of the middle
The columnist is not quite done, as he lists
class,” he avers. “This is because members of
what typifies the middle class nowadays.
this class tend to feel much more threatened
“There remains a large enough segment of
by social, economic and political crises, than
the Nigerian population characterised by
the poor majority. They can therefore be
above-average educational attainment and
expected to have a stronger vested interest in
literacy levels, modern sector occupation and
making their society work than the lower or
consumption patterns related to housing, diet
underclass, whose very long-standing situation
and household gadgets, and dressing that is
makes it difficult for them to organise socially
distinct from the ruling class and the lower
in order to defend their interests.”
classes,” he says.
Ahonsi is not alone, because renowned
economists like Professor Pat Utomi have
naijaTimes 45

It is midday and Adeola Odeku Street on Victoria
Island is not its usual busy self. Located on one of
the inner roads of this peaceful suburb in the Lagos
metropolis is where Ifeoma Williams resides.
Ifeoma Williams is a lawyer and image consultant. She is
the principal consultant of Fruition Image Consultants.
In her current role, she has managed well-known names
in the country. Her portfolio and responsibility include
visual as well as verbal image enhancement services for
individuals and corporate organisations. These include
organising photo shoots, managing wardrobes, as well as
facilitating training sessions on ‘personal branding’.
Ifeoma
Williams:
Projecting
Nigeria’s
image at 49
Derin Adefulu
“No one person or entity
can be without flaws”
46
“Nigeria’s story at 49 is not a complete tale
of woes,” she says while settling comfortably
on one of the sofas to talk about Nigeria.
“Some Nigerians have placed the nation on the
world stage in countless spheres. However, the
general perception of the “Giant of Africa” the
world over is far from positive.”
She explains that image has become
synonymous with outward apparel and ‘style, a
combination of how an individual looks, behaves
and sounds. As someone who is passionate
about positive image projection, she says, “image
is everything.” Hence the benefits of positive
image projection are numerous and untold.
“The Nigerian image is about us, the people,”
she says, “Just as the soil which must be
prepared to embrace the seed, we must
prepare ourselves by managing our image,
knowing who we are and telling the world
about it. It has to be an educational, collective
and willing effort at improving ourselves.”
Williams observes that in the 49 years of
independence from colonial rule, Nigeria
appears to have lost its past glory, which
must be reclaimed. According to her, unlike
some nations of the world, Nigeria is blessed
with vast natural resources, which simply
require proper management. “There is also
so much pollution resulting in environmental
degradation. It is almost as if we have a
disregard for our environment. But things can
be better if the resources are well managed,”
she adds.
According to Williams, the first impression rule
applies. Once an initial impression is formed,
it is an almost impossible task to change it. “A
closer examination of our great nation reveals
a lot of potential, but the world is not patient
enough. The “419” phenomenon, is a vital
example.”
Entertainment
“If I was to consult with the leaders in
government for example, I would stress the
importance of the difference between a leader
and a ruler. A leader is different from a ruler. A
leader must have a vision and once elected into
office simply implement this vision,” she adds.
While citing the on-going development in Lagos
State as an example, Williams says Governor
Fashola, the state governor is an example of a
thinking leader who must have planned ahead
before he was elected. “So much has improved.
When you look around Lagos state you can
tell that all hope is not lost. Just by the simple
gesture of planting flowers, (although he has
done much more than planting flowers and
trees), Lagosians are inspired.”
However, she is quick to add that no person
or entity can be without flaws. Therefore,
projecting Nigeria’s image at 49 simply involves
highlighting the positive and seeking out ways
to correct the negative. “As a nation we must
have a collective vision and this cannot happen
overnight. Everyone must be a part of it and
has a role to play,” she says.
She likens the Nigerian image to driving lessons
at a driving school. “If you do not learn to drive
a car in a proper driving school,” she says,
“chances are that you will pick up many bad
habits. To ‘re-learn’ to drive a car properly then
becomes a challenge. The way we look, behave
and interact all have a direct impact on how we
are perceived.”
She believes Nigerians should project their
authenticity and uniqueness to the world. As
a parting advice to Nigeria at 49, she says: “To
thine own self, be true, and contribute your
individual quota to the larger picture. Products
and systems do not grow or make a great
nation, the people do!”
naijaTimes 47

Update on
the One9ja
Million
Dollar
Gameshow
Sam Omoruyi
Sam Omoruyi
The 15th of August 2009 was no ordinary
day in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It was the day of one of the regional launch
events of the Etisalat One 9ja Million Dollar
Game show. These regional game shows are
the prequel to the grand finale where one
person gets to win ‘One Million Dollars’.
To qualify as a participant, an Etisalat
subscriber has to have won a phone in the
9jillions win a phone every hour promo
and recruited a friend with a new Etisalat
SIM activation. Another way to qualify as a
participant is through the second chance
to win competition where those who have
48
“the team had won a total of N3,150,000.00”
participated repeatedly but have not won
a phone are invited and required to recruit
three friends with new Etisalat SIM activations.
The Event began at 10.00am with participants
streaming in through the innovative mobile
ticketing process powered by One Naija
(the digital marketing arm of Naijasounds).
The atmosphere was somewhat electric and
amongst the crowd was a team of four second
chance to win invitees. They were, Hassan
Hammas and his three friends. They arrived the
venue early and were registered as team 40B
with the timestamp of 10.47am as recorded in
the mobile ticketing redemption process.
The show began when the host, Djinee
delivered his presentation speech. He
proceeded to call on stage a representative
of the independent adjudicators appointed to
oversee the promotion, Phillips Consulting.
The regional manager of First bank was also
called on stage to operate the game show
machine for a random selection of winners.
As fate would have it, Hassan Hammas’s
ticket was amongst the first to be picked. A
member of his team, Adedoyinsola Odunayo,
responded by screaming at the top of her
voice in excitement. They then proceeded
to get on the stage. There were 9 teams
Entertainment
in all and each team had a total of six plays
on the game show board. Hassan Hammas
had three turns whilst the rest of his team
had one turn each. At the end of Hammas’s
teams play, the team had won a total of
N3,150,000.00 (Hammas in his individual
capacity won N1,100,000.00. There were also
lots of other non cash prizes given out on
the day and during all scheduled breaks, stand
up comedians entertained the crowd. The
event ended with the handing out of goody
bags which consisted of T-shirts, copies of the
August edition of Naija Times etc.
naijaTimes 49

Go Fineboy!
It’s your Birthday
Mr FineBoy
I’m in a reflective mood today, ‘cos it’s my
birthday, and damn, awon boys are getting
old. When you start thinking about lying
about your age, trust me you’re old. I woke
up kinda early this morning, ‘cos as usual
Chief Fineboy called to wish his fourth son
a happy birthday. Meeeen, the guy used
some brand new words today and got me all
emotional but it’s all good. I’ve received quite
a few calls already today, a lot of them from
Nige. My oldest bro Nigerian Shakespeare
was the first caller. Men, the dude is one of
my favourite people but the guy dey speak
50
oyinbo eh? Lord have mercy. Chief Fineboy
jr. I also got calls from some of my aunts as
well. One of my favourite aunts, Aunty R called
from Abuja, and her brother my Uncle S was
there as well. Na so she give the guy phone
o. You see that uncle S guy is a bit funny. I’m
not sure if the guy’s complete up there if
you know what I mean, because sometimes
the guy talks some funny shite men. Like this
morning, he was giving me the usual prayers
o. Like “God bless you, may you have many
more” blah blah, and then……..”motor will
not jam you.” What??? I come begin wonder.
I had already said “amen,” before I thought
about it. Abi this guy dey swear for me? Why
would you think to say that to someone? Na
wa o. Now I’m all paranoid, because this one
that guys are always slapping around central
London, anything can shele. After I put the
phone down, I just started thinking about it
men. Shey the guy dey see vision ni? We’re
going to the Lake District this weekend in a
15-seater, so I gots to be careful when driving
o, especially ‘cos it’s at night. And trust me
when you’ve been in accident before, you get
maaad paranoid. I’ll never forget when one
madman bashed me in Yankee. I think I’m still
traumatised from the experience sef. Make I
give una the gist briefly.
It was the day after Valentine’s day, and the
night before I’d had a nice Italian dinner at
my omoge’s crib. You know, candlelight, then
bubble bath, massage oils, everything! Spent
the night (wink wink), woke up feeling nice
and refreshed, and took off for work. Men,
na so I stop for traffic light o. Just as the light
turned green, I just felt something plow into
my car from behind. Omo, this one was not
CRASH. It was GBAAAAAOOOOW!!! My
coin compartment flew open and sprayed
pennies and dimes across my car. For a
second I was in shock. Like omo am I injured?
I tried to move my main parts, and I see say
everything dey correct order. Thank God
for seat belt. My next thought was my car.
Damn. Just the sound of the metal crashing
broke my heart ‘cos I knew my baby must
be looking a hot mess right now. I got out.
CHINEKE! The whole rear end don scatter
ni sha. The dude’s car was some minivan
type car and it hadn’t even incurred any
damage. I looked at the were. The guy was
sitting there with one sheepish look on his
face. He looked like one of those IT nerds
Entertainment
with the big glasses and spiderman tie. I was
waiting for an explanation. “Pretty bad huh?
That’s a nice car too.” I looked at the guy and
fantasized about punching that his long nose. I
was just thinking, “You’re lucky this isn’t Naija.
I for don woze you slap by now.” Na so I just
remember. Men, when you get in an accident,
you shouldn’t walk around like you’re fine.
Omo, I just went back into my car and sat
down. The twit came to my window. “Are you
okay?” “No.”
I told him I was gonna move the car off the
road and park in a shopping mall parking lot
across the road. I moved the car there and
the dude followed me. When we got there,
men I just palmed like I was hella hurt o.
Because if you start walking around now,
insurance fit say nothing for boys. The bobo
was on his phone the whole time, so I figured
he was talking to the police or insurance or
what not. He came to my window. “Err, so
what do we do now?” “You called the cops
right?” “Erm, no that was my wife.” Fool! So
the whole time this nincompoop was on the
phone, na im wife e dey follow talk??? Mugu!
Meeeen, I was pissed. I called the cops and
told the joker to call his insurance company
sharpish. I just chilled in the car like say my
back don break. Omo, I begin calculate. This
one na upgrade o. Hmm, with the dough I get
from the insurance company, I’m copping a
6.45 beemer. I started imagining cruising into
DC in my brand new 6.45 coupe. Ha, awon
boys go just bounce inside club. Throw the
keys to valet. “Don’t scratch my joint, baby.”
Represent….
“Sir are you okay?” There was a policeman
at my window. Me wey I don imagine go, if
you saw the way I switched my voice eh.
“Ah, officer.” “Are you alright? Can you step
outside of your vehicle?” Step kini? “Aaaaaah,
naijaTimes 51

officer no. I can’t.” I winced. “Aaaagh.” “Do
you need an ambulance?” “I think so. I don’t
know…..aaaagh.”
The nerd who bashed me was looking. I
gave the guy eye. If dey born you well, say I
came out of the car earlier. That’s how the
cop called ambulance o. In like 15 minutes,
it arrived and two paramedics jumped out
and brought out a stretcher. Omo! This thing
don dey serious o. Yeepa. “Sir can you move?”
“Err….yeah.” I moved my hand. “Okay. Do
not attempt to get up.” They opened the
door and put me on the stretcher. Ha! See
my life o. Which kin’ katakata I don enter?
They now hurriedly thrust me into the
ambulance. Yeepers. Next thing I know, the
guy pulls out a white sheet and starts to
cover me up. AAAAAAH! “Nooooo!” I no be
oku now.
The guy goes, “You have to have it over you
sir.”“No mate.” I felt like telling him, “In my
country na dead man dem dey cover with
white sheet o, bros.” “You will have to have
it on sir. Or we won’t be transporting you
to the hospital.” Chei. “Alright then.” I go
manage am. No be money? When they
covered me ehn, I felt sick. Sirens blaring
and everything, white sheet over me like
a corpse. Because of small change. See my
life. Long story short, the doctor referred
me to a chiropractor who found out I had
“subluxations” in my spine blah blah blah.
Meanwhile that back don dey pain me since
o. I injured it playing basketball, but had
thought it was just a muscle that I had pulled
or something.
I remember when I went to Naija one
December and went to the doctor’s about
it. They sent me to the x-ray guy, one old
paps with huge glasses. “Off your clothes.”
52
You are what you wear.
“Huh?” “Off your trozziz.” Na wa o. A whole
x-ray technician. I looked at the baba. He naija Man
passed me one hospital gown. It was rather www.naijaclothing.com
awkward but I took my clothes off and lay on
the table thingy, flat on my stomach. I couldn’t
help feeling vulnerable because this old paps
had a clear view of my butt. Is all this one
necessary? He put the x-ray machine over me
and adjusted me like a million times, each time
saying, “Kai!” “This is serious.” “Mm mm mm.”
“Bombastical.”
Then making that clicking noise with his
tongue. “This is terrible o.” I finally asked him,
“What’s the problem?” “You’re asking me. Your
back is in a shambles!”. This baba sef. “This
is a slipped disc now. Are you a labourer?” I
wanted to laugh. Did I look like a bricklayer
to this man? “Err..no.” “Your back is finished.
Your spinal system has scattered. Just go and
see the doctor.” Na your back go run down,
you this wicked old man. He gave me the film
and I took it to the doctor, who said it was
nothing, just muscle tension. Anyhow he gave
me some painkillers and “robb.”
tImagine o. When the chiropractor in America
fixed my back months later I couldn’t help
but think “We can be so backwards in that
country.”
Needless to say, I made mad money from that
accident but I won’t bore you with the details.
Awon boys did some crazy shopping, copped
a brand new ride and ‘all at. So if somebody
bashes you, remember to do what I did. But if
na okada for Naija, shine your eye o. If you talk
about insurance, dem go brush you!.
- Mr. FineBoy
53 naijaTimes 53

Religious
hypocrisy in The
Swamp Dwellers
FUNKE ADETUTU
As a playwright, Wole Soyinka concerns
himself with themes that assess topical issues
in a post oil boom Nigeria, hence his play the
Swamp Dwellers is almost far removed from
the themes of colonial rule and the culture
clash characteristic of most plays. The play
which was staged by the National Troupe/
National Theatre and directed by Nick Monu,
an alumnus of the American University
Washington D.C and the Webber Douglas
Academy of Dramatic Arts London, assesses
the lives of the inhabitants of swamps.
The Swamp Dwellers takes a look at the
Nigerian society, progressively moving
towards the path of retrogression,
degeneration, corruption and moral
54
Entertainment
During his short stay in the city to try his The play also exposes religious hypocrisy
hands at making money, his twin brother, in the character of the Kadiye, who is
Awuchike, seduces his wife, contrary to masterfully portrayed and is very convincing.
the spiritual values of the Swamp. More
frustrating, he fails in his commercial
The Kadiye is portrayed as the main priest of
the swamp dwellers. As a professional priest,
enterprise. Igwezu’s tragedy is more severe he is anything but pious. He is portrayed as
when he returns to the Swamps with the corrupt and self-centered. But the Kadiye is
hope of recovering from his despair by not the sole example of his type.
harvesting his crops but alas, he discovers
decadence. This is a clear manifestation of
with utter disappointment and disbelief that The physical feature of the Kadiye indicates
the Nigerian society as a class society with
the floods have ruined his farm and the that he is more like a villain than a religious
all the contradictions and problems inherent
beans and the corn have made an everlasting person. He is fat like a blood-swollen insect.
in such a society. The audience is confronted
pottage in the mud. He is a monstrous looking person who is
with power and its associated arrogance by
described as “a big, voluminous creature of
the elite in a society that lacks the meaning
In the play, Soyinka articulates his opinion about fifty.” He is smooth-faced and his head
of accountability, corruption, immorality and
from the point of view of the masses is shaved clean. He is bare above the waist
bribery.
especially in the ways in which they have been and at least half of his fingers are ringed. This
relegated to the background of bourgeoisie physical look suggests something ugly about
Through the use of such highly poetic
in the society. Symbolism in the play is an his moral nature. The Kadiye is very rich and
diction, bitter tone, irony, juxtaposition and
important avenue for the expression of the has control over the swamp like a Godfather
symbolism, Soyinka presents graphically and
playwrights view on the Nigerian society. It is featured in western films. The Kadiye destroys
truthfully what he sees and experiences
possible that symbolism in a play can be made people, while wearing the mask of religion.
and concludes that Nigeria is a class society
to serve an aesthetic purpose. This is to say
where nothing goes well. A society based on
that symbolism can be used for an objective As the priest of the Serpent, the Kadiye
violence, injustice, brutality, immorality and a
other than a functional use. betrays the trust of the villagers by
society where greed and corruption of the
encouraging them to indulge in meaningless
privileged and the ruling class has created
a big gulf between the few wealthy and the
Symbolism is used in the Swamp Dwellers
for the revolutionary conscientisation of a
cults which are profitable. The villagers give of
their harvest to the Kadiye so he can appease
majority of the poor masses who dwell by the
people who are dwelling in an unjust social the serpent but unknown to them he is
Swamp, thus creating a society woefully lacking
arrangement. Symbols, for Soyinka therefore, feeding fat on their sweat. No one questions
in proper human relationships and brutal
have to operate in a very dynamic sense. In where the goods go, because it is almost
economic relations.
his perspective, symbols should not just add blasphemous to do so. But it seems that
colour to a work of art but should also play the dramatist is very critical to the Kadiye
The activities revolve around the protagonist,
an active role in conscientising a people in and his real nature is exposed through the
Igwezu, who is the picture of an idyllic son of
the general process of reforming the society. confrontation between the Kadiye and Igwezu.
the Swamps. He is loyal to tradition and has
Symbolism in the Swamp Dwellers operates
performed all the necessary rites required
at various levels. One of these levels is the In all, the play itself is a symbol of the rot in
by the deity to ensure a good harvest and
group of symbols that are drawn from nature. the society. The rottenness of the era which is
a happy life with his family. However, he is
Soyinka places emphasis on the symbolism in part of the origins of poverty is presented in
confronted by many disasters in the Swamp.
nature right from the beginning of the play. more physical terms by the ugly sight of the
As the play progresses, the argument between
And the characters talk about how the rains swamp where the masses dwell.
his son and the blind stranger exposes the
have washed away their farm crops and the
inadequacy and impotence of the gods who
blind stranger talks about a severe drought in
have failed to come to his rescue.
the north.
naijaTimes 55

Bunmi noticed some irritations on her skin
three months after she decided to change
Dangers of skin her looks. As a dark skinned young woman,
she thought changing the colour of her skin
bleaching
would not be a bad idea. But she was wrong
when she started having skin irritation.
Adedoyin Johnson Like any other type of cosmetic
enhancement, there are dangers associated
with skin bleaching, experts say. Just as
there are dangers of dying the hair, one can
also experience dangers of skin bleaching.
Some of the dangers of skin bleaching says
Tayo Akinade, a dermatologist, include
trying to bleach moles. Moles she explains
are not discolourations. “Some irregular
moles should be looked at by a doctor
and not simply bleached. Skin bleaching is
usually done to lighten up dark spots on
the face such as freckles and other small
imperfections that are usually caused by the
sun. One should not use skin bleaching as
a way of trying to get rid of moles. It will
also not work on very heavy birthmarks, for
instance. It may lighten them up a bit but
will not remove them. In the case of a very
obvious birthmark, one can use laser surgery
to correct this problem,” she explains.
She also discourages bleaching when
pregnant. “Most women develop what is
called the ‘brown mask’ when they are
pregnant. This happens to women as they
move along in their pregnancy. They tend to
get freckles and brown spots on their face.
These fade after the birth of the baby. It
56
Health
is never advisable to bleach the skin when
pregnant. These freckles and brown spots
will go away after the baby is born and the
hormone levels are back to normal,” she
advises.
For Ronke Oloruntoba, a skin care expert,
the purpose of skin bleaching is to even
out the complexion, not change it hence
bleaching creams should be used sparingly.
“It will work to get rid of freckles and age
spots but only to a point. Those who are
interested in bleaching should not try to use
bleaching creams in excess. They should read
the directions and follow them before they
over bleach the skin. Bleaching often makes
the skin flake and may cause major irritation.
Skin and hair comprise the same follicles so
people should be careful not to overdo the
procedure,” explains Oloruntoba.
According to her, skin bleaching causes
adverse skin reactions and to avoid this
danger, it is advisable to test the skin
bleaching solution on a small part of the skin
before using it. “If you have sensitive skin,
it may irritate the skin. In such a case, you
should discontinue use. Some people also do
not following directions on the cream labels.
It is advisable to have some patience and the
skin tone will even out naturally, lightening
up the dark spots that are bothering you. Do
not feel that using double the amount will
work. You have to follow the directions in
order to avoid the dangers of skin bleaching,”
she adds.
naijaTimes 57

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58
Mystery
Shop
A colleague of mine recently moved to Abuja
and Café Royal was chosen as the venue for her
send off party. Recently renovated, it consists of
a café on the ground floor (chocolat royal) and
a restaurant on the first floor with the option
of sitting outdoors on both floors. There is
also a large aquarium with beautiful exotic fish,
which is pleasing to the eye.
Our reserved seating area was situated just
by the entrance to the first floor. This was a
bit annoying since we all preferred the middle
area. Our request to be seated in a different
area was declined because all other areas
that could seat 10 people had been reserved.
We reluctantly gave in and took our seats by
the entrance. I must commend the waiters
and supervisors for being cautious and
attentive because the food and drink menus
were promptly distributed.
We proceeded to make our orders and a
colleague of mine (a frequent Café Royal
customer), reminded the waiter to run
through all the orders to ensure that 10
meals had been ordered for 10 people who
were seated since he had experienced a
shortfall during his last visit (one person
had no food, yet had made an order). The
waiter stubbornly (though politely) made us
understand that he had taken 10 orders and
did not need to verify this again.
Believe it or not, when the lovely meals were
served, the orders were short and poor
Segun’s spaghetti bolognese was missing. It
was unbelievable that in spite of the caution,
The Shop
the waiter made the same mistake! Another
colleague of mine ordered fajitas with potato
chips (as the menu list described it), she
was served fajitas with coleslaw. When she
complained, the waiter responded: “we don’t
serve fajitas with chips anymore”, we quickly
called his attention to the menu list. He then
proposed that she would have to pay for a side
order of potato chips. I was stunned at this
point, but thankfully, his supervisor overheard
the conversation and ordered a side order of
chips with no charge!
Before I sign off, I will like to share an
experience I’ve had. Have you noticed the
somewhat irritating habit some people exhibit
after withdrawing cash from Automated Teller
Machines (ATM)? If you have not, then I will
call your attention to it. When some people
withdraw cash at the ATM (usually with a queue
of people behind them), they proceed to count
the money dispensed by the ATM immediately
and on the same spot. I understand that some
people are still weary of using ATMs or that
there have been cases of fraudulent activities
involving the use of ATMs, but please do not
count your money at any ATM. Not only is
it a security risk, it is foolhardy and pointless.
Even if your cash is short, the ATM is not going
to give you change, duh! I will end this rant
by quoting what a rude fellow said to an ATM
machine counter- “oh boy, carry your yansh
away from there! How much be de money wey
you de withdraw self!”
In conclusion, I had a good night out at Café Royal.
My Rating for Café Royal
Ambience: 8/10
Food Experience: Ordering etc: 5/10;
Taste & Range: 8/10
Customer Service: 7/10
naijaTimes 59

T he first thing that strikes you when you
walk into the Taé store is the play of colour.
From the Fuchsia and black floral backdrop,
to the gold and black ‘conversation piece’
mirror and console, to the vibrant colours
of the exotically embellished garments on
display, the store is awash with colour! The
heady scent of cinnamon and vanilla draws
you in and makes you want to kick off your
shoes, relax and well... shop!
Located on Oduduwa way (off Isaac John
street), in a serene suburb of Ikeja GRA,
Taé (pronounced Tai) stocks a wide variety
of women’s clothes, all created with
exquisite attention to detail. Bisola Edun,
the warm and bubbly creative director of
Taé, a self described ‘womanista’ insists that
though Taé is a fulfillment of a childhood
dream, hers is not a story of years of
struggling to achieve her dream. In her
words: “while I was working, shopping for
clothes was a huge challenge. The whole
experience was limited to furtive viewings
“My idea was therefore to
provide a comfortable shopping
experience for women”
60
of clothes in suitcases in the boot of a car,
or in the sitting room of budding sellers. My
idea was therefore to provide a comfortable
shopping experience for women, while at
the same time ensuring the durability and
affordability of the clothes. From the start,
I wanted the clothes to be manufactured in
Nigeria, but it was also critical to ensure that
the clothes would be able to compete in
international markets.”
With no formal training in fashion save for
a brief stint at the Central Saint Martins
College of Arts & Design in London (Bisola
graduated with a degree in Economics from
the University of Lagos), armed with raw
determination and confidence in her ability
to succeed, she shopped her business plan
around, gathered a group of eight investors
and set up shop.
The name Taé
“Taé” is a derivative of the name Taiwo/
Taiyewo, the name attributed to the first born
of twins in Yoruba land and simply means the
first to taste life. Although not a twin, Bisola’s
ancestry can be traced back to a set of twins
and her family descended from a first born –
Taiwo.
Challenges and the future
According to Bisola, the challenges have been
immense and several times, she has actually
thought of giving up. “It is a real struggle to
run a small business in this country” she says,
citing funding, availability of skilled labour and
basic infrastructure as some of the challenges
she has faced. Some of these she has been
able to overcome, and some she is still
struggling with. There was also the issue
of the Federal Government ban on the
importation of fabrics a few years ago and
this ban, appeared to precede the end of
Taé. However, Bisola decided to focus on
Ankara fabrics which were easily sourced
from Nigeria and neighbouring African
countries and thus began a new love affair.
Now, even though other fabrics are used
Taé! Confident,
Fun, Flirty and oh
so Feminine!
The Shop
occasionally, there is always a touch of
ankara.
“It has been a long and tough ride, but
then I won the British Council International
Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year
award and got to tour the UK fashion
industry for a month, I realised that some of
these issues are not peculiar to me or even
to Nigeria. The fashion industry is tough and
very competitive and you need nerves of
steel to survive”.
“Through it all, we have managed to remain
focused on our vision, which is to provide
affordable, durable and trendy garments
for sale and also to put a Taé store in every
major city in the world. We also intend to
expand our product offering to include
teen wear, maternity wear, men’s wear and
accessories”. Now that the focus is primarily
on women’s wear I asked, who then is the
ideal Taé woman? Without missing a beat,
she replied: “Confident, fun, flirty and oh so
feminine!”
Derin Adefulu
naijaTimes 61
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Contemporary African lifestyle magazine

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ethnic, boho clothing born
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www.naijablog.blogspot.com
Contemporary Nigerian blog

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64 naijaTimes 65
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Listings  
Mandy Utd.
Style, Entertainment & Promotions
18 Oremeji Street, off Medical road, Ikeja.
Made in Nigeria.Africa 028767642
Operation feed the Masses
18 Oremeji Street, Ikeja. Computer Village The Chariot
08136677207 (Hotels & Hospitality)
07023031156 2/4 Akinbolagbe Street, Off Ligali Ayorinde
  Street
Fionanne Unisex Salon & Spa Victoria Island, Lagos
Salon & Spa 01-2703651, 08023166834
Unit 11 & 12, Adebola Mall, 53 Isaac John www.chariot-group.com
Street.
GRA Ikeja Twice As Nice
014817184, 08033187604 (Shirts & Accessories)
  55 Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos
Reekson Catering Services 08038491208
Catering
1 Austin Coker Drive, Harmony Estate, Ogba. Lace Fabrique Collection
08023216007, 08053895756 (Fabrics & Laces)
  43 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Affordables Comm. Ltd 08029461611, 01-7412651
Telecommunications
7 Kodesoh Street, Computer Village, Ikeja. Candor Foods Limited
08023458077, 018190557 (Fishery & Bakery products)
www.affordablesphonesng.com 2 Olafuyi Close, Isale Haruna, Ifako, Lagos
  08060802646
Doshlaps Ventures Limited
Blinds Experts Taiwo Adesina Printing Ent.
Suite 191, BLK A2-16 Sura Shoping Complex (TAPE)
Lagos. Printer
0700 – DOSHLAPS, 012306070 173 Ipaja Road, Agege
www.doshlaps.com 08062084431, 08023045933
 
Kuddy Cosmetics Int’l. Ltd. Aquatech Consultancy Services
Importer, Exporter, Wholesales & Cosmetics Factory, Procurement, Installation &
Shop F17 – 19 Delta Plaza BBA Trade Fair Management of Food Processing Plants
Complex 4a Silas, Ebute Street, Makurdi, Benue State
08023045983 08076899366, 07030096006

66 naijaTimes 67
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