Violence cannot precede over education– Obaji

Phillip Obaji Jr.

• Philip Obaji Jr. is the founder of the 1 GAME Campaigns to advocate basic primary education for the over 10.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria. In this interview with David Lawal, Obaji, who is also a Global Youth Ambassador, speaks on the abducted Chibok girls and the duty of government in providing education for all among other issues.

Kindly give a brief insight into your background?
I was born on August 8, 1985 in a town called Ogoja in Northern Cross River State. I am the founder of the 1 GAME Campaign, which promotes basic primary education for vulnerable kids in Nigeria. I am widely known for my activism for rights to education for Children, especially in Northeastern Nigeria. I’m a graduate of Marine Biology from the University of Calabar; a Global Youth Ambassador for United Nations critical education partner, A World at School; a member of International Network for Education in Emergencies; and a champion of Global Partnership for Education. Back home, I am an Executive Committee member of the Cross River State Football Association. I am soft spoken, a Roman Catholic and a man of peace. I believe in Nigeria and in every citizen of this country. And I want to play a role in making it a better place for all of us.
How long have you been into education advocacy? 
I’ve been working for close to 5 years now in education advocacy. It all started in 2010 when 1 GAME Campaign was founded.
What informed your decision to start education advocacy? 
In 2009, I traveled to Ogoja where I was born. I had not visited the town since my family moved in 1988 when I was just three years old. I wanted to learn more about the place I first lived as a child.
I have had numerous conversations with my father about Ogoja, and he would often speak about its people, and how he missed them and their culture. Once arriving in Ogoja after a six-hour journey from Calabar, where I live, I was greeted by a group of young boys and girls at the bus stop, who rushed to me, begging for money. The children were between six and fourteen years. When I asked them where they came from, they confessed that they were ‘Almajiris’ from Northern Nigeria.
They had followed a lorry transporting goods from Maiduguri in Borno State to Ogoja. They said they jumped into the lorry without knowing the driver, and had no idea of where the vehicle was heading. I was overwhelmed by the presence of so many out-of-school children and could not stop thinking about their plight and how to solve this crisis.
Thereafter I founded 1 GAME Campaign aiming specifically at Almajiris helping them to enroll and complete their basic education. The name ‘1 GAME’ means that anyone involved in the campaign, is asked to defeat violence, illiteracy and poverty – using education as a tool.
What is your disposition to the target on children across the world?
There is absolutely no justification for the target on children. Terrorists all over the world target children in order to strike fear and gain publicity. Boko Haram for instance gained global acclaim after the Chibok abductions. They got exactly what they were looking for. There are lots of similarities between Boko Haram which operates here in Nigeria, and the Taliban which operates in Pakistan.
While they both want to enforce full Sharia Law all over Nigeria and Pakistan respectively, they also want to ensure that there is no place for western education in the areas they operate. But let’s not also forget that beyond these things, there is a political undertone to its existence.
About a year since the abduction of school girls from Chibok, what are the chances of seeing the return of these girls?
Honestly, no one is sure about the where about or well-being of the Chibok girls except their captors. They’ve been lots of rumors about them. In fact as we speak, there’s a video circulating round Maiduguri purportedly showing Boko Haram militants raping young girls and shooting those who refused to get laid.
Many people who have seen this video say the girls in the footage are the abducted Chibok girls, but I haven’t been able to get anyone to confirm if that’s true. I can’t really say for sure if the Chibok girls are alive or death or if they are safe where there are. Since there hasn’t been a word for some months from Boko Haram about the girls, no one can be sure about their wellbeing, and whether or not they’ll return.
Considering the present state of education in Nigeria, where do you think we got it wrong?
It started from the attitude of government, and the trend is still continuing. The problem with Nigeria’s education has to do with poor planning, poor funding, and in some quarters, corruption. Take primary education for instance, the Universal Basic Education Scheme was designed
to provide compulsory, free education up to Junior Secondary levels, to be funded by both the Federal and State Governments. The Federal Government keeps 2 percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund into the scheme and allocates money to the states when the states contribute its matching amounts. However, we’ve found out that most of the states never made their matching grants, denying themselves access to the funds; and in states, where they had been given the grants the education sector there is still pathetic. That tells you that these governments are not making education their priority.
The population of out-of-school children in Nigeria according to UNESCO is equal to the total population of the entire Czech Republic (10.5 million), who do you think is responsible for this?
The government has the biggest role to play in ensuring Education for All. In 2000, at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, 180 countries including Nigeria signed up to make the six goals of Education For All happen, committing to putting legal frameworks, policies and finance in place so that everyone, no matter what their circumstances, could have an education – one that is available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable.
The richest countries pledged to help make Education for All a reality by committing to principles of international cooperation towards those countries with fewer financial resources. Commitment towards the right to education was also reflected in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, set in 2000 with a deadline for achievement by 2015. Out of the eight Millennium Development Goals two focus on education. Both the EFA and MDG goals are all centered on what governments should do, and not what parents or children should do to create access to education.
But as much as government has a huge role to play, we as citizens must encourage and drive our children to education. Teachers must inspire. Principals must lead. Parents must instill a thirst for learning. And students have got to do the work in school. And if we can all do this together, I assure you we will build great ideas and push this nation away from the stronghold of extremists.
What’s your advice to government on providing education for all?
Government must show more seriousness in achieving the goals of Education for All. Education is achievable if government mobilizes the political will and available resources. Government must recognize that education is a universal human right; that it is the key to poverty alleviation and sustainable human development; and of course, education is its core responsibility. In doing so, it must ensure increased provision of quality early childhood education and care; the eradication of adult illiteracy and a second chance to learn for youth and adults who miss out on formal schooling; an end to child labour; democratic participation of, and accountability to, civil society, including teachers and their unions, in education decision making at all levels; fair and regular salaries for teachers; properly equipped classrooms and a supply of quality textbooks;
inclusive and non-discriminatory provision of services for all; the mobilization of political will and new resources in support of National Education plans to realize the EFA Goals, including adequate public expenditure of at least 6 per cent of GNP. Without this in place, it would be difficult to achieve Education for All.

Source: The Nation

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The late Oganufa

‘Jazz music defines my art’

 
Nissi Ogulu whose norrd art is making waves right now has just concluded an exhibition in Lagos. A second year Mechanical Engineering student of Warwick University, England, her paintings dwell more on what she describes as phenomenal art, something different from the rest. She spoke to Edozie Udeze on her form of art, why music has come to form the basic component of her form and more.
The peculiarity of her works distinguish her from the rest. This is perhaps why she describes her works as the norrd phenomenon. For young Nissi Ogulu, painting and experimenting with deep colours to give a unique surreal feeling is part of what she has come to learn differently as an artist.
During her just concluded art exhibition at the Terra Kulture, Lagos, Ogulu, a second year engineering student of Warwick University, England, told The Nation that painting is a passion she cultivated and imbibed at a very tender age. A granddaughter of the famous music icon and columnist, Benson Idonije, Ogulu who also plays some musical instruments and often indulges herself in jazz at her spare time, says arts runs in her family. The norrd phenomenon was adopted by her “just to be different from what others have been doing. It is an experiment that is totally unique and not common in the Nigerian society” she says.
The intriguing aspects of her works dwell in her ability to use profound colours in loose and dropping forms to juxtapose her subject. While the exhibition was going on and as guests and art patrons hovered around within the premises to view her array of works, a jazz instrumentalist was busy playing a saxophone in the background. “Yes, Ogulu intones, “parts of what I did in most of these paintings, the times when I conceptualised them, music was indeed playing in the background. I am mostly inspired to draw unique woks when the music is on and I am transported to a higher realm. For me, music and painting go hand-in-hand. My family has deep love for music, for art generally and this is what I often bring to bear in my works”, she says.
The deep etchings of droppings of lines, the endless use of loose colours that define oriental form of painting, all depict strings of musical instruments. These lines are like the jazz instruments, like a huge musical band pelting out series of sounds to sooth the people. Some of the lines drop like tears. But to Ogulu, they are tears of joy, tears of artistic expressions imbued with love; mixed with the inner feelings of someone in a deep nostalgic feeling of ideas. Ideas, like it is usually said, define the line of thought of a committed artist.
Basically, Ogulu brings emotions into her works. “Emotions, real deep inner emotions, reflect in the art of painting. It shows how reflective or otherwise you were when you were doing a particular work. “This is why I often experiment in such a way that my works look unfinished. This is deliberate; but you can see those array of colours of surrealism dropping down the lines on the canvass. What do they say to you? That art is often an unfinished matter. It is just like music that does not end and will never end. It goes on and on and on, seeping into your soul And who can stop the flow of good music? She asks, stooping a bit for emphasis.
In most of her works, the introduction of black and white colours in the background helps to bring out the total epitome of the beauty of the subject-matter. In one of her most outstanding works depicting Massai warriors from East Africa, she shows a complete abstract piece which serves as a reflection of the current times. The theme is instructive of the nature of one of the tribes that make up Kenya as a country. She goes on to situate the Massai warriors in their beauty and as one of the most dreadful in terms of costuming in Africa. Yet, today, the warriors have been integrated into the East African larger society. “If I had used the same colours here, I may not have got the desired contrast,” she explains.
In who am I, one of her most outstanding works on exhibit, she demonstrates life in a global context. “At times, someone doesn’t know who he or she really is. You often look everywhere to discover who you are. It is always for some people to also discover and define what plans God has for them. It is a problem common to people from across the globe. For some people therefore, it can take them a whole length of time to discover the direction they are headed while for others it is not so. In that case, I try to find myself; I try to discover myself from within. It is a total realism of the state of man on earth’, she reflects, smiling.
So in trying to bring something different into the Nigerian art scenes, Ogulu took her time to understudy the situation properly. “I saw that everybody is doing basically the same thing. So, based on this, I asked myself, how can I be different, how can I move away from the routine and give the Nigerian society the sort of art that is unique. It was like artists here are scared of playing with colours. But for me, deep application of colours, give the art its profound meaning and appreciation”. And so the norrd art as defined by Ogulu has come to make issues clearer to appeal to human conscience.
Today, her phenomenal art can be turned into contemporary, yet it brings nostalgic feelings into the minds of those who tend to show interest in and appreciate her works. Initially, when the experiment began to blossom, Ogulu thought the better of it was to forget the usage of black colours completely. But with time, it began to down on her that she could equally use black to make bold artistic statements. “Yet other colours say more about the norrd art, about the uniqueness I have been talking about”, she says.
Over time, she has come to have very vivid and imaginative art form that gives her distinctive signature. “I am realistic and imaginative. Just me, making reality interesting. That is what I really want to do. Be wild and colourful, so that it can be contemporary in its own way, and at the same time remain vibrant. That my works look the way they are is deliberate because I’d like to do things I’ve never seen before. I usually think outside the box. It took me about two years to arrive at this, to be able to say okay even though I am still learning, I am still in the process of experimenting my own form. Let me be who I want to be. For me there is never a defined demographic scene in mind during the process of this creative journey. Once I come up with an idea, I put it down and then I make a piece. I am constantly thinking of reinventing myself. That is indeed my motivation.”
In her art also, she tries to take Nigeria abroad and bring back other people to reflect a total global village. This is what I want to expand; that horizon of art that is all encompassing, all inclusive. A native of Ahoada in Rivers state, Ogulu says she is now set to overcome the world with her form of art.
Culled from Thenationonlineng

Extraordinary world of female boxers

L-R: Oluwatomisin, Coach Adeyeye and Peters

Taiwo Alimi explores the amazing world of female boxers, who are daring all obstacles and impediments to express themselves in the tough and male-dominated world of pugilism.

Except for the twin mounds on their upper sections, there is little about them to suggest they belong to the hallowed fairer gender. Even those, have been temporarily compressed into tiny lumps by their taut sport underwear. Their otherwise bursting locks, are cut low like those of their counterparts; the male boxers. It is only after a closer scrutiny that you could actually distinguish three out of the dozen and a half young boxers during these regular early morning training sessions to be ladies.

The cluster, buoyed on by a lone coach/trainer, takes turn, to attack a red-coloured punching bag hanging droopily on a horizontal long pole that is supported by two others, firmly attached to the bare ground.

For about 30 minutes, they continue to hit hard at the stuffed bag; then, shadow box for another 15 minutes; and then spend another 15 minutes sparring. They use up the final 20 minutes on the vast football field, racing round it five times; taking time in between only to catch their breaths and take new instructions from their coach.

Welcome to the professed gymnasium of Golden Weapon Club Agege, tended by ex-Lagos State boxer turned coach, Yinka Adeyeye. The gym is a tiny portion of a massive football field at Ladoje Primary School, Agege. Here, there is no boxing ring or shed to keep off the baking sun, but makeshift poles, a swollen bag, a trainer and 18 boxers. Here too, there is no preferential treatment; Beijing Conference takes the back seat as the girl boxers compete vigorously with the boys, who outnumber them. They were on their feet for as long as the boys were and one of them actually finished the endurance race ahead of many of the boys. Nothing here suggests it is a man’s world, as the girls radiate in the satisfaction of dominating men in their own field. Welcome to the extraordinary world of female boxers.

In the course of gathering materials for this report, the picture of insufficiency seems to pervade all other boxing clubs and gymnasiums visited, whether in Yaba, Surulere, Somolu, Ilupeju, Bariga in Lagos or Agbado in Ogun State.

From National Sports Festival champions,  Kate Peters, Mutiat Adebayo, Funmilayo Adekunle and Aisha Oriyomi; to potential champions: Tawa Awise, Olayemi Mustapha, Mistura Olalere and Bolanle Kareem; and up-coming Olalude Oluwatomisin; they all express aggressive passion to be counted in the male dominated boxing world.

LOWLY SETTING

Interestingly, a good number of them have taken to boxing of their own volition, while few were attracted to the pugilism trade by the exploits of close friends, family members, and parents. In-fact many have rebelled against their parents, just so they could to learn the fine art of defense and become champions in their locality and state.

Surprisingly, as this reporter discovered, the female boxing culture is fully integrated in many clubs and schools in the states. Amongst them are Golden Weapon Club, Champions Boxing Club, No Shaking Club, Agbado, Smart Club, Agbado and Ashimota Club, Ilupeju. In these places, girl boxers have a core discipleship and like Golden Weapon Club, gender issues do not come up, as girls and boys, women and men are treated alike.

This is not unconnected with their lowly background, as some of them are products of humble homes; many as a matter of fact from poverty-stricken homes.

Olalude Oluwatomisin of Golden Weapon Club lives in the Lagos suburb of Agege, close to Ladoje Primary School, Oko-Oba, where she trains daily before heading off to school. “My father is a boxer and boxing coach with the Nigerian Police. He is now retired from boxing but trains up and coming boxers in his spare time. One of my elder brothers is a fine footballer and I have been boxing for four years now. My father likes to box and it is from him that I picked up the habit. I want to be a great boxing champion one day.”

Eko 2012 gold medalist, Kate Peters lives in the same neighborhood as Oluwatomisin but she lost her father in an auto accident in 2014. She says of her deprived background, “My father was working with local newspaper, PM News when he had an ‘okada’ (commercial motorcyclist) accident and died last year. My mother maintains a grocery shop. Sometimes I go there to help her out when I am not training. I started boxing seven years ago at age 13, even though my parents did not like it.”

Kate just wanted to be different and boxing afforded her that dream. “No member of my family is boxing but people are different and have different choices. Boxing is my own choice and I don’t care if it is dominated by men.”

Asked if it is not too dangerous a game for the soft and gentle female folks, Kate answered in the affirmative before adding, “I used to watch coach (Yinka Adeyeye) training his wards here and I told him I would like to box too. The first thing he told me was that boxing is a tough game and not for girls and soft boys. I told him that I am different and would cope well. And since I have started, I don’t see any guy that can push me around. I am not afraid to get hurt because that is what boxing is all about and so far, my mother, siblings and most importantly, my coach have been there for me.”

An indigene of Akwa Ibom State, Kate was born and bred in Lagos. She has won gold medals twice for Lagos at the Sports Festival in Port Harcourt (2010) and Lagos (2012). She decided to be different and boxing for her fulfils that desire.

Mutiat Adebayo and Aisha Oriyomi are two of a kind. They fell in love with boxing from watching the game in their locality in the dregs of Shomolu/Bariga. “Many great boxers have come out of my area, says Mutiat, who attends a public school, Ilupeju Grammar School. When I got to secondary school, I noticed that they have a thriving boxing club and our boxing coach invited girls to come. So I joined and I have been enjoying myself.”

SELF-PRESERVATION

In a world of violence, boxing seems to find acceptance and that is a factor in female boxing too. Kate emphasizes that crave for self-defense also led her into the pugilist business. “As a trained boxer, I am not afraid of any attack coming from any quarters, be it from a male or a female. I have learnt how I can defend myself, even though as trained boxers, we are forbidden to fight in public. However, because of what I have learnt, I am not afraid of any man. No man can threaten me.”

Kate’s testimony is quite relevant for anyone grow up in the violent- prone settings of Mushin, Shomolu, Agege, Bariga and Agbado areas of Lagos and Ogun States.

For female boxers therefore, strong character, determination and daring to go against the norms, are things they have in common.

PARENTAL CONTROL

Though Oluwatomisin’s father did not stop her from boxing, being a boxing coach, she revealed that her mum wants her to be a lawyer. “My mother wants me to be a lawyer. She does not believe that a girl should be boxing and she has advised me to read my books well, so I can become a lawyer. So, I would like to combine the two and in future become a lawyer as well as a boxing champion.”

For others: Kate, Mutiat, Funmilayo, Assiat and Tawa, they had to take their destiny in their hands, first by revolting against their parents, before their weird choice was accepted. In-fact, Tawa disclosed that her parents are yet to come to terms with her preference. “Kate’s parents,” Coach Adeyeye clarifies, “did not want their daughter to have anything to do with boxing until she started winning laurels and cash prizes. They warned her severally not to go anywhere near boxing because they thought it is not a good sport for girls. When I tried to convince them by following Kate home, they expressed fear that it is only rough people and people of questionable character that indulge in boxing. But because of me, they would permit her and once they see bad changes in her, it is the end of boxing for her. It was not until they started seeing her name in the newspapers and she brought home her winnings in cash and kind that they fully supported her. Now they come to watch all her fights.”

Instances have also been documented where overbearing boyfriends and husbands have truncated dreams of their boxer girlfriends.

SHORT LIFESPAN

“The lifespan of female boxers is very short. As a coach, I know that if I don’t rush them (female boxers) and ensure they achieve on time, as soon as they begin to get into relationships, their boyfriends or husbands can tell them to stop. Men like to dominate their women and many don’t believe that their women should be boxing all over town. Besides, by the time they get married and begin to rear children, they cannot train as hard as they would want to. And once you cannot train hard, your boxing career is over.”

FASHION

Interestingly, training, sparring and sharing with the male boxing folks have robbed most female boxers of the definitive feminine stuff. Kate says she does not ‘party nor like to dress up’ like women love to do.

“I don’t go to parties. I don’t even like it. I like to wear jeans and shirt. I don’t wear dresses because I won’t be free in them.” Makeup is also a taboo to her and she wears her hair low, typical of American marines. “I don’t have time for things like that; boxing is all I think about,” she says.

Olayemi and Kate are as strong as a mule and coach Adeyeye bears witness to this: “I can tell you that some of these girls are tougher and stronger than their male counterparts. For instance, Kate Peters can beat some of my male boxers. I have not seen her kind since I became a coach. She stood through thick and thin. She spars with men. The only time she box with female boxers is at Sports Council and during tournaments. She challenges me too because, she asks many questions and I have to be at my best to contain her. Many of them are like Kate. They are powerful, purposeful, determined, and full of life. They only need to be given equal opportunity to excel.”

CHALLENGES

With the number of female boxers put at a conservative figure of 100 spread all over the country, and Lagos and the South- south states having greater slice of the number, foremost female boxing coach, Gboyega Adeniji-Adele says the figure can double quickly if they are given better attention.

“There are many potential champions in our midst but many of them are discouraged from going deep into it by the poor attention those in sports authority are giving them. They come to me every day, eager and willing to learn, but I have limited facility and equipment to take care of them adequately.”

He further pointed out the natural challenge in female athletes. “Age is a big disadvantage in female boxers and that is why we try to catch them young, because by the time they are in their 20s and looking forward to settling down and starting a family, it would be difficult for them to train hard. And boxing is different from other sports like football and table tennis. You have to be at the peak of fitness to be a successful boxer; so marriage is a great impediment.”

Tawa and Olayemi are of the opinion that female boxing is still overlooked by boxing authority and promoters in the country.

Tawa, a 45kg boxer from No Shaking Club, says: “Most of the time, we end up as spectators at tournaments because it is either there are no bouts or little bouts involving female boxers. We are therefore calling on organisers of the boxing shows to increase the female bouts, so that more female boxers can develop their skills.”

She made particular mention of amateur boxing promoter, Wale Edun, the brain behind the Lagos monthly boxing show. “I thank Wale Edun for promoting amateur boxing through the monthly show, but the female bouts should be increased for more female boxers to also enjoy the benefits. That show has inspired many boxers in Lagos, but he should extend it to more female boxers because we need it more than the male boxers.”

According to Olayemi, female boxers have a unique advantage to cart home medals from regional, continental, and international championships given that; “When you look at all aspects of Nigerian sports, women athletes are doing better, though very little is allocated to them. Look at what (Blessing)  Okagbare achieved in 2014. Even in football, the Falcons have done wonderfully well more than the Super Eagles that we give all the money. Nigerian women are resilient and it is not different in boxing. All we ask for is support from individuals, corporate bodies and government.”

Kate offered near similar opinion while canvassing for more sponsors in female boxing. “Many females have the skills and zeal. I appeal to promoters to organise female boxing competitions for more female boxers to be discovered and nurtured to stardom.”

LAUGHABLE FACILITY

From Agege to Somolu/Bariga and Mushin, down to Surulere, areas of highest catchment for female boxers in Lagos State, you will be amazed at the deprived level of facility for boxers.

What Coach Adeleye refers to as his boxing gymnasium is laughable. It is an insignificant portion of land overlooking a massive football field in downtown Oko-Oba, Agege; an open-air gym devoid of any structure to shield trainers and wards from rain or sun. The visible gears for learning and imparting knowledge are one punching bag, some washed-out pairs of gloves and improvised pipes to hang the bag. After a particular training session, all that was available to restore lost energy, was a bag of sachet water, which the boxers distributed among themselves after over-one-hour energy-sapping training.

At the boxing gymnasium located in the main bowl of the National Stadium Surulere, over 20 boxers cramp into in a 30 by 40 meter hole, almost completely taken by a ring. Here too, the men are mixed with the women boxers.

Veteran female boxer and National Sports Festival champion, Funmilayo Adekunle described the dreadful conditions they pass through to make it to the top. “It is not easy to be a successful boxer in this country. We live and operate in neglect. It is only when we are called to camp that we see some level of comfort-that is when you must have passed through hell to prepare yourself and win at a major tournament. Before that, nobody wants to know how you have been coping. We simply rely on our determination and support of our coaches, who sometimes use their own resources to make us comfortable. We don’t eat good food, or vitamins that are essential for all athletes. To even get to the gym is a problem at times.”

Coach Adeyeye, who is Special Assistant on transport to former Agege Local Government Chairman, Taofeek Abiodun Adaranijo, revealed that out of his meager earnings, he had to support Kate Peters to keep her in the business. “I manage myself as well as my female boxers. Since there is no support from governments, I have to help them out so that they don’t seek that comfort from men, whose only aim is to spoil and impregnate them. Sometimes, when I run into financial difficulty, I seek out friends who support me with loans or give me money out-rightly. That is how I have been managing this gym and my female boxers. I hope that governments, individuals, and corporate bodies will come to our aid.”

HOPE RISING

In the midst of insufficiency, neglect, paucity, and harshness, these special breed of womenfolk still have ample room to dream. Kate says boxing is tough yet interesting. “It is indeed a tough sport but also interesting. I have been boxing for seven years; it is all I think about now and my dream is to one day become a professional boxing champion in Nigeria and abroad.”

In as much as Oluwatomisin would want to satisfy her mother to pursue a career in law, she says, she is looking forward to becoming a ‘lawyer boxer.’ Nothing, she adds, would separate her from this interestingly tough world of boxing.

Whitney Houston’s daughter in danger

kristina

Less than two weeks to the death anniversary of American singer, Whitney Houston, her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in a bathtub in her home, on Saturday, and has remained in critical condition ever since.

It was exactly the same circumstance that led to her mother’s death on February 11, 2012.
It is still unclear why she fell unconscious, but the police was reportedly prompt with life-saving measures, after her husband, Nick Gordon and a friend made a call to 911 from Bobbi’s house.
Bobbi, 21, also daughter of RnB singer, Bobby Brown, was immediately taken by ambulance to a hospital, where doctors stabilised her breathing, and put her in the ICU.
Latest report from sources close to the family said she is in a medically-induced coma for swelling of the brain.
Bobby Brown was said to have arrived the hospital same day, after he put off his trip with Tyler Perry, who was flying from LA to Atlanta for business. Perry had offered to take Bobby with him when the news broke.
Bobbi was said to be found faced down in the tub, with water enough for a bath. Knowing her mother, Whitney, died with drugs in her system while taking a bath, police searched the home, but no drugs were found.

Online shopping: What Nigerians say

There is a gradual shift from the traditional market shopping to online shopping. And most Nigerians are cashing in on this. To meet the demands of the daily increase of online shoppers a number of companies have sprung up. They include; Jumia, Konga, Kaymu, DealDey, among others. But what is really the attraction of Nigerians to online shopping? The Nation spoke to a cross section of Nigerians on their preference for online shopping and quality of service;
Victoria Onuoha, Student
“I use Jumia; I like it because it offers a variety of goods which are quite affordable too. They also deliver their goods to customers on time. They provide an avenue for you to return stuff you have issues with.”
Oluwaseun Owolabi, Student
“I use online shopping malls but I don’t have any preference. I use anyone as long as they have what I want.”
Michael Bamidele, Student
“I like Jumia because they deliver products fast and they are efficient.”
Paul Akerele, Graphic Designer
“I use online shopping malls like Jumia, I do window shopping most times, though. The last time I wanted to get something from them, they didn’t have what I wanted.”
Faith Olisa, Teacher
“I’ve used Kong and DealDey. I prefer Konga because they always deliver the exact product I want and in good time, too. Some other online shopping malls merely apologise for the inconvenience caused by delivering substandard products.”
Tunde, Professional Artist
“I’ve used Jumia and Konga. I also use a variety of foreign online malls. I prefer Jumia because I feel it is more reliable. I have never had a cause to regret, return or complain about any of their products.”
Joseph Ode, Student
“I use online shopping malls very well. I use Konga and Jumia especially. Between the two, I think I prefer Konga because they have categories where you can either buy used or new products. You have to buy new stuff on Jumia. Konga gives me the opportunity to buy from a seller that has already used the product that wants to resell. Especially, when I don’t have money to buy new product. I also think the prices on Konga are cheaper than those on Jumia which are more expensive.”
Chukwuemeka Joseph, Student
“I use online markets and I prefer Konga because it is user friendly. It has a very easy interface. Products are also affordable. On Jumia, you have to buy strictly new products and the prices are not always accommodating. I think Konga is better. Also, the user interface is very easy to use, even a layman can use it. But Jumia’s website is complicated if you look at the graphics.”
Muiz Oreore, Student
“I prefer Jumia because they have quality products even if they are quite expensive, than other online shopping malls that sell less quality at cheaper rates. I like Jumia.”
Oboh Ann, Student
“I like Jumia. It’s popular and their goods are cheap.”
Onyeka Victoria Okorie, Student
“Well, I like V-connect deals. It’s an online shopping mall where you can get a lot of things. You can get kitchen wares, provisions, appliances, toiletries, you can get a number of things from them. They don’t deal in wears though. But you can get phones at cheaper rates. For everything you buy, there is a 10-20 per cent discount. You don’t purchase things at the normal price, but at a lower price. That’s a reason why I like them. They are also very efficient, they deliver quickly depending on what you buy. The delivery fee is also not expensive, if it’s not free. It’s usually between N200-400. You can also buy in bulk. Instead of leaving your house, you can purchase stuff from the convenience of your room with the tap of a few buttons.”
Simi Adeniji, Student
“I love shopping on Jumia. It’s a very good website for shopping for clothes, shoes, accessories and basically anything you need. They give you a list of prices and most times they have discounts.”
Gift Maduka, Student
“Jumia is a good place to shop. Their goods are very affordable and there are nice and durable stuffs to buy. Konga also sells nice stuffs. It all depends on what you really want. I’ll say they both serve the same purpose and they are both effective.”
Peter Ogunojemite, Student
“I like Jumia. It’s the only online shopping market I have used and I am satisfied with their services.”
Irene Nwachukwu, Student
“I use Jumia and DealDey. I prefer DealDey because there is always a discount on everything they sell. Their delivery is also fast.”
Anisiba Chisom, Student
“I like Jumia and Konga. I prefer Jumia because that’s where we buy most things we use at home (TV, Dispenser, Sound System).”
Peter Adewoye, Student
“I like Jumia, because of their advert. All of their adverts look very nice and interesting.”
Wale, Graduate
“I haven’t had any contact with any online shopping mall, this is because my younger sister recently had an experience which was painful. She wanted a tablet and she decided to get it from Konga. On the site, she saw details and all the accessories were complete. She booked for it and the process took a long time. They didn’t deliver it when she needed it. When they finally did, the accessories were not complete. That was when I decided that online marketing is nonsense. I don’t believe in it and I won’t do it.”
Okechukwu Stine Amadike, Student
“I prefer Konga. Their delivery is fast. They have good price rate.”
Abigail Essien, Student
“I love Kaymu. It’s very reliable.”
Yemi Boye
“I’ve used Jumia. I see a couple of things on Konga too. I like Jumia because the website is interactive and friendly. Konga is somehow cumbersome.”

Amber Rose to host D’banj’s 10th anniversary

All seems to be looking good for Nigerian Star singer and song-writer, D’banj as he is set to host his fans from all across the world at his 10th year anniversary this weekend.
In retrospect, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj is capable of featuring many international artistes as he did during his koko concert in 2012.
Thus, American hip hop model and controversial actress Amber Levonchuck, professionally known as Amber Rose has taken to the social media to disclose her visit to Nigeria for the event.
The Philadelphia born fashion designer with a load of controversial photos of herself posted on different social media platforms, last weekend said on Twitter: “Lagos, Nigeria I’m coming to Turn Up with my Friend D’banj January 31st for His 10th year Anniversary Weekend!”
Rose, who also repeated the same declaration on her instagram, is to host the anniversary titled “10th Anniversary Movement” at Oceanview in Lagos, Nigeria.
Similarly, while some other artistes are yet to openly indicate interest to attend, Oritsefemi was quoted by an online platform as saying, “Can’t wait to see Amber Rose in Lagos”.
The post on Amber Rose’s twitter handle with a poster of the event generated about 1000 retweets and over 300 favourites.
In furtherance, D’banj replied on his official twitter handle to Amber Rose’s post saying: “LAGOS SHUTDOWN!!! @darealamberrose is going to be hosting our kick off party #10thanniversarymovement”.

10 things you didn’t know about my father – Halima Buhari

In an interview on Kayode Ogundamisi’s blog, Halima Buhari, daughter of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate speaks of her father.

What type of father is he?
· He is very realistic and tells you exactly how it is.
·He likes cracking jokes.
·He is very caring and sensitive to our feelings.
· He does not coerce us to do anything we don’t want to do.
· He is very understands unlike what people believe.
·He has a very soft side.
What type of grandfather is he?
·He cares a lot about his grandchildren and plays with them even more than he does with his own children.
·He is very fond of his grand children.
·He gives them all sorts of funny traditional names.
What kind of president will he be?
This is a democratic era, not 1983 – the military regime, so he will certainly be more tolerant and passionate about leading Nigeria and getting it out of every mess that it has seen, the corruption and insecurity which is making thousands of Nigerians lose their lives and is affecting everyone in one way or another.
He will tackle it and make sure he gets his job don
Link- VIDEO: The Buhari Nigerians Dont Know – Halima Buhari Speaks.