Entrepreneurship, quantum leap in value creation –Utomi

As the entrepreneurship bug spreads across Nigeria, more young people are taking chances, towing the path, and finding success, despite the grueling challenges in Nigeria’s business environment.
From fashion to technology, hospitality, media and entertainment, some young Nigerians have set up thriving businesses with aim to scale up while others trade in commodities. The impact of these on the country’s performance is been felt. But in a country that has more traders (traditional entrepreneurial practice) than modern day entrepreneurs, how much value can this dynamic add to Nigeria’s economy?
According to renowned Professor of International Political Economy and Mara Mentor Pat Utomi, “entrepreneurship involves a quantum leap in value creation.” It is thus important that micro economic activities of traders and entrepreneurs be aligned with greater macroeconomic policies and growth strategies.
Prof Utomi implied that entrepreneurs should perhaps incorporate traders into their value chain, as it would be detrimental to the economy if traders continue to flood the Nigerian market with commodities imported from industrialised climes. This thought is also in line with calls for support for local production and small scale industries.
Speaking on the Mara Mentor Talk Show recently, he said although traders contribute to the growth and development of the economy, it is pertinent to distinguish between an entrepreneur, whose value creation has a direct impact on job creation and economic development, and a trader who is just an agent in a value chain, albeit equally important.
“Everybody has it in him/her to create value,” he said, adding that although there are a lot of entrepreneurial opportunities in Nigeria, it is thus the ability to create remarkable value that bridges the dissatisfaction gap and supports economic development.
Utomi said it is important to embrace “deferred gratification as opposed to instant gratification” in their quest to build sustainable businesses, which would have a lasting impact on the country’s economic growth and development.
He also urged young Nigerians to get involved with mentorship programs to work with mentors, whom he said “are not necessarily demi-gods, but could be peers, subordinates, or anyone that can point you in the right direction.”

Source: Thenatononlineng

Would you use a lady as your best man?

A groom and his best man. His bride, her maid of honour. A bevy of single ladies as bridesmaids and young eligible bachelors as groomsmen. These are the components of a marriage ceremony
But a recent trend where men now use ladies as best men or among the groomsmen is becoming popular and got some attention when popular Nollywood actor OC Ukeje used his bosom friend Kemi Lala Akindoju as one of his groomsmen. Adetorera Idowu spoke to a cross section of Nigerian youths  to seek their opinions on the issue.
Uche Eze
No not at all, I wouldn’t allow that. He should have a male best man that’s cool and sexy. What if I use a male bridesmaid? Imagine the scenario
Oge Iwuanyanwu
I won’t mind. I’m not strict about certain things. I just go with the flow, whatever makes everyone happy
Boma Inko tariah
Its creative but I wouldn’t want a wedding with gay undertones. Men should be best-men and females should be bridesmaids etc
Fadimah Yusuf
Hell no!! I’m very sure he wouldn’t be ok with my maid of honor being a guy
Eniola Jekpe
Absolutely rubbish trend. Why do people need lady best man? Orisirisi. The role is meant for a man not otherwise. It’s just like having a guy as my maid of honour. In my opinion it’s a no no. it’s not that I’m jealous, it’s just somehow. Will the lady put on a suit?
Adekunle Fabiyi
As a guy, my lady cannot have a guy as her best friend. Neither can I have another lady as my best friend. We have to be each other’s closes friend.
Olumuyiwa Ojelabi
Why not? That would be interesting.
Yeside Idowu
I will definitely not have a lady best man for my man. Like begets like, so he should choose a man instead. Who knows whether the groom and the lady best man are dating? It’s a no no for me
Bamidele Bamiwo
If I were a lady, No I guess. Averagely, ladies are jealous naturally.
Jahnet Kanu
Nope! I’m not that liberal
Tosin Bialalori
I’ve always planned to have a female best man. Because she is my homie.
Eniola Balogun
Only if they are family
Dinma Orabs
We better not have a best lady and best man, unless the best lady is his sister then that’s fine. She will equally answer to me since she decided to do lady best man

 Source: Thenationonline

Lyrical Poems from the Laboratory

Composing poems are usually connected to people who studied Art related courses in the institution. Even right from secondary school, the expectation is much expected of such people. But here is a science graduate with impressive but inspiring lines.
Speaking from the fourth verse, the poem identifies the need for an urgent awakening of citizens to effect meaningful changes through impressive vocations into Nigeria.
The author employed different poetic devices and varying degrees of length but his tone remained the same, persuasive with no traces of vitriol all through as he pleaded with fellow citizens.
In the very first line of the poem, Collins Ineneji, an Msc. holder in Electrical Electronics Engineering, identified corruption as the enemy, almost consuming the country.
With pressure yet mounting from all sides, on government concerning the kidnapped Chibok school girls, he lamented the inability to rescue and reunit them with their families.
Aptly titled: AWAKE O DEAD KNIGHT, O NIGERIANS, AWAKE!!!, Ineneji wove an epoch of poetry that is concerned with the country and her ensuing political, psychological, cultural, religious and spiritual conditions by preaching love for one another. The Poem Reads:
The land is almost completely taken over by the enemy (corruption),
Human rights, almost completely submerged in the sea of personal aggrandizement and greed,
Heroes have fallen, great minds have been lost,
Destinies are fast heading south, while a few seem to be enjoying short- lived victories over fellow Nigerians,
When the real enemy stares at us, right in the face.
Alas! For the land is completely taken,
A nation blessed with anything, now paying for everything it needs
Tyranny and wickedness at its peak
While its leaders scramble for personal fame and achievements
Neighbours at daggers drawn against each other
Community against community
Clan against clan
State against state.
Where is the love that once existed?
Where is thy sovereignty?
Where is thy pride?
Embarrassed by foreign nations
Molested all over the world
Discriminated among even black nations
Her citizens deported from all parts of the world, most pitifully from her fellow African nations.
How are the mighty fallen!
Of course, a house divided against itself cannot stand
Hence the call for your mighty knights
Yes, most of them are dead, but
Where are the remaining few?
Those capable of wielding the sword
Armed with a worthy vocation
Will ye stand aside and watch, as the enemy takes over the land?
Over 200 innocent girls still in captivity,
Yet, no one flinches,
Look in the eyes of one Nigerian, and you’ll see a whole nation
Maybe independence came a little earlier,
Maybe we needed to be free from ourselves, and not the British!
Well, we are where we are now
And we must defend ourselves and the nation, so
Arise a knight today!
Shout aloud, awake the sleeping knights
Let’s become the great nation that we truly are again
Take your place among the nations of the world
ARISE, ARISE, ARISE, TILL LAMBS BECOME LIONS
AWAKE O DEAD KNIGHTS, AWAKE!!!
Source: Thenationonline

English students elect leaders

The Abia State University (ABSU) chapter of the National Association of English and Literature Students (NASELS) has, on Wednesday, elected new set of leaders, who will steer the affairs of the association in the 2014/2015 academic session.
The election stated with an accreditation of the electorate. The exercise was chaired by a lecturer in the department.
All the positions were keenly contested, but at the end of the election, Chisom Awa, a 300-Level student, emerged the president with 133 votes. His opponent, Peter Okereke, had 32 votes.
Others elected include Marydoris Asonibe, Vice President, Kate Ehiogu, General Secretary, Francis Ogbonna, Director of Socials and Favour Obi, Financial Secretary, among others.
In his speech after the election, Chisom thanked his colleagues for supporting his vision to make the association better. He said the mandate was divine, promising to take the association to a new height. He said he would maintain cordial relationship with other members of the executive and students of the department.
The outgoing president, Michael Olughu, in his valedictory speech, urged his successor to focus on his vision and work for students’ interest.
A lecturer in the department, Dr Austine Amanze, said the election was free and fair. Nwabuike Arinze, a 200-Level student, said: “The process was devoid of hitches. I wish our leaders could learn from this and ensure free and fair election in 2015.”

Source: Thenationonline

Why mobile phones are useful to Students

 

 

Mobile phones are one of the fastest adopted innovations in the history. Today, findings have revealed that computer, internet and mobile phones have become important parts of human life and that the latest of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), mobile phones, have become widespread in most parts of the world, especially among the young generation.
Statistically, young people constitute a greater percentage of mobile phone users in the world.
The integral roles play by mobile phones in the life of students, especially undergraduate students cannot be underscored. Mobile phones enhance students’ urge for communication which include sending and receiving of text messages and making and receiving of phone calls to parents, guardians and love ones.
It’s when majority of students are wondering when their roommates will be back to the room, whether they are given assignments or there is a fixed class and other odd moments that they find a good time to pick up their phones to text or call. But sure bet of all students do with their phones is chatting. Students chat very well even if they don’t have anything informative to exchange at that moment.
In Journalism and mass communication for instance, mobile phones are used as portable (pocket) media devices and services. With internet enabled phones like Smartphones, students can know what is happening around the world and can make happenings around them known worldwide within seconds. Mass communication students can equally convert their sophisticated phones to recording audio and audio-visual gadgets. They package, write and report events as they are.
Generally speaking, with mobile phones, students can access online materials related to their area of disciplines. They can browse for other informative, fascinating and tantalizing sites, events, programmes, social-cultural and religiously inclined stuffs and watch videos both online and offline with them.
In other words, students can surf the Net with their Internet enabled mobile phones. Across the board, students with Smartphones can use social media Apps which include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, 2go, Badoo, Tumbir among others. This is so because Social Network Site owners have tailored their offerings to fit mobile crowds.
With features like location, tagging, picture upload, personal profile update and status updates, students can use their phone to broadcast who they are, where they are and what they are doing to all their friends and the entire public or users of a social networking site they can access at any
point in time.
To this end, students can easily get carried away in the euphoria of using these mobile phones and if care is not taken, they can be detrimental to student’s academic pursuits. Students are therefore charged to be an active audience of this new technology through purposeful use of their mobile devices and not letting these devices and other technologies use them.

Source: Thenationonlineng

Yabatech warns students against cultism

Authorities of the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) in Lagos on Wednesday warned students against participating in cultism, gangsterism and other vices that could endanger their careers on campus.
The Director of the Public Relations Unit of the College, Mr. Charles Oni, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Oni said the College would no longer tolerate acts of indiscipline from students on campus.
He advised students to focus their attention on their studies, which he said was the primary reason for their stay in the college.
“We have zero tolerance for cultism and gangsterism and other negative conducts on our campus; everybody is now being closely watched.
“Our certificate is issue based on intellectualism; we want the college to continue to produce graduates who will make the college proud.’’
The director attributed students joining bad companies to a lack of parental control, monitoring and love.
“Most parents have abandoned the training of their children to schools, churches and mosques.
“Many students have gone astray because their parents and guardians have failed in their role.”
Oni said that lecturers in the college had been saddled with the responsibilities of educating and mentoring students on morals.
“The lecturers have now imbibed the role of being parents to their students rather than just being teachers.
“And with their role as both lecturers and parents, they will be able to transform their students to better persons,’’ he said.
Oni said that the college authorities were also doing everything possible to beef-up security on the campus.
“We have patrol vehicles going round the campus 24 hours every day to ensure safety on the campus.”
Oni recalled that some students of the college were rusticated last August for indulging in cult activities after they were found culpable.
He said that following the incident, the authorities had organised various orientation courses for both fresh and returning students to forestall a re-occurrence.
“Now, once any student is caught or suspected, such student will first be withdrawn from the hostel,” he stated.
Oni urged parents and guardians not to neglect or abandon their children in tertiary institutions under the assumption that they were matured enough to take care of themselves.

Source: Thenationonline

Why I don’t KISS in movies–Nollywood actress Ashionye Ugboh-Raccah

 Ashionye Ugboh-Raccah is a woman of many parts: producer, director, scriptwriter and musician. Her first feature film, Journey to Self, has put her in the league of producers. She tells OVWE MEDEME about her life as a wife, mother and actress, among other issues. 
HOW have you been faring in the entertainment industry?
It has been amazing. I thank God, first of all, for my life and opportunities. I am an all-round entertainment person because I have moved from music to movies and to television. Presently, I am handling my own production. In all, it has been amazing and challenging.
What then are the challenges?
I have been in the industry for almost 15 years. At the moment, I am concentrating on my TV production company and we all know that the challenges in Nollywood are funding and location. So, those are basically the challenges I am talking about; that is, trying to raise funds for your film or TV productions or whatever production.
It is hard because not everyone outside the industry understands how it works or what it entails to get things done. People just see the end product on television at the end of the day and they criticise without knowing what the people behind the film faced before they got to that end product.
How will you describe the last 15 years?
It has been amazing. I started with radio and music. When I got into the industry, things were a lot easier because there were not so many people in it, as we have today. Back then, a lot of us went to schools. Fresh from schools, we delved into the job.
For some, while we were schooling, we were working. I got my first job opportunity on Cool FM as a teenager then. I actually auditioned for it. It is not like someone gave me the job on a platter. I also started my music simultaneously alongside the radio job. So, it has been amazing and I would say thank God I am still alive.
Was there a point you wanted to give up?
Never! I think I was born to do this. As I said, I am an all-round entertainer. When I am not doing music, I am doing movies or even producing. I just recently became a director. I directed my husband’s TV show. It is something for kids.
I am this kind of person who doesn’t sit put. I like to keep myself busy; there is always something to do. The entertainment industry is a big one. If I am not in your face, I am probably writing my next script to produce. It takes a lot of process. I have never, for once, thought of quitting. I took a two-year break when I got pregnant with my son to raise him and I came back.
What has been happening to you, music-wise?
I have been working slowly, but gradually. I have a couple of singles that I haven’t released yet. They were produced by some of Nigeria’s biggest music producers. I am hoping that you will hear something from me sometime early next year.
What forms the themes of your music?
Basically, I sing about things around me and people who affect my life. At this point of my life, I am a wife and a mother. My priorities have changed. I have the deepest love for my son because giving birth and being responsible for another life is the biggest responsibility any human being can ask for; that love is totally deep. He inspires me every day. The same goes for my husband. I also get inspired by close friends and my family. I could be sitting here and you could inspire me to write a song.
Has getting married influenced the kind of roles you take as an actress?
I love what I do as an actress, but I have my limits personally not necessarily because I am married. Out of respect for my husband, I do not accept roles where I get to kiss a male character. It is not because he puts a restriction on it, but I avoid it out of respect for him and my son who watches most of the movies I’ve been in.
So, I wouldn’t want him, at this age, to get a wrong notion or wrong interpretation of who mummy is or what mummy is doing. He is just four. As they say, first impression on children counts; so, I wouldn’t want that to happen. Before getting married, I never really accepted roles like that, so nothing has really changed.
It is expected that you husband, a foreigner, will be more liberal than the average Nigerian man…
(Cuts in) My husband is very liberal; but as I said, I avoid kissing in movies out of respect for him. It is my personal choice; I respect him that much not to do that. Also, it is out of respect for my son. Yes, he is a child, but I do respect him as he respects me as his mother. It is a personal choice.
Again, my husband is a foreigner, like you put it, but he was born in Kano; so, he understands the tradition of the Nigerian people. He understands our cultures and our values. As a Delta girl, I respect the tradition and culture too and I have a family who watches me. As I said, it is a personal thing. I don’t want people taking it differently.
How did you meet your husband?
We met at a friend’s office. It wasn’t love at first sight. A couple of months down the road, we started dating and we got married.
Doesn’t the issue cultural differences come between you?
He was born in Kano, though he didn’t grow up there. He came visiting a lot of the time, while he was growing up. So, he understands the Nigerian tradition and he has been back in Nigeria for well over 15 years. So, he is a ‘Nigerian’.
In other words, you can call him a ‘Nigerian-Oyinbo or Oyinbo-Nigerian. He understands our culture, our tradition and our values, and nothing has changed. We both understand each other. I understand his culture and anytime we are on holiday to visit his family, I adapt, just like he adapts when we are here. He is a British national, but he also has Russian Jewish ancestry.
Does he eat ‘swallows’?
They are not his favourite meals. There was a period I was forcing him, even while we were dating. I kind of got him hooked on Okro soup and Eba. But after a while, he lost interest. Sometimes, he does pepper soup, but without the pepper, which is basically soup (laughs).
If he chooses to settle down somewhere else, will you go with him at the expense of your career?
We are married. Anywhere the husband goes, the wife has to go. Definitely, it is till death do us part. I don’t believe in a long distant marriage. If he says he wants to relocate even to the moon, we will park our bags and we will go to the moon. But there has to be an agreement. Marriage is not an ‘I- situation’, but it is a ‘we-situation’; so, we have to agree.
At the moment, are you producing any movie?
I just finished my second feature film titled Public Property, which I scripted. I am the executive producer and I acted in. It features Femi Jacobs, Kiki Omeili, Omowumi Dada, Paul Adams and some others. I made a cameo in it.
My first feature film, which I also scripted, produced and acted in, was Journey to Self. It is a multi-award winning movie. It featured Dakore Akande, Nse Ikpe Etim, Kalu Ikeagwu and me, among others. At the moment, I am working on a couple of TV productions. As I said, I directed my husband’s TV production and we are still on that. I am also working on a short film, which I am scripting. I will also direct, so I can see what directing is about.
How long does it take you to write a script?
It depends on the story and the inspiration. Journey to Self took me three months to write. It took us 13 months to put together from scripting to the first day of production. But Public Property took me more than that. It took me about six months to write the script. I started it, left the script to do other things because I had a bit of writer’s block and went back to it.
Which of these pays you most: acting, scriptwriting and producing?
Producing is a lot of work. At this point, producing brings in more money for me than acting. I have written a script for Africamagic, but I didn’t sell it to them- the intellectual property is still mine.
You used to be on Tinsel. Why did you leave?
I was on Tinsel in the second season. I got married that year and I got pregnant almost immediately in 2009. My first trimester was not very pleasant. It was an amazing experience both for my mind and body.
We know the changes that happen to a woman’s body during pregnancy. So, I asked for time away because it was becoming too difficult waking up early to get prepared for production and we worked pretty late. It was hectic. So, I couldn’t continue- not with my morning sickness and the changes I was going through. So, I told them to please do something to the character and that was it. There was no fallout.
This is the last quarter of the year. How would you say this year treated you and what are your hopes for the remaining part of the year
This year has been amazing and I thank God I am still alive today; my family is still alive and my friends are still alive. The year has been awesome. I am hoping that the remaining two months will be even more awesome than the last 10 months. This is my birthday month. October17 was my birthday. It was amazing.
I always get giddy from the 1ST of October and even afterwards; I am still giddy. I always continue in that spirit to the end of the year. I love Christmas, so I am really looking forward to that as well. We are praying the year ends up pretty well; we are praying we don’t hear bad news and we are praying we will all see one another in 2015 doing great things.

-Thenationonlineng