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8/14/2019 Naija Times October 2008
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naijaTimesfor what we were, are and will be
Planning for an
Exciting Career 2
Fashion:
The V-Neck Fad
Gambia
Today
Why I dont smoke, drink or do drugsInterview with 9ice
LineosLets Get It Started
Before you downthat energy drink
Monitoringyour Stocks
Yankari National Park:Nigerias hidden jewel
Interview withRoof Top MCs
Album Review: 9iceGongo Aso
Bring on the
Carnival!
www.naija-times.com
October 2008 | ISSN 1758-6275 Free
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naijaTimes 3
Credits:
Published by:
Publisher: Dayo Elegbe
Managing Editor: Toun Aderele
Deputy Editor: Lanre Idaomi
Writers: Sope Williams, Kenny Joseph, Terry
Adebambi, and Adeola Abulude
Associate Writer: Omolola Ogunbadejo
Advertising Sales (UK): Korede Atiba
Advertising Sales (Nig): Wale Olarewaju
Photography: Olalekan Shoetan, Yinka Adepita
Art Director: Nick Lay
Distribution:Anthony James
Contact Details
NIGERIA:
Toun Aderele
4th oor UBA House,
57 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: 234-1-2665469
Fax: 234-1-2665325
Mobile: (0802) 27696860, (0803) 3097426
Email: [email protected]
UK:
Dayo Elegbe
239 Old Street
London, EC1V 9EY, UK
Tel: 44 (0208) 1443403
Email: [email protected]
Reproduction in full or part of any contents of NaijaTimes
magazine (without prior written consent from the
Publisher) is strictly prohibited. Individual advertisers are
solely responsible for the content of their advertising
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An apprentice and acontinents hope
Despite my busy schedule, I tried tokeep a date with Africas biggest business
television reality show: The Apprentice Africa.
It was tough but worth it. Not only did the
show and the contestants give llip to our
argument that Africa has enough talent to
solve its problems, if given the chance; it also
buttressed the point being made in several
enlightened quarters on the continent that
what Africa need is a Marshall plan to help its
teeming entrepreneurs, and not aid.
Now, if African embodies the talent and the
new generation of African entrepreneurs
that we are talking about, it is Isaac Dankyi-
Koranteng, the young executive from Ghana
who won the reality shows $200000 top
prize.
Throughout the show, Dankyi-Koranteng
was not only supremely condent, he was
able to come up with consistent winning
strategies when pitted against Africans who
studied in the Diaspora. Now, I have nothing
against Africans in the Diaspora, we are all
brothers and the rebirth of this continent
is our collective destiny. But we also need
the triumphs of the Dankyi-Korantengs of
this world to silence those who claim that
Africa is not only hopeless but helpless. As
I discovered in the course of my interview
with him, Dankyi-Koranteng is not only
business savvy, he is also deep. Anyway, dont
let me give it all away, the interview is buried
in the inside pages: go read it.
With Naija Times excellent debut, many
would have expected us to give ourselves a
pat on the back. But no we arent likely to do
that yet. We are too busy!
We are busy thinking of ways of sustaining
this trajectory and ensuring that every
reader keeps getting value for their precioustime. So, this month we are taking you
on another infotainment ride: a mix of
informative and entertaining peeps into the
events and the lives of the people that make
Nigeria tick.
In the last few months, the interest of
Nigerians in the capital market has made
for the rooftop. Public listings are not
only eagerly embraced, they are often
oversubscribed. So, the need for information
about goings on in the capital market is at an
all time high. So, we have a story on useful
sources of information on the Nigeria stock
market. For those thinking of an idyllic place
for their next holiday, we have a piece on
one of Africas most serene and natural parks,
the Yankari Games Reserves. All this and our
regulars are in this edition. I am sure you
wont be disappointed.
Toun Aderele
naijaTimes 5
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The Gambia, ofcially the Republic of TheGambia, is a country in West Africa. The
country is less than 48 km wide, with a total
area of 11,300 km. Its present boundaries
were dened in 1889 after an agreement
between the United Kingdom and France.It is almost an enclave of Senegal, and is the
smallest country on the continent of Africa.
The was inserted into the countrys ofcial
name to distinguish it from Zambia.
The Gambia became independent from
the former British Empire on 18 February
1965 and has had a rich and diverse history.
Gambia used to be a tributary to the Mali
Empire and the Portuguese reached the
area by sea in the mid-fteenth century
and began to dominate trade . Trading rights
were sold by the Portuguese to the English
in the 16th century and during the 17th and
18th centuries, Britain and France struggled
continually for political and commercial
supremacy in the region. Gambia sufferedseverely during the slave trade and an
estimated 3 million slaves may have been
taken from the region during this time. Most
of those taken were sent to Europe to work
as servants. Slave trading was abolished in
The Gambia in 1906.
During World War II, Gambian troops
fought with the Allies in Burma. Banjul
(the capital) served as an air stop for the
U.S. Army Air Corps and U. S. President
GAMBIA
TODAY
Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped overnight in
Banjul en route to and from the Casablanca
Conference in 1943, marking the rst visit
to the African Continent by an American
president while in ofce.
On April 24, 1970, The Gambia became a
republic with Dawda Kairaba Jawara, as head
of state. The stability of the Jawara era was
shattered rst by a coup attempt in 1981.
The coup was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang.
The president, in London during the coup
attempt, appealed to Senegal for help and
Senegalese troops defeated the rebel forces.
In the aftermath of the attempted coup,
Senegal and The Gambia signed the 1982
Treaty of Confederation. The Senegambia
Confederation aimed eventually to combine
the armed forces of the two states and to
unify their economies and currencies, but The
Gambia withdrew from the confederation in
1989.
In 1994 , the Armed Forces Provisional
Ruling Council (AFRC) deposed the Jawara
government and banned political activity.
Lieutenant Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh became head
of state. The AFPRC announced a transition
plan for return to democratic civilian
government and in 2001 and early 2002, The
Gambia completed a full cycle of presidential,
legislative, and local elections, which foreign
observers deemed free, fair, and transparent.
President Yahya Jammeh was elected to
9naijaTimes
Travel & Culture
by: Sope Williams
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0
continue in the position he had assumed
during the coup.
President Jammeh raised eyebrows early
in 2007 when he claimed that he can cure
AIDS. His cure involves a green herbal paste,
a bitter yellow liquid and eating bananas and
he says his methods produce positive results
within days. The country representative of
the United Nations development programme
in The Gambia, Fadzai Gwaradzimba, was
told to leave the country after she expressed
doubts about the presidents claims and
said the remedy might encourage riskybehaviour. The President also recently
incurred widespread condemnation from the
international community from his comments
on May 15, 2008, warning homosexuals in
The Gambia to leave the country within 24
hours or else face beheading.
The Gambia has a liberal, market-based
economy characterized by traditional
subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance
on groundnuts for export earnings, a re-
export trade built up around its ocean port,
low import duties, minimal administrative
procedures, a uctuating exchange rate
with no exchange controls, and a signicant
tourism industr y. The Gambia has no
conrmed mineral or natural resource
deposits (although the President is adamant
that crude oil will be found in The Gambia)
and about 75% of the population depends on
crops and livestock for its livelihood. Despite
the presence of the Gambia river, which
runs through the middle of the country, only
one-sixth of the land is arable and poor
soil quality has led to the predominance of
groundnuts. Small-scale manufacturing activity
features the processing of groundnuts,
sh, and hides. Re-export trade normally
constitutes a major segment of economic
activity, but a 1999 government-imposed
pre-shipment inspection plan, and instability
of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn
some of the re-export trade away from The
Gambia.
The Gambias natural beauty and proximity
to Europe has made it one of the larger
markets for tourism in West Africa. The
tourism industry today in The Gambia
started when a party of 300 Swedish
tourists arrived in 1965. That pioneering
trip was organized by a Swede named
Bertil Harding. The Gambia was seen asan ideal place to escape the harsh winter
months of Scandinavia where Europeans
would enjoy the sun, sand and beaches but
also experience the excitement of a real
African holiday. Its proximity to Europe, has
offered an affordable holiday to increasing
numbers of traveling Europeans. The Gambia
is now noted by discerning tourists for its
clean unspoilt and uncrowded beaches, its
fascinating birdlife, and the fact that holidays
to The Gambia are relatively inexpensive.
The number of visitors increased from 300
tourists in 1965 to 25,000 visitors in 1976.
The number of tourists has continued to
rise sharply throughout the years, and as
the government is eager to diversify the
economy, it recognized tourism as a potential
major foreign exchange source of revenue.
However, despite increasing popularity
as a tourist destination, infrastructure
development has been slow.
A wide variety of ethnic groups live in
The Gambia with a minimum of intertribal
friction, each preserving its own language and
traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest,
followed by the Fula, Wolof (from where the
popular Nigerian dish Jollof rice originates),
Jola, and Serahule.
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naija ManYou are what you wear.
www.naijaclothing.com
2
Aso OkeTimeless elegance
The aso okes recent goodfortunes have been amazing. Only
a while back, this unique Yoruba
social fabric was only used as an
accessory, either as a headgear or
waist mufer, ipele.
But thanks to the ingenuity of ourfashion designers, the fortunes of
this ancient fabric have changed.
Now, the aso oke is increasingly
becoming the fabric of choice for
natty, stylish, modern dresses.
Of all aso oke types, the net aso
oke is the most popular and it
is also responsible for its wide
acceptability and use. Thanks to
this fabric, which is a blend of royal
grandeur and modern ingenuity,
the aso oke is now used for dinner,
cocktail and wedding gowns. It is
also being combined with organza,
chiffon, lace and satin to produce
nifty dresses. And since they say
wonders shall never end, dont everbe surprised when you start seeing
halter neck aso okes!
naijaTimes 13
Travel & Culture
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Tucked away in the heart of Bauchi State inthe North of Nigeria is the Yankari National
Park, the countrys most famous, but largely
under-visited, tourist spot. Yankari, one of
Nigerias six national parks, was established
as a game reserve in 1956, but it was later
upgraded to a national park in 1991. It is
located within the Alkaleri Local Government
Area of the state, which is 115km from
Bauchi town. Although recent visitors to the
park have complained that the lodges are in
poor conditions with toilet having no seats,baths not working and rooms dirty; they still
have praises for this premier park citing its
natural and unspoiled nature as reasons why
it has remained fascinating.
The park is spread over miles of rolling
hilly high and lowlands with a big river and
a warm water spring. The river serves as a
natural swimming facility for visitors. Yankari
Park also contains several archeological
preserves including the Dukkey Well System;
the Ampara and Shanshau iron smelting works
and furnace shafts dating back many centuries.
There are also natural formations such as the
Marshall Cave Systems and the Wikki Springs,
which is the source of the Wikki River.
It is home to more than 50 species of
mammals such as diverse species of baboons,
monkeys, warthogs, hippopotamuses, lions,
leopards, hyenas, jackals, elephants, buffalos,
antelopes, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers,oribis and red-anked duikers. It is also home
to over 350 species of bird, 26 species of sh,
seven species of amphibians and 17 species of
reptiles.
Accommodations are in the form of simply
furnished, air-conditioned chalets that have
traditional designs. Cheap accommodations
for students and low-income tourists are
also available. There is a conference facility, a
Yankari National Park: Nigerias hidden jewel
4 15naijaTimes
modern restaurant, a bar and a discotheque.
It also has potable water, electricity and
satellite televisions.
Tourists can enjoy guided park tours to
view the parks fascinating mix of wildlife.
There is a campground at Wikki Camp and
tourists can make use of the parks open
trucks or their own vehicles for guided tours
(there are also walking tours) to see wildlife
including buf falos, hippos, lions, monkeys,
wart hogs, crocodiles and baboons. Wildlife
can also be viewed and photographed
from a hideaway at the Daban Maje naturalsaltlick. The park has an elephant population
of around 300, the largest of any park in
West Africa, but the elephants are not often
sighted because of Yankaris dense vegetation.
At the Wikki spring, the park offers
swimming facilities, boating and sport shing.
There is also a museum and organized free
lectures on conservation.
A tourists impression of Yankari:
A great place to be
Yankari is a beautiful place, and because I
visit Nigeria regularly, I often visit Yankari.
My most recent visit to the park was in
April 2004, and as always, the journey was
worth it. Wikki Camp (the tourist camp) has
a community atmosphere because of the
presence of visitors and the parks local staff.
It is always likely that you will meet short
term or long term friends. The camp has a
spring area that is natural, with warm crystal
clear and dis ease free water. You have to see
it to believe it. It is indeed a natural wonder.
As at April when I last went, I saw a lot
of wildlife species over my few days stay.
There were lots of the usual waterbuck,
and bushbuck. Also as usual, elephants were
always seen in the evenings by the river Gaji
(though I saw some on a few occasions in
the morning). Others which I normally saw
too were the baboons, tantalus monkeys,
and warthogs. Other animals encountered
on my April trip that are also common in the
park include: large troops of patas monkeys
(on several occasions), Western hartebeests,
red anked duiker (on several occasions),
monitor lizard, Nile crocodiles (on several
occassions), many colorful birds including
an outstanding African Fish Eagle . We came
across many signs of lions, including a kill.
Whilst I was there, people would often enter
the bush and come across lions, but during
our own game drives, we did not encounter
them. The West African lion maybe rare in
other parts of the sub-region, but in Yankari,
they are becoming more common by the day.
Yankari is denitely a wildlife haven. The
only issue is the dense bush vegitation. The
park has approximately 1000 elephants,
3000 bufaloes, and thousands of antelopes.
Whoever that says that West Africa lacks
great wildlife areas needs to do his/her
research again. There are at least three other
Nigerian parks that boast of outstanding
wildlife, and Yankari is an example of what is
on offer. Accommodation in the park is not
excellent, but is managable for a few days.
(Culled from htt p://www.tripadvisor.com)
Interested parties could contact:
The General Manager
Yankari National Park
P.O. Box 12
Bauchi, Nigeria
Tel: (234) 77-543-674, 542-174
The Director,
National Parks Service
P.M.B 0258, Garki,
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: (234) 9-234-5507
Travel & Culture
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6
Bring on thecarnival!!!
Want some Jerk chicken? Want to hearsome exotic steel bands? Fancy seeing a
parade of funky dressed individuals swerving
and dancing to calypso music? Then get your
maps and nd your way down to this years
Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) From Sunday
24th August to Monday 25th August 08. Yes its
that time of the year people. Bring out your
shades, face paints, ice water and let the fun
commence! Notting Hill Carnival is one of the
most anticipated carnivals of the year, normally
taking place in- yep you guessed it- Notting
Hill! Its hard to believe that some people
have unfortunately missed passed Notting Hill
Carnivals. Well, all is not lost, the NHC 2008
is coming up soon and youll want to make
sure that youre there. NHC is internationally
known for its diverse variety of acts and
talented occurrence. It encourages people
from different backgrounds to attend every
year and experience two days famed for its
unique and culture friendly atmosphere,
that attracts people of varied nationalities
and races together to celebrate diversity within
the UK. In 2007 a whooping 2 million people
attended NHC and it is expected to have an
even bigger turnout this year. The NHC is one
of the largest street festivals in the world, and
on all accounts the largest in Europe.
So, when did it a ll begin? The rst NHC
occurred in 1959 to create awareness about
the depressing race oppression within the
UK - the year before black ethnic minorities
experienced widespread racial motivated
attacks. It originally, consisted of the West
Indian community just having a local festival
in Notting Hill. The NHC was to signal a
change in the depiction and treatment of
ethnic minorities within Britain. Gradually
the carnival began to gain recognition thanks
to Claudia Jones (known as the Mother of
the NHC) and Rhaune Laslett who helped
to promote the carnival. It was usually held
in halls before it moved to the street of
Notting Hill in 1976. By the early 1980s the
popularity of the carnival grew with more
and more people attending each year and it
has been a hit since. It then became mostly
known for its Caribbean vibe , however, it still
caters for many different cultures, including
a Nigerian section where you can purchase
traditional Nigerian cuisines and listen to
some traditional music. Since then NHC has
become internationally known with people
travelling far and wide just to experience
the event. Celebrating diversity is one of
the highlights of the Notting hill carnival as
it allows one to see, feel and taste different
cultures but how does one really and truly
enjoy Notting Hill carnival? Seun Odulaja,
from Hackney, London tells Najia Times
why he loves NHC It is and always will be
awesome, I especially loved the Nigerian
section! The music was good, people were
just dancing all the day and when we got
tired and hungry we just brought some Eba
and stew from the Nigerian stall! Its good
that our culture was shown and it always
has been there, there are so many Nigerians
in Britain and you can nd most of them at
Notting hill Carnival enjoying the day, I wouldadvise anyone to go! So there you have it
NHC has so much to offer, make sure you
dont miss out!
Top tips for carnival funCarry as less as possible- its going to
be hot (ngers crossed) and the last thing
you need is excess baggage getting in the
way and weighing you down. Another point
is to keep your valuables safe, sometimes
items have a habit of dropping out of your
pocket make sure you keep a close eye on
your things. Try everything out!- aim
to go for both days, if you cant, whatever do
you go on make sure you visit as many stalls
as possible, see the parade, in essence see as
much as you can see and do as much as you
can do! Be safe- Though its going to be
fantastic make sure you are on your guard.
Its easy to get lost in all the fun and in the
actual carnival itself, make sure you carry
your map of the carnival with you at all times.
Last but not least Enjoy yourself-
Dance, eat and smile! The main aim is to have
a fantastic day so make sure you do. So start
planning your time off now!
For more information check out
www.nottinghillcarnival.biz
naijaTimes 17
Travel & Culture
By Omolola Ogunbadejo
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8 19
Over a hundred styles of tops are at theheight of fashion now. But the deep V-neck,
(sometimes called the criss-cross top) is
in a class of its own. V-neck tops make for
attering blouses that are ideal for everyday
activities, especially when paired with
co-coordinating trousers or skirts. Deep
plunging v-neck tops of diverse hues come in
different fabrics. Some are made from cotton,
others from nylon, and others from polyester.
But the most common and popular ones are
the ones made from a stretchy fabric, lycra,
and silk fabrics which are mostly worn on
trousers, though they could be sometimes
worn on skirts. But this cute top will lookgreat on any skinny jeans, particularly if you
wear them at or heely shoes. They have
a splendid look and a luxurious feel. These
tops are easy to slip on and off and they are
fabulously cool. Go chic with one!
Evergreen heely shoes
Just like other important fashion accessories,
your shoes can either make or mar you on
the social scene. In the Lagos scene now, no
V-neck topsmake forflatteringblouses that
are idealfor everyday
activities
shoe is enjoying the limelight like the high
heel shoe . In fact, it is a must-have. Your shoe
rack cant just afford to be without one.
Besides their great versatility, they are one
fashion item that have remained constant.
And they are likely to remain like that for a
while.
Heel shoes, especially those with natty
designs and incredible colours, are the fad
and they can make you part of the crowd.
There is no trendier shoe for that long
awaited party than these heely shoes. You can
pick the silhouettes or pencil to pump heels.If you are going for a pair of high heel
shoes, then go for the ones that are classy,
sophisticated and good to be worn with any
formal or informal dress. They are best worn
when you really want to be different. One
of the things that differentiate them is the
sole. It could be pencil heels, blocked heels,
medium or silhouettes heels etc. Another
distinguishing factor is whether they are
studded with stones, sequins or metals.
Depending on the designs, an average high
heel shoe will look nice on skirts or trousers
suits and other formal dresses.
TheV-neck
is thefad
Fashion & Lifestyle
By Kenny Joseph
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0
The Search isOn for the NextTop Model ofColour UK
Let the competition begin! The Top ModelOf Colour (TMOC) UK 2008 is just around
the corner, TMOC hopefu ls battle it out
to see who can claim the prestigious title
and fantastic prizes including a modellingcontract with the esteemed Mahogany
Model Management but the models arent
just competing to win the competition, they
are also aiming, through the competition, to
create awareness about the treatment of
ethnic models within the modelling industry.
TMOC UK, which works in conjunction
with Mahogany Model Management is a
competition for aspiring non white models
to show the world as well as the modelling
industry their talent and potential, they
also aim to create more opportunities for
non white models, whether professional
or semi professional, to enter mainstream
entertainment such as being presenters etc.
One person who has experienced modelling
success through the help of Mahogany Model
management is Ibukun Jegede, a young model
originally from Nigeria who has won several
awards such as Mr Standout Model UK
2007, he is also under Standout Modelling
Management and Zebra Models agency to
name a few. He gave us his reasons to why he
entered TMOC UK 2008 I entered because
it is a leading competition for models in
the UK and I have lots of experience in the
modelling industry. I also entered because I
want to make NIGERIA proud. Ibukun also
believes that there is a lack of black models
in the industry, Top Model of Colour helps
to promote black models which is one of the
reasons why it is a good event. Its clear that
TMOC UK is increasing awareness about the
bias with respect to race. This competition
is more than just models strutting their stuff
down a runway and wearing designer clothes
its about gaining recognition and displaying
their talent for others to also appreciate.
Sola Oyebade founder of Mahogany Models
Management believes that it is not as easy
to get into the modelling industry if youre
black or Asian but that shouldnt stop one
from trying. Last year more than 2000contestants entered the competition hoping
to accomplish their dream of becoming the
TOP MODEL OF COLOUR 2007; they are
expecting an even bigger turnout this year!
However there can only be one winner and
2007 was a great year as TMOC UK saw
the rst ever male winner, Marcus, a multi
talented model from Surrey, win the male
segment of the competition after ghting off
erce competition.
naijaTimes 21
Fashion & Lifestyle
By Omolola Ogunbadejo
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2
I just want to take this chance to say congratulations to Italian Vogue as their July Issue is exclusively
going to feature ONLY black models! This is a signicant breakthrough for the high prole magazine,
which has featured some of the worlds best-known supermodels and top class designers. Some
critics have argued that this would not be a success as apparently black doesnt sell once again
displaying some of the narrow mindedness present in the fashion business. Whether it is a success
or not, one thing is for sure, this Vogue July edition is one step forward for getting rid of the
prejudice and discrimination. You go Italian Vogue, I hope you sell millions!
For more information about Top Model of Colour 2008 and how to vote, visit
http://www.topmodelofcolour.com/
Fashion Notfor the FaintHearted! : SoWhat Are YouWearing?
How bold are we when it comes to fashion?
Gone were the days when we wore skirts
down to our toes and shirts that looked like
parachutes, now, due to fashion liberation, it
seems that we can wear just about anythingand get away with it!
One clothing range that conforms to this
ethos of bold and daring attire is Stush
clothing range (www.stush-clothing.co.uk).
Stush brings a whole new meaning to the
saying dress to impress as it specialises in
glamorous RnB, Hip Hop and Dancehall
wear for those who arent afraid to show us
what they got and take fashion to a higher
level! This eccentric clothing line is not for
the faint hearted dare I say; it consists of
creatively crafted garments specially designed
Fashion & Lifestyle
23naijaTimes
for your own unique taste. With fans such
as Tulisa, part of the Mobo Award Winning
garage group N-Dubz and Charley from
the UKs Big Brother 8 TV show to name a
few of its celebrity customers, it just simply
highlights that non conventional is the new
conventional! It may not be to everyones
taste and seems that it will only really appeal
to those who have a passion for raving/
clubbing but if you dare to take your fashion
to a whole new extreme then this is one of
the places to shop.
Hey ladies! We are giving you the chance to
win an exclusive Stush Dress, look like the
bell of the club as well as dedicated supporter
with a unique football themed dress! Choosebetween Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool
and get a dress and kit rolled into one! For
a chance of winning just answer this simple
question and send it along with a photo of
yourself all dressed up and ready to go out.
Question:Which English Football Team Won the
FA Cup last season? Send answer and photo to
By Omolola Ogunbadejo
8/14/2019 Naija Times October 2008
13/31
naijaTimes 25
Although energy drinks are the rave inNigeria now, experts have cautioned that
they might be doing more harm than good.
Recently, the Director General of the National
Agency for Food and Drugs Administration
and Control, Professor Dora Akunyili, warned
Nigerians, especially children, against the
consumption of energy drinks. Energy drinks
contain high sugar level and caffeine and are
dangerous for children. If you dont want
too much sugar in your body dont drink it.
It is not for social events, so parents should
monitor their children, she said during a
recent press conference.
According to Wikipedia, the online
encyclopedia, energy drinks may have their
origins in Scotland, where the earliest energy
beverage, in the form of Irn-Bru or Iron Brew,
is believed to have been rst produced in
1901. Although many brands of energy drinks
are sold in Nigeria, none of them is produced
locally. Red Bull, one of the most popular
brands, has its origins in Thailand where an
Austrian entrepreneur, who discovered that
a local drink cured him of jet lag, teamed up
with a Thai manufacturer. Today, Red Bull is
the market leader of what has been adjudged
to be a $3bn global business. A business,
which both Goldman Sachs and Mintel, have
predicted will hit $10 billion by 2010. Some
other popular brands include Crystal Light,
Energy, Wild Strawberry, Dansani Ref resh and
Revive.
Despite the wide and growing acceptance,
which energy drinks have enjoyed the world
over in recent times, medical experts have
pointed out that their constituent elements
like taurine, caffeine and inositol may end up
doing more harm than good in the human
body. They advise that these drinks should
4
Before youdown thatenergy drinkby: Adeola Joseph
thus be avoided or be taken with care.
Some of the potential risks involved have
been identied as increased blood pressure,
elevated heart rate and restlessness in
children.
Although some Nigerians have called on
government to ban the importation of
energy drinks, Akunyili, in an interview with
The Sun, demurred, drawing an analogy
between energy drinks and coffee. All over
the world, the regulatory agencies operate
not by saying: dont drink coffee . We know
that coffee is not the best for the bodybecause it is a stimulant. But we make sure
that whatever coffee that we register is of
the right quality. It depends on the individual
who is buying it to decide whether he or she
wants coffee. And when you are drinking it, it
is left to you to decide the quantity you are
putting into the cup.
People have come from all corners of the
country to advice that we should ban energy
drinks but I keep telling them that it is not
possible for us to ban it. All we are going to
continue to be doing is that people declare
what they have on the label. When it comes
to energy drink, our work is to make sure
that those who are importing or producing
any drink in this country should declare on
the label everything that is contained in that
drink and the quantity too. And if the owners
of these energy drinks specify on the label
that it contains 200 mg caffeine, it means that
they are not deceiving anybody. It means that
whoever is buying it should look at what he
or she is buying. What we frown at and what
we say no to are when you hide the things
you are adding into the drink by not stating it
on the label. If we nd out, it would not even
be registered. Even if it is registered and we
nd out that the product contains something
that is not stated on the label, that importer
or manufacturer will be in serious trouble. In
effect, what we are saying is that there is no
way I can stop energy drink just because it
contains stimulant. The stimulant does not kill.
In the meantime, NAFDAC has advised
Nigerians to alert the authorities if they
come across an energy drink that does not
have a NAFDAC number, especially those
with over 200 mg caffeine.
At the moment, there are campaignsorganised by some medical and consumer
advocacy groups who are making efforts
to debunk some of the myths that are
responsible for the popularity of energy
drinks. One of such is that they could
replace lost water in the body. People who
have this belief usually take energy drinks
during exercises. But experts say that the
diuretic quality of the caffeine content of
the energy drink can dehydrate the body.
Some drinkers also combine energy drinks
with alcohol. Experts say this combination is
dangerous since energy drinks are stimulant
while alcohol is a depressant. These groups
have also argued the need for stakeholders
to debunk the notion that energy drinks are
health drinks saying that true energy comes
from calories not caffeine. So, before you
down that can of energy drink, pause and
think about the difference between calories
and caffeine.
ELEMENTS LIKETAURINE, CAFFEINE
AND INOSITOL MAYEND UP DOING MORE
HARM THAN GOOD.
Health
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Making yourwebsite workfor you,
withoutgoogle
Are you one of those webmasters orpublishers whose dream of making Googles
Adsense an extra source of income is being
frustrated by the global search behemoths
stringent and, sometimes, complex rules? Or
one of those fellows who got bumped from
Adsense? Well, you dont have to wring those
hands anymore. You can still smile, and earn
a decent sum from your website, albeit with
some old fash ion toil. All you have to do is
to know the viable alternatives to Google
Adsense. This month, NaijaTimes is offering
to introduce a few to you. Although Google
Adsense is the leader in web-based content-
8
sensitive marketing, there are hundreds of
advert vendors who can serve as viable
alternatives.
Clicksor
Clicksor is the baby of Yesup, the company
behind PayPopUp. It will offer you up to
60 per cent of the advertising revenues
generated from your website. Its major
strength is the Contextual Advertising
Technology system, which simply underlines
a selection of clickable text or display
targeted contextual banner on your website.
Clicksor provides online real time statisticsand a fortnightly payment schedule. If your pay
within a specied fortnight is less than $50, it is
rolled into the next month. But when it is more,
Clicksor pays either by a cheque or by Paypal.
TargetPoint
Targetpoint is the product of an Israeli
company that gives you total control over
the adverts that run on your website,
supplies up-to-date site performance
statistics and, most importantly, enhances
your ad revenue. It provides targeted
advertisements on webpages, allowing
webmasters (especially of BitTorrent
websites) to make money based on the
number of ads clicked. This is known as the
pay-per-click model.
Yahoo Publisher Network
Now with its Yahoo Classic up and running,
Yahoo! Has given in to online publishers
and webmasters demand to expand its
distribution network and make it easy for
other web users to make money through
Yahoo. Sadly though, YPN is still in beta and it
only accepts United States-based publishers
for now. But it is widely believed that Yahoo
will expand it when it comes out of Beta.
YPN provides cost per click contextual
advertising that is similar to Google Adsense.
BidClix
Bidclix will help you to nd the highest
yielding ads for your site through its
proprietary optimization technology. Since
advertisers compete for access to your
valuable inventory on a bid-for-placement
basis, this maximizes your effective CPM.
BidClixs payment system is fast, as it is done
within a fortnight.
Bidvertiser
Bidvertiser will place text ads on your
website and pay you for every click. All you
have to do is to display the BidVertiser textads on your website and let advertisers
bid against each other! Bidvertiser will
also display the highest bidders to help
you maximise your revenue! You will also
notice a constant improvement in your
bidding over time, as both your visitors and
Bidvertisers advertisers will be exposed to
the opportunity of bidding against each other
on your ad space.
Nixie
Nixxie has a programme that reads the
content of your website and then use the
information derived to deliver advertising
that is most relevant to the content of your
web pages. You can choose from solutions
featuring text ads, price comparison listings
and live auction advertising. You will also earn
revenue each time someone clicks on Nixies
listings.
Clickbank
Clickbank displays afliate adverts and
products. Clickbank, which rewards
advertisers on a pay-for-every-sale basis, has
about 10000 products. Web buffs believes
it pays better than Adsense because it pays
between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of
product cost.
29naijaTimes
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With the huge inux of investors into theNigerian capital market and the rash of public
listings in recent times, the need for nancial
intelligence among Nigerians has gone up by
several notches. In the main, investors rely
on their brokers or newspapers to meet that
need: either by making enquiries or poring
over the daily and weekly market summaries
published by newspapers. But given the
recent rash of public listings and the
sometimes confusing bureaucratic maze that
investment documentations have to travel
through not a few duciary relationships havecome under serious strain.
Are there other options for investor
who des ire a third way? Yes. Thanks
to the ascendancy of information and
communication technology tools in Nigeria,
investors are increasingly being offered
a wide array of avenues to monitor the
performance and movement of their stocks
and the market without relying on their
brokers or newspapers.
Monitoring your stocks
The options for investors who desire to
constantly monitor the performance or
movement of stocks or the health of the
capital market options now range from
simple telephone-based information system
to an increasing number of informed nancial
intelligence websites.
For example, the Short Message Service-based
trade alert scheme, an investor protection
scheme introduced by the Nigerian Stock
Exchange and the Central Securities Clearing
System, sends an SMS massage to the investorgiving details of sales, purchases, volume and
prices of transactions made on his behalf
as soon a s they are made. To enjoy this, an
investor would rst have to open an individual
or corporate stockbroking account with a
licensed stockbroking rm and then obtain a
CSCS Clearing House Number (CHN).
Many stockbroking and nancial intelligence
rms also run market information and daily
and weekly reports on the Nigerian capital
market on their websites. Some of these are:
Expresson-line.com
Expresson-line is the website of the Express
Discount Limited, which was incorporated
in 1992, licensed by the Central Bank of
Nigeria a year later and which commenced
operations the same year. It is owned by a
consortium of six banks and three insurance
companies.
Proshareng.com
Proshare Invest-Africas proshareng.com isled by popular Nigerian nancial analyst, Femi
Awoyemi. It has an investor friendly forum
for investors, nancial institutions, analysts
and service providers in the capital market
and claims to promote intelligent exchanges
of information and strategies needed to
protably engage the market. It started
operations in 2002. Y
Cashcraft.com
Cashcraft Asset Management is one of
Nigerias foremost portfolio managers. It was
incorporated in 1991. It is registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission
as issuing house, brokers, dealers, portfolio
managers and investment advisers. It
has a paid up Capital is N1billion (One
BillionNaira) but with shareholders fund
in excess of N2billion (Two Billion Naira).
Cashcraft serves a wide array of clients
ranging from individuals and small businesses
to some of the largest corporations in
Nigeria and government related institutions.
Africancapitalmarkets.com
African Capital Market, which provides
Nigerian nancial market information, came
under a new management earlier this year. It
works with a consortium of brokers licensed
with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the
Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities
and Exchange Commission. It is one of the
most popular Nigerian nancial intelligence
websites with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Stockmarketnigeria.com
StockMarketNigeria.com provides
information to help beginning investors in
the Nigerian stock market. It hosts a very
active discussion forum, where investors
discuss pertinent issues about the Nigerian
stock market.
Cscsnigerialtd.com
The Central Securities Clearing System
was incorporated on July 29, 1992 as a
subsidiary of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.
It was commissioned on April, 1997 and
commenced operations on April 14, 1997.
It operates a computerized depository,
clearing settlement and delivery system
for transactions in shares listed on The
Nigerian Stock Exchange. CSCS facilitates
the delivery (transfer of shares from seller
to buyer) and settlement (payment of
bought shares) of securities transacted on
the oors of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.
It enables stocks to be processed in
an electronic book-entry form thereby
substantially reducing the period it takes a
transaction to commence and end.
Cowryasset.com
Incorporated in 2005, with an initial
authorized capital of N100million, it has
grown into a rm with an authorised
capital of N1billion and shareholders funds
in excess of N400million. It offers daily
and weekly report on the Nigerian capital
market and distributes a newsletter.
Money
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2
Leo Stan Ekehs ascent to the top, thoughsteady, was not swift. In fact, it took several
years, and an unusual route. Decades back,
at a time when the United States of America
and the United Kingdom where the ports
of call for young Nigerians who wanted a
foreign university education, Ekeh opted forIndia.
Known widely today as the founder of
Zinox, Nigerias rst indigenous computer
assembler and number one local brand, and
for his investments in banking and insurance,
Ekehs name has not always rang a bell. His
reputation as a pioneer in the Nigerian
computing business sprouted when he
spearheaded the introduction of computers
to newspaper production. But it wasnt until
Ekeh partnered with South Africas hardware
giant, Mercer, for the local production
of computers that his name became a
household name.
The Nigerian ICT market is relatively
underdeveloped absorbing only about
200000 new computers yearly (the market
for used computers and components is
however bigger than that, about thrice
that number). But Ekehs grit, innovation
and hard won government endorsement,
that made it the computer of choice in
government ofces across Nigeria, have
given him a substantial portion of the
market.
India was a backwater Third World country
with seemingly little to offer when Ekehopted to study there. But his insight that
the country could offer better practical
lessons for running a business in Nigeria
has turned out to be remarkable.
That was a great turning point in my life
because I found the economy of India a
realistic economy. I was able while there to
associate with the Ghandis, I was able to
associate with the chairman of Coca-Cola
in India, Cornel George and a whole lot of
them, he told Nigerias leading tabloid, The
Sun, in a recent interview.
But it was in the UK, where he studied for
an advanced degree, where Ekeh rst tried
his hand in business, using his school fees
as start-up capital.
Then, I had started a fashion designing
business. I was doing some of the Air Force
uniform and their pips. We were importin g
military pips from London into the country
then. So, it was just for me to take a
decision which way to go. Do I continue
to pay the British government school fees
and get a degree after I have done nine
months there or do I get out and use that
money for business? So, I opted out to use
the money for business. And that was how
BUSINESS PERSONALITY:
LEO STAN EKEH
I launched my rst company Task Systems.
By then I already had an insight on Desktop
Publishing, Apple. So, I pioneered Desktop
Publishing and Compugraphics in Nigeria. I
computerised all the newspapers, magazines
and book publishing houses.
Now, Ekeh is far away from his humble
beginnings. Zinox is a market leader; his
insurance company is one of the countrys
biggest and he has substantial interest in a
bank. The motivation for all this, he sa id, was
in his childhood dreams.
I just wanted to be different. This is my innerdriving force to be different; go to school
if at all it was necessary because I had the
entrepreneurial spirit right from childhood.
Even in the secondary school, I wanted to
own the biggest transport company. I mean
I had spent my time writing about it and
designing it. So, I just went to school for
going sake. This is basically what happened
to me in the early stage. However, since
its launch, some of his competitors have
insinuated that Ekehs claim that Zinox is
Nigerias rst locally produced computer
isnt true. A criticism that Ekeh counters:
Our computers are hundred per cent
locally made. Today, you carve out your niche.
When you see other brands, they say they
are American, but America produces nothing
inside that system, but the intellectual
power to design. This is why we are not
clones. We are branding because we have
added value; weve created what we wanted,
but something that interfaces with global
standards. So, the job is not on the casing, but
the job is part of the motherboard because
we have to design certain processes to meet
global standards, giving it to people who do it.
It is like you are a car manufacturer; you tell
the tyre manufacturer what you want to do.
But who actually designs the kind of car, the
shape of the car? So, the man who does the
car is not the paint maker, the engine maker,
and the brake-pad maker. But he who has
to intellectually put all these things together
and then share them out to different people
to give him samples. And when you test it, it
gives you the standard you thought of, that
one now becomes your trademark and you
stamp it.
Before, people hid their identity. They do
something in Nigeria and they say Made in
Japan, Made in Taiwan. That was complex,
you must carve a niche, so we said we areNigerian from day one. And after that day
we now see other companies a few months
after saying proudly Nigerian. This didnt exist
before.
However, this argument turns out, what is
incontrovertible is that Ekeh has earned
a prime place at the top of the Nigerian
business sector. That, at least is one argument
that no one can controvert.
naijaTimes 33
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naijaTimes
The rst part of this article attemptedto establish that there are 6 broad
forces of inuence on career decisions
and that the best type of inuence that
will guarantee an exciting career choice
is the Personal Interest . This sequel will
focus, as promised, on how different
personality styles and interests affect
career choice and thus planning based
on them.
Understanding Personality
Quite a few scholars have come up with
several theories that support or explain
the human behaviour and the different
personality styles that people manifest.
More often than not, you see yourself
asking questions like `what is wrong
with him? or `why does she behave like
that? Well, that behaviour can be explained
as well as the irritations and excitements of
the individuals in question.
Basically, your personality, to a large extent,
guides your interests (and irritations) which
in turn affect your career choice either
positively or conversely. The rst step to
making career decisions is not to undermine
the importance of understanding yourself and
the things you enjoy doing the most.
The Career Key
1. The Career Key
Hollands Theory of Career Choice and You
John Hollands theory is based on a premise
that can best be explained at its simplest by
Planningfor
anExciting
Careerpart2
ByTayoOmisore
the saying birds of the same feather, ock
together. Holland believed that there are six
personality types within which everybody
can be categorized and that people with
particular interests/traits would be most
comfortable working with others like
them. In other words, people of the same
personality are attracted to themselves
hence tend to work together.
He also believed that there are six types of
environments which are a function of the
six personality types which have created
environments that suit their personalitiesand work styles. His theory suggests that
people with the same personality styles
working together in the same environment
have higher chances of success than working
in different environments or with different
personality styles.
These personality types include:
1) Realistic:
These are people who see them selves as
practical, mechanical and realistic beings.
The work well with tools and things you can
physically touch. In this category you have
people who work with machines, plants,
technical drawings etc.
2) Investigative:
Here, you have the class of people who
love problem solving. They see themselves
as intellectuals who love solving math or
scientic problems but not interested in
selling or leading roles.
3) Artistic:
Creative activities like painting, music, dancing
are some of the attributes of this class of
individuals. They are very expressive, original
and independent.
4) Social:
These are people in help professions like,
teaching, nursing, or giving rst aid, providing
information. They are friendly trustworthy
and tend to avoid using machines, tools, or
animals to achieve their goals.
5) Enterprising
This category is one in which you nd
people who like to lead and persuade others,
sell things and ideas. They do not particularly
care for activities that require careful
observation and scientic or analytical
thinking. They are energetic, ambitious, andsociable.
6) Conventional
Here is a class of people who like to work
with numbers, records, or machines in a set,
orderly way. They value success in business
and see themselves as orderly, and good at
following a set plan.
Hollands theory basically believes that how
you act and feel at work depends to a large
extent on your workplace environment and
that if you work with people who have a
personality type like yours, you will be able
to do many of the things they can do, and
you will feel most comfortable with them.
Using the career key theory, you should be ableto place yourself in the category of personality to
which you belong. This should guide your choice
of career and help secure the excitement you
desire in your chosen vocation.
Careers and Development
4
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Why I dont smoke,drink or do drugs
Soft spoken but very condent AboloreAdebola Akande, popularly known as 9ice,
is Nigerias latest music sensat ion. His hit,
Gongo aso, a rhythmic blend of Yoruba
6
idioms and wise sayings blended with pulsating
hip-hop vibes, is the rave of the airwaves. In
this interview with Toun Aderele, 9ice lets us
into his world.
NT:Who is 9ice?
9ice: My name is Abolore Adebola Akande. I
9ice: Yes. When I rst started music
professionally I didnt sing at home. All I did
was read my textbooks; I wanted to make
my parents happy. Then, my daddy saw me on
the TV and he was so shocked that he kept
asking, Ah! Is this not you? He was having
his meal, but he couldnt stop ask ing. Later, he
called me and said, Okay, if this is what you
really want to do, Ill give you a chance and
lets see how far you can go.
NT: How many albums have you done?
9ice: My rst album was Certicate, GongoAso is second. The rst album paved the
way while the second took me to a level Ive
never been. Now, people know the person,
the name and the album.
NT: Why Gongo Aso?
9ice: Well, I titled the song Gongo Aso
because when the inspiration for it hit me
all I kept hearing was Gongo Aso. All I
could hear in my ear was Gongo Aso. I have
always known it as an idiomatic expression
that is fully expressed as Gongo aso kutupu
awu (bells will be pealed) and is used to
announce that an earth shaking event, that
may be negative, is imminent. I decided to
use the same words but in expectation of
good things rather than the usual bad things
because I believe in the power of the mind. I
knew that the song was going to bring good
tidings my way. Things like choice cars ( a
Bentley), nice houses, fame and a whole lot of
money. I knew in my heart that the song was
going to signal a turnaround for me, that was
why I changed the idea behind it.
NT: How do you intend to sustain the
momentum which Gongo Aso is enjoying?
The first album paved the way
am from Ogbomoso, Oyo State. I attended
Abeokuta Grammar School and CMS
Grammar School for my O-Level; Universal
Basic College for my A-Level; and the
Nigerian Opportunity Industrialization
Centre for a diploma in Computer Studies.
I was at the Lagos State University studying
law but dropped out in 100 Level, now I am
doing music. I am from a polygamous family
of 5 wives and 9 children.
NT: How long have you been singing?
9ice: I have been singing since 1993 but Istarted professionally in 2000.
NT: What inspired you?
9ice: I have a passion for music . Again, as
a young man who had tried so many things
that did not work but who knew quite well
that he had a talent that no one else knew
about, I decided to give music a trial. Im glad
its working out.
NT: Why did you drop out of school?
9ice: Well I stopped school when I did
because I had some nancial problems. Law
is a very expensive course and for me it
was law or nothing. I stayed at home for
three years hoping to get into the university
because I wanted Law. I could have gone in
for something else, but I waited patiently
until I had gained admission to study Law.
Little did I know that it will be so nancially
tasking. Unfortunately, by the time I realized
this, I was far into my rst year.
NT: Was there any opposition from your
parents or members of your family?
Entertainment
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Entertainment
be performed live on stage. They have songs
that you can listen to in your bedroom or
ofce but they probably wont thrill a live
audience. These artistes are not making any
money at all. Now we are appealing to the
government and we are making one or two
corrections in terms of how we distribute
and market our records so that artistes
who dont have the ability to perform at live
shows can make money from their record
sales.
NT: At the just concluded Nigerian Music
Awards (NMA) you won an ward, how didyou feel?
9ice: I was nominated in 5 categories and I
won Best New Act. Im one artiste that does
not hide my feelings, so Ill say it the way it is.
I dont care about what people will say about
me, because thats the way I feel and thats
the way Ill say it. I would say its wrong for
them to give me the award for Best New
Act. You cannot give an artiste that has two
albums Best New Act. Apart from that, last
year they gave a very good friend of mine,
(a young ar tiste) The Voice of The Decade,
which was very, very wrong. Where would
they put people like Sunny Ade and Ebenezer
Obey. They need to get their priorities right.
If they dont know how to go about it, they
should hire consultants who will get it right.
NT:Where do you see the Nigerian music
industry in 5 years?
9ice: In the next 5 years, it is going to be
next to none. What we need is to correct
one or two things. For a long time, weve
not had a society that bring us together. The
Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria
(PMAN) is dead. We need a society that
will bring the old and the new generation
together. We need a society to ght for
the right, aims and objectives of all Nigerian
Artistes. They (corporate organizations)
would bring in Akon who has not done
what Tu Face Idibia has done here and yet
they will pay Akon $500,000. Chris Brown, a
17-year-old, will come to Nigeria tomorrow
for the Star Mega Jam and they will pay him
$200,000, while Nigerian artistes will be
ghting for N800,000, which will not even
be paid upfront. The difference between
$200,000 and N800,000 is quite huge. So, we
need a society that will ght for our rights. If
you are bringin g Akon into the count ry, you
can decide to pay Akon whatever amount
you want, but if you are paying Akon a certainamount we expect to be paid the same
amount or something close. If you are going
to y Akon on a jet from Lagos to Calabar
then you have to y Nigerian artistes on a jet
too and not in a helicopter. We need to be
treated well.
NT:Where do you see yourself in the next
ten years?
9ice: We have a 9ice foundation. Very soon
well be working in partnership with the
United Nations on a tour of some primary
and secondar y schools, 9 in all . We will start
from Oyo State. We want to encourage
the reading of Yoruba language textbooks.
The school that emerges rst, will go home
with N100,000.00 cash , and lots of Yoruba
textbooks, while the school that comes
second will go home with a television set and
Yoruba textbooks . We have other programs
in the pipeline which we will execute as time
goes on.
In another two years I want to be the next
Michael Jackson. Im not dreaming I believe
its achievable. I want to be the rst Nigerian
that will bring home the Grammy Awards
Sunny Ade is the rst nominee, Femi Kuti
has also been nominated but I want to be
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0
9ice: Well Ive been working on that. Gongo
Aso was generally accepted because I
sounded traditional and because I made use
of my mother tongue. Thats why my next
album is Tradition. I am going to continue
with the same trend.
NT: Do you think the name of the song had
anything to do with its success?
9ice: I would say yes, the words in the song
are words that a lot of people from the
Yoruba tribe know. But people hardly make
use of these phrases. They are wise sayingsthat we often neglect.
NT: What are the challenges you have faced
as a musician?
9ice: Well, while startin g off in music, I
faced the challenges that a lot of musicians
face, and that is lack of funds. Going into
the studio costs a lot of money. The other
challenge is that once your music becomes
generally accepted and popular, people want
to see your face. And this puts some pressure
on you to dress properly, buy expensive
clothes, wear expensive jewelry, expensive
wristwatches etc., even when you cant
afford them. They say its all par t of show
business. So, it is a very expensive venture.
These are just some of the challenges we
face as ar tistes. Unfortunately, artistes who
are made are forced to live fake lives, in the
sense that they have to watch the places they
go and they have to stop visiting places they
are used to. Believe it or not its a fake life.
NT: How did you overcome these
challenges?
9ice: It has been a big struggle, but no
matter who I am today or what I become, I
will never forget my roots.
NT: Nowadays, much of what musicians
convey in their songs are meaningless. What
difference do you intend to make with your
songs?
9ice:Well, I am working on that. Nowadays,
if you listen to radio stations very, very closely,
youll notice that most of the songs we have
on radio are not as vulgar as they used to
be. People who sang vulgar songs in the past
have realised that those things dont work
anymore. At least, in this part of the world.
For example, a musical icon, whose name I
wont mention, whose songs used to be veryvulgar, has changed his lyrics now and he is
doing well.
NT:What are you planning to give back to
the society?
9ice: Well, now I have my own record label,
and Im also working with two other artistes
who I consider to be very talented. One
of them dropped out of school because
of nancial problems but we are making
efforts to ensure that he gets back into the
educational system. The other is still in school
and we are encouraging him to continue his
education even as he builds his musical career.
He is a student of a College of Education in
Oyo State. We are working on their albums;
very soon well shoot the videos. And you
guys will soon hear from them.
NT:Whats the name of your record label
and how lucrative is the music industry?
9ice: Alapo Meji Records. The music industry
in Nigeria is very lucrative. Its going to be
next to the oil industry very soon, but only if
one or two things are corrected. Right now,
no artiste is making money from his or her
record sales. Where we make money from
are live performances and endorsements.
There are some artistes whose songs cannot
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2
Pride will neverget the better of mebecause i know whereim coming from and
where im going.
the rst Nigerian that will be awarded a
Grammy. Aside from that I want to create
an empire in which well have 100 very
successful artistes under a record label so
that we can have less people living under
the bridge . To achieve that, they must havea few things working for them - creativity
and talent. I want to give them the
opportunity to bring out the talent which
God has deposited in them.
NT: Whats the effect of piracy on the
Nigerian music industry and how can it be
curbed?
9ice: As we speak, the Gongo aso video
is already in the market even though we
have not released it. The pirates have
also released a Fat Joe video and at the
beginning of the video they used my
picture, after two seconds they used a
second picture of mine. These pirates are
human beings like you and me. Thats why
were saying we need the government to
come to our aid. Piracy is everywhere.
However, piracy also has its positive
effect. Its a way by which your songs get
promoted at a rate faster than you have
planned. But its negatives outweigh its
positives and we need the government to
come in. We need a body like NAFDAC,
which deals with people who sell fake
drugs. We need our own NAFDAC in
the music industry. Believe it or not,
I know where all these pirates can be
found, where they produce and print but
I cannot do it alone, these guys print in my
neighborhood here in Somolu. We caught
up with them two months ago and we found
1.5million CD jackets of Gongo Aso. We
know where the CDs are copied and we also
know where the jackets are designed. All we
need is the power to enforce the laws that
already exist.
NT:What feedback about your music are you
getting from abroad?
9ice: Some say the Yoruba language, which I
used in writing the lyrics, will affect the song.Now, I believe they know bette r. They must
have learnt that music doesnt really have a
language. Weve had live performances in
Katsina, Maiduguri, S okoto, Yobe, Kaduna and
Abuja. We even have more shows in northern
cities where they dont understand the
language, but they feel the rhythm. So, Id say
we are a national brand. Now, we are being
demanded for in London and America, and I
believe that very soon if everything works out
we will be singing outside these shores.
NT: Have you performed any shows outside
Nigeria?
9ice: No. I hope to very soon.
NT: In what ways can the Nigerian
government help the entertainment Industry?
9ice: In two ways: I think government
needs to support good organisations like
PMAN. PMAN died a natural death because
government did not support it . We need
organisations that can stand for us. For
example, I have issues with a company. It
made use of Gongo Aso for its jingles and
an organisation called PMRS went on my
behalf to demand for N4.5 million from the
company. But PMRS has not got i n touch with
me and I heard it has collected 1.5 million
EntertainmentEntertainment
and an online cheque of N300,000. I was
opportune to meet with a friend of mine
who asked the owner of the company to
stop the cheque and we have scheduled a
meeting for tomorrow. These are the things
that should be corrected in the Nigerian
music industr y. You can imagine a credible
organisation like PMRS getting involved in
such a deal, even if they wanted to collect
money on my behalf they should have got in
touch with me rst.
NT:Three great musicians made their exit
last week. How do you feel?
9ice: I dont know Steve Rhodes, but I
know Sammy Needles, he is a very good
friend of mine. We met at a carnival two
years ago and last year in Calabar. I know
Sunny Okosun he was a great father. I
heard about his death. You can imagine
these three people are dead now and
nothing is being done. If we had a society
for Nigerian musicians, we would be in the
process of planning how to celebrate them.
We possibly would be requesting that the
Nigerian government immortalises them,
either by naming a street or an emblem after
them. We would have gone further to tax
ourselves a certain amount so that we can
do something for them and their families, so
that we can celebrate them.
NT:You perform with so much verve, what
is the secret? Do you take anything?
9ice: Well I thank God for myself and my
parents. I dont smoke and I dont drink. At
the inception of my music career, anytime
I was called on stage I shivered because I
used to wonder, What would I do to meet
up with these peoples expectations? But as
time went on and I performed more shows,
when they called 9ice and I heard people
screaming, I got encouraged. I dont smoke
and I dont drink alcohol and its working for
me. For those who smoke and drink, Id say
they should stop it. A lot of my colleagues
smoke and drink and I have watched them
perform. Rather than perform well, they
make a mess of themselves. They dont even
know their lyrics because of the amount of
drugs theyve taken. The message here is that
you can be at your best without drugs and
alcohol. They do not help.
NT: How do you unwind?
9ice: Im a workaholic. I dont believe I
relax, on very rare occasions I watch movies.
I always read and write.
NT: Youre not married but do you intend
to have a family someday?
9ice:Very soon.
NT: How would you like to be remembered?
9ice: Well, Id like to be remembered for
all the great things I have done. Apart from
great songs, the fact that I have been able to
affect lives positively. I dont believe in having
N20 billion in my bank account, I believe in
touching lives. I want to see people around
me happy. If I dont have N50 million in my
bank account, at least, let it be said that 9ice
walked the path of life doing good.
NT: Do you ever think that pride will ever
get the better of you?
9ice: Pride will never get the better
of me because I know where Im
coming from and where Im going
naijaTimes 43
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4
Though fairly new on the scene, Lineo isa new generation musician whose genre is
African hip hop. Afro hip hop, as it is better
known, is the in-genre in Nigeria at the
moment.
Lineos Lets Get It Started is a pulsating
mixture of raw vibes and nifty instrumental
and it is already enjoying a great deal of
airplay on Nigerian radio stations. It is
rhythmic, danceable and sure to get you
twisting, even on a chair.
In real terms, this is Lineos second attempt
but his debut, I Dey Ring, was not released
formally. Rather, it was circulated as a ring
tone. Although the ring tone turned out to
be a hit, Lineo never formally launched the
album. This might explain why he has titled
this new album Lets Get It Started; a way of
telling his fans that the rst attempt was not
the real thing and the real thing is only just
starting.
Just like the idiom rich hit of Nigerias rave of
the moment 9ice, Gongo Aso, Lineos lyrics
are tight and full of messages. Rendered in
a combination of perfect Queens English,
raw pidgin English (the peculiarly Nigerian
form of English spoken by the majority
of Nigerians) and antediluvian Yoruba (his
mother tongue), Lets Get It Started sounds
like a dish cooked for as varied an audience
as possible.
Lineos voice is his biggest asset and he has
done well to combine this with the right mix
of back-up singers. This debut also has an
accapella and instrumental versions.
Born in Nigeria in the late 80s to a royal
family, Lineo, real n ame Prince Adekoya
Adegboyega Yusuf, is a last child. He has a
diploma in Mass Communication from the
University of Abuja; but decided to pursue
music as a career in 2004. Ever since, he has
not looked back.
One good thing about this debut is that
though it is targeted at youths, it can very
easily get the older generation off their
chairs and on to the dance oor. So, what are
you waiting for? Lets Get Started.
Lineos Lets Get It Started
45naijaTimes
Entertainment
by Toun Aderele
Album Review
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For 16 weeks, Africas number one toprated business reality show The Apprentice
Africa held TV audiences spellbound acrossthe continent. The programme, which
was sponsored by Bank PHB and jointly
produced by The Executive Group (TEG)
and Storm Vision Productions, started with
18 contestants from across Africa and the
Diaspora. In the end, it was Ghanas Isaac
Dankyi-Koranteng who emerged the winner
of the $200000 cash prize. He spoke with
Toun Aderele from h is Accra base.
NT: How did it feel winning?
ID: It was a great feeling especially when
youve put in so much and youve sacriced so
much and nally they pay off. It is one of the
greatest feelings one can ever have that is how
happy I am. I was very, very happy when I was
announced the winner
NT: How did you get to become a part of
the show?
ID: Well let me start by saying that over the
past year, I had been watching the US version
of the show and I got so involved that I really
wanted to participate and I even went online
searching if there was any opportunity for
people living in Africa to participate in such
programmes. But it didnt yield any result. So,
How I almost didntparticipate in TheApprentice Africa
Isaac Dankyi-Koranteng,winner of Africas biggestbusiness reality show in achat with Toun Aderele.
47naijaTimes
one afternoon a friend called me and said
Isaac, The Apprentice has now been brought
down to Africa and it has been advertised in
the dailies. Instantly, I applied. I was inspired
by watching the US version and I believed I
had what was needed to do well on the show.
NT: Did you ever feel you could win?
ID: Yes my sister, I came into the show with
only one motive; to win. I am able to do
all things through Christ who strengthens
me. Let me rst tell you, I went through
a lot before coming on this show. I nearlymissed out on the auditioning. I was there
one Thursday when somebody called and
told me Isaac, Im just calling to tell you that
we are changing the day for the auditioning
from Friday to Saturday. I had no prior
information when the auditioning was
coming on. Had it not been the change of
date, I would have missed the audition and I
wouldnt have been in the Apprentice House.
I went through other series of difcult
moments especially when we were to report
at the house after what I had gone through
with the auditioning. I was told on the 4th of
January that I was to be in Lagos on the 6th
of January. The notice was too short though
apparently all the contestants were informed
earlier on in December but I did not get
that notice. Considering the short time
notice, I pulled out of the show. However,
I was able to come to a compromise with
the producers who gave me a grace period
till 15th January. On the 15th of January, my
passport which I had submitted for renewal
some three months earlier was still not
ready. Determined to make it to the Lagos
that day, I made the journey by road. All
these happenings were obstacles that wanted
to block my blessings. They actually rather
propelled into knowing and believing victory
would denitely smile at me in the end.
NT: Did you at any point feel that it was a
Ghana versus Nigerian thing?
ID: Not really. Ghana and Nigeria are sister
nations. I see Africa as one nation so it wasnt
a Ghana Nigeria battle. Rather, I saw it as a
local bred versus Diasporan bred thing. I
was bent on winning to signal to the world
that, the African educational system is as
good as that of any other place. The most
important thing is how you apply what you
have learnt in practical life and not whereyou got it from.
NT: Some viewers felt the organisers were
more impressed with the performance of the
Africans who trained abroad. What do you think?
ID: Everybody is entitled to their own
opinion. What I know is that, there was only
one man at the helm of affairs and he was
solely responsible for every decision. What
I know is that Mr. Biodun Shobanjo was
impressed with me and appointed me The
Apprentice Africa. Any other person who is
an organiser might have his or her favourite. I
think the best man won. Thats it.
NT:Was there anytime you harboured a
fear of losing?
ID: I was prepared for any result. It was one
of two chances. Win or lose. However, as
human as I am, there were moments during
the nal show I felt uneasy. It could go any
direction so when you think of it that way,
you only pray for the best.
NT:Who is your favourite housemate?
ID: I would say its Tunde Ojikutu. He was
like a brother to me.
Entertainment
6
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NT: If you hadnt got to the nals which of
the other contestants do you think could
have got there?
ID: Any of the contestants could have been in
the nals. They are all brilliant people. Hannah
for instance was unfortunately evicted in the
rst week, but she is a very smart lady who
could have made it far if she had survived the
rst week. Everybody was a potential winner.
However, in the course of the interview, I saw
myself meeting Tunde in the nals.
NT: What are your impressions about Lagos?
ID: Lagos is a fast paced city. Everybody is on
the move and I really like how active it is. As
I hear, new entrants are not told Welcome
to Lagos but rather This is Lagos. For me,
Lagos is a home away from home.
NT: How did your wife and you handle the
separation?
ID: I guess you mean the time we spent
without each other. Well it is said that
absence in love is like water on ames, a
little ignites it and a lot quenches it. It was
a difcult time staying in the Apprentice
house and not having frequent access to
communication with my wife. Although it was
for a long time, our love got even stronger.
NT: What are you planning to do with the
winning money?
ID: Ha ha, point of correction: its not a lump
sum of $200,000. It is a job with an annual salary
of $200,000. As for what I would do with the
salary, I really would like to keep it to myself.
NT: Are you going to work with Bank PHB?
ID:Yes. I will be working with Bank PHB
on an expansion project along the West Coast
of Africa by developing products tailored for
different markets.
NT:What are your plans for the future?
ID: I will work with Bank PHB to gain more
experience and will start my own business.
However, I will soon launch a project to inspire
entrepreneurship in undergraduates, beginning
in Ghana and Nigeria.
NT: What is your advice for anyone who wants
to attempt to participate in The Apprentice?
ID: Be ready to go through the most gruelling
interview youve ever had. Be ready to think on
your feet. Be ready to give more than 100% of
your professional best to survive lest you are
red!
NT:What was the overall lesson you learnt and
that you would like to impart in others if given
a chance?
ID: People management is a very important skill
everybody must acquire. Your interpersonal skill
can take you places within your organisation and
beyond. A poor one could stall your progress as
it is said that the people you meet on your way
up, they are the same you meet you on your
way down.
NT:What was your winning strategy?
ID: To be frank with you, I didnt h ave a grand
strategy to use in the show. I saw it as a job
interview that required you to be yourself and
give your professional best. I spent the initial
week trying to understand the temperament
of the various contestants and how to handle
them. I guess that worked for me. However, every
act and every decision must be well calculated
because they always have a consequence.
8
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DJ Charlie hasfeatured at majorevents in nearly
all the nooks andcrannies of Nigeria
DJ CHARLIE SHEE
Akinbobola Adeseye Charles aka DJ Charlieis one of Nigerias best Radio Disc Jockeys.
Born in Lagos, he had dreams of becoming
an entertainer as a kid. So, it surprised no
one when he turned to the turntable while in
secondary school. D.J Charlie, who has been
a DJ for like a decade, started as a mobile DJ
before joining one of the leading radio stations
EKO 89.75 FM as a presenter/radio DJ.
A member of the Coalition of Nigerian DJs, DJCharlie has featured at major events in nearly
all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. He has
also worked with events companies like Pea
DJ Entertainment; Illic Solution; Blueprint
Events; Colossal Entertainment and others.
DJ Charlie, who likes traveling and meeting
people, says he opted for his stage name
because he wanted something peculiar;
something as unique as his dexterity on the
console.
Email: [[email protected]]
OLUWAFEMI MICHAELEMENYONU (FLYBOL)
He is often called ybol among hiscolleagues in the entertainment industry
but his real name is Oluwafemi Michael
Emenyonu. He is a banking graduate turned
broadcaster.
Oluwafemi Emenyonu started his broadcast
career as a correspondent on the very
popular Bisi Olatilo Show (BOS) but today
he works with Eko 89.75fm, He anchors themorning belt from 10am to 3pm Mondays
through Fridays.
Femis passion for broadcasting is displayed
when presenting programmes like Weekend
Starters, Mystery Guest, Showbiz Temple,
Gospel Vibes and Naija Shouts amongst others.
Born on 1st May 1976, Femi says hes only
just started and wi