Macmillan Day of dramatic engagements among young Nigerians

June 16

The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Yusuf Saulawa (right) and his wife and the Chairman of the Macmillan Literary Events Committee, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel at the event.

THE stage presentation by Igbobi College, entitled Dear Driver, has won the first Macmillan Youth Cultural Day contest held in Lagos recently. A total of ten schools participated in the competition.

   The play tells the story of how teachers in secondary schools discover and nurture creative instinct of their students who later, after graduation from the university, become employers of labour. The panel of judges comprising Mr. Nobert Young, Mr. Arnold Udoka and Dr. Ogochukwu Promise declared Igbobi College best for their engaging dramatization of the play. Kings College, Lagos; and Queen College, Yaba were jointly awarded the first runner up. St. Luke’ Junior Grammar School, Bariga, whose piece had a seamless transition and was energetic, but did not specifically address the issue raised in the theme, adjudged the second runner up.

  The ten schools that competed for honours built their performances around the theme of the programme, Break it — Removing impediments to youth employment through the promotion of cultural values.

    Other competing schools were Alakoto Senior High School, Ajegunle, Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, St. Bernadette Primary School, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Foucos Secondary School, Ebute-metta and Baptist Academy, Obanikoro.

Pupils of St Bernadette Primary School on stage

  Though many of the schools had a good presentation, Igbobi College stood out and carried the day, because its story actually interpreted the theme better, proffering solution to the conflict raised in the theme of the event. This was not the case with the other presentations, though they tried to work in line with the theme but they did not specifically aligned their story effectively. Apart from the ten presentations from the competing schools, with one of schools, a primary, there was a guest performance by Footprints of David titled, Unity Dance.

   All the schools that came on stage got gifts and the only primary school among the ten competing schools got a special award for their performance and courage to compete with secondary schools.

Culture activist and Coordinating Director of the Macmillan Youth Cultural Day, Mr. Ben Tomoloju with the panel of judges: Nobert Young, Arnold Udoka and Ogochukwu Promise

  Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Yusuf Saulawa, a veteran broadcaster, lauded the initiative, which according to him, will help in resuscitating the consciousness of the Nigerian youths about the nation’s rich cultural heritage. He pleaded with the youths not to allow modernisation to erode the nation’s culture, but rather they should uphold their cultural heritage tenaciously.

   In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, the Managing Director, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Dr. A. I. Adelekan, said the youth cultural programme was in line with the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and national development.

Representatives Igbobi College flanked the chairman of the event, Alhaji Yusuf Saulawa after receiving a plaque and a certificate for their feat

   The captain of the Igbobi College troupe, Master Anjorin Olatunbodun, who said he was very proud to be a student of the college and elated to be part of the winning team, thanked Macmillan for staging the event, which he described as an “awesome and fabulous programme.” He further said that the success of the school at the competition was due to the dedication of the teachers, students and the school officials.

   Miss Jesutofunmi Mafe, a student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, also commended the organizers of the show because she really enjoyed herself, though felt bad that her school was not part of the competition. She however pleaded that the number of competing schools should be increased and spread across Lagos in the subsequent editions.

    Earlier in her address of welcome, the Chairman of Macmillan Literary Events Committee, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel told guests that since 2002, the publishing giant has been promoting the cause of youth development through its landmark activities, the Macmillan youth literary day and the Macmillan Yoruba literary day.

    These programmes, according to her, provided an avenue for the promotion of reading culture and the scrutiny of societal trends as they affect young people.

participants at the programme.

   “They also created a pedestal for capacity building for the youth in the face of critical challenges of our time. It has been observed, for instance, that cultural values which have in-built systems for child-rearing and the education of the young are being neglected, thus, the Yoruba literary day was introduced in 2004 in order to expose the youth to cultural values.

   “In view of its success, the board of Macmillan Nigeria Limited decided to expand the scope and coverage to include other cultures in Nigeria. In this connection, the board has rightly resolve to replace the Yoruba literary day with the Macmillan youth cultural day to ensure the coverage of all ethnic groups in line with Macmillan’s corporate social responsibility policy.”

   The choice of the theme, Break it — Removing impediments to youth employment through the promotion of cultural values, she said, was to tackle the problem of unemployment besetting the youth, “by sensitising and re-orientating Nigerians in the use of appropriate cultural remedies.

   “Today, it is saddening that corruption has eaten very deep into the fabric of our society. This has had negative multiplier effects on the quality of parenthood, mentorship, education, tutelage, labour, industry, and in personal and communal relationship. Core cultural values have been relegated such that the young ones become victims, lacking in direction, discretion, courage and the will to conquer.”

Competing school on stage.  

Competing school on stage.  

  The retired first female Federal Permanent Secretary emphasised the company’s resolve to right these wrongs and attain developmental goals. “This is why the Macmillan family, as a highly responsible corporate citizen, believed that civilising principles of culture should be the foundation upon which the lives of young people should be built.

   “In today’s event, some of the invited schools, under the supervision of their professional tutors, will use their creative presentations to demonstrate the barriers to youth employment, resulting from lackadaisical attitudes towards principles, ethics, norms and morals. We must therefore break these barriers, and restore the fast declining core values.

     “Our cherished value should be meaningfully incorporated and taught in our institutions. Subjects and courses on values must be fully entrenched and made compulsory at all levels of education to free school graduates from shackles of unemployment. If values are duty appreciated and taught at home and reinforced in schools, preached at religious centres, advocated by civil societies, executed in work places and held in high esteem in holding public offices, imagine how great our nation will be.

   “Our country will excel in the comity of nations and the cause of Nigeria will be advanced, as a nation where right prevails over wrong and where virtues prevail over vices. As culture is allowed to occupy its pride of place, we shall surely have the nation of our dream, with the reign of unity, peace, power, progress, and sustainable prosperity firmly rooted in vast employment opportunities for our teeming youth,” said Emanuel.

Promoting financial literacy among kids

June 15

ACCESS Bank Plc has launched an interactive financial literacy campaign for kids, parents and educators in partnership with Nickelodeon, a global family entertainment brand.

  Tagged Access Early Savers Financial Literacy for Kids, the campaign targets kids within the age bracket of 4 and 9 years.

  Designed to educate kids on the basics of finance, the campaign employs a multidimensional approach in teaching the principles and value of money to the young children, thereby inculcating strong virtues of hard work, honesty and diligence as well as the habits of savings.

    The product avails children the liberty of being financially empowered, thereby giving a greater chance of securing their future.

   In his opening remarks, the Group Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe said, “The core component of the campaign is a series of interactive lessons conceived by the bank, and designed by Nickelodeon with input from education experts in South Africa, United Kingdom and Nigeria, which explore financial topics in an engaging and age-appropriate way, covering subjects such as; The Value and History of Money, Money Around the World, Earning, Saving, Spending and Sharing.”

 The initiative, he asserted, is part of the bank’s contribution to the development of a sustainable Nigerian society/economy by educating young children about finance with a view to enable them make sound money-related decisions as they grow up. With this exposure to basic financial principles, the target public will impact the Nigerian economy positively.

  The launch attracted high profile audience including the wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, as the special guest of honour. In her remarks, she said, “I want to commend this noble initiative by Access Bank Plc and Nickelodeon which seeks to promote financial knowledge amongst our children from an early stage and teach them a healthy respect for the value of money, and encourage them to make sensible provision for their future.”

   Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, representing Nickelodeon said “Dora the Explorer has had a positive and indelible impact on millions of boys and girls around the world and especially in Nigeria. We are proud to be partnering with Access Bank in this effort, and are thrilled that Dora will be going on this exciting new adventure with parents and children across Nigeria to help them prepare for their financial future." 

OUR FATHER by Don Moen, Lovely song

OUR FATHER by Don Moen

Skysat, offers new printing product

June 13

Skysat Technologies Limited, in conjunction with KIS Photo-Me Group, one of the leading global photo printing machine manufacturers, has launched the new DKS Wet Minilab Generation 4 into the Nigerian market.

  The new photo printing machine produces formats up to 12” x 18” or 12” x 36”, prints in HD quality and features perfectly an exclusive automated enhancement technology for digital pictures.

  Some of the features and specifications of the new machine include compact design, new version of eye-tech digital science operating software and optional film scanner. Others include 340dpi resolution, 800 prints per hour and internal 500GB archiving capacity (equivalent of 250,000 photos).

  Speaking in Lagos during an interactive session with key photo printing dealers drawn from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, the International Sales Manager, KIS Photo-Me Group, Mr. Pierre Buendia, said that the need to match consumers’ dynamic expectations was responsible for the new product that was launched last year in France.

  “Photo-Me recognises that today’s consumers were expecting more from their photos and that was why the new DKS4 delivers a full range of high value-added services, in a simple operation. The machine, which is a new generation of professional wet digital minilabs, is fully compatible with the Photo-Me Photobook Builder,” he said.

  Buendia further said that consumers and photo equipment entrepreneurs could take full advantage of the machine to print photobooks, greeting cards, frames and collage prints, among others.

  Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Skysat Technologies, Mr. Izzat Debs, said that his company as the authorised distributor of KIS Photo-Me Group in Nigeria and West Africa, was glad to partner with the France-based company to bring modern photographic solutions to the door step of Nigerians through innovative products.

  “Skysat is in the forefront of a revolution in the photo printing business in Nigeria. We have sold close to 100 KIS printing machines in Nigeria and we have helped various enterpreneurs set up about 170 photo labs across the country. We are happy to partner with KIS once again as they introduce this new product into the Nigerian market. We have no doubt that it will bring great benefit to both consumers and investors.

  “As you might have discovered during Mr. Pierre Buendia’s presentation, the future is already here, particularly with the incredible features and benefits that could be gained with the new machine. I enjoin you all to take advantage of it,” he said.

  Debs further assured the dealers that his company would provide the needed after-sales support, adding that the technical staff had been well trained to handle every installation and maintenance issue.

In Lagos, US embassy tasks media on FoI Act

JUNE 11

AS part of efforts to ensure effective use of the Freedom of Information Act, the United State Consulate General, Lagos Office last week organized Digital Video Conference (DVC) featuring Ms. Elizabeth Bryant as guest speaker. 

  Bryant, a Paris-based journalist with over 15 years on the job, stated that making document and information easily available by government is usually not the norm anywhere, saying that journalists who seek government documents to buttress their reports must push and push, demand and demand to get the document.

   Citing two examples in using the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, one, her personal experience and the other by a team of journalists, Bryant disclosed that while it took her a whole year to get document on doctors who indulged in taking hard drugs, it took the other group of journalists, 15 years to get the document they sought from government. 

  She said that the journalist who started the process had left the New York Times when the document sought was got in January 2012.

   She implored media houses that want to constantly have investigative reports in their publication to have a dedicated team of investigative reporters, whose main responsibility is to do investigative stories, with less pressure of deadlines.

  According to her, state correspondents are likely not going to be doing investigative stories because they have to report many issues and cover several beats.

   To her, it must however be made clear that the FOI Act is for all the citizens and not journalists alone while the government must understand that the citizens are the boss and information must be made available to them. She also said that because it is the right of the citizens to know what those elected were doing; the government must provide them with information when they demand such.

  She enjoined journalists to cultivate the habit of having sources who provide information though having government documents is a powerful weapon in times of litigation. She however said that reporters must be careful with information provided by sources because must sources have agenda when they provide information whether solicited or otherwise. 

  And to ensure a better understanding of the Act by the public, which would promote good usage of the Law, she suggested collaborative efforts between the government, its agencies and civil societies in organising enlightenment programmes.

Participants at the media chat

  

She also gave an insight into the operational mode in United States, where the federating units had to come up with their own version of the Law. In Nigeria, there has been argument whether the states should wholly adopt the Law enacted by the federal government or each of the 36 states should come up with a version of its own Freedom of Information Act.

   In summing up, the coordinator of the programme at the Lagos end, Mr. Femi Omowunmi, after the presentation by Bryant and the question-and- answer session, said that the United State Consulate in Nigeria is always ready to work with journalists and media related organisations to promote better understanding of the content of the Law and its usage.

At APCON, dedication to service is rewarding

Registrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi (right); past Council Chairman, Chief Olu Falomo and present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi at the event

egistrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi (right); past Council Chairman, May Nzeribe and present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi at the even

June 11

THE Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) last Wednesday, honoured some of its workers and people who have served the industry for over a decade. Also honoured are founding fathers of the Nigeria advertising industry.   

 The event, which held at the Media Center of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was attended by council members, staff of APCON, some past Registrars and Chairmen.

  Founding fathers honoured are Ifeanyichukwu Moemeka, Chief Olu Falomo, Dr. May Nzeribe, Chris Doghudje, Prof Charles Okigbo, Josef Bel-Molokwu and Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor. 

  Staffs awarded are Deputy Director, Human Resources management, Mrs. Bimbola Ipaye and Chief Regulation, monitoring and enforcement officer, Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha, both have put in 20 years in service. Administrative Officer 1, Mrs. Juliana Chima; Head driver, Oladipo Olanrewaju and Chief Clerical Officer, Allwell Nwuzor, all have put in 15 years.

  Other awardees who have put in 10 year each are Asst. Chief inspectorate Officer, Emme Akande; Credit Control officer, Sikiru Adesina; Secretaries 1, Agatha Okonkwo and Deborah Eneanya; Asst. Executive Officer, Archibong Bassey Itomo; Chief Cleaners, Adamu Abubakar and Mohammed Useni.  

  The chairman of the event, past Council Chairman, Chief Olu Falomo, expressed joy at the occasion and advised the awardees to see the award as a blessing from God and put in more effort in ensuring that APCON is given a brighter image across Nigeria and the world at large.

  “You have performed much more than we do, over the years you have managed experience and become what you are. APCON is one of the best establishments you can work with that adds values to service. Continue to put in your best and improve on the platform which many of us have laboured for.”

  Adding, he said, “we have a long way to go and APCON will continue to grow from strength to strength” 

   The present Council Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, congratulated the awardees and urged them to continue to lift APCON through their dedication and commitment to service.

  He also congratulated the past chairmen of the Council and registrars whom he described as role models in the industry.

  The Registrar of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello Kankarofi, urged awardees to continue working for APCON, as it is the best place to be.