Ghana Presidential Election: Wrong candidate will bring doom, says Primate Ayodele, tasks Ghanaians on right choice

It is no longer subject of discourse on whether it is right for the servants of God to  speak on issues of politics because it has been proven that the spiritual controls the physical and the voice of a true prophet is germane to prophetically redirect the affairs of men for their own good.

Very soon Ghanaians will be going to the polls to elect who becomes their next president after the incumbent, President Nana Akufo-Addo will have served out his tenure as allowed by the constitution.

No wonder,  the Servant of the Most High God, Leader and Founder of INRI Spiritual Evangelical Church based in Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, being the Oracle of God, has warned Ghanaians against choosing a wrong candidate. 

He disclosed that any mistake of choosing a wrong candidate will spell doom for Ghana.

He said that John   Mahama who is the favoured candidate is not doing the necessary things he should do to make his victory double sure.

Primate Ayodele advised Mahama to be more deliberate and strategic so as not to lose the election for the third time.

He said "Not yet close to victory, if election is conducted today John Mahama will lose. Mahama needs to strategize, he needs to put his house together, the people want opposition, but Mahama needs to take a step further for him to be victorious, otherwise he will lose this election again for the third time.

"And if Ghana vote for the wrong candidate, Ghana will suffer. Wrong candidate will bring Ghana to doom, economic troubles, confusion, troubles will be the order of the day. So Ghana must be very diligent in whom they choose," Primate Ayodele warned.

He added that Mahama should have been the best candidate but he should do things that are needful to give him victory. 

He said "Mahama has not done the needful, things that are going to give him victory. There is error in Mahama's victory."

December 7, Ghanaians will go to the polls for the election of the next president as Nana Akufo-Addo, the incumbent serves out his constitutionally allowed two tenures.

 

DigiVation Future Summit: Stakeholders pally for solution to Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital development challenges

Sub-Saharan Africa is said to face critical challenges for digital development, including underdeveloped digital infrastructure, lack of assessable and affordable connectivity, a stubborn digital gender gap, limited skills for digitally enabled industries and adequate regulatory and policy environment.

Above were the words of Bayero Agabi, the Chief Host and Convener of DigiVation Future Summit, Africa’s Premier gathering of futurists which took place at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja on the 22th of August, 2024.

According to Bayero Agabi, part of the reason for the gathering was to find solutions to the myriad of challenges bedeviling the digital development in Sub Sahara Africa.

He disclosed that DigiVation Future Summit is a multi-sectorial event bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to discuss issues reshaping today and future economies. Speakers were drawn from political, governance, business and technology space. DFS according to him, is West Africa’s most influential business, governance and technology event where new road maps are discussed, pathways chatted. “DigiVation Future Summit (DFS) provides a ground for breakthrough technologies and ideas where enterprise and solution based innovations are unveiled. It’s a platform for Africa’s biggest brands to do business and meet new partners, sharpen innovation skills and knowledge. It is a gathering of ideas, leaders and innovators for a better and greater future.  In summary it’s a platform to examine our tomorrow and ways of making it better for all today.

“It’s a platform that brings together Africa thought-leaders in academia, technology, media content creators  ICT, MDAs, policy makers, and the political class, to discuss how the Niger delta region  can benefit and engage  the unfolding  future. The summit is a high-level event bringing top leaders with forward thinking high level impact developmental mind together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future,” he stated.

In his contribution, Bayero Agabi, while calling on the discussants to deliberate elaborately on issue of social media, urged the nation’s regulatory authorities to monitor and regulate social media usage in the country. “I like to draw attention to what I called social media influence on Africa and whether it should be moderated or regulated. So far we have all seen the impact and effects of social media becoming a platform for Africa to demystify its dark continent narrative, empowering thousands through its economics, creating jobs for many and opening many to the world.

“On the negative side, social media has proven to be the best time-wasting platform creating anti-social generation and negatively influencing African culture. Check on your social media space today you will find nudity as culture than education and skills development. On this I will state that it’s time for Nigeria to moderate her social media space. If this is not done give it a short time the social media space will regulate our lives.”

Mr Tim Akano, MD/CEO, New Horison, in his contribution, spoke on Leveraging Policy and Governance to Accelerate Innovation for a Sustainable Future. He called for provision of internet in schools, saying that Access to free internet in schools is vital for building digital literacy which is a cornerstone of innovation. “By providing students with early exposure to digital tools and resources, we equip them with the skills needed to thrive in a tech-driven economy. Drawing from the Singaporean model, Nigeria can create an environment where students are empowered to explore, create, and innovate from a young age, helping to bridge the digital divide and prepare the next generation of innovators.

On Curriculum Reform he stated that the current educational curriculum in Nigeria is heavily theory-based, often disconnected from real-world applications. “Reforming the curriculum to emphasize practical, problem-solving skills is essential. Education should focus on equipping students with the tools to address Nigeria's immediate challenges, whether in agriculture, health, or technology. This includes integrating subjects like coding, entrepreneurship, and design thinking, making education more relevant and directly applicable to the country’s development needs.

Akano disclosed that nurturing a thriving innovation ecosystem is crucial. “It’s crucial to have a dedicated department focused on promoting and marketing innovative ideas. This department would act as a bridge between innovators and potential investors, helping to bring ideas to market. It could also provide guidance on intellectual property rights and connect innovators with global markets, ensuring that Nigerian innovations can compete on the world stage. E.g. Israel has a department that market products globally.”

He said that Startups are the lifeblood of innovation, but added that they often struggle due to lack of support. He stated that Policies should be introduced to provide startups with access to funding, mentorship, and resources. This could include government-backed venture funds, tax incentives for investors, and incubator programs that offer startups the necessary infrastructure and networking opportunities to scale their businesses.

On Job Security and Economic Models (Dubai Model), he said, “The Dubai model, known for its focus on job security and economic diversification, can offer valuable lessons for Nigeria. By adopting similar policies, Nigeria can create a more stable economic environment that encourages innovation. This includes implementing labor laws that protect workers while also promoting entrepreneurship, thereby attracting both local and foreign investments.”

Akano disclosed that to stimulate innovation, Nigeria should consider offering tax incentives or grants to businesses that invest in research and development or create innovative products and services. These incentives would not only encourage existing businesses to innovate but also attract new ventures that contribute to the country’s economic growth.

He said that while internet access is essential, it’s important to manage its use among minors to ensure it contributes positively to their development. Regulated access, such as limiting usage to three hours a day for those under 18 can help balance the benefits of digital learning with the need to protect children from potential online risks. This approach promotes responsible digital citizenship from a young age, encouraging productive and

He also spoke on Cross-Sector Collaboration; Regulatory Frameworks, wherein he said that the pace of technological change requires adaptable regulatory frameworks that can keep up with new innovations without stifling them. Nigeria, he said, needs to develop regulations that are flexible, allowing for the rapid adoption of new technologies while safeguarding public interest. This includes creating a regulatory environment that supports emerging sectors like fintech, agritech, and renewable energy.

On Tech Hubs and Innovation Centers, he said “To foster innovation, it’s important to develop tech hubs and innovation centers where entrepreneurs, researchers, and students can collaborate and experiment. These hubs would serve as incubators for new ideas, providing the infrastructure and resources necessary for innovation to thrive. They would also facilitate partnerships between academia, industry, and government, creating a vibrant ecosystem of innovation.”

Akano added that robust digital infrastructure is the backbone of a modern economy. Nigeria must invest in building and expanding digital infrastructure such as high-speed internet, data centers, and mobile networks to support the growth of tech-driven innovations. This infrastructure will not only enhance connectivity but also enable new business models and services that can drive economic growth.

The paper, ‘Preserving Cultural Identity in the Digital Age: Navigating Globalization and Technology in Nigeria’ was delivered by Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO). He said that in an era where digital technology and globalization are reshaping societies around the globe, Nigeria finds itself at a critical crossroads. According to him, the question that looms large is whether globalization, driven by digital technology, is undermining the nation’s cultural heritage by encouraging the adoption of foreign cultures that may not align with its values.

He said “The transformation of our value systems and languages in Nigeria has been significantly influenced by globalization, a process that began with British colonialism. Unlike countries such as India, which resisted the imposition of foreign cultures and celebrated their own, many Nigerian societies under British rule gradually erased their cultural identities, embracing foreign ones that are difficult to reconcile with our authentic cultural heritage.

“Our legal system, for instance, is a reflection of this colonial legacy. The laws we abide by are rooted in British norms, not reflective of our indigenous cultures. This has resulted in a diminished focus on our cultural heritage, as we are guided by foreign laws that impact our cultural and socio-economic evolution.”

Otunba Biodun Ajiboye stated that this complex history has also shaped the nation’s entry into the digital age. Without a clear template to leverage digital technology for development, the nation faces the challenge of creating local content that serves diverse population of over 220 million people, rich in culture and languages.

“We must ask ourselves: How did countries like China and India and even Japan, who were also colonized or conquered, manage to lead the technological revolution without losing their cultural identities? The answer lies in their ability to resist cultural imperialism and integrate technology with their cultural values.

“In Nigeria, we are at the mercy of globalization's forces, but we must recognize that culture is dynamic. While globalization will continue to influence our cultural structures, we must resist the temptation to discard our cultural values. We need to engage with globalization and the digital economy as opportunities to reprioritize and revitalize our cultural heritage.

“At NICO, our mission includes exploring the connections between culture and technology. We are committed to developing technological content within the context of our diverse cultures, paving the way for socio-economic growth across sectors.”

He added that embracing globalization and digital technology does not mean abandoning the cultural values. On the contrary, it means reworking the nation’s engagement with globalization and using technology to advance the cultural heritage.” 

In conclusion he said, “The relevance of digital technology in promoting our cultures and building legacy institutions for future generations cannot be overstated. By finding the nexus between digital innovation and our rich cultural heritage, we can accelerate our collective prosperity and contribute to the global cultural and digital landscape.”

 

 

 

 

Unpatriotic elements calling for investigation of Ugochinyere

By Ubanaeke Ujuka:

There is no doubt that those calling for investigation of Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon Ugochinyere Ikenga over allegations of corrupt practices should submit themselves to answer for rot in the oil sector, there have skeleton in there cupboard.

Ugochinyere, the Honorable Member representing the good people of Ideato, Imo State at the Federal House of Representatives must not be deterred in his dedication and sincerity to dig deep into the infectious malady bedeviling the oil sector in Nigeria.

This very patriotic assignment has no single person in mind, but the barrage of attacks on the personality of Ugochinyere ranging from bribery allegation since being handed this national oversight assignment, one is bound to ask, what are the interests driving these forces against Ugochinyere and his team who are mandated to unearth the potpourri of cancerous worms in the oil sector coming from?

It is a shame as a nation how Nigerians dent the image of the country, a mockery and a national disgrace that Nigerians would descend so low to attack people who have been assigned to rescue a sector that has been crippled by pecuniary interests over the years.

It is not surprising that those calling for the sack of Ugochinyere and or disbandment and discontinuation of the investigation are working for behind the scene actors who are holding Nigeria to ransom. This must not be allowed to succeed.

Who are behind these attacks? We need not look far. A particular saying is particularly true when it says that, where there is money there is a crime, where there is money there is misfortune, go for the money; catch the thief. Of course, those calling for the sack of Ugochinyere may not be really those involved in the surreptitious underhand and nefarious activities in the Downstream oil sector.

It is not far from the truth that those who have superintended over the oil sector over the years must have felt threatened with Ugochinyere's thoroughness and patriotic zeal such that those offering bribes are now turning around to accuse him of asking for bribe.

No wonder concerned citizens, patriotic Nigerians and public spirited persons are asking the house leadership and indeed the Federal Government to go for total onslaught against the oil cabals, no matter whom they are and unearth this very barbaric act of holding the nation to ransom. Who are these cabals? Why are the four refineries in Nigeria not working despite billions of dollars ploughed into their habilitation right from the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo till date? Something strange must be happening in that oil sector.

These real people fighting Ugochinyere and his team may not be unconnected with the mismanagement of the oil sector, these hidden faces have also allegedly ensured that the honest intentions of the renewed hope agenda of Mr President is dead on arrival, they have perpetually sworn that nothing will work in the oil sector so as to maintain their dynasty of malfeasance in the sector.

My conclusion and request is this: If the leadership of the present National Assembly is sincerely committed to the revamping, restructuring, enthroning patriotism and business ethics into the operations of the oil sector in Nigerian, they should give every support the members of the House Committee investing the oil sector, they should make sure that they are not deterred in this patriotic assignment.

History awaits their verdict; posterity is also on the lookout to see how the House weathers this storm as corruption fights back in the oil sector.

 

There is serious rot in NNPC, I support Primate Ayodele’s prophecy on NNPC

By Akpan Uduak:

I align my views with the prophecy of the Servant of the Most High God, Founder and Leader of INRI Spiritual Evangelical Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, for calling for the removal of the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari.

I am particularly irked by the views of some hired persons who reacted to an earlier video where the reputable man of God, Primate Ayodele was calling for the sack of Kyari. 

Of course Kyari has brought unimaginable rot to the NNPC. Kyari said he has achieved, it's rubbish, where is the evidence of the acclaimed achievements? What have you really done in NNPCL? I support Primate Ayodele's prophecy on NNPC; there is serious smelling rot in NNPC. I know what Primate Ayodele said over the years is true; it is only that the people in government just decided to ignore the warnings and advice of the prophet of God.

Primate Ayodele is not one of those prophets that do guess work. If you don’t mind I will reel out some of Ayodele's prophecies to you which include but not limited to prophecy on Jonathan in 2011, where he said that Jonathan will not win, he prophesied that dollar will jump to N1500, he said petrol will be sold at between N800 to N1000, and they all came to pass, he prophesied that if we voted APC we are going to enter into fire, it has also come to pass. 

Furthermore, Primate Ayodele told us that Fubara and Wike would have crisis. Of course this surprised everyone because the mutual relationship between Wike and Fubara, nobody had expected the rift between them, but today the rest is history. Primate Ayodele also foresaw the death of Ifeanyi Ubah, the death of Iwuanyanwu, he said it that Senator Andy Ubah will not be governor of Anambra State, this is just a little of what this man has done,” Akpan stated.

Kyari had better heed to the warnings otherwise he will be removed. If he is not removed, there will be no stability in NNPC and indeed in the oil sector in Nigeria. President Tinubu should look into NNPC matter. NNPC has not been fair to Nigerians. You said you have done this and you have done that, but there is no empirical evidence of those achievements, nothing from your end.

Mele Kyari as a public servant who has been enmeshed in several mind-boggling scandals should not be mentioned where that of the respected man of God is mentioned. .

What wrong did Ayodele do, he simply advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack Mele Kyari as NNPCL boss if he doesn’t want to experience another massive protest; Mele Kyari is one of those who are creating problems for the country.

This is what the man of God said: “One of the major important things Tinubu should do if he wants to see the prayers of Nigerians. He should sack the GMD of the NNPC. If it is possible, he should be sacked before the end of this month.’’ So what is wrong in that, the man of God is concerned with the betterment of the generality of the people of Nigeria not the pocket of one man.

This statement was indeed in the interest of Nigerians and not necessarily about Mele Kyari as an individual. With the recent crisis Nigeria has experienced in terms of scarcity of petroleum products and the several issues between regulators, marketers, stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, it’s obvious Mele Kyari’s administration has done more harm than good to the federal republic of Nigeria therefore, the prophet recommending Kyari’s sack is in every way the right thing.

Sadly, Mele Kyari and his NNPC ‘dogs’ took Primate Ayodele’s message personal, launching unnecessary and unsuccessful media attack against the personality of a prophet who doesn’t even look back at his critics. Once he shares a prophetic message, He doesn’t care about who ‘barks’ afterwards.

As a matter of fact, it was surprising to see that these NNPCL dogs couldn’t come up with intelligent and well-structured materials to discredit Primate Ayodele, these lazy set of people, who would claim to be in their right senses, lifted an article shared by Femi Adesina, a former aide of Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 when the prophet warned his principal about the unity of Nigeria.

Of course, these dogs must have been paid to share these failed content exported from Femi Adesina’s failed attempt to smear Primate Ayodele’s name and it’s not surprising because that’s what NNPCL is about; anything that would make it look like something good is going on in the company meanwhile, there is absolutely nothing to see, NNPCL is literally an empty barrel.

President Tinubu must remove Kyiari from NNPC; his staying there is only going to bring catastrophe to Nigerian economy. NNPC will create problem for the economy of Nigeria. Economy of Nigeria will be dead. Ayodele is warning you now that something has to be done in NNPC. He is only giving you advice. In the long run he will be vindicated. Kyari, your hand is not clean, that is what the lord said and this thing is going to create a lot of problem to you. NNPC has done damages for Buhari Government and this government. Tinubu open your eyes. If Tinubu is there and the minister of petroleum is not active, in fact there are a lot of problems in NNPC, as a prophet, he is not against anybody and if you know that you are against Nigeria, tell Nigerians and then leave the office. What he is saying is what the lord has revealed to him, there is problem in NNPC. And most of Nigeria’s problems are coming from CBN. If Tinubu did not do something on these things, in fact Tinubu’s Government will be messed up.

And want EFCC to look into the activities of NNPC and CBN, very important, there is no sentiment. I am telling you Kyari that you are not doing it right and you are talking another thing.  Nigeria is going astray, you are talking, go and sit down. You have already failed. I am not against you but these things, if you don’t listen, you will face the consequence.

 

 

KitchenPlus: A one-stop destination for nutritional excellence

The axiom you are what you eat to a large extent, we can generally agree is true. Nutrition or if we like our diets account for the foundation of the appropriateness or otherwise of the human structure, function and wholeness of every component of the body from skin to hair, muscles to bones, digestive to immune system.

Little wonder, dieticians and nutritionists pay a lot of attention to what the body is preferably expected to consume. This is the case for the formal launch of KitchenPlus, a one stop destination for well-balanced food combination and nutritional excellence.

This new chapter in nutrition and culinary convenience which was unveiled in the Adeniyi Jones axis of Ikeja Lagos is premised with the intention of catering to the needs of the public to the most details of each customers needs.  KitchenPlus proudly opened its flagship food store with a sense of dedication to redefining the way members of the public experience their food needs. This innovative concept merges the finest quality of food items and ingredients with cutting-edge production processes, packaging, balanced nutritional components, while empowering food enthusiasts to elevate their kitchen creations effortlessly with a great deal of satisfaction.

A look around the KitchenPlus store reveals more than just a grocery shop; it’s a culinary haven curated for passionate cooks, aspiring chefs, and anyone who appreciates the art of cooking with the right nutritional composition. With an extensive selection of fresh produce, premium hygienic variety of meat, artisanal cheeses, and gourmet pantry staples, KitchenPlus ensures that every ingredient is of the highest standard.

 

The visioneer and founder of kitchenPlus Modupe Ayeni expresses her excitement at the formal inauguration of the venture. “We are thrilled to introduce KitchenPlus to the community, our goal is to provide food in a safe, healthy manner and in a way that helps people's body to thrive. We strongly believe that whatever people consume is very important to how they grow and develop, that is why we have made it our priority to recreate food and save people from consuming food that would be injurious to their health.”

Speaking further, Modupe who though is a graduate of English Language from the Obafemi Awolowo University says “KitchenPlus has come to understand the onwardly mobile nature of many people especially in Lagos as a result of congested schedules, hence the need for a specialized nutritional service to help them meet their food needs”. She explains. While giving more insights according to her, “today, a number of couples have both become working class spouses, most of such women hardly have the time to spare and do proper food item shopping, in some cases the condition of the food stuff at the open markets are very much deteriorated, unsafe or not healthy for consumption but many are left with little or no choices and this is also the unique gap that we serve all our highly valued customers”. She noted.

What sets KitchenPlus apart is its dedication towards giving the client’s the very best of choice, healthy, organic and nutritional foods ranging from spreads, dairies, whole grains and other household utensils inclusive.

We specifically monitor everything we use to make all our food products from the farm to ensure that we are convinced our standards are met by farmers to the packaging, the storage, sales as well as offering nutritional advisory for those with health challenges such that in the end, we will periodically help people especially the aged to live a healthy lifestyle through what the food they consume.

In addition to its exceptional product offerings and nutritional value, KitchenPlus is committed to sustainability. With eco-friendly packaging options, locally sourced products and initiatives to reduce food waste, KitchenPlus strives to minimize its environmental footprint while maximizing the organic nature of the food and quality.

Whether you're sick or not, living healthy or not, KitchenPlus invites you to embark on a nutritional adventure like never before to discover a world of dietary balance, creativity and kitchen inspiration.

 

Charlie Marie Schools at 10: More than just educational philanthropy

The Charlie Marie story is indeed a unique one that is more than just an educational philanthropy. It stretches well beyond social, humanitarian to that of divine instructions for the founder and Proprietress of Charlie Marie Group of schools Ambassador Evangelist Adekunbi Akin-Taylor. 

When in 2010, the Proprietress, Adekunbi Akin-Taylor purchased a piece of land at an underdeveloped remote village of Labori Oloja, a suburb in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, a location many described then as "the bush", she had no idea it would end up as a model state-of-the-art school. Despite her long sojourn in England, she knew she would always retire home at some point in time. Adekunbi’s desire was then to have a mini estate she could rent out and have an assured source of income for her upkeeps which to her was simple and achievable. Unknown to her, God had other plans, which was a tougher option.

Ten years down the line, Charlie-Marie story is one of courage, resilience to survive challenges and remarkable testaments of overcoming the numerous hurdles all along the way.

Dateline 2012, after being saved from an early grave following a major surgery that almost claimed the life of the Proprietress, Ambassador Adekunbi Akin-Taylor recalls how God presented her a vision, while on a wheelchair with several soul-searching questions. “What if you didn't survive? What legacy would you have left behind? Have you done all that you were created to do? These questions she says started agitating her mind. Thereafter, she was convinced she wasn’t doing her best yet for the Lord, despite her evangelistic efforts of travelling all over the world to preach God’s word.

Today, a decade of Charlie Marie can best be summarized as ten years of building a brighter future and still going strong. Ten years of shining light and brightening all dark corners around the host community of Labori Oloja. Ten years of imparting the lives of our young ones, teaching them sound discipline, and ensuring that they too impart the lives of others. Charlie Marie has become a beacon of hope which will not be dashed.

The establishment of the school was a path of destiny and fate which was another avenue for the extension of her philanthropy through education as a divine God-given mission. In a twist of fate, her Evangelistic callings was now to reshape destinies by building a brighter future for children thereby leaving a good legacy behind.

In 2012, Evangelist Adekunbi Akin-Taylor went ahead to build a school as against a mini housing estate. Though it was not an easy decision especially as she knew nothing about the locality. Fast forward, January 2014, after a lot of hassles, Charlie Marie opened her doors to the first school intakes with six children and six staff members.

 

It was a tough and rough ride from the onset. She was committed to setting standards and wanted to be different, her objective was to be an agent of change and the ultimate desire was for the children to be world class pupils and students.

Two years down the line, by 2016, Charlie Marie had grown bigger as an enviable academic citadel of excellence with infrastructure near completion. The school had become a household name in the neighbourhood. In that short while, the fast pace of the school had secured for her government approval for the nursery and primary school to the glory of God. Charlie Marie continued to maintain a good standard, and started venturing out. The greatest joy was seeing the children grow and improve rapidly. In her words, “we were indeed raising the bar and maintaining our standards and came first in the very first external competition we were invited to”. She said in excitement. 

Although Charlie Marie is a beautiful and safe school with good infrastructure, the Proprietress says there was a unique challenge, as they were not charging high fees. “What should have worked for us was being used against us. Mischief makers kept telling false narratives about us, dissuading parents from bringing their wards to us, saying we were very expensive. Charlie Marie family kept overcoming challenges and moving forward ever but backwards never” the passionate educationist stated. She added that the children were doing very well within and outside the locality to the amazement of many.

Following the successes achieved by the primary school, there was growing demand for a secondary arm which led to the commencement of Charlie Marie College in September 2018. In no time, despite the very tough process of getting approval and keeping to the requirements for the Secondary School, the approval was not far-fetched. Thereafter, the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) soon gave its own approval.

In 2021, Charlie Marie added the Vocational section to her group of schools. This comprises of Tailoring and Fashion Design, Information Technology, Electrical Installations and Home Economics sections.

As part of activities to commemorate the ten years anniversary of Charlie Marie, a week long line up of programmes were put in place by the school’s management. The schedule of events included Talent Hunt which was geared towards identifying natural potentials of pupils and students with the prospect of mentoring them in special areas such as music, instrumentations, art work such as drawings and painting, craft and much more. The participants were full of excitement as they demonstrated high sense of creativity amongst themselves. Winners emerged in different categories of activities and the school is looking forward to working with select individuals and organizations as a way of providing guidance to the children in those specific areas of their talents.

The second day of the outlined activities to celebrate the decade milestone of Charlie Marie featured keenly contested debate with very engaging topics of contemporary and national issues. The speakers did not fail to impress the audience who were left in awe with the outstanding demonstration of eloquence, confidence and charisma. The Debating Day was indeed one of fun that will remain in the memory of the children, staff and parents as gifts and prizes were presented to the winners in different categories.

The Anniversary Games were also part of the special activities put in place to celebrate the decade long establishment of Charlie Marie Group of Schools. It was a mini Olympics of some sort from the lighting of the Touch of Unity, as the Charlie Marie Academy athletes lit up the tracks and field at the ultra-modern six thousand capacity arena in a very colorful opening ceremony of the games with pump and pageantries. The games were without doubt of top class performances, a display of athleticism, mental toughness and discipline. The keenly contested 4 X 100 metres relay race was the highpoint of the day which left many impressed that the feature of sports was certainly a brighter one if the Charlie Marie tradition of catch them young and grassroots development is sustained.

There were also novelty basketball and table tennis games. Other side attractions included doughnut and noodles eating, music, dance and much more. Some neighboring schools and the children within the community were invited to unwind and be part of the commemoration of the decade long institution and fun.

The final day of activities marking the 10th Anniversary of Charlie Marie Group of Schools was indeed one to remember and cherish for long.  The school celebrated the anniversary in grand style. The 10th graduation ceremony  and End of Year Prize-Giving party were celebrated colourfully with four sets of graduands to different levels of education,  namely from Pre-school to Nursery, Nursery to Primary, Primary to Junior Secondary and Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary schools. Staff who had put in up to five years and above of service were specially honoured by the school Proprietress Evangelist Ambassador Adekunbi Akin-Taylor. They received award plaques, cash and other material gifts. A special bumper edition of the school magazine Charlie Marie World was launched. All serving staff of the school were also given special gifts as well as the founding and some dedicated parents.

There is no gainsaying that the school has come a long way from 2014 to 2024. It has been a long hard journey but very rewarding for the consistency and focus. The school has lived up to her Charlie Marie vision and mission to raise champions from the grass root and catching them young.

Expressing her gratitude, Ambassador Evangelist Adekunbi Akin-Taylor remains grateful to everyone who has been part of the Charlie-Marie success story. “My special appreciation to God for His grace, our dedicated, diligent and persevering management and staff, who daily sacrifice to support the Charlie Marie vision and mission. They have helped to provide quality education to our children, giving them a voice, a chance and a future”. She noted.

As Charlie-Marie celebrates this milestone, the Proprietor is optimistic of what the future holds, “It is a special time for us to retrospect, as we honour the past and cherish the present, in full confidence that God will shape our future. We shall, together and with combined synergy, continue to build a brighter tomorrow for all our children, their families, our community and the nation at large”. She enthused.

National Protest: Hilary, other Journalists suffer Police molestation

An independent journalist with DigiVation Network, Hilary Damissah has suffered brutalisation at the hands of some overzealous Nigeria security operatives 

The editor with the organisation despite his visible media identification tag was in the midst of some protesters around the Berger Roundabout area on day three of the hashtag EndBadGovernanceInNigeria national protest when the unfortunate incident occurred. 

Hilary who came out in response to the call of duty to have a first-hand information about the goings-on on that fateful day became a victim of the dehumanisation of the Nigerian Police brutality against journalists.  He was tear-gassed at close range from a Stationed Police Hilux van while trying to take photographs of some protesters and onlookers which the officers considered unacceptable to them. While trying to scamper to safety, he was further assaulted including the use of baton to bruise him as he sustained serious injury and deep cut on his pointer finger. He thereafter managed to scupper to a safe place while gasping for breath before some of the protesting youths came to his aid and rushed him to a medical facility at Games Village, Kaura District of Abuja for medication.

According to an eye witness at the scene of the event, the journalist was unfortunate because some moments before the incident, a combined team of the Nigerian Police and that of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had informed some of the protesters that the Berger location was not opened or approved for any anti-government protest. According to the security personnel, such an action would be resisted for what they described as “order from above”. “We are here to enforce law and ensure strict compliance to all the directives which forbids any demonstration around this place and anyone who refuses to obey will have themselves to blame” retorted a senior Police Officer whose name tag was not displayed on his uniform the eye witness stated.

It was unfortunate that the journalist experienced the excesses of the Police. One of the protesters who simply identified himself as Aminu further narrated what transpired.  “It was just when some of the demonstrators moved towards the Berger Roundabout bearing various anti-government banners, especially from the Utako axis chanting solidarity songs that the Police man threw a tear-gas canister at him while he was also beaten to near stupor by the very huge officer, he ran towards the on coming crowd before the officer retreated”, he stated.

In a related development, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, security operatives moved into the venue of the hunger protest in an attempt to force the protesters to disperse. The masked official mounted a post at a strategic position near one of the main entrances to the stadium. After a while the protesters regrouped but this time around the security forces fired gunshots into the air and used tear gas to disperse the crowd and in the process arrested some protesters and journalists some of whom were later released upon self-identification. This hard and uncivil stance of the security personnel is a development which comes after Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff had threatened that the military would take action over the situation if the protests gets out of hand.

 

  

Ekwe youths restrained from burning family house over support for gay practice

Youths of Ekwe community in Imo State, were on July 22, 2024,restrained from burning down the family house belonging to Chief Onukuba for enabling his son’s escape from the community.

The fiercely looking youths numbering about 200 or more were seen chanting war songs and approaching menacingly towards Onukuba's compound with intention to raze it.

The youths who were obviously angry were demanding that the family should produce their son, Innocent who they accused of supporting his nephew, Fabian a young man known for gay practice.

They claimed that when his nephew was caught over gay and handed over to the police in December 2017, it was Mr Innocent and his spouse who applied for his bail and encouraged him to flee from the community.

The youths viewed his action as support for gay; they also added that Mr Innocent and spouse were not unaware that gay practice was culturally forbidden in the community.

It should be noted that offence of Gay, sex of same sex and marriage of the same sex are abomination in the community and in Nigeria and attracts a severe punishment such as in castration, jail and parading such man or woman naked within the whole town and market place, and a heavy fine as a deterrent to others. Not all culprits survive the sacrifice and the ritual. 

It is also an offence to aid such an offender to escape. No wonder in the morning of 22th July, 2024, the peace in the community was shattered by the war songs of the vagilante group and angry youths numbering hundreds and bearing cutlasses, planks and inflammable substance suspected to be petrol, they marched menacingly on to the house of Chief Onukuba demanding for his son so that he would perform the necessary cleansing of the land over his support for gay practice, failure of which has led to several misfortunes and  diseases in the land including but not limited to cholera outbreak, mysterious and untimely deaths and lack of progress in that community since he committed the alleged sacrilege. 

The scary situation was brought under control when one Barr. Anomneze told the angry youth that police had been involved and they will fish out   Mr Innocent.

When interviewed his mother, she confirmed  that police came in April 2024 looking for Mr Innocent and spouse over alleged support and involvement in the gay activities of the nephew-Fabian. 

She concluded that his son and family are scared of returning to the community.