Olumakaiye, Obi, Akinyemi, others decry corruption in Nigeria, call on church to fight the scourge

From Left: Wife of the Bishop, Diocese of Lagos, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, Judge Nigeria Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Osat Obaseki-Osagha, Chairman of the Occassion/Former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos & Missioner, The Rt. Rev'd. Dr. Humphrey Olumakaiye at the the Centenary Anniversary Lecture of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) in Lagos on Wednesday/04/12/19

 

As the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) set to wind up the celebrations designed to mark the 100 years of existence of the church, it held what it called The Centenary Anniversary Lecture where the best minds in the country were gathered to speak on issues of Corruption and how the church can assist in fighting the scourge. Venue of the event was All Soul’s Church, Lekki Lagos on Wednesday. SUCCESS DAMIAN reports.

Speaking on the choice of the theme of the lecture: ‘The Church and Good Governance in Nigeria’ The Rt. Rev’d (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi  Olumakaiye, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos & Missioner said “It is just a way of making sure that we play our role in teaching the Christian virtues of transparency, of honesty, of righteousness in government, of dignity of labour, of true obedience to the word of God and a life of selfless service, and making sure we make life worth living for people around us. It is also to remind us that we are on a journey, we are all in a borrowed suit and a day of reckoning is coming, when we give account of our stewardship on earth. 

“We should not be involved or attached to the world. We should live a godly life and that is the message we are passing across to people in government, to church leaders, and to the generality of the people, we should live for the people and we believe we have gotten the message right and the lord will move us forward,” Olumakaiye stated.

He also spoke on other programs to round off the centenary celebration of the church “We are awarding heroes and legends of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos, those people that have contributed immensely to the growth of our church in the last 100 years.  And the grand finale, we are having a national service at the cathedral church of Christ Marina on Tuesday.” 

Professor Bolaji Akimyemi, former Minister of External Affairs, who was the chairman of the occasion said, the church should continue to preach against the evils that people in office do and that they also need to preach to the ordinary people.

“If people don’t follow corrupt politicians, corruption will be tackled, that is number one. The church has to preach against that. The church has to stop showing favouritism towards rich people who have no source of their wealth; the church should stop worshipping them. You go to churches, it is money, money, money, actually Jesus himself has to cleans his temple when he found the kind of activities there, so churches in Nigeria should stop worshipping money. And finally the church has to continue to tell government, have the courage to confront government; they must have to do that,” Akinyemi stated.

On his part, Mr. Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 election who spoke on the topic ‘The Church as Vanguard of Good Governance’, while stating that the worst form of corruption is bad leadership, called for transparency in the process of electing leaders. He insisted that the system for the enthronement of any leader, be it religious or political leadership must be sanitized, in order to stop corrupt people from ascending to the position of leadership.

He stated “The worst form of corruption in any society is bad leadership. And when we talk about fighting corruption, it is all of us; we have to stop it, that corruption, before it comes into government. For instance, you cannot go and get a criminal and ordain him a bishop and then start pursuing him all over the place. There is a process of becoming a bishop, what we have to do is for the process to be fair, let us stop them before they arrive there, before they get into government,” Obi advocated.

Other speakers at the event include Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) who delivered a paper on the topic ‘The Role of the Church in Combating Corruption in Nigeria’, and Honourable Justice Osat Obaseki-Osaghea, Judge of Nigeria Industria Court, she spoke on the theme, Promoting the Common Good of Nigeria’.

Pastor Nwokedi becomes Virtuous Woman 2019, urges government to provide food for masses

Nigerian Community News Point Magazine, a platform that believes that monumental national development starts from the community recently in Lagos held an award ceremony to appreciate people for their positive contributions and roles in the society. Among those honoured was Pastor (Lolo) Tessy Nwokedi who received an award as a Virtuous Woman. In this interview with SUCCESS DAMIAN, Pastor Nwokedi spoke on the award and other national issues. Excerpts:

You are being honoured today, how do you feel?

I feel great, I feel honoured. It is not easy for somebody to be called to be honoured, so I feel great.

You are being hnoured as the Virtuous Woman 2019, what do you think was the reason for this particular award?

You know they say, behind every successful man there is a woman, and my husband has been on the limelight, awards have been coming in, and people are seeing the good work, and there is no way such good work would be coming without the woman giving assistance to the husband. And again people who know him too well from the day one of our marriage till now always give God glory. So when they see good marital, successful aspect of it, all the things someone went through, at the end of the day you are still standing out, I think that is what prompted the award. 

Don’t you think the award was conferred on you because of your good Christian life and ministry?

Yes, you know, the bible says in Proverbs 31, the last verb of Proverbs, it talks about the virtuous woman, in all both physical, material, spiritual, all round, she was there, she provides for the home front, for the office where she works, and the rest of them, even she takes care of the husband, the family and all that, everything that makes a virtuous woman, both home, ministry, your work outside and what people are seeing, the one you are doing under God’s directions and all that, not just the ministry, because even before the ministry, something has come, a lot has come and gone and when the ministry now came up, people now compare what has been before and present one and say yes, she merited it.

Using yourself as an example, what are you going to tell other women out there on how to be a virtuous woman?

Like I said to the other media Houses, the key word is patience, no matter whatever you are seeing in life, no matter what comes and goes in your life, the major word there is patience. My Mom would always say, my daughter, be patient. In Igbo adage, we say, nkita nwere obi ndidi na eri okpukp buruibu (the patient dog eats the fattest bone) So when you have patience, no matter the situation, at the end, God will lift you up, the bible said, those that humble themselves, He will lift them up. When you have patience and humble yourself, by the time God will start to elevate you, people will start to marvel. 

So I am telling them all to have patience, and be humble, it might not be good today, tomorrow, it will be good, because for me coming for this award, even my husband is here also, to collect this award, I knew it is the will of God. When all these things were happening we had nothing then, we managed what we had, even people give us, dash us, we managed, but today we are giving people, because when the left hand washes the right hand and the right hand does the same, the two hands will be clean. So it is all about God it is all about patience, being focused, have faith in God, believe in Him and you will see everything working out for you. 

People say when you are giving it is a call for more work, how much encouragement has this award brought to you?

Yes to whom more is giving, more is expected. In all round, because someone asked me a question that all this that your husband is doing does it mean you are not angry, you are not fighting, and these women around and the rest of them? I said no, because I will never stop someone God has not stopped to bless. God has destined that person to be blessed through my husband, why should I be an obstacle to it? So I am being expected by the award to do more, not only my husband, my ministry, we did thanksgiving which was two Sundays ago, everything that entered for the thanksgiving did not go home with us, all the widows, the less-privileged ones were there, and they collected it all, so it is more that we are giving out, that is why when you give, the other way round, He will be blessing you while you give out.  So for the award, they are telling us to do more, that they are seeing, God is seeing, people are seeing also, so we will do more.

Nigeria is passing a phase, crises everywhere, politically, economically, your message to Nigerians.

Well, one thing I will say concerning the problem all over, especially the closing of the border, people have been complaining and the rest of it. All I know is, the bible said, when they are casting down, my people will say, there is a lifting up. Those who think they are on top to make the poor masses to suffer, they should remember one thing, God watches them. They should have the fear of God, if they have the fear of God there are things they are not supposed to be doing. And all I know that I do tell people is that, no matter the situation, be confident, God will still bless his people, those that are faithful, all I know is that just have that patient and faith, one day He will bring someone who will be a leader that will lead his own people to the promised land of this Nigeria.

So I just ask that God in His infinite mercy would have mercy on Nigeria, and touch the heart of those leaders who have vowed to themselves that it is only their pockets they will be feeding and the poor masses will be going hungry. Someone who is on top that does not care about those he leads, who is he leading? Who is he governing?  He has to think about them, because they are the people that voted him. He needs to give them food, to have strength so that by next one, they will be able to stand and say yes, you did well so we are following you. When you don’t do well, next time if you come out or your party, everyone will relax because they know that your party did not give them food. 

Now they will look for somebody who will promise them food. I know so many people make promises and fail, but there are people who make promises and kept them. So they should have faith in God. 

Your word for the organizers of this award

To the publishers of Nigerian Community News Point, I really appreciate what they have done, dignitaries that graced the occasion, governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Dr Jackie, and the rest of them, High Chief CC Nwokedi was there, they really organized it well, God will bless them. And for them counting me worthy of the award, I say the lord will keep lifting them up, this their news will enter into the market and people will begin to buy their paper and read it and the lord will continue to bless them in the name of Jesus, amen.

Nwokedi opens up on his love for Nigerian police, set to receive another award December 7

Chief Chika C Nwokedi is the president of an Igbo social cultural organization known as Igbo Buru Otu Social Club of Nigeria; he is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ChiPresido Limited.  Former President, Ladipo Market, Nwokedi is a successful business man dealing in merchandise including security gadgets and accessories. He has been known for his philanthropic gesture to humanity and care for the needy. SUCCESS DAMIAN writes.

Double Chief Nwokedi, Okpoko 1 of Obodoukwu, Nwata yana chiya dinanma 1 of Ikwuano understands the importance of security and believes that the government cannot do it alone in providing what the police need to secure the nation. Consequently he has been assisting and providing security equipment to the Nigerian Police as his own contributions to protection of lives and property. 

It is on record that Chief Nwokedi has renovated many police stations including SARS’ office in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. He has refurbished over 20 vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Police at various divisions to aid them for efficient performance. He has provided over 5,000 security torch-lights worth over millions of naira which he distributed to officers in more than 16 states in Nigeria. He has also supplied over 1000 rechargeable power banks and light sockets to the Nigerian Police free to assist the officers to perform their duties both in the day and night.

Chief Nwokedi has given scholarship to the less-privileged in the society, building houses to the widows as a way of securing better future for the children of the less-privileged in the society.  For his kindness, love and care for humanity, Nwokedi has been bestowed many chieftaincy titles from various towns including his community in Imo State. He is happily married and has children.

Not too long ago, Chief Nwokedi was also honoured at the Annual Lecture/Awards Series of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) at Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Ikeja Lagos^.

Chief Nwokedi on Saturday, 7^th of December 2019, will be receiving yet another award from Ndigbo in Mushin, Lagos. He said “Well awards have been coming, serious awards, and I still have another one again this Saturday this week; so I give God the glory.”

On why he accepted the latest award, Nwokedi said, “It is a chieftaincy title. A chieftaincy title will be conferred on me by Ndigbo in Mushin on Saturday for what I am doing for the Igbos. I have been rejecting many titles and awards, but this time I said okay, I will take this. Already, I have more than 13 titles, it is not food, but because I have been in Mushin. I started my life in Mushin, for 20years, so that is why I decided to take this one that is coming on the 7th of December.”

Nwokedi revealed some of the likely reasons why he is being honoured by the good people of Mushin “First of all the Bible says whatever a man sows shall he reap. No matter what you are doing on this earth, either good or bad, people know. I have been a helping hand to Ndigbo generally, no matter the place you come from, as far as you are an Igbo, whenever they call upon me for any assistance, whether money, I render, as far as you are not a criminal, you are not a 419, you are not an occutic man, you are not doing anything against the law, whenever you call me, I will answer you. If you smoke Indian hemp, I don’t support that. 

“If what you are doing is good, it is not by my strength, I will render it, no matter the tribe you come from, not only Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, after all I am paying school fees for some Yoruba children in this Lagos, they are not Igbo, they are Yorubas, so either Igbo or Yoruba or Hausa, all of us are one, one blood, as far as our blood is red, nobody has the blood of yellow or white, so we are one, I believe in one unity and I believe in one love, that is what the bible says. The bible says love your neighbor the way you love yourself, because if there is love, all these rubbish that are happening in this world will not be happening,’ Nwokedi stated.

Speaking about oncoming programmes of Igboburuotu, a social cultural group which he is the founder and president, he said the association will on the 12th of December hold their Second Year Book, Launch of an NGO and giving of awards to about 62 members of the Nigerian Police Force, one of the ways to solidify and concretize the relationship between the group and the Force.

Narrating the history behind the phenomenal synergy and relationship between him and Nigerian Police, Nwokedi disclosed “Some people are wondering why I love the police so much. There are good eggs in police, there are bad eggs. When I came to Lagos in 1992, I landed in Ladipo, and I started motor spare parts. By then there was no Tokunbo, we used to travel to Onitsha to bring the spare parts to Lagos. And sometimes the police would stop me on the road and arrest me and say I went and butcher somebody’s motor. They would detain me for four days, three days and take money from me. 

“And again where we were sleeping then in Ladipo, I slept in the shop for more than five years, no house. I slept outside my shop and we were about five or six in one shop. We rented counters then, a counter was about N200 and you pay one year. So sometimes, every Friday, police would come and raid us and take us to the station, they would come with the SO and some team, then on Sunday they would collect N200 from us N150 from us, you know how much it is by then, and they would release us. They did that many times, so one day I had the courage and I said let me go and meet that DPO and tell him what is happening, that I don’t know why his people are treating us as if we are criminals. So I met the DPO, and I said I am Chika Nwokedi, I came to this Lagos to hustle and I have shop, please can you send somebody to come and know my shop, and anything about me? He said what happen? I said because I have slept inside this your cell for more than seven times, they normally come and pick us every Friday and on Sunday morning they would take money from us and release us. 

“You know that time there was no phone, no handset, and that time every DPO normally go to their house or village by Friday and leave the work for either SO or this thing, and so the man said okay he would be around to know what is happening.

“And they still came that same Friday, so when the man came out, he said what? That was the day I know police de enter cell. The man detained them. It was war. And then the man took me as his son. He gave me his card and wrote at the back: this is my son, whatever happen, contact me. So since then, it made me to love the police. After that the man introduced me to one DC, Dickson, but the man died in an accident, so they gave me protection that I needed, and they gave me love and they were all Yorubas and I am an Igbo. So that is what made me to love the police and since then, I started helping the police and to tell you the truth, I have given the police, this socket (pointing at some sockets) it is about N7k, more than 500 pieces, I have giving police torch in the 36 states, I have giving the police many things, I have given the police tyres, revolving light, siren, I have repaired so many police vehicles, because of the love those people showed me. 

“But some people don’t know this, so I don’t want people to pass what I pass through, I am not a criminal, I entered cell more than seven times doing nothing, so what I passed through, I don’t want others to pass through. That is why when you have a genuine case I will make call, I have friends, they will investigate and act, I don’t care if you are Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba. 

“Some people say I am police informant, I am very close to police and I say what made me to be close to the police is best known to me and now I am saying it for the first time, I have never revealed it before on what made me to love the police,” Nwokedi narrated.

On his message to Nigerians, “I have received so many awards like I said when people ask me what is the secret of the awards, and I said when someone has a very good apple, or sweet mango, and sow it, that mango will grow for ten to fifteen years, and it begins to bear fruit, that fruit will bring more than 1000 mangos, and it will be like that every year, I said, what I sowed for a long is what I am reaping now. So people should not be envious, and when you are doing good people know. So my advice to Nigerians is that they should leave evil and turn to God, they should change their character. Whatever you are doing in this world and your hands are clean, the almighty God must surely bless you. Nigeria is good, it is those that are inside that are spoiling Nigeria. And they should remember we are one Nigeria, one blood.

Nwokedi also spoke on the recent award conferred on her wife, Pastor (Lolo) Tessy Nwokedi, he said, “Yes she is a virtuous woman, my wife is a nice woman and for her to stay with me when I had nothing, and her father is rich, she doesn’t feel pompous as somebody whose father has money. You would not know she is my wife unless somebody tells you she is my wife. So because of her character, my wife is receiving awards. She has received 5 or 6 awards and yet you won’t know, from my town, from Umuada, among others.

World AIDS Day: Devcoms urges stakeholders, communities to arise to stop HIV/AIDS spread

Success Damian:

Development Communications Network, a media support organization with resources to help journalists in reporting science, public health and social sector issues, has urged  stakeholders, communities to arise to stop spread of HIV/AIDS in society.

In a press statement, Devcoms while lending their voice on this year’s World AIDS Day which was marked December 1; also stated that government in particular should support and acknowledge the efforts of community led organisations for the decline of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

According to the organisation’s Program Director, Akin Jimoh, the media plays a vital role in the spread of HIV/AIDS awareness, community drama, documentary and all other forms of edutainment can serve as a channel for community change. So many people living with HIV/AIDS do not know their status and are not informed of the right measures that should be taken.

December 1, was another opportunity to remind the people about HIV/AIDS cases and people’s role in eliminating the virus. In Nigeria today, the national HIV prevalence is 1.4% among adults aged 15–49 years. Previous estimates had indicated a national HIV prevalence of 2.8%. UNAIDS and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS estimate that there are 1.9 million people living with HIV in Nigeria. The country, which practices a democratic system of government shows that democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people so also in relation to this year’s theme- ‘Communities make the difference’. The impact of the people in the community should be felt in the concerns of HIV/AIDS related cases.

Devcoms maintained that it is the right of the community members to be informed and aware of their HIV status most importantly the youth in the community. Everyone is important in making decisions; the commercial sex workers should be given the ideal sexual education and the importance of modern contraceptives- condom with clients. An average youth should know the importance of family planning and the use of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections. These key stakeholders should not be left behind in discussions of HIV/AIDS. They should be involved in the decision making other than imposing policies that are unrealistic on them.

The right of each citizen to have sex and health education is important. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV during conception, delivery or through breastfeeding can only be prevented or reduced if people are informed. This is the main channel children get infected with HIV.

According to the result of a survey carried out by the UNAIDS, significant efforts have been made in recent years to stop new HIV infections among children as the HIV prevalence new data among children 0-14 is 0.2%. If these efforts are progressing, we are sure to produce free HIV victims in the next generations.

Identifying some community leaders who are HIV positive as advocates to help spread the need for people to get tested, know their status and get treated if infected. This will also help to reduce the stigma and discrimination attached to being HIV positive. Many times, it is not the virus that kills people but the stigma. We have seen cases of people who are living healthy for over 10 to 15 years as HIV positive. These HIV advocates can be trained as caregivers in such a way that infected people can relate to.

Also, the HIV/AIDS hotline should be rejuvenated by community-led organisations. The first of its kind in Nigeria was a 24-hour telephone initiative by the Youth Empowerment Foundation in 2001 mainly to reach out to the youth to inform them of messages that centers on HIV/AIDS. This will serve as a mobile community friendly center for the whole community.

There is need for community engagement in the issue of HIV/AIDS to make the difference that ought to be achieved.

I focus on humanitarian/philanthropy Awards because people need help, says Odidi

Recently, Mindset Media held its 9^th Excellence Achievers Award in Lagos where the Convener, Godday Odidi and the awardees spoke on crucial national issues. CYRIACUS NNAJI reports.
 

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of GabrioVoice Magazine and Chief Executive Officer, Mindset Media, Godday Odidi, has said that Achievers Excellence Award pays attention to Humanitarian and Philanthropic activities because the people in Nigeria need help.

Odidi made this disclosure at the 9^th Edition of Mindset Media Achievers Excellence Award which was held at Santiago Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin Lagos recently.

As the organizer of the award, Odidi said “You can see the level of hardship in Nigeria now, we need help, we have so many fake philanthropists now, we have ritual philanthropists, but I am concentrating on humanitarian, because if not support, Mindset Media will not be where it is. People are hungry, people need money. We want to tell people that you can give, people have this money but they don’t know how to give; this platform is to tell them please give, help humanity, let humanity grow, and that is why, I focus on humanitarian.’ 

Odidi disclosed that he was happy as he got support from so many quarters in this year’s event “This year award people really supported me, people wanted to support, people from the US, people were begging to collect this award; you see this year’s award is different, by our tenth anniversary next year, I am praying it should be at Golden Tulip or Eko Hotel. I see this platform as a platform that will help humanity,” he said.

Categories of the 2019 Achievers Excellence awards include Humanitarian/Philanthropic Drive; Sports Development, Value Innovators; Health Solution Providers; Entrepreneurial Leadership; Inspiring Motivational Speaker, Environmental/Green Angle, among other categories.

Among those who were honoured were Echebiri Ikechukwu, a businessman with passion for community Development; John Okorie, a young hospitality entrepreneur; Segun Okunloye, an agricultural Food Producer cum serial supplier with creativity; Gono Zakari, a Civil Servant cum Committed Rotarian with Humanitarian Legacies in Africa; Michael Ujiro, a young creative Transporter cum Real Estate Expert with vision.

The occasion was chaired by High Chief Michael Orobosa Ubogu, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Micura Services Limited, a man popular for his acclaimed humanitarian and philanthropic interests.

Rotarian Goni Zackari, a Senior Electronic Data Processing Officer at Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ((NIMASA) one of the awardees said “The honour was bestowed on me because of the tremendous effort I have put to serve humanity, I take this award as the best award I have received in my life. When you give to community the community gives back to you. In life, anything you do, do not wait, you should continue doing what you are doing, one day you will be discovered.  For those looking up to me for mentorship, I say life is not easy, we should not give up hope, they must plan, plan efficiently, intelligently and diligently.”

Sir Jerry Aliche Wanodi, CEO, Porsche Oil Group of Companies, he has been able to lift a million people from abject poverty and obscurity. Wanodi said his inspiration comes from God, giving back to life, society, and those around him, ‘that is what makes you a success.’ 

Talking about society and Government, he said “We can’t leave everything to the government; they are also human as you and I. It is about capacity, mentality and orientation, what you don’t have you can’t give. The mistake we make in this part of the world is we leave everything for government to do. They are human; even some of the special advisers need advice themselves.”

Speaking on right environment for businesses to thrive he said “Nigeria does not have the right environment. There is no power, but all over the world power is the first thing, even in the Bible, God said let there be light, it is only here we have it the other way round. So there has to be power first, when there is power there will be less people on the street; creativity, ideas will explode, you can’t function without power.”

On his advice to the upcoming ones, he said “We are in a very hostile environment, so they have to take their destiny by their hands, it will never get better, the leaders have lost ideas and there is nothing we can do. So you need to wake up, you know what you need, so go for it, you fell, you rise, you keep rising, till you are stable. Nobody is going to create a ladder for you, so you need to create your own ladder, you climb, you hold onto it, and make sure the ladder doesn’t fall, that is the environment we find ourselves,” Wanodi stated.

Michael Ujiro, the most innovative transport entrepreneur of the year, said his advice for the organizer is to keep up what he is doing, he is doing a very fantastic job, keep up encouraging entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and I advise him not to relent, and these awards are not just for the sake of awards, they are awards for encouragement.