When Nigeria celebrated its centenary last year in grand style part of the icing on the cake was to be a convergence of athletes for the National Sports Festival, NSF, in Calabar towards the end of 2014. More than 12,000 athletes from each of Nigeria’s 36 states were expected at the 19th edition of the…
The Challenge of Jega’s Successor
While appraising the herculean task ahead of Attahiru Jega, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, I recently wrote in this space that I am nominating the amiable academician as Nigeria’s “Man of the Year” because “my gut instinct tells me Jega will deliver free, fair and credible elections despite all…
A Sad Affair at the States
For most workers in Nigeria there is no calendar period more important than the end of the month. That is when they get rewarded for work done. But for workers in many states of the country the end of the month is now associated with more desolation than elation, because they are not getting paid…
The Message in Omar al-Bashir’s Cross
The political controversy that trailed the presence of Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese president, at the recent African Union, AU, conference in South Africa is not going away any time soon. Half way through the four-day AU conference held in Johannesburg in June, al-Bashir surreptitiously flew out of South Africa to avoid being ensnared by the arrest…
What’s The Hold up on Keshi?
The drama surrounding the long-running negotiations between the Nigeria Football Federation and Stephen Keshi, the coaching candidate for the Super Eagles, is unprecedented in the history of football-contract negotiations anywhere in the world. Since both parties indicated interest in working together again we have been regaled in the media with varying statements and positions by…
More Mentors Needed for Black Community
I can’t quite come to terms with a New York Times story this week by Binyamin Applebaum that establishes that the lot of African Americans has not improved under America’s first black president. The story in the NY Times’ Upshot Section about how black jobless rates remain high despite an economy on the rebound, informs…
When Language Becomes A Barrier
I am sure many journalists have been faced with scenarios where communication and/or dialogue were hindered by a language barrier. As a widely traveled journalist, I have faced several lingua franca hurdles that really stood out in countries where English was not the language of choice. As a very young and impressionable young journalist, I…
When Rumour Mongers Flourish
“It’s not mere extremism that makes folks at the fringes so troubling; its extremism wedded to false beliefs. Humans have long been dupes, easily gulled by rumors and flat-out lies!” – Jeffrey Kluger This is the season when rumor mongers are at their very best. They feed on half-truths and lies and make them…
The Young and the Restless
If there is one demographic group that really needs urgent attention from Nigeria’s leaders and educators then it has to be those born between 1980 and 1999, otherwise known as the millennial generation in other climes. I have never found a group of young people so disillusioned, discouraged and easily brainwashed as I have found…
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