The price of poor listening

The price of poor listening

LASTMA: Part 1 is ready!

Bisi: Yes! Lastma training has started.: I had posted some days back that Lagos State Government is poised to make Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) better with tr...

Yes! Lastma training has started.

I had posted some days back that Lagos State Government is poised to make Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) better with training.
Yes! Promise fulfilled Part 1. I say Part 1 because the training has started.

NCC, are you there? MTN fined in Rwanda for poor services

Bisi: MTN fined in Rwanda for poor services: Why are we still deceiving ourselves (and some other small minded people out there) that we are giants of Africa. On a second thought, we mi...

MTN fined in Rwanda for poor services

Why are we still deceiving ourselves (and some other small minded people out there) that we are giants of Africa. On a second thought, we might be right because giants come in different sizes, shapes and forms.
Can you imagine that upon all the 'Net that is not Working' in our network providers, we still hail them. "They are trying their best in this our economy".
The telecom giant was fined 3 million Rwandan Franc (about $4,834) per day for poor services the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) from September 14.
Our own NCC (Nigeria Communication Commission) will make noise on the pages of newspapers and at the end of the day, subscribers will adjust instead of the telecom outfits in this country to stop ripping us off.

Bisi: Victoria & Ihuoma must not be deported!

Bisi: Victoria & Ihuoma must not be deported!: How long will this continue? These young Nigerian students in Canada are faced with deportation over ‘flimsy excuse’ given by the authori...

Victoria & Ihuoma must not be deported!

How long will this continue? These young Nigerian students in Canada are faced with deportation over ‘flimsy excuse’ given by the authorities.

Victoria Ordu (20) and Ihuoma Amadi (21) are students of University of Regina, Canada.  They are both in Canada on full scholarships paid for by the Nigerian government but it seems they are being abandoned as they have reportedly been seeking sanctuary inside a church since June 19, 2012 for fear of being deported back home to Nigeria because they worked for two weeks at Walmart.

Their student visas do allow them to work, but only on campus. Unknown to them, they worked for two weeks at a Walmart store but stopped as soon as they learned of the rules.

Victoria quit after two weeks, as soon as she found out while Ihuoma discovered her mistake during her second week on the job — and was led away from her till in handcuffs by two Canada Border Services Agency agents.

“They led me through the store, in front of everyone, and all the customers were looking at me like ‘What have you done?” she told Leader Post. “I just felt so embarrassed.”

They said they have been seeking sanctuary in the church for days, sometimes not going out at all or eating. “At times, we stay for days without eating because we don’t go outside,” Ihuoma said at the church where they sleep on the floor.

 “This is a small mistake we made, and now everything is at risk,” Victoria told Leader Post, clasping her shaking hands in her lap. “It doesn’t make any sense. They’re looking for us like we’ve killed someone. We’re just students at university … but it’s like we’re running away and living in fear every day.”

The girls said they have written letters to the Federal Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to grant them pardons. However, in a later report by The Star Phoenix, their hopes were dashed when it was stated that the Immigration Minister does not hold the power to pardon the students who are seeking sanctuary in a church to avoid deportation.

To make matters worse, the Canada Border Services Agency recently released a statement that the girls have no right to sanctuary. The Agency’s spokeswoman Lisa White explained that “There’s no place in Canada where an individual can retreat and be immune from Canadian law.” She further stated that the Agency does not condone “any individual hiding in churches or other places of worship to avoid removal from Canada.”

Meanwhile, the girls have continued to gather support from fellow students, the University authorities and a Regina immigration consultant, Kay Adebogun who has taken on their case pro bono.

The University spokeswoman, Barb Pollock told Leader Post that while the school respects the fact laws have to be upheld, it is trying to advocate for a reconsideration of the girls’ case.

“We think that the penalty, perhaps, is a bit severe for the crime. Albeit that laws have been contravened, in light of what they have done to contravene the law, we would like them to have an opportunity to complete their education with us … (and) we think it is a harsh penalty to be deported,” she said

 “It’s a huge deal to finish school, come back (to Nigeria) and help the country,” Victoria says. “Now to think we lose three years of our lives because of a small mistake? If there was a fine, a warning, that would be more reasonable. I just wish they could look at this from a human point of view.”

Yes! Training for LASTMA, KAI officers.

Have you heard the good news in Lagos?

Lagos State Government has scheduled a four-week training for members of the State’s Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Neighbourhood Watch.

A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport Education, Dr. Mariam Masha, disclosed that the career evaluation training which commences on Monday, September 24, 2012, is aimed at equipping the officers with the requisite skills to ensure law and order in the state. It is also expected to enhance the capacity of the officers to effectively implement the recently passed Lagos Road Traffic Law.

I pray that the 7,916 officers consisting of 2, 749 LASTMA, 1, 011, KAI and 4, 156 Neighbourhood Watch members going for this training comes out better.

The statement said the project areas include, but not limited to, community service, where officers will work in various communities to tackle issues ranging from traffic, environment and security as well as volunteering in homes, orphanages and rehabilitation centres across the state.

The 20-month period training would be held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo.

 

Hardwork is the way to go, says Fashola to students

Dame Fashola, initiator of LEARN, with the students.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has enjoined parents in the state to teach their children and wards the virtues of hard work insisting that it is the only way to success in life.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the closing ceremony of this year’s Summer School of the Lagos Empowerment And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N.), said all the reforms in education being embarked upon by the State Government would come to naught if the children did not imbibe the virtues of hard work.

He also enjoined the children to be focused and ready to learn through hard work and dedication to their studies adding that infrastructure and uniforms do not depict the value of a student but what the student has learnt through hard work.

Thanking the First Lady and initiator of the L.E.A.R.N. Project, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, for her dedication to the project in the last five years, the Governor noted that through her efforts, the children have gained self confidence and imbibed the virtues of leadership and hard work with which they could face the challenges of the future.

The Deputy Governor, Hon. (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the opportunities being made available to the students through project L.E.A.R.N was such that would lead them to expected goal of being future leaders of the country.

The First Lady and initiator of the project, Mrs. Fashola, recalled that when the project was initiated five years ago, the objective was to engage the students positively during the long summer vacation adding that the idea was “to, first and foremost, make them responsible and secondly keep them safe and off the streets”.

 “To the glory of God, today we are proud and humbled that we have touched the lives of  over 20,000 children positively” the First Lady said adding that this year’s programme commenced on August 6, 2012, with a total of 3, 500 students in seven centres across the State namely, Agidingbi, Ketu, Ibeji-Lekki, Mushin, Surulere, Egbeda and Ojo.

The students, according to her, were tutored in core subjects in Education such as Mathematics, English Language, Moral and Civil Education, Entrepreneurial Studies, Leadership, Transport and Safety Education, Security Education and Computer Studies, and in Vocational/Skill Acquisition such as, Barbing, Hairdressing, Tailoring, Gele and Make-up, Catering, Bead-making, Photography, Hat making and Event decoration.

The programme, the First Lady said, also included Recreational activities such as Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess and Football adding that a major highlight of the programme was the introduction of Entrepreneurial Studies and Transport and Safety Education.

Another African Woman

Save Osarere Walk!

Some of the youths of Celestial Church of Christ Isokan Ife Mimo Sowapo Parish, church where Osarere debbie Idiagbonya worship, were part of the walk organised to raise fund for the treatment of Osarere who is battling with breast cancer.

All for #savedebbie

Bisi:
With so many controversies trailing Debbie Osarer...: With so many controversies trailing Debbie Osarere’s state of health, Twitter as a social networking site has come to the rescue. Whil...http://www.gossipgirliee.com

With so many controversies trailing Debbie Osarere’s state of health, Twitter as a social networking site has come to the rescue. While some make positive impacts through it (Twitter), some other individuals just take to destructive criticisms just to tarnish other individual’s effort. They don’t mind making irrelevant comments or tweets with the sole intent of getting some attention. This write up is to clear the air for those who are in doubt and also for the good hearted  individuals who actually care about her well being.
http://www.gossipgirliee.com

All hail the African Woman

This is a clear case of what a man can not do, a woman can do best. This courageous and industrious African woman is probably coming from the market in a bid to contribute her own quota to the positive development of her home, family, country and, by extension, the African continent.

Can you beat her style? I beg, I hail you!

Eat gala with Fashola for just N300m

BRF is very expensive now. Don’t believe? Check out this advert in This Day newspaper and also running on CNN.
This PDP-led show is advertising Lagos State, ACN and Fashola. Yes, the theme is ‘For a Brighter Rewarding Future’.
Yes, that is BRF which is synonymous with Lagos. So, I can conveniently say the opposition is in love with Fashola’s style and their estimation of the SAN of Lagos is appreciated.
A whooping N300 million to eat gala with BRF! I rest my case.

What is wrong with Yoruba movies?

Kunle Afolayan and ramsey Nouah on set of Figurine

Before you start making comments, kindly read through this small piece. Yoruba movies have come a long way and the stakeholders are really trying their best but, in certain areas, they are not doing well at all.
If you cannot do something well, don't bother doing it in the first place. Having realised that there is a huge market for them outside the country, producers started subtitling their movies but most of them (70%) have goofed.
If you sit down to watch Yoruba movies (I am a Yoruba woman so I cannot speak for other languages), you would be appalled by what they called 'sub titled in English'.
Bad grammar, wrong insertion and pure transliteration. If you love yourself, just listen instead of trying to read what was said.
Meanwhile, it would be displayed in the credit that there was a sub title editor. Editor my foot.
The irony of it is that many of these videos parade educated actors and actresses. I am not blaming them at all with their busy schedule but the producers and directors are culpable.
Watch Omo Isonu, you will appreciate my concern. I am sure you have your list too.
I expect them to learn from people like Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan.

Crystals debut single is out

Crystals Band, winners of 2012 star Quest, have released their debut single, Gbe Sun Mo Mi, under the management of Now Muzik.

Cute wire work for your neck

This stylish wire work is the handwork of Tosin, a cousin of mine. If you need to buy one for your next engagement, you can reach me through this medium and you would be glad you did.

Welcome to Angela Davies' Blog: Hair Media presents maiden edition of Hairdressers...

Welcome to Angela Davies' Blog: Hair Media presents maiden edition of Hairdressers...: Nigeria's style, with specific reference to hair industry, is set for the first ever Hairdressers' Conference and Exhibition billed to ...

Dana will fly again: The choice is yours!

 

Joe Obi, special adviser on media, to Aviation Minister, came out yesterday to say that the government is satisfied with the air-worthiness of Dana airline after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit, so the ban on it has been lifted.

The operating license of the airline was temporarily suspended on June 5 2012 following the crash of one of its aircraft on June 3, in Lagos claiming the lives of all 153 persons on board and over 10 persons on the ground.

The summary is that Dana airline can start lifting passengers.

It is not the first time that this government will fail us. I have not said the airline should be grounded permanently, I just wonder why it is taking forever to pay compensation to the families of the victim of the crash.

I know grounding the airline is not the solution but the proper things should be done to forestall such occurrence in future.

The choice is now left to every individual. You either travel by air, road, sea, rail or a combination of two or three. If you choose air, you can fly Dana or any of the other airlines.

It is not compulsory. Moreover, and I think this is the ultimate, whenever you are on a journey (room to bathroom inclusive) commit yourself unto the hand of God.

No! Not mad but ragged

A student enjoying Rag day

When I came across some people like this guy at Gbagada, Lagos, I had to ask questions. From the way they were dressed and the paper-wrapped tin they carried, I knew it was Rag Day but I still must ask questions. You will know why.
Nigerian higher institutions, I don't know about private ones, usually observe the day to raise money for whatever. I really don't know because when I did it in those days, I was just attracted by the mode of dressing and the fun of just moving around with your friends.
We were supposed to have our ID cards on us and the tin covered with a Student Union Government paper so as not to be mistaken for a mentally derailed person because of the manner of dressing.
Back to now. One of the people I saw actually came across as a secondary school student and, as a journalist, I asked questions. I was proved right.
The particular guy had no ID. I think, his friends are his ID card. He carried a plastic container without a wrapper and he looks too naive for an undergraduate. I approached him and we had a conversation that goes something like this:
Me: You are really enjoying this thing o.
Guy:  Yes o. It is small madness.
Me: Is that the name?
Guy: Yes.
Me: What level are you?
Guy: Level?
Me: Level in school, I mean you are in year what?
Guy: I have not entered o. My friend just said I should join them to have a feel of it and I am really having fun. When I gain admission, I will do it every time.
Me: If I give you money now, what will you do with it?
Guy: They (friends) said the school will collect all their own but we would share my own.

Do you see why I had to ask questions. What if this wanna be does not gain an admission this session? Your guess is as good as mine. He will enjoy and reap from from Rag Day and before you know it, they may form a syndicate.