Obey God’s commandments: Adeboye urges Nigerians - vanguard

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),Pastor E.A Adeboye, has advised Nigerians to always obey God’s commandments.

Adeboye gave the advice during a special programme entitled, “Escape for Your life,’’ organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus Christian Mobilisation Committee on Thursday night in Ile-Ife, Osun.

He said many academics were still living in sin, adding that this had made them to continue to experience spiritual blindness in spite of their qualifications.

Adeboye urged Nigerians to refrain from all acts of immorality, saying God’s wrath would be visited on the disobedient.

According to the renowned cleric, the only way to escape from the wrath of God’s judgment that would come is to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. Adeboye also advised the congregation to totally submit their lives to God, saying this would enable them to escape from the bondage of Satan.

My Husband Wants To Kill Me With Sex

A 38-year old woman has asked the court to dissolve her 12-year-old marriage to her husband over his too much demand for sex. Mrs Bose who appeared before an Ejigbo customary court in Lagos said her husband has high libido and she couldn't cope anymore with his sexual demands which cold lead to her death.

According to the mother of two, when she complained to her husband, Kayode he sent her out of their matrimonial home, locked her shop, and brought in his lover, identified as Kate Ugwu who now lives with him as his wife, adding that as a result of closing her shop, all her goods expired and she has no money to start up the business again.

She also claimed that at a point her husband was making love to both of them in their matrimonial home. She asked for the sum of N1.5million as compensation to move on with her life as she was tired of the relationship and no longer loves her husband.

Responding to her allegations, her husband Kayode admitted asking her to leave but said he did so because of her behaviour.

According to him, he started having problems with his wife, Bose when she told him that she wanted to cook separate food for his late wife’s two children and that's when he decided to send her away for the safety of those children.

He also admitted that he has a lover whom he married after Bose left, claiming that his new wife gives him peace and rest of mind.

He said he was no longer interested in the marriage and he was not ready to pay any compensation. The court adjourned the matter till 27 January for judgment.

Adamawa Governor Pledge Not to Return to PDP

Adamawa State governor,Murtala Nyako on Friday said he would never return to PDP by the grace of God despite the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the party. Governor made his stand clear when he interacted with newsmen at Yola International Airport, Adamawa. “The resignation of Bamanga Tukur is not a condition of my return to PDP. “Some of my reasons for not returning are that the party has became an empire of impunity and lawlessness,’’ he said. He said his decision to remain in APC was not for personal interest, but in the interest of the country and democracy.

Ibadan Traders Protest Against High Cost Of Fish

Fish traders in Ibadan on Thursday protested against the high cost of the frozen products. The traders in their hundreds marched to various cold rooms in the state capital protesting against the high prices.

The protest forced fish wholesalers in the state to shut down their cold rooms and close shops.

The owners of the cold rooms had pleaded with the protesting fish sellers to allow them dispose their stock before embarking on the protest.

One of the fish traders identified as Iya Michael told our correspondent that “Titus which formerly sold for N8,000, now sells for N15,000; Sardines which sold for N3,000 now sells for N8,000; while Panla which sold for N5,000 now sells for N10,000.”

 Many of the fish traders in the state have been thrown out of business, as they could not afford the new prices.

The cold room owners, on the other hand, attributed the high cost of fish to federal government’s plan to stop importation of frozen foods, including fish.

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Tukur resigns At Last

Governors and lawmakers who left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, welcomed the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the ruling party, saying though vindicated, they would not return to the party.

While lauding the removal of Tukur, the governors and lawmakers said the destruction wrought on the party was beyond redemption, saying that the PDP was not destined to survive harder times

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, however, removed himself from the agitation for Tukur’s resignation, saying that he did not begrudge the former national chairman. 

The insistence of the defectors nonetheless, one of the leading pro-Goodluck Jonathan advocacy groups, Movement for National Transformation, MNT, called for reconciliation with the defectors as he called on the new leadership to learn from the mistakes of the Tukur leadership.

The reactions followed Tukur’s formal resignation at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party yesterday. President Goodluck Jonathan who led Vice-President Namadi Sambo, principal officers of the National Assembly and other high government officials to the meeting said he would offer Tukur tougher responsibilities even as he called on the new leadership to be more consistent in procedures for meetings. Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State spoke yesterday on behalf of the Group of five governors who left the PDP last November following persistent conflicts with the Tukur leadership of the party.

 In a statement made available to Vanguard, Nyako said that the five governors had proved to the world that they had a genuine reason to abandon the PDP under Tukur and pitch tent with the APC. But the governors were quick to warn that they would not return to the PDP even with the removal of Tukur since the party had become synonymous with impunity and lawlessness.

Nyako who spoke through his director of press, Ahmad Sajoh, said: “We want it known that the main reason the G5 governors and their supporters left the PDP was the regime of impunity and lawlessness instituted in the party, and the deafness with which genuine agitations were ignored by the national leadership of the party. “This was particularly more manifest in the manner in which properly constituted State executives of the party were wantonly dissolved and members suspended.

“Also, the G5 governors and other office holders in the party who went to the APC had objected to the erosion of all tenets and principles of democratic practice in the PDP particularly the imposition of candidates from Abuja on the electorate in their states contrary to outcomes of nomination processes, and the extreme regimentation of views and opinions in the party to the effect that when one holds an opposing view political aides are sent to insult and threaten such persons.”

The governors called on those asking them to return to the PDP to note that at the time they had been trying to obtain listening ears to their agitations most of those talking today had ignored them and at times even called them names. “It should also be noted that on their part they had done everything possible to attract some understanding but no one cared.

“At times we even bent over backward to achieve results but we were spurned by both the PDP leadership and those calling them back today.” The governors made it clear that the resignation of Tukur was not a sufficient reason to believe that the problems that necessitated their departure from the party had been addressed. According to them, the only thing the resignation has done is to vindicate the G5 Governors that their agitations were after all genuine and that the steps they took are justified.

 The governors said, “Our movement to the APC is therefore conclusive and the only option available to us under the circumstances is to remain there, save democracy in Nigeria, safeguard our honour and ensure that fairness and justice prevail in the country.” Obasanjo who spoke through his media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, on phone, said the former president did not begrudge Tukur.

I hold no grudge against Tukur — OBJ Oladunjoye, who made a reference to Obasanjo’s recent letter to Tukur noted that the former president never called for Tukur’s resignation, saying that the issues raised in the letter were purely on personal principle. “I want you to note that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has nothing personal against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. If you look at Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s last letter to the former National Chairman, the issues he raised in that letter are much more than Tukur’s resignation.

If you have a copy of the letter, you will agree with me that those issues are yet to be addressed,” he added. The former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of PDP had written a letter dated January 7, to Tukur in which he announced his withdrawal from activities of the party at local, state, zonal and national levels. Obasanjo had hinged his distance from the party on the fact that the party had been negating the principle of morality, decency and discipline in its decisions and enthronement of its leadership.

Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State also welcomed the exit of Tukur and said it was a vindication of the governors’ agitation against the former national chairman. He, however, regretted that Tukur had torn the PDP umbrella to tatters with no prospect of repair in sight.

 “Earlier today, I received the news that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has officially resigned as chairman after damaging PDP beyond repair. This has vindicated me and other progressives’ that had to leave the party at a point when some of the issues we clamoured for are now coming to light.

”Over the last seven months, we were blackmailed and called names ranging from rebels, dissidents, ingrates and that we were self centered,” Senator Saraki said. “Unfortunately, it has become obvious today that PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a failure and a big tumor that was allowed to become a cancerous one.”

Members of the House of Representatives who also defected from the PDP to the APC also rebuffed the new entreaties on them to return to the fold. Leader of the defunct nPDP, Rep Andrew Uchendu, from Rivers State said yesterday:

“Our decision to leave PDP is irreversible and not regrettable in any way. We tried all necessary avenues to reconcile our differences with the leaders of the party but all our efforts failed. “There is a new platform for Nigerians to express their electoral powers and that is the APC. The PDP now has a major challenge because there is no way we will return to PDP.”

Speaking in the same vein, Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Rep Dakuku Peterside from Rivers State said the removal of Tukur vindicated their agitation against the erstwhile national chairman, but ruled out any return to the ruling party. “No! Never! We have been justified that the leadership of the crumbling PDP while we were there was rudderless and had no programme for Nigeria and Nigerians,” Peterside said. Rep Ahmad Ali, APC, Kwara, and Rep Ogbonna Nwuke, Etche/Omumu Federal Constituency, Rivers State also spoke in the same light.

The Mass Mobilisation for Transformation, MMT, begrudged Tukur for the recent spate of crises in the party and called on aggrieved individuals to return to the mainstream of the party.

The group in a statement issued by its national chairman, Joseph Ambakederimo said: “We received the news of the resignation of the PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, with jubilation.”

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Demcoratic Party, PDP, has hailed the resignation of its former national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, saying it was a wise decision. In a statement by the state publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani said “We have absolute confidence and belief in the capability of our leaders to forge ahead under any circumstances.

The decision to ease out Dr Bamanga Tukur must have been well considered by these wise men.” The Chief Maxi Okwu – led All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, saluted the PDP on the resolution of the lingering internal crisis in the party. Okwu, in a statement by his Senior Media Assistant, Victor Chigozie Eneh, said Alhaji Tukur had shown rare statesmanship by bowing out peacefully so as not to put himself as a stumbling block to party unity and progress.

NEC MEETING

Soon after President Jonathan told members of NEC that Tukur had agreed to step aside and tendered a letter of resignation which he, President Jonathan then presented to the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, the hall erupted as members stood for a standing ovation at exactly 1.55 pm.

Controversial CP: APC agrees with Soyinka on posting of Mbu to Borno, Yobe

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has joined Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka in pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to send controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Mbu Joseph Mbu, to Borno or Yobe state to help end the Boko Haram menace.

“We totally agree with Prof. Soyinka’s recommendation that CP Joseph Mbu should be sent to where his skills are needed most since his use of ‘minimum force’ could send a serving Senator to a London hospital. If he is permitted to use ‘maximum force’ the menace of Boko Haram will be a thing of the past! We, therefore, join the respected Nobel laureate in pleading with the Presidency to as a matter of urgency redeploy CP Mbu to either Borno or Yobe state as we do not need him in Rivers State,” Rivers APC Interim Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ikanya, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

Dr. Ikanya decried the graveyard silence by the Presidency over last Sunday’s show of shame in which policemen acting on Mbu’s orders disrupted a peaceful rally by the Save Rivers Movement and shot Senator Magnus Abe, who is now recuperating in a London hospital as such silence is criminal and should be condemned not minding the level of hatred harboured against the Rivers State people by the Presidency. .

Rivers APC welcomed the decision of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the incident. It, however, warned that the investigation must not be a charade intended to pool wool over the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

 “All relevant individuals, including Senator Abe and Sir Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi – both of whom were shot during the disrupted rally, should be interviewed by the IGP’s investigating team.

The inquiry should also touch on the unholy marriage between the Police in Rivers State since the arrival of CP Mbu and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ascertain if CP Mbu is a member of PDP or not and if he attends PDP meeting. Anything short of this is unacceptable,”

Rivers APC said.

APC counsels the Inspector General of Police’s Panel Team to disregard any document from one Fake Pastor Jerry Needam the assumed mouth piece of PDP whose main stock of trade is pedalling of rumours and falsehoods who because of his poor educational background reads and interprets any document before him upside down resulting to his nickname as “Jerry the Liar” to avoid the Panel from been misguided!

The party finally appealed to IGP Abubakar not to allow CP Mbu and his collaborators to rubbish his hard-earned reputation as an exemplary Police Officer.

vanguardngr.com

Brazil 2014 World Cup : FIFA Neglets Nigerian referees - premiumtimes

Nothing seems to have changed in the ratings of Nigerian referees by the world football governing body, FIFA, as none of the country’s referees was included in the short-list for the Brazil 2014 World Cup made public on Wednesday.

The Nigerian referees, who were also not nominated for honours at the last CAF awards held in Lagos, will only watch from the screens as their African compatriot take to the field.

Leading the African contingent of referees set for World Cup in Brazil are – Noumandiez Doue (Ivory Coast), Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia), and Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria). Other African referees on Wednesday’s shortlist include: Doue Noumandiez Desire (Cote d’ Ivoire), Gassama Bakary Papa (Gambia), Alioum Neant (Cameroun), and Bennett Daniel Frazer (South Africa).

The assistant referees nominated from Africa are Yeo Songuifolo (Cote d’Ivoire), Birumushahu Jean Claude (Burundi), Menkouande Evarist (Cameroon), Kabanda Felicien (Rwanda), Achik Redouane (Morocco), Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria), Camara Djibril (Senegal), and Range Marwa (Kenya). Europe provides nine of the 25 officiating teams, South America has five, Asia has four, Africa and the CONCACAF region have three each, and Oceania one.

The youngest referee chosen is 33-year-old Wilmar Roldan of Colombia, and the oldest is 43-year-old Noumandiez Doue of Ivory Coast. “FIFA has implemented a comprehensive program to ensure that the referees for its flagship competition are in peak condition,” the world governing body said in a statement.

 “The referees selected … have been chosen based especially on their personality and their quality in football understanding by being able to read the game and the teams’ tactical approaches towards each game. “Between now and the World Cup, the selected group of match officials will participate in three seminars: February, March/April, and the last one ten days before the kick-off.

“The selected referees and assistant referees will be followed and monitored regularly during this period, and FIFA is ready to give them all the support they need so that they can prepare for this important World Cup in the best possible manner.”

Absence of witnesses stalls trial of Chinese charged with forgery of rice brand in Nigeria

The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery, unlawful possession and stealing. The absence of two prosecution witnesses at a Federal High Court in Lagos, Wednesday, stalled the trial of a Chinese, Hong Dong Shen. Mr. Shen is charged with the forgery of Mama Gold Rice brand.

The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud, unlawful possession and stealing.

When the case was mentioned, the prosecutor, Daniel Apochi, informed the court that the prosecution witnesses were absent in court, recalling that they were informed of the case. He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment, to secure the attendance of the witnesses in court.

The Defence Counsel, Tokunbo Fayemi, raised an objection to the prayer of the prosecution, arguing that the matter had suffered a series of adjournments at their instance. He also prayed the court for an order striking out the charge against the accused.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in a short ruling, urged the prosecution to exhibit more diligence in the trial. “This is a criminal charge in which the liberty of an accused is at stake, and so, should be treated with all seriousness by the prosecution,” he said. Mr. Yunusa, therefore, adjourned the case till March 28, at the instance of prosecution.

The accused, who was arraigned on July 29, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge had granted Mr. Shen bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum, and ordered him to deposit his travelling documents with the court’s registry.

The prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offence between February 2011 and March 2013. He said Mr. Shen forged the trade mark of Ollam Nig. Ltd., producers of Mama Gold Rice, and had fraudulently reproduced about 140 bags for illegal sale to members of the public. According to the prosecutor, the trade mark is valued at N200 million.

The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and violates Sections 3 and 32 of the Merchandise Act, 2004. Section 390(9) provides for a term of seven years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.

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Tonto Dikeh Crowned As The Most Beautiful Nollywood Actress

We know Tonto has a lot of fans here but we want to ask this question generall,

Is Tonto Dikeh the most beautiful Nollywood Actress?

See pictures below....

Citizens to the leaders: ‘Our New Year messages to you

Some hours to say goodby to year 2013.

Nigeria’s political and religious leaders have been issuing forth a plethora of new year messages to Nigerians, some mere platitudes, some messages of hope of what they will do in 2014. It’s time for a change, we believe.

Let the citizens send their own messages too to the leaders. Here we provides a platform for that.

Tell your leaders, just what you feel, what you think your state and nation ought to be, what you hope for in 2014. Over to you. use comment box...

 (Osundefender)

Pastor, 15 others Arrested for printing, circulating fake naira notes

The Department of State Security Service, SSS, in Lokoja, Kogi on Tuesday announced the arrest of a syndicate, including a pastor, for the alleged printing and circulation of fake naira notes.

The Director of SSS, Mike Fubara, who presented the suspects to journalists, said the syndicate included 15 others, including the pastor’s six children.

He named the pastor as Godson Akubuiro, the General Overseer of The Mountain of Breakthrough Deliverance Ministry, Lagos.

Mr. Fubara said the SSS in its effort to trace the source of the “worrisome fake naira currency in circulation in the state,” undertook a covert operation to uncover those behind the act.

“This operation took the service close to four months before a breakthrough resulting in the arrest of the 16-man syndicate led by Reverend Godson O. Akubuiro,” the director said. He said that the operation took security agents to The Breakthrough Church, also known as Land of Solution, located at Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos.

He said that the suspects were being investigated preparatory to their prosecution. The director said items recovered from the suspects include equipment and materials used in printing fake currencies.

Other items recovered were a large quantity of printed fake notes, cut to size blank currency notes and N1.3 million fake naira notes. Mr. Fubara urged the public to be wary of the fake naira notes in circulation and report suspects to the service.

Mr. Akubuiro, however, told journalists that he was not using the money for himself but in supporting the less privileged and the needy in his congregation. He pleaded for leniency, saying men of God were often tempted like King David in the bible, who as a man after God’s heart fell many times but was still pardoned by God.

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Obasanjo’s letter: I’m not training snipers, says Asari-Dokubo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan is training snipers keeps generating the heat.

Although, Obasanjo did not name anybody, the founder of the militant Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPV), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, thinks he is the one the former president was referring to. Asari-Dokubo was recently detained in the Republic of Benin.

 He said yesterday that he was not training snipers either in Nigeria or abroad for the presidency.

He said although Obasanjo should be bold enough to indict him for a response. Asari-Dokubo said he was neither flown in a private jet nor in a presidential jet after being investigated by security agencies in Benin Republic. He said he flew to Abuja from Lagos in an Aero Contractors plane.

 He said the last time he enjoyed the luxury of a presidential jet was when Obasanjo sent one to fly him from the creeks as part of the search for solutions to the crisis in the Niger Delta. He admitted that he had a problem in Benin Republic following what he called a false security alarm and the Federal Government waded in.

Asari-Dokubo, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, said he was only suspected of being a Boko Haram leader in Benin Republic and after investigations by Beninoise authorities, he was let off. He said: “I don’t know what is called snipers; I will revisit my dictionary for the meaning of snipers.

“I am not training snipers for either the Presidency or anybody. If ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wants to point a finger at me, I will know the path to take or the relevant authorities to contact. “I have not seen my name mentioned directly by anybody, but I know what to do if this is so. “If I am being invited by security agencies on issues that have to do with denting my image, I know what to do.”

Asked why he was arrested, Asari-Dokubo said: “Information reached Beninoise security agencies that I was a Boko Haram leader. And from all investigations, they said they did not find any clue linking me with Boko Haram.

“Some people gave Benin Republic false information to see that Dokubo dies before the 2015 general election. So, we are in a political era and from all investigations, my encounter in Benin Republic had to do with politics.” On how he returned to his base in Abuja from Benin Republic, Asari-Dokubo said: “I came in through Aero Contractors plane from Lagos to Abuja. Many people were on board and they saw me.

“I was not flown into the country either in a private or presidential jet at all. “I had problem in Benin Republic and the government waded in the matter because nothing incriminating was found against me.” Responding to a question, the founder of the NDPV said: “If I was nobody, why did ex-President Obasanjo send a private jet to convey me to Abuja from Port Harcourt to negotiate for militants? ” Nation

INEC plans presidential poll, others for Jan. 2015

Barring any last-minute change of plan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will lift the ban on campaigns either in August or September, next year.

The commission is contemplating conducting all elections, including the presidential poll, between January and February 2015.

All political parties are expected to submit lists of candidates they propose to sponsor not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election.

The parties may have either late October or November 2014 deadline to submit their lists of candidates. INEC has started preparations for the 2015 elections, beginning with the issuance of permanent voters’ cards and putting in place card readers.

A major challenge before INEC, however, is getting set for the general election, which will come up between January and February 2015. A source, who spoke with our correspondent, said there was no doubt that the campaign for offices in 2015 will kick off in 2014.

The source said INEC was trying to adopt the recommendation of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Committee to conduct elections early to allow time for litigation.

The source said: “I think all things being equal, the commission may allow campaign for offices to begin either in August or September 2014. “We are not pretending that we are going into a year of preparations for elections. At least a substantial part of half of the year will be countdown to the 2015 elections.

“The parties need to conduct primaries before they can submit the list of candidates to the commission. So, there must be campaign. “August or September campaign kick-off appears to be the most visible timeframe since Section 31 of the Electoral Act allows a party to submit its list of candidates at least 60 days to the poll.

“We are also aware that politicians might take advantage of some elections in some states to begin campaigns in earnest. What we will do is that we will enforce the law strictly to avoid the process being muddled up.”

The source also said Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), allows INEC to allow campaign at least 90 days before any poll. The Section says: “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

The source said as soon as INEC comes up with a clear picture of its plans, the parties would be notified of the allowable campaign period. The source said: “We are planning to hold elections between January and February 2015.

The luck we have is that the Electoral Act provides a window for INEC to determine the dates to fix for elections. “If you look at Section 25 of the Electoral Act, INEC is expected to organise elections 150 days or 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of office of any holder.”

The Section, which applies to all political offices, reads: “An election to the office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with the constitution and this Act. “

An election to the said office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.”

 Responding to a question, the source said the Electoral Act says “every party shall, not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election, submit to the commission in the prescribed forms, the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, provided that the commission shall not reject or disqualify candidate(s) for any reason whatsoever.”

Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said: “The 2015 elections will be held between January and February 2015. We are projecting towards that. “We are determined to make all elections as transparent as possible.” Nation

2014 and the Lessons in Gender and Leadership, By Adeshola Komolafe

Those were the words of a lecturer whom my company had hired to work with us on a project. My company – Media Insight- had just won a bid to run a baseline survey for an international organization and my team and thought it was best we bring in a consultant from the university environment to work with us on the project.

Considering that I had a great team, I didn’t have to be fully involved, so I stepped aside to focus on other projects, leaving the baseline survey in the hands of my competent team. Beyond speaking to the lecturer on phone and exchanging a couple of emails, I didn’t get to meet the lecturer face-to-face until after about three months into his consultancy. Whenever we spoke on phone, he would say, ‘You travel too much. Ehnn, must you always travel? It will be nice to put a face to the voice.’

And I will jokingly reply, ‘Ah! I’m just a 50 year old woman trying to grow a business and my hair is all grey from that.’ About three months into the project, the lecturer and I finally met. It was a very brief and awkward meeting. As part of the baseline survey, we had to hold a Focus Group Discussion and that served as an opportunity to meet with him. It was obvious he was shocked that I was not as old as he had assumed or maybe not as old as I have constantly joked about.

 If he had attempted to hide his disapproval of discovering that I was younger than I had joked, the expression on his face didn’t help much. Immediately after the event, I rushed to the airport and as I was about boarding, I got a phone call from him. And he said, ‘You should have waited for us to have lunch together’. ‘Oh! I’m so so sorry. I have to catch a flight to Kano. We can fix a date once I return’ I replied. He went on, ‘Deshola, I am a chauvinist. I don’t believe in women aspiring to high positions.

Women are supposed to sit at home and look after the children. A woman’s place is in her husband’s house. I don’t understand you! If not for the respect I have come to have for your company, I won’t be working for you. You are too young for all this.’ Oh dear! This is 2013. Who does that? Here comes 2014, how many Mr. Lecturers do we have out there? How many men still believe a woman’s place is tied to the kitchen. Who will help men like Mr. Lecturer wake up from their outdated thinking? There are thousands of sisters out there that dream big. They dream of becoming great entrepreneurs like Ibukun Awosika, Modupe Abudu, Tara Durotoye, Adenike Ogunlesi amongst several others.

So many young women dream to rise and take leadership positions like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair So, what difference will 2014 make for young female entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs if by the end of the year Nigeria does not have a policy that is meant to guide and encourage young female entrepreneurs? If in this age, several highly educated men still believe that a woman’s place is solely in the kitchen then Nigeria is truly in a terrible situation.

How can we salvage the situation? It is important to note that there are millions of men like Mr. Lecturer and that is why as a young entrepreneur who works hard to make a living, there are still certain places you can’t walk into without a man by your side. Recently, I was called for an impromptu meeting and the call came in while I was driving with a female colleague, so we made a quick stop at the venue of the meeting – which was a small meeting.

When the convener saw us, he said, ‘Deshola, where are the men on your team? You need to call them. We can’t have the meeting without the men!’ And to think that I am the CEO of the company and employer of the men! Oh please! In 2013? Yikes.

I can’t help wondering what will be different for young female entrepreneurs in the New Year. Nigeria is yet to have policies that will support us. Government efforts are still scattered. There is no inter-ministerial council that will coordinate what now looks like piecemeal efforts of government that are meant to support young female entrepreneurs.

I hope in 2014, Nigeria will create polices that will see to the emergence of more young female entrepreneurs. I dream that when such policies are considered, young women will be given the opportunity to shape the policy in line with the required values that we hope for.

I hope Nigeria and Nigerians will create platforms for mentorships of young female entrepreneurs across the 36 states of the federation. I hope in 2014, we will have an inter-ministerial council that will watch over the affairs of young female entrepreneurs as put forward by the government.

I hope that in 2014, men like Mr. Lecturer will have reasons to begin to think differently about young female entrepreneurs.

After all, all we need is just space to contribute to the economic development of our country and to provide options besides what the men have to offer. Ms. Komolafe is chief executive of Media Insight, a communication business outfit based in Abuja premiumtimesng.com

A Lady whose private part get erect after kissing.

Sexy Girl's Private Part Gets Erect After Kissing A Guy In Club