Naija Times October 2008

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for what we were, are and will be

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www.naija-times.com

October 2008 | ISSN 1758-6275

Lineo’s

Let’s Get It Started

Before you down that energy drink

Monitoring your Stocks Interview with

Roof Top MCs Yankari National Park: Nigeria’s hidden jewel Bring on the Album Review: 9ice

Carnival! Gongo Aso

Why I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs Interview with 9ice

Gambia Today

Fashion: The V-Neck Fad

Planning for an Exciting Career 2

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Credits: Published by: Publisher: Dayo Elegbe Managing Editor: Toun Aderele Deputy Editor: Lanre Idaomi Writers: Sope Williams, Kenny Joseph, Terry Adebambi, and Adeola Abulude Associate Writer: Omolola Ogunbadejo Advertising Sales (UK): Korede Atiba ([email protected]) Advertising Sales (Nig): Wale Olarewaju ([email protected]) Photography: Olalekan Shoetan, Yinka Adepita Art Director: Nick Lay Distribution: Anthony James

Poll Do you believe history will judge the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a success? Yes...it shows how far China has developed No...too much controversy about China’s inactivity in Darfur

Contact Details NIGERIA: Toun Aderele 4th floor UBA House, 57 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: 234-1-2665469 Fax: 234-1-2665325 Mobile: (0802) 27696860, (0803) 3097426 Email: [email protected]

UK: +44 7940286395 NIG: +234 8066638029

UK: Dayo Elegbe 239 Old Street London, EC1V 9EY, UK Tel: 44 (0208) 1443403 Email: [email protected]

Visit www.naija-times.com everyday for lively discussions and more.

Reproduction in full or part of any contents of NaijaTimes magazine (without prior written consent from the Publisher) is strictly prohibited. Individual advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertising

To Vote YES Text “NTPOLL Yes”, If you think NO Text “NTPOLL No” to

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An apprentice and a continent’s hope

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espite my busy schedule, I tried to keep a date with Africa’s biggest business television reality show: The Apprentice Africa. It was tough but worth it. Not only did the show and the contestants give fillip to our argument that Africa has enough talent to solve its problems, if given the chance; it also buttressed the point being made in several enlightened quarters on the continent that what Africa need is a Marshall plan to help its teeming entrepreneurs, and not aid. Now, if African embodies the talent and the new generation of African entrepreneurs that we are talking about, it is Isaac DankyiKoranteng, the young executive from Ghana who won the reality show’s $200000 top prize. Throughout the show, Dankyi-Koranteng was not only supremely confident, he was able to come up with consistent winning strategies when pitted against Africans who studied in the Diaspora. Now, I have nothing against Africans in the Diaspora, we are all brothers and the rebirth of this continent is our collective destiny. But we also need the triumphs of the Dankyi-Korantengs of this world to silence those who claim that Africa is not only hopeless but helpless. As I discovered in the course of my interview with him, Dankyi-Koranteng is not only

business savvy, he is also deep. Anyway, don’t let me give it all away, the interview is buried in the inside pages: go read it. With Naija Times’ excellent debut, many would have expected us to give ourselves a pat on the back. But no we aren’t likely to do that yet. We are too busy! We are busy thinking of ways of sustaining this trajectory and ensuring that every reader keeps getting value for their precious time. So, this month we are taking you on another infotainment ride: a mix of informative and entertaining peeps into the events and the lives of the people that make Nigeria tick. In the last few months, the interest of Nigerians in the capital market has made for the rooftop. Public listings are not only eagerly embraced, they are often oversubscribed. So, the need for information about goings on in the capital market is at an all time high. So, we have a story on useful sources of information on the Nigeria stock market. For those thinking of an idyllic place for their next holiday, we have a piece on one of Africa’s most serene and natural parks, the Yankari Games Reserves. All this and our regulars are in this edition. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

Toun Aderele

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“hopefuls battle it out to see who can claim the prestigious title and fantastic prizes”

naijaTimes In The Next Issue... - How close are we from a cure for Malaria? - The return of Mr Fineboy Make sure you don’t miss out, subscribe to NaijaTimes, and have your very own copy delivered to your door. Visit www.naija-times.com/subscribe-today for more details.

October 08 Top 5 Things to watch out for in November 1. Lagos International Trade Fair. November 7th-16 2008. Lagos, Nigeria. 2. Bonfire Night across the UK. November 5th 2008.

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3. Music Live Festival. 7th-9th November 2008. UK

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4. Encounter Short Film Festival. 18th-23rd November 2008. Watershed, Bristol, UK.

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5. West African Power Industry Convention. 24th-26th November 2008. Abuja, Nigeria.

UK’s Next Top Model Of Colour 20 Travel & Culture Country Profile: Gambia Aso oke Yankari National Park Guide to the Notting Hill Carnival Fashion & Lifestyle V-Neck is the Fad The Search for the UK’s Next Top Model Of Colour Fashion Not for the Faint Hear ted Health Energy Drinks

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Money Making Your Website Work for You… without Google 28

Monitoring your stocks on-line Business Personality: Leostan Eke

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Careers & Development Planning for an Exciting Career Par t 2

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Entertainment Why I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs? Album Review: Lineo’s Let Get It Star ted Winner of Nigeria’s Number 1 reality show Profile of Radio Personalities in Lagos Interview with Roof Top MCs

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Directories WebFILE Business Listings

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Travel & Culture

GAMBIA

TODAY by: Sope Williams

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he Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. The country is less than 48 km wide, with a total area of 11,300 km². Its present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. It is almost an enclave of Senegal, and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. “The” was inserted into the country’s official name to distinguish it from Zambia. The Gambia became independent from the former British Empire on 18 February 1965 and has had a rich and diverse history. Gambia used to be a tributary to the Mali Empire and the Portuguese reached the area by sea in the mid-fifteenth century

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and began to dominate trade. Trading rights were sold by the Portuguese to the English in the 16th century and during the 17th and 18th centuries, Britain and France struggled continually for political and commercial supremacy in the region. Gambia suffered severely during the slave trade and an estimated 3 million slaves may have been taken from the region during this time. Most of those taken were sent to Europe to work as servants. Slave trading was abolished in The Gambia in 1906. During World War II, Gambian troops fought with the Allies in Burma. Banjul (the capital) served as an air stop for the U.S. Army Air Corps and U. S. President

Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped overnight in Banjul en route to and from the Casablanca Conference in 1943, marking the first visit to the African Continent by an American president while in office.

Confederation aimed eventually to combine the armed forces of the two states and to unify their economies and currencies, but The Gambia withdrew from the confederation in 1989.

On April 24, 1970, The Gambia became a republic with Dawda Kairaba Jawara, as head of state. The stability of the Jawara era was shattered first by a coup attempt in 1981. The coup was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang. The president, in London during the coup attempt, appealed to Senegal for help and Senegalese troops defeated the rebel forces. In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Senegal and The Gambia signed the 1982 Treaty of Confederation. The Senegambia

In 1994, the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFRC) deposed the Jawara government and banned political activity. Lieutenant Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh became head of state. The AFPRC announced a transition plan for return to democratic civilian government and in 2001 and early 2002, The Gambia completed a full cycle of presidential, legislative, and local elections, which foreign observers deemed free, fair, and transparent. President Yahya Jammeh was elected to

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continue in the position he had assumed during the coup. President Jammeh raised eyebrows early in 2007 when he claimed that he can cure AIDS. His cure involves a green herbal paste, a bitter yellow liquid and eating bananas and he says his methods produce positive results within days. The country representative of the United Nations development programme in The Gambia, Fadzai Gwaradzimba, was told to leave the country after she expressed doubts about the president’s claims and said the remedy might encourage risky behaviour. The President also recently incurred widespread condemnation from the international community from his comments on May 15, 2008, warning homosexuals in The Gambia to leave the country within 24 hours or else face beheading. The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance on groundnuts for export earnings, a reexport trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry. The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits (although the President is adamant that crude oil will be found in The Gambia) and about 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of groundnuts. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of groundnuts, fish, and hides. Re-export trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic

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activity, but a 1999 government-imposed pre-shipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the re-export trade away from The Gambia. The Gambia’s natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The tourism industry today in The Gambia started when a party of 300 Swedish tourists arrived in 1965. That pioneering trip was organized by a Swede named Bertil Harding. The Gambia was seen as an ideal place to escape the harsh winter months of Scandinavia where Europeans would enjoy the sun, sand and beaches but also experience the excitement of a real African holiday. Its proximity to Europe, has offered an affordable holiday to increasing numbers of traveling Europeans. The Gambia is now noted by discerning tourists for its clean unspoilt and uncrowded beaches, its fascinating birdlife, and the fact that holidays to The Gambia are relatively inexpensive. The number of visitors increased from 300 tourists in 1965 to 25,000 visitors in 1976. The number of tourists has continued to rise sharply throughout the years, and as the government is eager to diversify the economy, it recognized tourism as a potential major foreign exchange source of revenue. However, despite increasing popularity as a tourist destination, infrastructure development has been slow. A wide variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia with a minimum of intertribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof (from where the popular ‘Nigerian’ dish Jollof rice originates), Jola, and Serahule.

Travel & Culture

You are what you wear.

naija Man

www.naijaclothing.com

Aso Oke Timeless elegance

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he aso oke’s recent good fortunes have been amazing. Only a while back, this unique Yoruba social fabric was only used as an accessory, either as a headgear or waist muffler, ipele. But thanks to the ingenuity of our fashion designers, the fortunes of this ancient fabric have changed. Now, the aso oke is increasingly becoming the fabric of choice for natty, stylish, modern dresses. Of all aso oke types, the net aso oke is the most popular and it is also responsible for its wide acceptability and use. Thanks to this fabric, which is a blend of royal grandeur and modern ingenuity, the aso oke is now used for dinner, cocktail and wedding gowns. It is also being combined with organza, chiffon, lace and satin to produce nifty dresses. And since they say wonders shall never end, don’t ever be surprised when you start seeing halter neck aso okes!

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Travel & Culture

modern restaurant, a bar and a discotheque. It also has potable water, electricity and satellite televisions.

Yankari National Park: Nigeria’s hidden jewel

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ucked away in the heart of Bauchi State in the North of Nigeria is the Yankari National Park, the country’s most famous, but largely under-visited, tourist spot. Yankari, one of Nigeria’s six national parks, was established as a game reserve in 1956, but it was later upgraded to a national park in 1991. It is located within the Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, which is 115km from Bauchi town. Although recent visitors to the park have complained that the lodges are in poor conditions with toilet having no seats, baths not working and rooms dirty; they still have praises for this premier park citing its natural and unspoiled nature as reasons why it has remained fascinating.

preserves including the Dukkey Well System; the Ampara and Shanshau iron smelting works and furnace shafts dating back many centuries. There are also natural formations such as the Marshall Cave Systems and the Wikki Springs, which is the source of the Wikki River.

The park is spread over miles of rolling hilly high and lowlands with a big river and a warm water spring. The river serves as a natural swimming facility for visitors. Yankari Park also contains several archeological

Accommodations are in the form of simply furnished, air-conditioned chalets that have traditional designs. Cheap accommodations for students and low-income tourists are also available. There is a conference facility, a

It is home to more than 50 species of mammals such as diverse species of baboons, monkeys, warthogs, hippopotamuses, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, waterbucks, bushbucks, duikers, oribis and red-flanked duikers. It is also home to over 350 species of bird, 26 species of fish, seven species of amphibians and 17 species of reptiles.

Tourists can enjoy guided park tours to view the park’s fascinating mix of wildlife.  There is a campground at Wikki Camp and tourists can make use of the park’s open trucks or their own vehicles for guided tours (there are also walking tours) to see wildlife including buffalos, hippos, lions, monkeys, wart hogs, crocodiles and baboons. Wildlife can also be viewed and photographed from a hideaway at the Daban Maje natural saltlick. The park has an elephant population of around 300, the largest of any park in West Africa, but the elephants are not often sighted because of Yankari’s dense vegetation. At the Wikki spring, the park offers swimming facilities, boating and sport fishing. There is also a museum and organized free lectures on conservation. A tourist’s impression of Yankari: ‘A great place to be’ Yankari is a beautiful place, and because I visit Nigeria regularly, I often visit Yankari. My most recent visit to the park was in April 2004, and as always, the journey was worth it. Wikki Camp (the tourist camp) has a community atmosphere because of the presence of visitors and the park’s local staff. It is always likely that you will meet short term or long term friends. The camp has a spring area that is natural, with warm crystal clear and disease free water. You have to see it to believe it. It is indeed a natural wonder. As at April when I last went, I saw a lot of wildlife species over my few days stay. There were lots of the usual waterbuck, and bushbuck. Also as usual, elephants were always seen in the evenings by the river Gaji

(though I saw some on a few occasions in the morning). Others which I normally saw too were the baboons, tantalus monkeys, and warthogs. Other animals encountered on my April trip that are also common in the park include: large troops of patas monkeys (on several occasions), Western hartebeests, red flanked duiker (on several occasions), monitor lizard, Nile crocodiles (on several occassions), many colorful birds including an outstanding African Fish Eagle. We came across many signs of lions, including a kill. Whilst I was there, people would often enter the bush and come across lions, but during our own game drives, we did not encounter them. The West African lion maybe rare in other parts of the sub-region, but in Yankari, they are becoming more common by the day. Yankari is definitely a wildlife haven. The only issue is the dense bush vegitation. The park has approximately 1000 elephants, 3000 bufaloes, and thousands of antelopes. Whoever that says that West Africa lacks great wildlife areas needs to do his/her research again. There are at least three other Nigerian parks that boast of outstanding wildlife, and Yankari is an example of what is on offer. Accommodation in the park is not excellent, but is managable for a few days. (Culled from http://www.tripadvisor.com) Interested parties could contact: The General Manager Yankari National Park P.O. Box 12 Bauchi, Nigeria Tel: (234) 77-543-674, 542-174             The Director, National Parks Service P.M.B 0258, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: (234) 9-234-5507

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Travel & Culture

is coming up soon and you’ll want to make sure that you’re there. NHC is internationally known for its diverse variety of acts and talented occurrence. It encourages people from different backgrounds to attend every year and experience two days famed for its unique and “culture friendly” atmosphere, that attracts people of varied nationalities and races together to celebrate diversity within the UK. In 2007 a whooping 2 million people attended NHC and it is expected to have an even bigger turnout this year.The NHC is one of the largest street festivals in the world, and on all accounts the largest in Europe.

Bring on the

carnival!!! By Omolola Ogunbadejo

Want some Jerk chicken? Want to hear

some exotic steel bands? Fancy seeing a parade of funky dressed individuals swerving and dancing to calypso music? Then get your maps and find your way down to this year’s Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) From Sunday 24th August to Monday 25th August 08. Yes it’s that time of the year people. Bring out your shades, face paints, ice water and let the fun commence! Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most anticipated carnivals of the year, normally taking place in- yep you guessed it- Notting Hill! It’s hard to believe that some people have unfortunately missed passed Notting Hill Carnivals. Well, all is not lost, the NHC 2008

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So, when did it all begin? The first NHC occurred in 1959 to create awareness about the depressing race oppression within the UK - the year before black ethnic minorities experienced widespread racial motivated attacks. It originally, consisted of the West Indian community just having a local festival in Notting Hill. The NHC was to signal a change in the depiction and treatment of ethnic minorities within Britain. Gradually the carnival began to gain recognition thanks to Claudia Jones (known as the ‘Mother of the NHC) and Rhaune Laslett who helped to promote the carnival. It was usually held in halls before it moved to the street of Notting Hill in 1976. By the early 1980’s the popularity of the carnival grew with more and more people attending each year and it has been a hit since. It then became mostly known for its Caribbean vibe, however, it still caters for many different cultures, including a Nigerian section where you can purchase traditional Nigerian cuisines and listen to some traditional music. Since then NHC has become internationally known with people travelling far and wide just to experience the event. Celebrating diversity is one of the highlights of the Notting hill carnival as

it allows one to see, feel and taste different cultures but how does one really and truly enjoy Notting Hill carnival? Seun Odulaja, from Hackney, London tells ‘Najia Times’ why he loves NHC “It is and always will be awesome, I especially loved the Nigerian section! The music was good, people were just dancing all the day and when we got tired and hungry we just brought some Eba and stew from the Nigerian stall! It’s good that our culture was shown and it always has been there, there are so many Nigerians in Britain and you can find most of them at Notting hill Carnival enjoying the day, I would advise anyone to go!” So there you have it NHC has so much to offer, make sure you don’t miss out!

Top tips for carnival fun Carry as less as possible- it’s going to be hot (fingers crossed) and the last thing you need is excess baggage getting in the way and weighing you down. Another point is to keep your valuables safe, sometimes items have a habit of ‘dropping out of your pocket’ make sure you keep a close eye on your things. Try everything out!- aim to go for both days, if you can’t, whatever do you go on make sure you visit as many stalls as possible, see the parade, in essence see as much as you can see and do as much as you can do! Be safe- Though it’s going to be fantastic make sure you are on your guard. It’s easy to get lost in all the fun and in the actual carnival itself, make sure you carry your map of the carnival with you at all times. Last but not least… Enjoy yourselfDance, eat and smile! The main aim is to have a fantastic day so make sure you do. So start planning your time off now! For more information check out www.nottinghillcarnival.biz

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Fashion & Lifestyle

The V-neck is the fad By Kenny Joseph

Over a hundred styles of tops are at the

height of fashion now. But the deep V-neck, (sometimes called the criss-cross top) is in a class of its own. V-neck tops make for flattering blouses that are ideal for everyday activities, especially when paired with co-coordinating trousers or skirts. Deep plunging v-neck tops of diverse hues come in different fabrics. Some are made from cotton, others from nylon, and others from polyester. But the most common and popular ones are the ones made from a stretchy fabric, lycra, and silk fabrics which are mostly worn on trousers, though they could be sometimes worn on skirts. But this cute top will look great on any skinny jeans, particularly if you wear them flat or heely shoes. They have a splendid look and a luxurious feel. These tops are easy to slip on and off and they are fabulously cool. Go chic with one! Evergreen heely shoes Just like other important fashion accessories, your shoes can either make or mar you on the social scene. In the Lagos scene now, no

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shoe is enjoying the limelight like the high heel shoe. In fact, it is a must-have. Your shoe rack can’t just afford to be without one. Besides their great versatility, they are one fashion item that have remained constant. And they are likely to remain like that for a while. Heel shoes, especially those with natty designs and incredible colours, are the fad and they can make you part of the crowd. There is no trendier shoe for that long awaited party than these heely shoes. You can pick the silhouettes or pencil to pump heels. If you are going for a pair of high heel shoes, then go for the ones that are classy, sophisticated and good to be worn with any formal or informal dress. They are best worn when you really want to be different. One of the things that differentiate them is the sole. It could be pencil heels, blocked heels, medium or silhouettes heels etc. Another distinguishing factor is whether they are studded with stones, sequins or metals. Depending on the designs, an average high heel shoe will look nice on skirts or trousers suits and other formal dresses.

“V-neck tops make for flattering blouses that are ideal for everyday activities”

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Fashion & Lifestyle

The Search is On for the Next

Top Model of Colour UK By Omolola Ogunbadejo

Let the competition begin! The Top Model

Of Colour (TMOC) UK 2008 is just around the corner, TMOC hopefuls battle it out to see who can claim the prestigious title and fantastic prizes including a modelling contract with the esteemed Mahogany Model Management but the models aren’t just competing to win the competition, they are also aiming, through the competition, to create awareness about the treatment of ethnic models within the modelling industry. TMOC UK, which works in conjunction with Mahogany Model Management is a competition for aspiring non white models to show the world as well as the modelling industry their talent and potential, they also aim to create more opportunities for non white models, whether professional or semi professional, to enter mainstream entertainment such as being presenters etc. One person who has experienced modelling success through the help of Mahogany Model management is Ibukun Jegede, a young model originally from Nigeria who has won several awards such as Mr Standout Model UK 2007, he is also under Standout Modelling Management and Zebra Models agency to name a few. He gave us his reasons to why he entered TMOC UK 2008 “I entered because it is a leading competition for models in the UK and I have lots of experience in the modelling industry. I also entered because I want to make NIGERIA proud”. Ibukun also believes that there is a lack of black models

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in the industry, “Top Model of Colour helps to promote black models which is one of the reasons why it is a good event.” It’s clear that TMOC UK is increasing awareness about the bias with respect to race. This competition is more than just models strutting their stuff down a runway and wearing designer clothes its about gaining recognition and displaying their talent for others to also appreciate. Sola Oyebade founder of Mahogany Models Management believes that it is not as easy to get into the modelling industry if you’re black or Asian but that shouldn’t stop one from trying. Last year more than 2000 contestants entered the competition hoping to accomplish their dream of becoming the TOP MODEL OF COLOUR 2007; they are expecting an even bigger turnout this year! However there can only be one winner and 2007 was a great year as TMOC UK saw the first ever male winner, Marcus, a multi talented model from Surrey, win the male segment of the competition after fighting off fierce competition.

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Fashion & Lifestyle

I just want to take this chance to say congratulations to Italian Vogue as their July Issue is exclusively going to feature ONLY black models! This is a significant breakthrough for the high profile magazine, which has featured some of the world’s best-known supermodels and top class designers. Some critics have argued that this would not be a success as apparently ‘black doesn’t sell’ once again displaying some of the narrow mindedness present in the fashion business. Whether it is a success or not, one thing is for sure, this Vogue July edition is one step forward for getting rid of the prejudice and discrimination. You go Italian Vogue, I hope you sell millions!

For more information about Top Model of Colour 2008 and how to vote, visit http://www.topmodelofcolour.com/

Fashion Not for the Faint Hearted! : So What Are You Wearing? By Omolola Ogunbadejo

How bold are we when it comes to fashion? Gone were the days when we wore skirts down to our toes and shirts that looked like parachutes, now, due to fashion liberation, it seems that we can wear just about anything and get away with it! One clothing range that conforms to this ethos of ‘bold and daring’ attire is ‘Stush’ clothing range (www.stush-clothing.co.uk). ‘Stush’ brings a whole new meaning to the saying ‘dress to impress’ as it specialises in glamorous R’n’B, Hip Hop and Dancehall wear for those who aren’t afraid to ‘show us what they got’ and take fashion to a higher level! This eccentric clothing line is not for the faint hearted dare I say; it consists of creatively crafted garments specially designed 22

for your own ‘unique taste’. With fans such as Tulisa, part of the Mobo Award Winning garage group N-Dubz and Charley from the UK’s Big Brother 8 TV show to name a few of its celebrity customers, it just simply highlights that non conventional is the new conventional! It may not be to everyone’s taste and seems that it will only really appeal to those who have a passion for raving/ clubbing but if you dare to take your fashion to a whole new extreme then this is one of the places to shop. Hey ladies! We are giving you the chance to win an exclusive Stush Dress, look like the bell of the club as well as dedicated supporter with a unique football themed dress! Choose between Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool and get a dress and kit rolled into one! For a chance of winning just answer this simple question and send it along with a photo of yourself all dressed up and ready to go out. Question: Which English Football Team Won the FA Cup last season? Send answer and photo to [email protected].

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Health

Before you down that energy drink by: Adeola Joseph

Although energy drinks are the rave in

Nigeria now, experts have cautioned that they might be doing more harm than good. Recently, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, Professor Dora Akunyili, warned Nigerians, especially children, against the consumption of energy drinks. “Energy drinks contain high sugar level and caffeine and are dangerous for children. If you don’t want too much sugar in your body don’t drink it. It is not for social events, so parents should monitor their children,” she said during a recent press conference. According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, energy drinks may have their origins in Scotland, where the earliest energy beverage, in the form of Irn-Bru or ‘Iron Brew’, is believed to have been first produced in 1901. Although many brands of energy drinks are sold in Nigeria, none of them is produced locally. Red Bull, one of the most popular brands, has its origins in Thailand where an Austrian entrepreneur, who discovered that a local drink cured him of jet lag, teamed up with a Thai manufacturer. Today, Red Bull is the market leader of what has been adjudged to be a $3bn global business. A business, which both Goldman Sachs and Mintel, have predicted will hit $10 billion by 2010. Some other popular brands include Crystal Light, Energy, Wild Strawberry, Dansani Refresh and Revive. Despite the wide and growing acceptance, which energy drinks have enjoyed the world over in recent times, medical experts have pointed out that their constituent elements like taurine, caffeine and inositol may end up doing more harm than good in the human body. They advise that these drinks should

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thus be avoided or be taken with care. Some of the potential risks involved have been identified as increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate and restlessness in children. Although some Nigerians have called on government to ban the importation of energy drinks, Akunyili, in an interview with The Sun, demurred, drawing an analogy between energy drinks and coffee. “All over the world, the regulatory agencies operate not by saying: don’t drink coffee. We know that coffee is not the best for the body because it is a stimulant. But we make sure that whatever coffee that we register is of the right quality. It depends on the individual who is buying it to decide whether he or she wants coffee. And when you are drinking it, it is left to you to decide the quantity you are putting into the cup. “People have come from all corners of the country to advice that we should ban energy drinks but I keep telling them that it is not possible for us to ban it. All we are going to continue to be doing is that people declare what they have on the label. When it comes to energy drink, our work is to make sure that those who are importing or producing any drink in this country should declare on the label everything that is contained in that drink and the quantity too. And if the owners of these energy drinks specify on the label that it contains 200 mg caffeine, it means that they are not deceiving anybody. It means that whoever is buying it should look at what he or she is buying. What we frown at and what we say no to are when you hide the things you are adding into the drink by not stating it on the label. If we find out, it would not even be registered. Even if it is registered and we

find out that the product contains something that is not stated on the label, that importer or manufacturer will be in serious trouble. In effect, what we are saying is that there is no way I can stop energy drink just because it contains stimulant. The stimulant does not kill.” In the meantime, NAFDAC has advised Nigerians to alert the authorities if they come across an energy drink that does not have a NAFDAC number, especially those with over 200 mg caffeine. At the moment, there are campaigns organised by some medical and consumer advocacy groups who are making efforts to debunk some of the myths that are responsible for the popularity of energy drinks. One of such is that they could replace lost water in the body. People who have this belief usually take energy drinks during exercises. But experts say that the diuretic quality of the caffeine content of the energy drink can dehydrate the body. Some drinkers also combine energy drinks with alcohol. Experts say this combination is dangerous since energy drinks are stimulant while alcohol is a depressant. These groups have also argued the need for stakeholders to debunk the notion that energy drinks are health drinks saying that true energy comes from calories not caffeine. So, before you down that can of energy drink, pause and think about the difference between calories and caffeine.

ELEMENTS LIKE TAURINE, CAFFEINE AND INOSITOL MAY END UP DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

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Internet Phone Did you know you can use the Internet to make free to cheap international and national telephone calls. This is all possible through the revolutionary Voice Over IP technology. technolo together with its NaijaConnects.com utilises this technology, powerful set of applications to offer members telephony services through their internet connection. All you need is a Laptop or PC, a microphone and some speakers and away you go! Calls to other members on Naijaconnects are absolutely free, whilst calls to fixed lines and mobiles are very cheap. Join the Revolution now. Tell friends and family and start connecting. NaijaConnects.com “Now we’re talking” Social Networking disc Meeting and discovering new and old friends online can be very exciting. NaijaConnects.com acts as a social networking platform that puts you in contact with people like you. Discovering new people on NaijaConnects.com is very easy, you can even search against Schools, Universities and Work places for friends you might have known but lost touch with. You can share memories by up loading and sharing photos with your friends and family. They can even leave you comments You can share and discover new music as well as share your home made videos online all for free!

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Money

Making your website work for you,

without google

Are you one of those webmasters or

publishers whose dream of making Google’s Adsense an extra source of income is being frustrated by the global search behemoth’s stringent and, sometimes, complex rules? Or one of those fellows who got bumped from Adsense? Well, you don’t have to wring those hands anymore. You can still smile, and earn a decent sum from your website, albeit with some old fashion toil. All you have to do is to know the viable alternatives to Google Adsense. This month, NaijaTimes is offering to introduce a few to you. Although Google Adsense is the leader in web-based content-

sensitive marketing, there are hundreds of advert vendors who can serve as viable alternatives. Clicksor Clicksor is the baby of Yesup, the company behind PayPopUp. It will offer you up to 60 per cent of the advertising revenues generated from your website. Its major strength is the Contextual Advertising Technology system, which simply underlines a selection of clickable text or display targeted contextual banner on your website. Clicksor provides online real time statistics and a fortnightly payment schedule. If your pay within a specified fortnight is less than $50, it is rolled into the next month. But when it is more, Clicksor pays either by a cheque or by Paypal. TargetPoint Targetpoint is the product of an Israeli company that gives you total control over the adverts that run on your website, supplies up-to-date site performance statistics and, most importantly, enhances your ad revenue. It provides targeted advertisements on webpages, allowing webmasters (especially of BitTorrent websites) to make money based on the number of ads clicked. This is known as the pay-per-click model. Yahoo Publisher Network Now with its Yahoo Classic up and running, Yahoo! Has given in to online publishers and webmasters’ demand to expand its distribution network and make it easy for other web users to make money through Yahoo. Sadly though, YPN is still in beta and it only accepts United States-based publishers for now. But it is widely believed that Yahoo will expand it when it comes out of Beta. YPN provides cost per click contextual advertising that is similar to Google Adsense.

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BidClix Bidclix will help you to find the highest yielding ads for your site through its proprietary optimization technology. Since advertisers compete for access to your valuable inventory on a bid-for-placement basis, this maximizes your effective CPM. BidClix’s payment system is fast, as it is done within a fortnight. Bidvertiser Bidvertiser will place text ads on your website and pay you for every click. All you have to do is to display the BidVertiser text ads on your website and let advertisers bid against each other! Bidvertiser will also display the highest bidders to help you maximise your revenue! You will also notice a constant improvement in your bidding over time, as both your visitors and Bidvertisers’ advertisers will be exposed to the opportunity of bidding against each other on your ad space. Nixie Nixxie has a programme that reads the content of your website and then use the information derived to deliver advertising that is most relevant to the content of your web pages. You can choose from solutions featuring text ads, price comparison listings and live auction advertising. You will also earn revenue each time someone clicks on Nixie’s listings. Clickbank Clickbank displays affiliate adverts and products. Clickbank, which rewards advertisers on a pay-for-every-sale basis, has about 10000 products. Web buffs believes it pays better than Adsense because it pays between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of product cost.

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Money

and weekly reports on the Nigerian capital market on their websites. Some of these are: Expresson-line.com Expresson-line is the website of the Express Discount Limited, which was incorporated in 1992, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria a year later and which commenced operations the same year. It is owned by a consortium of six banks and three insurance companies.

Monitoring your stocks With the huge influx of investors into the

Nigerian capital market and the rash of public listings in recent times, the need for financial intelligence among Nigerians has gone up by several notches. In the main, investors rely on their brokers or newspapers to meet that need: either by making enquiries or poring over the daily and weekly market summaries published by newspapers. But given the recent rash of public listings and the sometimes confusing bureaucratic maze that investment documentations have to travel through not a few fiduciary relationships have come under serious strain. Are there other options for investor who desire a third way? Yes. Thanks to the ascendancy of information and communication technology tools in Nigeria, investors are increasingly being offered a wide array of avenues to monitor the performance and movement of their stocks and the market without relying on their brokers or newspapers.

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The options for investors who desire to constantly monitor the performance or movement of stocks or the health of the capital market options now range from simple telephone-based information system to an increasing number of informed financial intelligence websites. For example, the Short Message Service-based trade alert scheme, an investor protection scheme introduced by the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Central Securities Clearing System, sends an SMS massage to the investor giving details of sales, purchases, volume and prices of transactions made on his behalf as soon as they are made. To enjoy this, an investor would first have to open an individual or corporate stockbroking account with a licensed stockbroking firm and then obtain a CSCS Clearing House Number (CHN). Many stockbroking and financial intelligence firms also run market information and daily

Proshareng.com Proshare Invest-Africa’s proshareng.com is led by popular Nigerian financial analyst, Femi Awoyemi. It has an investor friendly forum for investors, financial institutions, analysts and service providers in the capital market and claims to promote intelligent exchanges of information and strategies needed to profitably engage the market. It started operations in 2002. Y Cashcraft.com Cashcraft Asset Management is one of Nigeria’s foremost portfolio managers. It was incorporated in 1991. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as issuing house, brokers, dealers, portfolio managers and investment advisers. It has a paid up Capital is N1billion (One BillionNaira) but with shareholders’ fund in excess of N2billion (Two Billion Naira). Cashcraft serves a wide array of clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to some of the largest corporations in Nigeria and government related institutions. Africancapitalmarkets.com African Capital Market, which provides Nigerian financial market information, came under a new management earlier this year. It works with a consortium of brokers licensed

with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is one of the most popular Nigerian financial intelligence websites with Nigerians in the Diaspora. Stockmarketnigeria.com StockMarketNigeria.com provides information to help beginning investors in the Nigerian stock market. It hosts a very active discussion forum, where investors discuss pertinent issues about the Nigerian stock market. Cscsnigerialtd.com The Central Securities Clearing System was incorporated on July 29, 1992 as a subsidiary of The Nigerian Stock Exchange. It was commissioned on April, 1997 and commenced operations on April 14, 1997. It operates a computerized depository, clearing settlement and delivery system for transactions in shares listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange. CSCS facilitates the delivery (transfer of shares from seller to buyer) and settlement (payment of bought shares) of securities transacted on the floors of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.  It enables stocks to be processed in an electronic book-entry form thereby substantially reducing the period it takes a transaction to commence and end. Cowryasset.com Incorporated in 2005, with an initial authorized capital of N100million, it has grown into a firm with an authorised capital of N1billion and shareholders funds in excess of N400million. It offers daily and weekly report on the Nigerian capital market and distributes a newsletter.

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Money

BUSINESS PERSONALITY:

LEO STAN EKEH Leo Stan Ekeh’s ascent to the top, though

steady, was not swift. In fact, it took several years, and an unusual route. Decades back, at a time when the United States of America and the United Kingdom where the ports of call for young Nigerians who wanted a foreign university education, Ekeh opted for India. Known widely today as the founder of Zinox, Nigeria’s first indigenous computer assembler and number one local brand, and for his investments in banking and insurance, Ekeh’s name has not always rang a bell. His reputation as a pioneer in the Nigerian computing business sprouted when he spearheaded the introduction of computers to newspaper production. But it wasn’t until Ekeh partnered with South Africa’s hardware giant, Mercer, for the local production of computers that his name became a household name.

The Nigerian ICT market is relatively underdeveloped absorbing only about 200000 new computers yearly (the market for used computers and components is however bigger than that, about thrice that number). But Ekeh’s grit, innovation and hard won government endorsement, that made it the computer of choice in government offices across Nigeria, have given him a substantial portion of the market. India was a backwater Third World country with seemingly little to offer when Ekeh opted to study there. But his insight that the country could offer better practical lessons for running a business in Nigeria has turned out to be remarkable. “That was a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India a realistic economy. I was able while there to associate with the Ghandis, I was able to associate with the chairman of Coca-Cola in India, Cornel George and a whole lot of them,” he told Nigeria’s leading tabloid, The Sun, in a recent interview. But it was in the UK, where he studied for an advanced degree, where Ekeh first tried his hand in business, using his school fees as start-up capital. “Then, I had started a fashion designing business. I was doing some of the Air Force uniform and their pips. We were importing military pips from London into the country then. So, it was just for me to take a decision which way to go. Do I continue to pay the British government school fees and get a degree after I have done nine months there or do I get out and use that money for business? So, I opted out to use the money for business. And that was how

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I launched my first company – Task Systems. By then I already had an insight on Desktop Publishing, Apple. So, I pioneered Desktop Publishing and Compugraphics in Nigeria. I computerised all the newspapers, magazines and book publishing houses.” Now, Ekeh is far away from his humble beginnings. Zinox is a market leader; his insurance company is one of the country’s biggest and he has substantial interest in a bank. The motivation for all this, he said, was in his childhood dreams. “I just wanted to be different. This is my inner driving force – to be different; go to school if at all it was necessary because I had the entrepreneurial spirit right from childhood. Even in the secondary school, I wanted to own the biggest transport company. I mean I had spent my time writing about it and designing it. So, I just went to school for going sake. This is basically what happened to me in the early stage.” However, since its launch, some of his competitors have insinuated that Ekeh’s claim that Zinox is Nigeria’s first locally produced computer isn’t true. A criticism that Ekeh counters: “Our computers are hundred per cent locally made. Today, you carve out your niche. When you see other brands, they say they are American, but America produces nothing inside that system, but the intellectual power to design. This is why we are not clones. We are branding because we have added value; we’ve created what we wanted, but something that interfaces with global standards. So, the job is not on the casing, but the job is part of the motherboard because we have to design certain processes to meet global standards, giving it to people who do it.

But who actually designs the kind of car, the shape of the car? So, the man who does the car is not the paint maker, the engine maker, and the brake-pad maker. But he who has to intellectually put all these things together and then share them out to different people to give him samples. And when you test it, it gives you the standard you thought of, that one now becomes your trademark and you stamp it. “Before, people hid their identity. They do something in Nigeria and they say Made in Japan, Made in Taiwan. That was complex, you must carve a niche, so we said we are Nigerian from day one. And after that day we now see other companies a few months after saying proudly Nigerian. This didn’t exist before.” However, this argument turns out, what is incontrovertible is that Ekeh has earned a prime place at the top of the Nigerian business sector. That, at least is one argument that no one can controvert.

“It is like you are a car manufacturer; you tell the tyre manufacturer what you want to do.

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Careers and Development

the saying ‘birds of the same feather, flock together’. Holland believed that there are six personality types within which everybody can be categorized and that people with particular interests/traits would be most comfortable working with others like them. In other words, people of the same personality are attracted to themselves hence tend to work together. He also believed that there are six types of environments which are a function of the six personality types which have created environments that suit their personalities and work styles. His theory suggests that people with the same personality styles working together in the same environment have higher chances of success than working in different environments or with different personality styles.

or P l a n n i ng f a n E x c i t i ng rt2 C areeorOpa is m ore By Tay

T

he first part of this article attempted to establish that there are 6 broad forces of influence on career decisions and that the best type of influence that will guarantee an exciting career choice is the ‘Personal Interest’. This sequel will focus, as promised, on how different personality styles and interests affect career choice and thus planning based on them. Understanding Personality Quite a few scholars have come up with several theories that support or explain the human behaviour and the different personality styles that people manifest. More often than not, you see yourself asking questions like – `what is wrong with him?’ or `why does she behave like

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that?’ Well, that `behaviour’ can be explained as well as the irritations and excitements of the individuals in question. Basically, your personality, to a large extent, guides your interests (and irritations) which in turn affect your career choice either positively or conversely. The first step to making career decisions is not to undermine the importance of understanding yourself and the things you enjoy doing the most.

The Career Key 1. The Career Key Holland’s Theory of Career Choice and You John Holland’s theory is based on a premise that can best be explained at it’s simplest by

4) Social: These are people in help professions like, teaching, nursing, or giving first aid, providing information. They are friendly trustworthy and tend to avoid using machines, tools, or animals to achieve their goals. 5) Enterprising This category is one in which you find people who like to lead and persuade others, sell things and ideas. They do not particularly care for activities that require careful observation and scientific or analytical thinking. They are energetic, ambitious, and sociable.

These personality types include:

6) Conventional Here is a class of people who like to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way. They value success in business and see themselves as orderly, and good at following a set plan.

1) Realistic: These are people who see them selves as practical, mechanical and realistic beings. The work well with tools and things you can physically touch. In this category you have people who work with machines, plants, technical drawings etc.

Holland’s theory basically believes that how you act and feel at work depends to a large extent on your workplace environment and that if you work with people who have a personality type like yours, you will be able to do many of the things they can do, and you will feel most comfortable with them.

2) Investigative:

Using the career key theory, you should be able to place yourself in the category of personality to which you belong. This should guide your choice of career and help secure the excitement you desire in your chosen vocation.

Here, you have the class of people who love problem solving. They see themselves as intellectuals who love solving math or scientific problems but not interested in selling or leading roles. 3) Artistic: Creative activities like painting, music, dancing are some of the attributes of this class of individuals. They are very expressive, original and independent.

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Entertainment

am from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.  I attended Abeokuta Grammar School and CMS Grammar School for my O-Level; Universal Basic College for my A-Level; and the Nigerian Opportunity Industrialization Centre for a diploma in Computer Studies. I was at the Lagos State University studying law but dropped out in 100 Level, now I am doing music. I am from a polygamous family of 5 wives and 9 children.

9ice: Yes.  When I first started music professionally I didn’t sing at home.  All I did was read my textbooks; I wanted to make my parents happy. Then, my daddy saw me on the TV and he was so shocked that he kept asking, “Ah! Is this not you?” He was having his meal, but he couldn’t stop asking. Later, he called me and said, “Okay, if this is what you really want to do, I’ll give you a chance and let’s see how far you can go.”

NT: How long have you been singing?

NT: How many albums have you done?

9ice: I have been singing since 1993 but I started professionally in 2000.

9ice: My first album was Certificate, Gongo Aso is second. The first album paved the way while the second took me to a level I’ve never been.  Now, people know the person, the name and the album.

NT: What inspired you? 9ice: I have a passion for music. Again, as a young man who had tried so many things that did not work but who knew quite well that he had a talent that no one else knew about, I decided to give music a trial. I’m glad it’s working out. NT: Why did you drop out of school?

Why I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs

S

oft spoken but very confident Abolore Adebola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, is Nigeria’s latest music sensation. His hit, Gongo aso, a rhythmic blend of Yoruba

idioms and wise sayings blended with pulsating hip-hop vibes, is the rave of the airwaves. In this interview with Toun Aderele, 9ice lets us into his world. NT: Who is 9ice? 9ice: My name is Abolore Adebola Akande.  I

9ice: Well I stopped school when I did because I had some financial problems. Law is a very expensive course and for me it was law or nothing. I stayed at home for three years hoping to get into the university because I wanted Law. I could have gone in for something else, but I waited patiently until I had gained admission to study Law. Little did I know that it will be so financially tasking. Unfortunately, by the time I realized this, I was far into my first year. NT: Was there any opposition from your parents or members of your family?

NT: Why Gongo Aso? 9ice: Well, I titled the song Gongo Aso because when the inspiration for it hit me all I kept hearing was Gongo Aso.  All I could hear in my ear was Gongo Aso. I have always known it as an idiomatic expression that is fully expressed as Gongo aso kutupu awu (bells will be pealed) and is used to announce that an earth shaking event, that may be negative, is imminent. I decided to use the same words but in expectation of good things rather than the usual bad things because I believe in the power of the mind. I knew that the song was going to bring good tidings my way. Things like choice cars (a Bentley), nice houses, fame and a whole lot of money. I knew in my heart that the song was going to signal a turnaround for me, that was why I changed the idea behind it.  NT: How do you intend to sustain the momentum which Gongo Aso is enjoying?

“The first album paved the way” 36

Entertainment

be performed live on stage.  They have songs that you can listen to in your bedroom or office but they probably won’t thrill a live audience. These artistes are not making any money at all.  Now we are appealing to the government and we are making one or two corrections in terms of how we distribute and market our records so that artistes who don’t have the ability to perform at live shows can make money from their record sales. NT: At the just concluded Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) you won an ward, how did you feel? 9ice: I was nominated in 5 categories and I won Best New Act.  I’m one artiste that does not hide my feelings, so I’ll say it the way it is.  I don’t care about what people will say about me, because that’s the way I feel and that’s the way I’ll say it.  I would say it’s wrong for them to give me the award for Best New Act.  You cannot give an artiste that has two albums Best New Act.  Apart from that, last year they gave a very good friend of mine, (a young artiste) The Voice of The Decade, which was very, very wrong.  Where would they put people like Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. They need to get their priorities right.  If they don’t know how to go about it, they should hire consultants who will get it right. 

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NT: Where do you see the Nigerian music industry in 5 years? 9ice: In the next 5 years, it is going to be next to none. What we need is to correct one or two things. For a long time, we‘ve not had a society that bring us together. The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is dead.  We need a society that will bring the old and the new generation together.  We need a society to fight for the right, aims and objectives of all Nigerian

Artistes. They (corporate organizations) would bring in Akon who has not done what Tu Face Idibia has done here and yet they will pay Akon $500,000. Chris Brown, a 17-year-old, will come to Nigeria tomorrow for the Star Mega Jam and they will pay him $200,000, while Nigerian artistes will be fighting for N800,000, which will not even be paid upfront. The difference between $200,000 and N800,000 is quite huge.  So, we need a society that will fight for our rights.  If you are bringing Akon into the country, you can decide to pay Akon whatever amount you want, but if you are paying Akon a certain amount we expect to be paid the same amount or something close.  If you are going to fly Akon on a jet from Lagos to Calabar then you have to fly Nigerian artistes on a jet too and not in a helicopter.  We need to be treated well.  NT: Where do you see yourself in the next ten years? 9ice: We have a 9ice foundation.  Very soon we’ll be working in partnership with the United Nations on a tour of some primary and secondary schools, 9 in all. We will start from Oyo State.  We want to encourage the reading of Yoruba language textbooks.  The school that emerges first, will go home with N100,000.00 cash, and lots of Yoruba textbooks, while the school that comes second will go home with a television set and Yoruba textbooks.  We have other programs in the pipeline which we will execute as time goes on.  In another two years I want to be the next Michael Jackson.  I’m not dreaming I believe it’s achievable.  I want to be the first Nigerian that will bring home the Grammy Awards – Sunny Ade is the first nominee, Femi Kuti has also been nominated but I want to be

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9ice: Well I’ve been working on that.  Gongo Aso was generally accepted because I sounded traditional and because I made use of my mother tongue.  That’s why my next album is Tradition.  I am going to continue with the same trend. NT: Do you think the name of the song had anything to do with its success? 9ice: I would say yes, the words in the song are words that a lot of people from the Yoruba tribe know. But people hardly make use of these phrases.  They are wise sayings that we often neglect.  NT: What are the challenges you have faced as a musician? 9ice: Well, while starting off in music, I faced the challenges that a lot of musicians face, and that is lack of funds. Going into the studio costs a lot of money.  The other challenge is that once your music becomes generally accepted and popular, people want to see your face. And this puts some pressure on you to dress properly, buy expensive clothes, wear expensive jewelry, expensive wristwatches etc., even when you can’t afford them. They say it’s all part of ‘show business’.  So, it is a very expensive venture. These are just some of the challenges we face as artistes. Unfortunately, artistes who are ‘made’ are forced to live fake lives, in the sense that they have to watch the places they go and they have to stop visiting places they are used to. Believe it or not it’s a fake life. NT: How did you overcome these challenges? 9ice: It has been a big struggle, but no matter who I am today or what I become, I will never forget my roots.

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NT: Nowadays, much of what musicians convey in their songs are meaningless. What difference do you intend to make with your songs? 9ice: Well, I am working on that.  Nowadays, if you listen to radio stations very, very closely, you’ll notice that most of the songs we have on radio are not as vulgar as they used to be. People who sang vulgar songs in the past have realised that those things don’t work anymore. At least, in this part of the world.  For example, a musical icon, whose name I won’t mention, whose songs used to be very vulgar, has changed his lyrics now and he is doing well. NT: What are you planning to give back to the society? 9ice: Well, now I have my own record label, and I’m also working with two other artistes who I consider to be very talented.  One of them dropped out of school because of financial problems but we are making efforts to ensure that he gets back into the educational system. The other is still in school and we are encouraging him to continue his education even as he builds his musical career.  He is a student of a College of Education in Oyo State.  We are working on their albums; very soon we’ll shoot the videos.  And you guys will soon hear from them. NT: What’s the name of your record label and how lucrative is the music industry? 9ice: Alapo Meji Records. The music industry in Nigeria is very lucrative. It‘s going to be next to the oil industry very soon, but only if one or two things are corrected. Right now, no artiste is making money from his or her record sales.  Where we make money from are live performances and endorsements.  There are some artistes whose songs cannot

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Entertainment Entertainment

“Pride will never get the better of me because i know where i’m coming from and where i’m going.” the first Nigerian that will be awarded a Grammy.  Aside from that I want to create an empire in which we’ll have 100 very successful artistes under a record label so that we can have less people living under the bridge. To achieve that, they must have a few things working for them - creativity and talent. I want to give them the opportunity to bring out the talent which God has deposited in them. NT: What’s the effect of piracy on the Nigerian music industry and how can it be curbed? 9ice: As we speak, the Gongo aso video is already in the market even though we have not released it.  The pirates have also released a Fat Joe video and at the beginning of the video they used my picture, after two seconds they used a second picture of mine.  These pirates are human beings like you and me. That’s why we’re saying we need the government to come to our aid. Piracy is everywhere.  However, piracy also has its positive effect. It’s a way by which your songs get promoted at a rate faster than you have planned. But its negatives outweigh its positives and we need the government to come in. We need a body like NAFDAC, which deals with people who sell fake drugs. We need our own NAFDAC in the music industry.  Believe it or not, I know where all these pirates can be found, where they produce and print but

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I cannot do it alone, these guys print in my neighborhood here in Somolu.  We caught up with them two months ago and we found 1.5million CD jackets of Gongo Aso.  We know where the CDs are copied and we also know where the jackets are designed.  All we need is the power to enforce the laws that already exist. NT: What feedback about your music are you getting from abroad? 9ice: Some say the Yoruba language, which I used in writing the lyrics, will affect the song.  Now, I believe they know better. They must have learnt that music doesn’t really have a language.  We’ve had live performances in Katsina, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Yobe, Kaduna and Abuja.  We even have more shows in northern cities where they don’t understand the language, but they feel the rhythm. So, I’d say we are a national brand.  Now, we are being demanded for in London and America, and I believe that very soon if everything works out we will be singing outside these shores. NT: Have you performed any shows outside Nigeria? 9ice: No.  I hope to very soon. NT: In what ways can the Nigerian government help the entertainment Industry? 9ice: In two ways: I think government needs to support good organisations like PMAN. PMAN died a natural death because government did not support it. We need organisations that can stand for us. For example, I have issues with a company. It made use of Gongo Aso for its jingles and an organisation called PMRS went on my behalf to demand for N4.5 million from the company. But PMRS has not got in touch with me and I heard it has collected 1.5 million

and an online cheque of N300,000.  I was opportune to meet with a friend of mine who asked the owner of the company to stop the cheque and we have scheduled a meeting for tomorrow.  These are the things that should be corrected in the Nigerian music industry. You can imagine a credible organisation like PMRS getting involved in such a deal, even if they wanted to collect money on my behalf they should have got in touch with me first.

screaming, I got encouraged. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink alcohol and it’s working for me. For those who smoke and drink, I’d say they should stop it.  A lot of my colleagues smoke and drink and I have watched them perform. Rather than perform well, they make a mess of themselves.  They don’t even know their lyrics because of the amount of drugs they’ve taken.  The message here is that you can be at your best without drugs and alcohol. They do not help.

NT: Three great musicians made their exit last week. How do you feel?

NT: How do you unwind?

9ice: I don’t know Steve Rhodes, but I know Sammy Needles, he is a very good friend of mine.  We met at a carnival two years ago and last year in Calabar. I know Sunny Okosun he was a great father. I heard about his death.  You can imagine these three people are dead now and nothing is being done. If we had a society for Nigerian musicians, we would be in the process of planning how to celebrate them.  We possibly would be requesting that the Nigerian government immortalises them, either by naming a street or an emblem after them.   We would have gone further to tax ourselves a certain amount so that we can do something for them and their families, so that we can celebrate them. NT: You perform with so much verve, what is the secret? Do you take anything? 9ice: Well I thank God for myself and my parents. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink.  At the inception of my music career, anytime I was called on stage I shivered because I used to wonder, “What would I do to meet up with these people’s expectations? But as time went on and I performed more shows, when they called 9ice and I heard people

9ice: I’m a workaholic.  I don’t believe I relax, on very rare occasions I watch movies. I always read and write.  NT: You’re not married but do you intend to have a family someday? 9ice: Very soon. NT: How would you like to be remembered? 9ice: Well, I’d like to be remembered for all the great things I have done.  Apart from great songs, the fact that I have been able to affect lives positively.  I don’t believe in having N20 billion in my bank account, I believe in touching lives. I want to see people around me happy. If I don’t have N50 million in my bank account, at least, let it be said that 9ice walked the ‘path’ of life doing good. NT: Do you ever think that pride will ever get the better of you? 9ice: Pride will never get the better of me because I know where I’m coming from and where I’m going

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Entertainment Album Review

Lineo’s Lets Get It Started by Toun Aderele

Though fairly new on the scene, Lineo is

a new generation musician whose genre is African hip hop. Afro hip hop, as it is better known, is the in-genre in Nigeria at the moment. Lineo’s Lets Get It Started is a pulsating mixture of raw vibes and nifty instrumental and it is already enjoying a great deal of airplay on Nigerian radio stations. It is rhythmic, danceable and sure to get you twisting, even on a chair. In real terms, this is Lineo’s second attempt but his debut, I Dey Ring, was not released formally. Rather, it was circulated as a ring tone. Although the ring tone turned out to be a hit, Lineo never formally launched the album. This might explain why he has titled this new album Let’s Get It Started; a way of telling his fans that the first attempt was not the real thing and the real thing is only just starting.

accapella and instrumental versions. Born in Nigeria in the late 80’s to a royal family, Lineo, real name Prince Adekoya Adegboyega Yusuf, is a last child. He has a diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Abuja; but decided to pursue music as a career in 2004. Ever since, he has not looked back. One good thing about this debut is that though it is targeted at youths, it can very easily get the older generation off their chairs and on to the dance floor. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s Get Started.

Just like the idiom rich hit of Nigeria’s rave of the moment 9ice, Gongo Aso, Lineo’s lyrics are tight and full of messages. Rendered in a combination of perfect Queens English, raw pidgin English (the peculiarly Nigerian form of English spoken by the majority of Nigerians) and antediluvian Yoruba (his mother tongue), Let’s Get It Started sounds like a dish cooked for as varied an audience as possible. Lineo’s voice is his biggest asset and he has done well to combine this with the right mix of back-up singers. This debut also has an

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Entertainment

How I almost didn’t participate in The Apprentice Africa Isaac Dankyi-Koranteng, winner of Africa’s biggest business reality show in a chat with Toun Aderele.

For 16 weeks, Africa’s number one top

rated business reality show The Apprentice Africa held TV audiences spellbound across the continent. The programme, which was sponsored by Bank PHB and jointly produced by The Executive Group (TEG) and Storm Vision Productions, started with 18 contestants from across Africa and the Diaspora. In the end, it was Ghana’s Isaac Dankyi-Koranteng who emerged the winner of the $200000 cash prize. He spoke with Toun Aderele from his Accra base. NT: How did it feel winning? ID: It was a great feeling especially when you’ve put in so much and you’ve sacrificed so much and finally they pay off. It is one of the greatest feelings one can ever have that is how happy I am. I was very, very happy when I was announced the winner NT: How did you get to become a part of the show? ID: Well let me start by saying that over the past year, I had been watching the US version of the show and I got so involved that I really wanted to participate and I even went online searching if there was any opportunity for people living in Africa to participate in such programmes. But it didn’t yield any result. So,

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one afternoon a friend called me and said ‘Isaac, The Apprentice has now been brought down to Africa and it has been advertised in the dailies.’ Instantly, I applied. I was inspired by watching the US version and I believed I had what was needed to do well on the show. NT: Did you ever feel you could win? ID: Yes my sister, I came into the show with only one motive; to win. ‘I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me’. Let me first tell you, I went through a lot before coming on this show. I nearly missed out on the auditioning. I was there one Thursday when somebody called and told me Isaac, I’m just calling to tell you that we are changing the day for the auditioning from Friday to Saturday. I had no prior information when the auditioning was coming on. Had it not been the change of date, I would have missed the audition and I wouldn’t have been in the Apprentice House. I went through other series of difficult moments especially when we were to report at the house after what I had gone through with the auditioning. I was told on the 4th of January that I was to be in Lagos on the 6th of January. The notice was too short though apparently all the contestants were informed earlier on in December but I did not get that notice. Considering the short time notice, I pulled out of the show. However, I was able to come to a compromise with the producers who gave me a grace period till 15th January. On the 15th of January, my passport which I had submitted for renewal some three months earlier was still not ready. Determined to make it to the Lagos that day, I made the journey by road. All these happenings were obstacles that wanted to block my blessings. They actually rather propelled into knowing and believing victory

would definitely smile at me in the end. NT: Did you at any point feel that it was a Ghana versus Nigerian thing? ID: Not really. Ghana and Nigeria are sister nations. I see Africa as one nation so it wasn’t a Ghana Nigeria battle. Rather, I saw it as a ‘local bred’ versus ‘Diasporan bred’ thing. I was bent on winning to signal to the world that, the African educational system is as good as that of any other place. The most important thing is how you apply what you have learnt in practical life and not where you got it from. NT: Some viewers felt the organisers were more impressed with the performance of the Africans who trained abroad.What do you think? ID: Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. What I know is that, there was only one man at the helm of affairs and he was solely responsible for every decision. What I know is that Mr. Biodun Shobanjo was impressed with me and appointed me The Apprentice Africa. Any other person who is an organiser might have his or her favourite. I think the best man won. That’s it. NT: Was there anytime you harboured a fear of losing? ID: I was prepared for any result. It was one of two chances. Win or lose. However, as human as I am, there were moments during the final show I felt uneasy. It could go any direction so when you think of it that way, you only pray for the best. NT: Who is your favourite housemate? ID: I would say it’s Tunde Ojikutu. He was like a brother to me.

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NT: If you hadn’t got to the finals which of the other contestants do you think could have got there?

on an expansion project along the West Coast of Africa by developing products tailored for different markets.

ID: Any of the contestants could have been in the finals. They are all brilliant people. Hannah for instance was unfortunately evicted in the first week, but she is a very smart lady who could have made it far if she had survived the first week. Everybody was a potential winner. However, in the course of the interview, I saw myself meeting Tunde in the finals.

NT: What are your plans for the future?

NT: What are your impressions about Lagos?

NT: What is your advice for anyone who wants to attempt to participate in The Apprentice?

ID: Lagos is a fast paced city. Everybody is on the move and I really like how active it is. As I hear, new entrants are not told “Welcome to Lagos” but rather “This is Lagos.” For me, Lagos is a home away from home.

ID: Be ready to go through the most gruelling interview you’ve ever had. Be ready to think on your feet. Be ready to give more than 100% of your professional best to survive lest you are fired!

NT: How did your wife and you handle the separation?

NT: What was the overall lesson you learnt and that you would like to impart in others if given a chance?

ID: I guess you mean the time we spent without each other. Well it is said that absence in love is like water on flames, a little ignites it and a lot quenches it. It was a difficult time staying in the Apprentice house and not having frequent access to communication with my wife. Although it was for a long time, our love got even stronger. NT: What are you planning to do with the winning money? ID: Ha ha, point of correction: it’s not a lump sum of $200,000. It is a job with an annual salary of $200,000. As for what I would do with the salary, I really would like to keep it to myself. NT: Are you going to work with Bank PHB? ID: Yes. I will be working with Bank PHB

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ID: I will work with Bank PHB to gain more experience and will start my own business. However, I will soon launch a project to inspire entrepreneurship in undergraduates, beginning in Ghana and Nigeria.

ID: People management is a very important skill everybody must acquire. Your interpersonal skill can take you places within your organisation and beyond. A poor one could stall your progress as it is said that the people you meet on your way up, they are the same you meet you on your way down. NT: What was your winning strategy? ID: To be frank with you, I didn’t have a grand strategy to use in the show. I saw it as a job interview that required you to be yourself and give your professional best. I spent the initial week trying to understand the temperament of the various contestants and how to handle them. I guess that worked for me. However, every act and every decision must be well calculated because they always have a consequence.

Entertainment

DJ CHARLIE SHEE A

kinbobola Adeseye Charles aka DJ Charlie is one of Nigeria’s best Radio Disc Jockeys. Born in Lagos, he had dreams of becoming an entertainer as a kid. So, it surprised no one when he turned to the turntable while in secondary school. D.J Charlie, who has been a DJ for like a decade, started as a mobile DJ before joining one of the leading radio stations EKO 89.75 FM as a presenter/radio DJ. A member of the Coalition of Nigerian DJs, DJ Charlie has featured at major events in nearly all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. He has also worked with events companies like Pea DJ Entertainment; Illific Solution; Blueprint Events; Colossal Entertainment and others. DJ Charlie, who likes traveling and meeting people, says he opted for his stage name because he wanted something peculiar; something as unique as his dexterity on the console. Email: [[email protected]]

“DJ Charlie has featured at major events in nearly all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria”

OLUWAFEMI MICHAEL EMENYONU (FLYBOL) H

e is often called flybol among his colleagues in the entertainment industry but his real name is Oluwafemi Michael Emenyonu. He is a banking graduate turned broadcaster. Oluwafemi Emenyonu started his broadcast career as a correspondent on the very popular Bisi Olatilo Show (BOS) but today he works with Eko 89.75fm, He anchors the morning belt from 10am to 3pm Mondays through Fridays. Femi’s passion for broadcasting is displayed when presenting programmes like Weekend Starters, Mystery Guest, Showbiz Temple, Gospel Vibes and Naija Shouts amongst others. Born on 1st May 1976, Femi says he’s only just started and will stop only when the world acknowledges him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of broadcasting. Email: [[email protected]]

Oluwafemi Akanni A young broadcaster who doesn’t like

being described as an air personality. He says he is in the media for the long haul and adds that the industry is like a computer that is constantly changing. Akanni is married, highly motivated and loves meeting people. Email: [[email protected]]

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Entertainment

Interview with Nigerian Hip Hop group Rooftop MCs. Interview by Seun Omotade NT: Please introduce yourself to our readers? SOULSNATCHA: Rooftop MCs is made up of Adekunle Adeyoola (a.k.a. Soulsnatcha) and Olaitan Hughes (a.k.a Sokleva). Soulsnatcha means literally snatching souls from the world SOKELVA: S.O.K.L.E.V.A is an acronym which means Spiritually Oriented Knowledge Leaves Every Verse Anointed or Amazing. We do predominantly hip hop music but with a blend of rock, juju, fuji, highlife. SOULSNATCHA: We started our music career 8 years ago and released our first album in 2004 titled “Shock Therapy“. The critically acclaimed album contained hit tunes like ‘Shock Therapy’, ‘Feel this (remix)’. In 2008, we then released another album titled “Minority Report“. This album boasts of great

songs like ‘Lagimo‘, ‘Elenu‘ and is a reflection of the skill and expertise working with renowned producers like Cobhams Asuquo, Frenzy among others.

light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the Rooftops”. A rapper is also known as an MC, a master of ceremony so that accounts for the MC.

SOKELVA: We do not see ourselves as just Gospel rappers. Rather we see ourselves as rappers preaching the message of redemption, salvation and the light through our music. We are called to spiritual and secular audiences alike. We live to spread the gospel and also praise GOD in exciting, unconventional ways. We recognised that there is a gap which is not being filled; the gap of good music that can positively change lives, enrich souls and portray Christianity as an exciting way of life.

NT: Your sound is very unique, what inspires you to create the type of music that you do?

NT: How did the name “Roof Top MCs” come about?

SOULSNATCHA: It comes from hanging out and spending time with the God of creativity. There is no way you can sound like everybody else NT: Are there any bands/ artists out there that challenge you to do better work? SOULSNATCHA and SOKELVA: Yeah SOKELVA: jay z, toby mac… SOULSNATCHA: ...p.o.d

NT: Do you have any favourite tracks off your new album? SOKELVA: Hmm. The album “minority report” is a banger from the very first track so it’s hard to pick a favourite NT: What’s next for the Roof Top Mcs? SOULSNATCHA: We have just been nominated for the KORA awards after the first two nominations, Lagimo – Hip Hop Music awards 2008, Sound City Music Video 2008. So we are busy spreading our music round the world. Presently, we are doing a lot of shows and we are working on some miniprojects which will be made known as soon as possible. So keep your ears peeled. NT: Thanks

SOULSNATCHA: The name “Rooftop MCs” is derived from the scripture verse in the Bible , Matthew 10:27, which states that “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in

Interview with

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Directories

Webfile Naija Times Site To Watch:

Site of the month: Whogobuy.com

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ith its simply designed and easy-tonavigate website, Whogobuy.com, has created a virtual market where Nigerians can buy and sell without having to contend with the huge challenge that online payments always pose. Thanks to the fraudulent activities of a few Nigerians, the country has come to be seen as a haven for scam artists around the world. As a result, some global e-payment platforms have blacklisted Nigeria refusing to accept payment made from the country. It is this problem that Whogobuy seeks to solve. By offering itself as a one-stop point where Nigerians willing to sell can meet those willing to buy and do deals without a need for credit cards or online payment. And it does all this for free! It lists cars, phones, clothes, homes, books, games with descriptions, images, contact info and negotiable asking prices. As it does not

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sell anything, it leaves the transaction entirely to the buyers and sellers; encouraging them to negotiate and do business without any interference from the website. The promoters of the site say they were inspired by the knowledge that people always have things to buy or sell. As an entry on its website puts it, “If you think about it, everyone has something to sell and everyone has something they need to buy, there are no exceptions! Have you ever had a used car or laptop or GSM handset you wanted to sell and asked yourself “Who will buy?” or did you just bring in or manufacture a shipment of goods or have opened a company that renders a service and are looking for customers? At WhoGoBuy we give you numerous classified markets to choose from so you find a niche for your product or service where people will definitely see it and contact you!”

Mr Fine Boy’s Tonic from the www.naijafineboy.blogspot.com

I’ve been having an amazing holiday o. I

hadn’t been back to the States since I moved to England, and I’ve fallen in love with this place all over again. In fact I wonder how I survived in London for a year. Enjoyment dey Yankee, kai! I’ve spent a couple of weeks in my old city just reliving my college days. These Yankee babes no fit change. Lord have mercy. I don’t know if it’s the food or the weather, but God definitely spent extra time on these girls men. I’ve been getting my Denzel on HARD over here o, in fact I wish I could give you the full gist but this is a PG blog. Before you start talking long story, Fineboy is single at the moment o. So allow me. AND NO QUESTIONS PLEASE! Gbe boruns. But on the real, I understand why people stick with one partner for years and years. The number of weres that you meet when you’re dating eh? Kai. I met some chick on my first friday out here, let’s call her Giselle. Correct looking babe o, she looked kinda like a black Giselle Bundchen. No lie. We had a couple of phone conversations and hooked up one sunday night to get dinner. All through the date, the babe just kept on talking about her baby Roscoe. Roscoe this. Roscoe that. Roscoe’s so cute. He’s so smart, he’s so discerning, I love him. Blah blah blah. Ask me who Roscoe be o? Her dog. I said na wa. I just kept nodding my head like I was really interested in the mutt. She now told me that she broke up with her last boyfriend because the guy didn’t respect Roscoe. Chei. I wasn’t about to act like I didn’t send the dog o. Na so I begin ask questions.

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Directories

Other Sites Worth A Visit

Dragons Den Nigeria TV Show

www.dragonsdennigeria.com

Radio Palmwine Online radio

www.radiopalmwine.com

Afrigator Social Media Aggregator

www.afrigator.com

Jamati Entertainment

www.jamati.com

Nairaland Forum

www.nairaland.com

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Directory

Listings

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May Foods African Foods 16C Market Row, Brixton, London. 07863309258

Sinto & Biggie Afro/European Hairstylists 721 Old Kent Road, London. 020 76357340, 07984385090

Domemerit Store General Goods Store 396 Cold Harbour Lane, Brixton, London 02077372958

Barber D’s Barbershop and Internet Café 4 Manor Park Parade, Lee High Road, Lewisham 07939933757

Park ‘N’ Shop General Goods Store Eleganza Plaza Libra Block 1 Commercial Rd Apapa. 01 4975046

Naturally Nice Beauty Salon 21 Rushcroft Road, Brixton 02077338891

Blacker Dread Music Store 406 Cold Harbour Lane, Brixton 02072475095, 07956946495

Beautiful Gate Unisex Salon Beauty Salon Shop A3, Falomo Shopping Complex, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos 01 2682617

Atlantic Bar & Restaurant Restaurant and Bar 14B Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos 01 2610584, 0802-3271564

Bliss Kolection Fashion and Accessories Shop 8, 12-13, Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja Lagos 01 4976805

Katch A Fire Restaurant and Bar 64-68 Atlantic Road, Brixton, London. 07904280733

Fay Fashion Design and Tailoring 52 Granville Arcade, Brixton, London 07828419894

Ayus Restaurant Resturant 2 Ibiyinka Olorunimbe Close, Off Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos 08033162543

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