₦airaland Forum

zizie: Is Agbara now part of lagos state? Don't KAI know where the boundary is? SMH

[size=14pt]Isopakodowo Oshodi market complex ready for business[/size]

Tuesday, 04 September 2012 00:00 Chuka Uroko

The Isopakodowo ultra-modern market in Oshodi, Lagos State, is now ready for business men and women who want to do their businesses in a marketplace that is decent and secure.

The market, which was wholly funded by the Lagos State government, has 546 shop spaces in 11 blocks on two floors that the state government says will help take more traders off the street in compliance with the provisions of the new traffic laws in the state.

“This is a market and it is meant for people who genuinely want to sell their wares. The plan of rebuilding this market was to expand and make it more secure. Anybody who comes here will be secure and that was the aim of this effort. One of the provisions of the traffic law is that people should not display their wares on the road,” Femi Hamzat Kadiri, the state commissioner for works and infrastructure, said.

Kadiri who was on inspection tour of the new market disclosed that provision of the market was part of government’s intension to discourage people from selling on the road, adding that government wants to arrange mortgage facility with which it will be easy for people to buy the shops and pay back the mortgage at regular intervals for as long as 10 years. “The mortgage also allows the shop owners to go to banks to build their business. We are discussing with banks to create the mortgage. Our role as government is to create access for people to get the facility,” the commissioner stated.

By the time a buyer gets a shop with good documentation, meaning that the buyer has a good title; something that could be collaterised, he could use his shop as collateral to access loan from the banks, he added.

According to the commissioner, there will be a facility manager who will maintain the place and even fix the cost of the shops; as such a manager is going to ensure the place does not rot and that all the facilities are functional.

At Ilasamaja, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, where there is a failing pedestrian bridge, the commissioner announced that contract had been awarded to Messrs PW Nigeria Limited for its replacement. The bridge, which has been a subject of many public complaints, he said, will be pulled down by Saturday, September 8, 2012, to make way for a new one.

While stating that the process of replacement had commenced with the completion of the sub-soil investigation, the commissioner noted that the bridge had been sealed off to avert any serious mishap and to protect the users from any possible danger.

He said it was important to state that though the road belongs to the Federal Government, the state had sought and obtained the consent of federal authorities so as to proactively replace the bridge that had at an earlier time been rehabilitated.

Hamzat also noted that the public might not see much of work at the site due to changes in the method of construction, assuring however that the construction work would be completed within the stipulated period of four months.

The commissioner who visited other project sites including the Ojuelegba- Lawanson-Itire road, Ajiliti Road in Mile 12 and Multi-Agency Office Complex in Alausa, explained the rationale behind the construction of the multi-agency complex at the old public car park, saying that the proposed three-block complex will end the era of government agencies renting office spaces all over the state, adding that it will promote adequate networking among the agencies.

He explained that the project, sitting on a 24,700 square metres of land, will house one eight-floor block and two adjoining blocks of five floors with pedestrian inter-links and two level parking area that can accommodate 600 vehicles.

phineas: One of the posts that makes been on nairaland so worth it.Nice one.

Ishilove: Is it a human being inside? I ask because there is one I saw that could inhumanly shorten and elongate itself.

[size=14pt]How I found my acres of diamond — Michael Ade-Ojo[/size]

July 29, 2012 by Kemi Ashefon, Nkarenyi Ukonu, Anna Okon, Kemi Lawal

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Michael-Ade-Ojo.jpg

He is now 74 years old; and his life is a symphony of success. He is Chief Michael Ade Ojo, a business Octopus. Exactly 41 years ago, he set up a company that had just two members of staff, but that mustard seed has grown very large like the Biblical Cedar of Lebanon; the firm Elizade Nigeria Limited, currently has hundreds in its employ.

 Therefore, it will not be out of place for the Elizade chairman to put together the cymbals or drums for celebration.

But how did it all begin?  He rhapsodises, “At that time, we were not thinking we would be what we are today. The name, Elizade, was coined by me and my late wife, Elizabeth. Then, I was an undergraduate of business administration and my wife studied history at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. We both made up our minds to be partners for life. So, through my own business mien as a student of business, I made some permutations.”

As was the lot of the older generation, Ade-Ojo never lacked job after graduation. But   he never liked what was going on in his place of work. So, he decided to put to test his entrepreneurial skill; ultimately, he conquered his environment like a true lion – which he is, (products of UNN are called lion or lioness).

In retrospect, he said, “I approached the old RT Briscoe to appoint me as a freelancer to sell their vehicles on commission basis. They gladly accepted since I was not going to be on any salary. I went back to the office and asked for my annual leave. It was granted and I went out selling Toyota cars and within those four weeks, I sold 40 cars. I calculated my commission on those cars and I discovered it was bigger than my one year salary where I worked. I resigned on resumption.”

On August 1, 1971, he floated Elizade Independent Agencies, which he started  at No, 71 Awolowo Way, Ikeja. Again, he approached Briscoe for dealership in motorcycle.

He narrates, “I was asked to deposit 600 pounds but I had 4000 pounds. I had used the funds to pay for rent of the building where we were, and I had nothing to pay for the motorcycles. I went to my bank to ask for a loan but they turned it down because I did not have collateral. But my late cousin, Chief Bakare, lent me 600 pounds and within three months, I paid the money.

“Just before I left my former employment, I had applied for a loan and I ordered for a Peugeot 404. The car came and I displayed it in our showroom because I did not have the ability to ride it. I sold it at a good price and this formed part of my capital. With that, I was able to buy one car until it increased to two and so on.

“Whenever I got my commission, I would put everything back into the business and we were not paying ourselves any salaries for the first five years. We were just drawing all our expenses from the earnings of the company.”

Born without a silver spoon in his mouth, the business mogul says this austere or humble background, ironically paved the way for his achievements in life. “I worked very hard and at the same time I prayed very hard,” he says. “I came from a poor family and my experiences in my early life taught me to be very prudent with money. I did not buy what I desired or wanted, I only bought what I needed. In so doing, everything we made was put back into the business.”

As the company began to grow, he decided in March 1972, to ask his lioness- wife, who was a teacher at Methodist Boys High School, Lagos to join him. “That paid off because it gave me confidence to operate more freely on the field,” he confesses.

Ade-Ojo’s empire has morphed into education as he has founded Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ekiti State. What impelled him into this crowded terrain of  setting up a private ivory tower? His response is, “ I am determined to do it because I want to develop youths and make them productive. I won’t joke with morals.

 “If you throw that away, then you have thrown away everything and that is the problem in Nigeria today. Having started this cause, I am appreciating the enormity of the problems we are facing in this country. My concern is how to change people from this general decadence. I am not going to force any child to attend the university but by the time our students begin to go out, we will not be able to satisfy the thirst for our kind of education.”

But does   Chief Ade Ojo to slow down his level of activities at 74? His reply is indeed a testament to realism or commonsense.  “When I was younger, I started work at 2 am and I worked for three hours. I have my quiet time and I go back to sleep. These days I can’t do more than one hour.

“ When I was younger, I did not play golf. Now, I am playing golf. I have built an 18-hole golf course, not for others to play, but I am going to play there.  If I don’t engage my brain enough, it will die and I am not prepared to allow it to die. God has been so kind to me to give me the strength.

“Today, I am not involved at all in the everyday activity of Elizade, even the university, I am not involved in the day- to- day running of the place. I play golf, I eat well and I ask for God’s mercy all the time.”

naptu2: Kingsway
[img]http://1.bp..com/_bDcpR_wJ7hk/TVL8LYkfbWI/AAAAAAAAEWs/uCu7KJ2tE54/s400/Kingsway%2Bbuilding%252C%2BLagos%2BMarina%252C%2Bearly%2B70%2527s.jpg[/img]

Above: Kingsway headquarters, Marina, Lagos in the early 1970s. Below: Kingsway Ibadan at christmas (also 1970s).

I remember the train ride to see Santa Claus. I remember bugging my mum because I wanted to buy everything in sight. I remember riding up and down the escalator (although I was scared that they'll cut my legs). I remember being told to "keep quiet" or "hurry up". The lights, the sounds, the toys

Kingsway was the largest department store chain in Nigeria. It was owned by UAC (the biggest non-oil company in Nigeria). Some of the stores were just mere supermarkets, while others were large department stores occupying multi-storey buildings and selling everything imaginable.

A UAC executive had the idea to put little snack bars in Kingsway stores. Soon these snack bars became stand alone fast food joints (Kingsway Rendezvous). Kingsway Rendezvous was rebranded in 1987 and MR Biggs was born.

Other large department store chains included UTC, Leventis, CFAO and Bhojsons. Most of these department stores closed down due to the economic crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.



https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5303/5599430445_427ef5e821_m.jpg

Ishilove: God, if person see this one for dream no be to go deliverance?

ogugua88: That's not what I'm saying at all. Something you and others never fail to remind me is that charity begins at home. You even said it in this post. My question is, why don't Igbos acknowledge that we have our own problems? I'm called an idealist for believing in peace and collaboration to move people forward. Isn't believing that the recreation of Biafra will solve the problems of Ndi Ibo idealistic as well? I understand that Igbos suffer injustices and acts of discrimination, often times violent. Many crimes taking place now are reminiscent of what transpired prior to the civil war. Boko Haram targeting Christians/Igbos is a big problem, but it's just as troubling to read news of Igbos being cruel and/or murdering other Igbos. My father was nearly kidnapped in June. Armed robbers took all his money from him and drove him a distance before releasing him. He was lucky. Imagine how my mother felt, watching her husband being taken, especially when she was still mourning the loss of her father. I know you and many others think I've never been to Nigeria, but I was there just last year. My sister was harassed by young men, whom my elder cousin and I had to fight off of her. The same way some of you complain about not being able to live freely in other parts of Nigeria is how I feel in Anambra. How Hausas can tell who is Igbo or not, by accents, pronunciations, and/or features, is how fellow Igbos can pick my family and I out, not only by my and my siblings accents, but also by our "fresh skin". The way some Igbos admonish other Igbos who reside and have businesses in the north, who should be allowed to do so freely by the way, is the same way I had to admonish my adult sister for walking with her female cousins rather than our cousins Emeka or Afam. In other words, I admonished her for "behaving too freely" in her hometown, Neni.



One's tribe is his or her identity, but I would never use it against someone and I would never discriminate against someone because of his or her region. That's how I was raised. Some of today's tribalists were raised in tribalist households. That's understandable; it happens. Considering that most of us here are adults, we should be able to tell between what is right and what is wrong. It is wrong to mock Igbos as "Igbos". It is wrong to call Yorubas "yorobbers". It is wrong to label the entire Hausa people as Islamic radicals based on the foul actions of an infamous minority. Discriminating on fellow Nigerians is pathetic. It shouldn't be tolerated by anyone. Considering that charity begins at home, I start with myself and try to be a role model. OnlyTruth once said that if Igboland is successful and prosperous, then other regions would want to emulate it. Well, if I'm tolerant, hold no biases, and stand up for what is right, hopefully another Nigerian will see that it's possible for a Nigerian to reach across the "aisle of tribes" to other Nigerians who are against anti-corruption, anti-violence, etc., and emulate my behaviors. That's my hope anyway. It doesn't matter if it's only one person who respects me or takes my philosophies to heart. Change is change and I'll gladly take it.

There was nothing wrong with that thread I created. I opened that thread after reading unpatriotic comments about whether or not people were ashamed of being Nigerians. Many of them were. It's okay to be angry if your country, state, town, etc is not moving in the right direction. However, Igbos and the rest of Nigeria have to be vocal. Considering that Nigeria is technically a democracy, we are promised under democratic rule the right to a voice. We cannot sit with folded arms or conveniently type behind laptops/computers/tablets in disdain for our government. The purpose of that thread was to shift the ball onto the court of all Nigerians. It isn't necessarily about one Nigeria. I did ask for short-term goals and long-term goals, and they could range from doing something at a school or work place to a bigger scale such as state or federal government. Again, as many of you have said, charity begins at home, so what is wrong with my thread? Can you get any closer to home than one starting with himself or herself?



I'm very much aware that there are no federal infrastructures/establishments in the east. I think I recall this issue being raised in June or so in the parliamentary office thread. It's a shame that the federal government has done nothing or close to it in that sense. We shouldn't forget, however, that we have governors, senators, representatives, etc., who are supposed to be representing us. I offered solutions such as starting grassroots organizations, educating more Igbos (particularly about an international airport in Enugu), pamphlets, meetings., etc. In summary, pro-activity. I know it's unconventional, but it's more than worth a try. I wasn't taken seriously. Instead, some other members of Eze Ndi Igbo said they had a list of email addresses of government officials and that they wanted to send emails on the matter. Anyone who believes they can send an email to our rogue officials and get serious reply is on a long thing.

I know many may disagree with me, but I believe that the best weapon is information, and that's part of the reason I opened that thread a while back. Nigerians know what to do and they know that any able-bodied person has the ability to make a change. The question is, are they doing it? Many of them are not. That thread is only four pages, meanwhile, tribal threads can reach 20 pages within a few hours. Isn't that disappointing? If we know what to do, then why aren't we doing it?



I hope I've answered your questions.

mrkels: Boss for real? Wow...when I was younger I lived in a company's housing estate and there was nothing like power supply( not that I remember anyways) although it became the norm in the early nineties and as I type this reply, there has been no light for 3weeks in that housing complex . But this one that you ll say they call nepa and bring back the light is a new one o

Ishilove: O GB102, I love you too. Let me send you my email number so you can mail MTN recharge card to me.

Don't forget Ishi loves you

GenBuhari: naptu2,
this is a very good thread but it is not getting enough views compared to what it deserves, why not change the thread title every so often until you get a title that will attract man more views.

Ishilove: Air Beetle ke?? Its more like Air Kabukabu.