₦airaland Forum

IS HOMOSEXUALITY A SIN? WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GAYS, LESBIANS, BISEXUALS?
In our culture today, homosexuality is being thrust into everything: commercials, TV shows, movies, sports, books, education, social media, etc. Although most studies suggest the LGBT community makes up a tiny 2-3% of America’s population, the media would have us believe it makes up 95%. Liberal churches are also compromising, allowing unrepentant and openly practicing homosexuals to participate in fellowship, even going so far as to allow some to serve as deacons, pastors, and so forth–a clear violation of God’s scriptures.

The USA Supreme Court’s recent passing of the same-sex marriage law reveals just how low America has sank into confusion and immorality. In this study, let us cast aside our opinions and instead, open God's Word and see what He says about it. Specifically, I’m going to do 5 things in this article:

- Examine what God’s word says about homosexuality.
- Refute nonsensical arguments that “so-called” Christians and liberals use today to justify or rationalize acceptance of homosexuality as “good.”
- Explain how Christians should treat homosexuals, and offer the free gift of salvation to anyone willing to accept Christ.

Before I begin, let me just say this: I’m a sinner, and the only way I’m getting to heaven is by the blood of Jesus Christ. I’m not a “homophobe,” but I hate sin because God hates sin, and I love people because God loves people. Fornication (sex before marriage), adultery (sex outside of marriage), bestiality (sex with animals), pornography, incest, pedophilia, etc. are also wicked sins in God’s eyes, and I condemn all of those activities as sinful, wicked, and wrong.

This article is in no way meant to mock, hate, or demean homosexual individuals. Rather, it is intended to warn against the practice of homosexuality, share the truth in love, and explain God’s love in His willingness to forgive and grant eternal life to those who repent and believe on His Son.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?
The Bible mentions homosexuality several times, both in the Old Testament and the New. Every time homosexuality is mentioned, it is considered a very serious sin, often with serious warnings of punishment or judgment from God. Therefore, everyone who is interested in what God’s word says about the topic would do well to actually study it for themselves, and not listen to what the media or society says.

OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO HOMOSEXUALITY
The first important reference to human sexuality occurs in the second chapter of Genesis. Here, God creates Adam and Eve. God never asked Adam if he preferred a woman or man, or if he was happy with his sexual orientation or gender. He put him to sleep and created a woman, because that’s the way God wanted it done.

Marriage between one man and one woman was the first institution ordained by God. Same-sex marriage will never be honored by God. Jesus pointed this out in Mark 10:6-8 "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh."

Next, we have the scene in Sodom, which is where we get our modern term “sodomy,” meaning anal sex. Notice how God considers those engaging in this to be “wicked” and that this sin is “very grievous.”
Genesis 13:13“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”
Genesis 18:20 “And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous."
Genesis 19:4-5 “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”

The phrase “that we may know them” has clear implications of sexual activity. The men in this town were so lust-driven they were going to gang rape Lot’s angelic visitors. In an act of judgment, God soon destroys this wicked town for its sexual perversion and other sins.

Next, in chapter 18 and 20 of Leviticus, God gives a very serious warning against homosexuality:
Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Not only do these passages clearly condemn homosexuality, but God’s word uses the Hebrew word “Towebah” for abomination, which is a slightly stronger sense of condemnation than other words such as “Zimmah,” often translated “wickedness.” We can see this difference in the word “wickedness” in the Leviticus 18:17 (referring to taking both a woman and her daughter as a wife), compared to the word “abomination” referencing homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22). Therefore, God does indicate more of a seriousness about engaging in same-sex relations than some other sexual sins. In fact, take a look at this warning in Deuteronomy about allowing sodomy to take place in the land: Deuteronomy 23:17 "There shall be no LovePeddler of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."

And in the book of Judges, we see the perversion that took place when individuals did “what seemed good in their own eyes,” a statement that characterizes today’s society. Notice how this scene echoes the scene with Lot in Genesis: Judges 19:22 "Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him." (Underlining mine).

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO HOMOSEXUALITY
The New Testament also clearly warns that homosexuality is a sin, and those who do not repent of such activity and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Romans 1:26-28 "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [meaning homosexuals], nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

There is only one way out of eternal damnation: Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! Interestingly, Paul also addresses what people should do if they have a strong sexual desire: 1 Corinthians 7:2 "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." Paul, who clearly knew about homosexuality, tells people not to fornicate, and that if they have strong sexual urges, God’s plan is one man and one woman in marriage, as the Bible teaches throughout.

Finally, the books of Jude and Revelation tell of the wickedness of the sin of Sodom, as well as the penalty for such an activity without repentance and trusting in Christ: eternal fire. In fact, Jude clearly says that Sodom is given to us an example, so we should all be warned: Jude 1:7 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

The Bible clearly condemns homosexuality throughout the Old and New Testaments. Friends, Jesus said you cannot have two masters. You can’t live in unrepentant sexual immorality and serve God. Either you’ll repent and trust Christ as your savior, and become His slave, or you will be a slave to sin.

FALSE, DECEPTIVE ARGUMENTS USED TO JUSTIFY HOMOSEXUALITY
Here’s a brief list of the most common arguments used in an attempt to justify homosexuality.

1. Why would God make me gay if He didn’t want me to be gay? I was born gay. I don’t have a choice of my sexual orientation.

God does not create people to be “gay,” any more than He creates a pedophile to lust after children, or an adulterer to cheat on his or her spouse. You have a choice to entertain lustful thoughts or to engage in sexual behavior. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to be saved, we must be born again (John 3:7). That’s the only way anyone–gay, straight, or otherwise–can be saved.

2. The Bible doesn’t really condemn homosexuality. Those passages are mistranslated, and God is okay with homosexuality if it is a committed, loving relationship.

Some extremely deceitful teachers have tried to skew some Bible passages and suggest it never really condemns homosexuality at all. Every single translation of the Bible mentions and condemns homosexuality. It’s also absurd to assume God is okay with homosexuality if it is a “loving, committed” relationship. The Bible rejects homosexuality as sin, regardless of the level of "commitment".

3. Jesus never personally condemned homosexuality in the New Testament.

First, Christians are to believe that all scriptures are God-breathed, because that’s what the Bible itself teaches:
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." It doesn’t matter whether Paul, Moses, or any other prophet or apostle wrote it—it came from God Almighty. Men weren’t just writing their opinions, they were like pens in the Holy Spirit’s mighty hand: 2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Second, Jesus, in His earthly ministry, certainly stood against sexual immorality, yet there are many sins He never listed specifically by name (pedophilia, for example). When the woman who was caught in adultery was brought to Him, Jesus had compassion on her. Yet he also warned her to “Go and sin no more.” He didn’t say, “Go and spread your love to all people.” This cotton-candy, lovey-dovey Jesus that liberals try to portray doesn’t exist in the scriptures. Jesus was loving, merciful, and compassionate, yet He also turned over tables, called people hypocrites, and constantly warned of eternal hellfire. His Word clearly says homosexuality is a sin, period.

4. The Bible is outdated, and the writers simply didn’t understand sexual orientation back then.

As cited in Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21, the Bible never suggests that uneducated men were merely penning their philosophies about morality or God. The Bible is Holy Scripture! It is from God. It’s sacred. To suggest we mere humans know more about morality or “orientation” than God does, is the most arrogant, blasphemous thing imaginable. People try to use clever semantics these days by using the word “sexual orientation,” making it seem like something you’re born with. God says we can enjoy sexual pleasure as much as we want, but only in the context of a loving marriage between one man and one woman.

5. But we’re not under law, we’re under grace. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if I sin, right?

What does the Apostle Paul say about this? Here it is: Romans 6:15 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Never can a Christian justify a sinful behavior by claiming they are “under grace.” Yes, God forgives sin. Yes, we are under grace. Yes, I’m a sinner saved by grace. But we never use grace as a license to sin. Even though saved Christians can and do sin, John tells us people engaged in willful, unrepentant sin are not saved: 1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."

6. But gay people are so nice. I know a gay person! How could homosexuality be such this horrible sin?

Of course there are some really nice gay people. There are talented gay people. There are wealthy gay people. Gay people are people! It is not through “good deeds” we are saved, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, when you try to be “good” on your own (without believing on Jesus), God actually hates such good deeds, and doesn’t even hear the prayer of the wicked, unless it is a prayer of repentance:

Proverbs 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
John 9:31 "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

7. My child/sibling/friend is gay. I know them to be a gentle and loving person. I can’t imagine why God would not allow them to enter heaven!

It’s often difficult for a Christian parent/sibling/friend to realize their loved one may be struggling with feelings of homosexuality or even openly embracing the lifestyle. You should always love them and try your best to help him or her understand the Bible’s position on same-sex relations, just as you would about other sexual sins such as adultery, fornication, incest, etc.

However, you also must keep in mind that Jesus takes precedence over any person in this world:
Matthew 10:37 "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

Homosexual relationships can devastate an entire family or friendship. As Christians, we are to love people, not their sin. Supporting the “gay rights” movement, allowing homosexual behavior in the home, participating in same-sex wedding events, or condoning this sin as “normal” or “acceptable” is certainly a way many people are choosing loved ones over God these days. Rebuke your loved one with meekness, pray for them, but we should never celebrate or approve of any kind of sin. Make it known you do not agree with the lifestyle, but treat the person with kindness.

8. The Bible also condemns eating shrimp, wearing clothes with mixed fabrics, etc. Aren’t Christians so hypocritical to judge homosexuality, when the Bible clearly condemns those things, too?

People often get confused on this point. The Old Testament contained universal moral laws, but it also contained laws that were specific to the nation Israel for a specific time. Those ceremonial laws were made void at the cross of Christ. The ceremonial/civil laws are the laws most people refer to, which included dietary restrictions, clothing restrictions, etc.

However, laws against sexual misconduct were universal, and they are repeated numerous times throughout the Old and New Testaments. There is no hypocrisy when you understand that Christians no longer need to abstain from certain foods, because the Bible actually tells us that in the New Testament! Nevertheless, Christians should exercise wisdom with their eating habits, as many foods deemed “unclean” in the Old Testament are not healthy in large quantities.

9. But I thought the Bible told us not to judge?

This is the most incorrectly used phrase in today’s society. The Bible does NOT forbid all types of judgment, only certain forms. Matthew 7:1 forbids hypocritical judgment. John 7:24 warns us against judging by mere appearances only. Christians are also warned against silly, frivolous judgements, such as judging someone for being a vegetarian vs meat eater.

In contrast, the Bible commands Christians to rebuke one another (1 Timothy 5:20), expose evil works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), correct a sinner in his ways (James 5:20), and be light to a dark world (Matthew 5:15). Part of being “light” is speaking out against sinful practices, false religions, and so forth.

10. All I want is to love someone of the same sex. Why are Christians so against equality and love?

Love has nothing at all to do with it. The Bible commands us to love all people. There is nothing wrong with a man or woman “loving” someone of the same sex. What homosexuals really mean to say is not that they want to “love” someone else, but that they want to engage in sexual relations with them. That’s the problem.

It makes no sense whatsoever to accept homosexual love as “love” any more than it does to accept polygamy (multiple spouses), pedophilia, or rampant adultery as love. It’s sexual perversion. Allow me to use an illustration. No one ever dares entertain the following argument from a pedophile: “But I just want to love little children.” Yet, when a Christian objects to homosexuality on the same grounds of it being “immoral,” suddenly we’re horrible people and bigots.

WHAT TO DO AS A CHRISTIAN? WHAT IF YOU'RE A HOMOSEXUAL?
The Bible exhorts us to treat all people with kindness and respect. We should love everyone, including homosexuals. We should pray that they repent and trust Christ. We should share the truth of the gospel in a spirit of love, not condemnation. We should be willing to extend acts of kindness to all people.

Christians should never name-call, antagonize, bully, harass, or threaten a gay or lesbian person, for that would be wicked behavior in itself. Never follow the pattern of ignorant people who rebuke in the wrong spirit. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with maturely declaring truth on your social media outlets, defending God’s word, or making it known what you believe about Jesus Christ and sin, while also treating all people with kindness and respect.

If you’re a homosexual, let me say this: I’m counting on the blood of Jesus to get into heaven. I’m a sinner, and even one sin is wicked in God’s eyes. However, you must also make a choice. You can embrace sin or you can embrace Jesus. The Bible says if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved. That means you repent of sin, and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Even if you reject Him and scoff at this article (thinking I’m nothing more than a “bigot”), I hope you remember that Christ stands willing to forgive, even until you draw your last breath. The thief on the cross started out cursing Christ, but ended up getting saved before he died.

May the Lord bless you all, and may you all attain salvation through faith in Christ. If you find this article helpful, please consider sharing it.

SOURCE (abridged): https://www.revelation.co/2015/07/01/is-homosexuality-a-sin-what-does-the-bible-say-about-gays-lesbians-bisexuals/

Almost half of UK men who take a paternity test turn out not to be the real father, some figures show.

Testing firm DNA Clinics, which is part of the Salford, UK-based BioClinics Group, analysed 5,000 results selected randomly from between January 2014 and June 2016. The results show 48% or 2,396 of UK men tested were not the biological father. 52%, or 2,604, of those tested were proven to be the father.

For England as a whole, 51% were ruled out as being the paternal father. In Northern Ireland, 42% were ruled out while in Scotland the figure was 39%.

The tests were carried out in cases where there was doubt about the identity of the child’s father. They were done for personal information reasons, rather than for legal purposes. The tests cost from £95 (N44,200). They included the case of a woman who slept with two men on the same night and became pregnant. Another involved a woman who had a one-night stand with a close friend, without her fiancé’s knowledge.

Others featured a woman whose boyfriend was in prison when she discovered she was pregnant, and a man who thought he was unable to father children and found out his wife was expecting. He was proven to be the baby’s dad.

Nichola McChrystal, founder and scientific director at BioClinics Group, said: “The statistics are within the realms of what I would expect, due to the fact that I have worked in this industry for well over a decade. I would imagine that they would appear shocking to the general public. However, it is important to understand that the families approaching BioClinics for answers generally have good reasons for raising the question of paternity."

DNA Clinics offers home testing kits as well as through a nationwide network of clinics. Retail chain Boots has recently begun selling DNA Clinics’ kits online. DNA samples are collected via mouth swabs from one father, one mother and one child, and are analysed in fully-accredited laboratories.

Nichola added: “The general public’s knowledge about DNA has changed dramatically over the past 5 years. It is now understood that the DNA tests are not only possible, but also commonplace. There is also greater knowledge about genetic inheritance and its impact on health conditions that appear throughout the generations of a family. More and more tests are being organised by the mother rather than the doubting father. There’s also been a marked increase in the number of tests being organised by older people looking for answers to questions, rumours and doubts that have plagued their families for years.

“These cases are testament to the fact that establishing paternity when a child is young is the best course of action. Unfortunately, however, some family secrets are only revealed when parents have passed away, and the results of subsequent tests can have a devastating effect."

DNA Clinics carries out a variety of other tests for groups including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins.

SOURCE (abridged): https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/paternity-test-father-bioclinics-group-12399580

To some observers, it looked like an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich. But to the Miami woman who put it up for sale on eBay, and to some people who viewed it, there was an image of the Virgin Mary seared on this seemingly run-of-the-mill snack.

The psychological phenomenon that causes some people to see or hear a vague or random image or sound as something significant is known as pareidolia (par-i-DOH-lee-a).

The word is derived from the Greek words para, meaning something faulty, wrong, instead of, and the noun eidōlon, meaning image, form or shape. Pareidolia is a type of apophenia, which is a more generalized term for seeing patterns in random data.

Some common examples are seeing a likeness of Jesus in the clouds or an image of a man on the surface of the moon.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES OF PAREIDOLIA
A prime example of pareidolia and its connection to religious images is the Shroud of Turin, a cloth bearing the image of a man — which some believe to be Jesus — who appears to have suffered trauma consistent with crucifixion. The negative image was first observed in 1898, on the reverse photographic plate of amateur photographer Secondo Pia, who was allowed to photograph it while it was being exhibited in the Turin Cathedral.

Some visitors to St. Mary's in Rathkaele, Ireland, say a tree stump outside of the church bears a silhouette of the Virgin Mary.

Damage to the Pedra da Gávea, an enormous rock outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, created an impression that many interpret as a human face.

Many people thought images taken in 1976 by the Viking 1 mission showed a face on Mars that could have been the remnants of an ancient civilization.

In September 1969, conspiracy theorists claimed some Beatles records contained clues to Paul McCartney's supposed death. Many heard the words "Paul is dead," when the song "Strawberry Fields Forever" was played backwards, a process known as backmasking. This is a common urban legend often repeated to this day.

In 1977, the appearance of Jesus Christ on a flour tortilla set the international standard for miracle sightings. It happened in the small town of Lake Arthur, New Mexico, 40 minutes south of Roswell.

Diane Duyser of Miami sold a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich, which she said bore the image of Jesus, for $28,000 on eBay in 2004.

In 2004, Steve Cragg, youth director at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, discovered a Cheeto that looked like Jesus.

Donna Lee of Toledo, Ohio, saw an image of Jesus on a pierogi she was preparing on Palm Sunday in 2005.

In 2007 in Singapore, a callus on a tree resembled a monkey, leading believers to pay homage to the "Monkey god."

A cinnamon bun bearing a likeness of Mother Teresa was first discovered at the Bongo Java Café in Belmont, Tenn. It was on display for about 10 years, until it was stolen on Christmas day in 2007.

In 2012, many people made a pilgrimage to a tree at 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue in West New York, N.J., to see a scar on the tree that some believed looked like the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe depiction of the Virgin Mary.

WHY PAREIDOLIA HAPPENS
There are a number of theories as to the cause of this phenomenon. Experts say pareidolia provides a psychological determination for many delusions that involve the senses. They believe pareidolia could be behind numerous sightings of UFOs, Elvis and the Loch Ness Monster and the hearing of disturbing messages on records when they are played backwards.

Pareidolia often has religious overtones. A study in Finland found that people who are religious or believe strongly in the supernatural are more likely to see faces in lifeless objects and landscapes.

Carl Sagan, the American cosmologist and author, made the case that pareidolia was a survival tool. In his 1995 book, "The Demon-Haunted World – Science as a Candle in the Dark," he argued that this ability to recognize faces from a distance or in poor visibility was an important survival technique. While this instinct enables humans to instantly judge whether an oncoming person is a friend or foe, Sagan noted that it could result in some misinterpretation of random images or patterns of light and shade as being faces.

Leonardo da Vinci wrote about pareidolia as an artistic device. "If you look at any walls spotted with various stains or with a mixture of different kinds of stones, if you are about to invent some scene you will be able to see in it a resemblance to various different landscapes adorned with mountains, rivers, rocks, trees, plains, wide valleys, and various groups of hills," he wrote in a passage in one of his extensive notebooks.

Sometimes artists use this phenomenon to their advantage by embedding hidden images in their work. Observers often view other objects in Georgia O'Keeffe's flower paintings, for example.

In 1971, the Latvian writer and intellectual Konstantīns Raudive detailed what he believed was the discovery of electronic voice phenomenon (EVP). EVP has been described as "auditory pareidolia." The allegations of hidden messages in popular music have also been described as auditory pareidolia.

The Rorschach inkblot test uses pareidolia in an attempt to gain insight into a person's mental state. Since the cards have been designed without any specific image in mind, this is an example of "directed pareidolia."

SOURCE: https://www.livescience.com/25448-pareidolia.html

Every time I talk, family, friends think I’m joking –Chief Zebrudaya of New Masquerade fame
Published November 23, 2019

Chika Okpala, popularly known as "Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, alias 4.30", is a comedian in the now rested TV show, New Masquerade, tells RAPHAEL EDE about his career, relationship and views about the alleged marginalisation of Igbo people

You were part of one of the most iconic TV shows in Nigeria’s history (New Masquerade) and famously known as Chief Zebrudaya alias 4.30, where did the names come from?

Let me start with alias 4.30 which was given by the people of Mbaitoli. It is Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias 4.30, MON, MFR, MON without EY. 4.30 is for someone who is able to drink ‘Tonbolikwo’ (palm wine). If you are able to drink from 4.30pm to 4.30am without getting drunk while still making sense, you will earn the title of alias 4:30. So, you will add 4.30 to your name. But if you are able to drink from 1:30pm to 1:30am, then you are alias 1:30. It is like MON, MFR or OON, and all that.

James Iroha, or Giringori Akabogu, who was the creator and writer of the show, died in 2012, how much do you miss him?

I miss him very much. He started with OON. I came up with MON, MFR (laugh). He had a vision that only he could interpret if he was alive. Any other person brought into the show might have his own vision, different from what the originator had. So I miss him in that regard. He never imposed his vision on me about what to do about ‘The Masquerade’. When I took over, I knew it was a programme that could right the wrongs of the society. I went on to inject my own vision here and there, while not losing touch with the original vision.

Apart from Iroha, Christie Essien Igbokwe (Apena) and Claude Eke (Jegede Sokoya) have also died, do you think they have been well remembered and honoured?

No! They have not. I will say they have not because they were the original team that made Masquerade and the New Masquerade successful. They made us enjoy our stay on earth; from 1976 to 1983 for the Masquerade and 1984 to 2005 for the New Masquerade. If the New Masquerade did not do well, it wouldn’t have lasted that long. We had new episodes every week; we never repeated a show.

We took the show beyond the shores of Nigeria, to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cameroon in Africa because they are English and pidgin-English speaking countries. We went to about four states in America and visited London, England four times to perform. They need to be given national honours. There’s nowhere today where you will mention Chief Zebrudaya, Clarius, Giringori, Ovuleria, Apena, Jegede Sokoya and people will say they don’t know them.

Before you accepted to play the role of Zebrudaya, had you been doing comedy?

I would say I had interest in comedy but I had not been doing comedy because I didn’t know I was doing comedy.

When you met Iroha and you agreed to play Chief Zebrudaya, how easy or difficult was it to interpret the role?

That is why I said I didn’t know I was doing comedy. When I talk of Masquerade and New Masquerade – James Iroha produced the Masquerade and left. Chika Okpala took over and produced the New Masquerade. He introduced all the gadgets and took it to another level, so it was called New Masquerade.

During my days at Prince Memorial High School, my father was in Onitsha selling textiles at Onitsha Main Market. Remember that before and during the Nigerian Civil War, Onitsha Main Market was the largest market in West Africa and it was visited by the French, Spanish, English and others, who spoke their languages.

Each time I came back from school, I wondered how my father was able to communicate with the foreigners who came to buy things from him. He dropped out of school when he was in Standard Two so he was not really educated.

I would go to the market and sit by him to find out what was going on as he was making money. How did they speak to him? He would combine English and Igbo and create a blend. At school, I tried to write essays that way and my teacher said: ‘If you write this kind of English, you will never get out of this school. Nobody who mixes Igbo and English in writing will pass school certificate examination.’

I said, ‘Sir, my father uses this language in the market, makes profit and we eat. He pays my school fees for you to be paid your salary. So, allow me to speak this language and see what it will bring.’ Instead of ‘absolutely’, I could say ‘gbamsolutely’. He said although what you have written has some sense because we understand the meaning but we can’t allow this in school certificate examination.

So I agreed and I kept them to myself but kept taking notes of what my father was saying in the market. When the war (Biafran War) broke out and we couldn’t continue with schooling, all of us returned home. Then luckily, a boy from Dennis Memorial Grammar School invited me and some others from Awka Etiti to join him.

We could not join the army because we were not tall so we thought what should we do during the war, that was how we started organising shows to entertain at the army headquarters.

At that time I was 13 years old, while the eldest among us was 16 years old. But unfortunately as the war continued, the writer of our show, the boy from DMGS, was conscripted into the army.

So did it fail?

I had a section called teaser. The teaser was played before we started our main show of criticising what was wrong in the society, in pure English. We called that teaser ‘Okosisi’. That teaser had a form of comedy in it and it carried me on till after the war.

When I came to Enugu, while I was looking for where to stay, I saw Red Cross Society office and I had worked for Red Cross during the war, so I went there and showed them my ID as somebody who had worked with the Red Cross at Nneobi. They accepted me. I was put in charge of clinic kitchen. There was a clinic kitchen there where people who returned to Enugu were fed. Later, I heard that a drama group would be formed by the rehabilitation commissions. I went there and told them how we were able to perform at army headquarters using some teasers. They said, ‘In that case, you have experience so you should be in charge of the theatre group.’

One day, I saw my friend that was conscripted into the army. He told me there was a place they were doing rehearsals with James Iroha. There were top government officials involved. When I got there, someone told me it was for ‘senior’ people and that I should sit down behind. I was saying no, I could act. Then James Iroha came and said he found me interesting.

He said he was the producer of a play, ‘Sons and Daughters’, and that he would cast me as a backup artist to some other actor. I said no problem provided I was in the group and in the cast. Eventually we prepared ‘Sons and Daughters’ by Joe De Graft of Ghana and it was a wonderful piece. The then administrator of the state, Dr Ukpabi Asika, sent for us to perform for him and we went there and it was wonderful.

He later took us to Kaduna for the army week and we performed there. We met so many army officers, including Theophilus Danjuma, and shook hands with them. Two weeks or three weeks later, we got a message that the Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, would like to see our play which was being talked about so much.

A presidential jet came and took us to Lagos. We were applauded after the performance. We were so happy. For the first time, I shook hands with the man we had fought the Biafran War with, Gowon.

He liked us so much. He said, ‘Look, we are brothers and sisters, we should forget about the past.’ That was how the show catapulted me to fame. Then James said he had a group called ‘In the Lighter Mood’ and intended to reactivate it on TV because it died during the war. Eventually it was reactivated and we started ‘The Masquerade’ and covered our faces because we needed to tell the military government the truth about what they were doing to the masses.

In Igbo parlance, masquerade is spirit, so it can say anything and cannot be touched. This was how the name came about.

I did not find the language difficult because I had already developed interest in the way my father used to talk in the market. It was different. The words were coined n a way that the programme was entertaining and educative at the same time.

You actually look funny. Do you family and friends take you seriously when you relate with them?

You have hit the nail on the head. Every time I talk, they think I am playing. They think – don’t mind the man, he is acting. So it is difficult for me to convince them when I am serious. My family and friends find it difficult to know that this man is serious.

You went back to get a university degree in 1996, what led to that?

In 1996, I went for a master’s degree. I had my first degree in 1994. I started by getting a diploma at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1989. Then I was doing the programme concurrently with my first degree at Anambra State University of Science and Technology before it was changed to Enugu State University of Science and Technology. At ASUTECH, I was the President of Students’ Union Government for ‘Masters’.

We called ourselves Masters because we were not regular students. In 2005, I went for another master’s degree in management at the National Open University of Nigeria. So, I have two master’s degrees – one in mass communication and another in management. I have my first degree in mass communication, a diploma in mass communication and a master’s degree in mass communication. I went to school because I felt what I was doing had to do with research and good storytelling. And I should master the art very well.

So if you see me presenting shows, you will know that this man must have done his homework.

How awkward did you feel in class as you were already over 40?

A comedian never feels awkward anywhere he is. He finds his level anywhere he is. When I talked to my lecturers, they understood that a comedian was talking and everybody in class would listen to find out what I wanted to say and how I would say it. I said I was the President of the Students’ Union. If I was not entertaining enough, they would not have elected me. I was not made the president because I was more knowledgeable than others; it was because the way I communicated with them was very interesting.

Interestingly, it was The Masquerade initially and was done on radio before moving to TV as the New Masquerade, how did you adjust to being part of a TV show at the time?

The Masquerade was started by James Iroha. When it became the New Masquerade, the transformation had to do with the script and setting. When James was the producer of the Masquerade, he was writing the script almost alone, although I did write. Davis Offor (Clarus) also wrote but he adjusted the script and made it his own.

Then when I became the producer of the show, I wanted to show a difference; one in the setting. When James was producing it, the setting was a one-bedroomed apartment. When I took over the production of New Masquerade, it became a duplex.

There was enough time for Ovuleria to come down, for Clarus and Giringori to fight from the kitchen, for Jegede Sokoya and Natty to come in from the other wing of the house and for those passing by to see them. This was another innovation that drew the viewers closer; they felt it was real because viewers lived in duplexes and this was what happened in public space. So we tried to reflect public experiences in the show.

Regarding the script, I recruited four writers, including Nkem Owoh. Chris Obirapo, who was a director then at NTA national headquarters, Lagos, joined me to produce the New Masquerade as a director while I was the producer. So I was able to carry on for 25 years; each week had a new script and a new dimension.

What kind of man are you at home? Is it any close to the character you played for so many years or a total opposite?

Home is home; studio is studio. They are two different things but it is not too easy to differentiate between how an actor acts and his behaviour at home or mannerisms. Sometimes both of them get to mix because it is the same person playing the roles and when I am acting, I need to show I am a human being and an actor. So I married the two to make it.

But when I am talking seriously as Chika Okpala in my home, you will know Chika Okpala is talking. But most of the time when I scold, you will think it is the Chief Zebrudaya that is scolding. My wife fails to understand me all through. She feels she doesn’t know when she is talking to Chief Zebrudaya or Chika Okpala, her husband. She feels that all the time, I am joking.

Over the years, were there some attributes of Chief Zebrudaya character that stuck to you?

If somebody has played a role throughout his life, it is difficult to divorce him from his mannerisms. It is not that he is never serious, he is serious but he sees things you see from a different perspective. For you to succeed as an actor, you must have a third eye; you must see things differently from how other people see them. What they may see and react in one way, an actor may see and react in another way.

What are the major differences between the way your art was done in those days and now?

In those days, acting was taken seriously because there were so many people ready to take over from you. In those days if you made a mistake, they would say let us try another person and you would feel bad and sad. So once you got a role, you would work hard to retain that role, which was what I did in those days. But now, anything is thrown out in the industry.

They don’t even rehearse scenes; they just go to the location, they give them scripts and they read. They will say, okay, action. Whether they get it or not, they will take it like that. In acting, you have to rehearse your lines very well, and not just your lines, but the movements as well.

What changes will you like to see in the industry?

People are so much in a hurry to get there but we have to return to how things should be done. Now, you will hear, ‘Oga, they are calling me from another location.’ Which other location? You have not finished the one you are here for and done with rehearsals, you are going to another location. At the other location, they will say they are calling them from another location again. Those things won’t make the production to come out fine.

There is much agitation in the South-East for a state of Biafra, what is your position on the matter?

People who were contributing to the Gross Domestic Product and development of Nigeria were marginalised. It wasn’t for any social reason but hatred. Yet they turn around and run to the television and say do not make hate speech. Is it not the government that makes hate speeches? Are they saying it is wrong for somebody you are oppressing to shout out to say you are oppressing me, which I think is what the people in the South-East are saying?

They are saying, you are oppressing me, if you don’t want me anymore, let us part ways. It is not their intention to part ways. It is not possible for anyone to kill an entire race.

If there is no competition, then there is no humanity. That is why we have football – in all the games we play, we compete. Don’t hate them. Why did I go back to school when I was much older? Is it not to learn?

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/every-time-i-talk-family-friends-think-im-joking-chief-zebrudaya-of-new-masquerade/

Leah Cambridge, 29, a Beautician and mother of 3 from Leeds, died shortly after having surgery for a "Brazilian butt lift" at a private hospital in Izmir, Turkey in August 2018. Leah, who felt ‘paranoid about her body’, died of a pulmonary embolism after Dr Uckan accidentally injected fat into her veins during the operation.

A coroner accused a Turkish surgeon of ‘cowardice’ for not giving evidence at the inquest of a mother-of-three who died during a botched £6,500 ‘Brazilian butt lift’ procedure. Senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin wrote to Dr Ali Uckan 8 times asking him to come to court and provide answers to the family of Leah Cambridge

Mr McLoughlin said co-operation from the doctor and hospital throughout the proceedings had been ‘minimal’, adding that his one-page statement ‘left many questions unanswered’. ‘The conclusion I have got is that Dr Uckan’s conduct is a display of cowardice and I do not use that word lightly,’ the coroner said. He also urged surgeons to consider whether it was safe to continue going ahead with the ‘life or death’ procedures, suggesting the decision be made on ‘ethical grounds rather than business ones’.

An inquest into Leah's death took place at Wakefield Coroner's Court in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK, on 20th September 2019. The coroner concluded Ms Cambridge had not been fully informed of the risks.

A provisional post-mortem examination found the cause of death was a fat embolism, the inquest was told. The surgery reshapes the buttocks by transferring fat from areas such as the stomach and back. It has become a popular shortcut to an hourglass figure or a bottom like reality TV star Kim Kardashian's and the hospital where Ms Cambridge had the procedure is a celebrity favourite.

But reports after Ms Cambridge's death said she had had 3 heart attacks during the operation and her heartbroken partner Scott Franks warned others to consider the risks of going under the knife.

In October last year, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) warned its members not to perform the procedure until further information about the risks becomes available. Ms Cambridge’s partner, Scott Franks, told the inquest that as soon as he heard she had died he flew out to meet Dr Uckan. He said the surgeon told him of the operation: ‘It’s a guessing game, you can’t see where you are going into. ‘It’s a matter of life and death when you are doing it.’

Wakefield Coroners’ Court heard Ms Cambridge signed the consent forms, which included setting out the dangers, minutes after arriving at the Can Hastanesi Hospital. Mr McLoughlin called the process ‘meaningless’. He said evidence suggesting she entered theatre just 90 minutes later implies ‘there was no real opportunity for Leah to read, digest or raise issue with the documents put before her that morning, even if she had wanted to’.

Concluding Ms Cambridge died without being fully appraised of the dangers, Mr McLoughlin said: ‘Against this backdrop, those involved in facilitating or conducting BBL procedures must decide whether it’s safe to continue to do so. ‘In my judgement, this decision should be made on ethical grounds, rather than business ones relating to the revenue streams involved.’ He added: ‘At the very least, anyone thinking of submitting themselves to the hazards associated with the BBL should seek out independent medical advice. Make sure that you fully understand the risks before you proceed.’

Mr McLoughlin said Ms Cambridge’s death had been ‘a devastating tragedy for her family’. ‘They thought, no doubt, that she was going for a safe cosmetic procedure and the thought that she may lose her life was probably never in their contemplation, or in Leah’s,’ he said.

In a statement, Ms Cambridge’s partner and wider family said she ‘will be missed forever’. They also stressed that people undergoing the same surgery are 10-20 times more likely to lose their life than the next most risky cosmetic surgery. ‘We hope that no one has to go through what we have been through and nobody else loses their life while undergoing this type of procedure,’ the statement continued.

SOURCE (abridged): https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/22/surgeons-warned-butt-lift-operations-young-mums-death-11203878/

Abibat Olayinka Owolabi, the child of a plank seller at the Bodija Market in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Mr. Aliu Owolabi, has emerged as overall best graduating Master’s Degree student at the University of Ibadan. Miss Owolabi graduated from the Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences in the institution.

DAILY POST reports that Abibat, a 25-year-old indigene of Ibadan recently had her traditional marriage ceremony.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka announced yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital during the convocation ceremonies of the university that Owolabi graduated with a CGPA 7.0 to emerged as the overall best graduating student in the institution. Olayinka stated that with Owolabi making a perfect Cumulative Grade Point of 7.0, she is declared as the overall best among the graduating candidates of Master’s degrees at this year’s Convocation.

Owolabi is the third of five children and the first to earn a Master’s Degree among the children of her parents. She equally lauded her parents, Mr and Mrs Aliu Adisa Owolabi for their support, pointing out that without them, she could not have gone this far in life. She also attributed her success to her creator, saying that if not God, she would not have made the grade.

According to her, though, life was tough because her background was humble, all along, she put in her best in whatever she did, stressing that hard work and faith in God were the secrets behind her success in life.

“Growing up was difficult considering my background. I am not from a rich home. My father and mother are traders. My father, Mr Aliu Adisa Owolabi, sells planks at Bodija Market and my mother, Mrs Kadijat Owolabi, sells foodstuff too. So, you can see that I am not from a rich background.

“But I must tell you my parents really supported me. At a point when they were getting tired, and there was no money, my mentor, Professor Egunyomi Adeyemi, a retired professor came in. He took up paying my school fees and helping me in other ways. Alhamdulillah, here I am today, I give all praises to God.

“As for my career, I want to be a researcher in my field. I prefer to be a researcher than to be a lecturer. But that does not say that I cannot be a lecturer. The issue is that researcher first and lecturing second”.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2019/11/15/plank-sellers-daughter-emerges-overall-best-graduating-masters-student-photos/

A businessman, Azeez Ogunsola, has prayed a Customary Court in Ile-Tuntun, Ibadan to dissolve his 20-year-old union with his wife, Atinuke, whom he called “a serial thief”.

In his petition, Azeez, said that he can no longer bear the shame which his wife had continually brought on him.
he said the humiliation by neighbours and landlords’ association as a result of his wife’s habitual stealing has overwhelmed him.

“When Atinuke's stealing first started, I did not take it too seriously until she graduated into a huge embarrassment for me. 3 months ago, I received many phone calls in my office on how my wife was selling neighbours’ domestic animals such as goats. People whose goats were missing in the community have traced it to her selling them in collaboration with her accomplices.

“Before I knew it, the landlords’ association had ordered my entire family to immediately leave the community or else, they might get me arrested. While I was looking for money to pay for the stolen goats, Atinuke was again engulfed in an allegation of stealing mobile phones from a mosque in the area. She was in an argument with her partner in crime on how to collect her share before she was caught.

“Besides, Atinuke usually gives me dirty slaps if I dare complain or threaten to marry another wife due to her bad attitudes. In fact, she smashed food plate on my head the last time. I don’t want her to continue to destroy my reputation, please, separate us,” Azeez begged

However, the respondent opposed the claims and prayed the court not to put an end to her union. Atinuke who earns her living as a chemist submitted that she truly stole neighbour’s goats. “Azeez is right with the issue of goats and I have promised to change, but I didn’t steal any mobile phone. I don’t know why I am stealing, I have been trying to resolve it spiritually,” Atinuke said.

After listening to both parties, Chief Henry Agbaje, the President of the court, appealed to the petitioner to exercise more patience. Agbaje advised the couple to produce their relatives in court on Nov. 28 for judgment.

SOURCE: https://www.stelladimokokorkus.com/2019/11/man-whose-wife-is-serial-thief-begs.html?m=1

Former President of Ghana, John Mahama has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to open Nigeria’s borders, saying that Ghana has been heavily affected by the closure of the borders.

Mahama said that for economic activities to resume in West Africa, Nigeria needs to reconsider its decision on the total border closure. He made this plea while delivering the seventh-anniversary lecture of investiture into The Realnews Hall of Fame and the unveiling of a book, titled: Pathways to Political and Economic Development of Africa.

According to the former president as reported by The Nation, the closure of the borders, especially the Benin border, was affecting many small and medium businesses, especially in Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, which relied on inter-country trade.

“I am sure that businesses in Nigeria that rely on supplies from these countries are also suffering. With the signing of the joint border task force agreement between Nigeria and her neighbours, I will like to take this opportunity to appeal to Nigeria to open up her border so that economic activities can resume,” Mahama said.

While reacting to the shut down of shops owned by Nigerians by the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) as retaliation to the border closure, Mahama said, “Back home in Ghana, I also look forward to our government’s intervention that brings an immediate cessation to the forceful and illegal closure of shops of foreigners, especially Nigerians, by members of the local trade associations.”

Mahama who is a former Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) spoke on how he still has an abiding interest in the progress of ECOWAS and its people. In this light, he said that Nigeria being the home of ECOWAS and the largest economy in West Africa should not allow the objective principles for the establishment of ECOWAS to be lost.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to yield to pressure to reopen the borders. Edoumiekumo, who was also present at the lecture, said President Buhari should remain firm in his resolve to ensure economic growth and the country’s development as the border closure would generate more revenue for the nation and tackle smuggling.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2019/11/20/former-ghanaian-president-mahama-begs-buhari-to-open-borders/

As Nigerians continue to deliberate on the rape case between Busola Dakolo and COZA pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked parents to warn their children against inviting rapists through their dressing.

Reverend Israel Akanji, Chairman of CAN (North Central Zone), gave the charge when he spoke at a summit with the theme: “Elimination of violence against women and children”, organised by the Women’s Wing of Christian Council of Nigeria, today November 19th.

Akanji while speaking to the women, said

“When people wear mini dresses, sometimes they even wear it to church we must speak against it in churches. Some of us try not to talk about it because we feel if we talk to them, they may not return to our churches. The church has to come up with tough measures against indecent dressing; indecent dressing must not be accepted in the church of Christ. Even the Bible teaches that people must dress decently to be in the House of the Lord.

The Bible says thou shall not steal, kill and commit adultery. These are considered to be grievous sins in the Bible, but people who rape, should be considered as very serious criminals. The problem we have in Nigeria is anonymity, people don’t want to talk when raped, parents don’t want their children to say it because they feel it will bring a bad name to their family and that is why it has continued. If rape cases are reported in good time and adequate measures are taken, a lot of things will change.

I want to appeal to parents that while we are waiting for a law that will deal with rapists (I know that laws exist right now), parents must warn their children. Some children dress in such a way that they appear as if they are inviting rapists to their lives. They are almost naked, they expose body parts that some people cannot control themselves. Let us return to the culture of decent dressing, it may not stop but it will minimize it.”

SOURCE: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2019/11/warn-your-children-against-inviting-rapists-through-their-dressing-can-tells-parents.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the over N1 trillion spent on the constituency projects of National Assembly members in the last 10 years has produced no results. He said data collected from Nigerians in rural communities showed they had not felt the impact of such projects.

Buhari spoke at the National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in Public Sector, which opened at the State House Conference Centre on Tuesday in Abuja. The event was organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.

“N1tn has been appropriated in the last 10 years for constituency projects, but the impact can hardly be seen,” he stated.

The President directed the ICPC to go after the contractors who collected funds for such projects and their collaborators in government.

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/breaking-n1tn-spent-on-nass-constituency-projects-in-10yrs-without-results-buhari/

It was an interesting time, over the weekend, for the 10 African startups that won a total of $1 million at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI). The event took place in Accra and was attended by Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire whose brainchild this is, to support African entrepreneurs.

BIGGEST WINNER OF THE NIGHT
Nigeria’s LifeBank was declared the biggest winner and was awarded the sum of $250, 000 to facilitate its business of saving lives. The healthcare startup specialises in the use of technology and logistics to deliver “lifesaving medical products” to hospitals across Nigeria and beyond.

Information reaching us from the event also noted that the company’s Founder, Temi Giwa-Tubosun, was bestowed with the Jack Ma African Business Hero Award. An excited Tubosun was quoted by CNN to have said the following: “The Africa Netpreneur Prize will give me the resources to grow LifeBank and expand our presence in Nigeria and throughout the rest of Africa. I look forward to continuing my journey to solve problems and make a significant impact on the future of Africa.”

It’s a beautiful moment for @temite of @lifebanknigeria, who takes home the top #ANPI2019 Africa Business Hero Award! � You showed up and made Africa proud. pic.twitter.com/mDngVRejhE
--- Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (@AFNetpreneurs) November 16, 2019

FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP
Other winners also emerged one of which is Nawah Scientific, a private research centre in Egypt that received $150, 000. Water Access Rwanda was also awarded $100, 000 to facilitate its operations in Rwanda it works to provide access to clean drinking water.

3 OTHER NIGERIAN STARTUPS WIN
With half of the prize going to the top three winners, the remaining $500,000 was left to be shared between seven startups. Three Nigerian startups got a cut from this sum, and they include the following:

1. Thrive Agric: An agric-tech company that works to avail small farm owners access to finance.
2. DrugStoc: A startup that uses IT to fight counterfeit drugs.
3. Black Swan Tech Ltd: Works to increase birth registration and immunisation of newborns.

Other winners drawn from across Africa include: Afrikrea.com from Ivory Coast, J-Palm Liberia, Mumm from Egypt, and Uzuri K&Y from Rwanda.

We agree with Mr Strive Masiyiwa. Each of this 10 is an amazing entrepreneur. Well done to you all! #ANPI2019 #Lookingforheroes pic.twitter.com/qLVtTVFP1S
--- Black Swan Tech (@BlackSWTech) November 16, 2019

The panel of judges at the event included Jack Ma, First Bank of Nigeria’s Chairman, Ibukun Awosika, and Zimbabwean serial entrepreneur and billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa. They were praised for doing a “stellar” job of finding the right winners.

Stellar panel of judges with serious questions and actionable advice @AFNetpreneurs in Accra @joetsai1999 Jack Ma, Strive Masiyiwa, and @IbukunAwosika. Down to which slides to remove, governance structures, realistic addressable markets. Look out for it on youtube pic.twitter.com/mdVgKcvbOX
--- Aubrey Hruby (@AubreyHruby) November 16, 2019

In the meantime, the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) is set to give out another $1 million to deserving African entrepreneurs next year. This will be done for ten consecutive years, with $10 million awarded in total.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2019/11/18/nigerian-startups-dominate-winners-list-at-the-maiden-africa-netpreneur-prize-initiative/

It’s happening! The return on one year government Treasury bills have now fallen below the dividend yield of some of Nigeria’s biggest banks.

Extrapolating from dividend paid in 2018, Zenith bank boasts the highest dividend yield among big banks at around 17%, some 700 basis points above the 10% stop rate for one-year treasury bills at last Wednesday’s primary auction and 600 basis points above inflation.

Zenith’s superior returns have certainly caught the eye of investors who bought a record N5.9 billion worth of the tier-one lender’s shares last Wednesday alone, the most in the last seven trading days at least. Between Tuesday and Thursday, a total of 591 mn Zenith bank shares valued at N10.6 bn were traded.

The lender’s share price gained 8% in that period closing at N19.15 on Thursday, according to NSE (Nigerian Stock Exchange) data. That’s the highest price it has traded at since July 2019. There would be more to come in terms of demand for Zenith bank as local non-bank institutional investors now banned from purchasing high-yielding CBN securities, otherwise known as Open Market Operations (OMO), pile into the bank’s stocks.

“Zenith has been on a tear since yields on treasury bills started collapsing and is showing no signs of slowing,” one trader told BusinessDay. “It presents a compelling case for dividend yield play at a time when yields in the fixed income market are fast falling below inflation rate,” the trader said.

The yields on one T-Bills offer investors a negative real return of 1%, considering that inflation printed 11.23% at the last check in September. Expectations that yields in the fixed income market are heading to single-digits and with inflation tipped to rise in the coming months, stocks with double digit dividend yields are likely to see increased demand.

Zenith is not the only big bank with dividend yields above the one-year government debt. United Bank for Africa has a dividend yield of 15.9%. Again, investors are noticing. A record 67 mn shares worth N501bn were traded Thursday alone, the most in the last 7 trading days at least. UBA’s share price has jumped to N7.40, the highest since April 2019.

Guaranty Trust Bank also slightly edges one-year treasury bills with a dividend yield of 11%. Investors traded a record 37 mn units of GTB stocks worth N1.1 bn on Wednesday alone. The increased demand has pushed the lender’s share price to N29, the highest since September.

LOLADE AKINMURELE

SOURCE: https://businessday.ng/lead-story/article/these-3-stocks-can-earn-you-more-money-in-dividends-than-1yr-t-bills/

An American man, Howard Sueing III Ekundayo, has revealed that he has adopted his Nigerian wife’s surname, Ekundayo. Howard, whose Twitter bio reveals is an Engineering Manager at Netflix, tweeted on Sunday that he had recently got married to a Nigerian woman, one Bukky Ekundayo, and that he was changing his surname to hers, so they could pass it on to their children.

He tweeted, “I recently got married! I’m replacing my birth surname/suffix (Sueing III) with @SimplyBukks‘s (Ekundayo) so that we can pass it on to our future children. “Ekundayo” means “to turn tears to joy” in Yoruba. (sic)”

Howard has already changed his name on Twitter to reflect his new surname. His decision has been well received by the Nigerian Twitter community.

A Twitter user, Uzoma Nwagba sharing a screenshot of Howard’s tweet, wrote, “Meet my college friend, Howard Sueing, an American. Howard was in love with us Nigerians he met (who wouldn’t be?). Howard has just married our Nigerian classmate, Bukky Ekundayo. He decided to take her surname, officially. Bold. Meet Howard Ekundayo. Congrats bro.”

Another user, ‘Sire @SiredOne said, He looks Nigerian already� while Mike J @CodeInBlack wrote “That’s that �� love spirit. Congrats.”

SEE TWEETS:

I recently got married! I’m replacing my birth surname/suffix (Sueing III) with @SimplyBukks‘s (Ekundayo) so that we can pass it on to our future children. “Ekundayo” means “to turn tears to joy” in Yoruba.
--- Howard E (Sueing III) Ekundayo � (@ChapAndScholar) November 10, 2019

Meet my college friend, Howard Sueing, an American. Howard was in love with us Nigerians he met (who wouldn’t be �?). Howard has just married our Nigerian classmate, Bukky Ekundayo. He decided to take her surname, officially. Bold. Meet Howard Ekundayo. �� Congrats bro. pic.twitter.com/OcNaao7pvr
--- Technocrat (Úzọmã Nwágbã) (@uzonwagba) November 14, 2019

SOURCE: https://punchng.com/american-adopts-nigerian-wifes-surname-ekundayo/

(10). IBI RONCAIOLI WAS MURDERED BY HER HUSBAND AFTER SHE SQUANDERED HER WINNINGS
Ontario resident Ibi Roncaioli walked away with $5 million in a 1991 Lotto/649 drawing, but she didn't tell her husband how she decided to spend it.

When Joseph Roncaioli, a gynecologist, found out Ibi gave $2 million of her fortune to a secret child she'd had with another man, he poisoned her with painkillers, according to reports from the Toronto Star.

He was convicted on manslaughter charges and reportedly asked Ibi's family to help foot the bill for her funeral.

(9). AMERICO LOPES QUIT HIS JOB, LIED ABOUT WINNING, AND THEN GOT SUED
Construction worker Americo Lopes won the New Jersey lottery, quit his job, and lied about it, claiming he needed foot surgery, according to reports from The New York Times.

After coming clean to a former coworker, he and a few others ganged up on Lopes for not splitting the winnings as promised. In a fraud suit, the coworkers claimed they had all pitched in for the winning ticket. The court ordered Lopes to split the prize.

(. SUZANNE MULLINS COULDN'T DIG HERSELF OUT OF DEBT
Suzanne Mullins won $4.2 million in the Virginia lotto in 1993.

She split the yearly payments 3 ways with her husband and daughter, leaving Mullins with about $47,000 a year. She quickly found herself in debt — her lawyer said she shelled out $1 million for her uninsured son-in-law's medical bills.

"It's been a hard road," Mullins' lawyer Michael Hart told the Associated Press in 2004. "It's not been jet plane trips to the Bahamas." She used future payouts to take out a $200,000 loan with a company that served a specific market — lottery winners who need their money faster.

Mullins later switched to a lump-sum payout, but never paid back the debt. The loan company filed suit and won a $154,000 settlement that was all but worthless. Mullins had no assets.

(7). GERALD MUSWAGON ENDED UP FEELING SORRY FOR PARTYING
In 1998, Gerald Muswagon won the $10 million Super 7 jackpot in Canada. But he couldn't handle the instant fame that came with winning the grand prize, according to Canada's Globe and Mail.

"He bought several new vehicles for himself and friends, purchased a house that turned into a nightly 'party pad' and often celebrated his new lifestyle with copious amounts of drugs and alcohol," The Globe and Mail reported. "In a single day, he bought eight big-screen televisions for friends."

Muswagon also poured money into a logging business that failed because of low sales.

He was eventually forced to take a job doing heavy lifting on a friend's farm just to make ends meet, according to The Globe and Mail. According to media reports, Muswagon hanged himself in his parents' garage in 2005.

(6). TONDA LYNN DICKERSON WAS FORCED TO PAY GIFT TAX
Tonda Lynn Dickerson, a former Waffle House waitress, got served a big plate of karma when she reportedly refused to split her winnings with colleagues and was forced to pay the taxman $1,119,347.90.

How did it happen? Dickerson placed her winnings in a corporation and granted her family 51% of the stock, qualifying her for the tax.

(5). EVELYN MARIE ADAMS GAMBLED IT ALL AWAY IN ATLANTIC CITY
Against all odds, Adams won the lottery twice, once in 1985 and again in 1986. The New Jersey native won $5.4 million, but AskMen.com reports that she gambled it away in Atlantic City.

Adams also told The New York Times in 1993 that the publicity she received led to a bombardment of requests for financial assistance.

"I was known," she said, "and I couldn't go anywhere without being recognized."

(4). SHARON TIRABASSI WON $10 MILLION, BUT EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO HER OLD LIFE
In 2004, Sharon Tirabassi, a single mother who had been on welfare, cashed a check from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. for more than $10 million Canadian dollars.

She spent her winnings on a "big house, fancy cars, designer clothes, lavish parties, exotic trips, handouts to family, loans to friends," and in less than a decade she was back "riding the bus, working part-time, and living in a rented house."

"All of that other stuff was fun in the beginning, now it's like, back to life," she told The Hamilton Spectator.

Luckily, Tirabassi put some of her windfall in trusts for her six children, who would be able to claim the money when they turned 26.

(3). MARTYN AND KAY TOTT WON A $5 MILLION JACKPOT, BUT LOST THE TICKET
Martyn Tott, 33, and his 24-year-old wife Kay, from the UK, missed out on a $5 million lottery fortune after losing their ticket.

A 7-week investigation by Camelot Group, the company that runs the UK's national lottery, convinced officials their claim to the winning ticket was legitimate. But since there is a 30-day time limit on reporting lost tickets, the company was not required to pay up, and the jackpot became the largest unclaimed amount since the lottery began in 1994.

"Thinking you're going to have all that money is really liberating. Having it taken away has the opposite effect," Kay Tott told The Daily Mail. "It drains the life from you and puts a terrible strain on your marriage. It was the cruelest torture imaginable."

(2). BUD POST LOST $16.2 MILLION WITHIN A NIGHTMARISH YEAR — AND HIS OWN BROTHER ALLEGEDLY PUT OUT A HIT ON HIM
William "Bud" Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988, but he was $1 million in debt within a year. "I wish it never happened," Post said. "It was totally a nightmare."

A former girlfriend successfully sued him for a third of his winnings, and his brother was arrested for allegedly hiring a hit man to kill him in the hopes he'd inherit a share of the winnings.

After sinking money into family businesses, Post sank into debt and spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector. "I was much happier when I was broke," he said, according to The Washington Post.

Bud lived quietly on $450 a month and food stamps until his death in 2006.

(1). LARA AND ROGER GRIFFITHS BOUGHT THEIR DREAM HOME … AND THEN LIFE FELL APART
Before they won a $2.76 million lottery jackpot in 2005, Lara and Roger Griffiths, of England, reportedly never argued. Then they won and bought a million-dollar barn-converted house and a Porsche, not to mention luxurious trips to Dubai, Monaco, and New York City.

Media stories say their fortune ended in 2010 when a freak fire gutted their house, which was underinsured, forcing them to shell out for repairs and seven months of temporary accommodations.

Shortly after, there were claims that Roger drove away in the Porsche after Lara confronted him over emails suggesting that he was interested in another woman. That ended their 14-year marriage.

Winning a jackpot is assumed to be due to a stroke of good luck.

However, for some Lotto winners, their good fortune seems to run out the day they receive the payout. Here are some practical examples of people who would probably have been better off not winning the Lottery...

The Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) rates have dropped to single-digit at the end of the latest primary market auction (PMA). Analysts said the last time NTB rates were at the current position was three years ago. The development followed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent decision to ban banks, non-bank financial institutions, other local firms as well as individuals from participating in its open market operations (OMO) auctions.

At the end of the PMA, interest rate for the 91-day stood at 7.80% as N4.38 billion of the debt instrument was sold, as against a strong demand N7.80 bn that was put forward by investors. On the other hand, while rates for the 182-day bills closed at 9%, the regulator sold N12.92 bn of the instrument. Also, the marginal rate for the 364-day bill closed yesterday at 10%, with total amount sold by the regulator at N108 bn.

In all, whereas, the CBN offered to auction a total of N125 bn bills, it was oversubscribed as total bid put forward by investors was N556 bn. CBN had last month completely prohibited individuals and local firms from investing in both its primary and secondary OMO auctions. The directive was contained in a circular titled: “Re: Open Market Operations Auctions,” dated October 24, 2019, and signed by its Director, Financial Markets Department, Dr. Angela Sere-Ejembi.

With this new CBN’s directive, investing in OMO bills is now for banks and foreign investors alone.

SOURCE (abridged): https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/treasury-bills-rates-drop-to-three-year-low/

Following the ban of individuals and small firms from investing in treasury bills by the Central Bank of Nigeria, investors poured money into shares instead, which boosted the market capitalisation of equities by N245bn. The CBN had barred local investors from participating in its treasury bill auctions in a bid to draw more foreign interest to boost dollar liquidity and prop up the naira.

The Chief Executive Officer, EFG Hermes Nigeria Limited, Lillian Olubi, had predicted that the equities market would see an increased investment and appetite from investors, following the CBN’s directive barring individuals and local corporates from investing in Open Market Operations auctions.

Olubi said the CBN directive would have a positive impact on the equities market, in which case such corporate organisations like pension managers would need to divert more funds into equities market investments.

In addition, the interest rates in the treasury bills market had crashed into the single digit region at the end of the Primary Market Auction on Wednesday.

The Managing Director, Afrinvest Securities Limited, Mr Ayodeji Ebo, had said following the crash of interest rates of treasury bills, investors’ search for alternative investments would intensify. Reuters reported that the CBN, on Thursday, auctioned N300bn naira worth of open market securities, but shut out local investors out of the sale – the second since the ban was introduced, which left investors seeking alternative places to park their money.

One fund manager, who told Reuters that he had been investing in cash and bank deposits since the CBN announcement, said he thought the treasury auction ban would be relaxed soon as excess liquidity affected the markets. The aggregation of these factors pushed investors to stocks, which recorded highest gain in five weeks, rising by 1.84 per cent on Thursday 14th November 2019.

The All Share Index, which had recorded a year-to-date loss of -16.1 per cent, rose to 26.843.11 basis points on the back of major gains, which were recorded in banking stocks. Activity level on Thursday was mixed as volume traded rose by 2.3% to 624.8 million units while value traded declined by 9.8% to N10bn.

The most active stocks by volume were Zenith Bank Plc (167.9 mn units), Access Bank Plc (99.3 mn units) and UBA Group Plc (67.8 mn units) while Zenith Bank (N3.2bn), Nigerian Breweries Plc (N1.7bn) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (N1.6bn) led the top traded stocks by value.

Performance across sectors was impressive as 4 sectors recorded tangible gains. Investor sentiment strengthened as market breadth (advance/decline ratio) surged to 11.3x from the 0.8x recorded on Wednesday as 34 stocks gained against 3 decliners.

The top 5 gainers were Ekocorp Plc, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, United Capital Plc and FBN Holdings Plc, whose respective share prices gained 9.79%, 9.76%, 9.70%, 9.66% and 9.65%. Analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited said following the marked improvement in sentiment in the equities market, a mixed market performance was expected in the short term as bulls continued to battle bears for dominance.

SOURCE (abridged): https://punchng.com/t-bills-investors-storm-equities-market-after-cbn-ban/

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed has disclosed that most of the bad roads in Nigeria belong to the states.

THE DETAILS
According to the Nation, Ahmed argued that most bad roads in the country were within jurisdiction of states. She made this statement after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that held yesterday in Abuja. She went further to state that the Federal Ministry of Works was the biggest beneficiary of funding in the 2019 budget as it was adequately reimbursed for the purpose of roads rehabilitation in the country.

“So far, the sum of N650 billion has been released to fund capital projects,” she said. This figure, according to her is higher than the sum the President ordered to be released last month. She also promised that an extra N250 billion would be released for capital projects to bring the total sum to N900 billion by the end of the year.

Refuting the claim of the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola over the lack of finance to fund road repairs, Ahmed responded that the government had gone as far as issuing several Sukuk Bonds to cope with financial responsibilities associated with road construction.

The Minister said, “Works is always on the priority list; housing is always funded. Same is transportation and power, though we have revenue challenges. It allows me to state that the Minister of Works and Housing has a proposed budget of N247 billion for the year 2020 and the greatest component of this budget is the fixing of Nigerian roads.

“Indeed, we are not able to fund the budget 100%, but whenever we release funds for capital projects, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Works and Housing is always the priority and also the Ministry of Transport.

“Our fiscal space is tight, resources are limited but at the time we have resources, funds to release, the highest proportion goes to Power, Transport, World and Housing. Also, we have introduced some measures that have seen private sector participants getting involved in road construction.”

Ahmed acknowledged that the government had not done enough to rehabilitate roads all over the country but still attributed most of the bad roads in the country to the states. “We have a lot of roads in the country but not every road you see is the responsibility of the Federal government. The major arterial roads are the ones that are the responsibility of the federal government.

“Majority of the roads in the country are within the purview and responsibility of States as well as local governments. Have we done enough? No, not yet, that is why we are trying to do more including raising special funds to make sure that roads and such other infrastructure are being addressed,” she said.

SOURCE (abridged): https://nairametrics.com/2019/11/14/state-governments-own-most-bad-roads-finance-minister-says/

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The nation’s stock market was very busy on Thursday 14th Nov 2019 after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disappointed many investors by significantly lowering treasury bills rates at the primary market on Wednesday. Some investors, who had abandoned the equity market, were left with no choice than to return to the market to source for high value stocks, especially in the banking space.

This resulted in the banking index rising broadly by 7.04% yesterday, with the insurance sector following with 1.96% growth; the industrial goods index growing by 1.24% and consumer goods sector appreciating by 0.98%. Only the energy sector declined yesterday as its index closed 0.67% lower.

Business Post reports that at the close of transactions on Thursday, the market recorded a 1.91% growth, leaving the All-Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to close at 26,843.11 points and the market capitalisation at N13.067 trillion.

The market breadth closed positive with 34 price gainers and three price losers led by MTN Nigeria, which depreciated by 15 kobo to settle at N121.90 per share. Champion Breweries and Ikeja Hotel lost 9 kobo each to finish at 90 kobo and 87 kobo respectively.

On the gainers’ chart, Guinness Nigeria occupied first position with N2.30 added to its share price to close at N26 per unit and was followed by GTBank, which gained N1.90 to end at N29.90 per unit. Zenith Bank rose by N1.35 to finish at N19.15 per share, while Dangote Sugar and Access Bank appreciated by 95 kobo each to quote at N10.90 and N10.80 respectively.

In terms of the level of activity at the market on Thursday, it was mixed as the volume and number of deals executed increased by 2.34% and 27.73% respectively, while the value of transactions depreciated by 9.75%. A total of 624.8 million shares worth N10.0 billion were transacted by investors in 6,426 deals compared with the 610.6 million units sold for N11.1 billion in 5,031 deals on Wednesday.

Zenith Bank remained the most traded stock at the market yesterday, though the volume reduced. A total of 167.9 million units were traded for N3.2 billion during the session. Access Bank exchanged 99.3 mn shares worth N1.1 billion, UBA sold 67.8 mn equities for N500.3 million, Nigerian Breweries transacted 36.3 mn shares valued at N1.7 billion, while Sterling Bank traded 31.4 mn units for N68.5million.

SOURCE (abridged): https://businesspost.ng/economy/demand-for-nigerian-stocks-raises-index-by-1-91/amp/

The nation’s imports of petrol and diesel fell by about 11% and 15%, respectively in August and September, latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed. The decline in imports of the petroleum products followed the partial closure on August 22 of the nation’s land borders with countries such as Benin and Niger in order to check smuggling of contraband into the country.

Volume of the Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, imported into the country dropped to 1.46 billion litres in September, down from 1.64 bn litres in August and 1.99 bn litres in July. NBS data showed that petrol imports stood at 2.24 bn litres in January; 1.56 bn litres in February; 1.07 bn litres in March; 2.07 bn litres in April; 2.01 bn litres in May, and 1.53 bn litres in June.

The country imported a total of 5.09 bn litres of petrol in the third quarter of the year, down from 5.61 bn litres in the previous quarter. A total of 4.89 bn litres of petrol was distributed by trucks to all states in Q3, compared to 5.18 bn litres in Q2, according to the NBS. The volume of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) imported into the country dipped in September to its lowest level this year at 322.63 million litres, compared to 377.91 mn litres in August and 483.93 mn litres in July.

Diesel imports hit a high of 580.39 mn litres in June, rising from 452.19 mn litres in May; 351.18 mn litres in April; 391.21 mn litres in March; 379.75 mn litres in February, and 436.03 mn litres in January. The country imported 1.18 billion litres of diesel in Q3, down from 1.38 bn litres in Q2. The data also revealed that a total of 1.25 bn litres of diesel were distributed across the country in Q3, compared to 1.28 bn litres in the previous quarter.

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, relies heavily on importation to meet its fuel needs as the nation’s refineries remain in a state of disrepair. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had said in early September that the recent closure of the borders might have contributed to the huge reduction in petrol evacuation from fuel depots.

“Significant drop in the PMS evacuation from fuel depots noted since August 22nd may be connected to border closure and other interventions of the security agencies aimed at curbing smuggling. We will contain smuggling of the PMS,” the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mele Kyari, tweeted on September 7.

The corporation had said in July that petrol was being smuggled out of the country to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire as a result of the price disparity of petrol between Nigeria and the other West African countries.

SOURCE (abridged): https://punchng.com/petrol-diesel-imports-drop-after-border-closure/