An interesting and mind-illuminating History. Please take your time and digest! Be open to knowledge and do not be a tribal jingoist. #Besafe

Anioma vs Igbo

by Cheta Nwanze

Last year I took my friend and partner, Tunde Leye to my homestead. In going to that area, we did not cross the Niger River (Oshimmiri in my native dialect) the way most people cross it these days. Rather, we went the old way. We took a boat from Cable Point (Ikpele Nmili) in Asaba, and 12 minutes later, we were sharing a beer with some of my acquaintances at Onicha Marine. You see, for those who know the history, Asaba and Onitsha, prior to the building of the bridge, both communities were quite closeknit, something we’ll discuss later on today.

The third point in the dictionary definition of a mongrel is “any cross between different things, especially if inharmonious or indiscriminate.”

This is the classic definition of the Igbo people, something I wrote about six years ago. The Igbo people came from different parts of what is today’s Nigeria, and settled in the area that they now call home. This, centuries worth of migration, mixing and consolidation, was anything but harmonious or planned. However, further research has shown me that some of what I wrote then was incomplete, but I will refrain from saying “wrong”, because I am unfit to untie Elizabeth Isichei’s shoelaces, and it was from her 1976 work, A History of the Igbo People, that I drew heavily for that piece.

As an aside, I think it’s time for me to do my first social media appeal. Is anyone willing to finance me to go and sit with her in New Zealand once this pandemic is over? She lives there now, and she is such a repository of Igbo history. She was born in 1939 which means that at 81, the window for a comprehensive debrief of the stuff which didn’t make any of her three books that focused on the Igbo people is closing…

Let me go back to topic.

In the last few days there has been a lot of argument on Twitter about whether the Igbo speaking people of Delta State in Nigeria are Igbo, or something called Anioma. Some people from this area have pointed out that they have been victims of taunts by some Igbos from the East of the Niger, who have themselves said that Delta Igbos are not Igbo.

Both sides of this argument are right, but one tweet I saw was an outright lie. There is no one from the East who will call a native Anioma person “Onye ofe mmanụ. That particular slur is reserved for Yoruba people as the thinking behind that stereotype is that the Yoruba people cannot cook, but rather drown their soups in oil and pepper to cover the lack of culinary skills. My pot belly can tell you that that stereotype is way off, but that is another topic for another day…

The words used for the various peoples of the former Bendel are as follows — Ndị Ika to describe the Igbo speaking peoples of the Midwest; Ndị Idu to describe the Bini people; Ndị ohu (a slur) to describe the Esan people (and the history of this is actually linked to Benin); Ndị Usobo to describe those in the “proper Delta”, that is the Ijaw, Ijekiri, Isoko and Urhobo.

Now, the problem with most of Nigeria, is that we do not know where we are coming from. Generally, if you do not know where you’re coming from, it’s kinda hard to know where you’re going to.

Too many Igbo people both East and West of the Niger, do not know where they are coming from. Referring back to the piece I highlighted earlier, I pointed out that, “ The Anioma sub-group is divided into two, Enuani and Ukwuani. Enuani and Onitsha people migrated from Igala along with Ishan.” This is incomplete.

In the intervening years, I’ve had discussions with older men in Onitsha, Idumuje-Ogboko, Onicha Ugbo, Atani, Obosi, Issele Azagba and Ibusa, and built a more complete profile. Yes, some Onitsha people indeed came from the Igala area, but most claim their ancestry from around Benin (possibly from what is now called Igbanke), who fled East sometime in the 16th Century to escape the wrath of Oba Esigie. These people, under their leader, Eze Chima, founded a number of towns along the way — Ọnicha Ugbo, Ọnicha Ọlọna, Issele Uku, Issele Azagba, and then one of their number crossed the great river, and settled at Ọnicha Mmiri, which is today known simply as Ọnicha, or as the British colonists three centuries later transcribed it, Onitsha.

Now, to cross to what became Onitsha, that band of Ụmụ Eze Chima (children of Eze Chima) must have crossed the river at the closest point where the water is calmest. From the area that was called Ikpele Nmili by the natives, but was rechristened Cable Point by the British when they set up their communication channel there soon after decimating the population of Asaba. These Ụmụ Eze Chima were helped too cross by the locals who had themselves settled there two generations earlier under the leadership of Nnebisi, who had himself left his hometown, Nteje in today’s Anambra State. Nteje itself has Igala origins, and I have an appointment with the Eje of Ankpa in today’s Kogi state, to discuss this relationship (note the title of their traditional ruler — Eje, and then relate it to Nteje)…

According to Dennis Osadebey in the book, Building A Nation, Nnebisi was the son of an Nteje woman, Diaba, who had gotten pregnant for an Igala man, Ojobo. Nnebisi grew up in Nteje thinking he was of the kindred, but one day, after a quarrel, he was told that his father was not from there, so he could not take part in land sharing. He thus left Nteje with his followers, and followed a route which brought him to the great river.

If you look at a map of those areas, it is quite easy to trace the route taken by Nnebisi, which must have taken him through Nsugbe, and then along the Anambra River (Ọma Mbala), and then to the point where the Anambra River joins the Niger River. That precise point where the Anambra River joins the Niger River, is coincidentally, the precise point where you can take an eight minute boat ride and land at Cable Point in Asaba.

Nnebisi and his people crossed, landed at Ikpele Nmili and decided to plant their crops there for the year, given that planting season was just starting. A year later, they were pleasantly surprised to find how good their harvest was (of course the area is rich in alluvial soils brought from upstream by the river), so they decided not to move from there. Nnebisi called the place Ani Ahaba (We have settled in this land), and four hundred years later, some white chap hearing the name that the natives called their land, wrote “Asaba” in his map, and not Ahaba.

That man was Carlo Zappa, an Italian priest who was appointed Prefect of the Upper Niger by the Catholic Church to build the faithful in the region. He spent a lot of time converting the natives in both Asaba and Onitsha, and all the way to Ojoto, East of the Niger, and Agbor, West of the Niger. A look through Catholic records during the era of the Ekumeku resistance will show that at the turn of the century, most of the Catholic priests in what is now the Diocese of Issele Uku in Delta State, came from the Onitsha area, as they were all under the same ecclesiastical province. These records are still available.

A look at the roll call of the dead from the Aba Women’s affair of 1929, shows that the wife of the Sanitary headman in the Opobo area, was from Asaba, which kind of tells you the direction in which people went in the decades leading up to the split of Southern Nigeria into East and West in 1954. Up until that point in 1954, many from the Igbo speaking areas just west of the Niger River, found it easier to cross the river to do their business. And why not?


The distance between Asaba and Owerri is just 102km. Asaba to Enugu is 125km, while Asaba to Umuahia is 142km. All of these places are closer to Asaba than Warri, which in modern Nigerian geopolitics is in the same state as Asaba. Warri is 176km from Asaba. The Asaba man, when he arrives in either of Enugu, Owerri or Umuahia, speaks the same language as the people in those places, barring the normal dialectal differences that occur in languages that are spread over large geographical areas. This same Asaba man, would arrive in Warri, and would be at a complete loss as to what the native in Warri is saying…

Referring back to Dennis Osadebe, I’ll recommend that any young Anioma person who wants to learn his history should find Osadebe’s book, Building A Nation, and read it. Osadebe understood where he was coming from, and was unequivocal about it. Thus it was that he joined first the Asaba Union, then by sheer force of will helped to coalese it into the Western Ibo Union, and then by 1939, he was the General Secretary of the Ibo Union. He joined OBN Eluwa on his trip around both Eastern and Western Igboland between 1947 and 1953, a trip which created the Igbo identity that we know today (until 1966) at least.

Osadebe was at the forefront of agitation to remove the Asaba Division from the Benin Province to which it had been joined in 1931 and either rejoin it to the Onitsha Province where it had been prior, or create a province of its own. Of course that agitation fell flat in 1954 once the Southern Region was split into East and West, but being a pragmatic fellow, Osadebe teamed up with his Benin and Delta Division neighbours to campaign for the creation of the Midwest Region, a campaign which succeeded in 1963 with Osadebe becoming premier of the region. Even at that, Osadebe maintained his close relations with his kin from across the river, and thus it was that when war broke out four years later, more than any other, Osadebe’s people, from Asaba, bore the biggest blow that any town in Nigeria faced, the Asaba Massacre of 1967.


This was where things began to take a negative turn for the Midwestern Igbo identity. In 1964, a brilliant and ambitious 30-year old from Asaba joined the public service. Phillip Asiodu, an Oxford graduate who spoke Yoruba as a first languge, rose very fast and by mid-1966 as Nigeria was melting down around everyone, was already a Permanent Secretary in the federal civil service. Unfortunately, he faced the same mistrust that every Midwest Igbo faced in Nigeria of the time: where did his loyalties lie? With Nigeria, or with the rebels? He chose Nigeria, and as tends to be the case with people who have to prove themselves, showed his loyalty to Nigeria only too well.

Asiodu was the one who adviced Gowon to renege from the Aburi Accord when he pointed out that Ojukwu had outmanouvered Gowon in that meeting in Ghana. The moment Gowon reneged on that deal, war became inevitable. The war had a personal effect on Asiodu as his brother Sidney, a well known prize winning athlete, was killed during the Asaba Massacre in 1967. But Asiodu kept his head down, and remained firmly Nigerian, and non-Igbo. That was the birth of the split in identity. A people defeated in war have a tendency to bow their heads. Those who can, reject being members of that defeated group. So it is no surprise that those Igbos who could (borderlands) decided that they no longer wanted to be Igbo. Midwest Igbos created a new identity to the extent that the town of Igbo Akiri changed its name to Igbanke, and its most prominent son, Samuel Chiedu Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, who along with Alexander Madiebo narrowly escaped death in the July 1966 coup, dropped “Chiedu” from his name entirely, and emphasised Osaigbovo. To be honest, I cannot hold people responsible for such behaviours.

The city of Gdansk in Poland was once called Danzig, and it was in Germany…
Going back to Dennis Osadebe, after the war, some prominent Igbos including Osadebe banded together to try and resurrect the Igbo Progressive Union which had been proscribed by Aguiyi-Ironsi in 1966. So they formed the Igbo National Assembly who’s stated goal was to unify Igbos under a common umbrella body. In no time, the INA was banned by the FG, but by 1976, shortly after the murder of Murtala Mohammed, they tried again, and this time, went the route of a socio-cultural organisation. Thus Ohaneze Ndị Igbo was born, and one of the original signatories to the Ohaneze charter was Dennis Osadebe. Along with Ben Nwabueze, and a few others whose names I don’t recall. Osadebe knew that the place of the Midwestern Igbo in Nigeria’s geopolitics would always be with his kin from across the river, and he always acted accordingly. Osadebe was the one who coined the term Anioma, as the entry region of the Midwestern Igbos into Ohaneze. Some of these things are simple to check out, for example, the expression “Anioma” does not appear in any document predating 1975.

The funny thing is that by 1992, even Asiodu who was perhaps most directly responsible for the identity crisis facing his people, had come around, and along with some notable people from Anioma, wrote a letter to the military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida asking him to take Anioma out of Delta state, excise Onitsha and Atani from Anambra state, and create an Anioma state which would have been a part of what is now the South-East geopolitical zone. The signatories to that letter, dated 15 June 1992 where as follows: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle Onicha; Dennis Osadebe, Ojiba Ahaba; Phllip Asiodu, Izoma Ahaba; Anthony Modebe, Ogene Onicha; Ben Nwabueze (from Atani in Anambra state); Chukwuma Ijomah (from Aboh in Delta state); and Ukpabi Asika. BIC Ijomah died just over a month ago, so of all the sages who signed that letter, only Ben Nwabuee and Phillip Asiodu are still with us, and for whatever reason, IBB did not act on the letter.

What is the lesson from Chief Asiodu’s apparent turnaround?

Once your name is Emeka (figurative of course), Nigeria will always happen to you.
That is what people like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala understand.

That is what people like Austin Okocha understand.

That is what great men like Osadebe, Ijomah, Achuzia, and eventually Asiodu, understood.

The truth is that based on our history, the Anioma man never saw the Niger River as a barrier. As a matter of fact, just read Chinua Achebe’s Chike And The River, and you’ll get a sense of how people used to cris-cross the river at that salient point before the bridge was built. The remnants are still there today. Cable Point projects into the river, it is clearly an old market, and Onitsha Marine also projects into the river. That is the original location of the famous Onitsha Market. Has any one from Onitsha ever stopped to ask himself why the Basilica of Holy Trinity was built basically a few metres away from the river at Onitsha Marine? Cross the river to Asaba and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is in an almost identical position. Both churches were built about the same time, commissioned by the same man, Carlo Zappa.

How else do you explain that the dialect of Igbo spoken in Asaba, and that spoken in Onitsha, are the same language?
In the end, the Anioma man, because Biafra lost a war 50 years ago, may deny his identity all he wants, but it will not change the fact — in the Byzantine politics of Nigeria, the day will come when Nigeria will tell you who you are.

I think that is the one thing Nigeria never fails at.

Once your name is Emeka, or Chike, or Nnamdi, or Uju, or Chukwuma, or Obi, or Ogechukwu, or Ekwi, or Azuka, or Ike, or Nonso, or Ifeanyi, or indeed Cheta, the day will come, when Nigeria will tell you who you are. Don’t be caught flat footed.

For the Igbos from the East, never forget some facts — the most effective Biafran diplomat during the war was Raphael Uwechue, Oguluzeme Ogwashi-Uku. The majority of the weapons that were supplied to Biafra came from France, and it was his efforts. Almost all of the CARITAS flights that saved starving Biafran children, had his fingerprints on them. Plus the fact that Emeka Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi got out of Biafra in the end and spent 12 years in exile in a French speaking country, was due to his diplomatic efforts. Raphael Chukwu Uwechue was also President-General of Ohaneze Ndị Igbo for four years. Ndị Anioma, that was your son.

Also, Igbos from the East, never forget that the successful commander of Biafran forces during the war was Joseph Achuzia, Ikemba Ahaba. From 4 October 1967 to 12 October 1967, he prevented Nigerian forces from successfully crossing the Niger River. The Nigerians could only establish a bridgehead at Onitsha Marine before they were beaten back by Achuzia. This defeat was one of the things that led to the massacre of his kinsmen in Asaba on 7 October 1967. On 31 March 1968, Achuzia directed Jona Uchendu’s company of about 700 men in what became Biafra’s most spectacular success of the war, the Abagana Ambush. In that event, 700 Biafran men defeated a Nigerian force of 6000 men. Only 100 Nigerian soldiers, including Murtala Mohammed survived. It was after that action that Murtala did not take part in the war again. Achuzia who died two years ago, was also an Anioma son.

Edit: Ben Nwabueze is still alive. He also signed the 1992 letter I referred to. This is probably going to be your most fascinating read this week. This is me being very modest. Chxta Bee, chukwu gozie gị....


Source: Do not be Lazy! Conduct a personal research and form your independent opinion on this subject.

Follow @Chxta on twitter to understand his views and do not argue blindly for the sake of arguing!

I think this is a great piece. Please read carefully and verify the revelations made here.


The problem with writing skewered history is that it equally misinforms its target: Kayode Esho was a great jurist, but Akunne Oputa was the "Socrates" of the Supreme court. Enahoro was a young editor, but Azikiwe made him that young editor with Osita Agwuna as his assistant, at his paper, the Southern Nigerian Defender in Ibadan, where my own father incidentally started as a rookie before shortly abandoning journalism for the stable berth of the civil service.

The myth of Awolowo as building the first this and that does not match the documented economic history of the period. Between 1954 and 1964, Eastern Nigeria was described as "the fastest growing economy in the world," by the Harvard Review; faster than China, faster than Singapore, and all the so-called "Asian Tigers." Awolowo is often credited with "free education". But no one yet has pointed out any surviving school buildings of the period built by Awo. But all over the East there were quality schools built by the various communities using the Town Development Unions from 1954, and acessing the matching grants of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation. And this was the East with the poorest revenue resources of any of the regions. The Mbaise secondary school exists, the National High School Okigwe exists, the Ngwa High school exists, the Enyiogugu Grammar School exists, etc. These were solid schools built all over the East with matching goverment grants. But where are the buildings of the Modern schools in Western Nigeria? They do not exist. They were makeshift.


The Catholic church forced the Azikiwe government from its scholarship program, but it is also on record, that the Eastern government was the only government in the world that invested 45% of its revenues in education. The East had the highest number of schools; the highest school enrollment; the broadest penetration of medical services; and the best modern road network in west Africa. Indeed if we look carefully, the only public hospitals and most of the schools still standing in the East today, at various stages of run down are the schools and hospitals built by Azikiwe/Okpara.


Every division of the East had a Joint Hospital as part of the Eastern Medical services. So it is often claimed Awo built the first television station; the first sky scraper, and the first Sports stadium, the liberty stadium in Ibadan. Well, these are prestige or white elephant investments. First, the Eastern Outlook, the government paper of Eastern Nigeria was the first newspaper established by any government in Nigeria, and it was of such quality and impact that the literacy level of Easterners, and the depth of public information retailed by Outlook was without compare. This is besides the fact that Western Nigerian Broadcast Services, WNBS-TV founded in 1958 only preceded the ENBC-TV founded in 1959, by only seven months. But Outlook preceded Sketch by about 15 years.


Now Azikiwe built the Onitsha Modern market, the first modern mall or trade emporium in West Africa. Onitsha was effectively Dubai before Dubai. People traveled all over Africa, from as far as the Congo and Sudan and Egypt, to come and buy and trade in Onitsha. The economic impact of this was humonguos. So, give me the vast Onitsha modern market over Cocoa House in Ibadan.


Azikiwe built the first Nigerian University at Nsukka with the first School of Law, the first School of Engineering, the first Business School; the first school of journalism, and the first school of music and performance, etc. By the time its first graduates took the Nigerian civil service exams in 1963, everybody began to raise the cry of "Igbo domination" starting with Akintola and Ayo Rosiji. Give me UNN over Liberty stadium. Azikiwe began the first modern library system in West Africa.


The East had a system of city libraries starting with the very modern Ziks Library in Enugu. I Literally grew up in the Umuahia Divisional Library. These libraries were built all over the East. Schools in the East were built with libraries. Moreover the Eastern Nigerian Library Board had a sysem of rural amd mobile libraries. There was nothing like it anywhere else in Nigeria: kids having library cards and able to borrow or order books from the public library. Give me the the first library over the first TV. I do not by this mean that Awolowo did not make his contributions, but the regular skewering of the facts, and angling of contemporary national narratives often makes it seem these days like the greatest contributor to the founding of Nigeria and its development is Awolowo and the Yoruba, when the actual facts speak differently.

The great Ibadan historian, Tekena Tamuno, was unambiguous in stating once at NIPPS, Jos, that "the Igbos are the makers of moderm Nigeria. When they abandoned their project, Nigeria collapsed." We must remind Nigerians, particularly Igbo children, daily of these fact, to achieve what Achebe called " a balance of stories." And that also means we must read beyond the surface of things. Babarinsa's Guardian essay is angled carefully to maintain a revisionist narrative. And that is to be always challenged, however innocent it might seem.


Even today, most Yoruba think that Awolowo founded the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos. No one has reminded them that it took Azikiwe's pressures for a university for Nigeria, in his meeting with Arthur Richards in 1946, that led to the cobstitution of the Eliot commision and subsequently the founding of the University College, Ibadan.


This fact is even clearly conveyed in Michael Crowder's eponymous book, The Story of Nigeria. Nsukka was Azikiwe's critique of what he felt to be the conceptual limitations of Ibadan. The University of Lagos was the result of NCNC's ideological contributions to the federal policy during the ill fated coalition government with the NPC. UNILAG was an NCNC project, shepherded by Aja Wachukwu as minister for education. Even the great UNILAG in her 50th anniversary failed to mention Prof Eni Njoku as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, a man that layed the solid foundation of what made Unilag is today.


These facts must be made known and put as forcefully accross as possible. Again, until the lion tells his own story, the story of the hunt will belong to the hunter. Kabissa!

Please your advice is urgently needed:

I am a double qualified Nurse RN and RPN ready to migrate to UK. My Nursing experience however, has been in general nursing. I intend pursuing Psychiatric nursing with my qualifications but have limited years of experience. In the NMC registration for CBT exams should I opt for the Mental Health or Adult/General Nursing.

What is the flow for Mental Health CBT as well as Adult Nursing CBT? I would appreciate if I can get study materials for both so as to make up my mind asap. Please send the cbt study materials to yugoberryt@gmail.com. Thank you..

Please your advice is urgently needed:

I am a double qualified Nurse RN and RPN ready to migrate to UK. My Nursing experience however, has been in general nursing. I intend pursuing Psychiatric nursing with my qualifications but have limited years of experience. In the NMC registration for CBT exams should I opt for the Mental Health or Adult/General Nursing.

What is the flow for Mental Health CBT as well as Adult Nursing CBT? I would appreciate if I can get study materials for both so as to make up my mind asap. Please send the cbt study materials to yugoberryt@gmail.com. Thank you..

[q1uote author=yugotee post=88821573]Hello friends,

I would need your input on this:

I am a double qualified Nurse RN and RPN ready to migrate to UK. My Nursing experience has been in general nursing and not Psychiatric nursing. In the NMC registration for CBT exams should I opt for the Mental Health or Adult/General Nursing.

What is the flow for Mental Health CBT as well as Adult Nursing CBT? I would appreciate if I can get study materials for both so as to make up my mind asap. Please send the cbt study materials to yugoberryt@gmail.com. Thank you..

[/quote]

Hello friends,

I would need your input on this:

I am a double qualified Nurse RN and RPN ready to migrate to UK. My Nursing experience has been in general nursing and not Psychiatric nursing. In the NMC registration for CBT exams should I opt for the Mental Health or Adult/General Nursing.

What is the flow for Mental Health CBT as well as Adult Nursing CBT? I would appreciate if I can get study materials for both so as to make up my mind asap. Please send the cbt study materials to yugoberryt@gmail.com. Thank you..

cchimaa:


Thanks so much.

The preparation time depends on you.
I prepared for 3 days.
Some people prepared for weeks, some months.
The truth is the exam is very easy to pass.

They usually repeat questions. I saw exactly what I read.

The materials are online.

If you can’t get them, you can mail me, I shall forward them to you.

Please can you send the CBT preparation materials to me yugoberryt@gmail.com

nzeobi:
After building a hotel, you still continued doing drugs in Indo knowing that it attracts death penalty.
The hotel he built is called dos Santos hotel awka by unizik Junction.

You can go to jail for defamation! Always confirm your stories before spreading lies. The hotel in question has nothing to do with De Santos Hotel Awka. So also the man in question. People should be careful with the lies they spread online.

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Hello house,

Can one get an expedited appointment for childbirth since the next available date for visa appointment is almost after my wife's delivery. Has anyone been granted this for childbirth? If so, what process can I follow for this? I'll appreciate urgent response on this. Thanks.

My wife went for her interview with my two kids but was denied. She wants to reapply alone this time. Below is her transcript:

DW- Good Morning
VO - Good Morning
Vo - Passport Pls
DW - Handed over passport,
Vo - why are u going to the US,
DW - For Childbirth and the opportunity of giving my child dual Citizenship.
Vo - Why US? Why not any other country?
DW- US has great medical facilities and it will be a privilege to access these facilities.
Vo - Have u travelled out of Africa before?
DW - No.
Vo - Are you traveling alone with the kids? How are you going to coordinate them with the new baby coming?
DW- I plan to travel with the kids but my DH will be applying for a visa to join us close to my EDD. Meanwhile, we'll be staying with my aunt who will be assisting.
Vo- what do you do?
DW - Nurse
VO - How much do you earn?
DW - xyz
VO- Who is sponsoring the trip?
DW - Hubby
VO - What does your hubby do?
DW - A GM in a coy plus owns his company that is into xyz consulting services and mgt...
VO - types and types and then sorry you are not eligible for the visa. Bla bla bla... hands over the blue paper.


So people what went wrong? Seems they are denying visas like hell. What would she do differently?

AroOkigbo:

I want to assume you'll be a cash patient. You already know the grave consequences of using medicaid.
Adjust your birth budget to the tune of $15k to $20k. ..normal delivery to CS. You will most likely not spend as much (no harm negotiating with doc and hospital) since you'll be paying cash.
With a good statement from the bank and communications with hospital/doctor you are good to go.
Again rehearse again and again your job responsiblities because they'll sure ask you and you must sound convincing.
And proofs (documents) on those hotels you manage plus your position in the private partnership you co-own.
Quest for dual citizenship for your baby is the main reason you are choosing the US.

Thank you Aro for your submissions. Would you advice I contact the Doctor and the Hospital to relay this concern about hospital budget to them? Perhaps, I will also advise he reflects this in our correspondence. Also, when you say 15k to 20k, is it the total travel budget or the delivery budget alone? In that case what would be the total travel budget assuming the 15k to 20k is just for delivery and other hospital concerns?

Then, talking about proofs on the hotels I manage I'm guessing you mean Letters from the hotels showing appointment and possibly permission to proceed on leave. If not, what documents should be ideal? The hotel is just a brand with branches in Lagos, Abuja and Anambra and I travel a lot to these branches. Moreover, I'm supervising a new branch that is under construction in Rivers state.

What do you think?

AroOkigbo:

My view is different. Tot your reason would be dat if wifey and baby are denied, the loss will be minimal unlike if they all apply together and all get bumped.

Don't give them any iota of doubt that you are returning after the childbirth/vacation.
This, in summary, means that you need all the proofs that you are going to return. Apply together and tell them about the travel plans. ..good thing is dat you have an existing accommodation.
However, the $6k budget for hospital/doctor et al is very discouraging. If I'm the VO, coupled with poor travel history, that's enough reason to ensure you are going nowhere. Blue paper all the way unless your bank statement is superb.

What do you suggest for the hospital and Doctor? My budget for this trip is $18k to $21k and I have a good bank statement. I believe my work responsibility speaks volume and of course I dont intend to stay more than 3weeks over there.

Hello house,

I need your professional input on this. I applied for a student visa sometime in 2005 for my Masters but was denied twice one for Fall term and the other for Spring term. In fact I lost interest in anything traveling out and started my hustles in Naija. I got married in 2012 and my marriage has been blessed all around with two wonderful kids (a boy and a girl).

There has been quantum leap in my finance as I not only manage 3 hotels, I consult for several other hotels and currently co-own a company which is just two years old but doing so well financially. Wifey who is a nurse recently took in for our 3rd baby and we are considering having the baby in US. I've been following this thread and I've been encouraged by the positives and challenged by the negatives on getting a US B1/B2 Visa.

We are considering going for an interview as a family by March ending or first week of April and would need all the encouragement to proceed. While wifey will be going for the medical visa, my kids and I will go for the tourist visa (Note: this is our first travel out of Naija as our vacation has always been in Naija or Ghana). I'll be sponsoring this and have enough financial backing (Bank statement plus fixed deposit). Wifey's aunt in Texas, US wants to provide accommodation and has made arrangements with a doctor in a hospital with a total package not more than 6k for either cs or vag.

Wifey will travel first with my last baby while I intend to meet up with them together with my son close to her EDD as my job is really very demanding. What is your take on this and what chances do we have to get the visa as a family.

I will appreciate some constructive and objective response from the experts in the house. Is there something we can do differently?

Thank you guys...

Smoothmag, one of the most reputable modeling magazines and co-operation in the world, hosting the likes of miss bum bum globally, now in conjunction with Bahamas Travels & Tours and Damienz Empire, would be coming down to Africa in search of the next raw talents and models, and Nigeria is next up.

Selected models are taken for international auditions in other countries in Africa, Europe and America.

Criteria: must be 18yrs and above, 5.5ft and above, normal and plus size models wanted.

Experience: 0

Audition time and details would be communicated once you fulfill the necessary requirements.

NB: TAKE AN ACTION NOW! Obtain a form when you send a mail to bahamastravelsng@gmail dot com

OK

K

Have you ever witnessed baptism in the Catholic church? If you have not, this video will expose you to the rich Catholic tradition and Sacrament of Baptism. This private baptism held in the Chapel of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ogudu Ojota and was presided over by Rev. Fr. Evaristus Mbanusi! Enjoy...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3MBOLJRc_4

You finally made it out of school and now, with high expectations you are getting ready to hit the labour market, probably for your first job. A lot of questions keep creeping in and you find yourself thinking and asking how to go about it and what to do.

Well, these are normal especially if you have never attempted writing a CV before, which is common with most fresh graduates. The good news is; it is very easy to create a wonderful resume within a few hours. However, your inability to write a good CV can limit you and perhaps inhibit your getting a good job! You should note also that your CV should speak volume about you in your absence. It should get you noticed! Simply put, your CV gives you a head-start and an edge over other applicants. So, do not take it for granted!

In my experience as a recruitment consultant recruiting for companies, I have come across several resumes. Most times when I shortlist, I set my objectives based on the parameters laid down by the company. When a job advert has been put up by any company, they write specifics of what they are looking for in the advert, they also include the job requirements and skills/qualifications applicants must possess.

The grave mistake most applicants make is that they tend to generalize their resume for every job advert. The same resume that has been used for a hospitality Industry based opportunity, will also be used for Telecommunication, Banking, Sales, and so many other related opportunities. This in itself is a grave offence and can limit you a great deal!

I will explain this more in my next write-up and give you tips on how to write a professional resume or CV. I will also show you how you can optimize your CV online for big companies to take note of you and call you for a job interview!

Start by taking an action today! We can write professional resumes/CV that will get you noticed! To get details, chat me up via whatsapp +2348036941528. Also like our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/proresumeservice

Read more here: http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/06/writing-your-first-curriculum.html

You finally made it out of school and now, with high expectations you are getting ready to hit the labour market, probably for your first job. A lot of questions keep creeping in and you find yourself thinking and asking how to go about it and what to do.

Well, these are normal especially if you have never attempted writing a CV before, which is common with most fresh graduates. The good news is; it is very easy to create a wonderful resume within a few hours. However, your inability to write a good CV can limit you and perhaps inhibit your getting a good job! You should note also that your CV should speak volume about you in your absence. It should get you noticed! Simply put, your CV gives you a head-start and an edge over other applicants. So, do not take it for granted!

In my experience as a recruitment consultant recruiting for companies, I have come across several resumes. Most times when I shortlist, I set my objectives based on the parameters laid down by the company. When a job advert has been put up by any company, they write specifics of what they are looking for in the advert, they also include the job requirements and skills/qualifications applicants must possess.

The grave mistake most applicants make is that they tend to generalize their resume for every job advert. The same resume that has been used for a hospitality Industry based opportunity, will also be used for Telecommunication, Banking, Sales, and so many other related opportunities. This in itself is a grave offence and can limit you a great deal!

I will explain this more in my next write-up and give you tips on how to write a professional resume or CV. I will also show you how you can optimize your CV online for big companies to take note of you and call you for a job interview!

Start by taking an action today! We can write professional resumes/CV that will get you noticed! To get details, chat me up via whatsapp +2348036941528. Also like our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/proresumeservice

Read more here: http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/06/writing-your-first-curriculum.html

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Hello guys...#TGIF....To the the question above, what would you do? Sincere answers and maybe a little why?

http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/02/tgif-would-you-come-to-your-exs-rescue.html

MzzTega:
Wow!
Are the parent mixed?

Their parents are mixed.

They have contrasting skin tones, eye colours and hair types. But remarkably, these two babies are actually identical twins. Despite coming from the same egg, the siblings look strikingly different and are often mistaken for step-sisters.

Amelia and Jasmine Appleby, who have just celebrated their first birthday, are thought to be the first 'black and white' genetically identical twins born in the UK. Amelia was born with dark skin, black hair and brown eyes, while Jasmine emerged with fair skin, blue eyes and mousey curls.


Their mum Libby Appleby who lives in West Rainton, County Durham, with her longtime partner, Tafadzwa Madzimbamuto, in an interview said that “Amelia is the spitting image of her dad, while Jasmine is a mini version of me." She added that strangers often assume their daughters are step-sisters.

- See more at: http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/02/meet-britains-first-black-and-white.html

Heard of the Zika virus? Well, here is a brief; Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

The World Health Organization declared the spread of the Zika virus a global public health emergency on Monday, with as many as 1.5 million Brazilians potentially infected with the disease, which is believed to cause microcephaly in babies in the womb, and had links to a rare immune disorder called Guillain-Barré.

The virus seems to be affecting the corporate world, as Tata motors on Tuesday announced officially that the new Zica motor will get a change of name/rebrand before official launch.

In a statement, Tata said that it empathized with "the hardships being caused by the recent ‘Zika' virus outbreak across many countries" — including birth defects, limited lifespan, and possibly death — and that "as a socially responsible company," it would rebrand the car before launch. -

See more at: http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/02/tata-to-rename-zica-car-because-it.html

Heard of the Zika virus? Well, here is a brief; Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

The World Health Organization declared the spread of the Zika virus a global public health emergency on Monday, with as many as 1.5 million Brazilians potentially infected with the disease, which is believed to cause microcephaly in babies in the womb, and had links to a rare immune disorder called Guillain-Barré.

The virus seems to be affecting the corporate world, as Tata motors on Tuesday announced officially that the new Zica motor will get a change of name/rebrand before official launch.

In a statement, Tata said that it empathized with "the hardships being caused by the recent ‘Zika' virus outbreak across many countries" — including birth defects, limited lifespan, and possibly death

Read more » http://www.tobesblog.com/2016/02/tata-to-rename-zica-car-because-it.html

What exactly is the work of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO)? Am confused here. I thought we've passed this stage in Nigeria! Oya oga Minister over to you!

http://tobekeneme..com/2015/12/ladder-used-to-get-passengers-on-board.html

Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu (AMEN) today (Friday) paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Father Mbaka was outspoken during the former administration especially in one of his sermons when he lashed the former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan and publicly supported the current president Buhari before elections.

He told State House correspondents that he visited the President in order to commit the nation into God’s hand. Buhari, his Vice and their guest were all cheerful as they posed for photographs.

http://tobekeneme..com/2015/12/father-mbaka-visits-president-buhari.html