Barely nine weeks or thereabout to the United Nation summit in Copenhagen, African officials that met at a special meeting in Bukina Faso resolved to demand billions of dollars in compensation from the rich polluting nations for the harm of gases in the atmosphere. This is because Africa is the worst hit of all the continents by global warming. Even the World Bank estimated that the developing world( most countries in Africa are developing or under developed) will suffer about 80 percent of the damage of climate change.
This agitation and many other activities all over the world show that climate change is about the most important issue dominating international and national discourses right now. Different regions including Africa are taking radically different positions on how to reduce greenhouse gases that cause rise in global temperatures with disastrous consequences. Some of the negative effects of the changing climatic conditions are unusually hot weather, rising sea level due to melting of the antartic ice caps, depletion of greenbelts etc.
In Nigeria, our government is yet to put plans in place to contained the effects of climate change on the environment and the people. One wonders what position we will be taking come December 2009 negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark when all nations especially Africa will be placing demands and asking for compensation from the rich polluting nations. Is Nigeria not feeling the impact of climate change? NO? We are feeling the impact seriously. The incessant and unexplainable flooding of cities across Nigeria is taking alarming proportion. Most states are crying for help as erosion had sacked communities and rendered millions homeless. Desert encroachment is ravaging most parts of the country. People are relocating, businesses are closing down and many are thrown into the labour market.
Due to the Federal Government of Nigeria lack of direction on this issue, the Governor of Lagos state, Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola said it was not a matter of choice but of necessity for every nation in the world to work to save our environment. Without the environment, there is no planet earth. The threat to the environment is a threat to humanity and all levels of government across the earth must act quickly irrespective of belief and convinction to save the planet. One of the effects of the changing climatic conditions is desertification and deforestation and the governor has embarked on planting and nurturing plants all over the state to combat that problem. The Federal government on its part should provide cheap source of energy so that the people do not resort to forest resources as their energy sources.
As the world celebrates Blog Action Day on climate change today, i wish everyone a pollution-free environment.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Mike is Winner Project Fame
MTN Project Fame Season 2
Season 2 of the MTN Project Fame West Africa opened with 15 unique men and women from all over West Africa who entered the academy. They are MIKE, the winner, Sametta, Tomiwa, Tarri, Nicholas, Deniece, Zoe, Savannah, Desmond, Madonna, Anis, Jennifer, Krimi, Damilola and David.
Mike Anyasodo, the 26 years old undergraduate of Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State had right from the beginning stood out with his performances. But Nicholas was the voice in the house that got me captivated every time he mounted that stage to perform. That is a young man that is definitely going places. I would say the sky is his limit. I hope he would remain as focused and determined outside the Academy as he was in the Academy. Krimi, the ‘fabulous’ was another enthralling voice. She sure knew how to package and carry herself. The others were equally good performers though vocally disappointing.
After several evictions, we had five standing and ready to battle for the ultimate price and fame. The five were Nicholas, Madonna, Tomiwa, Krimi and Mike. The five had worked really hard to be there but Madonna had worked the hardest. To me, she improved with each performance and the faculty helped her a great deal. I think they were a bit ‘partial’ in saving her from eviction but she gave all to escape till the end.
On the D-day, Sunday 27 September 2009, the five stormed the floor with “We are family” by Sister Sledge. It was wonderful. The winner of the Project Fame West Africa Season 1, Iyanya Mbuk was in attendance and he performed his track “Love truly” to the delight of all. He looks more of a Model than a singer to me. I watched him on the platform Catwalk for one of Nigerians’ designer Joan, abroad. He did a collabo with DJ Zeez who is making wave with his song ‘ofokasibe’. It was good.
The final five then performed the “most requested” songs. Nicholas, my favorite was first with “Angels wings” by Westlife. The boy is good. The performance was absorbing, spellbinding and captivating. Everyone present was held ‘captive’ by this wonder voice. He got a thunderous ovation for his gripping performance. A commentary I read said ‘Nicholas has come full circle…it is time to go into the world and shine’. I agree totally.
Madonna performed the song by Bob Marley titled “Is this love”. Like I said earlier, she is the real discovery of Project Fame West Africa season 2. Madonna came into the Academy a rookie and left a STAR. Her determination and strength of mind paid off. She is turning into a professional performer.
Tomiwa, the older, unfailing and unswerving performer sang “Oju re a ja” by Lagbaja. He combined so many songs to make people singing along with him. People had fun dancing and singing along.
Anita Baker’s “Sweet love” was performed by Krimi, the fabulous. It was a superb performance. It was really brilliant . Even the judges sang with her. It was great.
Finally, Mike came along to perform Wyclef Jean’s “Diallo”. The audience sang along and the studio was charged with Music and fun. They call him the King of Swagger or showing off guy but you know what, he knows how to strut on stage.
He is always giving the audience a wonderful performance.
After the last five had performed and just before the results were announced, the 10 evictees performed “Le Freak” by chic very vigoriously.
Wande Coal was the surprise of the evening. He performed his hit track “Bumper to bumper” to the dancing delight of the audience.
After all the performances, the moment arrived for the results to be announced. The wonderful hosts ( did not perform badly) started with the 4th runner up, Madonna who went home with N500,000; Krimi the 3rd runner up got N1 Million for her fabulous effort. Tomiwa, the constant performer clinched the position of 2nd runner up and got a Toyota Yaris and N1 Million naira. He promised the wife a car and luckily he got one and he handed over the keys to his wife. Nicholas with his wonder voice was the 1st runner up and he went home with N1.5 Million naira and a Toyota Corolla.
The winner of MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 2 went to MIKE ANYASODO. He went home with N2.5Million naira, a Toyota Rav4 and a one year recording contract. Good luck Mike and may your reign be scandal free
Season 2 of the MTN Project Fame West Africa opened with 15 unique men and women from all over West Africa who entered the academy. They are MIKE, the winner, Sametta, Tomiwa, Tarri, Nicholas, Deniece, Zoe, Savannah, Desmond, Madonna, Anis, Jennifer, Krimi, Damilola and David.
Mike Anyasodo, the 26 years old undergraduate of Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State had right from the beginning stood out with his performances. But Nicholas was the voice in the house that got me captivated every time he mounted that stage to perform. That is a young man that is definitely going places. I would say the sky is his limit. I hope he would remain as focused and determined outside the Academy as he was in the Academy. Krimi, the ‘fabulous’ was another enthralling voice. She sure knew how to package and carry herself. The others were equally good performers though vocally disappointing.
After several evictions, we had five standing and ready to battle for the ultimate price and fame. The five were Nicholas, Madonna, Tomiwa, Krimi and Mike. The five had worked really hard to be there but Madonna had worked the hardest. To me, she improved with each performance and the faculty helped her a great deal. I think they were a bit ‘partial’ in saving her from eviction but she gave all to escape till the end.
On the D-day, Sunday 27 September 2009, the five stormed the floor with “We are family” by Sister Sledge. It was wonderful. The winner of the Project Fame West Africa Season 1, Iyanya Mbuk was in attendance and he performed his track “Love truly” to the delight of all. He looks more of a Model than a singer to me. I watched him on the platform Catwalk for one of Nigerians’ designer Joan, abroad. He did a collabo with DJ Zeez who is making wave with his song ‘ofokasibe’. It was good.
The final five then performed the “most requested” songs. Nicholas, my favorite was first with “Angels wings” by Westlife. The boy is good. The performance was absorbing, spellbinding and captivating. Everyone present was held ‘captive’ by this wonder voice. He got a thunderous ovation for his gripping performance. A commentary I read said ‘Nicholas has come full circle…it is time to go into the world and shine’. I agree totally.
Madonna performed the song by Bob Marley titled “Is this love”. Like I said earlier, she is the real discovery of Project Fame West Africa season 2. Madonna came into the Academy a rookie and left a STAR. Her determination and strength of mind paid off. She is turning into a professional performer.
Tomiwa, the older, unfailing and unswerving performer sang “Oju re a ja” by Lagbaja. He combined so many songs to make people singing along with him. People had fun dancing and singing along.
Anita Baker’s “Sweet love” was performed by Krimi, the fabulous. It was a superb performance. It was really brilliant . Even the judges sang with her. It was great.
Finally, Mike came along to perform Wyclef Jean’s “Diallo”. The audience sang along and the studio was charged with Music and fun. They call him the King of Swagger or showing off guy but you know what, he knows how to strut on stage.
He is always giving the audience a wonderful performance.
After the last five had performed and just before the results were announced, the 10 evictees performed “Le Freak” by chic very vigoriously.
Wande Coal was the surprise of the evening. He performed his hit track “Bumper to bumper” to the dancing delight of the audience.
After all the performances, the moment arrived for the results to be announced. The wonderful hosts ( did not perform badly) started with the 4th runner up, Madonna who went home with N500,000; Krimi the 3rd runner up got N1 Million for her fabulous effort. Tomiwa, the constant performer clinched the position of 2nd runner up and got a Toyota Yaris and N1 Million naira. He promised the wife a car and luckily he got one and he handed over the keys to his wife. Nicholas with his wonder voice was the 1st runner up and he went home with N1.5 Million naira and a Toyota Corolla.
The winner of MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 2 went to MIKE ANYASODO. He went home with N2.5Million naira, a Toyota Rav4 and a one year recording contract. Good luck Mike and may your reign be scandal free
Friday, September 18, 2009
My new office
My new office has done four months since it started full operations. We have eleven members of staff. Three experienced Management staff and eight greenhorns. I am one of the experienced staff having worked for twenty years post graduation. You know what, as i am writing this now, the twenty years post graduation just hit me. So I have been working for almost eighteen years. That is very intereting. What has happened in all those years? What is my testimony? Let me leave that for another day. The other management staff had equally done more than twenty years in the banking sector although one spent his in the support department of a bank. He is still being referred to as ex-banker.
My new office is located in Victoria Island, the elistist residential area that has been commercialised. Before now the street was being referred to as bankers street because most of the major banks' headoffices were there. We used to have Broad Bank, Allstates Trust Bank, Standard Trust Bank. Guaranty Tust Bank, Access Bank and other banks branches. With the consolidation of banks all those headoffices had been moved except two but the commercial activities remain. As the hustling and bustling continues so has the traffic congestion defied all strategies to make the roads free for use all the time. The complex housing our office is the worst for car spaces. When i started, i had to be paying monthly for my car to be parked inside but when the official car was bought, we had to stop that arrangement and even threatened to report the security personnel to the managers of the complex. Talking about corruption, it shows in every area of our lives. To me that was thank you for looking after my car but for my management that was extortion and they frowned at it.
Today, the Board had an Extra-ordinary General Meeting to adopt the proposal of the review downward of the start up capital of the business by the regulator. Prior to this time they had been several meetings of one or two of the Management and the shareholders on the modality to be used in handling the refund. On the Management part, we agreed that sharing of the money to put a stop to the incessant sharing of 'crude' by the Shareholders will stop. How can a new organisation grow if the profit realised is not ploughed back into the business? Agreed the business is a money spinner but cant we have a 'grace' period to accumulate before sharing the earning?
AT the end of the meeting, the money was shared out in the proportion of what was initially invested by each of the shareholders. You needed to see them all smiling broadly as if they had hit a jackport. They were really happy that their investment of few months that have been yielding so much profits weekly is still giving back half of their investment for use. Nigerians investors are not committed business men. They want to invet today and reap bountiful the next day. Infact,they cannot wait especially if the business is bringing in so much money. If it was a one man business, daily the vault will be empty because the owner would be going to "Owanbe" party and be spraying everyone so that the entertainers would be singing his praises.
I pray my salary is paid as at when due (28th of every month) and my bonuses are approved promptly and payment effected "kia kia" meaning immediately.
Keep you posted as i embark on this new terrain of meeting new friends and learning new things.
My new office is located in Victoria Island, the elistist residential area that has been commercialised. Before now the street was being referred to as bankers street because most of the major banks' headoffices were there. We used to have Broad Bank, Allstates Trust Bank, Standard Trust Bank. Guaranty Tust Bank, Access Bank and other banks branches. With the consolidation of banks all those headoffices had been moved except two but the commercial activities remain. As the hustling and bustling continues so has the traffic congestion defied all strategies to make the roads free for use all the time. The complex housing our office is the worst for car spaces. When i started, i had to be paying monthly for my car to be parked inside but when the official car was bought, we had to stop that arrangement and even threatened to report the security personnel to the managers of the complex. Talking about corruption, it shows in every area of our lives. To me that was thank you for looking after my car but for my management that was extortion and they frowned at it.
Today, the Board had an Extra-ordinary General Meeting to adopt the proposal of the review downward of the start up capital of the business by the regulator. Prior to this time they had been several meetings of one or two of the Management and the shareholders on the modality to be used in handling the refund. On the Management part, we agreed that sharing of the money to put a stop to the incessant sharing of 'crude' by the Shareholders will stop. How can a new organisation grow if the profit realised is not ploughed back into the business? Agreed the business is a money spinner but cant we have a 'grace' period to accumulate before sharing the earning?
AT the end of the meeting, the money was shared out in the proportion of what was initially invested by each of the shareholders. You needed to see them all smiling broadly as if they had hit a jackport. They were really happy that their investment of few months that have been yielding so much profits weekly is still giving back half of their investment for use. Nigerians investors are not committed business men. They want to invet today and reap bountiful the next day. Infact,they cannot wait especially if the business is bringing in so much money. If it was a one man business, daily the vault will be empty because the owner would be going to "Owanbe" party and be spraying everyone so that the entertainers would be singing his praises.
I pray my salary is paid as at when due (28th of every month) and my bonuses are approved promptly and payment effected "kia kia" meaning immediately.
Keep you posted as i embark on this new terrain of meeting new friends and learning new things.
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