Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on financial autonomy for local government councils in the country, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, on Thursday declared that the electoral body has the capacity to conduct elections for the third tier of government if provided with necessary resources.

Yakubu, who spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees in Abuja, maintained that the electoral umpire, under his leadership, has the capacity, competence, human resources and adequate experience to conduct local government elections across the 774 councils of the country.

He justified his position with the successes already recorded by the commission in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, including frequent off-season and bye-elections conducted by the INEC.

The Chairman said the fact that the commission had been conducting elections at the federal and state levels over the years successfully was an indication that it has all it takes to conduct council polls.

He said: “So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“Right now, we do national elections, we do state elections, we do local government elections.

“A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly. We also do governorship elections, we do state assembly elections, and we do area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Our track report actually proves that we can do it. Take the case of the Federal Capital Territory. I would like to say one or two things about the FTC local government elections.

“There are six area councils of the FCT. So there are six chairmen of area councils, and there are 62 wards in the FCT. Each ward has a councillor for the election of councils.

“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections and it has resulted in the following.

“First, it is perhaps the only part of the country where local government elections are held regularly.

“Second, there has never been a caretaker committee for any Area Council in the FCT. INEC has been conducting the elections regularly.

“Thirdly, there is stability of tenure or security of tenure. It used to be three years, but in 2022, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to provide for a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT. So, they enjoy the security of tenure.

“No single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT, not one.

“In fact, what is interesting now is that out of the six chairmen of the FCT, actually the council and the constituencies are evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party which won three councils each.”

Yakubu also noted that FCT councils are made up of urban and rural communities, an indication that it has adequate experience to do so in any part of the country.

“So, in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, if the decision of the National Assembly is to amend the constitution. I need to put that responsibility back to you (that) we need an engagement with the National Assembly.

“There are certain special amendments that are to be done for us to be able to handle those additional responsibilities.

“For instance, will the Federal Government continue to fund the elections for the states and the local government will fund this?

“The second proposition we have had is that there should be a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.

“Sadly, there is another argument that does not want the state electoral commissions to conduct local government elections in the spirit of federalism, but they should find a way of ensuring that they improve on the conduct.

“Right now, the law has not been amended. The same constitution that creates INEC also creates the State Independent Electoral Commissions.

“So, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC. If that is done, the question is can INEC cope? Yes, we can.

“We have said that we should not be unbundled beyond the conduct of electoral activities rather than elections. There are two activities we handle. That is what is called electoral activities, not necessarily related to elections.

“We believe that some of these responsibilities can be handled by other agencies. And this point has been made consistently since 2008 by committees established to reform our electoral processes beginning with the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission in 2008, that some responsibilities should be removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

The chairman, while assuring the joint panel that INEC had made adequate arrangements to conduct the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States, also said the commission had prepared budgets for the outstanding by-elections in about seven federal and state legislative constituencies.

Yakubu also explained to the federal lawmakers that the agency’s 2024 budget is currently being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance.

In terms of the performance of the N40 billion appropriated for the commission in the 2024 budget, he said the Ministry of Finance broke the INEC budget into 12 tranches.

“Every month they give us one-twelfth of the budget for the year. And for the last seven months, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Finance has been releasing the sum of N23.3 billion to the Commission, which is one-twelfth of the 40 billion as of yesterday (July 24)

“The monthly releases to the Commission, this year, is now N23.3 billion out of 40 billion. That is 58.3%. What is outstanding is N16.6 billion amounted to 41.67% not released,” he stressed.

The operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS) in Katsina State Command, have recovered 2,000 bags of rice out of the 20 trucks donated to the state by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recovered rice was allegedly diverted by some government officials.

NAN also reports that the gesture by the Federal Government was to cushion the effects of the current economic hardships in the country.

The DSS officials in the state, who confirmed the negative development, however, declined further comments on the issue and preferred to be anonymous.

An investigation conducted revealed that the 25kg bags of rice were deposited in a store at the Central market, Katsina.

It was some people who alerted the DSS on Wednesday night, who immediately swung into action.

The Chairman, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state, Mr Abdulrahman Abdullahi, expressed shock over the issue.

Abdullahi lamented how the Federal Government donated the palliatives to the vulnerable but were allegedly diverted by some unpatriotic people.

The chairman vowed that they would continue to follow the case up to its logical conclusion.

He, therefore, advised the government to investigate the matter with a view of punishing those behind the diversion.

Also commenting on the matter, a resident of Katsina, Suleiman Kofar-Durbi, said that was an unfortunate development.

“It is unfortunate that I received the information yesterday night that the President provided relief to the vulnerables and some people diverted it.

“People are experiencing hardship due to the current economic situation in the country, the government should investigate the matter thoroughly and bring culprits to book,” he said.

The Chairman, Market Traders Association, Alhaji Shehu Usman, said that the rice was brought into the market by someone who was not a trader.

“Someone asked his brother to keep the rice for him in his stores in the market.

“We are calling on our members to be careful in receiving such items from people outside for keeping in the market,” he said.

Responding to the matter, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Gov. Dikko Radda, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the rice was allocated to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, by the Federal Government.

‘He said, ‘The minister directed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure Development, Alhaji Nasiru Lawal to keep it and he decided to take the rice to the market for safe keeping.

‘The rice allocated to the minister  were 1, 200 bags.” 

(NAN)

The lineup for the highly anticipated match between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Brazil has been announced.

The Super Falcons will face Brazil in their first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament game at 6 pm Nigerian time at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France.

Rasheedat Ajibade is leading the team as captain while Asisat Oshoala is on the bench.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has called on the Federal Government to sue for peace ahead of a planned August 1 protest in the country.

Recent reports indicate that various Nigerian groups are planning a nationwide protest from August 1 to 10, dubbed “10 days of rage,” to address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise News on Thursday, the elder statesman called on the Federal Government not to allow the protest to degenerate into violence.

He said, “We’re in a democratic dispensation, and people must be able to express their feelings about the activities of the government. Nigeria is not a private enterprise. If the people are not happy, let me appeal to both the government and those people who are preparing to do this demonstration. Let there be peace. Please, don’t get violent.

“Go out peacefully and explain yourselves. Let the leaders explain to government because, when you listen to the policies of the government, the way they are manipulating and trying to manipulate economic solutions to the problems is mendacious and absolutely manipulative.”

Speaking further, he added that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, and mishandling of the protest could degenerate into chaos.

“If you are not feeling the impact of your government, they have the right to exercise their voice. But, I want to plead with Nigerians: we are at the edge of total collapse now. Let them handle this issue with decorum, commitment, dedication, and listening.

“That’s why I said on both sides that I want to appeal to those who want to go on strike: please don’t go into violence. I know you are angry because you are hungry. Let them know; let the president himself see it. If we have been telling him stories that don’t add up, let him see,” he added.

Bode George also reiterated his call for restructuring the nation, stating that there’s a need to revisit the country’s constitution.

His words: “Nigeria is not a microcosm; Nigeria is a massive nation. What is the business of the national government in the state management of the state? We need to go and refigure; we need to go and restructure and reduce the impact of federal government, local government, and states.

“If we don’t restructure, we are wasting our time. I retired as a general, and the military organization requires a pyramid. Directives come from the top to the bottom. But in a democratic dispensation, the powers must come from the base to the top.

“Let’s revisit the constitution that was given to us by the military. It looks completely like a military organization. Power must come from the bottom to the top, not from the top down.”

He called on President Tinubu to allow protesters to exercise their rights and not allow the protest to go the Kenyan way.

“So let us be humanistic; let us have the feelings of the almighty God for the grace of our people. Things are not working. Everything is degrading. I’m not saying we should head into what they did in Kenya.

“Nigeria is more civilised than that, but don’t prevent them from exercising their fundamental right to tell you that we are not happy. The government has to be careful, and all the other agencies should follow them, but don’t shoot at them. Anyone who engages in violence should be isolated, apprehended, and taken away.”

[Vanguard]

Kunle Afolayan, the filmmaker, has revealed that some scenes of the second season of ‘Anikulapo’ series will be filmed in Ghana.

‘Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre’, a six-part series produced by Afolayan, premiered on Netflix on March 1.

The mini-series, which was filmed at the Kunle Afolayan Production (KAP) film village in Oyo state, was a sequel to ‘Anikulapo’, the 2022 award-winning film.

In a recent post via his Instagram page, Afolayan disclosed his intention to shoot parts of the forthcoming season in Ghana.

The filmmaker also shared photos from the film location recce in Ghana.

Afolayan said the development is in partnership with Ghana’s National Film Authority.

“Anikulapo series new season. Location recce in Ghana in collaboration with @nationalfilmauthority,” he wrote.

In September 2022, Afolayan released ‘Anikulapo’ as a one-part movie, starring Kunle Remi and Bimbo Ademoye as lead cast.

‘Anikulapo’ tells the story of Saro, a young cloth weaver, who is brought back to life by a mystical bird after he was beaten to death for having an affair with Arolake, the Alaafin of Oyo’s youngest wife.

‘Rise of The Spectre’ became the film’s sequel, spinning off into a series that tells the story of Saro’s return from death. A dazed Saro receives an order from the guardians of the afterlife to complete a task he would deem impossible.

Among the actors featured in the series are Sola Sobowale, Owobo Ogunde, Jide Kosoko, Taiwo Hassan, Gabriel Afolayan, and Lateef Adedimeji.

Others are Layi Wasabi, Eyiyemi Afolayan, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Moji Afolayan, Aisha Lawal, Uzee Usman, Adeniyi Johnson, and Funky Mallam.

‘Anikulapo’ bagged four awards at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) ceremony including the ‘Best Overall Movie, Africa’.

[TheCable]

This is a quick explainer for everyone asking why I chose Edinburgh, pursued a PhD via an MSc route (why not an MBA?) and for those asking how to go about their own journeys.

I was 36 when I began my Master’s in International Human Resource Management (IHRM) programme at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UoEBS) and was just about to turn 37 when I began my PhD studies at the same University.

At 36, I had completed two degrees (at undergraduate and postgraduate levels), married a gentleman I met at university, had two children, and founded three thriving businesses. Returning to school full-time as an international student meant different things and new challenges.

Before settling on Edinburgh University, I considered two other Russell Group Universities: the University of Southampton and the University of Warwick. I also applied to the University of Stirling (not a Russell Group University, but hands down, one of the most beautiful, picturesque Universities in the UK I’ve ever visited!).

I wanted to study at a UK University and knew for a long time that I didn’t want to live in London- a city that reminded me too much of the hustle and bustle of Lagos. This meant Universities in the vicinity were out. I had heard of Scotland but never visited. I knew they had great schools, including Edinburgh University. Other Universities on my list were Warwick and Southampton. These were highly-ranked universities, and I closely monitored their rankings (the reliability of University ranking sites is a discussion for another day). Also, being mum to a 4 and 7-year-old at the time, I wanted to study in an environment that would not compromise the carefully curated life my husband and I had designed for them.

So I crawled the websites of all schools, found out about their open days, and signed up to attend sessions at the Universities of Edinburgh, Warwick, and Southampton. Stirling did not have an open day on at the time, so I wrote to their admission office and requested a postgraduate programme visit, which they graciously agreed to.

Satisfied with my groundwork, I set out in November of 2016 on a chemistry-check journey from Nigeria to the UK. The trip auspiciously coincided with my attendance of the CIPD conference for HR Professionals in Manchester, which saved me travel costs.

Using Glasgow as my hub, I set out to Stirling first. If there ever is a most beautiful University award, Stirling would win this without fail. Nestled amidst the most colourful trees, with resplendent hills as its backdrop, the campus effortlessly takes your breath away. I met with a lecturer who offered further insights into their postgraduate degree programmes. I loved my visit to Stirling and swore I would return someday.

Up next on my list was Edinburgh University. I visited the business school, toured Teviot Row House– the oldest purpose-built student union building in the world, enjoyed a bubbly or two with other open-day attendees at Playfair Library, took a stroll through South Bridge and North Bridge and admired some of the most magnificent buildings I had ever seen. I marvelled at how the University was situated right in the middle of the city, with the two blending so much you almost couldn’t tell one apart from the other. I loved it. I saw strangers strolling past, parents pushing baby strollers, and people of all ages, professions and cultures going about their day. Being Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh provided the city feel I was used to, but without being overly fast-paced and overcrowded.

Satisfied with my Edinburgh visit, I set out to Warwick Business School, connecting via train and using Milton Keynes as a hub for the England phase of my tour. I visited the Business School and loved the swanky feel. It felt newer and more purpose-built as a business school than Edinburgh. However, the location didn’t seem family-friendly enough and did not offer the lifestyle choices I sought.

Up next on my itinerary was the University of Southampton, and my visit there was such a treat! I visited the Business School and the National Oceanography Centre and loved it! I marvelled at the school and the city, particularly because of its coastline location—I love the sea. However, Southampton didn’t offer the charm and character of Edinburgh. Edinburgh had spoiled me for all other schools. No others would do, not even my beautiful Stirling.

Why PhD via an MSc route? Why not an MBA? 

Before beginning my studies at Edinburgh, I had co-founded two successful businesses with my husband and had started a third. I had learned many business lessons and gained experiences that an MBA couldn’t offer. Pursuing a PhD wasn’t always a lifelong dream. However, by 2015, I had started toying with returning to school to learn more about the theories shaping most of what we do as leaders of people and organisations. At this time, I had already completed an Executive Master’s in Managerial Psychology at the University of Lagos. So, I opted for a PhD through an MSC in International Human Resource Management (IHRM) route, and this was because our organisation was expanding, and learning more about managing people on a global scale had become a critical leadership priority.

For me, doing an MSc in IHRM would help me kill the proverbial two birds with one stone: (i) develop an understanding of the global talent management landscape, its issues and challenges, and how to potentially solve them, and (ii) use the degree as a route towards understanding the UK academic system and how to apply for and successfully complete a PhD.

So, in September of 2017, I began my Master’s programme in Edinburgh. By December 2017, before the end of the first semester, I had started putting together a PhD proposal. I got some help from some of my lecturers on the MSC programme, who helped me read and suggest improvements. I polished my proposal further, applied for the PhD at the end of January 2018 and received a conditional offer by the end of March 2018 with a caveat that my results at the end of the MSc programme had to be excellent. Knowing this, I doubled down to ensure I did a damn good job of the courses I had left. With a sense of satisfaction, I was awarded my MSc in IHRM with distinction in October of 2018, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Did I get a scholarship for my PhD? No, I didn’t. I was self-funded for different reasons. Firstly, it takes time to find scholarships, and waiting longer than August  2018, when I completed the MSc IHRM programme, would mean leaving the UK, which would disrupt the children’s school arrangements yet again. Secondly, after carefully considering the cost of self-funding, we decided it was something we could afford, given the cost at the time and the instalment payment plans for tuition fees offered by Edinburgh University. This meant I could pay my fees up to three times in each year of study. Moreover, there were students needing a scholarship much more than I did, and it didn’t feel right to rob others of the opportunity.

If you are considering scholarships for your study at Edinburgh, there are various scholarship options available to students based on their nationalities, including those provided by Edinburgh University Business School for Masters and PhD programmes. Some external organisations offering funding for postgraduate degree programmes at Masters and/or PhD levels are the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme and Commonwealth Scholarships. Other PhD-specific funding for studies in the UK and other countries can be found at Find A PhD, Jobs.ac.uk, and Scholarships for Development, which curates scholarships, grants, and fellowships aimed at women from the Global South.

How much did the Master’s and PhD degrees cost in total?

For the MSc in IHRM, I paid an application fee of £50 and tuition fees of £20,100 in 4 instalments. This included an acceptance deposit of £1500, which was paid before the programme started to confirm my place. My PhD tuition fees were due annually, ranging from £18,200 to £20,300 each year, and paid in three instalments. All PhD fees included an annual administrative fee of £200. You can check here for the current costs for an MSc in IHRM degree in Edinburgh, as this will be different now.

During my time, annual fees were payable for the first three years of study as the 4th year is considered the writing-up year. However, students were required to pay administrative fees for every additional year they extended their PhD studies beyond the period where annual fees were payable.

In addition to tuition fees, other costs to consider as a student at Edinburgh University are rent, utility bills (gas and electricity), council tax, feeding, transportation, mobile phone charges and other subsistence expenses. You can take a look here for more.

How did I manage to study full-time with two primary-aged children?

Leaving the comfort and familiar way of life I knew back home in Nigeria to a new city to study with my children meant I had to adjust quickly to a new way of life. This entailed understanding how to manage a new educational system for my children and the challenges that came with it, learning to raise my children without the support system I was used to in Nigeria while juggling a full-time PhD, helping my children navigate new cuisines different from what they were used to, living apart from my husband for weeks on end when work called in another city or continent, gradually losing touch with friends and family and learning to live up North in the UK with long and dark winters which left most people depressed for months on end.

I had a lot of help. My husband, who, although saddled with overseeing our growing business, made sure he was available for the times I needed him the most. This included when I had to travel for international conferences and, most importantly, while the children were on school breaks, and I couldn’t travel or take time off my studies. In the early days, while the girls were still in primary school, I registered them with an after-school club that collected children from school (2:50 pm Monday to Thursdays and 12:30 pm on Fridays) and fed and engaged them until 5:45 pm during the week. This cost us an average of £260 per month for two children.

During half-term breaks, I enrolled the girls in holiday camps offering swimming, basketball, tennis, dance, and many more activities. These activities occupied the girls for several hours during the holidays, sometimes from 8 am to 6 pm. Having time to myself during such periods helped me get some reading, analysis, and reading done. For the days when I needed to be at events happening after 6 pm, I engaged registered sitters to watch the children.

Living at the University of Edinburgh’s family accommodation at Blacket Avenue in the first few years of my studies also provided a close-knit community and opportunities to lean on other families for emergency childcare support when needed. However, when I had to travel outside the country for an extended time during my data collection, I asked my retired mum and dad to come to Edinburgh to be with the children. They were happy to do this and helped watch the children for over 7 months- 4 months longer than we agreed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you, mum and dad!

So why a paper-based PhD and not the traditional monograph?

Three reasons- (i) I knew I didn’t want to be saddled with the work of converting my thesis to publishable papers after completing my PhD, (ii) I wanted to learn about publishing in journals and doing a paper-based PhD provided the opportunity to learn the process (my supervisors did an excellent job of showing the ropes in this area), and (iii) I had heard that publishing during the PhD could offer PhDs a route towards a lectureship, and I thought why not! I must mention here that the University of Edinburgh Business School does not require written papers to be published before students can submit their thesis for examination. Written papers only have to be of publishable standards.

What are the benefits of doing a PhD at Edinburgh University? 

One benefit of studying at UoEBS is the funding available to join leading international management bodies and present your working papers at any of their conferences and workshops. Some of the conferences I was accepted to present papers at include the 8th European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management Workshops in Toulouse, The Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Seattle, The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Applied Research Conference in Manchester and the 4th International Conference of the HR Division (Academy of Management) in South Africa. At such conferences, you have an opportunity to receive feedback from leading scholars in your field, meet other scholars and initiate conversations on new projects, including submitting articles together to peer-reviewed journals. However, UoEBS also encourages PhDs to organise their own workshops and offers some funding to support this.

Another benefit I enjoyed was the funding available for developmental purposes, which included supporting my trip to Nigeria for data collection and providing some financing to help transcribe most of my data. (I interviewed over 100 participants from 5 organisations, each lasting over 45 minutes).

My first academic paper, written with my advisors, was submitted to a peer-reviewed journal in July 2021 and accepted for publication in Group and Organization Management (GOM) in July 2022. The paper was nominated ‘Best Paper’ at the Academy of Management and earned the ‘Exemplary Paper Award’ at UoEBS. I have since submitted more papers from my PhD to other journals for publication- two of which were rejected after first-round reviews with extensive feedback. Yes, having papers rejected after putting in so much effort can be unnerving. However, one positive is that such rejections can provide an opportunity to revisit your work and find another, more suitable platform.

My PhD Timelines

Although my full-time PhD was designed to be completed within 4 years, I completed mine in 5 years (i.e. 5 years, 1 month and 22 days). There are newer and longer PhD pathways available now depending on student needs.

As for timelines, I began my studies on September 10, 2018, and submitted my thesis for examination on October 31, 2023. I spent the first year of the PhD on different coursework that included supervised readings (to refine students’ research), learning more about research methods and doing data analysis.

In the second year, I travelled to Nigeria for data collection after securing access to 6 firms. The COVID-19 pandemic happened during my 2nd year, and I was one of the few who made it out of Nigeria before the global shutdown. I became ill during the period and requested a 2-month interruption of studies, which was granted.

My 3rd year was spent transcribing, analysing and writing. Unfortunately, I was infected with COVID-19 that year, which impacted my submission timelines for year 4. To make up the time, I requested a 12-month extension (Full-time PhDs can extend their studies for up to 24 months in addition to the 4 years provided for research and writing-up) before the end of my 4th year, which was granted. I then doubled down to ensure I submitted my thesis for examination on or before my due date, which I did.

My viva was held on January 11, 2024, and my results were ratified in March 2024, in time for the summer graduations. The sheet here shows all critical components of my PhD and their end dates.

In sum, my PhD path may or may not be the best for everyone. However, it made the most sense for me in light of my objectives and desired endpoint. My recommendations to anyone considering this path, particularly women with children, is to plan carefully, identify what matters most to you, and choose a path that works best for you in light of your circumstances, your anticipated endpoint, and the resources available to you.

Now, off to some more R&R!

Dọ̀tun Ayẹni is an entrepreneur, business leader and management scholar. You can contact her via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When I arrived Lagos in 1988 after my NYSC in Awka, Anambra State, as a young graduate, I never knew fate would bring me and Ken-Calebs Olumese together. Our first encounter 34 years ago turned out to be the beginning of a life-long relationship that we have nurtured to this day.

But how did it happen?

I began life in Lagos as a rookie reporter in spite of my background in mathematics because I wanted to write sweet-flowing prose like the late Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Olatunji Dare, Mike Awoyinfa, etc. It was the late Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase (aka SO), the Executive Chairman of Complete Communications Limited noted for publishing Sports Souvenir, Complete Football and International Soccer Review (ISR), who took me under his wings to learn the nitty-gritty of journalism.

When Sports Souvenir was rested, Climax magazine, a lifestyle publication, was launched as a replacement. Climax dived deep into the world of celebrities, unravelling their secrets in exclusive kiss-and-tell stories. Those in the business of music, movies, fashion, nightclubs and comedy were not left out.

After working on the sports beat for a while with Franklin Ilaboya and Dr. Mumini Alao who were my colleagues at the time, SO drafted me to Climax which marked my foray into entertainment journalism.

In covering the beat, I worked with Moji Danisa, Femi Akintunde-Johnson (FAJ), Ekerete Udoh and Al Humphrey Onyanabo from our Okota, Isolo base in Lagos. 

As I began to keep tabs on entertainment spots and their owners, I was naturally intrigued by Niteshift, the upscale nightclub on Opebi Road, in Ikeja, Lagos. Niteshift was always in the news, and to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to see things for myself and make on-the-spot assessment. On one Friday night, I was admitted into the club after paying the mandatory N20 gate fee for wannabes like me. 

Eventually, I met Ken-Calebs Olumese, the showbiz impressario who was popularly known as the Guv’nor of Niteshift, for the first time in early 1990. 

From his name, it was obvious that the Guv – for short – hailed from the Esan speaking region of Edo State – just like me.

That was how a bond of friendship subsequently developed with Olumese which gave me the opportunity to observe him from close quarters. Friendship devolved into mentorship for which I am forever grateful.

I became an ardent devotee of Niteshift and visited the club regularly. I discovered that the Guv had a well curated relationship with media personalities, especially entertainment reporters, and it paid off for him. It explained why Niteshift was always in the news.

In Climax magazine, I maintained a weekly column in the 90s titled, “Bowling the Night,” where I shared a potpourri of news on the entertainment landscape in Lagos as a “night crawler.” Niteshift not only received significant coverage in Climax, I also spotlighted club events and my interactions with Olumese and other celebrities prominently in the column.

Prior to when Guv’nor opened Niteshift, he used to host the grandest party in town every December at his home on Allen Avenue, Ikeja. Guests at the party comprised of the who’s who in society and all the notable Lagos VIPs and socialites.

What was remarkable about Niteshift on Opebi Road was how the décor seduces its patrons for a wonderful experience. It was clearly an interior design secret that can only come from the greatest minds of the art.

But the foundation of the success story of Niteshift lies in Guv’s boundless energy and his commitment to the creative enterprise, branding and innovation. His incredible skills in marketing and public relations raised the profile and public image of Niteshift.

Week after week, Niteshift became the toast of celebrities and entertainment lovers, movers and shakers of society, captains of industry, the diplomatic community, media owners, and so on. The throng of patrons were always happy to dance to the amplified music in a relaxing environment.

“Niteshift is a proper nightclub, and not a discotheque,” Olumese regularly informed his audience boastfully, with a glow of satisfaction on his face. But in truth, the club was a celebrity hangout that was well appointed and fit for purpose. The way and manner Olumese took the entertainment industry to new heights with Niteshift (a new concept in night clubbing) should be a case study for researchers and students of marketing and brand management.   

The House Announcements by the music presenters – Guv refused to call them Disc Jockeys as part of his deliberate branding strategy – and the highly entertaining choreographed dance sequence by the Niteshift dancers, especially the “Boogaloo” dance, were unique attractions in the club which patrons earnestly looked forward to.

The Gold Card and Silver Card Sectors where special gold and silver glass cups were used by hostesses to serve drinks became the cynosure of all eyes. Some patrons could “kill” to be admitted due to the prestige associated with the sectors.

Guv’nor, being a man of style, and always exuding confidence, charm and charisma, managed a seamless transition of the Silver Card Sector into the Glamour Sector. 

This new sector birthed the Glamour Boys of Nigeria (GBN) and I was honoured to be the pioneer President of the body. We described ourselves stylishly as “upwardly mobile young professionals,” and hosted the Glamour Nite, a talk-of-the-town soiree, annually.

The membership included Mayor Akinpelu, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, Kunle Bakare, Segun Joseph, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, Charles Omoighe, Fred Amata, Zeb Ejiro, Matthias Obahiagbon, Al Humphrey Onyanabo, Azuh Arinze, Michael Effiong and Osoba Otaigbe.  

It is difficult to understand how the Guv’nor stayed on his feet throughout each night at the club. With a stick of Benson & Hedges cigarrete in one hand, and a glass of Remy Martin, his favourite cognac, in the other hand, Olumese always displayed prodigious energy and exceptional strategic management skills to the extent that one is tempted to ask when he finds time to sleep, and plan for the next day.

His favourite perfume is Azzaro which announces his presence wherever he goes. 

With the jerry curls on his head accentuated by his bold fashion statements, Guv would sashay his way around the club from time to time, exchanging pleasantries with his guests, while keeping his eyes fixed firmly on activities in the club and ensuring that the standard protocols are observed by everyone.  The Guv had the habit of keeping some of us until the early hours the next day – sometimes, as late as 10.00 am on a Saturday morning – to the extent that our wives usually complained. 

Apart from providing food and drinks, the Guv’nor created his own fun by seizing our car keys or shoes to delay us. We enjoyed those early morning interactions with sleepy eyes after drinking and dancing all night.

The idea of the Grand House Reception where important personalities from all walks of life featured in an interactive session was yet another remarkable initiative. Guv was always thinking of the next big idea which set Niteshift apart from other nightclubs. 

In a sense, Niteshift was more than just a nightclub; it was an event venue and entertainment behemoth. The long line-up of guests that participated in the GHR can fill a book.

To underscore the business model and strategic brand positioning of Niteshift, the Guv created and hosted several events such as the Niteshift Beauty Queen and Fashion Hit-Parade. He also established the Coliseum Shifters Dance Band and floated a music label known as Big Time Music due to his abiding love for music and entertainment.

When adversity strikes, no notice is given. That was what happened when fire gutted his residence on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, due to the explosion of a wall unit air conditioner when public power supply was restored in the middle of the night.

When Olumese moved to his permanent site on Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, and launched Niteshift Coliseum, he also experienced another fire incident which halted the club’s operations. However, it was a temporary setback, as he bounced back in no time.

Guv is a husband, father, grandfather, mentor, teacher, nightclub owner, entertainer, thinker, philosopher-king, goodwill ambassador, care giver, patriot, nationalist and humanist. Olumese and his darling wife, Tina Uju, are blessed with children.

As he marks his 80th birthday (his birthday is May 27, Children’s Day) on July 27, 2024, let us raise a toast to this enigma of our time.

Congratulations, Guv’nor Ken-Calebs Olumese, the ultimate show shiner.

Braimah is a communications strategist and publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times (https://ntm.ng), and he can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

This article forms part of his contribution to the upcoming book on the life and times of Mr. Olumese which would be formally presented on July 27 during his birthday celebration.

The President General of the apex Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has died at the age of 82.

His son, Jide Iwuanyanwu, announced his death in a statement on behalf of the family on Thursday.

According to the statement, “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo state announces the demise of our Patriach Engr, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.

“He died on Thursday July 25, 2024 after a brief illness. He was aged 82.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu is survived by his wife Lady Princess Frances Iwuanyanwu, many children and grand children, including Dr Mrs Nwadiuto Iheakanwa -Managing Director, Champion Group of newspapers. Details of the burial
will be announced later by the family after due consultations.”

Born  on 4 September, 1942, Iwuanyanwu was a Nigerian politician and businessman, considered one of the richest Igbo men in Nigeria.

Iwuanyanwu was the 11th President-General of Ọhanaeze Ndigbo; preceded by George Obiozor.

In 1963, he gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he studied Civil Engineering. Because of his notable feats in academics while in his early years in the University, he was awarded the prestigious German Academic Exchange Scholarship covering fees, boarding, holiday tickets and feeding, promptly facilitated by the Federal Republic of Germany. This award was for a few talented students of African descent.

He was the founder of the Daily Champion newspaper.

He had attempted to be president of Nigeria three times and failed on all occasions.

He was the founder of the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which won several national and international championships. He was the Chairman, National Sports Development Fund, and, Chairman, Nigerian Football Association USA “94” and Cup of Nations Fund Raising Committee.

[PM News]

The bold economic policies introduced by the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have led to a hike in inflation; making it difficult for people to meet their basic needs. The Head Line Inflation Rate rose to 34.19% in June 2024 from 33.95% in May 2024. It has also resulted in large foreign exchange losses for businesses, among other issues. However, given the state of the economy when the Government took office, these measures were necessary. There was a need for transformational, big-bang changes in economic policies, often referred to as ''shock therapy''. The planned protest is unnecessary, as the government is fully aware of the short-term pains the Nigerian people are experiencing and is working around the clock to alleviate it. It is therefore important to highlight some of the major interventions and achievements of the present administration.

The Federal Government introduced a wage award of N35,000 for federal civil servants, pending the implementation of a new minimum wage. Some state governments followed suit and paid wage awards to civil servants in their states at different rates. The good news is that a new national minimum wage of N75,000 has been approved by the Federal Government and will be implemented once passed by the National Assembly signed into law by Mr President. The new national minimum wage represents a 133% increase from the current national minimum wage of N30,000. While it could have been more, considerations of affordability and sustainability were taken into account.

The government also made conditional direct cash transfers targeted at millions of households to improve their standard of living. Thousands of metric tons of foodstuffs have also been distributed to alleviate hardship. Many doubt the effectiveness of these interventions; therefore, it is important for the government to conduct independent audits on the efficacy of these intervention programs from time to time.

To deal with the soaring prices of foodstuffs, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities, including husked brown rice, wheat, maize, and cowpeas, through land and sea for 150 days. He also approved the importation of 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize, respectively. These measures are not intended to undermine the efforts of domestic farmers but to address the issue of scarcity that has led to soaring prices. Many believe that the government should have acted earlier.

The student loan scheme launched by this government is laudable. It will enable children from poor families to attend tertiary education, thereby increasing their chances of having a bright future and making them more useful to society instead of becoming miscreants and a burden and security risk. The introduction of a consumer credit scheme is another great achievement of this administration. This will help stimulate household consumption and the economy as a whole.

The clearance of a seven-billion-dollar forex backlog by this government has led to increased foreign investor confidence, which is very commendable. The government has also been able to stabilize the exchange rate to a good extent and reduce the arbitrage between the parallel market and the official market. Exchange rate stability is important for businesses as it facilitates proper planning. The government should ensure that this stability is sustained.

The removal of the fuel subsidy, though causing hardship for Nigerians as transportation has become very expensive, has helped free up resources for the government to invest in critical areas of the economy, infrastructure, and security. It has also reduced pressure for borrowing. In the long run, fuel price is expected to decrease as domestic refineries commence production. The government should ensure that domestic crude is supplied to these refineries.

While protests are not the solution to Nigeria’s challenges and therefore unnecessary, there is still room for improvement on the part of the Federal Government. It should demonstrate care for the plight of the people through its actions and words. The government's achievements should be properly publicized, emphasizing their importance. Just as the government has intervened in the food crisis, it would also be beneficial for the government to do all it can to reduce the cost of transportation, as it is a major driver of inflation.