ISSN 2059-1667

Vol 1/JUNE15

MY PASSION, My Gene!

ByLayoOlowu

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Franklin Ozekhomeis strategic planner and brand communications specialist with multicultural experience, providing integrated marketing solutions for

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ByEmmanuelEf�iong-Bright

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TOMORROW’S YOUTHTODAY!AHMED ADAMUPRESIDENT, COMMONWEALTH YOUTH COUNCIL

" Coming from a poor background, my parents encouraged me to embrace education for a successful future and to never give up but remain focused because with that i can achieve anything I set my heart on, and so with my mind set, I worked hard to achieve my goals. And so today, I stand proud to say that my achievement as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youths Council ( CYC ) is an achievement for the youths and for Nigeria. In light of this, I encourage all Nigerians to do good always in order to project a good image of our country Nigeria". ese inspiring words from Mr Ahmed Adamu geared me up in eagerness to hear more as he spoke on his life, career and the future.

Whilst seated on the set of "e heart of One" by Fola Brown O, I peeked through the window overlooking the garden in order to decide whether an indoor or an outdoor interview was suitable because it's common to experience all four seasons in one day, however on this day, Manchester was prepared to host Mr Ahmed Adamu as the sun was shining in our favour. And al-though my acquaintance with Mr Ahmed Adamu was limited only to the Internet still It felt as though I had known him for a while. Could it be because I was a �uent yet not so �uent hausa speaker? or perhaps because I had spoken with him previously to con�rm his arrival into Manchester either way I felt connected and was now more eager to begin my interview with him. My mind was made up just as Mr Ahmed arrived; it was to be an outdoor interview. We exchanged pleasantries as I introduced myself and the purpose of our meeting and then led Mr Ahmed towards the garden set to begin the interview. Firstly, I wanted to know where the very focused Mr Ahmed Adamu originated from. Ahmed was born in Katsina State, Ni-geria where he attended a public primary and secondary school. Aer which he at-tended a higher education at the Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria where he ob-tained a degree programme in economics. It was at the Bayero University that Mr Ahmed got involved in student politics and elected into the student union government. He was later elected into the National organisation of the Kastina state student national body and then went on to join the

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National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. Aer his university, Mr Ahmed set up an NGO called Lead for the democratic youths. is NGO was formed to sensitise and motivate young people and get them involved in governance whilst informing them of their democratic rights. It was also aimed at getting the government to be accountable for the trust bestowed on them by the youths. Soon aer this opportunity, Mr Ahmed was then selected to represent Kastina State at the Nigerian youths parliament as Chief Whip

As the Chief Whip, Mr Ahmed was able to pass many bills in favour of the youths and It was from this opportunity that Ahmed was selected to represent Nigeria at the commonwealth youths forum in Australia. With this being the �rst of many meetings with HM the Queen of England and the �rst introduction to the commonwealth activities for Ahmed, it was then the idea of Ahmed Adamu as the official voice for the youths was raised. I asked the hard working Mr Ahmed what his reaction was to this news, here's what he had to say, "I never thought the opportunity to lead the council will come my way, however I followed up on the contacts i had made. Ahmed seized the opportunity when it presented itself as the role for the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youths Council Chairperson was advertised on Facebook. With forty candidates from diverse cultures, Mr Ahmed was amongst the four shortlisted and this was great news to him, Ahmed went on to say if Nigerians could do so great at an international level, then youths of the African background inclusive Nigerian youths can do greater in whatever path they take.

Mr Ahmed went on to explain the process of how he was elected as the chair person of the commonwealth youth council. e Chairperson's role is rotated every two years with the current zone in Europe and Africa which is why he was elected. It could take another 8years and the next time it is zoned to Africa and Europe there are no guarantees that the chairperson will come from Nigeria. With this opportunity resting on the biggest black nation, It is therefore a great opportunity for it to do well. Being the pioneer president, Ahmed has a very challenging role to play and having no predecessor to turn to for support, he is having to build the institution from scratch. is includes setting up contacts and standards for others to follow and at the same time building an of�ce with staff whilst seeking more funds to move the office forward. Ahmed Adamu informs me that he feels happy at the support he has received so far mostly from the head of governments who and from HM the Queen of England. Although Mr Ahmed will run the office for another year, he claims the past year has been a success and he is optimistic that his �nal year as chairperson will be an even greater success before his hand over at Malta in November this year where the young people will elect a new chairperson. With an office in London and Sri Lanka, Ahmed Adamu is the voice for over 1.2 billion young people across 53 countries of the Commonwealth spanning across 6 continents. His role as the Chairperson is to bring together under one umbrella all y o u t h o r g a n i s a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g commonwealth youths and creating unity amongst them. is is because It's easier to show support and speak with one voice when they are faced with issues. Mr Ahmed went on to say that although the council tries to use old strategies especially those proposed by the youths council however in situations where culture is a barrier, slight adjustments are

Ahmed Adamu with the former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida

Ahmed Adamu with the President-Elect General Mohammadu BuhariMyGreen Gene 15

made to accommodate these differences. Ahmed also spoke on the many projects of the council some of which are directed at people with disabilities and special needs, as well as entrepreneurship programmes and volunteer programmes.

To c o m m e m o r a t e t h i s y e a r ' s c om m onw e a l t h pro g r a m m e , t h e commonwealth young achievers will be published. is is a book aimed at celebrating youths as leaders not of tomorrow but of today who are not just a subject of discussion but leaders that can partner in governance and in making leadership decisions. is is an achievable goal, however we have to demand it as It would not be offered freely, hence the hard work of building the foundation as pioneers and setting a standard for others to follow.

Still on the issue of support, i questioned further as i wanted to know What support was offered to the Kenyan youths and their families in the recent killings of 148 Christian students. Ahmed informed me that although the issue of terrorism is a global matter, still the council gave a voice at the press release condemning such acts and further informed that the whole world must stand together and �ght against such ungodly act. Another area where support has been evident is at the recent elections in Nigeria. e history of youths and election was looked at with this being a common issue affecting youths in some commonwealth countries especially Nigeria. e council strongly advocated campaigns on elect ion violence against youths and to tackle this issue, Marshals were appointed in every

state to campaign and to ensure the Nigerian youths experienced no violence at all for the duration of the elections.

How do you do It, i asked Mr Ahmed, he responded with a smile and informed me that it's all about time management, dedication and staying focused on doing one thing at a time and doing it well. Although still studying on a PHD programme at the Newcastle university, and working as a full time lecturer, he admits his role is not an easy task but he aims at doing his absolute best. He then went on to say, with a constant �ood of emails, calls and letters from people of different culture and ethnic background the young father puts his best foot forward and attends to these issues.

Feeling extremely proud to be of the Nigerian heritage I asked Mr Ahmed what drives him. Here's what Ahmed had to say, con�dence is something that has been grounded in me from a very young age and this has kept me going knowing I can achieve whatever i want out of life. He continued by saying many youths do not believe in themselves, they don't see a

way out and although there are many factors to blame, but the lack of con�dence to achieve is no doubt the main factor and all these youths need is a lot more encouragement to do well and to push harder especially through the challenges. is is where the role of parents are important

Like some mothers, we pray that our children do great in life and although fear comes with it, still we encourage them and trust God for the best. So I asked Ahmed of his parents reaction to the news of his role as the Chairperson. He said, my father encouraged me like any father would and as It's in our genes to be advantageous, my father pushed me forward with my mother, although she was a little afraid initially, still i got her full support in the end. Mr Ahmed went on to say it is a blessing when you have parents that pray, because you will succeed in life but above all wherever you �nd yourself always be of good character, be honest, and explore any opportunities that come your way.

On this note our meeting ended. It is true that people come into our lives, for a reason, a season and perhaps almost a life time, but for whatever the reasons maybe, we must be a blessing onto each other and indeed Mr Ahmed has been a blessing to me. Inspiring other youths and adults to take on the world despite their challenges and remembering never to allow these challenges determine who they become in life because they are only for a season. I celebrate Mr Ahmed Adamu for his continuous hard work and I believe with leaders like him there is certainly hope for the youths, this indeed is #MyGreenGene!

Ahmed Adamu with the President of Sri Lanka and 53 other Presidents and Heads of Governmentsduring an interactive session at the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Governments in Sri Lanka

Ahmed Adamu with the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Joseph Muscat

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pix by Bface Photos

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-Adedoyin(AdukeAlaso)

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On Friday night I jejely went to

Ikeja Shopping Mall, crazy things happen to me at that place- I think I should reduce the times I frequent there. I parked and went in to do my shopping, by the time I was ready see the queue to pay for parking at the kiosk, long from here to Kano.

Anyways, so I was trying to pull out but because Lagos drivers are so wicked nobody gave me chance, I was there for like 10 minutes trying, when I noticed these drivers nor get the fear of God, I told my cousin to biko help me come down and beg one driver so that they can just wait for 2 seconds while I pull out, somebody �nally greed.

As I was pulling out I noticed another car trying to "over-take" me, nor be clear eye I use take roll my glass down and insulted the living daylights out of the driver, the man look �abbergasted and he was like “is it not me that slowed down for you?” Me: “which smelling slow down?” and you are now trying to overtake as I am reversing, something is wrong with you”...He looked at me with open eyes and continued, “I am the one that slow down for you, but you are not fast”... It then registered in my brain that

he was the one my cousin begged to stop, so I turned to him and �ung a nasty “ank you jor” and continued my rant to him, “ you help me , you kon still confuse me, have I �nished reversing? Ehn? Ehn??? e man just shook his head, I didn't know when I burst out laughing.

I have said it so many times, if trumpet blow while I'm driving on Lagos roads I will not make heaven nitori I go don insult pesin life, their past generation and unborn ones. It's a bad habit I acquired lately. If you're new to driving in Lagos let me share with you tips that I believe will honestly help you. I have learned this aer 5 months of driving in Lagos:e �rst thing you have to be aware of is this: every other person driving dey krase, you are the only sane person. Don't intercept them, don't

try to correct them, just go your own. Your goal is to get from your starting point to your destination SAFELY.If you want to get through to another lane, DO NOT use your pointer to signal it, immediately the cars

behind notice that you're trying to divert they speed up quickly as if there is a secret plot to keep you from diverting!ere is nothing like staying in your lane when it comes to driving, switch lanes as easily as you please do not use your pointers, just enter, and just

divert: this is a special skill only few have, I am one of them. Also be alert, people will turn off without signaling, and some will enter your lane unexpectedly.Learn how to insult, this will come handy. People will abuse you, you have to give as good as you get, “oloshi” is too common an

insult, learn the ones like “olori buruku agbaya aburo oloshi”…now you're talking.You have to learn how to use your breaks, you musty know how to stop

People will abuse you, you have to give as good as you get, “oloshi” is too common an insult, learn the ones like “olori buruku agbaya aburo oloshi”…now you're talking.

Diary of a Lagos Babe

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SUDDENLY! You must also know how to not stop suddenly because a car from behind will hit you and it will be your fault!Use what you have to get what you want, since people will not allow you divert, if you are blessed with good looks just �ash a smile and wink at the other driver, the odds will be in your favour if they've had a good day.Honk your horn always, in fact change the horn that came with your car and install the ones that trailers and tankers use, then feel free to blast the ear of any body that is in front, beside, behind you. Don't allow okada riders with their trailer horns to bully you. Be the bully.is tip is most useful at night, turn on your full lights to blind anyone coming from the opposite direction, if you have halogen lamps, ahhh, even better. Kill them!Any car in front of you is too slow, turn on your full lights and honk your horn till the mungo park gets off the way, don't they know who you are?When there is a traffic jam, go neck to neck, bumper to bumper, don't even allow space for breeze to pass between your car and the others, this can delay your journey by a second!e kind of car you drive determines how much power you have on the road, if you're driving picanto just stay in your lane, expect all dem danfo to disrespect you. My ideal car to drive in Lagos is a TUNDRA!Accelerate at full speed, even in residential areas. Time waits for no one. Your minimum speed should be 80kph. If you jam pesin car don't stop unless there's traffic and you know the person can race to catch up with you. If the road is free, abeg, ahead ahead!e only time you pay for damages to a car is if you destroy any of the lamps, but if it is a bump or a scratch, just say sorry and move on!Never take road rage personally, when you �ght on the road make e end

there, once you over take that person, remove it from your mind of not you will die of heart attack. It's never that serious.You have to up your swerving skills when driving in Lagos, because you will need to swerve from potholes, broken down vehicles, discarded sachet of pure water and people texting and driving at short notice.When over taking, always turn to look at the next person eyeball to eyeball, just because! at is the joy of over taking.

Never drag lane with danfo, taxi drivers or keke maruwa, trailers, tankers you will be the sorry one. You have been warned.Lagos driving is not just defense driving, it is attack, surrender and Oluwafolorunsho driving. Be alert! O ti su mi!

SISI YEMMIE

Arise Motherland , Nigeria, the very land of my bones!

The Flourished fountain of riches and preciousness

Are you no Longer the giant of Africa?

Where is your strength as of old?

Awake Motherland! Arise! Put on your Strength as of old.

Rid yourself of corrup�on! Stamp out greedy leaders & The Intruders

See your children sca�ered abroad; Begging with broken bowls

Where are your crops? Where are your crude oils?

All exchanged for Personal gains!

Ibo! Yoruba! Hausa!

Together, we stamp out Tribalism! Awake Motherland! Wash your

garments

Purify your hands and soul; that you might take your Place back among

glorious na�ons; just as of old.

My Motherland! Oh, how I love you, NIGERIA!

Yoruba: Okodoro Oro nio!

Ibo: Ho Esioku! Kambgagi!

Hausa: Wana baa layin Mongana ne!

Wri�en By Pst.Israel Adetola from my original Poem:

The Begging With Broken Bowls

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here!", I jumped out of my skin as I looked around to see who was calling me. It

was a senior, so I proceeded to walk towards her direction and on meeting with

her I said hello. Aggressively she asked why my hair was not combed, I informed

her that i had actually combed my hair in the morning. However,unknown to her,

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Four Nigerians would be part of decision makers in the next set of administrators in

The United Kingdom.

The just concluded elec�on saw Bri�sh Prime Minister David Cameron's

conserva�ve party claiming outright majority in the parliament, winning 331 seats

out of 650. Out of the 331 seats, four would be occupied by three female Nigerians

and 1 male.

They may be UK ci�zens but, they s�ll carry the Green gene, going by the names of

some of them…flying the Nigerian flag. Let's get to meet them:

Polling a total of 22,745 votes, Helen Grant won the seat representing the

Maidstone and The Weald in Kent. Grant took the lead with 45 per cent of the

votes, beating candidates of Liberal Democrats, UK Independence and

Labour party.

53year old Helen Grant was the first black woman to be selected to defend a

Tory seat and her election made her the Conservatives' first female black MP.

Born to an English mother and Nigerian father, Helen met her husband

Simon in 1990 and got married in 1991. They are blessed with two sons.

Chi Onwurah is the elected Member of Parliament represen�ng Newcastle thCentral. She was born on the 12 of April, 1965 to a Nigerian father and Bri�sh

mother in Newcastle. Onwurah had a taste of what it was, to live in Nigeria when

her family moved back to the biggest black na�on, two years before the civil war

broke out. The war eventually saw her family return to the UK, her place of birth.

The 2010 general elec�ons actually saw Onwurah making history as Newcastle's

first black MP.

Kate Osamor's victory comes with a bit of drama; this is because she contested

against a fellow Nigerian, Kate Anolue. She won the Edmonton cons�tuency for

Labour party.

Osamor is a trade union ac�vist who has worked with the Na�onal Health Service

for 15years and made its funding, opposing its fragmenta�on and standing up to

government cuts the focus of her campaign.

The parents of the 46 year old Kate Osamor are both Nigerians.

He is the only male and youngest of them all. 36 year-old Chuka Harrison Umunna

was born on October 17, 1978. He'll be represen�ng Streatham, south London for

the Labour party.

Chuka is a lawyer, having earned his upper second class in English and French Law

from University of Manchester and MA at No�ngham Law School. He said his

poli�cs and moral values come from Chris�anity but he is not majorly religious.

In 1992,Ummuna lost his father, Benne�e, in a car accident in Nigeria.

Nigerian-British MPs! -Adetola

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Adetoye Oremosu

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- Juliet Awolesi (JuliaLurenz JL)

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History Whether we're talking roasty-toasty hot or majestically mild, every Naija Cooking sauce comes complete with a special 'unique' ingredient e inauguration of the Magazine 'Green Gene' is an apt time to celebrate the legacy of the tenacity of our mothers, African women, in upholding and inculcating in us, the blessings we enjoyed, as children and continue to enjoy, even today, in our foods; foods that are functional and upholding; foods from lands �owing with milk and honey! We in Odeiga House, also see it as an opportunity to reiterate that Africa's History goes way back beyond the times of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Cushite princes once ruled ancient Egypt and the Negroid features of the Sphinxes in the Valley of the Kings in present day Egypt attests to that. MyGreen Gene Magazine also presents the us and Nigerian community with an opportunity to

set some records straight. One such record relates to cuisines. e origin of certain world cuisine rightly belongs to us and to those of us from the West coast of Africa. Creole food, New Orleans food, American soul food were all cooking styles introduced into the continent of America by West African women. African women taken from the coast of West Africa into the Diaspora of North and South America perfected these style of cooking in the New world. Cooking was the only artistic form of expression open to these women. ese women cooked food that was consistently, wholesome and palatable so much so that the wives of the plantation owners in the deep south of America le the feeding of even their own immediate families to these African women. When emancipation came, many of these plantation cooks set up restaurants and cafes in the deep south and gave America what is now known as Creole food, New Orleans

food and African American Soul food. e rice dish Jollof Rice (Wollof rice) or in Hausa (Dafa-duka) or in Yoruba (Iresi Aropo) was popularised by these African women in the diaspora. It is today commonly called the Jambalaya by Americans. Jollof rice is an African dish that is fast becoming a hit in Britain too. A lot of Embassies in London order copious amount of this delectable rice dish for their end of year office bash. Most embassies no longer feature cold sandwiches or sausage rolls on their menu. Many now go for some truly fascinating Afro Caribbean dishes. e Odeiga House Naija Cooking Sauces® and marinates represent a robust range of easy-to-use traditional recipes that employ only the �nest ingredients available. View some cooking demo on our website at www.odeigahouse.com

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Balangwu Suya SauceA cheeky, but beautiful balmy peanut-based marinade lovingly laced with spices.Suya or Tsire is an African Kebab made by Hausa people found throughout the geographic region of West Africa. e Balangwu Suya paste is produced in England for Delta Spices and Marinades Limited, using ancient Hausa recipe. e Hausas, the Tuaregs and the Bebers, have a similar North African culinary culture. Beef, Lamb and Mutton feature prominently in their culinary culture. Meat is oen marinated for several hours in peanut paste (or in ground nut oil - infused spice blends). e meat is then threaded onto wooden skewers before being cooked on an open grill or on a rotating spit, over an open �re.

Potent Peanut SauceA rich peanut-based cooking sauce with unrivalled smoothness and taste. Perfect with broccoli.Everyone that goes to the Gambia wax lyrical about Gambia's delectable peanut stews. ose Gambian delights can now be replicated back here in England by Stewing well seasoned lamb or chicken in our Peanut cooking sauce and served on a bed of rice or Couscous; or you may prefer it with a bowl of golden fried chips. Vegetarians love the Potent Peanut Cooking sauce with steamed broccoli and plenty of chips!

Ala�a Tomato Sauce A fabulous, full-bodied, African tomato sauce with a deliciously potent punch – 'the Ala�a factor (Well-being factor). is African Stew is eaten throughout Nigeria. Other Africans says it is peculiar to Nigeria's culinary culture. It is an authentic African tomato cooking sauce, delicious and full of �avour. Today this remarkable stew can be purchased as a readymade cooking sauce. It is made with fresh ingredients, no added sugar, no colour and ready to add to your seasoned beef, lamb, chicken or �sh stew, right at the end of the cooking. You can also make a vegetable tomato stew, as Ala�a Tomato 'stew' (cooking sauce) is suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians. e Ala�a Tomato sauce is extremely versatile. It goes well with all carbohydrate dishes, from: Pasta dishes to jacket potatoes, chips, wedged potatoes, pizza topping, it is good with bean dishes such as black eye beans, Carnelloni beans, Chilli con-carne, �sh, vegetables, chicken, lamb, even �sh.

Spicy Odeiga Sauce A lively yet lavish, �nger-licking marinade made from beautifully blended spices. Fantastic with any white meat - chicken, turkey, pork and with �sh. e Spicy Odeiga Paste is the ultimate African marinade for white meat and �sh.... e paste is made to an old recipe which was taken by African women into the Diaspora of North and South America. ese women's culinary skills were unrivalled. ey later gave the culinary community in America, much of what is now known as - Creole Cuisine, Cajun food and Soul food of New Orleans . Using age-old recipes, those plantation cooks produced excellent 'anksgiving Turkeys' and roast chicken Christmas Dinners that remains unrivalled.

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f you profile a group of African men, you can almost Iinstantaneously decipher whom amongst them is Nigerian

before asking their country of origin, based on a certain set of

characteris�cs that dis�nguish the average Nigerian man or woman

in any gathering.

“Confident” “calm” “Intelligent” “crea�ve” “determined” “hardworking “and “resourceful” are some of the adjec�ves used to describe Nigerians by some non- Nigerians I spoke to in the course of this ar�cle and these are compliments based on their admira�on of Nigerians.

Some not to so fla�ering descrip�on include “dodgy” “loud” “aggressive” “brash” “over-confident” “delusional” “obnoxious” and “simply arrogant” to men�on a few.

All these views sums up the Nigerian in diaspora. On one hand you

with Gbolahan Macjob

have the professional, the brilliant medical doctor, the project manager and the entrepreneur. This group showcase the Nigerian brand in a posi�ve light. Their skill set, their exper�se and professionalism in the i r p lace of work put the i r colleagues in awe of them. They have the respect of their employers and colleagues, they are a joy to behold and when they men�on they are from Nigeria…the reac�on is almost like “oh really”.

They live far away from the Naija dominated areas and would rather be the only dudu in a white dominated neighbourhood. The idea of racial discrimina�on does not bother them, because their social standing and financial status is so high that they belong and are accepted readily into these white posh neighbourhood they dwell in. You may well describe them as arrogant and pompous, because these people actually believe in their own hype and see themselves as second to nobody.

Then we have the other group…the quintessen�al die-hard fans and poli�cal analyst.You can hear their heated debate 4 blocks before entering the Nigerian restaurant and mee�ng place or some�mes it's at the barbers, but you can bet your top dollar on the fact that if the conversa�on is not about Arsene Wenger or Jose Mounrinho or about Diego Costa and Lionel Messi, then it's bound to be about Goodluck Jonathan, General Buhari or APC and PDP.

This group is polar opposite to the other. Full of passion, full of anger, full of resentment for the state of Nigeria and the corrup�on that has ravaged the economy in comparison to life in the UK and how Nigeria could have been much be�er. This group give a different vibe in their place of

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work…their body language and mannerism sends a signal “don't mess with me cos I'm not in the mood”. They come across as very aggressive and in�mida�ng and perpetually on edge, due to their frustra�on either because of their immigra�on problems or money issues or pressure from Nigeria. Their telephone conversa�on is deafening and you can pre�y much sum up their lives from a 5 minutes phone conversa�on whilst you are minding your business, wai�ng for your turn at the barbers or wai�ng for your Isi-ewu to be served.

However, no ma�er what side of the divide they may fall into, the average Nigerian is a force of nature. From the most brilliant physicist to the most crooked fraudster, from the most hardworking community leader to the most sinister drug peddler, from the most religious groups of people to the most hypocri�cal set, Nigeria have them all.

You can be proud of being a Nigerian t o d a y a n d f e e l c o m p l e t e l y disconnected tomorrow because Nigeria and Nigerians have the capacity to shock and just when you think you've seen it all, they take it to another level.

Somebody described Nigeria as “not for the faint hearted” and I agree.

The most interes�ng part of all this for me, is the upcoming genera�on of Nigerian children born abroad, with li�le or no knowledge about their cultural heritage and in constant conflict with their parents, therefore are less likely to imbibe their parent's full characteris�cs, but a blend of Dudu and Oyinbo ways. What breed of Nigerians would these be…what Naija effect will they bring to the table?We wait and watch.

Gbolahan Peter MacjobAuthor, Comedian, Actor and OAPwww.afristars.com AU

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SUCCESSCAPSULEST h e P o w e r o f I d e n t i t y-Banke Adaghe

As I set about writing this piece, I realise that life basically throws at you many challenges and how you handle each is based on the understanding of your identity. Your identity encompasses your self-realisation, individuality, character, personality, and uniqueness. “A life's purpose is interesting, it is not something you decide but something you discover. It is not something you �nd outside; it is something already within you. Without purpose no great accomplishment will be truly ful�lling” – Bob Proctor. Your true value is in the discovery of who you are & your purpose for living. “e �rst law of success says �rst within then without, which implies you cannot give what you do not have” – Sam Adeyemi. You need to study yourself and also search within to discover the real you and your purpose. You are actually more than your face value. ere are lots of untapped potential trapped in you crying for a release or freedom. ere was a little boy who had a dream that was a �int idea of what he was created to become, but had no clear understanding of how this dream would become a reality, so he decided to build up his character and became an epitome of integrity. Life threw at him various challenges and he was able to handle it objectively and successfully based on his character value. As a son of a successful business man he was downgraded to a servant in another country, doing a job that is

irrelevant to his purpose in life, but he did not allow it to affect who he was on the inside. He did all the so-called downgraded and dirty jobs with joy and integrity of heart, and he was quick to serve and provide solution with his whole heart to w h e n e v e r t h e r e w a s a n opportunity. is eventually paved way for him, brought him to the limelight and established him in accordance with his purpose even in a foreign country. My deduction from this story is never allow where you are or your situation to negatively affect you but let who you are re�ect positively on what and how you handle your situation. “e real you is who you are when no-one is looking and it has a way of unconsciously showing forth in

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You are born

to reign and have

dominion; you are a success going

somewhere to happen . . .

“

“

the public” – Banke Adaghe. e job you do now may not be a true re�ection of your identity; because you are more than your current size, situation, position, location & circumstance. You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation & a chosen generation to live a full and rewarding life. You might be a graduate doing a cleaning, security or menial job that is below your personal, mental capacity and development. Do not despise yourself, do not allow the limitation of your current status to affect who you are but do the job with joy and integrity of your heart while keeping focus on who you really dream & hope to be. No matter how long it takes if you do not lose hope or courage you will get there eventually. at you are not where you dreamt or trained to be does not make you a failure. omas Edison failed many times and those times he learnt how not to do it until he �nally learnt how to it and he succeeded, that is what I call failing forward to success. You are born to reign and have dominion; you are a success going somewhere to happen, be happy where you are on the way to your greater height and never lose focus. I was trained to be a solution providing leader but started out as a volunteer in a charity organisation in Nigeria and progressed within the organisation for 7years to the Position of a general manager. I came to the United Kingdom for my masters degree and I ended up starting all over as a cleaner at Argos, Pets at Home, and St Johns School. I did the job with joy and integrity of my heart, while focusing on my purpose and today I work in a reputable insurance company. I am now one of the directors in a human resource consulting �rm in Nigeria and also one of the trustees of Initiative for Youth Educational Empowerment UK. ere is no limit to how far you can go in life if you keep your identity and focus on your purpose. Never give up on your dream and it will become a reality.

I want to use this opportunity to seek your support in giving hope to another hopeless child in Nigeria, Africa and other nations of the world where children lack access to quality education. You can do this either by giving �nancially to or sponsor a child in school through Initiative for Youth Educational Empowerment (IYEE). You can visit the website for more information: www.iyeeorg.org or email contact@iyeeorg.org You can also contact us at Dynamic Resource Solutions Ltd for diverse administration, manpower training and development services because your success is our asset www.dynamicresourcesconsulting.com or e m a i l : i n f o @ d y n a m i c r e s o u r c e s c o n s u l t i n g . c o m :To be continued…

Banke Adaghe (Associate Member CIPD).

MyGreen Gene 42

e great nation with legs in

foreign lands and hearts at the

c e nt r e o f h o m e , s o n s a n d

daughters of Nigeria are the

precious stones basking in upmost

creativity in different spheres of

life. From the nooks and cranny of

Africa, to the hills of Antarctica,

from the hustle and bustle of the

cities in Asia, the world's largest

continent, to the serenity and

calmness in Australia, the world's

smallest, from the bustle and din

of the metropolises of Europe to

the hurly-burly of the cities in

North and South America, 'Naija

no dey carry last'!

ere is a persistent urge for

success in all Nigerians outside of

home; it is the urge to keep the �re

of creativity burning; the urge to

make a difference, the urge to keep

soaring and �ying until their

'unheard' indigenous names are

'heard' by foreigners in foreign

(The travails and exploits of Nigerians in diaspora)

lands and by their expectant people

at home; the urge to break all

manacles of disbelief, the urge to be

proud of the black skin and be

proud of the exploits of their black

ancestry and the urge to look back

the rough road and say “we made

it”. at is the spirit of 'Naija'!

Our own sons and daughters in the

media, in �lming, in literature, in

business, in clothing and in the

academia abroad are our 'eyes' and

strong representat ives . ey

triumph in their different areas of

human endeavour and their daring

exploits identify their homeland as

productive. eirs is a heritage of

hard work and persistence. Much

has been heard about Chinwetalu

Ej iofor, the Niger ian–b orn,

American-based movie actor,

whose artistic merits in award

winning �lms like 'Salt', '2014', and

' H a l f o f a Ye l l o w S u n ' a r e

considered by all to be truly

representative of the creative

tendencies carried on by Nigerians

who are far away from home.

Speaking of other energetic

and gied Nigerian actors in the

movie industry in the U.S, our own

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo, an

actor, producer, director and

writer, is worth mentioning. He has

featured in many movies which are

well known across the globe, some

of which include 'Rise of the planet

of Apes', 'Middle of Nowhere',

'Lincoln', 'e Butler' and a few

others. He is best known for

interpreting his roles appropriately

and known for bringing life

exceedingly into these roles.

Oyelowo became a household

name with his brilliant role as

Martin Luther King in a movie

entitled 'Selma', which received the

award for the best theme music at

the 2015 Oscar movie Awards. Due

to his hard work, David has been

nominated for several awards,

which include Critics' Choice

Movie Award for Best Actor,

Village Voice Film Poll Award for

Best Actor, Golden Globe Award

for Best Actor Motion Picture

Drama, Chicago Film Writers

Association Award for Best Actor,

Palm Springs International Film

F e s t i v a l B r e a k t h r o u g h

Performance Award and a host of

others. A renowned actor, his

works have earned him so much

THE SPIRIT OF NAIJA

A scholar and geographer once said that Nigerians are like pieces of white stones far �ung and scattered around the globe. Truly, we are!

ByOluwaseunAsifat

ISSN 2015001

MyGreen Gene 43

respect and accolades across the

globe. Truly, no matter where

Nigerians �nd themselves, they

always succeed and excel. David is

undeniably an epitome of this

success.

e name 'Richard Ellef Ayoade' is

another name that strikes a chord,

both with Nigerians and in

foreigners. is Nigerian–born

a n d L o n d o n b a s e d A c t o r,

Comedian, TV Presenter, Writer

a n d D i r e c t o r i s a n o t h e r

embodiment of creativity. His

works, some of which include

Garth Marenghi's Dark Place,

Dean Learner and e IT Crowd,

have earned him international

merits and recognition. He is a

team captain on a panel show

called 'was it something I said?'. He

also anchors a show in the United

Kingdom titled 'e Gadget Man'

and he has directed a movie titled

'Submarine'. All these undoubtedly

give credence to his versatility, a

feature which Nigerians are known

for.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a

N e w Yo r k b a s e d N i g e r i a n

modernist writer, whose literary

w o r k s h av e r e c e i v e d g r e a t

appreciation especially in the area

of prose �ction, is also one of the

vibrant daughters of our Nation.

e persistent appreciation that

her literary works such as Purple

Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and

Americanah have received from

the reading public is commendable

and her writing and publications of

stories that express the Nigerian

experience and sensibilities in

A m e r i c a an d E ng l an d ke e p

�ourishing.

Biyi Bamidele is another shinning

s t ar, t he L ond on - b a s e d a c e

Cinematographer, eatre scholar,

novelist and dramatist is another

e m b o d i m e n t o f v i s i o n a n d

inventiveness. His works have

contributed immensely to the

literary and theatrical development

of not only Nigeria, but the African

continent at large. Bamidele

remains the architect behind the

success of the Nigerian movie titled

'Half of a Yellow Sun', an adaptation

of Ngozi Adichie's novel, which still

retains its status as one of the most

expensively shot movies in the

history of �lming in Africa.

Even in the sphere of fashion,

Nigerians would never lag behind.

A continuous kudos also goes to our

Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Edo

brothers and sisters: the strong

observers of what is known as

'trending' in the world of fashion in

Paris, Italy and Dubai; the foreign-

based fashion designers; importers

and exporters of durable wears for

the rich and the common man.

Nigeria, a citadel of the creative and

fortress of the able-bodied, is a great

nation. It is a Nation with great

people who infuse life, passion and

diligence in their careers. It is a

nation with strong men and

women who continue to wallow

with smiles, hope and laughter

even in the midst of anomalies.

“Make sure say you no forget area”,

our Warri brothers would always

say. is 'Area' has come to stand as

a symbolic representation of the

turbulent but sailing Nigeria, a

stormy but thriving country, and a

country whose people bask in

c ont i nu ou s e n du r a n c e a n d

keenness. Truly, Nigerians outside

of home do not and cannot forget

'area'. e works of Nigerians in

diaspora, especially those in the

media and movie industry, are not

only bri l l iant; they are also

therapeutic. ey continually

invoke joy in their people and put

laughter on the faces of many. God

bless Nigerians in diaspora, God

bless their devotees and God bless

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chinwetalu Ejiofor David Oyelowo

MyGreen Gene 44

Nigerian football looked to be at its peak again in 2013 with an impress ive achievement in the African Nations Cup (AFCON) but only to then crash out in the quali�ers for the 2014 African Nations Cup. is is not the only problem, Stephen Keshi just agreed to a new 2 year contract aer months of speculation and instability in the national dressing room, and we have recently dropped 4 places to #45 in the FIFA ranking considering we were once ranked #9 only 9 years ago. ese along with the current lack of optimism has led many to question, are we really doing bad?

A number of nigerian footballers have impressed enough over the years to open up a move to european clubs to forever establish a strong reputation . Aer all, I strongly believe we football fans use the ability to play in European Clubs as a y ards t i ck to me asu re su c c e ss for Footballers.

e Pioneers

Have you heard of Titus Okere and Teslim “e under” Balogun? Many of us will not know these names but they were the ver y �rs t generat ion of Niger i an professional footballers which paved way for the likes of Christian Chukwu and Segun Odegbami. ese were names I only heard of until I gained consciousness into

the world and became a football fan. Perhaps, at the right time because I got to witness the rise and fall of the Golden Generation: D. Amokachi, V. Ikepba, A. Okocha, F. George, N. Kanu, P. Rufai, A. Eguavoen, S. Keshi, U. Okechukwu, C. Nwanu, T. West, E. Amuneke, S. Oliseh, Ikpeba, M. Adepoju, U. Okafor, T. Oliha, Rashidi Yekini e.t.c.

Many of them were involved in the:1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan (Won)1994 African Cup of Nations (Won)1994 FIFA World Cup (Last 16)1996 Summer Olympics (Won)

Note that: every single one of them had a stint in an european football club.

Challenges of the next Generation

e next generation of Nigerian Footballers despite being blessed with talented players such as Peter Odemwingie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, Joseph Yobo e.t.c. were considered disappointing by many nigerian football fans mostly because of our struggle to dominate the African Nations Cup and Failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup but, I would like to argue that they were simply only under too much pressure to match the achievements of the Olympic winning team of 1996. at was a great achievement and it takes years to build up such a talented group of players. More over, it would also be noteworthy to point out that many of these challenged players had longer and more successful stints in Europe than their preceding counterparts.

MyGreen Gene 45

e Future

Drawing from the previous paragraph, we Nigerians seem to pile a lot of pressure on ou r c u r re nt c rop of t a l e nt s and understandably so, considering the amount of resources available for development and the diversity of Nigerian players abroad doing extremely well in their various leagues. As a matter of fact, there are over 100 nigerian footballers registered in English football with 7 in the English Premier league and 5 in the English Championship.

(Picture) Odion Ighalo has been the outstanding Nigerian striker in Europe this season where he bagged 20 goals in 36 appearances to help Watford claim promotion back to the top �ight of English Football for the �rst time in over 6 years.

More so, 5 young players with Nigerian heritage featured in the FA Youth Cup Final; 3 of them represented Chelsea (Fikayo Tomori, Dominic Solanke & Ola Aina ) and 2 represented Manchester City (Kelechi Iheanacho & Adarabioyo). e FA Youth Cup is an ideal place to predict future football stars. ese are two of the major teams to dominate the Premier League in recent years and to have 5 Nigerian players featuring in the 2015 �nal match gives us a taste of what is to come, a good reason to start hoping and believing and dreaming that Nigeria will s o o n e x p e r i e n c e a n e w G o l d e n Generation of Footballers.

e timeline shows a more steady involvement of Nigerian players in European Foreign leagues where Football was born and our players are increasingly

feeling at home and settling longer at these clubs so, are we really doing bad? I would argue NO especially if we are using the ability to play in European Leagues as a yardstick for success.By Yinka Akinsanya Co Presenter of 22 & One on 19ja Radio22andone@gmail.com

MyGreen Gene 46