As a child, Princess Olufemi-Kayode was sexually abused. Her parents couldn’t do anything then because they lacked information and her violator walked away a free man.
Today, Princess is giving voice to the sexually abused, fighting for them to get justice even with the constraints involved. She told Daily Sun that her Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Media Concern for Women and Children (MEDIACON), was a call from God and not what she had planned to do. Her drive is visible, her approach, fiery. The challenges she encounters don’t move her as she is set to defend these children no matter what it costs her. She also spoke on the need for all the parties involved to join forces in curtailing sexual violence against children, among other things. Excerpts:
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Starting out
MEDIACON is a vision; I didn’t set out to establish this NGO. It wasn’t part of my dreams, but I got the call to assist people who have been sexually abused. It was founded in 2000. Then, it wasn’t really an NGO, but an avenue for young people to share ideas and tackle issues. I got the call to establish MEDIACON at Winners Chapel’s yearly programnme, Shiloh 2002. At that point, I didn’t know what to do with my life because I felt there was more to my life than what was happening to me. I left my job to focus fully on the assignment God has given me.
What steps did you take to kickstart your journey in handling cases of sexual violence?
I started with research since I already know the direction I am headed. I wanted to know what was on ground and I did a lot of research. There was nobody on the field dealing with sexual violence on women and children. I learnt from successful NGO directors and from those who have failed also. I learnt lessons why some NGOs are growing while others are stagnant as well as what they were doing right or wrong. I engaged in all these activities because I didn’t want to duplicate another person’s efforts.
When you eventually started, what structures were in place to tackle cases of sexual violence?
Interestingly, when we started, we didn’t just dabble into handling sexual violence cases. We didn’t start working with victims. We started with creating more awareness for sexual violence and breaking the silence that was associated with it. It is happening daily and nobody wants to talk about it. We partnered the media for over one year to get national recognition. We brought the issue of sexual violence to the open and got people talking about it. We generated discussions on sexual violence especially how it affects women and children. Soon, we started having people in our office who needed help on how to go about preventing sexual violence and that was it.
What next?
It is our duty to break the silence, assist people to access help and at the same time prevent sexual violence. It was then that we saw the criminal aspect of sexual abuse. We experienced the obstacles to eradicating sexual violence within the context of our country. We equally experienced the constraints and frustrations of the victims. So, we began developing programmes to deal with that aspect, established help lines for easy access to us and an office where people can come for counselling. With the help lines, came an explosion. People were calling all over the nation to talk about their experiences and get counselled.
We were faced with the dilemma of dealing with the several cases we had at hand. The more challenges we faced, the more we mapped out strategies on the way forward. The only option was to create programmes to address the issues squarely and also work with the relevant authorities. It is more challenging to work on sexual violence in Nigeria because you are dealing with all its aspects. In developed countries, there are segmented bodies that deal with the various aspects of sexual violence such as prevention, punishing offenders and criminal justice. Here, we have to deal with everything and it is tedious. We have to be creative, we pray, we fast to get direction from God on the next step to take. We are not afraid of finances or cases because we know God is our strength.
In our culture, parents find it hard to discuss sex with their children; do you think this is responsible for the rising cases of sexual abuse in Nigeria?
I won’t say so. Even in developed countries, there are still parents who find it hard to talk about sex with their children even as it pervades everything. From advertisements to books and magazines, sex is everywhere, but they still find it difficult to discuss it. This generation, however, has the greatest challenge of tackling sexual violence. This is because today’s parents are doing the same thing our parents did to us in our own time. Then, our parents didn’t discuss sex with us, rather, they left that aspect to chance.
I had aunties living with us who taught me some of the things I knew about sex and my body at my adolescent ages. There was a gap between our parents and us when it came to sex education and children relied on newspaper, television and sometimes their friends when it comes to sex matters. The same thing is happening today, unless parents change and teach their children what they need to know about their bodies and sex. It is even more challenging today because children develop quickly emotionally, physically and mentally. They can pick things easily, but in all these, I don’t think it is the cause of rising cases of sexual violence. It has always been there.
What are the causes of sexual violence?
I believe we do not tackle the cases properly in Nigeria. If we make noise about it and parents take precautions to prevent it, then, we punish offenders, it will reduce. We should make functional laws that are applicable to our environment. Victims and their traumatized family members should be properly counseled so that they won’t become a threat to others in the society. It is also important that people are careful of who they bring into their homes as sexual abuse knows no boundary or social status.
It affects the rich and the poor, the educated and illiterate. It affects both children in the streets and those within the confines of their homes because child molesters are 99 per cent close to the family. It can be an aunty or an uncle, a cousin, friend, neighbours, in-laws, lesson teachers, pastors, Imams and so on. These are people you entrust your children with and they end up defiling them. It is not only girl-child who are being molested, there are also male children being molested by their mothers and vice versa. Both sexes can also be abused by people of the same sex; it is a tricky situation that needs to be treated without kid’s gloves. We have a lot of factors encouraging the rising cases of sexual abuse. We can curtail these cases when we teach our children about privacy, they should know that their bodies are private and shouldn’t allow anyone touch them anyhow.
Would you advise parents of abused children to settle out of court?
Yes, but it is not a parent case. This is because based on the Child Acts law, if you abuse any child; you have committed an offence against the state. The government takes over the case and it is effective in every state of the nation that has enacted the Child Acts law.
What if they are being cajoled to do that?
Offenders always cajole the victims’ family. People at times say that they beg God for forgiveness and He forgives, then, how come the family of a victim has refused to settle out of court with the offender? Our sentimental values in Nigeria sometimes overshadow the truth and truncate the system of punishing offenders for the crimes they have committed. People see it as a small issue, but the truth is that any child that has suffered sexual abuse has been wounded deeply and only God can heal that wound. Ignorance is not an excuse for letting offenders go unpunished. It is left for the families to decide on what to do and they shouldn’t be cajoled to do that.
What are the consequences of sexual violence on children?
There are tendencies for risk behaviour, teenage pregnancy, multiple sex partners. Some of these children run away from home and become sex workers due to loss of self worth. They suffer image loss. The boys become defiant, unruly and sometimes resort to pornography. They stay in abusive relationships and are abused over and over again. There are lots of dangers associated with sexual violence which parents never discover. There are also health risks such as HIV/AIDS, STDs and also the psychological traumas that if not dealt with, will destroy the child. Some of these children suffer from suicidal thoughts and are prone to killing themselves if not monitored. There is also post-traumatic stress disorder and so on. We are not helping victims if we allow offenders to go unpunished. Everyone needs education on the issue of sexual violence. From the judge to the police officer who makes the arrest, to the victims families and the society at large.
What are some of your constraints in punishing offenders?
The judges at times do not understand the gravity of the damage done to a child’s psyche that has been violently abused. They just send offenders off to learn lessons which are rather lenient rather than punishing them. The evident act is a major problem and the facilities we have on ground are not helping matters. Everyone should be involved. There is no proper co-ordination between the criminal justice system and social workers over the years and it is causing a lot of hindrances to the fight against sexual abuse.
In view of all these challenges and constraints you encounter, how do you hope to tackle sexual violence head-on?
I believe things will get better. What we have on ground now is better than where we are coming from. Some of the agencies involved are waking up to their responsibilities and it is a good sign. Police officers are being more receptive to our cause and working with them now is more result-oriented. Although they have their constraints, they are doing all they can to assist us. We mobilize the police to arrest offenders and charge them in the family court where the cases are tried. Understanding these constraints helps us to know how to beat the system and we are making sure that the system works regardless of these constraints. We stand by the victims as their advocates as we don’t have lawyers. We know the law and we know the system so we are standing by the victims so that they can get the best.
How do you integrate these children back into the society?
We do counseling programmes for the victims and their families. It is also a family affair because one case of sexual abuse involving a man and his daughter is capable of tearing the family apart. We work with people to assist them get information they need on how to deal with crises arising from sexual abuse.
What steps should parents take to prevent their children from being abused?
There should be an open communication channel and be careful who they leave their children with. Parents should make themselves assessable to their children all the time. When they ask questions regarding sexual matters, don’t shut them up. Teach them at any level they are.
They should be able to trust you and confide in you. Teach them to maintain their privacy and that no one has the right to intrude on their privacy. Parents should let their children know how sacred sex is and not allow them pick the wrong information elsewhere. We should not shut them up because today’s children want to be heard.
You were sexually abused as a child, how did you deal with it?
My parents discovered it, but it had been on for a long time. There was no enabling environment for me to talk to them about it. They didn’t do anything but it affected me until I decided to fight it after a lot of things had gone wrong in my life.
Tell us about yourself
I am Princess Olufemi-Kayode, I am a mother, a wife and the Executive Director of Media Concern for Women and Children (MEDIACON). I have an honorary diploma in public health and am doing a masters programme in Psychology.
campusflava
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
2011: Minister Charges Youths on Credible Polls
Nigerian youths have been charged to be at the vanguard of the Federal Government’s drive to establish a stable democratic polity through the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2011.
Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri gave the Charge when he received members of the Association of Northern Nigerian Students (ANNS) in his office on a courtesy visit.
The minister, who received members of the Association on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, said the time had come for the youths of this country to resist being used as agents of destabilisation and electoral misconducts.
According to him, as long as people refuse to imbibe acceptable democratic norms especially in the conduct of elections, the future of the youths would remain unsecure, which is why they should rise up to the struggle against violence, rigging and all forms of electoral manipulations as the country gears up to the next general elections.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Federal Government, he said, will continue to encourage such associations as theirs, as long as they are formed to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and national development. He assured them of President Jonathan’s support for their programmes.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, and National President of the association, Comrade Aruwa Ismaila told the minister that they decided to pay the solidarity visit to President Jonathan to assure him of their support in view of the numerous and unprecedented development projects embarked upon by the present Federal Government in the northern part of the country and the country in general.
He commended the President on the implementation of the Police Reform programme and the amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta both of which have led to improvement in the security situation of the country and has had a positive effect on investments in the oil and gas sector.
Other projects and actions for which the association also commended President Jonathan include the dredging of the River Niger which will create six river ports in the northern part of the country, upgrading of Kaduna Polytechnic and Federal Colleges of Education at Zaria, Bichi and Kano to degree-awarding institutions and the establishment of three new refineries with one located at Itobe in Kogi State.
The association also noted the construction and rehabilitation work on the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Azare-Kano road, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin road, Maiduguri-Biu-Numan road, the Jebba-Kano railway line and the resumption of mining activities of coal deposits at Okaba in Kogi State, Lafia/Obi in Nassarawa State, Ashaka in Gombe State, Alkaleri in Bauchi State and Sokoto.
Aruwa also informed the minister of the plan by the Association to organize the 1st All Northern Students Peace and Development Summit billed to hold in Abuja in September and appealed for support.
Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri gave the Charge when he received members of the Association of Northern Nigerian Students (ANNS) in his office on a courtesy visit.
The minister, who received members of the Association on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, said the time had come for the youths of this country to resist being used as agents of destabilisation and electoral misconducts.
According to him, as long as people refuse to imbibe acceptable democratic norms especially in the conduct of elections, the future of the youths would remain unsecure, which is why they should rise up to the struggle against violence, rigging and all forms of electoral manipulations as the country gears up to the next general elections.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Federal Government, he said, will continue to encourage such associations as theirs, as long as they are formed to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and national development. He assured them of President Jonathan’s support for their programmes.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, and National President of the association, Comrade Aruwa Ismaila told the minister that they decided to pay the solidarity visit to President Jonathan to assure him of their support in view of the numerous and unprecedented development projects embarked upon by the present Federal Government in the northern part of the country and the country in general.
He commended the President on the implementation of the Police Reform programme and the amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta both of which have led to improvement in the security situation of the country and has had a positive effect on investments in the oil and gas sector.
Other projects and actions for which the association also commended President Jonathan include the dredging of the River Niger which will create six river ports in the northern part of the country, upgrading of Kaduna Polytechnic and Federal Colleges of Education at Zaria, Bichi and Kano to degree-awarding institutions and the establishment of three new refineries with one located at Itobe in Kogi State.
The association also noted the construction and rehabilitation work on the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Azare-Kano road, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin road, Maiduguri-Biu-Numan road, the Jebba-Kano railway line and the resumption of mining activities of coal deposits at Okaba in Kogi State, Lafia/Obi in Nassarawa State, Ashaka in Gombe State, Alkaleri in Bauchi State and Sokoto.
Aruwa also informed the minister of the plan by the Association to organize the 1st All Northern Students Peace and Development Summit billed to hold in Abuja in September and appealed for support.
CBN Disburses N71bn for Commercial Agric
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed a cumulative N70.737 billion to farmers under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme established early last year.
The amount represents disbursements made up till July 2010 and channeled to 68 projects and promoters of agriculture inclusive of 7 state governments.
According to Report on “Commercial Agric Credit Scheme as at July 2010,” posted on the CBN website yesterday, under the 2nd Tranche of the scheme seven state governments namely, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Nassarawa, Ondo, Zamfara and Niger accessed N1billion each for onlending to co-operative farmers and unions in their various States.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Report indicated that Adamawa State accessed the funds through Zenith Bank Plc, while Niger State accessed through Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and the five remaining states funded through United Bank for Africa Plc.
According to the CBN, GTB received N4.831 billion for disbursement to 7 projects; Fidelity Bank Plc N500 million for one project; First Bank N4.71 billion for disbursement to11 projects; Skye Bank Plc got N7.60 billion for disbursement to four projects while UBA received N38.455 billion for disbursement to 35 projects including five state governments.
“Zenith Bank received N6.34billion for disbursement to 4 projects including 1 State Government; Union Bank received N1.90billion for disbursement with respect to two projects including one State Government; Oceanic Bank received N2 billion for disbursement to 1 project; Access Bank Plc received N906 million for disbursement to 1 project; Unity Bank got N3.5 billion for disbursement to 2 projects.” CBN further stated.
The Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme was established by the CBN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to enhance food production in the country.
The amount represents disbursements made up till July 2010 and channeled to 68 projects and promoters of agriculture inclusive of 7 state governments.
According to Report on “Commercial Agric Credit Scheme as at July 2010,” posted on the CBN website yesterday, under the 2nd Tranche of the scheme seven state governments namely, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Nassarawa, Ondo, Zamfara and Niger accessed N1billion each for onlending to co-operative farmers and unions in their various States.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Report indicated that Adamawa State accessed the funds through Zenith Bank Plc, while Niger State accessed through Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and the five remaining states funded through United Bank for Africa Plc.
According to the CBN, GTB received N4.831 billion for disbursement to 7 projects; Fidelity Bank Plc N500 million for one project; First Bank N4.71 billion for disbursement to11 projects; Skye Bank Plc got N7.60 billion for disbursement to four projects while UBA received N38.455 billion for disbursement to 35 projects including five state governments.
“Zenith Bank received N6.34billion for disbursement to 4 projects including 1 State Government; Union Bank received N1.90billion for disbursement with respect to two projects including one State Government; Oceanic Bank received N2 billion for disbursement to 1 project; Access Bank Plc received N906 million for disbursement to 1 project; Unity Bank got N3.5 billion for disbursement to 2 projects.” CBN further stated.
The Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme was established by the CBN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to enhance food production in the country.
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers go on nationwide strike
Workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), on Wednesday, began an indefinite industrial strike action.
The workers are protesting the nonpayment of their monetisation arrears among others. The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, had on Monday, released a memo instructing all members to lock all the gates to PHCN's offices and installations nationwide.
The workers' strike is coming two days before President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to unveil his power generation and distribution blue print. The workers are also protesting the procedure that government plans to adopt in the privatization of power distribution.
Mr Jonathan had, on Monday, approved the sale of 11 power firms, which are subsidiaries of the power company. The government insisted that this move will help to checkmate the high aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses suffered in the course of electricity generation and distribution in the country.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The workers are protesting the nonpayment of their monetisation arrears among others. The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, had on Monday, released a memo instructing all members to lock all the gates to PHCN's offices and installations nationwide.
The workers' strike is coming two days before President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to unveil his power generation and distribution blue print. The workers are also protesting the procedure that government plans to adopt in the privatization of power distribution.
Mr Jonathan had, on Monday, approved the sale of 11 power firms, which are subsidiaries of the power company. The government insisted that this move will help to checkmate the high aggregate technical, commercial, and collection losses suffered in the course of electricity generation and distribution in the country.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Nigeria warns of nationwide cholera risk as 352 die
ABUJA Aug 26 (Reuters) - Nigerian health authorities have warned of a nationwide cholera risk after the death toll from an outbreak concentrated largely in the north of Africa's most populous nation rose to 352.
The health ministry said 6,437 cases had been reported across 11 of the country's 36 states since June. It said heavy rains and flooding in rural areas where safe drinking water and sanitary facilities are scarce had fuelled the outbreak.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
"Although most of the outbreaks occurred in the northwest and northeast zones, epidemiological evidence indicates that the entire country is at risk," the ministry said in its latest update late on Wednesday.
Neighbouring Cameroon has been suffering its worst epidemic of cholera, a disease generally spread through food and water contaminated with bacteria, since 2004 and there had been fears that the outbreak could spread into Nigeria and Chad.
Nigeria is also fighting a measles epidemic. The disease, characterised by a high temperature and red spots on the body, has killed more than 1,400 people in Africa this year in some of the most serious outbreaks seen for a decade. [ID:nLDE67F1QU]
The ministry said 83 deaths from measles had been recorded since the start of the year and more than 5,000 cases reported, a ten-fold increase on the same period last year. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Charles Dick)
The health ministry said 6,437 cases had been reported across 11 of the country's 36 states since June. It said heavy rains and flooding in rural areas where safe drinking water and sanitary facilities are scarce had fuelled the outbreak.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
"Although most of the outbreaks occurred in the northwest and northeast zones, epidemiological evidence indicates that the entire country is at risk," the ministry said in its latest update late on Wednesday.
Neighbouring Cameroon has been suffering its worst epidemic of cholera, a disease generally spread through food and water contaminated with bacteria, since 2004 and there had been fears that the outbreak could spread into Nigeria and Chad.
Nigeria is also fighting a measles epidemic. The disease, characterised by a high temperature and red spots on the body, has killed more than 1,400 people in Africa this year in some of the most serious outbreaks seen for a decade. [ID:nLDE67F1QU]
The ministry said 83 deaths from measles had been recorded since the start of the year and more than 5,000 cases reported, a ten-fold increase on the same period last year. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Charles Dick)
Making a fortune from tie and dye business
Today‘s business world demands creativity to succeed, no matter what kind of business one is into. This is because each business needs to be unique.
Generally, handcraft business is good business, especially when it can be distinct and distinguishable from others.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Linda Ikem, who graduated more than two years ago from one of Nigerian universities, was finding it difficult securing a job for herself. After trying hard to get a job without success, she decided to go in for a skills acquisition training in handcraft.
For her, what people will want regularly caught her appeal. She decided to go into tie and dye business.
She says, “It was difficult at first, because I needed the expertise. Of course, I made mistakes but that later made me better.”
But according to the Managing Director, Fareedah Textile, Mrs. Raliyat Sanusi, it is always difficult starting to learn about the business. She, however, says it gets better once you keep practising to get the best result. She adds that once you are perfect, it becomes an easy thing and the only issue will be to show your creativity in the material.
Sanusi notes that for starters, a minimum capital need, as low as N30,000, may be required to begin with. From this, a profit of about N10,000 can be gotten, noting that the profit may be lower or higher, depending on who one is selling to.”
She adds that one needs to have the passion for art and crafts to be able to turn tie and dye into one’s own business.
It is true that people often enjoy crafts, such as paper crafts or quilting, as they are one-of-a-kind items, but turning tie and dye into a sustainable business requires dedication and training.
She says having an interest in a creative endeavour is not enough to start a craft business; one will need to learn more and acquire much information about the business.
The Managing Director, Bafunke Textile, Mrs. Oluwafunke Babalola, says, ”There is the need to research into the business to know which area to focus on and also have an idea of who you want to sell to.”
She adds that you will need to create a business bank account, as this will let you know how much you make on each set of tie and dye material you produce.
Sanusi stresses, “You will need space to work because this handcraft has more to do with space.
Both Sanusi and Babalola agree that learning how to make tie and dye material is fun. It is also good to practise with lots of old T-shirts because it is important to know how different types of fabric react and produce different patterned hues when different concentrations of dye are applied on them.
They agree that with creativity and experimentation, one can make money selling bright, beautiful tie and dye material. Sanusi stresses that when starting the business, it is better to keep the production low as one concentrates on learning the techniques.
She adds that since it is a new business, one is not sure of the number of customers to expect. So, it is better to do it in small quantity.
”Your work will speak for you; so you must try to make the tie and dye fabric very beautiful and original as much as possible. Also, do a good job so that you will get calls for more order,” Babalola says.
She also notes that creativity is key in this business, as this will help differentiate your fabric from the rest.
Sanusi notes further, “As a starter, one needs to be competitive, by reducing the price tag on the fabric so as to get more customers. When they find out the quality is good, they will ask for more.
”Because you will be contending with those already in the market, you need to be competitive in your prices and quality. This will help to give you better publicity as well.”
Generally, handcraft business is good business, especially when it can be distinct and distinguishable from others.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Linda Ikem, who graduated more than two years ago from one of Nigerian universities, was finding it difficult securing a job for herself. After trying hard to get a job without success, she decided to go in for a skills acquisition training in handcraft.
For her, what people will want regularly caught her appeal. She decided to go into tie and dye business.
She says, “It was difficult at first, because I needed the expertise. Of course, I made mistakes but that later made me better.”
But according to the Managing Director, Fareedah Textile, Mrs. Raliyat Sanusi, it is always difficult starting to learn about the business. She, however, says it gets better once you keep practising to get the best result. She adds that once you are perfect, it becomes an easy thing and the only issue will be to show your creativity in the material.
Sanusi notes that for starters, a minimum capital need, as low as N30,000, may be required to begin with. From this, a profit of about N10,000 can be gotten, noting that the profit may be lower or higher, depending on who one is selling to.”
She adds that one needs to have the passion for art and crafts to be able to turn tie and dye into one’s own business.
It is true that people often enjoy crafts, such as paper crafts or quilting, as they are one-of-a-kind items, but turning tie and dye into a sustainable business requires dedication and training.
She says having an interest in a creative endeavour is not enough to start a craft business; one will need to learn more and acquire much information about the business.
The Managing Director, Bafunke Textile, Mrs. Oluwafunke Babalola, says, ”There is the need to research into the business to know which area to focus on and also have an idea of who you want to sell to.”
She adds that you will need to create a business bank account, as this will let you know how much you make on each set of tie and dye material you produce.
Sanusi stresses, “You will need space to work because this handcraft has more to do with space.
Both Sanusi and Babalola agree that learning how to make tie and dye material is fun. It is also good to practise with lots of old T-shirts because it is important to know how different types of fabric react and produce different patterned hues when different concentrations of dye are applied on them.
They agree that with creativity and experimentation, one can make money selling bright, beautiful tie and dye material. Sanusi stresses that when starting the business, it is better to keep the production low as one concentrates on learning the techniques.
She adds that since it is a new business, one is not sure of the number of customers to expect. So, it is better to do it in small quantity.
”Your work will speak for you; so you must try to make the tie and dye fabric very beautiful and original as much as possible. Also, do a good job so that you will get calls for more order,” Babalola says.
She also notes that creativity is key in this business, as this will help differentiate your fabric from the rest.
Sanusi notes further, “As a starter, one needs to be competitive, by reducing the price tag on the fabric so as to get more customers. When they find out the quality is good, they will ask for more.
”Because you will be contending with those already in the market, you need to be competitive in your prices and quality. This will help to give you better publicity as well.”
UNAD protest: Police arrest 10 students
No fewer than 10 students of the University of Ado-Ekiti(UNAD) have been arrested and detained by the police in connection with the attack on Governor Segun Oni and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin.
Parading the students on Tuesday at the Command Headquarters along Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Suleiman Isa, said the students were identified by owners of some of the vehicles which had their windscreens smashed by the rampaging students.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
One of the students arrested was Ajala Tope, a National Diploma I Accounting student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. Isa alleged that the students were arrested after they were identified by owners of the vehicles that were smashed. Also arrested was Muritala Isiaka, a Physically-challenged Part II student of Business Education, who was said to have been spotted while the protest raged. He was alleged to have smashed the windscreen of a commercial vehicles passing by the gate of the institution.
One of the victims of the violent protest was a commercial bus driver coming from Lokoja to Ado-Ekiti. He ran into the barricade erected by the students on Iworoko-Ado Road and in the process, the rear windscreen of his Nissan Sunny saloon car was smashed by the missiles launched by some of the students.
No fewer than six vehicles were destroyed by the students including police vans.
The ACP disclosed that investigations into the crisis had commenced, noting that the involvement of the arrested students would be investigated before arraignment anyone found connected with the vandalisation of the vehicles.
The vehicles damaged during the attack are: a Nissan Sunny with registration number, Kogi AQ 544 LKJ, Nissan Primera with registration number, Lagos LM 23 AA, Toyota Camry V6 XLE with registration number Ekiti AE 968 DEK.
Other vehicles are: Two Toyota Sport Utility Vehicles(SUV) and a Peugeot 504 Station Wagon, belonging to the State Police Command. The ACP, however, warned that the command would not fold its arms and watch anyone break the law and order and destroy other people’s property.
Parading the students on Tuesday at the Command Headquarters along Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Suleiman Isa, said the students were identified by owners of some of the vehicles which had their windscreens smashed by the rampaging students.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
One of the students arrested was Ajala Tope, a National Diploma I Accounting student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. Isa alleged that the students were arrested after they were identified by owners of the vehicles that were smashed. Also arrested was Muritala Isiaka, a Physically-challenged Part II student of Business Education, who was said to have been spotted while the protest raged. He was alleged to have smashed the windscreen of a commercial vehicles passing by the gate of the institution.
One of the victims of the violent protest was a commercial bus driver coming from Lokoja to Ado-Ekiti. He ran into the barricade erected by the students on Iworoko-Ado Road and in the process, the rear windscreen of his Nissan Sunny saloon car was smashed by the missiles launched by some of the students.
No fewer than six vehicles were destroyed by the students including police vans.
The ACP disclosed that investigations into the crisis had commenced, noting that the involvement of the arrested students would be investigated before arraignment anyone found connected with the vandalisation of the vehicles.
The vehicles damaged during the attack are: a Nissan Sunny with registration number, Kogi AQ 544 LKJ, Nissan Primera with registration number, Lagos LM 23 AA, Toyota Camry V6 XLE with registration number Ekiti AE 968 DEK.
Other vehicles are: Two Toyota Sport Utility Vehicles(SUV) and a Peugeot 504 Station Wagon, belonging to the State Police Command. The ACP, however, warned that the command would not fold its arms and watch anyone break the law and order and destroy other people’s property.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Earn $30 or More an Hour with These Two-Year Degrees
Full-time workers in the United States earn an estimated average of $20.90 an hour--which is just over $43,000 a year. What would you do to increase that salary by 50 percent? The good news is, you don't have to spend years in college just to make more than $30 an hour. Instead of going into debt with student loans to pay for a bachelor's or master's degree, you can spend less money on a two-year associate's degree and get paid just as much as the average chemist or accountant. Here are seven two-year degrees and the $30-plus-an-hour careers that go along with them.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
1. Finance
Career: Loan officer
Average hourly wage: $30.39
Loan officers help people navigate the process of borrowing money for houses, cars, education, and more. Though there are no formal education requirements for loan officers, an associate's degree in finance can help qualify you for these positions, particularly if you want to become a mortgage loan officer.
2. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Career: Diagnostic medical sonographer
Average hourly wage: $30.60
Sonography is mostly associated with ultrasound technology used to see how babies are developing in utero. An associate's degree in diagnostic medical sonography can teach you how to use the medical equipment that directs high-frequency sound waves to diagnose many medical conditions in addition to pregnancy. Job opportunities are expected to grow by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018.
3. Nursing
Career: Registered nurse
Average hourly wage: $31.99
Registered nurses administer medications, monitor patients, assist doctors, provide medical care, and more. To prepare yourself for a career in nursing, you can complete an associate's degree in nursing, which will qualify to take a state licensing exam--a prerequisite to becoming a registered nurse. Between 2008 and 2018, the number of jobs for registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent. Many states are offering grant- and loan-repayment programs for nursing education, and hospitals are also offering signing bonuses to new nurses.
4. Applied Science
Career: Nuclear technician
Average hourly wage: $32.07
Nuclear technicians operate nuclear testing and research equipment and help with research initiatives, and around half of them work for utility companies. An associate's degree in applied science or in nuclear-science technology should qualify you for the job, which will also likely require on-the-job training. This industry is expected to see average growth as nuclear-energy technology develops.
5. Nuclear Medicine Technology
Career: Nuclear-medicine technologist
Average hourly wage: $32.91
Nuclear-medicine technologists use radioactive drugs and special cameras that detect those drugs to diagnose diseases. An associate's degree in nuclear-medicine technology teaches you radiation safety, imaging techniques, and how to use various diagnostic computer applications. Around two-thirds of nuclear-medicine technologists work in hospitals, and the rest work in diagnostic imaging centers, laboratories, and physicians' offices.
6. Fashion Design
Career: Fashion designer
Average hourly wage: $35.78
Fashion designers are responsible for the bad, the good, and the ugly trends. The job requires planning and research skills, as well as being able to make predictions based on the fashion market. Fashion designers are also responsible for envisioning and sketching designs, selecting fabrics and colors, and managing the production of clothing, purses, shoes, sunglasses, and more. An associate's degree in fashion design, artistic talent, and a good eye can qualify you for careers in fashion design.
7. Computer Programming
Career: Computer programmer
Average hourly wage: $35.91
Though computer-programming jobs don't necessarily require formal education, they do require you to know how to create code and have an understanding of programming languages--the specific languages depend on the job. If you need a refresher course or want to learn from scratch, an associate's degree in computer programming, computer science, information systems, or math can qualify you for some computer-programming positions.
Surprised? When it comes to funding your education, it makes sense to get the most bang for your buck. In this case, the bang is your buck. You could spend at least three times as much on a master's degree to qualify for a job with an average salary that's the same as the salary of one these seven surprising careers that require only a two-year degree.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
1. Finance
Career: Loan officer
Average hourly wage: $30.39
Loan officers help people navigate the process of borrowing money for houses, cars, education, and more. Though there are no formal education requirements for loan officers, an associate's degree in finance can help qualify you for these positions, particularly if you want to become a mortgage loan officer.
2. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Career: Diagnostic medical sonographer
Average hourly wage: $30.60
Sonography is mostly associated with ultrasound technology used to see how babies are developing in utero. An associate's degree in diagnostic medical sonography can teach you how to use the medical equipment that directs high-frequency sound waves to diagnose many medical conditions in addition to pregnancy. Job opportunities are expected to grow by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018.
3. Nursing
Career: Registered nurse
Average hourly wage: $31.99
Registered nurses administer medications, monitor patients, assist doctors, provide medical care, and more. To prepare yourself for a career in nursing, you can complete an associate's degree in nursing, which will qualify to take a state licensing exam--a prerequisite to becoming a registered nurse. Between 2008 and 2018, the number of jobs for registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent. Many states are offering grant- and loan-repayment programs for nursing education, and hospitals are also offering signing bonuses to new nurses.
4. Applied Science
Career: Nuclear technician
Average hourly wage: $32.07
Nuclear technicians operate nuclear testing and research equipment and help with research initiatives, and around half of them work for utility companies. An associate's degree in applied science or in nuclear-science technology should qualify you for the job, which will also likely require on-the-job training. This industry is expected to see average growth as nuclear-energy technology develops.
5. Nuclear Medicine Technology
Career: Nuclear-medicine technologist
Average hourly wage: $32.91
Nuclear-medicine technologists use radioactive drugs and special cameras that detect those drugs to diagnose diseases. An associate's degree in nuclear-medicine technology teaches you radiation safety, imaging techniques, and how to use various diagnostic computer applications. Around two-thirds of nuclear-medicine technologists work in hospitals, and the rest work in diagnostic imaging centers, laboratories, and physicians' offices.
6. Fashion Design
Career: Fashion designer
Average hourly wage: $35.78
Fashion designers are responsible for the bad, the good, and the ugly trends. The job requires planning and research skills, as well as being able to make predictions based on the fashion market. Fashion designers are also responsible for envisioning and sketching designs, selecting fabrics and colors, and managing the production of clothing, purses, shoes, sunglasses, and more. An associate's degree in fashion design, artistic talent, and a good eye can qualify you for careers in fashion design.
7. Computer Programming
Career: Computer programmer
Average hourly wage: $35.91
Though computer-programming jobs don't necessarily require formal education, they do require you to know how to create code and have an understanding of programming languages--the specific languages depend on the job. If you need a refresher course or want to learn from scratch, an associate's degree in computer programming, computer science, information systems, or math can qualify you for some computer-programming positions.
Surprised? When it comes to funding your education, it makes sense to get the most bang for your buck. In this case, the bang is your buck. You could spend at least three times as much on a master's degree to qualify for a job with an average salary that's the same as the salary of one these seven surprising careers that require only a two-year degree.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
School building collapse kills 17 children in India
At least 17 children were killed when a school building collapsed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand following heavy monsoon rains.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The BBC understands that six children were pulled out safely, but many are still trapped under the debris.
The incident took place in the remote Sumgarh village. Rescue operations are continuing, officials said.
Heavy rains for the past week have led to a major disruption in life in the mountain areas of Uttarakhand
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The BBC understands that six children were pulled out safely, but many are still trapped under the debris.
The incident took place in the remote Sumgarh village. Rescue operations are continuing, officials said.
Heavy rains for the past week have led to a major disruption in life in the mountain areas of Uttarakhand
Cybercrimes: FG approves establishment of prosecution unit
The Federal Government on Wednesday strengthened its dragnet against cybercrimes by approving the setting up of a Computer Crime Prosecution Unit.
The CCPU would be responsible for the prosecution of people found to be involved in cybercrimes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) who gave the approval, stated that the crusade against cybercrimes would not be prosecuted without developing the necessary structure and capacity to do so.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the AGF, Mr. Ambrose Momoh quoted Adoke as explaining that that there was need for Nigeria “to have a robust cyber security and cybercrime prevention/prosecution structure to drive issues related to cybercrime.”
The CCPU will be under the supervision of the Public Prosecution Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The CCPU would be responsible for the prosecution of people found to be involved in cybercrimes.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) who gave the approval, stated that the crusade against cybercrimes would not be prosecuted without developing the necessary structure and capacity to do so.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the AGF, Mr. Ambrose Momoh quoted Adoke as explaining that that there was need for Nigeria “to have a robust cyber security and cybercrime prevention/prosecution structure to drive issues related to cybercrime.”
The CCPU will be under the supervision of the Public Prosecution Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
89% federal workers pass competency test
Eighty-nine per cent of the 2,800 civil servants from Grade Levels 14 to16, who sat for the recently concluded competency test conducted by the Federal Civil Service, were successful, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, gave the figure while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the test in Abuja on Tuesday.
The mandatory training competency test took place on August 9, 2010.
Oronsaye said, “The result of the test has clearly shown that commitment and determination towards learning and development, can be achieved.
“The result is also indicative of the new level of seriousness and commitment to this initiative; let me therefore commend civil servants for standing on the side of learning and excellence.
“It is indeed gratifying to note that civil servants are beginning to understand and appreciate the critical importance of the need to have a well developed , competent and knowledgeable civil service that is focused on effective service delivery.’’
The HOCSF said the result of the first test was poor, the re-sit was good, while “the exercise, on the whole , has shown that we can put the civil service back on track.”
According to him, this can reduce the criticism by policy makers and the public on the ineffectiveness of the service on policy implementation.
He said the specialised mandatory competency training would be residential , so as to alleviate participants’ experience and discomfort with earlier arrangements.
Oronsaye said Duty Tour Allowance would be replaced by training stipend and course material allowance; while Service-Wide Specialised Mandatory Training will be for all levels and all cadres for management and professional enrichment.
Meanwhile, Oronsaye said that the senior civil servants who boycotted test would miss the next promotion exercise.
It was gathered that more than 1000 of such officers boycotted the test as they dragged the Federal Government to court, challenging the powers of the HOS to conduct the exercise.
Our correspondent reports that Oronsaye added that those who failed the test would not be presented for promotion examinations.
He said, “I can tell you straight away, those who did not participate will not be presented to the Federal Civil Service Commission for the next promotion. Unless there are valid reasons why these people did not sit for the test, they will not be presented for the next promotion.”
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, gave the figure while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the test in Abuja on Tuesday.
The mandatory training competency test took place on August 9, 2010.
Oronsaye said, “The result of the test has clearly shown that commitment and determination towards learning and development, can be achieved.
“The result is also indicative of the new level of seriousness and commitment to this initiative; let me therefore commend civil servants for standing on the side of learning and excellence.
“It is indeed gratifying to note that civil servants are beginning to understand and appreciate the critical importance of the need to have a well developed , competent and knowledgeable civil service that is focused on effective service delivery.’’
The HOCSF said the result of the first test was poor, the re-sit was good, while “the exercise, on the whole , has shown that we can put the civil service back on track.”
According to him, this can reduce the criticism by policy makers and the public on the ineffectiveness of the service on policy implementation.
He said the specialised mandatory competency training would be residential , so as to alleviate participants’ experience and discomfort with earlier arrangements.
Oronsaye said Duty Tour Allowance would be replaced by training stipend and course material allowance; while Service-Wide Specialised Mandatory Training will be for all levels and all cadres for management and professional enrichment.
Meanwhile, Oronsaye said that the senior civil servants who boycotted test would miss the next promotion exercise.
It was gathered that more than 1000 of such officers boycotted the test as they dragged the Federal Government to court, challenging the powers of the HOS to conduct the exercise.
Our correspondent reports that Oronsaye added that those who failed the test would not be presented for promotion examinations.
He said, “I can tell you straight away, those who did not participate will not be presented to the Federal Civil Service Commission for the next promotion. Unless there are valid reasons why these people did not sit for the test, they will not be presented for the next promotion.”
JAMB gives varsities October deadline
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) warned yesterday that universities which are unable to conclude their admission procedures into first degree programmes for the 2010/2011 session by the second week of October would forfeit admission for the session.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Ojerinde lamented that only 23,000 candidates, excluding those whose admissions were concluded at a recent meeting in Ile-Ife had so far been admitted for the session in question, noting that “the chunk of the exercise has not been done because of the inability of institutions with large carrying capacities to present their recommended candidates for placement.”
Some 527,000 freshmen would be admitted for first degree programmes in the universities at the conclusion of the exercise, meaning that some 340, 000 of the 866, 000 candidates who scaled the 180 national cut-off marks would still not be admitted by the universities.
According to the Registrar, much as some of the institutions which have yet to conclude their admission formalities have notified the board, “it is still against the spirit of consensus that was reached on the timetable for the exercise.”
Warning that the second week of October deadline was sacrosanct, Ojerinde appealed to those institutions which had not made recommendations to the board on their admission to do so since JAMB was resolved to work within the time-frame that was jointly agreed by the institutions and the board. “The board will not have any genuine reason to accept submissions outside the timeline,” he said.
On the fate of the 82,000 candidates who had incomplete results in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), he said the results of the 2,400 of them who made the national cut-off mark had since been sent to the various institutions of their choices for possible admission.
“This is a departure from the previous practice where candidates with incomplete result, were not considered for admission,” Ojerinde said, adding that the hopes of such candidates lay mainly in the polytechnics and colleges of education.
So far, only 4,635 and 6,843 admissions had been made in the polytechnics and the colleges of education respectively.
N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools.
Ojerinde lamented that only 23,000 candidates, excluding those whose admissions were concluded at a recent meeting in Ile-Ife had so far been admitted for the session in question, noting that “the chunk of the exercise has not been done because of the inability of institutions with large carrying capacities to present their recommended candidates for placement.”
Some 527,000 freshmen would be admitted for first degree programmes in the universities at the conclusion of the exercise, meaning that some 340, 000 of the 866, 000 candidates who scaled the 180 national cut-off marks would still not be admitted by the universities.
According to the Registrar, much as some of the institutions which have yet to conclude their admission formalities have notified the board, “it is still against the spirit of consensus that was reached on the timetable for the exercise.”
Warning that the second week of October deadline was sacrosanct, Ojerinde appealed to those institutions which had not made recommendations to the board on their admission to do so since JAMB was resolved to work within the time-frame that was jointly agreed by the institutions and the board. “The board will not have any genuine reason to accept submissions outside the timeline,” he said.
On the fate of the 82,000 candidates who had incomplete results in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), he said the results of the 2,400 of them who made the national cut-off mark had since been sent to the various institutions of their choices for possible admission.
“This is a departure from the previous practice where candidates with incomplete result, were not considered for admission,” Ojerinde said, adding that the hopes of such candidates lay mainly in the polytechnics and colleges of education.
So far, only 4,635 and 6,843 admissions had been made in the polytechnics and the colleges of education respectively.
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