A LARGE TURN OUT AT HIGHLANDIA FESTIVAL

The fifth edition of the highlandia festival which was held on saturday, 5th of june 2019 at the Henry Martell park,Edmonton as come and gone,but it’s memory continue to linger.

The event which was well attended by the residents of the community and well wishers was described by the organizer as the beautiful gathering of likes minds to celebrate oneness and togetherness, the idea which as being keeping the community moving.

It was full of fun,as the bright sunny atmospheric condition also added to the glamour of the event.Parents,children and others were seen dancing to the rhythm and sound of great number of artiste like foxes,vendango and other that make up the performing artiste list.

The festival which was also considered as successful, was graced by personalty like Honorable Janis Irwin of the New Democratic Party, while corporate organizations includes ,power and water supply giant,EPCOR, CJSR FM 88,NDP, Norwood dental services, to mention but few of them where at the colourful event.

To this,there was plenty to eat and drink at the event which lasted for hours,the next edition comes up next year and promise to be bigger and better.

PRESS RELEASE- 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: ATLANTIC HALL GRADUATES 27TH SET OF STUDENTS

As part of activities to mark its 30th anniversary, Atlantic Hall School, Lagos recently graduated 96 students at its 27th graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony brought together people from diverse walks to witness the passing out of a fresh crop of top talents. The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, was one in a long line of attending dignitaries.

In her opening remark, the Chairman, Atlantic Hall Education Trust Council, Chief (Mrs.) T. I. Taiwo, thanked parents for believing in the vision of the founders of Atlantic Hall and entrusting their children to the school for six years. She expressed confidence in the graduating students, urging them to uphold the excellent track record of alumni of the school in academia and in the work life.

Governor Emmanuel Udom

Chief Taiwo called on guests to contribute to the ambitious growth plans of the 30-year-old school, “to help equip this great learning environment for the 21st century and beyond”.

Addressing the graduates, Andrew Jedras, principal, commended them for ‘diligently upholding the culture of excellence for which the school is renown’ and urged them to proceed as worthy ambassadors of the school.

In his response, the graduating Head Boy, Anosike William Ekenedilichukwu, who had enjoyed a six-year scholarship as a student of Atlantic Hall, appreciated management and staff of the school for ‘equipping the students to play worthy roles in meeting the real challenges in the wider world’. Anosike was later awarded a scholarship to the Garden City University, Ghana.

Chairman, Atlantic Hall with The Valedictorian of the 2018/2019 Graduating set
The Head Girl, Oyekan Raheemah Oluwaremilekun, described the school’s investment in sports as the bedrock of her success. She thanked the school for ‘teasing out her sporting talents and using sports to develop character and fitness, and for nurturing a drive to excellence.’

The highlight of the event was the recognition of the valedictorian of the 2018/2019 graduating set, Adeyemi Oluwatomisin Toluwani, who was showered with accolades for her outstanding performance in the IGCSE where she bagged 9A*. A tearful Adeyemi thanked the teachers for their dedication to service, and the school for its commitment to the one-on-one support that allows youngsters like her to excel.

Governor Emmanuel Udom, whose son was one of the graduating students, charged the students to continue as shining beacons of excellence outside the walls of Atlantic Hall. He encouraged them to be wary of the company they keep as they move to the next phase of their lives.

Atlantic Hall School was founded in 1989 with a mission to provide first class world class academics here in Nigeria. The school is as committed to this as ever.

Principal Atlantic Hall, Mr Andrew Jedras With the Graduating Head Girl, Oluwaranmilekun

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…thickpeople celebrating with..

Why Nigeria’s Economy Can’t Grow – Dangote Ju

The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, says the availability of consumer credit facility is an important option in fighting corruption in the country.Mr Dangote said this on Saturday in Lagos at a consultative roundtable titled, “Going for Growth” with some economic stakeholders.He said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks should develop consumer credit products to encourage low-income earners to engage in loan taking.He also identified a lack of policy implementation as the biggest challenge in the country.“How do you have economic growth without power? So, no power, no growth because without power there can’t be growth.“Egypt increased its electricity by 10 gigawatts, which is equivalent to 10,000 megawatts in 18 months.“In Nigeria, we have been struggling for 18 years without adding 1,000 megawatts and we have spent about three times above Egypt, why?“So, I think we all need to be concerned about that.”Mr Dangote advised that the country needed to promote import substitution for foreign exchange accumulation through proceeds from exports.He called for a public-private partnership to boost the non-oil sector of the economy and added that Nigerians should invest in the development of the non-oil sector which had been left in the hands of foreigners.“Government need to encourage non-oil sector growth rather than depending on proceeds from crude oil to pay salaries.“Proceeds from crude oil sale should be for major investment in the country,” he added.He urged the federal government to improve more on the power sector, saying “no business will thrive with business owners generating powers themselves.”Mr Dangote said that all stakeholders must come together and support the government in finding a solution to power challenges in the country.Apart from power, Mr Dangote suggested that government focuses more on three areas which include finance, manufacturing and agriculture.According to him, Asian Tigers concentrated on these three sectors for them to be where they are.He further urged the government to focus more on the fiscal policies for the country to move to the next level.The business mogul said by next year, the country would have exported eight million tonnes of cement to African countries from the present six million tonnes.Mr Dangote added that Nigeria would also be the biggest exporter of fertilizers in Sub-Sahara Africa.Also speaking, the Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, noted that government policies had supported the production of petroleum, cement and fertilizers.Mr Ovia commended the government on broadband penetration in the country, saying it had boosted banking activities.He supported Dangote on the need for consumer credit and said banks were doing their best on it.Mr Ovia, however. noted that the process had been slow because of the challenges associated with people given accurate data for Know-Your Customers (KYC) process.Also, the former Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC, Peterside Atedo, urged the CBN to continue with the effort taken in reducing inflation rate from 18 per cent to as low as 11.37 per cent as at April 2019.Mr Peterside said the CBN should use the same pace to bring the country’s inflation rate to a single digit.(NAN)

Lagos state

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Representative of Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (right), presents a proclamation to the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni during the inauguration of the 9th Lagos State House of Assembly at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Our correspondent celebrates with the muslims in Callingwood

Thousands of muslims around the world today celebrates the end of the fasting period which begin sometime in April.

The day which is known as Eid el Fitr was celebrated among the Muslim residents in Edmonton, Alberta,Canada.

There was plenty to eat and drink, as everybody were in the atmosphere of joy and fun.

We in thickpeople facilitates with our Muslim brothers all over the world.

PRESS STATEMENT Sudan crackdown on protesters

The latest from Sudan as protesters seek civilian rule even as military council retains power since al-Bashir’s removal.

Protesters said security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse them [Ashraf Shazly/AFP]
Sudanese security forces are moving against a protest sit-in camp in the capital, besieging the site, witnesses and protest leaders said.

Machine-gun fire and explosions were heard and smoke rose from the area.

The military’s ongoing move came after a weeks-long standoff with protesters seeking a speedy transition to civilian rule following the overthrow of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in April.

FEATURE

In Lagos, finding a home to rent is an impossible mission
Housing shortages, a lack of regulation and gender discrimination are at play, so what’s the solution?

by Aanu Adeoye

Lagos, Nigeria – Stephanie Odili knew that finding an apartment to rent in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre would be difficult, but she was still unprepared for what came next.

The 22-year-old was met with obstacles at each step – from a real estate agent demanding cash for every viewing, despite it being illegal, to a landlord who asked for 18 months’ rent in advance, instead of the standard 12.

“I found a two-bedroom [apartment] for 950,400 naira ($2,640) per annum. The rooms were so tiny they could barely fit three people at once,” Odili told Al Jazeera.

Lagos is home to 22 million people and counting, more than double New York and London’s tally.

The city’s population grows by 77 people every hour as Nigerians from less industrialised regions seek jobs. And as the city grows, so too does demand for housing.

In a country where the minimum wage is about $80 a month and where graduates earn an average of 80,000 naira ($222) a month, renting in Lagos is an expensive exercise.

Odili got lucky. Her employer offered her a housing loan and she was ready to move in with a friend.

But just as she secured a place, she received a call from the agent saying the property had been rented out to someone else.

“After that call, I made up my mind to stop looking.”

The Eko Atlantic project is being built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean and is protected from rising tides by ‘The Great Wall of Lagos’, an 8.5km long wall [Courtesy of Eko Atlantic]
Gender discrimination is also at play in the search for a home. The odds are stacked against the young, unmarried woman like Odili.

Women living outside their fathers’ or husbands’ houses is considered inappropriate in some sections of Nigerian society, so single women looking to rent a property are often rejected or subjected to more rigorous screenings.

The housing shortage is also exacerbated by unoccupied luxury apartments in wealthy Lagos suburbs, including Ikoyi and Victoria Island where rent typically begins from $20,000 a year, in a country where almost half of its citizens live on less than $2 daily – a problem which has been acknowledged by Nigeria’s Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, a former Lagos state governor.

With little government housing, the onus falls on the private sector.

An estimated two-thirds of people in the Lagos metropolis live in informal accommodation or slums. Some jostle for space in crowded shanties, often built on stilts in water communities where residents live under the threat of eviction or in dilapidated buildings prone to collapse.

Proposed solutions from mega-projects to start-ups
The Eko Atlantic project, which began in 2009, aims to solve the dual problem of job and housing shortages in Lagos.

It is currently being built on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean and protected from rising sea tides by an 8.5km wall dubbed the Great Wall of Lagos.

Once complete, it will comprise housing blocks for 250,000 people, a financial district, and private water and power.

The project envisions itself to be the size of Manhattan’s skyscraper district and there have been suggestions it will only cater to Lagos’s ultrarich, a tag developers are trying to shake.

Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist and activist, describes the project as “climate change apartheid”, telling Al Jazeera it further deepens the economic divide “between the filthy rich and the rest of the people struggling for survival”.

There are concerns over the project’s potential effect on surrounding communities, particularly how the low-lying areas will cope in the event of a storm surge.

Bassey believes claiming marine land has destroyed ecosystems and could lead to the extinction of some species.

“It swallowed up public beaches and deflected coastal erosion to other communities. Some communities are getting hit by coastal erosion pushed their way by this project and they require heightened levels of investment to secure them.”

Ugochi Oluigbo, an environmental journalist, says Eko Atlantic has not been well received in neighbouring areas.

“I have been to some communities along the Atlantic in Lagos to cover incidents of flooding and usually, they point to the big project far away, and blame it for their woes,” Oluigbo told Al Jazeera.

We had to solve the affordability problem because, in Nigeria and most parts of Africa, there is a rental price and income mismatch.
IBRAHEEM BABALOLA, MUSTER CEO

Lagos-based start-up Muster, meanwhile, is attempting to improve on renting conditions based on “affordability, availability, convenience and flexibility”, says Ibraheem Babalola, who runs the company.Muster allows would-be renters to connect with homeowners and property managers.

They can rent for a minimum of three months, pay monthly, quarterly or annually depending on their preferences, and find people of their choosing to share apartments with.

Those with spare rooms to let can also list on Muster, which allows both parties – renters and owners – to skip legal and agent fees.

“We had to solve the affordability problem because, in Nigeria and most parts of Africa, there is a rental price and income mismatch. On average, people aged between 20 and 34 years old earn around $230 monthly, which is lower than the average price of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the major cities in Nigeria,” Babalola said.

“For a long time, property developers were building with family units in mind with three-five beds built. Young people who only needed smaller spaces couldn’t find fit-for-purpose apartments,” he said.

Beyond providing affordable and flexible housing alternatives, Muster attempts to tackle gender discrimination.

“A lot of traditional landlords ask to see women’s marriage certificate or husband before renting [out] to them but nobody will ever ask that question on Muster. It will never become a requirement,” said Babalola.

…It converts cargo containers into spaces fit for living and aims to “challenge the stigma attached with alternative construction,” said Dele Ijaiya-Oladipo, a managing partner at the company.

Ijaiya-Oladipo says container homes are 30 percent cheaper than traditional homes and can be easily transported. Construction can take as less as 10 days.

But despite what seems like obvious advantages, there’s some scepticism among Nigerians about container homes due to its novelty and the social status associated with living in traditional houses.

“There was a lot of initial scepticism towards the product due to a precedent not being set. However, over the years, we have actively tried to change this by showcasing as much as possible,” he said.

As for Odili, whose search came to an abrupt end in Lagos, she has found a trusted and traditional solution.

“I am going to stay with my parents for as long as possible. The experience stressed me out,” she said.

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye Emerges VP World Editors Forum …Fernandez is President

Warren Fernandez and Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye flanked by some officials at the World Editors Forum eventOlayinka Ilori/Nigerian journalist and Africa’s most decorated Editor, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, has emerged Vice President of the World Editors Forum (WEF) along with the Editor-in-Chief of The Strait Times, Warren Fernandez, who is now President.Ogunseye, who is the Head, West Africa, at BBC World Service announced her emergence in a post on Facebook.The post says: “Today, the World Editors Forum voted the Editor-in-Chief of The Strait Times, Warren Fernandez as President and me as Vice President. Warren and I are pleased to serve and humbled to lead the World Editors Forum. After sitting on the board for over three years, I’m most grateful for the confidence my colleagues reposed in me. Warren and I have promised to give WEF our best. The icing on the cake was reconnecting with my Punch family!”WEF is the leading network for print and digital editors of newspapers and news organisations around the world.Ogunseye and Fernandez, who is also the editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings’ English, Malay and Tamil Media Group, were elected at the annual meeting of WEF in Scotland on Saturday, June 1.Ogunseye, a former Sunday Editor of The Punch Newspaper and a Mandela Washington Fellow, has won over 30 media awards including CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards (2011 and 2013), Knight International Journalism Award; Nigerian Academy of Science Journalist of the Year 2013, The Future Awards Africa 2013, Child-Friendly Reporter of the Year by the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in her career spanning 16 years.A graduate of University of Lagos where she received a BSc in Biochemistry, Ogunseye also got a post-graduate diploma in print journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) and MSc in Media and Communications from Pan-Atlantic University. She’s presently studying for her PhD in Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.Ogunseye ventured into journalism as a second-year student of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lagos when she started reporting news happening on campus in The Sun Newspaper at the time when Mr Femi Adesina was the Editor in 2003.The News Editor at The Sun Newspaper, then, Mr Musa Ebomhiana, placed her on the Crime Desk under a multiple-award-winning journalist, Dipo Kehinde.She later moved to News Star Newspaper as a Senior Correspondent in 2007.In 2009, she joined The Punch Newspaper as the Sub-Assistant Editor for news and politics till 2012. She had been an investigative journalist since 2006, before she became the Editor of Sunday Punch after serving as News Editor and Senior Correspondent, specializing in crime on both local and international levels.Ogunseye had also set a record as the first and youngest female editor at The Punch Newspaper, where the Director of Operations then, Mr Azu Ishiekwene had announced in his column that the world should watch out for her.NewsmakersNG learnt that since around two decades ago when WEF was established, this is the first time that its leadership would be from Asia and Africa.Speaking shortly after their emergence, Dave Callaway, outgoing WEF president, said: “Warren and Toyosi’s elections ensure WEF is in good hands as we encounter the challenges of the next two years. With media freedom under attack from all sides, a diverse, experienced leadership is what we need to help bring our industry together and take it forward.”