Why I want to be president of Spain --Helen Mukoro

Nigerian-born Spanish female politician, Helen Mukoro Idisi, made history as the first woman and an immigrant to be contesting for the presidency of Spain. The writer, legal consultant and forensic expert shares, in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, her passion, issues with the Igbo in Spain, how more women can be involved in politics, among other issues.

Why exactly do you want to be the president of Spain?
I am a good starting point to build a community based on the principles of respect and solidarity. Broadly speaking, there are a number of key points that make me a model candidate and a healthy unit that works for progress for all. And these points can serve as a self-assessment to ensure in every way that we would promote care of the environment; not act outside the limits of the law; propose many changes as we deem necessary to improve the quality of life in the country with a constructive attitude; avoid violence whenever possible, putting the dialogue as a means of conflict resolution; respect the rights of other living beings; be part of life in the country, its history and its decisions, enjoying their good times and helping to rebuild during its toughest crisis; assess other citizens, respect the role they play and their opinions.

You contested for the Mayor of Denia earlier this year and lost, what went wrong, and how did you bounce back from the defeat?
We lost, but it was expected. We came to understand that our party was only three months old when we contested, and we carefully examined our actions and criticised where we failed. But there will always be politics, and we are aware that our existence in the social organisation and ethical standards is an indisputable fact.

‘Nigeria, a country where a man can turn N500,000 into $20bn’

Sijibomi Ogundele is the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction Limited. At 34, he is a billionaire with various investments, and entrepreneur with a difference. He speaks in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE about his business and style. Excerpts:

You recently delivered luxury estate, Medici Terraces, in Ikoyi, just within few months of your operations in Lagos. What did it take to put it all together, judging from the fact that it was sold out in record time?
The Medici Terraces was a successful project because we were true to our words of setting high standards, paying attention to details and not compromising on quality. We used the best raw materials, the best team and inputted outstanding features in the property. The facility management and concierge service, which is a subsidiary of Sujimoto Group, handles the day to day running of the property, giving residents the ultimate experience that cannot be derived anywhere else.
Our business mantra is “Build It, Sell It, Manage It.” So we always aim to exceed expectations in all three aspects. My main focus was to create the most beautiful town-house property in a choice area on the island in Lagos, and I dedicated all my effort into generating quality and value; ignoring immediate gratification.

What exactly would you say are the setbacks to the development of the real estate industry in Nigeria?
A few things come to mind as the setbacks to real estate development. The craftsmanship, lack of technical know-how, the significance of expertise and proper training are undervalued in Nigeria. As a result, finishing, quality and attention to detail are compromised.

If we want to compete with foreign developers such as the Germans, Lebanese and Italians that have spent decades mastering their craft, we will need to raise our standards in the Nigerian construction market. When people refer to quality as being expensive, I always correct them saying it’s not; what is expensive is our intention to deliver quality.

National policy on education should be reviewed -- Professor Adedoja

A seasoned educationist and former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University, Dutse (FUD),  Jigawa State. In this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, he shares the achievements of the institution, its prospect, and the challenges facing the education sector in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:
How has it been since your appointment at the Federal University, Dutse?
I consider it a major responsibility to be one of those who would champion the cause of educational development in Nigeria, particularly in university education. I also consider myself to play a key role because of my background and experience, and also because I always find myself highly challenged if given any public responsibility. I have never failed in the past and with this assignment, I want to be seen as one who would champion the cause of good governance in higher education.
For me to be at FUD, I see it as a familiar terrain because it is quite easy for me to relate with the environment in which the university is situated. It has also been worthwhile because I met on ground a very visionary Vice Chancellor, Professor Jibril Dahiru Aminu, who was the VC at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), where I started as a lecturer. I also met a very committed Registrar of the university with whom we worked together at the Bayero University, Kano. Also, the Emir of Dutse, Dr Muhammed Sanusi, happens to be a friend and my senior while at Kano’s Teachers College. The environment is really conducive for me and more so, Jigawa is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

I have fun when I talk to presidents —Zuriel Oduwole

Zuriel Oduwole is an achiever compared to many children her age. At 12, she has interviewed 15 heads of state and she has four films to her credit. The Global Ambassador for the Ethiopian Airlines shares, in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, her passion, inspirations, projects, among other things. Excerpts:
 What exactly drives you?

I really don’t know, but I know that I have the opportunity to do something and I am doing it. I see young children, especially girls, on the news, or whenever I travel across Africa, to countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt, on streets hawking and I think that they should be in school just like me. So, I’m doing what I can to tell older people to do something about this, because I can’t do it all by myself. I’m only 12.
What did you have in mind when you started your advocacy?
I was nine years old and even though we were born in Los Angeles, my parents who are from Nigeria and Mauritius, always tell us about our African heritage and who we are; the kind of history our continent has.
So, I knew that I had to tell my friends and other people at every opportunity, about the African continent, especially the positive things there, because usually on the foreign news, they show only the negative things in Africa, like wars, corruption, famine and disease, but Africa is much more than that.

2014 NUGA Games: ‘I run against time, not against opponents’

DOYIN ADEOYE captures, scenes from the 24th edition of the Nigeria University Games, holding at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
No doubt, Team University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) is a major team contending for the top spot of the medals table at the ongoing Nigeria University Games (NUGA) at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. And dearest of their athletes is Peace Uko, whose mind-blowing style of running is nothing but a command to the tracks.

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Speaking to newsmen after winning the 100m female event final with a time of 11.65secs, Peace, says she loves what she does. “I am not tired. I have trained for four months and I run against time, not against anyone,” she said.
Besides Peace, many other athletes have proven at the games that indeed, Nigerian youths are skilled, talented and vibrant, setting standards close enough to beat records.
Sitting conveniently on top of the medals table, UNIPORT dominates in almost every game and although medals have not been officially awarded, they can account for over half of the medals already won.

OOU students’ death, a loss to all Nigerian students—NANS •Losing our colleagues is disheartening—OOU SU President

From left, Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga and Akinbo Ibukun, the only survivor of the accident, during their visit to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan, Ogun State on Sunday, to visit her.

Written by: Doyin Adeoye

The executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have commiserated with the friends and families of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, who died in a ghastly road accident on Friday, June 26.
Speaking with Campusbeats, the president of the association, Tijani Usman, said that the incident was not just a loss to the OOU community, but to all Nigerian students.
Tijani, while sympathising with the management, staff and students of OOU, described the incident as tragic and devastating.
“It is really sad to hear that lives of young future leaders were cut short in their prime. Seeing young, energetic and promising students die in such a manner is not something that sits well with us.
“On behalf of all Nigerian students, I pray God will grant the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.
The accident was said to have occurred at Ilishan Junction, along Sagamu/Benin Expressway, where a container-laden truck with number plate BDG 779 XE, had a head-on collision with a Mazda commercial bus with number plate XV 311 MUS, killing all occupants, except one, in the bus instantly.

CEO, Kreatif Ink Media celebrates birthday with orphanage •Donates books to schools

It was a fun filled day for children at the Total Parental Guardian Home, Mobil, Ibadan, when entertainment journalist, Doyin Adeoye celebrateesire to give the children a sense of belonging and excitement.

“Today is not about celebrating myself, but these children. I have been here a couple of times and I just felt the need to celebrate the day with them. They are beautiful and they deserve all the fun they had and even more,” she said.

While receiving the celebrants and her friends, d her birthday with friends and well-wishers at the home. Speaking on what influenced the gesture, Doyin said the celebration was born of the dthe matron of the home, Evangelist Grace Akpan, appreciated the gesture, while also praying that God will continue to be a source of strength to her.

“Celebrating the children definitely means a lot to them. And we pray that God will reward you for this. I must confess that it is not easy running an orphanage, but with well-meaning individuals like her, it is helpful. And we really appreciate this,” Akpan said.