William Sisters in Nigeria....

The world-famous tennis superstars, African-Americans Venus and Serena Williams, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, South West Nigeria yesterday to commence their eagerly-awaited tour of the most populous country in Africa.
Since the sisters, 32 year-old Venus, and 31 year old Serena “broke the mould” by excelling and dominating their peers in a sport previously generally regarded as a ‘white man’s’ sport, numerous organizations, corporate bodies, ‘Members Only’ Sports Clubs, political parties, and privileged individuals had always raised the hopes of the Nigerian populace, who have always desired to welcome and identify with one of the world’s most incredible success stories, not just in sport, but life in general.
Not satisfied continuing to watch the worldwide exploits of the amazing sisters on Tv, Nigerians, who on numerous occasions had been promised an opportunity to see the celebrated sisters live, have had such hopes dashed, such that many Nigerians took the recent announcements of the historic visit of the tennis superstars, with a pinch of salt.
Politicians, either at partisan politics level, or Social Club level, have been known to include a purported arrangement towards bringing the Williams sisters to Nigeria, in their election manifestos, only to dash such hopes once they were elected into political offices. That’s just the way it is as rock & soul singers Phil Collins & David Crosby would have put it.
The other day, two weeks ago in fact, a taxi driver who I am sure must be a university graduate, judging by his fluent and impeccable use of the English language, his clarity of thought, and diction when opening up a discussion with his client. Once he recognized me, he said to me, “Good afternoon, sir. You must be Deacon Ayo Ositelu, the famous sportswriter, and huge fan of the Williams sisters… But sir, with due respect to you, why do you people always raise the hopes of Nigerians promising to bring the Williams sisters to Nigerians, when you know full well that it’s all a farce in the end?... Why do you people make promises that you know you would not keep?”
The eloquent taxi driver went on and on. One thing I gathered from his rants, however. He is not the typical Nigerian, who believes that sports begins and ends with football, even if football has become a ‘religion’ in Nigeria, and elsewhere in mankind. He proved to be a big fan of tennis as well.
Mercifully, knowing that I was in for a long ride to the airport (no thanks to the perrenial traffic jam in Lagos), he allowed me to get word in, and contribute a little to his ‘monologue.’ First, I apologized on behalf of the ‘big talkers,’ and then assured him that this one is for real.
Again, as the duo of Phil Collins and David Crosby might have added, “things will never be the same.”
I assured my new ‘friend,’ who has since then contributed his opinion on many of my tennis reports, “I really do not know those people who had helped lift their egos with the failed promises you were talking about, even though I wish to apologise for all that misinformation of the past.”
“Believe me when I say that, by the special Grace of Jehovah God, the Williams sisters will land in Nigeria precisely, on Wednesday, October 30, 2012 for a tour of Nigeria,” I assured him, adding that “the visit would be climaxed by an Exhibition Match between the visiting sisters on the Lord Rumens Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Race Course, Lagos.”
“Are you sure sir?,” the cab driver screamed in obvious delight and anticipation. He was so happy with my assurance that he refused to take the agreed fare from me, for such a long ride from Lagos Island. When I insisted on paying, he drove off almost apologetically. I am sure the tennis-loving gentleman would not be driving his cab on Friday, October 31, 2012.
The significance of the visit of the sisters could not be overemphasized, because the visit has the prospect of availing tennis faithful in Nigeria and neighbouring countries the opportunity of finally having the world’s best players ply their trade before their very eyes, at what will surely be a filled-to-capacity Lord Rumens Centre Court, the best tennis facility this side of the Equator. The last time Nigerians watched the world’s best players was in February, 1975 when the WCT brought superstars like Arthur Ashe, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith & John Newcombe.
The visit of the Williams sisters will also convince Nigeria’s sports officials and thousands of parents everywhere of the need to expose their children and wards at a very early age to tennis, in a profession in which many a player, male or female, could one day compete with the best from all parts of the world.
The example, which the massively successful careers of each of the Williams sisters has the potential of one day producing youngsters who would bring honour to their fatherland (or motherland if you will), and equally importantly to fulfil individual dreams of becoming the best they can be.
Hopefully, with the visit of the Williams sisters, who have earned more than $80 million in prize money alone (excluding tens of millions more on various product endorsements) won multiple Olympic gold medals, FED Cup titles etc in their careers, Nigerian Federal and State governments, as well as corporate bodies, sports philanthropists, parents, sports, administrators, coaches, and most importantly boys and girls who actually should have started hitting balls at the age of five or six, would be convinced that careers can be made of tennis.
The theme of the Williams sisters visit, according to the organizers is: “Breaking The Mould,” and there is no better example to demonstrate the fact that no mountain is high enough to prevent anyone from succeeding in his or her chosen discipline.
The Williamses have never hidden the fact that they, like most of the Nigerians they are visiting, also came from a humble background, in Saginaw, Los Angeles District in California. They were faced with all kinds of barriers and disadvantages, but through the dream, hard work, sacrifices and determination of their parents, Richard and Oracene, complete with their own seriousness and hard work, they have been able to reach the pinnacle of their profession, and even stay there for over a decade and a half.
From tennis facilities, or lack of them, at Public Parks in poor neighbourhoods called the projects, which were the only training infrastructures available to the poor, in contrast with their more privileged peers who attended expensive Tennis Academies in America, first Venus, the tailblazer, and her doting younger sister Serena, rose from the Public Parks to dominate the world.
When at the age of 16, Venus reached the final of the US Open, but then lost to the now legendary Steffi Graf of Germany, she became the first African-American since Althea Gibson in 1958, to reach a Grand Slam final.
Two years later at the same Grand Slam event her younger sister, Serena, at the age of 17, and seeded seventh, surprised the world, including her own self, by defeating fourth seeded Monica Seles in the quarter-final, 2nd seeded Lindsay Davenport of USA in the semi-final, and number one seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland to win her first Grand Slam Singles title. It was the first time since Althea Gibson in 1958, that an African-American female player won a Grand Slam event.

On her part, Venus won her first Grand Slam Singles title at Wimbledon in the year 2000, and repeated the feat in 2001. The year 2000 was a particularly unforgettable year for the senior Williams (Venus), as she won the US Open in the same year, and then went on to win double Olympic gold (in Singles and Doubles) at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Australia. In 2001, she successfully defended both Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Venus, was the first of the sisters to be ranked world number one, on February 25, 2002, again thus becoming the first African-American to achieve this feat since Althea Gibson 44 years before (1958). She has won 44 WTA titles, including seven Grand Slam Singles titles.
Serena, who has never made it a secret to try to achieve everything her older sister achieved, became world number one in 2002, and went on to win what she fondly called a Serena Slam, meaning a career slam of winning all four Grand Slam Singles in a row, but now in the same calendar year.
This year, at the age of 31, Serena won Wimbledon (her fifth just like Venus), US Open, London 2012 Olympics double gold (in Singles and Doubles).
The sisters will today at the Ikoyi Club 1938, conduct a Tennis Clinic to accredited tennis youngsters from across Nigeria.

Lagos to teach Chinese Language

The Lagos State House of Assembly was on Tuesday divided over the proposed introduction of Chinese language in the state’s school curriculum. It subsequently summoned the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, to appear before the House on Tuesday next week. The representative of Ajeromi-Ifelodun in the Assembly, Mr. Abdulbak Balogun, had drawn the attention of the House to a statement credited to Oladunjoye over the introduction of Chinese language to public schools. Balogun said, “Why Chinese language in our public schools? If we want our children to learn Chinese language, why not in the university where they learn linguistics?”

Another lawmaker, Mr. Rotimi Olowo, wondered the relevance of the language to the socio-economic development of the state and the country. He said, “Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages should be made compulsory instead of the Chinese language.” However, another lawmaker, Mrs. Lola Akande, said the introduction of Chinese language was not a bad idea because China is the second largest economy in the world and also regarded as super power in terms of technology advancement. She said, “The introduction of Chinese language would not disrupt the school curriculum, rather, it will strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and China.” The Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said there was the need for Nigerian students to learn as many languages as possible. He added that the introduction of the Chinese language would not have any negative impact on the students. He said, “Most of the countries I have visited, you see a child of less than 15 years speaking about three or more languages and this has not prevented them from learning their local languages as well. “The introduction of Chinese language would not affect other languages we speak.  It is good for us to learn as many languages as possible.” He directed that the commissioner should brief the assembly on the methods and preparations for the introduction of the new language in schools.

Stolen Kidneys

=> Abubakar with officals of the Bauchi State Government

Abubakar Buba is a patient of the Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, Abubakar Buba whose two kidneys were removed by fake doctors  is on dialysis machine,the survival of Abubakar is further threatened by shortage of funds and intricacies  Looking at him from a close range, Abubakar Buba, a 25 year old Fulani boy from Bununu village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State is not a happy man. He has swollen legs, face, and arms. His eyeball looks hollow in their sockets. He breathes with the speed of time. He can manage to walk, but just a few steps. For now, his life has no movement.

 Lying critically ill on his bed and sometimes stuck to his wheel chair at Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, Abubakar says, “It’s not my wish to die, but now I have no kidney”.  On August 15, 2012, Abubakar Buba complained of sudden headache to his father. Together with his father, Mallam Ahamdu Buba they inquired about the best hospital to get treatment for Abubakar.  They were directed to a private clinic, Aminchi Hospital located at the Yakubu Wanka area of the metropolis. Unknown to them, they were in a wrong hand.  At the clinic, both father and son met one Mijinyawa, who introduced himself as, “Dr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi, the Medical Director.”  The pseudo Medical Director performed a surgical operation on Abubakar in the company of another accomplice named Yusuf Mohammed Zangina. With the surgical operation, they removed Abubakah’s two kidneys and left him with nothing to live a normal life. But, investigation later showed that the duo of Mijinyawa and Yusuf are not medical doctors, but nurses.  They were later arrested by the police and have since been in detention.

 One month after the two kidneys were removed from Abubakar THISDAY visited Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi ,the hospital  where Abubakah has been bed-ridden  and the revelations are shocking. Presently, he is surviving on dialysis machine on which he has to undergo treatment for at least three times a week ,and it is very expensive for poor Abubakar whose parents are peasant farmers trying to make ends meet. But, all these while his expensive medical treatment is being shouldered by the League of Friends, a Non-Governmental Organization in the state. Now, the only hope for Abubakar to survive, according to his doctors is for him to have an immediate kidney  transplant  and this will take him to India at the  cost of about N5.1million naira. Good news for Abubakar as the Bauchi state government in August this year donated N3.5million equivalent of $22,000 US dollars for the treatment, while the remaining balance is still hanging with no clear idea where to get the balance of N1.6million

 However, three weeks after the state Government presented the money, the patient is still lying critically ill on his sick bed in Bauchi, because his family is still battling to raise the remaining balance of the total amount needed for the transplant in India. The Director of Administration for Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim in an interview said that, “we need the remaining money, and the patient now is currently facing many difficulties in terms of feeding, even the money to feed him in the hospital is becoming difficult. And the major problem is no one knows the exact date that he will be flown out to India for the transplant’’.

 According to him, “initially, the families of the two medical personnel that removed the two kidneys of Abubakar intended and offered to pay the total sum of N5. 1million required for the treatment, before the intervention of the State government.  Now the government did not pay all the amount required and we have heard nothing from the suspects, but when we investigated the reason for their silence we heard that their lawyer asked them not to pay the amount because paying the amount is an admission of guilt.”  Although the  cash donation of $22, 000 dollars equivalent to (N3.5 million) presented to his father, Mallam Buba for kidney transplant in India by the Bauchi State Government brought a ray of hope for the ailing Abubakar, the shortage of fund means Abubakar remains in the situation of life without kidney. Ibrahim stated further “We appreciate and thank the Bauchi State Government for the kind gesture. We feel it is its responsibility to take care of its own citizens.”

 Ibrahim however expressed concern that the N3.5 million released for Abubakar’s  medical trip to India would not be adequate as it would not cater for the transportation and accommodation of the patient, medical personnel, two or three kidney donors and a relative of the patient that would accompany Abubakar to India. He explained: “It appears we will still go back to the State government to request for more funds based on investigation which had been finalized. We still require about N1.6 million to cover air ticket, feeding and other logistics. The patient will be taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano for kidney compatibility test between the donors and the patient to see how compatible their kidneys would match with the patient. This requires about N216, 000 excluding logistics.  All in all we require N5.1 million.”  But in his response to the concerns of inadequate funds for Abubakar’s treatment, the State commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Mallami insisted the Government has done all it can to help the situation. “It is my prerogative as the commissioner of health to know the details of the money and how it was calculated and I know for a fact that we at the moment have a patient who had kidney transplant through the same process from Bauchi State at exactly the sum of money which we have given for Abubakar’s transplant, If somebody has a contrary opinion that is his own opinion. The money is enough to take the patient for his transplant. I am not to go into the details.

 If you wish you can travel to India on a first class air ticket and go and stay in five-star hotel, which is possible. But If I want I can travel in economic class air ticket for my health, go there and stay in a three star hotel without any problem and come back and most of us have gone to India.”  He said. The health commissioner also said that the incident was a wake-up call for State government which has the sole responsibility of regulating health practice in the state to strengthen its monitoring and supervisory mechanism, stressing that teams have been established to carry out periodic supervisions in all the three senatorial districts to report back to the ministry.  “This is not only in private clinics but government clinics to keep a record as to how the standard of medical practice is being run and maintained. We are now restructuring the whole process because it means there are areas that there are gaps where we need to address so that there will be no re-occurrence and threat to public safety in the future”  On efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of the evil act were brought to book, Dr Mallami, assured: “I am told that three suspects were arrested and questioned by the police and are now in court.  You must understand that there is a criminal investigation and then there is a professional misconduct investigation going on side by side in this case. Criminal investigation has almost been concluded and the suspects have been taken to a magistrate court in Bauchi and have been lammed with charges on attempted homicide. What I can comment on is the professional misconduct which is our responsibility.

 Our committee requested for one more week because of the delicate nature of the case to complete the assignment. They have not finished their assignment. They have access to the suspects in their detention cells and other stakeholders and I can tell you that justice will be done in Abubakar Buba’s case.” As part of the impasse in Abubakar’s treatment, Ibrahim further disclosed that the patient was taken to Kano as a part of the process for kidney transplant to test the kidney of donors to know which one that will match his, but the test was not carried out as expected because the officer that will take the sample was in London, “so now we will take him to Ile Ife for the test even after the test we don’t have the remaining money to take him to India”, he says.

 InvestigationS shows that the stalemate being experienced in helping Abubakar to live a normal live is that everyone is trying to exonerate himself from the blame , the state government pay the medication and accommodation without transport, Nigerian Medical Associations exonerated self saying the persons that removed the kidneys were not Doctors but theater nurse,  while a friend to the persons who removed the kidneys argued that Abubakar has kidney problem when he was born 25 years ago and the medical personnel that did the operation removed the two kidneys in error. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bauchi State Chapter investigative Panel has disclosed that the person who allegedly removed the two kidneys of the 25 year old Abubakar is not a medical doctor.  Chairman of the Panel, Dr Magaji Dachi who disclosed this when he submitted a report to the State Chairman of NMA over the removal of the two kidneys of the patient in Bauchi said “the removal of the two kidneys of the patient at an operation in a private clinic was performed not by a doctor, not under the supervision of a doctor, not under the authority of any doctor and not with the knowledge of the Medical Director of the clinic , the operation was carried out by two theatre nurses working in the clinic”

 Dr Dachi said their committee has condemned the act hoping that judicial action would bring an end to unnecessary misadventures on human lives in the state, adding that the NMA as the professional body of all doctors cannot afford to watch and keep silent on this.  Receiving the report,  the Chairman  of the State’s NMA, Dr Yusuf Abdu Misau advised the people to know the type of doctors they will patronise since there are about 400 qualified doctors serving in government and private health institutions in the state and over 35,000 NMA members across the country.  Yusuf said the union would implement all the committee’s recommendations in earnest and pledged to deal with any member of the union found wanting.  He commended the State Government and the Police for their intervention into the case and urged them to maintain the tempo.    The life of Abubakar, the only son of his father remains in a hanging balance between death and life, except a quick action is taking to remedy the situation.

...culled from Life and Style 

ENUGU STATE’S MONUMENT TO PROFLIGACY

ENUGU STATE’S MONUMENT TO PROFLIGACY

 Sullivan Chime of Enugu State recently announced that his government intends to build a “new and befitting” state secretariat at a cost of N13.6 billion. As a proof of his seriousness with the proposal, the governor has already authorised the demolition of the existing secretariat complex in the state capital.

 While nobody begrudges the governor the right to construct a new administrative edifice for his state, what we do not understand is the compelling need to commit huge resources to such a project, especially at this time. For a state that is presently mired in deep financial hardship, it is difficult to believe that constructing a new secretariat should be on its priority list. Even then, to spend a whopping sum of N14 billion on a project that is not income generating when there are more issues demanding attention, does not appear to us as a wise decision.

 We are not in any way setting priorities for the governor. However, it is a well-known fact that Chime, who was a senior member of the previous Governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration in Enugu, had earlier cancelled the construction of an international conference centre being built by his predecessor on grounds that he could not find money for the project which was already at 60 percent completion stage. Questions will now be asked as to what informs his own white elephant project after five years in office and where he will find the money for it.

 Critics of the proposed new secretariat, especially the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Enugu as well as some civil society organizations do not believe that there is anything wrong with the existing secretariat. They argue that the present structure built in accordance with international best building standards is still very much solid. They therefore find it difficult to understand the justification for this idea. According to the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), a new secretariat complex is not a priority programme for the government or the people of Enugu state, but rather an attempt at “pouring salt into a soak-away pit.” The pertinent question most rational people ask is: In a state where retired teachers are owed up to 27 months of their pension areas, what is so urgent about a secretariat that would gulp N14 billion?

 We do not think it makes any economic sense that a government which could not continue work on completion of a far less expensive project for alleged lack of funds should turn around to borrow such huge amount from banks at prime rate for a prestige project whose only purpose is to serve as a legacy edifice, something for which to remember Governor Chime’s era. It is our considered opinion that the amount to be spent on the proposed new secretariat, if properly deployed elsewhere, could go a long way in making a difference to the people of Enugu State. Even more curious is the haste with which the governor and the House of Assembly are pursuing a project which was not originally provided for in the state’s budget for 2012. This undue haste has led to the accusation that the new secretariat complex is designed to achieve other unstated purposes. Yet there is no guarantee that the project might not even, at some point, be abandoned.

 With critical areas of social needs like education, creation of jobs and development of infrastructure begging for attention, we do not see the need for the construction of a new secretariat. We therefore lend our voice to those who argue that this is a monument to waste and that the idea be shelved in the overall interest of the people of Enugu state.

Culled ....Thisday Newspaper