Inspite of almost sounding a cliché, violence against women -VAW-has unabatedly gained prominence with an estimated one in five women round the world suffering from one form of abuse or the other.

As I write this, Hurricane Arthur lashes against the Cape Hateras, in the Outerbanks of North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast, where I’ve been vacationing with my family in the summer cottage of our friends, the Kladakis.
We are in the true eye of the hurricane. It is 2 am; the wind has gained strength, all is dark and silent; calm even; but for the eerie roar of the sea outside.

LEADERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State have urged the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, not to allow what they described as the “desperate political interests of retired politicians” ruin his career following the invasion of the state House of Assembly, on Friday, by over 100 policemen from Abuja.

PARTICIPANTS who had placed their hands on their heads in readiness for the benediction were shell shocked to see a scrappy elderly woman racing towards the altar with a 7-year old girl struggling to hold on to her. Sixtyish Madam Matilda London was hysterical because her grand daughter, Miss Marvel Patrick, who was born on December 6, 2006, prior to Thursday, June 26, 2014 had never walked nor spoken a word.
But when the General Overseer of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor asked particants at the just concluded Men Alive international convention, to stand for the benediction, little Marvel also responded by standing up and running down the isle. The initial reaction of the grand mother was that bewilderment not knowing what to do before it dawned on her that she proceed immediately to proclaim the miracle.
She then began running towards the altar almost injuring the little girl who clung to her wrapper even as ushers made frantic efforts to stop her, not until another woman who witnessed the scene explained what happened. Rejoicing with the family, the matriarch of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor (Mrs) Helen Oritsejafor immediately offered Marvel, who had never attended school because of the medical condition, scholarship to university level.
Excited Frank Edwards who ministered on the day also pledged to donate N100,000 every month just as Pastor Segun Olorinsiwa to give N20,000 every month for two years. The grand mother who travelled from Orogun in Ughelli North local government, literarily went crazy with joy.
The 5-day event with the theme; ‘Repositioned to recover all’ featured several business talks aimed at equipping participants to be self reliant with the CEO of Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo Stan Eke and Rev. Albert Aina giving quality tips on how people can grow their own business in times of recession. Topics discussed at the syndicated sessions included: Job and wealth creation, Recycling waste for wealth, Real estate as a tool for investment, decoration, A-Z of cat fish farming in both health and concrete ponds and Import & Export business opportunities from Nigeria.
Renowned preacher, Bishop Wayne Malcolm from the UK stressed the need for attitudinal change to succeed in business, repositioning for global expansion and business development strategies in a poor economy. He urged Nigerian Christians to come out of the corner “because your nation needs you not just in the corner but in the centre where you are required to operate in the fourfold ministry.”
According to him, the devil desires to restrict the Church to a religious corner, but “I prophecy to you that in the next decade you will see the Church in every corner,” noting that the Church does not wrestle with flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of the world and spiritual wickedness in high places, where each of these represent the four pillars of the earth.
Bishop Malcolm further urged Nigerian Christians to stop seeing politics as a dirty game, adding that God is raising a generation of people who have the passion to take thongs out of the religious corner and take it to the centre stage. “I am concerned for the upliftment of Nigeria but you know that my concern for the nation’s welfare alone cannot transform the nation. God needs a new generation of people that will use their prayers, vision, businesses, money and everything at their disposal to transform the nation,” he stated.
High point of the celebration was the Couples’ night with Papa & Mama Ayo Oritsejafor which focused attention on the need to strengthen marriages through the renewal of marriage vows. Music was supplied by BeBe Winans while rib cracking comedy was provided by Warri-born Akpororo.
Couples were also given an opportunity to ask intimate and knotty questions and the chief hosts, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs) Ayo Oritsejafor provided answers to the relief of the couples present. It was a serious business and quote naturally children had to leave the hall.
On the question that a man gets less love from his wife as the marriages progresses, Papa averred that it’s not love that keeps marriages, it God that keeps marriages, he said. “As a man or a woman going into holy matrimony, you must make sure that the strength of your marriage is anchored of God because love can be affected by certain circumstances, but of you remember that you made vows in he presence of God, you can always ignite the love you have for one another,” he stressed, adding “it is not love that ignites God, rather its God that ignites love.”
Continuing, Oritsejafor said most African men are not romantic, while every woman needs a reassurance of the man’s love, adding “some men don’t take care of their wives as they should and you expect the wife to fall down like that everyday. Take care of your wife. Men are often excited by their children but they are not as excited by their wives.”
On the attitude of wives before their mothers-in-law whenever they visit, Mrs. Oritsejafor said its a big challenge but advised the wives to play according to their conscience because there really can be some terrible mothers-in-law just as there could be terrible wives. According to her, there is virtually nothing sh had not done for her mother-in-laws because that is what is expected of the wife, noting “if you expect anybody to say thank to you, you must be out of this planet, because Africans don’t.”
On his part, Pastor Oritsejafor counseled that every good housewife must not insult her mother-in-law and turning to the men, he said: “You must not allow your family members to maltreat your wife for whatever reason. There are things your wife cannot to your family members. But you must protect your wife to build her confidence,” he stated, adding that most of the times the woman wrestles with principalities.
Some fella asked if it was proper for the wife to know about the husband’s financial status and Mrs. Oritsejafor argued that it is an abomination and aberration for a man to hide his financial status from his wife. “Husbands, let your wife know how you bring home. My husband and I maintain a joint account,” she pointed out.
The husband corroborated that claim, saying that it is always better have a joint account with your spouse but if you have some misgivings, there safeguards by maintaining just signatures. But you must let your wife know what you earn.
Delay in child birth: The twosome agreed that God is the ultimate judge, stressing that everyone has his/her time and there is always a cross that everyone must carry. “Anything God cannot give me, I am not interested,” they stated, urging couples in similar situation not consider the herbalist option because “if the devil gives you one gift, be sure he will demand hundred from you.”
Mrs. Oritsejafor encouraged whoever in similar situation to be more prayerful, noting that she equally waited for about nine years to get one but God surprised me with triplets. “What I noticed in Africa is that people will always taunt you with what you don’t have. I don’t think of what you have because it is possible that you don’t have what I have,” she said, adding however, that science has improved a great deal that childlessness may soon be a thing of th past.

Wife battering
To Pastor & Mrs. Oritsejafor, on no account should a man lay his hands on his wife because the Bible says two shall become one and therefore if a man beats his wife, he actually beating himself. “It can be difficult but there is something that brought the two of you together and you just don’t have right to beat your wife,” they stated.
Pastor Oritsejafor said he is interested in the Church taking its proper place in the market place, pointing out that “there is so much light in the Church while there is so much darkness in the market place. Nobody serving God should be a failure. One of the key problem is that we lack understanding. It is an error!”
Ten members including Messrs Patrick Alubo, Johnson Takaye, Ogochukwu Favour, Ojatabache Richard, Omonttese Goddeay, Steve Ukpong, Francis Badare, Peter Ojagberere, Akperi Japhet and Emmanuel Obarikpo became the first ever beneficiaries of N10,000 each revolving loan to enable them set some small scale business.

I pray that we all take time to be the best that we can be, be tolerant and extend peace and love to everyone we meet, that through these good deeds we indeed, show the true meaning of being a good Muslim.

In the UK, during the summer months fasting is a long affair that lasts up to 18 hours. We wake up very early and break our fast after nine in the evening.

Spontaneous reactions are occurrences most of us describe as unexpected and unplanned. Things we do without deliberate intent or forethought; explosions of sorts triggered by emotions on rampage. The beauty of hindsight is that we actually give ourselves enough time to think about how we should have reacted and then see a different turn of events to those we most likely come to sorely regret. One of the most notable features of older people is their unhurried gait and pace. They seem to have got the memo from heaven that everything and everyone can wait. Spontaneity and rash impulses get hammered out with time and at a particular age the wisdom of the elders is more a direct dividend of patience and energy deficiency. A truly mature and wise individual knows the value of an extended pause; they know just how important it is to buy some time before giving in to emotions; anger is a tonic only for the mad!!

Daily, if not every minute, people all over Nigeria are passing remarks reflecting their assessment of the performance of their elected officials. President Jonathan, who, unfortunately, is the first President to rule during the Age of Facebook and Twitter, had been known to lament that he is the most insulted President in the world today. He has my sympathies. But, I can assure GEJ that the lashes he is now receiving will be love pats compared to what his successors will experience in the future – if that is any consolation.

Bukola Bello-Jaiyesimi studied Cultural Diversity Awareness in Scotland and this broadened her horizon about the world. The Pan-Africanist and multiple award recipient is a die-hard advocate for the inclusion of women in nation building and mentoring of the younger generation. Bukky, as she is fondly called, is the Founder of Women in Nation Building-WINB and Group Executive Director, DW Realtors, an international real estate development company. Enjoy our chat with her!

Nigeria Football Federation plunged further into turmoil yesterday when an Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of Nigeria Football Federation consisting of States Football Association chairmen and other representatives, ‘unanimously’ voted to end the tenure of the Aminu Maigari led board.

Mr Hosanna Jalogho-Williams is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State. Jalogho-Williams, an environmentalist, is also the Chief Executive Officer of Seabridge Environmental Marine Ltd. In this interview, he faults the retention of the 13 per cent derivation fund given to the Niger Delta. saying it would have been increased to 50 per cent. He also explains, among other issues, why Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan remains the best candidate to represent Delta South in the Senate.

The Director, Mobile Application Developer and Partner Ecosystem, Middle East and Africa, (MEA) of Microsoft Devices Group, Mr. Joe Devassy has said that Nigeria must address infrastructural challenges to promote mobile apps market development.

SOME irate youths in Ifira, Akoko South East Council area of Ondo State, on Tuesday attacked and beat up the Administrative Secretary of the State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Odunayo Ketiku, over her alleged involvement in the factionalisation of the state chapter of NULGE.

The Nigerian government has been advised to diligently implement international instruments intended to advance the well-being of women and children.

This call was made at the 50th anniversary of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, organized by the Lagos chapter of the group in Lagos.

With Nigerian children under 15 years of age accounting for about 45 per cent of the country’s population,according to report, the burden on e-learning is becoming overwhelming, particularly with technology gaining continuous influence in every area of human activity.