The other day in church, a Priest recounted an experience he had as a young Seminarian. Although it happened many years ago, it was an experience that has obviously stayed with him and has probably helped in shaping his priesthood. He had come to visit his parents in Lagos from his seminary in Ibadan during an Open […]

It usually starts with a barely noticeable spark, then it spreads quickly until it becomes uncontrollable. That is the nature of wildfires. That is also the nature of certain volatile newsbreaks. Managing such newsbreaks was my business for years and it doesn’t quite leave you. Like wildfires, the source is important and the trick is […]

It should not happen to anyone. Nobody should have to wake up in the morning to see their property worth billions of naira being demolished; or worse, completely demolished. And as a consequence, to find that the future of a business the property houses, a labour of love and sweat of several years, has suddenly become seriously […]

Many moons ago, when LMTS (Lagos Municipal Transport Service) used to rule Lagos roads, a senior in my secondary school entered a crowded bus. He had to stand up because all the seats were taken. It was not unusual and it was not uncomfortable. As he familiarized himself with the other occupants, he saw a younger student […]

‘Young people starting out in television sometimes say to me: “I want to be you”. My stock reply is always: “Then you have to take the whole package.” That was Barbara Walters, the celebrated broadcaster, the first female face on TV in the US – aptly described as the most important woman in the history […]

I will call him John for the purpose of this article. He is one of the internally displaced persons living in the camp at Yelwata. IDP camps are dotted all over parts of the north as a sign of the times we live in – but that is a story for another day. John had gone […]

There is a feud currently going on in the US between its President and the Governor of California. It largely has to do with jurisdiction, or the limits of power if you like. The week has witnessed some protests against the forceful immigration policy of President Trump in parts of California, especially Los Angeles, America’s second largest […]

Former President Bill Clinton left the White House at fifty-four with a financial challenge. It is inconceivable for us in Africa and especially in Nigeria, for a former President who had been a two-term Governor to boot, to ever face the daunting prospect of insolvency on leaving office. It is not as if he had a […]

The whole world, not just the Catholic or the Christian faithful, welcomed the announcement of the new Pope with joy and possibly expectation. The euphoria that surrounded this announcement as captured by the media, cut across race and religion. It was the joy of a world searching for a true, non-partisan, non- sectarian leadership. In […]

A friend came visiting recently. It was his first time to the house so I took him round our home before settling him in the family living room which I felt was cozier since it was just the two of us. He commended the arrangement of the apartment and its ‘view’. Compliments over, we settled down to […]