IN the face of the current failure of food security, water supply and power generation, not a few are in haste to ask if the 12 River Basin Development Authorities RBDAs across the country, have lived up to their mandate. CHARLES KUMOLU reports

All over the world, fes-tive periods are al-ways times to look forward to… activities like shopping for new dresses, shoes, food items and other goodies. At these periods, traders usually make a lot of sales;consequently prices of goods and services witness a rise too.

Any contact with Ibe Christogonus Chidiebere will definitely leave you with a positive impression following his perspective on socio-economic issues. The confidence he exudes on issues bothering on leadership and crime prevention tells us he knows his onion. A few days ago he was Vanguard Youthful Vibes and he tells about this unique passion. Excerpts:

ALL over the world medical tourism has become a major source of income. Saudi Arabia, India, Germany and even Dubai earn very high revenue from medical tourism as a result of the huge investments their governments and individuals made in constructing and equipping hospitals, laboratories and other medical centres with state-of-the-art facilities.

Hilary Ogbuagu known by many with the name El Levite, is a young man of many parts. He is a talented songwriter, recording artiste with a unique flair for Gospel Reggae, music director and a dancehall artiste. El Levite had his primary and secondary school education at Central school Ibenda, Obollo Eke and Obollo High school, Obollo-Eke respectively, both in Udenu LGA of Enugu State. He is a graduate of History and International Relations of Lagos State University. He tells Youthful Vibes about his growing interest and love for gospel music, and how it has inspired so many youth to make a difference. Excerpts:

Life’s challenges can propel one to settle into a profession that seems like the real calling. Prince Oyeniran Adebayo,27, a.k.a. Tush, is a confirmation of the foregoing.This gentleman, a native of Agurodo village, Ejigbo, Osun State who has a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University is now an events planner, Publisher of a magazine and CEO of TDA Multimedia. He is the organizer of Tush Awards which started in Ogbomosho,2009. In this interview, Adebayo shares his trials and victories. Excerpts.

WHEN Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi assumed office as governor of Rivers State, one of the indices that defined the critical insecurity in the state was road users’ unreserved disrespect for traffic codes. From government officials, commercial drivers, criminals on the wheel, cyclists (before they were banned), banks dispatch vans to security patrols, hardly anyone respected decorum on the roads, especially in the capital city of Port Harcourt.

You could feel the excitement in the air when the people of Oloibiri and Odi turned out at different occasions to witness the commissioning of some projects in their area by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

As women all over the world celebrated the InternationalWomen’s Day the of politcal empowerment of women remais on the front burner.

THOUGH Nigerians are yet to recover from the devastating effects of the 2012 excessive rainfall, the nation is again confronted with predictions of unusual rainfall in 2013. In view of the havoc this might create if the predictions become real, fear is the word across the country. CHARLES KUMOLU reports.