A seasoned economist, Olugbemiga Olowu is the Rotarian overseeing Rotary clubs all-over Lagos and Ogun states, otherwise known as District 9110. Born in 1949 into the Abeokuta family of Obatolu Olowu of the Ile-Alafin of Owu Kingdom, he is a Rotarian with 30 years experience! Also a multifaceted entrepreneur, Olugbemiga worked with the Mandilas Group for 15 years before co-founding a pharmaceutical business, Lutayo Pharmaceutical Limited, and later, Lutay Nigeria Limited, a joint financial and procurement services company. Seven Prints Limited, a monogramming and printing establishment, is also one of his innovations. In this interview, Olugbemiga debunks the claim that Rotary is a money-making venture and also explains why there are few Rotary clubs in Ogun State.

The Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), set up to offer Yoruba people in the Diaspora a platform to promote the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race and unity, stormed the United Kingdom and other major European nations recently. Expectedly, the launch availed Yoruba resident in the UK, Holland, France and Germany the opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

You don’t just barge into the palace of Omo N’oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, the 38th Oba of Benin, to see the monarch. The Oba of Benin is unarguably one of Nigeria’s most reverred royal fathers. He superintends over a famous Kingdom-Benin Kingdom. Seeing the Omo N’oba is naturally on appointment – and this may take time. Thus, when a couple of weeks ago the idea of an interview with the revered monarch was mooted, it became incumbent on us to write a letter to seek an appointment. Then a date was picked for the interview with the Omo N’oba. Waiting for the monarch for the interview on the appointed day was understandable given his very tight schedule.

Controversy is trailing the alarm raised by Esan elders, who accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of of Edo State, of alleged plan to relocate the Ambrose Alli University College of Medicine to Iyamoh, his home town in Edo North. The elders believe that the alleged plan was geared towards depriving Esan Central the opportunity to host the College. But the Esan Unity Forum, a group from the same Esanland, faulted the elders’ position.

Incidence of building collapse in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State, has assumed an alarming dimension following its frequent occurrence.

Fifty-eight-year-old Afusat, a widow is one of the street sweepers in Lagos State. Afusat was a petty trader who was struggling to make ends meet with her five children. Her youngest child is in JSS 2. Fifteen years ago after she lost her husband, she has been facing numerous challenges raising her children. Afusat told Saturday Vanguard that she was using the profit realised from her petty business to train her children.

It is not in doubt that our indige-nous languages are going into extinction as a result of our attitude to our native languages. We despise it, undervalue it and repudiate it as if it was criminal to communicate in our mother dialect.

Lt. General Jeremiah Useni needs no introduction. The prominent role he played during the reign of late Head of State, Sani Abacha, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is well known. However, there are two things about Jeremiah Useni, who was referred to as ‘Jerry Boy’ at the time. He was indeed a Boy, because he joined the Army at the age of 14. Firstly, he was one of the soldiers who fired shots during the coup against General Ironsi in which the General was killed in Ibadan. Mr. Useni was also the closest person to General Abacha up to his last moments.This interview, conducted in Hausa by the Hausa language newspaper, Rariya, and translated to English by PREMIUM TIMES’

I listened and watched with amazement comments from people who tagged themselves liberal Muslims rationalising the show of shame in Indonesia last week where a Nigerian Muslim Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola was crowned the Miss Muslimah World. More stupefying is that those who ought to know and point out where the organisers of the pageant goofed and where the pageant is antithetical to Islam rather chose to celebrate it. Very unfortunate.

Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael’s wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’ Abraham asked her, ‘How are you getting on?’ asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied, ‘We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance).’