tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130519562011-12-14T21:06:09.969-06:00Grandiose Parlor is a repository of my mental meanderings on issues with special focus on Nigeria and Africa.Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comBlogger2511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1162245376921567362006-10-30T15:55:00.000-06:002006-10-30T15:56:16.923-06:00

Technorati Profile

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1159383614596494582006-09-27T13:58:00.000-05:002006-09-27T14:00:41.760-05:00

Grandiose Parlor Has Moved here: www.grandioseparlor.com. Please Update your bookmarks

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1159160577622023652006-09-25T01:13:00.000-05:002006-09-25T01:26:59.713-05:00

The use of Africa as a dumping site for hazardous waste from industrialized nations is an old news. The issue resurfaced again some weeks ago in Ivory Coast.Very few African blogs covered this, I could find just a handful on google search. This is one issue the African blogosphere flunked bigtime! A recap of recent toxic garbage that found some cheap sites in Africa:International agencies "have

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1159157977247944852006-09-24T23:08:00.000-05:002006-09-24T23:21:05.910-05:00

Folks, fellow pundits/Bloggers: I need help compiling a list of newspapers that focus on African communities in the Diaspora. Please use this format:1. Name(s) of newspaper/newsletter2. Web address(s) (if any)3. Community/city/state 4. Country For example:1. Name(s) of newspaper/newsletter: Mshale2. Web address(s) (if any): www.mshale.com3. Community/city/state: Minnesota4. Country: U.S.AThanks!

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1159071898522899792006-09-23T22:52:00.001-05:002006-09-23T23:33:53.136-05:00

I've just finished reading (and commenting to) the Black Star Journal post on Nigeria and Ibrahim Babangida, a former military dictator head of state. In the post titled: "A cancer to return to the heart of Nigeria?", Brian, the author wonders if "the development of democracy in Nigeria so stunted that in a country of 130 million inhabitants, the only people qualified to seek the federal

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1158951725508700392006-09-22T13:52:00.000-05:002006-09-22T15:30:00.606-05:00

"I will develop the areas that vote for me, but if you don't vote for me, don't expect anything." - President Yahya Jammeh campaigning for presidential election 2006. voting starts today.With campaign statements such as Jammeh's, I'll be surprised if he lost the election, why even bother with an election?Related links: Q&A: Gambia vote:BBC.Tag: Gambia

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1158863167076481542006-09-21T13:19:00.000-05:002006-09-21T15:35:30.113-05:00

It's not 'endgame' yet for Darfur per Molara Wood's blog posting. The African Union (A.U) peacekeeping tenure has been extended till the end of the year.Many have mused, ranted and opined over the Darfur crisis, and there are certain patterns/themes to the commentaries: There is profound displeasure over the crisis and claims by some that the West hasn't done enough; some have labeled the crisis

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1158808419020427522006-09-20T21:34:00.000-05:002006-09-20T22:35:20.400-05:00

Last night I commented to "Political Deathmatch" a posting at the Ijebuman's Dairy on the face-off between The Nigerian president and his deputy. I find strange the timing of the release of the ECFF's investigation of Abubakar Atiku, and wondered why almost everyone investigated to date have some attachment to the anti-Obasanjo's camp. I also mused why none of the presidential candidates haven't

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1158626277312262122006-09-19T19:54:00.000-05:002006-09-19T20:05:42.130-05:00

To those that don't know about the Digital Citizens Indaba, the first blogging conference in Africa, too bad, it is already over. Though I wasn't there - I didn't know about the conference until two days before its commencement! But not that it would have mattered because I doubt if I would have attended anyway. Well, the event is over, just as the controversy it generated before and during its

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1158260288334558332006-09-14T13:31:00.000-05:002006-09-20T22:41:06.696-05:00

Am I suprised by the recent developments in Nigeria i.e the clash between the first and second citizens? Not all (I had waiting for this to happen since August 2005), however, I consider it a good omen for Nigerian democracy that accountabiity issues are being discussed at such a high level - whatever the primary motive of the President (the primary instigator) is.As the Vee Pee counters the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157975994485271802006-09-11T06:38:00.000-05:002006-09-11T07:28:20.576-05:00

Today the United States of America and the rest of the world marks the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The images, memory,scars of that day's events remain potent in millions of minds and bodies. Already a tribute website called 2996 has registered 3,412 people giving tributes to the victims.Today will also witness a heavy dose of commentaries of the events

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157515129552261232006-09-11T06:20:00.000-05:002006-09-12T12:46:20.883-05:00

Remittance from diasporic nationals to their various homeland runs into billion of dollars every year. These monies do not only serve as the primary source of sustenance to the recipients, but also indirectly sustain local economies of the recipient nations. Foreign remittance has come to represent a crucial lifeline for many, particularly those in dysfunctional regions of the world, such as

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157680154690710242006-09-07T20:41:00.000-05:002006-09-07T20:55:25.550-05:00

This New York Times piece is really uplifting: "Africa moved up from last place to the middle [ahead of South Asia] of the pack among world regions in carrying out changes that make it easier to start and run a business, according to a World Bank report..." Thanks to Ghana and Tanzania for hanging among the top 10 nations at positions 9 and 10 respectively.Tags: Nigeria Governance Economy

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157644338924055062006-09-07T14:42:00.000-05:002006-09-07T14:51:14.240-05:00

The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's magazine Zero Tolerance is available for download: http://www.efccnigeria.org/docs/ztedition1.pdf."The magazine would define the mandate, strategies, features and outlook of the EFCC", according to the editors' opener.Follow the latest scoops on EFCC's investigation of the beleaguered Nigerian Vee Pee Abubarkar Atiku, who may be stripped of

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157605049242519252006-09-07T10:28:00.000-05:002006-09-07T10:35:08.126-05:00

The United States media carried the story of a former Illinois Governor George Ryan (pictured) that was found guilty earlier this year for receiving kickbacks for awarding state contracts. Mr Ryan, age 72, was jailed on August 6, and will serve the next six and a half years in prison. "On April 18, after a nearly six-month trial, a jury convicted Ryan of 18 counts of racketeering, conspiracy,

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1157583143378518202006-09-06T17:20:00.000-05:002006-09-06T17:55:40.370-05:00

This is the title of a commentary on African Executive website by a Chizoma Sandra Nwachukwu. This article disparages Nigerians abroad who routinely criticisize the government and the speak against the lapses in the society. Here are some excerpts: "Nigerians abroad, come back home! Feel our pain. Feel our hunger, live in a house where there is no electricity, drink water from unsafe streams,

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1156908499542001372006-08-29T22:05:00.000-05:002006-08-29T22:41:21.846-05:00

A submerged New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina.It was an emotional experience like no other, a year ago when the levees in New Orleans failed, and the United States gulf coast started getting submerged the moment Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Though I was far removed from the mystery, anguish and destruction, just like many others; I watched in awe as events unfolded.Since August 29,

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1156272007908805872006-08-23T02:10:00.000-05:002006-08-23T02:20:58.860-05:00

"Wealth comes from the actions of people, not the actions of government, and the freer people are to direct their efforts to where they are most productive, the greater the wealth created." - Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal.I wonder what the Nigerian economic gurus and presidential economic advisors would say of the Nigeria's economic score card as stated in the 2006 Index of Economic

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1156261923242289292006-08-22T10:24:00.000-05:002006-08-22T13:17:55.606-05:00

I had a call from a good friend of mine (Yele) a couple of days ago, disparaging me of my 'blind' support for Pat Utomi. This post is about that conversation.Yele stated: "Utomi is a political neophyte with little understanding of the Nigerian political terrain. He mentioned that Utomi's ideas are nothing different from IMF prescriptions, alien in concept and incapable of addressing Nigerian

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1156224694632560272006-08-22T08:04:00.000-05:002006-08-22T09:36:17.933-05:00

Now that is somewhat confirmed that Mike Adenuga, the embattled Nigerian C.E.O of multibillion-dollar ventures (telecoms, banking and oil & gas) has left the country following investigation by the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - a move that strongly suggest Mr Adenuga may be culpable of some wrong doing.The EFCC's investigation and the subsequent and hasty exitus of Mr Adenuga

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1155918164071721992006-08-18T12:02:00.000-05:002006-08-19T00:05:23.063-05:00

The greatest threat facing Nigeria today is the insecurity of life and property. Sometime in May 2005, the United States National Intelligence Council made a prediction - based on some assumptions, and anchored on past and current national events - the Nigerian state may fail within the next 15 years (around year 2025). My opinion about the report were well discussed on this blog then: I believe

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154931961477920812006-08-14T19:10:00.000-05:002006-08-15T00:56:17.670-05:00

As Nigeria approaches the 2007 elections, it is worrisome that several of the presidential candidates are failing to address pertinent issues crucial to the integrity and progress of the nation.Trae Days has a post listing some of the presidential hopefuls. Several names on this list have questionable agenda, and many haven't even revealed anything beyond the usual blah-blah-blah

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1155512026255345632006-08-13T18:20:00.000-05:002006-08-13T19:23:54.316-05:00

"...Africans are starting to take matters into their own hands. Ingenious solutions are being applied to tackle some of the toughest health and infrastructure problems. Businesses are being launched that are capable of transforming the lives of millions. New communication technologies are allowing ideas and information to spread, enabling markets--and governments--to be more efficient..."--

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1155326193487602912006-08-11T14:50:00.000-05:002006-08-11T15:01:10.880-05:00

"The African Diaspora [African immigrant population] is a demographically distinct subgroup that is (erroneously) grouped under the "black / African American" group. This grouping may have some socioeconomic implications, particularly a less-than-adequate coverage/attention in magazines and other periodicals."There is a short survey at the EthnicLoft blog aiming to test this assumption and

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1155217507836229152006-08-10T11:24:00.000-05:002006-08-10T14:38:14.310-05:00

Flushed with petrol dollars accrued from record-high crude oil price, the Nigerian government has finally deemed it fit to revamp its dinosauric railway system.The Nigerian railway network consists of a 3,505 km narrow gauge line. The first railroad was constructed in 1898 (Lagos- Abeokuta) in the southwestern corner of the country. Besides the rail lines built around the oil refining and

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154735739617225972006-08-04T18:19:00.000-05:002006-08-05T01:59:43.183-05:00

I realized the United States of America is in trouble when the Condi Rice started using a phrase like: "sustainable cease-fire".The last time I checked, the definition of Cease-fire is, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 'a suspension of active hostilities'. So to talk of 'sustainability' of a cease-fire- a temporary action- in the midst of the carnage in Lebanon is indicative of

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154617369693948122006-08-03T15:10:00.000-05:002006-08-05T02:19:58.723-05:00

National Building Code for Nigeria has been by approved by the Federal Executive Council. Nigerian Housing Minister, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (pictured), saying the code would ensure the safety, efficiency and quality of buildings and structures in the country. In addition, the code sets out minimum standards to be met in pre-construction such as design; construction and post-construction stages of

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154633689150887392006-08-03T14:21:00.000-05:002006-08-04T00:10:55.390-05:00

Even though I did not always agree with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, her resignation as the Nigerian foreign affairs minister is long overdue, and I respect her for that.One would recall that Ngozi was redeployed from finance to the foreign affairs ministry, abruptly, about two months earlier. Just yesterday she was dropped as the head of the economic reform team, a unit she helped start and nurture

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154480208825240132006-08-01T19:36:00.000-05:002006-08-01T19:59:19.383-05:00

Nigeria has been fantasizing about nuclear energy since 1976 when the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) was first inaugurated. President Obasanjo's inauguration of the board of the commission brought it back to live from its three decade slumber.My usual inclination to proceed and continue my rant on the issue but I won't because there is every indication that Nigeria is full of hot air.

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154478259995872362006-08-01T19:00:00.000-05:002006-08-01T20:03:16.370-05:00

"The fact that after four decades of independence a country would still need foreign intervention in solving a murder case stongly suggests there are some serious anomalies with that country..." goes my tirade to Jeremy's Naija Blog's post on the murder of Funsho William and the invitation of british detectives to help solve the case.The Nigerian authority's invitation of detectives an indication

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154147818174786112006-07-28T23:23:00.000-05:002006-07-28T23:53:31.543-05:00

"Govt unveils 25-year power generation development plan" goes the headline in one of the Nigerian newspapers- the Guardian: July 29, 2006 edition."...The country would achieve power generation capacity of 14,837 MW by 2009 and in 2010 the level will hit 15,853mw...12 different power stations are at various stages of completion to ensure the actualisation of the generation expansion plan, adding

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154116436831769582006-07-28T14:46:00.000-05:002006-07-29T00:07:27.500-05:00

Resident Nigerians are crime-shocked. The Nigerian newspapers: Punch (Ehindero’s frustration- Ehindero is the Inspector General; he runs the Nigerian Police Force) and the Guardian (Nigeria's long list of curious deaths) run editorials on security in the Nigerian nation, and all fingers point at the Nigerian Police Force. This is not solely because of its gross personnel incompetence and

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154113206720372512006-07-28T11:01:00.000-05:002006-07-28T14:57:38.116-05:00

The last 48 hours have been stressful to say the least. Blogger keeps bogging the living crap out of me- this site went 'loco' (zanny) for 24 hours; laptop crashed; data lost; bank screwed up; assasins gone wild in Nigeria- must we keep snuffing lives out of each other to prove a point? What's happening in Nigeria is even a child play compared to the Congo where election is just hours away.

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1154100853327093602006-07-28T10:25:00.000-05:002006-07-28T10:34:13.373-05:00

I wonder how many Nigerians are aware of what the Nigerian Diaspora day is about. Definitely I'm not one of those in the know. What about the Nigerian National Volunteer Service? Don't ask me I don't know much about it.Via the website of the Nigerian embassy in New York:"The Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) cordially invites qualified Nigerians in the Americas to the 1st Nigerian

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153852432675658022006-07-25T13:32:00.000-05:002006-08-03T15:34:51.786-05:00

"We have witnessed several disasters in recent times when lives and properties were lost in collapsed buildings. To address these issues it became necessary to develop a systematic model to review the operation of building control mechanism..."--Dr Mimiko, Nigerian Minister for Housing & Urban Development during the National Council on Housing and Urban Development and approval a building code

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1152748686963764302006-07-21T12:30:00.000-05:002006-08-03T18:39:30.893-05:00

This is Pat Utomi; he wants to be the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.Is he worthy of this post?How would he accomplish this ambition?What could he offer the Nigerian people?How does he intend to turn Nigeria around?Pat Utomi is a political economist, management lecturer and an entrepreneur:"A fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and a Senior Faculty of the Lagos

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153443055731690012006-07-20T23:30:00.000-05:002006-07-21T00:24:27.063-05:00

"Whether at home in Indianapolis or back home in Nigeria, Obeime's strong commitment to public health enhances the quality of life for women, their children and families, and their communities.": Local Legends Website honoring the remarkable, deeply caring women doctors transforming medical practice and improving health care for all across America.************************************************

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153418783003143002006-07-20T12:50:00.000-05:002006-07-20T13:25:46.563-05:00

The Aba Clean Energy Carbon Project is a 120 megawatt plant initiated and being developed in Aba (Eastern Nigeria) by Geometric Power Limited, an indeginous private-sector driven power provider in Nigeria.According to International Finance Corporation (IFC), one of the financiers of the project, the project "will construct an efficient, gas-fired power plant, which will displace the electricity

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153324092328553122006-07-19T09:36:00.000-05:002006-07-19T11:15:33.633-05:00

The (new) Nigerian finance minister Ms. Nenadi Usman states at the ongoing Leon Sullivan VII Summit the reasons African countries remain poor: "a combination of three main factors: poor human capital, inadequate investment funds and obsolete technology."I ask myself aren't these factors in turn dependent on leadership? Why the half statement honorable minister? Say it as it is Madam!At the same

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153241743810374082006-07-18T11:29:00.000-05:002006-07-20T07:48:22.183-05:00

Cartoon: Gary Varvel, Indiana-- The Indianapolis Star-News"Don't criticize what you don't understand, son. You never walked in that man's shoes."--Elvis Presley 1935-1977One can't help but get 'drawn into the conflict' in the Middle East, given the wanton destruction and criticism of Israel's use of overwhelming force. While this is true, but who amongst the critics know what it feels like to

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153182111932626782006-07-17T18:42:00.000-05:002006-07-17T19:25:53.440-05:00

The Leon H Sullivan VII Summit kicks off in Abuja, Nigeria today (July 17, 2006) to an upbeat start. The Clinton Foundation (an AIDS charity organized by former U.s president Bill Clinton) signs a deal with Nigeria to make cheap AIDS drugs available to fight the disease. Anti-AIDS program in the country suffered a major a set-back earlier this year when Global Funds a major antiAIDS charity

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153171703898824262006-07-17T16:15:00.000-05:002006-07-18T13:19:54.763-05:00

Cartoon: Bill Garner, Washington Times.Tags: Israel Hezbollah Lebanon

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1153081679451534862006-07-16T15:15:00.000-05:002006-07-16T15:30:42.203-05:00

Check the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) website for the list of cancelled passports here: http://www.immigration.gov.ng/canpass.php. The agency states the list will be updated regularly.See the Nigerian Guardian article of the cancellation via Odili.net.Tags: Nigeria Immigration

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1149537385354383202006-07-12T20:30:00.000-05:002006-07-12T20:44:59.286-05:00

Democracy is a two-way road; where the elected and the electorate work together to create a political system that constantly seeks ways and means to improve the lot of the society in general.Democracy, despite its limitations, is the only system of government that offers the electorate the most value for their votes. Mediocre and lackluster politicans will invoke the wrath of the electorate come

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145299589861381072006-07-11T16:33:00.000-05:002006-07-11T16:41:12.130-05:00

Below is a joke I received via email. As it's the case with email spams, the source of this joke is unknown. Enjoy:***************How do you tell a Nigerian from a Kenyan, for example; and I am not talking about passports or clothing? Well the easiest way, of course, is the name: For example Ogunkoye can only be a Nigerian and Njoroge from Kenya.And so where do the Dunns come from? They are

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1152286105710071572006-07-07T10:08:00.000-05:002006-07-07T10:41:27.010-05:00

"Despite being the fastest growing telecommunication market in Africa and the forage of some indigenous investors- Omatek Computers and Zinox Technologies- into the local production and assembly of computer and its related accessories, Nigeria's personal computer penetration is at an abysmal low rate of 7 per 1,000 inhabitants...The Computers for All Nigerians Initiatives (CANI) is a

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1152222810874959572006-07-06T16:55:00.000-05:002006-07-06T19:01:05.926-05:00

"Too much aid continues to be identified, designed and managed by donors. It is tied to their countries' own firms, is poorly coordinated and is based on a set of assumptions about expatriate expertise and recipient ignorance."One quarter of the aid provided by rich countries - or $20bn a year - funds expensive and often ineffective western consultants, research and training instead of going

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1152162159619196832006-07-05T23:38:00.000-05:002006-07-06T00:15:54.330-05:00

This photo The Trashy Nigerian Catwalk (M Matzel) is culled from Bearlin Tias' flickr photostream.The big smile on the face of the lad speaks volume to the resiliency of the human (Nigerian) spirit. Amidst the squalid and the gravely wretched and filthy milieu surrounding the lad; the big radiant smile is in sharp contrast with the sordidness of his world.Tag: Nigeria

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1152155939962023322006-07-05T21:44:00.000-05:002006-07-10T18:43:25.686-05:00

The emergence of TransCorp as a Nigerian government-sponsored mega corporation was discussed in an earlier post last year. Since then, the business entity has been more-or-less on the back burner until a couple of days ago when it fired its pioneer Managing Director Mr Fola Adeola, and almost immediately, news reports carried the purchase of NITEL by TransCorp, a public telcom company for $750

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1151801182969206752006-07-01T19:37:00.000-05:002006-07-01T19:48:26.823-05:00

"We have just received a travel advice from the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom, urging Nigerians travelling to the UK to be wary of miscreants who employ a great variety of trickeries to dispossess people of their properties...In the recent past, the Nigerian High Commission has observed an upsurge in pick-pocketing, actual robberies and assault against Nigerians who are on

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1151622680228838612006-06-29T17:40:00.000-05:002006-06-29T21:45:31.333-05:00

The year 2005 was designated the year of micro finance/credit by the United Nations. With less than 40% of Nigerians having access to formal banking services, it is apparent that Nigeria is underserved in the banking and financial sector.Despite the 25 billion Naira capital requirement needed to set up commercial banks, there is room for private participation in the banking sector via Community

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1151611173563912332006-06-29T14:41:00.000-05:002006-06-29T16:19:36.493-05:00

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an American top notch research university has an extensive collection of free and open educational resources- MIT OpenCourseWare (MIT OCW). MIT OCS is large-scale, web-based electronic publishing initiative that provides "free, searchable, access to MIT's course materials for educators, students, and self-learners around the world". The initiative

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1151608162287739432006-06-29T13:58:00.000-05:002006-06-29T16:18:13.276-05:00

The Ford Foundation, one of the top five charity organizations in the world has launched an independent philanthropic foundation for Africa, called TrustAfrica.Launched with a $30 million commitment from the Ford Foundation, TrustAfrica "will convene innovative African leaders from varied disciplines to identify new approaches to the violence, discrimination and economic isolation that impact

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1150145113620939882006-06-12T15:24:00.000-05:002006-07-06T19:23:32.343-05:00

The CNN aired program on identity fraud in May: "How to rob a bank" generated a lot of hot and bad blood amongst diasporic Nigerians, particularly those of the Houston-Texas stock. The Nigerian news web portal and forum- the Nigeria Village Square and a Nigerian business news website- Business Day Online; have posted write-ups disparaging the CNN for putting Nigerians in bad light.I haven't

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1150129138614697232006-06-12T10:35:00.000-05:002006-07-06T19:11:19.990-05:00

One of the 25 Nigerian mega banks- Access Bank (http://www.accessbankplc.com/index.cfm?ID=3000) in collaboration with the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC)- will start extending lines of credit to Nigerian women entrepreneur. The bank signed a $15 million loan with the IFC last week.Access Bank Plc will be one of the first banks in Africa to dedicate lines of credit to finance

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1149738097926198712006-06-07T22:34:00.000-05:002006-06-07T23:02:09.063-05:00

Direct Expatriate Nationals Investment: An excellent opportunity for Africans in the Diaspora to reclaim and consolidate their heritage by investing in their respective national economies. Check out the details from the blog: DeniAfrica, a collaboration of Emeka Okafor (Timbuktu Chronicles & Africa Unchained) and others. Many see an half-empty cup, but this man's cup is always half-full! I will

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1149655363390251532006-06-07T22:10:00.000-05:002006-06-07T23:03:35.030-05:00

It gladdens my heart to read that the University of Lagos, one of the 'top notch' varsities in Nigeria has adopted an internet-based registration system for its students. UnilagFaces reports that the online registration is for year one and two students. Expectedly, there are disapproval from some of the students; but for these students to see the system as a waste of time is totally unexpected.

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1149569258641617752006-06-06T00:13:00.000-05:002006-06-06T00:24:35.033-05:00

Fela Kuti (late) was the one that coined and used the phrase "shuffering and shmiling" in his 1977 song higlighting the polarizing influence of foreign religions on Nigerians. I have chosen to use the title somewhat differently in this post...Residents cross a flooded street during rainfall in Lagos, Nigeria May 16, 2006. REUTERS/Akintunde Alinkeye. Picture via Yahoo!There're many things not

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1149025717839928312006-05-30T16:47:00.000-05:002006-06-12T16:02:04.276-05:00

“…The spraying of, dancing or marching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under subsection (1) of this section...” -- Section 21, subsection 1-4 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2006.Picture: Abuse of the Naira: At a wedding ceremony of son of

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1148666797681171632006-05-27T10:10:00.000-05:002006-05-27T10:12:31.656-05:00

“The fear is that in 5-10 years, what will be left of the African or Nigerian Information society space will be pieces of recycled information about the bad things happening in Nigeria…”-- Edward Popoola.Smacked right on the my monitor screen is this CNN Money.com headline screaming at me: “Online scams create ‘Yahoo! Millionaires’”, and below were these text: “In Lagos, where scamming is an art,

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1148066813877809252006-05-26T00:05:00.000-05:002006-05-26T13:31:11.666-05:00

" Internet users in America pay $20 for one gigabyte of data per month, but people in Africa pay about $1,800 for the same amount of data ..."-- NextBillion.NetThis isn't all; Africans get bilked even more:Africans in the Diaspora pay huge commissions and fees to send money (remittance) back home; western union takes at least $60 for every $1,000 sent.Africans pay astronomical rates in airline

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1148500604880803962006-05-24T17:35:00.000-05:002006-05-25T18:26:12.726-05:00

The advance fee letter scam a.k.a ‘419 scam’ has wreaked a lot of havoc worldwide, even in Nigeria. Victims have lost tens of millions of dollars to the fraudsters many of whom have been described as Nigerians. While it is not my intention to defend this scam- I will never defend the acts of the wicked, I have grown impatient of reading day and night how some in their ignorance, or denial, have

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147733638468887822006-05-23T14:35:00.000-05:002006-07-11T08:01:44.616-05:00

The Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises Equity Investment Scheme (SMEEIS) was established in December 1999. The scheme required all banks in Nigeria to set aside 10% of their profit before tax for equity investment in small and medium scale industries.A recent report in the Nigerian financial newspaper, Business Day, indicate that just 29% of this fund has been released since its inception!

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1148339475197520572006-05-22T17:37:00.000-05:002006-05-22T18:35:13.923-05:00

The U.S news media shed more light on the bribery allegation involving William Jefferson, a member of the US House of Representatives, Nigerian Vice President Abubakar Atiku and a private investor wanting to do business in Nigeria and some west Africa countries.On hearing that only $100,000 exchanged hands, I realized it is very unlikely that the Nigerian Vee Pee is involved.This is because 100G

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147904997094102742006-05-19T08:00:00.000-05:002006-05-19T08:21:17.610-05:00

At present, power generation in Nigeria is at about 3,000 megawatt; about 50% of what it was earlier in the year, and way less than what it should be for a nation the size of Nigeria- some have estimated that the nation needs at least 120,000MV of power.I read with dismay that after spending about 1.3 trillion Naira (about 9 billion U.S dollars) on power generation between 1999 and 2005 Nigerians

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1148006111023744692006-05-18T21:17:00.000-05:002006-05-18T21:37:36.096-05:00

People stand behind burned corpses lying on the ground after a gas pipeline exploded at the waterside village of Ilado, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Lagos. Gas gushing from a ruptured Nigeria pipeline exploded Friday as villagers scavenged for the free fuel, setting off an inferno that killed up to 200 people and left charred bodies scattered around the site.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba).

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147958399182218352006-05-18T08:19:00.000-05:002006-05-18T14:55:23.803-05:00

“Have you ever wondered why and how Nigeria's Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Matthew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo goes free and moves triumphantly where angels are afraid to tread?”—Bola Adawara, e-Life online magazineHe was a champion during the Nigerian civil war. The Biafran military might- or what was left of it- surrendered to him despite not firing a single

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147783804561039132006-05-17T14:20:00.000-05:002006-05-18T11:58:32.490-05:00

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization a while back found more than half the drugs on sale in Nigeria were fake or sub-standard. –British Broadcasting Corporation.The Dr Dora Akunyili-led Nigerian National Food and Drug Agency (NAFDAC) has performed exceeding well in implementing and enforcing major regulations, and bringing back santity to the often-risky Nigerian food and drug

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147131572995287292006-05-08T22:05:00.000-05:002006-05-11T07:38:28.720-05:00

"I don't really know myself [why the report was never released]...I did my job as a civil servant"--Dr Abdulsalami Nasidi- a senior government official and the head of the team that probed the Pfizer's illegal clinical trial in Kano.This is the concluding part of an earlier post: Did Pfizer Use Nigerian Children as Guinea Pigs?When I discussed suspended global AIDS funds and the incompetence of

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1147122001398367692006-05-08T15:53:00.000-05:002006-05-08T22:22:12.656-05:00

Those you have seen the movie The Constant Gardner can probably relate to this post better, the only difference is that this isn’t a movie script; it is real, and it occurred in northern Nigeria in 1996!There are strong indications that Pfizer, the world largest drug manufacturer, did conduct an illegal and fraudulent clinical trail in 1996 at a remote location in Kano, northern Nigeria. The

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1146845136436715082006-05-05T11:02:00.000-05:002006-05-05T11:13:47.013-05:00

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, a Nigerian offshoot of the German multi service group- Bilfinger Berger, and a major player in Nigerian socioeconomic landscape has been nailed for unethical ‘pharmaceutical practices and discriminatory administration of drugs’ by the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) late last month. The regulatory agency has since shut down

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1146685139311777472006-05-03T23:40:00.000-05:002006-05-03T23:45:20.533-05:00

Motor vehicle accidents are common in Nigeria, and are fatal most of the time it occurs. The victims either die instanta or moments later; many while waiting to be retrieved from the accident site by medics that don't exist, or while on their way to a medical center.I don't really know how to react to this accident story in ThisDay (posted below), a Nigerian newspaper, where a member of the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1146629450089895052006-05-03T01:00:00.000-05:002006-05-03T01:08:58.123-05:00

Following the EthnicLoft's introduction of the multi-authored Nigerian university blog Unilag Faces, I have spent some time perusing the entries on the site. The site do offer some unique insight on issues commonly discussed on the Nigerian blogosphere. This post "Bad Theatre conditions" is one of such.The author, Pablo, writes about an emergent surgery done on an accident victim at the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1146506070073484382006-05-01T12:20:00.000-05:002006-05-05T18:24:30.663-05:00

Section 21, subsection 1-4 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2006: "Any person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both cash fine and imprisonment.”This Act is introduced to the National assembly today by the Nigerian President,

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145996225905810302006-04-25T21:20:00.000-05:002006-08-23T00:42:09.826-05:00

"The world witnessed China's unprecedented race to the top while Nigeria has been having a free fall to the bottom of development index. China sustained unprecedented 10 per cent growth rate in the 90s while Nigeria recorded double digits negative growth rate during same period."-- Daily Trust.It is interesting that some two or three decades back, Nigeria and China were both tagged "under

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145763998326126442006-04-22T22:10:00.000-05:002006-04-23T00:37:51.906-05:00

As Nigeria pays off a sizeable chunk of its financial debt, I can’t help but muse on how much Nigerians have benefited from these debts. It took roughly about 20 years to acquire these debt; it started in the early 80’s during the second republic and continued unabated up till the late 90’s.Being in my thirties, I fall into that category of Nigerians that caught and enjoyed momentarily the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145669016706535362006-04-21T19:28:00.000-05:002006-04-21T22:14:59.850-05:00

It's not a common occurrence to have a Head of State commission a shopping mall. When I saw the picture of two Nigerian Heads of State- Generals Obasanjo (current president, far right in the picture) and Babangida (former president; on the far left in the picture), and the King of Lagos at the commissioning the Palms Shopping Mall located on the Lekki Pennisula of Lagos, I wondered what the fuss

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145560888096797172006-04-20T14:16:00.001-05:002006-04-20T14:21:28.096-05:00

Photo courtesy of Sahara Reporter

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145500748742347702006-04-19T21:22:00.000-05:002006-04-20T01:41:25.103-05:00

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Nigerian agency that oversees admission examination into Nigerian universities reports a 25% drop in applications, according to Nigerian news agencies. Here is an excerpt from the ThisDay one of the Nigerian news agencies that reported the drop on April 19: "Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday announced that it has recorded

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1145303866774775452006-04-17T13:57:00.000-05:002006-04-17T15:15:53.213-05:00

The deadline for the submission of relevant paper work and payment of income taxes in the United States is today. The deadline closes at 11.59PM April 17th. The deadline is usually on the 15th of April every year; the deadline was shifted this year because it falls on a weekend. I happen to fall among the greater chunk of Americans who procrastinate till the very end before getting their paper

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1144902503774779552006-04-12T22:35:00.000-05:002006-04-12T23:53:48.216-05:00

Why is it always tough (for Nigerians) to be on the receiving end of criticism, especially when the critique is coming from a "foreigner"?This is the case with the Jamaica-Nigeria comparison ("Think Jamaica is bad? Try Nigeria") done by a British Member of Parliament, Ms Diane Abbott. Her comparison was her style of putting the state of affairs in Jamaica in the right perspective, given the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1144730400479622332006-04-10T23:08:00.000-05:002006-04-11T00:20:27.693-05:00

White African blog writes: "there are three main areas of web technology innovation in Africa, three regions that define it...These three countries are Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. They represent the power nexus of Africas technological future." This excerpt is from his post- "African Technology Powerhouses", where he discusses the "recognized technology leaders in their region". Not that I

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1144387752317020432006-04-06T23:55:00.000-05:002006-04-07T00:38:01.900-05:00

Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar spoke again and against the much talked about third term agenda in Nigeria. He met with a group tagged "Movement 2007" which comprises mainly members of the National Assembly opposed to the third term of President Obasanjo. This is an extract from his speech, culled from The Nigerian Vanguard:"You have absolutely no reason to doubt or to fear because over

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1144280191061547152006-04-05T18:34:00.000-05:002006-04-05T20:21:46.256-05:00

Is there a connection between HIV transmission and showering after sex? If you are a recluse residing deep inside the Amazon forest, you may be unsure of the connection; however, if you were the former Vice President and the second highest in the political hierarchy of the largest economy in Africa, it is simply a catastrophic blunder to think that there is a connection between the two! Yet, the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1144068389635224652006-04-03T07:35:00.000-05:002006-04-03T07:51:46.246-05:00

An Associated Press reports in a statement credited to Charles Taylor's spiritual leader, the Indian evangelist Kilari Anand Paul, that the Nigerian security agents assisted Charles Taylor in his escape and abandoned him when they received order from "above" to terminate their mission:"Nigerian security forces encouraged former Liberian President Charles Taylor to flee and helped him get to the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1143925277987048282006-04-01T14:19:00.001-06:002006-04-01T22:37:46.360-06:00

"The Redeemed Christian Church of God believe Jesus has sent them to spread a difficult truth in the United States: Demonic forces are corrupting society and only spiritual warfare can stop them"The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) appears set for global dissemination of the gospel on a scale that yet to be matched by any church out of Africa.EthnicLoft carried a story about the Church

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1143739319664494162006-03-30T11:21:00.000-06:002006-03-30T19:04:29.926-06:00

I read with dismay the newspaper coverage of the meeting between the top hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), President Obasanjo’s political party (the ruling party in Nigeria) and Senators from that party. “Top officers of the Peoples Democratic Party rose from a four-hour meeting with senators elected on the party’s platform on Wednesday, with a warning that senators opposed to

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1143639054085462682006-03-29T07:16:00.000-06:002006-03-29T07:32:49.026-06:00

It's on record that the Liberia's new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said in an interview with The New York Times before her inauguration in January that "Mr. Taylor's fate was a relatively low priority, given the myriad problems facing Liberia and the fragility of the peace there." The reason for the sudden change of heart is puzzling. Some have suggested that the Ms Johnson may have been

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1143503817344029592006-03-27T17:18:00.000-06:002006-03-27T19:11:56.570-06:00

Check this out: A "Nigerian-born British Policeman, Chukwudum Ikeazor, has thrown his hat into the ring, and declared his intention to run for next year's Presidential election in his country of birth...Although not affiliated to any political party as at now, the former Mobile Policeman and law graduate is hoping that any party or group that is 'genuinely seeking to lead Nigerians out of the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1143320502631831212006-03-25T14:43:00.000-06:002006-03-25T15:02:53.190-06:00

Mr Ibori the Governor of Delta state (one of the oil-producing states in Nigeria) made this statement (below) while receiving five Ministers from the Niger Delta who paid him a solidarity visit over the problem in the Niger-Delta region.“…He is handicapped by the refusal of Niger Delta militants to release the three hostages they are holding in the creeks, pointing out that unless they are

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1142996192085161802006-03-21T20:45:00.000-06:002006-03-21T21:00:53.853-06:00

Despite four censuses in the past, the much awaited and keenly debated 2006 census commenced under a cloud of apathy, apprehension and acrimony. The widespread confusion and pockets of violence in some regions as reported by the various news agencies and in the Nigerian blogosphere makes me wonder if Nigeria has what it takes to exist as a progressive nation. Would it be too early to predict a

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1142350827896634632006-03-15T20:31:00.000-06:002006-03-15T18:43:15.516-06:00

"Our vision is for Nigeria to become a financial services centre in Africa and for Nigeria ultimately to become a global player in the financial services industry"-- Dr Ngozi Okojo-IwelaPro-foreign investment statements similar to that credited to the Nigerian finance minister are common in the Nigerian mainstream media. The fact is there are enough Nigerians in the Diaspora to ignite and set the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141965322241003702006-03-09T22:04:00.000-06:002006-03-10T16:56:28.336-06:00

Africa is the cradle of civilization. The truth is given the mess in the continent at the moment; it is getting tough to state this with conviction. Historically, Africans have had some head starts over humans on other continents, another seemingly false but true statement, which this excerpt from National Geographic archives confirms: "[Africa] is the place where the evolutionary lines of apes

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141765906581694882006-03-09T21:55:00.000-06:002006-03-09T21:58:03.386-06:00

"In short, if you look closely at the cheerleaders of the third term campaign, you'll find basically two groups of people those who have something to hide and those who are hiding from something. In the midst of the macabre drama, Obasanjo, the Pontifex Maximus, is playing both sides of the field, waiting to grab the prize, while at the same time, giving himself enough room to get out, if the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141676902825097592006-03-06T14:26:00.000-06:002006-03-06T14:31:08.013-06:00

I have seen many headlines on Nigeria in the local newspapers here in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota; I usually don’t think much of them. Today’s piece for one reason or the other had a different reaction on me: "Oil rich—and Dirt Poor" was the headline that screamed at me from the international section of the Star Tribune. Despite the fact that I have blogged on this topic and have read a lot

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141619815949223162006-03-05T22:14:00.000-06:002006-03-05T22:57:12.906-06:00

The Director General of the Nigerian Medical Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Oni Idigbe, made some startling statements over the weekend in the Sunday Punch, a Nigerian Newspaper.This excerpted statement culled from his interview with the newspaper says a lot about how Nigeria works: "There has been a gap between the researchers and the policy makers...How do we translate research findings

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141440962839045892006-03-03T20:45:00.000-06:002006-03-05T08:52:59.036-06:00

I got tagged by Rombo, the sis at "What An African Woman Thinks". The idea is to answer the questions in bold fonts- which I have answered to the best of my wisdom.To move this prank on to the next level, I'll need to find four bloggers to tag, and I have; Scroll down to see who.Here are the Q & A:Black and White or Colour; how do you prefer your movies?Color; why deprive myself.What is the one

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141353358953610292006-03-02T20:26:00.000-06:002006-03-02T20:43:57.416-06:00

Kayode, a cousin of mine wanted to continue his medical training in the former USSR last year, but I discouraged him from going. After reading about the plight of Africans, particularly African students in some universities in the former communist enclave; I’m glad I did.A BBC article, titled: Living with race hate in Russia describes the hardship faced by Africans in the country. From subtle

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1141153579088450372006-02-28T12:45:00.000-06:002006-02-28T13:07:02.470-06:00

“Everything I do now is to protect Nigeria’s interest, and if that will cost me my life, so be it.”-President ObasanjoThisDay, a Nigerian newspaper, writes about the President's statement that "the it had become necessary for his administration to ensure the consolidation of the gains of his economic reforms by recruiting a crop of Nigerians that would sustain them for at least 15 years."I wonder

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13051956.post-1140845424295396162006-02-24T23:01:00.000-06:002006-08-23T00:39:53.223-05:00

The consolidation of the Nigerian banks initiated last year has been achieved. The initiative required commercial banks to raise their capital base to 25 billion Naira. At the end, of the initial 89 original banks, 25 bigger and supposedly better banks emerged. Eighteen banks didn't "make cut" and have since been liquidated.What is the fate of the depositors in the so-called "failed banks"- the

Imnakoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09110573313679680800noreply@blogger.com