Chidinma Ekile's new Portfolio by TY Bello

Chidinma Ekile also known as Miss Kedike who some weeks ago made a daring move on her social media page by deleting all photos except those featuring fellow artiste, Flavour N’abania.

She looks absolutely breathtaking in the newly released photos taken by TY Bello  the singer and photographer responsible for Olajumoke, the bread seller turned model.

 

Price of Rice crashes to N8,000 in Ebonyi State

The cheering news was reported by spokesman of Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okoroafor, Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers.

“We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme;   50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,”.

According to him, farmers in Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Cross River states, among others, have already keyed into the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation, he also said that the Anchor Borrowers Programme   for the promotion of Agriculture will make the country  begin exportation of rice by 2017. The development is encouraging and by the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is between six and seven million tons but have surplus to export.

“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier. He further said: “What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths. “Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign."

Okorafor stated that Kebbi State had already harvested one million tons of rice, adding that Ebonyi’s harvest had outstripped the  production target for the year.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT NEURITIS MENDES, MISS AFRICA 2016

It is no longer news that Angolan beauty Neurite Mendes,  emerged winner of the maiden edition of Miss Africa 2016, taking home a cash reward of $25,000 and a new Ford Escape car, nor that she has become the first Miss Africa Climate Change Ambassador.

Dr. Linda Ayade, Wife of the Cross River State Governor, crowning winner of the maiden Miss Africa beauty pageant, Angola’s Neurite Mendes

Mendes is no stranger to the spotlight as she has for some time now, been a presenter at VIP access every Wednesday at 18:30 (Luanda) 19:30 (Maputo), Miss Angola South Africa 2013

A model and International Relations student, she stated in past interviews that her passion has always been for the fashion world and the interconnection between Africa and the rest of the world.

The event made box office record with over 365 million people watching it on television however, despite the pomp and finesse, we must not loose sight of the reason behind the pageant; the need for Africans to go beyond culture and tourism by deepening their knowledge of science and technology.

His words: “This Africa beauty pageant is a journey to climate change which today is a big challenge globally. That is why Cross River State people knowing full well that we hold 58 percent of the entire forest map of Nigeria and by extension Africa, made the choice of the theme which is, “Green economy, a tool for sustainable development” for the world to know that Africa generates less emissions yet bears the brunt of industrialization.”

Congratulations Neurite, you deserve it.

FINAL YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA COMMITS SUICIDE OVER DEBT

Tobechukwu Okeke’s body was found on Sunday morning dangling from a rope in his room at Odenigwe, a community in Nsukka, Enugu State.

A neighbour said the deceased left a note behind where he apologised to his family. The neighbour, who did not want to be named, quoted the note as stating: 

“Mother, Father, brother, I’m sorry. Ify, may your children never suffer. Uncle Mathias, you gave me all. I am sorry. Death calls. Linguistic department, I am sorry. Okeke Tobechukwu S. 2012/185649.”

One of the deceased’s colleagues, who also did not want to be named, said he was given an electrical wiring job to do at the Department of Linguistics in the university, because of his expertise in electrical works.

“I saw him this (Sunday) morning, he seemed to have a problem which he needed money to solve,” the colleague added.

Mrs. Uju Umo, the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, confirmed the incident. She said  “I travelled for a burial last weekend and yesterday I got a text message saying a student had committed suicide, I was told he left a suicide note apologising to his fellow gamblers.”

Chukwu Emmanuel, the university’s Student Union President, also confirmed the incident, and said the matter was being investigated. “There’s no concrete details for now,” he added.

However, the general concesus from people close to the deceased is that he committed suicide because "he was owing too much money!”

This humble reporters summation is, are you sure Nwachuku Daniel Ikechuku is truely Tobechukwu Okeke’s  friend? I'm yet to understand how he could find a loved one dangling on a rope and his first port of call is not how to bring him down and try to resuscitate him but to post his lifeless body on facebook.

Just my 2cents.

Sources: Premium Times, Linda Ikeji's blog

AGRICULTURE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR BOOSTING NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

At the recently concluded KITs Essay Competition in Abuja where I was privileged to judge, one of the contestants stood out.
A thirteen year old with a depth of understanding.
Please enjoy.

NAME: SAMUEL OKWUCHI AKINOLA

AGE: 13 YEARS

School: Command Secondary School Zuma Barracks Kaduna Road Suleja Niger state

It is no longer surprising that at thirteen, children such as myself are fully aware of the poor economic situation in the country. The television which mom insists that I watch in order to listen to the news every day inundates us with

news on the fall of oil price and how Nigeria’s economy is negatively affected by this fall. In my home we have come up with different types of sauces to counter the lack of tomatoes. We have also resorted to pasta to deal with high cost of rice. This is what my teacher would call improvisation! That is, providing alternatives, like when my teacher would say that one could use green leaves as a substitute for green colour, charcoal for pencil, smooth rock for sharpener and so on, this is what thinking out of the box is all about, which is what Nigeria really needs at this time. Necessity they say, is the mother of inventions.

I have often wondered what Nigeria would be like if every one were to plant a tree or any other sort of plant. I am told that there are over 190 million people in Nigeria, imagine if all of us, each planted something! The trees would serve as protection from erosion, flood, provide shade, and when cut will provide endless job opportunities in factories and industries where furniture is produced. The sap from trees could be used for many purposes, the wine from the palm tree can be processed for export as a drink, and the oil from the palm kernel can equally serve as a cash crop. Wouldn’t it look wonderful if there were flowers planted all around? If flowers and trees were planted in some certain sites in Nigeria these could serve as beautiful tourist attraction that people from all over the world would come to see and this would boost

Nigeria’s economy.

My grandma used to tell us about the groundnut pyramids in the north which I once saw on the television, a magnificent sight to behold! Can you imagine if most of us planted groundnuts, how many pyramids we could have?

This will not only serve as tourist attraction but also provide an enormous boost to the Nigerian economy through groundnut oil. If we could all have a tiny fish pond and garden in our back yards every child would learn how to nurture and grow something, I could go on and on and on but my conviction and conclusion is that with the exploitation of agriculture Nigeria’s economy would continue to boom!

Chef or Genius? You decide

A friend of mine invited me for a culinary class, being the curious ... errr...person I am (cough**) I decided to stop by.
(I even got to taste)

I met Chef Priscilla Umeda, an extraordinary woman with a great passion and skill (the owner of Priscilla's Kitchen LLC) entrepreneur and Chef extraordinaire. I got her to share her story, ideologies and plans for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Q: Where are you from exactly?

I am from Odiabidi, Ahoada East, in Rivers State of Nigeria

Q: What made you go into food in the first place, or did you just have love for FOOD?

Growing up, farming was a must know as a girl child.

Understanding where food comes from; how it is cultivated, harvested and cooked, inspired me.

I’m from a large family of 8 and was the only girl child for a long time before my youngest sister came. My mother made it my responsibility to ensure my siblings were fed. 

Consequently when I left college with a degree in Business Administration and knowing that I lacked the connections to land me a plushy job I taught myself cake making. It became a business, so when I eventually traveled to the US I found out that food was way much more than I thought it was. That was what inspired me to go to the culinary school. I wanted to be the best at food.

Q: And how long have you been cooking professionally?

About 16 years now.

Q: You recently returned to Nigeria for this course, what would you say is the driving force behind this upheaval?

We need to change the dynamism of the food service industry in Nigeria. We have potential here; preparations and presentations are very important but we need to add business management to it. 

Nobody will give you their business to manage if you do not have a financial management background or know-how. It doesn’t take a lot. This is part of what I taught the first class. Food costs, plate cost etc.

Unfortunately, there are too few Nigerians in reputable food service industries here. Name one hotel or high end restaurant with a Nigerian as a F & B Manager or Executive Chef. If there are, it will be few.

We need to redefine our Nigerian food, put it on the 'global' map and present better without losing its authenticity.

So, I am here to bridge the gap through education, empowerment and mentorship.

Q: Wow, that’s all well and good but is this course really for Nigerians? You pointed out quite clearly that too few Nigerians are put in the position of F&B, surely there must be a reason for it?

Food is beyond cooking your Nationality. You need to learn to cook with cost in mind, like every other trend, you need to attune food to today’s refined palate.

If a diner’s palate is refined, then they no longer want what you have been cooking since the world began. They want food of today. In other to stay afloat in business; you must adapt.

I’m here to teach using Nigerian products to achieve International standards, not just to learn taste and techniques but to also learn presentation.

Furthermore, Nigerians are smart, industrious people. With the right know how, they can take over and overcome any challenge presented to them.

Q: That is indeed wonderful, is this the first time you have been back to the country since you relocated?

No, I’ve been here several times. I worked as GM of Genesis Center, I shot and aired a cooking show on CMTV,  I was also contracted by Rivers State Government to teach 100 women Catering Services. 

These opportunities were short lived because of restiveness in the area at the time, among other reasons.

Q: So why this? Why now? What would you say informed your decision to start a culinary course?

My experience in one of the places I worked did it for me. Nigerian cooks were not earning to their highest potential yet the expatriates that worked in the same kitchen were well paid and well respected even though they could ONLY cook Chinese/ International cuisines. 

My heart bled and knew I had to do something.  I grew up in this country and I know what it’s like not having someone to encourage you, not having someone to show you how to make a name for yourself.  90% of Nigerians are hard working, once you show them ‘the how’ they will go far.

Q: What did you do?

I am a Starbucks addict, so returning from the states I had cases of the product. I had 105 employees and when I got to work in the morning I made coffee for each and every one of them. In that brief span of time,(we all had to go back to work and could not be late) I encouraged them and let them know that they could be better. 

I told them they had the necessary skill sets and all they needed was to put it to work. 

I didn't focus on the cooks alone, I advised that they didn't settle at being security guards, cleaners, dish washers (except if that was their passion). 

With the cooks, I knew I had to do something and to empower them through education. Sometimes I would personally do a hands-on demo, Other times I would instruct and let them carry out by adding their touch to it.

Food is a billion dollar industry and Nigeria is a virgin market for what I have to offer. A lot of people do not understand culinary arts and that’s why am here…to make a difference. 

It’s time that our brothers and sisters who are passionate about food be motivated and trained to be at par with today’s Food service management trend and be given opportunities to be in high places as well as ignite new passion for culinary arts.

Q: How has advertising for this program been conducted?

For now, it has mainly been by word of mouth. 

These are my first set of students on this program and we are currently looking for a bigger kitchen in order to accommodate all the culinary students we are bound to have. 

As you can see, we’ve already outgrown our current space which tells you that the land has been yearning for this and am glad I yielded to this call. 

We need lots of publicity. I am self-sponsoring it for now. It is my hope that ministry of women affairs, churches, food and hospitality sectors, government and even individuals etc. all come on board to support what we are doing here. Think of how many job opportunities and entrepreneurship skills we could generate after graduation. 

While we may not solve everyone’s problem, we can assist them get a skill set to generate their own income.

Q: What advice do you have for this first graduating class?

Complacency is death sentence! I teach you techniques, you put them to creative use. I am one email away; if you have a question, tweet me, email, drop a line on my website and we will continue empower you unto creative productive end!

FIRST GRADUATING CLASS.

Priscilla's Kitchen Live in Lagos