http://www.timelessnewspaper.com/

• The Essence of Christmas by Ituah Ighodalo;
• Christmas Chocolate Delights;
• Weight Loss with a Nigerian Diet by Titilope Oyelade;
• Choosing that Special Christmas Gift for that Special Him or Her by Tola Awoyemi;
• Are we telling our Men the Truth by Tola Asabo;
• Interview with Kehinde Dacosta-Lawrence;
• Finding & Keeping the Right Workforce by Bukola Idowu,
• Tolu Ifekoya on Samson Siasia's appointment - is he the Messiah we have been waiting for in Nigerian football;
• The Feet, Finger and Face that Speaks by Taiwo Tunkarimu 
• The Introverted Personality - its not wrong, its just different by Shola Adu-Okubote;
• How to Never Lose an Argument by Adebowale Jeff Johnson

All these and much more in TIMELESS.

http://www.timelessnewspaper.com/

 

AN UNBEATABLE TIMELESS OFFER - 20-50% DISCOUNT ON ALL ADVERTS FOR JANUARY EDITION

Book and confirm your adverts for your products and services in our January edition between now and Friday December 17 and get between 20 and 50% discounts on your advert placements. Full Waivers on Special Positions, see below (based on first come first basis). Free Artwork Design also for your adverts.


ADVERT RATES


COLOUR
Centre-Spread N350, 000

Full Page N200, 000

Half-Page N120, 000

Quarter-Page N75, 000

Front Page 25cm by 6cm Strip N125, 000

Inside Pages 25cm by 6cm Strip N50, 000



BLACK & WHITE
Two-page Spread N250, 000

Full Page N150, 000

Half-Page N90, 000

Quarter-Page N50, 000

Inside Pages 25cm by 6cm Strip N30, 000



Loose Inserts @ N5, 000 per 1000 copies & Handling Charges of N20, 000

Four Consecutive Placements attracts a Free Placement

Special Positions such as centre-spread, inside front cover, inside back cover, and back cover attracts a 25% surcharge

All artworks are to be submitted on CDs/Flash Drives along with proofs or sent by email in Jpeg or PDF to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk

ALL BANK DRAFTS/CHEQUES ARE TO BE MADE PAYABLE TO TIMELESS COURAGE PUBLISHING LIMITED


FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL: 01-4358330, 08026861642, 08023851601

TIMELESS MAGAZINE - Compelling Content, Innovative Design

Nigeria at 50: Leading Change by Ituah Ighodalo

By Ituah Ighodalo

What is Change?
Change can be positive or negative. Something can change from the better for worse and something can change from bad to good. In our context in this article, we are looking at change as that process of transforming something from what it is to the best it can be. It can also be defined as the process of making things better and making better things continuously.

Why must things Change?
The world itself is constantly changing. We have had several world orders that have brought one form of change or the other to the world through their cultures and technologies or way of life. The Assyrian Empire – The Babylonian Empire – The Persian Empire – The Greek Empire – The Roman Empire. The British Empire. What happened during Noah’s time is not what is happening today. There have been changes in knowledge, changes in thinking, changes in circumstances, changes in lifestyle, changes in attitude, changes in the economy.

From our perspective of positive change, there is always a better way of doing things. Before the advent of colour television, we had black and white TVs; before that there was TV without sound. Now we have the Cable News Network and satellite TV. We have had the Betamax, the VHS, the CD, the DVD and now the Blueray. The GSM phone technology and email have now become common place. Before we had to rely on telegram and analog phones for our communication purposes.

There is something waiting to be discovered by you. The men and women that led these discoveries and made these changes of monumental proportions are men of like mind like you and I. They did not have two heads, or four eyes or 15 fingers. They were willing to pay the price to see change and be the change agent. They were willing to lead change.

At 50, Nigeria must change
What was Nigeria like in the 50s, 60s, and 70s? Nigerian universities were amongst the best in the Commonwealth in the 60s. We were the leading exporters of cash crops like cocoa, oil palm, and groundnut. Our green passport was highly respected. Nobody frowned at you or looked upon you with contempt for owing and carrying one. Sometimes in the 1970s, our then Head of State stated unequivocally that lack of money was not our problem but how to spend the much available money. We lent money to other nations. The naira exchanged at good rates with the dollar and the pound. Nigerians didn’t have to travel abroad for medical check-up.

What is the situation like today? There is no power supply; the roads are bad, our medical infrastructure is so deplorable that treating malaria and typhoid has become a problem for our doctors, there is no food and people are going hungry, education is poor with those who can afford it sending their children to US, UK and even Ghana, Botswana and South Africa for higher education; the private schools hae virtually taken over the primary and secondary school sectors yet there is no improvement in WAEC and NECO scores. Unemployment is at an all time low, our currency and economy are weak and cannot support basic manufacturing and trading processes and the attitude of the people towards their nation is weak and deplorable. In short things are tough.

Why are things the way they are?
How did we get to the situation we have found ourselves in? Several reasons could be adduced for our problems with the main one being leadership or a lack of it. We have had poor, uneducated, uniformed, visionless, uncommitted leadership by largely selfish and ignorant people who lack proper training and character.

David Cameron, the British Prime Minister comes from a generation of leaders who have held positions of responsibility and accountability. The opposition Labour party in the UK is led by the Miliband brothers, who also descend from a generation of leaders. In the US, a relatively younger nation than Britain; you must demonstrate your leadership track record that has benefitted society. People come from the Congress to become Senators and Governors before saying they want to be President or Vice Presidents. People are also held accountable. Same in Singapore, Malaysia, even India and I dare say Ghana. In Nigeria, we have enforced a process that never brought up the best.

You cannot give what you don’t have.

How do we change or lead a change?
(1) We must be ready and willing to change: there must be a willingness to leave the past and move into the future. Change cannot happen if the people are stuck in a time warp unwilling to move forward.

(2) We must see the change: This is where vision comes in. We need people who can communicate that change to others. Myles Munroe at a seminar earlier in the year said “you can only lead people to the degree of the future that you have gone yourself. The act of leadership is taking people from where they are to where they have never been before. The result of true leadership is discomfort and change. The most important source of leadership is vision.” The change we yearn for must be something that can be easily communicated to others.

(3) We must find the people with the appropriate character to lead the change: leadership is all about personality and character. Again it was Myles Munroe that said “an army of sheep led by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.” It’s all about character. Nigeria, a nation of 150 million people is not short of human resource. It’s just that the system keeps throwing up those with corrupt and questionable characters. That must change.

(4) We must put in the processes for change: Processes in our educational, religious, electoral, and legislative and governance systems that will bring about change must be put in place. If someone has tried a process that works that brings about change, that process must be documented and taught to others and replicated across all spheres of our society.

(5) We must commit to and be faithful to the change: We must be ready as a people and as a nation to endure the hardships and the consequences that the change will bring about. Change is not always easy. People naturally will always want to remain in their comfort zones. They have to be forced to change their thinking, their attitude, their way of life. We must be faithful as a nation to such changes

What do we need to lead change?
(1) Education

(2) Vision

(3) Determination

(4) Strength & Hardwork

(5) Truth, Boldness, Honesty, Integrity

(6) Capacity, Skill and Gift

(7) Fairness

What do we need to do for Nigeria?
(1) Corruption must stop: We must discourage corruption at all levels. Corruption does not take place only in government. At religious organisations, private offices, schools, even our homes, we must discourage all forms of corrupt practices.

(2) People must be enlightened, informed and emboldened: We must bring our people out of ignorance and fear. A situation where our leaders continue to enslave the people in order to lord it over them must stop.

(3) We must insist on clean electoral processes: The people must rise up and get involved in the electoral process. No more armchair politicking. We must all register to vote, go out to vote on election days, monitor the whole process in our different areas and generally get involved.

(4) We must search for right leadership with the right character and proven track record, encourage and support them to participate

You must be ready to get involved at whatever level, starting with yourself and your environment. It is possible and Yes, We can. God bless Nigeria.

The TIMELESS SOGA Reading & Phonics Workshop for Teachers/Parents/School Heads

Helping a child learn to read, is a gift that will last a lifetime. How prepared are our teachers, parents and school heads in helping children acquire this gift?

This workshop will cover phonics, reading, writing, speaking and vocabulary related programmes and activities. Participants will leave with invaluable tips, guidance, information and materials to help their children and students learn better and faster. By applying the techniques learnt in this workshop, your child/student will not only have greatly improved reading skills, but his/her comprehension will increase as well. The workshop will also focus on how to help children with reading difficulties.

Workshop Topics:
• Pronunciations
• Memory
• Sound Segmenting
• Sound Blending
• Processing Speed
• Attention
• Visualization
• Reading Fluidity

Fee: N10, 000 (Ten Thousand Naira)

Date: Saturday November 20, 2010

Time: 12 pm – 4 pm

Venue: Plot 144, Gbagada Expressway, Beside ISN House, Just Before TREM HQ, Anthony Oke Bus Stop, Gbagada- Oworonshoki Expressway, Lagos

Registration
Interested participants should register by sending their names, organisations, phone numbers and email addresses to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk. To complete the registration, participants should kindly pay the sum of Ten Thousand Naira (N10, 000) into our account with details as follows:

ACCOUNT NAME: TIMELESS COURAGE PUBLISHING LIMITED
BANK: OCEANIC BANK
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0351101005381

We encourage schools to bring this workshop to the notice of their parents and teachers and encourage/facilitate their involvement as schools that have group bookings of a minimum of 5 participants qualify for a free B/W 25 by 6 cm strip advert space in TIMELESS magazine (worth N30,000.) Schools with group bookings of 10 participants qualify for a free colour quarter page advert (worth N75, 000).

For further details and or enquiries please call:
Ayodeji Jeremiah
01-4358330, 08026861642

A Question of Leadership

“I have read the obituaries of leaders, but never have I seen a birth announcement for a leader. I can only deduct that somewhere between birth and death, by training, by choice and by strength of character, people become leaders.” –from Success Mark Cards.

As Nigeria celebrates its 50th independence anniversary, there is need for some soul searching and reflection. Looking at the situation of Nigeria today, it is obvious that one of our major challenges is that of leadership. Poor leadership has stifled our growth and stopped us from achieving our potential. But it is never too late. As we celebrate this jubilee and prepare for the next round of elections, it is important to once again look at the attributes and principles of leadership. If those aspiring to leadership can learn these principles and practise them, we will be in a much better situation and not only at the national political level. Corporate and religious organisations are becoming increasingly interested in the subject and its intricacies as it is becoming increasingly obvious that leadership is a major need for today’s generations and those yet to come. From small churches to major political parties and corporate organisations to countries around the world, decisions being made by those at the helm of affairs continue to affect us all in minute and major ways in our everyday lives. Leadership is one of my favourite subjects and in this article; I share with you some of what I have learnt over the past several years.

Leadership can change the mindset and mentality of the followers. Leadership can create action where there was hesitation; courage where there was cowardice; optimism where there was cynicism, and strength where there was weakness. A leader can create a spirit of hope where there was despair. Leadership determines the mentality, the destiny, the attitude, and the commitment of the followers. The act of leadership is taking people from where they are to where they have never been before. The result of true leadership is discomfort and change.

The Need for Clarity
Leadership according to experts underscores the need for clarity. The nature of leadership demands that there always be an element of uncertainty. Uncertainty is not an indication of poor leadership; it underscores the need for leadership. It is the environment in which good leadership is most easily identified. If we all know what to do in every situation at all times, if we are all able to stand up at any given moment and give directions with absolute certainty, there would be no need for leadership. Leadership therefore means being clear even in the face of uncertainty and not allowing uncertainty to paralyse people, systems and processes.

The Need for Vision
Leadership is at its best when the vision is strategic, the voice is persuasive and the results tangible. Whether with a few supporters or in front of a nation, great leaders consistently offer their vision of both what should be and how it should be achieved. A powerful vision is a precondition for leading a company, church or country at any point in time. It is a persuasive picture of where you want to go, how you want to get there and why anybody should follow. The most important source of leadership is vision.

The Need for Coaching
Coaching enables a leader to go farther and faster. A human resources director was once asked to give an advice on leadership especially on how to get the best out of people and he replied listen, listen and listen. Leaders who resist coaching always end up in a rut. Age and experience don’t necessarily make us better. Age and experience have a tendency to leave us in a rut doing the same thing, the same way with no one around to spur us toward change. Cognitive intelligence is a prerequisite for most leadership positions but what distinguishes those who move up to those positions is what someone once referred to as emotional intelligence. This is the ability to be self-aware and self-regulating, empathetic and compassionate and skilled at bringing out the best in people around you, you will hear what you need to know and inspire what they need to do. One of the worst things that can happen to a leader is isolation; when he stops hearing from his troops and becomes the last to know what is going on. That tends to happen if the followers believe that the leader knows it all.

The Need for Character
The decisions and actions that a leader makes and takes on an hourly, daily weekly, monthly and yearly basis are what inform his or her character. You can lead without character but you would not be a leader worth following. Character provides leaders with the moral authority necessary to bring together the people and resources needed to further an enterprise. To build character a leader must be able to imbibe good qualities such as kindness, dignity, fairness, and integrity. It is character that determines the leader’s legacy. In surveys by consulting firms on what values or personality traits or characteristics people admire most in company managers, top sales people and entrepreneurs; the category that consistently scored the highest mark was integrity and truthfulness. Most people in another survey place more trust in their religious leaders than in their political leaders for the same reason that religious leaders are perceived as being truthful, honest and having integrity. Someone once defined character as the will to do what’s right even when it’s hard. Leaders committed to maintaining their character will often say no to what many would perceive to be the opportunity of a lifetime. The willingness to say no is what sets the leader with character apart from the pack.

Mahatma Ghandi’s Leadership Principles
(1) Politics without principles will destroy people

(2) Pleasure without conscience will destroy people

(3) Wealth without work will destroy people

(4) Knowledge without character will destroy people

(5) Science without humanity will destroy people

(6) Business without morality will destroy people

(7) Worship without sacrifice will destroy people

Important Attributes of Leaders
(1) They believe nothing is impossible

(2) They believe there is no one way of solving any problem

(3) They never accept limitations

(4) They are not afraid to fail

(5) They are willing to try anything once

(6) They challenge their own successes

(7) They engage the unknown with faith and courage

'There is nothing cool about not being able to write and speak in good English'

“Awww!!!dz ryt here z ma pwity gurl swag>>recognise i'm back!!!i've misd ma crib!!!”


“Dt wz a gr8 parry d oder nght.”

“Yestda, dat I thot wuld b niz nded bd”

“I m wit u 4eva. Hv a 9ice wk.!

The above are just some examples of text messages, Blackberry chats and Facebook posts I see and come across. The senders range anywhere between 18 years of age and 30 years of age. A standard SMS message allows you 160 characters. Blackberry chats are unlimited and Facebook Wall Posts allow you at least 400 words.

It is understandable when you are trying to pass across a message using 160 characters but what excuse does anyone have to start sending or posting incomprehensible messages on Facebook and during Blackberry chats.

The culture instituted by the introduction of the 160 character message limit has now become so ingrained in our teenagers and youths that a lot of them do not have the capacity to summarise, write and post intelligible messages even when they are not hindered by character limits.

At the last WAEC examinations results, 90% of the students could not pass the English Language. Considering the fact that all other subjects are administered and marked in English, why then are we complaining about mass examination failure. Even science subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Agricultural Science have to be set and answered in the English Language.

One of the most difficult aspects of my job is going through application or cover letters and resumes. You see students who have spent four years in the University who cannot write an application letter nor put together a resume. The average busy Recruitment Manager spends less than a minute to go through a three page CV and make the decision of calling or not calling the applicant for an interview. These are not things you teach at the university level. These are things that students are expected to have grasped by the time they are finishing secondary school.

In this age of the Internet, where Google and Facebook are the top two most visited sites on the net, no one wants to read and write any longer. But the truth of the matter is that whether we are reading and writing using old fashioned paper or reading and writing using the computer, the iPad, the phone or the Internet, the rules of reading and writing remain the same.

Sometimes in January this year, an aspiring 20-something year old journalist asked me to visit his blog. The blog was badly designed and the articles were badly written and edited. No one, except if they are like you too would want to read your badly written notes on Facebook or your poorly written blog. No one would want to read your wall posts filled with spelling mistakes or grammatical error for that matter.

Mark Zuckerberg designed and developed Facebook in 2004 for people between 19 and 25 years of age. Today, the fastest growing demographic on Facebook are those between 35 and 45 years of age. Wow! What does that statistic tell me? It tells me that Facebook has gone beyond being just a social media to a professional and business tool. Used properly, you can attract the right networks and opportunities for your future but I can assure you, you will put people off if you cannot communicate properly, answer messages properly and chat properly.

English Language is our lingua franca, it’s a beautiful language, it’s the second most spoken language in the world and it continues to be a global means of communication. Comprehension, Grammar, Spelling, Essay Writing and Summary are some of the things taught at School Certificate English. These things are learnt not by reading notes or even sitting down listening to a teacher in class but by constant practice through reading and writing.

There is nothing cool about not being able to write and communicate in good English neither is there anything old fashioned about being able to write and speak good English.

The New Revamped Timeless Magazine

The New Revamped Timeless Magazine

compelling content… innovative design

Out with a facelift, new look, feel & style; TIMELESS, Nigeria’s premier newsmagazine keeps you updated on the latest news, fashion, business and lifestyle issues.

The fascinating August Edition is a ‘must have’ for every individual and the family. Check out articles by the Editor in Chief, Ituah Ighodalo, inspiring life issues on women’s growth and generally lifestyle by Shola Okubote of Femme Lounge, Ayodeji Jeremiah on ‘Being a Wife and a Mother ain’t Easy’, Bill Gates on ‘Making Capitalism more Socially Responsible, A Kaleidoscope of South Africa 2010 and Tayo Olanrewaju of Delightsome Land School on Kids and Parenting.

Also Bisi Adewale on ‘What Manner of Husband Are You,? IBM on a new perspective on the corporate workforce and ‘Fashion Mistakes Men should avoid’.

Look out for the outstanding new Timeless Magazine and enjoy a thrill of fulfillment as you read through.

Call 01-4358330 for further information, subscription and advertisement.

Being a wife and a mother ain’t easy!

Maureen has just lost her husband, no he didn’t die; he just packed his bags and left. She was left alone to cater for four children, the oldest being thirteen, the youngest being six. Jim, her husband had been having financial and mental health problems and felt the best solution was to leave the city and head back to the village. Maureen disagreed with him on this point. What would they go and be doing in the village? It wasn’t as if he had a job waiting for him there. They were not farmers. They had lived all their lives in the city since they got married. All their children were born in the city and were still in school. How would they continue their schooling? Would they go and be living in the one room shack his family was going to provide for them in the village? They had no one they could depend on. He had been the backbone of the family providing for his parents and siblings. Eventually, one day after all the arguments and fighting, he packed his bags and just left. He never looked back. Thirteen years was gone just like that.




Maureen had been educated to secondary school level and had stopped. While the going was good, she had never thought of setting up a business for herself. She had not educated herself beyond the secondary school level and had not acquired more skills. She had been what is popularly known as a house wife – a wife that stays at home, looks after the husband and the children on a full time basis. When she had to do something, without her and the children becoming destitute, she wound up with a phone call business selling recharge cards and making calls for people but how much could she make from that on a daily basis to take care of herself and her four children. She had to pay house rent, buy foodstuff, buy books for the children, buy clothes for them and such other basic life needs. She still had to depend eventually on handouts from her own and her husband’s family.



Recently at a church in Lagos, I overhead a group of young women in their thirties discussing; they were all married with children. What however got my attention was that all of them without exception when asked what they were doing for a living described themselves as ‘full time’ housewives. If I may ask, what exactly does that mean? Are there part time wives and mothers out there? Being a wife and a mother is a full time job but does not necessarily translate into not having a trade or business or a job. Does it mean that a woman cannot be a good wife and mother and not have a career, trade, business or volunteer work she is involved in?



Being a wife and a mother ain’t easy! But that does not mean our women should not be meaningfully engaged in career or business pursuits in addition to taking care of their husbands and children. Even if your husband is the world’s richest man, does that mean you should not develop yourself mentally, financially and be engaged in something outside of the home front. I am not even talking about having an 8-5 job. Being involved in a trade or volunteer work is also part of it. This has got nothing to do with women’s liberation. It’s about common sense and empowering our wives and mothers. Some of our mothers and grandmothers were not as educated as the present generation but they were involved in trades, businesses and developed skills outside of the home front.



In Africa, women still do not have access to their husbands’ properties, finances and such. Unlike in developed countries, where the woman favoured by the legal system and is taken care of financially in the case of a divorce; our women here in Africa are at the mercies of a legal and cultural system that encourages profligate men. While men are encouraged to take care of their wives and children’s financial responsibilities; women are being encouraged to develop themselves for themselves, not because they want to take over the responsibilities in the home, not because they want to flaunt their wealth, not because they want to walk away from their responsibilities as a wife and mother. It’s just because its good for them to do so. And in the event that the husband or father or brother dies or just deserts a woman, such a woman will be in position to move on in life without becoming destitute or over dependent on others.

An Evening with Patricia

VACANCY FOR SENIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

VACANCY FOR SENIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Vacancy exists for this position in a media/publishing firm involved in the production of books, magazines and newspapers. A first degree in any field. Fresh graduate or maximum of two years work experience. Female preferred. An excellent command of written & spoken English. Must have drive and ability to work without supervision and stay calm under pressure. Attention to detail and ability to manage time effectively. Self motivation and ability to use own initiative. Must have flair for reading and writing. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is compulsory and knowledge of any of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Reader, CorelDraw, Adobe Indesign will be an added advantage.

Functions:

 support editorial staff including acting as a personal assistant to editors

 liaise with writers, photographers, printers, designers and production staff to negotiate and monitor timescales for stages in the publishing process

 organise and research projects to tight deadlines

 amend and correct articles and manuscripts; summarise written material; update and rewrite material;

 assess manuscripts and make recommendations on their publication to senior editorial staff

 routine administrative tasks

 writing own articles and reports

 using your own specialist knowledge to contribute ideas

 source for freelancers or other writers/authors to produce new materials

 assist with the art direction and design of publications



Interested applicants should send their CV and a Cover Letter stating the advertised position as their subject to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk

TIMELESS Media & Communications Training Workshop

THMP holds Emerging Leaders Summit

Ituah Ighodalo, John Dara, Omasan Buwa, Matilda Kerry, George Ashiru, Akintokunbo Adejumo, Patricia Omoqui and Theunis Van Rensburg speak on leadership principles, practices and potential

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Mr. John Dara, Dr. Matilda Kerry, Revd George Ashiru and Mr. Akintokunbo Adejunmo
 

Saturday June 26 witnessed the gathering of some of Nigeria’s top emerging leaders under the auspices of the Town Hall Meeting Project, a project convened by George Ashiru. The six hour program anchored and moderated by Ayodeji Jeremiah, (Editor TIMELESS) and Lilian Imoni, (Project Coordinator SIEF) featured video presentations by the Thought Dr. and internationally recognized speaker, life coach and writer Patricia Omoqui and the South African IT specialist, visionary and activist, Theunis Van Rensburg. Other speakers at the occasion were Editor-in-Chief of TIMELESS magazine, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; the convener, Revd George Ashiru; presidential candidate of the National Transformation Party, Mr. John Dara; former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (1987) and now Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Ms. Omasan Buwa; another former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (2000) Dr. Matilda Kerry; and founder and Global Coordinator of Champions For Nigeria, Mr. Akintokunbo Adejumo.

A cross section of participants at the summit

The discussions centred on topics like Transforming Nigerian Politics; Is Nigeria a Country or a Nation; Why I am in Politics; The Kind of Leader Nigeria Needs; Activating Our Visions; Nigeria: Past, Present and Future amongst others.

Lilian Imoni and Ayodeji Jeremiah
 

THMP is a cause dedicated to the collation of the views, ideas, ideals, values and mission concerning the Nigerian nation with the primary goal of having a popularly influenced blueprint in 10 areas of much needed reform in community, state and national existence. THMP, which is also involved in community action, good governance and citizenship initiatives, is completely apolitical and secular in its scope and nature. The members and coordinators are volunteers and patriots who are dedicated to the well being of the Governance and people of Nigeria.

A cross section of participants at the summit

The group held the summit as part of its objectives in raising and empowering a new generation of leaders, and as part of its mission in providing forums where Nigerians can tackle various issues of national importance through brainstorming.

Mrs. Eniola Afolabi and Revd George Ashiru

Here is a summary of major points at the discourse:

1. Not all leaders are born, a lot are made. Even those born into leadership have to be taught leadership traits and principles.

2. Leadership should be taught from childhood and the teenage years. Organisations such as the Boys Scout should be reinvigorated across the country.

3. Leadership is all about fixing problems and not about looting or abandoning ship when things go wrong.

4. Future leaders have to be mentored.

5. Mentors have to see the potential in others, set achievable goals for their protégés, accept their protégés and show genuine love, care and concern and celebrate their successes.

6. Nigerians have to get actively involved in the political and electoral process rather than just complaining all the time. ‘We have to walk our talk.’

7. Nations move forward because citizens have confidence in their leaders. This is called social mobilization. It is time Nigerians start having leaders that they can have confidence in.

8. Drastic and sacrificial solutions are needed to change Nigeria. Nigerians must be ready to make such sacrifices.

9. We need visionary leaders that can address the faulty foundations on which our country was built.

10. We need good people as leaders who can talk to the people, be accountable to the people, selfless and passionate leaders who are intelligent and can think, and who are ready to work tirelessly hard for Nigeria.

11. Values such as hard work, truth, honesty, intelligence and integrity need to be brought back and celebrated in our country.

12. Nigeria is a great country with all the necessary human and mineral resources. What is therefore lacking are good people who are available but unwilling to offer themselves for leadership positions because of the complexities of the system. We need to look for such people.

13. It is time that religious organisations, schools and families start teaching people how to be good people in the society.

14. Leaders are planners. Aspiring leaders must start building skills that will enable them prepare adequately for future leadership positions.

15. We need discipline to build a great country and such discipline must start from our individual lives, homes and churches or mosques. Discipline by legislation as witnessed during the Buhari/Idiagbon regime should be eschewed by all Nigerians.

16. Rebuilding Nigeria is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

Project 1960: Do you know any Nigerian born in October 1960?

Project 1960 is research aimed at discovering, studying and documenting the lives of 50 Nigerians born in October 1960. The stories of these people will be used to tell the story of Nigeria, its culture and traditional beliefs, its politics, its good qualities and its challenges and also carry out an appraisal of the country as a nation.


The project will tell the story of our dear country from another perspective and also serve as a valuable material to all Nigerians, Africans and the world at large who want to study Nigeria and its people in a unique way. It will also serve in profiling solutions to our overwhelming problems as a nation while bringing hope to the younger generation.

The project will involve interviews with 50 Nigerians born in October 1960, which will then be compiled in a book form. The book will also feature a detailed introduction on the pre and post independence history of the nation.
 
Are you a Nigerian, born October 1960? If your answer is yes, then please send the following details below to the email address provided and get ready to be part of the Project 1960. Following the receipt of your details, we will contact you to set up an interview.


Details Needed
Name
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Gender
Country of Residence
Phone Number
Email Address

RCCG Apapa Family holds Third Annual Excel Conference

... endows N45 million Professorial Chair in Mathematics at University of Ibadan

... E. A. Adeboye, Myles Munroe, Rotimi Amaechi, Agu Irukwu speak on Leading Change

Pastor Adeboye being welcome on his arrival at TBS, venue of the programme

The third in the series of the annual Excel conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Apapa Family group of churches took place on Saturday, June 5, 2010 and Sunday, June 6, 2010 with the theme ‘Leading Change.’ The programme started with the Leadership Summit and Dinner held at the New Banquet Hall of Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday June 5 at 5.00pm while the Celebration Service held on Sunday June 6 at 7.00 am at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos with Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God ministering. Other speakers at the two day conference were Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Executive Governor of Rivers State; Dr. Myles Munroe of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International and Pastor Agu Irukwu, Senior Pastor of RCCG Jesus House in London.

Pastor Bret Johnson with Professor Joe Irukwu

Guests at the Leadership Summit and Dinner included Princess Sarah Sosan, Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Professor Anya Anya; Elder S.M. and Chief Mrs. Toyin Olakunrin; Pastor Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Planning; Dr. And Mrs. Okey Onuzo; Mr. Ranti Akerele, Honourable Commissioner for Information in Ondo State; Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Adegbite, ICAN President; Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, Lagos State Police Commissioner; Pastor Brett Johnson of the Institute for Innovation, Integration and Impact; Professor Joe Irukwu, elder statesman and former chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo; Mr. Atedo Peterside, chairman IBTC Stanbic; Mrs. Bola Adesola, Executive Director, First Bank; Mr. Donald Duke, former Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State and Mr. Chike and Mrs. Funke Ogeah, former MD of SAHCOL.

Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade and Princess Sarah Sosan

Pastors of the Redemmed Christian Church of God present at the occasion were Pastor Bimpe Mfon, matriarch of the Apapa Family; Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, host and head of the Apapa Family; Pastor Deola Mensah, head of RCCG Lagos Province 5; Pastor Remi Morgan, head of RCCG Lagos Province 24; Pastor Sola Balogun, head of RCCG Lagos Province 15; Pastor Jide Ojurongbe, head of RCCG Oyo Province 4; Pastor Ghandi Olaoye, Senior Pastor of RCCG Jesus Centre, Washington DC; Pastor Ayo Adesola; Pastor Tokunbo Adesanya and Pastor Femi Atoyebi, head of Lagos Province 2 amongst others.

Dr. Myles Munroe, Pastor Ghandi Olaoye and Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Pastor Idowu Iluyomade in his welcome address enumerated the various social responsibility projects of the family saying the mandate of the family marks its members out as people and leaders of change and distinction. Amongst the various social responsibility projects include the endowment of a Professorial Chair in Mathematics at the University of Lags for the sum of N50 million naira last year and the endowment of another N45 million Professorial Chair in Mathematics at the University of Ibadan, which was presented at this year’s conference. On hand to receive the cheque were Professor Adigun Agbaje, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics); Professor K.O. Adebowale, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Dr. E.O. Ayoola, HOD of the Department of Mathematics, all of the University of Ibadan. Pastor Iluyomade speaking on the theme of this year’s conference said what drives change is leadership and leaders have to take ownership of initiatives that will bring change and galvanise the political and social system.

Pastor Adeboye presenting a N48 million cheque to officials of the University of Ibadan

Mrs. Sosan in her address asked for God’s blessings upon the RCCG Apapa Family acknowledging the great strides the family has made in Nigeria. She said the work of the family helps the state government in solving most of the problems of the state and in alleviating poverty. Dr. Munroe commended the governors of Lagos and Rivers state for their leadership noting the great works both are doing in their respective states. Governor Rotimi Amaechi asked Nigerians to get actively involved in the electoral process and ensure that everyone’s votes count in the forthcoming elections. He said this is the only way to make leaders accountable to the people.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Master of Ceremony and Chairman, Planning Committee

Dr. Munroe in his delivery spoke on the Cost of Change. Leadership, he said can change the mindset and mentality of the followers. Leadership can create action where there was hesitation, courage where there was cowardice, optimism where there was cynicism, and strength where there was weakness. A leader can create a spirit of hope where there was despair. Leadership he said determines the mentality, the destiny, the attitude, and the commitment of the followers. “An army of sheep led by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. Nothing changes without effective, sensitive and spiritually based leadership. Leadership is the cause of all our problems and also the solution to all our problems. You can only lead people to the degree of the future that you have gone yourself. The act of leadership is taking people from where they are to where they have never been before. The result of true leadership is discomfort and change. The most important source of leadership is vision.” He concluded by saying leadership never ends, only leaders end. He also advised present leaders to focus on developing future leaders saying “we must not just focus on change immediately but focus on those who will bring about change in the future.” He commended the family for the setting up of 22 new youth churches within the last one year. 

Pastor Agu Irukwu and Pastor Ghandi Olaoye

Pastor Agu Irukwu in his presentation said the Church is the most important institution with respect to change. He gave examples of countries where major dramatic changes have come about saying the church was in the forefront of such changes. Using Matthew 5:13 as his scripture, he said the change that came about in countries like the United States, Great Britain, and South Korea was brought about largely by the role of the Church. He encouraged the Apapa Family to be in the forefront of change in Nigeria noting that the family was a church birthed in change.

Pastor Bimpe Mfon with Elder and Chief Mrs. Olakunrin

The TIMELESS TIPS (Training in Professional & Soft Skills) Workshop

TIMELESS

Presents

The TIMELESS TIPS (Training in Professional & Soft Skills) Workshop

The workshop is designed to provide basic guidelines and soft skills for people seeking employment, those just getting started in the job market, those changing jobs and those returning to the job market after an absence. It will highlight:




• Cover letter blunders to avoid

• How to write and design a professional looking resume

• How to wow your interviewers in a job interview

• Building a positive image and presenting a professional appearance

• Developing your interpersonal skills

• Developing your personal effectiveness

• Characteristics of high achievers


The workshop will be facilitated by Ayodeji Jeremiah (Editor, Timeless Media Group/Consultant SOGA & INFOVIRTUOSO) and costs a highly subsidised fee of N2, 500.00 per participant.


Dates: Thursday June 24, Friday June 25 and Saturday June 26 (Three Separate Sessions)


Time: 1pm – 5pm (Thursday & Friday), 11am – 3pm (Saturday)


Venue: Plot 144, Gbagada Expressway, Beside ISN House, Just Before TREM HQ,
Anthony Oke Bus Stop, Gbagada-Oworonshoki Expressway, Lagos


Interested participants should register by sending their names, phone numbers and email addresses to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk. Payments will be made after registration


Ayodeji Jeremiah is a writer, editor, trainer and media & communications consultant. He holds a first degree in Biology from the University of Lagos and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. He has over 12 years multi-disciplinary working experience in the Public Relations, Teaching, Information Technology, Media, Administration and Publishing sectors. He is presently the Managing Consultant of INFOVIRTUOSO Media and Communications Consultancy, a Training Consultant with SOGA Verdure Consults and the Group Editor of the TIMELESS Media Group, which publishes TIMELESS Newspaper and the Christian News. He is the author of several books and has over a hundred published articles to his credit. He is also involved in the transcription and editing of Pastors’ and Ministers’ messages, most of which have been published into books. Some of his writings can be found on www.faithwriters.com, www.timelesscourage.blogspot.com, and www.ayodejijeremiah.wordpress.com. He is a speaker at seminars, workshops and summits and a programme planner and event manager for news conferences, exhibitions, summits, awards programmes, competitions, and lectures.

Unleashing Your Brain Power

A seminar delivered by Ayodeji Jeremiah

The human brain is the centre of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. It is responsible for self-control, planning, reasoning, abstract thought, and vision. It monitors and regulates the body's actions and reactions. It continuously receives sensory information, and rapidly analyses such data and then responds, controlling bodily actions and functions. It controls breathing, heart rate, and other autonomic processes and is the centre of higher-order thinking, learning, and memory. It is also responsible for the body's balance, posture, and the coordination of movement. Despite the fact that it is protected by the cranium, it is highly susceptible to injury which can lead to anything from amnesia to dementia to Parkinson’s disease. The human brain is three times as large as that of other animals with the same body weight.


You've probably heard it before that the brain is a muscle that can be strengthened. It's an assumption that has spawned a multimillion-dollar computer-game industry of electronic brainteasers and memory games. Recent research as revealed by Nature Journal has confirmed what a lot of people, scientists and lay people alike have long suspected: that engaging in a particular mental task continually helps you improve on that task (practice makes perfect) but that improvement does not carry over to cognitive function in general.


Brain power basically refers to more effective thinking, better memory, more creative problem-solving, thinking faster, improved memory, comprehending information better and unleashing your brain's full potential, which is the topic of our discussion. If brain power refers to intelligence as inferred from preceding statements, then different people must have different kinds of brain power. Intelligence is generally divided into:


1. Linguistic Intelligence: People who are smart in this area can argue, persuade, entertain or instruct effectively using the spoken word. They often love puns, word games and trivia, read voraciously and write clearly.

2. Logical Intelligence: People with talent in this area have the ability to reason, create hypotheses, think in terms of cause and effect, and find conceptual or numerical patterns in the things around them.

3. Spatial Intelligence: People with spatial ability can perceive, transform and re-create different aspects of the visual spatial world. They are sensitive to visual details, can visualise vividly, orient themselves in three-dimensional space and often draw or sketch ideas.

4. Musical Intelligence: People with this intelligence have a good ear, can keep time, sing in tune, and listen to music with discernment.

5. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: People with gifts in this area are good at controlling their body movements, handling objects skilfully and performing other physical activities.

6. Interpersonal intelligence: Those who have this intelligence are able to perceive and be responsive to the moods, temperaments, intentions and desires of others.

7. Intrapersonal intelligence: People gifted in this area are introspective, good at assessing their own feelings and capable of deep spiritual or intellectual thought.


Of course no one person is limited to one type and the ideal is for us all to have all the different types of intelligence combined, which is not usually the case. It is however up to each and every one of us to make deliberate effort to develop skills and talent in those areas of intelligence we will like to excel in.


Talent therefore is not something we acquire but something we develop. Humans however generally believe that people without a particular natural talent for some activity will never be competitive with those who possess that talent, meaning an inborn ability to do that activity so we engage in something new and, finding that it doesn’t come naturally to us, conclude that we have no talent for it, and so we never pursue it.


In my article, Redefining Success, which reviews two books talking about the issues of success and achievements, (Talent is Overrated by Fortune Senior Editor at Large, Geoff Colvin and Outliers by New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell,) it is argued that successful people are those who have made the most of a series of gifts that have been given to them by their culture or their history or their generation and success is not just about our personality, our intelligence, and all of our innate characteristics. Gladwell advocates what he calls the 10,000-Hour Rule as the most obvious key to success (Colvin also advocates same calling his own, Deliberate Practice.) Studies suggest that the key to success in any field has nothing to do with talent. It's simply practice, 10,000 hours of it. The 10,000-hours rule says that if you look at any kind of cognitively complex field, from playing chess to being a neurosurgeon, we see this incredibly consistent pattern that you cannot be good at what you do unless you practice for 10,000 hours, which is roughly ten years, if you think about four hours a day or 20 hours on a five day week.


What then can we do to significantly improve our brain power and utilise our brain’s full potential?

(1) Be a lifelong learner.

(2) Be slow to speak and quick to hear

(3) Be self aware

(4) Be self motivated

(5) Surround yourself with smart(er) people

(6) Develop an interest in a variety of different things

(7) Keep a journal, diary or booklet

(8) Don’t allow your environment to limit you

(9) Learn to relax and not be too busy

(10) Have and show initiative

10 Surefire Ways To Drive Away Paying Customers

Zayah Uche

Even though the stated objectives of most businesses is to maximize profits by providing the best possible service or products to its customers, I have come to expect to be treated shoddily and possibly insulted whenever I intend to do business with most Nigerian organizations. And I do not think I am alone in this feeling. Somehow most people have come to expect bad service in most places which is why we are pleasantly surprised whenever we do get good service. Since I believe that customers do not just leave but are driven away, I have listed a few easy ways by which businesses can drive away their customers.



Blame it on the rain, the wrapping, or the Government: When customers return something they bought from you with a complaint; peer at them from underneath your browser for a couple of seconds without saying a word, examine the article thoroughly, then ask them in your best imitation of a headmaster's voice 'are you sure you bought this here? Did your dog chew on it, because these here look like dog teeth marks? Whatever you do, never accept the blame, and for good measure tell the customer that you are out of stock on that particular item and will replace it as soon as you restock. Never mind that the shelf behind you is packed with the stuff and the customer can see it.

Offer phantom freebies and promotions: Attach unrealistic conditions to your promotions. If you have one of those 'buy one get one free' offers, be sure that you are always out of stock. When customers come in, just put on your best smile, throw your hands up in mock exasperation and say 'sorry, that lady just walked out with the last one,' just be sure to always add to your promo adverts this qualification WHILE STOCKS LAST! You may also decide to give away stuff unconditionally for a couple of days, but make sure that the giveaways are really cheap and inferior stuff or totally out of fashion. Your customers will gladly reject them.

Treat your customers like they do not know what they want: If you do not have the exact thing a customer wants, offer her something else that is not even close to what she wants in either quality or value. If they decline, try to convince that the one they really want is no good which is why you never stock it. If this fails, give them a seat in your office and tell them to wait while you go find it. Then keep them waiting for ten minutes and when you finally return bring with you something similar to what they originally rejected and tell them it is the only stuff available in the market.

Take sides with your staff against your customers: If you happen to walk in on an argument between your staff and a customer, take sides with your staff. After all, customers come and go, but staff...that is a pain you have to live with. If a customer comes to you complaining about how they were treated by your staff, lean back in your easy chair, yawn, then give them the lowdown on all your problems. Make them understand that their minuscule complaint is the least of your troubles. They will never come complaining to you, ever!

Tell them to leave because you are about to go home: You know how on some days just as you are about to close shop, customers just seem to come rushing out from wherever they have been and keep you thirty minutes longer than you planned to stay. Well you no longer have to endure those inconsiderate 'so and so's,' just wear your best frown and tell them firmly “sorry you cannot stay, and I do not care if your baby has run out of diapers.” If they persist, let them in politely, then lock them in and go on happily to your home. Everybody gets what they want, problem solved.

Cheat them on price: The average person is very trusting and gullible, so when you first open shop, sell your goods at the most competitive prices in the neighborhood. When customers become comfortable with you, begin to inch your prices upwards without improving on quality or service. At the same time become even more aggressive in advertising your shop as the lowest-price-highest-value destination in town. Do not worry about their finding out, people are creatures of habit, once they start buying from you they will not think about your prices, they will just follow their instincts.

Offer the best products at the lowest prices and never let them forget it: Ensure that your shop is always stocked with the best range of products in any product class. Moreover, sell these products at the very best prices. Best value at the lowest prices, an unbeatable combination. But here is the best part, be a total jerk the total time! Let your customers never forget that you are doing them a favour, or that you are special...a gift of God to them. Make them wait, be abrupt when you speak with them and remind them that they can always go someplace else if they do not like your shop. Of course, you know they will not, after-all, you are the special one!

Be extremely business like with your customers: Do not treat them like friends. You know how some customers can begin to get familiar with a business owner, even stopping to say hello when they are not buying. Deal with the problem by never complimenting customers or smiling at them and if you happen to run into one of your customers in town, keep a straight face and be sure not to say 'hello’. This is guaranteed to stop even the most rabidly friendly customers. If it does not work, be mean to their children or their dog, that should get them.

Employ royalty as sales people and cashiers: Permit your staff to suck on lollipops or chew gum while speaking with your customers, they could even pop gum at the customer. If you have a television in the office, put it in a place where staff can get the best view, then let them control the television remote. Also let your staff get into fights and arguments between themselves and keep the customers waiting or better still let the customer get caught in the cross-fire. Your staff is your greatest asset, treat them like royalty.

Never answer the phones or attend to complaints: Have a big scarlet complaints box at your service points and encourage customers to leave any complaints they have in the box. Go even further and provide cards or forms to help customers inform you on the type of service they got but never attend to the complaints. If customers see a complaints box they are less likely to call and bother you with their insignificant grievances. Additionally, just to make your business appear trendy and up to speed, build a website complete with contacts details and all, but never answer that phone, in fact make sure the numbers on the website where delisted ages ago.

Speak Up, Speak Out Public Speaking Seminar by TIMELESS and Engage Skills

Unleashing Your Brain Power Seminar

The Origins of Football

A Global Game:
Trying to pinpoint the exact starting point for what is now the world’s most popular sports is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. England may have been the home of football, but the first instances of foot meeting ball may well have taken place thousands of miles away; and as time moved on, the formative game was being adopted and invented in various guises all across the globe. Nobody took football to the world; the world discovered it in dozens of locations over thousands of years

The China Link:
Traditionalists often talk of the early game being played out with hollow pigs’ bladders which could burst at any moment. Certainly there is some truth in this assumption – today, we believe the earliest incarnation of football to have been played with animal skins in ancient China around 2500 BC. The ‘ball’ was kicked between poles some thirty feet high, and may have served a military purpose; soldiers were trained using the rough-and-tumble of game play and matches were held to mark important dates in the calendar.

A Game of Peace:
By AD 50, the Chinese had named the game ‘tsu chu’ and early records compare the round ball and square goal to Yin and Yang, the ancient symbols of harmony an interesting contrast to the distinctly inharmonious scenes that followed as the game developed. Historians have also suggested that ancient Egyptian fertility rites may have been linked, in some was, to a form of football; however a more plausible stage of development was a Mexican game in AD 600 which involved forcing a ball through a hole in the wall of a specially designed court. Certainly, the Mexicans came up with the first synthetic footballs.

Gang Warfare:
By the time the game was developing in England, it had taken a strangely comic – and occasionally tragic – turn for the worse. The earliest stories of football date from around AD 1100 and involved a crude chasing of a ball through city streets by gangs of youngsters egged on by their parents. There was little organization either in terms of fixtures or rules, yet the foundations for the development of the game in its host country had laid.

Breaking The Rules:
Throughout the next 700 years or so, football became a source of inspiration for the masses and of great consternation to the authorities. Edward II was the first monarch to call for curbs on the ‘uproar’ the game caused – and it seems he may well have had a point. What began as a game of chasing soon developed into near warfare, with scores of players forming sides and causing havoc in urban areas as they rampaged through pitches hundreds of yards long. There were reports of serious injuries and even deaths, as well as complaints from more sedate residents alarmed by the disruption football caused.

Country Troubles:
In rural areas the problem was exacerbated by the vast amounts of space afforded to the game. Whole villages would come out to chase the makeshift ball and the absence or rules meant kicking, punching and crushing were all acceptable. The traditional Shrove Tuesday clashes were particularly troublesome. Successions of English rulers and lawmakers issued edicts attempting to crack down on the game, but it proved near impossible to stop. At the same time, the American Indians had developed a beach version of the game – in which players would disguise themselves in masks to evade blame for dangerous challenges – and the Inuits had begun playing on ice, shooting balls stuffed with grass through goals placed miles apart. Football was taking off in many different ways all over the world.

Saved By The Schools:
Somewhat ironically, it was the public schools who gave the whole affair some order. Oxford and Cambridge had accepted football as a competitive sport as early as the seventeenth century, and Eton, Harrow, Shrewsbury and Rugby quickly followed suit. The implementation of rules worked both ways: with Victorian values gradually disappearing, the schools saw the sport as a vital way to in still discipline, while also disassociating the young gentlemen who played it from the lower classes and their street games. Many still considered football too ‘vulgar’ a game for the upper classes, but by the 1899s it was common practice in public school life. As a result, the people’s game began to take shape in the last bastions of the aristocracy.

25 Selected World's Greatest Footballers to be featured in Special Limited Edition of TIMELESS coming out in June. Advert and Sponsorship Considerations Available.

TIMELESS celebrates World's Greatest Footballers

ADVERT PLACEMENTS/SPONSORSHIP IN TIMELESS COLLECTOR’S ITEM SERIES VOLUME 2

Our company, TIMELESS COURAGE PUBLISHING LIMITED, is publishing a Special Limited Edition of its flagship publication, TIMELESS Newspaper for the month of June 2010.

This Special Limited Edition will focus on the lives of the greatest footballers in the last 100 years with accompanying biographies and photographs. It will be titled, “Uncommon Lives of Uncommon Footballers with Uncommon Careers" and will have an accompanying rider, “The Most Extraordinary Footballers of the 20th Century."

It promises to be an inspiring, creative and collector’s edition of TIMELESS. The few limited copies that will be printed (2000 copies) will be distributed to select subscribers, including company chief executives, corporate chieftains, selected government officials and past speakers & discussants at our annual anniversary lectures and in selected airlines, hotels and companies.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to advertise your company’s goods and services. Only full page colour adverts will be available and will cost N250, 000. All prospective advertisers have till Friday April 30, 2010 to indicate their interests, confirm payments and send in their artworks.

This is also an opportunity for freelance advert agents, advert agencies and marketing communications companies to help get their clients involved in this project. We are paying attractive commission payments to such agents and companies.

We look forward your prompt and positive response. Thank you and God bless you.

Ayodeji Jeremiah

Editor

01-4358330, 08026861642

Akinyemi, Abati push for adoption of Uwais Report

Former External Affairs Minister and Member, Presidential Electoral Reform Committee and Chairman, Presidential Think Tank, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi said recently that the adoption of the Justice Mohammed Uwais committee report on electoral reform by the National Assembly will be one of the best things to happen to the Nigerian polity.

He was speaking at the Sixth TIMELESS Newspaper Nigeria Lecture Series where he was the guest speaker. He said the committee made 83 recommendations of which 10 were rejected by the Federal Government. “This relativity does not give a true reflection of the damage done to the Report. The rejected recommendations amount to a decapitation of the Report. A human body without a head cannot be said to have lost just one part of the body. Without a head, that body is dead,” he said.

Other speakers at the occasion were Dr. Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Ade Ipaye, representative of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and Alhaji Kunle Ajanaku, representative of Princess Sarah Sosan, the Lagos State Deputy Governor.

Dr. Abati in his presentation said the best news he has heard so far recently is the sending of the Uwais report in its unedited format to the National Assembly for deliberation and approval. He added that in addition to the reform of the electoral system, efforts must be made on the part of all Nigerians to ensure the moral integrity of all citizens, saying a system where all citizens see political office as an opportunity to spread the National Cake puts undue pressure on holders of such offices.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, publisher of the newspaper in his welcome address said the topic of the lecture; The Imperative of Electoral Reform was informed by our experiences as a nation in trying to forge ahead with our democratic experiment. He said despite our fifty years of nationhood, the nation remains plagued with our failure to successfully conduct free and fair elections. “As the 2011 elections approach, we believe in TIMELESS that the issue of electoral reform has to be addressed by the government, the media and the public and practical solutions come up with. There is an urgent need to reform the electoral process in Nigeria and restore faith in the electoral process. Given Nigeria’s diversity, it is obvious that democracy is the sole political choice for its survival, and the best system for managing the nation’s current challenges is by fostering better governance, and ensuring popular welfare. This can be achieved through an efficient electoral system. The fact remains that the current electoral system is faulty and requires reforms.”

Every year, the TIMELESS media group celebrates its existence through The TIMELESS Nigeria Lecture Series, which serves as the organisation’s own way of contributing to national issues and as its own service to the nation. Other guests at the occasion which held at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos were Professor Joe Irukwu, a respected statesman and former chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Bode Alalade, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose Martins, representative of the Lagos state First Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Revd. George Ashiru, Co-ordinator of the Town Hall Meetings Project, Mr. Adetokunbo Adejumo, Global Co-ordinator of the Champions for Nigeria Group and Mr. Chike Ogeah, former Managing Director of SAHCOL

Timeless Newspaper Holds Sixth Nigeria Lecture Series

PRESS RELEASE

In what promises to be another platform for elevated intellectual discourse, the sixth in the series of the TIMELESS NIGERIA LECTURE SERIES organised by TIMELESS NEWSPAPER will hold on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 1.00pm. Every year, TIMELESS celebrates its existence through The TIMELESS Nigeria Lecture Series. The series of annual lectures/national discourse also serves as the organisation’s own way of contributing to national issues and as its own service to the nation.

The first in the series of lectures took place in June 2004 when the media house celebrated its first anniversary with a lecture titled “True Federalism in Nigeria”, delivered by erudite constitutional scholar and professor of law, Itse Sagay. Supporting him as a discussant was Professor Jide Oshuntokun, a professor of History. The occasion was chaired by Professor Joe Irukwu, a respected statesman and former chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo. This was followed in June 2005 with another successful lecture with the theme, “Resource Control in Nigeria”, delivered by Professor Mike Ikhariale, a respected constitutional lawyer with Professor Adele Jinadu, a respected political scientist of the Centre for Advanced Social Science acting as a discussant. The occasion was chaired by Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, former chairman of Dunlop and a respected statesman. The third annual lecture of the company took place in August 2006 with the theme “Nigeria: The Future?” delivered by Senator Udoma Udoma, former chief whip of the Nigerian Senate. Honourable Usman Bugaje, formerly of the Federal House of Representatives, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos state Attorney General and Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School were the discussants. The occasion was chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General.

In 2007, the company had its fourth anniversary lecture, which was rechristened, The TIMELESS Nigeria Lecture Series, with the theme, “Nigeria: What Next?” Chairman of the occasion was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, immediate past Executive Governor of Lagos State. Speaker at the occasion was Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister in the Presidency and of The Federal Capital Territory. The discussant was in the person of Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, former Minister of Transport and now of Solid Minerals. The fifth annual lecture held in September 2008 had the theme, “Transforming the Nigerian Economy” and was delivered by Mr. Donald Duke, immediate past Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State. All the lectures attracted personalities from different strata of the Nigerian society; were well covered by the national media and stimulated interest and discourse on important national issues dominating Nigeria’s national life.

The topic of this year’s lecture is The Imperative of Electoral Reform and is billed to be delivered by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former External Affairs Ministry and Member, Presidential Electoral Reform Committee and Chairman, Presidential Think Tank. Supporting him as discussants are Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Dr. Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers. Special Guest of Honour is His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor of Lagos State. The event will attract the cream of the Nigerian society, members of the diplomatic corps, the media and is open to the general public.