Nigerian Architect, Kunle Adeyemi Brings Hope to Makoko Slum with the Floating School Project

Some days ago, BN brought to you a story on the harsh reality faced by thousands of families living on the murky waters of Makoko slum in Lagos. The story which was inspired by a UK Daily Mail feature highlighted the difficulties of families fighting for survival on a sea of festering filth. The pictures showed the terrible living conditions the families have to cope with. And to compound their problems, they live in fear of having their homes demolished.
But in the midst of this despair, an architect, Kunle Adeyemi hopes to bring some light. He plans to build a three-story school out of 16 floating platforms lashed together, capable of holding 100 students and teachers in the iconic slum.
Mr. Adeyemi who works both in Lagos and in Amsterdam, Holland told Sun Herald that the project involves building the platforms out of locally sourced wood and empty plastic drums, then using wooded beams to build a structure that would have a common area for children to play on as its base, with two floors for classrooms above it. The building would also include bathroom facilities, something lacking in a slum where most relieve themselves by hovering over the water.
“If the people don’t live here, they’ll live somewhere else. What we’re only trying to do is offer them a better solution,” he said.
The school project will cost about $6,250, Mr Adeyemi said and has received support from international groups and government officials. One of which is Heinrich Boell Stiftung which is partnering with Mr Adeyemi’s company NLÉ to make it a reality

Sex Hawkers, Beggars Taking Over FCT – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

According to him, waste, street hawkers, beggars and commercial sex workers have taken over the city.
He blamed the secretaries and other officials for abdicating their responsibilities there by putting the city in jeopardy.
Mohammed said this on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting on the performance of the FCT Administration on environment and other social development issues.
Mohammed told the personnel of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, and Social Development that the deteriorating environmental situation of the city was giving him and the Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide, concern.
Noting that he would not tolerate incompetence and inefficiency, the minister said “the tea party is over”.
He added, “Since we came on board, we have paid all your entitlements on time, we never owed you a kobo and yet you sit doing nothing while filth, beggars and hawkers fill the streets.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourselves; those who want to work should work and those who are not ready should tell us so that we can show them the way out.”
He stated that collaboration was needed to take care of the restructured FCT departments and agencies to ensure their optimum performance.
According to him, the FCT is expanding and it has no option but to introduce effective measures in order to achieve its goal of keeping the city clean and secure.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Alleged “Lie” in his Independence Day Speech was based on a Newspaper Report

President Goodluck Jonathan in his 52nd Independence Day broadcast on October 1st, 2012 told Nigerians that the global corruption watch body, Transparency International, rated Nigeria second after United States in anti-corruption efforts.

He was quoted as saying “In its latest report, Transparency International noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption. We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge.”

His statement has however raised up some controversy as findings have revealed that Transparency International never gave Nigeria such a rating. When Premium Times contacted Transparency International seeking a copy of its latest report which the President referred to in his speech, the group replied in an email saying it had no such report.

The Federal Government has approved N25 billion for 12 tertiary institutions, including the University of Lagos, to upgrade and improve their teaching and learning environment, under the 2012 Special High Impact Programme Fund.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said this at the fourth town hall meeting of the Lagos Central Senatorial District, adding that the money was approved in August this year by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Senator Tinubu, who was a member of the Senate Committee on Education that visited University of Lagos and other federal institutions for the oversight function, said all Federal Government agencies and institutions in Lagos suffered poor funding.
She explained that her visit to Yaba College of Technology, French Village, Computer Professionals’ Registration Council of Nigeria and the National Open University of Nigeria, showed that the institutions faced the challenge of fund delay.
“They all have a similar challenge in the area of delayed funding from the federal budget while they have huge expenditure on overheads such as power generation. The clear need for increased funding towards the upgrading of poor infrastructure was evident,” she said.
Other institutions that would benefit from the government’s largesse are Federal College of Education (Technical), FCE (T), Akoka; State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Maryland; West African Examination Council (National) and West African Examination Council (International) at WAEC office, Yaba.

Kano: Putting up a brave face under fire

 

                    

A crowded street in Kano.

The ancient city of Kano is crawling back to life. Persons of southern origin and other nationals who fled the city in the wake of attacks by extremist religious sects that claimed several lives have returned to commence business. This is even as the residents are excited for the gradual return of peace in the state. Many panic-stricken southerners, especially the Igbo who fled Kano following are back in their shops and other business premises, especially in the Sabon- Gari area, inhabited predominantly by non-Muslims and non-natives. This development has been attributed to improved security lately. Chukwuemeka Ibeh and Ben Okoro, both spare parts dealers, who recently fled Kano city for safety, told National Mirror that they left the town in response to pressure from relatives at home, who feared for their safety. “You don’t leave your place of business for home without making adequate arrangements; it had been a hell while at home doing nothing tangible,” Ibeh said, even as he admitted that most media reports on the conflict did not reflect the true situation on ground. “The reports had generated fear in the minds of people outside Kano and the North generally,” he added.
In like manner, Okoro says, “we are happy there is relative peace now and hope the security agencies will sustain it. People’s confidence is gradually being restored. Don’t forget that for most of us Kano is home.” Security agents have intensified efforts aimed at reassuring residents of their resolve to nip any threat from those who specialise in trouble making in the bud. This is what security sources described as “adjustment and readjustment” which has unhindered access to strategic areas, particularly in the state capital that has, for long, become the den of extremists.

Men and Women shaping the Entertainment Industry

As Nigeria marks her 52nd year of independence, thenetng.com decided to make a list of 52 men and women shaping our growing entertainment industry.
2face Idibia: Mr Innocent Ujah Idibia is one of the most influential, the most consistent, the most decorated, and the most successful musician in his generation. Even his peers attest to that. From humble beginnings in Jos, he has grown to become Africa’s most iconic pop star, clearing the path for hundreds of others after him. Respected at home and abroad by almost everyone that matters, Idibia is now building his Hypertek dreams, mentoring younger acts like W4, Rocksteady and Dammy Krane.

Alaba Marketers: Although digital distribution is now finding its way to Nigeria with platforms such as Spinlet, Truspot, Iroking and Notjustok, and with the coming of Apple, marketers like Obaino, ABHU, and TJOE still wield their potent influence on music distribution. With many Nigerians consuming physical CDs, and the industry lacking the much-needed distribution framework, Alaba is the headquarters of music sales, with those there responsible for at least 90 percent of annual music sales.

Shock greets FG’s overhaul of aviation agencies

 

In the restructuring, some personnel were redeployed while some directors were retired.
Aviation sector workers gathered in groups on Tuesday morning at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, discussing the development.
Some said they were surprised at the shakeup while others said they would take the situation with equanimity.
A national newspaper reported on Tuesday that the shake-up affected top management staff in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Accident Investigation Bureau and Nigerian Meteorological Agency.