ACCOMPLISH MAGAZINE DEC 2023

M A G A Z I N E
DECEMBER 2023
10
Best
Christmas
Gifts for the
Affluent Man
The Erosion of
Ethics:
Unraveling the
Moral Fabric of
Big Pharma
Folorunso Alakija
AFRICA’S RICHEST WOMAN :
ON BUSINESS,
PHILANTHROPY,
AND LEGACY
AI is
Reshaping
How We
Live
INTERVIEW
Dr. Emem Okon:
Advocating for
Rural Women
& Good
Governance
Prostate
Enlargement,
No More A
Nightmare
p12
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

DECEMBER
2023
CONTENTS
M A G A Z I N E
DECEMBER 2023
10
Best
Christmas
Gifts for the
Affluent Man
The Erosion of
Ethics:
Unraveling the
Moral Fabric of
Big Pharma
Folorunso Alakija
AFRICA’S RICHEST WOMAN :
ON BUSINESS,
PHILANTHROPY,
AND LEGACY
FEATURE
4 NIGERIA : BITS & BOBS
25 “FRACTURED OPPOSITION,
FRAGILE DEMOCRACY
COVER
06 FOLORUNSO ALAKIJA:
THE RICHEST WOMAN IN
AFRICA
16 SELECTED QUOTES OF
FOLORUNSO ALAKIJA
GLOBAL NEWS
76 Alphabet pays Apple
36% of Safari search
revenue
77 Trump Abandons Bid To
Transfer Manhattan Hush
Money Trial To Federal
Court
HEALTH
AI is
Reshaping
How We
Live
INTERVIEW
Dr. Emem Okon:
Advocating for
Rural Women
& Good
Governance
Prostate
Enlargement,
No More A
Nightmare
60 PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT, NO
MORE A NIGHTMARE
p12
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
06
COVER
40 FEATURE & ANALYSIS 56
65 FOOD & WINE
84
LIFE STYLE
TRAVEL & LEISURE
FOLLOW US @ ENTREPRENEUR NG
2 | Accomplish Magazine

44 68 54
INTERVIEW LIFESTYLE ARTS & THE MASTERS
From The Editor
it seems like just a few weeks ago
when we ushered in 2023 with high
expectations! Thanks to a hurrying
splash of events - political, economic,
security, social media and more - 52
weeks are almost out. The outgoing year
has not only become a huge landmark in
our minds, the ripples of its multifaceted
developments will last for years, perhaps
decades, to come. In Nigeria, for instance,
the shadows of the elections held at
various levels of governance during the
year will continue to shroud many aspects
of existence, especially in the spheres of
the politics, economy and security.
In the face of all of that, Team Accomplish
are counting down on 2023 with
invaluable appreciation of our readers.
The hundreds of thousand views recorded
by our first three editions was beyond our
estimations; adding verve to our desire
to make Accomplish Magazine the goto
publication for inspiring reports and
features.
It’s with this on our minds that we present
Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, the enigmatic
billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist,
fashionista, public speaker and preacher
on our cover. Hers is another story of the
never-give-up spirit that always outlasts
life’s challenges and lifts people into mega
spotlight.
The unsettling series of climate-related
disasters caught our attention and we
spoke with Dr. Emem Okon, an avowed
advocate for rural women, green climate
and good governance. She is the Founder
and Director of Kebetkache Women
Development and Resource Centre. Her
unequivocal views could be put to use
by relevant agencies of all three tiers of
government.
Keeping the coals on gender matters and
good governance lit as we end the year,
we have “Female Presidency: The Way to
Affirm Inclusive Governance in Nigeria.” It’s
a must-read.
With election-related legal battles over
in Nigerian courts, “Fractured Opposition,
Fragile Democracy” is timely in warning
current opposition parties to rise above
the usual fragmentation and slumber
Nigerians have known.
In addition to the aforementioned, we
have a number of articles on how to fasttrack
Nigeria’s economic transformation
and more on good governance. Yes,
our regulars on leisure and travel,
architectural masterpieces, alternative
medicine, executive health and more are
also in the package.
Despite all the pressure Nigerians are
experiencing, we are quite hopeful that
2023 will end on a positive, enriching note.
That way, Christmas and New Year will be
celebrated with far-reaching joy! Do not
despair. It’s possible!
DIIYI WILLIAM-WEST
Editor
: info@theaccomplishmagazine.com
Disclaimer
• Please note that all photos used in this
special digital edition of the ACCOMPLISH
Magazine were sourced freely online.
We maintains no rights over the images/
photos, while we have tried to give
appropriate credit where due, we are
aware some artistes were not credited.
TEAM
EDITOR
DIIYI WILLIAM-WEST
CONTRIBUTING
EDITOR
HARRY CHOMS
SENIOR
CORRESPONDENTS
IKENNA NGERE
TOLULOPE AKINRULI
ADEBAYO AFOLABI
WEB MANAGERS
OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE
BEN FUJA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/
SOCIAL MEDIA
HANDLER
MONICA EFEOTOR
MARKETING
DIRECTOR
NNAMDI DAN ANYIAM
CCOMPLISH
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
CONSULTANT
NGOZI UKPAI
IMIOMOZO DAN
ANYIAM
BUSINESS
ANALYST EXECUTIVE
NGOZI EZE
ADVERT/ MARKETING
EXECUTIVE
TEGA DIAGBARE
CREATIVE
CONSULTANT
CHARLES KAMMA
CHAIRMAN
EDITORIAL BOARD
DR AUSTIN NWEZE
PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF
REMI DIAGBARE
For advert enquiries, please contact
Marketing Director, Imiomozo - 08075499632,
Remmy +44 7424 594773 (Whatspp only)
or email, accomplish@entrepreneurng.com
To reach the Editor, send your email to:
info@theaccomplishmagazine.com
OUR VISION:
To be the go-to publication for information
and inspiration in pursuing life’s
attainments.
OUR MISSION:
To profile and celebrate the achievements
and lifestyle choices of outstanding leaders
and influencers in business, manufacturing,
agriculture, academia, administration,
entertainment and innovation in Nigeria,
Africa and, indeed, globally.
We remain committed to supporting
intellectual property and creativity.
© 2023 Tegali Communications
• The opinions of contributors (people
whose opinion we publish) are not the
opinion of Accomplish Magazine or the
opinion of the management or staff of
Accomplish Magazine.
Accomplish Magazine
| 3

NIGERIA:
BITS & BOBS
By Ikenna Ngere
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Naira Plunges Sharply
by 22.1% as Market
Experiences a Turnover
of N45.3 Billion
The naira has significantly
depreciated by 22.1% in the
latest dynamics of the Nigerian
Autonomous Foreign Exchange
Market (NAFEM), with the exchange
rate now standing at N996.75/$.
The entire turnover dropped by
7.4% to $545.89 million at the same
time as this depreciation. Notably,
trades took place between N700
and N1,100/$, giving the market’s
activity a contextual backdrop.
October had seen a noticeable
decline in exchange rates. The
rates fell by 9.9% to N873.59/$.
Similar patterns were seen in the
one-year (-9.5% to N969.18/$),
six-month (-10.3% to N918/$), and
three-month (-10% to N890.19/$)
periods. The complex dynamics of
the naira foreign exchange market
are reflected in these exchange
rate variations.
Currency Revaluation
Sends Eight
Companies into
a Tailspin with
N918.1bn Losses
Following a 68.55 percent
decrease in the value
of the naira versus the
dollar as of the end of
September 2023, eight companies have
recorded a currency revaluation loss of
N918.1 billion.
The Central Bank of Nigeria moved
in June to let the market set the value
of the local currency, and as a result,
as of September 2023, the naira
was worth 777/$1, down from 461/$1
in December 2022. This recorded
exchange loss was caused by the
depreciation of the naira, which
dropped from N465/$ at the end of
May 2023 to N776.79/$, according to
an analysis of the financial accounts
of these companies.
The companies include: Dangote
Sugar Refinery Plc, Dangote Cement
Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc,
Nigerian Breweries
Plc, Guinness Nigeria
Plc, MTN Nigeria
Communications Plc,
Airtel Africa Plc, MRS Oil
Nigeria Plc, and Seplat
Energy Plc.
POLITICS
Review or Cancel Imo
Election - PDP, LP
candidates tell INEC
Athan Achonu and Samuel
Anyanwu, the candidates for the
Labour Party (LP) and Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in the Imo
state gubernatorial election held
last Saturday, November 11, have
granted the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
• Athan Achonu
• Hope Uzodinma
• Samuel Anyanwu
4 | Accomplish Magazine

seven days to review or cancel
the results.
The All Progressives Congress,
APC’s Hope Uzodimma was
declared the election’s victor by
INEC on Sunday, November 12 but
the two candidates persisted in
their accusations that there were
several irregularities in the
election process.
The two candidates requested
that INEC honour the Electoral Act
by reviewing the election within
the seven-day timeframe
stipulated by law at a joint press
conference held on Monday,
November 13 in Owerri, the state
capital.
#KogiDecides2023:
Ododo Thanks Tinubu,
Others, Pledges Unity
Government
Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, the newly
elected Governor of Kogi State,
has expressed gratitude to his
supporters and other stakeholders
for helping to secure his win in the
state’s governorship election on
Saturday, November 11.
In a statement released on
Monday, November 13, Ododo
expressed his gratitude under the
heading “Thank You Message By
• Ahmed Ododo
Governor-elect of Kogi State,
Ododo Ahmed Usman.”
In the statement, the
governor-elect promised that his
government will support Kogi
citizens who share a common
destiny and are unified and
successful.
Furthermore, Ododo had no
doubts that his government would
be successful because of Kogites’
support.
Bayelsa Opposition
Parties Unite to
Challenge Diri’s Victory
Some opposition party agents,
including those from the Labour
Party, have questioned the
• Douye Diri
outcome of the Bayelsa State
governorship elections.
Other parties include the
National Rescue Movement, the
New Nigerian Peoples Party, the
Social Democratic Party, and the
Peoples Redemption Party.
The representatives of the
parties, Charles Oyibo (LP),
Williams Parker (NRM), Joel
Tubonimi (NNPP), and Allen
Amadein (SDP), spoke at a joint
press briefing on Monday,
November 13 in Yenagoa, the state
capital. They asserted that the
votes reported for them by the
Independent National Electoral
Commission was significantly less
than what they received on the
polls.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Dangote Repatriates
$688m from
African
Operations
Dangote Industries
Limited reports that
through several
Nigerian banks, more
than $687.98 million has
been repatriated so far. The
company said in a statement
on Sunday, November 5, that it
had received $111,968,109.38 in
cash exchange arrangement
between Ethiopian Airlines
and Dangote Cement Plc in
addition to $576,008,672.41
from various Nigerian
banks.
Dangote reaffirmed
its belief in and
dedication to
Nigeria, noting that
the administration
of President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu has
shown a willingness and
desire to revive the country’s
economy. The company said
that all of the foreign exchange
obtained in connection with its
African Project Expansion was
genuine and entirely utilised
for the reasons for which it was
• Dangote
intended, and that the projects
for which the foreign cash was
used were accessible to the
general public.
DAMIAN
IKENNA NGERE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Ikenna is a graduate of
Physics and Education,
who works as a
freelance writer. He has
interest in technology,
humanity and sports.
Accomplish Magazine
| 5

FOLORUNSO
COVER
On Business,
Philanthropy and Legacy
6 |
Accomplish Magazine

COVER
ALAKIJA
Accomplish Magazine
| 7

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By Harry Choms
Folorunso Alakija, the well-known Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, was
born in 1951, into the family of the late Chief L. A. Ogbara in Ikorodu, a town in
Lagos, Nigeria. Her educational journey began at Our Lady of Apostles Nursery
and Primary School for nursery education. She left for Dinorben School for Girls in
Llangernyw, Wales, to finish her primary schooling.
After completing primary education, Folorunso returned to Nigeria and
attended Muslim High School in Shagamu, Ogun State, for her secondary
education. She moved to England for further studies and pursued Secretarial
Studies at Pitman’s Central College in London. At the age of 72, Folorunso Alakija is
not only a business tycoon but also a family person. She married Modupe Alakija
in 1976, and their union is blessed with four wonderful children. Currently, Folorunso
Alakija leads a fulfilling life as Rose of Sharon Group’s managing director and vice
chairperson at Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil company.
On July 17, 2021, she was honoured with an honorary doctorate degree in
Business Administration by Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Nigeria.
Recognising her outstanding contributions, this accolade adds to her remarkable
list of achievements. Her transition from Islam to Christianity is a story of faith.
Born into a large Muslim family, she faced challenges in her quest for success. At
40, while struggling for an oil license, she turned to God and made a covenant to
serve if she is blessed. This marked a significant shift, and she witnessed positive
changes. Eventually known as Apostle Folorunso Alakija, she was ordained on her
birthday by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
Beyond her individual successes, Alakija is deeply committed to philanthropy.
She founded the Rose of Sharon Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated
to supporting widows and orphans through business grants and scholarships
respectively. Her benevolent efforts extend to Yaba College of Technology
(Yabatech) in Lagos, where she generously donated a skills acquisition centre.
Through these initiatives, Folorunso Alakija actively contributes to education and
empowerment, making a positive impact on the lives of individuals in need.
Early Life and
Education
Folorunso Alakija was born on
July 15, 1951, in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Her family was a large one, as
her father, Chief L. A. Ogbara
had 52 children born to him by
his eight wives. At the early age
of 7, she was relocated by her
parents to the United Kingdom,
where she had her primary
education at Dinorben School for
Girls, Llangernyw, Wales. By 1963,
after her primary education, she
returned to Nigeria, where she
had her secondary education at
the Muslim High School, Sagamu,
Ogun State. After graduating
from high school, she returned to
England, where she enrolled at
Pitman’s Central College, London,
to study Secretarial Studies.
The Birth Of An
Empire: Famfa Oil
And Gas
Coming from an uppermiddle-class
family, Folorunso
Alakija enjoyed a comfortable
childhood, setting the stage
for her unwavering pursuit of
success in the business world. In
September 1991, Folorunso and
her husband, Modupe Alakija,
officially launched their family
oil exploration and production
business. Nearly two years later,
the business, having secured
the leasehold rights to OPL 216,
was granted a 40% participating
interest through an agreement
with Star Deep Water Petroleum.
By February 1996, the business
had changed to Famfa Oil
Limited. The company was
established with the vision of
becoming a leading indigenous
8 | Accomplish Magazine

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oil and gas exploration company
in Nigeria and across Africa.
Under Folorunso’s leadership as
the Vice Chairperson, responsible
for strategic planning and
administration, Famfa Oil Limited
has evolved into a multibilliondollar
enterprise. The company
continues to expand, with the
potential for even greater growth
in the future.
Alakija’s Business
Portfolio
Long before venturing into the
oil industry, Folorunso Alakija
showcased her managerial
and administrative skills. Her
career kicked off as an executive
secretary at Sijuade Enterprises
in Lagos - after completing her
Secretarial Studies programme
at Pitman’s Central College.
Progressing from there, she
became the executive secretary
of the former First National Bank
of Chicago, now part of First City
Monument Bank. Her exceptional
performance in this role
eventually led to her promotion
to the position of managing
director.
Accomplish Magazine
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COVER
Subsequently, she transitioned to the head of
corporate affairs at the International Merchant
Bank of Nigeria, later becoming an Office Assistant
in the treasury department. After a successful
12-year career in banking, Folorunso Alakija left
Nigeria to pursue Fashion Design studies at the
American College in London and the Central School
of Fashion. Returning to Nigeria after completing
her studies, she founded Supreme Stitches, later
renamed The Rose of Sharon House of Fashion
in 1996. Beyond her family’s business, Famfa Oil,
Folorunso Alakija has succeeded in various other
ventures in which she holds a majority stake as
a dynamic entrepreneur. She serves as the Vice
Chairman of Dayspring Property Development
Company Limited, a real estate development
company with investments in properties across
Africa and globally. Additionally, Folorunso Alakija
holds the position of Vice Chairman at Digital
Reality Print Ltd., a growing printing business that
has expanded its reach beyond Nigeria and Africa.
Investments, Honours and
Awards
Beyond her business endeavours, Folorunso
Alakija has actively contributed to the Nigerian
public by participating in various committees and
governing bodies. Notably, she stands out as a
skilled speaker and is the first woman appointed
as the chancellor of a public university in Africa.
Adding to her impressive achievements, Folorunso
Alakija has authored numerous books, including her
autobiography.
But the story doesn’t end there. Folorunso is
a valued board member of the Commonwealth
Business Forum, showcasing her involvement in
international fora. In 2020, Forbes recognised her as
the richest woman in Africa, boasting a net worth in
the billion-dollar range. This marked her as one of
the wealthiest women globally.
In 2015, she was Africa’s second most powerful
woman, standing alongside Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala, another influential Nigerian woman.
Today, Folorunso Alakija continues to be one of
the wealthiest women globally, with a net worth
exceeding $1 billion, and she retains her status as
the richest woman in Africa.
Publications
Folorunso Alakija is a preacher of the gospel. Hence,
most of her publications are Christian-based. She
went ahead to display her expertise in writing and
has several publications under her belt. Below is a
list of her published books, which can be accessed
in hard copies and PDF files.
• Growing with the Hand that Gives the Rose
• The Cry of Widows and Orphans
• His Name Is
• Alone with God
• Window Shop for Your Spouse
• Folorunso Alakija Speaks - an Inspiration Book for
All
• Folorunsho Alakija Speaks - an Inspiration Book
for Christians
• The University of Marriage - Your Textbook for a
Successful Marriage
• Wish for it? Pray for It (Scriptures for Wives)
• Wish for it? Pray for It (Scriptures for Husbands)
10 | Accomplish Magazine

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Philanthropy
Folorunso Alakija’s success story is not just
about her achievements but also highlights her
remarkable impact on society. Driven by a genuine
desire to help others and witness their success, she
established the Rose of Sharon Foundation in 2008.
The foundation focuses on empowering widows
and orphans by providing essential resources
and skills needed for navigating life. Primarily,
the foundation offers grants and scholarships to
widows and orphans within the country.
Through Famfa Oil Limited, Alakija extends her
philanthropy by awarding yearly scholarships to
9,000 medical and engineering students across
Nigeria. In July 2013, she became vice-chairman
of the Nigerian National Heritage Council and
Endowment for the Arts.
The Rose of Sharon Foundation, under Alakija’s
guidance, has made substantial contributions
to public welfare. This includes the donation of 21
chest clinics for tuberculosis treatment across 21
states in Nigeria, covering the Niger Delta region
and Lagos State. Additionally, the foundation has
provided four e-libraries and two school libraries
to educational institutions nationwide. Folorunsho
Alakija’s commitment to making a positive
difference in people’s lives is commendable.
Folorunso Alakija’s
Distinguished Achievements
Folorunso Alakija has earned numerous accolades
and positions of honour throughout her illustrious
career. She stands out as an accomplished
individual with six honorary degrees and a
fellowship from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
Her ground-breaking achievement as the first
female Chancellor of Osun State University and
Nigeria’s inaugural female chancellor on March 9,
2016, showcases her trailblazing spirit.
A proud alumnus of Lagos Business School,
Folorunso Alakija is a Commonwealth and
Investment Council Advisory Board member. She
also contributes her expertise to the Advisory Board
of the Centre for African Studies at Harvard.
In 2014, Folorunso Alakija earned Forbes’ list
recognition as the 96th most powerful woman in
the world. In 2015, she secured a spot among the
100 most powerful women globally, ranking 87th.
Additionally, she was appointed vice chairman in
the July 2013 inauguration of the National Heritage
Council and Endowment for the Arts.
entrepreneurship, she holds the esteemed title of
Chief Matron of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE)
an NGO. Her significant contributions to the Nigerian
fashion industry earned her the presidential seat
at the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria.
Having served two terms, she now holds the
esteemed position of a lifelong trustee of the
association.
In 2014, Folorunso Alakija was named the richest
woman of African descent, a title previously held by
Oprah Winfrey. Her multifaceted contributions and
achievements make her an inspirational figure on
both the national and global stage.
Folorunso Alakija’s Family
In November 1976, Folorunso Alakija married
Modupe Alakija, a lawyer, and their union has
remained strong and enduring. The couple have
four sons: Folarin Alakija, Rotimi Alakija, Dele Alakija,
and Ladi Alakija.
As a mother and wife, Folorunso cherishes her role,
considering it a treasure she wouldn’t exchange
for anything. Her children and husband hold an
irreplaceable place in her heart, and despite
the challenges of raising a family, she expresses
gratitude to God for guiding her through the
journey.
Net Worth
As of 2023, Forbes ranks her as the richest woman
in Nigeria, estimating her net worth at $1 billion. Her
success in both business and family life contributes
to her remarkable legacy.
HARRY CHOMS
AUTHOR’S BIO
Harry Choms is a freelance writer with a
passion for words and a keen eye for details, an
editor, and an avid tech believer. His works can
be seen on EntrepreneurNG.com, Imautomator,
Secureblitz, Withinnigeria, Feelgospel,
Kemifilani, and Glamsquad Magazine. He is
the Webmaster and sole owner of Matrismart.
com and biowiki.com.ng.
Acknowledged as a champion of African
Accomplish Magazine
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INTERVIEW
Her Journey
to Mega
Entrepreneurial
Success
By Harry Choms
Wherever women who have broken the glass ceiling
are being counted in Nigeria and Africa, the name of
Apostle Folorunso Alakija would certainly be included.
Not only has she done respectably well in the once
male dominated oil and gas industry, she rose to become a goldstandard
for women all over the continent with her being named
Africa’s richest woman. Her ascent to that financial zenith was not
by any means a stroll in the park; it was borne by hard work, selfbelief
and, very clearly, divine empowerment.
After chronicling a deserving feature about her, the need to hear
her speak about what influenced her tenacity, the legacy she
wants to be remembered by and much more made Accomplish
Magazine to conduct an exclusive interview with her. Readers will
find her views quite invigorating. Enjoy!
Accomplish Magazine: As a
prominent figure in Nigeria,
how do you see the symbiotic
relationship between
entrepreneurship and social
responsibility evolving globally?
Entrepreneurship plays a major role
in the growth and development of
society. As entrepreneurs, we have
the influence to change the world
and shape the future.
The symbiotic relationship
between entrepreneurship and
social responsibility is evolving
globally, with successful ventures
integrating ethical practices and
a commitment to positive, social
impact. This shift is reshaping
corporate culture, emphasising
the importance of responsible
business practices in addressing
global challenges and fostering
inclusive development.
12 | Accomplish Magazine

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Famfa Oil offers an example of how
a company in the petroleum sector
can integrate entrepreneurship
with social responsibility. We
have actively engaged in various
community development
initiatives in Nigeria. Through our
corporate social responsibility
(CSR) programmes, we have
invested in education, health care,
and community infrastructure
projects.
By intertwining our core business
activities with social responsibility,
we showcase a commitment
to sustainable development
and community well-being. This
approach, not only contributes
positively to the communities in
which we operate but also aligns
with the broader global trend of
responsible business practices.
Entrepreneurs in Nigeria and
beyond are encouraged to
embrace this paradigm to
enhance competitiveness and
contribute to positive societal
transformation.
Accomplish Magazine: In a
dynamic business world, how
do you stay attuned to changing
trends and ensure adaptability in
your diverse ventures?
I believe no one is a know-it-all
and to be successful, you must be
able to learn, unlearn and relearn;
this is my mindset. I also regularly
monitor industry trends and
encourage a culture of change/
innovation in all my businesses.
This way, even my personal staff
know that their mindset must
be adaptable to change where
necessary. Engaging in strategic
planning also helps to stay ahead.
Accomplish Magazine: Can
you share a moment where
a philanthropic project had a
profound impact on someone’s
life, reinforcing your commitment
to giving back to society?
There are several philanthropic
projects that I have done and I am
doing - either through our Rose
Accomplish Magazine
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COVER
of Sharon Foundation to widows, their children and
orphans or individuals who do not fit into that category
or through Flourish Africa. I will, however, like to share
the story of a child who is dear to me. In 2019, a friend
of mine recounted her encounter with a woman at
the Immigration office in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. She
had come with her two-month-old granddaughter
to obtain a passport as she needed to undergo
a three-stage ventricle palliation surgery in India.
According to what I was told, the baby’s grandfather
said they should throw the child away as they could
not afford the money for the surgery and all their funds
were being drained taking care of her. However, the
grandmother refused and decided to try all she could
to save the baby’s life.
When I heard the story, I was moved to tears
and decided to help them. I got in touch with the
grandmother, got all the details about the baby’s
condition and the hospital they had contacted in
India. We planned for their trip and the baby was
accompanied by her mother and grandma to India.
To the glory of God, the surgery was successful. After
about a year, she had to go for the second stage of
the surgery, and it went well too. She is now a beautiful,
bright and bubbly four-year-old who is currently in
nursery school. We are still taking care of her health as
she needs to see specialists for regular monitoring.
We have also granted her educational scholarship
up to university level. Whenever I speak to her on the
phone or she comes over to see me, I am always
grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to help
and save the life of this child. I know God has a plan for
her life and I trust God to give me the grace to support
her to fulfil His destiny for her life.
of principled consumers are important factors in
shaping the future of sustainable business practices.
As African businesses and governments accept and
adopt sustainability, they can encourage a shift to
more responsible practices worldwide.
Accomplish Magazine: Navigating both business
and philanthropy, how do you strike a balance
between ambition and altruism, ensuring success in
both domains?
As a Christian and someone guided by the life of
Jesus, I am called to love my neighbour as myself.
Through the years and by the grace of God, I have
tried to give back to society in various ways. The
I wish to leave behind
the legacy of a woman
who built strong viable
businesses through
the grace of God and
her personal discipline
of hard work, resilience
and dedication
to excellence.
When I see the lives that have been transformed by
our philanthropic work, it reinforces my commitment
to reach out and touch as many lives as God gives me
the grace and enablement to do.
Accomplish Magazine: Considering the global
audience, how do you perceive the role of Africa,
and Nigeria in particular, in shaping the future of
sustainable business practices?
Africa, particularly Nigeria, has a vital role in defining
sustainable business practices globally. The
responsible management of natural resources,
innovation, economic growth, and technological
improvement in Africa can influence global
sustainability. Nigeria can set a positive example
for global businesses by giving value to ethical
practices and social responsibility. In addition, making
contributions to the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, integration of sustainability ethics
into global supply chains, and meeting the demands
Rose of Sharon Foundation
and Flourish Africa are two
organisations through which
some of these philanthropic
activities are executed and
they help to provide a balance
between philanthropy and
altruism which speaks to giving
to others to the extent of hurting
yourself. Rather than stifle
my ambition in business and
ministry, all of these have served
to fire it up the more so that I can
achieve more and consequently,
be able to give out more.
Accomplish Magazine: Being a
prominent female figure in the
business world, what advice
would you give to aspiring
14 | Accomplish Magazine

COVER
women entrepreneurs who are navigating their way
through the challenges of the corporate landscape?
My advice will be to share what I call my ingredients
for ‘SUCCESS’.
S - Seek the Lord at all times. (Believe in God).
U - Utilise your time and talent wisely. (Time
and talent lost can never be regained).
C - Consistently focus on your goal. (Only the
tough get going when the going gets tough).
C - Credibility and reliability must be your
watch word. (Unreliable and irresponsible
people get ignored).
E - Educate yourself and keep retraining.
(Ignorance is expensive).
S - Sacrifice daily to make a difference. (Go the
extra mile daily).
S - Say “No” to discouragement agents. (Don’t
take “No” for an answer).
Accomplish Magazine: Looking ahead, what legacy
do you hope to leave for future generations, and
what role do you see young Nigerians playing in
shaping the country’s destiny?
I wish to leave behind the legacy of a woman
who built strong viable businesses through
the grace of God and her personal discipline
of hard work, resilience and dedication to
excellence. I want to be remembered as a
woman who loves God and believes that you
can put God first in every area of life and still
thrive both within the family setting and your
businesses.
My legacy is to aim to empower and uplift
Nigerians, particularly women and youths,
through education, and entrepreneurship.
I envision a Nigeria where women are
given equal opportunities and support
to flourish in their chosen areas of
endeavour.
Young Nigerians will play
a crucial role in shaping
our country’s destiny
by embracing
entrepreneurship,
innovation,
and social
responsibility.
Their zeal,
resilience and
determination
to make a
difference will
certainly turn
the economy around
for the better. Together, we
can build a prosperous and
inclusive future for all.
Accomplish Magazine: With your experience, if you
could give one piece of advice to your younger self at
the beginning of your career, what would it be?
The one piece of advice I would give my younger self
at the beginning of my career would be to start a
relationship with God earlier than I did.
Accomplish Magazine: Looking back at the start
of your career, did you ever imagine reaching the
heights of success you have achieved today?
Yes and no. Yes, in that I have always strove towards
excellence. I know I want to be the best at whatever
I do, and for people with this kind of mindset, the sky
is not the limit. They can go as far as they desire, of
course, with the help of God.
And, I will also say no; in that, there is the element of
God’s grace that breathes upon human efforts and
makes them to yield unimaginable magnitude of
blessings. I have always known that I will be in business
because I come from a family of business people and
God has given me a lot of natural in-built tools that
have helped to drive my ambitions. My only regret is
that I didn’t start knowing God intimately until I was
forty.
You cannot fully conceive the extent to which God can
take you if you keep working hard and trusting in Him.
And talking about achievements, I have always been
of the strong opinion that in life, as long as one is alive,
the goal post must continue to shift. For as long as one
is alive, one will always have greater heights to attain.
One can never achieve everything while one is alive.
There would always be something to aspire to do or
get. And, it might not be everything one wants at a
particular milestone; one would be working on some
at different times. Right now, I am still attaining those
heights, so, when I announce my retirement, you can
come back and ask me this question.
HARRY CHOMS
AUTHOR’S BIO
Harry Choms is a freelance writer with a
passion for words and a keen eye for details,
an editor, and an avid tech believer. His
works can be seen on EntrepreneurNG.com,
Imautomator, Secureblitz, Withinnigeria,
Feelgospel, Kemifilani, and Glamsquad
Magazine. He is the Webmaster and sole
owner of Matrismart.com and biowiki.com.ng.
Accomplish Magazine
| 15

COVER
Folorunso Alakija is a successful entrepreneur and billionaire
businesswoman. She holds the position of executive vicechairman
at FAMFA Oil Ltd. and is the Managing Director of
the Rose of Sharon Group.
Alakija is widely recognised both locally and globally for her
achievements as a career woman. Forbes ranked her as
the richest woman in Nigeria, and in 2015, she was listed as
the second most powerful woman in Africa, following Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala. Forbes also recognised her as the 87th most
powerful woman in the world.
Alakija’s life journey is marked by overcoming setbacks and
building a thriving career.
Here are some inspiring quotes from Folorunso Alakija to
motivate you:
SELECT
QUOTE
FOLOR
ALAKI
“Thinking
opens the
doors to our minds
and makes us
receptive to the very
idea of broadening
our horizons and
learning new
things.”
“Don’t look
for short
cuts.”
“Just start
small with what
you have and
you can grow the
business.”
“Integrity
is doing the
right thing
when no one is
watching.”
“Persevere –
Never give up!
Today’s world
enjoys electricity
because of those
who did not give
up!”
“I am what you
could refer to as
a ‘workaholic’. I am
diligent and resilient
in everything that I do
and have a motto that
says ‘What is worth
doing, is worth doing
extremely well.”
“A leader is
a visionary who
successfully carries
others along to
achieve a particular
goal, within a
specific time
frame.”
By Harry Choms
16 |
Accomplish Magazine

ED
S OF
UNSO
JA
“In all you
do, always
strive to
acquire skills
that make you
stand out and
excel.”
“Never mind
those who tell
you to leave
God out of your
business, your
business is God’s
business.”
“I once
dared to
dream and if I
could succeed,
then so can
you.”
“Work hard;
do not sit back
and expect a
miracle – there
are no “Get Rich
Quick Methods”
with God.”
“I’m not
working as a
loner. God is kind;
He is bringing the
right people at
the right time.”
COVER
“I never
went to a
university, and I
am proud to say
so because I don’t
think I have done
too badly.”
“Failure
is a tool
to get to the
promise land.
We all enjoy light
today. Thomas
Edison failed
a thousand
times for
us.”
“Always see
challenges as
opportunities in
disguise. It’s not really
about how much we
possess, but rather
how well we manage
and use what we are
entrusted with.”
“Rome
was not built
in a day. As you
continue to struggle
to make ends
meet, somewhere,
somehow, you
will make it.”
HARRY
CHOMS
AUTHOR’S BIO
Harry Choms is a
freelance writer with a
passion for words and a
keen eye for details, an
editor, and an avid tech
believer. His works can be
seen on EntrepreneurNG.
com, Imautomator,
Secureblitz,
Withinnigeria,
Feelgospel, Kemifilani,
and Glamsquad
Magazine. He is the
Webmaster and sole
owner of Matrismart.com
and biowiki.com.ng.
Accomplish Magazine
| 17

COVER
THE FASHION
EVOLUTIONof
FOLORUNSO
ALAKIJA
The No Jewellery Apostle
By Maryjane Obilor
as a woman, to be termed successful
and powerful in a predominately
male-dominated world is no mere
feat. Hence, to say that Folorunso
Alakija has the world at her feet is no
exaggeration, because it is not every
day that one sees a woman who sits at the front of the
room when power, wealth and fashion are mentioned.
For Alakija, success is, indeed, an understatement.
Unlike in her business and oil and gas career, it is
safe to say that Mrs. Alakija started her fashion story
from the beginning. Like many fashion enthusiasts
and designers across the globe, she started by
getting trained in the art of fashion design and then
identifying a niche for herself. One thing that sets
her apart from the rest, however, is the fact that Mrs.
Alakija identified a lacuna and moved to solve the
dilemma of African elites as it relates to fashion. She
rejuvenated the acceptance of African fashion among
the one per cent of Africa’s one per cent at a time when
Western culture was taking centre stage across the
continent. For Alakija, fashion comes with acceptance.
So, it was deliberate for her to enter into a fashion
competition upon returning to Nigeria – perhaps, it
was her way of testing her brand’s perception. Yes,
she won the competition and it was the beginning
of her breakthrough in the fashion world as she took
fundamental steps towards building what has, today,
become one of the biggest conglomerates globally.
Alakija pursued Fashion Design studies in England
during the 1980s and promptly established the Nigerian
clothing brand, Supreme Stitches. Her unique and
exquisite designs adorned the elite of Africa, swiftly
elevating her to the status of the leading fashion
18 | Accomplish Magazine

COVER
designer in West Africa. She’s been
recognised as a trail blazer in Nigerian
fashion and maintains ties with the
industry through her involvement with
the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN).
Over the years, Folorunso Alakija has built a fortune by
designing and making high-end clothes for wealthy and
successful people in Africa. One of her most prominent
clients was the former first lady of Nigeria, Maryam
Babangida. The turning point for Alakija was when she
realised that textile producers could no longer meet
the level of demand, meaning that producing highquality
fabrics would mean travelling to Taiwan and
other faraway countries. Rather than shy away from the
impending challenge, she started a revolution for locally
produced fabrics. She championed the introduction of
monogrammed or screen-written wear in Africa.
On a personal note, Alakija has continued to define
fashion on her terms. As if creating a new path for African
fashion wasn’t enough, she has continued to prove to
the world that heavy make-up and jewellery are no
longer testaments of success. The one-time richest
black woman in the world who currently boasts of a net
worth of over $1 billion, got born again in 1991 at the age
of 40 – something she said remains the best decision of
her life. Since then, she has become a no-make-up and
no-jewellery apostle. Of course, she didn’t start this way,
there are photos of Alakija in make-up and jewellery, but
she has proven, over time, that the only constant thing in
life is evolution.
According to Mrs. Alakija, her journey as a Christian
began at the age of 40 when she was looking for an oil
exploration licence. She had been struggling with that
for five years before it came through. It was during that
period she sought the face of the Lord God and made
a covenant to ‘work for God’ if He helps her to get an oil
exploration licence. Well, she got the licence and has not
looked back since. The billionaire is now an ordained
apostle and is addressed as such. She was ordained in
2020 by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, into the
office of an apostle on her birthday. Speaking during a July
2021 interview, while reacting to a question about whether
her giving her life to Christ is the major reason behind the
obvious change in her dress sense, Mrs Alakija replied: “Not
because of the apostleship. By November, it would have
been two years since God told me (in a dream) to stop
wearing wigs. When I woke up, I said, ‘God, if this is you
speaking, then you have to confirm it through others before
I would take any step.’ About 10 days later, I got a call from
a married couple that God said ‘No more wigs.’ I screamed
and right there, I undid my braids and did an afro to work.
Meanwhile, I had just bought 12 wigs of different types
and colours from England. When I went to speak at a T.D.
Jakes event, I wore a black and white wig and again at the
crusade. That was the last time.”
Since then, the fashion evolution of Mrs. Alakija has
been colourful – but modest. And, she continues to lead a
revolution that emboldens the traits of the African woman
– beautiful, powerful, and fashionable!
MARYJANE OBILOR
AUTHOR’S BIO
Maryjane Obilor is a young writer and
fashion designer from Nigeria. She is a
graduate of International Relations and
enjoys writing and cooking.
Accomplish Magazine
| 19

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
FEMALE
PRESIDENCY:
THE WAY TO
AFFIRM INCLUSIVE
GOVERNANCE IN
NIGERIA
• Loveth Izekor
By Adebayo Afolabi
Only a few countries, across the globe, have had a
female president. It’s not something that happens a lot
as women leading entire nations is a rare occurrence,
making it a noteworthy event when it does happen.
A FEMALE
PRESIDENCY IN
NIGERIA WOULD
IGNITE A SPARK
OF HOPE AND
INSPIRATION FOR
YOUNG GIRLS
ACROSS THE
NATION
Over time, leadership has evolved and
an increasing number of people now
recognise the importance of women
playing a significant role at top levels
of governance. Women are speaking
up, desiring their opinions to carry
weight, and hoping for widespread
acknowledgment of their capabilities.
The possibility of a female president
in Nigeria holds some significance. If it
were to happen, it would signify a huge
step in breaking down long-standing
gender stereotypes that have been
obstacles to women’s progress in
society. This potential event represents a
shift towards creating a more inclusive
and fair society, where the contributions
of women would not only recognised
but also truly valued.
In an interview with ‘Premium Times’,
Loveth Izekor, the director-general of
Young Ladies in Politics (YLP), shed light
on the challenges that hinder women’s
active participation in politics. According
to Ms. Izekor, the prevalence of sexual
exploitation and violence serves as
a significant deterrent for women,
especially young girls, considering a
career in politics.
She emphasised that stories of
women facing sexual assault create a
discouraging atmosphere, deterring
aspiring women from entering the
political arena. Ms. Izekor highlighted
the complexity of the situation, where
even stories of women who held
steadfast to their principles and yet
faced failure contribute to the overall
discouragement faced by women in
20 | |Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
serve as a powerful affirmation that
their dreams, their aspirations, and their
voices matter. It would demonstrate
that the glass ceiling can indeed be
shattered, paving the way for a future
where women can realise their full
potential without barriers or limitations.
• Ms Beatrice Eyong
Deep-rooted gender biases, entrenched
patriarchal norms, and a lack of female
representation in political spheres
pose significant obstacles. Achieving
a female presidency in Nigeria would
be a momentous occasion, a symbol
of progress and a testament to the
resilience of women in the face of
adversity. It would mark a turning point
in the nation’s history. It is a vision worth
pursuing, a dream worth fighting for,
and a promise worth keeping.
politics.
On her part, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the
United Nations Women Country
Representative in Nigeria and the
Economic Community of West African
States, also expressed skepticism
about Nigeria’s readiness for a female
president in an interview with ‘The
Punch’. Ms. Eyong pointed out that only
seven per cent of Nigerian women are
represented in the nation’s parliament,
leaving a significant 93 per cent for men.
She attributed this low participation to
a long standing issue, emphasising the
impact of early marriage on women’s
political involvement. According to Ms.
Eyong, when girls drop out of school
due to early marriage, it hampers their
education, making it challenging to
rise to parliamentary or other elective
positions. This cycle of early marriages
often leads to early pregnancies,
causing health challenges during
delivery. Ms. Eyong highlighted the
adverse effects, stating that taking
girls out of school for early marriages
essentially perpetuates poverty for
them.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
has also voiced his support for a female
president in Nigeria. Emphasising the
need for fairness and equity, the former
head of state called for the sharing
of power and key positions between
both genders. Obasanjo expressed his
dissatisfaction with the current situation
where women are sidelined from the
nation’s highest office despite their
significant contributions to society.
A female presidency in Nigeria would
ignite a spark of hope and inspiration for
young girls across the nation. It would
ADEBAYO
AFOLABI
AUTHOR’S BIO
I am a passionate
business writer
with a knack for
translating complex
concepts into
accessible content.
With a keen eye
for detail, I deliver
compelling content
that educates,
inspires, and drives
positive change in
the realm of finance
and business.
Accomplish Magazine
| 21

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
WHAT IS
NIGERIA?
Chapter 16, Paragraph 1
By Tim Akano
“Chugga, chugga, chugga, choo, choo, choo” - the sound of Nigeria’s 16th administration
train as it wheeled off, bumping over the tracks while departing the station on 29 May 2023
at exactly 10:28a.m. It’s full travel time is 35,040 hours. But with newspaper headlines like:
“Government Wasted $19 Billion on Refineries’ TAM in 8 years”; “$25 Billion Oil Contract
Awarded Without Proper Authorisation”; “N200 Billion Wasted on Census 2023”; “N85 Billion
Wasted on Air Nigeria Scam”; etc., one is bound to ask: What is Nigeria? A country or a
company?
Unarguably, any
enterprise that is
managed the way
Nigeria is governed can
neither thrive nor endure
for long. Nature doesn’t
allow mismanagement
ad infinitum. Since
all the past 15 Train
Captains fell into
track-buckling that
resulted in catastrophic
derailments of the train
under their watch, our
focus here is what we
can do differently in
order to prevent the
derailment of the 16th
train.
In “Julius Caesar”,
Shakespeare probably
had Nigeria in mind
when he wrote: “Men at
sometime were masters
of their fates./The fault,
dear Brutus, is not in our
stars./But in ourselves,
that we are underlings...”
(1.ii. 140-142).
• Julius Caesar
22 | Accomplish Magazine

History is neither linear
nor built on repetition;
instead, it is built on
mutation. The heights
reached and sustained
by smart nations were
not attained by wishful
thinking but they, while
other nations slept,
were toiling northward
through deliberate
diligence and accurate
thinking.
There are ten bad habits
(track-buckling) of
political elites that don’t
make common sense.
We shall x-ray one in the
paragraphs below.
Track-buckling 1: Shoot
first, aim later
Whereas, smart nations
aim before shooting.
Nigeria’s political
elites shoot first and
aim later. Which is the
reason for the sundry
policy somersaults
and abandoned
public projects like the
Ajaokuta Steel Mill where
over $10 billion has
been wasted. In forward
going climes, before a
policy is announced, a
think-tank of, say, seven
members would have
dispassionately x-rayed
these three questions:
(1) What problem are we
solving?
(2) What are the
alternatives vis-à-vis
the opportunity cost?
(3) What can go wrong
and how do we mitigate
it?
Case Study: Fuel
subsidy removal.
Fuel subsidy is to the
masses what oxygen
masks are to Covid-19
patients in ICU or what
overseas medical
tourism is to the elites.
Before removing the
masses’ oxygen mask
(which is capable of
eroding the standard
of living of low income
Nigerians by as much
as 300%), necessary
sweeteners should
have been provided. By
shooting before aiming,
Nigeria ended up
wasting the first 30 days
of Chapter 16, Paragraph
One in a needless crisis.
National wasted years
(NWY) are calculated as
the number of years it
takes a country to wake
up from her slumber,
multiplied by the total
population. For instance,
Nigeria has wasted
about 13 billion years,
i.e. 220 million people
multiplied by 63 years!
Really, there is no winner
in a failed marriage!
Ditto for a failed country.
Pathway to 60%
Reduction in
Transportation Cost.
It is possible to change
the transportation
dynamics through a
policy that would make
60% savings possible
on transportation for
the masses. Two winwin
solutions are the
immediate injection of
electric vehicles (EVs)
into the mass transit
mix plus engine swap;
partnering China’s BYD
(the world’s largest EVs
manufacturer), Yutong,
the world’s largest
e-buses manufacturer,
CATL (world’s largest EVs
battery manufacturers)
and TGood (Telaidian),
the company with the
highest number of
electric battery charging
points.
The average price of an
EV bus in China today
is about $45,000 while
that of a car is $35,000.
A recent Consumer
Reports study found that
the average EV owner
will spend 60% less to
power the vehicle and
half as much on repairs
and maintenance - no
oil changes needed.
Besides, EVs are
projected to last up to
20 years and the battery
will outlast the car. EVs
Accomplish Magazine
| 23

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
can now travel up to
400 miles (Lagos-Warri)
on a single charge. The
most interesting thing in
all this is that by leapfrogging
to EVs, Nigeria
is positioned for, like
Manchester City, a treble
win in 2023.
One, the mineral
resources required to
build EVs manufacturing
factories, electric
batteries and charging
accessories are all
available in Nigeria in
commercial quantities
such as: lithium,
manganese oxide,
cobalt, graphite, steel,
and nickel. Two, there
will be more premium
motor spirit for export
as consumption drops
drastically in Nigeria.
Three, there will be a
considerable reduction
in pollution, enhancing
the quality of lives of
Nigerians.
As part of the
intervention policy, the
Federal Government
can import 12,000
electric buses to be
shared among the 36
states, and the 370
tertiary institutions in
Nigeria through the
National Association of
Nigerian Students, NANS,
and mandating all
the existing petroleum
fueling stations to install
EVs charging points
immediately.
With an investment of
about $500 million in
EV buses and charging
points taken from
the $800 million fuel
subsidy palliative fund,
the transportation
system will get
stabilised as inflation
goes southward.
Consequently, all the
aged, 65+ retirees,
physically challenged,
and students would be
able to enjoy free public
transportation. That
was the road not taken
which would have led to
a renewed hope, instead
of “renewed pains”
from Day One of the
current administration.
Increasing workers’
salaries is necessary
but not sufficient:
it is only 10% of the
solution. What about
students, retirees, the
physically challenged,
unemployed and the
aged? The proposed
mass EVs transportation
system is a better
comprehensive solution:
achievable, effective
and inexpensive.
Recently, the Chinese
BYD company
established an e-bus
factory in Europe
tagged ‘’Made in Europe
for Europe’’. This can
• Ajaokuta Steel Company
be replicated in the
Middle Belt: ‘’Made
in Africa for Africa’’.
Putting 250,000 Middle
Belt youths on gainful
direct and indirect
EVs employments
within the next 18
months is a stronger
“Panadol” to cure the
triple headaches of
youth unemployment,
insecurity and multidimensional
poverty
than transferring N5,000
to their accounts under
the cash transfer policy,
which is barely enough
to buy 3 loaves of bread!
Furthermore, the 4th
generation-farming is
like “Panadol Extra” to
cure PBAT’s revenue
headache. For instance,
the yearly global fish
revenue is $610 billion.
Meanwhile, of the
923, 770km Nigeria’s
landmass, the coastline
is 853 km. Empowering
fish farmers from the
Niger Delta axis with
modern fish farming
skills and technology
from Vietnam will make
Nigeria become a net
exporter of fish in 12
months, thereby saving
the yearly $1.27 billion
spent in fish importation.
Similarly, to reflate the
economy of Edo-Cross
River axis, modern
technology for banana
cultivation and logistics
can be borrowed from
Ecuador, the world’s
largest banana exporter
with a yearly revenue
in excess $3.5 billion.
For the people of Osun-
Oyo axis to recapture
lost ground in cassava
farming, Thailand
innovations would help
with a yield of100:1 better
than Nigeria.
The size of the global
24 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
Nigeria is
suffering from
DID: dissociative
identity disorder.
We are a country
in perpetual
crisis of identity,
searching for
meaning of who
we truly are and
who we could
possibly be. We
were born as a
bald, harpy eagle,
the most powerful
bird on earth
that symbolises
strength, freedom
and immortality.
But we are
behaving like a
fowl, having lost
our wings and
talons.
tomato and vegetables
markets revenue is in
excess of $400 billion.
In 2021, America made
$85 billion exporting
vegetables, Brazil, $53
billion, China $27 billion,
Canada $26 billion.
Why is Nigeria not at
the party? No knowhow.
Again, revenue in
the global fresh fruits
market is projected
to reach $672 billion
in 2023. Meanwhile,
Benue, Plateau and Edo
states have better soil
and temperature for
fruits and vegetables
than Turkey and Brazil,
but we lack modern
technology which we
can borrow. The Fulani
nation can build a $60
billion economy from
the cattle business by
converting Sambisa
forest (518 square
kilometres), which is half
the size of Lagos State)
to a cattle ranch with
modern technology
from America. In
2022, the global cattle
revenue was $415
billion, projected to
$604 billion in 2029.
America revenue from
just cattle business in
2021 was $195.8 billion.
Unarguably, Nigeria is
the architect, engineer,
manufacturer, tailor, and
even fashion designer
of her own problems:
acute poverty in the
midst of unspeakable
abundance. What a
paradox!
Going Forward: 5
Revenue Pain Killers
1. Government should
exit direct involvement
in business:
Kill Air Nigeria; if it looks
like a scam, smells like
a scam, then chances
are nine to ten that it
an ‘’A level’’ scam! The
Nigerian government
cannot manage any
business profitably.
Regarding oil, there
are too many known
unknowns and several
unknown unknown’s
variables. Nigeria
should be making an
average of $32 billion
yearly net profit (i.e.
20% of ARAMCO), which
is not happening. Only
people who are well
versed in black magic
will understand how
the oil business runs in
Nigeria. The Nigerian
government should
simply and squarely
focus on regulation, tax
and royalty collections.
After all, when the
British people got lost
in the wilderness of
financial fiasco, they
outsourced the country’s
premiership position to
an Indian man. There
is no shame in it. This
is one instance when
Nigeria should disobey
motivational speakers
who tell us: winners don’t
quit and quitters don’t
win. Nigeria should quit
direct business, we can’t
win! However you slice it,
vertically or horizontally,
Nigeria cannot outwit
the oil cabal. NNPCL
should be handed over
to new “foster parents”!
If petro-dollars are the
motivation for politicians
for going into politics
and the reason behind
all the past military
coups, then we should
cut that umbilical cord.
2. A novel roadmap for
re-industrialisation:
Strategic partnership
with China, building
six industrial parks
(one per geopolitical
zone), hosting at
least 50 factories in
each park, utilising
local raw materials
in each region in
backward and forward
integration. America
has 8 industrial parks,
the United Kingdom
has 7 while South Africa
has 6. Lagos is 75% of
Nigeria (commercially
speaking), which is
strategically unwise.
The same way China
leveraged Japanese
superior technology
and skill to leapfrog,
and America reindustrialised
Japan,
China can, and indeed,
should officially be
appointed as our
strategic partner for
re-industrialisation,
in a new win-win
relationship, unlike
what obtains currently.
The illegal mining and
carting away of Nigeria
mineral resources must
stop. Those companies
in China that badly
need Nigeria’s raw
materials should come
and build their factories
in Nigeria. The same
way crude oil overthrew
palm oil, lithium (for
EVs) is the new crude
oil. Lithium is the incoming
class captain
of prosperity! Because
of its importance and
urgency, government
would need a
coordinator for global
partnerships whose
target will be to attract
300 companies to
Nigeria within 24
months.
Accomplish Magazine
| 25

•Nigerians in diaspora
3. PBAT must do what
President Deng did in
China:
Deng got Chinese
farmers specially and
massively trained
in modern farming
techniques borrowing
from Japan, America
and Europe. Against
that background,
government should
adopt PROJECT: 12:10:100
(identify 12 agricultural
products - 2 per region,
where Nigeria has (or
can build) comparative
or competitive
advantages, then target
10% of the global market
share and provide world
class overseas training
for 100 educated,
technology-oriented
farmers in each of the 12
core categories. With the
CBN single-digit loans,
the 1,200 4th generation
farmers will be more
productive than 100
million traditional
farmers. In the next 3
years, Nigeria should
target a $50 billion
revenue from agriculture
exports. The Netherlands
with only 17.5 million
people and just 5% of
Nigeria’s landmass,
earned 50 billion euros
from agricultural
exports in 2022. By 2026,
Nigerians can declare:
“who needs the petrol
dollars”?
4. Diaspora Wealth:
There are about 200
million Africans in the
diaspora. Some of them
want to relocate to the
Motherland, especially
African-Americans. They
have resources to invest
in Nigeria but Nigeria
has no “structure” to
attract and sustain
them. One, they need
a faster pathway to
citizenship (within 90
days maximum). Two,
they need a dedicated
Diaspora city which they
will build by themselves
but government needs
to provide the land and
basic infrastructure.
Just like the size of land
which Dangote Refinery
is sitting on - either in
Badagry, Lagos State
or an ideal location in
Ogun State (a border
town between Nigeria
and Benin Republic);
land overlooking the
ocean. Three, they
need security and
ease of business
engagement. With
those things in place,
when Nigeria launches
the $100 billion Africa
Re-Industrialisation
Diaspora Fund (ARDF), it
will be over-subscribed.
This is a “food-isready”
revenue formula.
They are not coming
for vacation, they are
coming with holy rage
to help re-industrialise
Africa in a return home
match with the excolonisers.
5. Belt Tightening from
the Top: The platinum
lifestyles of political
elites have reached
a cancerous stage!
Canada and most of
the developed countries
have only two aircrafts
each (Royal Canada
Air Force 1 and 2) in
the Royal/Presidential
Fleet. Some presidents
(the Dutch and Italian
presidents) ride
bicycles. What is Nigeria
doing with doubledigit
aircrafts in the
Presidential Fleet costing
over $45 million yearly
to maintain? The British
Prime Minister’s car is
escorted by just three
security cars, which is
less than the number of
cars that escort a local
government chairman
in Nigeria! Recently, law
enforcement agencies
raided a governor’s
house and recovered
over 40 cars in his
house. MSc. Madness!
The list is endless
and scandalous. If
the oxygen mask (oil
subsidy) of the masses
must go, the elite must
lead by example by
tightening their belts too.
26 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
•Nigerians in diaspora
The elites should scaledown
drastically their
lifestyles to reflect the
mood of the nation.
Nigeria:
The Next Frontier
China has been growing
her economy at an
average rate of 10%
yearly for the past
decade and half. Since
C-19, China has slowed
down: which country
is the next miracle? If
Nigeria crosses all her
‘t’s and dots all the ‘i’s,
just as UAE created a
Platform Economy for
Trading, Tourism and
Hospitality (TTH) and the
whole world responded
positively with foreign
direct investments, FDIs,
Nigeria should target
12% growth rate effective
2025-2035 by creating
an unbeatable platform
for Manufacturing,
Food and Technology
(MFT) because the raw
materials - youths,
arable land and mineral
resources are here in
abundance. Keep the
grass green, the cattle
will come.
Conclusion:
As the 16th
administration train
sluggishly departed
the station, trying to
negotiate a dangerous
fuel subsidy bend, “what
problem is Mr. President
trying to solve”? I ask.
Revenue problem? That
is the easiest code to
crack: every street in
Nigeria is paved with
gold. But mind the gaps!
The real challenge is
not revenue but the
vision, know-how and
will power gaps, vis-àvis
Nigeria’s structural
deformity. Nigeria is the
most balanced, blessed
country on earth. All
other countries have
“retail blessings” (e.g.
Saudis have oil but tiny
arable land, Russia has
gas but only 35% of the
landmass is reasonably
habitable due to
extreme cold, the Jews
have vision but no land
for mega expansion).
But Nigeria has
“wholesale
blessings”; i.e. “all-in,
proportionally”. No
tornado, no earthquake,
no locusts, no tsunami,
talented individuals,
calm water, but
collectively, Nigerians
seem confused!
If PBAT desires to
make Nigeria a firstworld
country, he
has to do what UAE’s
Sheik Mohammed
al-Maktoum did:
RESTRUCTURE! No
President can pass in
flying colours the way
Nigeria is presently
configured. No road!!!
Only one Train Captain
has managed to come
out with a 2:2 in Nigeria’s
63 years of existence,
the rest are either 3rd
Class or Ordinary Pass!
One captain got OP-C!
(share your rating).
For instance, the 10th
Train Captain, (brilliant,
bold, boisterous) trusted
the IMF and the World
Bank to a fault, and
implemented SAP. He
came out with a 3rd
Class. He has been
sitting at home since
1993; his certificate
denied him the
opportunity of a second
coming.
The 15th Train Captain
scored F9 in 16 out of the
17 subjects, with a Credit
(C4) in Infrastructure.
He was awarded an
OP-C! What is OP-C?
(Ordinary Pass, without
a Certificate).
Was Nigeria’s clock
programmed to work
counter-clockwise?
Yes! Nigeria is suffering
from DID: dissociative
identity disorder. We are
a country in perpetual
crisis of identity,
searching for meaning
of who we truly are and
who we could possibly
be. We were born as a
bald, harpy eagle, the
most powerful bird on
earth that symbolises
strength, freedom and
immortality. But we are
behaving like a fowl,
having lost our wings
and talons. Eagles have
unspeakable spirit. They
don’t run from storms.
Rather, they use stormy
wind to soar to higher
altitude. Sadly, while
it takes 10 - 12 weeks
for eaglets to hone
their flight skills and do
their own flight out of
the nest, Nigeria is still
inside the nest 63 years
after! At 40s, the eagle
voluntarily chooses a
painful molting rebirth
process (death process)
to live up to 70s. Nigeria,
too, needs the molting
season for rebirth to
survive. Except and
until we write a superior
code to vanquish the
original code and reprogramme
Nigeria, the
hope and aspiration
and even the prayers
of getting Nigeria’s
eaglets transit to full
super eagles will remain
elusive, ad infinitum.
Mind the GAP, Mr
President!
TIM
AKANO
AUTHOR’S BIO
Tim Akano is an
investor, entrepreneur,
writer, author, mentor
and life coach. After
his two decades in the
business world working
with multinational
conglomerates. Today,
he is the MD/CEO of
New Horizon Solutions
Nigeria Limited, a
franchise of the world
largest computer
training institute, New
Horizon International.
Accomplish Magazine
| 27

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
NIGERIA’S
CORRUPTED
SPIRIT OF
JUSTICE
By Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye
i
disagree with those claiming that corruption becoming rife in the
judiciary is a recent phenomenon. One commentator on Seun
Okinbaloye’s show on Channels TV articulated that corruption started
in our magistrate courts and only seeped into the high courts in the
1990s and the Supreme Court in the 2000s. This, also, is an incorrect
historiography and chronology of corruption in our judiciary. The judiciary
has been rotten from its roots and contravenes our natural African
spiritual sciences and concept of justice.
What has made corruption in our
judiciary more evident is not only
the spread of social media, but the
democratic dispensation of governance.
Under military rule, there was more
discipline through a scalar management,
with the military leadership unattached
to many civil issues. Therefore, the
military had shielded us from the effects
of the shaky, unnatural foundations of
neocolonial justice systems. People who
believe the present crop of politicians
since 1999 corrupted the judiciary are not
looking far back enough to the previous
democratic dispensations whose fall
could be attributed to the failures of the
judiciary.
As a teenager whose parents were law
officers, and one who also had holiday
job stints within the precincts of the law,
I was fully aware of some rotten eggs
on the bench in the 1980s. The most
memorable were the three Ibadan judges
28 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
From the
foregoing, it is
obvious that
for Nigeria
to get a
just political
system, we
must start
from selection
of a truly
independent
electoral
commission.
that were unduly influenced by the ‘Omo
wa ni e je kose’ bias in their judgement
in the Omololu Olunloyo versus Bola
Ige Oyo State governorship electoral
dispute. Also, the judicial mayhem that
followed the 1983 election across Nigeria,
cumulated or was used as an excuse in
the December 1983 Muhammadu Buhari
coup. The army rebottled the evil judiciary
gene for sixteen years until we returned
in 1999 to the current democratic
dispensation.
The misconception and misapplication
of our legal system and laws were first
witnessed as an independent nation
with the politically motivated jailing of
Obafemi Awolowo and the removal of the
Ooni of Ife as Western Region Governor.
With hindsight, it was an attempted
Afro-Arabic civilisational take-over of
the indigenous African civilisation aided
by the courts. When challenged at the
British Privvy Courts, the Afro-Arabic
civilisationally led Nigerian government
cut ties with the British and declared a
Republic. This civilisational tampering
and misapplication of the judiciary
was not new or a result of being a
young nation, if we go back to Herbert
Macaulay’s challenge of British colonial
justice that cheated Lagosians out of
lands, which inspired Macaulay and
others to fight for independence.
As constitutions are the laws guiding the
corporate existence of a nation, while
constitutionalism is the spirit used to
apply the constitution, there is a huge
difference between the laws and the
spirit used to apply them. Many scholars
would argue that the evolution of the
constitution and laws reflects on the
type of spirit used to apply them. If the
laws organically evolve from the society
based on natural laws, it is most likely to
be applied in good spirit. But if the laws
are introduced from external sources, like
in the case of coloniality, it is likely to be
anti-people, exploitative, irrelevant and
Accomplish Magazine
| 29

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
unfair. Especially in the case of Western sources that departed
from natural laws like with James Madison, the first USA Chief
Justice, whose positive laws placed property law over and
above human rights in an attempt to institutionalise racial
injustice.
• Obafemi Awolowo
The philosophy of law is influenced by civilisational philosophies
and socio-economic influences. Therefore, it is fundamentally
wrong to apply Western civilisational philosophy of binary
opposition to the indigenous African civilisation based on
binary complementarity philosophy. Socio-economic factors,
especially those tied to racial economics, also differentiated the
Anglo-Saxon adversarial legal systems of the United Kingdom
and the United States from the inquisitorial legal system of
continental Europe. While the inquisitorial legal system was
based on finding the truth which was best thought to be led
by a judge seeking information himself, the adversarial legal
system was based on competition between prosecutor and
defense teams which was influenced by money and social
influence.
• Herbert Macaulay
From the foregoing, it is obvious that for Nigeria to get a
just political system, we must start from selection of a truly
independent electoral commission. We can’t leave it to
unbridled adversarial competition between short-term
politicians, but must be guided by the long-term cultural
stakeholders. It is the civilizationally guided political system that
can bring about decoloniality of our judicial, educational and
other social systems.
It is then not only the corrupt foundations of our judiciary
can be rectified but the operators of the system imbued with
shared civilisational values that will naturally reduce personal
corruption and nepotism. It is only then that justice can be
truly served based on truth, and not who has money to buy the
best lawyers and SAN that use technicalities and cults to win
judgements.
• Late chief Victor Olunloyo
PRINCE JUSTICE
JADESOLA FALOYE
• Late chief Bola Ige
AUTHOR’S BIO
Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye is the President, ASHE
Foundation and CEO, Adulawo Media. He is aalso a
media practicioner, economist and publisher. He is
the author, “The Blackworld Evolution to Revolution”,
“Tutuoba’ and other publications.
30 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
FRACTURED
OPPOSITION,
FRAGILE
DEMOCRACY
By Dave Baro-Thomas
the Supreme Court’s verdict finally put to
rest all the agitations around the outcomes
of the 2023 presidential election, and
the All Progressives Congress, APC, pops
champagne and celebrates a presumed
landmark judgement while opposition
parties grip the jurists of the apex court
by the jugular, accusing them of being undertakers
of democracy in Nigeria. From whatever prism
one looks at the judgement, presidential electoral
jurisprudence became enriched rightly or wrongly
because that judgement dealt with some pesky
issues, however contentious they were, forstalling
future agitations.
However, since the First Republic, the country has
not had the fortune or misfortune of having the
victory of a declared winner in the presidential
race, upturned by the Supreme Court - either
because the jurists were complicit and connived
with the presumed winners as alleged by some, or
opposition parties have not lived up to the billings of
proving their cases beyond reasonable doubt.
After all the drama in different courts leading to
the Supreme Court judgement, few discerning
minds have wondered if the opposition parties were
strategic in their pursuit to uproot the incumbent
right from the word go. For career politicians and
the history of opposition parties with serial losses, it
was expected that the battle should have started
long before the primaries; with well-coordinated
infiltration of the incumbent’s camp, extensive
background checks on prospective candidates that
will emerge, and planting mercenaries like the ruling
party did in the opposition parties’ camps.
Accomplish Magazine
| 31

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
•President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
•Atiku Abubakar
These steps would have enabled the
opposition parties do further ‘damage’
with hard facts during the campaigns
that preceded the polls. It would have
also enabled the opposition parties
to collate an irrefutable body of
evidence in preparation for the battle
of jurisprudence that took place at the
election tribunal, the appellate court and,
finally, the apex court. Well, what did we
get? An opposition fixated on caricaturing
the ruling party’s presidential aspirant on
health grounds and poor management
of presumed certificate infractions.
The entire process and the outcomes
question the opposition parties’ readiness
and bid to wrest power from the
incumbent.
Can democracy truly thrive with
feeble, uncoordinated and tactless
opposition? Unequivocally, the vibrancy
of the opposition is the barometer or
a true reflection of the health of any
democracy and its absence, sponsors
leadership failure, and societal collapse.
Hence, democracy without consistent,
persistent, rugged and informed strategic
engagement of the opposition is the
beginning of dictatorialism and the
emergence of a democratic monarch,
especially in the African milieu.
The opposition, during the First Republic,
was very vibrant and kept the political
space fully charged and sometimes
spilling into unnecessary violence.
There was an opposition that bestrode
the political landscape effectively. One
remembers at the height of its glory
or infamy, the handlers of the Peoples’
Democratic Party, PDP, boasted that the
party would rule the country for 60 years
uninterrupted, and such assertion was
based on the arrogance of success and
driven by its sheer grip of incumbency.
Unfortunately, encumbered with endless
policy missteps and massive corruption,
Can
democracy
truly thrive
with feeble
uncoordinate
and tactles
opposition?
32 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
•Peter Obi
,
ed
s
the party spiralled into a loss of faith by
the people.
Consequences for such gambling are
usually not far-fetched because when
incumbency crosses the rubicon, any
novice can wrest power and coast to
victory. These were simply the playbook
strategy of the ruling party while still in
opposition. A Buhari could never have
become the president of Nigeria if he had
stuck to his gun as the emperor of the
Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.
Under that party flag, he wept after serial
defeats until the opposition regrouped,
reset and trounced the PDP mercilessly.
During pre-2015 elections, the PDP was
fractured and infiltrated, wounded,
and conspiracy was the name of the
game as religious, ethnic and regional
proclivities wrecked the party’s boat
- the master stroke was the fusion of
opposition parties driven by a common
goal to boot out the incumbent by all
means necessary, and the plotters of that
trajectory, saw all as fair. Indeed, that was
how to be an opposition!
It throws up some learning curves in the
coffee book of President Bola Tinubu
and on the tortuous sojourn of how an
opposition party with extremely remote
chances can embarrass the incumbent
and dominate the political space. If the
declaration of President Tinubu about
his becoming the president of Nigeria as
a lifetime ambition is anything to go by,
and his eventual success of that pursuit,
then the man must be commended
as one of the most resourceful political
strategists from the South West, if not for
our time.
Since he stormed the political landscape
in 1999, he patiently nursed that ambition
like a patient vulture, waiting for its
time. He never shifted grounds while in
opposition but built bridges across the
country. In fact, during some crucial
Accomplish Magazine
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FEATURE / ANALYSIS
moments, he even provided shelter
for those regarded as outcasts. Hence,
among his contemporaries, he may
be one of the few politicians who never
jumped ship, irrespective of the political
atmosphere or dwindling fortunes - thus
providing a body of knowledge of how
to stay focused, maintain grit and be
single-eyed to a vision.
The nation was ready for a change
of government in the February 2023
presidential election - but the chief
opposition had a blurred view of the
bigger picture and egos imprisoned
reasoning. For instance, when an Iyorchia
Ayu, the party chairman, refused to
sacrifice his office for the greater good of
the party, it was a case of not seeing the
power of stooping down to conquer!
The entire party went on an ego trip to
prove needless points thus losing sight
of the prevailing mood in the country. Of
course, it was time for that opposition
party to self-implode because it was in
a big mess; a condition that could only
lead to a total shipwreck.
It is interesting to note that the then
sitting president was against the
candidacy of Asiwaju. His party
chairman was not pretentious about
taking sides with the the president.
Furthermore, the Senate President at the
time was drafted into the plot for purely
ethnic manoeuvring. The former Central
Bank of Nigeria governor’s naira redesign
policy was merely doing the bidding
of his paymaster. With that policy that
seemed to target Tinubu, President
Muhammadu Buhari destroyed the
Nigerian economy, making it worse than
it was months before the 2023 elections.
In the face of all these, Nigerians were
ready to answer the big question for
change but, the PDP, the face of the
opposition, as it were, came to the ring
without its boxing gloves - leaving a
newly repackaged, no-structure Labour
Party, flagging a Peter Obi of little
national relevance, to become the toast
of Nigerians within a few months of the
election – what a tragedy for our brand
of opposition.
So, when Atiku Abubakar told the
leadership of the Inter Party Advisory
Council, IPAC, a few days ago that the
opposition should regroup and form
a synergy to unseat the incumbent, it
came as a call in the right direction.
This is because, if you cannot defeat
a Tinubu who was outside Aso Rock,
who fought the tide of his party against
his candidacy, you may not be able to
unseat him as a sitting president with
haphazard, egocentric, greed-driven
and fractured opposition. After all, the
man may court over to himself half
of the strategic membership of the
opposition parties before the expiration
of his first four-year tenure because
when Tinubu was through with Lagos as
governor, the opposition went extinct.
He knows the game and plays it with
uncanny mastery.
So, if the opposition goes into silent
mode and hopes to resurface three and
a half years later to disturb our peace,
sadly, democracy will remain fragile. As
usual, the opposition is currently nursing
the pains of defeat, so committing to
giving the incumbent a run for their
money by promising to shadow the
ruling party’s activities for the next
four years is a mere fallacy because
if you have lived long enough in this
country, you will understand that after
the docility of followership, the porosity
of the opposition is another bane of
democratic development.
Nigerians want to see a virile opposition,
know what a shadow cabinet actually
does, and see the key actors remaining
in opposition persistent in the political
space for the next three years;
reasonably interrogating all the policies
and projects of the ruling party. The
masses crave an opposition that would
sponsor investigative inquiries into the
business of governance and expose
any form of infractions, corruption and
dislocation of our collective patrimony,
and as a matter of duty, provide credible
alternatives to critical national issues
with clear roadmaps and solutions - not
fair-weather opposition that has been
the norm while the country suffers untold
calamities.
In the next six months, can the present
opposition of both parties provide
the kind of leadership Nigerians hope
for? And, it is worth the mention, Your
Are the key
players in the
opposition rea
to sacrifice
their ambition
if it takes tha
to unseat
incumbents?
• Cross section of court room
•Lawyers
34 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
dy
s
t
Excellency, the Waziri Adamawa, President Tinubu cannot kill
the opposition, but, historically, the opposition tends to selfsedate
almost to a coma and hurriedly resurfaces a few
months before the next election with hopes for a landslide.
Are the key players in the opposition ready to sacrifice
their ambitions if it takes that to unseat incumbents? Is the
opposition willing to ignore personal aggrandisement and
party gains to rescue democracy if they feel it is captured
or imprisoned by incumbents? Before APC in this Fourth
Republic, what we had seen as the opposition was a bunch
of jokers in a merry-go-round that promptly fused into the
whims and caprices of the ruling party. We hope a repeat is
not looming!
It behoves the leadership of the
opposition parties to truly approximate
the ramifications of political opposition
and spare us the charade of resurfacing
every four years without pounding the
pavement for the desired results.
The opposition should sincerely regroup
and reset because President Tinubu
is not a non-performer and does not
take captives. He is likely to ruthlessly
and strategically weaken or eliminate
any form of opposition to have the full
advantage come 2027
•Yakubu
DAVE
BARO-THOMAS
AUTHOR’S BIO
A Banker, Special Project
Executive (BusinessDay
Media) and Event/Conferences
Manager (Vanguard
Newspapers). A Producer, Editor,
Author/Publisher, (Development
Post & Agrobusiness Times)
Columnist, Voice-over artist,
Content Specialist (Pan Atlantic
University), Trainer, and
Media Entrepreneur (GreenStel
Communication/Zemeef
Communications) with a strong
flare for marketing
and research.
Accomplish Magazine
| 35

IMPORTANT LIFE
LESSONS CHILDREN
SHOULD BE TAUGH
GL BAL InfoDIGEST
Life is a process of learning and growth, for children
and adults. When you’re young, the world can seem
scary. We need to help children learn how to deal
with the different challenges they may face so that
they can grow into well-adjusted, successful adults.
Children should learn these seven essential life
lessons as they move from childhood to adolescence.
1
Honesty is the best policy
An important life lesson for
children is to always be honest.
Lying will only get us in trouble,
and it isn’t worth it. The basis of
any good relationship is honesty,
whether it be with friends, family,
or anyone else. To instill the virtue
of honesty in our children, parents
must set a positive example.
We must always be transparent
36 | Accomplish Magazine

GL BAL InfoDIGEST
T
and honest with our children,
even when it might be difficult.
The more honest you are with
your child, the stronger your
relationship will be.
2
Treat others as you wish
to be treated
This is a life lesson that will go a
long way in the long run. Often,
we learn how to treat others
by how they treat us. When we
treat someone with kindness
and respect, we expect the
other person to treat us similarly,
especially if we need help.
Having empathy for others
is an important lesson to teach
children, as it enhances their
understanding of the importance
of compassion. Additionally, it
teaches them how to respect
each other regardless of their
appearance and beliefs.
3
Good manners go a long
way
It is important to teach children
about good manners, as good
manners will help them get along
with others and make a good
impression on others.
The price of good manners
is nothing, but they are worth
their weight in gold. Children will
benefit from being taught the
importance of saying “Please”
and “Thank you”, holding the
door open for other people, and
being polite throughout their
lives. Through the years, children
are likely to encounter many
different types of people, and it
is important to treat them with
kindness.
4
You don’t always get
what you want
The harsh reality of life is that not
everything will go our way. Having
this lesson early on helps children
experience less disappointment
when things don’t go their way.
It’s also important that
children learn how to cope with
disappointment in a healthy
way. Perhaps, they didn’t get the
toy they wanted for Christmas,
or their team lost an important
match. By teaching them how
to cope with these feelings in a
healthy way, we will help them in
the future.
5
Success comes from
hard work
It is also important that children
learn that we cannot always get
what we want. You have to work
hard to achieve what you want.
It has special importance for
children who grow up in wealthy
neighbourhoods and may be
accustomed to getting whatever
they want. It’s important to
understand that there’s more to
life than having our way. Working
hard for something and achieving
it can be very satisfying.
6
It’s not always about you
As children grow up, they begin
to realise that the world doesn’t
revolve around them. Learning
that life is not always about
us and our needs and desires
is essential for children. It is
important to help our children
understand that they are not the
only people in the world, and that
their actions have consequences.
7
Sense of responsibility
It’s important to teach children
to take responsibility for their
own actions. A young child can
greatly benefit from learning
this life lesson. A child who pays
attention to his or her actions is
far more likely to be a successful
adult and to have a strong work
ethic. Responsibility is the key to a
successful life.
Conclusion
We need to teach children
important life lessons so they
can become well-adjusted,
functioning adults as they grow
older. All children should learn
these seven life lessons from
an early age. Teaching children
these lifelong lessons will set
them up for happiness and
success!
Editor’s Note: This piece was
written by Susan Harr and
published by The Pillars Christian
Learning Centre.
Accomplish Magazine
| 37

GL BAL InfoDIGEST
•Group of confident professionals
What People
Want To See In
Confident People
1. Maintaining eye contact
Confident individuals often
make eye contact with others,
conveying their confidence and
curiosity.
2. Good posture
Confident people tend to have
good posture, which can make
them appear more assertive
and self-assured.
3. Speaking clearly and
assertively
Confident people communicate
their ideas and opinions with
conviction, without hesitation or
self-doubt.
4. Taking risks
They are not afraid to take risks
and make decisions confidently,
trusting their own judgment and
instincts.
5. Listening more than
speaking
Confident people listen actively
to others, paying attention to
what they say and learning
from their experiences.
6. Not seeking attention
They don’t crave attention from
others, knowing that being
genuine and authentic is more
•Young cofident lady
effective in gaining respect and
influence.
7. Not passing judgment
Confident people don’t judge
others, believing that everyone
has something to offer and
that comparing oneself to
others is limiting.
8. Taking responsibility
They admit their weaknesses
and seek education from
others, rather than blaming
others for their misfortune.
9. Exercising regularly
Confident people often engage
in physical activity, which can
contribute to their overall sense
of well-being and confidence.
10. Viewing failure as a
learning opportunity
They don’t let failure stop
them, instead using it as an
opportunity to learn and grow.
The
Great
Lesson
Of
Ubuntu
An anthropologist called some ch
African tribe to play a game. He
of delicious fruits near a tree trunk a
first child to reach the tree will get th
When he gave them the “Start” sig
surprised that they were walking tog
hands until they reached t he tree a
When he asked them why they did
one of them could get the basket on
answered with astonishment: “Ubun
can one of us be happy while the re
Ubuntu in their civilization means:
we are). That tribe knows the secret
has been lost in all societies that tra
which consider themselves civilized
Editor’s Note: This piece was origi
Amazing Valley on Quora com.
14 LESSONS
1. You don’t need anyone’s permission to
chase your dreams.
2. Time runs out quickly.
3. You are not born to work a job you hate
4. 9 months equals 1% of your life.
5. Don’t quit your job without a plan.
6. The perfect time to start was yesterday.
7. Don’t follow your passion, follow your
purpose.
38 | Accomplish Magazine

GL BAL InfoDIGEST
A Surprise Event in Brazil
ildren of an
placed a basket
nd told them: “The
e basket.”
nal, he was
ether, holding
nd shared the fruit!
that when any
ly for himself, they
tu!” Meaning: “How
st are miserable?”
(I am because
of happiness that
nscend them and
societies!
nally posted by
One of Brazil’s richest and most
powerful men, Chiquinho
Scarpa, stunned the world when
he announced that he was burying
his million-dollar Bentley so that he
could lead his later life in style. The
announcement attracted a lot of
media attention, mostly negative, and
was strongly criticised
for its extravagant
gesture and the
destruction of a
valuable vehicle.
People wondered
why he wouldn’t
just donate the car
to some charity
organisation. They also
spoke about how far
he was from reality.
Moments before the
scheduled time for the
Bentley to be buries,
he made a statement
that he would not
bury his car. Then,
he revealed his true
motive for the event:
to create awareness for organ
donation!
“People condemn me because
I wanted to bury a million dollar
Bentley. In fact, most people bury
something more valuable than my
car”, Scarpa said during a speech
at the ceremony. “They bury hearts,
livers, lungs, eyes, kidneys... So many
people are waiting for transplants...”
He challenged people to save many
lives by donating their healthy
organs!
Editor’s Note:
This piece
was originally
published by
Quora.com
NO SCHOOL WILL TEACH YOU
.
8. Don’t waste years chasing the
wrong goals.
9. If you don’t love the process, you
won’t love the result.
10. The goal is not multiple income
streams, the goal is to get paid for your
purpose in multiple ways.
11. Most people don’t even think about
you.
12. Wrong decisions don’t exist when
you have purpose.
13. Your potential is far greater than
you can imagine.
14. Comfort is the single greatest
threat to growth.
Editor’s Note: This piece was
originally posted by Human Mind
Readers on Quora com.
Accomplish Magazine
| 39

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
THE EROSION
OF ETHICS:
UNRAVELING
THE MORAL
FABRIC OF
BIG PHARMA
By Victor Olewunne
•Big pharma building
in the field of
healthcare, the actions
of pharmaceutical
companies play a pivotal
role in shaping the wellbeing
of individuals,
communities and nations. They
are known to have been in the
fore front of medical research
and developments. However,
the pursuit of profit and the
advancement of medical
science often collide, leading to
ethical dilemmas that can have
unimaginable consequences. In
recent years, the abdication of
ethics in the business practices
of big pharmaceutical
companies has come under
increasing scrutiny. The zenith
was their role in the roll-out
of the controversial vaccines
for Covid 19 in 2020, which has
been faulted recently by a US
court, as nothing short of crime
against humanity. This article
looks into the ethical challenges
in the practice of these
corporations and the potential
implications for patients and
society.
The Big Pharma is a phrase
now commonly used to refer
to the big pharmaceutical
companies in the world, which
had a combined revenue of 1.42
trillion dollars in 2021. They are
considered the most powerful
industry in the world today.
They include companies like
Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Johnson
& Johnson, Merck and Co.,
Novartis, AbbVie, Gilead
Sciences, GlaxoSmirkline and
Amgen, just to mention a few.
They have been in the news
quite often these days for all
the wrong reasons. According
to Drug Watch, “Big Pharma
and medical device companies
make billions of dollars every
year. They’ve also spent billions
on fines, settlements and jury
verdicts.” Fines, settlement and
jury verdicts for what wrongs,
you may ask?
The Profit Motive
At the heart of the ethical
quagmire lies the profit motive
that drives the pharmaceutical
industry. While the development
of innovative drugs and
therapies are essential for
addressing global health
40 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
challenges, the line between
profit-driven decision-making
and ethical considerations
has become increasingly
blurred. Unethical research
practices and unauthorised
human testing of some of their
products, all in a break-neck
competition for profit has raised
serious concerns among the
people. The exorbitant prices of
life-saving medications, often
beyond the reach of those in
need, also raises questions
about the prioritisation of
financial gain over the wellbeing
of patients. By the very
nature of the industry, saving
lives should come before profit,
otherwise, the very essence of
their existence is diminished.
•Research scientist
Accomplish Magazine
| 41

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
Misleading Marketing
Practices
The marketing strategies
employed by big
pharmaceutical companies
have also come under scrutiny
for their ethical implications.
Aggressive and, sometimes,
misleading promotion of
medications has led to overprescription
and unnecessary
treatments. The opioid crisis
in the United States and the
meningitis case in Nigeria, for
example, shed light on the
devastating consequences of
unethical marketing practices
that prioritised profits over
patient safety. Medical
practitioners are incentivised
to collaborate with these
companies to promote and
use their drugs beyond their
intended purposes. In almost all
cases, the critical information
that should accompany these
drugs are played down, or are
completely silent on the drug’s
•Drugs
side effects, which could be
more detrimental to health
than the ailment it is intended
to cure.
Neglecting Global Health
Needs
Another ethical concern arises
from the apparent neglect
of global health needs by
some pharmaceutical giants.
Diseases that predominantly
affect low-income populations
who cannot afford the
premium prices of relevant
drugs are often overlooked
in favour of more lucrative
markets. This selective
approach to drug development
perpetuates health disparities
and raises questions about the
industry’s commitment to the
broader global community.
When alternative but cheaper
and effective treatment
is presented outside their
purview, they are often quick
to discredit it, with the sole
intention of cashing out with
their own more expensive
version of the same or similar
solutions. Global health is
thus denied the benefit
of the multifarious
By the very
nature of
the industry,
saving lives
should come
before profit,
otherwise, the
very essence
of their
existence is
diminished.
sources and approaches to
human health. On whose side is
the big pharma then?
Influence on Medical
Research
The influence that
pharmaceutical companies
wield over medical research
is a cause for concern.
Industry-sponsored studies
may be susceptible to bias,
as the financial interests of
the sponsor may impact the
design, analysis, and reporting
of research outcomes. That
was the case with HIV and
retrioviral drugs. The Covid
virus that translated into a
money-spinning venture for
the Big Pharmas is alleged to
be the outcome of sponsored
research involving the
same Big Pharmas. And
to whom did the world
look to for solution, the
same Big Pharmas. This
potential conflict of
interest compromises
the integrity of
scientific inquiry and
undermines public
trust in the objectivity
of medical research.
42 | Accomplish Magazine

FEATURE / ANALYSIS
•WHO office
The principle of ‘do no-harm’,
one of the ethical foundation of
professionalism in medicine is
completely ignored.
Lobbying and Policy
Influence
The extensive lobbying power of
big pharmaceutical companies
in shaping healthcare policies
raises ethical questions about
the undue influence of profitdriven
motives on public health
decisions. In 2016 alone, Big
Pharma in the US “spent about
$246 million on lobbyists. That
was more than the spend of
the defence industries and
corporate business lobbyists
combined”. Instances of
pharmaceutical companies
influencing legislation to
extend patent monopolies,
delay generic competition, or
impede access to affordable
medicines highlight the need
for robust ethical guidelines in
the industry. We all witnessed
how the Big Pharma were able
to force governments all the
world, with the instrumentality
of World Health Organisation
(WHO), to shot down states
and force the populace to take
their killer-vaccines. With such
enormous lobbying power
and influence on government
policies, it is no surprise that the
Big Pharma often escape legal
consequences for their actions.
Is the Big Pharma for or against
humanity?
Anti-people Agenda
The alleged depopulation
agenda, as a component
of ‘the new world order’
sponsored by Bill Gates and
Co. is believed to be anchored
on the activities of the Big
Pharma. The most recent
controversies being those
around the cervical cancer
vaccines and malaria vaccines.
Many medical journals have
published articles questioning
the veracity of the claims
surrounding these vaccines.
But while the questions are still
awaiting answers, government
institutions, particularly in Africa,
are being used to promote and
administer these vaccines. It is
an abdication of professional
ethics if the vaccines fail to
do what the pharmaceutical
companies claim they will do. It
is even worst, a case of taking
lives instead of saving it, if the
vaccines cause harm with
the secret knowledge of the
pharma companies. Regardless
what the case may be, their
eyes seems to be focused more
on serving their pay masters
and on profits.
Conclusion
The abdication of ethics in
the businesses of the big
pharmaceutical companies pose
a significant threat to the wellbeing
of individuals and society
as a whole. Striking a balance
between profitability and ethical
responsibility is essential to
ensure that the pharmaceutical
industry serves the greater
good rather than individual
financial interests. As consumers,
healthcare professionals, and
policy makers, it is our collective
responsibility to demand
transparency, accountability,
and ethical behaviour from
pharmaceutical companies
to safeguard the integrity of
healthcare systems worldwide.
VICTOR
OLEWUNNE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Victor Olewunne, the
Ethicist, is a public affairs
analyst and Founder,
African Foundation
for Ethics and Social
Responsibility.
Accomplish Magazine
| 43

INTERVIEW
Dr. Emem Okon
Advocating for Rural Women
& Good Governance
By Diiyi William-West
Dr. Emem Okon is a widely respected, dynamic
advocate for women upliftment and good
governance. For her, these issues need deliberate,
strategic actions to ensure true development in
Nigeria. Dr. Okon, is the Founder and Executive Director of
the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource
Centre, an NGO. The centre partners with the African Centre
for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) and
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) of Germany. Its leadership
school arm graduated the 5th set of leadership students on
November 4, an event which coincided with the NGO’s 20th
anniversary. The ceremony attracted distinguished
personalities with Bishop Frank Ikpe as Chairman and Hon.
Nimi Walson-Jack as Guest Speaker.
To add more zest to her work, she recently completed her
Ph.D. in Gender Studies, majoring in Peace and Conflict
Resolution from the University of Port Harcourt.
44 | Accomplish Magazine

Accomplish Magazine
| 45

INTERVIEW
Dr. Emem
Okon,
Executive
Director
of Kebetkache,
Emem
Okon
giving her
remarks
during the
graduation
ceremony
of Set
5, Kebetkache
Leadership
School
Accomplish: Please,
introduce yourself to
our readers.
Dr. Emem Okon: My
name is Dr. Emem Okon.
I’m the Founder and
Executive Director of the
Kebetkache Women
Development and Resource
Centre. I am also
the Chapter President
of Rotary Club of Port
Harcourt ECO.
Accomplish: Wow!
How did the idea of Kebetkache
come about?
Dr. Emem Okon: I had
been involved in development
practice. In fact,
when Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack
was giving the
lecture on ‘Leading from
the Middle’, I remembered
it was exactly
what I did. I have done a
lot of community work:
community mobilisation,
community sensitisation
on human rights,
using popular education
to talk about human
rights, women’s rights
etc. Then, I founded
Kebetkache. I have been
involved in development
work since 1997.
Accomplish: From
1997?
Dr. Emem Okon: Yes.
Then, I worked with
the Institute of Human
Rights and Humanitarian
Law. I founded
Kebetkache in 2003 but
started full operations in
2004. While I was doing
all the work I did in
different communities, I
noticed a gap. I noticed
that that we did not
have a very active and
viable women’s rights
organisation in the Niger
Delta with a platform for
community women to
talk about how they are
being impacted by the
environment. There was
a lot of agitation for resource
control, against
environmental degradation
in the Niger Delta
etc. But there was really
no organised and visible
women’s rights organisation
pushing women’s
issues to the regional
level, national level or
international level.
Since 2004, we have
carried out a lot of interventions
- organising
women in communities,
creating awareness on
women’s rights, building
women’s self esteem
and confidence. We
also encourage them to
speak about their own
situations and to take
local actions to engage
with other community
stakeholders, including
Group
photograph
of
the 2022-
23 Kebetkache
Leadership
School
Graduands
46 | Accomplish Magazine

corporations.
Accomplish: It’s been
20 years since Kebetkache
started. What fans
your passion for environmental
issues?
Dr. Emem Okon: Before
I started working
in communities, while
growing up, I used to
see huge flames of fire.
I didn’t know that they
were called gas flares.
I did not know where
they were coming from.
I did not know why they
were there. It was when
I started community
mobilisation, working
for the Institute of Human
Rights and Humanitarian
Law, that I
began to understand
what communities were
going through and the
oppression by oil companies.
Then, I began to
understand what gas
flares were, what oil
spill is, and their effects
on communities, livelihoods,
biodiversity etc.
That is what got me
interested.
Cross
section of
women
marking
the 2023
World
Environmental
Day, with a
rally on the
streets of
Port Harcourt.
I also realised that there
were a lot of campaigns
and advocacy on the
destruction of the Niger
Delta ecosystem. I was
participating in training
programmes, NGO
workshops, conferences
and so on. I felt that
there is that need to get
community women to
also begin to speak up.
That is what fanned
my interest to mobilise
community women
to be part of the
agitations; because
the devastation of the
environment impacts on
them more. When there
is oil spill, journalists like
you would be talking to
community leaders and
community youths while
the women were just
there. Nobody was asking
the women questions.
If you ask, the men
would say, “But, we are
here, speaking for our
wives. Our wives don’t
need to be here.”
So, Kebetkache started
carrying out mobilisation
and I am proud
to say that we have
contributed to building
capacity, building self
confidence... We have a
lot of community women
leaders now who can
articulate what is going
on in their communities
and who can also talk
about the kind of solutions
they want.
Accomplish: What do
you think about climate
change, especially as
it affects families in the
Niger Delta?
Dr. Emem Okon: Communities
in the Niger
Delta are living the
manifestations of climate
change. Many
years of gas flaring
has contributed to the
release of toxic gases
into the atmosphere.
This has contributed to
global warming that
has caused climate
change. Our rainfall
patterns have changed.
We now have heavy
rains in October, November,
even during
Accomplish Magazine
| 47

INTERVIEW
Christmas. We have heavy rains
and we have flooding. Almost every
year, there is flooding. Like the 2022
flood - though they said it is from
the Camerounian dam, there is also
a dimension of climate change with
no sustainable measures adopted
to address these issues.
Gas flaring erodes roofs so people
have to replace roofs (too often).
We cannot harvest rain water to
drink safely. In years gone by, we
used to enjoy drinking rain water in
the village. Here in the Niger Delta,
because of gas flaring and oil production
activities, we have acid rain.
Without contributing to climate
change, we are suffering the most
impact in the Niger Delta. The companies
are not responding the way
we expect them to respond. Our
governments are not responding
the way we expect them to respond.
Local governments don’t even have
strategies or policies to address
climate change.
When we campaign for them to
adopt the Gender and Climate
Change Action Plan - we realise
that some of them don’t even understand
climate change to be able
to link it to what is happening in
their context, and to be able to use
their (respective) positions to address
the issue.
Accomplish: People have been
doing so much about climate
change. Are there new methodologies
that could be applied?
Dr. Emem Okon: When we say people
have done so much, how much
has really been done when community
people are trying to cope
on their own? At the federal level,
the federal government has had, I
think, Climate Change Adaptation
and Mitigation Strategies, something
like that. The Federal Ministry
of Environment also adopted the
Gender and Climate Change Action
Plan. There is a National Council
on Climate Change in place and
there are several other things in
48 | Accomplish Magazine
place. That is at the federal level.
But coming down to the sub-national,
the states, how much is being
done? What measures do they have
in place to address it? And then still
going down to communities, what
has been done? The local governments
are closer to communities. If
local governments are taking action
and responding to the issues, their
actions would be reflecting on what
is going on in the communities.
Let’s look at the impact - the devastation
caused by the 2022 flooding.
What has been done to help the
communities address the impact?
Many people who were living in
mud houses, their houses collapsed
due to the flooding. Was there any
assistance from any quarters to
help them renovate?
Emem Okon, Executive Direc
Kebetkache Women Develop
Resource Centre at a recent

INTERVIEW
Because if we don’t have good governance,
it means our society has
collapsed. If we talk about having
functional healthcare infrastructure,
it is governance processes we’ll be
looking at. If we talk about having
quality education, it is governance
processes we are looking at. Having
market, economic opportunities,
and all that, most of those things
border on governance.
So what Kebetkache does in promoting
good governance is that we
campaign for inclusive governance
processes that includes women
participation. We are also looking at
persons with disability having opportunities
to participate, because if
they don’t, it means they are excluded.
When they are left out, their
concerns and interests will not be
represented when decisions are
being taken, or when budgets are
being formulated.
Group photograph of participants during a
training event on Mangrove Conservation and
Protection in the Niger Delta
There were predictions that there
was going to be flooding. Even with
that prediction, what actions were
taken to prepare the communities?
And, ever since we’ve been experiencing
flood, we have not had
a real IDP camp built! Any time it
happens, people move to primary
schools or church buildings. There
has never been a time a state
government said, okay, this place
is upland; it will be good to put a
structure here so that if it happens
again, people have a place to go to.
Accomplish: Kebetkache is also
interested in good governance and
leadership. Why are you interestred
in good governance?
Dr. Emem Okon: Everyone should
be interested in good governance.
Again, at all those levels, there is
need for the people to engage.
Because at the local level, you have
people that are from communities
that are members of the National
Assembly etc. So there is still a linkage
that my community man is at
the National Assembly.
There is that linkage that our representatives
at the federal level are
people from the communities. They
should be able to use their influence
at that level to influence things in
their communities. It should be the
same thing at the state level. Everybody
is from a community or constituency.
For good governance to
reflect at all levels, there has to be
inclusion.
The people also need to learn
how to engage. If we sit at home
and expect our representatives to
come and build schools for us or
make sure that our health centre is
working, they might not remember
because the pressures of the office
could distract them.
tor of
ment &
seminar
Accomplish Magazine
| 49

INTERVIEW
Accomplish: Do you
think enough has been
said and done to give
women a true sense of
belonging in Nigeria?
Dr. Emem Okon: Enough
has not been done. That
is why the campaign
is on. There has been a
lot of campaigns, but
there is also some level
of resistance. If you
remember last March,
there were some genderresponsive
or sensitive
bills that the National
Assembly did not want to
pass. That means there
is still that resistance
to issues of women
empowerment. Women
are part of the society.
And if women are not
represented in decision
making processes
and bodies, there is a
problem. There are some
peculiar issues about
women that men cannot
discuss adequately.
When you’re making laws
and policies, you need to
look at how that law will
address the problems
of men, the problems of
youth, the problems of
50 | Accomplish Magazine
women, the problems of children and the problems of
persons with disabilities.
Accomplish: How have you funded your projects?
Dr. Emem Okon: We have funders. Some of our good
governance programmes are funded by Oxfam. Ford
Foundation is one of our critical funders. We partner with
Global Fund for Women, Grassroots International and so
on. For the leadership development school, lectures are
free according to the requirements of Centre LSD. So,
we attract highly qualified, truly reputable lecturers
who offer their services as volunteers.
Accomplish: Are there projects your NGO is
working on?
Dr. Emem Okon: There are a lot of projects. We
are advocating for local governments to adopt the
Gender and Climate Change Framework. We are
also creating awareness on climate change and
encouraging community members to be more
sensitive to what is happening in their community.
In fact, we have invited the National Council on
Climate Change to come to Rivers State and train
us and other NGOs on what our government is doing
at the national level on climate change and how
local authorities can link up to what is happening
A cross section of women activists and
campaigners at the 2023 African Women
Climate Assembly in Lagos, Nigeria
at the national and
international levels.
We also have the
Good Governance
Project, specifically
campaigning for
the adoption of the
National Gender
Policy at the state
and local government
levels.
Women participants discussing
community-led solutions to the
climate crisis in the Niger Delta
DIIYI
WILLIAM-WEST
AUTHOR’S BIO
More fondly known
as DDWEST, he
has several years
of media practice
experience spanning
magazines,
newspapers,
television and radio;
laying emphasis
on maintaining
standards in
media practice.
He practised and
lectured Public
Relations for
nearly a decade
before going
into leadership
consulting and real
estate consultancy.

Accomplish Magazine
| 51

GRAND DESIGN / ARCHITECTURE
By Damian Ikenna Ngere
Heneghan Peng Architects Wins
Competition for the Remarkable
Restoration of a Historic Berlin Church
The Design By Ralph
Appelbaum Associates,
Berlin, And Heneghan Peng
Architects, Dublin, Won First
Prize In An International
Competition For The
Reconstruction And Expansion
Of The Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church’s Old Tower.
The Original West Tower Was
Partially Destroyed During An
Allied Forces Bombing In 1943;
The Competition’s Goal Was
To Rebuild It And Bring It Back
To The Tourist Circuit As A
War Memorial And Exhibition
Space.
Emperor Wilhelm Ii
Commissioned The Church To
Be Constructed In The Neo-
Romanesque Style Between
1891 And 1895, Based On The
Designs Of Franz Schwechten.
The Church Was Intended To
Serve As A Religious Memorial
For His Grandfather, Emperor
Wilhelm I. The Church Was
Severely Damaged In An Air
Raid In 1943.
52 | Accomplish Magazine

GRAND DESIGN / ARCHITECTURE
The CRAB Studio, led by
Sir Peter Cook and Gavin
Robotham, has unveiled the
design for a new cultural
centre that will be built
in New Delhi, India. The
BRIJ, which was formerly
a quartzite quarry, has an
arts academy and spaces
for the visual, performing,
literary, and culinary arts.
The plan, which aims to
foster interactions between
artists and audiences
through an immersive
environment, was created
by Executive Architect CP
Kukreja Architects (CPKA)
and CRAB Studio, which
is currently led by Gavin
Robotham.
The project aims to help
engage all kinds of visitors,
regardless of their prior
experience with the arts, and
to address Delhi’s dearth of
expansive cultural spaces.
In order to handle this, CRAB
has designed six curved
“vessels” that resemble
ancient Indian Charbagh
gardens and hover over a
waffle grid. A completely airconditioned
subterranean
passage provides access
to every area of the site in
any weather, while the grid
arranges the topography
and circulation layers of
the site to create sheltered
routes for use in hot or rainy
weather.
CRAB Studios Unveils Striking
Design for BRIJ Cultural
Centre Project in India
DAMIAN
IKENNA NGERE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Ikenna is a graduate of
Physics and Education,
who works as a
freelance writer. He has
interest in technology,
humanity and sports.
Accomplish Magazine
| 53

LIFESTYLE
By Damian Ikenna Ngere
ARTS & THE MASTERS
54 | Accomplish Magazine
Picasso’s
‘Woman with
a Watch’
Painting
Auctioned
Off for $139m
at Sotheby’s
Auction
At an auction conducted by
Sotheby’s in New York, United
States of America, Pablo
Picasso’s 1932 painting “Woman
with a Watch” brought in $139.3
million (€129.9 million). For the
painter’s work, it is the secondhighest
price ever obtained. On
Wednesday, 8th November. an
unidentified buyer beat out two
other bidders to acquire the
masterpiece.
The artwork features French
painter Marie-Therese Walter,
who was a lover and muses
of the Spanish artist, sitting in
a chair like a throne against a
blue backdrop.

LIFESTYLE
Lourve Museum Acquires 13th-century
Masterpiece Worth $25m to be Discarded
The Louvre has acquired a masterpiece from
the 13th century that was almost thrown out
as worthless.
“Christ Mocked” by the Florentine master,
Cimabue, found hanging in a kitchen during
a house clearance in provincial France, was
supposed to end up in the garbage. However,
it was deemed a national treasure and will
now reside at the world-famous Louvre
Museum in Paris.
The painting was discovered in 2019 while
conducting a standard house clearance,
according to The Times. “Christ Mocked,”
which was at first thought to be worthless,
was later auctioned off for an incredible $25
million.
The owner, a woman in her nineties, had no
idea that she had been staring at a priceless
Russian icon and that she was going to throw
it in the trash.
It was purchased for their personal collection
by Chilean billionaires lvaro Saieh Bendeck,
an economist, and his wife, architect Ana
Guzmn Ahnfelt. However, when the French
government refused to provide them an
export licence, they encountered a barrier.
The masterpiece was designated a national
treasure by the French government, which
acknowledged its cultural significance.
After that, the Louvre was given 30 months
to secure the money needed to buy it. The
museum and the owners recently came to
an agreement that guaranteed the artwork’s
place in the Louvre’s collection.
DAMIAN
IKENNA NGERE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Ikenna is a graduate of Physics and Education,
who works as a freelance writer. He has interest
in technology, humanity and sports.
Accomplish Magazine
| 55

Rolex Subma
Nothing exemplifies s
Rolex Submariner. Th
has been designed f
impeccable reputati
it a favourite among
style and precision.
LIFESTYLE
By Tolu Akinruli
Christmas is an occasion that brings joy and love.
It evokes the spirit of giving. It is a time when
people express their gratitude and appreciation
to loved ones through heartfelt gifts. When
it comes to selecting the perfect present for
affluent individuals, the options may seem limitless, but
ensuring it is both thoughtful and extraordinary becomes
paramount. Accomplish Magazine is glad to lighten the task
for you. Yes, we have got you covered. We have made it easy
for you to pick the best gift this festive period.
Top
Be
Chris
Gifts f
Afflu
Ma
Here is our list:
Telsa Model S
For the eco-conscious affluent man,
the Tesla Model S is the ultimate luxury
vehicle. Combining elegance, high
performance, and eco-friendliness,
this electric car defines the future of
automotive engineering. It offers a
seamless driving experience, cuttingedge
technology, and a commitment to
sustainability.
1
56 | Accomplish Magazine

2
riner
uccess and refinement quite like a
is time piece is a status symbol and
or extraordinary performance. Its
on in the horological world makes
affluent individuals who value both
LIFESTYLE
10
st
tmas
or the
ent
n
4
3
Montblanc
Meisterstück
A Montblanc Meisterstück
is more than just a writing
instrument. It embodies
elegance, sophistication, and
a commitment to artwork. This
luxurious fountain pen, made
from the finest materials, is
perfect for the affluent man
who appreciates the art of
traditional writing and values an
impeccable signature.
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo
For the discerning audiophile, the Bowers & Wilkins
Formation Duo is a true masterpiece. These wireless
speakers deliver exceptional sound quality and stunning
design, blending seamlessly into any luxurious living
space. The Formation Duo represents the pinnacle of
audio engineering and is the perfect gift for someone who
appreciates the finer things in life.
Accomplish Magazine
| 57

LIFESTYLE
Sennheiser HE 1
Headphones
For the true audio
aficionado, the Sennheiser
HE 1 headphones are
an unrivaled listening
experience. These
headphones offer
the most exceptional
sound quality available
today, making them an
exceptional gift for any
connoisseur of music.
6
5
Louis Vuitton Keepall
For the man on the go,
a Louis Vuitton Keepall
is a must-have. This
is with the utmost
attention to detail and
made from the finest
leather; this iconic
travel bag exudes
class and practicality.
Its spacious interior
and timeless design
make it a perfect
accessory for any
sophisticated traveller.
Private Island Retreat
For the man who has everything, a private island retreat
is the ultimate luxury gift. Imagine owning a secluded
paradise surrounded by crystal-clear waters, white sandy
beaches, and unparalleled privacy. Investing in a private
island provides an unmatched level of exclusivity, making it
the epitome of opulence and indulgence.
7
8
Apple AirPods Max
Combining cutting-edge
technology with unmatched
comfort, the Apple AirPods
Max redefines the listening
experience. With impeccable
audio quality, active noise
cancellation, and a sleek
design, these luxury
headphones are a
statement of status and
style for the man who
prioritises both performance
and aesthetics.
58 | Accomplish Magazine

9
LIFESTYLE
NetJets Fractional Ownership
For the ultimate luxury gift, consider NetJets fractional ownership. This
exclusive service offers access to a private jet fleet, allowing the affluent
gentleman to travel in unparalleled comfort and convenience. With
NetJets, he can enjoy all the benefits of owning a private jet without the
burdensome responsibilities.
TOLULOPE AKINRULI
10
Cire Trudon Ernesto Candle
Scent plays a significant role in creating a luxurious
ambiance, and the Cire Trudon Ernesto Candle
achieves just that. This hand-crafted masterpiece
combines notes of leather, tobacco, and amber,
creating an enticing sensory experience that adds a
touch of opulence to any home.
AUTHOR’S BIO
My love to impact knowledge
to the young and old led me to
research and writing. Also, l
have been business-oriented,
right from childhood, which
made me focus more on driving
the business world and also to
help people grow their business.
As a writer, I aim to create an
insightful image in the minds
of every reader for maximum
wealth and health.
Accomplish Magazine
| 59

HEALTH
Prostate
Enlargement,
No More A
Nightmare
By Dr Joel Logbo
the prostate is a walnutsize
gland that encircles
the urethra just below the
bladder. Glandular tissue
contributes fluid to the
semen, muscles within
the prostate help expel
semen during ejaculation.
Disorders of the prostate are
relatively common. More than 30
million men suffer from prostate
conditions, such as prostatitis,
benign prostatic hyperplasia, and
prostate cancer. The first is more
common in younger men; the last
two become more common with
age.
Prostatitis (prostate inflammation)
affects
about half of men sometime
during their lifetime. Bacteria
can infect the prostate gland.
The prostate is also susceptible
to acute and chronic noninfectious
inflammation, though
the underlying cause is poorly
understood.
The symptoms of acute bacterial
prostatitis
include frequent and painful
urination, pain in
the low back or behind the
testicles, painful
ejaculation, aching muscles,
fever, chills, and fatigue. Chronic
bacterial infection can cause
mild symptoms or none at all.
Non-infectious
prostatitis mainly causes
pelvic pain, as well as pain
with ejaculation and urination.
Bacterial prostatitis is treated
with antibiotics. Treatment of
non-infectious prostatitis is more
challenging. Pain relievers, a
class of medication called betablockers,
and physical therapy
may help.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia,
also called benign prostatic
hypertrophy (BPH), affects mostly
older men. About half of fifty - to
sixty year-old men develop BPH.
Between ages eighty and ninety
that proportion rises to nearly
90 per cent. This non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate
encroaches on the urethra,
decreasing the ability of urine to
easily flow from the bladder.
60 | Accomplish Magazine

HEALTH
CAUSES OF BENIGN PROSTATE
HYPERPLASIA (BPH)
PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT
The medical term for prostate
enlargement is benign prostatic
hyperplasia. This means an
increase in prostate cells which
are not cancerous (benign means
non cancerous growth). Please,
note that women do not have
prostate.
Prostate enlargement is not
common to men between the
ages of 30 to 40. Cases in this age
range are about 8 per cent while
for the age range of 50 to 60, it
about 50 per cent. Men aged 70 to
100 have higher chances of having
BPH (prostate enlargement).
This is because, in old age, the
prostate gland is more active
to growth receptor factors. This
means when men advance in
age, their body estrogen level
increases and because estrogen
is an anabolic hormone, it causes
excessive tissue growth, including
enlargements in the prostrate
gland. (This hormone is needed by
women more and an excess of it
in women can cause the smooth
muscles of the uterus to begin to
grow rapidly leading to fibroid).
Well, what does that have to
do with prostate enlargement?
Estrogen is the prime androgen
receptor in prostate enlargement.
In old age, the level of testosterone
decreases and estrogen
level begins goes up in men.
Androgens are hormones such as
testosterone, dehydrotestoterone
which are important for normal
male sexual development before
birth and during puberty and in
old age, the receptors become
very active.
Androgens
In the prostate, the stromal cells
are stimulated by an androgen
called dehydrotestoterone which
is a very powerful testosterone
(DHT). It is about 5 to 10 times
more potent than testosterone in
activating androgens receptors
in the prostate. Now testosterone
get turned to DHT inside the
prostate by a chemical called
steroid reductase. It stimulates
androgen receptors and this
eventually stimulates stromal cells
which are smooth muscle cells
in the prostate to enlarge. When
this happens, the number of the
cells increase; some other cells
like cuboidal epithelial cells also
increase due to increase in DHT.
Receptors
Receptors increase and that
increases androgen which make
cells of the prostate to enlarge.
Androgens promote the growth
of both normal and cancerous
prostate cells by binding to and
activating the androgen receptor,
a protein that is expressed in
prostate cells. Once activated, the
androgen receptor stimulates the
expression of specific genes that
cause prostate cells to enlarge.
The question is: what are the
things that cause the androgen
to begin to stimulate the prostate
cells to enlarge?
Well, apart from poor diets like
excess meat, highly processed
milk and sugars, soya, GMO foods,
alcohol, stress etc. all mimic
estrogen. There are few other
underlying conditions that can
cause prostate enlargement and
they include metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a collection
of various symptoms central
to obesity, hypertension, high
cholesterol, impaired glucose,
low-grade chronic inflammation
etc.
What is actually the major cause
of this metabolic syndrome?
HYPERINSULINEAMIA
Insulin is anabolic, which
means it makes things grow
and can contribute to prostate
enlargement, especially when
the androgen genes are highly
sensitive in the old age.
Accomplish Magazine
| 61

HEALTH
older. So, always put that into
consideration.
In rare cases, one could have high
PSA without prostate cancer and
some men with low PSA level may
have prostate enlargement.
PROSTATE CANCER
This is one of the most common
types of cancer in men
nowadays. It can be malignant or
benign.
For prostate cancer to develop,
basal cells and luminal cells rely
on androgens which are male
sex hormones. (The androgens
stimulatesl testosterone
production from testicles).
• A doctor having a conversation with a patient
Symptoms
- The prostate gland growth can
affect the urethral that passes
through the prostate from the
bladder. It gets squeezed and
that results in urine retention or
dribbling urination.
- There could be frequent
urination, especially at night.
At times, there is a sensation
that one can’t fully empty one’s
bladder.
- In severe cases, there is
haematuria; blood flows in one’s
urine, especially when there is
an infection or it has become
cancerous.
- It also causes painful urination
because of urine retention.
It is also important to know that
symptoms are not exactly the
same for all men with prostate
enlargement.
With the increase in prostate cells,
one common substance they
produce is PSA (prostatic specific
antigen) which means that, over
time, PSA will increase. Therefore,
testing PSA level can help one
know prostate enlargement
status. How big the prostate has
become is determined by the PSA
level. In general, a PSA level that
is above 4.0 ng/mL is considered
suspicious. However, there are
many other factors to consider
before taking further action.
The following are some
general PSA level guidelines:
- 0 to 2.5 ng/mL is considered
safe.
- 2.6 to 4 ng/mL is safe in most
men but you could be advised
on ways to prevent it from rising
above this level.
- 4.0 to 10.0 ng/mL is suspicious
and might suggest the
possibility of prostate disease
like BPH, prostatitis or cancer. It is
associated with a 25% chance of
having prostate cancer.
- 10.0 ng/mL and above is
dangerous. At that stage, other
tests like CT-scan or MRI is
recommended immediately. It is
associated with a 50% chance of
having prostate cancer.
Also bear in mind that PSA levels
can easily rise as one grows
There are other agents involved
in the development of prostate
cancer. Androstenedione and
dehydroepiandrosterone are
produced by adrenal glands.
Dihydrotestosterone comes from
testosterone from the prostate
gland itself. Therefore, without
androgen, prostate cells will not
function and could die; self-death
(apoptosis). For example, if the
testicles are removed, the luminal
and basal cells will die which will
result in reduction of the prostate
gland. These days, surgeries are
conducted to achieve this and
reduce prostate gland overgrowth.
Prostate cancer is as result of
mutation of luminal cells or
basal cells in the prostate gland,
which leads the cells growing
abnormally.
What causes such
mutation?
- Old age.
- High fat and low fibre diets
- Chronic inflammation when
the cells continue to go through
repair process often; genetic
mistakes can occur.
Once mutation occurs in the cells,
they begin to grow out of control
62 | Accomplish Magazine

HEALTH
and form a tumor. Usually, the
cells are not supposed to grow
without availability of androgens
but cancer cells mutate and keep
multiplying without relying on
androgens.
When it comes to treatment for
prostate enlargement,
some herbs may be helpful in
cases of mild and severe BPH.
Severe BPH would require a
more professional approach.
These include extracts of the
African plant pygeum (pygeum
africanum), saw palmetto
(serenoa repens), boerhavia
diffusa, stinging nettle, annona
senegalenses etc.
Several studies show that
supplemental beta sitosterol
(a plant chemical structurally
similar to cholesterol) reduces
BPH symptoms. These botanical
treatments mainly reduce
symptoms, but do not shrink the
size of the prostate. Reported side
effects of these supplements are
minor and rare.
Excluding skin cancer, prostate
cancer is the most commonly
diagnosed cancer in men. Each
year, some 230,000 men learn
they have it. For most men, the
prognosis is good with adequate
treatment from our cancer
reversal protocols.
Prostate cancer is common to the
Black race and could also be due
to family history, old age, obesity,
and high consumption of meat
and high-fat dairy products. Most
cases of prostate cancer progress
relatively slow.
Until it spreads to other tissues,
prostate cancer causes no
symptoms. When it spreads, it
narrows the urethra (making
urination difficult) or releases
blood into the urine. That’s why
annual physical examinations are
important. Specifically, a doctor
or nurse performs a digital rectal
examination which allows the
medical professional to estimate
the size and texture of the prostate
gland.
Controversy exists about
screening tests using prostate
specific antigen (PSA), a protein
unique to the prostate gland. The
problem is that, in addition to
prostate cancer, other prostate
conditions (prostatitis and benign
prostatic hyperplasia) increase
levels of this protein.
That means that many men
with high, benign PSA levels are
subjected to prostate biopsies
and needless anxiety.
Prevention Tips
- Lifestyle change is very
important to prevent or manage/
reverse prostate disease.
- Sleep at night. Working the
night shift has been linked to an
increase in prostate cancer, as
well as breast cancer.
- Exposure to lights at night
drives down melatonin, a
hormone that regulates daily
rhythms, acts as an antioxidant,
promotes immune function, and
may have direct anti-cancer
effects. (A study found that
taking melatonin supplements
with conventional treatment
further decreased some markers
of prostate cancer.)
- Avoid tobacco smoking. It
causes cancer in multiple organ
systems.
- Follow a whole-foods diet, one
high in vegetables and fruits with
moderate intake of animal foods.
In addition to age and family
history, other risk factors for
developing BPH include diabetes,
obesity, high blood pressure, or
heart disease. Consuming lots of
carbohydrates (especially refined
carbohydrates and added sugar)
and fats is also a risk.
In general, excessive calorie intake
promotes unhealthy weight gain,
elevated blood sugar levels, and
resistance to the actions of insulin
(the hormone that stimulates
sugar to enter cells), which cause
insulin levels to rise. Insulin seems
to promote prostatic growth.
Lower levels of vitamin D may
also explain why black men are
more at risk of aggressive prostate
cancer than white men (who
require less UV exposure to make
vitamin D). If you’re thinking of
taking vitamin D supplements,
speak with your doctor first.
HOME-MADE REMEDIES FOR
PROSTATE DISEASE
Note: Don’t employ selfmedication.
Check with your
doctor. You can schedule
appointments with us.
Mix sugarcane juice with apple
cider vinegar (equal parts of 50 ml
daily). Sugarcane juice and apple
cider vinegar contain certain
substances that shrink prostate
enlargement.
Green Tea
- 2 green tea bags
- Handful of fresh mint
- Fresh lime juice
- Honey, to taste
Preparation and Use
Bring the water to a boil in a
saucepan and turn off the stove.
Add the tea and mint and steep,
covered for about 10 minutes. Pour
into cups, straining out the mint.
Stir in the lime juice and honey.
Enjoy hot or cold.
Broiled Tomatoes with
Beneficial Garlic
- 3 large round medium tomatoes
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons (2g) of crushed
dried thyme leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon (10g) crushed
garlic.
Accomplish Magazine
| 63

HEALTH
Preparation and Use
Cut each tomato in pieces. Slice or
pound other ingredients. Pour all
into a litre of hot water, cover for
30 minutes. Drink 25cl at intervals
of 3 hours.
Pumpkin Seed
Chew up 15 seeds of pumpkin
seeds daily and drink warm water
afterwards.
Turmeric and Black Pepper
Combo
- Turmeric powder 15g.
- Black pepper 5g.
Preparation and Use
Pour both in 40cl of hot water, stir
well and sieve. Drink warm. You
can drink this twice a day.
Muscle-Toning Kegel
Exercise
These exercise improves the tone
of the pelvic floor muscles and
may reduce urinary symptoms
of prostatitis and improve urinary
continence.
How To Perform It
- You would need a rug or
comfortable pad.
- Locate the pelvic floor muscles,
which are below the bladder;
the easiest time to identify them
is during urination. (You use the
same muscles to stop yourself
from passing gas.)
Midway through urination,
purposely contract those muscles
to stop the flow of urine without
holding your breath or tensing the
other muscles in your abdomen,
legs, or buttocks. When you
successfully interrupt the flow, you
have located the correct muscles.
The contraction causes your
testicles and base of your penis to
rise.
Afterwards, perform Kegels when
you’re not urinating. Doing it while
urinating may weaken, rather than
strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Next, with an empty bladder,
lie flat on your back on the rug
Sleep at night.
Working the
night shift has
been linked to
an increase
in prostate
cancer, as
well as breast
cancer.
or pad. Counting to five, slowly
contract the pelvic floor muscles
you have located earlier. Counting
to five again, slowly relax the
pelvic floor muscles.
Repeat this pair of movements ten
times for one full set and practice
three full sets daily.
Gradually, within a month,
increase the counting to ten
as you contract and relax the
muscles. Work up to five sets daily.
As your muscles become
stronger, begin to do the exercise
in a standing position. This will
increase your muscle control.
Contact Us if:
• You have symptoms of
prostatitis. These may include
fever, chills, and nausea which are
associated with acute bacterial
prostatitis.
• You have symptoms of BPH:
frequent and
painful urination, pain in the low
back, pelvis, or behind the testicles,
painful ejaculation, aching
muscles, fever, chills, and fatigue.
Get proper diagnosis even if you
want to try a dietary supplement
such as Saw Palmetto. This is
because, symptoms of BPH can
overlap those of prostate cancer.
• You have discomfort while
urinating, if there is blood in your
urine or semen or if you feel
discomfort in the pelvic area or
experience bone pain.
You may contact us for
remedies or treatment of
prostate enlargement, prostate
inflammation and prostate
cancer. You may also discuss
screening tests for prostate
cancer with your us. Visit www.
mahchealthcare.com. You can
reach us via
WhatsApp: +234-7030420960.
Email: joelex95@gmail.com
JOEL
N. LOGBO
AUTHOR’S BIO
Dr. Joel N. Logbo is a patientcentred
Natural Medicine
doctor with 12 solid years of
industry experience in Lagos,
Nigeria and Wales, Scotland.
He is currently seeking more
international collaborations
to provide holistic, noninvasive
medical care for
patients and the public on
health promotion.
His unique approach
that has led to admirable
achievements include
meeting with patients to
assess their health and
wellness, learn their health
goals and create treatment
plans. He also collaborates
with various teams of
medical professionals
to provide first-line and
supplemental medical
treatments through a holistic,
natural approach.He loves
traveling, adventures,
cooking and driving.
64 | Accomplish Magazine

10
Foods
From Africa
That Boost
Immunity
LIFESTYLE
By Patty Munor
Staying healthy is a part of everyday practice. Whether done
consciously or unconsciously, everything we eat and our lifestyle
choices are heavily reflected in how healthy we turn out. For
some people, the choice to cultivate a healthy habit is based on
underlying conditions or sudden illness; for others, it’s a natural
way of life.
Accomplish Magazine
| 65

LIFESTYLE
In this era, that has become our new
norm. We are obligated to do right
by ourselves to extend our lives and
protect ourselves and others by
imbibing healthier options into our
lifestyle choices.
To help you make the right choices,
we have compiled a list of ten foods
from Africa that will help boost your
immunity.
•Citrus fruits
1. Citrus Fruits
Fruits like oranges, grapes, lemons and tangerines
are influential immune system builders. They are
full of Vitamin C, which increases white blood cells’
production that help fight against infections in the
system. They are recommended for people with
cold or flu symptoms.
2. Okra
Okra’s great thing is that it’s packed full of vitamins
such as folate and vitamin C, and soluble and
insoluble fibre. It’s a great immunity builder. It
keeps the intestinal tract healthy, among other
excellent benefits.
3. Pumpkin Leaves (Ugwu)
Pumpkin leaves or ugwu has incredible benefits
like increasing the blood level. They’re rich in
Vitamin A and C, iron, calcium and boosts the
immune system. This nature’s gift is one that no
one should ignore.
4. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is rich in Vitamin D, which is suitable for
building the immune system. Most people prefer
Greek yoghurt because it is low-calorie and good
for bones, skin, blood, hair, etc. The downside of
Greek yoghurt is that it doesn’t contain sugar, so
feel free to sweeten it with honey and fruits. People
watching their weight consume either Greek or
regular yoghurt in good portion with nuts and fruits
This helps with weight loss and muscle building; it
also acts as a natural defence against diseases.
5. Garlic and Ginger
Most people do not like the smell of roots like
ginger and garlic. However, they are among the
healthiest and flavourful spices on earth. When
combined, garlic and ginger produce essential
66 | Accomplish Magazine
•Okra
•Yoghurt
•Garlic & Ginger
•Ugwu
•Mango

LIFESTYLE
•Pepper
•Potato
•Spinach
compounds that are highly beneficial to the
body and brain. Studies show that the blend of
both have a long history of boosting the immune
system and reducing inflammation. Infuse these
spices into your meals, mainly because they act
as preventive medicine packed with probiotics.
6. Spinach
One great thing about spinach is that it’s rich in
vitamin C. It’s also packed with antioxidants and
beta carotene, which increase harmless bacteria
that helps to fight infection in our immune
systems.
Like broccoli, which is almost in the same family,
spinach is healthiest when cooked as little as
possible to retain its nutrients. Light cooking makes
it easier to absorb vitamin A and absorb nutrients
released from oxalic acid, an antinutrient.
7. Peppers
When it comes to peppers - red, yellow and green
bell peppers take centre stage. However, red
pepper (tatashe), cayenne pepper (shombo),
and other hot peppers, apart from being colourful,
are full of beta carotene and antioxidants, that
support your immune system. They increase
your body temperature and boosts the immune
system’s capacity to fight cold and flu viruses.
8. Potato Tubers
Research has found that vitamin C may help
reduce the severity and symptoms of certain
diseases. A medium-sized potato contains around
164 calories, and 30 per cent of the recommended
daily intake of B6.
9. Mangoes
This sweet and savoury fruit contains up to twothird
of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C
the body needs. This antioxidant-rich fruit boosts
the immune system and prevents cold and flu.
They are seasonal and are available in the earlier
part of the year. They are very affordable.
PATTY MUNOR
•Ewedu leaves
AUTHOR’S BIO
Patty Munor is a digital producer and wellness aficionado.
She is based in the United Kingdom, where she is pursuing
a Master’s degree in Journalism and Digital Production.
10. Ewedu Leaves
Ewedu is a vegetable usually paired with gbegiri
and amala. It’s a local delicacy in Nigeria and very
good for weight loss because of its low caloric
content. Ewedu also aids in strengthening the
immune system, relieving stress and maintaining
a healthy heart. Local healers use it to remedy
aches and pains, dysentery, fever, dysentery,
tumour, etc.
Accomplish Magazine
| 67

LIFESTYLE
Tips for
Balanced
Stress-Free
Lifestyle
By Tolulope Akinruli
achieving and
maintaining a
healthy work-life
balance, a delicate
equilibrium between
the time dedicated
to professional endeavours and
personal well-being is a challenge
faced by individuals across various
walks of life. This equilibrium is akin
to the intricate task of managing
multiple tabs open in one’s mental
browser, with the responsibilities
of work, family, self-care, hobbies,
and community engagement - all
paving for attention. The struggle
intensifies when trying to meet the
demands of a professional life that
often seems insatiable.
The consequences of an
imbalance, where work consumes
the majority of one’s time,
can be profound. Individuals
experiencing this imbalance
often find themselves grappling
with frustration, burn-out, and an
overarching sense of unhappiness.
It underscores the importance
of fostering a work-life balance
that goes beyond mere temporal
considerations. A well-balanced
life contributes significantly to
employees’ overall well-being,
enabling them to not only survive
but thrive in both their professional
and personal spheres.
Why is work-life
balance crucial?
Beyond the immediate
impact on individual well-being,
organisations that actively
promote a healthy work-life
balance witness a reduction in
employee stress levels and an
enhancement in overall attitudes
toward work and life. Moreover,
in the competitive landscape of
talent acquisition, job candidates
are increasingly drawn to
companies that prioritise and
champion a balanced approach
to work and life. A survey
reveals that a staggering
72% of respondents
consider work-life
balance a critical
factor in their job
selection process.
For businesses,
the implications
are clear: focus on
improving work-life
balance is integral to
organisational success.
When employees feel
supported and content, they
are more likely to deliver their
optimal performance.
To achieve this, companies can
implement a range of strategies:
Firstly, offering parental perks
addresses the unique challenges
faced by working parents. A
significant proportion - 66% -
of working parents in the U.S.
experience parental burn-out,
Whe
employ
feel supp
and con
they are
likely to d
their opt
perform
68 | Accomplish Magazine

LIFESTYLE
n
ees
orted
tent,
more
eliver
imal
ance.
navigating the delicate balance
between work, parenting, and
personal life. Employers
can ease this burden by
providing benefits such
as on-site childcare
or financial planning
services. Even small
gestures, when it
comes to parental
support, can go a
long way in impressing
recruits and retaining
current employees.
Generous paid time
off (PTO) is another crucial
element. The United States,
notably, lacks a guarantee of
employer-paid vacation days,
standing as the only advanced
economy with this distinction.
Many companies are recognising
the importance of ‘time away’
from the office, with an increasing
number offering more than the
baseline 14 paid days per year.
Some have even embraced
innovative approaches like
unlimited PTO, acknowledging
that breaks contribute not only to
recharging but also to increased
productivity and innovation.
Flexible work schedules emerge as
a practical solution to the rigidity
of the traditional 9-to-5 model. Life
unfolds beyond these hours, and
expecting employees to confine
all personal responsibilities within
this time frame is unrealistic.
Flexibility could manifest in
various forms, such as allowing
employees to adjust their work
hours or permitting them to work
from home when meetings are not
scheduled. This not only breaks the
monotony of a 40-hour work-week
in the office but also enhances
employee satisfaction, productivity,
and creativity - a compelling
proposition for potential
candidates.
Moreover, organisations can
implement employee wellness
initiatives as part of their overall
benefits programme. Contrary
to the misconception that such
initiatives only benefit employees,
studies show that they can drive
down healthcare costs, increase
productivity, and decrease
absenteeism - a triple win for both
employees and employers.
Encouraging breaks during the
workday is a simple yet effective
strategy. Studies highlight that
these breaks contribute to greater
productivity and reduce the risk
of burn-out. A supportive work
environment that values downtime
can significantly impact employee
well-being and performance.
Employees, too, have agency in
shaping their work-life balance.
The initiative to request flexible
working hours, aligning with
personal needs, can lead to
mutually beneficial arrangements.
This could involve starting work
earlier to finish earlier or splitting
time between working from
home and the office. Open
communication with managers
can pave the way for solutions that
cater to both individual needs and
team objectives.
Lastly, making health a priority is
paramount. When feeling unwell
or burnt out, taking a day off is
not just a personal necessity but
also a wise, professional choice.
Most companies understand that
an employee operating below
optimal health won’t deliver
peak performance. Additionally,
considering the potential spread
of illnesses within the team,
prioritising one’s health aligns
with the broader well-being of the
workplace.
Conclusion
The pursuit of a healthy worklife
balance involves a multifaceted
approach encompassing
organisational policies, employee
initiatives, and a collective
cultural shift toward valuing wellbeing
alongside professional
accomplishments. By actively
addressing these aspects,
individuals and organisations can
contribute to a work environment
that fosters contentment,
productivity, and sustained
success. See you in the new year!!!
TOLULOPE AKINRULI
AUTHOR’S BIO
My love to impact knowledge
to the young and old led me to
research and writing. Also, l
have been business-oriented,
right from childhood, which
made me focus more on driving
the business world and also to
help people grow their business.
As a writer, I aim to create an
insightful image in the minds
of every reader for maximum
wealth and health.
Accomplish Magazine
| 69

THE INCUBATOR
with Diiyi William-West
SERIES
SMELL RIGHT,
WIN MORE!
how many of us remember
that photograph of the
‘hydrogen bomb’? That
striking image of the bomb
rising from a narrow shape
on the ground and filling
the entire skyline remains
one of the world’s most remembered
images. Well, in that sense of ‘filling up
space’, there is also the ‘hydrogen
odour’? That’s the one which remains in
a room several minutes after its owner
has left! That’s the one you get into a
room and you exclaim “So-so-so and so
was here, right?”
Several years ago, during a training
programme, a resource person said:
“Nobody’s body smell can be bottled
and corked for sale!” How true! I had
known about the importance of using
deodorant but I had never thought
about body odour not being fit for
packaging. It occurred to me that how
one appears is as important as how he
or she smells! Just imagine that you go
to an office to get some issues sorted
out and all the people there manage to
tolerate your presence, silently praying
for you to finish what you came for
quickly so they can breathe well again?
Some people go the extra mile to wear
clean clothes and bathe twice daily but
do not realise that they have not dealt
with the body odour challenge. It is for
such people the words of that resource
person I mentioned earlier becomes
useful: nobody’s body smell can be
bottled and corked for sale! In addition
to maintaining hygiene, one needs to
add a quality deodorant or perfume to
sustain the fresh smell that keeping the
body clean offers. Why? Without taking
this step, as the hours of the day roll on,
the activities one engages in cause
sweat and that eventually smell. Oh!
How so many people have lost good
opportunities due to body odour!
It is erroneous to think that only armpit
odour can be irritating. There is also
mouth odour (bad breath or halitosis),
hair odour, ear odour, pubic area odour
70 | Accomplish Magazine

THE INCUBATOR SERIES
(often smelling through people’s
clothing!) and feet odour etc. Every
type of body smell requires attention.
No odour situation is convenient to
tolerate.
How to Smell
Right:
Often, odours of the body are due to
poor hygiene. In a few cases, they
are caused by a medical challenge
or injury. For the latter, seeking
relevant advice from a qualified and
experienced medical practitioner
could solve the problem.
In the interim, here is some advice
for deal with body smells caused by
poor hygiene:
a. Armpit odour: Often caused by
poor hygiene.
Solution – Bathe twice a door. Wear
a long-lasting deodorant that is
aluminium-free. (Recent research
studies show that aluminium in
deodorant contributes to cancer).
Don’t wear clothes a second time if
you have not washed them. Keep
your armpit free of hair as often as
possible. Hair is a major culprit in
trapping and worsening smells!
b. Mouth Odour: In most cases, this is
caused by poor hygiene.
Solution – Brush your teeth
adequately and carefully twice a
day. (I know some people who must
brush their teeth before setting out
for meetings if it’s been a while since
they brushed their teeth in the
morning.) Floss your teeth, from time
to time, to rid them of cavities. Use a
well-formulated mouthwash, at least,
twice daily. See a dentist twice a
year for check-up.
c. Hair Odour: Often caused by poor
hygiene; including poor
management of attachments etc.
Solution – Wash your hair and scalp,
at least, twice a month. Space the
periods you wear attachments so
• Kate Henshaw
Accomplish Magazine
| 71

THE INCUBATOR SERIES
that the scalp can ‘breathe’ from time to time.
Do not use dirty, smelly attachments. At least,
wash them and dry attachment properly
before the next use or treat properly as
recommended by a well trained hair stylist
before the next use. Be mindful of the
chemical composition of what you apply on
your hair. Some of them could seriously
damage your hair and scalp!
d. Ear Odour: Could be caused by poor
hygiene.
Solution – Please, see a qualified and
relevant medical practitioner immediately.
Being an organ to conducts one of the 5
major senses of the body, this point can’t be
over-emphasised.
e. Pubic Area Odour: Mainly caused by poor
hygiene – including those who think pants or
boxers could be worn more than once.
Indeed, wearing them once already makes
them smell! Just put it to your nose and
honestly imagine what another day of
wearing could lead to!
Solution – Wash all underwear (pants, boxers,
singlets) after a day’s wear. In fact, just like
the times you may need to bathe or clean up
more than twice a day or brush your teeth
more than twice a day, there are days, you
may have to change your underwear while
the hours of the day are still counting!
f. Feet Odour: May or may not be caused by
poor hygiene.
Solution – Always wash socks after one wear.
Put your shoes to air in the sun very often. Our
feet causes some amount of humidity in
shoes and if that situation is left to
compound, it will lead to odour. Do not wear
shoes when your feet are wet or humid. Treat
wounds and cuts on any of your feet quickly
and well enough. Sometimes, feet odour
comes from poorly managed wounds. Wash
your feet with warm water, soap and
disinfectant, at least, once a month.
Note: The advice given here aren’t a
comprehensive guide but they provide some
intelligent point to start from.
DIIYI
WILLIAM-WEST
AUTHOR’S BIO
More fondly known as
DDWEST, he has several
years of media practice
experience spanning
magazines, newspapers,
television and radio;
laying emphasis on
maintaining standards
in media practice. He
practised and lectured
Public Relations for nearly
a decade before going into
leadership consulting and
real estate consultancy.
72 | Accomplish Magazine

Accomplish Magazine
| 73

AFRICA RISING: NEWS ABOUT AFRICA
By Damian Ikenna Ngere
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
•Mohammed Al-Jadaan
Saudi Arabia’s Generous
Funding Initiative to Foster
Africa’s Development
In an attempt to increase
its influence in politics and
capitalise on the continent’s
business prospects, Saudi
Arabia has pledged hundreds of
millions of dollars in loans and
investments to African nations.
Speaking, on 9th November,
at the Saudi-Arab-African
Economic Conference in Riyadh,
the finance minister of Saudi
Arabia, Mohammed Al-Jadaan,
emphasised the importance the
government has placed on Africa
from a diplomatic and economic
standpoint. The conference
is intended to strengthen ties
between the kingdom and the
African Union (AU) and has
brought together leaders from 50
countries in the Middle East and
Africa.
Additionally, the administration
has moved to strengthen its
economic connections with
Africa. Al-Jadaan said that the
Saudi Fund for Development
(SFD) will enter into agreements
with African countries valued at 2
billion Saudi riyals ($533 million),
with a focus on helping nations
facing financial difficulties like
Ghana.
International financial reform
needed to aid least developed
countries - UNCTAD
On November 7, the United
Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD),
emphasised how important it is
that changes to the international
financial architecture (IFA)
specifically address the funding
needs of the 46 least developed
countries (LDCs) in the world, 33
of which are in Africa.
The report claims that LDCs’
limited financial resources
seriously jeopardise their
capacity to carry out important
development initiatives, which
might halt the advancement of
the UN Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the lowcarbon
transition.
In order for LDCs to reach the
SDGs, they must undergo
structural transformation,
which entails a move towards
high-productivity industries
and activities. This research
highlights the significant
finance requirements of LDCs
for this change. Pre-pandemic
estimates showed that LDCs
would need to invest more than
$1 trillion annually to double their
manufacturing proportion of GDP.
Zimbabwe’s Mutapa
Investment Fund Raises
Concerns
President Emmerson
Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe
enacted a bill in September
that significantly altered the
management of the country’s
sovereign wealth fund, now
known as the Mutapa Investment
Fund. Mnangagwa contends
that the government is altering
its policies in order to “give a
new lease of life to previously
under-performing state-owned
enterprises,” but the action has
undoubtedly generated a great
deal of unease. The bill, which
Mnangagwa passed with the use
of his extraordinary presidential
powers, makes it easier for him
to name board members and
senior employees. The president
has also given the Fund control
of 20 state companies involved
in the mining, transportation,
oil, railroads, communications,
electricity, and agricultural
sectors by using the same
extraordinary authorities.
In addition, he has exempted
the Fund from the Public
Procurement and Disposal
of Public Assets Act of the
country. This not only frees it
from drawn-out procurement
processes when purchasing
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TECHNOLOGY
•President Emmerson Mnangagwa
and disposing of assets, but it also
removes the requirement for transaction
transparency.
POLITICS
LINX’s Interconnection Hub in Nairobi Goes Live The London
Internet Exchange (LINX) has declared that their Nairobi, Kenya
interconnection hub, is officially operational and open for business.
The new Internet Exchange Point (IXP) for East Africa is LINX Nairobi,
and it is one of three data centre locations spread around the
capital of Kenya. The goal of the IXP is to improve the nation’s
digital ecology and connectivity.
Kenya, which has been experiencing a digital revolution since the
early 2000s, is regarded as one of Africa’s top technological power
houses. Since 2016, the country has had average annual growth of
10.8%. With rapidly expanding fibre connection over the whole area
and a well-connected undersea cable network offering access to
Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Kenya is well situated to service
all of East Africa.
Masses Gather in Cape Towns
Streets, Demonstrating Unwavering
Support for Palestinians
On Saturday, November 11, tens of
thousands of South Africans marched
in solidarity for the Palestinians residing
in Gaza, calling for the expulsion of the
Israeli ambassador.
Israel has been putting a lot of
pressure on the enclave since it
launched a campaign to destroy
Hamas after the militant organisation
launched a brutal cross-border attack
on October 7.
Prominent religious leaders from all
religions guided the demonstrators,
yelling “free Palestine”; among them
was Dr. Allan Boesak, an anti-apartheid
preacher who demanded the shut
down of the Israeli embassy.
Kenya’s Decision: No Police
Mission to Haiti Until UN Funding
Guaranteed
Kenya’s government has said that it
will not send police officers to Haiti
unless all financing and training
requirements are satisfied.
The U.N. Security Council
authorised Kenya’s command of a
multinational force to fight deadly
gangs in the unstable Caribbean
nation last month.
The Departmental Committee
on Administration and Internal
Security of Parliament was
informed by Interior Minister,
Kithure Kindiki, that “unless all
resources are mobilised and
availed, our troops will not leave
the country.”
According to him, member
states of the United Nations are
gathering resources and have
decided how to raise money to
send to Kenya for the mission.
When the forces would be
properly funded and trained to
enable deployment, as well as
when they may be deployed, were
not immediately apparent.
DAMIAN
IKENNA NGERE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Ikenna is a graduate of Physics and
Education, who works as a freelance
writer. He has interest in technology,
humanity and sports.
Accomplish Magazine
| 75

GLOBAL NEW
TECHNOLOGY
By Damian Ike
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Alphabet pays Apple 36% of Safari
search revenue - Sundar Pichai
Opal Launches New
‘Tadpole’ Camera
With 4K Quality
Opal, a business formed
by former Apple and Beats
designers and funded by
investors such as MKBHD,
released its newest camera
on November 14. The new
Opal Tadpole, which costs
$175, combines 4K webcam
hardware with “ultraportability”
for on-the-go
use. In 2021, Opal launched
their first webcam, the
Opal C1. The Opal C1, which
received positive reviews
overall, was touted as a
4K webcam with DSLR-like
resolution. However, its $300
price point (which was
later lowered to $250) drew
criticism.
The new Opal Tadpole
has “even better image
quality” than the Opal C1. It
has a 4K, 48MP Sony IMX582
sensor with a f1.8 six-element
glass lens.
OpenAI Unveils
Game-Changing AI
Model, Customizable
GPTs and Digital Store
OpenAI announced a
number of upgrades to
its artificial intelligence
tools during its first
developer conference on
Monday, November 6, in
San Francisco, USA.
One of the updates
is the ability for
developers
to customise
CEO of Alphabet Sundar Pichai
stated on Tuesday, November
14, that, in accordance with
the terms of a default search
arrangement that forms
the basis of the Justice
Department’s antitrust
allegations, Google pays Apple
36% of Safari search revenue.
Pichai was giving a testimony
in a different case that Epic
Games, the company behind
Fortnite, brought against
Google. The 36% statistic was
accidentally divulged in open
court on Monday, November
13 by an expert witness
appearing on behalf of Google
in Washington, D.C. antitrust
ChatGPT. Along with lowering
developer base fees and opening
a digital store, it also promises to
compensate select developers
who integrate OpenAI products
into their platforms.
The event took place over
a year after ChatGPT’s launch,
which sparked a fresh arms race
among tech companies to create
and incorporate comparable
AI technologies into their
products. According to CEO,
Sam Altman, the platform is
currently used by 2 million
developers, and 90% of
Fortune 500 companies
utilise the tools internally.
There are 100 million active
users right currently.
proceedings.
Subsequently, the Epic
lawyer said that Google pays
less than half of what it pays
Apple to Samsung, the largest
hardware partner for Android.
In response, Pichai said that,
although he wasn’t positive, it
was conceivable.
Germany Allocates
$8 Billion to Revive
Stricken Green Energy
Company
The German government is
offering €7.5 billion ($8 billion)
in public funds to save the
financially struggling Siemens
Energy, a company that is
essential to the country’s energy
transition.
The amount is a portion of
a guarantee package of €15
billion ($16.3 billion), with private
banks and other stakeholders
contributing the remaining
value, according to a statement
released by Germany’s Ministry
of Economic Affairs and Climate
Protection on Tuesday.
The package is only
guaranteed by the government
provided all other stakeholders
fulfil their obligations, and it
is subject on Siemens Energy
stopping dividend payments
to shareholders and board
member compensation.
76 | Accomplish Magazine

S ROUND UP
nna Ngere
Airbnb Makes Strategic
Investment in AI
Startup for Near $200
Million
In a purchase estimated to
be worth little less than $200
million, Airbnb has made its first
acquisition as a publicly traded
firm.
Gameplanner.AI is the name
of the startup, which since its
establishment in 2020 has been
operating in “stealth mode.”
Startups operating in stealth
mode do so for a variety of
reasons, including avoiding
distractions or safeguarding
intellectual property. According
to Airbnb, Gameplanner.AI
will speed up several of its AI
initiatives.
POLITICS
Impending
Government Shutdown
Threatens Nations
Stability Amid Speakers
Internal Struggle
As time ticks down to yet
another federal funding cut-off,
it appears new United States
House Speaker, Mike Johnson,
is already losing his first major
battle with the hard-right
lawmakers who are rendering
the Republican majority and the
country ungovernable.
After rising from relative
obscurity to the second
spot in the presidential line,
the Louisiana conservative
may soon find himself in
the same predicament as
his predecessor, Rep. Kevin
McCarthy, who depended on
Democratic votes to keep the
government open.
House Speaker, Mike
Johnson Throws Support Behind
Donald Trump’s Presidential Bid.
Becoming the first highranking
Republican to support
the former president’s 2024
presidential campaign, House
Speaker Mike Johnson openly
backed Donald Trump on
Tuesday, November 14.
Although the newly elected
speaker is a longstanding
Trump supporter, much like
his ousted predecessor,
Johnson’s endorsement differs
significantly from that of Kevin
McCarthy, who refrained from
officially endorsing Trump’s
third presidential bid. Johnson
described himself as “one of
the closest allies that President
Trump had in Congress” and
declared that Trump had
had “a phenomenal first
term”. Johnson also stated
that he had backed Trump
“wholeheartedly.”
Trump Abandons Bid
to Transfer Manhattan
Hush Money Trial to
Federal Court.
The former US president, Donald
Trump, is giving up on trying to
transfer the hush money trial
from state court in New York to
federal court.
In a succinct document filed
with an appeal court in New York,
Trump declared that he was
dropping an appeal of a lower
court decision that denied his
request to move the matter to
federal court. For 34 charges of
fabricating corporate documents
to conceal the return of hush
money payments to adult film
star Stormy Daniels, Trump has
entered a not-guilty plea.
TECHNOLOGY
SpaceX to Receive
Clearance to Attempt
Second Starship
Launch - Elon Musk
SpaceX is working hard to launch
its Starship rocket for its second
spacelift on Friday, November 17.
Elon Musk, the CEO, declared
that the company would soon
obtain its government launch
licence, clearing the last obstacle
in the way of a retry. The Federal
Aviation Administration and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are
leading a federal environmental
evaluation, which the firm has
been waiting to complete.
DAMIAN
IKENNA NGERE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Ikenna is a graduate of
Physics and Education,
who works as a
freelance writer. He has
interest in technology,
humanity and sports.
Accomplish Magazine
| 77

Ai TODAY & TOMORROW
AI IS
RESHAPING
HOW WE LIVE
By Adebayo Afolabi
artificial Intelligence, or AI, is
transforming the way we live,
work, and play. These days, AI
is all around us, from voiceactivated
personal assistants
to self-driving cars. But the
exciting part is, we’ve only scratched the
surface though many people are already
amazed by the things AI can do. The future
of AI promises even more remarkable
developments that could reshape our
world in ways we can only imagine.
Today, AI is making our lives more
convenient. It helps us find information,
suggests products we might like, and even
recommends movies and music tailored
to our tastes. AI-powered virtual assistants
like Siri and Alexa are becoming our trusted
companions, answering questions, setting
reminders, and controlling smart home
devices. Thanks to AI, we can enjoy more
personalised experiences.
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Ai TODAY & TOMORROW
AI’s impact is set to expand further,
promising advancements in various
fields. One area with enormous
potential is healthcare. AI can help
doctors diagnose diseases more
accurately, making medical care more
accessible. Researchers are using AI
to analyse vast datasets, identifying
trends and potential treatments for
various illnesses. In the not-so-distant
future, AI-powered robots might even
assist with surgeries, ensuring precision
and reducing human error.
Education is another area where AI can
be transformative. With AI, personalised
learning experiences become the norm,
tailoring lessons to individual students’
needs and abilities. This not only makes
education more effective but also more
accessible to people of all ages and
backgrounds. AI-powered tutors and
language learning apps are just the
beginning of the educational revolution
AI can bring.
In the world of finance, AI plays a
vital role in key areas, contributing
significantly to the industry’s efficiency.
AI is especially helpful in detecting
fraud, where it can quickly identify
unusual patterns and suspicious
activities by analysing large amounts
of data. Moreover, AI-driven customer
service, through chatbots and
automated systems, provides prompt
and personalized assistance making
sure users enjoy round-the-clock
support. In finance, AI is not just a tool;
it’s a safeguard.
AI is not just about technology; it’s
about people. It has the power to
bring communities together, enhance
communication, and bridge language
barriers. Social robots can provide
companionship and support for
the elderly or those with disabilities,
improving their quality of life. Of
course, there are challenges to
overcome, such as ethical concerns,
privacy issues, and the potential for
job displacement. But, amid these
challenges, the potential of AI remains
nothing short of revolutionary.
As we navigate this uncharted
territory, addressing ethical concerns
and ensuring the privacy of individuals
will be paramount. AI’s impact on
the job market is another puzzle that
needs thoughtful solutions. However,
history has shown that with great
innovation comes great responsibility,
and the same holds true for AI.
AI is a big deal now, and it’s only going
to get bigger in the future. People talk
about AI changing our world, and it’s
true. It’s not just for now; it’s for what’s
coming, making things smarter and
maybe even more helpful in ways we
haven’t even thought about yet. AI’s
not just today’s story; it’s the story
of what’s next, and it’s going to be
exciting.
ADEBAYO AFOLABI
AUTHOR’S BIO
I am a passionate business writer
with a knack for translating
complex concepts into accessible
content. With a keen eye for detail,
I deliver compelling content that
educates, inspires, and drives
positive change in the realm of
finance and business.
Accomplish Magazine
| 79

CORPORATE SUITE
NAVIGATING
BUSINESS
GROWTH
By Dr Austin Nweze
these are challenging times for
most businesses. Purchasing
power of the customer is shrinking.
There is hyper-inflation. Cost of
doing business is high. Customer
base for some businesses is also
shrinking and so is profit. Some
manufacturing companies are shutting
down their operations or looking for other
locations where the environment is more
favourable to operate. This results in high
unemployment rate.
Business managers are challenged by all
these factors. The big question, therefore, is
how do managers grow their businesses
in spite of all these? As James Cash
Penny, the founder of JC Penny Stores in
the United States, once said: “Growth is
never by mere chance; it is the result of
forces working together.” There is no single
factor responsible for growth but rather a
combination of forces working together.
Responding to these challenges, many
manufacturers now turn to shrinkflation
in order to survive. For example, plantain
chips being hawked in major traffic areas
in Lagos, Nigeria have reduced in quantity.
Before now one could get a reasonable
80 | Accomplish Magazine

CORPORATE SUITE
quantity to hold you before lunch time, but
what they sell these days is mere five or six
pieces in a sachet for the same N100. Some
others are either involved in mergers and
acquisition (M&A) or complete shutdown.
Smart companies are devising growth
strategies in order to survive and thrive.
Writing in the October 23, 2023 issue of
McKinsey Quarterly, Matt Banholzer et
al, listed about six growth strategies any
company may adopt.
These include the following:
• Build an innovation culture and mindset
• Commit to sustainable, inclusive growth
•Ladies hawking
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CORPORATE SUITE
•Woman selling tomatoes
• Grow your core with data,
analytics, and AI
• Expand into right to win
businesses
• Shrink to grow when
necessary
• Mobilize people to capture
value quickly.
Growth priorities usually
differ from one company to
another (every company will
choose its own path), but
these insights give head-up
to leaders who aspire to
reach the growth pinnacle
of their industries and stay
there. Tiffani Bova, the author
Growth IQ, believes that 87
per cent of companies go
through a growth stall at
one point or the other in
their corporate life. In many
cases, both internal and
external factors can prevent
a company from growing. In
a Bain and Company study,
85% of executives believe
that internal obstacles, not
external, keep them from
growing.
Growth in the context
we are looking at refers
to top-line sales
organic growth or
other means to grow
the bottom line.
Growth strategy
on the other hand
is defined as a
“plan of action or
policy designed to
achieve a major or
overall aim”. Growth
path, therefore, is
how initiatives that
can focus the company
on the task at hand and
achieve the strategic growth
goal. It is important to note
at this point that it is not
what growth strategies a
firm chooses to pursue that
82 | Accomplish Magazine

determines the likelihood
of success but rather the
context in which a strategy
is deployed and the
combination and sequence
of initiative. Growth is not
as complicated as people
think. Bova listed ten paths
to growth and which a
company can decide to
follow.
These nine paths in no
particular order are as
follows:
1. Customer experience:
inspire additional purchases
and advocacy.
2. Customer base
penetration: sell more
existing products to existing
customers.
3. Market acceleration:
expand into new markets
with existing products.
4. Product expansion: sell
new products to existing
markets.
5. Customer and product
diversification: sell new
products to new customers.
6. Churn (minimise
defection): retain more
customers.
7. Partnerships: leverage
third-party alliances,
channels, and ecosystems
(sales, go-to markets).
8. Co-opetition: cooperate
with market or industry
competitor (product
development).
9. Unconventional
strategies: disrupt current
thinking.
Before making any move
towards growth, you need
to understand what the
current market is. It is not
just enough to have the
right new growth strategy.
According to Bova (2018),
choosing the right growth
path for your firm should
always start with context,
the circumstances or events
that form the environment
within which you’re your
company competes.
CORPORATE SUITE
Context includes current
social and economic
conditions, existing product
portfolio, competitive
landscape, and corporate
culture. Combination,
however, is the act of
selecting key actions that
can positively influence
outcomes, when done
together. Sequence is the
act of establishing a priority,
order, and timing of those
actions.
Bova concludes that when
companies base growth
decisions upon an intelligent
appraisal of product, market,
and customer context, and
the threat or opportunity
those contexts bring, along
with the combination and
sequence necessary to
support the chosen paths,
it can make the difference
between success and failure.
DR. AUSTIN NWEZE
AUTHOR’S BIO
Dr. Austin Nweze is a teacher,
author, entrepreneur and a
commentator on national and
global issues. He is also a Faculty
Member, Pan-Atlantic University.
•Young boy selling food stuffs
Accomplish Magazine
| 83

Travel / Escape
Jewels of
the UAE
By Joy Agbakoba
is the UAE on your bucket
list of travel destinations?
Here are a few iconic
landmarks and activities
you must try out on your
trip for great adventure
and memories.
There is a desert adventure
waiting in the United Arab
Emirates. Within the land of
Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate,
lies the oasis city of Ai Ain. Its
centuries-old history can be
appreciated at the Paiace
Museum. One can experience
the spirit of the desert firsthand
on a desert safari.Go camelriding
and climb to the top of the
ancient dunes to experience a
sunset unlike anywhere else in
the world.
Dubai still has lots to offer
away from the sandy dunes.
The booming middle-eastern
business centre offers the 7th
largest shopping mall in the
world,the Dubai Mall. In addition,
since 2010, Dubai has been home
to the world’s taiiest buiiding; the
Burj Khalifa in downtown Dubai.
The spectacle of desert opulence
and grandeur continues in the
Souk districts along the Dubai salt
water creek, which are home to
hundreds of gold retailers, and an
estimated 10 tons of gold at any
given time.
After an eye-opening night of
gold shopping, Dhow cruises are a
popular way to relax and see the
sights alongside the creek like the
Chamber of Commerce and the
Diera Twin Towers.
In this edition we will take
you through the jewels
of the desert in both Abu
Dhabi and Dubai.
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Accomplish Magazine
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Travel / Escape
Sheikh
Zayed Grand
Mosque
Explore the rich past, vibrant present, and
thrilling future of Abu Dhabi on a tour of the
largest emirate in the UAE. See key sights
like the Corniche and Marina Mall, as well
as the Grand Mosque and AI Watan Palace.
After pick-up from your hotel and travel
along the Persian Gulf coast to Abu Dhabi
while listening to stories about one of the
world’s richest cities, visit the majestic Sheikh
Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the most
popular landmarks of Abu Dhabi. Admire
the mosque’s white marble structure that
consists of 82 domes, chandeliers, and
flower-patterned designs.
Ain
Dubai
86 | Accomplish Magazine

Dubai
Aquarium
Experience the magic of Dubai with two of the cities most amazing
attractions. Enjoy the Dubai Aquarium and the Burj Khalifa on the same
day. From the depths of the ocean to the skies above, upgrade your Burj
Khalifa visit with an enchanting encounter with 485 aquatic species at
the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Discover Dubai from 250 metres
in the sky. Ain Dubai is the
largest and tallest observation
wheel in the world, with
unique views of Dubai’s iconic
skyline from indoor cabins.
Discover Dubai from a different
perspective with an Ain Dubai
Views ticket which allows you to
take one 360-degree rotation
in a shared, air-conditioned
cabin. See the magical city of
Dubai turn golden at sunset
before it lights up at night. Ain
Dubai is the world’s largest
and tallest observation wheel,
standing at over 250-metres.
The record-breaking
monument offers unrivalled
and unforgettable social and
celebratory experiences as well
as 360-degree views of Dubai in
premium comfort.
Experience all this at the heart of
Blue Waters, the sophisticated,
must-visit island destination.
The 48 luxurious passenger
cabins that circle the enormous
circumference of the wheel
have the capacity to carry 1,750
visitors at once.
Accomplish Magazine
| 87

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Travel / Escape
88 | Accomplish Magazine

Desert Safari,
Quad Bikes,
Camel Riding &
Sand Board
Travel / Escape
er the mysteries of
ian desert on this
fari tour from Dubai.
ust-do activity if
nt to memorise
ing for life long. If
planning to visit
try out fun and
ent by organising
ning desert safari.
in the afternoon,
l have to rest at the
stination near a
farm. Get a chance
rience the sunset
cean of the desert,
amel ride and sand
g. Try out a beautiful
design on hands
t. Indulge yourself
od of celebration
licious barbecue
isha. Watch a belly
performing on
tunes right at the
ite.
Accomplish Magazine
| 89

Travel / Escape
Dubai
Burj
Khalifa
Witness unforgettable,
panoramic views
over Dubai from the
observation deck of
the iconic Burj Khalifa,
the world’s tallest
building. Let your jaw
hit the floor as you are
elevated up 125 floors
to fantastic 360-degree
views. Ascend the
555-metre-tall Burj
Khalifa, starting at the
SKY Lounge. Watch
as specially designed
projections let you “fly”
over city landmarks
en route. Watch the
Dubai Fountain show
with synchronized
music that can be
heard through the Burj
Khalifa observation
decks. Marvel at the
world’s largest dancing
fountain set on the Burj
Khalifa Lake from your
panoramic viewpoint.
Descend to ground
level, where a new
exhibition allows you to
relive the construction
of the Burj Khalifa.
Hear testimonials
from the brains
behind the building,
from the interiors
to the landscaping,
architecture and more.
Abu Dhabi Formula Yas 3000
Driving Experience
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Travel / Escape
Embark on a cruise around Dubai to see its highlights from the water. Sail through the Dubai
Marina to Blue Water Island. Cruise over to the Dubai Eye. See the famous Jumeirah Beach and
the Palm, and pass the Burj AI Arab. Enjoy breakfast or a barbecue onboard, depending on option
chosen. Receive a red-carpet welcome upon boarding your yacht. Juices and water will be
available, and the crew will help you with any requirements.
Spend quality time networking aboard the 64-foot vessel. Benefit from creature comforts and
amenities, including a dinette area and 3 beautiful cabins with natural light. Take your seats in the
lounge area with abundant sun and shade.
Dubai Marina
Yacht Tour
will take on the driver’s seat after being suited
full race gear and helmet. You would receive
hnical briefing from your racing coach. Next,
l take familiarisation laps around the circuit in a
ult vehicle. During these slow laps, your coach
xplain the racing line and how to approach
corner. At this point in your activity, you should
ady for the real action.
u’ll head back to the pits, where you’ll be further
ed on your car before being tightly strapped in.
are to feel every bump, ripple and sensation of
rive. You can be sure that you have never been
onnected to a driving machine! Get a grasp of
ner workings of this racing car and experience
sensational performance first-hand.
JOY AGBAKOBA
AUTHOR’S BIO
Joy Agbakoba is the Chief Executive Officer
of Travellers Haven Limited and has built its
solid reputation since 2003, providing travel
consultancy services as well as organising
cruises and private tours. She is also the Founder
of Women’s Business Arena, a market place for
creative female entrepreneurs.
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| 91