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Merchants Times January 19 2021 - Buhari lays wreath for fallen heroes - Eunice Ayobami Flipbook PDF
In the wake of Covid-19 second wave, the National Youth Service Corps Scheme has out marked conditions that must be met
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Vol. 2, No 39 Tuesday January 19, 2020 | TUESDAY BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER
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A financial Catalyst for the African Ecosystem! Research on market relevant to business owners, economists, financiers, or public policymakers.
Freedom is not just the birthright of the few
Buhari lays wreath for fallen heroes Eunice Ayobami
NATIONAL NEWS
In the wake of Covid-19 second wave, the National Youth Service Corps Scheme has out marked conditions that must be met by 2020 Batch “B” Stream II prospective corps members before they are admitted into Orientation Camp. Among the conditions enlisted in the issue, "Safety protocols" ahead of the Orientation Course on Tuesday, is that Corp members must possess a clearance certificate showing that they are not COVID-19 positive. Other protocols are “PCMS is expected to go to their dashboard and fill in the COVID-19 test
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Africa: Alienation and subjugation
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The struggling crusade in our Nation By: Oluwatobi Ogidiolu E-mail: [email protected]
The gling
While a bunch of white mobs feels it is their privilege to storm the Capitol building, some people lost their
In every four years, our journey as a nation is determined by some set of people, small groups but powerful. Those
strugcrusade :
that have chosen to lead the nation in the direction they tend to rather ought to. Contrary to campaign promises, results are not only poorly seen but some did
INTEVIEW
not even surface. How do we manage these promises and the results every four years, many believed the struggling is merely part of the global crisis, every country in the
US NEWS
Many African people are suffering from the psychological effects of four hundred years of slavery, we sincerely
Aina Ademola A columnist of The Merchants Times Broadsheet Newspaper.
Analysis of prices of essential commodities, as of 19th January 2020
The Mexico City Attack leaves five people dead By: Eunice Ayobami
A rare attack linked to organized crime has claimed the lives of five people in central Mexico City, according to the local security secretariat. The attack occurred late Friday at the town hall in Miguel Hidalgo, one of the most prosperous districts of Mexico City. According to a statement, five peoplewere found on the ground with gunshot wounds. Medical services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were
transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died due to the seriousness of their injuries, the security secretariat said. Reports said one of the victims was a member of the local Union Tepito cartel but city authorities have not confirmed this. Despite growing drug cartel violence in Mexico over the last decade, shootings and multiple killings are rare in the capital compared to other areas of the country.
Danmole Zainab An analysis of prices of essential commodities which also include brief information on what influences the increase and decrease in price of commodities.
What next for Uganda’s opposition after Musev -eni’s disputed win?
HEALTH NEWS
TECH NEWS
The ugly smokes from cigarettes Oluwarotimi Desire
Ignorantly, before now, I'd always thought that there are some particular benefits that smokers enjoyed
smoking. At the same time, I would wonder if it were really fun inhaling smoke almost every day if not
Apple now has a prototype foldable iPhone display Tech research by Olu Matthew
Apple has already begun developing a foldable iPhone, Bloomberg reported Friday. So far, the tech giant has only worked on a prototype display with no set plans for a launch date, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The prototype foldable screen has an invisible hinge, Bloomberg said. An Apple patent for a foldable iPhone first appeared almost a year ago, but Apple has yet to announce any plans.
Uganda’s longtime President Yoweri Museveni has secured a sixth term in office that will take his reign into a fourth decade following a poll his rivals say
URBAN T U E S D AY PA P E R
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The Merchants Times Editorial Board Vol. 2, No 39 WWW.MERCHANTSTIMES.COM
FREEDOM IS NOT JUST THE BIRTHRIGHT OF THE FEW N500
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021
Chairman/Editor-in-chief Oluwatobi Ogidiolu Deputy Editorial Page Damilare Ojo Managing Editor Emmanuel Akindoyin Associate Editor Eunice Ayobami Creatives Poet Tobias Writer Aina Ademola Esan Bisola Vincent Mutuma (Kenya) Casmire Okedinachi Oluwarotimi Desire Michael Akpanebe Clever Macualay Adefolakemi Ojo Nwaka Philip
The
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The Merchants Times publication board is proud to have resilient journalism who depend on accuracy in reports and research to arrive at a common perspective on significant issues. The board does represent Merchants Times and hold free journalism dear to heart. Amidst politics, dark democracy and Military oppression hat's ravaging Africa, The Merchants Times is saddled with responsibility from the people to inform the public on the happenings at the top of the pyramids (Government Houses, Industries, Religious Centers & NGO's), only with a clear conscience. The board contends for a world that is both free and fair, where people can exercise their rights without any form of discrimination or segregation. As Richard puts it, “Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism…” Richard Kluger, Our quest is to serve as an example for a continent that demands a free press void of political tyranny or corruption from the religious sector. We do not want to be sponsored by corruptible Africans or deepens the wool of journalism into the corrupt oil. As the sun rises, we rise, as it sets we oil the lamp and set up for fire for Nations and the continent to be seen as bare as it ought to be. We are Merchants!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 5
Editorial Oluwatobi Ogidiolu | Editor-In-Chief
The struggling crusade
In every four years, our journey as a nation is determined by some set of people, small groups but powerful. Those that have chosen to lead the nation in the direction they tend rather than ought to. Contrary to campaign promises, results are not only poorly seen but some did not even surface. How do we manage these promises and the results every four years, many believed the struggling is merely part of the global crisis, every country in the world have a fair share of the crisis eating the world’s economy up. Nigeria! We are facing a struggling crusade. We do not need a psychic or a
prophet to tell us how messy things things are. We can feel the pain clenched to our skins, burrow into our heart and those who rule us are undoubtedly a concern, at least deeply to know they are responsible for our existing circumstance, which seems infinitely woeful. How did we get here? When the significance of being human is just a piece of an object that could be trash, the bandits, severe killing in the North and other social vices ravaging the citizens in the country. “ There's an African saying, the people in a community will determine their leaders.” we constantly bombard the colonial
masters and their grand exhibition during colonial and post-modern colonial rule, we are raging and will blame our incompetence to move forward because we are just at the same standpoint where they tied us as a nation, even when they had loosened the rope around our body. Africa, stop blaming the white man for smashing your clay pot of water, you are the potter, pick up clay and mode a new pot. Even if you try, the broken clay pot will never hold water for long. I hope I am insane enough to radicalized my intention, that our colonial masters failed once and Africans failed the continents twice.
Editorial
Forthwith, how can Nigeria become free from all the woes surrounded by her, by woes I mean bad leaders, those with political interest and not the public interest, those whose life and ambition is either to split blood and retain power, those who for 38 years never built a car factory for their nations, those woefully and despicable leaders that have nothing but a fat stomach full of greed. What's wrong if as a Nation, and as part of a continent we end the struggling crusade, put away our ethnic affiliation, nepotism, favouritism, greed and religious extremism. We are failing backwards, our current woes should not be hanged on the loose
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 6
and careless talk that the white men are responsible for our future failures. We must so aggressively match forward and begin anew, cultivating a good culture of truth and holding on to the values that build the nation and others up. We must end this struggling crusade and that must be collectively done, else we are going to end up lighting the roof of this nation with a grenade. Coming to be, let us be truthful. Especially with our campaign promises. And let voters genuinely get interested in participating in their civil right. Deeming it fit to chose what's right, in their heart and it must
match the truth that will move this nation and continent forward. Nigeria must stem from borrowing from foreigners that automatically enslave the economy of the nation. A borrower is a slave to the lender. It's time that we must put an end to our foreign dependency and look inward, we must have a goal insight as a nation. Are we going to be known for technology, agriculture or Trade? We must untie the cord around our neck. We must therefore stop this struggling crusade, we will be able to if you stop taking a bribe, blackmailing people and giving false promises.
Local News
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 7
Buhari lays wreath for fallen heroes Eunice Ayobami
defend the sovereignty of the nation.
In commemoration of 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Muhammadu Buhari has led other top government offi-
cials to lay wreaths during the parade held at the National Arcade, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. The Armed Forces Remem-
brance Day celebration is an annual event to recognize and appreciate military heroes who lost their lives in the cause of fighting to
The event witnessed a parade jointly formed by officers of the Nigeria Army, the Navy, the Airforce and men of the Legion. Present at the event was the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Mohammed and other dignitaries. During the event, special prayers were offered for the living and fallen heroes at the ceremony, which also featured gun salute. The event also witnessed the release of pigeons to signify peace and the signing of anniversary register by the President, though they refused to leave the cage.
COVID-19: NYSC doles out conditions for admitting corps members into camp Eunice Ayobami In the wake of Covid-19 second wave, the National Youth Service Corps Scheme has out marked conditions that must be met by 2020 Batch “B” Stream II prospective corps members before they are admitted into Orientation Camp. Among the conditions enlisted in the issue, "Safety protocols" ahead of the Orientation Course on Tuesday, is that Corp members must possess a clearance certificate showing that they are not COVID-19 positive. Other protocols are “PCMS is expected to go to their dash-
board and fill in the COVID-19 test self-reporting format before printing call-up letters. “PCMs are to download and print slip generated for presentation at Orientation camps, adding that they must adhere strictly to their assigned date of reporting to the orientation camps. The issue also stated that no PCMS will be allowed into the camps if they come before their appointment date and they must subject themselves to COVID-19 test and other precaution measures.
Local News
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 8
The Mexico City attack leaves five people dead Eunice Ayobami
A rare attack linked to organized crime has claimed the lives of five people in central Mexico City, according to the local security secretariat. The attack occurred late Friday at the town hall in Miguel Hidalgo, one of the most prosperous districts of Mexico City.
According to a statement, five people were found on the ground with gunshot wounds. Medical services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died due to the seriousness of their injuries, the security secretariat said.
Five people were found on the ground with gunshot wounds. Medical services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died.
Reports said one of the victims was a member of the local Union Tepito cartel but city authorities have not confirmed this. Despite growing drug cartel violence in Mexico over the last decade, shootings and multiple killings are rare in the capital compared to other areas of the country.
Foreign News
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG9
Electoral College makes it official: Biden won, Trump lost
Samsung's Lee receives 30-month prison term in bribery trial
A South Korean court sentenced Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee to two and a half years in prison on Monday, which could delay the group’s ownership restructuring following the death of Lee’s father in October. The ruling also cements a major shift in South Korea’s view on wrongdoings committed by the owners of the country’s powerful conglomerates, or chaebol, which led the country’s economic rise after the Korean War on the back of what has been criticised as cozy relations with politicians. Lee, the country’s most powerful businessman at age 52, had served one year in prison for bribing an associate of former President Park Geun-hye when an appeals court suspended it in 2018; a year later, the Supreme Court ordered him retried. His prison time will count against his latest sentence. Monday’s sentencing by the Seoul High Court can be appealed to the Supreme Court within seven days, but legal experts said that because the Supreme Court has already ruled on it once, chances are low that its legal interpretation will change. The Seoul High Court found Lee guilty of bribery, embezzlement and concealment of criminal proceeds worth about 8.6 billion won ($7.8 million), and said the independent compliance committee Samsung set up early last year has yet to become fully effective. “(Lee) has shown willingness for management with newly strengthened
compliance, as he has vowed to create a transparent company,” said Presiding Judge Jeong Jun-yeong. “Despite some shortcomings... I hope that over time, it will be evaluated as a milestone in the history of Korean companies as a beginning for compliance and ethics,” he said. Lee, dressed in a dark coat and silver tie and standing to hear the sentencing, sat down after it was read. He did not comment when given a chance by the judge. During his final statement to the court in December, Lee had said that he wants to “make a new Samsung”. “This case involves the former president’s abuse of power violating corporate freedom and property rights... The court’s decision is regrettable,” Lee’s lawyer, Lee In-jae, told reporters. SHARES FALL Lee will be sidelined for the time being from major decision-making at Samsung Electronics as it strives to overtake competitors. He will also be unable to directly oversee the process of inheritance from his father, crucial to keeping control of Samsung. Analysts agreed that day-to-day operations would not be affected, but large-scale decisions whose results are often only visible after years, such as M&As and major personnel changes, may be.“(Lee’s) absence is not going to disrupt Samsung’s current management... Unlike in his father’s time, Samsung has been managing by system, decision-making distributed to each busi-
ness’ CEO,” said Chung Sun-sup, chief executive of research firm Chaebul.com. “But besides the hit to his global image, long-term strategies, like currently unplanned investment for the future and restructuring, may stop,” he added. Samsung affiliates’ shares fell sharply after the ruling, with Samsung Electronics shares down 3.4% in their worst daily fall in five months, while Samsung C&T shares fell 6.8%.
NO MORE LENIENCY Monday’s ruling hammered home that the leniency typically shown to South Korean business leaders in the past can no longer be expected. Lee is expected to return on Monday to the prison in which he served his earlier sentence. Business groups expressed concern over the effect Lee’s sentence might have. “Lack of long-term leadership can result in delayed entry into new businesses and quick decision-making, leaving them behind in global competition,” said Bae Sang-kun, an executive director of lobby group Federation of Korean Industries. ($1 = 1,104.1400 won)
Source: Reuters
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 10
Africa Renaissance AINA ADEMOLA [email protected] OgbeniDemola
Africans:Alienation and subjugation
Many African people are suffering from the psychological effects of four hundred years of slavery, we sincerely do not expect a people who have been held in bondage for hundreds of years to remain and maintain the psychological status quo ante before the European & Arab incursion. But to be free and liberated from the forces of inferiority complex’s and self-hate, it’s a fundamental to open our people's eyes to pump pride into their empty shells, to reconnect them with their roots and to make
them espouse coherently and explicit their ancestral heritage. African people did not fall from the sky, even though white supremacy agenda has been to blot the African civilization and achievement out of history does not negate or repudiate the fact that African people have made significant achievements before the incursion of Arabs & Europeans. Many conscious African people talk mainly on the achievement of Black people in ancient Kemet, we had
achievements in Kemet, but that’s just one of the many African achievements. We built empires, we built the Kushite empire, the punt empire, the Benin Empire, the Songhai Empire, the ancient Ghanian empire, the Angolan empire, the Oyo empire, the Hausa Fulani empire and many more great achievements we have made. All these history and these amazing achievements aren’t always discussed in our schools because of the white supremacist curriculum we practice
whose main aim is to ignore and disregard the achievement of the black ancestors. We had stable political systems in Africa, in the ancient Ghanaian empire under the reign of king Tenkamenin, Ghanaians experienced a monarchy but yet democratic rule. King Tenkamenin would come out twice in the day with his regalia and listen to the grievances of the people, he could even be petitioned if the people weren’t comfortable with his policies. All these are a bit of African civi-
Africa Renaissance
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Africans did not fall from the sky, even though white supremacy agenda has been to blot the African civilization and achievement out of history does not negate or repudiate the fact that Africans have made significant achievements before the incursion of Arabs & Europeans. lization which got destroyed by Arabs and European invasion of Africa. The great walls of Benin was built by African people and it is four times bigger than the Great Wall of China. Now, due to four hundred years of slavery, we have become alienated from our heritage, our roots, our core tradition and way of life, we had voted assimilated into the way of life and tradition of the oppressor, the man who enslaved us, our enemy, and there’s no way we imitate others and save ourselves, the more we try to be like Europeans & Arabs the more alienated we are from our roots, the more disconnect-
ed we are and the faster our tradition goes into oblivion. There has to be a cultural resuscitation in Africa, we need to understand a man who succeeds to make a group of people accept a foreign concept in which he is expert makes them perpetual students whose progress in that field can only be evaluated by him; the student must constantly turn to him for guidance and promotion. Only he can tell us how good our performance is and instinctively each of us is at pains to please this powerful all-knowing master. This kind of repugnant philosophy is what will immediate-
ly be eradicated once we decide to stop integrating into the white man’s community, progress will come once we begin to reconnect with our roots, economic prosperity will come once we begin to believe in ourselves and stop relying on other races for survival, the other races control education, medical system, political system, economic system, this is the reason why we are subjugated because we control nothing, we are even in a better position to make economic progress because we have all it takes, we have the resources, Congo alone, wit the natural resources therein is enough to take care
of the whole world but because of inferiority complex and self hate we disregard them and pave way for the enemies to loot and plunder our resources. Because there’s a history of a great people of Songhai doesn’t mean that Songhains aren’t hungry today, for the fact that there was once a great people of Ife doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering today. As Marcus Garvey said “When a man loses his authority, he sinks t the level of lower animals” we have lost the grip our authority, that’s why we are subjugated today, we have to reclaim our position and become a formidable force for good.
There’s no way to cab talk about the development of Europe without talking about re underdevelopment of Africa, Africa isn’t underdeveloped, Africa is over-exploited, we must identify the machinations of exploitation and oppression and break them into smithereens. The future of Africa doesn’t depend on how much western education we have consumed, the future of Africa depends on how mentally liberated and Afrocentric we have become.
Features
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 13
Your brand is the way you or your business is perceived by the world Nkwam Philip
Much more than a logo or slogan, your brand is the way you or your business is perceived by the world. From clothing lines to sports teams and equipment, to cars, to fashion wears, to anything and everything, we are a people who seek the most desired brands in our everyday dealings. However, this concept of branding isn't a new idea that erupted overnight. In ancient times and even in modern cultures, branding, marking or tattooing animals of herds or flocks with a particular symbol is often used to identify ownership. Even in human populations, tattooing, branding or piercings historically have been used in some cultures to identify ownership or affiliation with a particular group. Synonymously, we notice that God talks about this idea of branding in his words. Just as we see a couple of dress or shirt identified with a brand name, owing allegiance and quality to its brand, so are we to God. God's branding Rather signifies an internal spiritual branding than a physical tattoo on our bodies or some labels on our clothes. The Scripture reiterates that the physical is a manifestation of the spiritual. Howbeit, the Best of Brands that cannot be stolen or hijacked by any man is that one which is lodged in the spirit of a man and thereafter manifests in his physical. On every account of a man that gives his life to Christ, he/she is a rebranded spirit (2Cor 5:17). Such a person owes his/her quality of life, allegiance and existence to a new
brand created after God. The rudiments of that man's life now limit how it functions to its newly recreated brand. It becomes peculiarly associated with its new brand. There's a family created by God, solely noted with a peculiar brand. This brand is the Spirit and Life of Christ in You. You have been branded with a new life. The same with the life of Jesus. Every Brand has its Structures and Peculiarities. You'd never find an iPhone with an Android Logo. However Certain characteristics exist in pertinence with its respective brands. A Life branded with Jesus Functions like Jesus, knowing so, we function as the same brands. Therefore, the born again Christian holds the Place of Jesus and Functions as Jesus. Ephesians 1:13-14, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of his glory". This outrightly Confirms that we have been branded I.e sealed by a Spirit. The same spirit that was in Jesus, causing him to do so great Works. The Scripture highlights that we have become God's property with an inheritance from God. Our Own brand Logo is the Holy Spirit. A brand has a purpose it serves, to confirm the quality of a product and reassure its buyer of its quality and authenticity. Same way, the Holy Spirit (Which is
our Sealed Brand), helps us in serving our primary and respective purposes better. The Holy Spirit reaffirms the uniqueness in which God has rebranded the Christian. Since the Christian is recreated and branded to be Jesus, whenever or wherever he/she appears, Jesus Appears. This tells us how important we are. The One who is branded according to God doesn't live in hopelessness, depression, dejection, loss, undue sufferings and sorrows. Such Experience would be an abuse to its brand. This brand exists at the highest altitude. It Stays and functions from There. The same way the branded Christian functions in the highest altitudes above the world. He's not Found talking or acting like the world, neither afflicted nor inflicted by diseases in sync with this world. He's not branded according to this world. His Physiologies have changed, far transformed from the similitude of this world, therefore, the things of this world; be it diseases, pains, sickness, grief, sorrows has no way in the branded Christian. The binding proteins that bind diseases to human systems have ceased to bind with the rebranded Christian because of a change in his nature and physiology. He should Stay here, firm on this ground because it's his true reality.
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 13
China's economy picks up speed in fourth quarter China's economy picks up speed in fourth quarter, ends 2020 in solid shape after COVID-19 shock
China’s economy picked up speed in the fourth quarter, with growth beating expectations as it ended a rough coronavirus-striken 2020 in remarkably good shape and remained poised to expand further this year even as the global pandemic rages unabated. Gross domestic product grew 2.3% in 2020, official data showed on Monday, making China the only major economy in the world to avoid a contraction last year as many nations struggled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. And China is expected to continue to power ahead of its peers this year, with GDP set to expand at the fastest pace in a decade at 8.4%, according to a Reuters poll. The world’s second-largest economy has surprised many with the speed of
its recovery from the coronavirus jolt, especially as policymakers have also had to navigate tense U.S.-China relations on trade and other fronts. Beijing’s strict virus curbs enabled it to largely contain the COVID-19 outbreak much quicker than most countries, while government-led policy stimulus and local manufacturers stepping up production to supply goods to many countries crippled by the pandemic have also helped fire up momentum. GDP expanded 6.5% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed, quicker than the 6.1% forecast by economists in a Reuters poll, and followed the third quarter’s solid 4.9% growth.
“The higher-than-expected GDP number indicates that growth has stepped into the expansionary zone, although some sectors remain in recovery,” said Xing Zhaopeng, economist at ANZ in Shanghai. “Policy exiting will pose counter-cyclical pressures on 2021 growth.” Backed by the strict virus containment measures and policy stimulus, the economy has recovered steadily from a steep 6.8% slump in the first three months of 2020, when an outbreak of COVID-19 in the central city of Wuhan turned into a full-blown epidemic.EXPORTS ENGINE REVS UP Asia’s economic powerhouse has been fuelled by a surprisingly resilient export sector, but China’s consumption - a key driver of growth - has
Source: Business Reuters
Business Lane
lagged expectations amid fears of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Data last week showed Chinese exports grew by more than expected in December, as coronavirus disruptions around the world fuelled demand for Chinese goods even as a stronger yuan made exports more expensive for overseas buyers. Yet, underscoring the massive COVID-19 impact worldwide, China’s 2020 GDP growth marked its weakest pace since 1976, the final year of the decade-long Cultural Revolution that wrecked the economy. Overall, the slew of brightening economic data has reduced the need for more monetary easing this year, leading the central bank to scale back some policy support, sources told Reuters, but there would be no abrupt shift in policy direction, according to top policymakers. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rose 2.6% in October-December, the bureau said, compared with expectations for a 3.2% rise and an upwardly revised 3.0 gain in the previous quarter. Highlighting the weakness in consumption, retail sales fell 3.9% last year, marking the first contraction since 1968, records from NBS showed. Growth in retail sales in December missed analyst forecasts and eased to 4.6% from November’s 5.0%, as sales
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 14
of garments, cosmetics, telecoms and autos slowed. However, China’s vast manufacturing sector continued to gain momentum, with industrial output rising at a faster-than-expected rate of 7.3% last month from a year ago, hitting the highest since March 2019. LINGERING RISKS IN 2021 Ning Jizhe, head of China’s statistics bureau, told a briefing that there would be many favourable conditions to sustain China’s economic recovery in 2021, citing the country’s large market and resilient supply chains. This year marks the start of China’s 14th five-year plan, which policymakers see as vital for steering the economy past the so-called “middle income trap”. China still faces many challenges, not least the tensions between Beijing and Washington and how they would play out under the new U.S. administration led by President-elect Joe Biden. As well, rising labour costs, the aging population, and a recent spike in credit defaults add to risks for an economy that is still trying to reduce a mountain of debt. “We should be alert to the following problems in 2021: first the imbalance of economic recovery. Compared with investment and export, consumption is weak as a whole and has yet to return to normal levels,” said Wang Jun, Beijing-based chief economist at
Zhongyuan Bank.The second problem, Wang said, is a possible rapid slowdown in credit growth. The central bank is poised to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged in coming months while steering a steady slowdown in credit expansion in 2021, policy sources have said. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think tank, sees the macro leverage ratio jumping by about 30 percentage points in 2020 to over 270%. While this year’s predicted growth rate of over 8% would be the strongest in a decade, led by an expected double-digit expansion in the first quarter, it is rendered less impressive coming off the low base set in pandemic-stricken 2020.Some analysts also cautioned that a recent rebound in COVID-19 cases in the northeast of the country could impact activity and consumption in the run-up to next month’s long Lunar New Year holidays. “Control of people-flows has started, so the risk of a widespread outbreak of Covid should be small,” said Iris Pang, ING’s chief China economist. “But the risk of a technology war between China and some economies remains if the U.S. does not remove some measures.”
Source: Reuters Business
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 15
Iran reportedly seizes 45k Bitcoin mining machines after closure Of illegal operations
Authorities in Iran have seized tens of thousands of bitcoin mining machines that they claim have been using illegally subsidized electricity from state-run energy provider Tavanir. According to a report by local media outlet Tasmin News Agency on Sunday, 45,000 mostly application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) machines were confiscated. The powerful machines had purportedly been consuming 95 megawatts per hour of electricity at a reduced rate, according to
Tavanir’s head Mohammad Hassan Motavalizadeh. Earlier this month, Iranian authorities shut down 1,620 illegal cryptocurrency mining farms said to have collectively used 250 megawatts of electricity over the past 18 months, per a different news source. The country’s recent blackouts across major cities have been blamed in part on cryptocurrency mining, drawing the ire of officials who have sought a temporary stay on bitcoin mining until further notice.
Cryptocurrency researcher Ziya Sadr told the Washington Post on Sunday miners had “nothing to do with the blackouts,” claiming they only made up a “very small” percentage of overall electricity capacity in the country. In July of last year, Iran penned a registration directive forcing miners to disclose their identities. It also forced them to disclose the size of their mining farms and their mining equipment type to the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade.
The country’s recent blackouts across major cities have been blamed in part on cryptocurrency mining
Business Lane
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 16
How Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos can help save our democracy
With all the attention on politics and COVID-19 right now, you may have missed this recent headline: “Elon Musk overtakes Jeff Bezos to become world’s richest person.” Or maybe you did see it and thought, who cares? Well you should. (Before you continue reading, a trigger warning: This column is about staggering wealth. The numbers you are about to read will shock you.) It’s not so much that Musk is now worth some $200 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, versus Bezos’ $182 billion, (of course Bezos could easily regain the crown at any point.) Nor is it a matter of the insane run-up in Tesla’s stock recently, (although it is insane—up some 800% over the past year.) No, the bigger point is simply how much money and power Musk and Bezos and other tech billionaires have right now. And that power ties directly to one of the greatest conundrums of our time, which is the unprecedented command and control tech giants—Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Facebook (FB), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL) and a few others—have over us. It’s a matter of contention that touches on everything from free speech to Donald Trump and our political divisions to national security to the very
future of democracy. It’s an issue I predict that will loom very large over the next four years. The question, according to tech investor Roger McNamee, author of “Zucked,” a book critical of Facebook, is “do you want to live in a country that's not a democracy? And I do think that kind of soul searching is going on. I do think in time the country is going to make the right choices. And I do know that there's lots of ways to have successful tech companies that are not harmful.” Before we explore McNamee’s point further, let’s return to the Bloomberg list because the top of it jumps out at you. Fact: currently eight of the 11 richest people on the planet are American tech billionaires. Can you imagine? In addition to Musk and Bezos, you have Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellison and Steve Ballmer. Collectively these eight individuals are worth a stunning, staggering $923.7 billion. “It’s an extraordinary concentration of wealth and power,” says Chuck Collins, a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies and co-author with Bill Gates Sr. of “Wealth and Our Commonwealth.” “Maybe there were some parallels a hundred years ago during the robber baron, gilded age fortunes. A lot of those fortunes were people
cornering some aspect of the natural resource world: coal, steel, oil, wood; in addition to finance. Here we are a hundred years later and you have what I would call democracy-distorting fortunes.” Consider that $923.7 billion and the rest of us. For instance, some 9.2% of the U.S. population—or 30 million people—live in poverty (a conservative number BTW.) That $923.7 billion would be enough money to give each of those poor Americans more than $1,000 a year, every year for the next three decades. (Caveat: No one is suggesting that exact kind of redistribution of wealth could or should ever happen, it’s just a thought exercise.) To be clear that list of eight people is actually quite the mixed bag. Some like Gates are no longer CEOs. Ellison is chairman of Oracle (ORCL), a powerhouse company for sure, but not in the same league as Facebook or Google. And ditto for Musk’s Tesla, (though more on that company’s potential dominance later.) Also, not included are Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, CEOs of Apple and Google’s parent Alphabet, respectively, who wield tremendous power and are very wealthy. It’s also important to note there are a number of other tech billionaires on the Bloomberg list—including Michael Dell, Laurene Powell Jobs, Eric Schmidt, Jack
Dorsey, Evan Spiegel, Marc Benioff, Peter Thiel, Reed Hastings and other familiar names—and it makes sense to add them to this posse of tech billionaires. High up on this list too is MacKenzie Scott, the 23rd richest person in the world worth $56 billion, who is of course Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife. (If the couple were still together they would be worth around a quarter of $1 trillion, richer than Elon, but that’s another story.)The point is these American tech billionaires form a cohort, a cohort worth well over $1 trillion, with commensurate economic and societal power. And as I noted in a story recently their fortunes have been growing much faster than the wealth of the rest of us. True I don’t adjust my figures for inflation, (i.e., what is $1 trillion today in say, 2016 dollars), but when your stock goes up 450% over the past five years, like Amazon’s has, and the annual inflation rate has been between 0.7% and 2.3% over the same time period, there’s really no need. So where did this great wealth come from? Overwhelmingly it accrued from the increase
in value of these individuals’
stock holdings—mostly as founders of tech companies such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Netflix (NFLX), Oracle, Dell (DELL), Twitter (TWTR), Snap (SNAP) and Tesla. The value of their stakes in these companies has soared to unimaginable heights
Business Lane because the stock market assigned huge valuations to these companies. Why? Because these companies are massive money-making machines and are likely to continue to be so. Thus, the free market has spoken and designated these people to be the richest and most powerful people in the world. ‘Breaking these guys up’ MAGA, Antifa, liberals, conservatives and moderates, nearly everyone in America agrees that Big Tech is too powerful. But when it comes to exactly what “the problem” is, we diverge. Republicans, wrapping themselves in the flag of free speech (which really doesn’t apply to private companies) say Big Tech muzzles them, while Democrats say Big Tech is a national security threat by allowing foreign actors to manipulate elections and domestic terrorists to organize. And yes, Congress has called Zuckerberg, Dorsey, Bezos et al to task and to testify numerous times. Myriad federal and local, nevermind international, investigations and legal actions are ongoing against Big Tech. And yet one thing is missing here, and that is to call into question the personal power and responsibility of this American-techno-billionaire oligarchy which holds sway over billions of lives. Before we delve into that subject, a quick note about Musk is in order because Tesla seems like the odd company out here as it isn’t banning anyone nor is it enabling bad guys. Tesla’s rise has been so swift it seems farcical to consider the company as a threat to society. In fact until recently people were saying it would go bankrupt. (Some still have serious questions about the company.) And yet—and this is admittedly anticipatory at this point—imagine the power that Tesla could wield over the transportation industry in short order? And BTW, Tesla is already a force to be reckoned with. Just ask GM, Ford and Toyota about that. Even with GM stock hitting an all-time high this week, it still has a market cap less than one tenth of Tesla’s. And let’s not forget Musk’s other endeavors. If SpaceX, SolarCity, Hyperloop, Starlink etc. (which have been created with an eye towards
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 16
integration), pan out in a big way, Musk’s empire would become even more impactful. Bottom line: Given that Elon is the richest man in the world, the market is telling us all this could happen. Back to the central issue at hand, which is the outsized power these individuals have. There is a course of action that addresses the problem head on, a solution not lost on Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business and a keen observer of Big Tech. “I think the place to start is with breaking these guys up,” Galloway says. “I think that it's telling that we seem to be always begging the same one or two firms. I think increased competition would be good.” We’ve broken up big companies in America before of course, typically for one of two reasons. In the first, management itself does the cleaving in an effort to maximize shareholder value. I lived through one of these when I worked for the biggest media company in history, AOL Time Warner, which sold off Warner Music, Time Life books, TimeWarner Cable, AOL, Time Inc. and finally itself to AT&T. Others in this category include GE, ITT, (two of its descendants are Starwood and Hartford Financial Services Group) and going back in time, Gulf and Western (known as “engulf and devour.”) The other group of companies were broken up by the government, most famously AT&T in 1984 and Standard Oil in 1911. Now let’s talk about today’s big tech companies. First understand, they were built for dominance. These notions of a “flywheel” (a favorite construct of Bezos) and an “ecosystem” implicitly and explicitly have as their goals global scale with both vertical and horizontal integration. What businesses do Amazon, Google or Tesla want to get into? The answer is any business that can be melded into what they are doing currently, in other words just about anything. One thing that was never considered though: What happens if these companies become too successful? To be clear there is other work to be done here. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996—an anachronistic piece of legal code that allows
tech companies to disclaim responsibility for what appears on their platforms—has to go. (The law was created to protect poor little tech startups from being quashed by litigation. Today, these giant companies employ thousands of lawyers who face down billions of litigation like it’s nothing more than swatting away a fly.) And there’s the profiting-off-of-poison business models (selling falsehoods and divisiveness) by the social media companies. But those problems apply mostly to Facebook, Google’s YouTube and Twitter, and not at all to Amazon or Apple. So we come back to the common denominator, which is size and power. Ultimately that is what must be addressed. The notion of a government-mandated break up of Big Tech has been around for years now. There’s much that could be done: Facebook would spin off Instagram (love to see those two compete), WhatsApp and maybe even Messenger and Oculus. Amazon would split off AWS, Whole Foods and its devices (Kindle and Fire.) Google would shed YouTube, Waymo, as well as split off search from its other core products. In Musk’s case, his companies should end up as separate public companies. Apple could get rid of the App Store and its music business. Microsoft would sell Xbox, Skype, Azure, and LinkedIn (I know, I know, you guys just bought it!) The snickers you hear come from the C-suites of these companies at the mere suggestion of this. As in “Serwer, you are so ignorant and naive. It’s impossible to do this! These businesses are intertwined!” To which I answer, I may be guilty of the first charge but it’s not impossible. Sure, some are more difficult to split than others, but it’s all doable. Hollywood movie studios made exactly the same claim when the U.S. government successfully sued to separate movie theaters from the studios, (United States v. Paramount Pictures, 1948.) Note that both studios and theaters thrived after that. Shareholders would do very well by the stocks of newly severed tech companies. And I would bet more jobs would be created. But that wouldn’t be the real reason to break ‘em
up. The real reason would be to put an end to this epidemic of bigness. And here’s the critical part, I’m not suggesting the government do this, I’m suggesting the tech moguls do it themselves. Crazy? But why not? These people think of themselves as business non-traditionalists. Are they really? If Bezos, Zuckerberg and Cook et al did it themselves it would usher in an era of growth and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, the U.S. and the world. It could be a happy, proactive creative process, as opposed to the current defensive stonewalling. But most importantly it would restore, shore up, protect and enhance our democracy. What could possibly be more important than that? We often hear that we have moved beyond shareholder capitalism and are now in an era of stakeholder capitalism. It would be the ultimate expression of stakeholder capitalism for the richest men on planet earth to consider the ultimate stakeholder, America itself. It is also unassailable that if the tech moguls don’t do this, their companies will eventually atrophy and fade, or more likely and much sooner, face an increasingly angry mob. “There's been a total inaction. [tech CEOs] have slow-rolled the whole thing effectively,” says Galloway. “But I think that's about to change. The shadow being cast by the Biden-Harris administration has already resulted in more change at Facebook in the last 10 days than we've seen in the last 10 years.” Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis is said to have remarked: “We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.” I’m sure the tech billionaires know Brandeis’ words. The question is, are the tech billionaires evolved enough to understand they have become part of the problem, and if so, can they sublimate their egos enough to do something about it. Andy Serwer is editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter: @serwer.
Source: Yahoo Finance
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 18
Essential Corner Danmole Zainab
Analysis of prices of essential commodities A demand curve shows the relationship between quantity demanded and price in a given market on a graph. The law of demand states that a higher price typically leads to a lower quantity demanded. A supply schedule is a table that shows the quantity supplied at different prices in the market.
An analysis of prices of essential commodities which also include brief information on what influences the increase and decrease in price of commodities. The chart and information below are gathered through a market survey which involves a question and answer moment between the wholesalers/ retailers and our correspondents.
Week 53, January 2021 on Essential corners, we present the prices of non-perishable commodities. COMMUNITY
STATUS
Rice Vegetable Oil Palm Oil Spaghetti Noodles Seasoning Cube Sugar Margarins Breadspread Mayonnaise Corn flakes Salts Tomato Semovita / Lina Tomato
UNIT/ WEIGHT/CARTON
50 KG 25 Litres 25 Litre A Carton A Carton A Carton 10Kg (1kg x 10) 10Kg A Carton Per unit Per Unit 20kg (1kg x 20) A Carton 10kg A Basket
PRICES LEAST EXPENSIVE / MOST EXPENSIVE
N19,000/25,000 N17,500 N16,500 N4200 N4,500 N1800/ N7,000/N9,500 N4,200 N8,500/14,500 N7,500/12,500 N500 / 10000 N 750/1,300 N 3,000 N 8,000 / 5100 N 3250/3500 N 10,000
CAUSES OF RISE IN PRICE/FALL IN PRICE Natural Phenomenon / Security/ Transportation Season / Transportation Transportation/ Exchange rate Transportation/ Exchange rate Transportation/ Exchange rate Transportation / Exchange Rate Production / Transportation Transportation/ Exchange rate Transportation/ Exchange rate Transportation / Exchange rate Production / Exchange rate Transportation / Exchange rate Transportation / Season / Production Transportation / Exchange rate Causes of Rise
As the new year rolls in, we are expecting a decrease in the prices but as of now it is still stable -
INFLATION
-
DEFLATION
-
STABLE
Essential Corner
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 19
The famous rice
The most famous food crop in the world
This week on our corner, we present yo ou the importance of rice as a commodity. Also, the variations and determinant of prices of rice in Nigeria. Rice is a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food in Nigeria. Rice is a starchy grain which makes up the conclusion of it being a source of carbohydrate. It is one of the essential commodity in Nigeria as most consumers cannot do a day without it. Rice is prepared in various ways depending on the consumer’s preference. It serves as food to many households in which some add other ingredients to make it more palatable while a few others use it in production of body care producers such as hair growth creams and skin brightening products. There are various types of rice and which variations bring about how it is been utilised. In Nigeria, the common types of rice are Plain rice,
Basmati rice, Brown rice and Ofada rice. The plain rice is the most common type of rice and it is found in almost every household and it is the most consummated type of rice in Nigeria. As it is cheap and affordable. The price of this rice is determined by the taste, it's sorting i.e whether it is stone free or not and its polishings. All these are mechanical process through which rice has gone through. The most expensive plain rice is usually parboiled, sortexed and polished. While some are less expensive with it bring just sorted but not polished or parboiled. Plain rice is usually used in body care products. Also, various ingredients can be added to it to make the 'Nigerian Jollof Rice’ and other types of garnished rice. Basmati Rice is another variety of rice which is long, slender and traditionally
grown in India and Pakistan. It can be consumed plainly or garnished. Also, it can be eaten with the sauce just like the plain white rice. In Nigeria, Basmati Rice is usually served at the party and can be transformed into Jollof and fried rice respectively. The taste and Aroma are unique and different from our everyday plain rice. It is one of the most expensive types of rice in Nigeria. It is expensive because it is imported and the cost of importation has an influence on the price. Another determinant of the price is its availability at the Nigeria market, it is less available in the market and so it does affect its prices. Brown Rice is whole grain rice with the inedible outer hull. It is the same as white/plain rice without the hill. Ofada rice is grown in South-est Nigeria. It is used in a variety of dishes and has a special sauce in
which is it served with Ifada rice and sauce is a Nigerian favourite because its stew is one of the most delicious as it is filled with a bunch of flavoured protein like dried shrimp and varieties of meat and its products. The determinant of the prices of Ofada rice is our season and our transport system. Ofada rice is more expensive than our plain rice but less expensive to Basmati and others. To the average Nigerian person, they rather go for plain rice because it is affordable and easily accessible. While the ‘Foodie” will want to have a taste of every of the rice available in the market. Rice is nothing but rice, doesn’t carry any weight be it expensive or less and it is part of our everyday life which is essential. I think rice is more popular than some nations in the world… laughs.
Technology
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 21
Facebook bans ads for gun accessories in run-up to inauguration
The move comes as the US braces for the possibility of more violence ahead of the Jan. 20 swearing in of President-elect Joe Biden. Facebook is temporarily prohibiting ads for military gear and gun accessories in the US until after the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, the company said Saturday. "We are banning ads that promote weapon accessories and protective equipment in the US at least through January 22, out of an abundance of caution," the company said in an update to a Monday blog post about the social network's preparations leading up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe
Biden."We already prohibit ads for weapons, ammunition and weapon enhancements like silencers," the company said. "But we will now also prohibit ads for accessories such as gun safes, vests and gun holsters in the US." Facebook had shown ads for "holsters, body armor, and other military-related paraphernalia in the News Feeds of people who had engaged with content about the attempted coup at the US Capitol building earlier this month," said Buzzfeed News, which reported on the ban earlier Saturday and had reported on the gun-related ads earlier in the week. Lawmakers and Facebook employees have complained
to the social network about the ads, the news outlet said. Following the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol by followers of President Donald Trump, social networks including Facebook have faced criticism that they've failed to effectively police disinformation and violent content on their sites. And along with law enforcement and civil rights groups, the platforms are bracing for the possibility of more violence in the days leading up to the inauguration. On Friday, Facebook said that through Inauguration Day it's blocking the creation of new events on its platform that take place close to locations
including the White house, the Capitol and state capital buildings. And on Monday, Facebook said it would remove content from the main social network and Instagram that includes the phrase "stop the steal," which has been used by Trump and his supporters to push baseless claims about voter fraud. A number of people have said such claims led to the violence at the Capitol, which left several people dead, including a Capitol Police officer. CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti and Queenie Wong contributed to this report.
Technology
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 22
Apple now has a prototype foldable iPhone display
Apple has already begun developing a foldable iPhone, Bloomberg reported Friday. So far, the tech giant has only worked on a prototype display with no set plans for a launch date, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The prototype foldable screen has an invisible hinge, Bloomberg said. An Apple patent for a foldable iPhone first appeared almost a year ago, but
Apple has yet to announce any plans. Read more: Top foldable phones for 2021: Motorola Razr 2020, Galaxy Flip, Galaxy Fold 2 and more If it entered the market with a foldable phone, Apple would be competing with Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Flip, as well as the Motorola Razr and Huawei Mate XS. Back in December 2018, Google
similarly filed a patent for a foldable mobile device. For the 2021 iPhones, Apple is only planning minor changes, according to the report, but could include an in-screen fingerprint sensor. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/
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Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 24
The Nigeria Stock Market Report January 15th 2020 WEEKLY REPORT STOCK MARKET REPORT FOR JANUARY 15TH 2021 PRODUCTS EQUITY A total turnover of 3.447 billion shares worth N32.725 billion in 30,327 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 3.394 billion shares valued at N19.867 billion that exchanged hands last week in 26,808 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.714 billion shares valued at N13.352 billion traded in 15,102 deals; thus contributing 49.74% and 40.80% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Construction/Real Estate Industry followed with 768.131 million shares worth N4.203 billion in 430 deals. The third place was Conglomerates Industry, with a turnover of 279.799 million shares worth N578.694 million in 1,199 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 1.224 billion shares worth N4.459 billion in 929 deals, contributing 35.52% and 13.63% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Equity Turnover - Last 5 days Date 11-Jan-21 12-Jan-21 13-Jan-21 14-Jan-21 15-Jan-21
Deals 5,338 5,592 5,702 6,708 6,987
Turnover Volume 335,699,532 1,166,426,633 468,340,880 809,458,140 666,736,293
Turnover Value (N) 2,489,743,053 7,969,944,048 6,963,868,520 8,905,609,989 6,396,133,024
Traded Stocks 107 106 106 113 116
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Advanced Stocks 28 27 32 49 42
Page 1
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
Declined Stocks 24 20 16 7 12
Unchanged Stocks 55 59 58 57 62
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 25
WEEKLY REPORT ETPs A total of 413,509 units valued at N2.454 billion were traded this week in 42 deals compared with a total of 196,294 units valued at N816.553 million transacted last week in 38 deals. s/n
Security
Deals
Volume
Value
1
NEWGOLD
33
287,768
2,451,290,445.00
2
VETGRIF30
4
125,210
2,258,457.30
3
VETINDETF
1
500
10,310.00
4
VSPBONDETF
1
10
2,332.30
5
VETBANK
1
10
41.70
6
VETGOODS
1
10
60.70
7
STANBICETF30
1
1
90.00
TOTAL
42
413,509
2,453,561,737.00
BONDS A total of 11,420 units valued at N12.325 million were traded this week in 17 deals compared with a total of 10,051 units valued at N12.591 million transacted last week in 27 deals. s/n
Security
Deals
Volume
Value
1
FGS202141
4
4,500
4,757,620.20
2
FGS202267
4
2,567
2,576,787.91
3
FG172050S2
1
2,500
2,721,804.65
4
FGSUK2024S1
1
895
1,298,200.13
5
FGS202166
1
488
492,066.71
6
FGS202265
3
300
306,707.64
7
FGS202268
1
100
98,747.17
8
FGS202261
1
50
53,073.70
9
FGS202129
1
20
20,364.54
TOTAL
17
11,420
12,325,372.65
INDEX MOVEMENT
The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 2.63% to close the week at 41,176.14 and N21.530 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of NSE Growth which depreciated by 3.32% while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat (See summary of index movements in the table below): WEEK CLOSE 08/01/2021 The NSE All-Share Index (ASI) NSE Growth Index The NSE-Main Board Index NSE 30 Index NSE CG Index
40,120.22 991.89 1,759.03 1,641.17 1,234.73
WEEK CLOSE 15/01/2021 41,176.14 958.96 1,780.20 1,687.18 1,274.00
WEEKLY CHANGE
1,055.92 -32.93 21.17 46.01 39.27
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
WtD
2.63 -3.32 1.20 2.80 3.18 Page 2
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
MtD
QtD
% Change 2.25 -3.32 3.15 2.87 4.37
2.25 -3.32 3.15 2.87 4.37
YtD
2.25 -3.32 3.15 2.87 4.37
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 26
WEEKLY REPORT NSE Premium Index NSE Banking Index NSE Pension Index NSE Insurance Index NSE ASeM Index NSE-AFR Bank Value Index NSE AFR Div Yield Index NSE MERI Growth Index NSE MERI Value Index NSE Consumer Goods Index NSE Oil/Gas Index NSE Lotus II NSE Industrial Goods Index
3,367.12 405.64 1,413.70 207.48 729.87 1,146.54 2,123.98 1,655.89 1,911.46 588.16 255.97 2,811.50 2,005.26
3,513.43 415.91 1,464.29 243.75 729.87 1,175.73 2,209.24 1,686.47 1,998.35 606.48 274.53 2,885.98 2,062.29
146.31 10.27 50.59 36.27 0.00 29.19 85.26 30.58 86.89 18.32 18.56 74.48 57.03
4.35 2.53 3.58 17.48 0.00 2.55 4.01 1.85 4.55 3.11 7.25 2.65 2.84
1.23 5.82 5.45 28.63 0.00 5.62 9.48 1.95 7.94 5.78 21.37 1.40 0.49
1.23 5.82 5.45 28.63 0.00 5.62 9.48 1.95 7.94 5.78 21.37 1.40 0.49
SUMMARY OF PRICE CHANGES PRICGES
Sixty (60) equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than fifty (50) equities in the previous week. Nineteen (19) equities depreciated in price, lower than twenty- one (21) equities in the previous week, while eighty-two (82) equities remained unchanged, lower than ninety (90) recorded in the previous week.
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 3
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
1.23 5.82 5.45 28.63 0.00 5.62 9.48 1.95 7.94 5.78 21.37 1.40 0.49
Market Watch
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 27
WEEKLY REPORT Top 10 Price Gainers Company JAPAUL GOLD & VENTURES PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CHAMPION BREW. PLC. REGENCY ASSURANCE PLC CORONATION INSURANCE PLC ACADEMY PRESS PLC. NIGER INSURANCE PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC
Top 10 Price Decliners Company CUTIX PLC. DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC CHELLARAMS PLC. DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC JOHN HOLT PLC. NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC
Open Close 0.97 1.52 0.28 0.42 0.23 0.34 1.19 1.60 1.02 1.35 0.25 0.33 0.42 0.55 0.30 0.39 0.20 0.26 0.20 0.26
Open 2.40 0.30 2.51 0.22 0.32 0.85 2.20 0.72 0.51 2.27
Close 2.09 0.27 2.26 0.20 0.30 0.80 2.10 0.69 0.50 2.23
Gain (N) % Change 0.55 56.70 0.14 50.00 0.11 47.83 0.41 34.45 0.33 32.35 0.08 32.00 0.13 30.95 0.09 30.00 0.06 30.00 0.06 30.00
Loss (N) -0.31 -0.03 0.25 -0.02 -0.02 -0.05 -0.10 -0.03 -0.01 -0.04
% Change -12.92 -10.00 -9.96 -9.09 -6.25 -5.88 -4.55 -4.17 -1.96 -1.76
COMPANY REPORT S/NO 1. 2.
COMPANY CHELLARAMS PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC.
PERIOD IST QUARTER 2ND QUARTER
UNAUDITED UNAUDITED
YEAR JUNE SEPTEMBER
2020 2020
Please visit http://www.nse.com.ng/Issuers-section/corporate-disclosures/companyresults for full details of Financial News and other corporate disclosures
For Further Inquiries Contact: Market Operations Department
Page 4
Copyright © 2020 [The Nigerian Stock Exchange]. All Rights Reserved.
The Royals
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 28
Queen could snub Duke and pass title to unexpected rival
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: "There has been considerable speculation over the future of Harry's military links when the Sandringham Agreement with the Queen is reassessed by the end of March.
veterans and injured service people.
"Many feel that the princess would be the ideal successor to Prince Philip as Captain General Royal Marines, but the matter is yet to be decided and the posts have been kept open."
This delay was seen by a few royal commentators as an opportunity for a possible return into the royal fold of Prince Harry.
Prince Harry was given the role of Captain General by his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh in 2017. After he and Meghan announced their intention to step back as senior royals and discussed the terms of their exit in mid-January 2020, the Duke of Sussex agreed to relinquish his three military patronages to be able to pursue a more private and independent life abroad. This choice has reportedly been a painful one for the Duke of Sussex, who after serving for 10 years in the Army has dedicated much of his royal work to supporting
The Queen did not immediately fill the posts left vacant by her grandson's departure, preferring to nominate his successors only after the end of the 12-month Megxit review period.
However, the commercial deals struck by Meghan and Harry in the US mean it is unlikely the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will consider rejoining the Firm as senior royals in two-month times.Earlier this month, the Daily Express royal correspondent Richard Palmer said he does not think the Megxit review taking place in March will bring about radical changes to the agreement already in place between the Sussexes and the monarch. He wrote on Twitter: "Reporters have different takes on this but for what it's worth my understanding is there’s
little to discuss in the Megxit review due at the end of March." He added: "Harry is clearly unhappy about losing his military patronages but there’s no sign of any change on that. "His military patronages are expected to be given to other members of the family later in 2021. "Announcements are likely to be dribbled out rather than made on March 31." When he became Captain-General, 11.50am update: Kate and Prince William body language shows 'genuine emotion and grief' in covid video Kate and Prince William have appeared virtually to speak about bereavement support during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Kate and Prince William spoke about bereavement services in a video posted on the "kensingtonroyal" Instagram page.
The Royals A body language expert explained the couple are "reflective" and show "genuine emotion" at the topics they discuss. Commenting on the video, body language expert Judi James said the royals showed strong signs of "empathy". She told Express.co.uk: "William and Kate are promoting a bereavement service here that places a focus on listening to people who have lost family, friends and colleagues and their own non-verbal signals fit that theme perfectly. "The Cambridges appear to have pared back in terms of their own appearance and their own movements and body language to create a message of concern and empathy. "There is nothing ‘celebrity’ or high-status about them here, their outfits are smart but functional. "Kate has even pinned her trademark long, glossy curls back to create a much plainer and less eye-catching look, ensuring our focus is the people they are listening to rather than themselves." 11am update: Princess Eugenie due date confirmed: When will Eugenie welcome royal baby? Princess Eugenie's due date has been confirmed by a royal insider. Princess Eugenie, 30, and Jack Brooksbank are expecting their first child together. While details around royal pregnancies are usually kept under wraps, an insider has claimed their royal baby is due in "mid-February", Hello Magazine reports. The baby will be the Queen and Prince Philip's ninth great-grandchild and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's first grandchild. Last autumn Eugenie and Jack confirmed they were expecting their little one to arrive in "early 2021." However, the couple have kept quiet about details surrounding the birth since.Prince Harry was already holding two more military patronages. The Duke was appointed Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command in 2006. Two years later, he was given the title of Honorary Air Commandant in 2008.Prince Charles is to take up a new role in August in a bid to protect a form of art he deeply cares about. The Prince of Wales is to become the patron of the 300th anniversary celebrations of Grinling Gibbons, the greatest woodcarver in British history,
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 29
in August. He will cover this role only for 12 months to sponsor and support initiatives linked to this special tercentenary. 3.07pm update: Prince Edward royal titles: The Earl of Wessex's royal titles and military honours in full Prince Edward is the Queen and Prince Philip's youngest child and a full-time working royal. Like most senior members of the monarchy, the Earl of Wessex holds a number of titles and honorary military appointments - here they are in full. Prince Edward, 56, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 55, have been working members of the Royal Family since in 2002. In that time, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son has amassed a number of honorary posts on top of his royal titles and patronages.
2pm update: Prince Harry's secret confidante: Princess Eugenie and Duke 'chat privately' during Megxit Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie have remained in touch after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals and jetted off to California, an insider has claimed. Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie remain "very close" despite the physical distance separating them, a friend has said. They said: "Eugenie and Harry have always been close and they chat privately all the time." The bond between the two cousins has been laid bare by the fact that it has been the Duke of Sussex to offer Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank to move into Frogmore Cottage in late 2020, the source added.
sparked by a bombshell announcement published by Meghan and Prince Harry on their now-defunct Instagram account Sussex Royal. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex expressed their intention to "step back" as full-time working royals on January 8 2020. Just 10 days later, following an emergency summit taking place at Sandringham between Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Prince William and the monarch, the Queen and Buckingham Palace made clear which new positions would take on the Sussexes within the Royal Family. While the palace's statement was a formal announcement detailing the terms of the so-called Megxit agreement, the Queen's message was in first person and free of many of the royal formalities usually found in official statements. In her address, the monarch ditched royal titles and chose to call the Sussexes by their name in a rare move. Moreover, she spoke candidly about the Duchess of Sussex and her efforts to fit in the Royal Family. 9.40am update: Kate Middleton given £60,000 bespoke jewellery set from Prince Charles for sweet reason Kate and Prince William have been married since April 2011. For the big day, she was given a jewellery set as a gift from Prince Charles. On her wedding day, the Duchess of Cambridge walked down the aisle wearing a custom-made wedding dress created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The look was finished with the Cartier Halo tiara which was borrowed from the Queen. Kate added to her jewellery collection on her wedding day and she was given a gold wedding band made of Welsh gold.
They told Hello! magazine: "It was Harry who suggested she and Jack could use Frogmore Cottage because it is much bigger than their cottage at Kensington Palace.
To mark the occasion, she was also given a sweet wedding present from her new father-in-law, Prince Charles.
"It is a case of one family member reaching out to another."
He gifted Kate a three piece white and gold jewellery set which has been estimated to cost a staggering £60,000.
1pm update: Queen made rare royal protocol breach during Meghan Markle and Prince Harry crisis The Queen put aside royal protocol and titles one year ago today to express her feelings towards Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and their son Archie in the wake of Megxit. On this day last year, the Queen issued a rare personal statement to update the public on the crisis
The yellow and white gold set comprised of a matching bracelet, ring and earrings. Prince Charles' thoughtful gift also appeared to be custom-made and given to welcome her into the family, explained head of bespoke at 77 Diamonds Anna Byers. Speaking to Express.co.uk, she commented: "They are in an Art Deco style and seem to be custom made for Kate.
The Royals
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He added: "Harry is clearly unhappy about losing his military patronages but there’s no sign of any change on that. "Judging from the images, I estimate the value of these earrings to be £15,000 and the bracelet to be £45,000." 9am update: Sophie Wessex faced same crisis as Meghan Markle: ‘Whatever I do I can’t win’ Sophie, Countess of Wessex, found her first years as a royal just as trying as Meghan Markle, and once claimed that she just couldn't "win" with the public and the press. Sophie married the Queen’s younest son, Prince Edward, in 1999. Like Meghan, she had enjoyed a successful career prior to marriage, and both women got married in their thirties.
Sophie was in PR and communications which meant she was even less accustomed to the public glare than Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex appeared to be taken under the Queen’s wing early on when she accompanied the monarch on an engagement and travelled by the Royal Train. Similarly, Sophie has long been recognised as a “favourite” with the Queen, and was even allowed to move into Buckingham Palace long before she was engaged to Edward. It was only “after months of unrelenting criticism that Sophie came close
to a breakdown”, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward. In 2001, just two years after officially becoming a royal, she allegedly said: “Whatever I do, I just can’t win.” Sophie was humiliated after she had been secretly recorded making disparaging comments about the Government, and seeming to use her status as a means to acquire clients for her PR company. Ms Seward noted: “Her image was badly damaged and she was forced to ‘shut up shop’ and concentrate on royal duties.”
Africa
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 31
What next for Uganda’s opposition after Museveni’s disputed win?
Uganda’s longtime President Yoweri Museveni has secured a sixth term in office that will take his reign into a fourth decade following a poll his rivals say was marred by irregularities. The electoral commission said on Saturday Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, had secured 58.6 percent of the vote. Bobi Wine, the 76-year-old’s closest challenger who garnered an official 34.8 percent, said on Sunday he would contest the election results in court.
nonetheless inevitable leadership decision of urging you to desist from any form of violence as we prepare to challenge the election outcome and its glaring imperfections through the courts of law for the sake of our long-term victory and for Uganda,” Bobi Wine said in a statement posted on his party’s Twitter account.The 38-year-old musician-turned-politician, whose real name is is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was not the only opposition leader to reject the results alleging fraud.
“I … take this painful but
“It’s time to turn the page
and engage in the next stage of the struggle. We will not live like serfs in our own country,” Mugisha Muntu, candidate for the Alliance for National Transformation party, said on Twitter shortly after the announcement was made. “These results are completely fabricated,” he added. However, analysts said they did not expect a legal challenge to produce a different result – as it did not in 2016, when former opposition leader Kizza Besigye filed a petition seeking to nullify Museveni’s re-election in
that year’s polls. “It’s now four days since the military surrounded our home and placed my wife and I under house arrest,” said a Twitter update under Bobi Wine’s account on Sunday. “We have run out of food supplies and when my wife tried to pick food from the garden yesterday, she was blocked and assaulted by the soldiers staged in our compound,” it added. The Twitter account also said Francis Zaake, a prominent member of parliament who had been arrested as he attempted to visit Bobi
Africa
Wine’s house on Friday, had been admitted to hospital “badly beaten and brutalised” by security forces.The United States, meanwhile, said it was “deeply troubled” by events in Uganda, noting that voters cast their ballots in an environment of “intimidation and fear”. “We are deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls,” Morgan Ortagus, the State Department’s spokesperson, said in a statement late on Saturday. “We strongly urge independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into these reports and that those responsible be held accountable. “We condemn the continuing attacks on political candidates and urge the government to respect their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression,” Ortagus added. “Similar to Besigye, who
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 32
took the case to the court, the court will rule: ‘while there were irregularities, they were not enough to change the outcomes of the election’,” Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, a Horn of Africa analyst, told Al Jazeera. “After failing at the law court, the most predictable outcome is taking the matter to the court of public opinion. Here again, the template the security agencies used against Besigye is instructive,” Halakhe added, referring to Besigye’s repeated arrests. “The security agencies will use disproportionate force against Bobi Wine and his supporters.” The run-up to Thursday’s polls was marked by one of the bloodiest campaigns in years, with security forces violently breaking up opposition rallies citing coronavirus concerns and jailing a number of opposition figures. In November, more than 50 opposition supporters were killed over two days of demonstrations following the arrest – one of
several – of Bobi Wine. The leader of the National Unity Platform, who has a huge following among the country’s youth, had previously said he would lead peaceful protests if the poll was rigged. “Uganda has one of the world’s youngest populations. A huge percentage of this population voted for Bobi Wine,” said Halakhe. “It will be really concerning if Bobi Wine decided to take the fight to the streets.” Museveni, who dismissed the opposition’s allegations and said the poll was free and fair, warned that authorities will not tolerate any unrest. “The riots will not happen and if they [opposition] did try, they will be dealt with. Not like the other time when the police was caught by surprise,” he said. In an address to the nation on Saturday evening following the announcement of the results, the president argued that “this may turn out to be the most cheat-
ing-free election in the 58 years of Uganda’s independence” – but also promised to look into allegations that voting machines failed in several polling stations. “We are going to audit because on account of the removal of the internet there was no immediate transmission of the voting patterns from polling stations,” he said. The government ordered telecommunication companies to shut down the internet on the eve of the polls, and the blackout has remained in place. In Kampala, shortly before the results were announced, security forces poured onto the streets of the capital in large numbers. Bobi Wine’s house, meanwhile, was also under heavy security, with soldiers barring journalists and visitors from accessing the property. Officials say the security forces are there for Bobi Wine’s own security.
Africa
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 32
CAR court confirms President Faustin Touadera’s re-election
The Central African Republic’s constitutional court has confirmed President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s disputed re-election in polls last month that were marked by low turnout. The opposition had urged the court to order a rerun of the voting, saying insecurity and alleged irregularities had marred the process. Touadera “is proclaimed to be re-elected president in the first round of the December 27, 2020, elections”, Chief Judge Daniele Darlan said on Monday, validating results that gave him 53.16 percent of the vote. The court put the turnout at just 35.25 percent, a figure affected by the inability of many voters to cast their ballots. It dismissed, however, arguments that the vote lacked legitimacy. “Part of the Central African people, who are at war, were prevented by acts of terror… and despite this, the people sent a strong and clear message to those who were
Source: Aljazeera
terrorising them, to those who were telling them not to vote, and to the whole world,” Darlan said, reading from a statement. Touadera, 63, first took the presidential office in 2016.Tensions have escalated dramatically since the presidential polls, with an armed alliance opposed to Touadera’s re-election trying to invade the capital, Bangui, last week. Security forces backed by United Nations peacekeepers ultimately repelled the attack. Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from Bangui, said the threat from armed groups to invade Bangui remains. “Armed groups control about two-thirds of the territory in the country and they are positioned just a few kilometres outside Bangui,” he said. “Outside the headquarters of the ruling party led by Touadera, there are celebrations going on, but the end of the electoral process is certainly not the end of the story,” Webb
added, noting a build-up of thousands of fighters is believed to have taken place on the edges of Bangui. He added: “The armed groups just outside the capital city say they reject the government. They are very clear that their intent is to attack the city as they did last week and take over the government.” Bozize blamed for violence Former President Francois Bozize and his allies have been blamed for inciting the violence, which erupted after the constitutional court rejected his candidacy in December. A judicial investigation has been opened into the role of Bozize, who was in exile until returning to the nation in December 2019, according to the attorney general at the Bangui Court of Appeal. Bozize, who took power in a coup in 2003 and governed until 2013, faces an international arrest warrant for “crimes against humanity and incitement of
genocide”. He also faces UN sanctions for his alleged role in supporting the armed groups that resisted Seleka rebels in 2013. The mineral-rich CAR has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013 when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power from Bozize after long claiming marginalisation. Resistance to Seleka rule eventually led to Muslims being targeted en masse, with some beaten to death, mosques destroyed and tens of thousands forced from the capital in 2014. Touadera relies on help from UN peacekeeping forces and military support from Russia and Rwanda to keep the armed groups away from the areas of the country controlled by the government.
Religion
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 34
NASA Astronaut Quotes Psalm 30 after Watching Sunrise: 'Joy Cometh in the Morning'
PHOTO: GOOGLE
NASA Astronaut Quotes Psalm 30 after Watching Sunrise: 'Joy Cometh in the Morning' A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station said this week that sunrises from space remind him of a Bible verse from Psalms.Victor Glover, one of seven men and women on the space station’s Expedition 64 crew, posted two pictures on Instagram Wednesday of the sun beaming just above the earth’s horizon. “Took these photos today, I love sunrises and sunsets,” Glover wrote on Instagram and Twitter. “Can you see the bands of color? They remind me of the scripture in Psalm
30, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’ It seems darkest just before sunrise. I wish you all love and light. Goodnight from the @iss.” Glover made headlines in November when he was part of a four-person crew that launched aboard a SpaceX rocket to the space station in what was only the second manned NASA/SpaceX mission in history. He is the first black astronaut to live on the space station for an extended period. He was pilot and second-in-command on the SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience.
Glover – who was selected as an astronaut in 2013 – also made headlines for what he carried with him to space: communion cups and a Bible. He is a member of a Houston, Texas, Church of Christ congregation, where he has taught a Bible class.I will probably continue in what we’ve been doing: virtual service, virtual giving, reading my Bible and praying,” Glover told the Christian Chronicle last year about his worship time in space. Glover said the NASA mission – and the dangers that accompany it – helped him put his life in
perspective. He and his wife, Dionna, have four children. "This time has really helped me to focus on what really is most important. What do I really have to be doing right now? And I realized how important it is that I really make sure that my family is not just prepared for this mission, but is prepared for life,” he told the Christian Chronicle. “That's what a parent's job is – understanding the role of God in my life, and God's authority and my submission to that, and the love and support and encouragement that that can create in my life.”
World News
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 35
UN says nearly 60,000 have fled Central African Republic due to violence and unrest
The number of people fleeing violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has doubled to nearly 60,000 in just a week, the UN refugee agency said. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has blamed intensifying violence since a December 27 presidential vote for the sharp increase in refugees. It added that most had fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) across the Ubangi River. “The UN refugee agency is calling for the immediate end to all violence in the
Source: Aljazeera
CAR as nearly 60,000 people have been forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries since December, a twofold rise in just one week,” UNHCR spokesman Boris Cheshirkov told reporters in Geneva on Friday. He said that besides those crossing into the DRC, nearly 9,000 CAR refugees had arrived in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and the Republic of Congo in the past month, while a further 58,000 were still internally displaced. “UNHCR and partners in CAR are gathering reports
of abuses by armed groups, including of sexual violence, attacks on voters and pillaging,” Cheshirkov said. Attack near capital Landlocked CAR is one of the world’s poorest nations and has seen a string of coups and wars since it gained independence from France in 1960. On Wednesday, rebel forces in the CAR mounted their closest attack yet to Bangui – which lies on the Ubangi across from the DRC – before being pushed back with the loss of a peacekeeper, the UN said. Rebels had launched
an offensive promising to march on the capital ahead of the contested December 27 presidential election, in what the government called an attempted coup. On January 4, President Faustin Archange Touadera was declared the winner of the election, although the CAR’s political opposition cried foul. The results account for only about half of registered voters, as hundreds of thousands were unable to cast their vote in areas held by rebels.
Health & Wellness
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 37
The ugly smokes from cigarettes OLUWAROTIMI DESIRE
Ignorantly, before now, I'd always thought that there are some particular benefits that smokers enjoyed smoking. At the same time, I would wonder if it were really fun inhaling smoke almost every day if not every day without getting choked at some point. Eventually, I decided to give smoking a try myself but I couldn't lay my hands on cigarettes under the close watch of my parents and so I started smoking in a different dimension entirely. My style of smoking was to inhale smoke from the exhaust of automobiles and throughout the period of doing that, I found it fun. Sadly, I really enjoyed it but fortunately, I stopped at some point. Smoking is a habit that involves inhaling and exhaling of smoke from a burning substance. These substances are major products of plants materials which include marijuana, tobacco and a variety of other plants. The leaves of these plants are burned and the resulting smoke is delivered into the lungs. Usually, smoke from these plants materials is composed of active
elements that are also rapidly absorbed into the body during smoke inhalation. Nicotine is an active element present in tobacco smoke and it can be very poisonous when taken at very high dosages. It is the element responsible for addiction to tobacco. After the intake of nicotine, there's a release of adrenaline in the body mainly for stimulation and it further causes an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure. Tar is another element absorbed while smoking. It is a residual component retrieved mainly after combustion and its target for attack in the body are the lungs. Another active element that cannot be missed during smoke inhalation is Carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is always ever ready to compete with oxygen in the haemoglobin, the molecule in the red blood cells responsible for the transfer of oxygen in the body. Once carbon monoxide gains access to the body, it displaces oxygen in the blood thereby straining the entire body. Just before you go further reading the adverse effects
of smoking, you need to be aware that smoking is a very bad habit that does no good for your health. Smoking challenges your existence and therefore aims at killing you slowly and gradually. It accomplishes this by shortening your lifespan and so it is strongly advised to stay away from smoking totally. EFFECTS OF SMOKING. Smoking targets damaging every organ of the body but to list a few : 1. HEART. Smoking results in atherosclerosis. This is a condition whereby particles get attached to the walls of arteries making blood flow difficult. Aside atherosclerosis, the heart of a smoker is likely going to suffer health conditions such as a coronary health disease and a heart attack. 2. LUNGS. Of all body organs, the lungs are probably the most affected and this is because they are the first to come in contact with smoke instead of oxygen. Smoking results in lung conditions as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Emphyse-
ma, Pneumonia, Asthma and so on. 3. BONES. Another pitiable effect of smoking is that it weakens the bones by reducing bone density. The bones of smokers are always very weak and more brittle. This means that smokers can easily get their bones fractured and bone healing would be impaired. 4. MOUTH. The most visible effect of smoking on smokers is their stained teeth coupled with bad breath. The gum tissues get irritated by smoking and there's always a reduced sense of taste. 5. SKIN. Smoking speeds up the ageing process thereby making the skin unusually wrinkled and coarse. This happens as a result of reduced oxygen supply to the skin. Most importantly, the effects of smoking are not limited to smokers. Nonsmokers who are frequently exposed to an environment with smokers are also at the risk of suffering the same effects that smokers suffer.
Health & Wellness
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 38
Ways to boost your body metabolism CASMIRE OKEDINACHI
What does it mean To "Boost Your Metabolism" ? We are always hearing about metabolisms. We are told that if we want to lose weight, we need to keep our metabolism running high but have you ever stopped to wonder what that means? You know all the buzz words but do you know the biology behind them? If you have a fast metabolism, it means that you are quickly, and efficiently, breaking down the nutrients from the food you eat and converting them into useable energy and building materials for the body. Metabolism is made up of three main components: 1. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): This is the amount of energy needed to fuel the body’s functions while you are at rest and awake. 2. The Thermic Effect of Feeding (TEF): This determines the number of calories required to undergo the processes of eating and digesting food. 3. The Thermic Effect of Activity (TEA): This is the rate
your body burns calories when exercising or going through your daily activities. When people have slow, or sluggish, metabolisms they often find they lack energy and put on weight more easily than those with a fast metabolism. ENCOURAGEMENT: But don’t feel badly, if you are someone with a slow metabolism, you can speed it up! There are lots of things you can do to boost the process, feel healthy and energized, and even lose a few pounds! Here are some metabolism boosting tips: 1. DRINK WATER
PLENTY
OF
power walk or a little bit of yoga can wake your digestive system. This will prepare your body for your breakfast and kick start your metabolism. 3.EAT A SUNSTANTIAL BREAKFAST There are some debates about breakfast but it is probably a good idea not to skip it. You should never force feed yourself but if you are in the habit of not eating in the morning, you might consider breaking that habit. You have been fasting all night and breakfast will provide your body the energy you need to be at your best. Aim to eat a high protein, low GI breakfast that is balanced and rich in nutrients.
2.GETTING MOVING FIRST
4.BUILD UP YOUR MUSCLE The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn. Even the most basic muscles in the body require energy to function. So, the more working muscle you have, the more energy you need. Work on building your body’s lean muscle mass and you will improve the functioning of your metabolism.
Instead of going from bed to a seat at the breakfast table, try to get your body moving a little first. A 10 minute
5.IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS High intensity cardio is the best way to elevate your resting metabolic rate. Don’t be
Drinking at least 6 cups of water a day will keep your body hydrated and stimulate your metabolism. Try drinking a big glass of water first thing in the morning. It will hydrate your body and kick your metabolism into gear after having fasted all night.
afraid to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. For example, if you power walk regularly, try adding some sprints into the mix. Push yourself and you will notice the changes. 6.DRINK GREEN TEA Green tea is loaded with antioxidants but it also makes for a great metabolism booster. The caffeine in the tea helps to stimulate the metabolism, heating your body and burning calories. QUESTION: Have you taken your metabolism from sluggish to speedy? Please share your story with us! .................................. ..................................... ©Casmire K. C Okedinachi ® BodyUnder Fitness & Nutrition For all Enquiries : Call K. C ON 08186578916 Social Media Platforms Instagram :bodyunderfitnessandnutrition Facebook :bodyunderfitness&nutrition Twitter : bodyunder YouTube :BodyUnderTV Email :[email protected] ....................................
Inspiration
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 39
Walking echoes Michael Akpanebe
I AM A SINNER! I have lied, I have cheated, I have used others and I have taken credit for things that were not of my doing. I have blamed, criticized and condemned, I have gossiped, demeaned and demoralized. I have fallen, been lost, disappointed, failed, felt alone, afraid and worthless. Nevertheless, I have learned knowing fully well that I have been given the grace of others to help me see where I needed to change... CHANGE my opinions, CHANGE my thinking, and CHANGE how I made decisions and coped. So many in the world are sad. So many feel lost and alone. So many feel like complete and total failures, good for nothing and no one, unrecognizable to themselves and others. Just complete losers. If you ever feel this way, if you ever think alcohol or drugs are going to make everything better, if you ever think cutting yourself will make all the other pain go away, or swallowing an overdose and going to sleep will end the misery, please give one more moment to read this: Each of us affects the world, whether we realize it or not. We create and give birth to children that will one day walk the streets of our towns.
Those children will create and destroy in their own time. The "good mornings" we give to strangers, for that briefest moment, make them forget their problems. The unsolicited acts of kindness we display make a difference. Sure, that difference may not last for more than a couple seconds, OR it may be the thing that changes that day for that stranger. The fact that YOU are struggling, perhaps your assignment in this earthly place. Possibly your struggle will be the "example" that saves others. Or maybe your pain will be the despondency that someone else doesn't have to go through. Your diagnosis of illness may be the saving grace to someone else's health. Your failures and disappointments may be the very thing that shifts another path and teaches. All each of us can do, in our brief stay on Earth, is what we can do. We are not given the ability to see what will come in the years ahead. We are going to fail. We are going to fall. But if we can but remember that each of us does indeed matter to someone. Each of us affects someone else's life and it is, therefore, important to be here, now. And,
well, maybe that will just get us through to tomorrow, and the next day. If and when you can truly look at your life, at your decisions, at your faults and failures, and see that, by accepting them and leaving them behind instead of focusing on just how much misery you have felt and caused, then one day you will wake up to see just how many gifts there are in your life. YES!! You have truly screwed up! YES!!! You have embarrassed your family and your friends. YES!!! You have caused so much pain to others at some point. BUT, there is time to change your behaviours and your mindset, to start this moment, or tomorrow morning, to accept and move forward. Because, well we can't move backwards can we? We can't go back to 20 years ago, or 15 years ago, 5 years ago, last year, last month, or even yesterday. But we can become a better "self" going forward. Because we matter! Each of us matters. Each of us has a role to play and an effect on so many others. And our absence will have a direct bearing on what occurs in the future.
BOOK
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 40
Books everyone should read at least once in their lives The greatest books are defined as classics for a reason. Written by the greatest literary minds of their time, they have universal themes, characters, experiences, emotions and perspectives that are still relevant today.
Some of them are the very inspiration from which entire modern genres of literary fiction have sprung up from. If you love reading, here’s a perfect reading list for you. Even if you aren’t so much into reading, here’re 10 rea-
sons to love reading. Everyone should read at least once for these 30 books — some are well known classics, others are modern giants. All are well worth reading at least once in your life!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 41
Redtalk Sports Real talk, articles opinions & analysis on sports
Naomi Osaka and female players using their platform, Daniela Hantuchova talks all things tennis McLaren have confirmed driver Lando Norris has tested positive for coronavirus and is now self-isolating. The team announced the 21-year-old had lost his sense of taste and smell during a break in Dubai and a subsequent test had come back positive. "McLaren can confirm that Lando Norris tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday in Dubai, where he is currently on holiday ahead of a planned training camp," the team said. "In line with local regulations, he is
now self-isolating at his hotel for 14 days. He is currently feeling well and reports no other symptoms." Norris is the fourth F1 driver to test positive for coronavirus after seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton, Mexican Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll of Racing Point (now Aston Martin) returned positive tests last season. The Bristol-born driver finished ninth in the 2020 Formula One drivers' standings and secured his first F1 podium finish last season by finishing third in the Austrian Grand Prix in July.
Norris will have completed his isolation period before the end of the month. Pre-season testing is due to take place in Spain in early March, with the Australian Grand Prix scheduled for March 21. However, there are concerns that the season-opener could be delayed, with the race promoters, national government and F1 bosses in discussions over the matter. Source: The Sky Sports News.
Sports
TUESDAY,JANUARY 19 2021 | PG 42
Elinor Barker
Great Britain Olympic gold medal winner on importance of mental health ahead of Tokyo Games
Barker won gold for Great Britain and broke the world record in the team pursuit at Rio 2016 and is targeting further glory this summer; Welsh cyclist, 26, discusses mental health ahead of Olympics: "We never actually train our minds and spend all of our time training our matter." Elinor Barker is urging fellow athletes to put their mental health first ahead of the postponed Olympic Games and believes her gold medal in Rio four and a half years ago can prove advantageous in her preparations for Tokyo. Just six months before the rescheduled July 23 start date, doubt surrounds the Games after a one-month state of emergency was declared in the Japanese capital because of a surge in coronavirus infections and fears over a new variant. However, Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya has told Sky Sports News he is confident the first postponed Olympics will be delivered this summer. Figures show that Japan has recorded over 4,200 deaths due to the virus and around 325,000 positive cases. Barker, already an Olympic gold medallist, had her 2020 schedule disrupted because of the pan-
demic yet still managed to place first in the points race at the Track World Championships in Berlin last March. She also won three medals - golds in the elimination race and team pursuit and a bronze in the "And it hasn't meant that I'm hanging on towards the end of my career which is what so many other people who are planning for retirement have had to do, or people who have been forced to retire early. "Knowing what a Games is like has really allowed me to push on because I know 100 per cent that it is worth that extra year of graft, changed plans, and hardship that I've had before. "Making an Olympics in any year is extremely hard and trying to make it this year is that extra bit harder but I think having that memory of something to strive to has really helped a lot. "I also got my Olympics tattoo on my wrist last year on the date that the Olympics should have started so I can look at it during my training and
remember what I am doing it for." madison - at the European Track Championships in Bulgaria. The road and track cyclist is single-minded and will not allow herself to contemplate the prospect of another cancelled Games. She insists showing full commitment to her adjusted training schedule is the best coping mechanism amid the continued uncertainty. "The lows have been fairly low, the Olympic cancellation was rubbish and it's very hard not to describe it by using cliches like unprecedented," she told Sky Sports News. "Almost a year on, I'm still kind of getting over the shock. "Until a decision is actually made and finalised in my head it is on 100 per cent. And I think that is the only way mentally that I can deal with it, by still turning up to training every day and giving 100 per cent. "Because even if I had one per cent of doubt in my mind, that would impact my training and preparation which I cannot afford to happen." Barker says her mind Source: Sky Sports News.
Sports set has benefitted from achieving success on the track in 2020 during a year in which Olympic hopefuls had to cope with a lack of regular competitive action. "I only managed to race three times last year and luckily they were all quite successful races so I've got that positive feeling," she explained. "Because racing opportunities are so few and far between, having those experiences are really good psychologically to be able to hold onto given that there's such a huge gap in between races. "Equally I cannot get complacent because there aren't many races between now and Tokyo at all, to be honest. A lot of people who didn't perform at their best at the World and European Championships last year will be really raring to go."Barker won a gold medal for Great Britain in the team pursuit at Rio 2016 alongside Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald and Rowsell Shand, setting a new world record time of four minutes and 10.236 seconds in the process. She got the Olympic rings tattooed on her wrist on the day that the 2020 Games should have begun to mark four years since that impressive feat in Brazil, and Barker is using the body art as motivation for further success in the summer. On approaching Tokyo with the experience of a previous medal triumph, she said: "It's huge. I feel so unbelievably grateful that this is not my first Games, I'm hoping that it's not my last, it is kind of midway through my career. "Although this has all had quite a big effect it has not changed my experience of what an Olympics year is. Following news of the Games' postponement last March, the 26-year-old, who hails from Cardiff, used the first lockdown to train harder, covering distances
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some 80km further than she usually would on quiet roads while the "stay at home" instruction was in place across the UK. As we live under the current lockdown restrictions, Barker recalls she would typically be overseas on a winter training camp, but instead, she is braving inclement Welsh weather with her team-mates for daily five-hour stints on the bike. "Usually, we would spend a big chunk of the winter training in places like Spain so we can get a lot of hours in on the road without it being in horrible freezing weather. So it has been important to keep quite a strong unit to keep us going," she added. "Particularly today, everybody was out and looking after each other because it was one degree and raining and we were out for five hours so it can easily be quite unenjoyable if you allow it to be." "There was a nice portion of lockdown where the roads were really quiet because most people were at home. "The weather was really good and I was actually training for longer hours than I was used to. "I could get to all these places I'd never been before because I was training for about two to three hours [80km] longer than what my usual trips were, so it felt like a bit of an adventure." 'It is a worrying time for athletes' Barker is an ambassador for Sporting Minds UK, a charity that seeks to raise awareness and provide support to enable positive mental health in young sportspeople aged 16-30, and gives one-to-one help in association with Bupa Healthcare. The charity's referral rates have risen exponentially in line with the coronavirus waves and lockdowns in the UK. Prospective Olympians are
among those seeking support due to ongoing doubts surrounding the tournament this summer. Mental health among the population has been brought into focus amid the global pandemic and when it comes to athletes, Barker has urged her fellow competitors to acknowledge that their mindset is something they can nurture and manage during a time when there are so many uncontrollable factors at play ahead of the Games. Barker said: "I've previously spoken about the importance of a psychologist that I work with and how much that had brought to my performance, and potentially how much it had prolonged my career by, just by having a really good positive working relationship and the ability to plan ahead which isn't something that we're used to doing. "I'm in such a privileged position to have a psychologist on call all the time and that's not a position that many people are in whatsoever. "We [as athletes] talk a lot about mind over matter when it comes to sporting capabilities and huge feats of strength but we never actually train our minds and spend all of our time training our matter. "So I think it's really important that all athletes should have this as part of their training programmes every single week or every couple of weeks. "I would say try not to look too far ahead, especially when things seem uncertain. I think the time will pass a lot quicker when you just plan the next two weeks. "It's also a really good time to work on your weaknesses, when you're in competition or a selection phase it is really difficult to do that but at the moment when you're away from all that
pressure it is kind of the time to be bad at something for a little bit." Callum Lea, the co-founder of Sporting Minds, says curtailing of training and competitions along with the changing lockdown restrictions are being cited as chief contributors towards anxiety in the case of many competitors. He told Sky Sports News: "Earlier in 2020 during the first lockdown, we saw a real big increase in referrals, we saw a lot of athletes really starting to struggle with the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. "Referrals have kept coming in throughout last year with the second lockdown and now with the third, it's been a busy year for us. We have been able to support quite a number of athletes and those tough times which they're experiencing. "We have had Olympic athletes come through our support system and it is reassuring to know that we can support these athletes but from a wider perspective, it is a really worrying time for these Olympians. "Athletes are brilliant when they have things in their control. They are creatures of habit when they have a lot of things in their control like their diet, their training, and their recovery. "But no matter how hard you work on the aspects of your performance, when there are massive issues like the pandemic and the Tokyo Olympics being delayed, those are huge things which are completely out of the control of the athlete. "Potentially there are huge career opportunities where athletes who in a normal time would have had the opportunity but now it is just not in their control and that can cause huge anxiety issues and effects on mental health.
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WAFU B Tourney Final: Gallant Golden Eaglets Fall To Cote d’l Voire The Golden Eaglets failed in the defence of their WAFU B tournament after going down to a 3-2 defeat against Cote d’l voire in their final fixture on Monday night, reports Completesports.com. The Ivoriens took the lead in the 21st minute through Sindou Kone. Charles Likpa nearly added another goal for his side 11 minutes later but his well struck shot was saved by Destiny Emuwahem. Abdrumane Konate scored the second goal for Ivory Coast a minute before the hour mark. Substitute Seydou Traore added the third six minutes from time. Ahmed Abdullahi reduced the deficit for the Eaglets with a free-kick on the dot of 90 minutes. He scored his second of the game deep into stoppage time.
Wilfred Ndidi Real Madrid wants Wilfred Ndidi Real Madrid have been linked with a shock move for Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi. According to Spanish transfer new site Fichajes.com, the Spanish giants are looking to strengthen their holding midfield position this summer. Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, is believed to see Ndidi as the best option. Brazilian Casemiro, who has been a stalwart across recent years, is in danger of being replaced, according to the report. Los Blancos’ search for a holding midfielder has led them to two players, Ndidi as well as Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga being considered. Ndidi, who has been pivotal to Leicester’s fine form so far this season, is said to be Zidane’s favourite option. But he is tied down at the King Power Stadium until 2024 having only penned a new contract in 2018. Ndidi is still only 23 years of age and the Premier League side will be desperate to keep hold of him as they fight for Champions League qualification.
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Ajayi Sets Sights On More Goalscoring Success At West Brom “My job as a defender is to stop goals going in, but if I can chip in at the other end too then that can only help the team. “It was really nice to get my first Premier League goal a couple of weeks ago at Anfield. “It was definitely something I’ve been wanting to add to my game this year. “I knew that I had to chip in with goals, and up until recently I hadn’t managed to do that.
Semi Ajayi has his sights set on continuing his hot streak in front of goal having scored in all of Albion’s last three away games. The towering defender was on target in Saturday’s derby victory over Wolves at Molineux, having also found the net in the Premier League draw at Anfield and against Blackpool in the Emirates FA Cup. Semi is no stranger to scoring goals. The 27-year-old has bagged eight in 63 appearances for the Baggies since joining from Rotherham United in July 2019, where he netted 14 times in two-and-a-half seasons. And Ajayi wants to keep chipping in with-
crucial strikes to help his side mount a charge up the table and out of the danger zone. “It was such a great feeling to score in a derby,” he told the club website. “You could see from my celebration how much I enjoyed it. “We knew how much that game meant to the supporters and it was fantastic to reward them with three big points.“I’m loving the fact I’m scoring goals at the moment. I’ve scored in my last three games away from home and I want to keep scoring.
“Hopefully I can add a few more before the end of the season to help the team pick up points.” Ajayi and Albion head to West Ham on Tuesday evening looking to build on Saturday’s success at Molineux. Semi is targeting another positive performance at the London Stadium in what will be the Baggies’ second away game in four days. “We’ll analyse their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the game and we’ll go into it with a positive attitude, just like we did against Wolves. “We’re hungry to pick up another three points after winning at Wolves, but we know we will have to be on our game because West Ham are a good side and they have some very good players. “It’s a chance for us to keep building momentum and that could be crucial for us.”
NPFL: Enyimba Beat Pillars In Aba; Rangers Hold MFM Enyimba beat Kano 2-1 Pillars in a Nigeria Professional Football League matchday five encounter in Aba on Sunday, reports Completesports.com. Anayo Iwuala opened scoring for Enyimba In the 21st minute. Gabriel Orok scored the second goal for Enyimba seven minutes from time following a through ball from Dayo Ojo. Fahad Usman reduced the deficit for Pillars four minutes from time curling home a brilliant free kick. In Port Harcourt, Rivers United returned to winning ways following a 3-1 win against Heart-
land. Godwin Aguda, Kazie Enyinanya and Malachi Ohawume were on target for Rivers United in the game. Shedrack Oghali scored Heartland’s consolation goal 12 minutes from time. At the Agege Stadium MFM held former champions Rangers to a 1-1 draw. Ugochukwu Ugwuoke put Rangers ahead in the 23rd minute, while Muyiwa Balogun equalised for MFM six minutes later. Lobi Stars ended Dakkada unbeaten run inflicting a 2-1
defeat on the Uyo club in Makurdi. Samuel Mathias scored the curtain
raiser for Lobi on 15 minutes, while Christian Ekong equalised for the visitors in the 70th minute. Austine Ogunye netted the winner for the hosts from the
spot on 90 minutes. Abia Warriors picked their first point of the season after they were held to a 1-1 draw in Nnewi by FC IfeanyiUbah. Christian Samuel put Abia Warriors ahead in the 19th minute, with Christian Molokwu equalising for FC IfeanyiUbah 16 minutes from time. Also on Sunday, Plateau United recorded their second win of the campaign thrashing Adamawa United
3-0. Innocent Kingsley bagged a brace, while Amos Gyan scored the other goal. FULL RESULTS Nasarawa Utd 1-0 Katsina Utd Plateau Utd 3-0 Adamawa Utd Enyimba 2-1 Kano Pillars Rivers Utd 2-1 Heartland Jigawa GS 0-0 Kwara United FC Ifeanyiubah 1-1 Abia Warriors MFM 1-1 Rangers Lobi 2-1 Dakkada FC Sunshine Stars 1-0 Wolves
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KEN NWADIOGBU "Ken Nwadiogbu believes that the advancement of reasoning which by extension is change, is mostly dependent on the ability to grasp consciousness. As such, one underlining factor of his artistry is to stimulate the viewer into being in his shoes whilst they interact with his work. He employs familiar motifs and imageries to ease them into this space.
An ideal Nwadiogbu piece constitutes a silhouette of a form, mostly human, which he embeds an eye or parts/whole of a face into— his ultimate pronouncement on the theme of creating consciousness to what represents our collective reality through art." - Kennii Ekundayo, 2020
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When faith fails Faith Kehinde
what faith means beyond believing. People often have different views on what faith is. But more often than not, people resolve the application of faith when they want the impossible to happen or when they are in urgent need of something. While this may not be totally wrong, it is not healthy. This is because it causes what is known as “victims of faith”. People become victims of faith because they do not obey, they just believe in their head. Forgetting to ask what God says about it. Looking at the life of the father of faith; Abraham. It was his obedience that made his faith count differently. If people can get this clearly, that the faith that works must be one in alignment with God. This understanding will make our faith work. And should our expectations be cut short, we will know that it’s definitely not the will of God for us at that time.
This subject matter is not just for Christians, it cuts across religion, race and culture. Faith is believing or trusting that something will happen either based on promise or personal expectation. It is a serious matter to hope for things and never get to see it done. I mean it’s one of the most disheartening things that can happen to anyone. A good number of people have low or zero strength for disappointment, hence it tells adversely on their health when their Faith is being flushed down like a waste in the toilet. Bringing this to Christianity, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen“, Hebrews 11:6. This is the most commonly used verse when it comes
to faith talk. Going through life and seeing people end up depressed because at a point they feel God was dead. They believe the lie that God doesn’t hear and neither is He ready to help. Thus, they crawl back to their shell screaming Hebrews 11 was total nonsense. Well, I would have thought so too if I didn’t have a better understanding. It’s not news that “Faith fails”. Maybe I should say, what we call “faith” fails. When it does fail, we do not need to turn our back against the God who made us. We do not need to begin to do things that will make Him distant. The point when faith fails is the time we need to sit and ask the “why” and “how” it failed. To answer that, we might have to precisely establish
The world is noisy with many unimaginable things happening. So, it’s a great thing to trust God for every phase as we daily breathe. Nonetheless, we should feed ourselves with the word of God as well as open our spirit to hear from him. Only by this can we be sure we are actually exercising faith. A faith that will work must be because God approves of it. Having understood this, I will mention that even faith in alignment with God sometimes fails. So when it does, what do we do? Firstly, relax, stay sane and healthy. Don’t start overreacting. Maintain your peace by putting yourself together. Everything is meant to work together for our favour even “when faith fails”. After that, you might want to ask God why? Contrary to popular opinion, there is nothing bad in asking God why? He is our God and Father, in Him is foresight and wisdom, if you do not ask Him, who will you ask? I strongly believe this will help any and every time your faith fail.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
“The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.”