Almost nowhere on earth is football followed as passionately as in Africa. It is loved by Africans from all walks of life across the continent. This week, I am giving the opening address at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Accra, Ghana. This has afforded me a good opportunity to reflect on Africa’s relationship with football and how it can help deliver a brighter future for our young people.
I believe we need only look to the Liberian presidential election for a fine example of the transformative power of football. Against the odds, football legend and opposition candidate, George Weah was victorious and today, is President-elect of Liberia, one of Africa’s most popular countries. Weah’s perseverance in the face of an initial unsuccessful attempt is a testament to the endurance football teaches.
Before he was a Presidential candidate, of course, Mr. Weah was an outstanding footballer whose career spanned great clubs like Paris Saint Germain, Marseille, Monaco and even English Premiership giants like Chelsea and Manchester City.
A striker of fearsome reputation, Weah has been described as the greatest footballer to emerge from Africa, confirmed in 1995 when he won both FIFA Footballer of the Year and the highly valued Ballon d’Or. Over a three year period, in 1989, 1995 and 1996, he claimed the top prize of African Footballer of the year, crowning that in 1996 with the African Footballer of the Century award.
The power of a footballer entering frontline politics cannot be overstated, for two reasons. First, it shows that politics is accessible to all, to the ambitious individual who dares envisage a way he or she can contribute to their country’s future. Second, it makes politics interesting and relevant to young people. If our continent is ever to reach its full potential, then it is our young people who are going to deliver it.
Africa’s youth are already shaping today and redefining tomorrow with their creativity, passion and innovation. I believe that the greatest gift that our generation can give them is to continue to provide platforms for aspiration, recognition and inspiration. But the idea of ‘opportunity’ or of ‘potential’ can be an abstract enough concept to adults never mind the younger generation, many of whom have been overlooked by the decisions of governments not to allow funds raised from investment to trickle down into stronger education systems, apprenticeships and advancement.
In football, the notion of opportunity is far from abstract. Football has always been a unifying factor and a great tool for promoting integration and development. But more than that, it is a global currency, a language spoken in the United Kingdom as much as in Brazil, China and Nigeria. And in football we see, most tangibly, the bold young role models and ambassadors of Africa who are inspiring others and have set the pace in their pursuit of excellence.
Of course, we must be careful not to set false expectations. Football is affected by the same attrition rate that applies to other sports in that very many are called but few ultimately make the dizzy heights that many dream of. President Barack Obama pointed out that youth in the United States may have good role models for economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in the music industry, but that it was unlikely that each child would grow up ‘to be the next Lil Wayne’, so children must also work hard in school. The same can be said of football: not all of our children will grow up to be the next George Weah, Abedi Pele, Dider Drogba or Jay Jay Okocha, but these role models still offer young people a concrete example of the hard work that goes into the pursuit of excellence.
The example of football goes far beyond the 22 men or women who stand on the pitch for 90 minutes each week. I know this because I have seen the extraordinary depth of support services that go into creating the finished product of a football match, and the transformative role they play when properly looked after.
Over the last year, Aiteo has been supporting sports development in Nigeria, leading a partnership agreement with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to provide financial Support to the technical team of Nigeria’s national team for the next five years. In the months since, Nigeria has won more games than they have lost and has qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Aiteo has also made significant contributions towards developing the local football by underwriting the costs associated with organising the Federation Cup, Nigeria’s equivalent of the English FA Cup, helping smaller teams grow and improve on the national stage.
With coaching roles, training roles, marketing, advertising, commercial partnerships and merchandising roles all part of the infrastructure of a newly-global Nigerian football team, no child need only grow up to be the next Alex Iwobi if they are to benefit from the transformative power of football. If a footballer can become the head of a nation, they why not a football coach, a medic or a marketing executive?
So, when I stand on the stage this week to open the CAF Awards, the winners will be very clear to me before the awards have even been handed out: the true winners will be every young person who sees that event; sees that the eyes of the world are on Africa and that a future for each one of them exists in which they can go beyond their school, their hobbies, their parents, and truly embrace their potential. Because the way we conceive the future sculpts the present.
LOLADEVILLE BLOG EXCLUSIVE: 17 MOVIES THAT CAUGHT OUR EYES AT NIGERIAN CINEMAS IN 2017
Hi guys, it’s that time of the year again. Our annual list is out and we really can’t keep calm at the moment. We took a break from football and did something different this year. We focused on movies. Movies that had us scampering to the cinemas, that received critical acclaim and that won’t just leave our lips because everything about them; casting, cinematography, story-line are just too lit. This year’s exclusive list was compiled and written by my wonderful friend and blog contributor, Jerry Chiemeke. Jerry is a lawyer, movie critic and so much more. You can check some of his reviews here, here and here
This year’s article is titled: 17 Nigerian movies that caught our eyes at the Nigerian cinemas in 2017. Enjoy!
The past few years in this decade have witnessed a shift in the direction of movie-making and film distribution in Nigeria. The cinema culture witnessed a revival, locations became more diverse, and a marked difference in the quality of cameras was noticed. New actors came up too, and in time, a demarcation of sorts between the low budget, Asaba side of things (“old Nollywood”) and the glossy, elite side of town (“new Nollywood”) with fresh faces and new equipment.
However, while cinematography and sound went up a notch, the movies in general were still lacking in watchability. The scripts were watery, the transition in scenes left much to be desired, and the role interpretation by the “new” actors was cringeworthy, with few exceptions like “October 1st” and “Phone Swap”. Time and again, cinema goers asked for refunds of their ticket, and for a moment, the old guard hanging around Idumota and Alaba had cause to mock and sneer.
All that began to change two years ago, with a marked improvement in screenplay (“76”, “Surulere”, “A Soldier’s Story”), and the year 2017 saw many screenwriters and directors come with their A-game. Movie critics and cynics had less to complain about, and cinema tickets sold out on some occasions (a movie reviewer once had to show up on a later date to see “My Wife And I” as Silverbird Cinemas Ikeja had run out of tickets on the day). It is not yet Uhuru for Nollywood, and indeed there is still a long way to go, but progress cannot be ignored.
This year treated us to the awesome, the average and the downright forgettable when it comes to cinematic Nollywood. We took notes, and so, in ascending order, here is a compilation of the 17 movies that appealed to us the most, beginning with:
Honourable Mention:
Mentally (Frank Donga, Toyin Abraham. Chris Okagbue, Erick Didie): A young man ditches his village for the busy streets of Lagos on his friend’s invitation. He gets a peculiar welcome from pickpockets and motor park preachers, and when he caves in to peer pressure and smokes marijuana, gets transported to an alternate universe. Could have been better delivered, but the message was clear enough.
And now, the countdown proper.
17. Okafor’s Law (Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu): A movie based on the unwritten law of “perennial access” to a lady once shagged. Involved some pre-release controversy with screenwriter Jude Idada as to intellectual property rights, leading to a postponement of its premiere date. Full marks for attempt, but not much by way of inspiration.
16. Ten Days In Sun City (AY Makun, Adesua Etomi, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Miguel Nunez Jr., Thenjiwe Moseley): The third installment in the “Adventures Of Akpos” franchise. In this one, Akpos’ girlfriend wins the Queen of Nigeria beauty pageant and earns a 10-day vacation in Sun City, South Africa. While there, he is approached by a business mogul to let go of her, with a tempting offer of an international passports and millions of dollars, ultimately putting his integrity to task. Better than its predecessor “A Trip To Jamaica”, but as usual, creating divided opinion as to AY’s comic credentials.
15. Banana Island Ghost (Chioma “Chigurl” Omeruah, Patrick Diabuah, Bimbo Manuel, Ali Nuhu): A plus-size lady is in danger of losing her house, no thanks to her late father’s default in mortgage payment. She has a few days to raise 18 million dollars, and has to form an unlikely partnership with a dead man whose ghost is given three days by God to find love before he can enter Heaven. Mildly funny, and a great soundtrack too, but fails to live up to the hype.
14. Hakkunde (Frank Donga, Toyin Abraham, Rahmat Sadau, Ali Nuhu): A movie about an educated man who sinks into frustration after a futile search for a white-collar job. He eventually finds himself teaching in a remote village, where he has to adapt to the culture and is intrigued by their way of life. Entertainment value is debatable, but highly educative nonetheless.
13. Alter Ego (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wale Ojo): A film about a lawyer who fights to bring sex offenders to justice by all means possible, even if it involves becoming a sultry seductress after office hours. A tad sexually explicit, and while the movie teases, whether it is ultimately pleasing is anyone’s guess.
12. Roti (Kunle Afolayan, Kate Henshaw): A woman finding it hard to come to terms with the death of her son runs into a boy who bears a striking resemblance to the deceased. She becomes obsessed with the child, causing her husband to question her sanity. Not a perfect story by a long shot, but a reminder that the director of “The Figurine” has still got it.
11. The Women (Ufuoma McDermott, Katherine Obiang, Omoni Oboli, Kate Henshaw, Toni Monjaro, Kalu Ikeagwu): A movie that would appeal to fans of the series “Lekki Wives”. A woman, in a bid to impress, borrows money to celebrate her “40th” birthday. She invites her three closest female friends and their husbands, all of whom have secrets to hide. Genuinely funny, relatable too, but missed the chance to highlight salient social issues.
10. The Tribunal (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Norbert Young, Funsho Adeolu, Damilola Odunsi): A young lawyer seeking justice after feeling hard done by with his dismissal from a top law firm drags his employers to a tribunal. Some real-life lawyers would feel that more research should have been done, but it is hard to fault the delivery of the actors.
9. My Wife And I (Ramsey Nouah, Omoni Oboli, Sambasa Nzeribe, Jemima Osunde): A constantly fighting couple on the verge of divorce take one last shot at salvaging their marriage by visiting a pastor. They wake up the following day, much to their horror, in each other’s bodies. They have to keep this strange development a secret and adapt to their new gender. Not an original plot if you watch Hollywood chick flicks, but lovable to watch.
8. The Wedding Party 2 (Banky Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Enyinna Nwigwe, Daniella Down, Ireti Doyle, Richard Mofe-Damijo): Continues from where the first installment left off. Nonso “accidentally” proposes to Deardre, who agrees. They are both unsure, but go on with the wedding plans, involving each other’s families. Glossy, and by all means a commercial success, but falls short of the standards set by its predecessor.
7. Picture Perfect (Bisola Aiyeola, Bolanle Ninalowo, Mary Remmy Njoku): A fashion designer finds herself in a precarious situation when her car breaks down in an unsafe part of town. She is rescued from area boys by a man whom she subsequently keeps running into. Unpredictable, with top notch role interpretation too.
6. Catcher (OC Ukeje, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Tope Tedela, Alex Ekubo, Beverly Naya): A career woman is found murdered in cold blood on her wedding anniversary. The investigation widens and a number of people, including her husband and her colleagues, are roped in as suspects. Fluctuating in pace, but totally fun to watch, with the mystery being the real catch.5
5. The Bridge (Zack Orji, Chidinma Ekile, Kunle Afolayan, Tina Mba, Ken Erics): A story based on tribal differences, diverse cultural backgrounds, love and determination. Looks cliché from the start, but blossoms into a powerful watch. Emotion is palpable in this one.
4. In Line (Uzo Arukwe, Adesua Etomi, Chris Attoh, Sika Osei): A man is sentenced to prison for murdering his father, but is freed after six years thanks to his mother’s influence. His wife still has reservations about the violent conduct which he exhibited prior to his imprisonment, and this causes friction between them. A plot involving lots of scheming, lies and power play. Non-cliché, and while it struggles for pace at the mid-point, it ends pretty well.
3. Body Language (Ramsey Nouah, Tana Adelana, Ken Erics): A serial killer who targets ladies puts the city on alert. A corporate executive who works as a stripper at night, is particularly anxious after her colleague in her “side job” is murdered. One of her favourite clients at the strip club is a man obsessed with watching birds, who turns out to be the CEO of a firm her daytime employers had earlier pitched to. Great chemistry between the lead characters, and steamy too, with an unexpected twist at the end.
2. Isoken (Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Mark Rhys, Tina Mba, Funke Akindele, Patrick Doyle): An artsy, successful lady in her thirties is continually hassled by her mother for being single. She soon runs into a man who seems to be Mr. Perfect, but she finds herself in a dilemma when she develops fondness for an Englishman on contract at her workplace. Strong feminist agenda here, and a somewhat improbable conclusion, but a stellar performance by the cast and crew.
- Potato Potahto (OC Ukeje, Jocelyn Dumas, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Lala Akindoju, Joke Silva, Chris Attoh): A couple fall apart, but neither of them is willing to move out of the apartment. They decide to devise an arrangement, each restricted to certain parts of the house, from the kitchen to the parking lot. They try to outdo each other in inflicting misery and stirring jealousy. The movie explores the depths of human pettiness, the imperfections that make us who we are, and the concept of compatibility. Laden with wit, humour and consistency in sequence of events, this film is worth the popcorn and drinks, even where it drags too long. Its conclusion is open-ended in an amazing way too.
There you have it, our top indigenous films of 2017! Here’s to more eye-catching movies in 2018, and here’s hoping that you promote local content by going to see Nollywood movies in cinemas. Not every time Star Wars and Justice League, sometimes Wives On Strike and Wedding Party.
Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book Here
You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com
Movie Review: Wedding Party 2 | By: Jerry Chiemeke
Movie Title: The Wedding Party 2
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year Of Release: 2017
Cast: Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Enyinna Nwigwe, Daniella Down, Frank Donga, Ikechukwu Onunuka, Zainab Balogun, Richard Mofe Damijo, Ireti Doyle, Ali Baba, Sola Sobowale, Patience Ozokwor
Special Appearances: AY Makun, Funny Bone, Chigurl, Seyi Law, Wofai Fada
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
“The Wedding Party 2” continues from where the first installment left off; Dozie (Wellington) and Dunni (Etomi) are happily married, while Nonso Onwuka (Nwigwe) and Deardre Winston (Down) are now an item. On a date at a fancy restaurant in Dubai, Nonso sees a lady turning her partner down, even after an expensive ring and a “will you marry me?” banner in an aquarium. He bends to pick the ring, and Deardre, thinking that he is proposing, says yes in excitement. Nonso is confused, but unwilling to ruin Deardre’s moment, plays along.
Deardre’s parents, always quick to claim royal heritage, are not comfortable with the idea of having Nigerians as in-laws, but they relent and head off to Nigeria to visit Felix Onwuka (Mofe-Damijo) and his wife Uju (Doyle). What follows is a series of events which put the love between Deardre and Nonso to the test.
Also Read: Movie Review: Mentally
One thing which this movie has going for it is its glossy nature. The cinematography is top notch, the sound is of premium quality, and relevant brands are on display too. “The Wedding Party 2” comes with the aura of a film for which a lot of work was done with respect to production, and the inter-cut between Lagos and Dubai boasts of tourism potential. The movie itself sheds light on the concept of exorbitant bride price, tradition and gender roles, with not-so-subtle hints at racial tensions and national pride.
Also Read: Movie Review: My Wife And I
Daniella Down and Enyinna Nwigwe put up decent individual performances, and Down in particular is adorable, but both fail to replicate the chemistry that existed between Wellington and Etomi in the first film. Ireti Doyle nails the role of ice queen, Mofe-Damijo is not the most charismatic family head, and Sobowale’s role interpretation is of a more serious, “motherly” tone. Frank Donga weighs in with the facial expressions, and Zainab Balogun’s performance as Wonu is one of the bright spots in this film. Ikechukwu and Ali Baba do not find too much room to shine, and Patience Ozokwor, in trying to play the role of “mean village aunt”, appeared a tad rusty here.
Also Read: Movie Review: The Women
“The Wedding Party 2”, for all the anticipation that preceded its release, is pretty much all over the place, with patchy performances and the good moments being few and far between. The humour seemed forced and of a try-too-hard variety at certain points, and taking into consideration the high standards set by its predecessor, the movie is significantly disappointing. If you laughed out loud last year, you would only manage a few giggles here. If you held your chest in admiration twelve months ago, you would find yourself barely shrugging here, and if “The Wedding Party” was an enjoyable ride, its sequel was a forgettable flight, only stopping short of crashing spectacularly…and oh, the “dramatic event pops up so the wedding drags until NIGHT” reared its head again. Sure enough, it is by no means the worst movie that made it to Nigerian cinemas this year, but those who loved Banky and Adesua last time out will feel hard done by with this one.
The final scenes of the movie are predictable, but beyond that, they hint at a third installment, with the sudden bond created between Shola (Ikechukwu) and Yemisi (Somtokelechi). The crew has had a good run, but if they intend to birth Wedding Party 3, they should not let that water break, they have to abort it. Good PR and glossy scenes cannot cancel out sub-par acting, and for the love of all things good and fair, the franchise has to stop here.
Rating: 5.8/10
Also Read: Movie Review: Mentally
One thing which this movie has going for it is its glossy nature. The cinematography is top notch, the sound is of premium quality, and relevant brands are on display too. “The Wedding Party 2” comes with the aura of a film for which a lot of work was done with respect to production, and the inter-cut between Lagos and Dubai boasts of tourism potential. The movie itself sheds light on the concept of exorbitant bride price, tradition and gender roles, with not-so-subtle hints at racial tensions and national pride.
Also Read: Movie Review: My Wife And I
Daniella Down and Enyinna Nwigwe put up decent individual performances, and Down in particular is adorable, but both fail to replicate the chemistry that existed between Wellington and Etomi in the first film. Ireti Doyle nails the role of ice queen, Mofe-Damijo is not the most charismatic family head, and Sobowale’s role interpretation is of a more serious, “motherly” tone. Frank Donga weighs in with the facial expressions, and Zainab Balogun’s performance as Wonu is one of the bright spots in this film. Ikechukwu and Ali Baba do not find too much room to shine, and Patience Ozokwor, in trying to play the role of “mean village aunt”, appeared a tad rusty here.
Also Read: Movie Review: The Women
“The Wedding Party 2”, for all the anticipation that preceded its release, is pretty much all over the place, with patchy performances and the good moments being few and far between. The humour seemed forced and of a try-too-hard variety at certain points, and taking into consideration the high standards set by its predecessor, the movie is significantly disappointing. If you laughed out loud last year, you would only manage a few giggles here. If you held your chest in admiration twelve months ago, you would find yourself barely shrugging here, and if “The Wedding Party” was an enjoyable ride, its sequel was a forgettable flight, only stopping short of crashing spectacularly…and oh, the “dramatic event pops up so the wedding drags until NIGHT” reared its head again. Sure enough, it is by no means the worst movie that made it to Nigerian cinemas this year, but those who loved Banky and Adesua last time out will feel hard done by with this one.
The final scenes of the movie are predictable, but beyond that, they hint at a third installment, with the sudden bond created between Shola (Ikechukwu) and Yemisi (Somtokelechi). The crew has had a good run, but if they intend to birth Wedding Party 3, they should not let that water break, they have to abort it. Good PR and glossy scenes cannot cancel out sub-par acting, and for the love of all things good and fair, the franchise has to stop here.
Rating: 5.8/10
Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book here
You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com
George Weah elected Liberia's 25th President
Former AC Milan talisman,George Weah has been elected as President-elect of Liberia, West Africa Liberia’s 25th President. The 51-year-old replaces Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Weah won thirteen out of fifteen counties while his 73-year-old opponent and current vice president, Joseph Boakai got only two counties.
Weah who is the only African to win the Ballon d’Or award was the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year
“I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season,” Weah said on Twitter.
He laced his boots for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City and Marseille.
Manchester City's Yaya Toure comes out of international retirement
Cote d’Ivoire’s midfielder Yaya Toure has come out of international retirement.
The Manchester United midfielder who has not played for Ivory Coast since AFCON 2015 final has decided to return to Ivory Coast national team to win another trophy with the Elephants. The 34-year-old, who has over 100 caps for his country, announced his decision via Twitter on Tuesday.
Toure tweeted: “I love my country and I am free for the national selection. I want to help the next generation and use all my experience so that all Ivorians are proud!”
Toure who has made made three Premier League appearances and eight in total after signing a one-year contract extension in the summer will remain at Man City.“He will 100 per cent stay at City in January. He wants to be a three-time champion of the Premier League, but he is also enjoying using his experience to help the young players at the club.” His agent Dimitri Seluk told Sky Sports News.”
Ivory Coast failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, their next opportunity is the 2019 African Nations Cup. The next round of qualifiers for that tournament is in March.
Galatasaray offer embattled ex-Arsenal star, Eboue assistant coaching role.
Did you read the disheartening riches-to-rags tale of former Arsenal star, Emmanuel Eboue?
48 hours ago, Daily Mirror told the story of how he contemplated suicide after losing everything to divorce. The Ivorian who earned millions of pounds in wages during an illustrious seven-year career in the Premier League now hides from bailiffs, sometimes sleeps on the floor of a friend’s home, travels by bus and even cleans his clothes by hand because he has no washing machine.
“I want God to help me,” he says. “Only he can help take these thoughts from my mind. Only he can help take these thoughts from my mind,” Eboue added.
The Ivorian lost his grandfather, Amadou Bertin — who raised him before being diagnosed with cancer and his brother N’Dri Serge — who was killed in a motorbike accident all in 2016. He has also faced divorce from his wife Aurelie — who will be awarded all of their assets.
The defender who made 79 appearances for Ivory Coast said admitted he cannot afford a lawyer anymore and he stays scared and keeps himself away from meeting people.
“I am in the house but I am scared. Because I don’t know what time the police will come. Sometimes I shut off the lights because I don’t want people to know that I am inside. I put everything behind the door. My own house. I suffered to buy my house but I am now scared.”
“I am not going to sell my clothes or sell what I have. I will fight until the end because it is not fair.”
Eboue would have returned to Premier League (Sunderland) last year, unfortunately he was hit with a 12 month FIFA ban after a dispute with his former agent and that shattered the dream. He said he didn’t receive guidance to manage his finances and he is paying dearly for being “naive” with money. And he now wants other young African footballers to learn from his mistakes.
He says: “I look back and say ‘Emmanuel, you have been naive… why didn’t you think about that before?’ It is hard. Very, very hard. The money I earned, I sent it to my wife for our children. In Turkey I earned eight million euros. I sent seven million back home. Whatever she tells me to sign, I sign. She is my wife. The problems with FIFA were because of people advising me. People who are supposed to care. But it was because of them FIFA banned me.”
With his assets transferred to his ex wife, he now has an Oyster card and relies on London transport and trying hard to hide from the public. He spends his time between the Enfield house and the home of a confidante he calls his “sister” – Yasmin Razak. “I call her house The Bunker. I can hide there. She has children. I don’t want to disturb them, so I sleep on the floor.”
He said seeing friends like former team-mate Thierry Henry, a football pundit on TV triggers negative thoughts makes him, “ashamed of my own situation. “When I see friends on TV that I played with or against I say to myself ‘I should still be there’. It’s hard to watch them.”
It hurts deeply that he will not be spending Christmas with his kids daughters Clara, 14, and Maeva, 12, and son Mathis, nine. “It hurts me a lot. They used to call me. But now, no contact. It pains me to be alone without them.”
“Every day I wash my jeans, my clothes, everything. My hands are hard. As though I have been working on a farm. I thank my grandmother because she taught me to wash, cook, clean, everything as a young man. I continue to thank God. I have my life. I didn’t want what has happened. I don’t wish it on anybody.”
Eboue would relish the opportunity to work with former club Arsenal or players’ union the PFA.
He says: “I would accept help from anywhere but if my previous club wants to help me then I would be very, very happy. Maybe I could help the young players? The PFA helped me when I had my problems with my agent. If they gave me a job, even if it wasn’t a big, big job. Maybe I’d see some of the people I played with or against and I’d feel embarrassed. But I would cope.”
Update on his situation
Galatasaray boss Terim, who was moved after reading the shocking story of the former Ivory Coast full-back has been offered an assistant coaching role of their U-14 team at the Turkish club. He will remain at the Florya facilities provided by the club and will be a salaried employee.
Seasons Greetings Fam!
Seasons Greetings family!
Been a while i wrote a personal note. Trust the year has been great. For me, it’s been a mixed bag but we’ll always look on the bright side of life.
Trust you and your loved ones are having a pleasant time.
I know the fuel scarcity and power outage in Nigeria has affected us in ways we cannot describe and many are totally disappointed in the government but we keep fighting.
I say a huge Thank You to all my contributors; Tony Ogunlowo, Jerry Chiemeke, Tope Ijaola, Wale Adiguna and Michael.
And to you my readers, thanks for dropping by despite by inconsistencies. I promise to bring more valuable contents next year. The year has really been a roller-coaster. And if you are interested in publishing your articles on the blog, kindly reach me via email: [email protected]
May the New Year bring fresh starts, new opportunities, success and many achievements! May new doors be opened, may your health never fail, may you enjoy the fruits of your labour and experience peace all round.
Happy Holidays and have a fruitful 2018.
Ololade Olatunji
Managing Editor,
loladeville.com.ng
REPORT: Top five business risks for West Africa in 2018
As Nigeria exits the recession of 2017, investor sentiment across West Africa is likely to experience uplift in 2018. Still, political uncertainty ahead of Nigeria’s 2019 presidential elections and on-going security concerns are among the key risks for businesses operating in the region, says specialist global risk consultancy Control Risks in their annual political and security risk forecast ‘RiskMap’.
“2017 has been a tough and turbulent year for businesses in the region, however with Nigeria exiting recession, and foreign exchange shortages easing, we see a strong improvement in investor sentiment emerging. Another major engine of growth will be Cote d’Ivoire, where economic expansion is projected at around 7% next year. There will be only a handful of elections in the region in 2018, meaning continuity will largely prevail with policy decisions having the biggest impact on the business environment.”
“In Nigeria however, although presidential elections are next slated for 2019, campaigning has already started. The uncertainty that generates, as well as the need for cash that an election brings, mean that political instability and regulators whose actions will be difficult to predict remain among our top risks for businesses in the year ahead.” Control Risks’ Senior Partner for West Africa Tom Griffin opines.
Control Risks has identified the following as the key risks facing businesses in West Africa in 2018:
- Terrorism and militancy: Business assets and personnel in West Africa will remain vulnerable to attacks by transnational or domestic militant groups. In particular, al-Qaeda and its affiliates will continue to pose a threat to operators in the Sahel, while the oil and gas industry in Nigeria’s Niger Delta will remain exposed to attacks by domestic militant groups. Failure to resolve the underlying political and socio-economic grievances at the root of these movements will see the threat persist in 2018.
- Irregular regulators: As countries in the region, notably commodity-dependent economies, face growing fiscal pressures, operators are likely to see regulatory bodies increasingly act as revenue-generating bodies, strengthening local content provisions, introducing stricter fiscal terms, reviewing contracts or erratically imposing fines in companies in the hope of boosting state finances. This will periodically give rise to commercial disputes, legal challenges, and the need for businesses to engage with government stakeholders.
- Political instability: Protracted political and socio-economic grievances will continue to fuel popular discontent and a desire for regime change in parts of the region. Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s re-election bid amid a continued crisis in the Anglophone regions will exacerbate tensions, while Togolese citizens will continue to protest for the end of the 50-year Gnassingbé dynasty. Protests will pose security threats to businesses, while regime changes would prompt major institutional changes and complicate engagements for operators.
- New sectors, new risks: From Senegal’s offshore potential to Nigeria’s embryonic mining sector, some countries in West Africa will be making forays into previously-undeveloped sectors in 2018. Prospective investors need to monitor closely how government’s ability to oversee these sectors evolves and what the associated risks around these projects become.
- On-going operational risks: Many of the major risks and challenges businesses face in West Africa are the on-going practical impediments to day-to-day operations. Shortages of or difficulties in sourcing fuel, foreign currency, equipment and skilled labour; the infrastructure deficits that persist in the vast majority of the region, such as in electricity and transport, will continue to mean higher costs, higher demands on management resources, a tougher capital-raising environment, and greater uncertainty for businesses than in other regions.
Many countries in Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon among them, face the prospect of what could become a sovereign debt crisis, a decade after they followed Ghana’s lead in entering the international bond market. The problem is driven by high levels of external debt, persistent uncertainty over the recovery of commodity prices to fund repayments, and borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure. Countries dependent on oil revenues are particularly vulnerable to ballooning debt in 2018.
In Nigeria and Ghana, plans to borrow heavily to finance long-term infrastructure projects will not generate sufficient revenues in the coming year to finance debt repayments. Amid rising inflation and muted oil prices, Nigeria’s debt servicing payments – which in 2016 doubled to 66% of total revenues – are likely to rise further, placing extreme strain on an already stretched budget. With the government of President Muhammadu Buhari well over halfway through its term, yet to fulfill many of the promises that brought it to power and already entering campaign mode, businesses in Nigeria will remain acutely sensitive to political and operational instability in 2018.
Photo Credit: Fortune.com
Victor Moses misses out as CAF unveil the Top 3 finalists for the 2017 African Player of the Year award.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have unveiled the three finalists for the 2017 African Player of the Year award and sadly Nigeria/Chelsea’s Victor Moses didn’t make the cut. The final shortlist features: Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Borussia Dortmund) and Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool)
Egypt’s Mohammed Salah, who was recently adjudged BBC Africa Footballer of the Year is the huge favourite to win the award. The 25 year-old’s performances for both club and country in this campaign has been nothing short of stellar and his role in ensuring the Pharaohs book a spot in the 2018 World Cup (since 1990) can never be ignored. The former Chelsea man has netted a total of 20 goals for Liverpool this season; the first premier league player to achieve that in all competitions this season.
CAF Coach of the Year shortlist includes Super Eagles manager Genort Rohr, Egypt’s national team coach Hector Cuper and L’Hussein Amoutta of Casablanca
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Accra on 4th January 2018.
Photos: Thierry Henry crowned ‘Igwe of Football’ in Lagos.
Former France international striker Thierry Henry has always been regarded as the ‘Igwe of football’ by his teeming Nigerian fans, however, he was ‘officially’ crowned during his visit to Lagos for the Guinness Made of Black programme. The Arsenal legend who is in Lagos to meet the ‘Be a Front Row Fan’ winners; a consumer promotion of the company also watched the West Brom v Manchester United EPL game at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The 40-year-old is currently the assistant coach of the national team of Belgium.
The 40-year-old is currently the assistant coach of the national team of Belgium.