ANTHONY JIBUNOR OKONJI
Mr. Okonji holds a Master and Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Literature from the University of Lagos. He is an Associate Member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON. A seasoned journalist and writer, Tony has worked in various capacities in the print and electronic media. His career in journalism started with True Tales Publications, Publishers of Hints Magazine. He later joined Minaj Broadcast International, MBI, as news reporter. He worked here in various capacities as Presenter and Producer/Editor. He joined Mortgages PHB Limited in August, 2006 as Head, Corporate Services. He also served in the bank as Head, Consumer Banking and Business Development. Tony is currently the Manager, Marketing & Operations with Belanova Industries Nig. Limited-dealers in Italian Kitchens and Appliances
Tony is a writer and has two published works – a novel and a quit smoke research work: Sacred Violation (a novel was published in 1996) while Quit Smoking with Ease, was published with the Nigerian Hearts Foundation in 2002. He has attended several internal and external training in Corporate Communication; Consumer Banking; Business Development other skill enhancements programs such as Brand Management through Effective Customer Service and Managing Customers Relationship for High Performa

OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS AT THE UK HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE 7TH YEAR IN A ROW – FRIDAY THE 25TH OF OCTOBER 2019

Dear Family and Friends, We are pleased to inform you that all the Key Speakers for our Our Black history month celebration taking place at the UK House of Parliament for the 7th year in a row on Friday the 25th of October at 1pm on the dot have now been officially confirmed.

The speakers for this year’s Black History month celebration at The UK Houseof Parliament are

Thanking the Award team and all the good Nigerians in Diaspora and friends at home working behind the curtain to make Nigeria a better place for our generation and the ones yet unborn. The only obstacle too much to surmount are the ones we set for ourselves. 🙏🏿

HON KENNETH GBANDI

ARE YOU LOOKING TO SET UP A TV OR RADIO STATION ?

DONT KNOW WHERE TO START AND REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION FROM A WORLD CLASS LEADING EXPERT ?

LOOK NO FURTHER, CONTACT MR ARO LEONARD TODAY . mR LEONARD IS BASED IN ABUJA NIGERIA, HE IS A  MEDIA TRAINER AND PRODUCER AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION EXPERT AND MENTOR

ABOUT MR ARO LEONARD 

“Aro Leonard is an accomplished Media Trainer and Producer who brought his vast media experience to bear  at BBC Media Action Nigeria. His unique approach tothe job has contributed to the existing wide network of media partnership BBC Media Action enjoys in Nigeria and West Africa.

Aro Leonard has been a very consistent professional in helping to shape better contentdevelopment and programming in the broadcast sector. He is always willing tolisten and help findbespoke solutions to each station’s issues. As a Media Trainer, his training techniques are notonly versatile, but are scaled down to meet peculiar situations. He continues in the tradition ofinstilling in Nigerian journalists  best practices in style andtechnique.”

He produced the “tastiest show on radio” Flava. The show transformed the lives of millions ofNigeria youths – improving their knowledge, attitude and practice o key reproductive health and lifestyle issues. Demonstrated the use of key youth characteristic and likes in pushing specific development themes. Produced award winning and demand creating HIV/AIDS Spots; Designed and produced the largest HIV Testimonial Campaign in Africa.

Aro Leonard founded Kleverest Scenta and Campus Life – platforms under which thousands of young people have been mentored over time. He has a Master’s degree in Environmental and Resources Planning University of Jos. He is of stable character, hard-working, sincere andtrustworthy. He is full of intelligence with the highest sense of responsibility and sincerity

Dotun Donald Adegbesan B.sc, M.sc, ACMA, CGMA

A chartered accountant who primarily started career as an Economist and progressively attained academic/professional qualification in strategic management.

Professional career as Chartered Accountant and Management Strategist with over 30 years’ working experience in diverse private, non-government organisation (NGO) and government sectors in Ireland  and Africa. I made a conscious choice to leave private sector and move to public sector in the last 12 years to date.

My personal professional networks have been important in sustaining the value and marketability of my experience and qualifications. Added value has come through collaboration and knowledge sharing in corporate/organisational partnering arrangements and professional forums on best practice and innovation.

Direct, approachable and pragmatic, my focus is always on delivering changes that matter for an entity through adoption of best in class processes, modern methodologies and continuous improvement culture.

Though born in Nigeria but made in Ireland, my 19 years residency in Ireland brought me closer to people of multi-cultural diaspora communities. “Giving-back” to the community that made me is my main goal and driver of my active support for local/international events, and cross-sector provide me with a good basis for continued professional contribution.

My specific areas of relevant expertise include innovation in governance, strategic management, risk and compliance, advisory roles at board, executive and business levels, investment appraisal, and risk- based planning.

Over the last 18 years Mr Adegbesan has led some community integration projects and initiatives in Ireland and Africa. I believe in power of collaboration of mind and positive outcomes associated with it. This requires change in mind-set and behaviours to embed into the thinking and actions of people in every organisation to serve the stakeholders right, professionally and ethically.#

Enrolment of All Nigerians in Europe into the National Identity
Database (NIDB) kicks on in Germany, Italy, Austria and Netherlands with Biosec

Biosec Solutions the first Nigerian (indigenous) biometric management company with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant certified“ in collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE), the European arm of the Nigerian Diaspora Organization Worldwide (NIDOWW), and Nigerian organizations and stakeholders in Diaspora will commence mobilization, capturing and enrolment of all Nigerians into the National Identity Database starting from Germany on the 16/08/2019, Italy 19/08/2019, Austria = 21/08/2019 and other countries including Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine will follow.

Biosec Solutions is NIMC’s indigenous approved vendor to facilitate Diaspora data capture. According to Hon. Gbandi, the enrolment is to ensure that all Diaspora Nigerians irrespective of associations are well documented in the National Identity Management System of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Apart from the fact that the unique National Identification Number (NIN) is a lifelong personalized identification number, similar to that of America´s Green Card Number or European´s Social Security Number, the unique National Identification Number is mandatory for all Nigerians. Already NIN number is a prominent feature in the new 10 years Nigerian international passport. Moreover, accessing future national services going will be dependent on your unique National Identification Number.

Hon. Gbandi calls on the Diaspora to avoid the experience of BVN rush when out of pressure most Diaspora have to travel outside their areas of residence to beat the deadline, leading to enormous cost and inconveniences. He reminded the Diaspora that the exercise apart from being mandatory for all Nigerians has also important social and economic implications for the Diaspora. He mentions the Diaspora Voting and the full participation of the Diasporas in the affairs of the country as one of them.

Hon. Gbandi explains further that The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has the mandate to carry out the enrolment of citizens and legal residents as provided for in the Act establishing it, create and operate a National Identity Database (NIDB), issue unique National Identification Number to qualified citizens and legal residents.

Hon. Gbandi explains that he and Diaspora stakeholders will commence full mobilization of all Nigerians in the Diaspora for the enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB), through Roadshows, Town Halls meetings and meetings with Diaspora Stakeholders across Europe and the Diaspora.

He urges Diaspora, especially in Germany, Italy, Austria and Netherlands to visit www.idcard.ng for pre-enrolment and appointment for biometric data capture. He assured Nigerians that Data obtained through the pre-enrolment exercise are EU privacy laws and GDPR compliant.

“We may not all necessarily agree on all the policies of the Federal Government, but this is one initiative we cannot afford not to massively participate in”, Hon. Gbandi concluded.

For all inquiries he urges all Diaspora to kindly contact Biosec country enrolment officers in their respective countries or contact or visit Biosec European Regional office at Süderstr. 153, 20537, Hamburg, Germany, Tel. +49 40 35964940 or to visit www.biosec.com.ng for comprehensive information.

My name is Tomi Adetayo. I have two passions; teaching and photography. My project tells the story of people just like me, on a mission to achieve their dreams.

Combining my passion for photography with the skills I have gained from teaching (including communications and human relations), I took a bold step and initiated the 1000 faces project. Through this project – capturing close up shots of everyday people of diverse ages and walks of life and spending time to get to know them – each person has shared their unique experiences and stories with me. I love that just a twenty-minute session of photography can become an hour of sharing goals, aspirations, hopes and dreams.

25KINGS

As an amateur portrait photographer my goal is to show the world the potential for ordinary, everyday people to do extraordinary things. With the current situation in London and an increase in black youth violence, I embarked on a journey, sharing moments with 25 black men living in London who are making an impact in their communities. Through photography and short interviews, I capture 25 everyday men, their thoughts on the current situation in London, their desires, achievements and so much more. Visit the website on www.a1000faces.com/kings to learn more about these impactful black men.

The Efik Leadership Foundation invites you to The International Youth day which will be taking place at The faculty of Arts auditorium, University of Calabar on Monday the 12th of August at 10am

This is an event you cannot afford to miss,  For more information contact Elizabeth on 08139255872 or Edet on 08063840682

LIFE AT 50, BY TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ 

The greatest blessing that sits before me is the gift of the present moment.

At 50, I am simply overwhelmed with tears, stories and emotions.

Deep in my heart, I have felt and faced the journey of many deep roads, many challenges and countless situations.

Deep in my thoughts, I have embraced the spirit of resilience and the art to overcome, and so beneath that calm face, there are many untold stories and encounters that have shaped my being to persevere, look beyond the surface and to think outside the box.

Many untold stories while living in Northern Nigeria,

Many untold stories while living in Western Nigeria,

Many untold stories while living in South South Nigeria,

Many untold stories while living in London

Many untold stories while living in Berkshire,

Many untold stories while living in Oxfordshire,

Many untold stories while living in Yorkshire

Many untold journeys in 31 Countries around the world

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY   many untold stories planted in the seeds of MY NEXT BOOK

The greatest blessings that sits before me is the gift of the present moment,

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE GREATEST PRAYER LIES WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I CAME CLOSE TO DEATH

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE EVERY SPLIT SECOND IS A BLESSING

And so at 50, who am I to question the mysteries that unfold in our journey,

Who am I to question when failure knocks repeatedly at our doors, especially when there are many other doors hidden within the passage of life

Who am I to question faith, when the spirit of unseen blessings lies within our very eyes.

Today, I am blessed at 50,

Blessed by the will of God,

Blessed from a good family,

Blessed with good friends.

But I would also be a BIG FOOL, not to believe I am totally loved by many.

And so, I   would like to take this opportunity, not only to thank you for all your birthday wishes, but also to let you know that I LOVE YOU TOO and I simply cannot wait to continue the journey of Life with you

YOU ARE THE VERY REASON  THAT ADDS MORE SPARK AND DETAIL TO THE COLOURFUL SHADES OF LIFE  and I am also looking forward to celebrating my 50^th BIRTHDAY every single day for the rest of the month , and also to celebrate it with family members, IN ANTALYA, TURKEY, LATER THIS MONTH

THE HARD WORK CONTINUES, BUT THE PARTY HAS JUST BEGUN.

I LOVE YOU

Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez