Guinness World Records Reveals Number Of Applications Recently Received From Nigerians

July 14, 2023 News Editor

The Guinness World Records (GWR) has disclosed that they have received approximately 1,500 applications from Nigerians.

According to the body, the recent surge in record-breaking attempts came after Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci clinched the award for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

The record body said that the attention and excitement that Hilda Baci’s cooking marathon gained was certainly an incentive for many Nigerians to consider attempting a Guinness World Records title.

“Since her record attempt, there has been a spike in applications from Nigeria, particularly for marathon records.”

“We have received over 1,500 record applications from Nigeria since the start of May.”

Baci had in May challenged the record of 87 hours 45 minutes previously set by Lata Tondon, pulling off a 100-hour attempt.

Following days of vetting by GWR, Baci was certified to have set a 93-hour record.

Shortly after Baci’s feat, Damilola Adeparusi, another chef, started her cooking marathon for a five-day stint.

Then came Adeyeye Adeola who also attempted to upturn Baci’s record in a 150-hour spell.

Also joining the fray, Temitope Adebayo, an Ibadan-based chef, went public with his intention to cook for more than 120 hours.

It also came as a shock to many when Hassan Joshua Bature, a computer science lecturer at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), announced plans to embark on 150-hour teaching marathon.

Morenikeji, an hair stylist also kick-started braiding for over 100 hours in her hair-a-thon challenge.

Oppenheimer: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt at London movie premiere

July 14, 2023 News Editor

Rami Malek, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan, and Robert Downey Jr pose for photos

Christopher Nolan’s much-hyped movie tells the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, known for developing the atomic bomb.

Rami Malek, Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr are also among its big names.

But several stars left the premiere early, because of strike action called on Thursday evening.

Director Nolan told the audience before the screening of the film that “unfortunately they’ve left to write their picket signs”.

Hollywood actors began their strike after talks between their union and major studios and streaming giants broke down. Writers in Hollywood are already taking industrial action – and a “double strike” such as this has not been seen since the 1960s and could bring the industry to a halt, as well as disrupting Oppenheimer’s New York premiere on Monday.

Who was the real Oppenheimer?

Crowds gathered to watch the movie’s makers and stars walk the red carpet, joined by celebrities including actor Jefferson Hall, acting husband-and-wife Josh Hartnett and Tamsin Egerton, and singer Sam Ryder.

Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh arrive for the premiere in Leicester Square

Speaking on the red carpet, Murphy said there was a “great atmosphere” in London, and “the response to the movie has been extraordinary”.

Many of the stars told the BBC they were drawn to the film because of director Nolan. “There’s a reason we all say that, it’s just he’s making the best movies right now,” said Damon. “It’s a thrill to get a call from him.”

British-American director Christopher Nolan attended the premiere with his wife, Emma Thomas, and four children

The premiere at the Odeon in Leicester Square comes ahead of the movie’s release in the UK next Friday.

It comes the day after Wednesday night’s premiere of Barbie, which is also out on 21 July. Because of the contrast between the two films and the same release date, many fans are planning to watch both, in what has been dubbed Barbenheimer.

(BBC)

Kylian Mbappé Utters Ironic Truths About Paris Saint-Germain

July 10, 2023 News Editor

In Kylian Mbappé’s defense his comment that Pairs Saint-Germain is “a divisive team, a divisive club” is the brutal truth.

Even the most ardent PSG fan would be hard-pushed to suggest the Parisians do not split opinions.

But, even still, expressing this sentiment to the world whilst also being the team’s talisman is unwise.

His words came in an explosive interview with L’Equipe which has already generated drama at Paris Saint-Germain, six players are reportedly so annoyed by what was said they have complained to the club’s hierarchy.

In fairness to Mbappé, the abbreviated form his quotes have been reduced to hasn’t helped.

As is often the case with an explosive interview, a longer explanation was boiled down to the French striker speaking of a “‘divisive club’ which tends to ‘attract gossip.’”

But the remark was made in response to a question about whether his performances for Paris Saint-Germain had been trivialized.

“Yes,” Mbappé replied, “but at the same time, I don’t blame them. In France, they saw me grow up, they see me all the time, at PSG every weekends or in selection.

“I’ve been scoring a lot for years. So, for people, it’s becoming normal. I’ve never complained that my performances are trivialized.

“I’m young and I’ve had the chance to It was not that long ago to be an observer, before being an actor.

“Myself, I trivialized what Messi was doing, what Cristiano Ronaldo was doing, what the great players were doing. We are in a consumer society, where “it’s good, but do again”.

It was after this considerable set up Mbappé delivered the most controversial lines.

“I think playing at Paris Saint-Germain doesn’t help much because it’s a divisive team, a divisive club,” he added.

“So, of course, it attracts gossip but it doesn’t bother me because I know what I’m doing and how I do it.”

His point was that this perception is heightened by his presence at Paris Saint-Germain, a club so far ahead of the competition domestic trebles are considered par.

It’s all fair and true. But at the same time ironically illustrative of the division he describes.

How they were received and the complaints filed by other players only goes to underline that further.

His revelation several weeks back that he did not intend on activating the clause in his contract keeping him in Paris until the summer of 2025 prompted a public disagreement with President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

“If Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay,” Al-Khelaifi told the media, “but he needs to sign a new contract. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free. That’s impossible. He had said that he would never leave for free. It’s not my fault that he’s changed his mind now.”

The stumbling block for Paris Saint-Germain with or without Mbappé remains much as it always has done; how does this cast of superstars become a team?

Time and again, particularly in the crunch stages of the Champions League, the Parisians have been unable to hold it together.

Great managers ranging from Mauricio Pochettino to Thomas Tuchel have tried their hand at funneling the club’s individual talents into a collective force to varying degrees of success.

The latest man tasked with the challenge is former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique.

It’s an interesting choice, his success in Barcelona was with the megastar-laden front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez whom he unleashed with a more direct style than his predecessors at the club.

But since leaving that position his teams have followed a stricter possession-based approach more similar to the Pep Guardiola/Johan Cruyff philosophy that defined the Barcelona era before his.

What Enrique serves up for the people of Paris will be fascinating to see.

According to the man himself, there is one commonality in his method: being on the front foot.

“My idea of football is attacking, attacking football, which can be entertaining for the supporters and which produces results,” he said at his unveiling in Paris.

“This is my challenge, I am committed to doing this. I am delighted to be there as PSG coach.”

In words that bore incredibly similarity to those of ex-PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino at his Chelsea unveiling which was only a few days apart, Enrique appeared to heap expectation on himself by raising the thorny topic of Champions League success.

“I love this pressure and this mission, it’s fantastic to have this pressure,” he continued, “there are plenty of teams that have the same dream, sometimes with more experience, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reach this level.

“The Champions League is almost unfair, a bad game and you’re out. We want to get the best out of the team. It’s a challenge. It is substantial,”

Unsurprisingly for a man whose blunt discussions on Twitch were a highlight of the World Cup, Enrique had no qualms about discussing the Mbappé impasse, even if he wasn’t giving much away in terms of internal conversations.

“That’s a professional secret and I can’t give you any updates,” Enrique said, before adding cryptically, “but we will try to have the best squad possible. When I signed I knew that everything was open in the squad. Some things can happen in the market. He’s got a contract and we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes because things are constantly changing. We’ll have a strong squad, I’m sure of that.”

(Forbes)

Green hydrogen at heart of Namibia’s Vision 2030

July 10, 2023 News Editor

Around the world, industrialized economies are looking to undergo green transitions. Countries across Europe and North America particularly are seeking to reduce their dependence on carbon and fossil fuels by investing in new technologies and sources of renewable energy, such as green hydrogen. Namibia is also looking to develop its green hydrogen space, but under rather different circumstances, as James Mnyupe, Economic Advisor to the President of Namibia, explains.

“People think about green hydrogen from an energy transition perspective,” Mnyupe says, “but it’s the exact opposite for us. Lots of highly industrialized countries are consuming huge amounts of carbon and are trying to go towards a low-carbon environment. Whereas with Namibia, we’re going from very little industrialisation to a lot of industrialisation, potentially on the back of a zero-carbon source of fuel.”

“At least in theory, we have the opportunity to leapfrog the carbon-heavy part of industrialisation and go straight to low-carbon industry,” Mnyupe adds.

The Namibian government sees green hydrogen as “a spark,” Mnyupe says. The fuel is perceived not only as a way to drive industrialisation in Namibia, but also promote wider economic prosperity. For one thing, green hydrogen could allow Namibia to develop as an international energy player and establish lucrative foreign markets. Mnyupe explains that “the project is so large and so significant, that it actually enables other industries to flourish… it’s a harbinger of prosperity for the rest of the country.”

In this sense, green hydrogen is also integral to Namibia’s “Vision 2030” project. This was launched by former President Sam Nujoma in 2004 and outlines the country’s ambitions “to improve the quality of life of our people to the level of their counterparts in the developed world by the year 2030”. The importance the government is attaching to the commodity could hardly be higher.

Attracting FDI

Because of this, Mnyupe says the government is taking “every step imaginable” to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Namibia to provide the capital to develop the required infrastructure. Inter-governmental diplomacy and private sector engagement have both played a role. “We have shared our vision with many different entities around the world, on various platforms, from the United Nations General Assembly to the World Economic Forum, and beyond.

“We have signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Netherlands, the European Union, Germany, and Japan as well. On the back of all that, we’ve also exchanged at a private sector level. Namibian entities and Belgian, Dutch, German, and Japanese entities have exchanged ideas on how to partner and deploy capital.”

Namibia has already seen the formation of consortiums and joint ventures because of these efforts. At the start of June, the Namibian government agreed a $10bn deal with German company Hyphen that will facilitate the production of two million tonnes of green ammonia per year by 2030. Last year, Namibia’s O&L Group and Belgian company CMB.Tech agreed to collaborate on building a green hydrogen project in the country.

Namibia’s competitive edge

Mnyupe recognizes, of course, that “competition is fierce – and so it should be.” He points to Kenya, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, and South Africa as competitors similarly looking to build sophisticated renewable energy industries. However, he does believe that Namibia has several qualities that could help the country emerge as an attractive option for international investors.

“We have a united government, enabling policy legislation, and very attractive solar and wind resources,” Mnyupe says. “We’re not landlocked so we have access to a harbour. I also think that something very interesting in Namibia is that we have a relatively sophisticated capital market that allows for the construction of various financial instruments that allow for the deployment of blended financing.

“That can help lower the cost of capital required for the construction of these projects – and all of these things make Namibia an attractive place to consider building green hydrogen assets.”

Developing green finance

The quality of Namibia’s capital markets is certainly something that the government is trying to lean into as it attempts to promote the growth of its green hydrogen industry. In 2021, the government announced plans to float a green bond on the New York Stock Exchange, although Mnyupe says they encountered several issues with this project.

“We realized that the green bond would be trading at the Namibian sovereign credit rating, or at least with yields relative to the credit rating, maybe with a few basis points’ discount,” Mnyupe says, “and so we decided the government would have to get a bit more inventive.” This is because Namibia’s credit rating is currently BB-, according to Fitch, potentially making raising cash for the green hydrogen prohibitively expensive.

“So, we started engaging with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to put together a bespoke facility for Namibia that it could tap into to develop complementary infrastructure for the green project.

“This is very important – this is not a project funded by the Namibian government, this is a privately funded initiative. But the Namibian government might have to invest in ancillary infrastructure around it to unlock the full socio-economic potential of the project. For this, we’ve approached the EIB and they’re putting together a package that would be more concessionary than we can afford on our existing credit rating.”

By developing this green finance infrastructure in Namibia, the idea is to “de-risk the project and encourage other private investors to come in”.

“The heavy lifting has to be done early on by multilateral development banks and governments, which is what we’ve been looking to do,” Mnyupe notes. “Private sector banks come in later, and then pension funds can come in once the asset reaches operating level.”

Towards a new economy

Of course, the government is confronting several challenges as it attempts to develop Namibia’s green hydrogen industry. The sheer scale of the project is enormous. The latest estimate shows the cost to be around $10bn – comparable to Namibia’s entire GDP – which is partly a reflection of its complexity. “End-to-end,” Mnyupe outlines, “we need renewable energy transmission pipelines, port infrastructure, roads, housing, and more: quite a hefty undertaking for any government.”

However, if such challenges can be overcome, the rewards could be sizeable – not just economically, but across whole swathes of Namibian social and political life. Namibia is a net importer from one of the most energy-insecure countries on the continent – South Africa. “We import 60-70% of our electricity from South Africa, but with a project like this, we could become a net exporter of electricity.

“That has massive implications from an energy security perspective, from an inflation perspective, and importantly, could allow us to attract energy-heavy industries to Namibia,” Mnyupe says.

This independence would bring wider macroeconomic benefits, too. “The amount of foreign reserves we could attract into the country would be huge, and that would have very interesting consequences for our currency. At the moment, the Namibian dollar is tied to the South African rand so whatever exogenous shocks are experienced in South Africa, we absorb 100% of that,” Mnyupe explains. The positive changes that green hydrogen could bring to Namibia are numerous and profound.

“If we capture even half of the benefits,” Mnyupe says, “the Namibian economy will change fundamentally.”

(African Business)

Biden in UK: Meets King Charles first time since coronation

July 10, 2023 News Editor

President Biden was in London Monday morning for a whistlestop, 24-hour visit to the United Kingdom before heading for a NATO leaders summit in Lithuania. The first meeting on Mr. Biden’s agenda after his Sunday night arrival was a sit-down with U.K.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his residence at No. 10 Downing Street. It was the president’s first in-person discussion with a fellow world leader on the European trip as the U.S. and its NATO allies look to maintain a unified voice in support of Ukraine as it battles Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Mr. Biden was heard saying as he walked into the British prime minister’s official residence that the U.S. has “no closer friend and greater ally” and that the relationship remained “rock solid.”

There has been concern in Europe over the Biden administration’s decision to send controversial weapons to Ukraine, but also over the future of U.S. government backing for Ukraine when Mr. Biden’s first term comes to an end. On both points, the U.S. leader will be looking to reassure America’s closest allies that Washington remains not only a committed partner but one that respects their humanitarian concerns.

Mr. Biden has spoken with Sunak a handful of times in recent months and their Monday meeting at Downing Street lasted only about 40 minutes.

It came after the U.S. announced its latest military aid package for Ukraine, which for the first time includes controversial cluster munitions. The move has divided U.S. allies, some of which — including the U.K. — have banned use of the bombs under an international treaty signed in 2008 by some 123 nations.

A spokesman for Sunak’s office said after he and Mr. Biden met that Britain stood “by our obligations under the convention, which include discouraging their use.”

“There is no change from us on that,” the spokesman told reporters, adding that “obviously, it is for each country to make a decision.”

The U.S., Russia and Ukraine are not signatories to the 2008 treaty.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that NATO does not have a position on cluster munitions and that their use is not on the agenda for the summit that Mr. Biden will join in Lithuania after his stop in London.

Another issue facing Mr. Biden and Sunak, and then the other NATO leaders this week, is Sweden’s pending accession to the transatlantic alliance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove the previously neutral countries of Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership. Finland has already become a full NATO member but Turkey and Hungary have so far blocked Sweden from joining.

Mr. Biden was expected to speak Monday with Sunak about conditions for a possible deal with Turkey to clear the way.

Ukraine also wants to join NATO, but allowing that to happen would infuriate Russia, likely draw sharp criticism from China and is a more contentious issue among the alliance’s existing members.

In an interview aired by CNN over the weekend, Mr. Biden said he didn’t think Ukraine was “ready for membership in NATO.”

“If the war is going on, then we’re all in a war,” he said, adding that there are other qualifications Ukraine must still meet to be considered for membership, including full “democratization.”

After his meeting with Sunak, Mr. Biden left central London to head west for his first in-person meeting with King Charles III at Windsor Castle. Though not an official state visit, some classic British pomp and circumstance was organized for Mr. Biden’s stop at the ancient home of the British monarchy, including a military Guard of Gonor and a marching band.

Mr. Biden has met Charles on multiple occasions, but not since the king’s formal coronation ceremony on May 6. Mr. Biden did not attend the ceremony as he had just been in Britain for a separate trip, but first lady Jill Biden was there.

One of the two heads of states’ recent meetings was at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, in November 2021. On Monday, they were expected to discuss environmental issues and greet attendees from a climate finance forum that took place in the morning. Mr. Biden and Charles are expected to discuss with business leaders how private industry can best tackle climate change.

41 Days after swearing in as President, Tinubu elected ECOWAS Chair

July 10, 2023 News Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The decision was reached during the organisation’s 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community in Bissau, capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on Sunday.

The development comes 41 days after the swearing-in ceremony of the President.

Speaking at the meeting, Tinubu emphasized the need to protect democratic culture in the sub-region, saying: “We will take democracy seriously. Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government.”

As Chairman, Tinubu will play a crucial role in leading ECOWAS member states towards economic development, political stability and cooperation. He will also collaborate closely with member states, regional institutions and international partners to implement initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth, regional trade integration and social development.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had occupied the position from 2018 to 2019. Though the office does not confer executive powers, the chairman plays a strategic role in conflict resolution, advocacy, and liaises with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the executive responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of ECOWAS policies and decisions.

Additionally, he is expected to focus on strengthening ECOWAS’ collective response to security threats and foster closer cooperation among member states in addressing regional challenges.

In a statement, Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, quoted Tinubu as saying: “On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges.

“Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive. In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity.”

President Tinubu said ECOWAS had developed a security architecture, which he noted, “covers a wide range of areas that involved kinetic and non-kinetic operations, including preventive diplomacy.

There is also the Regional Plan of Action on Fight against Terrorism 2020-2024 as well as the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force on Fight against Terrorism.

“I will ensure that we immediately harmonize these plans and mobilize resources as well as political will towards the actualisation of the initiatives. As terrorists do not respect boundaries, we must work collectively to have an effective regional counterterrorism measure,” the President stated.

On his emergence as chairman during his first participation at the summit, having just started out as the elected leader of Nigeria, Tinubu said: “Indeed, I’m humbled and honored by this trust, and want to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to provide necessary leadership with dedication to serve the interest of the community.”

The President said: “We must stand firm on democracy. There is no governance, freedom and rule of law without democracy. We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage but it is the best form of government.

“There is no one here among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources; we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people. To turn their guns against civil authorities is a violation of the principles upon which they were hired, which is to defend the sovereignty of their nations. We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs.”

Also, member countries and leaders of ECOWAS congratulated Tinubu on his election as President of Nigeria.

They gave their congratulatory messages during the opening ceremony of the event.

In his remark, the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, commended Nigeria for sustenance of peace and strengthening of democracy in the West African region.

According to him, the military seizure of power in Mali, the Republic of Guinea, and Burkina Faso and subsequent elongation of the transition period represent a regression of the values of democratic rule of law adopted by member states through supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance.

He maintained that the return of democracy in the three countries was imperative for political stability, promotion of democratic rule of law, and the well-being of people of the West African sub-region.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, on behalf of the community and institutions, also congratulated Tinubu on his election and assumption of office as President of Nigeria.

The 63rd session, which is still ongoing, has been ranked as the most attended by heads of state of member countries.

EU, New Zealand sign free trade agreement

July 10, 2023 News Editor

The European Union and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement on Sunday which, according to Brussels, should lead to a 30% increase in bilateral trade within a decade.

Referring to the agreement, which will be concluded in June 2022 after four years of tough negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the text as ‘ambitious’ and ‘very balanced’.

“New Zealand is a key partner for us in the Indo-Pacific region, and this free trade agreement will bring us even closer together,” she added in a statement from Brussels.

For his part, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins praised a text that represents “enormous benefits” for both partners.

The EU is New Zealand’s third-largest trading partner, exporting in particular wine, fruit and meat to Europe.

Bilateral trade in goods between the two zones was worth just over €9 billion in 2022.

According to Brussels, EU exports to the Pacific archipelago could increase by up to €4.5 billion a year. EU investment in New Zealand could also increase by up to 80%.

The text also contains a chapter dedicated to ‘sustainable development’, which is unprecedented in a European trade agreement.

“With unprecedented social and climate commitments, (this agreement) promotes fair and green growth while strengthening Europe’s economic security”, said Ursula Von Der Leyen.

To come into force, the agreement will still need to be approved by the European Parliament and ratified by New Zealand.

Sierra Leone: ECOWAS Speaker In Peace Talks to End Elections Dispute

July 7, 2023 News Editor

From Melvin Tejan Mansaray, Freetown

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis is part of ongoing talks with the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) over the post June 24, 2023 elections dispute in Sierra Leone.

It could be recalled that APC rejected the outcome of the June polls citing lack of transparency by the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL).

The party has consequently called for the reversal of the results and the sacking of the Chief Electoral Commissioner among other government officials.

Tunis who doubles as a ranking member in the National Assembly of Sierra Leone, has himself just been reelected in a District Block electoral system representing Pujahun District, Southern Region of Sierra Leone for the Fifth term.

Speaker Tunis is part of his Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) peace brokers who met with the former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma who is the erstwhile Chairman of the APC and a towering figure.

Speaking to the media, Hon Tunis said the meeting was “exploratory,” noting that more meetings are underway aiming at “bringing down the political heat in the country.”

“Everything should be done to maintain peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone and for all political parties to play their part in the governance of the state,” Hon. Tunis said .

Hon. Tunis is a consensual personality that is respected among the political divide and has a track record of conducting successful political mediations over time.

Tunis is apparently a top contender for the Speaker of the Sixth National Assembly of Sierra Leone. He said that he is hopeful that by the grace of Allah he will get his party’s nomination for the House’

Canada invites 2,000 healthcare workers from Nigeria, others in one week

July 7, 2023 News Editor

Within a period of one week, Canada has invited 2,000 healthcare workers from other countries including Nigeria to migrate into the country.

On June 28, 2023, the country invited 500 workers to apply for its Permanent Residency (PR) under its Express Entry (EE) healthcare category-based selection draws. On July 6, 1,500 workers were also invited.

“We are bringing more health care workers to Canada. We’ve changed the approach to immigration by bringing an additional focus on certain sectors facing serious labour shortages,”Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tweeted via his Twitter handle last week.

He said the first sector to benefit from this new process is healthcare.

“Today, 500 skilled healthcare workers will be invited to immigrate to Canada, and, we will invite 1,500 more,” he said.

Fraser added that the new program is expected to double the number of healthcare workers coming to Canada through the federal Express Entry system this year.

“This announcement will str

engthen our healthcare system and help provide more Canadians with the high quality care they deserve,” he said.

The eligible workers under the EE healthcare category are audiologists and speech language pathologists, chiropractors, dentists, dieticians and nutritionists, education counsellors, general practitioners and family physicians

Others are instructors of persons with disabilities, kinesiologists & other professional occupation in therapy and assessment, licensed practical nurses, massage therapists and medical laboratory assistants & related technical occupations.

The rest are medical laboratory technologists, medical radiation technologists, medical sonographers, nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates, nurse practitioners, nursing co-ordinators and supervisors, occupational therapists and optometrists.

Canada’s aging population and lower birth rate has been shrinking its labour force, forcing it to intensify its efforts to attract large, young and vibrant immigrants by offering immigration-friendly policies.

According to a recent job vacancy data by Statistics Canada, there were 153,000 vacant positions in health care and social assistance in April 2023, the highest level across all employment sectors.

Last year, the Canadian federal government unveiled an aggressive plan to take in 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025, with almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years.

The country landed 437,120 PRs in 2022, a nearly eight percent increase from the total number of PRs in 2021, according to data the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

For Nigeria, it grew by 41.9 percent to 22,130 last year from 15,595 in the previous year.

From Passion To Profit: Dance Entrepreneurship In Nigeria, by Qudus Onikeku

July 7, 2023 News Editor

Naturally, I’m not one to flaunt personal wealth or openly discuss my financial standing as a dancer and creative entrepreneur despite my long-lasting successful career. However, I want to particularly highlight our newly acquired properties in Lagos as a way to speak about the economic potential of dance.

It may come across as self-indulgence, but let’s address it upfront. Recently, my partner Haji and I acquired a magnificent mansion in the serene neighbourhood of Lekki upon our return to Lagos in May.

After four years of being a research professor at the University of Florida, doubling as the Maker in Residence with the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship, where I’ve initiated research in Dance and AI, as well as frequent travels between Florida, Paris, Lagos, and a demanding international touring schedule.

Our decision to fully return to Lagos aligns with our realisation that the Nigerian creative landscape is once again evolving, with Gen Z emerging on the horizon. They are sketching new norms and having expectations, not just working the culture like the millennials did, but also pursuing profitability. They are delving into the culture capital we helped cultivate, ensuring their rightful place on the global stage.

It’s an exciting time, and new bodies and voices are joining the movement, testifying to the interconnectedness of the global black community, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the Caribbean. The story of the African dance renaissance is only just beginning, and we think that our unique experience and formula is something very significant we can offer.

Despite the prevalent trend of Nigerians emigrating to Europe and North America due to the current “Japa syndrome,” many are equally migrating with the culture, spreading the gospel to previously remote regions of the world, Afro dance culture has truly become a global phenomenon, returning to Lagos, however, is undoubtedly the wisest choice for us.

The QDance brand has achieved remarkable local and international success, boasting a significant profit margin. As a start up with less than a decade of entrepreneurial improvisation, we can proudly claim the status of a million-dollar company. With this achievement, it became imperative for us to go back to the drawing board and strategise anew for the future.

Investing in real estate to support the upscaling of the QDance Center became top in our priority. As our estate agent showed us various properties, allowing us to explore options that suited our preferences for tranquillity and aesthetic appeal amidst our upcoming workload, a particular white house in a private residential estate in Lekki immediately caught our attention.

While silently admiring the house, the agent casually mentioned, “By the way, Asake acquired the neighbouring property a few months ago.” He intended this remark to justify the high price and perhaps influence our decision-making process.

Indeed, Asake has become our neighbour for almost two months. For those who may have been disconnected from the goings of the Afrobeats world for the past year, let me introduce you to Asake and his remarkable rise to fame in the Nigerian music scene.

Asake is undoubtedly a miraculous talent, emerging as one of the most significant Nigerian artists in the past one year. The 28 years old super star is signed with Olamide’s YBNL in February 2022, and by extension he immediately enjoyed a deal with Empire music for international distribution.

This collaboration allowed him to break numerous international records and win several local and international awards with his debut album “Mr Money with The Vibe”, his sophomore album “Work of Art” was released to critical acclaim less than a month ago, and he has been on a nonstop tour since his rise to fame.

What makes Asake’s story particularly noteworthy here is that he is actually a graduate of theatre arts from Obafemi Awolowo University. Asake, who specialized in dance during his studies, began his career as a dancer. Like many dancers, he ventured into music out of necessity. It provided an opportunity to use music in his performances without the risk of copyright infringement on digital platforms.

Moreover, if his work went viral, he could directly benefit from the royalties it generated. Additionally, it’s worth considering that Nigerian dancers often harbour the belief that pursuing music or acting is the sure path to a successful career, I have lost count of how many known Nigerian music or movie stars or on air/TV personalities who actually began their career as dancers.

It’s clear that if Asake had continued solely as a dancer, his name would likely remain unknown, let alone being the owner of a mansion after a breakthrough in less than a year. Dancers, particularly in Africa, often face precarious circumstances, and to have a long-lasting successful career solely in the dance field is such a rarity.

However, let me assert that personally, I am a stubborn believer in the potential of dance and its capacity to lead to a financially successful career, for that’s all I’ve ever done in my life since the young age of 13 when it all began.

We don’t all have to veer off into music or other genres to achieve such success if that is one’s life goal, I want to believe that I’m a living testament, that it is indeed possible to thrive purely as a dancer, albeit through hard work, a clear vision, commitment, and resilience.

I firmly believe that dancers are the lifeblood of the creative industry. Unfortunately, the value they bring is often not commensurate with the income they generate.

Clients who seek the services of dancers in Nigeria span various domains, including music video producers, corporate organisations, fitness enthusiasts, event planners, NGOs, diplomatic missions, political organisations, marketing, communication, Ad and PR agencies, brands, nightclubs, schools, festival organisers, dance presenters, curators, visual artists, filmmakers, animators, game designers, software engineers, general dance enthusiasts, parents, and the list goes on.

Dance is always in demand. However, due to the lack of an entrepreneurial mindset among dancers and the improper structuring of their value proposition, their labour and creative energy are frequently undervalued, under-priced, and ultimately underpaid.

This is precisely where the QDance brand stands out. In our organisational chart, the artistic director and the managing director share equal burden and possess equal power and stake. We recognised that innovation usually happen when two or more sets of knowledge collide.

Often, art and business operate in different worlds, our ability to operate ‘at the edge’ led to new ways of doing. Over the years, we operate as a social/cultural enterprise, combining high-level creative dancing, social and community engagement, talent development, research, services, and artistry with a strong entrepreneurial practice. Our aim is to ensure that the value we bring is matched by the income we generate.

We have embraced an approach that allows us to merge passion and profit, demonstrating that dance can be a sustainable and financially rewarding career choice, with the capacity to create real jobs in a country like Nigeria, where the economic priorities make it almost impossible to make such bold statement.

When Haji and I co-founded the QDance Center in 2014, the creative landscape was still in its early stages. Despite the booming creative industry, dance remained largely marginalised. We were determined to change that.

We invested our life savings, time, and every resource at our disposal, placing a significant bet on our convictions. Over the years, Afrobeats music and its accompanying dance culture gained widespread popularity, exerting influence on music and dance cultures worldwide. The music industry became a substantial source of income for many Nigerian youths.

We firmly believe that the Nigerian dance scene is the rising industry of the Gen Z; the digital native generation characterised by their openness to diverse bodies and inclusion, entrepreneurial spirit driven by their exposure and pursuance of creative ventures, self-reliance, social consciousness, and preference for visual and interactive learning.

Despite the continuous stream of innovative, viral, and ground-breaking works produced by dance artists in digital platforms, on the international club scene, on music videos, at international dance battles, and award-winning contemporary dance pieces, the full potential of this hyper-creative and energetic industry has yet to be realised due to a lack of significant investment and infrastructure. Entrepreneurship is the ability to identify a problem, and creatively solve that problem, for the people that needs it.

Our entrepreneurial muscles are therefore, being channelled to transform dance to an art form, a communal practice, an idea, and a service in demand, by finding the necessary resources – money, people & stuffs – to turn it into a profitable career for a new and vibrant generation of dancers. Our success story over the past decade has proven that dance is a profitable venture if properly harnessed, and the business model we’ve developed is surely transferable.

In addition to the property in Lekki, we have also invested in another property in Lagos Island, which will serve as the permanent station for the QDance Center. Currently, we are renovating as we undergo a major expansion of our team to support our upscaling plan, codename QDance CREATES.

This plan includes the development of a robust community engagement program, a research lab for culture and technology, an educational program for dance and music production and practice, artistic residencies, and more international productions with the QDance Company, training exercises for dance in health, as well as entrepreneurship in dance programs, and services in entertainment consultancy, restaurant, and venue rentals.

Our activities will be housed in a four-level architectural masterpiece, where we will engage in both educational and community initiatives to nurture the next generation of dance artists.

The centre will be equipped with a 150-audience capacity theatre for live shows, four dance studios for full-scale rehearsals, four digital studios for audio-visual recording projects, which includes a Dance and AI lab for research in culture tech. In the media lab, we will equally develop software and hardware research to support the incredible work that creatives are doing on the continent.

In conclusion. Every great dreamer can paint a beautiful future with the colours of their passion, hard work, and determination, but it always takes a village to achieve any great feat. We are particularly excited to witness how our endeavours in the next one year will once again reshape the choreographic landscape of the continent and, by extension, the Nigerian creative economy.

We call upon dancers to take advantage of this investment as we announce our various offerings. We also invite other professionals to join our formidable management team. We always need skilled volunteers who can offer valuable time.

Finally, we extend our call to the general public, funders, and supporters who share our passion and vision, to partner and work with us, this is something epic and unprecedented, won’t you rather be part of

a team that made history together?