Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Illogic of Lagerback Hire (NFF hires another coach)

Someone needs to explain to me how Nigerian sport got to this sorry past. Lars Lagerback becomes Nigerians’ 35th National coach! in a country that would just be 50 in October. The world cup takes place every four years, it therefore means that Nigeria has had only 12 chances at the world cup, of which it has qualified 6 times (starting from 1990).

It’s important to recite the numbers again, just so we can point out the inconsistencies in our football management. If Lagerback becomes the 35th Coach, it means that Nigeria changes its coaches an average of 3 coaches every 4 years. Any surprise at the result we get at the World Cup?

Come to think of it, what magic did we expect Lagerback to deliver to us within 4 months? Let’s talk about his fat salary for starters, is it not an irony that the guy gets to pocket 195 Million Naira with pecks within 4 months when Shuaibu Ahomdu, the coach that got Nigeria the qualification in the first place, goes home with a paltry 30+ Million in a Year. Haba Dudu (Black man) una wickedness too much.

Just so that my comparison is seen to be fair, I went on the web to do some research on the two coaches and found some startling things. This Lagerback that Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) considers is the Nigerian messiah actually resigned as his country’s national team coach because he could not get them qualification for the World Cup. How convenient! Like there would some work for him to do till the year end after such a woeful outing? That is the guy, NFF and Nigerian aficionado believe would wrought magic in South Africa. Compare for yourself.

Lagerback: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Lagerbäck

Ahmodu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaibu_Amodu

Am not expecting magic in South Africa but then we are a country in denial, we live on hope where there seem to be no one. We wax spiritually, if need be (that is God’s will for us), when that fails as it often does (remember other teams serve God too), we switch to the blame game, after all we never prepared, and the boys are too lazy and too proud: you would think they held us at gun point to put them in the team? And finally when that fails too, we blame the weeping boy: “Government”!. I wish I have met that guy called “Government”; I would commend him, for being such red neck and notorious person!

The hiring of Lagerback is stupid, ill timed and froth of parochial interests. The difference between Ahmodu and Lagerback is not much, except that Lagerback is WHITE, from Sweden and he has the BALLS to ask for such a huge figure (i.e. salary) and he got it. Ahmodu even though has one (am talking about his Balls) is too Nigerian and familiar for us to give him the respect he deserves… Pull Him Down (PHD) syndrome will not allow us. Bad Belle people would ask what KIND of work has he done (or is going to do) to deserve such money! For those of us who does know (and most likely will never know) is what Lagerback and his cohorts want to show us in June in South Africa. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Just don’t say I did not tell you guys not lose any sleep oh.

Hiring Lagerback to me is akin to recruiting a house help in October, no matter what type of human resource (HR) skills you may possess, you are apt to selecting and getting a house help that has been rejected by many madams, tossed around and they have sworn that that they would rather not have a house help than to have them (and you know anything that can push a Naija woman to swear…)

Nigeria has money to waste! Its selection process re-confirms it. They should have just let Ahmodu be but bad belle people had their way. I rest my case.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

D’banj Vs 2Face: How to Leverage Your Success


You may have heard their music at Children’s birthday parties or seen their posters on billboards across the country. And if you are young at heart would definitely have seen them strut their stuff in musical concerts locally and overseas and of course seen or heard them on musical channels such as Sound City MTV Base and your local TV or Radio stations!

Nigerian musicians have truly come of age, through dint of hard work, a culture change and a large dose of luck. Either ways Nigerian musical stars are making waves not only in Nigeria but across Africa; which got me thinking aside from the money and fame associated with this business, how have some of our stars leveraged their new found fame to better themselves or their families . In this article I wish to draw some parallel between D’Banj and 2Face (two artist that I like) as music performers in this age and to point out some of the marketing and business lessons that readily comes to mind as we follow their careers.

a. In Show Business Image is Everything: Just take D’Banj for example, this guy is truly a show biz impresario, he understands how to manage his image (or should the accolades go to his manager whichever). The guy sure knows how to entertain both on and off stage. I am not saying 2Face does not know how to entertain but come to think of it, who would you say has more brand equity? What does 2Face do? He goes about impregnating women, getting robbed or involves himself in one scrap or the other. Little wonder he gets little or no endorsement (after Guinness Smooth, what other product has he not endorsed?). It’s not like D’Banj is a saint when it comes to women but maybe he is just smoother or slicker than 2Face!

b. Promote Your Product and Brand at the Slightest Opportunity: No one does it better than the D’Banj: Even in his music, D’banj is promoting himself: “I AM the D’Banj” and how does 2Face brand himself he says “Do Baba” whatever that means… It sounds crass to moi. Could the level of education have something to do with it? See what D’Banj and Don Jazzy have done with Mo Hits and you understand what I mean.

c. Level of Education or Exposure Matters: Am not sure and I stand to be corrected, 2Face did not finish secondary school and even if he did, did not go to university but D’Banj finished from LASU. Could this have anything to do with the way they approach things? Am just asking and not insinuating anything… Filling the gaps.

d. Extend Your Brand Where Possible: This is one area you have to hand it to D’banj. This guy without a doubt is a marketing delight. D’banj has endorsed many products from Glo Mobile lines to Wristwatches (Aires – a very expensive wrist watch at that), has a show called “Koko Mansion “(even though I have never watched any episode, I have HiTV but no money to pay for subscription..Dah Dah), being a guest at Big Brother Show, name it, he has done it…. 2Face is nowhere to be found!

e. Give Yourself Various Memorable Brand Names: Remember the artist called Prince? D’Banj goes by various aliases that we can all remember: Mr. Entertainer, Kokomaster, “I AM the D'banj”. He gave us words and phrases like Kokolete, Ogbono fele fele (It’s HOT). Not that I would be found using such terminologies suffice to say he help improve our Naija vocabulary.

f. Create or Utilize a Vehicle or Platform You Can Control: This is the tricky one but it has also proved successful when are branding any product. You can even have your own fan club (thanks to social networking sites like Facebook it’s so easy now to create a fan page). Back to D’Banj and 2Face, they have also explored other platforms/vehicle they can use to connect to their fans and the one that I like the most is the music label vehicle (not a new innovation though). I don’t know whose idea it is but “Mo Hit” is by far one of the most successful record label in Nigeria boasting of artist like Wande Coal, D’Banj, IkeChukwu and of course Don Jazzy co-coordinating everything. Every single opportunity these guys have they promote” Mo Hit”. This is like what 50 Cent has tried to do with G-Unit! Terry G and Timaya are trying very hard to copy them.

Before I am accused of being a PR agent of D’Banj, let me state here that I prefer 2Face music to D’banj (even though I like both of them: now am beginning to sound like I am speaking from both sides of my mouth). I am however pained that though 2Face may have broken more grounds than any artist in recent times, have not truly leveraged this position to its full potential.

That we are actually writing and comparing Nigerian Artist is some indication of some progress. If you don’t believe our artist are making any impact, you thought wrong. Please read page 140 of “The African Report: Celebrity: Nigerian Pop Culture Revolution” and before you write off the magazine one of those magazine. The African Report is a French magazine with readership across Africa and it was the first magazine to forewarn us of the challenges being faced by the Nigerian Banks and most of the prediction and rating done by the magazine came to pass (even though a lot of people kick against it when the story about our banks came out)

Have a lovely working week ahead. Xman

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Boxing Day Gift to Women (Be A Risk Taker in 2010)

Happy Boxing Day to you all. Hope you all had a great time yesterday? I did, I went visiting (ate lots of meat, though I know it’s not good for moi, but how I for do J ?). As we approach 2010, it’s time to do another stock take of where you are and what hope to achieve in the coming year and before you start wandering why I am writing about women today, don’t lose any sleep over it; let’s just say I feel led to do so plus I just finished reading an insightful book written by a woman “The Mary Kay Way” Mary Kay Ash: founder of Mary Kay female cosmetic products.

You may have heard of that name before (but I can say with a sense of certainty that a lot of women do) but just in case you have not let me introduce her to you:

At the time of Ms. Ash's death in 2001, Mary Kay Cosmetics had over 800,000 representatives in 37 countries (including Nigeria), with total annual sales over $2 billion from retailing. As of 2008, Mary Kay Cosmetics has more than 1.7 million consultants worldwide and excess in wholesales of $2.2 billion. Mary Kay herself was honored as leading female entrepreneur in American history. Thank God for the internet.

Am not sure even some of women are aware of this little fact (except that they like her make up)? More so most of the business examples they are given are mostly about men. As my boxing day gift therefore. I am writing to all women (my wife, sisters and of course my little daughter (though too young to understand)) to push the frontier in 2010. The opportunities are many.

Women are our future, If you don’t agree with me, just observe the number of female that are going to school (they are gradually outpacing men). They are a very important buying group (like I am telling you something new). Remember they gave birth us; they help raise our kids and whether we like it or not they are the spice of this world we live in (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise).

Back to the subject matter at hand which is taking risk: women are not really known to take risk could be and due to many reasons. For one they face a myriad of challenges and social obstacles (from sexism to financial empowerment), but the truth is that in 2010 many people (especially women) will start their own businesses. However the first obstacle they would have to surmount is their own FEAR, fear of failure, fear of rejection and lack of working capital.

They need not allow these fears hold them back. I would recommend the book to all women (of course men that are not too proud to admit some women are good in business) to read this lovely book. The print is nice and language is straight American English. I would enjoin the women to read Chapter 16: Be a Risk Taker!

To be honest, live itself is a risk, am taking risk writing about women in this article. Imagine a man who thought one of the surest ways of eliminating risk completely in his live is to stay awake throughout the night (continuously) since he couldn’t take a chance of falling asleep (since he does not know what would happen to him and was fearful of losing control!). Imagine was happened to him after 3 days, you guessed right, he was hallucinating from sleep deprivation (he lost touch with his environment).

2010 would be better than 2009 (if you don’t agree, just look at the numbers, its two digits at the end, meaning double promotion). Go out and live your life. Do something you have not done before. Call that old lost friend. Forgive someone you have begrudged for years. Learn a new language; Hausa, Yoruba and English are not the only language in the world.

If you are known for not commenting on issues, please do this one, the earth would not fall. Have a lovely Boxing Day ladies (ok and guys too). Just checked under my white brown (brow) beaten Christmas tree. No GIFTS. Santa did not come this year. Don’t mind him; Santa doesn’t take risk anymore (He does not want to be kidnapped!) Hummmm. Xman

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Lessons of the Nigerian Economic Meltdown

The Lessons of the Nigerian Economic Meltdown

We are 13 days to the end of 2009. It’s time to take stock of the going on in our lives. In this two part series. I would sharing with you some of the lessons learnt during this economic meltdown (I believe many of us already know some or have given some thoughts to them).

2009 in the lives of many Nigerians would be remembered for many things but one thing they mostly like to agree on is that it was a tough year. Except you are living on the moon, or basically cocooned or insulated from the goings in this country, the somber mood during this yuletide season should be a barometer for you to judge how the meltdown has affected all.

2009 was the year that saw both the country’s and citizen’s fortunes dwindled (Some Nigerian that made the Forbes list got delisted). Oil prices fell from Olympian heights, friends and foes lost money in the stock market and petroleum marketing even real estate investment that touted as the next big thing saw prices of land and properties head southwards. Some people who wanted to sell properties or lands to pay for huge loans taken from banks could not. Even banks started refusing landed property as collateral (can you imagine?)

There were budget cuts and people were retrenched (some were sacked outrightly). Banks basically stopped lending and people prayed more.

How has this meltdown affected you? How has it changed your relationship with God, family, friends and foes and ultimately yourself? Knowing what you know today, who would you do differently? Please share your thoughts with as I have shared mine with you. Please as critical as you want. Do not spare the rod as they say.

As for me 2009 will go down as a hard learning period for me and below are some the insights I picked from myself and other people during this past 11 months.

Many did not see the meltdown coming: Be honest, you did not see this coming? How could you, not with the giddy and blistering way stocks performed in 2007 and early part of 2008. Prof. Soludo said, we had nothing to worry about and that Nigerian banks were insulated! ( to think I was the people that believe him).

Even as things started to unravel, not many were willing to accept that the meltdown had come to our shores. We were all basically in denial. Even though, someone like me who had read the book “Who Moved My Cheese” a dozen times was behaving like the character “Hem” in the book. I was in denial (and so were many people!), so when the meltdown hit, it hit very had.

People became more religious: I am being cautious here, how i put across this point without offending people’s sensibility. I would have used the word “Spiritual” but I chose “religious” because even though many people try to appear spiritual in Nigeria, their actions don’t match most of what they profess (that is a subject for another day). Just take a look at most of the status update of your friends on Facebook, you would understand what am saying. Facebook are always talking about God (which in itself is not a bad thing) but checkout in what context. You would think most of your friends were hoping to start a church soon given all the Bible verse you see.

The meltdown was a health check for your Friendship: In good times, there are many a friend who are quick to profess their loyalty and how they would stick with you through thick and thin, well 2009 should have helped you sieve the wheat from the chaff. The fake friends faded away as quickly as smoker would blow a smoke away.

You suddenly know how much expense you incurred monthly: Let’s be honest many people in Nigeria do not have a monthly budget or make one (I for one don’t, and not that I don’t care, it’s just not a habit). But now that the alternative incomes have dried up (remember Notpesco, Shefteg and those racing stocks) who can blame you, if you didn’t take stock of how much you spent monthly? The meltdown made many seat up (myself inclusive) to take stock of their spending.

People developed clever (some time illegal) ways of saving cost: I have spoken to many people about this and you will be shocked at the revelations that came out. For example, if it were not for this meltdown. I would not have known that some people surf the internet illegal using the Telco operator network (ala Opera). Newspaper circulation has also dropped dramatically because patronage dropped, a lot of people now prefer go online to read the news (thanks to Proshare if you are still following stocks), because it was supposedly free (even Punch that wanted to lock people out, have had to open the website for readers to access). Most of those stock publications have disappeared at the vendors stand. I thought it was only teenagers and university students that called after 12 midnight, don’t be fool (older people and the working class have joined them)

Some people became appreciative for what they had: A Cow does not appreciate its tail until it loses it. Working in a tough business climate like Nigeria of course does not help matter coupled with the fear of job losses and shrinking fortune (ask business owners); people started looking for something positive to latch on (Please don’t say sports or beer!). Many people suddenly had something to be grateful for. Some were grateful for being alive, If you worked in a bank, you were grateful that your bank was not affected in the recent Tsunami.

For those employed, they were grateful that they had a work to go to (and not have to deal with payment of salary to other people at the end of the month). Either way, we all had something to grateful about. As matter of fact some husbands spent more time with the family and their wives were eternal grateful for the hard times (No more money for extra curriculum activities). They prayed with their families (for once!)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

What Obama Inauguration means for me and hopefully for you too

January 15, 2009

First I want to thank God for this victory and that the upcoming 1st Black US president inauguration is happening during my lifetime (and as Yoruba people are apt to say, “O shoju mi “It means” I witnessed it”). It is a pity Mr. Irving Wallace is not life to witness this inauguration but at least those of us who read his book about a black president can say with some guilt now that he knew what he was talking about!

Years later some of us may not remember where we were when Obama won the election and where we would be during the inauguration but it doesn’t matter. What matters, is what his ascendant to the most powerful office in the United States of America (and may be the world) means to you and your children and even generations to come

Let’s be honest none of us can accurate predict with any instrument or metal physical powers what life has in store for us, what it will dish to us and like the solider in Forrest Gump said in the movie; “Life is like a box of chocolate, you never can tell which one you are going to get “, So his Dad ran away (like a lot of black fathers do in the US), he ended up with an Indonesian step-father and all the baggage that came with being a half caste – You like a bat:- neither a bird or mammal; A lot of half caste suffer identity crisis in the US…

Many things would happen to you that don’t like but then life is full of strange things but the good news and lesson from the Obama victory is where you start doesn’t matter but how well you finish matters and as such it is important to always have it in the back of our minds that we should always be focused on where we are going to, we should not let people’s fear, reservation, criticism or refusal of us stop us from aiming high and going for our dreams. Your future is not in their hands, though many people as if they do….(it never has)

Yes, it’s has never been done before does not mean you cannot be the first person to start it. Speak your truth gently, as much as possible do right by people, walk the straight and narrow, for you do not know when you will be called to a higher office. Imagine if Obama had a shady or doggy past (trust me the contenders for the exalted position have searched and are still searching, they just have not found anything incriminating, that is why they have not pounced on him yet!) So my advice (including to myself) KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN!
Interesting most of us have reached that prime age when we get to start taking key positions in life, either as a team leader, manager, CEO, head of a Church or Muslim group, a commissioner, minister or the head of a delegation. Whatever position you aspire to , it is well within your grasp, you are endowed far more than you know.


Keep your network fresh, call an old friend, forgive people that say and do nasty things to you. To be honest you are higher than them. Imagine what would have happened if Obama reacted to the hate slurs or race baiting taking place at those John McCain or Sarah Palin campaigns rallies?……. But he knew better, he has a high calling, a bigger assignment to unite and not divide people.

Learn whatever you can from this Obama experience, for me I concluded that it pays to be diligent; it’s nice to keep a positive posture about yourself not only for now but in the future. That tough condition is not permanent.


In order to win sometimes, you would have call on everything you got, your skills both ones that are relevant and those that are not so relevant; the ones that your friend sniggered about (After all how would Obama have known that people would fall in love with his Basketball skills, for one, it got him a Wife: - or so said his brother in law in a recent article in Times Magazine and it has been reconfirmed in this interview conducted by Le Monde in 1996 – Please do read the interview, it tells you some things about how Obama views family institution)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01/sacre-bleu-le-m.html

Though I did not vote but I followed every bit of the US election and I can say it pleasure, I enjoyed every bit of the process, it tells me that we as a country (Nigeria) has a long way to go but that hope is not lost. Even though I would not be able to make the inauguration, I am rooting for Obama. Am sure if you are reading this article then you are most likely a fan of his too! We can make giant stride in our small corner of this world like Obama has done for himself. I know we can. YES WE CAN.

Wishing you and your fellow Obama fans happy inauguration!

Suleiman Shaibu (Xman)

Saturday, November 29, 2008

A walk down the Muson Bridge

November 14, 2008 started out on a funny and a strange note for me. I was due for a meeting in Victoria Island slated for 8:00am. My driver showed up late, I had to drive myself (fortunately, he caught up with me as I was leaving my estate). Everything was going fine till we reached the over head bridge near Muson centre (the one you use to connect VI or if you are going back to Marina).

For some strange, reason traffic was just not moving (there was no accident or anything like that, we were just at standstill). We stayed in one place for over 20 mins. In between all this I had time to snatch a quick nap and snored too. When I could not take it anymore, I stepped out of the car and started walking down the bridge (sloping towards the Muson centre). For added measure, I left my phone in the car (not so business or Nigeria like)

Just out of curiosity, I wanted to find out what it felt like to stand by the road side and watch Nigerians hurry to work or to their various places of endeavor.

I share some of the things i observed with you folks;

People:


a. Most of the people I saw were pensive; they had this worried look on their faces, ever serious. Some people sitting on the passenger side (of the vehicle) slept (I could swear I heard some snoring)
b. Very few people read anything (probable lost in their own thoughts). Most of those that had drivers slept. Women surprising had something to read. Most women had a bible in the back seat of their cars
c. In any case no one slowed down to ask me if anything was wrong (Lagosian no care). One or two persons wanted to but thought otherwise (who knows may be the way afraid, too many horror stories in Lagos you would say)
d. I saw 4 people that I knew; they all offered to give me a lift (which was quite comforting!)
e. Married couples in most vehicle had long faces (who knows may be the fought before leaving home or may that is the look of seriousness that they like to keep when going out)


Cars;
a. Most of the cars were dirty, not washed ( i want to start a car wash business)
b. Most of the cars had one bodily scratch or the other (in some cases, it was a gash)
c. Most cars were wound up (guess everyone had air conditioners, it means most commuters spend more money on fuel and air-fresheners :- if not the cars would be hots, sticky and stuffy )
d. Most women drivers had they bags in front (partially opened that you could see the content;- it means they open to easy attack by area boys)
e. On the average , the users had “ROSE” serviette at the back seat with an umbrella
f. Most people had 2 phones (kept close to the gear section), a large percentage if not all spoke directly on the phone (no hands free - ummh)

Driving Behaviours;

a. The drivers honked when there was absolutely no reason too but they honked anyway
b. For some reason, some drivers still brushed the car tires against the culvert under the bridge (a lot of people need to take driving test in Naija - what happened to the driving schools)
c. A total of three accidents happened within the 45mins that I waited for my driver
d. No cop or LASMA staff was in site (yet there was some semblance of order that morning)!
e. After a few shouting matches, accident victims (ok they are not accident victims in the really sense of it, I meant those whose cars have been hit or scratched), entered their cars cursing then drove away (Its the Lagos way; Much Talk Less Action)

General Environment;

a. Looking down the bridge, you could see a muddy, dirty, stinking water with refuse at the edges (not one you would even wish you enemy to fall into – ok I exaggerate here but I am trying to say is the water down below was ugly to look at)
b. The roads were littered with paper, empty pure water sachet everywhere
c. People worked briskly past me, no good morning or even “Hi”(ok lets be fair I didn’t greet anybody either)

What about me the "keen" observer

a. Let’s be honest I was a little bit uncomfortable; I was wandering what would people be think about me, was I lost?, some people may have recognized me but because they were in a hurry and did not want to lose time, decided to sneaked by (just remember I saw you guys!)
b. It was nice experience, I saw some business opportunities (don’t know if you should be sharing with my thought with you here though if you go through this article carefully you can pick a few things or two but what the heck why bother you, when you have your own problems anyway)
c. Having done this for the first time, would do I it again?. Yes, Yes, I will. I see what they mean by perspective changes things. November 18 changed some of my perspective. Has it changed yours?

In the end, got into my car and some how got to my host by 9;15am. Did i tell you Ileft my house by 10mins to 6am. I apologized to the person I was meeting that I was stuck in the usual Lagos traffic (don't know if he believe me though),

I just did not tell him about my Muson experience but at least am glad that the I was caught up in traffic for once!. Please let me know what you think and if have any similar experience, please share it with me. Xman

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

So what happens when there is an Emergency?

So what happens when there is an Emergency?

Let’s be honest, you probably have not bother to ask yourself this question of late, and the reasons most probable are that; you are too busy (ummh that phrase again), you just don’t care (you would not believe it ,but some people don’t just care!) or you just have not really given it a thought!

If you are like me, the first and third reasons rank high amongst my own reasons but if you don’t have any, you are not alone; your decision to read this blog may start you thinking about it. However an event two weeks ago changed all that for me. It taught me that, I was not prepared mentally, physically and even strategically to do anything during an emergency.

So you can imagine my rude shock two weeks ago at the hospital. Me and my wife had gone to pay my brother-in-law’s wife a visit in the hospital. She had just put to bed. I had also in one breath,wanted to see the doctor because I was not feeling very well.

When we got to the Hospital that evening, it was total chaos, nurses we running helter sketcher, hospital attendants where shuffling up and down. You may ask what is the responsible for this pandemonium. Well look no further, it’s a gentleman huddle in an ambulance outside the hospital premises, writhing in pain, blood splattered everywhere, half of his body burnt, yes let me say it again: HALF OF HIS BODY BURNT!

Immediately we saw him, we were overwhelmed with emotions, immediately the malaria I thought I had, just evaporated; they told us that we could not see the doctor. It suddenly struck us that the hospital had only one doctor on duty that evening (just imagine that!).

On further investigation, we discovered that the gentleman is a staff of Guinness Nigeria Plc and had just been involved in a Plant accident. For almost 30 minutes, the staff of the hospital and those of Guinness were just running up and down. My heart bled for the victim and the nation as a whole, many questions rushed through my mind

Q1. when the accident happened, didn’t Guinness not call ahead to tell the hospital that they were coming. This accident was in their Ikeja plant and the hospital we are talking about is also in Ikeja! (Just 30-45mins drive away). So what other notice did they need. The hospital was on a retainership!

Q2. How come only one doctor and 3 Nurses where attending to him (You need see how they were struggling with the patient)

Q3. The patient had lost blood and was in pain, we could hear his cry and nothing it seems could be done (The medical team was just out of their breath (or should i say depth), this incident took place on a Friday evening, I am not sure they could even get an emergency (visa/evacuation) order to take him out the country or to Abuja National Hospital?


Before we get all religious (“God forbid” as is always our first response to this type of incidents) what are you going to do? What could you have been done, should you find yourself in that situation or some loved one?, These are questions I believe must running through your mind too.

Let me ask you, how do you feel when you are watching a home video and someone faints or collapses from a hit or gunshot and you see their family, friends or by standers are just screaming, shouting “ Mo gbe o!,” Chineke me” or other forms of ethnic exclamation of shock or surprise. Angry? Speechless….

Please do not say it cannot happen to you or someone you know, remember the Ikeja Bomb Blast! (Strange coincidence; I was in Maryland that day too).

How prepared are you for emergency? That is the question for today. How prepared is your family? When there is an emergency? Do you just scream or do you call a doctor, do you call a friend, do you call police. If the answer is YES to any of these questions, then do you have the names & numbers handy? Who and what numbers do our children call?

I know Econet (GSM provider) some years back were involved in a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of some sought in this area but am not sure they are doing it anymore? Can Gov. Fashola take this up in Lagos again? Lastly, how prepared is our country for emergency?.

Why don’t we discuss these type of issues in Churches and Mosques? Or are our priorities so high up there we don’t have time for these earthly things anymore, If it can happen to Guinness Staff and in Lagos, what about ordinary citizen? Please let me have your comments.

Xman