Microfinance banks and NIPOST's core mandate ABIODUN KOMOLAFE, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State These rural dwellers are predominantly smallholder farmers, artisans, traders, street hawkers, house-helps and other low-income earners whose economic activities are seldom captured in the finance matrix and statistics of the national economy. They are not only unbanked, they are also numerically and financially unindexed.

The Igbos have proved not to be a conquered race! LUCAS ANUFORO, Dublin Ireland

THE CHRISTIAN WALK EXCLUSIVE! Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, Emir of Kano has 90 days on the throne unless… MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA Ever before Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi mounted the exalted throne he currently occupies, we announced it in this column in 2014. His granduncle, the iconic Ado Bayero was on the throne then and we saw his transition in the spirit and announced it in this column.

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES The Challenges & the Blessings of Womanhood SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria The demands of womanhood is enormous such that I often say that if after I get to heaven and God wants me to return to the earth, He must let me come back as a man otherwise He should allow me to continue to enjoy my time with Him.

/daily/2019/may/13The increasing rate of illegal adoptions OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU The report of the special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography during 34th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2017 maintained that illegal adoptions violate multiple child rights norms and principles....

N34.5bn was not embezzled in the Rivers State syringe factory CHAMBERLAIN S. PETERSIDE, Former Rivers State Commissioner for Finance I was dismayed to hear in the news that the Rivers State Executive Council reached a decision on Friday, May 3rd, 2019, to persecute myself and the former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, and the Project Manager/CEO of Integrated Medical Industries (IMI)) Mr. Amenya Wokoma for the embezzlement of N34.5 billion in the Rivers State Syringe factory.

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES Five years after: The most painful & difficult tasks I ever performed -- Reflections! SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria Came December 31 2013 when she gave the first complaint. Not one of us thought it was the beginning of the end. It was just a pain on the upper right flank of her back. 'Don't worry, I have asked Dr. Sola Babalola to bring me some voltaren (retard) tablets when returning from Nigeria in the new year' I said.

The Evil Masquerades Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA Anyone wearing a mask or disguising the face is known as a masquerade. Many women today have turned into masquerades by painting their faces in divergent colours, putting artificial long eyelashes, attaching artificial hairs and wearing strange dresses.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK Why I ghost-wrote the autobiography of Late Oba David Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III, the Olowo of Owo and other matters? MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA I suffered dyadic tragedies in the season of our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ nearly a month ago. One was closer to home; the untimely transition of my second son; Oluwafemi Emmanuel Fayemiwo, and the second person; His Royal Highness, Oba Dr David Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III, the Olowo of Owo.

If Atiku Abubakar is not a Nigerian, then .... (Conclusion) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany In 2015, when Atiku donated a huge sum of money to Buhari's campaign, he was then a Nigerian. When he made available one of his private jets to be carrying Buhari all over Nigeria, during his campaign in 2015, nobody complained that Atiku was not a Nigerian.

Another Open Letter to President Buhari! YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA I actually dreamt last night about you and the Nigerian situation. I just woke up now! Why I am having a nightmare is understandable to discerning minds. In my dream last night.... This note to you is very necessary and archive(able) just like the one I wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan during the locust years of his administration in 2014.

A crucial Letter to Federal Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA As you may have known or be aware, there is a viral video on the dilapidated Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos state. The video is terrifying and it engendered the writing of this urgent missive to you.

'Chief! Chief! ABI ADEGBOYE Many have illusions of chieftaincy without leadership capabilities. Their social climbing destroy organizations, communities, and nations.

Absence of Restructuring Continue to Exacerbate Nigeria Problems (Part 3) ALFRED AISEDIONLEN, London, UK The main problems in our Education are poor administration, fund mismanagement, strikes and drawback by the North. For the Minister of Education to be able to perform very well he/she must be one with excellent academic record from secondary school to university; with grade one school certificate and first class first degree.

Onslaught on Christianity (2-2) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany Many Christians in Nigeria have been killed, and nobody pays a price for the deaths. Tell me why a cartoon in Denmark or a beauty contest should lead to the deliberate killing of many Christians in Nigeria. Tell me how Nigerian Muslims will do their own worship unmolested but will enter some Churches to kill priests and their congregants....

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES The expectations of citizens from the government (4) SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria The ones I pity most are the young graduates, even with Master's degree, who have no option of job opportunities other than teaching employments in private schools. And by the time they pay for transportation, one will weep for them for what is left over. They are just doing the work ... having somewhere to go in the morning rather than sitting in the house.

My Month of Rejoicing in Christ Pastor AMOS D. DADA, Toronto, Ontario, Canada It is important to know the difference between being happy and having joy. Happiness is an emotion in which we 'experience feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense pleasure,' whereas joy 'is a stronger, deeper experience that is not dictated by circumstance but by life.

Congratulations to the world Golden Eaglets CYRIL C. NWOKEJI, Belgium Very big congratulations to the "World golden Eaglets", for their qualification for yet another FIFA under-17 World cup competition. This qualification is more especially sweet coming on the back of the failed qualification attempt in 2017.

Do not despair! Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA An amusing and hopeless incidence happened on this year's Good Friday in a town in Oyo state. It was during the solemn dramatic act of the Way of the Cross. An energetic young Christian man volunteered to act as Jesus Christ.

If Atiku Abubakar is not a Nigerian, then .... (2) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany Seeing that Atiku's case has merit and might be granted by the Tribunal, all that Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) did, as a way of defending the mandate he stole, were to file a motion at the Tribunal, in Abuja, on Friday, April 12, saying that Atiku’s case lacked merit as he was a Cameroonian....

The cost of ignorance! YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA Ignorance is a miasma, if you don't admonish the man next your door to seek knowledge, when his door of ignorance is ajarred, the man's 'maurumauru and wuruwuri' cries in the night will surely affect your sound sleep.

Absence of Restructuring Continue to Exacerbate Nigeria Problems (Part 2) ALFRED AISEDIONLEN, London, UK In Buhari's first term, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Minister were the weakest link in his Government. Buhari appointed a relatively young, comparatively inexperienced and a non politician as the Minister of Finance. In our country, Nigeria, age matters, relevant education, professional training and experience are not enough.

Police extra-judicial killings: When the protectors of lives turn to the takers of lives OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU Recently, Nigerians woke up to what could be considered joke of the century. Abayomi Shogunle, an assistant commissioner of police, was quoted as saying that 'another way of avoiding being killed by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is not to speak Queens (proper) English to police officers'.

Fayemi, Afenifere and Restructuring ABIODUN KOMOLAFE, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State Fayemi's speech spoke to the equally troubling issues of resource control, devolution of powers and state policing, not in the realm of politics alone, but the reality of the Nigerian situation. The governor strikes me as a man who understands Nigeria well enough to have his comments on Nigeria's socio-political engagements taken seriously any day.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK Celebrating death and birth simultaneously for the good of The True Lord God Almighty MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA Brother Toye Odubiro and his vivacious wife, Sister Biodun Odubiro had been married for 12 years, but had known each other for 16 years. The marriage had produced no fruit of the womb until the couples got in touch with us 14 months ago from their base in Springfield Illinois. I am sharing this testimony because they consented to sharing their stories....

What is the problem with Nigeria? ADEKUNLE AKINYEMI, Pikesville, Maryland, USA I have often wondered why Nigeria and many Nigerians are always in search of the worthless. Running and chasing one problem or another and moving around in circles like in a maze or in an endless loop.

"Give us this day our daily bread" Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA A certain anxious and pious man met me at the church exit door and asked me, "Father, is God a baker? Why do we ask him for bread only? Does he not have meat, eggs, tea, beer, malt, milk, rice, beans, fruits, and so on? If we continue to ask him for loaves of bread daily, we can suffer from malnutrition...."

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES The expectations of citizens from the government (3) SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria True Priests know that they do not need to visit the government house before they pray for her (the government). True Priests recognize their responsibility to pray for kings and those in authority so that they can govern in righteousness, which will enable the citizens to live a quiet and peaceable life....

Power outage: My way-out for the Distribution Companies (Discos) IFEANYICHUKWU MMOH, Jos, Nigeria In 2011, the vision for stable electricity looked achievable but today, it looks like a mirage. What went wrong? Why are the investors regretting their venture into the sector? For me, the story of Nigeria’s power sector is one that should remind us that we are the canker worms that have refused to let the country work.

Onslaught on Christianity (1-2) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany I hate and condemn double standard mentality. People aren't that different, and double standards only enforce all kinds of discrimination! ... nobody should be wasting human blood because of differences in race or religion. We shouldn't be destroying what we didn't create. Life should be sacred or sacrosanct.

The need for benevolent democracy in Nigeria YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA I read a profound article on Singapore, it blew my mind how Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore has transformed the lives of Singaporeans through a benevolent autocratic rule. More than forty years ago, Singapore was a war-battered and ravaged British port ensconced on an island off the southern tip of Malaysia.

Pope Francis: A beacon of hope and peace for humanity YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA The beacon of hope of our time is Pope Francis, our beatitude! He is a quintessential individual shaping a confusing world for posterity, good governance and revival of souls for the good of mankind.

Super Eagles of Nigeria in a rather tricky Nations' Cup group CYRIL C. NWOKEJI, Belgium The Super Eagles' Nations' cup first round group comprising : Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi, on paper looks like an easy one for the highly rated Super Eagles of Nigeria.

ONYINYE'S MIRROR ON LIFE The Writing Life ONYINYE OYEDELE, Ontario, Canada April is National Poetry month. Walk into a library and see the delectable display of works by poets around the world, some who have delighted and captivated our imagination, wrapping, and drenching us in words that lingers on.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK The world and friends mourn the passage of my dear son, Oluwafemi Emmanuel Fayemiwo (1993-2019) MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ didn't sugar-coat this Christian Journey and the Road to Eternal Life. I was never under any illusion that my Christian Life would be a cake walk. Once in a while, the True Lord God Almighty would allow Satan and his demons to aim their arrows at us His Redeemed.

If Atiku Abubakar is not a Nigerian, then .... (1) (PICTORIAL) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany There are killings and kidnappings, by bandits and herdsmen, going on in Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Lagos, Katsina, Taraba, Delta, Ebonyi and Anambra States. ... while the clueless federal government then ordered foreigners to quit mining sites, in the state, within 48 hours; etc. Who's really in charge here?

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES Blood in relation to forgiveness of Sin SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria In order for us to be translated from poverty to wealth very fast, our solution is to take seriously, the three passages of the Bible, which I explained at the first of this broadcast as the three tenets of my campaign. They are found in the books of Isaiah 1:19, 1Samuel 15: 22 and Proverbs 14:34.

Moral lesson from Onnoghen's inglorious exit from the body of benchers! YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA These quintessential Nigerians are not opportunistic in their political aspirations. These former presidential candidates are not motivated by what Nigeria will give them, they are motivated by what they can give Nigeria.

Easter: The Triumph of Certainty over Tensions and Turbulence Rev. Fr. FRANCIS A. OBORJI, The Vatican Our reflection begins with a brief discourse on the meaning of tension and certainty of triumph in the Gospel of John (12: 27-34). Thereafter, we shall relate it to the Nigerian reality, and by extension, the overall value of John's teaching on tension and certainty of triumph in time of trials and desperation....

Absence of Restructuring Continue to Exacerbate Nigeria Problems (Part 1) ALFRED AISEDIONLEN, London, UK On Britain's departure from Nigeria at independence on 1st October 1960, the colonialist left some awkward and imbalanced structures behind. It was then incumbent upon us as a country to restructure the awkward and imbalanced structures....

Do or Die Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA Few years ago, I visited a friend in a certain town. He was studying in one of the Higher Institutions in the country. He rented a room in the town. I had an urgent message for him. Therefore I decided to visit him in person to deliver the message. Before going, he directed me to ask for the family house of his landlord popularly known as 'Chop and Die'.

Why Buhari should offer Moghalu, Sowore, Durotoye, and others ministerial appointments YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA These quintessential Nigerians are not opportunistic in their political aspirations. These former presidential candidates are not motivated by what Nigeria will give them, they are motivated by what they can give Nigeria.

Pope Francis' South Sudan gesture is prophetic: A challenge to African churches Rev. Fr. FRANCIS A. OBORJI, The Vatican Fome few days ago, Pope Francis captivated the world once again with a rare symbolic gesture that knows no bound. He kissed the feet of the South Sudan warring leaders, imploring them to maintain the 'fragile' peace that exists between them.

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES The expectations of citizens from the government (2) SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria In order for us to be translated from poverty to wealth very fast, our solution is to take seriously, the three passages of the Bible, which I explained at the first of this broadcast as the three tenets of my campaign. They are found in the books of Isaiah 1:19, 1Samuel 15: 22 and Proverbs 14:34.

Al-Bashir’s ouster, the moping African Union & the role of the military as stabilizing agent IFEANYICHUKWU MMOH, Jos, Nigeria For the records, Al-Bashir ruled the Sudan for almost 30 years and right in the full glare of the African Union, made absolute nonsense of democracy.

Nigeria: Why nothing much has improved since the Igbo ethnic group attempted secession in 1967 IFEANYICHUKWU MMOH, Jos, Nigeria

Another inglorious fall of another African despot OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU Unfortunately, African history is rife with leaders who are obsessed with power. Even when they are elected through the democratic process, they manipulate some vital democratic institutions such as the judiciary, legislature to enable them suppress opposition in a bid to hang on to power unduly.

Ending the pains associated with elaborate burials in Igbo land OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU Relief has come the way of bereaved families in Anambra State as the state House Of Assembly passes into law a bill that seeks the reduction in the expenses of organising funeral and burial rites in the state, and to prosecute offenders.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK A dirge in memory of my late son, Oluwafemi Emmanuel Fayemiwo (1993-2019) MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA This woman; Adeola kept assuring me nothing would happen to our son. "Nothing would happen to Femi, Mariah cannot do that; nobody can kill my baby," she retorted rather dismissingly. I told her we're not talking of voodoo here, but the prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of Adeola to reiterate what I told my son to do-relocating from California to Texas-to stave off the impeding tragedy, she told our son not to mind me his father....

Persistent killings: Is there really a President and Commander-in-Chief in Nigeria? (Pictorial) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany There are killings and kidnappings, by bandits and herdsmen, going on in Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Lagos, Katsina, Taraba, Delta, Ebonyi and Anambra States. ... while the clueless federal government then ordered foreigners to quit mining sites, in the state, within 48 hours; etc. Who's really in charge here?

Are you the Judas of this generation? Pastor AMOS D. DADA, Toronto, Ontario, Canada The question is who are you betraying and why? Christianity in our time has become awry! You hear people say I can't trust anybody, not even my spouse, not even my boss, not even my pastor! Why? Because unfortunately we are in the age of betrayal. But should it be so? Must you be a Judas?

A revisit of the registration of political parties in Nigeria ADEKUNLE AKINYEMI, Pikesville, Maryland, USA It is no more news that Politics has become the number one business in Nigeria. ... Whoever has the responsibility of de-registration (INEC or NASS) should set the machinery in motion immediately to allow for the successful collapse and mergers of the existing parties or groups of people with identical political interests.

The 2019 general elections: Rivers State, truly Nigerian PATRICK IBEKWE, Port Harcourt, Nigeria The story presented in this piece is especially for diaspora Nigerians. It should help you through the shock and disappointments you feel each time you swagger into Nigeria through our airports (and some of them are no better than taxi ranks), to be accosted with the discomfiting stares of greedy security agents looking for Euros, Dollars and Pounds.

A journey through Okey Nwachuku's Talon of the Python (1) OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU Before now, even up to date in some African cultures, it is widely upheld that the dead have some strong links with the living, up to the point that the dead play critical parts in the affairs of the living.

Expression of gratitude Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA Whenever you get up from sleep, kneel down and thank God for the gift of a new day. No one is conscious of himself or herself during sleep. The soul as a spirit perambulates while we sleep, leaving the body behind. At the time of waking up, both body and soul unite again. This is what we mean by waking up. Waking up is not a personal effort. It is an action of God.

The world is closer to the edge of abyss! YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA We are in a deep and seemingly bottomless chasm of our time. A timeless generation that's a menace to itself. Who cursed humanity in a man? Where's our shared humanism? As you expect things to change for good, it's getting worse!

Rwanda is soaring high from the ugly past (Poem) YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA Rwanda is sauntering to grace,; To be the pride of Africa.; Rwanda was once a country; At war with itself.; It is now bemoaning; Another giant-for-nothing nation; In west Africa warring herself!

The ill-fated Ethiopian and Lion Airlines' flights (Conclusion) (Pictorial) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany How can one be quiet when he or she knows that death is just a minute away? Business Insider tells us that the crashed Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max plane hit the ground at 575 mph, leaving a crater 32 feet deep and 131 feet long, according to a preliminary report released Thursday, April 4, by the Ethiopian government.

The power of choice! YAHAYA BALOGUN, Arizona, USA In all areas of human endeavors, responsible Nigerians are not found culpable or wanting! In NASA, Science, Sports and Technology, Medicine, Engineering, Space exploration, Armed armament, Academics, etc. You cannot but marvel at our ingenuity and grace outside of the continent of Africa.

Ogunpa and the Money Barons ABI ADEGBOYE Now, in the real beginning, there was Ogunpa, one of the rivers traversing the mighty hills of Ibadan. ... As wont deity, Ogunpa flows where it will, calmly in the dry season and boundless in the rains. Once upon a time, it received the worship it deserved but modernization brought a disregard and utilitarian jaundice.

FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES The expectations of citizens from the government (1) SAM AWEDA, Lagos, Nigeria People are hard up financially. Infrastructures that can promote their businesses are broken down. Repairs are neglected, actually abandoned, while the leaders of the previous profligate governments and their sycophants live in affluence and luxury.

Oyo State in the web of two engineer politicians ADEKUNLE AKINYEMI, Pikesville, Maryland, USA In actual fact, there are more than two Engineers involved in the multilayered sandwich scenario. ... The Oyo State Governor-elect is an Engineer, the Deputy Governor-elect is an Engineer, the incoming Oyo State First Lady is an Engineer and many Senior Advisers of the Governor-elect are reputable Veteran Engineers....

Fashola and his bogus claims OKECHUKWU K. UKEGBU APC is peopled by a band of double speakers and elements who speak from both sides of the mouth. ... The Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, ressurected these antics recently when he made a bogus claim that some states in the country enjoy 24 hours power supply.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK Revealed! Moroni, the demon that the Mormons Church of Latter Day Saints worship MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO, Cameron, Texas, USA For those that have been following our series on false Christian sects and demon-energized religious organizations we began three weeks ago and which we shall continue in the next three months, you will notice three eerily itchy commonalities among them.

Our Month of Divine Favour Pastor AMOS D. DADA, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Favour is for a cause, favour is for a purpose, God Almighty will favour you this month.... Favour is a mystery word and complex to define, we see the outcome of favour and from there postulate that this and this could not have happened except the person has experienced favour. Favour is manifestation without the hand of flesh. When God chose Saul to be king of Israel it was favour.

Materialistic Adoration Ministries Fr. PAT AMOBI CHUKWUMA The man I nearly killed on that fateful evening was hundred percent drunk. He staggered accidently into the tarred motor way. ... When he regained consciousness a little, I asked him where he came from and where he was going. With his two eyes turning round he said, 'Father Pastor Bishop, I am just coming out from Assorted Alcoholic Adoration Ministry at Anuruma market square....'

Super Eagles of Nigeria narrowly defeat the Egyptians in a fairly exciting friendly match CYRIL C. NWOKEJI, Belgium A more creative Super Eagles' mid-field, would have created more chances against an experimental Egyptian side, with likely more goals for the Super Eagles to boot. The young man and centre-forward, Paul Onuachu, would have scored more goals for Nigeria.

The ill-fated Ethiopian and Lion Airlines' flights (2) TEMPLE C. UBOCHI, Bonn, Germany For Boeing, anything it does now to boost customers' confidence might be too little, too late, as the damage has already been done. It will take Boeing years to assure airlines that its planes are safe again.