Entertainment

Immortalize Victor Uwaifo As god Of Art, JIFORM Tells FG

By Web News 759

The Journalists International Forum For Migration, JIFORM has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to keep the memories of late Sir Victor Uwaifo, a music icon who passed on at 80 on Saturday describing him as a god of art.

In a tribute to the Benin, Edo State born legend, Ajibola Abayomi, the President of JIFORM said: “It is not too much for the Federal Government to immortalize Uwaifo, an extraordinary talent and a gift to this generation as the god of art. 

“Indeed, the scripture confirmed human beings as gods in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 saying “for ye are gods” so Uwaifo was a god of art. The musician, professor, knight, sculptor, flutist, writer, inventor of musical instruments, a university lecturer, and the first truly Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria deserves every respect from all of us. 

Venerated as Living Human Treasure  in 2017 by the UNESCO-United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) as one who possessed to a very high degree the knowledge and skills required for performing or re-creating specific elements of the intangible cultural heritage Thus, in three words, a “Living human treasure”, he came, he saw and conquered the world of art and other endeavors.

I recall how he narrated his amazing encounter with the mermaid while interviewing him in 2017 with nostalgia. Uwaifo said, “in 1966, I was the head Graphic Department of the National Television now the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at the Victorial Island.  Because of the traffic, I used to deliberately stay late and go to the bar beach to strum my guitar and get inspiration. That particular day, I stayed really late till everybody had gone.

“Not long after, I observed that each time the waves advanced towards me, I would move back, but the farther I moved the closer it came. Suddenly, I observed a figure coming towards me and before I knew it the figure was right before me. I wanted to run away. I screamed, which I later transposed into strumming the guitar, which has become a trend nowadays.

She just said, ‘if you see mammy water, never run away’. I just thought the mermaid loved music, otherwise it would have harmed me, said Uwaifo.

Ajibola said the amazing experience was a didactic that the way of God no man knows. For us, the passing of the great music legend is a celebration of the life of a man who met with the goddess of the river now he has departed with the divine mercury gift of art.

“Several visits I paid to his museum exposed me to his other talents as inventor, sculptor and unique song writer. His museum should be kept in his memory and maintained by the government as he demanded while alive”.

Born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City, Edo State. he was the first musician to be decorated with the Member of order of Nigeria (MON) in Nigeria.

He studied graphics at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and graduated in 1963 at 22. He received a bachelor’s degree with first-class honours at 54 years old (Valedictorian) and a master’s degree from the University of Benin in 1997 at 56 where he studied fine and applied arts and majored in sculpture.

He was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music.

Adedayo Adelowo

Lifestyle

Togo Set to Host, Support JIFORM West African Media Workshop in June

By Web News 790

The Government of the Republic of Togo has expressed readiness to support the West African Media Workshop for journalists in the region being facilitated by the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) slated for June 21-24, in Lome, the capital of the nation.

Minister of Communication and Media and the Spokesman of the Government of Togo, Professor Akoda Ayewouadan conveyed the position of the government recently during a meeting with the President of Organisation pour l’ Integration Africaine (OIA), Dr Azuma Ijoma in Lome, who represented the JIFORM President, Ajibola Abayomi.

The workshop is being organized by the JIFORM, a global media foundation with over 300 journalists across the continents with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria in partnership with the OIA, Togo.

According to the minister, the Government was very excited about the workshop which would further enhance the capacity of the media practitioners and contribute to the development in the country.

He said having received the details of the proposal for the event, he would brief the presidency, giving an assurance of the government’s support towards ensuring that the programme was successful.

Responding, the OIA President, Dr Ijoma thanked the government for the assurance and said all the machinery needed to make the workshop to be coordinated in both French and English languages had been set in place.

It would be recalled that the JIFORM President, Ajibola Abayomi had earlier visited Togo to consult with both the government and other stakeholders on the need to back the summit.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Economy

Gov. Makinde To Unveil Maiden Edition Of Diaspora Day

By Web News 676

Governor Seyi Makinde will unveil the maiden edition of the State’s Diaspora Day.

The event which will take place On April 22 in the Oyo State Capital, Ibadan is themed Promoting Diaspora Investments, Safe Migration and Curbing Human Trafficking.

This is as the governor’s aide on Diaspora Matters; Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu declared that the state would take the lead to drive both the foreign and local investments into the economy.

In a statement issued by the President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Ajibola Abayomi, who doubles as the media anchor for the event, Bolanle stated that the Governor’s blue print on diaspora matters was economic friendly.

Expressing the governor’s desire to actualize the aged-long economic diversification advocacy towards making Nigeria less dependent on oil, she called on investors both home and abroad to access the tourism potentials and other resources in the state.

The event will have the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama as the special guest of honour with the participation of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as well as Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).

Bolanle said the event would among other things review the investment opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora especially Oyo State indigenes with a view to further develop the state’s economy.

While admonishing the youths to shun irregular migration, she said the state was committed to promoting socio-economic activities aimed at creating more jobs and to restore confidence in the economy.

 According to her, the governor was committed to the eradication of human trafficking and would continue to ensure that the interests of the Oyo State indigenes were protected across the globe.

Noting that youths in the Southern part of the country dominated the list of stranded Nigerians in the Middle East, the SSA pledged to work with other diaspora officials across the nation to further promote orderly, safe and regular migration.

Other notable appointees in the state billed for the summit are Chief Bisi Ilaka, the Chief of Staff to the Governor; Professor Oyewo Oyelowo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Segun Ogunwuyi, the Director General, Oyo State! Investment and private Public Partnership; Princess w Professor Byron Price, the Global Director Diaspora Innovation Institute, City University  USA; Professor Ikechukwu Kanu Anthony from Tansian University Anambra; Dr Williams Ijoma, the President, Organisation pour l’Integrtion Africaine (OIA) Togo; Prince Michael Nku-Abuo, the Director General, Migration Control Services Agency, Cross River State.

Adewumi Faniran