IKEJI FESTIVAL ARONDIZUOGU

Arondizuogu is situated in the western part of
Okigwe town in Ideato Local Government Area of
Imo state. It is bounded to the North by Akokwa
town and to the South by Omuobum. The east is
occupied by Umualoma in Orumba North Local
Government Area of Anambra state. It lies close
to the equator having its Longitude between 7o,
26 t, 7o 30 t and its latitude is between 5 o 275
and 5o 30 N.
Ikeji festival which is known as the most popular
festival in Imo state has four version of its
Origin/history.
First, Dikeji a warrior from Arochukwu went to
war to recover some occupied places in Ujalli.
There he conquered the people and instead of
loosing/ looting the place, his captive Eze Nwaka
(also referred to as Ike) vouched for an annual
celebration of his defeat in the presence of the
gods of ujali annually with fifty men and women.
But later he stopped the celebration and refused
to continue with the tribute, this angered Dikeji
who came and cut off his head and took it to
Arochukwu where the event was been celebrated
as "Ikeji Ugwo", (the straight that owes a debt)
the celebration started in Ujalli from where it is
now shifted to Arochukwu and gradually to all
the rest of Aro colonies including Arondizuogu
with time the name Ikeji Ugwo became
shortened to "Ikeji festival".
The second version has it that Izuogu the
founder of Arondizuogu on One of his
commercial trips from Arochukwu was kidnapped
and he left home without his traditional "Omu"
which is (palm frond) because he was to visit
his woman lover, the Omu is the symbol of
protection for any Aro man (in order not to incur
the wrath of Ibim-Ukpabi the Long juju of
Arochukwu every Aro man travels with his Omu),
when they kidnapped Izuogu and interrogated
him, he told them that he was from Aro, when
queried further on the source of his power and
wisdom, he told them that "Ike-jim-Aga Mba"
which means the power that leads me through
towns and villages unharmed. While still their
hostage, one Afor market day, there appeared
three masked figure which were believed to have
come from Abam They liberated Izuogu and after
the liberation they started the celebration as "Ike
Jim Aga" which was later called Ikeji festival.
The third version has it that the festival was
derived from slave trade. The Aros were popular
then because of their wisdom and might with the
traditional "Omu" (palm frond) Any Aro man is
free to go to anywhere during the slave trade
period but without Omu he could incur the
danger of being sold into slavery. Any Aro man
sold to slavery were identified by the secret
word "Aka Ike Jim" meaning strong hands are
holding me, on hearing that the merchants would
immediately release the victim or else they will
incur the wrath of Ibini Ukpabi the long juju of
Arochukwu. Aros who were slaughtered during
slave trade where remembered in the occasion
as "Aka Ike Jim" a feast like the Passover feast
of the Israelites that was later called Ikeji.
The fouth version was of the view that the story
on the Origin of Ikeji was widely accepted as it
is connected with New Yam festival celebration.
Since yam is the main celebration of Ikeji, it
cannot be unconnected with Yam. In traditional
Arondizuogu society only men plant yam. The
Aros take some of their names and titles after
yam, such names are as follows:
Ugoji- the eagle yam
Ezeji – the king yam
Ikeji – the strength yam
Umeji – the loveth yam
Okparaji – the son of yam
The feast was derived from "Ji Isi" which is the
uprooting of the first tubers in the soil during the
second harvesting season. Ikeji also mean the
method of preserving Yam by tying it on the
stakes in the barn. With also these, they believe
that Ikeji has its root and origin in yam.
Ikeji festival could not have been celebrated
today if it were not a practical handover pattern.
Aro man is a strong believer and worshipper of
God- "chukwu". They depict it by their respect to
Ndichies and elders as people close to chukwu.
Aro man believes and is convinced in all
knowing, seeing, loving care and guidance of his
ancestors (Ndichies).this respect for chukwu
through Ndichies resulted in a ritual like form
called Ikeji festival.
PERIOD/PROCESS OF CELEBRATION
Ikeji festival is a feast celebrated by almost all
Aros in Igbo land especially Arochukwu,
Arondizuogu and Aro Ajalli. In Arondizuogu it is
celebrated every April each year often falling
alongside Easter. It is a festival that signifies the
myth and power of the Aros all over Igbo Land
especially during the slave trade era. It was their
victories and achievement that motivated them
into celebrating this festival and popularly is
referred to as Ikeji which means the power that
holds yam. Ikeji appears to be like a relay race
that holds meaning from the past, runs through
the present and it is geared towards the future
and is one of the secrets held by the Aros to
keep influence over the rest of Igbo people.
Certain preparations are done to commemorate
Ikeji festival before its celebration proper. After
harvest experience each year, Aro man has a
way of giving thanks and praise to "chukwu"
God. It involves a lot of purchase of food stuff
and provision for making sacrifices and offerings.
The festival celebration is preceded by "Eke"
market (the only market for the whole
Arondizuogu) and the market is popularly
referred to as "Eke Odu Ikeji". Animals ranging
from goat and fowl are bought as well as yams,
salt, oil, pepper etc in readiness for the Ikeji
feast .They believe that all the items sold on the
market day are provided by ancestors.
The second day which is "Orie day" is popularly
known as "Orie Ogbugbu" a day set aside for all
sacrifices to the ancestors in thanksgiving and
seeking for their blessing and protection during
the festival. They make the sacrifices in order to
balance the gap between him and chukwu.
On the "Afor" day which is the day of the main
festival celebration, where women exhibit their
cooking talent, different types of foods are
prepared in each family home, people eat and
drink as much as they like. All the masquerades
from the villages in Arondizuogu assemble at the
village square to perform on that day. They call
it "Agbaa-Anaa Ogu" meaning anything can
happen. They also thank the spirits for the
protection of everyone throughout the period of
the festival celebration and also blessings are
sought for, till the coming feast.
FEATURES OF THE FESTIVAL
1. Incitation into the Mmonwu society : The
incitation is often expensive, it takes place in the
month of September and is been conducted by
elders. The Ekulu Mmonwu society is constituted
by the elders and they always prepares
themselves for the annual celebration and life
time ceremony for the youths. During the
preparation they abstain from any type of sexual
relationship, injustice and lies. While most of
them also abstain from themselves from food
cooked by woman. From the above, the elders
also fast and pray for those to be initiated so
that they will be true patriots who would
enhance the spirit of the Aro man-ship.
2. Masquerading or "Oso Mmonwo": This is the
most interesting part of the festival; it takes
place in two days on Afor and Nkwo market
days. It is the greatest period of masquerade
performance in Arondizuogu. On that day people
move around in the whole town in search of
masquerade for their entertainment. The
masquerade perform during the festival each
with its own function, first is the "Mgbadike"
father of the masked spirit, "Aburuja" the mother
of masked spirit and their son "Ojionu" others
are "Okwo mma azuzu". The masquerades are
accompanied by flute player (Onye Oja) who
transmits spiritual messages to the masked
spirits. Also accompanied by the masquerade is
the praise singer called "Okwo mkpokpo" he does
not use instrument for role except his excellent
voice.
3.
4. Sacrifices before the festival : Aro man makes
sacrifices in order to balance the gap between
him and chukwu, the father of a family or the
eldest men in the kindred is normally entrusted
with the responsibility of promoting the rites of
Ikeji. He gathers all Ndichies in form of carved
symbolic scared woods and pours liberation on
them while calling upon all the ancestors of the
kindred to come and accept kola.
Ikeji festival holds a lot of potentials for the
burgeoning tourism industry. Tourists are
welcome to visit these festival and they have
rich culture of hospitality. The festival is
attractive, well organized and it varies from the
nature and that forms an amalgam of attraction
for the visiting tourist.




Relevance
This Ikeji festival, which holds in
the ancestral homeland of
Arondizuogu, is usually a forum
to bring back the sons and
daughters of the land from within
and in the Diaspora. The festival
has survived high measures of
antagonism and has come to be
accepted as an intangible
cultural heritage, worthy of
preservation.
The importance of this festival
lies in the fact that organizing
the festival is vested on the
traditional council, which
schedules and hands over to the
Arondizuogu Patriotic Unions, and
in turn, they promote and
organize the event.

Read More

IKEJI FESTIVAL ARONDIZUOGU

Arondizuogu is situated in the western part of
Okigwe town in Ideato Local Government Area of
Imo state. It is bounded to the North by Akokwa
town and to the South by Omuobum. The east is
occupied by Umualoma in Orumba North Local
Government Area of Anambra state. It lies close
to the equator having its Longitude between 7o,
26 t, 7o 30 t and its latitude is between 5 o 275
and 5o 30 N.
Ikeji festival which is known as the most popular
festival in Imo state has four version of its
Origin/history.
First, Dikeji a warrior from Arochukwu went to
war to recover some occupied places in Ujalli.
There he conquered the people and instead of
loosing/ looting the place, his captive Eze Nwaka
(also referred to as Ike) vouched for an annual
celebration of his defeat in the presence of the
gods of ujali annually with fifty men and women.
But later he stopped the celebration and refused
to continue with the tribute, this angered Dikeji
who came and cut off his head and took it to
Arochukwu where the event was been celebrated
as "Ikeji Ugwo", (the straight that owes a debt)
the celebration started in Ujalli from where it is
now shifted to Arochukwu and gradually to all
the rest of Aro colonies including Arondizuogu
with time the name Ikeji Ugwo became
shortened to "Ikeji festival".
The second version has it that Izuogu the
founder of Arondizuogu on One of his
commercial trips from Arochukwu was kidnapped
and he left home without his traditional "Omu"
which is (palm frond) because he was to visit
his woman lover, the Omu is the symbol of
protection for any Aro man (in order not to incur
the wrath of Ibim-Ukpabi the Long juju of
Arochukwu every Aro man travels with his Omu),
when they kidnapped Izuogu and interrogated
him, he told them that he was from Aro, when
queried further on the source of his power and
wisdom, he told them that "Ike-jim-Aga Mba"
which means the power that leads me through
towns and villages unharmed. While still their
hostage, one Afor market day, there appeared
three masked figure which were believed to have
come from Abam They liberated Izuogu and after
the liberation they started the celebration as "Ike
Jim Aga" which was later called Ikeji festival.
The third version has it that the festival was
derived from slave trade. The Aros were popular
then because of their wisdom and might with the
traditional "Omu" (palm frond) Any Aro man is
free to go to anywhere during the slave trade
period but without Omu he could incur the
danger of being sold into slavery. Any Aro man
sold to slavery were identified by the secret
word "Aka Ike Jim" meaning strong hands are
holding me, on hearing that the merchants would
immediately release the victim or else they will
incur the wrath of Ibini Ukpabi the long juju of
Arochukwu. Aros who were slaughtered during
slave trade where remembered in the occasion
as "Aka Ike Jim" a feast like the Passover feast
of the Israelites that was later called Ikeji.
The fouth version was of the view that the story
on the Origin of Ikeji was widely accepted as it
is connected with New Yam festival celebration.
Since yam is the main celebration of Ikeji, it
cannot be unconnected with Yam. In traditional
Arondizuogu society only men plant yam. The
Aros take some of their names and titles after
yam, such names are as follows:
Ugoji- the eagle yam
Ezeji – the king yam
Ikeji – the strength yam
Umeji – the loveth yam
Okparaji – the son of yam
The feast was derived from "Ji Isi" which is the
uprooting of the first tubers in the soil during the
second harvesting season. Ikeji also mean the
method of preserving Yam by tying it on the
stakes in the barn. With also these, they believe
that Ikeji has its root and origin in yam.
Ikeji festival could not have been celebrated
today if it were not a practical handover pattern.
Aro man is a strong believer and worshipper of
God- "chukwu". They depict it by their respect to
Ndichies and elders as people close to chukwu.
Aro man believes and is convinced in all
knowing, seeing, loving care and guidance of his
ancestors (Ndichies).this respect for chukwu
through Ndichies resulted in a ritual like form
called Ikeji festival.
PERIOD/PROCESS OF CELEBRATION
Ikeji festival is a feast celebrated by almost all
Aros in Igbo land especially Arochukwu,
Arondizuogu and Aro Ajalli. In Arondizuogu it is
celebrated every April each year often falling
alongside Easter. It is a festival that signifies the
myth and power of the Aros all over Igbo Land
especially during the slave trade era. It was their
victories and achievement that motivated them
into celebrating this festival and popularly is
referred to as Ikeji which means the power that
holds yam. Ikeji appears to be like a relay race
that holds meaning from the past, runs through
the present and it is geared towards the future
and is one of the secrets held by the Aros to
keep influence over the rest of Igbo people.
Certain preparations are done to commemorate
Ikeji festival before its celebration proper. After
harvest experience each year, Aro man has a
way of giving thanks and praise to "chukwu"
God. It involves a lot of purchase of food stuff
and provision for making sacrifices and offerings.
The festival celebration is preceded by "Eke"
market (the only market for the whole
Arondizuogu) and the market is popularly
referred to as "Eke Odu Ikeji". Animals ranging
from goat and fowl are bought as well as yams,
salt, oil, pepper etc in readiness for the Ikeji
feast .They believe that all the items sold on the
market day are provided by ancestors.
The second day which is "Orie day" is popularly
known as "Orie Ogbugbu" a day set aside for all
sacrifices to the ancestors in thanksgiving and
seeking for their blessing and protection during
the festival. They make the sacrifices in order to
balance the gap between him and chukwu.
On the "Afor" day which is the day of the main
festival celebration, where women exhibit their
cooking talent, different types of foods are
prepared in each family home, people eat and
drink as much as they like. All the masquerades
from the villages in Arondizuogu assemble at the
village square to perform on that day. They call
it "Agbaa-Anaa Ogu" meaning anything can
happen. They also thank the spirits for the
protection of everyone throughout the period of
the festival celebration and also blessings are
sought for, till the coming feast.
FEATURES OF THE FESTIVAL
1. Incitation into the Mmonwu society : The
incitation is often expensive, it takes place in the
month of September and is been conducted by
elders. The Ekulu Mmonwu society is constituted
by the elders and they always prepares
themselves for the annual celebration and life
time ceremony for the youths. During the
preparation they abstain from any type of sexual
relationship, injustice and lies. While most of
them also abstain from themselves from food
cooked by woman. From the above, the elders
also fast and pray for those to be initiated so
that they will be true patriots who would
enhance the spirit of the Aro man-ship.
2. Masquerading or "Oso Mmonwo": This is the
most interesting part of the festival; it takes
place in two days on Afor and Nkwo market
days. It is the greatest period of masquerade
performance in Arondizuogu. On that day people
move around in the whole town in search of
masquerade for their entertainment. The
masquerade perform during the festival each
with its own function, first is the "Mgbadike"
father of the masked spirit, "Aburuja" the mother
of masked spirit and their son "Ojionu" others
are "Okwo mma azuzu". The masquerades are
accompanied by flute player (Onye Oja) who
transmits spiritual messages to the masked
spirits. Also accompanied by the masquerade is
the praise singer called "Okwo mkpokpo" he does
not use instrument for role except his excellent
voice.
3.
4. Sacrifices before the festival : Aro man makes
sacrifices in order to balance the gap between
him and chukwu, the father of a family or the
eldest men in the kindred is normally entrusted
with the responsibility of promoting the rites of
Ikeji. He gathers all Ndichies in form of carved
symbolic scared woods and pours liberation on
them while calling upon all the ancestors of the
kindred to come and accept kola.
Ikeji festival holds a lot of potentials for the
burgeoning tourism industry. Tourists are
welcome to visit these festival and they have
rich culture of hospitality. The festival is
attractive, well organized and it varies from the
nature and that forms an amalgam of attraction
for the visiting tourist.




Relevance
This Ikeji festival, which holds in
the ancestral homeland of
Arondizuogu, is usually a forum
to bring back the sons and
daughters of the land from within
and in the Diaspora. The festival
has survived high measures of
antagonism and has come to be
accepted as an intangible
cultural heritage, worthy of
preservation.
The importance of this festival
lies in the fact that organizing
the festival is vested on the
traditional council, which
schedules and hands over to the
Arondizuogu Patriotic Unions, and
in turn, they promote and
organize the event.

Read More

5 things to remember when living alone in Lagos for the first time

Sometimes in life, the demands of work and the need for independence has turned many of us into mini-flat dwellers and apartment settlers. Others times, we are forced to move to foreign lands for work or studies and find ourselves living alone.

The thought of living alone in a big metropolitan city like Lagos can be utterly daunting, especially if it is your first time. At first, you battle with such thoughts as “won’t it get really lonely?”, “will I cope?”  And the answer is sure, as with time you realize that are so many great things about living by yourself in Lagos.

While life alone in Lagos can be very rewarding, there are certain things you need to remember to ensure the days you spend turn out smoothly. 

The alarm clock is your best friend

The problem of traffic congestion in Lagos is no longer a secret nor something that can be ignored. The moment you have found a place to move into within the city, the first thing you need to buy is an alarm clock. Even if you are on a sabbatical and will stay indoors for the period you are in town, you still need an alarm clock to help you schedule the few movements you may need to make. That way you can remind yourself of rush hours and give yourself an early start to any destination.

A good relationship with your landlord saves you a lot of stress

Before you move into a new apartment in Lagos, ensure you have a clear deal with your landlord. Sign a contract that clearly states the amount you will be paying and when will you be doing so. Again try to  always fulfill your end of the contract, as that is the way to stay in your landlord’s good graces. No doubt some landlords that will just be terrible no matter what you do, however, while you do not have to make your landlord your best friend, keep your relationship positive, cheerful and fairly simple. Maintain this attitude is important as it becomes an incentive during times you need your landlord help to settle utility bills and other concerns.

Tipping your security guard is the best way to survive

The security guard often called ‘gateman’ or ‘maiguard’ plays an important role when it comes to living a good life if you are doing it solo in Lagos. They are very handy and the tip is usually an essential motivation for them. They can help you runs small errands like fetching water, buy fuel for you in times of fuel scarcity and even sort out problems in your apartment when you are not around. He also keeps you informed on what is going on in your environs. You however need to be careful, study the security guard and trust him before you start to rely on him.

Having a rigid budget and learning to improvise keeps you afloat

You need to have a firm budget. Put everything into consideration: from food to transportation and utility bills. Learn to cook rather than always buying food outside, it will help you cut costs. Also, learn to improvise rather than always purchasing new appliances. Again, try how to do things yourself rather than employing external help to get things done. YouTube has all the DIY instructions you need so use it instead. Ensure you remain strict with spending, otherwise you will severely cut into your budget, and cause bigger problems for yourself.

Secure windows and doors are essential

Before you move in, ensure the windows and doors are secure and possibly impenetrable. This is very important for your safety, especially if you are living in a notorious part of the city. While security guards are employed to make sure no suspicious individual enter without your permission, you need to be extra cautious as some unwelcome guests can be very innovative.

By Jovago team

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4 tips to enjoy a ‘healthy’ happy hour in Abuja

Abuja boasts of a number clubs, lounges and pubs that serve a variety of beverages: spirits, cocktails and wines, and every fun-lover in Abuja appreciates the need for happy hour at the end of a long day or on weekend nights.  But then, while the happy hour is a much-needed bonding time, it is important that participants keep tab on their calorie budget.  The key to a healthy lifestyle is balance ,therefore eating or drinking to excess while  at your favorite bar’s happy hour can have serious repercussions on your health.

If you enjoy having a “happy hour” while visiting Abuja, but you are striving to live a healthy lifestyle, 

Order low-calorie beverages

Most people are unaware of the facts but, some alcoholic drinks actually are fattening and unhealthy as they are high in sugar and consequently calories. Skip the sugary options, especially cocktails and go for wine. If you insist on a cocktail, ask the bartender to skip the simple syrup or agave. Some alcoholic brands are low-calorie, find out them out and request for them when you are at the bar. If you love spirits as well, go for vodka and mix with club soda. Club soda is not only sugar free, it keeps you hydrated which is helpful when drinking.

Hydrate between drinks

While drinking and having a good time, remember to slow down. Do not be constricted by peer pressure, limit the number of drinks you gulp down and order water or club soda to take at intervals, possibly in between your drink orders.  Heavy drinking can only leads to hangovers when your body is dehydrated. If you drink water in the same quantity to your booze, there is a slim chance of you going overboard.

Snack smart

Happy hour drinking usually comes with a lot of snacking. Fries, chicken wings, barbeque, salted nuts etc may be offered at a great price, and may seem like a good combination for your beverage, but they may not the best option if you are keen on staying healthy. If you are puckish and looking for what to nibble on while guzzling your beer or cocktails, go for something high in protein and low in fat or grease. Sea food like shrimp and fish, keep calories low by filling you up until dinner. Even better, to eliminate this temptation completely, eat a proper healthy meal before you go to the bar.

Try a happy hour at home

Having a happy hour at home not only saves your waistline, it cushions your wallet, ensuring extra coins or notes are removed from it. A happy hour at home does not have to be alone; you can invite your friend or co-workers over for a drink. A chill at your place of residence puts you in charge of the kind of drinks and food you consume through the time. You can ask your friends to bring light snacks to ease some of your hosting duties, but essentially you control the kind of cocktails that are served, its ingredients and frequency.

By Jovago team

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5 funny yet annoying things Nigerians do at the cinema

The cinema culture is fast returning at an appreciable pace after it declined in the 1990s. Today, cinemas like Ozone, Silverbird and Genesis Deluxe around the country are witnessing reasonable attendance. While the many rediscover the joy of blockbuster movies on a big screen, there are some persons who may be hell-bent on diverting your attention from the screenplay and this can be annoying.

The prolific commentator

They are better commentators than Andy Gray and John Motson. However, they do not to run football commentaries but annoying movie commentaries at the cinema. They will narrate every scene, they cannot keep their emotions under wraps and they always have something to say about the movie. They cannot simply keep their mouth shut. This kind of people can be very frustrating.

The phone talkative

Your phone rings every second in the cinema hall and you pick it every time it rings. Even if you are a businessman, your phone should be on silent rather than disturbing others with your calls. It is better to just switch it off when you are at the movies. In addition, remember that you are on a date with your significant other, you should make it an eventful evening for her. However, for some people, they do not really care, they will convert the cinema into a phone call hub even though there is a clear sign that you should switch-off your phone.

The selfie addict

You cannot do without taking pictures even in the cinema. You flip out your phone, pose and click! These pictures are immediately uploaded on social media. It is either you take your pictures before or after the not everyone will be happy with the lousy display of your photography talent.

The crying baby
You will definitely regret going to the cinema if you are in the same hall with a crying baby. The question is why do some mothers bring their babies to the cinema? Because at a particular point during the movie, the baby will inescapably brawl its lungs. If this happens, you will have no choice than to leave the hall.

He who laughs last…

A comical scene was shown and everyone in the cinema hall laughs. However, for you that is when your laughter begins. You may be laughing last but you are definitely not laughing best as your laughter could bring you ridicule. It will be quite embarrassing if everyone in the hall shoot you with their piercing and angry pupil. You will have no choice than to compose.

By Jovago team

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Top 5 traditional dances from eastern Nigeria

Whether it’s celebratory, energizing, cathartic, funny, or just plain embarrassing, dance is one of the best art forms for expression. People gyrate in order to celebrate, commemorate or even to prepare for some ritual.

Historic and traditional dance goes back hundreds and even thousands of years. Nigeria has the treasure of a variety of folk and tribal dances in regions across the country. The eastern region, which consist mostly of the Igbo tribe, have a list of traditional dances performed as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and these dances are sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story.

When visiting the Eastern parts of Nigeria, check out Jovago’s list of top 5 local dances for some inspiration!

Ikpirikpi-ogu (War dance)
Commonly associated with the people of Abam in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State, Nigeria,Ikpirikpi-ogu is a dance of warriors. Originally performed to welcome soldiers back from tribal wars, it exudes an air of valor and is strictly performed by men. Today it’s purely symbolical to show the strength of a community and its conquest over collective challenges. It is performed at key festivals and community events.


Atilogwu (Acrobatic Dance)

This is very similar to performances by cheerleaders in today’s western world. It is known as the ‘Acrobatic Dance” as it requires a lot of quick movements and calisthenics. It is mainly performed by the youth for entertainment at ceremonies or other events.
Nkwa umu-Agbogho (the Maiden dance)

In a bid to attract suitors, this dance which involves rhythmic movements of the chest and waist, was performed by maidens who had come of age and were set to marry. It was a key aspect of the Igbo culture and was used to foster abstinence from sexual activities before marriage. In recent times, it is performed as a form of entertainment by young ladies with supple bodies.

Omuru-onwa and Agbacha-ekuru-nwa
This dance strictly performed by married women, generally involves responsive movement of the body, in a rhythmic  fashion to hip-swinging music. Married women and new mothers used such entertaining opportunities to exercise, lose weight, shed baby-fats and stay healthy through weekly rehearsals.


Mmanwu (masquerades)
Possibly the most popular dance in the Igbo culture, Mmanwu is celebrated across the entire Igbo landscape. In the ancient times, masquerades were seen as sacred as they either represented deities or were messengers sent by deities to deliver judgments or penalties on otherwise powerful people. They were untouchable; feared to be spirits.

It was assumed that during the Mmanwu dance, the spirit of the deity possessed the person wearing masquerade. The Mmanwu dance was and is still featured in most Igbo carnivals, celebrations and funerals including the New yam festival. Their performances are usually vibrant and mobile causing so audiences to move around in order to fully enjoy each.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/travel-in-nigeria/188187-top-5-traditional-dances-from-eastern-nigeria.html 

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NLC petitions Minister over Togolese govt’s rejection of ECOWAS travel certificate from Nigerians

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday petitioned the minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, demanding an immediate investigation into an allegation that the Togolese government was rejecting travel certificates issued by the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to Nigerians travelling to the country.

Copies of the petition were also sent to minister of Foreign Affairs; executive secretary, ECOWAS Commission; Togolese ambassador to Nigeria; and comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The petition, signed by the general secretary of NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson, said the national president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, was personally humiliated by officials of Asky Airline at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday, when he was about to board the flight to Lome, Togo.

Mr. Ozo-Eson said Mr. Wabba was denied boarding and prevented from travelling out of the country by officials of the airline after tendering his ECOWAS Travel Certificate duly issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of ECOWAS.

The NLC scribe said officials of Asky Airline who denied Mr. Wabba boarding on the flight said they were acting on the instructions of the Togolese government.

He explained that the travel document issued on July 16, 2015, with an expiration date of July 15, 2017, was previously used by the NLC president on trips to Senegal and Ghana, both members of ECOWAS.
Urging the federal government to consider the issue as a matter of national significance and urgently intervene to save Nigerians the humiliation and embarrassment, Mr. Ozo-Eson said he did not understand why Togo would not recognize a travel document issued by ECOWAS, of which it is a member.

“It is curious that at the time of ticket purchase, Asky Airline did not deem it necessary to warn prospective passengers of ECOWAS origin that the Togolese government does not accept or recognize the ECOWAS Travel Certificate,” the NLC scribe stated.

He said the NLC believes Nigerians, wherever they are, deserve protection if they act within the law, pointing out that by denying Mr. Wabba the right to make the trip, the central labour body was denied the representation at the International Trade Union (ITU)-Africa activity held in Togo.

“The disruption of his travel plan and by extension, denial of his participation at this major activity, has caused the NLC president considerable embarrassment as well as constituted a set-back to the Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria,” Mr. Ozo-Eson noted.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Sandra Elleingand, the director of communications of ECOWAS, she declined comment, saying she was in a meeting.
But another senior official of the community said on the condition of anonymity that ECOWAS had since stopped issuing travel certificates.

“They should know that ECOWAS does not accept travel certificate anymore, because we do not issue it anymore. What we issue is laissez-passer (a kind of travel document).
“ECOWAS travel certificate is only issued by the embassies in a country when somebody is stranded and is coming back.

“If he said he has used the certificate to travel to Senegal and Ghana before, how long ago? If you go to immigration, being a government official, it does not take a few minutes it would be issued to you at N5, 000 and save yourself from all those embarrassment.

On the petition to the minister, the ECOWAS official said nothing is going come out of it as all government officials already know that travel certificate were no more accepted.

“I don’t know what purpose the petition would serve. He can’t get anywhere with that petition. There was a time ECOWAS was publicising that everyone should get laissez passer. Everybody, including traders, has it,” the source explained.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/198900-nlc-petitions-minister-togolese-govts-rejection-ecowas-travel-certificate-nigerians.html

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Tanzania: Ngorongoro Wonder to Be Broadcast Live to Millions

 

Dar es Salaam — The Ngorongoro National Conservation Area is to receive unprecedented exposure when its natural beauty and wonder is beamed live to millions of people in the US and other parts of the world.

America's popular television programme, "Good Morning America," will today air from the Ngorongoro Crater in a world first to bring to the television screens the uncensored pictures of nature at its best.

Good Morning America is part of the popular ABC channel and is said to be the most watched television programme in the US, Australia and other parts of the world with a subscription.

The station announced yesterday that it would be beaming live, later in the afternoon, pictures of the wildlife in Ngorongoro crater in what it termed "the first network television event to be simultaneously broadcast live in 360°."

The programme will air between 7am-9am Eastern Time Zone. East Africa is averagely eight hours ahead of the US time for those with access to the channel and may want to enjoy the un-paralleled experience from Ngorongoro which is a world heritage site and also listed as one of the global's natural beauty site. It is also known as Africa's 'Garden of Eden.'

The televised venture will thrust Tanzania into the world map and give its tourism the much needed shot to show-case its game and safari richness. The local tourism circuit was excited about the rare opportunity that will likely grow their potential to attract more visitors.

ABC's Good Morning America is teaming up with IM360, the leader in immersive and interactive content solutions, to unveil what they have dubbed "GMA ON SAFARI."

The segment will bring virtual reality programing to a global audience via live network broadcasts, with online access provided through websites and apps, they announced.

Viewers of this immersive experience will travel off-road to get a stunning first-person view of the landscapes and wildlife that make the Ngorongoro region one of the world's most rugged terrains.

GMA ON SAFARI anchor Amy Robach will also report on the encroaching threat of poachers to Tanzania and Africa's majestic animals.

This first-ever live VR experience is powered by patented technology from IM360, including 360° cameras, virtual reality production software that captures, stitches and processes live content in real-time, and it's all supported with custom-built backend and distribution platform.

"Partnering with an industry leader such as GMA on this first-ever live network 360° experience reinforces the strength of our technology, and our vision for the future of news and entertainment," said Mr Richard Ngo-Tran, Vice President of Marketing for IM360. "We're proud of our proprietary live 360 technology and having a national platform to showcase these capabilities will help push virtual reality further into the mainstream."

Viewers will be treated to never-before-seen virtual reality and drone content filmed in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and neighboring Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the biggest of big game: lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos and elephants.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201602231040.html

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Seychelles Tourist Board opens new office in South Africa

The beauty of the Seychelles is rooting itself in South Africa with the opening of an office in Johannesburg.

The decision taken by the Seychelles Tourism Board to open an office in the industrial city of South Africa is to maintain a Seychelles tourism presence in the heart of the country.

The STB believes this will further boost the confidence of the travel trade in selling Seychelles and a show of commitment by the STB in the market place.

The STB is also investing for the future, with the aim of consolidating Seychelles market share in South Africa and Africa in general.

This is a market where competition is stiff, but possesses significant growth opportunity for Seychelles, and a move to stimulate demand will further drive arrivals from South Africa.
David Germain, the STB director for Africa and the Americas explained: “This is a positive move, to further strengthen the existing relationship with the South African trade partners selling Seychelles in South Africa a support mechanism and building on the momentum of continued growth obtained for Seychelles from the South African market.

“We have every reason to believe that this office will contribute positively towards increased sales for Seychelles to a greater extent in South Africa.”

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Iran Overhauls Tourism Industry to Court Chinese Tourists

Tourism, a topic discussed when China Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last January in Tehran, has become central to the Islamic Republic agenda, especially after finalizing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action last month.

In recent years, Iran has laid the groundwork to capitalize on the large number of Chinese citizens traveling abroad, more than 100 million in 2014. Deputy of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Morteza Rahmani Movahed, disclosed in June 2014 that Iran plans to attract 5 percent of China's overseas tourists and desires to boost the number of overall foreign visitors from 4.5 million in 2013 to 10 million by 2019 within the framework of the 2025 Vision Plan. He noted that Iran desires to draw 20 million annual tourists in the next decade, generating an estimated $25-30 billion.
Iran has steadily invested in its tourism infrastructure and the world is taking note. Its ranking in the World Economic Forum, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, has improved in the past four years, from 114 in 2011 to 97 in 2015. However, Tehran did not make the report's Middle East and North Africa list of Top 10 most tourism-ready economies.
Steady progress notwithstanding, Iranian officials have stated that improvements are needed because it lacks adequate tourism infrastructure.

"Iran lacks the proper infrastructure required to survive in the highly competitive tourism market," chairman of Iran-China Chamber of Commerce Assadollah Asgaroladi said in 2014. "Even if we succeed in attracting the targeted 5 million Chinese tourists by [2015], we would not have sufficient hotels of international standard to accommodate the travelers nor do we have enough number of trained Chinese tour guides," he added.
To its credit, Tehran has recognized these weak spots and moved to increase the number of hotels and create educational framework to produce quality Chinese speakers.

Indicators suggest that Iran's tourism industry is growing, albeit, slowly. During the 8th Tehran International Exhibition on Tourism last February, Iranian officials created a committee specifically tailored to court China markets. Although nearly 150 countries received event invitations, only 13 attended, one being Beijing. The following year at the 9th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, scheduled for February 16 to 19, 2016, the number of attending nations increased from 13 in 2015 to 16 in 2016, and again, China participated. The exhibition highlighted Iran's multiple tourism investment opportunities, including hotel construction.
In 2014, Iran overhauled its hotel industry, investing $220 million in hotels and other similar establishments. Officials have strategized to build more four-and-five star hotels, as only 130 out of 1,100 hotels hold this status.

"By 2025, the number of four-and-five star hotels in Iran must rise to 400, ICHTO head Masoud Soltanifar, recently told PressTV, further noting that 125 are presently being erected.

Starting this March, Iranian officials plan to offer an income tax-exemption for five-years to incentivize companies to build more hotels, particularly in less developed parts of the country, Seyed Kamel Taqavinejad, head of Iranian Tax Administration said, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, IRNA reported.

In 2009, University of Tehran and Yunnan University of China joint-sponsored the first Confucius Institute in Iran, educating 57 students during its inaugural year. Other institutions, including University of Tehran last December, have launched Chinese language programs.

To entice Chinese travelers, Iran has overhauled its entire visa protocol, decreasing visa processing time to less than 48 hours, removing visa requirements for Chinese visitors touring Iran for up to five days, and lengthening its on-arrival visas from 14 days to 30 days.

To accommodate a rise in tourists, last October, direct-flights increased in frequency between the two nations. Iran's Mahan Air, now departs three-times per week and China Southern Airlines also flies nonstop to Iran. Direct travel will benefit Iran's business and tourism sectors, as economic and investment delegations jockey to enter the Iranian market.

Why has Tehran gone to such lengths to court Chinese tourists?
The simple answer is money.

Renminbi, Chinese currency, will become official world tenure in October 2016, therein allow Chinese travelers to carry hard currency. This exchange, given that Chinese travelers spent a combined $165 billion in 2014, should spark the Iranian economy.

During President Xi's first trip to Iran last month, the two countries decided to escalate trade to $600 billion during the next decade, and agreed on major financial deals, including likely having the world's largest bank in terms of money, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, open branches in Iran. This deal, if finalized, should pay high dividends to both countries.

With a report by Fung Business Intelligence Center and China Luxury Advisors forecasting the number of Chinese outward tourists to swell to 234 million and their spending to hit $422 billion by 2020, according to Wall Street Journal, Iran is poised to see a return on investment.

By: Taylor Butch

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Market Space Draws Attention to Tourism, Hospitality

By Nurudeen Oyewole

Lagos — In the face of dwindling income from oil, a management training establishment, Market Space has called for quick embrace of travel, tourism and hospitality industry.

Market Space Director of Studies, George Thorpe, who made the call in Lagos, said already the Centre was leading the revolution by making available to Nigerians certified executive training programmes in marketing management levels 5 and 6 as well as travel, tourism and hospitality management Level 5 Diploma Programmes.

According to Thorpe, these programmes which were accredited by ABE UK, an accrediting body in Britain were designed for Nigerians to acquire leading academic and practical experiences in the service industry.

"Nigeria, the largest, most dynamic and competitive market in Africa is projected to show unprecedented growth and development in the coming years; employees need new capabilities that only international quality professional qualifications can certify," Thorpe said.

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Studying in UK while in Nigeria - ABE UK

ABE UK partners Market Space to offer executive professional diploma courses in marketing and travel, tourism and hospital management in Lagos

News just in indicates that Market Space, the Lagos-based management consultancy and executive training outfit that has been offering short duration marketing and management courses to company executives and management staff, for some years now, has been  accredited by Association of Business Executives (ABE) UK, the globally recognised qualification awarding body which for over 40 years has been offering courses on these areas in UK, to do the same in Nigeria.

Making this known in a press briefing, Mrs. Edith Keshi-Robinson, Head of Centre, Market Place, expressed her joy at ABE’s decision to partner with the outfit to offer courses on these areas to knowledge-hungry Nigerian company management executives. She noted that that the consultancy outfit’s decision to seek partnership with the world-acclaimed ABE  stems from its desire to reposition Market Space from short duration marketing and management courses to higher grade executive education in marketing management and related disciplines and added that it was timely.

“Nigeria, the largest, most dynamic and competitive market in Africa is projected to show unprecedented growth and development in the coming years,” she said. “Employees need new capabilities that only international quality professional qualifications can certify.”

Anthony Atagamen, Regional Manager, (ABE), West Africa, noted that ABE UK which has over the years offered over 1.5 million learners the opportunity of an ABE UK education to over 100 countries is a perfect strategic fit for Market Space, adding that the ABE’s decision to partner the consultancy outfit was based on its pedigree as a trustworthy executive training centre. The courses on offer at Market Space, he said, have long been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Director of Studies, George E. Thorpe, clarified that Market Space has been chosen to provide tuition for ABE UK Marketing Management Levels 5 & 6 in Travel, Tourism and Hospital Management, Level 5, Diploma programme in Nigeria and that enrolment for the 2016/17 sessions for these programmes has commenced. These diploma programmes, he said, would run out of the Market Space Lagos Training Centre.

“I am committed to mobilizing a best-of-breed faculty and other local resources to take full advantage of the robust ABE UK Diploma syllabuses and content in meeting the learning aspiration of management executives and their corporate sponsors,” he promised.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/studying-in-uk-while-in-nigeria/

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5 Easy Ways to Save Money on Meals While Traveling

Food is a necessity, and so it will always be one of the major expenses for anyone going on a trip or vacation.

Along with hotel bills, food costs while traveling can quickly add up. Fortunately, there are many ways to please your palate on a trip without breaking the bank.

What is the secret? this is the 5 easy ways to save money on meals while traveling.

Eat like the locals, Hit the Streets

Some of the best budget food in the world comes from street vendors. It is hearty and cheap, and permits you to eat to your fill without shelling out too much money. Rather than patronize recommended tourist restaurants and cafes (which are usually overpriced) in the town you are visiting, ask questions and find out where the locals eat.

Ask the hotel staff or even your taxi driver about their favorite food joints, and you are more likely to end up with an affordable meal, also, you gain a more authentic dining experience as you savor local specialties. To avoid food poisoning, be sure the meal is served hot, check out the environs of the hotel or eatery as it will give you a hint on how thorough their hygiene routine is.

Lodge in accommodations with in-room kitchens

This option may seem stressful, but it is a very viable one. Instead of eating at restaurants for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout your trip, consider booking a hotel room with a kitchenette and then visit the local market or grocery stores for ingredients to cook your own meals.

Staying in a place with a kitchen can do wonders for your budget, and your taste buds as well, as you get to have meals that suit your particular taste, seeing as you will be making them with the condiments that you prefer.

Search for discounts, deals and free vouchers

Meal deals and dining coupons are always available, you just need to find them and the internet is usually a big help.

Scour the internet. Scope out hotel deals and packages that include daily breakfast to help cut costs, or that offer credits towards meals at the hotel restaurant to offset the cost of dining out every time.

If you are in Nigeria, hellofood.com is a good start. You are bound to find discounts for meals and coupons for popular restaurants, grocery stores, and bars in the place you will be visiting.

Vouchers can also be found at your hotel, the airport, bus or train stations, or any other location that caters to tourists. Newspapers and magazines also include vouchers in ad sections for discounted meals and entertainment.

Keep alcohol intake on the low

Experiencing a unique, regional craft beer or wine might be high on your list but it is best to keep alcohol intake generally on the low. Alcohol has a way of making you stray from being budget-minded to splurging extravagantly.

The best way to keep on budget is to avoid alcoholic beverages altogether. To maximize your savings, stick to water or fruit juices. If you can, bring powdered drink mixes to compliment your meals.

Draft a detailed meal budget

Most people tend to neglect the cost of feeding while planning a budget for a trip. They focus on the price of airfares, hotels and transportation.

It is essential to research the place you are traveling to and consider available restaurant options, and estimate how much you could possibly spend per meal. By doing that, you will have a set amount to spend per meal and you will know how to regulate the frequency of the meals for the time you will be on the trip.

There will only be a slim chance of you blowing your budget on an impulsive dinner at that fancy restaurant you know is way out of your price range.

By Jovago team

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Destination of the week: Yola

For most visitors, Yola holds an immediate and enduring fascination – a truly inspiring metropolis, it also serves as the administrative capital of Adamawa state. Although one of the largest cities in North eastern Nigeria, it is not densely populated, ensuring plenty of wide-open space for exploration.

With its spectacular landscape, rugged scenery and plentiful wildlife, coupled with the unhurried nature of rural living, this State has a scenic array that encourages leisurely investigation, especially on foot .
Its rich cultural heritage aptly captured in its past history, craftsmanship, music, art, food, festivities and hospitality all add up to make Yola a rewarding experience, and a city that is ideally suited for independent travel.

With enough time, you can cover a range of activities, from hiking the Three Sisters Rock, exploring the Vimtim cave, Kiri Dam or River Gongola & River Benue Confluence, relaxing at the laidback Kela holiday Resort to getting lost at the Gumti National Park & Zoo.

Though most visitors are drawn to Yola by its landmarks and beauty, the enduring memory is likely to be of its people and their way of life. Aside from occasional hassle from unofficial tour guides, Yola is essentially wonderful place to visit.

TOP THREE SITES

Lamurde Hot Spring
A huge part of the world popular Sukur Cultural Landscape, Lamurde Hot Spring was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and has since become one of the top tourist destinations in Nigeria.

Kiri Dam
Originally built to meet the electricity and water needs of Savannah Sugar Company at Numan, Kiri Dam is also suitable for boat fishing, racing and surfing .On the hilly side overlooking the dam are beautiful structures with modern facilities to accommodate tourist.

Three Sister Rocks
The three sister rocks in the Song Local Government Area, an iconic landmark in the area, consist of three scenic rock formations standing side by side at the same height, making beautiful scenery.

LODGING
The high season (March to May) sees hordes of visitors arrive for the festivals. The shoulder seasons (June to February) mean fewer crowds and cheaper accommodations, but a good chance of unstable weather.
Either way, there are some fabulous options, from high end resorts to homely acloves and flea-ridden beddings. Even in high season, you should be able to find something in your preferred range within the heart of the city. The budget hotels are located mostly around Numan-Yola road, while the expensive ones are located close to the American University of Nigeria and the government house.

EATING
Restaurants, diners and street stalls offer simpler dishes than more formal restaurants catering to middle-class indigenes and tourists, with proper menus and a broader range of food options.
Popular restaurants in the city include F3 meal-dessert, Restaurant damada, Top Ten restaurant, Peacock restaurant hotel and nite club, Jesse café and many more. The Local delicacies of the people in Yola include Miya Kuka served with Tuowo Masara or Tuwon Shinkafa or Tuwon Acha, Miyan Yakuwa and Miyan Zogale, while common street food are Fura de Nunu, Masa paired with suya and kuli kuli.

SHOPPING
Visitors to Yola are spoilt for choice when it comes to souvenirs: traditional crafts such as jewellery, textiles, and leatherwork all offer good value for money if you are prepared to haggle and be choosy. Many people are intimidated by haggling, but it need not be an ordeal. Just keep in mind that if you don’t reach an agreement, even after a lengthy session, nothing is lost.

The city has some boutiques, shopping complexes and mini malls for those looking to purchase clothing, fabrics and other fashion accessories, gadgets and household appliances. Some of the popular ones include FCE shopping complex, Glass house Amana shopping complex, Yakubu Shopping Plaza,

FUN FACT
The people of Yola celebrate the Njuwa Fishing Festival which holds at Lake Njuwa from the month of March through May each year.

By Adeniyi

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Travel Cuisine: 5 Nigerian meals you can make with $5 or less

Are you visiting in Nigeria and looking for ways to cut down expenses by sticking to a low budget meal? The key to achieving your goal would be to look for healthy foods that are versatile nutritious and can be made for $5 or less. Usually, with most of the staple items gotten from the local markets scattered around the country, you will be able to a variety of easy, inexpensive meals.

However, to make things easier, we, have a list of five dollar or less dinners, lunches or breakfast ideas that will help you feed yourself and maybe even a guest, delicious and nutritious meals that fit your budget.

Nigerian Jollof rice

‘Boring’ will never be a word to describe this popular Nigerian meal. Jollof rice is one of the most simple and the easy Nigerian foods to make . It is always a favorite option for the thrifty as it is not only delicious and nutritious , it comes together with ingredients that you already have. Also, it tastes good whether served hot or cold. To prepare this meal, you need: 1/2 Kg Chicken: costs about N300 ($1.20), 1 cup of rice: costs about N100 ($.50),  Ground fresh tomatoes: costs about N50($.25) per tin, ground fresh pepper Onions, spices, groundnut oil, salt, cubes of knorr/maggi and dried crayfish: optional. The meal takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get cooked, depending on your cooking methods. The end product however will have you clamouring back for seconds.  You definitely want to start with this meal if you are new to Nigerian foods.

Yam porridge

Yet another simple meal, yam porridge will make a great main dish for midweek lunch. A staple food in Nigeria, it is quite popular in the western part of Nigeria and is known as Asaro or Ebe. Mainly yam cooked with few ingredients and little or no vegetable, the resulting dish contains some soupy liquid. Main Ingredient include White Puna yam: costs about N300 ($1.20)for a medium size tuber, Red palm Oil: costs about N200($1) for 50c, smoked mackerel fish : costs about N300 per whole fish($1.50), onion, ground crayfish, fresh green vegetable (eg pumpkin, parsley, scent leaf or green amaranth), habanero or chili Pepper & Salt (to taste), and of course, stock cubes. This meal is satisfying both taste- and budget-wise.

Okro soup

This meal is the perfect perfection as  it is very easy to prepare and likely the cheapest soup in Nigeria. Also known as the Lady finger’s soup, or locally referred to as Ofe okwuru (ibo), Obe ila(Yoruba) or Miyan Kubewa(hausa), this soup can be made chunky or smooth and eaten alone (if you are a weight watcher), or paired with Eba or pounded yam. To prepare  this meal, you need the following ingredients: Okra (a medium size bowl full), Fluted Pumpkin leaves (optional), Stock fish, meat (beef, chicken, turkey, etc), dry fish or smoked fish(optional), stock cubes, palm oil, salt, ground crayfish and pepper to taste. You can get quantities of each of the main ingredient from the local market for as low as N100($.50) each, except for meat which you can get ½ kilo from as low as N200 ($1). Throw this simple but satisfying meal together and your wallet will thank you.

Yam and Garden egg sauce

Get your dose of protein and fibre with yam and garden egg sauce. A great choice for a quick weeknight dinner, the meal is quick, easy and flavorful. For the sauce, you can make use of any type of garden egg available to you, including Aubergines. You will also need the following ingredients:  Garden eggs, palm oil, onion, smoked mackerels, Habanero Pepper & Salt (to taste), ogiri okpei/ iru(optional). Like the Okro soup, you can get quantities of the main ingredients from the local market for as low as N100($.50) .For the yam, you  will need a tuber of yam which you will just have to peel, cut and boil separately with salt. The entire meal takes about 45 minutes to prepare. The perfect meal for weight watchers and a budget friendly meal option, some of the benefits of this mean include effective weight loss as well as lowering blood cholesterol and eye pressure in glaucoma.

Moi Moi

This high-protein meal will have you salivating. One of the most popular dishes in Nigeria, Moi Moi is made from pureed beans. The process of making this meal is a bit complicated, but the end result is always a delight. Usually, a special kind of beans (Black eyed beans) is used for making beans pudding in Nigeria, but you can substitute with any other type of beans if you live outside Nigeria. Other ingredients include: Onions,Red bell pepper (Tatashe),Scotch bonnet pepper (ata rodo), Ground crayfish , Palm oil, stock cubes (Maggi) and Salt . Purchasing all ingredients will cost less than $4 at the local market. Moi Moi can be eaten alone or paired with other meals such as Pap (akamu, Ogi) or soaked garri; or it can also be served as a side to such meals as fried rice e.t.c

By Rita

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Tourism building a sustainable tourist guiding sector

The Department of Tourism in partnership with SANParks and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), from 18 - 19 February 2016, celebrated the International Tourist Guides Day with a two-day event including activities and programmes ranging from presentations, motivational talks, excursions and workshops in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga.

©gvn via 123RF

The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Building a Successful and Sustainable Tourist Guiding Sector” with the aim to capacitate tourist guides on sustainable tourism trends within the adventure, nature and cultural sub-sectors of guiding. The theme also emphasizes the opportunities for integration across these sub-sectors which could contribute to a more self-sustainable guiding sector.

Growth and transformation

The deputy director general, Morongoe Ramphele on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, said that as we celebrate International Tourist Guides Day, we need to continue being the biggest proponents of our brand in order to move South Africa forward. That, in turn, will, of course, bring more tourists to our country and boost our economy.

“We would also like to commend the significant growth that Tourist Guiding has shown in the past few years. ‘’It is worth noting that the number of registered tourist guides increased over the years from 8,657 in 2009/2010 to 11,367 by the end of 2013/2014 financial year which represents a 31% increase”.

“The steady improvement in terms of transformation in the tourist guiding profession is notable given that the proportion of registered tourist guides from previously disadvantaged backgrounds increased from 2,502 in the 2009/2010 financial year to 3,875 guides by the end of the 2014/2015 financial year. This represents an increase of 55% during the said period’’ said Ramphele.

Enhancing tourist guiding

Ramphele noted that it is essential that efforts are made by the government and other tourism partners to enhance the levels and quality of tourist guiding that is offered across the country. Not only will this ensure the integrity of the tourism sector but it will also result in higher levels of tourist satisfaction whilst ensuring its sustainability.

In terms of the legislative programme of the Department, draft regulations have been developed and will be published for public comments during February 2016. Planned consultations will be held in each province to solicit as many inputs from the guiding sector as possible. Tourist guides were encouraged to participate in these consultation process. "Tourist Guides form a pivotal part of the value chain and the Department of Tourism is committed to fulfilling its mandate by extending further opportunities to increase market access and employment opportunities", Ramphele concluded.


http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/373/141137.html

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Yellow Cards: A Mere Travelling Document or a Necessity?

Someone very close to me had a harrowing experience whilst travelling to South Africa for the first time. One of the entry requirements is a valid yellow fever card. What he didn’t know however, was the fact that the card in his possession was a fake which he obtained at a ridiculous amount from an illegitimate seller at the international airport. Because he was travelling on a student visa, he was given two options; argue with immigration officers and be deported or be quarantined and given the vaccine. He automatically chose the latter.

Many Nigerians have suffered a worse fate of detention and subsequent deportation all because of fake, invalid yellow cards. Countries that insist on Nigerian travellers having valid yellow cards at the point of entry include Ghana, Benin Republic, Egypt and South Africa.

What exactly is a yellow card? It is an international certificate indicating dates and history of vaccination for yellow fever, cholera and smallpox.

Though the last confirmed case of yellow fever in Nigeria was in 1995 with twenty five reported cases and one death, cholera is still very prevalent in our society with a fairly recent outbreak a couple of months ago. Countries at risk of yellow fever (WHO has listed Nigeria) are required to have their citizens travelling out of the country take the yellow fever vaccination and have a yellow card in accordance with the international health regulation.

In September 2013, after a diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, the Nigerian government changed the yellow card with added security features.

A yellow card is valid for ten years beginning from 10 days after first vaccination.
With a process duration of under one hour, yellow cards can be obtained from the following places for a fee of one thousand naira;

Airports

• Muritala Mohammed airport, Lagos
• Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja
• Margaret Ekpo International airport, Calabar
• Port Harcourt International airport, Port Harcourt

Seaports–

• TinCan
• Ibaka Seaport
• Akwa Ibom
• Brass in Rivers
• Warri
•  Sapele

Land borders

• Seme
• Idiroko
• Shaki
• Chikada
• Babana
• Mubi as well as others.

It must be reiterated that the cards be obtained only from authorized government port health services who receive the vaccines from the primary healthcare development agencies; private hospitals are not permitted to issue yellow cards.

It is advised not to patronize illegitimate sellers who hang around the respective public health facilities trying to lure their prey. Do have a safe trip.

by Staff Writer

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Elderly men bowing for 17 year old Delta state king...Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I

17 year old Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I (pictured above), was recently Installed as the king of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State following the death of his father, Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III who was kidnapped and subsequently murdered last month by unknown gun­men. Continue to see more photos...

 

 

 http://www.newseveryhour.com/2016/02/elderly-men-bowing-for-17-year-old.html

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