NEW DEANS FOR UNILAG

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolu Odugbemi, OON, NNOM, FAS has approved the appointment of four new Deans and six Sub-Deans. Their appointments take effect from August 1, 2009.

The appointment of the Deans followed the decisions taken at the meetings of Assembly of Teachers of the Faculties. The new Deans are Professor Duro Oni, Faculty of Arts; Professor Ben Oghojafor, Faculty of Business Administration; Professor H.A.B. Coker, Faculty of Pharmacy and Professor Olaniyi Samuel Okedele, Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

Professors Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and Olatunde Makanju were re-appointed Deans, School of Postgraduate Studies and Faculty of Social Sciences respectively.
The Sub-Deans are Dr. Oluwayemisi Obashoro-John (School of Postgraduate Studies), Dr. J.B. Oshoba (Arts), Dr. F.A. Badru (Social Sciences), Dr. Anne Fabiyi (Education), Dr. M.A. Usman (Engineering) and Dr. Ola Aluko (Environmental Sciences).
Below is the brief Profile of the Deans:

1. DURO ONI
Born on December 15, 1952, Duro Oni was appointed Professor on October 1, 2005. He is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan (1971 and 1998) and California Institute of the Arts, United States of America (1981).
The erudite Theater Arts consultant has served the University meritoriously in various capacities. He has served as Director, Centre for Cultural Studies of the University of Lagos which later metamorphous to the current Creative Arts Department and Chairman, Postgraduate Programmes Drawing Committee for Arts Degree. Currently, he is a member of the University of Lagos Governing Council and Chairman, Auditoria Management Board.
The Fellow of several national and international associations is a member of notable professional bodies including the Association of British Theatre Technology (ABTT), United States Institute for Theatre Artistes (USITT) and Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA).
Professor Oni who is widely published is happily married and blessed with children.

2. BEN OGHOJAFOR
Born on February 1, 1959, Ben Oghojafor was appointed Professor on October 1, 2004. He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos, where he earned a First Degree (1984), a Masters Degree (1987) and Doctoral Degree (1993).
The Intellectual icon began his teaching career as Graduate Assistant in the Department of Business Administration, University of Lagos in 1988 and rose through the ranks to become an Associate Professor in 2000.
He is a Fellow/ Member of several professional bodies, such as the Academy of Management Nigeria. He is a member of the Education Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Marketing and Disciplinary Committee, Nigeria Institute of Marketing.
Professor Oghojafor has served the University in different capacities. He is a Member of the University Senate, Security Committee, Strategic Planning Development Committee and Special Students Disciplinary Panel. The former President, Unilag Senior Staff Club and one-time Sub-Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies is the Operational Manager, Security Unit of the University, among others.
The erudite scholar, who is happily married and blessed with children, is a prolific writer with several articles in local and international Journals.

3. OLUWATOYIN OGUNDIPE
Born on May 31, 1960, Professor Ogundipe obtained his First, Second and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife. He also has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos and a Certificate of Attendance from the University of Reading, United Kingdom in 1998.
He is a Fellow / Member of the Botanical Society of Nigeria; Nigerian Field Society; the Systematic Association, Science Association of Nigeria; International Association for Plant Taxonomy, Nigerian Conservation Foundation; Horticultural Society of Nigeria and International Society of Plant Morphologist.
The acclaimed academic, who was appointed Professor in August, 2007, is widely published. He is currently working on a research titled, “Molecular Systematics Phylogeny of Verbenaccae”.
Professor Ogundipe is a member of the University of Lagos Governing Council. He is happily married and blessed with children.

4. OLATUNDE MAKANJU
Born on June 5, 1950, the Professor Olatunde Makanju earned a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees in Psychology from the University of Lagos. He was at the King’s College University, Aberdeen United Kingdom where he obtained a doctoral degree in Psychology.
The distinguished scholar who was appointed Professor of Psychology on August 1, 2007, has contributed tremendously to sports development and administration. at local and international levels. He was the Psychologist in charge of Nigeria’s World Cup Football Teams: U-17 (China 1985), U-20 (USSR 1985), U-17 (Canada 1987) etc. Makanju is The current President, Nigeria Psychological Association is extensively published in books, monographs and learned journals. He is happily married and blessed with children.

5. OLANIYI SAMUEL OKEDELE
Born on August 16, 1950, Professor Okedele had his Western education at the Catholic University of America, Washington DC in the United States of America where he obtained a B.Sc (Hons) in Architeture & Planning in 1979 and in 1982, a M. Arch (1st Professional Degree in Architecture) as well as another M. Arch. in Urban Design (2nd Professional Degree in Architecture).
The erudite scholar began his teaching career at the University of Ibadan as Lecturer 1 in 1982. He later transferred his service to the University of Lagos in 1987 on the same grade. In 1990, he was promoted to the post of Senior Lecturer and became a full Professor in 2002. His area of specialization is Built-Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD).
The don has taught various courses including Landscape Planning and Design; Design Aspects of Urban Sustainable Development; Architectural Design Studio among others, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
He has held various administrative positions within the University. These are Chairman, Faculty of Environmental Sciences Examination Time-Table Committee; the Development Committee of UNILAG Property Development & Management Board.

Professor Okedele is a member of several professional bodies including the American Body of Urban Designers; Nigerian Institute of Architects; Architects Registration Council of Nigeria; Association of Architectural Educators in Nigeria and Nigerian Institute of Town Planners.
He is happily married and blessed with children.

INSIDE THE OGBA SUNDAY MARKET

For many Lagos residents, Nigerians and foreigners alike, when it comes to foodstuffs, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji Sunday Market in Ogba, Lagos is where to go for good bargains.

For four years, that is, between 1990 and 1993,rather than head for church on Sunday mornings, Mari Nwokike would rather be on her way to Better Life for Rural Women Sunday Market in Ogba, a sprawling suburb near Ikeja, the Lagos State capital. Although a housewife then and with another market close to her residence, Nwokike preferred deferring shopping for food items to Sundays when the weekly Better Life Market held. As far as she was concerned, “When it comes to perishable food items, particularly fruits and vegetable, that was the best place for good bargains”, she recounted to the magazine.

All that, however, stopped early 1993, when on her way to her now accustomed Sunday shopping; she was arrested by soul-stirring tunes blaring from a church loudspeaker on her route. That was how she subsequently dropped the habit of Sunday shopping. Now, she is ever quick to recount how this market, initiated by Maryam Babangida, wife of Nigeria’s first and only military president, Ibrahim Babangida in 1986 as an avenue for rural farmers to display their agricultural produce, changed her life. Nwokike is today and ordained minister of God.
Though the name of the market has been changed several times by successive governments; from Better Life For Rural Women, Sunday Market to Family Support Programme, FSP, and now to Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji Sunday Market; it remains the favoured market for assorted food items at relatively cheap prices.

Eniola Iruaregbon, a business woman corroborates this view. As she told the magazine, aside from the fact that the market is close to her church, the prices are much better than what obtains in other markets. Moreover, “the market is neat and there is adequate parking space for people”, she said. Titi Bakare, a business woman, prefers the market for fresh fruit at reasonable prices.
Nigerians are, however, not the only ones patronizing this market. Foreigners also do. For instance, Assi Nagah, a Lebanese, told the magazine that the Sunday market was her preferred market for fresh fruits and vegetables just as it is for Nabila Fir, another Lebanese seen on a humid Sunday afternoon, shopping for eggs and fresh vegetables.

While the many patrons of its market appear pleased with their purchases, the traders are equally delighted with the volume of business carried out. For instance, Adetokunbo Gbogboade, a pork meat seller at the market for the past 10 years, slaughters an average of six pigs for sale every Sunday and, with a kilogramme of pork going for N250, Gbogboade admits that he has done well for himself. Oftentimes, his customers, who include the Lebanese and the Chinese, pre-order their needs through phone calls.

Recalling the history of the market, Folashade Salako, its Iya Oloja (market leader) narrates that the market which started operations over two decades ago scrutinises new entrants to ensure that only credible traders are allowed to conduct business. Additionally, traders are selected based on number of people applying from each of the 20 local government areas in the state. Interviews are thereafter conducted for them to ascertain the source of their products and applicants who fail to meet the stipulated conditions are refused membership. The relatively hygienic environment, she attributed to regular sanitations carried out by the markets and other authorities.

With the market holding increasing attraction for more Lagos residents, along-time resident of the neighbourhood, Adijat Lateef, could not understand why the market originally set up for rural farmers should be hijacked by sellers of other commodities. Even then, she admitted making all her food purchases there.

BEADING TO WEALTH

Bead making is fast becoming a profitable venture as some women in Nigeria are smiling to the bank with proceeds from the business.

Evelyn Akpa, owner of Eve Craft, a Lagos-based bead making outfit, is an accomplished entrepreneur. Her shop, located at 24 Kings Avenue, Ojodu Berger, Ikeja, Lagos, caters for well heeled society women who daily patronize her, especially during the festive periods such as Christmas, exhibitions and other important events. They are bankers and other career women. From the eye-catching ,expensive beads such as coral beads, crystal beads, tiger head pearls, magnetic beads, mercury beads, broken beads, and angel –like beads, to the less expensive beads such as costalic beads, sand beads and e-beads, Eve Craft is a must visit for most fashion buffs. And with proceeds from the business, which she started only two years ago with just N10, 000, she has been smiling to the bank.

Akpa, who learnt bead making two years ago from a family friend with N30, 000, now produces coral beads, one of the beautiful and fairly expensive beads with materials of N16, 000 but sells them for N35,000,or more depending on the design. Coral beads, which she said originated from the ancient Benin Kingdom, present day Edo State, are suitable for occasions such as coronations, traditional marriages, birthdays and so on. The lowest grade of necklace costs N5, 000 while some go for N10, 000. Bags made with beads cost between N2, 000 and N3, 000, while the expensive ones cost between N20, 000 and N30,000,depending on the design. On the other hand, crystals, which are mostly used by young ladies, cost between N1, 500 and N3, 000.

Akpa, however, pointed out that all the beads come in strings to various designs depending on what the customer wants. She noted that apart from her shop, customers could also acquire high-quality beads from Idumota, Lagos island, Ogba Retail Market, and Alade Market (along Allen Avenue),among other popular markets across the city. The beads come in various colours, shapes, designs and grades, depending on the occasion or event the customer wants to use them for. Akpa listed some of the tools used in bead making to include fishing lines or tiger tails for stringing the beads, wire for making beads, earring tops and jump rings, and head pins for the earrings and neck hooks, among others.

She is not the only person making a fortune from bead jewelry. Seyi Abdullahi, chief executive officer, Crafties Hobby Craft Limited, another Lagos –based bead making outfit, is also counting herself lucky for venturing into the business about five years ago. Her office, located at Isaac John Street, Government Reservation Area, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, is also a beehive of activities, attracting women on the upper rungs of assorted beads for various occasions. Abudullahi informed the magazine that she has always been in love with bead making right from her youth, creating things on her own. She attributed her success over the years to creating things on her own. She attributed her success over the years to creativity and the ability to get mew ideas and development.

She explained that some beads, like the Swarovski crystal and some coral beads are imported from Austria. While the Swarovski costs about N3, 000 or more, the coral beads cost between N3, 000 and N6, 500.However, the cost of broken beads vary according to the grade. For instance, Grade A, B.and C broken beads cost N400, N600, and N800, respectively.
Afolake Kalejaiye, chife executive officer, Teks Tola Enterprises, dealers in beads, jewelry and fabrics, is also a beneficiary of the booming business of bead-making. She said that she learnt the business from her mother 20 years ago. She makes thrice what she would have made in any paid employment. At Kalejaiye’s shop at Alade Shopping Center, Allen Avenue, Lagos, a bead made with as little as N2, 000 is sold for between N5, 000 and N10, 000, based on the style or design the customers wants.

In terms of durability of the beads, Kalejaiye said that coral beads are the oldest and most preferable since their colours do not fade easily like the new ones. She also advised that those venturing into the business should place emphasis on creativity because “bead making is all about creativity and the ability to come out with unique deigns that are not common”.
While agreeing that bead making is profitable, Abdullahi says that it is more for those who invest in the future. This, she said, depends on the creativity and knowledge of the owner of the business acquired over time through proper training. Abdullahi has some advice for those who wish to go into the business:”start well. Move one step at a time and remain focused”.

According to some people who use beads, Mjekodunmi Olamuyiwa, a business woman, said that for her beads are must –use.”I got to know about beads through my friend and since dumped gold for beads and I don’t think it would go out of fashion as people are coming up with more unique desingns”,she said.