http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/603973
Nigerian writers, at home and abroad, willing to enter their new works for the Annual Literary Prizes of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) may do so now.

Interested creative writers should send six copies (6) of their entries (specifying the category being entered for) alongside a covering letter to the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors, Suite 67, National Theater Complex, Iganmu Lagos. The entries which can be for any of the following categories must not have been entered before and must have been published between 2008 and 2009:

The last day for submission is the 31st March,2009.

v ANA/Cadbury Prize for Poetry $1000
(Published works only)

v ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Women Writing N100,000
(Published works only)

v ANA/NDDC Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry N100,000
(Published unpublished works)

v ANA/NDDC J. P. Clark Prize for Drama N100,000
(Published unpublished works)

v ANA/NDDC Ken Saro Wiwa Prize for Prose N100,000
(Published unpublished

ANA/Neco Teen Author Prize (Prose) N100, 000.

ANA/Anyiam Osigwe Literary Journalist Of The Year Prize (N50,000)

ANA/James Ene Henshaw Prize For Playwriting (N150, 000)

]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/603973 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/603965
We urge him to continue to share with us the challenges,successes and enthusiasm that is generated by the interaction and activities.

At Africa Poets Society ''We hear,we see,we imagine,we write,we speak and we share it...'' This is what we all always do and must demonstrate with our genuine feelings,knowledge,inspiration added to every poetry skill that we have.



]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:48:00 EST http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/603965 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/579113
We, being black and proud.We being the cradle of civilization and education.We being of rich oral poetry heritage.This we combine with the other shades of literary works that encapsulates our culture,customs to out and loud our pride,knowledge,our unity and humainity in a diverse world.

For Delroy,we are glad for the spirit conveyed in his poems and other writings.We shall continue to be inspired by writing of such,of him and activities and other lovers of literary works.

At Africa Poets Society-APS,we synergizes our efforts and support courses that promote poetry and literature, not the least.

We commend the work of The British Council in Port Harcourt for promoting PenTalk [poetry reading and education] on radio.]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:01:00 EST http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/579113 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/461021 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:24:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/461021 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/457527
Participatory platform discourages aloftness.When the educated understands,it is good but when the illiterates are ignored society become endangered.There is need therefpre to take the time to move them to a position of understanding.

However, understanding does not come easy, both to the educated and the illiterate. Though the educated has a better inclination to it.When understanding is solicited for policies and programmes, plaguing issues should not be ignored to douse frictions.

Genuine opinions that are useful in all respects should be harnessed.They are good for the local community nd could be useful to help activities at the national sphere.

In the face of these challenges,the media task becomes more demanding in finding a sure way on how to channel, coordinate and drive into mainstream of national focus issues of ignored rural communities.

The need is therefore urgent with a devoted focus to tackle policy makers and enforcement agencies to drive growth with every shade of education at the rural areas where majority of the people live.

This is so because no meaningful economic and political growth is tenable when the divide is wide.This calls for mentoring resources and education through journalism activities and reportage vigorously provided;the journalist challenge.

This direction, eventually, puts the citizenry on a pedestal of contributive participation platform for national growth.]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/457527 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/358579
The challenge it brings, is to create, where there is an obvious absence, a climate for entreprenuers to take, seriously, the option to acquire technology and to transfer it to local partners.

The National Assembly is currently deliberating on the local content bill.When passed and assented to, as law, by President Yar’Adua, it would give verve to the effort geared to enforce a strict adherence to the policy.

While government is re-organizing the regulatory and monitoring agencies for effectiveness and efficiency in their roles, a review of the tarrif regime on essential goods and services is also on-going.These are identified indicators needed to establish local industries and encourage them to expand.

Attractive incentives are being articulated to encourage local hybrid centres of excellence and to improve relevant local infrastructiure geared towards capacity building.

Deserving local industries are receiving the encouragement to set up,with demonstrable ability and commitment, to invest in long term economic opportunities.Government is now willing to assist local companies to access affordable funding for contract implementation as well as to review tax and royalty regimes.

LOCAL CONTENT BENEFITS
Local entrprenuers are chided to be adventuristic in their investment undertaking to dare the odds,break the wind and begin the production of local goods that meet the consumption need of both local and international markets.

The more creative the ideas they develop become accompanied with the investors’ confidence, the more the likely success to make.There are greater economic prospects local entreprenuers can charge at, to break the total dependence on the foreign technology, especially the challenge technology transfer had posed.

It is because technology and technical expertise dominates modern business environment,globally,Nigeria is diving into the waters.A countrry should be a producing economy to be relevant.The operating firms should be value creating outfits.Not only in the commercial market but in its staff constitution.

How much of what is lost can the staff regain? Of the years, time, skill and relationship.This is a petinent concern.But firms must replenish the resources of the worker.Of course, a firm and the country are known for what they produce.

Providing local workers requisite technical training and capacity can increase their productivity.The continious and substantial investment in local capacity builds a workforce competence, increase technical experience and create a national pool of professional that can hold their horns in the international market place.



Welcome Glitters


]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:11:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/358579 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/350099
The monstrous threat deprived them from voting.There were a manifest hijacking of the process.The desparation is hinged on the importance of the political relevance and placement of in rankings based on the level of popularity a politician has at the local communities wards, referred to as grassroot.

It is, therefore, not surprising to notice the intensed ranglings to bulcanized the areas. To increase greater control of a number of wards and to remain, not only in relevance but maintain the accrueable financial gains..

But the urgly experiences of killings,ballot box stuffing and rigging encouraged by political god fatherism and money influence are still fresh on the minds of the people.Those who made so much gains from the practice and process would not want it changed.But the local community people must take back the governance of the resources of the area and effect a people oriented administration.

There is a window of hope coming with the nullification of the primaries of the ruling People Democratic Party's candidates in six local government areas,two days to the elections.This gives some respite to the electorates to participate in the election.But the challenge remains on how to raise the confidence of the local community people to make a resolve to team with the Rivers State Independent Electorial Commission to achieve an election success.

This means that they must come out to vote peacefully and in an orderly manner.To resist those who will want to distract the the process.Importantly, participating in the election and voting for candidates of their choice is primal to the shape of the infrastructural development and building of capacity desired in the area.
]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:03:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/350099 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/349423
The 'Dying Voices of Gongs', is a genuine fictional work that builds the story around Isitima;the protagonist, who forces his way through into illegal oil bunkering and arms struggles for lack of employment after seven years of been a graduate,to achieve destiny and survive life.

He was also angered by the show of insensitvity to the deplorable economic expriences depicted in the life of poverty,ill environmental practices and lack of social amenities the people have been subjected.

Isitima's activities in the pre-party strike force called mangrove swampers, created a consciousness among the people to collectively seek redress to the social,political and economic injustice.

The book also predicted a possible outbreak of endermic diseases occasioned by the large scale environmental problems if caution is not adopted as a watch word.]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:17:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/349423 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/345161
Understandingly, this attention could be predicated on the fact that in recent times, the growth of junk food businesses has become the must patronized venture by parents.

Especially, those who have been caught in the quamire of busy work and business schedules.They find it difficult to prepare a balanced diet food for their children.They are always in a hurry.To them the best way to cater for the food need of their children is to afford them fast food products that do not contribute to normal body growth.

As the day;15 March roll away,the campaign efford should and tempo should not cease.It is time to awaken the conscienceness of parents and members of the public to join and carry on daily on this public drive not only to ask for quality products and services to justify the expended money of the consumers but to ensure a heathy growth of people and society.

But to achieve this is an enormous task especially when there is a grave to make gain in business without moral consideration.Can there not be some moral in business or should the need to make profit only be the sole reason why the business endeavour be undertaken?

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]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:47:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/345161 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/343319
A soul committal, duty bound and a non-stop propelling is the drive imperative of a writer.Not for purposes of documentation or a show of what writing skill there can be but to uncover going-on’s in the society,despite the care taken to seal it away from public understanding.

The write presents the issues for public x-ray at the public palace.The urge is not just to uncover issues hiden behind the public curtain but to systematically disect and reveal the likely repercursion.

He creates a balance without a misleading bais.He does not query any public observations on his presentations.It is an effort of waking up public conscience to demand justice, and contribute effort that advances society.

If the writer gets bored with this saddled function and rescinds writing he
derelicts his responsibility without the reader knowing that the voice of the writer’s pen has been locked up.

This weakens ThePenPower ability.The reader believe his ‘no- writing’ position thinking that despite the ceaseless societal events and policy mal-applications,they are no issues to wirte about capable to provoke or lead the public discourse.

This way, the writer lies, failing to write.

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]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:55:00 EDT http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/343319 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/341313
But this has not been the case, as traders have virtually taken over the tracks, displaying their articles of trade conspicuously. Such areas include the mile one market,Elelenwo rail line, around the Abali Police station in Rivers State and parts of Enugu State.

Articles of trade displayed include items of clothings,fairly used wares[ called okrika], assorted wares, food items, soft drinks, shoes and other domestic goods which are wantomly displayed while cobblers and motorcycle riders are permanently located around these areas.

A careful observation reveals the need for a concerted efforts to be taken and seriously, by various government agencies, to quit them from these locations. This should be so, in other to fostal continouos hit down of some traders who became victims when a moving train ran over them because they were making a last minute effort to clear their goods from the rail tracks as the train approached.

This persistent trading attitude on the railway tracks confirms one conviction.This is the likely huge profit the traders are said to rake in doing business at such locations.

But is it more profitable? was the question Tams Gogo Ibulubo, doing a report for www.rstv22.tv went to town to find out among the traders and requisites officials. To the traders,they are ekeing a living.

Wherever a customer is found is a is good place to do business.Their continual presence at the rail tracks appears to be a result of a spill over effect from the regular market not distant from the railway tracks.The stalls are said to be fully occupied.

They will continue to be there,they said, because they do not have an alternate trading ground. But the railway act stipulates that a fifty metres right of way, on both sides of the rail track, be observed as a matter of policy than a law.

This is expected to be obeyed. However, on a daily basis, the traders are busy carrying out illegal trading activities.The occupation of such area negates, even the law of decency. Used and discarded clothes,cellophane bags and pure water sachets are recklessly thrown in and around the rail tracks.

This poses enormous threat to train operations and aesthetics of the environment. Efforts by the Police to rid these traders seems not to yield any result.There is also a manefest non-challant attitude of the officers enforcing the laws of the land and that of the railway authority.

The Port Harcourt station Manager, Mr. Henry Edward, is of the view that the traders are doing so as law defaulters.The public Relations officers of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Port Harcourt,Mr. Dasu George, said the organization is doing all in its power to rid the traders from the rail tracks.

He said the traders are illegal squatters who are taking their lives in their own hands.In an event of accident, the traders will be liable to pay the corporation some fine or compensation,he said.

Mrs Ireju Barasua, the image maker for the Rivers State Police Command said trading on the rail tracks is unlawful and warned members of the public stay away from such places and desist trading activities. She explained that though the railway station was not directly under its command ,she reserved the moral right to advise those doing business on the rail tracks to have a rethink.

It is a wonderfully sight to behold the traders when a train approaches as they scapper for safety. As this trading activities continue unabated, one cannot rule out the possibility of a train running over any trader.

It is therefore, inevitable to call on these traders to heed good advise and desist from selling their wares along railway tracks while calling on the regulating officers to rise to the occasion to sanitize the area as well as prevent lose of life.
]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:34:00 EST http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/341313 http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/340685 Rural communities are within the jurisdiction of the local government councils;the third tier of government. The creation is to bring government nearer to the people and facilitate local development of infrastructure and ensure good living. True national development should be one that drives for such growth from the grassroot to the national level. Of course, this makes more sense and practical. The other way would be a lopsided effort that is in futility.

But while this was the essence, what has transpired over the years has scuttled the intentions. A marked neglect and irrational use of the allocated fund for personal aggrandizement by elected or appointed political leaders, have heightened the people’s anger. Anger that has been incubated over the years, is now visible in the speech pattern, activities and relationships among the people.

A fragmented and fragile communities is what has sufficed. The volitility becomes a ‘sensed’ and felt fear by a cross section of the society. The reason given why corporate companies’ operational headquarters can not be located in the communities where they scoop large profit. The indigenous people are also largely denied placement with the companies.

A society with a large number of its youths’ population unemployed is also under threat. As a theatre like usage, the representatives only desire the people to do hand clapping for them when they arrive the communities to visit and stand to make political speeches. They thereafter share snacks to them. The gift is accepted and eaten because they may not have eaten for a day or two.

This fragility and fragmentation need repair. A repair that should ensure good educational facilities, provision of water, roads ,houses and employment.The village town hall meetings can be a ground to “crop” indigenous ideas raised by community member who are affected by the level of deprivation and seek practical development of the communities.

Media workers activities must continue to advocate education of the people, call attention to this neglect and spur the people to seek a peaceful way to engage the government and companies to take responsibility for what they should do .The people should be given adequate attention to exit from poverty colony and live a meaningful life.
]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:33:00 EST http://tamsgogo.tigblog.org/post/340685