The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Seven reasons you should invest in real estate

    Seven reasons you should invest in real estate

    In a bid to attain financial stability, many search for proper investments with their income. Real estate is one of the most robust investment options, especially in the long run. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 7 reasons you should take advantage of this robust investment option and invest in real estate.

    It’s as Safe as Houses

    “Safe as houses” is a popular slang in real estate that basically means real estate investments are perfectly safe because of the paying character of house property as an investment. Property value tends to increase without the volatility of the share market which makes it an all-round safer investment. When you factor in the return and risk associated with buying property and shares, property is considered a far safer investment.

    It Doesn’t Need Specialist Knowledge

    You don’t need specialist knowledge to start investing in real estate. It is easier to research than stock and shares. Understanding the stock market requires a lot of education as well as research brokers and fund managers to help. Investing in property is however a lot simpler: it’s as simple as jumping online to start looking for properties from legitimate and registered realtors, real estate firms or property and real estate listing websites. A significant amount of research can be done online, by visiting open houses and auctions or contacting realtors and real estate firms – without needing to have vast specialist knowledge beforehand.

    Technology Has Made Things Much Easier

    Today, technology has made real estate investments a lot easier. For example, advertising your property is as simple as tweeting about it, sharing a post about it on Facebook or posting an ad on a property and real estate listing website like Jumia House, Nigeria Property Center etc. There’s so much technology readily available to real estate investors, that you can easily manage a portfolio of properties without really needing to leave your home all the time.

    It’s a Remarkable Flexible Investment

    With property, regardless of your financial aims you are mostly able to find an investment strategy that works for you. There’s the long-term capital growth strategy where in the long-term the property purchased delivers capital gain (provided the right area with correct supply/demand ratio and demographics is selected). Then, there’s the positive cash flow strategy where you can rent out the property for cash flow. There’s also the adding value strategy where you can renovate, subdivide or even alter the use of an existing property to develop, create or increase the value of the property.

    Full Control

    For property investments, once you’re done paying for the property and settling legal requirements, you directly own the asset and have virtually complete control over it. You can directly influence the asset worth (by adding value to it) and cash flow (e.g. by raising rent).

    There’s an Investment for Every Budget

    If you do some research you’ll see various offers from realtors and real estate firms offering affordable entry points for real estate investment. The only thing required is for your income flow to be stable enough to support payments in installments till you fully own the property. If you buy smartly, you can even expect equivalent or better growth on these affordable assets than more expensive assets.

    A Few Years from Now You’ll Wish You Did

    Investments typically take time before they yield large returns. This is why if you start today and invest smartly, you’ll be patting yourself on the back a couple of years from now for a job well done. To be honest, we are at a point where real estate investments just make sense. But, like any other investment, please be sure to understand what you are doing and be diligent enough to do your work and research to find the 1-in-100 deals that make sense. Some suggestions on real estate companies to consider for this research are Elegant Court, WhiteBricks, Propertylink Real Estate Investment Limited, Cappa and D’Alberto PLC etc.

     

  • 10 signs your teenage child or sibling Is being bullied

    10 signs your teenage child or sibling Is being bullied

    A child being bullied is not something to be taken lightly, if you suspect your child is being bullied, Jumia Travel, shares 10 signs to look out for. You should know that involvement is the key in combating this issue. You should know the child well so that you can easily identify these signs in the child.

    Vanishing Friends

    If you notice your teen’s usual friend(s) are no longer calling or inviting them over. If you ask your teen about his/her friend(s) and they reply with something like ‘I have no friends’, then that’s a red flag and you need to find out more. Vanishing friends can be an indication that bullying is taking place.

    Changes in Your Child’s Moods

    Look out for significant changes in your teen’s behavior and personality. Teenagers who are being bullied typically appear anxious, clingy, withdrawn or sullen. They also tend to appear sad, moody, depressed or teary, especially after school or after being online. You should also consider it a warning signal when your teen starts to suffer from low self-esteem, starts to blame themselves for things and start to voice out how they are not good enough. Bullying, whether emotional or physical, is a likely cause of this.

    Minor Health Complaints and Injuries

    Teens who are being physically bullied tend to come home with constant injuries: unexplained cuts, bruises and scratches. You might also notice they tend to come home very hungry even after being given a lunchbox to school and pocket money for snacks. A likely cause of this hunger is that they are being bullied for their food and money.

    Changes in Sleeping Habits

    If your teen suddenly starts to have trouble sleeping, if he/she seems to be having more nightmares, if you notice he/she sleeps more than normal or cries himself/herself to sleep, these indicate that something is amiss with the child and it can be caused by bullying. Quality sleep is crucial for a healthy lifestyle; sudden changes in your teen’s sleep patterns should be investigated.

    Grades Beginning to Fall

    When your teen, whose grades are known to be consistently good, suddenly starts performing badly, you should look deeper. When a child is being bullied they usually find it difficult to focus on schoolwork, as a result their grades tend to drop. You should also occasionally ask your child in direct and indirect ways if they like school. If their response is along the lines of them ‘hating’ school, dig deeper, bullying might be the cause.

    Deviating from their Usual Routine

    If your teen stops doing things they once loved to do, if they lose interest in their favorite activities and start skipping school-related or social activities involving their peers, even going as far as deceitfully reporting these activities have been cancelled, you need to gently and wisely find out why. Bullying is a likely cause of this evasiveness.

    Report of Lost Possessions

    If your teen, who typically isn’t careless with his/her possessions suddenly starts to lose personal belongings and property, it might be a sign that the child is being bullied out of his/her possessions. Don’t be quick to dismiss this as irresponsible behavior, investigate, dig deeper to understand the cause of this sudden carelessness.

    Intense Emotional Reactions

    If your teen starts to have intense emotional reactions towards people, conversations or activities, it could be a sign that they are holding anxiety for or around these things or people due to either physical or emotional bullying. Dig deeper to find out.

    Acting Out Against Family and Sibling

    If your teen suddenly starts to withdraw from family, talking and interacting less than usual with family members, it could be a sign that something is amiss. If the teen has siblings and suddenly starts acting out against them, shouting or reacting aggressively to them, this could also be a more prominent sign of bullying. It should not be ignored.

    They Acquire a Victim Stance

    Teens who are being bullied often develop a lack of assertiveness and ability to stand up for themselves. They develop a victim stance that sees them walking with their heads down, talking themselves down and being unwilling to comment or speak their mind. This is one of the effects of prolonged bullying and at this stage patience is needed to help the teen build back confidence.

     

  • Eight ways to save water

    Eight ways to save water

    Water is precious. As the world’s population increases and water resources become scarcer, conservation efforts from everyone become ever more crucial.

    Ford has established a global water strategy and manages to save water in its manufacturing facilities in every way possible. Between 2000 and 2015, Ford has reduced total global water use by 61%, or more than 38 billion litres. To celebrate World Water Day on 22 March, Ford would like to share tips for saving water around the house.

     Drip, drip, drip…

    If you’re looking for the culprit behind your waist-deep water bill at home, check for leaks. Ford conducts water leak identification programmes at manufacturing plants around the world to control water loss.

    Simple savings

    It’s easy to overlook simple ways to save water. If you have kids at home, stick some fun graphics around the house and encourage them to learn about the importance of water conservation.

    Waste not, want not

    Simple recycling like collecting water used to rinse veggies and fruits and using it to water your plants can make a big difference. Ford recycles water for further use including irrigating, floor cleaning, workshop water consumption, and more.

    Gardening for the future

    Rethink your garden. Ford has taken steps to reduce the need for watering by using native, drought resistant vegetation or other landscaping that requires less or no water.

    Keep the hose in its holster

    Instead of washing your car with a hose, try using a bucket soapy water before rinsing with a waste-reducing spray nozzle. While cleaning floors and outdoor areas, avoid using a hose when possible.
    Buy efficient

    Savings on water and electricity bills can make the purchase of greener machines a no-brainer in the long run, at home and in the factory.

    Flush less

    Try to avoid flushing away cotton balls or make-up tissues. Simply throwing them in a bin will cut down on the amount of water wasted with every flush.

    Wash smart

    Ford kitchen employees only operate dishwashers at full capacity. This is easily replicated at home – whether it’s a dishwasher or a load of laundry, strive to run it only when it’s completely full.

     

  • Commemorating World Water Day 2017

    Commemorating World Water Day 2017

    One of the most challenging human needs is that of water, it is everywhere but seems never available or enough for use. Water has been on the front burner of development discourse since time immemorial. The sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets improving water and sanitation in furtherance of the efforts expended through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    It was revealed, by World Health Organization that unlike the water target, the sanitation target was not met by most of Africa by the end of 2015.

    Most of the MDGs actually targeted problems that could be reduced by simply providing clean water; poverty, education and health.

    The goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is pertinent because many people, sometimes even host communities have left their abode on account of water shortage or drought, thereby pushing the citizens to submit themselves to the vagaries of migration and displacement; en route, they are subjected to all kinds of humiliation in order to feed their families.

    The second had to do with achieving universal primary education, children have to endure long distances to fetch the water for the use of their families; this affects their school attendance. Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women is the third Goal, and is pertinent in the water discourse as responsibility for the provision of water is always pushed to women and young girls, even though they have been determined as the weaker sex.

    Goals four and five are about reducing child mortality and improving maternal health and the challenge of clean water has been described as being responsible for the diseases that kill more children and keep mothers bedridden and unproductive, especially during natal periods. Water is also a key player in the spread of malaria, which kills at least 300,000 Nigerians every year. Controlling malaria was another goal of the MDGs.

    Water, sanitation and hygiene have always been treated as cousins because addressing the challenges of both sanitation and hygiene rely on the availability of water. To a large extent, interventions for the control of the practice of open defecation in our communities is reliant on the provision of water; as it is important to provide water in all health and educational facilities.

    Figures by UN Water indicate that 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year. In the same vein, 663 million people still lack improved drinking water sources.

    Water is the most important resource in the life of man. So it is important that we use it efficiently, and avoid its wastage. Beyond that we must encourage communities to get this important resource, sustain it and ensure its purity, if they are to live better lives.

    Communities always need information on what they can do to ensure efficient water use. They must know how the availability and use of safe and clean water can bring development to them in terms of economy, health, education, culture and other indices of development. In areas where the communities cannot provide water for themselves, it behooves on men and women of goodwill to assist.

    World Water Day, is celebrated on 22 March of every year, and is about taking action on water issues. Governments at all levels do a lot to provide tap water, boreholes and tube wells as far as their budgets can carry; development institutions, civil society and NGOs also offer their widows mite in this regard.

    Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has keyed into this call through the Future Assured Programme and has built many of such water points including boreholes and tube wells across the country especially in hard to reach communities and IDP camps. By these action, children of those communities can go to school, women can lead more productive lives, and the whole community can be healthier.

  • Nine ways to save a receding hairline

    Nine ways to save a receding hairline

    A receding hairline is usually more common in men than women, nevertheless it’s a menace suffered by all. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 9 ways to help stop and regrow a receding hairline.

    Avoid Too Much Styling

    Excessive styling tends to cause front hair loss and thus a receding hairline. Hairstyles like braids, pony tails or cornrows, especially when done too tightly, can damage the hair shaft and follicles. In addition, extreme amounts of combing and rubbing of hair, particularly forceful combing and vigorous rubbing of hair, can cause a receding hairline. You should avoid excessive styling, combing or rubbing of your hair to save a receding hairline.

    Wear Wigs

    This largely applies to women. There are a hundred styles of wigs to choose from and wear so as to give your hair a break from the constant handling and styling. This can give your hairline time to naturally regrow.

    Minimize the Use of Chemicals on Your Hair

    Excessive amounts of shampooing, drying and over-processing of your hair can weaken your hair causing thinning and some temporary hair loss. Also, the buildup of these products alongside dandruff on your scalp can clog hair follicles making it more difficult for the hair to grow.

    Consider Using Sulphate-Free and Anti-Fungal/Dandruff Shampoos

    Sulphate-free shampoos are good for the hair because they tend not to dry out the hair when used regularly. Dandruff or anti-fungal shampoos kill yeast that causes dandruff in the hair which helps prevent flaky dandruff. This helps to reduce the amount of yeast on the scalp which may help reduce hair loss.

    Be Selective About Your Hairstyles

    For men, haircuts like the Caesar haircut are best to help a receding hairline. Also, you can get a buzz cut or shave your head bald to conceal a receding hairline and give it time to regrow. But this requires regular maintenance to ensure the hair does not regrow in a way that makes the receding hairline more visible.

    For women, hairstyles that are about shoulder length or shorter are best if your hair is thick in front but thin at the crown. Longer hairs tend to further define the receding hairline you intend to conceal. You can also opt for styles that include bangs or fringes and have blunt rather than layered ends.

    Eat Healthily

    Ensure you consume foods high in substances like protein, minerals, carbohydrates and ‘good’ fats. Foods high in protein typically aid hair growth and help maintain a healthy hair. You should also supplement your diet with vitamins essential for regeneration and overall well-being like Vitamin B, E, Iron etc. However, you should avoid excessive consumption of these vitamins. For example, too much of Vitamin A and E has been linked to shedding of hair.

    Try Natural Shampoos

    Natural shampoos are great for helping to regrow your hair from hair loss because they typically don’t contain harsh ingredients that can damage the hair and cause hair loss.

    Use Essential Oils

    Essential oils help to stimulate and circulate the hair to grow in its healthy state. They can help to give that extra boost the scalp of your hair needs to regrow. Some of the best essential oils are tea tree oil, cedar wood and lavender.

    Eggs

    You can consider using a mixture of olive oil and egg white to promote your hair growth and stimulate the regrowth of new hair. The mixture is thoroughly applied into the entire scalp of your hair and left for twenty minutes, before being washed and rinsed off with a mild shampoo.

     

  • Eight common habits that damage your eyesight

    Eight common habits that damage your eyesight

    There are a number of habits that pose a threat to a healthy vision. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 8 of the most common habits that damage eyesight.

    Rubbing Your Eyes

    This, especially when done forcefully or vigorously, can break the tiny blood vessels under the skin’s surface causing dark circles, puffy eyes or drooping eyelids. Using your hand to rub your eyes when you feel something in your eye can also scratch and permanently damage the cornea. In addition, if your eyes are itchy rubbing them tends to release more of the allergens responsible for the itch, making the itch feel worse.

    Exposing your Eyes to the Sun or High- Energy Visible (HEV) Rays

    This can prematurely age and damage your eyes and eyelids. To avoid this, it is advisable to wear a good pair of sunglasses to block these rays. Sunglasses help to minimize the effect of bright lights which include headaches, blurred vision, or red eyes, and prevent you from excessive squinting which can lead to eyestrain and pain.

    Eating Poorly

    Eat less fast food meals and more foods, fruits and vegetables like carrots, leafy greens, fish etc. that are good for the eyes. They will help provide the necessary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids for optimum eye health.

    Not Drinking Enough Water

    Not drinking enough water daily, alongside eating a high-sodium diet can cause dehydration which eventually causes the eyes not to produce enough tears to keep the eyes moist and properly nourished. This in turn leads to dry eyes, redness and puffy eyelids.

    Too Much Screen Time

    Too much screen time tends to slow your blinking rate which eventually causes dry eyes and smeary vision. It can additionally make the eyes burn and water. Make it a point of note to look away from your screen regularly.

    Straining Your Eyes

    Straining your eyes to read tiny texts either in a book or on your phone can make your eyes start to hurt, especially if you do it for long hours. It can lead to blurred vision, dry eyes, dizziness and nausea. Try to avoid reading tiny fonts, but if you must do so take breaks in between reads to give your eyes a break.

    Misusing Eye Makeup

    You should be careful in your application of eye products like mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, and eye creams. Try to apply the makeup far away from your lash line so you don’t block the oil glands of your lids because buildups here can cause infections. Also, you should change your eye makeup after every three months because after this time, especially if not stored in a cool place, they can become breeding ground for bacteria.

    Not Getting Enough Sleep

    A lack of sleep eventually hurts your eyes. Sleep deprivations causes symptoms like twitching, dry eyes, blurry vision and pain in the eyes. Try to get a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help maintain a healthy vision.

     

  • Expectations for the week

    [dropcap]A[/dropcap]s we begin a new week, several actions, decisions and activities will be taken in various walks of life across the country.

    From politics, sports, fashion and entertainment, this column will give you a quick peep into expectations for the week. Today, the debut of juicy news to expect hits your tabs, laptops and phones.

    First, let’s start with the melodrama by some of our incredibly talented thespians in the Senate. The seemingly unending saga involving the Customs boss Col. Hameed Ali, about his UNIFORM and the refusal of the senate to lay down its ego for an insubordinate retired colonel leaves much to be imagined.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#e5c834″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Trending:

    Reliable sources have it that the Customs boss rather than appear on the stated date, met the Senate President, Bukola Saraki a day before in a closed-door meeting. Still unsatisfied with the meeting, the senators demanded he appeared before them last Friday.

    The iconoclast, Col. Ali, shocked everyone when he appeared in flowing white robes matched with a white cap…interesting! When asked why he didn’t wear his uniform, he said his letter of invitation did not specifically inform him of what to wear. He was “sent” back home to dress properly, and was told to appear this Wednesday in his uniform.

    Will Col. Ali appear in his uniform as stipulated by the Senate? This will be answered in the next forty-eight hours.

    Secondly, Nigerians will be eager to know what will become of the acting EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu. Twice, he has been rejected by the Senate; the latest, on the grounds of failing the highly revered “integrity test” by some “men of integrity” in the senate. Their decision they say is predicated on the report by the DSS. Will the President resend his name to the Senate or nominate another individual? It is only a question of time!

    On the entertainment scene, the Big Brother Naija housemates may be reduced by one later in the week. Just yesterday, Thin Tall Tony (TTT) got evicted after getting the least number of votes. TTT, DebbieRise, T-boss and Efe were put up for eviction last week. As the show enters it’s closing stages, many viewers are expectant of more scintillating drama that has followed the show from the beginning.

    After Don Jazzy’s surprise visit to the housemates today, the viewers will love to know which celebrity will be next to visit the housemates.

    In sports, after defeating the league leaders at home yesterday to go second on the table, MFM FC have another home fixture on Wednesday which will make them go top of the league if they win. Star striker, Stephen Odey will have to be in his usual top form if the “Olukoya boys” are to continue their good home run. Will the Agege based club win and go top of the Nigerian football league? Time will tell…

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”128″ count=”8″ show_more=”on”]

  • Seven ways to make long drives more comfortable

    Seven ways to make long drives more comfortable

    Travelling is generally fun. But having to travel long distances by road can be a nightmare!

    Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 7 ways to make travelling by road more comfortable for you.

    Get a good night sleep

    Most times, because we pack at the eleventh hour, we end up getting very little sleep the day before we are to travel. Avoid this. Have a good night’s sleep before the travel day; unwind, relax and prepare your body for the trip. It’s much easier to cope with the stress of road travel this way.

    Wear a comfortable outfit

    This is very important especially for the ladies. For long drives, relegate fashion to the background for a bit and let comfort take center stage. There really is no need to dress to impress since you are going to be in a car or bus for the better part of the day. Loose fitting pants and shirts are ideal for road travel.

    Pack healthy snacks and eat light

    If you decide to pack snack along with you on the trip, be sure it’s healthy, not the type that’s likely to purge or upset your stomach. Also, eat light. You don’t want to be that person in the vehicle with the constant need to ease himself/herself, and some of the time you are going to have to do so out by or in the bush because the nearest toilet might be a mile away.

    Be mindful of your posture

    You should keep your body moving during the trip, especially if you are a passenger. Periodically switch sitting positions, pump your ankles and move your arms to prevent aches and pains. You should also avoid slouching and can consider taking along with you a travel pillow or a small pillow to support your back. If you are the one driving, you can also consider using cruise control (if your vehicle has one) when you can, so you can rest your feet for a bit. Be sure to set the cruise control at a safe speed.

    Use relaxation techniques

    Playing soft music during the trip or using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation etc. can help reduce your stress levels during a long ride. You can also take full advantage of the few stops during the trip to stretch and walk around. In addition, you can take a book along with you to read and take a biro and notebook to scribble thoughts on and maybe write journal entries or even new music (if you are a writer or songwriter).

    Bring along disposable pre-moistened body wipes

    Riding along in a car for hours can make your body feel sticky so you can bring along disposable pre-moistened body wipes to freshen up a bit during the ride and keep comfortable. You can wipe your body down in the privacy of the restroom at a rest stop or simply wipe yourself discreetly in the vehicle. Favor alcohol-free disposable wipes when buying these – they are kinder to your skin.

    Stop occasionally

    Especially if you are the one driving, you should build some stops into your timeline when planning road trips, especially if you have children with you. Stop for some minutes to stretch, use the restroom and walk around to relax your body and help improve your blood flow.

     

  • Call for new approach to pursue international peaceful order

    Call for new approach to pursue international peaceful order

    Faced with the reality of uncertainty in global cooperation triggered by a chain of political upheavals from the Brexit to elections in the United States and European states, a new approach to pursue an international peaceful order has been called for.

     The call was made on March 14 at the Peace Forum for the 1st Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) held in Seoul, South Korea by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace organization under the UN Department of Public Information (DPI).

    In commemoration of the DPCW proclaimed on the same date in 2016, the forum reaffirmed the importance of global peace movement currently on progress under the Legislate Peace Campaign to establish the principle of international law for peace through the introduction of a UN resolution based on the DPCW.

     Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL emphasized that peacebuilding “is not an individual task”, but “is relevant to everyone” as a common purpose of the global community.

    He offered the role of religion as a bridge builder of peace rather than the core of conflict and violence by adding “our orientations must be one for peace. Whether religious secular world it is, there is no exception.”

    In the progress report, Dong Min Im, the secretary general of HWPL, explained the significance of peace projects in HWPL by saying, “The work is to put an end to war in our globe and make a foundation of a world of everlasting peace, which is unprecedented in history.”

    Bup Hye Kim, chairman of Buddhist Central Council for National Unification, offered a picture of concrete action plans of HWPL in achieving peace.

    “Youth and women are the main scapegoats in war, but even in this reality we must face the fact that youth and women are voluntarily standing at the forefront to build the foundation of peace with HWPL”, he said.

    The DPCW with its 10 articles and 38 clauses was drafted by HWPL and legal experts in international law. Based on the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and Declaration of Human Rights, the DPCW advocates peace as a global order through respect on international law, ethnic/religious freedom, and spreading a culture of peace.

     Efforts of promoting peaceful coexistence with initiatives of HWPL contribute to conflict resolution to raise mutual understanding that can restrain hostility. 

    Seminars and culture events at both local and national levels have been hosted by HWPL with the local community to overcome religious or ethnic boundaries.

    Areas of conflict where threats of life are persistent including Syria, Israel and Palestine are included to raise awareness for peacebuilding.

  • Many dangers of unsafe schools

    Many dangers of unsafe schools

    An incident happened last year which sent shock waves in Mafoluku,Oshodi Lagos state. A three year old child got down from a school bus, his water bottle fell down and rolled towards the back tyre of the bus, the boy went to the back of the bus to pick up the water bottle, just at that instance, the bus driver reversed and the boy was crushed to death on the spot. What a horrific tragedy!

     That accident could have been avoided, if the school had better safety compliant policy. A few observers at the scene of the accident argued that it was the drivers fault and attempted to lynch him but for the quick intervention of some passersby.

     One of the school safety requirements for schools is that there should be a crossing marshal, whose job it is to monitor drop off areas in school and pick up areas, to make sure that children alight safely from the bus and enter the school safely. Also, it is the job of the school bus attendant to monitor the children in and out of the school bus. Failure of the school to do these shows negligent on the part of the school management.

    School safety is a very important factor that a parent must put into consideration before enrolling his/her child in a school. Before you enroll your children in a school, you must check if the school is complying with at least minimum safety standards. You take a tour of the school and watch out for evidence of safety infrastructure e.g. clean toilets, separate staff toilet, security measures in place, perimeter fencing, the sanitary condition of the school, fire exits, safety signs on the wall, good ventilation, good lighting etc. These are minimum required standards. If a school does not meet these requirements, do not enroll your child in such a school. Some parents are not particularly meticulous in finding schools with high safety standards, to them checking for unsafe conditions in a school are immaterial; they focus more on the academic performance of the school, forgetting that their child’s life is at high risk in a school with no safety standards.

    Most parents don’t even know that they have a right to question any unsafe condition they find in a school and as a matter of fact they should demand for it to be fixed or they withdraw their children from such a school. A school that doesn’t put effort on the safety of children placed in their care should not be patronized or be allowed to function. Children that attend unsafe schools are prone to accidents, infection, abuse, serious injury and even death.

    Before schools are registered shouldn’t they attain minimum safety standard? The truth is that majority of schools in Nigeria are below the school safety standard.  Most classrooms in Nigerian schools are highly overcrowded, there are no safety policies in place, teachers are not trained on safety, no risk assessment  is being carried out, no evidence of safe recruitment, no emergency evacuation plan, no fire exits or fire extinguishers, no smoke detector, no school crossing marshal, no school bus attendants, untrained school bus drivers, no hand washing facilities, no sick bay, fire drill has never been done in the school, no appropriate toilet facilities, no access control and surveillance, hazardous chemicals in the school environment, slippery floors, steep stair ways, stairways without hand rails, no safety signs on the wall, defective structures, no programs on safety for children and so many ignored best practices.

    If you own a school, you must make safety a priority to avoid crisis in your school and parents should demand for safe condition and practices in their children’s school. Children spend a lot of time in school, so schools should offer a safe stimulating environment for children. 

    There is an ongoing Lagos state schools safety project by Lagos state safety commission. Safety inspectors are going to nursery, primary and secondary schools to conduct safety audits to ensure safety culture and compliance. This is highly commendable but should be scaled up and approached with greater aggression so that thousands of schools in our cities and communities can be forced to maintain the minimum required operational standards.

    Njideka obi, a lawyer, Child Safety Advocate/ Child Safety Expert.  08060424282, safersmarterchildren@gmail.com