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9 Interesting ways to rock a Suit

Suits are a work wear staple in the wardrobes of most professional women, either because it’s a required part of your office dress code, or you simply love how you look in one. It can however get boring. Here are nine ways you can put a new spin on your suit game, simply by playing with color, silhouettes and accessories.

Consider other colours aside Black and Navy

Even though you don’t have to wear the rainbow, but adding more colour to your work wardrobe rather than the usual neutral palette is a great way to go. Rich colors like burgundy or olive green is refreshing without being too crazy.

Wear a Printed Shirt Underneath

If you’re wearing this in a work environment, make sure the neck is cut a bit higher or cover up with a brooch. But the general idea is that layering a blazer over a printed blouse makes an otherwise plain gray suit much more fashionable, and modern.

Consider a Looser Silhouette

There’s a time and place for fitted pencil skirts, but how can you say no to an equally delicious wide-leg pant? To avoid entering “kid wearing her dad’s clothes” territory, make sure that, even if roomier, your suits are always tailored to your body , especially the shoulders and the waist.

Dress It Down with a T-Shirt and Sneakers

If silk blouses and heels aren’t really your thing or you need to travel for work, pair your suit with casual basics like a plain white tee and simple sneakers for some airport chic. There’s something so effortless about this look that makes the whole concept far more approachable.

Don Loafers

This is kind of the women’s look of our dreams. Instead of fighting the masculine connotations of a suit with feminine shoes, embrace the menswear trend and pair it with a cool pair of loafers. The bare sliver of ankle is the icing on the cake.

Or Rock Something Striped Underneath

If you’re like most ladies you already wear striped shirts regularly, so why not wear one under a crisp suit? The resulting look is slightly more casual and really cool.

Mix Feminine and Masculine

This look is proof that you don’t need crazy colors or dramatic details to make a classic suit look perfectly modern. The contrast between the androgynous buttoned-to-the-top shirt and the undeniably feminine pointy-toe pumps is really interesting, and the cross body bag makes it even more so.

Wear It With a Skinny Scarf

A super-simple way to jazz up a plain black suit is to wrap a trendy skinny scarf around your neck. Think of this as a more feminine (and chic) version of a guy’s tie.

Or Try Rocking a Bandanna

This might not work at a more strict work environment, but a bandanna is an even more fashion-forward alternative to a skinny scarf, especially in cold weather. Best of all, you can get one for, a few hundred naira.

March 8, 2017
Shoes with high heels can cause spinal injury – Expert cautions

Dr Martins Adejo, a consultant, with the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, has cautioned women against the effects of the frequent use of shoes with ‘high’ heels.

Adejo, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Wednesday, cautioned that the frequent use of such shoes could cause distortion of the spine structure and other spinal injuries.

He said that high heels could also cause knee pain, osteoarthritis (chronic degenerative disease that affects the joints), sore calves, foot pain, constricted blood vessels and weakness of ligaments.

“Frequent use of shoes with high heels can distort the structure of the spine; when you wear flat shoes that are comfortable, you do not change the posture of the spine.

“But when you wear high heels over time, your spine and toes would make postural adjustment to fit with the heels in order to gain balance.

“This distorts and quickens the wear and tear process of the spine.

“Such an individual, in the mid ages, is likely to develop spinal problems because of the quick wear and tear of the bone structure in the spine,” he said.

He also explained that the constant use of heels could aggravate knee pain.

“Walking in high heels increases the amount of weight put on your knee joints; the knee is the largest joint in the body and frequent high heel use can put extra stress on the inner sides of the knees.

“This will likely fast track wear and tear that leads to osteoarthritis which is a leading cause of disability in women,” he said.

According to him, other ills associated with the use of high heel shoes are lower back pain as the heels cause the pelvis to push forward when walking or standing.

“This places tremendous pressure on the lower back, causing lingering pain.

“Wearing heels over a long period of time shortens the Achilles tendon as heels create a physiological change in the muscles and tendons around the ankles.

“When such an individual is barefooted or wearing flats and shoes that cause the heel to reach the ground, the individual can feel immense pain and stretching,” he said.

He also advised that people should ensure that their shoes fit properly, as tight shoes too were not good because they could minimise the blood supply to the toes and cause the toes to go numb.

Adejo cautioned that such a condition could predispose people with risk of diabetes and high blood pressure to peripheral vascular diseases.

Similarly, Jemimah Auta, a professional shoemaker advised people to use foot wear that were generally comfortable for them.

“The kinds of shoes we wear affect our waist, hips and legs as we grow older,” Auta said.

March 8, 2017
African women ‘making what’s next’

From inventing windshield wipers to coming up with solutions to improve the lives of millions of people around the world, women have been harnessing the power of technology to do great things for their communities, families and themselves since as early as the 18^th century.

In Africa, women have also made their mark on the world. Take Kenyan-born Juliana Rotich for example. Rotich is the co-founder and executive director of Ushahidi – a web-based reporting system that uses crowdsourced data, mobile phones and web reporting to formulate real-time visual maps during crises. Or, Mariéme Jamme from Senegal, who is the CEO of the London-based SpotOne Global Solutions, as well as the co-founder of African Gathering, a global platform that brings together entrepreneurs and experts to exchange ideas about Africa’s development.

To mark International Women’s Day this year, we are celebrating the dynamic doers, the trail-blazing trendsetters and the unsung heroes from four countries across Africa who are using technology to #MakeWhatsNext:

Sayu Abend – Nigeria
“Women need to be bold, strong and driven to pursue their dreams. Create your own future and not one society has mapped out for you.”

Sayu Abend is the CEO and founder of a company called Spacepointe, which is a retail technology company that aims to bridge the gap between SMEs and their target market through technology-based business management.

But before being a CEO, Sayu is a mother and a wife first.

Finding the balance between running a highly successful company and spending quality time with her family is one of her biggest challenges.

However, with the help of technology, Sayu is able to maintain a healthy balance between her family and remaining productive in her business. In addition to using Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools both in her personal and professional life, she also hosts Spacepointe’s entire platform on the Azure Cloud.

Sayu’s message for young women wanting to pursue a career in technology:
“Do not pursue a career in STEM just for the sake of it. Technology is a means to an end. Find a problem in an area you are interested in and solve it. Don’t only solve it because it affects you personally, but solve it because it makes the world you live in a better place.”

Sayu Abend – Nigeria

Dr Wuleta Lemma – Ethiopia
“I’m showing young women it CAN be done”

Originally from Ethiopia, Dr Wuleta comes from a long line of tough women who believed that women should be given an equal opportunity to succeed in life. And succeed is exactly what Dr Wuleta did. Growing up in one of the most turbulent periods in Ethiopia’s history, Dr Wuleta was able to overcome extreme adversity to study degrees in medicine, epidemiology and international health abroad.

With a deep love for Africa and a strong desire to develop home-born solutions for the African continent, she returned to her motherland. Dr Wuleta decided to marry her love for IT with the knowledge she had gained in medicine, by developing an e-health system to improve healthcare operations in Ethiopia. The system, called the TenaCare, is currently being used in over 3000 facilities. She has also developed ICT-enabled training centres and programmes in conjunction with local universities and colleges.

In addition to using Microsoft technologies like Visual Studio, SQL Server, Windows, Azure and Power BI to power this revolutionary eHealth system, Dr Wuleta is also a self-confessed gadget geek and loves to use technology in her day-to-day routine. This helps her stay productive and balance her busy life.

Dr Wuleta’s message for young women wanting to pursue a career in technology:
“Africa is coming, Africa has a place and young African women are key to making this a reality. They have so much talent, and through my work I want to show young women it can be done.”

Dr Wuleta Lemma – Ethiopia

Caroline Nafula – Kenya
“Never apologise for having drive and passion”

At only 21 years old, Caroline Nafula, is well on her way to becoming a woman to which all young girls can aspire.

The middle child in a family of girls who are all pursuing degrees in STEM subjects, it’s no surprise that Caroline’s love for science and technology has led her to pursue a degree in IT and business information technology at Strathmore University in Kenya.

After enrolling with the Microsoft MySkills4Afrika programme, Caroline developed the skills needed to create two successful applications. One is called Food Junky, which is an online directory for street vendors. The other is an e-cards website called thoughtfulwishes.co.ke, which redefines the way people view, use and send e-cards.

Caroline owes much of her early success to her MySkills4Afrika mentors, Nate Koweda and Patrick Ngatchou, who are both based in America. Despite the distance, Caroline’s mentors have contributed greatly to her growth as a developer. “We use Skype and Outlook to keep in touch. My mentors have been able to teach me new tricks and hacks that have enhanced my coding skills. This wouldn’t have been possible without technology to connect us.”

Caroline’s message for young women wanting to pursue a career in technology:
“You should never apologise for having drive and passion. Life is too short to second guess yourself and not pursue what you really want. Block out the noise, block out the doubts and discouraging remarks. Tell yourself you can do it. If you are a young woman contemplating a career in STEM, go for it! This in the one field that makes you best placed to change the lives of millions of people all over the world.”

Caroline Nafula – Kenya

Lebogang Madise – South Africa
“To all the young women out there – you are science, you are engineering and you can shape the future through technology and mathematics.”

Lebogang Madise developed a love affair with her computer when she was in primary school, but she never in her wildest dreams believed she would pursue a career in technology. However, her future had other plans in store for her. Lebogang’s love for computers and technology was so strong that it inspired in her the desire to learn how to code and develop solutions that could change the world.

She is now a facilitator for mobile-tech startups at mLab. She also works as a committee member for IEEE SIGHT (Special Interest Group in Humanitarian Technology). IEEE is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation for the benefit of humanity.

Lebogang’s message for young women wanting to pursue a career in technology:
“You can be anything you want to be, irrespective of your background. You don’t need permission to dream big. Take that first step, don’t be afraid to fail, you have it in you to invent the next big thing. You are science, you are engineering and you can shape the future through technology and mathematics. Don’t expect it to be easy though. It will be challenging, not because you are a woman, but because STEM careers are generally more mentally stimulating careers.”

Lebogang Madise – South Africa

Microsoft remains committed to closing the gender gap and creating even more opportunities for women to innovate, create and unlock the best opportunities for their future. Last year, Microsoft launched a new movement calling on young women and girls to #MakeWhatsNext. The campaign raises awareness of the issues that cause girls to drop out of or lose interest in studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), and aims to pique their excitement and educate them in how they can change the world — if they stay engaged.

The response to #MakeWhatsNext makes it clear that girls’ passion is strengthened when they see female role models who have created innovations that are used in our everyday lives. As the motto goes, “If you see it, you can be it.”

For more inspirational stories of women in technology, watch this video.

March 8, 2017
5 ways to control emotions of embarrassment, anger, anxiety and fear

Emotions can be very fickle. One moment you are feeling this way and the next you aren’t. They can also be extremely powerful and forceful, to the point that you feel you have no choice but to cave in. Emotions of embarrassment, anger, anxiety and fear are some of the most difficult to control.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EMOTION

One of the ways to deal with these emotions is to accept responsibility for their existence, says Joseph Grenny in his article for the Harvard Business Review. You should understand and accept that the emotions are about you, and are not the effect or cause of any external factor.

For example, if you have been scolded by your boss and are angry at his criticism you should consider that based on his personality, his scolding could either have resulted from feelings of curiosity, surprise and compassion, or they could have been from prejudice, resentment and anger. The fact that you chose to believe it was out of the later is more about you, than about your boss. This is what you have to take responsibility for, understand and deal with.

WHICH STORY DO YOU TELL YOURSELF?

When faced with emotions of embarrassment, anger, anxiety and fear, which story do you tell yourself? Is it the victim’s story – one that upholds your virtues and absolves you of responsibility? Is it the villain’s story – one that exaggerates the faults of others and attributes the situation or incident to their evil prejudicial motives? Or is it the helpless story – one that concludes that healthy courses of action like humbly listening, speaking up honestly etc., are pointless? Identifying the story you tell yourself will better help you detach enough from the situation to reflect, take control of your emotions and face the truth of the situation. Then, you can react to it better.

ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS

Ask yourself questions about the event, situation or incident that made you feel the emotions of embarrassment, anger, anxiety and fear. Ask yourself difficult questions to get to the root of the matter and be brave enough to answer truthfully.

One of the best ways to do this is by asking questions like “What am I pretending not to know about my role or fault in this situation?” (This question will attack your victim story). “Would a reasonable, rational and decent person say or do this?” Why would a reasonable, rational and decent person say or do this?” (This question attacks your villain story), and “What’s the right thing to do to achieve what I really want?” (This question attacks your helpless story).

Pondering on these questions will help you better see your faults, the faults of the other person and will help you release the emotions of embarrassment, anger, anxiety and fear as you determine the right thing to do. Remember, ask questions rather than present your defense.

UNDERSTAND WHY YOU THINK AND REACT THE WAY YOU DO

As we grow, we learn to tell ourselves certain stories to protect our ‘safety’ and ‘self-worth’. For example, being bullied when you were younger or having parents that criticized more than they commended you, tends to make your brain code conditions or situations like this or related to this as threatening. You thus begin to react to these conditions or situations defensively, unable to see it objectively.

To control your reactions to these situations and conditions, you need to do some soul searching and identify these triggers. After identifying them, it is easier to be more objective and challenge the perception that your safety and self-worth are at risk in these situations and conditions.

To help with this, you can develop a mantra and recite it in times or situations that seem to threaten your safety and self-worth. Mantras like “Be logical, be objective”, “Be humble. Be calm. I won’t let this hurt me” can help. It also helps to keep in mind the personality of the person or people criticizing you. It is easier to listen to them if you know and respect them.

FORGIVE YOUR EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS AND BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Even after understanding your emotional triggers for thinking and reacting the way you do, chances are you are occasionally going to lose control and give into them without realizing. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for this and give into self-loathing. You also shouldn’t start to wonder about the problem with yourself and personality. The fact that certain things happened to you in the past is not your fault, and they certainly don’t make you weird or abnormal. Everyone has a past and ‘things’ have happened to everybody, you’re not the only one, you should therefore be strong, forgive yourself and work on moving on from it so you are no longer controlled by it. As you forgive, you will find yourself dissociating from the harsh feelings.

March 7, 2017
7 signs you are drinking too much alcohol

Some might find it interesting to know that moderate alcohol consumption actually has some benefits, but the problem, however, is when you fail to keep this consumption moderate. Chances are you consider yourself a moderate drinker, believing you are responsible for your alcohol consumption, without knowing that your ‘simple’ one or two or three glasses of drink has slipped into something harmful.

CONSTANTLY NEEDING TO PEE AT NIGHT

The human body makes something known as an anti-diuretic hormone to regulate the amount of urine in our bodies. At night, more of this hormone is produced to help reduce the volume of urine produced so you wouldn’t have to pee so much or at all in the night. Alcohol decreases the production of this hormone and causes you to produce more urine, which therefore makes you wake up to pee constantly at night.

If you are under 65, even if you naturally drink a lot of fluids like water, fruits etc during the day, at night you really shouldn’t have to wake up to pee. If you do have to wake up to pee, maybe only once; but definitely not every night. If you notice this constant need to pee every night, check your alcohol consumption, it might be the cause.

REGULARLY WAKING UP WITH DRY EYES

Alcohol dehydrates your entire body and also ends up in your tears, interfering with the lubrication of your eyes. When you notice that your eyes become sticky and you regularly wake up with dry eyes, check that your alcohol intake isn’t to blame.

SPENDING TIME IN THE DAY THINKING OF HAVING A DRINK

You might not necessarily be drinking multiple glasses of drinks all day, but if the thought of a glass of drink is what gets you through the day or any difficult situation, that’s a warning sign. Your mantra becomes, “When I get home, I can have a drink”, “Let me just deal with this and I can have a drink” etc. Using alcohol to self-medicate depression or anxiety, only ends up making things worse because alcohol is a depressant itself.

NOT SLEEPING WELL

Constant alcohol consumption, especially when in excess, can cause your brain to forget how to sleep efficiently and causes fragmented sleep cycles. You, thus, tend to miss out on the ‘restorative’ parts of your sleep, even on nights you haven’t even had a drink.

TIREDNESS AND FORGETFULNESS

While in your body, alcohol becomes a stimulant when the body breaks it down. In the process, it releases sugars and other substances that cause you to wake up more and most times stops you from getting into REM (the most active part of sleep), which is very important for helping the brain to process mood and for memory. Without getting enough REM, you wake up feeling more grumpy, tired and forgetful.

BEING ABLE TO HOLD YOUR DRINK

While most people are cheered for this, being able to have a couple of drinks without feeling tipsy is a sign that you are drinking regularly. You are thus able to ‘hold your drink’ because your body has built up a tolerance to the short-term effects of alcohol. The process of your body building up this tolerance increases the production of enzymes that break down the alcohol and in the long-term increases the risk of liver damage.

PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU ARE CONCERNED

If your friends, family, co-workers or anyone close to you has hinted or voiced out that it’s time to cut back your alcohol consumption, you should listen. You can ask for their help in helping you cut back and think of ways they can help to hold you accountable.

March 7, 2017
4 Ways to style fine hair

Every woman would like to have an abundant head of hair, which is the exact opposite of fine hair. Fine hair, as we put it in these parts, is rather scanty. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my hair. It’s fine and unruly by nature, so it took me years to find a style that works for me. And in the spirit of working with what you got, here are four ways to style fine hair – no special tools required!

Pulled back minibun

The mini bun is one of my personal go-to hair styles for ladies with heart shaped faces. Trendy ladies who like a fuss free style should simply keep their middle part when creating the bun, especially if you have a very narrow-shaped face. This pulled back version gives a more slick effect. It’s such a versatile hair style: when paired with a white tank top and khaki bomber it’s got an unquestionable street wear/ casual vibe going on, but when you add a chic dress and oversized earrings, it’s so very sophisticated!

The classic middle part

A sleek middle part is another classy hairstyle option. It looks fresh and natural, especially when tucked behind your ears. It’s definitely something to be trying this rainy season. Even if you are carrying super wavy hair, you can still get away with a sleek middle part.

Short and combed back

Considering the multitude of wet look-inspired beauties you are likely to come across when the rain arrive the popularity of this short combed back hair style is not so surprising. It might seem a bit daunting to try this out at home, but the casual version of is pretty do-able. You might want to try this combo with a sexy blazer jacket and red lips.

Low ponytail

A low ponytail is an adult spin on the classic ponytail, only this time it lies lower down the back of your head. Simply pull your hair back at the back of your head with an elastic hair band or hair ornament and you are good to go. It can go from the gym to the boardroom just as easily as it can be rocked at home.

March 7, 2017
Breastfeeding: Nutritionist advocates six months maternity leave

A Nutritionist, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, has advocated six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to enable them carry out exclusive breastfeeding of their babies for the period.

Nnam, a Professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

She also urged the Federal Government to approve six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies before going back to work.

The nutritionist said exclusive breastfeeding could be encouraged among the nursing mothers, especially working class mothers through “nutrition education.’’

“Mothers should be given nutrition talk on breastfeeding, the benefits; to the child; mother; family and the nation at large through all available means.

“The talk should be given through all available means such as antenatal visits, incidental discussions, women’s meetings in churches and mosques, town hall meetings, men’s meetings.

“The benefits will encourage mothers to continue with exclusive breastfeeding, even if there are challenges.

“The talk should also include how to overcome the challenges of breastfeeding.
“It helps them to overcome challenges such as correct positioning of the baby for breastfeeding and correct attachment of the baby to the nipple.

“It will also help them to overcome challenges for the baby to empty one nipple before sucking the other one, frequency of breastfeeding and how to improve milk production, among others,’’ Nnam said.

She also urged that Crèche should be put in place in all offices and work places to enable working class mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding during office hours.

The professor, however, noted that management of many work places are yet to implement the international policy on Crèche.

The international policy says any employer that has more than 50 people should provide a crèche where a woman can always take care of the child and breastfeed him or her on demand.

Nnam, who was the immediate past President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria said breastfeeding could help to lower the incidence of breast cancer in women.

“This is because women who breastfeed have less exposure to estrogen which has been shown to precipitate some types of breast cancer.

“Breastfeeding could also make breast cells more resistant to mutations that can cause cancer. These benefits could help encourage women to breastfeed,’’ she said.

Nnam, however, said that lifestyle, including diet could precipitate cancer and called on women to eat adequate food.

“Women can prevent cancer by eating adequate diet. It is easy to eat adequate diet.

“All that is required is to pick at least a food item from the different food groups in adequate proportion in a meal.

“The food groups are roots, tubers and legumes, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, poultry, milk, fats and oil.’’

March 7, 2017
‘Why Nigerians are endangered in South Africa’

A security expert and Deputy Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, South Africa Chapter, Prince Debo Adesina , in this interview with Adeola Ogunlade spoke on the Xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa and the way out of the crisis. He also spoke about efforts of PDP members in the Diaspora to rebuild the party.

Can you tell me about yourself?
I am a private security expert. I do a lot of investigation and am involved in security management. I train security guards. I also look at immigration from the safety point of view. I was the first Secretary General of the Nigeria Union in South Africa. I stay in South Africa because it has one of the best security management systems in the world.

What are the opportunities that you saw in South Africa as a businessman?
I left Nigeria as a security expert and I left to expand my horizon and scope in the area of security.

I’m stationed in South Africa because they have one of the best security outfits in the world.

They are very good. In fact, we call them Europe in Africa because I have been to different parts of the world. The first time I landed in South Africa, I was surprised as I thought I was in Europe.
We, Nigerians in South Africa, we are like brain drain and we decided that whether our government likes it or not, they have to look at the Diaspora because we assist the needy and better our governance.

In South Africa, where we live, we see rule of law, good governance and how the citizens of that country are being looked after and support systems, which are readily available to the less privileged.

They take care of their citizens because the oath of office that they took is to look out for the welfare of their citizens.

The opportunities in South Africa are very large and we only appeal to our politicians back home to try and emulate some of the things they see in South Africa. In the area of infrastructure, they are the biggest in Africa and they are competing favorably with the rest of the world.

We can use them as a guide and some day we will get there?

South Africa has its own challenges, are you saying that they have a better democratic structure than Nigeria?
South Africa still operates a one party state due to the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The Africa National Congress (ANC) has been in power since Mandela took over from the whites. The party is very prominent at the National level. Other parties like Democratic Alliance (DA) are also part of the structure.

Just recently, DA won as Mayor of the city of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Their politics is that they don’t kill themselves to get into public office but to serve their people.

Ministers walk on the street without any convoy. The challenge in South Africa is that they still hold the mentality of the white monopoly by which they were brought up. Apartheid brought about a lot of setbacks and the country is trying hard to change.

We can emulate some of their values but not all. In terms of governance, they are better than Nigeria.

Nigerians have become endangered species in South Africa. How did things get to this point?
As the former Secretary General of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, I have consistency tried and my media presentations have been reechoed. I am not only fighting for Nigerians but the foreign nationals on Xenophobic through the United Nation.

We have a group called Protection working Group. It is sad that in parts of Nigeria, the people are giving the country a bad name because they go to any length to make money. We are now seen as drug dealers, and fraudsters. Some Nigerians have forgotten that back home, they have limitation of what they can do; abroad, they don’t care, they just want to make money, drive big cars, send money home to show that they live abroad. This created the hatred, as we are seen as gold diggers, people who have come to make money from their country and leave them home and dry.

So along the line, some of our people are victims of police brutality. The South African police kill Nigerians at will because they know that the justice system in South Africa is very liberal around drug activities.

They don’t have death penalty and capital punishment. Once you have money, and with good lawyer, drug dealers come out on bail and once they come out on bail, the cases remain in court forever. There are lots of cases pending for a long time in court. We have lots of Nigerians in prisons. We also have some of us who are doing well in South Africa but we are not well pronounced. We have doctors, lawyers, top notch business men and security experts, but the bad ones have overshadowed the good ones.

When you mention that you are a Nigerian, they ask you whether you are not a drug dealer or fraudster. This has affected the image of Nigerians in South Africa. We are organizing a movement we want to tag Nigerians lives matter. We are starting it from South Africa and would spread it across the world, including Nigeria. Nigerians are also suffering back home and their lives matter. We want to give back to good governance. We are Nigerians and Nigeria as a country will outlive Nigerians, so Nigeria will remain Nigeria, but the people will live and die one day, and what is important to Nigerians is that our people will live a better life and enjoy the best Nigeria offers without any intimidation.

Are the narratives from Nigerians giving room for xenophobic attack?
No, not at all. The problem is that when Nigerians leave the international airport, they forget everything called moral value and their aim is to make money anyhow.
Even in London, United Kingdom, in Thailand and other parts of the world where you see Nigerians, they turn to tigers and they are ready to do anything for money. I travel most times and the immigration officials search me thoroughly just because I’m carrying a Nigerian passport.

But I am proud to be a Nigerian and I refuse to be a citizen of any country other than Nigeria. I am so loyal to my country. I believe that the only advantage of being a citizen of America or any other western country is good governance and movement. I believe that one day; the world will respect Nigerian citizens and passport.

A lot of people have lost their lives because they want to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Some Nigerians are in Libya, but the government careless. Back home, there is contribution of bad governance. The recession is a global recession; the current government of APC fails to really identify what Nigerians need. Nigerians are hungry.

As the Deputy Chairman PDP IN South Africa, are you satisfied with the way PDP is led back home?

To be honest, we in the diaspora, we have decided to come and change the mentality back home about the party.

Because many people believe that politics is a do or die affairs, they are not ready to serve. They want to be seen as oga and not as servant, so the issue of leadership in Nigeria has no face of the political party.

It is the Nigeria thing; arrogance, impunity, and lack of respect for the rule of law. There are lots of cases against the federal government, the way they maltreat the opposition party. No freedom of speech. Recently, Tuface was planning to do something but the threat from some quarters made him to reverse his earlier plan but for him to have set the pace for the protest is commendable. I don’t pray for revolution like the way we had in the Arab Spring. Military forces will not be able to stop the hungry crowd when there is revolution because the people are ready to die. Fela Kuti sang in his song that Nigerians are suffering and smiling. The leadership in Nigeria has nothing to do with political party be it PDP, APC, AFGA. The leaders have failed to identify the real problems in Nigeria. It is good to fight corruption but what next. Let food be on the people’s table while fighting corruption

PDP was there for 16 years and has been accused to have contributed to the failure of the system?

The word PDP is like an acronym PDP, is a political party. Almost 80 percent of APC leaders were part of PDP. The truth is like someone who wore Babaringa in the morning and went to wear jeans in the evening for convenience and to be freer. There is nothing like APC.

Senate President, Senator Saraki, Former President Oluesgun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were in PDP for years, they only joined the ruling party to unseat President Jonathan by all means because he is from the minority and is not dancing to the tune of some cabal. They took the power from him and the only way they could succeed was not by power or gun but by election.

Since Buhari became president, he could not appoint his cabinet members for six months which showed that they were not prepared to lead the country. I congratulated the president when he won, I want democracy, it is not about party, I am a PDP member, but that does not mean that I hate Nigeria.

In America, when there is an issue that concerns the people, they forget party politics. That is the way it supposed to be. Nobody should silence the other person because he is speaking against the president.

I want to suggest to Nigerians that the idea of shadow cabinet should be in place. The shadow cabinet will be in place to challenge the ministers in power so they can see better options and alternatives for good governance.

How best can PDP reposition itself?
PDP’s strength is outside Nigeria. It is high time PDP mobilize and strategically include its members in the diaspora. It will add a lot of impetus to the party’s chances in the next election.

It is sad that when PDP was in power, its members in diaspora were not given due recognition. My recent visit to Professor Jerry Gana was for PDP to be giving its members in diaspora an opportunity to part in the rebuilding process of the party.

Let us come and help. They call us brain drain, but we are ready to come back with the brain instead of draining its abroad. We have lots of first class brain, and professionals who can make things happen in Nigeria. I am one of them.

How strong is the PDP Diaspora?
Nigerians in diaspora are very strong. We have been contributing to the PDP powerfully. At least every member of the diaspora has one family or other and they are paying bills which in way are contributing immensely to Nigeria’s GDP.

But in the area of politics, PDP members in some countries are strong because they were stooge used in the hands of the power brokers, but for us in south Africa, we have remained stronger even after we lost the presidential election. We decided that this is a political party, not Jonathan. It is a registered party, we will not divorce our party, and we will remain in the party. We are not prostitutes. We will be there until PDP bounce back and take its rightful place in Nigeria.

If the country decides to assist us by giving us the political power, we are ready to support them. My concern is that how can Nigerians in diaspora vote. I want to appeal that the PVC be extended to Nigerians in diaspora just like they did with BVN. When Nigerians in diaspora are compelled to register, the Nigeria passport will be used as an identity card to vote.

What are your plans for PDP back home?
We want to help our people. They are angry. Our plan is not just about politics, though PDP is our platform and we want to use it to correct some things, especially some of the things that our party has done which was wrong. We believe that when you fall, it does not matter because we are loser today, but we will not remain a loser. We believe we will win again. The current President was a loser for three times. There is no shaking, we will come back strong.

Frequent medical trip of President Buhari abroad?

We are praying for the President. I am praying hard for good health. I want him to be strong and powerful and handover the way Jonathan handed over to him. He will hand over healthy and sound so that he can rest in his village in Daura. Let us pray for him to be strong and be in power till 2019 and hand over to people that can rule.

We, in the diaspora, we don’t believe in politicians back home, as it is all about vendetta. Dasuki is an example. We want him back safe and healthy. It will be bad omen for the Northerners. No one should wish him dead. Anything that happens in Nigeria is endorsed by God. We pray God will give him good health. We don’t want continuity of slow motion.

March 4, 2017
Dress this way to look professional

The office is where you spend more than half your time, especially during the work week, and dressing the part is of utmost importance. Unfortunately not all of us seem to have gotten the hang of the right way to dress for work. Every industry has a dress code of its own, from the business formal to the business casual code, but its always best to dress to impress, as you can never tell if your next boss is looking out for you.

Major tip: the best way to decode your office dress code is look at your boss to master the art of office work wear.

Dressing down is a no no

In certain industries like law and the financial sector, dressing down is a crime against humanity. If you happen to work in such industries, you owe it to yourself to dress with fearless flamboyance. As someone once put it, “it’s a form of good manners.”

Ditch immobilizing shoes

One of the biggest style errors many make on the sales floor is wearing shoes they can’t walk in. You are paid to work, put on shoes that will ease mobility and enable you do your job. The other style errors are too much makeup, too much cleavage, too-short skirts/showing too much leg. It just doesn’t work on the sales floor.

Ripped denim

No matter your industry, ripped denim is a professional no no. Save yours for the weekend.

Wearing head to toe designer stuff

It never makes sense to show up on your first day at work or at or an interview dressed in head-to-toe designer duds. You want your work and ability to be the focus, not the fact that your outfit costs more than a small car.

No hems undone, no soiled collars or cuffs, and your shoes must be well heeled and polished.

The key to looking professional is not about spending a fortune on clothes but looking well groomed, clean and appropriate to your vocation. Your professional wardrobe should always be well maintained. For example, your clothing should be cleaned and pressed, no undone hems, no soiled collars or cuffs, and your shoes must be well heeled and polished.

Ditch your trouser suit

Except you are interviewing for a bank job, you might want to ditch your trouser suit. Instead know the industry you are interviewing for, and tailor your look accordingly. You want to dress relevant and develop your own sense of style. You don’t want to look like a victim, but you do want to appear like you actually follow fashion trends.

February 27, 2017
Protecting your child from cyber terrorism

I was at a Parents Teachers Association meeting some time ago, when an argument broke out on the need for e-learning in the school.

Some parents were against it, as they felt it might expose their children to certain dangers amongst other reasons. But one young mother stood up to defend the need for introduction of e-learning platforms. She said that it is backward mentality to be against the use of e- learning as technology is fast advancing and children need to be in tune with the advancement.

She said all her children age 9, 11 and 12 have smart phones and she buys enough data for them to use to surf the internet. According to her, this has made her children quite brilliant and internet savvy.

At that juncture, I interrupted her and asked her a simple question, Madam did you teach your children internet safety? ‘’erm! erm! not yet” she replied.’’ Did you filter bad sites on their phones” I continued, ‘’filter kwa! She exclaimed’’ I’m just hearing that for the first time’’ she said scratching her head. ‘’Do you monitor what they do online’’? I further asked, ‘’Hia oh! I’m too busy for that, my children are smart and they know what they shouldn’t do,’’ she said arrogantly.

I shook my head slowly and wondered how ignorant some parents can be. Why would a mother buy smart phones for children ages 9, 11 and 12 and give them free access to the internet. How careless can some parents be? She obviously has extra cash to splash on phones and data but doesn’t know the right thing to do. I thought to myself, if something goes wrong as a result of her carelessness, she’ll start blaming her village people.

We can’t deny the fact that the internet is a great resource for children. They can use it to research school assignments, projects and read a lot of educational e books and articles and play interactive brain boosting games. At the same time, we can’t deny the numerous dangers that are inherent on the internet, such as cyber crime, cyber bullying and cyber terrorism. I read a chilling story of how young boys in UK became victims of cyber bullying. Many of the children got into bad gangs and some got killed in the process.

It is not advisable to buy smart phones for children below the age of 18 and even if you allow them to go online to do a research or to read, you have to check their activities online.

Unsupervised access to the internet can pose hazards to your child. You have to be aware of what your child is doing online. You have to know who they chat with and what they share online. Something shocking happened in my neighbourhood last year. A teenage girl was manipulated by an older man to send her nude pictures to him and she fell for it and sent her nudes with her face showing. The man started threatening to upload the picture online if she doesn’t sleep with him and this girl scared of her pictures surfacing online started sleeping with this man.

There are so many sexual predators online looking for children to prey on. They prod children to send their personal information such as addresses and phone numbers to them thereby putting themselves and family members at risk. Some even convince them to meet with them privately.

Aside from sexual predators, there are millions of sexually explicit materials online, so there is need to get softwares that helps block access to certain sites based on a bad list site that your internet service provider creates. Filtering programs also block sites from coming in and restricts personal programs from being sent online. Schools that allow children access to the internet must offer online protection as well.

The best person to protect your child from the dangers online is you. BY talking to them about the potential online dangers and monitoring how they use the internet, you will help them use the internet safely.

Njideka Obi, a lawyer, Child Safety Advocate/ Child Safety Expert,

08060424282, safersmarterchildren@gmail.com

February 25, 2017