The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Of conductors, bus drivers and change

    You know the biggest menace of present day metropolitan Lagos?

    It’s Change.

    Not the Buhari’s mantra of witch-haunting erring public officers; but the pain of losing your loose cash to the sly whims of a Lagos bus conductor.

    Whimsical, right?

    Strange, but true. Nka n be. My worst TV show of all time.

    Yes! I can brag about my own life. In all my life as a sojourner in this Lagos; I have never forgotten my change in any conductor’s hand. I can’t even recall one because there has never been one!

    It is either the change is tied to my airtime, or someone’s leased money or my transport fare to somewhere.

    I am not much of the rough type. Maybe because I ask gently. I have heard many cries of many commuters  and many curses too. How sad it is to lose your change. With the economy where everyone is faithfully sourcing for quick wealth! And times are as tough as hell! It is no doubt we are in the toughest of times.

    This will be the second time I will see a commuter lose their change in a commercial bus. Early this week, I boarded a bus- #50 was my change. At a point, I got tired and stopped asking. I wasn’t the only one who got tired to ask, the woman beside me too, got too tired to ask.

    Surprisingly, She alighted at the next bus-stop. And the rest was history. The bus driver couldn’t try that with me. I made sure my request was well received.

    Today again, a woman paid for a group of her four friends in head gears for an exciting and very colourful function. In the end after paying #500 for the four women. They all got off the bus. Leaving a lump sum in the driver’s hand. That bus was #50 per passenger.

    So the driver gained #500 from one woman!!! How nice.

    I will say this motorists cheat us every single day! It is much worse when all this mantra of change hasn’t gotten us anywhere than hoping for all things to turn better.

    If you ask me, I will say we got whips, a cross, several hammers and nails to crucify these motorists.

    It is so unfair.

  • Exclusive breastfeeding prevents cancer, maternal death – UNICEF

    Exclusive breastfeeding prevents cancer, maternal death – UNICEF

    Nursing mothers who adopt exclusive breastfeeding of their children, at least for the first six months of life stand a chance to be protected against Breast Cancer and Cancer of the uterus.

    This was disclosed by the UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office in Kaduna Tuesday.

    Speaking at a press conference to commemorate 2016 World Breastfeeding Day, Chief of Kaduna UNICEF Field Office, Utpal Moitra said, breastfeedingwithin 30 minutes of childbirth equally saves mothers from maternal death.

    He said, the 2016 World Breastfeeding Week was targeted at creating awareness on the relationship between breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding as a key component to sustainable development goals.

    According to him, “Initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes after birth saves mothers from the risk of postpartum heamorrage and maternal death and exclusive breastfeeding on demand in the first six months of life without water or any other food starts every baby on healthy path in life, providing all the nutrients the baby requires for optimum growth and development.

    “The feeding of the colostrum serves as the first immunisation against a host of diseases the mother must have been exposed to while continuing breastfeeding up to two years and beyond with appropriate complementary feeding supports optimal health, psychosocial and cognitive development with higher Intelligence Quotient and mental development.” He explained.

    Similarly, Kaduna State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. June Gwani said, against the general belief of mothers that, baby needs water, she said all water a baby needs in the first six months of life is in breast milk.

    According to her, breast milk contains 85% of water, so there is no fear of absence of water in the breast milk.

    She stated categorically that, constant breastfeeding of the baby protects nursing mothers against cancer of the uterus and breast cancer, such as it equally helps the mothers’ uterus to go back to position quickly after delivery.

    In her presentation, titled; ‘Breastfeeding: A key to Sustainable Development and Addressing the Current Situation and Challenges of Malnutrition in UNICEF Kaduna Field Office States.’ UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Florence Oni said, northern Nigeria was lagging behind in proper breastfeeding, which had resulted to high rate of malnutrition in the region.

  • Contrasting tales of two unemployed graduates

  • Yahoo takes communication steps further

    Yahoo takes communication steps further

    American multinational technology company, Yahoo, popularly known for its instant messaging, has introduced some updates to improve the experience of global users.

    These updates can be noticed on the Yahoo Mail sign-in page for anyone who is yet to upgrade.

    The experience allows users to like messages or photographs. You can also engage in a one-on-one chat or group conversation.

    Similarly, you can share several photos instantly and recall an email you do not intend to send due to any form of mistake.

    These were seen on the page on Monday: “Like messenger, like photos; chat one-one or in groups; share tons of photos instantly; unsend – yep, you can take it back.”

    This upgrade has now become the most trending style of messaging and it would probably increase the number of users in Yahoo!

  • Nigerian economy: Recession trends on Google

    Nigerian economy: Recession trends on Google

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun appeared to take different positions on the state of Nigeria’s economy. Are we in a recession yet or not? is the question Nigerians have been asking and they have taken their search for answers to Google.

     

    …Anambra State leads search in Nigeria

     Perhaps there’s been some  uncertainty about whether Nigeria’s economy  is fully in a recession or just “technically” in recession, thanks to recent comments on the issue by the CBN chief and Mrs Adeosun.

    Local interest in the term peaked in the past three months, with questions about the recession in Nigeria  trending on Google in July.

    For those who may still be  still in the dark about the state of the economy , it may be a good idea to pluck a leaf from the tree of knowledge growing in Anambra State. Anambra currently tops the list of states in Nigeria searching for “recession” and other related terms.

    Perhaps the curiosity of the  gentlemen traders at Iweka road, Onitsha, who just needed to know why all  this fuss about a recession, sent the state to the head of the Search list, trumping cosmopolitan Abuja and Lagos, as seen below.

    1. Anambra State.
    2. Federal Capital Territory.
    3. Rivers State.
    4. Lagos State.

    So why are residents of other States not searching for terms related to the recession? Unfortunately, Google has no answers to that question, but globally, Nigeria is one of the top three countries with the most searches for the term. In other words, we are not alone on this one -even good old stable Canada is worried.

    1. United Arab Emirates
    2. Singapore
    3. Nigeria
    4. Canada
    5. Ireland
    6. South Africa
    7. U.S.A

    Below is a list of questions people are asking in Nigeria about the recession. You may want to Google numbers 6 and 9 while you are at it.

    1. Economic recession in Nigeria?
    2. what is recession / recession definition
    3. what is economic recession
    4. difference between recession and depression
    5. recession proof businesses
    6. how to survive in economic recession
    7. how to add value during a recession
    8. when is an economy in recession
    9. how to make money in a recession
    10. causes of recession

    According to analysts, Nigeria’s recession was triggered by a dip in government revenues and spending in the wake of the  fall in global crude oil prices. It’s likely to be a bumpy ride ahead for the country, so it’s important to live by the first rule for surviving a recession- Start saving money now.

  • Critical financial situation of RSSDA-sponsored final year students abroad

    Critical financial situation of RSSDA-sponsored final year students abroad

    On behalf of the Rivers State final year students abroad under the aegis of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), we would like to thank our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for promising and assuring us that he will continue the sponsorship of the final year students abroad and also for the continued developmental strides and ongoing projects in Rivers state, even in this harsh economic climate. We wish you all the best and our continued
    support as you lead us to more progressive and sustainable development.

    Sir, as final year medical students graduating this year, we would like to bring to your notice our present predicament as a result of non-payment from December 2014 to date (over 1 year and 6 months).

    We are financially broke to the point that even food can no longer be found on our table, this is alarming but it is what we face day after day. It is embarrassing for us to inform you that, we now rely on begging from friends for even food. It is believed that, food is one of the fundamentals of existence, so how do we survive in strange, far away land without food and roof to cover our heads? Transport fare to the
    hospitals we do our rotations/clerkships is now very difficult to come by.

    More so, we have tried arranging with the landlords to give us some time to crack a means to pay them the rents owed them but all our efforts were declined, as we owe over 1 year rent. The landlords have used legal actions against us in order to get back their money, while some students have received court summons and are expected to appear in court in the following weeks if they are unable to pay their rents,
    others have been given a definite deadline to pay up the rent or face jail term. As a matter of fact, some students have already been evicted from their apartments; now more than seven students are living in one
    room just to stay under a roof, some are squatting in church members’ and pastors’ houses while others sleep on the streets with no shelter over their heads.

    The situation is unbelievable and unbearable as Rivers State-sponsored scholars and ambassadors of our great state and Nigeria at large; It is shameful and mind-boggling to inform you that most of the students have been forced to beg for donations from church members and friends just to survive as a result of Government’s inability to release funds for our upkeep. We really do not know what else to do to help our situations as every attempt to get help from the current government has been futile.

    Also, In addition to non-payment of students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, tuitions have not been paid. As a reaction to that, the universities have stopped the RSSDA-sponsored scholars from
    attending classes and sitting for exams.

    In our Institution here in the Caribbeans, the final year medical students have been stopped from attending clinical rotations/clerkships,which means that we will not be allowed to sit for the final
    examinations or any licensing exams and may not be able to graduate this year due to the disruption. We fear that our several years of hard work in pursuing our medical degree may be in jeopardy especially considering the fact that we have barely a few months to finish. The situation we find ourselves is very critical as our education and future is at stake.

    As students, it is difficult for us to concentrate and study in harsh financial conditions, especially now that we should be preparing for our final exams and licensing exams. We do hope for a positive change as we face so many uncertainties. Our condition is now so pitiful that we are hopeless in a foreign land. Also, we would not be able to leave the country, as we are obliged to settle all debts owed and clear every
    financial commitment accrued (rent, utility bills and loans).

    We are hereby humbly appealing to the Rivers state governor, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Rivers State Government, the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and her partners (SHELL, NNPC, Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Agip, World Bank, USAID, DFID and NDDC) to please come to ouraid, as we are totally stranded, hopeless and frustrated.
    We do not know what will become of us in the coming weeks without theGovernment resolving this situation as we are facing uncertainties in a foreign land.

    Long live Rivers State,
    Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Device that helps you locate keys, phone easily

    Device that helps you locate keys, phone easily

    Have you ever had tough time remembering where you placed your car keys in the house; had a hard time locating your luggage at the airport when you arrived, or your only phone was nowhere to be found? Worry less, with the new Trackr app you can easily regain your possession with less trouble.

    Also, technology and various innovations have come to make our lives more comfortable and that of criminals harder, no denial. Thus, using this device stands to help one recover stolen item or to easily locate a misplaced item. One does not need raising radio alarm in getting track of ones car. Getting in touch with your car is as easy as you can imagine.

    Using Standalone GPS and radio triangulation units can be expensive. Being expensive does not stop one from paying fees like the activation fee, and monthly fees regarding on the type of service chosen. This has been difficult for most of us to meet. With the presence of technology our problem are now been resolved. One can easily track his or her car with a tiny gadget and application without stress and that could be what you are looking for.

    What is it about?

    It’s about Tracker, A small and discreet device the size of a coin that is revolutionizing the market.

    But… How does it work?

    Quite easier! It takes less than five minutes to put into action. One will easily connect it with a Smartphone by downloading the free App on the Phone.

    Once this is done, you simply have to put it on your key chain, in your wallet or in any object you want to locate. In this case you just have to keep it in a secret part of your belonging like the car, your motorbike, your bag or any other persona belonging.

    Now you just open the application on your Smartphone and you can easily see the position of your Tracker on the map. If you lose your car or any other item, simply select “find device” and you’ll get the coordinates of the new location.

    See video:

    How much is it going to cost me?

    It is commonly known that things are always costly when it is just brought into the market, but in this case it is not so. You may probably be thinking this device will be very expensive…nope. This is the best part, you can acquire one for so little, the price is about $29. Not bad considering considering it functions.

    How to buy it?

    That’s easy, you can buy it from the website

    Other functions

    Do you often forget your wallet? Forget where you left your keys? Or want to prevent your pet from escaping? With Tracker  you can also track your personal belongings. Simply attach it to anything you consider important or easy to lose, link it to your Smartphone (with the Tracker application) and you will find what you lost, it’s that easy!

    Detailed instructions on how to use Tracker

    Get Tracker from this website, you’ll get it delivered to your home in about 1 week after payment.

    • Step 1: Get Tracker from this website, you’ll get it delivered to your home in about 1 week.
    • Step 2: Link Tracker Bravo with your Smartphone (iPhone or Android) and hide it in your car.
    • Step 3: Download the app and always have in hand the location of your valuables.

    PRO TIP: Tracker is a great gift idea because THERE IS NO MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION!

    There is an  amazing PRMO going on right now and if you buy 4 Tracker’s you will be sent  4 additional Tracker’s for FREE!

    So pick up 4 Trackers  and get 4 for FREE so you and your family can keep track of your properties like, Suitcases, pets, keys, bikes, toys, and even electronics like your iPad, laptops and other important properties of yours.

     

  • 5 quick ways to save data on android

    5 quick ways to save data on android

    Even as the cost for data is getting cheaper by the day, with every network suddenly offering 3.5G for N2000, some smartphones just will not help you maximize your data as much as your keep maximising the device.

    Recall the irritating prompt that drops in your message box reading: “You have less than 10mb left of your data.” It is understandable that you detest it. No worries, many more people do too.

    Well, there is good news for a few non-techy smartphone (especially Android) users like me and you. Thus, find these 5 quick tips on how to conserve data on android phones.

    Data Diet: Five Easy Ways to Save Your Data

    1. Reduce the amount of data used by your Android mobile device or computer by turning on Chrome Data Saver Mode. From compressing web pages to removing images when loading a page on a slow connection, you’re able to save up to 70% more data.1

     

    2. Offline YouTube videos and watch them as often as you like without using data or buffering each time with YouTube Offline.

    1. 2Whether it’s your neighborhood or a weekend getaway destination, there’s a way to use Google Maps without using any data. Download an area of the world and seamlessly use Maps features like turn-by-turn navigation and access useful location information without a network connection using Google Maps Offline.

    3

    1. Identify and remove data intensive apps by going to Settings > Data Usage on your Android device. You may be surprised to see data being used by apps you hardly touch!

    4

    1. Disable auto-updating apps on your Android device by opening Google Play and tapping the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) on the top left of the screen. Go to Settings > tap Auto-update apps > select Do not auto-update apps or Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi.

    5

    Simple! You can now begin to have a better use of your smartphone. Go and enjoy the Smartlife

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Smartphone, Android” count=”5″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Man’s spirit ‘photographed leaving his body’ after accident

    Man’s spirit ‘photographed leaving his body’ after accident

    Some proves of the afterlife were recently captured in photographs at the scene of a fatal road accident involving a motorcycle and a vehicle on Tuesday in Kentucky, United States of America.

    The photo, that has now gone viral on the internet, shows the wispy spirit of a person leaving the body as an emergency services work at the scene.

    According to a passing motorist, Saul Vazquez, the picture was taken by  his dad, who snapped the accident scene as he passed by it on Tuesday.

    The Kentucky photographer posted it online, saying: “I took this picture just few minutes ago from the cab of my truck. It was an accident between Campton and Stanton on the service road just off of the mountain parkway.

    “Zoom in and pay attention to the shadow just off the top of the state trooper hat.

    “All I say is I hope everyone involved is okay.”

    According to CNN, the man involved in the motorbike crash was later pronounced dead in hospital.

    Scott C Waring, of ufosightingsdaily.com, who takes an interest in the paranormal, said: “This is absolutely mind boggling.

    “When an accident happened, someone took a photo and realised a spirit was moving upward from the dead body.

    “Although this is not a UFO or alien, it is paranormal and very exciting news indeed.

    “This confirms, that humans will not just disappear when we die, but our energy stays intact and lifts away from the shell of a body to go somewhere awesome.”

    Readers of his blog had mixed views.

    A user called dcCamba asked: “What makes this spirit stronger then others?

    “Accidents are always filmed and photoed. This is hard to believe even though I really want to.”

    Michael Dougherty added: “It could easily be a gap in the trees showing light from the other side.

    “UFOlogy has taught me a lot about illusions.”

    But Gregory Ellison thinks it is the real deal.

    He said: “There is no doubt in my mind some human spirits, and other more nasty things, stick around after death.

    “Frankly I pray I do move on one day, and don’t become tethered to the earth after death. The spirits don’t seem very mobile, that stay behind, and typically stay in the same area.

     

  • Sasore installed as 56th president of Lagos Rotary Club

    Sasore installed as 56th president of Lagos Rotary Club

    Mrs. Gladys Dupe Sasore was installed as the second female president of the Rotary Club of Lagos at a ceremony in Lagos. Adetutu Audu reports

     

    While it looked like yesterday that Lawrence Agose, the former public relations adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc., was installed as the 55th president of the Rotary Club of Lagos, but it was actually a year already and it was night of speeches, thrills and frills as the Club installed Rotarian Gladys Modupe Sasore as her 56th president. And as she was taking oath of office, she was also making history as the she became just the second woman to be installed the president of the Club since its inauguration in 1961.

    Sasore is bringing in so much into her new assignment. She is set to make waves in a Club dominated by men but where gender does not play any role in whatever is being done.

    An advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Sasore is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration in the United Kingdom and was also the Special Adviser on Export Programmes to former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2005 and 2007. She had also served as Chairman of several committees in the Rotary club of Lagos.

    The immediate past President of the Club, Agose, had to do the traditional stock taking as he took a bow and gave the ceremonial brass garland to Sasore. In his valedictory speech, Agose gave giving account of the club’s accomplishment in the 2015/16 Rotary year. He reeled out list of projects embarked on and completed under his leadership.

    The star project of the lot, according to him, was the building and furnishing of the Randle Avenue Primary School Library in partnership with Nigeria Breweries Plc, which cost N18million.

    Another highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to some members of the club for their distinguished contribution in the last rotary year, with Bridget Uko bagging the Rotarian of the Year Award. Uko was a regular face at virtually all programmes of the Club during the 2015/2016 Rotary year. Perhaps, only a few would have argued against Uko being given the award.

    Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu, expressed her delight at the emergence of a lady as the president of the Club. As the first woman to attain the rank of Rear Admiral in the Nigerian Navy, Hotonu urged Nigerian ladies to avoid always staying in the shadows of men.

    “To the women I am saying you have a place at the top. You are invaluable to the human race. Today, women are going places and doing great things. You are who you are meant to be. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t stay in the shadows. I am not saying this for you to take over; I am saying you are not handicapped and should never see yourself as such,” she said.

    She also commended the club for its service to humanity and pleaded the club to assist in restoring the fallen ethical standard of the Nigerian society.

    Other dignitaries at the ceremony include Chairman of the occasion, Sir Kessington Adebutu, represented by his son, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and Alhaji Umar Saro as the Special Guest of Honour.

    In a related development, the Club has commissioned a borehole for staff and students of Lafiaji Senior High School in Lagos Island. The borehole with water treatment plant, overhead tanks and water fetching bay, was sunk in partnership with Fidson Healthcare Plc with a cost of N1million.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held within the school premises, president of the club, Larry Agose, former president of the Club, stated that it is the culture of the Club to carry out projects that impact positively on the society. He explained that he discovered the school was in need of water after visiting the premises and consulting a former president of the club.

    His words: “The school came to my radar six months ago when the past president said he gave computers to the school and those computers need servicing. I noticed the environment and we discovered the students are in need of water for sanitation and other purposes. Given the financial implication, we presented this proposal to Fidson Healthcare Plc. They saw it was in line with their value for human life and decided to partner with us on the project.”

    He explained that the club has a culture of contributing positively to the society; adding that the Club doesn’t just embark on projects, but executes out projects that meet the needs of the people.

    In her remark, principal of the school, Mrs. M.O Mebude, acknowledged the social relevance of the Club and appreciated the kind gesture of providing not just a borehole, but with a treatment plant, noting that some students would not only fetch for domestic use but tend to take a sip.

    She added that the “the borehole would not only alleviate the suffering of students and staff of the school, but also of neighbouring schools.”