The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • 7 Shoes that aren’t good for your feet

    7 Shoes that aren’t good for your feet

    They come with poise and class. They confer a sense of belonging. They boost self confidence. They speak lots about your economic and social status. In fact, you may be extra comfortable in them and wear them with an effortless carriage, but Hillary Brenner a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association, says they can lead to everything from ankle sprains to chronic pain.

    Below are some shoes that may be expensive, classy and convenient, but are not good for your feet.

    Ultra-High Heels:  “Heels are getting higher and higher” says Brenner. Ultra high heels are shoes that are at least eight inches high, leaving the toe mostly flat on the ground. The shoes which forces the wearer to stand almost on their tiptoes can create dire consequences. It can cause a painful knot on the back of the heel and even lead to blisters and swelling. It may also cause a protruding deformity (pump bump) which stays permanent. High heeled shoes push too much body weight toward the toes and then squeeze them together. When worn too often, they can put pressure on the ball of the feet and force the feet to an unnatural position.

    Solution: Go low. Wearing low heeled shoes will help the metatarsal bones and return unnatural feet to its natural position. Brenner recommends that heels not more than two inches should be worn – with moderation.

    Stilettos:

    Stilettos pose more risk than ultra-high heels because of their very narrow heels. “The weight is pinpointed on one area,” Brenner tells WebMD. “That makes you wobble like you’re walking on stilts.” The result is that you are more likely to fall and sprain your ankle.

    Solution: Try chunky heels. A chunky heeled shoe has wider surface and distributes your weight more evenly. It also makes the feet more stable when compared to stilettos and can reduce the hazard of tripping and spraining the ankle.

    Ballet flats:

    Simple as it seems, Brenner compares wearing ballet flats to walking on cardboard. “There is no arch support”, she says. It can keep the feet from functioning properly and lead to hip, knee and back problems.

    Solution: Combine with heel pads. If you totally love the look of ballet flats, combine it with heel pads. They may help prevent mild foot pain.

    Flip flops:

    They offer little protection and the risk of getting injuries are higher with them as they leave the feet exposed. Diabetic patients should avoid flip flops because mild cuts may lead to complications. Like ballet flats, they can also cause knee, hips and back problems.

    Solution: Consider fitted flops. The thick sole keeps your foot off the ground and Brenner points out, “they do have really good arch support.”

     

    Platform Shoes

    Platform shoes and wedges tend to have rigid foot beds. “That throws off the biomechanics of walking,” Brenner says. “Your foot is trying to bend a certain way, but the shoe is fighting you because it’s so rigid.” If the heel of the platform is much higher than the toe area, the shoe also puts pressure on the metatarsal bones.

    Solution: Flatter platform shoes. Although still not recommended, a flatter platform shoe may put less strain on your feet than its peers. Look for a wide wedge or platform shoe that is nearly parallel with the ground. This will lessen the pressure on the ball of the foot. However, the rigid sole remains a barrier to the natural walking motion.

    Pointy Toes

    Pointy toes may be stylish, but shoes with pointy toes squeeze the entire front of your foot together. After time, this can cause nerve pain, bunions, blisters, and hammertoes. A bunion which is a painful lump at the base of the big toe that may cause the toe to bend unnaturally is a common aftermath of pointy shoes – that explains the prevalence of bunions in women. Some women may develop bruises under their toenails from the constant pressure of a pointy shoe.

    Solution: You can avoid the pointy toe perils by selecting boxier shoes. If that style doesn’t appeal to you, look for shoes that slope to a point beyond the edge of your toes. A healthy style won’t pinch the tips or sides of the toes. Brenner also suggests choosing a softer material, rather than stiff leather.

    Wrong Size Shoes

    Many women are ‘managing’ to wear shoes that are too small for them. The consequences could include calluses, blisters, bunions among other problems. The constant rubbing can irritate the joints in the foot and lead to arthritis. Research suggests many kids are also wearing the wrong shoe size, which puts them at risk for foot deformities as they grow.

    Solution: Measure your feet before buying new shoes.

    Tips for Better Shoes

    If you’re ready to do right by your feet, Brenner offers these three tips:

    Make sure the shoe bends at the toe box, but is not too flexible.

    Make sure there is a sufficient arch support.

    Choose a chunky heel that is less than 2 inches high.

     

    Culled from WebMD

  • How to protect yourself from hackers

    How to protect yourself from hackers

    Following the massive leak of more than a dozen nude celebrity photos taken on their mobile devices, there has been a worldwide panic and a question of everyone’s mind; how secure really is the information you put on your personal device and online?

    Neo Ighodaro in a chat with Adetorera Idowu gives tips on how you can secure your information online.

     

    What does your job entail?

    I am a Web Developer, Graphic Designer and User Experience Designer at CreativityKills, a web services company based in Lagos.

    As a web developer, I develop and/or program web sites, making sure they can scale online properly. I also handle the statistics, testing and basically anything the website needs to be successful online.

    As a User Experience designer, I make sure that the visual design of the website is beautiful and yet useful and accessible to the person trying to view the website. Where ever the user might be visiting from, mobile, PC or tablet, my job is to make sure the visitor has a nice experience using the website.

    What is your area of expertise?

    My area of expertise is web programming. It’s something I have been doing since I was about 14, and it’s something I absolutely love doing.

    What is the reasonable explanation for the celebrity photo leaks?

    The photo leaks were a targeted attack by certain hackers, directed at the iCloud accounts of some celebrities. If you are a user of any Apple device, you would be familiar with iCloud, which is an online storage service which automatically backs up media content stored on your Apple device, like the iPhones, iPads and iPods.

    iCloud in itself was not directly vulnerable or insecure, but the hackers most likely used hacking methods like Phishing and Brute-Force in carrying out their attacks.

    Phishing is where a hacker creates a fake, yet identical design to the website you want to log into and then gets you to try to log in via this fake website, and then stealing your credentials.

    Brute-force is a hacking method that requires guessing. There are softwares that can literally guess thousands of possible passwords in a minute! Eventually, if your password is not strong, one of the guesses will eventually be correct, though it could take days, even months.

    These two methods of hacking rely heavily on carelessness and soft password combinations respectively.

    How can we secure information on our devices from getting into the wrong hands?

    Security online, generally, is a mirage. There’s nothing that is truly secure online to be honest. Even top websites like Gmail, Facebook etc have had their share of hacking attempts in the past. However, we can take steps to make life harder for these supposed hackers.

    First, on the matter of the iCloud leaks, Apple has come up with several ways to circumvent the hackers, like iCloud login notifications. This is good.

    However, you can start by creating secure passwords. If the password you have currently have dictionary words, or your birth date, or some name. Then it is by no means secure and can be brute-forced.

    There are many online tips on creating a secure password, here’s the link to one I wrote specifically to help people create stronger passwords: http://bit.ly/CreateSecurePasswords

    Also, if you get an email asking you to change your password or something sensitive in your account, DO NOT visit the link in the Email, it could be a phishing web site. Manually navigate to the website on your browser, log in and change the credentials you were asked to.

    Be careful when using public computers. As much as you can, do not log into an account that contains sensitive data on a public computer. For instance, if you want to use internet banking, do not, for the love of God, use an internet cafe for that. It’s a recipe for disaster.

     

     

    Are there any other tech tips?

    1. Always bear in mind that anything online has a potential to be bypassed or hacked, so generally a rule of thumb is, if really you do not want anything leaking, do not put it online. The moment it goes online, you may have lost the ability to control where it ends up.

    2. Changing passwords regularly should be a habit. Sometimes, you may have been compromised but you may not know it because the hacker might be on a “low key”. Changing passwords, probably bi-monthly, can help purge any sitters in your account.

    3. Do not use the same password everywhere. This is a trap most people fall for. If you use the same password for your Gmail as the password for your Facebook, then just know that when one is compromised, you can possibly start kissing them all goodbye.

    4. Ask. You can always ask questions from a professional if you are unsure. You can use our Twitter account to ask us questions and we will answer. You can also use forums like Nairaland in asking for help.

     

     

    Neo Ighodaro, is the founder of CreativityKills, a web design company he started at the age of 16. He is popular in over 50 countries to date, for FlashDP.net, a mobile web application for BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) users that lets users create custom animated display pictures. He was also instrumental bringing Paypal to Nigeria by launching a petition on change.org in May 2013.

     

    Ighodaro can be contacted via; Facebook: http://facebook.com/CreativityKills, Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativityKills, Instagram: http://instagram.com/CreativityKills and

    Website: http://creativitykills.co

     

     

     

     

  • Eight dangerous foods to avoid

    Eight dangerous foods to avoid

    Human beings like to eat, but we need to be careful about what we put in our mouths. There are some foods that are really dangerous to the human system, that are delicacies in other parts of the world. Awele Okwudarue gives you reasons why you shouldn’t eat these things.

    1.  Sannakji (baby octopus) – It is eaten while still alive, so be prepared to battle fighting tentacles. The suction cups can get stuck to your throat if you don’t chew thoroughly, leading to asphyxiation. It’s a delicacy from Korea.

    2.  Raw cashews – The double shell surrounding the raw cashew contains urushiol, a resin that can create significant skin rashes and can be toxic when ingested. Urushiol is the same chemical found in poison ivy. It’s found on the raw cashew shell.

    3. Blood clams – They have been known to have hepatitis A, C and E. Usually quick boiled, it still leaves many viruses and bacteria. Typhoid and dysentery are present. It’s eaten in Asia.

    4.  Cassava – Cassava is one of the world’s most popular staple foods, often being used as a tropical delicacy, used in the form of tapioca starch or flour. The leaves and roots contain cyanide, so if it’s not properly washed or cooked, cassava can be deadly even in small doses.

    5.  Nutmeg – In large doses, nutmeg contains myristicin, a psychoactive substance. Myristicin poisoning can induce convulsions, palpitations, nausea, eventual dehydration and generalised body pain. It’s also a strong deliriant.

    6.  Tuna – This fish accumulates toxic mercury in their flesh, as a result of industrial pollution. Mercury side effects include; finger curling, cognitive impairment, coordination movement and heart disease.

    7.  Blowfish – Blowfish contains tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes the flesh foul tasting, which is often lethal. To humans, tetradotoxin is up to 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. There is enough poison in one blowfish to kill 30 adults. It’s a Japanese treat.

    8.  Hakarl – It contains uric acid and trimethylamine oxide. It is poisonous when eaten fresh, having the potential to cause illness and possibly death to those who ingest it prematurely. It is an Icelandic meal.

     

    Additional information: Google.com

  • Text of 2014 Independence Day Broadcast

    Text of 2014 Independence Day Broadcast

    2014 Independence Day Broadcast by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

     

    Wednesday 1st October, 2014

    Fellow Nigerians:

    1.             Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country’s independence as a sovereign nation. This is also the tenth month of our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in January this year.

    2.             The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a debilitating civil war. We have also renewed our faith in one another, and in our country. We have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.

    3.             In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize that we were in a sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in spite of the many accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to do with the crises of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist elements who have done the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a people.

    4.             On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!

    5.             In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.

    6.             They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them.

    7.             Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.

    8.             Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.

     

    9.             This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace.

     

    10.       To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To the good people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better and greater country must not waver.

     

    11.       While we continue to deploy our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the great toll the conflict is taking on our people.

     

    12.       This is why, to assist the afflicted, we have launched the Victims Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will aggressively solicit resources to augment Government’s statutory intervention, in bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.

     

     

    13.       In partnership with Nigerian business leaders and international partners, we have also introduced the Safe Schools Initiative which is aimed at promoting safe environments for education nationwide, starting with the North East region.

     

     

    14.       The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.

     

    15.       Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-East, the momentum of economic advancement, which is on-going in other parts of the country, despite the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.

     

     

    16.       It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set.

     

     

    17.       I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil.

     

    18.      We are grateful to the international community, and especially our neighbours who are working closely with us in confronting this challenge, for their increased partnership and solidarity. Our steady progress in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified our cooperation.

     

    19.       Fellow Nigerians, in my independence anniversary address last year, I informed you that we had taken cognizance of the suggestion over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to focus attention on rebuilding and strengthening the ligaments of our union. It was in that regard that we announced the convening of a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.

     

    20.       We have successfully delivered on that promise as we established the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After months of deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.

     

    21.       I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference. This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we shall implement the report.

     

    22.       One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.

     

    23.       To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.

     

    24.       Fellow Nigerians, our 54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There have been tough periods, but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience of our people have seen us through. We will continue to march forward to greater heights.

     

    25.       We have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.

     

    26.       Our Administration has made a commitment to ensure that we build and sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections. International and local observers have attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility and we cannot afford to relent.

     

     

     

    27.       We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.

     

    28.       I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections. Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people.

     

    29.       My dear countrymen and women, occasions such as this present an opportunity to thank God for our country and to report to you, on our journey so far.

     

    30.       Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate objective of generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and businesses. We are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are re-positioning to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our infrastructure to make life easier for all and create an enabling environment for enterprise to flourish.

     

    31.       Over the last four years, the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured major increase in the participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the industry. Several critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and commenced. The level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs is being progressively enforced.

     

    32.       There has been maximised local value addition by encouraging the manufacture of equipment components and parts within the country. There has also been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision of goods and services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last four years.

     

    33.       Today, following the rebasing of our economy, every international monitoring and ratings agency now acknowledges Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of five hundred and ten billion dollars ($510 billion) which also places us as the 26th largest economy in the world. This is progress.

     

    34.       Earlier in the year, we launched the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialisation.

     

    35.       The success of these policies is already evident in the increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

     

     

    36.       In line with our objective of encouraging the production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a regional hub for the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto manufacturers have established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable efforts of our local vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great innovation and competitiveness.

     

     

     

     

    37.       We have also launched a special support programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two hundred and twenty billion naira (N220 b). This is in addition to the Presidential Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to create three million jobs annually.

     

    38.       In demonstration of our Administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, we have commenced the new mortgage re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance Company. It is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units across the country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation opportunity.

     

    39.       We have recorded notable success in the social sector. Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme hunger by more than half, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the country with an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger three years ahead of the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development Goals.

     

    40.       This progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of government to increase capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first step was to address and eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement system and ensure that the product gets directly to the farmer. We are expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our farmers have sufficient water supply for dry season farming.

     

    41.       A benefit of these combined actions is that our national food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35 billion dollars) by December 2013, and continues to decline.

     

    42.       Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school enrolment figure

     

    43.       In order to further enhance access to education at the tertiary level, fourteen new Federal Universities have been established; and, to encourage persons of exceptional abilities, our Administration has also introduced a Presidential Scholarship Scheme based strictly on excellence and merit.

     

    44.       On infrastructure, we are building roads, bridges, and new rail lines to make it easier to traverse Nigeria and increase the integration of our people and our ability to do business with each other. In this regard, we have commenced the process of building the Second Niger Bridge. The Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger State is opening up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime activity.

     

    45.       The Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects are on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we started a few years ago, is nearing completion. The successful privatisation of our power sector will in the long run enhance industrial growth. Policies such as this and others have raised Nigeria to the enviable status of being the number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.

     

    46.       The result of this infrastructure drive is that two and a half million jobs have been created over the past two years. This is a record, which we are committed to improve upon to continue to provide jobs for our youth.

     

     

    47.       An unprecedented number of Airports across the country, are not only being reconstructed at the same time, but being re-equipped and reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global standards.

     

     

     

     

    48.       Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our country involve expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore unite with one heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good things of life. All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.

     

    49.       As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence. Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.

     

    50.       The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.

     

    51.       We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal.

     

    52.       I cannot end this address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was sadly brought into our country recently. My directives to the Federal Ministry of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in curtailing the spread of this deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is how it should be: swift, effective and comprehensive action in defence of citizens.

     

    53.       It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to keep Ebola out of our country.

     

     

    54.       I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

     

    55.       This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as we face up to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common resolve, in the pursuit of one common national interest.

     

    56.       As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today. Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall lead the way in that journey to our manifest destiny.

     

    57.       Fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, in all our plans, and in all our words and our actions, we must stand together in love and unity, as one people under God.

     

    58.       We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are brothers and sisters. We are one family. We are Nigerians.

     

    59.       God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Adeboye: I don’t want to live up to 100

    Adeboye: I don’t want to live up to 100

    If the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has his way, he will not want to live up to hundred years.

    The 72 year old preacher doesn’t  mind living up to 90, but being hundred for him, ” is not necessary.”

    Pastor Adeboye gave his opinion on longevity last Sunday, while delivering the sermon at the 60th birthday of the founder and president of Living Faith Church worldwide, a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop Oyedepo.

    ‘’When I marked 70 and people prayed that I would be up to 80, I said amen. When they said I would be up 90, I said well, amen. But when they said 100, I didn’t say amen.

    “I didn’t because I don’t know what offence I would have committed for God to keep me up to 100 in this sinful world when a crown of glory is awaiting me in heaven.

    ‘’I wouldn’t mind to be 92 though, so that I will be alive to preach when Bishop Oyedepo is 80. But to live up to 100, I don’t know about that,’’ Pastor Adeboye said, noting that every birthday is a reminder that ‘’our days are numbered.”

  • 11 Inspiring congratulatory quotes

    11 Inspiring congratulatory quotes

    As President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan confer national honours on some recipients today, the dailies are filled with congratulatory messages from well-wishers to the recipients. Awele Okwudarue compiles 11 inspiring quotes from the messages.

     

    1.  ‘Our boys just became Nigeria’s men’ – Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria to Sir Steve Omojafor, Chairman STB-McCann and Udeme Ufot, Group MD, SO & U Advertising on their conferment of OON and MFR respectively.

     

    2.   ‘A distinguished officer takes command’ – Silverbabim, Technology and Process Re-engineering Consulting to Faith Tuedor-Matthews, GMD/CEO, Mainstreet Bank Limited on her conferment of OFR.

     

    3. ‘Our money has always been on you, Commander!’ – Prima Garnet Africa to Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria on his conferment of CON.

     

    4.  ‘OFR, fitting crown for your pioneering initiatives’ – Chief (Sir) Chris Iheanacho, Chairman/CEO Enercon Nigeria Limited to Mrs Uju Ifejika, Chairman/CEO Brittania-U Nigeria Limited on her conferment of OFR.

     

    5.  ‘Our own chairman, one of Nigeria’s finest’ – Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC to Alhaji Suleiman Yahyah on his conferment of OON.

     

    6.  ‘If not you, then who?’ – Atiku Abubakar to Chief John Odigie Oyegun on his conferment of CON.

     

    7.  ‘Another feather in the cap of Mr Rebuilder’ – Members of The Rebuilders Team to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on his conferment of CON.

     

    8.  ‘Celebrating another garland for the man of the people’ – Petrolex to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his conferment of CON.

     

    9.  ‘The Nation honours a first class citizen’ – Dr Stella Okoli to Dr Alex Otti on his conferment of OFR.

     

    10.  ‘And the women say congratulations’ – Committee of women to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his conferment of CON.

     

    11.  ‘Behold, another CONfirmation of excellence’ – Committee of friends to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his conferment of CON.

  • Synagogue building victim: Masiba, Magazine publisher

    Synagogue building victim: Masiba, Magazine publisher

    One of victims of the Synagogue Church of All Nations building in which over sixty South Africans died is a Christian magazine publisher and editor,

    Ponko Ka Masiba, a South African, until his death in the September 12 incident was East-London based publisher of Let’s Praise Magazine.

    Masiba’s death was confirmed in a facebook post on September 23 by a former senior colleague at Sunday Sun Newspaper, Phalane Motale,

    “ Friends, it is with deep sadness that I have to announce that the family of Ponko Masiba has confirmed that he had died when Pastor TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria, last Friday.

    “ LALA NGOXOLO PMLive! May the Lord have mercy on your soul! May HE give your family, friends and relatives strength and wisdom to understand that IT’s HIS WILL.” Motale wrote.

    His family members and friends who had been hoping he would be one of the survivors were devastated when the news of his death reached them.

    Responding to the announcement of Panko’s death, a former colleague Vicky Somniso-Abraham replied to the facebook post “ My heart bleeds. Now I understand why I have been feeling the I have been lately.”

    Vusi Mona said “ I’m so sad Phalane. He blazed the trail in coveting religious news.”

    “Sad indeed. One of our best taken at his prime. We are so much poorer. We have been robbed. May God grant us peace and understanding,” LR Adendorf said in his tribute.

    Tumo Mokole however said “ True we cannot question God’s deeds but we must condemn human’s pettiness, like flouting of building procedures through bribes and other means. What a gentleman we lost.”

  • 40 Things to know about Bishop David Oyedepo

    40 Things to know about Bishop David Oyedepo

    As Bishop David Oyedepo marks his 6oth birthday today, Awele Okwudarue and Femi Akinpelu, compiles 40 things you should know about the man of God.

     

     

    1. He was born to a Muslim father and Cherubim and Seraphim mother.

    2. He is a PhD holder in Human Development from the University of Honolulu in the United States of America.

    3. He has set up three universities without government assistance; Covenant University, Ota, Landmark University at Omu Aran and Crown University at Calabar.

    4. Betty Lasher a missionary teacher facilitated his becoming a born-again Christian in 1969.

    5. Living Faith Tabernacle, Ota, which he heads, seats 50,000. It is reported to be the largest church auditorium in the world, benchmarked in the Guinness Book of Records in 2008 and 2009.

    6. He met his wife when he was 22.

    7. He was born on September 27, 1954.

    8. He was named in 2011 by Forbes Magazine as the richest pastor in Nigeria, worth over $150 million.

    9. His middle name is Olaniyi.

    10. He is a native of Omu Aran, Kwara state, but was born in Oshogbo, Osun state.

    11. Five years after his ordination as a pastor, he was ordained a bishop in 1988.

    12. His mentors include; Enoch Adeboye, Late Benson Idahosa, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and Late Kenneth Hagin

    13. He has four children, two boys; David Jnr and Isaac and two girls; Love and Joyce.

    14. He got married in 1982.

    15. His sons were ordained as pastors by Kenneth Copeland in May 2007.

    16. His grandmother was a devout Anglican.

    17. His clan, Odo-oro (place of wealth) and family lineage believes in hardwork.

    18. Having rejected a charm his father gave him, he developed whitlow on a finger on his right hand. He wrote three exams the next day and came out with a second class division in secondary school.

    19. He once challenged God to heal him of tuberculosis as a secondary school student, after his fellow mates shifted their beds away from him, and he was healed.

    20. He studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic, and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin.

    21. He has written over 70 Christian, inspirational and motivational books.

    22. He received a mandate from God through an 18 hour vision in May 1981.

    23. Oyedepo Ministries International include; four private jets, estates, restaurants, shopping stores, bakery, processing plants, commercial properties and educational institutions etc.

    24. Dominion Publishing House was established on December 5, 1992, and has over 4 million prints in circulation to date.

    25. He built Faith Tabernacle within 12 months, debt free.

    26. Faith Tabernacle was dedicated on September 18, 1999, under Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

    27. He is a strong critic of corruption in Africa as a whole and poor leadership in government.

    28. He is the president of World Mission Agency Incorporated (WMA), a Christian Ministry Organisation with mission stations in over 40 African nations, also in Europe, Jamaica and America.

    29. His hobbies include; reading, reasoning, planning and writing.

    30. His awards include; International Who is Who of Intellectuals, 13th Edition of International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England and Inscribed in the Jerusalem 3000 Scroll #102268 among others.

    31. He married Florence Abiola Akano, now Faith Abiola Oyedepo.

    32. He is affectionately called ‘Papa’ by members of his congregation.

    33. Bishop Oyedepo and his wife were ordained by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the G.O of RCCG on 17th September 1983.

    34. Some of his Best Selling books include; Pillars of Faith, Born to Win, Possessing your Possession amongst others.

    35. His son, David Jnr pastors the London branch of the church, with his wife, Kemi.

    Isaac Oyedepo is the present resident pastor of Winners’ Chapel International, South Africa.

    36. His association with Pastor Enoch Adeboye dates back to the 80s.

    37. He organises a yearly programme called Shiloh at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun state.

    38. He first shared the gospel in March 1970.

    39. He met his wife at a motor park.

    40. He has empowered over 2,000 of church members.

  • How to support Ebola victims – Doctor  

    How to support Ebola victims – Doctor  

    In the city of Lagos where Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was first reported in Nigeria on July 2014, posters and billboards containing educational messages about the disease are seen pasted visibly in public places. There is a high sense of awareness among the populace.

    “So you mean this Ebola has no cure?” a hair-stylist asked me a couple of months back, when the news about the virus began to gain momentum in the country. I could sense the fear in her voice. All attempts to allay her state of apprehension were futile.

    She reclined into a shell and hesitated before touching a new customer’s hair.

     

    Ebola case in Nigeria

    Ebola came into our psychic when Patrick Sawyer, an infected Liberian-American, flew into Nigeria and spread the virus through contact. Before now we have been reading about Ebola, Dengue fever, and some other kinds of strange fever. We just saw it as something happening to some other countries and not within our country here. So when it hit us, people got scared. People are still scared, narrates Dr. Richard Adebayo, a clinical psychologist based in Lagos.

    Ebola virus disease is a fatal infection that has no cure. But it can be medically managed to recovery. Since the outbreak of the disease in West African region, scores of death has been recorded while a handful were managed back to full recovery. For example, in neighboring Liberia, over one thousand people have been infected with the virus and about six hundred have died, according the World Health Organization. Many people are still in quarantine centers in the region, under medical and security surveillance to reduce the spread of the virus across border.

    “We are in a state of apprehension,”  Dr. Adebayo chirps. “That is (why) mental health issues are involved now.”

    The psychologist says the infectious nature of the disease has created a sense of apprehension in the minds of people. Many avoid large gatherings. Some organizations provide hand-sanitizers for clients and customers who come into the place for business. There is an increased effort to enforce healthy habits that will reduce the spread.

    “It has created a state of apprehension. A state of anxiety. People are concerned. And the fears are real. They are not just misplaced. Honestly, they are real. So you get to an institution or any organization, you are told to go and wash your hands, wash your hands, apply sanitizer. Despite that, people are still afraid.”

     

    Interventions marred by misconceptions

    Lagos is described as the commercial hub of Nigeria. But Dr. Adebayo says although public enlightenment is high in the city, the control and eradication efforts depend on how effective campaign messages are in the suburbs.

    In addition, while the use of technology and its fast-paced nature of information dissemination in our society is said to have contributed to the increased awareness created to curb the spread of the virus, it also enabled effortless spread of misconceptions.

    Dr. Adebayo recalls the incident in August where an individual started a rumor about the use of salt as a protective solution against Ebola. The message went viral within a few hours. Some Nigerians diluted their bathing and drinking water with salt before use. “We got report of two people (who) died and twenty-two others who were hospitalized as a result of that,” he said.

    Although the source of the rumor was not known, the message went viral. Some states in north-central and northern parts of Nigeria that had no recorded case of Ebola were proactive in taking the salt-water solution.

    “My mother woke us very early in the morning to drink and bathe with salt water,” Happy Titus, a young lady based in Kaduna recounts quietly, during a visit to Lagos.

    She said many people complied with the message because they wanted to protect themselves from the virus by all means.

    “You can imagine someone who is hypertensive drinking salt water. That will aggravate the blood pressure of course,” Dr. Adebayo noted.

    “Why is it that people are taking those things when they have not even had Ebola?” he asked, “That explains what I described earlier on- state of fear and anxiety.“

    Ebola raises health consciousness, poses mental strain

    Dr. Adebayo points out that Ebola outbreak in Nigeria has left a positive mark in the country because people have become more health conscious, taking into cognizance personal hygiene that is usually ignored.

    “But beyond that it may lead to a state of compulsion,” the psychologist warns.

    People can become obsessed with routines or suffer obsessive-compulsive disorder, he says.

    “They may wash their hands now, something can touch their hands- maybe they handle newspaper and they go and wash their hands again.”

    The doctor points out that fever is not something that is new in a tropical environment like West Africa, and Nigeria in particular. “People can run temperature, have headache and complain of other conditions like malaria, typhoid, upper respiratory tract infection or some other viral infection that the body will overcome.”

    However, since the outbreak of Ebola, any case with feverish condition is labeled as a suspected Ebola virus infection even when it is not Ebola.

     

    “I heard of a hospital where a suspected case of Ebola was reported and people ran away. When the person has not even been diagnosed.”

    Ebola

    Nigeria is Ebola-free, what next?

    International support to eradicate Ebola has been very strong in the region. Bill and Melinda Gates foundation recently announced a donation of fifty million dollars to help organizations working to control the disease.

    While other affected countries still struggle to eradicate the disease, Nigerian government has been commended for its efforts in curbing the spread.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu recently confirmed that there were no new cases of Ebola infection in the country. In a report published in one of the national dailies, Professor Chukwu revealed that out of nineteen Ebola cases that were confirmed, seven deaths were recorded while twelve suspected cases were successfully managed to recovery.

    According to the report, a total of 350 contacts that were previously on surveillance have been discharged. However, doctor Adebayo cautions against discharging people without providing enough psycho social support for those affected.

    “We need psychologists to take care of them, to continue to have discussion with them,” said Dr Adebayo.

    He said that those who have lost family members to the diseases should be provided with psycho social support.

    “It is not just enough to now say go home, thank God, thank your star that you are not positive.”

    Without any psycho-social support, those discharged will continue to suffer in silence and might come down with all types of mental disorder when we have long forgotten about Ebola outbreak, the doctor warns.

     

    More health interventions needed in rural communities

    With the recent call for schools to resume the new session that was earlier postponed, things are gradually returning back to normal. But Dr. Adebayo says there is still need for more enlightenment.

    The government leaders are doing well in creating awareness through the mass media. But there is a need to go beyond that, he said. Preventing the spread of Ebola is not just about washing of hands alone but keeping a healthy environment.

    “We need to reach out to grassroots through religious leaders and traditional leaders in our communities. We need to reach out to them more so that they can explain this to their people in their local dialect, in their local languages rather than relying on the advert on the newspaper or television.

    “People are afraid because they think Ebola is a death sentence but it is not a death sentence. But people need to know what to do. We need a lot of enlightenment than what we are doing now.

    “And then we need to empower and strengthen our health systems.”

    Most rural communities in Nigeria lack access to government health centers due to poor road network, he said. People in these areas sometimes rely on small private hospitals that lack equipment and manpower.

    To bridge this gap, Dr. Adebayo suggests that more efforts should be channeled towards training community health workers for underserved communities.

    “If somebody is having a suspected case of Ebola in a remote area like Ikorodu or Epe (a suburb of the commercial city), do they have resources they can call upon to take care of them (on) time? How soon can they get response?”

    The psychologist said solving the health challenges in Nigeria is not something to leave to government leaders alone.

    “I was delighted when I heard of (an) Oil Company donating vehicles and protective gears to Lagos state government. Other private organizations should imbibe that,” Dr. Adebayo said.

    He called for more collaboration between government institutions, private healthcare organizations as well as corporate companies, not only to eradicate Ebola from Nigeria but also to improve the health sector in general.

     

    Ehidiamen is a published author and a tech-savvy journalist based in Lagos. 

  • Birthday wishes for Tuface Idibia

    Birthday wishes for Tuface Idibia

    Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2face Idibia turned 39th on Thursday September, 18. 2baba, as he is fondly called, is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s greatest legends of all time, as his music has cut across borders. Mr. Idibia, whose music career began about 2 decades ago has featured several international artistes such as Fally Ipupa, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, T. Pain, R. Kelly and so on.

    He is one of the most decorated and successful Afro pop artistes in Africa. He is the most marketable artistes in Africa.

    2face has received several music awards, which include the MTV Europe Music Award, World Music Award, The Headies (Hip Hop Award), Channel O Music Award, BET Award, MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA) and many others.

    As he marked his birthday recently, many of his fans spoke about him and his contributions to the Nigeria music industry.

     

     

    Omololu Ogundipe

    To me 2baba is a living legend. Young and upcoming artistes look up to him, and he has paved the way for others in the Nigerian music industry, with the likes of Dj Jimmy Jatt. The Hypertek CEO is also a full family man, happily married with kids. I think he is being celebrated today (last Thursday) because of the great works he has put in ever since his musical career kicked off. I love Mr. Idibia and I look up to him. Wishing him a happy birthday. Respect to the boss.

    Sunny Omote

    2baba is a good musician, and a legend that the world will not forget in lifetime.

    Prince

    He has done pretty well in the music scene. For 12 years now, he has been on the top of his game! So, as a musician, he has been awesome. As an individual, I have not really met him one on one but I think he’s a great man.

    Elizabeth John

    To me, he’s handsome and his music sounds good.

    Jesse Maisamari

    2face is a great guy, I like him so much particularly because of his contribution to the music industry, his style and everything. Happy birthday bro.

    Tosin Adeleye

    As a person, he’s loyal and very soft hearted. Happy birthday to you.

    Taiwo Akinpelu

    He’s the king of Nigerian music. The guy is so mature minded, and he is also humble. He looks responsible.


    Habeeb Olaleye

    2baba is an inspirational singer, for me he has a great personality and he’s one of those musicians that popularized the new Nigeria music industry.

    Capital Remi BOB

    2baba has contributed immensely to the growth of Naija music industry. He delivers “dope” lyrics. When I say dope, I mean amazing lyrics. Again, I think he sings with what’s happening around. 2baba is a great man. Wishing you HBD.

    Tosin Oladele
    I see him  as a young man who is very keen of elevating himself. A person of vision and determination. I wish him happy buff day .

    Inioluwa
    2face is a unique musician who is gifted with a special talent different from others. As a person, 2face is a cool and ambition driven, he has really contributed so much to music in a special way because his lyrics stand out and different, and his song are so emotional that sometimes when you are depressed, his music would lift your spirit up.

    Adebola Adeniyi
    First of all, I love his personality. I love his music too because he always passes messages with his music. He looks responsible to me and his music brings out the culture.

    Lucky Nwaomah
    2face’s song “African queen” is my most appreciated, and he came back together with his crew (Plantashun Boiz), to sing a song titled “ocean of passion”‘ they killed that song! Wish you HBD. Generally, I love 2face for his type of music, which gives it life.

    Emem Ekpeyong

    I have love for that name 2face over a period of years, from afar I think he is a man of vision. He loves himself and knows what he wants, and to crown it all he is proud of his origin.

    Mr. E.C Ogbonna

    2face is not only the leader of Africa hip hop renaissance, he is a perpetual leader of all seasons; at once displaying both humility and relevance.