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Tag: men

  • Grooming tips for bearded men

    Grooming tips for bearded men

    GROWING a beard can be an expression of independence and confidence, but it takes a lot of effort and commitment.

    Just like the hair on your head, facial hair is also very important. It needs regular upkeep to avoid looking unkempt and shabby.

    Grooming tips:

    Keep your beard clean. Wash your face every morning and night. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel and avoid putting your face on dirty pillowcase.

    Shampoo your beard at least  a few times a week. Use a moisturizing shampoo to prevent the hair from getting brittle

    Use a thick, heavy-duty conditioner to keep your beard from getting too strong. Leave the conditioner in for a while before washing it off.

    Trim it regularly. This is done to get rid of split ends in the hair and maintain your chosen shape.

    Eat a healthy diet. Avoid eating oily food; eat lot of fruits and drink plenty water as well.

    Get beard oil. Good beard oil will prevent your beard from itching and beard dandruff. It  also keeps your beard and face from getting oily.

    Moisturize with shea butter or moisturizing oil such as olive, coconut or grape seed oil.

  • WHY MEN FEAR WOMEN WITH FAME – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS ADETOUN L’AMERICA

    WHY MEN FEAR WOMEN WITH FAME – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS ADETOUN L’AMERICA

    Lola Faduri is a psychologist and surgical assistant in the United States of America who, for her passion in the make-believe world, decided to pursue a degree in filmmaking at the renowned New York Film Academy. Fondly called Adetoun L’America among her folks, the light skinned lady, who started her acting career in 2001 with the popular Odunfa Caucus, recently produced two films. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, she speaks on her journey in the motion picture world, among other issues.

    TELL us about your new movies?

    I just finished producing two movies. One of them is titled Ayamo meaning ‘Destiny’. It is basically about people who think they cannot succeed or survive in Nigeria without traveling abroad. They do not know the daily struggles of those living there and they think life is smoother on the other side. The irony of it is that people stay here in Nigeria and succeed without having to travel.

    There’s a lot to learn from it but it simply teaches us that wherever you are destined to be, God will locate and prosper you. We do not need to travel abroad before we make it in life. The second movie is titled Ife Odale. It’s a story of betrayal, hurt and greed between couples. It also emphasizes reasons why distance can damage homes and relationship.

    If a spouse relocates abroad and the other spouse is back home, should there be trust? Could such marriages work? Can such marriage stand the test of time? All these answers can be found in the movie Ife Odale.

    One of the challenges producers face is funding. How have you been raising funds for your projects?

    Well, acting and movie making are not the only careers I have. I work in the medical field here in the US and I’m also into buying and selling.

    Moreover, our industry is not as profitable as before but that doesn’t mean we still don’t make money from the movies we produce. Most of my colleagues have other businesses, and we fund our movies ourselves because it’s what we have a passion doing.

    What are the challenges of staying abroad and getting roles in Nigeria?

    It’s hard, to be sincere. It’s a big challenge but if you are determined, things will always work out the way you want. There are lots of actors that are based in US and UK. In fact, Nollywood US produces lots of movies every year. We have an industry here too. I know people who produce here in US without having to travel home.

    My last production, Adetoun L’america was shot here in US. I mean 90 % of it and only few scenes were shot in Nigeria. I’ve featured in a lot of productions here that don’t have a single scene in Nigeria, so it’s not so hard to get roles here. But I personally have to travel to shoot my movies and get roles in Nigeria and I get roles here in US too.

    How true is the perception that most actresses are wayward?

    Well, I don’t know about that. There’s no industry that does not have wayward people as you mentioned, so it’s not only in our industry. It happens everywhere and in every career but just because we are role models, people tend to think there should be perfection in Nollywood, I do not see or know any wayward colleague but if some of them are actually wayward, then it’s very bad.

    People also believe their wayward attitude could be one of the reasons. They get married late and end up divorced?

    Some people marry late for reasons best known to them, not because of waywardness. Actually, there are two sides to it. Some men are reluctant to marrying female actors because of the fame and they think they cannot control them; this could lead to female actors marrying late.

    On the other side most men that eventually marry them for the stardom part and not real love which eventually leads to divorce in no time except the very few God-fearing men. Yes, I could start mentioning happily married female actors that don’t have any problem in their marriages. There is a lot of us.

    You must have been in the business for a while; cell you tell us about it?

    If you have passion for something and you aren’t seeing yourself doing it, it saddens you. Acting has been my passion, so if I know any one that knows someone in the industry, I was always quick to tell them to introduce me. There was this brother I know; he’s a very popular musician in London. His name is Jide Chord. He and Uncle Alade Aromire were very close friends. He introduced me to Alade Aromire in 2002 and he tutored me till 2005 before I relocated.

    Same way I met Uncle Yinka Quadri in 2001 through his brother Waheed Olateju Quadri. He told me he is Yinka Quadri’s brother and I was like you have to take me to see him. That was how I started going to Odunfa. I used to go to LTV 8 to see Uncle Alade Aromire back in 2003 at his Yotomi studio. He knew I was in Odunfa but I took him as a brother and because he was a veteran, I learned a lot from him, I pray his gentle soul continues to rest in peace.

    What is it like combining acting with a medical career?

    Acting is my career and medicine is my job. I have passion for both but acting is my life: Healthcare brings me money, I combine both easily without one affecting the other.

    Do you think you can have a break with you

    staying abroad?

    Yes and I’m not only aiming to become a top shot in Nollywood, I plan to make big movies that will be shot in Los Angeles and I will cast Hollywood actors, I went to NY Film Academy here and most of my colleagues we graduated together have relocated to Los Angeles to start a career.

    We do keep in touch and I plan to make an Afro/American film project soon. I hope to cast both Hollywood and Nollywood actors. Acting for me is not all about the country I was born alone but also about the county I live. I’m aiming higher and with God nothing is impossible.

    What was your reason for joining a caucus?

    Back then, it was necessary to join a caucus. You see, people don’t produce movies then like we do now. Before you can even feature in one movie, you have to really try. It wasn’t coming easy and there were few producers. But now, I do not belong to any caucus. We produce singly, we have marketers and we feature other actors. There are still caucuses and I always and will always represent Odunfa caucus but I don’t belong to any now.

    Are you also of the opinion that joining one is the only way to survive in the Yoruba movie industry?

    No, I don’t believe that the only way to survive is to join a caucus but it’s good to join one especially if you are just coming up as an artist.

    Is Ife Odale your story?

    No, it’s not my story but it’s a true life story of what is happening in our society. It is assumed that producers sometimes tell the story of their life through their works. But if they do, they will let the audience know it’s the true life story. Not every story is true life. There are lots of things happening in our society, and there is a lot to write about.

    Are you one of the actresses who believe marrying a white man makes their career easy to maintain?

    I don’t believe marrying a white man makes life easy abroad; neither does it make a career easy to maintain. Marrying black or white here does not make any difference unless for people marrying the white to get their papers and eventually getting divorced at the end.

    Did you pay those you featured in your new movie, or it is the normal norm of exchange, which is popular in the Yoruba sector?

    I paid them all, although I cannot finish paying them. Can we finish paying each other? No. The works we do is much but the pay is little, we help each other a lot too, may God bless our hustles.

    You also act in English movies too?

    Yes, it started from my church. Half of those English movies are produced By COGA Cathedral, and one of the movies was directed by Doyin Hassan and others by reputable Christian movie directors. I’m a devout Christian and a child of God. I’ve featured in other Nollywood English movies as well.

    What is your take on those who flaunt their charity works on social media?

    It’s good to do charity but not as means of cheap publicity.

  • Tompolo and his men can’t withstand us -Itsekiri People’s Congress founder Ekwejunor-Etchie

    Prince IsholaEkwejunor-Etchie is the founder of Itsekiri People’s Congress a.k.a.Agbukumasa. The group came into existence as a result of some problems that confronted the Itsekiriethnic nationality between 1997 and 2003.  Ekwejunor-Etchie bares his mind on the alleged neglect of Itsekiriland by the governments at federal and state levels, but he says his group will never be part of the destructive campaigns of the Niger Delta Avengers. He spoke with HANNAH OJO

    What was the motivation for the establishment ofItsekiri People’s Congress?

    The Itsekiri People’s Congress came into existence as a result of the problems that confronted the Itsekiri nation between 1997 and 2003. The problem then was the issue of the headquarters of Warri South Local Government, which degenerated into a suicidal war between us and our Ijaw brothers. It got to a crescendo in 2003 where virtually all Itsekiri villages were burnt.

    It suffices to say at this point that the Nigerian state forsook the Itsekiri nation. They could not provide security for us at that time and even up till now.  The Ijaw, then led by Tompolo, killed and maimed Itsekiri sons and daughters, so we resorted to self-help. That self-help gave birth to Itsekiri People’s Congress a.k.a. Agbukumasa.  The average Itsekiri man knows the meaning of Agbukumasa. It means we don’t run away from death.

    What has been your approach in agitating for the rights of the Itsekiri nation? Do you resort to militancy or dialogue?

    It was as a result of failure on the part of the Nigerian state that we went into getting arms to defend ourselves. But after the resolution of the crisis in 2004, we dropped our arms because the Itsekiri man is not known for violence. If you go into history, you will discover that the typical Itsekiri man has no penchant for violence. We believe in dialogue.

    When the issue of amnesty came up, we returned all our arms to the federal government. But suffice to say that the federal government did not give the Itsekiri any amnesty slot.

    The reason was that the amnesty was politicised. The government of the day at that time was skewed to the Ijaw nation so the Itsekiri nation was marginalised.  It took a lot of pressure before they were able to give the Itsekiri nation some slots of the amnesty, which does not conform to the reason for the amnesty.  Up till today, the Itsekiri man languishes in abject poverty in the midst of plenty.

    The general impression is that poverty is something that is peculiar that applies to the whole of Niger Delta. Why make a case solely for the Itsekiri?

    It looks as if it is just only the Ijaw that are in the Niger Delta. No! The Itsekiri are also prominent in the region. I want to make it clear to you that Itsekiri land produces more than 30 per cent of the oil revenue of this country.  And the Itsekiri nation also has gas reserve.  The contribution of the Itsekiri nation to the economy of this country, compared to what theItsekiriget in return, is nothing to write home about. The fact is that we don’t have a pedigree for violence. That is the reason why we are coming out now. We are coming out to make the government know that our silence does not mean that we don’t know our rights.

    The Itsekiri nation has no electricity, no schools, no potable water and no health facilities.  I make bold to ask anybody to go and visit Itsekiri land. I visited recently and I have a video clip to show to the whole world. We cannot continue like this. The government does not think about us, not to talk of the oil industry.

    What was the relationship between the region and government during the dispensation of former President Goodluck Jonathan?

    The typical Itsekiri man has a lot of pride in him because of his upbringing. When Jonathan was there as president, he was skewed more to the Ijaw people and he abandoned the Itsekiri people. You can see how long it took Jonathan to come and commission the EPZ project in Ugborodo and you can see the political undertone that took place in that time. But where is the EPZ today? It is a white elephant project that has not seen the light of day.

    Since 1965 when Gulf Oil came intoItsekiri land to explore oil, they have been contributing steadily to the economyof this country. But the Nigerian government, I make bold to say, has not taken care of us.  The places where the oil comes from are not even protected.

    What has been the contribution of prominent Itsekiri sons and daughters to the agitation of the Itsekiri nation?

    The only nationally acclaimed Itsekiri man which this country recognised was the late Chief Festus Sam Okoti-Eboh. Obasanjo gave the minister of state for defence portfolio to DrOritsejafor for just two days. For a land that produces 30 percent of the economic stay of this country, as I speak with you, there is no minister, no special adviser or assistant to the president from the Itsekiri nation. There are no ambassadorial appointments given to an Itsekiri man. Are you trying to tell me that we are not educated but our land is good enough to extract economic stay? It is not done anywhere in the world.

    What is your relationship with some other militant groups in the Niger Delta, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers?

    I told you originally that the Itsekiri man has no penchant forviolence. So we don’t apply ourselves to violent approach to agitation.  We do our things genuinely, with intelligence. We don’t destroy our ecosystem or our property in the name of agitation. Agitation is done all over the world, but not through violence.

    Not that the Itsekiri man cannot give violence. The ijaw man is a good witness to the kind of violence the Itsekiri can give. Me speaking to you, Tompolo knows me. I fought him to a standstill and drove him out of the Niger Delta. I am the founder of Agbukumasa and it came into existence as a result of the self-help we resorted to. I don’t have a pedigree for anything violence, I came from a very strong family. My father was a minister under Chief ObafemiAwolowo.

    My father, Chief G.E Ekpejunor-Etchie was a royal.He was the chief-priest of the Warri kingdom.  I have taken after him. I cannot sit down and allow my people to be marginalised to this great extent.  If you go to the armed forces, hardly will you see an Itsekiri man. When an Itsekiri man wants to go to the armed forces, they skew him out of the system. Is it wrong to be a minority? We are being oppressed by other minorities like the Ijaw, the Urhobo and so on. The big brother up there who is supposed to give us cover is not doing anything.  That is why we are calling on the federal government of Nigeria not to undermine our being quiet.

    The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, is an Itsekiri man and some people believe that some of his projects were done to favour of Itsekiri people. What is your reaction to this?

    Uduaghan claims he is an Itsekiri man. But if he is really Itsekiri thick in the blood, he will be more of Itsekiri than any other person. He was governor for eight years. I challenge you to go ask him what he did for Itsekiri land in the last eight years. Uduaghan was operating with a cabal.

    Who are the cabal?

    The Itsekiri people will identify them when the time is right.

    Are the cabal’s members alsoItsekiri?

    It is the Itsekri people who at the appropriate timewill determine whether they are Itsekiri or not.  I won’t mention names but the cabal in question, only very few of them are Itsekiri by gene.  The others are Okpe, Igbo and Ijaw.

    And you believe these cabal stopped the former governor from executing a concrete development work in Itsekiri land?

    They didn’t stop him from doing it. I think a righteous leader must create wealth for his people.  So you must have a vision. If he had a vision for the Itsekiri nation, the Itsekiri would not have remained in squalor after eight years of an acclaimed Itsekiri man as governor.  These cabals are the ones given contracts to build the health centres. They will build it half way and leave it, and the government will not check them. If a project is not completed and I certify it okay, I’m I not an accomplice?

    You see abandoned projects in Itsekiri lands and the government did not ensure to see that these projects are completed.

    There are no impacts of the development funds given to the Niger Delta region. Are you saying government alone should be held responsible or some people in the communities who divert project funds through corrupt practices also?

    From 1999 when the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established for the development of the Niger Delta region, have you ever seen an audited account or an audited report of NDDC? Is it not a government commission? From 1999 till date, NDDC has never been audited. We don’t know the contracts that are given to anybody. We don’t know the contractors that are doing the job. We don’t know jobs that have been completed. Are you going to hold the community leader for that or you are holding the government whose role is to supervise and ensure completion of projects?

    But if the agents of the NDDC connive with the people to do something with the community leaders or heads, who suffers it?  It is the people that suffer.  But because the people do not have the voice to speak, they keep quiet and languish in penury. So it is the government that is failing in their role of monitoring, supervision and ensuring completion and commissioning of projects in the region.

    So you are saying the community people are not liable for corrupt practices?

    I wouldn’t say that they are not liable. But who is going to prove their innocence or their guilt? It is the government.  Chevron Nigeria Limited, in connivance with the cabal,set up what they call Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC). Chevron should please tell us Itsekiri people how much they have given to that council and the jobs they have issued. One of the major characteristics of leadership is accountability. Government is supposed to be accountable to the people.  Is that not why the Buhari government is fighting corruption? I am now saying that corruption has eaten deep into the oil companies at the detriment of the people. The government should help us.

    What is the position of your group on the demands and operations of the militant groups in the Niger Delta?

    I speak for my nationality, the Itskekiri nation. I cannot speak for the Ijaw nationality and I do not expect the Ijaw nationality to speak for my own nationality.  They should speak for themselves. They should not speak for us Itsekiri people because we are not from the same race.  The fact that nature tries to put us together does not mean that we all have the same characteristics.

    Itsekiri people came into contact with civilization in 1484 with the Portuguese merchants.  We are not a people that do our thing without decorum. I am making the call on the government to come our rescue.

    What are the demands of the Itsekiri People’s Congress, which you want government to address?

    We want government to look at the activities of the oil companies in Itsekiri land, especially the aspect of failing to provide infrastructure in the host communities. The issue of the oil companies in our locality is a topic that we should take separately because it is a pain in our heart. You cannot milk oil in our place and go and build your administrative headquarters in Lagos. That is Chevron for you. You cannot be taking oil from my land and I have only two per cent of the employees in your place. Let chevron tell us the list of all the people in their employment and how many Itsekiri are there? That is another height of oppression.

    Is your coming  out at this time based on the need to rival the attention the Niger Delta Avengers group is getting from the federal government?

    There is no need to rival them. We are not the owner of time. Circumstances determine time. If I must let you know something, the Niger Delta Avengers are on their own.But we must clear ourselves before the government because I read in the papers the Niger Delta Avengers are saying the Itsekiri are part of them. We were never part of them. No Itsekiri man is part of the Avengers, because no Itsekiri man is a destroyer.  But we are pained also. We are suffering too. We should now talk to government. Let government talk to us and let us see how we can synergize and work together to bring out peace in the Niger Delta and bring on meaningful development to the region.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (4)

    This article will deal with treatment of menopause in women and tough upon male “menopause”.

    The main symptom of menopause in women is hot flushes (see earlier articles). This symptom of hot flushes can be corrected with the hormone that is so deficient in women at their mid-ages. Doctors, based upon clinical assessment, may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which comes indifferent formulations. Some can be taken by mouth as a daily pill similar to contraceptive pill. A note of warning is warranted here.

    HRT is not a contraception or an anti-pregnancy pill. Women should still take precaution so as not to get pregnant. Please note that this statement does not mean that a woman’s fertility has returned with us of HRT. It’s not so. HRT can also be taken as a patch or vagina cream.

    While on HRT, women that have not had hysterectomy (removal of the womb), may resume having regular menstrual periods. Again, this is not an indication that fertility has been restored. The menstrual period is just the consequence of the way the HRT works. HRT may be continued for up to five years.

    HRT is not without risk. Anyone with the history of breast cancer, blood clotting, severe liver disease, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding and pregnancy should not take HRT. The HRT here is a combined hormones of estrogen and progesterone.

    For women who have had their womb removed, they may use a different form of HRT: estrogen. In all, because of the risks, women intending on using HRT should consult their doctor for guidance before commencing usage.

    Vaginal dryness leading to difficult sex may be relieved with either a lubricating cream, such as KY jelly or estrogen cream. Urinary symptoms may also be relieved by HRT. Low sexual drive that is not helped by HRT may respond to male hormone testosterone.

    Risk of bone fractures, which occurs in one in 20 women undergoing menopause, can also benefit from HRT or a non-hormone treatment. However, good nutrition rich in vitamins, vitamin D and calcium, cautiously taken, may reduce fractures.

    For those that HRT is not suitable for, there are alternatives. If mental health deteriorates during perimenopuase and menopause,  doctors will take appropriate measures to solve the problem. The woman should receive counselling and education of the changes in her body. This is cheaper.

    The key issue is not to deny one’s suffering nor refuse to see a doctor. Distress and disquiet brought about by perimenopause or menopause is not just a “woman’s thing” and neither should women suffer in silence!

     

    ‘Menopause’ in men

    True, men do not have menstrual periods. Therefore, the term ‘male menopause’ is controversial. The claim of male menopause is still been researched on.

    Yet, there are some features in men who are in their mid-ages, which lead to the suspicion that they may also be experiencing what women do. These include: tiredness, weakness, depression and sexual problems, such as loss of libido, erectile dysfunction; impotence or ejaculatory problems – called mid-life crises which may come with career changes.

    Essentially, it has been observed that in their mid-ages, men do have low testosterone and, like women, a boost in their hormone levels may actually improve these symptoms.

    Notably, unlike in women, who may experience failure in their ovaries to produce follicles and estrogen, men’s testes do not stop producing sperms and testosterone. Rather, men may continue to produce sperms well into their late 80s, though subtle changes do occur in the testes in some men who are 50.

    Men experiencing fatigue, depression, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive should, therefore, seek medical help. Investigations in the laboratory may not yield much as the changes in men are not as dramatic as in women. The doctor may, nonetheless, undertake an examination to exclude any faults.

     

    Treatment

    While controversial is not without its benefits, what I call male HRT may also help. This may  consist of giving a measure of testosterone. It should be noted that giving artificial testosterone carries its risk; therefore caution should be exercised.

    In summary, women experience menopause and I will urge those suffering from fluctuations in their hormone levels from 40 in some and 45 – 52 years in others should seek help and not be subdued by cultural considerations. Discomfort and disquiet should not be accepted. Similar advice is applicable to men.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (3)

    Today’s is a continuation of Part 2’s article which was published last week.

    As part of the symptoms or feelings that comes with perimenopause and menopause even up to postmenopause, the mouth may become dry and hot as well as painful.

    There may be colour changesin the mouth as it become pale. In some women, there could be changes in the manner of eating eithertoo high or too low or general dislike for food.

    Of major concern to a lot of women is loss of their skin smoothness which becomes slack. Wrinkles appear. This is as a result of loss of the underlying fat underneath the skin. This loss may give the appearance of aging and loss of beauty. This is probably the reason that makes women to put in more efforts at this age to appear and maintain being beautiful and acceptable.

    Among other reasons, divorce and separation are common in menopausal and post-menopausal times. Still, menopause gives rise to a much more concerning symptoms.

    In the reproductive tract itself, vagina loses its elasticity and lubrication. As a result, difficulty with sex may emerge. These challenges with sex may drive a wedge between couples if not properly managed. Further, the womb itself will shrink. At this time, any fibroid within the womb (uterus) may also correspondingly be reduced in size. The womb lining may also dry up or be reduced in size.

    A note of warning and caution: Any woman, who had stopped having her period or be in post menopause but now having irregular vaginal bleeding, should as a matter of priority see her medical doctor for advice. The reason is that cancer of the womb lining (endometrium) may be the reason for the irregular vagina bleeding.

    That said, the ovaries also become smaller during menopause. Again, I must caution here for two reasons here. The first is, in spite of what I have written so far, break-through or occasional pregnancy may still occur. Women will need to take caution and not make a mistake believing that she is no longer menstruating and so not being fertile. Unwanted pregnancy can be heart-breaking. The second point is, though the ovaries had shrunken in size, and as the years go by, there remains a risk that the ovary may develop cysts and cancers. Post menopausal women should therefore be vigilant to irregular vaginal bleeding, abdominal swelling and unusual body appearances.

    Still on the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause and even post menopause, the bladder and urine passages may lose their strengths. Urging to go to toilet and loss of ability to control passing urine during stress such as coughing may now be a problem. The women simply wet her self. This may create considerable social problem for the woman and her family. She may become an object of ridicule if the people around her fail to understand her difficulties.

    In some other circumstances, the womb may fall out (prolapsed) into outside world through the vagina as a result of the weakening of the supporting structures that hold the womb in place.

    In general, perimenopause due to variation of the hormone levels in the woman poses considerable changes.

    These difficulties may continue into menopause and climacteric times. Of crucial concern lies the fact that the larger African society and in particular Nigerian cultures may not fully understand the many problems that menopausal and peri-menopausal women go through. In ruraln cultures or even in cities, such women may be stigmatised or be called abusive names for lack of understanding of the events that is taking place in the woman.

    Investigations: Very often, the diagnosis of peri-menopause or menopause can be made by the doctor purely on history. Therefore, the woman should tell her story in full to her doctor. Her husband, if married or partner can and should ideally accompany her to see the doctor.

    The man is probably going to be the target of the woman’s irritability that menopause had brought upon her and as such he is at vantage point to give an eye witness account and state his experience of the development.

    The reader should not be surprised that the tests to diagnose menopause is few and sometimes may nor even require a test. The doctor is well advised that the only test is follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. With exception to where the clinical necessity so indicates, there is no need for ultrasound scan or unnecessary prodding or extensive and expensive investigations to make a diagnosis of menopause.

    Crucially, I wish to seriously encourage women that may be undergoing the symptoms and feelingsthat I have described here to consider seeing a doctor. There is really no sense in suffering in silence.

    Part 4 article will deal with treatment.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (2)

    In this article, we shall look at the cause of menopause in women and the feelings that it generates as well as its impact on the family.

    Remember that we had earlier defined natural menopause simply as the term that is used to indicate that a woman has ceased to have her menstrual periods and her ovaries are no longer functioning to produce hormones to support her so as to be able to reproduce and bear children naturally.

    To qualify as having reached menopause, a woman’s menstrual period must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months. We also saw earlier menopause may not be natural or it may be induced.

    Whatever the cause, to qualify as being in menopause: a woman’s period “must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months” backed up relevant laboratory investigations. I will encourage the reader to go back to Part 1 of this series so as to get familiarise with the necessary and guiding definitions.

    Causes of Menopause: The first thing to realise in all these discussions is that, aging process is inevitable. However, natural menopause occurs on the average, in a woman in the age range of 45-52 but most commonly around 48-52 years. At this age range, the ovaries may stop to respond to the instructions or stimulations from the brain. By not responding, there will be no ovulation.

    As a matter of fact, after ovulation which occurs at about the mid cycle in a woman who has a 28-day cycle, pregnancy is suppose to result. It’s the failure of pregnancy to result that leads to menstrual period.

    This event is repeated every month. Therefore, when the ovary fails to respond to the said instructions as I said above, there will be no menstrual period. This lack of response is essentially due to aging process and the woman’s timed biological clock.

    Anything outside the above natural menopause could either be a pre-mature ovarian (POF) resulting in early premature menopause or menopause that is induced. POF may be due to no specific cause which scientists are yet to discover. POF may result from a genetic defect in the individual which the woman may have inherited from her parents. POF may also be due to tuberculosis of her reproductive tract.

    In some cases, POF may be due to treatments that the woman may have received from the doctors. Such treatments are often directed at cancers and may be chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cigarette smoking is another cause.

    In some individuals, autoimmune diseases may the cause whereby the body works against its own interest and body defences start to attack the body organs. Individuals who have undergone a long time ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to resolve infertility may also suffer premature ovarian failure and hence early menopause. Yet, there are other causes such as endometriosis whereby the menstrual flow instead of flowing outside the woman’s body through the vagina, flows inward back into the body.

    Outside these listed factors, surgical intervention to remove the womb or uterus may lead to early menopause. Obviously, outright removal of the ovaries without question results in menopause.

    How does perimenopausal and menopausal women present? What do they feel?

    Unfortunately in our African and indeed Nigerian cultures, some women especially if she suffers from infertility or she is under pressure not to appear as “old” may hide her symptoms and suffer in silence.

    Such women may want to prove to her husband (and in polygamous homes prove to her contemporaries), that she is still in her fertile age and that she can bear still children. Some women are in self-denial and may want to continue to have her menstrual periods as a false sign of continuing fertility.

    That said, about 80 per cent of women undergoing perimeno-pause or menopause or climacteric suffer considerably. Sadly only about 10-20 per cent of them world-wide including Nigeria may come forward.

    Some women make the assumption that, menopause is “part of a woman’s life” even if she is suffering greatly. The main symptom of fluctuating hormone in a woman is called hot flush which the main feeling of perimen-opause and menopause.

    The hot flush, or flash, is well known as the classic menopausal symptom and affects 60–85per cent of menopausal women. Hot flushes and sweats constitute vasomotor symptoms and vary immensely in both their severity and duration; for many women, they occur occasionally and do not cause much distress, but for about 20 per cent they can be severe and can cause significant interference with work, sleep and quality of life. Women are affected by vasomotor symptoms on average for about two years but, for about 10 per cent, symptoms can continue for more than 15 years.

    Hot flushes usually last three to five minutes and are thought to be caused changes in the brain’s thermoregulator , according to Menopause Matters.

    In some women, with or without hot flushes, sleep could be impaired.  She may become irritable—a “short fuse”, anxious and even depressed and lacking in concentration. In those with tendency but hidden vulnerability toward frank madness, serious mental illness may manifest as this age of menopause.

    The bones become weak and as a result, fractures of the hip and hands and back may occur in menopausal and post-menopausal women. We shall continue with the symptoms and treatment in next week’s article.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (2)

    In this article, we shall look at the cause of menopause in women and the feelings that it generates as well as its impact on the family.

    Remember that we had earlier defined natural menopause simply as the term that is used to indicate that a woman has ceased to have her menstrual periods and her ovaries are no longer functioning to produce hormones to support her so as to be able to reproduce and bear children naturally.

    To qualify as having reached menopause, a woman’s menstrual period must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months. We also saw earlier menopause may not be natural or it may be induced.

    Whatever the cause, to qualify as being in menopause: a woman’s period “must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months” backed up relevant laboratory investigations. I will encourage the reader to go back to Part 1 of this series so as to get familiarise with the necessary and guiding definitions.

    Causes of Menopause: The first thing to realise in all these discussions is that, aging process is inevitable. However, natural menopause occurs on the average, in a woman in the age range of 45-52 but most commonly around 48-52 years. At this age range, the ovaries may stop to respond to the instructions or stimulations from the brain. By not responding, there will be no ovulation.

    As a matter of fact, after ovulation which occurs at about the mid cycle in a woman who has a 28-day cycle, pregnancy is suppose to result. It’s the failure of pregnancy to result that leads to menstrual period.

    This event is repeated every month. Therefore, when the ovary fails to respond to the said instructions as I said above, there will be no menstrual period. This lack of response is essentially due to aging process and the woman’s timed biological clock.

    Anything outside the above natural menopause could either be a pre-mature ovarian (POF) resulting in early premature menopause or menopause that is induced. POF may be due to no specific cause which scientists are yet to discover. POF may result from a genetic defect in the individual which the woman may have inherited from her parents. POF may also be due to tuberculosis of her reproductive tract.

    In some cases, POF may be due to treatments that the woman may have received from the doctors. Such treatments are often directed at cancers and may be chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cigarette smoking is another cause.

    In some individuals, autoimmune diseases may the cause whereby the body works against its own interest and body defences start to attack the body organs. Individuals who have undergone a long time ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to resolve infertility may also suffer premature ovarian failure and hence early menopause. Yet, there are other causes such as endometriosis whereby the menstrual flow instead of flowing outside the woman’s body through the vagina, flows inward back into the body.

    Outside these listed factors, surgical intervention to remove the womb or uterus may lead to early menopause. Obviously, outright removal of the ovaries without question results in menopause.

    How does perimenopausal and menopausal women present? What do they feel?

    Unfortunately in our African and indeed Nigerian cultures, some women especially if she suffers from infertility or she is under pressure not to appear as “old” may hide her symptoms and suffer in silence.

    Such women may want to prove to her husband (and in polygamous homes prove to her contemporaries), that she is still in her fertile age and that she can bear still children. Some women are in self-denial and may want to continue to have her menstrual periods as a false sign of continuing fertility.

    That said, about 80 per cent of women undergoing perimeno-pause or menopause or climacteric suffer considerably. Sadly only about 10-20 per cent of them world-wide including Nigeria may come forward.

    Some women make the assumption that, menopause is “part of a woman’s life” even if she is suffering greatly. The main symptom of fluctuating hormone in a woman is called hot flush which the main feeling of perimen-opause and menopause.

    The hot flush, or flash, is well known as the classic menopausal symptom and affects 60–85per cent of menopausal women. Hot flushes and sweats constitute vasomotor symptoms and vary immensely in both their severity and duration; for many women, they occur occasionally and do not cause much distress, but for about 20 per cent they can be severe and can cause significant interference with work, sleep and quality of life. Women are affected by vasomotor symptoms on average for about two years but, for about 10 per cent, symptoms can continue for more than 15 years.

    Hot flushes usually last three to five minutes and are thought to be caused changes in the brain’s thermoregulator , according to Menopause Matters.

    In some women, with or without hot flushes, sleep could be impaired.  She may become irritable—a “short fuse”, anxious and even depressed and lacking in concentration. In those with tendency but hidden vulnerability toward frank madness, serious mental illness may manifest as this age of menopause.

    The bones become weak and as a result, fractures of the hip and hands and back may occur in menopausal and post-menopausal women. We shall continue with the symptoms and treatment in next week’s article.

  • THE MEN AND I– DEBBIE ODUTAYO, EMCOAN PRESIDENT

    THE MEN AND I– DEBBIE ODUTAYO, EMCOAN PRESIDENT

    The President of Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN), Deborah “Debbie” Odutayo, calls the shots in a profession which is regarded as exclusive to men. In a rare encounter, she speaks with  ADEWOYIN ADENIYI  about her profession, the joys of motherhood, life and EMCOAN .

    IN general, what does EMCOAN stand for?

    EMCOAN is a body we formed because we noticed that we needed an umbrella body to shield all content owners from the different perils that we encounter. EMCOAN is responsible for over 85% of media content in Nigeria. The body is there to protect their intellectual properties and stand as a unit so they are not short-changed for their works.

    How has it been being the President of EMCOAN?

    On the day of the election, I could not believe the overwhelming support I got from all our members. After serving as 2nd Vice President with Uncle Wale Adenuga MFR, as our first President, I learnt a lot from him as a leader. He was ever patient and always composed.

    I must say that it has been wonderful and I love working with everyone at EMCOAN especially our Executives and Board of Trustees. I have always seen everyone as equal and it’s because they trust me that I was announced as President for a second time and unopposed too. I can only thank the members of the association for the confidence reposed in me, I could only promise to do my best to take the association to greater heights. I think with the current Executive, we have made quite an impression.

    Have you ever felt hindered because you are female?

    I’ve said it to my colleagues and pressmen who ask that question; I don’t rule over them. We work together and see each other as colleagues. In fact, I’m so blessed. One of my colleagues, Victor Okpala, Managing Director, Dope 7 Media was telling some of his friends in Nollywood to come and see how his president is handling things so organised and all.

    The men and I have been able to respect each other and they know I know what I’m doing and I enjoy their support. It basically boils down to respect and the fact that we all know where we are coming from and we have seen that we can get a better future by coming and sticking together. Also, we all have the same objectives. We all have the same objective at EMCOAN; our content which we say is king must actually be the king.

    What is digitization and how has Nigeria fared thus far?

    First of all, digitization is the process of converting information into a digital format. In this format, information is organised into discrete units of data (called bits) that can be separately addressed (usually in multiple-bit groups called bytes).Nigeria attempted to and failed to achieve the June 2015 digital switch-over deadline and it was due to the absence of better and deeper collaboration with major stakeholders in the broadcasting industry.

    We were embittered about the way and manner in which EMCOAN and all major stakeholders in the Industry were left out of the entire process even with our strategic position as a body of TV and radio program owners. However, I am confident that the new synergy amongst stakeholders including EMCOAN, the NBC (Nigerian Broadcast Commission), the Ministry of Information and Culture would yield fruits. The minister has launched the one in Jos and the next one would be either in Abuja or Lagos or Port-Harcourt. So, we are almost there.

    Tell us about Royal Roots productions?

    Royal Roots is my baby. It’s that ‘invincible’ fourth child that I will nurse till the days of age. It’s a radio/television company that has been in existence since 1997. Over the years we have engaged some of the best television hands in the country, we have honed specific skills with the ultimate hope of creating television products, commercials and programs that build brands and entertain audiences.

    What are some of your productions?

    The list of productions to my credit is numerous. I have produced several documentaries and TV Commercials for several top clients within and outside the country. So you see that we keep trying to best ourselves every time; which mother wouldn’t be proud of such feat.

    Could you list some of your achievements at Royal Roots?

    In recent times, Edge of Paradise was nominated for a Golden Nymph Award at the 47th Monte Carlo Television Awards 2007 in Monaco France. It shared nomination with notable series like 24, Lost, Greys Anatomy and Desperate Housewives in the Best Television Drama series category. The category was won by Lost. Also, another Royal Roots soap series, Bella’s Place became the first in-studio 100% Nigerian cast and crew production. It made its debut in February 2012. We also had four nominations for My Mum & I at the 50th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco France in 2010.

    You are also behind the production, Beyond Blood. Tell us about it

    It’s a new Nollywood movie that tells the story of a young woman confronted by situations beyond her control. She however decides to run away from it all rather than face her issues which lead to her self-rediscovery.

    The movie stars Joseph Benjamin, Kehinde Bankole, Deyemi Okanlawon and it was premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island some months ago. The movie was directed by my husband, Greg Odutayo. His effort was crowned recently as the film won the 2016 AMAA in the category of Best First Feature Film by a Director.

    Tell us about yourself…

    I’ve been married for 21 years to Managing Director of Royal Roots, Greg Odutayo, we are blessed with three wonderful young men. Deborah Odutayo is a consummate television producer with a deep passion for the television industry in Nigeria. After graduating from the University of Jos, I returned to NTA and worked with a host of top producers.

    How did you handle being a mother to three guys and still do what you do?

    I could not have done it without the grace of God. I remember in the earlier years when Royal Roots was still trying to cut its teeth in the industry, it was not a bed of roses because the boys were still young and I had to supervise their school work while juggling work, cooking and still manage to keep them happy all at the same time. It felt like a herculean task but God gave me the right man and also wonderful kids so I think it was everyone putting in work to make it work. They understood that mummy had to work so they could get all the nice things they wanted.

    Where do you see EMCOAN in five years’ time?

    At the top of course; nowhere else. I will be an ex-officio and I would support whole-heartedly the in-coming executives and the president because I have enjoyed tremendous support from each and every member including our amiable Chairman, Baba Wale Adenuga (MFR).

    He is more than a father, he holds my hand and guides me when I get cold feet and he would calm me down and advise me and support me. I’m just grateful to everybody, from the board of trustees, to the members and my PR team; I can’t forget all of you. In five years’ time, I’m sure EMCOAN would be on the lips of everybody and we would have achieved what we set out to; and that is to be known, recognised, appreciated and accepted and importantly for our content to be truly enthroned as king.

    What does Debbie Odutayo stand for?

    Deborah “Debbie” Odutayo stands for discipline and is passionate about the belief that life is too short not to make the best out of it.

    What are some of your likes?

    I love the colour green. I love, care and scold like a ‘Mother Hen’. I love arts and crafts, especially sculptures and paintings which I collect anytime I travel or I’m on tour.

  • Menopause in women /men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (1)

    A walk through any crowded and open market in Lagos or any big city in Nigeria will quickly bring home the often unrealised symptom and impact of menopause. It goes thus: upon the top of a small car in the market, sits a blaring loud speaker in the middle of the market. The announcer and the marketer frequently targeting women, urging passers-by to purchase preparations and solutions from him to cure myriad of illnesses and specifically for women to cure “internal heat” and “hot belly.”

    Such is the general discomfort that menopause brings upon middle- age women. Feelings of internal heat or perception of hot belly are not the only symptoms of menopause. As we shall see later, the distress caused by the change in reproductive function during middle age is huge and can be disabling.

    Women suffer needlessly when they don’t realise the changes that is going on in them. When a person is well informed biologically, the burden of the changes will be less. There is no doubt that menopause causes a lot of unease but a lot of women sufferers do not often realise the cause of their symptoms and very frequently blame the feelings on something else even to the point of accusing others of persecution.

    So far, I have directed my attention in this article towards women. However, evidence, albeit not generally accepted yet, is gradually emerging to say that men also suffer from “menopause”. Thus, in the coming weeks, I will be dealing with menopause primarily in women but with some degree of devotion to “menopause” in men at latter stages. To date both in medical circles and in public minds, the term menopause is generally applicable to women. With this in mind, let us now get on with the task of dealing with preliminaries of menopause in women: First, the definitions. These definitions will guide us in our way when we begin to have our discussions under menopause.

    Natural Menopause: This is simply the term that is used to indicate that a woman has ceased to have her menstrual periods and her ovaries are no longer functioning to produce hormones to support her   to reproduce and bear children naturally. To qualify as having reached menopause, a woman’s menstrual period must have stopped for at least for the 12 consecutive calendar months.

    Pre-menopause: This term means, anytime before the arrival of menopause. Very often it means anytime from the adolescence to end of reproductive age.

    Peri-menopause: This means the few years before menopause and up to one year after the last menstrual period.

    Climacteric simply means transition from the period of being able to reproduce to that time when the woman is no longer being able to reproduce. It’s the change over time.

    Post-Menopause: this is the term that doctors use to indicate the time that comes after menopause.

    Premature Ovarian Failure (POF): This term is reserved for the event that occurred in a woman who isunder 40 years old whose ovaries have failed to continue to function. This failure to function may be as a result of natural occurrence or due to disease states that is inherited from own parents. A lot of the reasons for POF are due to genetic diseases.

    It may also be due to a situation when the ovaries are surgically removed. In some other occasions, it may be due to conditions whereby the woman is treated for cancer. Such treatment may be an exposure of the ovaries to chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

    Surprisingly, POF may occur as a consequence of cigarette smoking. Premature ovarian failure may also be due to common infections such as tuberculosis of the reproductive tract. In some cases, the failure of ovaries to continue working may be as a result of no specific or identifiable conditions.

    Induced menopause: Menopause can be natural or brought upon the individual by artificial means.

    When menopause is not natural, then it’s induced. Such unnatural occurrence of menopause is called Induced menopause. This induction can be due to administration of medications, such as chemotherapy for treatment of cancer or exposure to radiotherapy because of the need to bring a cancer under control. Induced menopause may also be as a result of surgical operations during hysterectomy (removal of womb with or without removal of ovaries) carried out by medical doctors.

    Now that we have taken care of the necessary definitions that relate to menopause, we can begin the proper task of elaborating on the very distressing matter of menopause. We shall begin this by looking at the causes of menopause and what the sufferers feel (symptoms) as well as the signs. We shall also address the investigations. Subsequent article will look at the treatment and self help measures that the woman can undertake. Finally, the last part in the series will address the much debated “menopause in men.”

  • Three Okada men, one woman die as container falls on bus

    Three Okada men, one woman die as container falls on bus

    •Four injured 

    Three commercial motorcyclists and a woman were yesterday crushed and four others injured after a container fell on a bus in Lagos.

    Seven commercial motorcycles (Okadas) were also involved in the accident.

    The incident occurred around 8am  at Alakija bus stop on Badagry expressway, after the 40 feet container, driven by John Idiyo, rammed into an empty commercial bus marked EPE972XH.

    It was gathered that the container was on a truck with number plate KRD526XP.

    The Nation learnt that after colliding with the bus, the container fell on it and trapped five motorcyclists who were at the bus stop.

    Three died on the spot. Emergency workers rescued two others who sustained severe injuries.

    Their motorcycles were damaged.

    Officers from Festac Police Station  rescued from a mob. He is in their custody.

    The accident, an eyewitness said, was caused by failure of the truck’s brake. It also hit some electric poles.

    Soon as the accident occurred, the electricity distribution company in charge of Alakija was contacted to disconnect the area in order to avoid people being electrocuted.

    A policeman who spoke under anonymity said: “The driver lost control. He was trying to avoid the motorcyclists when the container fell and crushed them. An empty bus was also crushed. We will investigate what led to the loss of control.

    “It would have been more disastrous if today wasn’t a public holiday because the place is usually crowded,” she added.

    Mr Iluha, brother of one of the injured victims, Bamahi said his brother sustained severe injuries from the accident.

    He explained that the need to gather money for his 24-year old brother’s treatment prompted him to go back to the scene where they both work.

    “I was still at home when they told me my brother has been hit by a truck. He usually leaves before me by 5am or 6am. I leave by 7am. We work there together. His right leg got broken. The General Hospital in Ikeja said blood entered his stomach and that he has to be operated. They said he would not be attended to unless we bring money. They have not told us the amount. That is why I am here to look for money.”

    He added one of the deceased men was from his home town.

    According to the Chairman of Okada riders at the bus stop, who simply identified himself as BZ, the woman who died was trying to cross the junction when she got hit.

    “The woman came to buy banana, so she hired an Aboki to carry them. They were trying to cross when the truck crushed her,” he said.

    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Michael Akindele said the injured were rushed to the hospital.

    “The agency’s heavy duty equipment (Goliath) and other heavy duty equipment from CCE Construction Company were used for the recovery process.

    “Trailer owners and drivers are advised to ensure proper checks and road worthiness on their trucks. They should also drive within the approved speed limits.

    “Motorcyclists need to also obey the state’s traffic law to avoid avoidable deaths such as this,” said Akindele.

    He said investigation conducted by the agency’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) at the scene of the incident revealed that a trailer with 40ft container with number plate, KRD 526 XP lost its brake and ran into a commercial mini-bus marked Epe 972 XH, thereafter fell on Okada riders at the bus stop.

    “The agency’s Emergency Response Team at Cappa in conjunction with the Lagos State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, LASEMA officials, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), LASAMBUS and officials of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, CCECC were involved in the recovery operation.

    “The commercial mini-van and seven commercial motorcycles (Okada) were badly damaged as a result of the accident. Five persons were involved in the accident. This comprises three dead male adults while two persons sustained severe injuries and had been taken to the hospital for treatment,” he said.

    Akindele added that the Eko Distribution Company was quickly alerted to switch off the power supply in order to prevent any form of electrocution as the tanker also damaged some of the company’s poles.

    He said the agency’s heavy duty equipment and other heavy duty equipment from the CCECC were used for the recovery process.

    Akindele urged Okada riders to adhere to the traffic law in order to avoid loss of lives and properties such as this.