MY NIGERIA; WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

THE ESTEEMED VALUE OF NIGERIA IN THE HEART OF A YOUNG NIGERIAN

Nigeria is an amalgam of ancient kingdoms, Caliphates and city states
with a long history of organized societies. Its boundaries were drawn
as result of trade (from slavery to pepper or ivory) and overseas
territorial ambitions of Western European powers in the 19th century.
The name Nigeria was adopted in 1898 to designate the British
Protectorates on the River Niger. Nigeria is a great country with
distinctively great symbols. For example, it has the coat of arms
which has descriptive elements: A red eagle that depicts Nigeria’s
strength, a black shield that signifies the fortuitous qualities of
the land in agricultural, mineral and solid resources with a Y-shaped
silver coloured wavy band in the middle of the coat of arms black
shield that represents the two major rivers in the country; River
Niger and River Benue, lastly it has two white horses that symbolizes
dignity. Another enigma Nigeria possesses that makes it stand out
proudly among nations is the adorable Nigeria Flag painted green,
white and green; white vertical stripe which is sandwiched between two
green stripes of equal dimensions. The white stripe denotes peace and
unity and is also symbolic of the Niger River bisecting the
countryside. The green stripes just like the black shield of the Coat
of Arms that signifies the fortuitous qualities of the land in
agricultural excellence, also signifies Nigeria’s prowess in
agriculture.
After a brief but crystal description of a great nation called
Nigeria, it is expedient I elaborate on what my perception of Nigeria
is. In all my years on earth, I have come to realize one thing among
so many others; no country is as blessed as the Nigeria I was born
into. Nigeria; the giant and pride of Africa, a nation standing tall
and strong with people who swim and ride in a state of unity even in
diversity. A country with the heart of a lion and the strength of an
eagle; soaring beyond limits and limitations. Nigeria, a home for all
irrespective of skin colour where racism is not only unheard of but
also a taboo. She is a land flowing with milk and honey where every
man and woman, young and old have the chance to make a better living
for their respective selves provided they possess a positive mindset
even in the midst of seeming failures and apparent drag backs and are
willing to work hard and diligently. She is a country blessed by the
Almighty above with the best weather found among nations of the world
with minimal or even no occurrences in some places of natural
disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes, landslides and a host of others
ravaging other nations. As a mother cuddles and with love fondles her
young with the kind of love that never dwindles, Nigeria holds up her
citizens with opportunities that better their personalities, a place
with adorable cultural heritages and ethnic beauty. I was born into a
nation that implanted a notion of being a hardened place to live in
for any man. Happenings around me made me sicken and sink in in tirade
of thoughts that I couldn’t make anything out of my life in Nigeria.
Then after carrying this impression or rather put misconception for
about fourteen years of my life, I suddenly realized that what a thing
means to you would determine how you would always see it, attack it or
sit complacently and watch it attack you. Then I decided to give my
Nigeria a new definition and I rebranded it as “A Land of
Possibilities For Thinkers with Belief and Positivism.” Nigeria might
be hard for the common man to live in but one thing Nigerians forget
is that no one is content with being a common man. Every man wants to
be influential and affluent but they choose to see themselves as the
“common” ones to be fed by those they think are described as powerful,
forgetting that power is a product of your attitude towards its
acquisition. Yes of course, Nigeria is filled with corruption,
insecurity and others but if so many citizens of the said Nigeria can
make it under unfavourable conditions, nothing should hamper any
Nigerian from living a successful and exotic life except of course
what he or she has made his or her choice of what Nigeria means.
Nigeria is truly a land of possibilities but only for those that sees
it as that.
In conclusion, I would love to say that Nigeria might not be rosy and
completely smooth as some other foreign nations but one thing we must
all realize as Nigerians is that every nation has her unique crisis
that makes them envy other nations. But if they can admire their own
nations as they are and work towards building such nations to where
they expect, why can’t we Nigerians follow suit? No one can build the
Nigeria we so desire desperately for us but we the owners, others can
only come and exploit the richness of our blessed land. It all starts
and ends with our mindset; what Nigeria means to you because abuse is
inevitable when the true worth of a thing is not known. You cannot
work hard to build a legacy on what means little nothing to you. We
can only build Nigeria with a positive optimistic mindset that would
be a driving force to doing the building. On the other hand, we can
also pull down both the toils and suffering of past heroes and the
present continuous work of Nigerians by negative pessimistic
perceptions towards Nigeria. So dear readers why don’t you ask
yourself today, “what does Nigeria mean to me?” The trip to a greater
Nigeria might just be starting with what your deep sincere answer is.
GOD bless Nigeria and the rest of the world. Nigeria; One People,
Great Nation.
Tunde El StunnaOgundare.

An EXCLUSIVE Interview with one of the FINEST rising Fashion Star 'Prudence' - TITI

• YOUR FULL NAME AND YOUR SCHOOL PLEASE?

My full name is Ochunge Prudence Deima Emen Nathan

Bowen University

•  WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL IN FASHION WORLD?

Basically, I don’t have a role model in the fashion world.

I just wear anything I look good in , am confy in and don’t expose my body.

• DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FEW WORDS?

Am a very simple person.

• WE LOVE YOUR MAKEUP, WHO INSPIRES YOU ON THAT TO?

Lol, thanks, but seriously nobody does.

• CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WARDROBE?

Trust me my wardrobe is mostly scattered lol

• LIKE WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES CAN WE FIND YOU IN?

Mostly, you will find me wearing gowns, vintage-shirts, not too busy dresses.

• WHAT DO YOU WEAR CASUAL DAYS AND OUTING DAYS?

            Okay, I am a fan of maxi dresses or let just dresses in general, I like vintage shirts, too and for casuals just jean and top.

• WHERE DO YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

            In the next five years by God’s grace, I would love to see myself living in my dreams and hopefully married.

• CAN YOU ELABORATE MORE ON YOUR DREAMS PLEASE?

            I want to be a very successful woman in life and with beautiful kids and a loving husband; would love to be working too and am sorry I believe my dreams should be between I and my God.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA?

             Humm, I think education system in Nigeria needs revival supposed to be better than this compared to some African countries.

• SINCE YOU ARE A FASHIONIST, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOURSELF IN NIGERIAN FASHION?

             Yeah, I would love to; I plan on combining the two and being very industrious.

• WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR GIRLS THAT ARE INTO FASHION?

              Humm, fashion is not all about exposing your whole body, girls cover your own body for husband biko lol.

•  MAKE-UP TIPS FOR GIRLS, ANY ADVICE?

               Not too heavy make-up, simplicity is beautiful.

• GUESS YOU LOVE SHOES?

                Yes, I do.

• WHAT KIND OF SHOE CAN WE CATCH YOU IN ON A DINNER, DATE, AND CLASSES OR FOR GRADUATION?

              I will prefer to wear heels for dinner, date and graduation. I do wear flat shoes mostly for classes.

• THE HAIR THAT TRENDS THAT YOU WILL LOVE TO DO?

              None for now

• WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHORT OR LONG HAIR ON LADIES?

               I feel wearing hair that suits you or you feel confident in it goes well for me.  

• ADVISE FOR LADIES?

               Every lady should work hard to be independent.

• WHAT IS MOST AWKWARD COMMENT A GUY HAS SAID TO YOU AFTER DRESSING AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU FELT EMBARASSED?

                None.

Thanks Miss Deima Emen Prudence Ochunge, its nice talking to you.

By Giwa Titilayo  (BOWEN UNIVERSITY)

The University-type Exams

    I got the shock of my life on post U.T.M.E day in O.A.U. having scored well above 200 in my UTME , I thought post UTME in OAU would be an easy task , but I was disappointed when on that day I saw thousands of Jambites ( I later got to know we were 20,000 and above). At that moment I thought to myself, what are my chances of getting selected for admission even if I pass? I never really enjoyed chemistry like other subjects, so I decided I was going to solve chemistry questions when I was done solving other parts. At about 5 minutes to the end of the exam I was on question 4 in the chemistry part, the letters were so tiny I had to squint to read them, I had no other option than to do the regular -`BABA ADE BABA’ .I prayed at the end of the exam and miraculously I passed.

     I was among the 5,000 students who were admitted that year. Feeling myself so much I came into OAU (Oba Awon University) with high hopes, I was one of the best students in my secondary school and I was ready to take on the flag. In my first week of resumption even before lectures started people were already reading, some even read over night. Arrghhh I asked myself –what are they reading when lectures have not even started-hypocrisy I said. I read the same way I used to in secondary school for my first semester exams, and when the results came out all I had were C’s and E’s .I was so disappointed in myself and I vowed not to repeat the same mistake then it dawned on me that those who read even before lectures started were well informed.

     I read like `MAAARRRD’ for second semester exams, there was this course I read so much, I read the note more than four times, read materials and even read online but There was this note I didn’t read too well and it was because the class was too crowdy that day so I had to skip a lot of lines, and hearing the lecturer seemed totally impossible that day. On exam day, we were asked to answer 3 questions out of four, I almost fainted when I found out the questions were all selected from that particular topic I didn’t read too well ,I gazed at the ceiling for several minutes, ate my pen before I decided to put something’s down, who knows, I could get lucky. I was ready to retake the course until when the results came out, and again miraculously I had a C.

     In plight of all these experiences I came up with some facts and points about exams in OAU

1—In OAU every lecturer is unique, for you to really understand what he/she wants as answers you have to understand their individuality, some want you to research and write stories in the exams, while some just want their notes back word for word ,not even a comma extra.

2—some lecturers, especially professors are just too busy to set new questions so they just repeat the old ones, so it’s better taking the pain to solve past questions.  You do these and just as my friend would say `C don dey sure’

3—Class attendance is very essential. Most of the lecturers often ask their exam questions in class, so if you hear him ask a question more than once, take note.

4—The lecturers are human beings no matter how religious or cultured they are they hate being challenged. A student who knows too much and acts it is a threat to them and they in turn mark the faces of such students, and God help you if they know your matric number. Always sound unsure when you are asking questions so that they can feel respected, and please don’t be the one always answering all the questions in class.

5—relate with everybody in your class, don’t be a loner. I will analyse some facts for you about the classes of students.

S.U’s—they are mostly brilliant and average students. They have the most accurate information about classes, tests and assignments, and you will get a deal of materials to read from them.

Social peeps—they are very close to the lecturers, and sometimes they even know areas where questions will be asked. They don’t read too well so they always rely on information from the lecturers. Don’t join them just tap from them.

Quiet peeps—they know more because they talk less, they have few friends, so they hardly gist. These set of people can teach you endurance when reading, they read for long.

Talkative—they say things before they know it. They are the perfect kind of people for revisions, take note of what they say it’s like adding to what you’ve known already. Discuss topics with them, it will surely help.

Executives—they are always in the lecturer’s office. They see and hear stuffs more than others, make friends with them they will help with projects and assignments.

And that’s my little bit, after all EDUCATION IS FUN.

Tunde Allenshira, OAU.

"#BringBackOurGirls" - Kittypens

It is day 262 and I still haven't been found. I am scared and even
though I try not to show it,my fear is also something I can't mask. My
friends are all scared,we cry daily because there is no escape. Few of
us are lucky,they have found their way home. We are the unlucky
ones,there is no place to run. Every morning,they come into our
holes,rooms so cold and dark,our bodies on the hard and rocky
floors,yet they take us without listening to our pleas. It is now a
routine,these floors are stained with our blood,the proof of
virginity.
We have been forced to accept their religion,we have accepted the blow
life has dealt us. Sometimes I wonder if we are slaves or just
unfortunate children that happened to be at the right place at the
wrong time or who will blame us for wanting to attain a greater height
in the western world?
The way we are treated makes me question God's existence,sometimes I
want to give up on hope but a voice keeps saying"don't give up"..a
lingering voice,soft but one that goes away everytime I'm dealt a
second slap across the face. Raliatu's groans of pain as she was
gunned down while trying to escape finally made me know that all hope
was lost.
Aminat's death as a result of rape and battery was the last straw,we
had had enough. We protested,we cried but sounds of gunshot and the
corpses of four friends silenced us immediately.
We cannot protect ourselves from them,we can't fight them yet we can't
even run away. Some of us have been sold,few have been killed,little
have beeen married off,some are being trained to be suicide bombers
because those that refuse them are immediately given tickets to
heaven. I guess I am lucky,I haven't been forced to become a suicide
bomber.
We are cold,we are dirty,we get moved from time to time,our palms are
blistered,the soles of our feet are sore,our voices are gone,not
because we scream too much but because fear has silenced us
completely.
We are at their mercy and even though I pray to be kept alive, many of
my friends pray for death to take them.
I hear the whirring sound of helicopters flying over our dense
habitat,we live almost underground,it is difficult to be discovered. I
keep wondering if we will ever be found. Most times I rehearse my
dance of victory for the day freedom would come for me but when will
that day come?will it ever come?
Where will this lead to?The grave or freedom?
Today marks the beginning of a new year,I can see them talking in
hushed tones. I wonder what they are planning this time,I hope no evil
happens,I hope no girl gets kidnapped,I hope mama doesn't go to the
market,I hope papa doesn't stay near the window,I hope Zainab doesn't
venture near the main road,I hope Suleiman doesn't get beheaded.
Is the country in grief?are the citizens worried?are they even praying
for our freedom?is God listening?HEEEEELLLLPPPP!I wish someone would
hear me,I wish my thoughts would be seen on screens,I am dying!I want
my freedom!Who is coming for us?Who is going to save us?
They are coming,I can hear footsteps again,probably to force
themselves on us,should I fight back?should I use my knife?should I
surrender and live to fight another day?
Mother I am calling to you,despair not but forget not. Pray for me
that I may find a way out of this. Father,our hearts are meshed,listen
to my heartbeat,you should be able to feel it,it is the sound of
fear,your little girl is about to be desecrated again.i I can't take
this anymore,brandish your cutlass please,load your gun,come for me
hero. Zainab,keep yourself safe,stay at home,listen to your inner
mind,it is me speaking. Suleiman,keep off the streets so you don't end
up like the reverend.
May God Almighty keep you all till we meet again or not. I still hope
to be found though,find me and save me. I still look forward to a
future,rescue me and bring my dreams to reality. Bring us back please.

 #BringBackOurGirlsToday#

KITTYPENS.

A MUST READ - 'DAMI PRESSES "P" '

            “After buying her goodies on her birthday, she opens her mouth and tells you she’s on her period… my brother, please rape her, God will understand.”
This ‘thing’ here got 160 likes on Facebook. You know what that means to me? We have 161 self-acclaimed potential rapists right here. The above Facebook post is not, in any way, funny. It totally depicts that both the writer and his 160 ‘likers’ have both sadistic and masochistic tendencies. I know it looks like I hold a grudge against him, but no I don’t. It’s just stupid that anyone could think this is funny or rational. I’m going to break down this post into small analyzable parts.
AFTER BUYING HER GOODIES ON HER BIRTHDAY…
Dude! What are you supposed to do on her birthday? Collect goodies from her? If it’s indeed her birthday and assuming you are her boyfriend, you are supposed to get her goodies. So what’s with the ‘after buying her goodies on her birthday’ thingy? Is the concept so foreign to you? Haven’t you heard of it before? Maybe her brother got her a gift for her birthday. Maybe her male classmates got her goodies on her birthday. Maybe her friend from her place of worship got her goodies on her birthday? Did these people think it was their God-given right to RAPE her?
SHE OPENS HER MOUTH AND TELLS YOU SHE’S ON HER PERIOD…
I think the poster left something out here. You asked to have sex with her before she opened her mouth and told you she was on her period, right? Now I’d say this small scenario is partly her fault. If I were the babe, I’d slap the freak out of you and give you back your godforsaken goodies. I mean, this is all kinds of wrong. Were you begged before you bought them? The whole thing is even demeaning to the female in question. Demanding for sex after buying her goodies, reduces both of you to the level of prostitute and customer. So, for your girlfriend, you buy the goodies before the sex and for the prostitute, you pay for the sex with the goodies. Like that old woman in Fuji House of Commotion would say, “At’Opolo ati Konko, what difference is it? [What’s the difference between the frog and the toad?]” First offence: Have you ever heard that you are not supposed to have sex before marriage? Second offence: Did it occur to you that the babe in question might actually be on her period?
MY BROTHER, PLEASE RAPE HER...
Third offence:  Do you realize that rape is punishable by law? It would be great if you were caught in the act and thrown in jail for the rest of your miserable life! I don’t know how one would think it rational to rape some girl for any reason; she wears skimpy clothes, she’s a teaser, you bought her goodies or what other reasons rapists have. Nothing justifies rape. Nothing.
GOD WILL UNDERSTAND
For this particular clause in the post, I continually shake my head. God will do what? When will people stop thinking God is man? Dude, I pity you. You finish raping the fine sister and think God will understand because you spent your miserable ten thousand naira in getting her goodies. God will still not understand if you had sold yourself to buy her the goodies, brother. Remember: God is not mocked nor is he man!
A little something for guys that think it rational to rape that babe because she’s always wearing skimpy clothes: Flee from all appearance of evil! Bend down, remove your slippers, put them in your armpits and run like you are Usain Bolt and the devil himself is chasing you. He really is, actually.
I just rechecked the post and I realize a number of females liked the post too. My dears, for you, I laugh in pidgin. You delude yourselves, babes. You really do.
Now, I know many people think I ‘pressed p’ so much on this issue that was obviously meant as a joke. But, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. Sexual abuse is not something we should joke about. And if you thought the post was funny, start re-thinking.
Be good.
Dami.

BE INSPIRED! READ - "The Blind Athlete."

                                A Blind Athelete and her guide at Grande Prix 2015.

   Osas was a young athlete in whom his father spotted the ability to run long distances, but the problem was that he was blind. However, the father believed in this raw talent and signed him up for the state championship. He had big dreams, which he communicated to Osas while giving him a grand picture of what winning the tournament would be like. Osas was excited and willing.

   The father took him to the stadium and he ran with all his might and before he knew it, he had crashed into an opponent and fallen down. He got back up and finished the race, but he didn’t come first, he came second to the last, so he didn’t receive any medal at all.

   He was very ashamed of himself and hurt that he had let his father down. His father comforted him. While they were in the car, on their way home, he asked his dad why he fell during the race, and the father said, “You left your lane boy.”

“I’m blind, dad,” he answered, “It’s impossible for me to stay in one lane?”

“Its possible if you learn how to move straight forwardly when running,” the father  gave him a pat on the shoulder.

   When they got home, he practiced how to run in a straight forward fashion so that he wouldn’t collide with anything.

   He went for about six different races and everytime, he would make a different mistake, sometimes the same mistake and his father would comfort and correct him on the way back home. This happened everytime they went out for the race, he came home with blood and tears often.

   One day, his father took him to yet another race. For some reason, it felt different. He could sense that there were more people in this stadium and the cheers and jeers were a lot more louder than the other stadiums. He felt discouraged and tired and could even hear people mock him for being blind. He wanted to run away but his father held him and led him to the ‘starting point’, the jeers increased, but Osas resolved to please his father as this meant a lot to him.

   When the gunshot went off, he ran again with much fervor and determination. He tripped, but he did not fall and he ran without expecting to fall. This time, he was given a gold medal.

   Osas wept when he felt the gold. It was exactly what his father had described to him and suddenly, he knew that he could never have gotten that kind of gold in those other competitions he had partook in.

   On their way back, Osas asked his father the questions that had been bugging him.

“Why did you make me go through those races when you knew that I wasn’t going to win them? I was getting tired by the day and was wondering when the race would be over and I didn’t even believe in myself anymore because I thought I had lost too many races.”

   “Son, I knew that you could make me proud. But also importantly, I knew you would need a lot of training, to develop your senses looking at your incapacities. So I took you everyday to the local stadium in the small town where we resided and would train you. I did not want to let you know that it was just a rehearsal as I wanted you to put in all your efforts.  Every time you fell down and sustained injuries, I was hurt, especially by the rude comments that people made, but I knew it was for your good.”

Osas was sorry for doubting his father and said thank you.

You can do anything you  set your mind to do, the like of Cobhams Asuquo, Stevie Wonders, Oscar Pistorius are doing impeccable things because they set their minds on achieving success.

Be Inspired!  

Angela Adebiyi.