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It’s that time for the 2024 AMVCAs. That special time of year when Nigerian celebrities (led by every past and present BBNaija cast member for some reason) storm the halls of Eko Hotel in the most outlandish Tiannah Styling creations to celebrate the best of Nollywood movies.
To quote Aretha Franklin, there were great and beautiful gowns this year. There were also many terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad gowns. Let’s talk about all of them.
Looks like an Igbo Batman villain.
I love that Elozonam clearly went into the studio to photograph his outfit but got so lost in the magic of greenscreen that the photoshoot ended with him inadvertently joining the Greek god Pantheon.
You know when you leave potatoes in a warm space for a while and you come back to find them growing terrifying roots because the room’s temperature has tricked them into thinking it’s spring (i.e. time to sprout)? That’s what this dress reminds me of.
I don’t agree with the sleeves of this dress. You can tell the designer thought the initial look was too simple and decided to spice things up by adding so many flowers that whoever wears it automatically becomes the May Queen of a violent cult in rural Sweden.
This suit is serving Mafia but make it Igbo. I feel like he’s about to whip out a shotgun from that enormous jacket and shoot me in the face for not refilling his snuff-box on time. I respect it.
Many exotic birds and pairs of jeans died to make this look, and that doesn’t sit right with me. Also, I love that the concept of product placement has evolved to the point where brands demand that people become walking advertisements.
Obsessed with the fact that Toke looked at this dress and said, “You know what this really needs to pop? A hat for my left boob.” You better werk, bitch.
Tacha took Toke’s concept a step further and gave her right boob its own corset. There’s a member of the Hunger Games costume design team wishing they came up with this first. Can you imagine Effie stepping out in this insane number to conduct the District 12 reaping?
I’m gagged because this is the best I’ve ever seen Lekan look. I’m also gagged because this makes him look like the end result of a forbidden but steamy sexual relationship between the Monopoly Man and the Pringles mascot.
Many people think this outfit is giving Poison Ivy (and I kinda see how). However, somewhere in the execution stage, it quickly and unexpectedly started giving Grinch Couture and the designer just went with it because they were out of time.
Phantom of the Opera.
I have nothing to say about this dress. I’m just here to point out that she always stands like Wonder Woman on red carpets, and I think it’s funny as hell. Maybe it’s the corsets. Maybe it’s the one-sided rivalry.
I don’t know if it’s the makeup or the way the photo is edited but she looks like a Wallace and Gromit character. Mama, the makeup is giving claymation. It’s making her look like a high-quality muppet. I’m so scared.
Biblically Accurate AMVCA Guest.
I’ve always maintained that Dr Rommulus looks like a mischievous cartoon snake. Something about the way he looks makes my mind disagree with his existence. My mind also disagrees that that’s his actual shoe size. He looks like if a clown stepped into the Matrix.
Someone said this look is a commentary on the current price of a bag of rice. I’m holding onto this explanation as the truth because I’ll start spiralling over what’s going on here if I don’t.
RELATED: The AMVCA10 Red Carpet Looks Ranked From Ate to Crumbs
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The Met Gala has come and gone, and those of us [with our less than robust dollar accounts] have judged all the looks on the red carpet. This year’s dress code was “The Garden of Time” inspired by JG Ballard’s short story. There were many looks; some on theme, some not.
As you know, Nigerians spice up every fashion event, and there were not enough Nigerians on the red carpet this year. The Museum should rectify that next year and for their list, here are 10 Nigerians we think should be invited to next year’s MET Gala.
1. Tiannah’s Empire
Look at the material and say that she won’t kill any theme the museum puts out. Tiannah is known for her out of pocket fashion styles, and she will not be out of place on the steps of New York’s prestigious art gallery.
2. Swanky Jerry
No Swanky, no what? No styling. Swanky Jerry would bring the swag and all the elegance to the MET and we need Swanky to style up the steps of the MET Gala for all our sakes.
3. Priscilla Ojo
Our favourite nepo baby Priscilla Ojo is coming into her own as a fashion icon and influencer. Nothing drives home this point like her Bridgerton look: the hair, the clothes, the makeup, everything a 10 out of 10. Diamond of the Season and we love her!
4. Kim Oprah
Still on the Bridgerton wave, Lady Danbury needs to come out because there’s competition for her crown. Kim Oprah dazzled us with her look, she might be coming for the Diamond title and we’re tuned in. Apologies Lady Kim, we were not familiar with your game and the MET needs to get familiar.
5. Ayra Starr
Who else if not 21 and Dangerous? We’re excited to see Ayra transform her mini skirts into a MET Gala worthy look. And we think it’ll be truly a sight to behold.
6. Tems
She’s been to the Oscars, the Grammys, and the BET awards. One last stop at the MET, and it’ll be the last feather in her fashion crown. Someone tell the MET to call Temilade, she has something for them.
7. Rema
Remy boy might seem like he’s only into high street fashion and urban wear but the MET should give him a chance and an invite. They should trust me, he won’t disappoint.
8. Mowalola
Is she a designer? Yes. Does she also deserve an invitation? Absolutely. Mowalola and her crew would absolutely devour the red carpet, the theme, and the paparazzi.
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The dating pool is a cesspool, but how do you separate the wheat from your chaff when wading into the waters?
Remember, Zikoko is always here to help you figure these things. Here are twenty ways to determine if there’d be a second date or not.
Will your family do a press release if we want to marry?
Who do you support in the rap beef? Do you see yourself as a J Cole, Kendrick or Drake?
Have you heard Flavour and Odumeje’s Powers? What do you think?
What’s your star sign?
Do you work in tech or finance?
Do you think at any point in time, God will call you? And if he calls, will you pick?
Do you usually do couple content on TikTok?
Can any of your secondary school juniors come out to drag you for bullying?
You go back in time and can only change one thing, what would you change?
What band is your house in?
How good are you at writing diss tracks?
Can you be called an influencer by any standards?
What’s the most useless superpower you can imagine?
You can only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song is it?
Dinner with Dangote or dinner with Don Jazzy?
What would be your job if money wasn’t an issue?
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
Who would win, Percy Jackson or Harry Potter?
How would you spend Abacha’s loot?
If your life was a reality show, what would the name be?
Do you have a family member who owns a filling station or oil company?
Do you have plans for Canada or Amsterdam? Will your significant other be inside those plans?
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Fatimah Binta Gimsay’s journey to Nollywood is a testament to the power of shooting your shot. Wanting to explore a different path from the one her university PR and journalism degree offered, she sent cold messages to a filmmaker in 2016. Fatimah, Fatou or FBG, as her colleagues and growing community of viewers call her, has been on a roll since then.
After becoming a household name in Nigerian primetime TV — working on hit shows like “Battleground” and “Enakhe”, and earning AMVCA nominations for MTV “Shuga” Naija and “Slum King” — she has gone on to cement her name as one of the indie filmmakers to watch in Nollywood with four short films, “Omozi”, “Ijo”, “Yasmeen” and “Why Am I Angry”. From Canada to Sweden to Ghana, her films have won awards and screened at international film festivals, including Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), the biggest on the continent.
In 2024, she took things up a notch, writing and executive producing her first feature film, “Alli Eid Dinner”, which aired on Africa Magic on March 10, 2024, right at the cusp of Ramadan. Starring Wendy Lawal-Simpson, Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, Temiloluwa Fosudo and Wunmi ‘Tuase, the full-length film is Fatimah’s take on Eid holiday traditions, something we rarely see on our screens.
We spoke with FBG as she shared the story behind the film and why it was important to share an Eid story reflecting values of love and family everyone can relate to.
What’s “Alli Eid Dinner” about?
It’s about a woman who desperately wants to bring her family together for a late Eid dinner, but things go left because everyone arrives with secrets, and she’s unable to control the night.
How did the story come to life?
I don’t have personal experience with secrets at Eid dinners, but we all hear stories about different family gatherings. I’ve always wanted to tell an Eid story, especially after watching “How to Ruin Christmas” and “A Naija Christmas”. Those two films triggered the need even more.
I had an old story about a woman getting remarried in her 50s, and I found a way to rework it when I was asked to submit pitches to Africa Magic. Luckily, it got selected, and I developed and co-wrote it with Owumi Ugbeye.
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Why was it important to fill the Eid holiday film gap in Nollywood?
The two Eids are very important in Nigeria. It’s the famous “Which one is the ram holiday?” It’s relatable, normal and very us. Yet, we’re stuck with weddings and funeral stories when there’s room to expand. I recently tweeted about coming for Christmas, more Eid stories, the New Yam festival, and so much more.
What was your favourite part of writing and producing the story?
Putting the project together was fun. It took an amazing village of people. It was a beautiful collaboration between every member of the cast and crew. I enjoyed the casting process and I really enjoyed my days on the set. It was a short time; we filmed from Sunday to Friday. Every day was memorable because it felt like working with friends.
The outfits in the film were stunning, with the vibrant colours. How did you choose the looks?
I give all that credit to the wardrobe team. Mary Bukky Oyinlola, the costume designer, and her people came through for us. I shared a mood board, and the wardrobe team delivered better than I’d imagined.
As an indie filmmaker, what was a difficult moment when filming this project?
“Alli Eid Dinner” is not an indie project, thankfully. Africa Magic commissioned it. However, the most difficult moment on set was losing footage of the main dinner. The morning after filming our dinner scene, the post-production supervisor called me to the side and explained that we had accidentally lost footage.
See, I’m awful in stressful situations because I become dismissive when there are no solutions. I don’t like complaining or nagging, just bring solutions or leave me alone.
Learning we had lost footage sent me to sleep straight. I literally ordered a burger and slept for hours. At some point, we tried to pay to fix it, but we ended up just reshooting the scenes we lost. It cost us out of our personal money, but we did what we needed to do to save our film.
“Alli Eid Dinner”, like all your projects, is centred around women. What does this mean to you?
It feels normal to me. I’m very lucky to have talented and hardworking women around me. It means so much that I get to tell stories about layered and super interesting women. With “Alli Eid Dinner”, we had colourful female characters that triggered so many reactions, and I was very proud of how they translated on screen.
What’s your favourite holiday movie of all time?
As a child, it was “Miracle on the 34th Street” (the 1994 one) and “Home Alone”. I still don’t have one of all time because it’s hard to pick. I also enjoyed “How to Ruin Christmas” Season 1. It really made me feel happy at the time it came out.
What’s your favourite Eid tradition?
Dressing up and taking my Eid naps.
What would you bring to the Alli Eid dinner if you were a guest?
My famous roasted chicken and brownies.
What other types of Eid stories would you like to see on screen?
I’ll take anything right now. We don’t have enough, so I’ll really take anything.
What’s next for FBG?
HIRE FBG! I’m eager to do more work and tell many more stories. I want to work with people, collaborate, and again, tell more stories.
And for our next act: Everything to Know About Davido’s New Music Label, “Nine+ Records”
The biggest women-only festival in Lagos is BACK.
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One year ago, my neighbour saw Elise, her 12-year-old daughter living with a speech impediment, off to boarding school. Boarding school was supposed to be safe for her. Nothing was supposed to go wrong.
When Elise returned home a few months later for the holidays, we noticed something had changed in her. The girl who used to be playful and was friends with everyone kept to herself. The change in demeanour was one thing, but she also didn’t look well. Even though Elise said nothing, her mum suspected something went wrong while in school.
Out of concern, she took Elise to the family hospital for a series of tests. It was supposed to be routine—to confirm nothing was wrong. But the doctor hit her with the worst news she didn’t imagine was possible: Elise was three weeks pregnant.
Following this revelation, the other details started to unravel. While Elise was in school, she was at the mercy of her sports teacher — we’ll call him Mr. X — who abused his position to molest her sexually. None of Elise’s peers or her teachers knew about this. Mr. X made sure of that.
Elise’s heartbroken mother did the next best thing and got Mr. X arrested. But that man is free now because there wasn’t enough evidence to take the case to court.
With nothing else to do, Elise’s mum is torn between letting her adolescent daughter terminate her pregnancy, but there are restrictions on abortion services. Yet, if Elise keeps the pregnancy to term, her health is at serious risk. She’s 12 years old, after all.
Should Elise be given a chance to live as a child without imposing motherhood on her or should she face the consequences of Mr X’s actions?
Stand up for survivors: Advocate for access to safe abortion services.
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By S.A.D Alaka
Disney has released a ka-toon that’s made by Nigerians for Nigerians, based on Nigerian culture. “Iwaju” is a Nigerian sci-fi series set in a futuristic Lagos State, and as of February 28, 2024, all six episodes are on Disney Plus and the Disney Channel.
These episodes didn’t leave me wanting to binge the whole thing in a day just to see how it ends, but the animation is beautiful, and the creators did a good job with setting up Lagos. However, some of their choices had me asking questions.
Why do hawkers have drones?
In Lagos of the future, street hawkers not only still exist, but they use sophisticated drone technology to sell their wares. But regular vehicles also exist. Enough of them that traffic is still a thing in the future (because, Lagos, of course). When the main character’s driver uses their car’s flying function to escape a traffic jam, it’s clear that flying cars are a luxury that few enjoy. So what’s the point of investing in drones for street hawking? Surely it’s more lucrative to sell to the people who can’t escape a traffic jam (AKA the perfect condition for street hawking).
We still don’t have light in the future?
Are you kidding me? Drone technology is available to hawkers, and we’re still shouting “Up NEPA!” in the future? When we’re not cursed, abeg. I can’t even tell if this is realistic or not, and that’s what bothers me the most.
Why the Agege bread?
The question isn’t, “Why is there Agege bread in the future?” because Agege bread transcends time. It’s also not, “Why is the main character’s rich dad eating Agege bread?” because Agege bread transcends social status. My question is, “Why did the driver say, “By the way, sir, I bought you Agege bread” in the middle of a conversation, then pull out steaming hot Agege bread from where I can only assume is under the dashboard? There were better ways to include Agege bread in this scene (like, I don’t know, buying from the drone-operating hawkers?) Also, call me an ajebutter, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen steaming hot Agege bread.
What happened to the main character’s mum?
The obvious answer to this question is, “This is Disney. She’s obviously with the ancestors” and that’s fine. The real problem is she’s never mentioned, not even in passing. Usually, when the main character argues with their father because they want freedom, they’ll yell, “When Mom was here…,” sad music will play, and they’ll both be sad for like two minutes. If her mother is dead, they seem to have taken it rather well. Therapy must slap in the future.
Why does the Yoruba sound so white?
Voice acting has always been my biggest issue with Nigerian animation. And to its credit, most of the voice acting in “Iwaju” isn’t bad. They even avoided what I affectionately refer to as the “Wakanda Accent”. However, when the characters want to speak pidgin (or even Yoruba), the results are awkward, to say the least. Tola gets off easy since it’s established that she’s sheltered. But Kole is supposed to be the guy from Ajegunle. His pidgin shouldn’t sound so odd.
How do I get the villain’s glasses?
The villain’s glasses look clean as hell, but more importantly, they can scan the net worth of anyone he sets his eyes on. He uses it to kidnap children, but that’s beside the point. Can you imagine running into them “Do You Know Who I Am?” kids and pulling out the Broke Detector 3000s? You’d be able to expose their BS twice as fast. Apple or Meta should get on this, abeg.
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Have you watched it yet? What questions did you have?
Meanwhile, did you know: African Animation Is on the Rise, and These 7 Shorts Prove It
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By: Ngozi Chukwu
When Nigeria took the lead against Ivory Coast during the AFCON final on Sunday night, my street erupted in a loud cheer, accompanied by the celebratory sounds of fireworks. I was indoors and couldn’t see the multicoloured fireworks die as quickly as they exploded in the night sky. But I have witnessed enough Christmases to imagine it. Just as soon as the excitement died down, my mind drifted to a memory of a dream that died as quickly.
The dream belonged to the Uber driver I met three days earlier. He loved and played football until his father took everything desirable out of him decades ago.
The whole of Africa watched the Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire match at the edge of their seats, but I imagined he was out driving a passenger in his Uber Go vehicle — the exact vehicle he drove me in while the Nigeria vs South Africa game was on February 7.
“Did you catch the ’89 game? Nigeria versus USSR in the FIFA U-20 World Cup?” he started with a laugh when I asked him why he wasn’t watching the match. I chuckled at his rhetorical question because I wasn’t born in 1989.
He recalled being a 21-year-old student, juggling studying for university entrance exams with watching the Under-20 World Cup game on the TV with his father. In their one-bedroom flat, his attention danced between the match played miles away in Saudi Arabia and the notes spread across his lap.
Like many Nigerians that day, his heart sank in the 46th minute when Russia took a 4-0 lead. Feeling sullen and defeated, he retreated to the bedroom to focus on studying. However, fifteen minutes later, his father’s cheers filtered through the thin wall separating both rooms. Nigeria’s midfielder, Oladimeji Lawal, had scored a goal with thirty minutes to go. Initially dismissing it inconsequential, he continued studying but was soon startled by another roar — Nigeria had scored a second goal.
“I closed my books and rushed back to the living room.” Before full-time, Nigeria scored two more goals to level with the USSR.
“I told myself that maybe a miracle could happen.” Coincidentally, that match is known as The Miracle of Damman, named after the Saudi Arabian stadium where the match was played.
“We watched the match on one of those black and white TVs that looked pregnant from behind,” he said, trying to describe the size of this TV. I wasn’t sure why this detail was important until he described what happened next.What the TV may have looked like
Like the Nigeria vs South Africa match on the night of February 7, the World Cup game vs the USSR decades ago also ended in a draw. So, to decide the winner, both teams had to compete in a penalty shootout.
My Uber driver at the time was a footballer, too. He started in defence and eventually played as a goalkeeper. I wanted to ask him if he played professionally, but I didn’t want to interrupt his flow. “I was very good at football,” he said.
He and his father watched the shootout with their hearts in their mouths. My Uber driver also thought simulating the match actions would help Nigeria’s chances of winning; if he kicked the imaginary ball in his living room and sent the keeper the wrong way, the Nigerian players would send the keeper the wrong way and score their penalty kicks. There was no logic to it, but he believed that’s what he had to do to help the team win.
“But while I was trying to help Nigeria score, I hit my leg hard at the TV, shattering the device and rousing a sharp pain in my foot,” he said.
Nigeria won the penalty shootout and advanced to the semis, but neither he nor his father watched it happen. Throughout that night and the following days, his father tended to his injuries, but not with care. “He massaged my leg wickedly every night.”
The aftercare was so painful that by the time the injury healed up and the pain was gone, so was his affinity for the sport.
Indifference now defines the 56-year-old’s attitude towards the sport. If my Uber is watching television and learns from his children that a match is on, he carries on with his shows like it is nothing. “I never interrupt any show I am watching just for a match. My son loves to watch football, but I send him off to the other room to use the television there.”
His son also plays football and nurses dreams of making a career out of it. My Uber Driver says he supports his interests as much as possible. “He is only 22 years old; still a young man. I won’t let my father’s actions block his dreams.”
The man now fuels his son’s football dreams with his earnings from driving cabs. Before Uber arrived in Lagos in 2014, he chauffeured the affluent in yellow taxis, a stark contrast to today’s more accessible ride-hailing scene.
When there were no ride-hailing apps, taxi drivers waited long hours for customers at the airport, bus stops, and other busy landmarks. “Those rides cost more than today’s Ubers,” he reflected, “but finding customers could be a gamble sometimes.”
Eager to embrace technology’s promise of a steady stream of customers, the then 30-something-year-old yellow-taxi taxi driver saw an opportunity to make more money. However, his tech-hesitant colleagues, particularly the older drivers, warned him against it, calling it a waste of time.
Uber offered cheaper fares to attract more customers and charged no commission from drivers. This model, replicated by subsequent ride-hailing apps like Bolt, Indrive, and Rida, aimed to gain user trust and solve the classic “chicken-and-egg” problem of attracting drivers and riders. No driver wants to use a platform that does not have a lot of riders, and no riders want to use a platform that does not have a lot of drivers. However, you need one to get the other and lower fees for both parties are often a sure way to solve the problem.
The driver’s gamble with Uber proved fruitful. “The fare is smaller per ride, but there is a regular stream of customers,” he said. “I even returned to the yellow taxi park to convince some drivers to join the Uber platform.
Now, after seven years, he has earned enough money to buy a car and more than one TV in the house he also built from his earnings, which allows him to watch shows of his choice on one while his kids watch football matches on the other.
I was surprised to learn he had a car, considering that we were sitting in an Uber Go vehicle— a Suzuki that Moove, a vehicle-financing company, give out to drivers on a hire–purchase agreement. In addition to paying commissions to Uber, drivers have to pay Moove from their earnings in fixed instalments.
“I have someone driving my car on Uber and paying me money and commission from the ride,” he explained.
Personal vehicle leasing is very common in Lagos, and car owners often sign agreements on paper to get as much as ₦25,000 weekly or ₦100,000 monthly from the drivers they rent the cars to.
It seemed lucrative, so I wondered why he was still driving with the Uber Go. The vehicle financing plan has fallen out of favour, with some drivers saying they don’t earn enough to meet the instalment payments.
“I was getting lazy,” he admitted. “With my car, I’d stop whenever I got bored or felt I’d earned enough money for the day.”
According to him, Uber requires him to be online for 10 hours daily, six days a week. They believe it’s the best way for drivers to earn enough to pay off the car and eventually own it. However, many fail to meet the quotas and lose their vehicles. So, his self-imposed discipline surprised me. But maybe he thrives under pressure as the best footballers do.
As we pulled onto my street, I broke the comfortable silence again, asking him how familiar he was with my street. His response was a hearty laugh that stretched on for a full minute. “I know this place like the back of my hand,” he said, gesturing to a long, slender palm that made it hard to believe he was approaching 60.
It made me wonder if his easy amusement was a remnant of youth, clinging on despite his father’s influence on his football dreams. Or if it was a response to the trauma he endured from his father after that night in 1989.
I learned later that Nigeria lost the final against Côte D’Ivoire, finishing second in this AFCON campaign. When I heard the news, I wondered how many heartbreaks my Uber driver had spared himself after all these years of not watching football.
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By Aisha Bello, Omoniyi Grace, Jalaalah Oluwatunmike Shittu, Bawa Daniel, & Olatunji Olaigbe
In August 2023, the University of Ilorin management cut down at least a dozen trees, presumably to make the university safer. A few weeks earlier, a heavy storm had uprooted trees on campus, which in turn fell on and destroyed buildings.
Subsequently, the university took down trees located near any structure. These trees had existed for decades before the structures.
Across Universities in Nigeria, UCJ Unilorin discovered a pattern of development that doesn’t adequately consider the environmental impact of new buildings and structures. To set up university buildings that span hundreds of acres of land, government and education authorities have to drop trees and sometimes relocate the previous settlers.
Students of these federal universities reported that tree-falling has only increased.
The environmental price of education
Established in 1948, the University of Ibadan is the first university in Nigeria. The university is home to numerous infrastructure, including halls of residence.
Seventy-five years into its existence, the University of Ibadan no longer has any sizable forest cover — they’ve been either cleared or fragmented to make way for the construction of lecture theatres, banking halls, and other structures.
Satellite imagery showing University of Ibadan in 2008
Current satellite imagery of the University of Ibadan shows that buildings have increased and forest cover has decreased.
Per the students, the university’s objective is to build and improve its infrastructure, so they must clear the land to install buildings.
“Although there are afforestation projects, the percentage of reforestation can never compare to the rate of deforestation,” Fabiyi said. “It takes years to grow a tree, but you can cut a hundred trees in one day.”
Another student of the University of Ibadan, Baliqeez Adebisi, a student of Forest resource management, told UCJ Unilorin that she thinks the university management could be more proactive.
“Once, a big tree in front of the university bookshop, which is as old as the university, was cut down. Shortly after, a heavy storm blew off the roof of the University Bookshop. Half of the bookshop became dilapidated.”
More recently, there was an entire caterpillar infestation at Heritage Park, University of Ibadan. Almost all the trees there became defoliated for weeks, but nobody paid attention until students noticed.
“When these trees dry up, they’ll eventually fall,” Adebisi said, “It is a caterpillar that develops into a moth species, and it’s a pest that’s endemic to West Africa.”
About 177 kilometres from Ibadan is University of Ilorin in Kwara state. The University sits on approximately 15,000 hectares of land with a population of over 50,000 people.
In its 10th consecutive year as the most sought-after higher institution, the university continues to invade land cover to allow human habitation due to its ever-increasing population.
University of Ilorin in 2008
University of Ilorin in 2023
In various interviews with students on the campus, they affirmed the rash effects of deforestation occurring intermittently in the community.
According to the president of the Students Association of the Department of Forestry, Muktar Abdulquadir, wildlife has had to scamper around as their original habitat has been destabilised. This poses the danger of extinction to these animals and the risk of animal attacks on the campus inhabitants.
“I vividly recall seeing squirrels on my way around school During my 100 level days. But now I rarely see them. I have also noticed a general decrease of diversity of tree species generally on campus in the course of my project.”
For his final year project, Muktar is documenting the characteristics of different tree species on campus to help identify these species. During his work, he discovered some species he should have worked on because they were available on campus have now been cut down. As a result, he has had to venture deep into the forest in search of them.
Like other universities, the University of Lagos also has a long history of deforestation and perhaps employs the most rash approach. Although there is no adequate information on the number of trees lost to deforestation in the university, the effects are telling on the entire campus community, particularly on students working on their final year project and having to identify various species in their work.
For instance, a student of Unilag who did not want to be identified told UCJ UNILORIN that she encountered issues while searching for Mona Monkeys in the forest area of the school — hostels have now replaced the mangrove forest — the monkeys’ habitat.
“They are in sparse now, unlike before when they could be easily found in large numbers,” she said
University of Lagos in 2008
The University of Lagos now.
Opeoluwa Ayomide, an alumnus of the university told UCJ Unilorin that during her stay at the university, “the air felt different.” She mentioned that the temperature had increased, and the air had unnatural smells.
“UNILAG students know that the air we breathe on campus is different; it doesn’t have the freshness it used to have. The campus has become so hot, like we are close to the sun, the trees that served as shade are no longer as much as they used to be,” Ayomide said.
Nigeria loses 350,000 to 400,000 hectares of forest every year. A report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO (2010) on deforestation trend in Africa revealed that Nigeria has lost more of its forestland within the last fifty years, making it one of the countries with the highest rate of deforestation in the world.
Deforestation has far-reaching consequences
According to the United Nations, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. Globally, tropical deforestation contributes to 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the CO2meter, a typical tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. This means it will eliminate approximately 1 ton of carbon dioxide emissions by the time it reaches 40 years old. However, “on average, human activity puts about 40 billion tons of CO2 into the air each year. This means we would theoretically have to plant 40 billion trees every year.”
According to Tijesunimi Agbaje, an environmental specialist at Global Landscapes Forum, a knowledge-led platform for sustainable land use, human activities such as transportation, plastic pollution, and industrial processes leave carbon footprints in the atmosphere, but deforestation is one of the major sources of carbon emissions in the environment.
In addition to this, The average tree absorbs 10-15 gallons of water every day; their extensive roots soak in the excess water in the environment. When deforestation happens, the root system is destroyed, and the soil loses the capacity to absorb rainfall. As a result, more rainwater runs off the surface, leading to flooding during heavy rainfall events.
In 2022, Nigeria experienced one of the worst flooding she has ever experienced. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 662 persons lost their lives, 3,174 suffered injuries and 2,430,445 individuals were displaced by the disaster.
“Carbon emissions are majorly absorbed by tropical trees. Temperate trees can also absorb emissions, but not as much as tropical trees. The remaining carbon goes into the ocean,” Agbaje explained. “But humans are constantly damaging both oceans and forests, and those are the two things that keep us alive and preserve the ecosystem.”
Image Source: University of Ilorin
Curbing deforestation in Nigerian universities and beyond
There have been efforts made by individuals and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to curb this gnawing issue. One such person who has contributed to this cause is Debo Ajenifuja, a program manager at the Alliance for Positive Environmental Impacts and Reforestation (APEARE)
To curb deforestation, Ajenifuja and his team devised an initiative to empower women from rural communities in Ibadan whose significant income was from cutting and selling trees. The team trained the women on cultivating short-duration trees, mainly “Thaumatococcus Daniellii“, used for “moinmoin” wraps.
According to Agbaje, Universities need to approach their architecture and development goals from a position that’s more inclusive of the environment. Development plans should minimise deforestation and the fragmentation of vegetation cover.
Editor’s note:
This story is part of a series we’ll be publishing in partnership with University of Ilorin’s Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) to support the launch of their 2023 OPTIC magazine.
UCJ is the official student press body of the University of Ilorin and is home to over 300 journalists. It won Pen Club of the year at Youth Digest’s 2022 Campus Journalism Awards, and was a finalist under the magazine of the year category.
You can also support their work by:
- Sharing these stories for more visibility.
- Placing an order for the magazine or funding next year’s release. Please email the UCJ team at ucjunilorin@gmail.com
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On Saturday, September 23, Young Incredible emerged as the overall winner of BudxUncovered Nigeria, with an overwhelming share of audience votes, at the Grand Finale in Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. The creative rapper with a quick flow enthralled and excited the crowd from the moment he stepped on stage, and he will now get to perform on a global stage in Las Vegas, U.S.A.
Young Incredible (Calabar), came out on top, ahead of the other winners of the Regional Stages – Calian (PH), Smart Asante (Enugu), Dreay Picasso (Asaba), Niieedo (Uyo) and Dammy Kush (Lagos) – concluding Budweiser’s six-week nationwide search to find Nigeria’s next music superstar.
From August 12 till September 23, the BudxUncovered Stages caught the eye of fans across the country with the talents expressing their delight and awe at the opportunity.
“Budweiser, thank you so much, I’m grateful for this opportunity,” said Young Incredible. “This is one thing that nobody, no brand, no product has ever done for artists like this. See that ‘B’ in Budweiser, to me, that ‘B’ means The Best.”
“I don’t even know how to explain it,’ said Smart Asante. “Thanks so much Budweiser.”
“This is like my first performance ever,” said Dreay Picasso. “After the first song, there was this loud cheer from the crowd, and I was like ‘yeah, this is it.”
“Shout-out to Budweiser,” said Niieedo. ‘It’s one of those rare privileges they give to people.”
There were also eye-catching performances from artists like Teni, BNXN, and Kola Boy, plus appearances from renowned personalities like Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and Jimmie Akinsola.
The campaign launched in July, and hundreds of potential contestants submitted audition demos in a bid to be the next music superstar in Nigeria. 36 contestants were selected to perform on six Regional Stages in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Asaba, Uyo, Calabar and Lagos, before the Grand Finale in Lagos.
Follow Budweiser on Instagram @budweisernigeria, Twitter @BudweiserNG, and Facebook @BudweiserNigeria to stay up-to-date and get information about BudxUncovered and much more.
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Liberia is set to hold elections for its presidency, House of Representatives and half of its Senate, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The current president, George Weah, is running for a second term of six years. Here are five interesting things to know about Weah and his first term.
Personal life
International football star
After dominating Liberia’s local leagues, Weah moved to Cameroon to play for Tonnerre of Yaoundé. The Cameroon national coach, Claude De Roy, noticed and recommended him to Arsene Wenger, who signed him to Monaco, bringing the star to Europe.
Weah went on to win the French Cup in 1991 with Monaco. He will later move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), winning the French Cup, the league title and reaching the semifinals of the 1995 European Champions League, where he was the top scorer. In 1995, he transferred to AC Milan, winning the 1996 and 1999 Serie A league titles. Weah won the African Player of the Year in 1989, 1994 and 1995. He also won the Best FIFA Men’s Player and the Ballon d’Or in 1995. He remains the only African player to have won the award.
His son, Timothy Weah, currently plays for Juventus. In 2022, Weah drew criticism when he was out of the country, watching his son play for the United States national team in Qatar, during the 2022 World Cup.
Musician on the side
Weah has always loved music. In 1998, he joined other football stars: Ibrahim Ba, Omam Biyik, Manuel T. Dimas, Oumar Dieng, Joachim Fernandez, Mohamed Kallon, Raul Phil Masinga and Taribo West, to team up with singer, Frisbie Omo Isibor, on Lively Up Africa, a song to raise funds for children.
Weah recorded and released music to raise awareness of Ebola as a senator, and COVID as president.
He collaborated with Liberian artists to sing the theme song of the Miss Earth beauty pageant, recorded a reggae version of the “Happy Birthday” song and several other songs to throw subs at political opponents, most of which he’s performed on past campaign trails. He also went viral for participating in Kizz Daniel’s Buga Challenge.
Accusations of infidelity
After he was fired in 2021, the Deputy Director General for Rural Broadcasting at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), accused President Weah of extra-marital affairs, attributing his dismissal to the president’s relationship with his wife. He claimed the president even purchased a Ford Escape car for her. The official will later apologise and retract his claims. In response, Weah released a reggae song called Mr Liar Man with these lyrics: “You know I didn’t do the things you said I do, Mr Liarman”.
In 2019, another businesswoman accused the Deputy Head of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) of “badmouthing” her to the president amidst claims that they are both his mistresses.
Government policies
Free tuition
In October 2018, President Weah declared a tuition-free policy for all undergraduates in public universities. His administration also pays WASSCE fees for all 9th and 12th graders in public schools. Despite the policy, students and instructors have protested multiple times over poor educational infrastructure and non-payment of salaries. During the COVID pandemic in 2021, students of the University of Liberia protested against the e-learning platforms, questioning their functionality.
Dual citizenship
Liberian citizenship has been largely restrictive. However, in Weah’s first national address as president, he announced his support for a change in the law, and in 2022, Weah signed a bill that amended the country’s law.
While the amendment does not allow non-Negros to acquire citizenship, it permits dual citizenship by allowing Liberians to acquire a second nationality without losing their Liberian citizenship as was previously the case. The law also allows individuals to claim Liberian citizenship through their mothers.
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Launched in 2014, Lagos Cocktail Week, Lagos Cocktail Week was founded with the aim of highlighting the pinnacle of Nigeria’s cocktail culture. Its overarching objective is to solidify the recognition of the cocktail industry as a vital component of the Nigerian beverage sector. This event can be aptly characterized as a convergence of cocktail enthusiasts, providing a platform for both beverage brands and devotees of exceptional cocktails and mocktails to explore a diverse range of flavors.
The festivities began with Africa’s premier Bartender Competition, featuring bartenders from acclaimed Nigerian venues competing in diverse challenges to display their individual style, creativity, and panache. Following this, the event continued with lively semifinals at Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, where top mixologists went head-to-head. The ultimate showdown will take place at the bustling Cocktail Village, culminating in the grand finals on October 20th at the prestigious Balmoral Event Centre.
Discussing the ninth edition in detail, Lara Rawa,the Founder of Lagos Cocktail Week, mentioned that the theme for this year’s event is “Sip, Savor and Celebrate.”
Lara Rawa explained that the theme “Sip, Savor and Celebrate” was chosen for this year’s Lagos Cocktail Week to encapsulate the essence of the event. She emphasized that it’s about indulging in the rich flavors of cocktails, savoring the experience, and ultimately celebrating the art of mixology and the vibrant cocktail culture in Lagos.
This theme aims to create a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere for attendees, encouraging them to fully immerse themselves in the world of cocktails and appreciate the craftsmanship behind them. The distinguished Cocktail Village, a unique highlight of the event, is scheduled for October 19th-20th at the Balmoral Convention Center.
Highlighted Features:
- Complimentary Cocktail Sampling
- Live Entertainment and Music
- Interactive Games and Challenges
- Thrilling Grand Finale Bar Battle Competition
Discounted Cocktails at partner bars and Restaurants from the October 13th – October 20th, 2023
Secure your place at this epic celebration of flavor, music, and competition. Visit www.lagoscocktail.com where you can also buy the #CocktailVillage wristband for full access to the LCW or connect with us on social media on twitter and instagram for event updates and ticketing details.
For Inquiries and Press Passes, Contact: Email: admin@lagoscocktail.com/press@lagoscocktail.com Phone Number: 0903 970 2993
Join us for a week of unforgettable experiences at Lagos Cocktail Week 2023. Elevate your evenings, savor exceptional cocktails, and celebrate the art of mixology in style.
Lagos Cocktail Week is Proudly sponsored by : Sterling Bank, Absolut Vodka, Ballantine Whiskey,Chivas Regal, Olmeca, Tequila,Beefeater Gin , Johnnie-Walker Gordon’s Gin. Captain Morgan ,Smirnoff Vodka Bombay Sapphaire ,D’usse, Cognac Nestle Water , Flirt Vodka, Jack Daniels, Famous Grouse, Fayrouz, Desperadoes Star Radler and Supported By Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Cultural, Eventi Cocktails,Balmoral Events, Events Design Studio & Events Racks.
Media Partners: TVC, Max FM, BellaNaija, Silverbird TV,Ziva NG, The Will Downtown,Pulse NG, Zikoko Mag, Media Room Hub, ThisDayStyle, Leading Ladies Africa, Exquisite Magazine & Lagos City Info.
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By Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga & Oluwapelumi Oluwadare
David Olanrewaju said his life flashed before his eyes at the sight of the intruders.
A few hours before, he was in his room at Camat Hostel, Tanke, scrolling through WhatsApp and laughing at memes. Subsequently, he locked his door and briefly thought about his upcoming exams before drifting off to sleeping.
The night was fine until a scream escaped from a room next to his. Half asleep and half awake, David jolted up. He didn’t know why his neighbor screamed until three men, armed with guns and cutlasses, broke into his room.
Now thick into the night, David laid on the cold tiles in his room, trying not to do or say anything that could trigger the armed men.
“At that moment, I was just trying to stay alive,” the final-year student of Industrial Chemistry said.
The robbers took off with everything — his laptop, phones, power bank, MP3 player, wristwatch, and even his perfume.
David’s experience is not unique. Since 2021, University of Ilorin students have experienced one of the worst spates of robberies ever recorded in Tanke community.
Tanke is a community in the Ilorin-South Local Government Area of Kwara State where the University of Ilorin is situated. The community houses both students of the University of Ilorin and other residents who are non-students. Students of the University of Ilorin account for approximately 50% of the population in areas like Oke-odo, Chapel, Oko-oba amongst other sub-communities in Tanke. Private hostels in the community are choice residents for students of University of Ilorin due to its proximity to the university.
Members of the student community say the number of armed robbery cases range between twenty and forty.
Robberies thrive here
Nigeria’s shabby security network allows robbery attacks to thrive. While the perpetrators of these crimes roam the streets freely and scheme more plans, their victims are left to tend to permanent scars, manifesting in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, injuries, and sometimes death.
In Nigeria, there are about 370,000 policemen to cater for 200 million people. According to the United Nations benchmark of one policeman to 450 people, Nigeria is under policed. This inadequate number of policemen is sparsely distributed across states. While some states meet the required benchmark by the United Nations, others, like Kwara, lag behind.
Per a 2022 Ripples Nigeria report , Kwara state had ratios of 1 police to 609 people; 1 police to 693 people and 1 police to 708 people in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. It doesn’t matter how you look at it; the state lacks sufficient police officials to cater for the citizens
An hour after the criminals had fled with valuables, the police showed up at David’s hostel, questioned the occupants, and invited them to the station the next day to write their statements. David said that was the last time the police inquired about the robbery or made contact with them.
For David, what hurts him most about the attack was his stolen laptop. “I had a lot of important information on it,” he told UCJ Unilorin “Most of those files couldn’t be backed up.”
David’s laptop was a valuable asset as a final-year student writing his final-year project, which impacted the progress of the thesis. David plans on getting a new one, but Nigeria is going through another record economic situation. Inflation is high, earnings are low, and the new forex exchange rate makes it even worse.
Living with the mental trauma of a robbery
In March 2023, *Mariama, a 100 level student of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, sat outside her room in her female-only hostel in Oke Odo with some of her friends. The power was out, so they hung out outside to study and prepare for their upcoming tests.
Then the unexpected happened.
Three strange men entered the gate and one of them threatened her with a gun. It was a new, terrifying experience for Mariama.
“I couldn’t tell if it was a toy gun or a real one,” she recounted.
Once the robbers had collected everything they could, they locked Mariama and her friends in one of the hostel rooms and threw the key to them.
“They did this so we wouldn’t be able to run after them or alert others.” she said.
Mariam confirmed that the memories of the incident haunted her for some time. Even till today, she still has flashbacks from that night.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to deal with it alone.
“Prayer, friends and families helped me get over the experience”, she said.
Dr. Damilola Ajayi, a trained psychiatrist, said that robberies pose negative consequences to the mental health of victims in the immediate, short, and long term.
“In the immediate term, these are stressful experiences that may heighten anxiety levels in victims,” said Dr. Ajayi “In people already predisposed to or suffering from mental illness, this may even be worse”.
He added that it is more difficult to predict the short-term to long-term effects, but stressful events play a role in developing post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and even psychosis.
An unresponsive police force
Like David and Mariama, *Babajide, a student of Agriculture, was another robbery victim in his off-campus apartment at Winners Chapel street.
In 2021, when his hostel was robbed, Babajide immediately sent a message to a Whatsapp security group created for students to report robberies off campus and also to connect them with security operatives.
“The security group contacted the police, but they did not show up until 8 a.m. in the morning, five hours after the robbery. Babajide said.
The Nigerian Police Force is infamous for arriving at a robbery scene long after the robbers have completed their operation and done harm. Consequently, many Nigerians have lost faith and hope in the members of the Nigeria Police Force.
When the police arrived, they took some of the occupants of the hostel to the police station for questioning. Then they asked Babajide to give them the sum of ₦20,000 naira to track his stolen phone.
Mariama had a similar experience. When she tried to track her stolen phone, the policemen requested ₦5000 naira before they could get on it.
Are there measures taken to curb robbery in off-campus hostels?
Mr. Faji Tobiloba, the President of the Students’ Union, University of Ilorin said that the Union has been responsive to these issues and have kicked off processes to curb the spate of robbery attacks in off-campus hostels.
“A security committee of departmental presidents who volunteered has been created,” said Faji. “The job of the team is to identify firsthand information, report it, get necessary persons involved, and ensure the safety of the student community,”
“This team is designed such that we have representatives across nooks and crannies and major places off-campus including Tanke, Sanrab and the Oko-oba axis”, he added.
According to him, the Students’ Union has also been collaborating with the Police in de-escalating situations that need the police attention. He told UCJ Unilorin that every time robbery cases were reported to the Students’ Union, they put a call across to the DPO, who in turn dispatched police men to the scene of the robbery.
Although the Students’ Union claim to have introduced different measures to reduce robbery attacks, these cases still persist. Ten days before this story was filed, another hostel was burgled.
The robberies continue in Tanke, no one knows who is next. Every night, students go to bed hoping they don’t become victims.
Names with asterisks have been changed to protect the person’s identity.
Editor’s note:
This story is part of a series we’ll be publishing in partnership with University of Ilorin’s Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) to support the launch of their 2023 OPTIC magazine.
UCJ is the official student press body of the University of Ilorin and is home to over 300 journalists. It won Pen Club of the year at Youth Digest’s 2022 Campus Journalism Awards, and was a finalist under the magazine of the year category.
You can also support their work by:
- Sharing these stories for more visibility.
- Placing an order for the magazine or funding next year’s release. Please email the UCJ team at ucjunilorin@gmail.com
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Growing up, adults gave us false hope about perks that come with being older. From finally getting two pieces of meat on your plate of food to wearing what you really want and staying out late without too much shalaye, were they really telling the truth or did adulthood just decide to plan a coup on all of us?
From what I’ve seen, navigating life as a grownup can be pretty complex. A lot of us are working jobs we don’t particularly like, or paying bills we are not even convinced we should be paying. Emphasis on the bills because that’s your number one opp as an adult…billings! It’s always a struggle trying to navigate the ones that pop out of the blue, such as units on your electricity meter that got exhausted, teeth filling that came as an emergency after a scheduled checkup with the dentist, or data exhaustion. Can we get an actual break?
Don’t get me wrong, adulthood can be exciting, but the cost of this excitement choke! For real, I always wonder if finance and fun can co-exist. One day, you’re with your friends on a night out, eating really good food or vibing to Asake, and the next morning you’re receiving debit alerts that make you question your life choices. Worst of all is going through these without a support system like friends, family, or even a sugar daddy, I’m joking o. Luckily for me, I found a true buddy. A digital bank that comes through and keeps me in check when adulthood feels like the ghetto. gomoney is that bank.
With my gomoney app, I budget properly by categorizing my bills, save like a pro and track the life out of my expenses. Because let’s face it, life is full of surprises, and I don’t like surprises that leave me broke or affect my mental health. To avoid them, I create a realistic list of what I want versus what I need, and I have a certain amount of my salary that goes into my savings every month. To avoid SAPA overall, I also track expenses at the end of every week to make sure I’m not living my best life carelessly with an account that ends up red. That won’t look good at all.
Basically, living and spending intentionally while you flex as a young adult is key. You need some form of structure that holds you accountable with funds, and my accountability partner is the gomoney app. So, as you handle the complexities of being an adult, make smart choices and remember, we gather dey! There are a million of us walking this path, and together, we can make adulthood fun.
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Lights, cameras, and pulsating beats took centre stage yesterday at the exclusive premiere of SHE Must Be Obeyed at the iconic Filmhouse IMAX in Lagos. This electrifying event brought together a constellation of stars and industry icons, transforming the night into a dazzling celebration of music, nollywood and style.
The night of September 27, 2023, saw the Nigerian entertainment stars converging at Filmhouse IMAX to revel in the world of SHE Must Be Obeyed’ a 5-part mini-series that pulls back the curtain on the intense world of female Afrobeats stars. These leading ladies battle it out in a cutthroat industry, revealing the hidden intrigues that keep them at the top of their game.
In attendance were the crème de la crème of the industry, including the radiant Toyin Abraham, the indomitable Mo Abudu, the dynamic Iyabo Ojo, the charismatic Dakore Egbuson-Akande, the incomparable Femi Adebayo, the magnetic JJ Skillz, and the stellar cast of the series, including Funke Akindele, Nancy Isime, Abdulateef Adedimeji, Akah Anani, Veeiye, Waje, Patience Ozokwo, Rachael Okonkwo, and Mike Ezuronye. Each one brought their unique brand of stardom to the event, elevating the night to extraordinary heights.
SHE Must Be Obeyed promises an adrenaline-fueled joyride through the twists and turns of the music industry, exposing the fiercely competitive spirit that propels these remarkable women to stardom. It’s a tale of ambition, power plays, and the undeniable allure of the limelight.
The red carpet transformed into a runway of high fashion and bold statements, as the stars showcased their sartorial elegance. Dazzling gowns, suave suits, and avant-garde ensembles ruled the night, leaving an indelible mark on fashionistas and trendsetters everywhere.
This premiere marks a groundbreaking moment in Nigerian television, a glimpse into a realm where music and ambition collide, promising audiences an unforgettably thrilling experience.
All episodes of SHE Must Be Obeyed are now available on Prime Video
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Written by Rayo Ailara
Nothing defines the feeling of transitioning into adulthood quite like graduation day. Even as you celebrate with family and friends, you can’t ignore the thrilling and frightening reality that this day marks your first true step into the real world. The desire to do things for yourself, to take charge becomes strong. You want to make big decisions, you want to make meaningful plans, you want to take control.
PiggyVest’s first comic series, Grown Ups does a solid job of capturing that feeling with its first episode, successfully setting the stage for a relatable and entertaining first season. It’s a coming-of-age series that follows four young Nigerians who are fresh out of university and trying to figure life out. Produced by Nigeria’s leading savings and investment platform, it’s no surprise that Grown Ups focuses an extra eye on their different paths to financial stability.
Meet The Characters
Nonye. Brilliant, kind, and hardworking, she is a born hustler with an unmatchable drive to succeed. She is the friend everyone needs in their corner.
Uwem. The smart but impulsive one. Uwem has the ability to sell ideas, but his ideas aren’t always great. His dreams are large and he is willing to go to any length to achieve them.
Marvin. The life of the party. Enjoyment is always guaranteed whenever he’s around. However, with a politician father and a high-achieving sister, Marvin feels he has to constantly try to prove himself.
Jerry. The independent, self-reliant and protective one. He is always willing to put the needs of others before his own. Sometimes, Jerry’s ego gets in the way of his relationship with others.
Why should you read PiggyVest’s Grown Ups?
Interesting visual appeal
Grown Ups has a fascinating visual style — and it gets even better as the story progresses. Drawn by the talented Israel Obasola, the illustrations breathe life into the characters and their surroundings, making every issue a delight to read.
Universal themes and life lessons
The comic subtly educates as it entertains, making it an excellent resource for those seeking financial guidance and personal growth in their own lives. If you are looking for stories connected to real issues young adults worry about today, Grown Ups is a good place to start.
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Rich storytelling
In Grown Ups, every major character is shaped by their relationships with other characters, and there are wide-ranging consequences for each action. This interconnectedness, a credit to Agnes Ekanem’s thoughtful writing, lends the comic a surprising amount of narrative density and emotional weight. It also teaches an important lesson: personal growth is hardly a solitary journey.
Consider Nonye. Her tense relationship with her father contrasts sharply with the warmth she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, Marvin’s sweet but tense relationship with his sister demonstrates the power (and complexity) of sibling relationships. These relationships power Grown Ups from issue to issue.
Relatable characters
The main characters in Grown Ups are deeply relatable for the average young person. Nonye, Jerry, Uwem and Marvin are everyday people dealing with everyday struggles. Each character reflects the experiences of countless young adults striving to find their place in the world.
In each issue, you will discover pieces of yourself and your story in these characters. You may even draw motivation from their wins and losses. Whether you’re an Uwem, chasing your dreams with all the grace of a bull in a china shop, or a Jerry, being the ultimate “superhero,” Grown Ups is the comic that will have you saying, “Yep, that’s SO me!”
If you haven’t started reading the comic, you can check out the first issue here. (Find all the issues here.)
And after you’re done, you can find out which Grown Ups character you are with this quiz and then watch the creators and fans discuss season 1.
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… in partnership with NTDC; Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture; Bank of Industry; BUA Foods; Flour Mills Nigeria; and others
3 BY 4 Gourmet has announced the Street Food Celebration event to push Nigerian cuisine as the next frontier. The food subsidiary under 3X4 Foods, a renowned food brand specialising in authentic African food, culture, and experiences, has announced its plan to host an exclusive event to celebrate Nigeria’s culture, history, and people through street food.
The “Street Food Celebration” event is scheduled for October 1, 2023, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island. The event will offer guests a unique opportunity to celebrate the nation through an evening of celebration, cultural entertainment, and delicious gourmet street food. The event will highlight the evolution and globalisation of Nigerian food and promote the new wave of African Food concepts that are taking the world by storm.
Banke Makinde, the founder of 3X4 Foods and event organiser, described how her love of Nigeria and its cuisine propelled her to spearhead an effort to push its globalisation. She said, “I want to export our rich African culture through food. Lagos is a melting pot of cultures, and our street food is a reflects that diversity. I’m spearheading this effort to push its globalization because I want the world to experience the deliciousness and uniqueness of Nigerian cuisine. The Street Food Celebration is a wholesome way to share our culture and heritage with others, and to build bridges between different communities”.
The invite-only event is expected to host over 500 stakeholders in the food ecosystem, including chefs, restauranteurs, food critics and writers, FMCG brands, influencers, and regulators. It will also have members of the general public in attendance for a night of networking, cultural exploration, and sampling of Nigeria’s best street food cuisine.
The event is sponsored by key organisations in the industry and beyond, including Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Bank of Industry, BUA Foods, Flour Mills Nigeria, among others.
To consolidate its efforts to push local appreciation and globalisation of Nigerian culture, the event will also feature various forms of cultural entertainment and art to showcase the rich heritage of Nigeria and Africa. This will include an exciting performance from a dance troupe and a showcase curated art from talented local artists.
Through this upcoming event, 3X4 Foods showcases its commitment to promoting the diversity and richness of African cuisine, whilst connecting industry players and key stakeholders. The Lagos Street Food Celebration by 3X4 Foods, the first of many, promises an unforgettable evening spotlighting the best of Africa’s food, entertainment, culture, and people.
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Ayo Benson, also known as Ayo Benzi, has emerged as the winner of the 2023 edition of Goldberg Lager Beer’s Music Competition, Ariya Omoluabi. The announcement was made by the show’s host, Kunle Remi, on Sunday, September 24th, 2023. Ayo Benzi, known for his expertise in Yoruba HipHop, secured the top position, while Abosede, another talented Yoruba HipHop artist, and Lion Fuji, skilled in Fuji music, secured the 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.
As the winner, Ayo Benzi received a cash prize of N10 million, a N15 million album recording deal with some of Nigeria’s best producers, a N15 million music distribution deal, and a five million naira video production deal. Abosede and Lion Fuji received N3 million and N2 million, respectively.
“This year’s competition has been quite interesting. We saw a competitive show this year, and I am proud of them all,” said Kunle Aroyehun, Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg.
He continued, “We look forward to nurturing talented Omoluabis every year. There are hardworking people out there who deserve to be recognized for their talent and Omoluabi spirit. This way, we preserve our culture and pass it on to the forthcoming generations.”
Recalled, 11 contestants earned their spots on the show through regional auditions held in the major cities of Abeokuta, Akure, Ibadan, and Lagos. However, the overall winner, Ayo Benzi, faced an early elimination during the auditions. Still, he was later granted a wildcard entry by the judges, ultimately increasing the total number of contestants to 12.
After several weeks of showing their grit, honing their craft, and facing evictions, the top three contestants made it to the finale and delivered spellbinding performances that wowed the judges and the audience.
From the beginning of the show, Ayo Benzi, Abosede, and Lion Fuji gave their best and raised their games, making their presence in the final well-deserved.
Ayo Benzi, a pizza clerk from Lagos State, captured the hearts of many with his unique voice and outstanding performances.
The 2023 edition of Ariya Omoluabi, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer, premiered Sunday, August 7, 2023, with the weekly shows covering the auditions, fusions, and evictions.
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If you’re a Nigerian living in Nigeria, chances are that a good number of your friend have left you for the abroad. You’ve probably also started thinking about and working towards it, too. But how exactly will you leave this country?
This quiz knows the answer.
Sign up here to be notified when ticket sales begin.
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From the dates to the lines, sex, ups and downs and everything in between, the 40+ Anonymous monthly series covers the dating life of our 40+ anonymous writer.
When I was ten years old, I was terribly sick. I eventually landed in a hospital, hooked up to a drip for several days.
This illness occurred during a visit to a Nigerian “eatery” known for its soft serve ice cream — the kind that swirls into a cone straight from a machine. Although I eventually recovered, the experience left a lasting impact on me. From that day forward, I found it impossible to consume soft serve ice cream, or anything resembling it, without triggering a gag reflex. Hold this thought.
If you’ve read my previous story, you’re aware that I’m the template in many roadside plastic surgery clinics in Nigeria today. To be perceived as “sexy” comes with privileges, one of which was lack of exposure to flaccid penises during intimate moments.
I met a man named Anthony once. He was a strikingly handsome, well-built man, standing at an impressive 6’4″, with a jawline that could cut through stone. I felt like I’d struck gold. However, statistics show that the likelihood of winning the lottery in one’s lifetime is less than 1 in 14 million. If only I had known this at the time.
Anthony and I began dating, starting with lunches, progressing to dinners, and eventually, outings with friends and larger groups. We engaged in kisses and flirtatious banter, but he maintained a PG-rated approach and never seemed in a hurry to reach the final destination. This change of pace from my usual thirsty encounters was a breath of fresh air.
The innuendos intensified, and I recall sending him a photo of myself dressed up for a friend’s wedding. His response read, “That dress looks amazing on you, but it would look even better on the floor.” It felt as if we were building up to an extraordinary climax.
Finally, the day arrived unplanned. After spending time with friends at a bar, indulging in a few drinks and dancing, we ended up at his place.
Before this man had even managed to remove his shirt, my clothes were scattered on the floor.
Are you laughing at me?
Abi, you wan make I form?
Konji no dey look person face o.
Call it pride or vanity, but in my natural state, I am truly a sight to behold. Yet, this man surpassed me — a sight that deserves an emphatic 100 marks. However, as my eyes travelled over his physique, I noticed a distinct absence — the lack of an erect penis. Before I could think too deeply, he kissed me, his hands exploring every inch of my body. And I forgot about the absence.
As time passed, my own hands began to wander. When they finally reached the promised land, they were met with far less than had been promised.
“Are you okay?” I mustered the courage to ask.
“I think I may have had too much to drink. Maybe you can help encourage him,” he responded sheepishly, smiling.
Coaxing a reluctant male member was not something I was well-versed in, but I decided to give it my best shot. I began with my fingers and hands, at one point straddling him, desperately trying to arouse his flaccid manhood. Kasala burst when I finally resorted to using my mouth.
I threw up all over his penis.
After successfully avoiding each other for the few years that followed, fate decided to throw us back together professionally. During what turned out to be the world’s most awkward coffee meeting, we revisited the night that abruptly halted a blossoming relationship. Here we sat, two strangers attempting to address the elephant in the room so that we could work together without complications.
“I still suffer PTSD from that night,” he began. “I wish you’d been more patient with me.”
“I was patient; I tried everything I knew. It didn’t help that you looked me directly in the eyes and told me it had never happened to you before. That did wonders for my self-esteem, as you can imagine.”
The ensuing silence was thicker than the cakes my sister forced me to try when she was starting out as a baker.
“I’d started taking blood pressure medication a few weeks prior. It turns out that was the culprit,” he said, finally breaking the silence.
At that moment, I wanted to share the story of the soft-serve ice cream that made me sick as a child, and how his flaccid penis reminded me of the worst time in my life. However, deep down, I knew such a revelation wouldn’t be helpful.
“I’m so sorry,” I said quietly, discreetly signalling the waiter to bring the bill.
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From the dates to the lines, sex, ups and downs and everything in between, the 40+ Anonymous monthly series covers the dating life of our 40+ anonymous writer.
Photo source: Snatched Body My bum is the type you see first before you see the owner. What’s unique about it is that it’s accompanied by wide hips and a considerably smaller waist. “Unique?!” I hear you, my reader, laughing. At least it was ten years ago before Dr. 90210 opened up shops on every street corner — original follow come.
“Follow come” is Nigerian Pidgin English for accessories that come with a brand-new product. But when used to describe body parts in the 21st century, it means “God-given”, as opposed to surgically enhanced.
Back to my ten-year-old story, and a beach party I attended with my then-boyfriend. It was there that I realised that not all bums are created equal. I met a lady whose bum and hip-to-waist ratio made me look like a prepubescent boy. She was quite popular on the blogs for fighting and drama. As a regular 9-5er, I was fascinated and somewhat horrified by her. She came with her own boyfriend, who was extremely quiet. I remember thinking this woman would eat him for breakfast and went back to minding my business.
Fast forward a year, after I had chopped breakfast of the heartbreak variety, I decided to take the heartbreak hot body route as opposed to crying into mounds of amala every night. I ran five miles every morning and another five miles every night. It was during one of those nightly runs that I ran into (let’s call her “Lady B”) Lady B’s boyfriend.
“I know you,” he said, cocking his head to the side like he was trying to remember where from. I never forget a face. “Or a bum,” my mind silently interjected. However, I remained silent as I watched him try to place me and keep up with my pace as I continued jogging.
“The beach!” he exclaimed. I nodded.
“You were there with your girlfriend,” I replied.
“She’s no longer in the picture,” he said.
“Does she know that?” I said, half-laughing but dead serious.
“She’s moved on as well,” he responded, side-stepping my jab about his fierce girlfriend.
“What about that young boy you were always following? Has that one scattered too?” he asked.
“That one has scattered as well,” I replied.
We both laughed.
And that’s how we went from two strangers to friends who jogged together every night. I later found out this man detested jogging. He’d go to an intense boot camp early in the evening then come back and still jog with me, just to spend time together.
But this story isn’t about our love, although that, too, eventually scattered. It’s about “follow come”.
As I got to know this guy, I marveled at how great a catch he seemed to be: smart, intelligent, patient, successful (C-Suite at a multinational) and laid back. I couldn’t reconcile him with the woman he dated before me — a girl who fought in clubs and ended up on gossip blogs.
I’d often ask, “What did you guys have in common?”
He’d shrug his shoulders and change the subject.
But it bothered me because there was one obvious similarity between Lady B and me: a big bum and small waist. But can someone be so fixated on a physical trait that they disregard everything else?
I couldn’t let this thought go because I was afraid of what it said about the depth of our relationship. Was he looking for love or just a nice body? Now, don’t get me wrong, you can have love and a nice body, but the latter shouldn’t be the priority.
Our relationship progressed, and one year in, he invited me over to meet his mum. The usual anxiety kicked in — would she like me, what should I bring, and so on. The day came, and we went to meet his mother.
When I arrived, his mum — who was 80 years old at the time — was in the kitchen cooking up a storm. The kitchen had a hole in the wall connecting it to the living room. She waved me away when I asked if she needed help and engaged in conversation as she moved about the kitchen.
A petite woman, no taller than 5’3″, I could just about see her head through the opening in the wall. She laughed, joked and teased us as well as the maid who was helping her. I couldn’t help but think, “No wonder this man is so great; his Mama is amazing.”
About 30 minutes later, Mama emerged from the kitchen and announced that she would freshen up and give us some privacy. As she turned away, there was no mistaking it — the original “follow come” bum and small waist.
READ NEXT: What She Said: I Married the Man My Pastor Chose, and It Failed
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By Civic Hive
In your desire for transparency and accountability, do you know you are entitled to request specific information from public agencies and hold them accountable? There’s a tool at your disposal: the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).
Governments and public agencies seeing you are about to utilise this information. Knowing how to write an effective FOI request is essential to utilise this legislation and get all that the government considers a secret. This is where Civic Hive comes in with a guide, providing step-by-step instructions on how to craft the FOI request and ensure a timely response.
Steps
One. Identify the Information: Before writing your FOI request, clearly identify the exact information you wish to obtain. Being specific will help streamline the process and increase the chances of receiving the desired information.
Two. Determine the Relevant Authority: Identify the appropriate ministry, department, or agency responsible for the information you seek.
Three. Include the recipient’s address and reference number: Include the recipient’s address on the letter and assign a reference number. This will help track your request and establish a clear timeline for a response.
Four. Address the relevant officer: Direct your letter to the officer in charge or the designated FOI officer responsible for handling such requests. This ensures that your request reaches the appropriate person.
If you no tell us, how we go know? Tell us here.
Five. Use a Distinct Subject Line: Begin your FOI request with the subject line “Freedom of Information Request for Details of —“. This distinct subject line distinguishes it from a regular letter and highlights the purpose of your request.
Six. Clearly State Your Request: Clearly and concisely state the information you are requesting, ensuring it aligns with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Also, provide any relevant context that may assist in locating the information.
Seven. Sign and Deliver the Letter: Sign and deliver your letter to the recipient’s address. It is advisable to keep a copy of the request for your records.
Eight. Attach a photocopy for acknowledgement: Ensure that your FOI request is accompanied by a photocopy for the recipient’s acknowledgement. This will serve as evidence of receipt and can be helpful in case of any future disputes or delays.
Nine. Response Time and Follow-up: According to the Freedom of Information Act, public agencies have a maximum of seven days to respond to FOI requests. If no response is received within the stipulated timeframe, you have the right to send a reminder letter referring to the initial request and its reference number. If the agency continues to ignore your request, you are empowered by the FOI Act to take legal action against the public agency.
You should inform the FOI Desk at the Ministry of Justice about your request. The Ministry coordinates, supervises, and enforces compliance by public agencies with the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring that your request is handled appropriately.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effectively exercise your right to access information and demand transparency. Together, as informed citizens, we can contribute to a more transparent and accountable Nigeria.
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By Civic Hive
Are you ready to shake up the political scene and hold our new President, Tinubu, accountable? As active citizens, we must understand that information is power, and the government knows this. We get them rattled.
Our plug at Civic Hive knows how to get the information and proper tools to make a real impact by holding President Tinubu accountable and other elected officials through effective means. You can demand transparency and challenge the status quo by equipping yourself with the tools below.
Project Tracking: Tracka (www.tracka.ng)
Keep tabs on government projects in your community like a pro with Tracka. Tracka allows you to be a close spectator and become an active citizen by ensuring government promises turn into action. With Tracka, you can hold President Tinubu to his word and ensure your communities receive the services they deserve. You get to track, monitor, and make some noise until you can make real progress!
Government Budgets: BudgIT (www.budgit.org)
Budgets? Aha ahah not a problem! BudgIT makes navigating the complex world of government finances a breeze. You get to have a sneak peek into how our hard-earned tax money is allocated and spent. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be unstoppable in demanding fiscal responsibility and transparency from President Tinubu’s administration. It’s time to put those numbers to work and make them work for us!
Read Also: You Aren’t Doing Citizenship Right if You’re Not Doing This
Access to Legislative Information: Shine Your Eye (www.shineyoureye.org)
No more being left in the dark when it comes to legislative matters! Shine Your Eye is a secret weapon stay informed about what our representatives are up to. Bills, motions, and decisions—we’ll be in the know. You get to hold President Tinubu and our elected officials accountable by engaging with them directly. It’s time to shine ya eye on our democracy!
Know Your Constituency Projects: BudgIT (me.budgit.org)
Say hello to me.budgit.org, and you get an all-access pass to the federal, state, and local governments’ allocations and spending. BudgIT dives into the nitty-gritty of those constituency projects to ensure they’re executed as promised. You can login to @me.yourbudgit.com to create your account. President Tinubu won’t know what hit him until we’re armed with facts and ready to demand accountability. It’s time to take charge and make everyone’s voices heard.
Civic Innovation: Civic Hive (www.civichive.org)
At Civic Hive, innovation is their middle name, and civic engagement is their playground. With their vibrant social incubation hub in Lagos, you get to meet young minds like yours who are in governance and create solutions to Nigeria’s social problems.
Wherever you find yourself, continue brainstorming, collaborating, and accelerating ideas for positive change in Nigeria.
And with the tools we’ve shared in this article, President Tinubu won’t know what hit him when our youthful energy meets civic innovation!
Don’t be shy if you loved this story or have any comments to help improve our reporting. Let us know through this form.
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By Sanni Alausa-Issa
In the early 1970s, Nigeria’s economy grew rapidly despite just coming out of a Civil War. This was a result of an expansion in the country’s petroleum sector.
The revenue growth was so massive that the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, declared, “Money is not Nigeria’s problem. But how to spend it”.
Decades later, this statement has been a source of controversy, and Gowon himself has had to explain what he meant. But that’s not our concern here. So first, let’s get some context on the Nigerian situation at the time. Shall we?
The Discovery of Oil
People who believe Nigeria’s discovery of oil is a curse may not be far from the truth. As we have witnessed, the wealth that oil has brought us has been the bane of our development.
The first discovery of oil was in 1956. Shell discovered it in Oloibiri, present-day Bayelsa State. As exploration continued, massive onshore and offshore crude oil deposits were found. As a result, Nigeria became one of the world’s largest oil producers.
First test drilling for oil in Nigeria in Oloibiri, Imo State c. 1950 [Ukpuru]
Booming Oil
As oil production grew, Nigeria’s revenue increased exponentially. In 1958, the government’s revenue from oil was N200,000. By 1970, the revenue was N166 million. Just three years later, that number rose to $1.5 billion; in 1975, it reached a record $6 billion.
Nigeria became the second-largest supplier of oil to the United States. But where was the money going?
The Mismanagement of State Resources
The Gowon government embarked on a series of infrastructural projects such as roads, universities, hospitals, office complexes, army barracks, hotels, factories, etc. To execute these projects, the government imported several million tonnes of cement from different countries, including the United States, Romania, Greece, and Spain. For example, the defence ministry ordered more than 16 million tonnes, despite requiring 2.9 million tonnes for its own projects.
Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State c.1970 [Britannica]
The surge in demand also meant that Nigeria paid more – $115 per tonne of cement. That was nearly three times the market price. As the cement arrived in Nigeria, it exceeded the capacity of the Lagos port, causing gridlock with over four hundred ships battling for dock space. For context, the Lagos port could only accept one million tonnes of cargo per year. This crisis later became known as the “Cement Armada.”
Silent Video on Gen. Gowon’s Visit to Apapa Wharf to Inspect Col. Adekunle’s Work on Port Congestion | May 1970 [Adeyinka Makinde/YouTube]
Consequences
At the time, crude oil accounted for 92% of Nigeria’s exports. However, the neglect of other sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, resulted in economic crises years later. Moreover, Nigeria’s failure to properly invest the proceeds from the oil boom came back to haunt it when petroleum prices dipped between 1976 and 1979.
The handling of the oil revenue also created widespread corruption among government officials. Allocation of revenue and awarding of contracts were some of the means used by officials to steal state resources.
Just like the importation of cement, Nigeria also imported food items such as palm oil and groundnuts. This meant a reliance on food imports at the expense of the agricultural economy. With more money in the economy, consumption rose. This resulted in inflation. Between 1973 and 1981, food prices skyrocketed by 273%.
Lessons
The foundation of the problems Nigeria faces today was laid long ago. The oil boom of the 1970s was supposed to help us build an economy that should have sustained us for decades.
Today, Nigeria continues to heavily rely on oil revenues, which leaves the country vulnerable to unpredictable fluctuations in the price of petroleum. Also, the lack of quality leadership, pervasive corruption, and misplaced priorities have significantly hindered the nation’s progress, despite its wealth of resources.
To understand many of Nigeria’s problems, you need a wayback machine that takes you back in time because that’s where it all started.
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By Civic Hive
Do you consider yourself an active citizen?
Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP No wham, our friends at Civic Hive know, and we will tell you in three minutes.
Who is an active citizen?
First, an active citizen takes responsibility and initiative in matters of public concern in an informed, committed, and constructive manner.
In other words, you must participate so blessings won’t pass you by.
You must do everything in this article to be considered an active citizen.
Pay your tax
As an employed citizen, you have to pay your taxes. This is a percentage of your earnings that you must pay the government for social amenities to meet the country’s needs.
Ask questions
Learning is our job, and the nation will benefit if we, as citizens, take advantage of every chance to participate in civic activities in our neighbourhoods. You have to question your government, be interested in how policies are being shaped, and always share responses and insights with those who aren’t privy to the information we have. All this to say, keep your government on its toes.
Register to vote.
You can vote once you are 18 or older. To ensure your representation in government, it is your civic duty to register and participate in elections.
Respect the Constitution and obey all local, state, and federal laws.
As you hold the government accountable, you also must respect your country’s constitution by upholding its laws without reservation.
Sabi your rights and protect those of others.
Every citizen must be fully aware of their rights and know when they are being violated. You should also learn to respect and stand up for other people.
Know and engage with your representatives.
You should take an interest in the legislative activities of your country. In Nigeria, for example, you must pay attention to how the National Assembly operates. Start by recognising which person represents you across all governance levels and communicating with them frequently.
Participate in your local community.
Lastly, to be an active citizen, you must participate in activities starting with your local community and contributing to national development.
If we genuinely want to see the changes we demand as citizens, we must all demand more from ourselves to become active citizens.
To learn more about being an active citizen, click here.
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By Policy Shapers
In November 2022, the Minister of Education in Nigeria, Mallam Adamu Adamu, announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a National Language Policy for primary schools across the country.
While speaking to State House correspondents, Adamu noted, “One of the highlights is that the government has agreed now that, henceforth, instruction in primary schools; the first six years of learning will be in the mother tongue.”, For language-preservation advocates like Jonise Adekunle and Oluwatoyin Bello, who have been campaigning through Change.org to preserve indigenous languages, this represents a victory. While this victory will save our dying mother tongue across all generations, there are questions about the policy’s feasibility and implementation.
For young people, we have adopted a popular framework in journalism, the 5Ws + H framework, that makes issues and stories easy, like counting five fingers: What exactly is the language policy idea? Why is it important? Where is it located? When will it be implemented? Who will be involved? And how will it come to life?
WHAT: What exactly is this policy idea?
It’s easy to have an idea and believe it is the best thing that has happened to the world since the first slice of bread. However, in public policy, such a barebones idea is not enough. That’s where policy briefs/memos come into play—these documents provide a template to organise your ideas and find research data and examples from other states or countries to support your idea and argument. You can find some policy memos on our website and watch the Policy Saturday class on writing a policy brief below.
Since the announcement by the Minister in November 2022, the Federal Ministry of Education has yet to publish a policy memo or brief that fully captures the details of this national language policy. We give them zero points here.
WHY: Why is this policy idea important?
The purpose of a policy idea is crucial in public policy. You have to know your “why,” as it strengthens the argument for your idea. For instance, one of the reasons for implementing a national language policy is to preserve our indigenous languages and cultures for future generations.
WHERE: Where is this policy idea located?
When we ask the question “where,” it speaks to a geographical location and provides context when we relate it to the national language policy for Nigeria’s primary schools; better put in context, there are over 116,000 primary schools in Nigeria, according to Statista. More puff puff for thoughts also includes how feasible it is for this new policy to get implemented across all the schools nationwide. Have you also wondered why the policy is not intended for nursery schools? It’s truly worth noting.
WHEN: When will this policy idea be implemented?
During his announcement last year, the minister of education also admitted that even though the policy “starts today”, “the use of mother tongue is exclusive, and we need time to develop the material, get the teachers, and so on.” We also have to note that timelines are important and help us work towards a goal. No timeline was provided to the public to help you, and I understand how long it will take for proper implementation. It has been six months since the Federal Executive Council approved the language policy, and we have to ask what progress has been made so far. When will the policy take full effect?
WHO: Who will be involved in the implementation?
This question probes further into the human resources required for successful implementation. Just as we said in our #ReformIELTS story, every policy idea needs people to bring it to life. In the case of this language policy, we need teachers, linguists, curriculum designers, investors, and many more stakeholders interested in indigenous language and culture preservation.
HOW: How will this policy idea come to life?
The “how” question is essential to every policy action plan. Nigeria has about 625 languages; how would this idea be rolled out to ensure that minority languages like Idoma, Ibibio, or Khana experience no form of discrimination? How long would it take for teachers to learn the new languages required? In some states with as many as 50 languages, would all schools teach only one language, or would they differ by “main” languages per state? Would this policy change be implemented simultaneously nationwide or rolled out in phases? These are only a few “how” questions; I’m sure you can already see where this is going.
Many policies formulated by the government and private organisations in Nigeria fail because they do not answer the “how” question.
As the Baddie/Idan that you are, next time a government official tries to confuse you with big grammar and elaborate yet barebone ideas, please remember the 5Ws + H framework.
We are rooting for you! Our superstar policy Eleniyan.
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This piece is produced as part of the partnership between Policy Shapers and Zikoko Citizen to deliver policy analysis to young Nigerians.
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It’s exam season, and before you say anything, THINK.
I have a mirror, so I already know what I look like. Before you talk about my dark eyes and vivid collarbones, just take a step back, and think.
School is already hard enough, but everything gets ten times harder during exams. We don’t know where the questions are coming from. The topics you skipped might be the ones that come out. We’re basically just in a limbo, and it’s very frustrating. So, if you don’t know how to help this period, here are a few tips.
Give them food every day
They forget to eat, so getting bulk food might be inefficient.
Pray for them
Prayer is the key, please. How are they going to know the answers to questions they were never taught if they don’t get divine intervention?
Don’t ask too many questions
Especially questions like, “how are you?” It might lead to long talks and tears that you aren’t ready for.
Tell Mairuwa to fill the drums
If they have constant water, you’ve eliminated about 30% of their daily struggle, and they can focus on the more important issues at hand.
Don’t complain about late replies
Please, the lecturers are already acting like workers of the kingdom of darkness, don’t join them with unnecessary stress.
Read the room
Look at their faces before you’re led to speak, because if you say or do anyhow, chances of you seeing anyhow are incredibly high.
Send them money
Who doesn’t like free money?
Satisfy their cravings
Please understand, they’re going through a lot, so even if they’re craving a house in Banana Island, and two Cayenne Porshes, they deserve it.
Long hugs
The hugs might lead to excessive tears and sobbing, but considering what they’re going through, it’s only understandable.
Written by Tetenta Naarai
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After the seemingly long and semi-productive break (L.O.L), school resumed about three weeks ago.
People are thanking Muslims for the public holiday, and I can’t relate because break where??? I have MB exams in three weeks, and lectures won’t end till next week.
How I was going to cover 400 topics in five weeks was beyond anything I could think of, but miracle no dey tire Jesus.
I want to say we move, but I don’t even want to move As usual, I resumed with a plan; one week, one course.
Sorry for the laugh Don’t even ask how that’s going. The more I read, the more I realise that wahala dey. If the Efikos are panicking, who am I but a pencil in the hand of the creator?
At this point, said creator needs to step in because I’m beginning to believe Nigerian lecturers enjoy being wicked. How do you move your test to two weeks before the exam and then inform us about a presentation less than a week to it? Haba.
The first time I heard path & pharm exams were the hardest, I thought it was mere talk. After all, they said the same thing about my other exams. Now with every hug, I cry. “How are you?” – tears, “I brought food” — tears, “Call me if you need something” — tears. Even the Erin Ijesha waterfall has nothing on me.
I didn’t plan for this while living the soft girl life last month. My dwindling will to actually pursue this degree aside, I think it’s safe to safe to say I’ve finally hit broke-girl rock bottom in this school.
Just three weeks in, and all my money has disappeared – even though I’ve been making wise financial decisions. I survived…
Survive is a very strong word, but okay …on biscuit flakes for two days, so it’s safe to say that I’m now lactose intolerant. I tried to cook.
I made Jollof spaghetti, and my concoction was inedible, but do you see that my desire to save money was obviously stronger than my desire to live?
Anyway, I now have just 1k in my account.
If you asked me how, I’d tell you that I was trying to get hot water to shower yesterday when my neighbour casually told me she sells perfumes. I didn’t know how to evade this, so I told her that she didn’t have the one I wanted, a big mistake, because she then said she was going to order it soon, and now I can confidently write a guide to thriving as a broke girl in school.
But you didn’t ask, so I won’t tell
All of that doesn’t bother me though, because money will always come.
On the bright side, it was retail therapy for me. I’m about to soak garri with my sleep-deprived eyes. Please act right if you see me with a plate in your room.
Don’t comment about my body changes during this period. “You’ve lost weight”, “your eyes are darker”, “are you even eating?”, “see your neck”, “you’ve become skinny”. Nanret, if you were in my shoes, you’d look worse. Did you offer me food that I rejected? It’s always “You’ll be fine” and never “I bought massa and plantains for you”.
With everything going on, please don’t stress me. I have assignments due in the morning and haven’t started them. In between all this, I watched Gangs of Lagos. Who’s looking to be the Obalola to my Teni?
Written by Tetenta Naarai
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Over 200,000 corps members were deployed as INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2023 general elections. They play a crucial role in the process, manning polling units, handling electoral materials and making sure every vote counts.
This story is a first-person account of events from one of these corps members, who worked as a Presiding Officer in the February 25 presidential election in Osun state.
I’m a big fan of accountability and good governance. I believe elections matter. I don’t have a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), but I figured it shouldn’t stop me from participating in the 2023 general elections. As a serving corps member, I could sign up as an INEC ad-hoc staff. This way, I could ensure votes cast mattered at my polling unit. So I registered, did the mandatory training, and like everyone else, I looked forward to the elections.
INEC promised ad-hoc staff three things — welfare, security and due process. They barely delivered on any. On the eve of the elections, I found my way to the Registration Area Centre (RAC) per instructions. All electoral officials would spend the night there, get the election materials the following morning and make for our polling units.
The RAC was a secondary school. But I didn’t imagine all the rooms in the school would be mosquito-infested. The least INEC could’ve done was fumigate one or two rooms in the building they kept us in. And it didn’t help that the closest thing to sleeping materials the commission provided were a bunch of mats. They weren’t even enough for the corps members who signed up to work during the elections.
We survived the night, but this was a sign of things to come.
On election day, I got my materials and set out to the polling unit. One of the first things I noticed was my polling unit was short of an electoral officer. During the training in the months leading up to the election, they told us each polling unit would be managed by a Presiding Officer (PO) and three Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs).
However, we didn’t have an APO 3 – whose role is to control the queue of voters – in my polling unit. As I found out hours later, the same thing happened across other polling units in my ward. This was interesting because when I checked the ad-hoc staff directory, each polling unit had an APO 3 assigned to them.
Something had happened.
It turned out the names I saw didn’t exist. The Supervising Presiding Officers (SPO) filled the APO 3 roles with ghost workers. Essentially, the government will pay for people who don’t exist and didn’t do any work.
I wonder where the money will go.
Back to my polling unit.
An APO 3’s job is to manage the conduct of voters and maintain orderliness in the polling unit. Without one, we were short-staffed. Thankfully, the party agents and young people in the unit helped us to control the queue. It could’ve been worse.
Remember that they promised us security, too. We got an elderly policeman who couldn’t do much, and we felt exposed the whole time.
One of my friends at a different polling unit had a scarier experience. Some thugs came, fired a few shots in the air and asked her to think through returning for the forthcoming House of Assembly elections.
If anyone wished to attack us, they would’ve been successful.
At different times during the election, the party agents came in clusters to discuss with the voters. They asked the voters for their account numbers, promising to send them some money if they voted for a particular party or candidate. It looked a lot like vote buying.
INEC instructed us to look out for vote buying and stop it, but only if it happened close to the voting area. If it didn’t, they asked us not to interfere in the process, especially if it might put us at a security risk.
With this in mind, all we could do was stay on the sidelines and do our jobs — the only thing we could control.
In my friend’s polling unit, someone came and distributed prepaid ATM cards — they work the same way gift cards and vouchers do — to the voters. Each card was loaded with a sum and whoever got one only needed to activate the card at an ATM machine to access the money.
By the end of the voting process, I knew one thing — the cash scarcity didn’t stop vote buying.
But this wasn’t the last of the irregularities I witnessed.
I’ve seen a couple of complaints online about manipulated results and people blaming us corps members for it. From my experience, Presiding Officers are pawns in whatever chess game INEC staff are playing. It’s not far-fetched to say that some Presiding Officers were forced to countersign fabricated results.
In my polling unit, we accredited 288 people, but 287 people voted, which meant someone left without voting. I didn’t think this was a problem. The rule states that the number of votes cast cannot exceed the number of accredited voters. So we were good.
However, the INEC official I reported to at the collation centre didn’t think so. They asked me to stamp an unused ballot and record it as an invalid vote. Subsequently, they adjusted the numbers so that we could have equal numbers of accredited voters and actual voters.
While this didn’t mess with the actual results, it rubbed me the wrong way because I was forced to sign off on the change they made.
I’m glad the federal part is over. I signed up to participate in the next set of elections, but now, I’m wondering if it’s a good idea. I hope INEC is more prepared this time around.
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Written By Onyinye Nwachukwu
As Nigeria’s 2022/3023 election season comes to a close, one cannot help but note how exhilarating it’s been. Earlier in the season, eventful primaries triggered an upsurge in energy and voter registration, particularly among youth. The emergence of a youth-propelled third force candidate in the person of the Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi allowed them to dream up endless possibilities of bringing sanity into Nigerian politics.
However, reality often differs widely from expectation, and the atmosphere was thrown into a sullen mood following the declaration of the election winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
There’s been running commentary online about how the results may have dampened the hopes and enthusiasm of young Nigerians. In a conversation with my mum and her friends over the weekend, we were left without any doubt that INEC had failed to deliver credible elections, especially with reports coming from Rivers state. We were dumbfounded at INEC’s audacity in declaring a winner following the stunts that were pulled that included manipulated results, voter suppression as well as threats to the life of the state’s collation officer.
[Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike / Premium Times]
While we’re still coming to terms with how INEC handled the presidential and national assembly elections poorly, let’s not forget that governorship and state house of assembly seats are still up for grabs. Citizen already explained here why the March 18 elections are essential.
If you need to know who is contesting in your ward, here is a list of all the candidates for Saturday’s elections. Look at it and get familiar with who best represents your interest.
Here’s a list of things you’d need to carry along as you prepare for the March 18 elections.
Election day must-haves
If you already have your PVC, here’s a list of things we believe you’ll need while exercising your civic duties.
A bath
Chances are, you’d be in a crowd, line, or small huddle. Whatever the case, you’d be in close contact with people. So remember to take a bath and not be the reason anyone wouldn’t vote for your candidate. A quick shower, mouthwash, and spritz of deodorant are advised—extra points for perfumes and lotion.
Water bottles
Now except your polling unit is in Victoria Garden City (VGC) like the one we saw with a barbecue stand on Twitter in the past week, chances are there would be no vendors at your unit. So grab a bottle of water for yourself and another for a stranger.
Wide-brimmed hat
This one sounds foreign, but it protects you from the sun. And If you still feel the hat is ridiculous, then the face cap is for you. It protects your face and eyes from heavy sunlight. Throw in a sunshade for 2FA.
Snacks
Reports from the just concluded elections indicate that you might spend all day there to ensure your votes are uploaded. So remember to pack some snacks with you. Depending on how many people turn up at your polling unit, you might need to dust your food flask from secondary school, university, or your in-office days. Your culinary skills are also going to be put to the test.
Raincoat
These days, the weather is as unpredictable as the exchange rate. If it rains, you need something to keep you from getting wet, and a raincoat is perfect. We’re sure INEC wouldn’t provide canopies and seats that day, so stay prepared and get a raincoat.
Things you might have to lend INEC
One common theme during the elections was the lack of preparedness by the election body. The performance of INEC was below par, considering the ₦305 billion budgeted by the federal government for the elections.
Voters at several polling units in the South East, North East and South South complained of excess voters. They even mentioned that their polling units had just one Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine. Others in polling units across the country had to lend INEC officials some personal items to conduct the elections. Below is a list of items you might need to carry along in case INEC decides to do a repeat.
Wi-Fi
Before you think this is unusual, remember this lady from a unit in Gwarimpa, Abuja, who had to switch on her 5G for INEC officials to complete the exercise at her PU. At some polling units, officials cited lack of internet as the reason they would not upload the election result.
Bottle of Ink
Don’t be surprised; you might have to lend INEC officials some ink.
Power supply
During the February 25 elections, voting continued until midnight in some places. Since you can’t rely on the national grid to provide a steady power supply, an alternative might be necessary. So carry your torches, generators or car headlights to your polling units.
Refreshment
INEC officials were rumoured to have been on call for over 24 hours without food or drinks that should have been allocated during the preparation for the exercise. If the INEC officials at your polling unit wear long faces, try offering them a loaf of bread. They might be hungry but shy.
Remember to move in groups as you go out on March 18 to vote again. Stay away from lonely roads. Raise the alarm at first sight of violence and be your brother’s keeper. In the meantime, encourage people to come out and vote on Saturday. If they need reasons to vote, Citizen listed some here. You won’t get another chance at it for the next four years, so please go out and cast your vote.
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Written by Muktar Oladunmade of TechCabal
I’m sure you’d have never guessed it, but Zikoko is TechCabal’s younger sister. Like all last-borns, she’s the more irreverent publication. But in a move to be more like her elder sibling who relaunched his website in 2022, Zikoko is also relaunching hers. And TechCabal wants to know why she’s copying him.
TechCabal: Can you introduce yourself, my dear baby sister?
Zikoko: Who is a baby? I don’t know who’s deceiving you that you’re the older publication. Is it because you write about tech bros? For the sake of those who don’t know, Zikoko documents Nigerian youth pop culture.
TC: We started publishing stories before you. And why are you here?
Z: Well, I rebranded my website. And I did it to stay fresh. It’s 2023. I want my website to reflect the new age of Nigerian youth.
TC: What’s so fresh about your new website?
Z: I’ve organised all my content better. My readers can now see all my categories at the top of the page. I also put trending articles on the home page, so they can see which articles are hot and get the gist faster. I know you can’t relate since you only publish boring news.
TC: Not that I was trying to relate.
But there are unsubstantiated rumours that you take crack to be funny. Can you shed some light on this?
Z: I can neither confirm nor deny the rumours. But if I was taking crack, it’d probably be the purple kind. Purple really suits me, don’t you think?
TC: Interesting
Z: No comment. Say no to drug abuse.
TC: Too late! What else is on your new site?
Z: I changed how my readers can watch videos. It’s a lot easier to find my many hilarious shows now.
There’s a new newsletter widget too. I’m super excited about this one because instead of subscribing to all of them without knowing exactly what you’re signing up for, my readers get to choose and pick their faves.
TC: Are you changing the type of content you offer?
Z: Nope. My readers can still read all their favourite flagships, like Naira Life which shares how people relate with money. And Love Currency — stories of how people in relationships interact with money.
TC: Is it only money you talk about?
Z: Why don’t you wait for me to finish. It’ll also have categories like Aluta and Chill, talking about university students and their challenges. The Pop category won’t go anywhere either; I’ll never stop talking about Nigerian pop culture.
TC: Do you document serious conversations at all?
Z: But why are you such an old millennial? So money, pop culture and relationships aren’t serious? Well, I also have a new vertical, Citizen, to talk about politics and teach young people how it affects them. I do all I can to amplify youth culture by curating and creating smart and joyful content for young Nigerians all over the world.
But I’m sure you also can’t relate to the joyful part.
TC: I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part
Z: Did I lie?
TC: Do you have anything else to add, please?
Z: All these your questions are too much, abeg. I have better things to do.
RELATED: Refresh the Page, Zikoko 3.0 Just Landed
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Tanzania’s rapidly growing ‘Bongo’ film industry is going full steam ahead, with British actor, Idris Elba, planning a major studio in the country.
British actor Idris Elba plans to open a major film studio in Tanzania after holding initial talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Tanzanian’s Director of Presidential Communications, Zuhura Yunus, recently made this announcement during a media briefing session on the outcome of President Hassan’s trip to the 53rd World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“The president met with Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, and they are keen to invest in a film studio in Tanzania,” said Yunus.
“Discussions on the project have just begun, and if successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also Eastern and Central Africa,” she added.
Elba, who was born in Britain to a Ghanaian mother and a Sierra Leonean father, has previously spoken about his plans to help develop the film industry on the continent.
“Young Africans view me as a leader or a beacon. And I feel like I could bring something. So I’m keen to bring what I’ve learned in media and amplify it in Africa,” he told South Africa’s SA People in August last year.
And while this recent news is a shot in the arm for the country, Tanzania has worked hard over the years to package and position its film industry for international success.
Despite having low budgets and limited production skills and equipment, the country’s filmmakers have matured the local ‘bongo’ films to rival Nigeria’s Nollywood and Kenya’s Riverwood.
In September 2021, Vuta N’kuvute made history by becoming the first Tanzanian feature film to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. It has also been screened at various festivals in Germany, South Africa, the USA, Brazil, Switzerland and Tanzania.
The Swahili film, which tells the story of a young woman whose romance blossoms on the back of a political revolt woman during the final years of British colonial Zanzibar, won the Tanit d’Or at the prestigious Carthage Film Festival in Tunis.
It also took home four awards at the 18th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, held in October 2022 in Lagos. It won the Oumarou Ganda Prize for Best Fiction at FESPACO 2021 and the Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival 2022.
The most significant success for the film, however, came in September 2022, when it became Tanzania’s official entry for the Oscars 2023 Academy Awards under the Best International Feature Film category.
“The future of Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands. A wave of Swahili filmmakers is growing every day with pride, intelligence and boldness,” said Amil Shivji, the film’s co-producer.
Tanzania also saw three of its films streamed on Netflix in 2022, marking a great start in the international market. Binti, produced by Angela Ruhinda, became the first Swahili movie streamed on Netflix, followed by Bahasha and Nyara: The Kidnapping (2020), respectively.
But Tanzania’s prolific film industry did not start with the Bongo films and movies in the early 2000s.
The industry dates back to 1961 when the government of the new nation of Tanzania established the Government Film Unit in 1963, the Tanzania Film Company in 1968, and the Audio Visual Institute in 1974.
These institutions produced, distributed, and exhibited films, albeit films that propagated the Ujamaa socialist policies of president Julius Nyerere’s government.
Over the years, the government has continued to support the film industry with incentives and new regulations.
The Tanzania Film Board, in October 2022, embarked on a programme to coordinate the production of films with local strategic content featuring the country’s richness in several avenues to market the country’s attraction.
“We want a vibrant and aggressive film industry,…we are training the local producers to enhance quality, competitiveness and national identity films,” said the film board’s executive secretary, Kiagho Kilonzo.
The government also reduced filming permit fees to help filmmakers produce high-quality movies. According to the new regulations, filmmakers pay US$21 to get a filming permit, down from the previous US$215.
Non-profits like the Zanzibar International Film Festival, established in 1997, have also continued promoting Tanzania’s film industry.
The annual festival screens approximately 70 domestic and foreign productions and hosts capacity-building sessions for upcoming filmmakers, including workshops, masterclasses, debates and network events.
In a 2021 report, the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, revealed that Africa’s film and audio-visual industries could create over 20 million jobs and contribute US$20 billion to the continent’s combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Market and consumer data company Statista says that Africa produces about 5,500 films per year, of which Tanzania manages around 500 yearly.
According to the Tanzanian Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, Mohamed Mchengerwa, the country has at least 30,000 people employed in the filmmaking business, and the entertainment and arts industry contributes at least 19.4 per cent to the economy.
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Aggressive production of local content, lower subscription rates, all to increase African pay-TV viewer numbers in a competitive market.
by Conrad Onyango, Bird Story Agency
Africa’s pay television industry is projected to add 16 million new viewers over the next five years as top players step up the battle for compelling and affordable local content.
Between 2022 and 2028, the continent’s pay-TV subscribers are projected to rise by 38% to 57 million, according to a new report by research firm, Digital TV research. Revenue growth, however, will be much lower.
Pay-TV revenues on the continent are forecast to reach US$6.44 billion by 2028, up by 29 per cent from US$4.99 billion in 2022, signalling that consumers are likely to benefit from falling monthly subscription rates.
South African Pan-African pay-TV giant MultiChoice (with 21 million viewers), China’s StarTimes (19 million) and France’s Canal+ (11 million) account for 89 per cent of all Africa’s pay-TV subscribers and are tipped to lead the fight for viewer numbers.
The market is also unlikely to see any new major entries.
“No new major players will start. Instead, these three operators will battle for supremacy – often by cutting prices,” said Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, Simon Murray.
MultiChoice, in half-year results released November 2022, showed that its linear pay-TV subscriber base – measured on a 90-day active basis – rose by 1.0m (5%) to reach 22.1m viewers on the back of aggressive investment in local content production.
In 2022, the operator added two local channels and increased annual hours of local content in its library by 15 per cent to 73,000 hours. MultiChoice’s new local offering includes a new season of Big Brother Naija in Nigeria and two co-productions (Blood Psalms and Girl, Taken) in South Africa, with more in the pipeline.
“The group is currently producing the epic original drama series, Shaka Ilembe, which will be broadcast during 2023 and is already receiving significant international interest,” said MultiChoice in a statement.
Last year it also rolled out regional adaptations of popular telenovelas. For example, 1Magic’s The River was adapted for Kenya (as Kina) and Angola (O Rio). It said another seven local productions are in the pipeline.
In South Africa, MultiChoice has 9.1 million subscribers, with the rest of Africa sharing the remaining 13 million viewers.
StarTimes has also pushed local programming, with a commitment to collaborate with local content owners and producers across the continent, focusing mostly on the Kenya and Nigeria markets.
In December, it launched a 100-episode drama series, KIU, on its local content channel Rembo TV. Rembo, with a footprint that covers Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, has a language policy requiring 60% of content to be in Kiswahili, 30% in English and 10% in vernacular languages.
“It is our commitment to continue supporting Kenya’s creative industry through commissioning more original productions as we seek to enrich our subscriber’s television viewing experience,” said StarTimes Chief Executive Officer Hanson Wang.
KIU production adds to StarTimes’ growing array of exclusive local content production and is advertised as featuring Kenya’s top casts, directors and scripts. Other exclusive programmes launched by StarTimes in 2022 include Kupatana and NIA.
The Canal+ strategy to boost local content has been through aggressive acquisition of major local film production studios and co-production agreements – or raising ownership stakes, including with its closest rival, MultiChoice.
In August 2022, Canal+ completed the acquisition of Rwanda’s first digital streaming platform, ZACU TV, culminating in the launch of a channel that airs 100% Kinyarwanda content. The French operator also bought out Nigeria’s most famous Nollywood movies producer Rok Studios, in 2019 and, from 2020, has been upping its shares at MultiChoice in tranches-growing it to a current 26%.
Industry analysts reckon operators will prioritise innovative ways of meeting dynamic viewer demands – simplicity, flexibility, customization, and convenience – to attract more eyeballs.
Secretary General of the Consumer Federation of Kenya, Stephen Mutoro, told bird in an interview that content, ease of access and affordability would drive more subscriptions.
“Competition would be welcome. Its not really competitive now. But content is king. MultiChoice enjoys the edge on exclusive popular content like EPL football. But then there are other consumers who enjoy non-football content offered by StarTimes and others,” said Mutoro.
These sentiments are also shared by analysts at Oxford Economics and Accenture in their joint survey covering Africa, which highlights local programming as a key differentiator in the industry across the globe.
“Research from Oxford Economics and Accenture finds that consumers value personalization and simplicity in their media experiences – and companies that innovate along these lines should emerge as winners,” said Oxford Economics Senior Research Manager, Thought Leadership, Sundus Alfi.
Pay-TV providers are not the only pan-Africa operators following these guidelines, however. Nascent video streaming services on the continent are tightening the competition for subscriber viewer numbers.
Dataxis, a global business intelligence and media company, projects that Africa’s video streaming market will have more than 15 million subscribers by 2026.
As in pay-TV, MultiChoice-run Showmax commands the largest number of African subscribers, at close to 2 million, followed closely by international player Netflix, with 1.5 million users. These players, too, are investing significantly in local content production.
The resulting stiff competition is expected to enhance the quality and exclusivity of content as well as tariff structures, to the benefit of viewers – with Mutoro singling out pay-TV players as having the upper edge on both access and reliability, over streaming counterparts.
“Pay-TV platforms use gadgets with reliable power supply. Streaming use narrow screens, such as phones, that are susceptible to running out of power. In the peri-urban and rural areas, access to streaming is impossible, over unreliable and expensive data bundles,” Mutoro explained.
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African music is witnessing explosive growth on YouTube, in a marked departure from the continent’s past struggle to gain a foothold in the global scene.
by Seth Onyango, Bird Story Agency
More African hits are reverberating far beyond the continent’s borders, amplified by the global music reach on YouTube and other streaming services. Growing smartphone adoption and affordable and fast internet in Africa also drive the local consumption of music on YouTube. From the catchy Afrobeats and soulful sounds of Afro-soul to the energetic rhythms of Afropop and the traditional melodies of African folk, the diversity of African music is captivating listeners worldwide.
To most African musicians, YouTube has revolutionised how music is consumed, providing a platform for independent, undiscovered African artists to reach a global audience and gain success without the need for major record labels. As more people turn to YouTube for entertainment and to watch virtual concerts, subscriber traffic has increased steadily. African music is quickly rising among the most-viewed and most streamed. Here are some of the most viewed songs by African artists on YouTube at the time of writing.
Jerusalema by Master KG –– 539 million views
Jerusalema is breaking records as the most viewed African music video on YouTube, with an impressive 539 million views. The track, released in November 2019, received a music video in December.
Magic in the Air by Magic System ft Choki –– 405 million views
Magic in the Air is a mesmerising hit single released in 2014. With over 400 million views, it’s not just the most-viewed West African music video on YouTube, it’s also the second-most-viewed African. This infectious track is sure to get you moving and singing along.
Love Nwantiti Rmx. by CKay –– 346 million views
Love Nwantiti is a standout track from Ckay’s 8-track EP, CKay the First. Its addictive rhythms and melodies earned it a remix with Afro-pop star, Joeboy, and Ghanaian singer, Kuami Eugene, released in 2020. The revamped version became a global sensation thanks to its viral success on TikTok.
Calm Down by Rema –– 318 million views
Rema’s Calm Down has cemented its place as one of the highest-viewed Afrobeats music videos on YouTube, surpassing the impressive 300 million views mark. This hit single has continued to soar to new heights, further solidifying Rema’s status as a world-class artist. He recently teamed up with international pop sensation Selena Gomez on a remix of the club banger, which already has 210 million views.
On the Low by Burna Boy –– 310 million views
On the Low by Burna Boy has achieved the impressive feat of accumulating over 300 million views on YouTube, making it one of the few African songs to reach this milestone. The track was released on November 16, 2018, combining Afrobeat and dancehall elements. Produced by Kel P, this mid-tempo love song has been praised for its smooth, infectious sound.
Baby’s on Fire by Die Antwoord –– 266 million views
Baby’s on Fire has captivated audiences worldwide, accumulating over 266 million views on YouTube and solidifying its place as the second most-watched South African music video on Youtube after Jerusalema.
Fall by Davido –– 254 million views
Fall has achieved tremendous success with over 200 million views on YouTube and Gold certification in the United States and Canada. The song’s popularity has helped to elevate the Nigerian singer’s international profile and boost even more sales.
Ye by Burna Boy –– 219 million views
Nigerian singer, Burna Boy, unleashed a fiery and infectious anthem with Ye, a standout track from his critically acclaimed third studio album, Outside. Released on August 6th, 2018, Ye quickly rose to the top of the Nigerian charts and has become one of the most-watched African songs on YouTube. Its dynamic blend of Afrobeat and hip hop, paired with Burna Boy’s commanding vocals and catchy hooks, make it a must-listen for fans of contemporary African music.
Joro by Wizkid –– 218 million views
Wizkid has achieved massive success on YouTube with his hit song, Joro, which has garnered over 200 million views and counting.
Way Maker by Sinach –– 217 million views
The hit gospel song, Way Maker, has made a huge impact on YouTube, racking up over 200 million views and securing its place as the most-watched African female video of all time. With its uplifting message and powerful vocals, it’s no surprise Way Maker has resonated with audiences across the globe.
EDITOR’S PICK: Imagine Your Favourite Nollywood Actors Had Youtube Channels
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Content creators from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa dominated the inaugural TikTok Top Content Creators Awards 2022.
by Bird Story Agency
Former rugby player turned food vlogger, Dennis Ombachi AKA @theroamingchef, emerged victorious at the inaugural TikTok Top Creator 2022 Awards. The Kenyan content creator, known for his culinary exploits, took home the Africa Winner award with Nigerian comedian, Charity Ekezie (@charityekezie), as the runner-up.
The TikTok Top Content Creators Awards took place in Nairobi and saw winners walk away with #TopCreator2022 trophies across various categories. The ceremony followed a highly competitive, eight-day-long public voting process on the popular social app. According to a statement by TikTok Africa, the inaugural award “recognises and awards content creators across Sub-Saharan Africa for the immense talent and creativity they brought to the platform in the past year.”
Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Programming for TikTok in Sub-Saharan Africa, explained that the award aims to recognise and reward content creators for their positive impact on the platform’s users. “With these inaugural awards, TikTok aims to give creators in Sub-Saharan Africa the recognition they deserve and to encourage them to tell the African story while spreading joy at all times”.
Dancing queen, Ifeoma Efiokwu, @e4ma on TikTok, won for the West Africa region, with Maduakor Faustina Chisom (@berby_picxy) as her runner-up. South Africa dominated the southern Africa region, with @Pilot_onthegram, an aviation and lifestyle content creator and the first South African pilot to be verified on TikTok. Lindokhule Khoza @.lindokuhle_khoza was her runner-up.
Kenyan beauty enthusiasts, Natasha Gwal @natasha_gwal and @beautyby.nita, were the winner and first runner-up for the East African category. Roy Kanyi, a Kenyan content creator, considers the awards a motivating development for creators like himself. “Many will be more committed to the platform because the award confirms it cares for its creators and pushes for networking among them, which of course, comes with its share of benefits”.
With the growth of the social media market, TikTok continues to appeal to audiences from across the continent. According to Dataxis, a digital data hub, TikTok built a 31.9% market share within Nigeria by 2020. The popularity of the platform on the continent has prompted TikTok to invest further in its growing customer base. In December 2022, TikTok Africa collaborated with Ghana to put together one of the biggest Afrobeats music festivals in Black Star Square, Accra.
The platform’s African content creators are also seeing increasing demand for their creative skills. Fintech and marketing agencies are leveraging their experience to create and amplify marketing campaigns. According to Forbes Africa, TikTok has an advertising reach of 28.9 million users in northern Africa and 7.9 million in southern Africa, as of 2021. While the platform has started paying creators through its Creator Fund, most use other means to make money.
“Lately, creators are actively approaching corporate organisations. But only as long as the product and services to be marketed are consistent with the creator’s content”. Nkululeko Dladla, a South African-based social commerce specialist, added that because TikTok is visually driven, it is more appealing when showcasing products and services. “In South Africa, TikTok can be a powerful tool for fintechs to reach a younger, more digitally savvy audience”.
EDITOR’S PICK: Put Some Respect on TikTok Creator’s Names And Some More For The Female Creators
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Through his art exhibitions, Onoja Jacob is promoting peace among communities in Jos, North-Central Nigeria.
by Dorcas Bello, Bird Story Agency
When Jacob Onoja opens the door to welcome guests into his house in Jos, Plateau State, the first thing that catches one’s eyes are the exquisite paintings on the walls. This is an artist who lives and breathes art.
“As far back as I can remember, I have always loved scribbling, drawing, painting and visualising imaginary things in the sky. I did it in my teenage years, and I still do in my adult life,” he said.
Onoja started to paint professionally in 1987 when he opened a studio, the Diadem Art Gallery. To refine his talent, he enrolled at Ahmadu Bello University, where he earned his first degree in fine and applied art. After his mandatory NYSC year, Onoja displayed some of his paintings at the NICON Hotel in Abuja, and after attaining a master’s degree at Ahmadu Bello University, enrolled for a doctorate in art history. Earning his doctorate in 2014, he then joined the University of Jos as a lecturer. But he never let go of his private studio engagement.
“It hasn’t been an easy ride juggling academics and private studio practice, but what keeps me moving is the long-term impact of my work. I have already started seeing the fruit of my labour as some of my students are now professional artists,” he said.
While Onoja uses his brush to depict a wide range of subjects on his canvases, the theme of peace is close to his heart.
“I was born and still live here in Plateau State, a place that has suffered insecurity, both cross-border and inter-communal,” he said.
Through his art, Onoja projects peace as a value presented not only as a right but something every individual needs to consciously strive for. This he describes as a form of community therapy.
“I try to tell stories of peace to entrap people into my space of therapy,” he explained.
In 2014, Onoja launched an annual exhibition called “Landscapes and More” that brings people from within and outside of Plateau State together to discuss peace as they experience the stories behind his paintings. Since then, it has been held every December as an artistic event to “wrap up the year”.
“It is a time of the year I look forward to, and many attendees have made it their annual routine,” he said.
One of those who’ve been attending the exhibition is Nenkinan Deshi.
“Onoja’s consistency in bringing peace messages is so healing… the scars of the instability in our state that I had nursed for years have been healed by the exhibitions. I appreciate his work and determination to preach peace through his art,” Deshi said.
Onoja says he draws inspiration for his work from nature: flowers, buzzing bees, the skyline, waterfalls, everything nature offers. But above all, he is inspired by the divine.
Onoja’s work enabled him to lead the Zaman Tare project, a peace partnership between CANFOD, an NGO based in Abuja, and the European Union, from January 2018 until January 2020. Zaman Tare means
“peaceful co-existence” in Hausa.Its impact was summed up by Anas Ibrahim Suleiman, a community youth leader in Nasarawa Filin Ball, one of the “hot zones”:
“I have never experienced something so great and more than ever before, I have seen the need for us to work for peace together as a community,” said Suleiman.
Onoja has been engaged in other group and solo exhibitions, with some of his paintings appearing in foreign publications and receiving great patronage. He also says art pays most of his bills besides being a fulfilling career. His paintings sell between ₦7k ($15) for the smallest size, to ₦350k ($780) for the big pieces. However, the prices can also be higher depending on the place and organisers of the exhibition.
To speak to a broader audience, Onoja has gone digital and is also using Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to sell his work.
“Digitalisation, especially the NFTs, is revolutionising African art. More creatives should leverage the technology to advertise and sell their artworks,” he said. On future plans:
“I want to grow and nurture this ‘baby’, the Diadem Art Gallery, into a huge enterprise specialising in collecting paintings and exhibitions on (the) theme of peace and co-existence,” he said. “I will continue to devote all my energy to art, my career as a lecturer and peace crusader”.
Creator Spotlight: Zonna on Creating Sustainable Art Through Tuft
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Rolling Stone expanded the 2023 version of the Greatest Singers of All Time to 200 from the original 100 count, and for the first time, eight Africans, including Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Tabu Ley and Burna Boy, have made the list.
by Bird Story Agency
Rolling Stone, one of the world’s leading music publications, kicked off the new year with an update to its “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list, which they first released in 2008, honouring the best vocalists in pop music.
“These are the vocalists that have shaped history and defined our lives – from smooth operators to raw shouters, from gospel to punk, from Sinatra to Selena to SZA,” Rolling Stone editors wrote. The publication released the list on January 1st, 2023, featuring eight African singers in the compilation.
They looked for “originality, influence, depth of an artist’s catalog and breadth of their musical legacy” when compiling the list.
Sade Adu is the highest-ranked African singer at position 51. Rolling Stone said the Nigerian-British singer has “proved herself the ultimate smooth operator,” adding that “her languid cool has a way of making everyone else sound histrionic.”
Following closely was South African vocal powerhouse, Miriam Makeba, ranked 53rd and described as “a fountain of vocal personality.”
“Indeed, to listen to her now, years after her death is to experience an artist who brilliantly communicates the joy of being alive,” the publication wrote about Makeba.
Egyptian Umm Kulthum was the third highest African on the list at position 61, with Rolling Stone saying she “has no real equivalent among singers in the West.”
“Her potent contralto, which could blur gender in its lower register, conveyed breathtaking emotional range in complex songs that, across theme and wildly-ornamented variations, could easily last an hour, as she worked crowds like a fiery preacher,” they added.
Other African singers who made the list include Senegalese tenor, Youssou N’Dour (69), South Africa’s Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde (153), who the publication described as “a peerless figure in the history of South African music, gifted with a cloud-rattling basso profundo groan, and a knowing, playful, at times diabolically incisive sense of what to do with it.”
Africa’s leading rumba singer-songwriter, Tabu Ley Rochereau of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, came in at 178th. “His voice was almost startlingly sweet, but he sang with so much pure transport, he never cloyed,” Rolling Stone wrote.
Nigerian superstars, Fela Kuti and Burna Boy, rounded up the African featured artists at positions 188 and 197, respectively. The publication said Burna’s voice is “sweet like caramel, but it can also soar on slickly produced tracks like his recent megahit, Last Last, or the 2019 gem, Anybody, excited by deep bass accents and insanely sophisticated polyrhythms.”
According to Rolling Stone, the top five greatest singers of all time are Mariah Carey, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Whitney Houston and, at No. 1, African-American soul and Motown superstar, Aretha Franklin.
EDITOR’S PICK: The Biggest 2022 International Collabs Ranked from “Flop” to “Bop”
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The ASUU strike is finally off, and all the Nigerian university students will have returned to school by October 24 [2022]. We asked nine of them what they’ve missed about their universities in the last eight months away. From Onyi, who misses the easy access to her boyfriend while in FUTO, to Nas and UNIABUJA Friday night parties, here are their answers.
Photo by Charlotte May Dindu*, UNN, Male, 19
The ASUU strike took away the financial freedom l had in school. I bought anything l wanted. Lunch was always at Chitis. I mean, my parents would send me money without asking. But during the strike, l didn’t see shishi. My elder siblings, who randomly sent me money, all disappeared. And they don’t believe it when l tell them in the family group chat that their baby boy is broke. My eldest sister would ask me what l need money for since l’m at home. Sis doesn’t know money enhances the baby-boyness so l can remain relevant.
READ THIS: Aluta And Chill: 5 Students Talk About Their Experiences With Strikes
Shirley*, FUNAI, Female, 20
My school is the ghetto. Yeah, I have another opportunity to drag them, and l won’t miss it. The only thing l miss is physically meeting my friends and bantering over mundane things. It’s not like we don’t communicate again, but l miss physically seeing them. My friends are the coolest people on earth; l miss them so much. They’re what l miss.
Onyi*, FUTO, Female, 23
I miss my boyfriend. I live in Anambra, and he’s in Abuja. We communicate every day, but l miss everything about him: his advice, help with my studies, gentle touches, sense of humour… everything. He’s the best thing that happened to me in FUTO. We’ve been dating for roughly a year, but it seems brand new every day around him, and there’s always something new to learn with him. The strike made me appreciate the moments that we shared more. We used to see almost every day in school. I’m happy ASUU has finally called off the strike because l miss that boy.
Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria Bose*, UI, Female, 24
There’s this lecturer who takes one of the history courses. Once you attend his lectures, you’re sure to learn one or two big grammar. He’ll come to class, spitting grammar laidis, and we’ll just sit listening to him. Man is learned. Patrick Obahiagbon can’t even tie Professor Johnbull’s (that’s what we call him) shoelaces. I low-key miss the man’s “gargantuan crinkum crankum”.
RELATED: Aluta And Chill: 5 University of Ibadan Students Talk About Their Relationship Struggles
Big T*, UNIZIK, Male, 23
I miss my babes — not my girlfriends but friends that are so dear to me. I got to know them in my first week of resumption through my lodge mate, and we’ve gone on to become great friends. We vibe wella. They have great personalities. But since the strike, our communication via WhatsApp has reduced to little chit-chat.
Frank*, UNN, Male, 20
I miss quite a lot about school. I miss the suffocating green shuttle buses l took every morning. If l don’t board the shuttle, l have to walk, and l hate walking long distances. I miss the wicked bastid sun of Nsukka. See, my skin is glowing now, but l know once l return to that place, it’ll wear off. Not like l love the sun, but l miss it beating me wickedly, especially during afternoons l don’t have a choice but to walk. I also miss the Okpa Nsukka that has been saving lives since the beginning of time.
Justin*, UNIBEN, Male, 20
I miss my beans and plantain plug. I love beans and plantain so much that l can exchange my kidney for a plate, but since the strike, l haven’t had one as good as the one I buy in school. That woman beats anyone who cooks beans and plantain. I don’t know how she prepares it, but it’s so tasty. I have referred countless people, and for every three people, she gives me one free plate. That’s the only thing l miss o, the good food l eat.
Nonso*, UNIZIK, Male, 24
I miss the stress of UNIZIK. Because of how stressful the environment is, we nicknamed it UNISTRESS. Waking early, suiting up in corporate attire and the boring hours l have to sit and listen to lectures, are what l miss about the school. Everything is designed to stress you from dusk to dawn at UNIZIK. For the past eight months, l’ve done things my own way; I rested and caught up on things l missed while in school. I’ve sha been preparing even while l was resting because l knew when the strike is finally called off, we go collect woto woto. UNIZIK always makes up for lost calendars, one way or the other.
Photo credit: Daily Post Nigeria Nas*, UNIABUJA, Male, 22
I miss my friends at school. Friday night parties, aimless long walks while gisting with friends and having fun. I’m a certified loner at home.
*Names have been changed to protect the subjects’ identities
NEXT: ASUU Strike Has Ended, and These Are the Winners and Losers
