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Esther Ijewere

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SIMON BILES IS USA’S FEMALE OLYMPIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Simone Biles, the most outstanding gymnast, is clinching all the awards!

Biles has just been bestowed with “Female Olympic Athlete of the Year” at the Team USA awards.

Biles is the most decorated female gymnast Olympics and world championship history. She won five gold medals at the 2019 FIG World Championships, the most of any gymnast at a single event since 1958. In 70 years, she is the first woman to win six U.S. all around titles.

Team USA took to Twitter to congratulate Simone saying, “Synonymous with making history, synonymous with AMAZING us all every time she competes. GIVE IT UP for the 2019 Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, Simone Biles.”

Team USA

✔@TeamUSA

Synonymous with making history, synonymous with AMAZING us all every time she competes.

GIVE IT UP for the 2019 Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, @Simone_Biles!, Best of the Year presented by @DowNewsroom

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Congrats Simone!

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“CONNECTING MADE-IN-NIGERIA BRANDS TO GLOBAL CONSUMERS IS MY PASSION”- BUKKY ASEHINDE

Marketing a made-in-Nigeria product is one of the most difficult aspects of being a creative entrepreneur, but with Bukky Asehinde’s intervention five years ago, this is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Chief Executive Officer of Bellafricana, an e-commerce platform helping to create visibility for creative businesses and connecting them to consumers worldwide, Asehinde is an alumna of the University of Westminster, London, where she studied Biochemistry. In this interview, she discusses in detail how she is changing the narratives for creative entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

What prompted the switch from Biochemistry to promoting local entrepreneurs?
My mum always reminds me that as a child, I always loved to bring people together. I was also drawn to creative, beautiful things and loved to put things in place for better aesthetics and everyone therefore thought I was going to be an interior decorator. However, I guess all of these traits have contributed to what I am doing right now. Bellafricana is a community of creative businesses and I am proud to be championing quality in creative indigenous businesses in Nigeria.

Why and when did you take interest in creative entrepreneurs?
As most of us already know, there’s so much creativity in Africa and I believe the media is not doing enough in portraying the creativity. I am particularly focused on promoting indigenous brands that have an African edge. I decided to do this when I felt someone needed to resolve the problem of access to international markets for local creative entrepreneurs as this was something I observed when I moved back to Nigeria in 2012. Prior to this time, I had been out of the country for about a decade and while in the UK, I worked in many indigenous companies, including Wembley Arena and as a Manager at McDonalds; all of which shaped my perception of indigenous businesses. Immediately I returned to Nigeria, I needed to undergo National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) having studied abroad and during my NYSC, I noticed a pattern among creative people who owned businesses- they just wanted to create, they didn’t understand so many things about marketing. I felt it would be amazing to create a platform where people producing amazing things could be connected to consumers looking to buy from them. I felt there was no better way to do this than to create an online platform where people from all over the world could access these locally made products already ‘verified’ by us since we are on ground here. This will give consumers the confidence to patronise these brands since they have been verified to be of good quality. The idea dropped in 2014 and began as an e-commerce platform until about 2015 when we adjusted our focus and started verifying quality businesses in Nigeria.

How was it marketing Nigerian brands to the world since ‘made-in-Nigeria’ is not well received both home and abroad?
We are changing the narrative because we still believe that quality is made here, and I am grateful for the confidence consumers already have in us. With our verification seal on any brand, they instantly assume it to be of good quality. We are, however, also very particular about quality and ensure the brands we project are of world-class standard. A look at our website will amaze you, you will see how many quality goods are currently being produced in Nigeria. I tell you, so many great things are being made here locally despite the fact that we’re not in the most enabling of environments.

Are there measures by which you ensure featured goods are of international and export quality?
Yes. We handpick businesses because we want to ensure the kind of goods seen on our platform are businesses that started from scratch and desire to grow; businesses that understand that they have to take their time to nurture and grow steadily. The way we operate, before verifying a product, we must examine it no matter what part of the country its producer is based. For certain products that require testing, we test them on ourselves before verifying. Also, another thing we do is training. Some business owners have skills gap, so we partner with experts who can train them better; not just in the creation of their products, but also in the running of their business on skills such as packaging, financing, marketing and branding.

Your target are entrepreneurs all over Africa, how far has this vision gone?
I would say we’ve gone quite far. Right now, we are creating allies in all the countries because we believe in partnership. Through collaboration, we are already bringing to limelight business owners from Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and many others. Our annual event ‘ACE Award,’ has also given us a great edge in celebrating creativity and innovation in Africa. The award focuses on micro-businesses from difference sectors, which are having an impact on their economies by creating jobs and developing these countries in one way or the other.

How would you rate your success so far?
Amazing. In Nigeria alone right now, we have over 100 businesses that have been verified and these cut across different parts of the country. We have over 500 businesses that are actually in our network and we are still verifying that their qualities meet world standard. Millions of consumers globally are already relying on our verification for assurance about various made- in-Nigeria brands. To an extent, that’s a good level of success for us. Also, we’ve been able to initiate partnership with top stakeholders such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and its Executive Director, Segun Awolowo, has heavily supported our work because it is also in the line of non-oil exports, which the country is currently keen on diversifying into.

What would you say is your biggest challenge?
There are quite a lot of them, but my biggest challenge is getting the right people to employ; people who are able to tap into your vision.

Who has influenced your life the most?
My mum, due to her entrepreneurial mindset. My dad was a white-collar person. My mum is a businesswoman and has been travelling since she was 17, heavily involved in trading. She was one of the early women who sold fabrics in Balogun and Oshodi markets in Lagos. My mum has acquired for herself, loads of cars and houses and supported the overseas education of my siblings and I, just by selling fabrics. She is a woman I am so proud of. Of course, my dad has always been there for us too.

Source: Tobi Awodipe for Guardian

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#MONDAYMOTIVATION| HOW TO SPEAK UP AT WORK WITHOUT BEING OFFENSIVE

Having the ability and confidence to speak up at work is critical for several reasons. It’s important on a personal level because it can directly impact your career in either a positive or a negative way. Done correctly, it can have a very uplifting effect on your career and workplace happiness. Done in an inappropriate manner can have incredibly negative effects on your career, and also spread to those around you.

On a more macro level, the ability to speak up at work can be extremely productive and create great things for your immediate team and the organization as a whole. If you open your mouth at the wrong time or in the wrong place, all it’s going to do is create divides between your colleagues and negatively impact the work being done.

Let’s take a look at how to speak up at work without being offensive.

When and Where to Speak Up

As we mentioned, there are definitely times and places you should speak up at work; and there are also circumstances where you shouldn’t. Let’s look at some suggestions for when conditions are right for speaking up.

Situations

A general rule of thumb is if the situation involves you it’s a good idea to speak up. On the other hand, if it doesn’t involve you, that’s a good indicator to not worry about sharing your opinion.

Just today, my team and I had a meeting to review 4 different vendors that recently provided us with demo’s. We are looking for a tool to help us become more efficient as well as provide a better customer experience. We all offered our opinions regarding the products. This was a great situation for me to offer my thoughts on a tool we will all be using.

Several weeks ago, I walked by 2 associates who work in the same department as I do. We don’t work together daily but I do interact with them from time to time. One was expressing frustration and displeasure of having to work with someone in another department. This would be a situation where my input would be both not appreciated and not important, because it has nothing to do with me. So I kept walking.

Reasons

The best way to decide whether to speak up is to ask yourself – will something positive or good happen if I decide to offer my opinion? If the answer is yes, then by all means, speak up. If you have a hard time figuring out how something positive happens when you open your mouth, make sure you pause and really think about if you should say anything.

Referencing my situation before, where my team members and I were weighing in with our opinions on the vendors. This is a good reason to speak up and share my thoughts. My opinion was wanted for the good of the team. It’s a good reason for me to say what I’m thinking.

Let’s think about another situation. Let’s say a coworker of mine is starting to gossip to me about another coworker. First of all, there’s not really a good reason for the coworker to be gossiping to me about someone else. It is certainly not a good reason for me to start chiming in as well. Nothing good or positive is likely to come out of me speaking up in this situation.

Manner

The manner in which you speak up will make a difference too. If you share your opinion in a clear and positive way, typically good things will happen. This is true in most situations, from one-on-one with your boss or subordinate, to addressing a large group of people. Make sure you are prepared and communicate clearly.

On the other hand, if you mumble a lot or are unable to communicate in a clear manner, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. The people who are attempting to listen to you either won’t be able to hear you very well or understand you. This will only hurt your career and make the situation more muddied at work.

1. Be Clear

This is key to speaking up without being offensive. Make your opinion known or ask for what you want in a clear and straight forward manner without being demeaning to the other person.

Don’t make your voice softer or raise your volume, keep it in your normal speaking voice. Don’t try to emotionally manipulate the other person, just state your point in a clear and concise manner.

2. Stay Cool and Collected

Sometimes when we are stating our opinions, the conversation can begin to get heated. Different opinions and ways of doing things can cause friction. You think something should be done a certain way and someone else doesn’t agree with you.

If you are passionate about the subject, the conversation might begin to turn to a more animated discussion. When this happens, take a deep breath and pause. Let yourself calm down at least a little bit. Continuing the discussion when you are upset will usually only lead to saying things you’ll later regret.

3. Be Prepared

We all tend to feel a lot more confident when we feel prepared. This is true at work as well, whether it’s having a meeting or asking for a raise.

If you want to ask for a raise, come prepared and you probably won’t get defensive or aggressive when challenged. If you come prepared, you can show your boss the reasons why you deserve a raise. Maybe you could point out the money you saved the company or even better, new business you’ve brought it.

Come prepared and you’ll be ready to speak up at work without being offensive.

4. Use Good Body Language

When it’s time to be assertive and state what you want at work, make sure you are using positive body language. Keep your posture straight and use open body language. Look people in the eyes and and don’t clench your jaw or tighten your facial muscles. Smile from time to time. This will help you be assertive and clear.

When you use poor body language such as crossing your arms, frowning, talking in a loud and forceful manner, leaning in too much or pointing fingers, you will come across as aggressive and offensive.

5. Be Comfortable Saying No

Having the ability to say no will help you speak up at work without being offensive. Sometimes, what you see is a boss or manager who, for some reason, likes giving someone additional work simply because the other person allows it. As you might imagine, this can lead to resentment, anger, and eventually quitting and getting a new job. When things are busy, we all get extra work sometimes. If you are consistently getting more than your fair share, be comfortable saying no.

I recently was asked to take on an additional project. Okay, I’m a team player so I took the additional work on. A few weeks later, I was asked to take on another additional project. I said no, I simply don’t have the bandwidth and the project would suffer because I did not have the time to give it the attention it deserved. I said no and I did not get the project.

You can take a look at Leo Babauta’s advice on The Gentle Art of Saying No.

6. Offer Constructive Criticism

It’s okay to offer constructive criticism if it is your place. Personally, I am open to receiving constructive criticism. Not everybody is. I feel that if you can tell me something in a positive manner about how to get better, I am all for it. I like for that conversation to be able to swing both ways.

If you want to help someone get better and you feel they are receptive to it, by all means offer constructive criticism. Just make sure it is constructive.

If you are one of those people that likes to offer criticism without the constructive component, chances are you are coming across as offensive.

7. Let Other People Speak

A final component to remember is to let other people speak as well. You are entitled to speak up and share your opinions. It’s important for you to be assertive and have your voice heard at work to get what you want and need.

That being said, in order to not be offensive, make sure you let other people speak. Yes, your opinion is important and you should ensure you can be heard. It’s also important to allow other people the opportunity to speak up at work as well. Remember, half of effective communication is listening.

Bottom Line

We’ve taken a look at how to speak up at work without being offensive. As you can see, it’s important to be assertive at work when needed to get your opinion heard and speak up for your wants and needs.

It’s very possible to state your position and get what you need at work and in your career in a manner that works well for you and everyone you work with. This can be done in an assertive manner without being offensive.

Source: Life hack

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“AFTER MY MARRIAGE CRASHED I COULDN’T BATH FOR DAYS- MAUREEN

Nigerian actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu’s estranged wife has spoken about how coped in the wake of her marital crisis.

It is no longer news that the young marriage of Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu and fashion designer, Maureen Esisi has packed up, irreconcilably.However, his pretty wife, who was left heartbroken by the marital crisis has revealed the difficulties she had faced during her trying times.

The Anambra State talented Fashion designer spilled that when she was hit with the hard reality of life that her marriage which she cherished so much had met with brick walls, she couldn’t bath for couple of days.

Y’all know it’s been a shitty last couple of months for me… there were times I could go days without showering and wouldn’t even care. Life was a Blur and taking care of me wasn’t even on my mind…. about a month or so ago, I looked in the mirror and I was so mad at myself for getting to this Point…. I said to myself “RED YOU GOTTA STOP THIS SHIT”…

I picked up a Revive Red Box for myself and resumed my Life back… and Viola!!!!!! A month after.. FILTER-LESS!!!!! I am not completely back to flawless yet but I am certainly close but one thing is sure… I know that I am NEVER EVER living that Careless/Carefree life Ever again.

Whew! Welcome Back mamaRED, I have missed you, ” she wrote.Blossom Chukwujekwu reportedly moved out of their matrimonial home and the reason behind the crash is far not from their inability to have a child.

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WAPA CALLS FOR JOINT ACTION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada has said that the war against domestic violence must be jointly fought by parents, schools and society as a whole.

Dada made the call on Wednesday at a symposium organised by the Domestic Violence Unit of the Ministry with the theme, “Parents as Social Agents of Change”.

The Commissioner said that parents must play a crucial role in curbing domestic violence, appealing that they should set good examples for children by avoiding behavioural patterns that can set the young ones on the path destruction.“Parenting as an art is not limited to the biological parents of a child alone; rather, it is a tripartite phenomenon sitting on a three-legged stool.

This stool consists of the home, the school and the society at large, as what is fed into the child from the home front is what is taken to the larger society,”

Dada stated.While noting quarrels and disagreements are inevitable in some homes, Dada urged parents and other relevant stakeholders to make conscious efforts to shield children away from such fracas whenever they arise.According to Dada, the symposium was aimed at guiding parents against becoming a negative influence in the lives of their children and wards.In her words;

“I wish to state here that we do not encourage war or fighting in our homes, we are peace ambassadors. But then, as humans, challenging issues might arise from time to time, we disagree to agree. But when there are disagreements, let us avoid violence and also learn to shield our young ones from such challenging issues.”She advised both parents and young ones to engage themselves productively and avoid idleness at all cost, stressing that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”.

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ERELU BISI FAYEMI: WHERE IS YOUR WRAPPER?

I was in Uganda a few years ago for one of the programs we used to run at the African Women’s Leadership Institute. One day, there was a report about something that had happened in one of the local markets. One of the women in the market went into labour unexpectedly. It seemed there was no time to get her to a nearby hospital or clinic, so the women around went into action. Some of them ran around to look for basins, hot water, towels, and razors. A few held her hand and encouraged her to push. Majority of the women around took out their wrappers and held them up, creating a protective ring around the woman, shielding her from prying eyes. Every now and then, this scenario plays itself in other markets around the continent, and the response is mostly the same – women bring out their wrappers to protect one of their own.

Sadly, this is no longer the case these days. Instead of wrappers coming out, it would be cell phones to record every graphic detail. Sure, help might still come, but not before the person concerned has all their pain and agony out there for all the world to see. Recently, there was the case of a young woman in Ajah, Lagos, who was found wandering the streets. Reports on how she got there vary, but she was stark naked, extremely emaciated and incoherent. Instead of immediately rushing to help, covering her up and getting her medical attention, onlookers laughed at her, threw things at her and recorded her on their cell phones. Without any idea of who she was or how she got there, judgements were made on the spot about her being the victim of ritualists which she must have brought on herself in her quest to make quick money. A good Samaritan, Keira Hewatch, stepped in and took her to the hospital. Even though many onlookers where not prepared to help the poor woman on the road, they tried to stop Keira from helping her, saying she too might be bewitched. Essentially, they refused to bring out their wrappers to protect and save someone and tried to stop someone else who was willing to bring out hers.

What do these wrappers signify? To me they mean protection, solidarity, sisterhood, empathy, kindness, compassion, duty, all those things and more that make us human beings. In the market places where the scene I described in Uganda happens, there is an unspoken protocol amongst the women – a responsibility to take care of one of their own who needs them. She is in pain. Afraid. But she has sisters around her, rooting for her and helping her. So, I ask us my dear sisters, where is your wrapper? Where is your wrapper to shield and protect other women and girls who need you? Where was your wrapper for the little girl who was molested by someone in your household and you said ‘Shhhhh’ and looked the other way? Where was your wrapper when someone you know said she was raped by someone she trusted? Did you ask her what she was wearing? Or if she seduced him? Where was your wrapper when your friend needed succour from an abusive husband? Did you gossip behind her back that it served her right, she is too arrogant? Where was your wrapper when your sister or daughter told you that her lecturers were harassing her in the University? Did you tell them that they must have done something to encourage them? Where was your wrapper when a young woman who could have been your own sister, daughter or niece was found on the streets naked? Where you one of the women who stood by and recorded her misery and threw things at her? Where you one of the men who tried to stop brave Keira from helping? What was in it for you to have a very sick woman die untended in broad daylight, with human beings baying for her blood like animals? Even animals care more for their own.

Our wrappers might all look different, with varying sizes, shapes and colours, but each and every one of us has a wrapper. Bring that wrapper out to shield another woman, or a man. Use it to help get her a contract, help with her rent, pay her children’s fees, help her with capital for a business or simply a discreet shoulder to cry on. Never let a day go by without bringing out that wrapper. The way God works is that the more wrappers you bring out for others, the more will come out for you. We don’t only need wrappers when we celebrate and buy Aso Ebi. We need the wrappers for our trials and tribulations and we all have them.

The women in the market place might never see the woman they helped again. She might never be able to say thank you. Yet she will never forget that other women stood by her and gave her dignity and covered her nakedness. Are we prepared to cover the nakedness of others, or do we want to be part of the mob that strips them naked? These days there seems to be a war against women. Not only is sexual violence at an all time high, these crimes are now committed in full view of the public. A young woman is accused of stealing and stripped naked, hands all over her and objects being stuck into her. When this happens, what do we do, will we look the other way? When a woman is being harassed online, do we join in the abuse? The more wrappers we bring out, the safer we will all be. There is another conversation to be had with the men, with our male leaders, with those who have the powers and privileges that weaken our agency and make us forget that we have wrappers in the first place. Today, we are talking to and about ourselves.

Let us all agree to bring out our beautiful, strong, diverse wrappers. Our wrappers of respect, love, dignity, support and endless hope. Thank you for bringing out your wrapper Keira. God bless us all.

This is an expanded version of a brief speech that was given at the ARISE Women’s Conference in Lagos, October 26th, 2019.

 

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She is currently the 1st Lady of Ekiti State. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com

 

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KUNYAZA: THE SENSUAL RWANDAN TRADITION WHICH GUARANTEES EXPLOSIVE FEMALE ORGASMS

In Rwanda, a traditional sexual practice almost guarantees female orgasm when done right. Female pleasure is not shunned but celebrated here. When contextualized to the current world realities, kunyaza is the height of equality in the bedroom.

Kunyaza: The Sensual Rwandan Tradition Which Guarantees Explosive Female Orgasms

 Photograph: Trevor Cole/Unsplash

The Legend of the Flowing Waters

It is said during the Third Dynasty of the pre-colonial Rwandan monarchy, the King went to war leaving the Queen’s bed cold and uneventful. Being a woman of power, the Queen sought out a momentary distraction which she found in a guard named Kamagere.

Poor, panicky Kamagere found himself in the Queen’s quarters, quaking, trembling and missing the vaginal orifice as any man in his position would. But you see, he was not really missing! Unbeknownst to terror-stricken Kamagere, he was shaking, trembling and accidentally rubbing all the right places. Before she could understand this new art-form, this hedonistic wizardry in her bedroom, the Queen’s waters gushed out. The sacred waters were a symbol of a sexual revolution that turned patriarchal sexual expectations on their head. The age of egalitarian and equitable sex thus began. Call it kunyaza after the rivers of sacred water that have flowed from the deepest, most sacred parts of Rwandan and Burundian women.

Confronting The Orgasm Gap

In 2016, Olivier Jourdain released Sacred Water, a documentary on “kunyaza” and captured the world’s imagination. That the practice is popular in Rwanda, a country that consistently features in the world’s top five in gender equality only made the story even better. Here is a country where women lead and get orgasms. In the 21st century this should not make the news yet it does because there is an a gender gap in work-spaces and an “orgasm gap” in bedrooms. Men are likelier to get high positions in public offices and they are also likelier to orgasm in private rooms than women. Fortunately, the gender gap in work-spaces has the attention of the big economic institutions but who is talking about the orgasm gap or taking it too seriously? Enter Rwanda, where addressing the orgasm gap is a tradition! From the centuries-old practice of kunyaza, the modern world can learn much about female pleasure and its beauty.

How Do You Do It?

Dr. Nsekuye Bizimana explains that there are two distinct ways of practicing kunyaza. Bizimana calls the first, the simple practice whereby the man rhythmically and continuously strikes the glans of the clitoris with the glans of his erect penis.  The man moves in the same motion from top to bottom and vice versa or from left to right and vice versa before eventually making circular movements. During the complex practice of kunyaza, the man performs conventional penile-vaginal penetration before holding his penis and moving it from side to side or round and round to stimulate the vagina from inside.The man may then withdraw from the vagina and revert to the simple practice of kunyaza. It is clearly a very technical exercise that some people will simply fail to satisfactorily perform. However, in the olden days, failure attracted traditional censure. One Felix who was interviewed by the New Internationalist said,

 “If a man couldn’t do it, the families would get together and discuss the matter. They would take back the girl and give you back the cow you bought as a dowry, because you are a weak man.”

Female pleasure and the ability to make a woman ejaculate were, therefore, defining features of traditional masculinity. So while it is convenient to claim kunyaza is progressive gender equality in the bedroom,  the practice is really about the assertion of masculinity.  Despite this philosophical link to patriarchal hubris, kunyaza still fully accepts female pleasure as a phenomenon to be embraced rather than feared and repressed. That excitingly counter-intuitive conception of sexuality is what makes it special. Female sexuality is not unsavory and dangerous but is, instead, a beautiful thing to be celebrated and explored. While kunyaza in its original habitat may be driven by patriarchy, it can easily be contextualized to the modern feminist milieu. Kunyaza is part of the solution to the orgasm gap and the world should pay attention. Female desire and pleasure are not vulgar!

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5 DATING SAFETY RULES THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Here are some important tips to help you safely handle your first date in the “real” world.

Online dating has grown in popularity over the years. Now with the ever-evolving technology, several dating apps had emerged to take your online dating to another level. Faster and more reliable matches, so they claimed. But while online dating is starting to be a norm, it is vital to equip ourselves with safety measures in meeting someone we don’t really know. Here are some important tips to help you safely handle your first date in the “real” world.

•    Research your new date online

I believe most of us are doing research already. But the question is, are we doing it correctly? Oh, yes. There is a proper and efficient way of doing research. A simple Google search won’t suffice. You must do some crosschecking of the person’s social media accounts such as LinkedIn Facebook, and Instagram. There are several resources online that will share tips on how to do a background check on someone you are dating. Take time to read them as they will be a big help for you.

Using sites like Nuwber to check up on a potential date may come very handy. This can help you verify if his or her dating profile is legit. If you can’t find any information about your date, consider that a red flag. In this day and age, it is next to impossible that a working adult doesn’t have any accounts on social media.

•    Meet in Public

Drive yourself or use public transportation to get to your date. Also, have your first date in a public place where a lot of people are around. Choose a busy restaurant or a bustling café in the middle of the city. In case you need to prematurely end your date for any reason, you’ll have several exit routes at your disposal.

•    Tell Someone About It

Tell your best friend or a close co-worker about your upcoming meet-up. Specify the location as well as the possible time frame. Decide on a time where you or your friend can call each other after the date. Knowing you have a safety net in case something goes wrong will give you a feeling of security and let you enjoy your date more.

•    Be Mindful of the Food and Drinks

Be careful with the food being served on your first date especially if your date volunteered to cook. Online research has found that a third of women would go on dates just for the food. Sure, it might sound romantic that your date would cook for you, but beware. An ingredient you’re allergic to in the dish a person you don’t really know cooked may be the least of possible evils…

So why not go to a cafe of your choice to avoid surprises?

Drinking alcohol may well help you relax and ease the tension. Remember, however, that it’s important to have a clear mind so you can make smart choices and be mindful of your surroundings. Since this will be the first time to personally meet your date, it would be great to remember all the details when the morning comes, right?

•    Trust Your Instincts

Like any other important decisions in your life, your instinct will be there as your guide. You may not logically know the reason, but if you feel something is not right, then leave. You are not obliged to finish your date. It is better to end it if you feel that way. It just means the right person for you is still out there.

Final Thoughts

As much as we want to enjoy the process and thrill of meeting for the first time, staying safe should be our top priority. No matter how much you feel connected to each other on your chats, you should perform a dating background check before deciding to meet. Keeping these tips in mind can surely help you have a successful and safe first date.

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10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a West African country bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Here are 10 interesting facts about the country.

1. Largest population in Africa

Due to its large population and economy, Nigeria is referred to as ‘the giant of Africa’.  As of 2019, the population of Nigeria is over 200.96 million, making it the largest in Africa and the seventh-largest in the world behind China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil and Pakistan, in order.

2. Largest economy in Africa

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa. According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s GDP was worth 397.30 billion US dollars in 2018. From 1960 to 2018, Nigeria’s GDP averaged 125.26 billion US dollars, with an all-time high of 568.50 billion US dollars in 2014 and an all-time low of 4.20 billion US dollars in 1960. It is expected to trend around 650 billion US dollars in 2020. 2019 International Monetary Funds estimates by GDP place it as the 23rd largest economy in the world.

3. Multinational state

The country is viewed as a multinational state as it is inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups, the largest being the Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The 250 ethnic groups speak over 500 different native languages amongst them and are identified with a wide variety of cultures.

4. Official language

The official language of Nigeria is Nigerian Standard English, a dialect of English based on British English. It is used in politics, formal education, media, and other official outlets. Nigerian pidgin is used for informal communication.

5. Niger River

Like Niger, Nigeria is named after the Niger River. This is the longest and largest river in West Africa.

6. Major Religions

Christianity and Islam are the major religions in Nigeria. Many Nigerians also practice traditional beliefs.

7. Early civilisations

Nigeria was the birthplace of several early civilisations. The Nok civilisation (1500BC – 200AD) produced life-sized earthenware terracotta figures that are some of the earliest known sculptures in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also smolt iron by 550BC, possibly earlier. Nigeria also had prosperous kingdoms and empires such as the Hausa kingdom, Fulani empire, the Kanem–Bornu Empire and the kingdom of Nri, amongst others.

8. Nollywood

Nollywood, Nigeria’s massive film industry, is second in terms of output to India’s Bollywood and bigger than the US’s Hollywood. Nollywood is said to produce at least 50 films per week. The country has an Oscars selection committee which this year selected Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart as Nigeria’s first film to the Oscar’s.

9. Capital city

Lagos used to be the capital city of Nigeria until December 1991 when Abuja became the new capital city of Nigeria. Lagos, a port city, was developing while other parts of the country were not. The regime thus moved the capital to Abuja in a bid to expand the economy towards the inner part of the country.

10. Crude oil

Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil in the world. It is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world, the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves. Petroleum accounts for 40% of Nigeria’s GDP and 80% of their government earnings.

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JACK MA FOUNDATION AWARDS 1 MILLION DOLLARS TO AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS

The Jack Ma Foundation awarded $1 million to 10 African entrepreneurs during its first annual Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) grand finale pitch competition.

The ANPI, created by Alibaba founder Jack Ma after his first trip to Africa in 2017, is a flagship entrepreneur initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation. The entrepreneurs who make it to the grand finale get the chance to pitch to Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa; Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and Founder/Chief Executive of The Chair Centre Group, Ibukun Awosika; and Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba, Joe Tsai.

The first-place winner was Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and Chief Executive of LifeBank from Nigeria who won $250,000. The second-place winner was Dr Omar Sakr, founder and Chief Executive of Nawah-Scientific from Egypt who won $150,000. The third-place winner was Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda from Rwanda who won $100,000. The remaining finalists each received $65,000. They are listed below:

1. Waleed Abd El Rahman, Chief Executive, Mumm (Egypt)

2. Ayodeji Arikawe, co-founder, Thrive Agric (Nigeria)

3. Mahmud Johnson, founder and Chief Executive, J-Palm (Liberia)

4. Kevin Kagirimpundu, co-founder and Chief Executive, UZURI K&Y (Rwanda)

5. Dr Tosan J. Mogbeyiteren, founder, Black Swan (Nigeria)

6. Chibuzo Opara, co-founder, DrugStoc (Nigeria)

7. Moulaye Taboure, co-founder and Chief Executive, Afrikrea (Côte D’Ivoire)

The grand finale competition was held in Accra, Ghana. Ghana’s president, Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said in his keynote speech, “It is time to take entrepreneurship seriously. We need to push vigorously in Africa the culture of entrepreneurship.”

The initiative will provide 10 million U.S. dollars to 100 African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period, and encourage grassroots innovation, economic empowerment of women and small business.

Jack Ma said, “If Africa wants sustainable growth, the most important thing is that you should create innovative ways. We need entrepreneurs to join forces together to develop Africa. Let us start to help and inspire; let us start to support the start-up and entrepreneurial spirit, because if society respects entrepreneurship, that society will make progress.”

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