Calabar is a vibrant old city located on a natural hill along the Calabar River in Cross River State, Nigeria. It lies at approx. 5 miles (8 km) upstream from the river’s entrance into the Cross River estuary. From its existence in the early 17th century, Calabar has held true to its motto “the people’s paradise.” The city was once a major trading hub during the colonial era and served as the capital of the British Southern Protectorate. its rich history, culture, and natural environment are primary reasons for its popularity among tourists. Particularly, every year, the Calabar Carnival, usually held…
Author: Esther Salami
In the latest deprivation experienced by women in Afghanistan, the Taliban government has given one month for all hair and beauty salons in Afghanistan to be shut. A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar, did not give details or reasons for the ban. He only confirmed the content of a letter circulating on social media. The letter dated June 24, says it conveys a verbal order from the supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhunzada. Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the maltreatment faced by Afghan women has continually been on the increase. Currently, girls and…
Facebook owner, Meta will be launching a new text-based conversation app called Threads in order to rival Twitter. The platform has been scheduled to be launched on Thursday, July 6, 2023. The introduction of the new application marks another phase of the ongoing rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, and Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in October. The two renowned billionaires recently garnered attention when they engaged in a widely shared social media exchange, in which they humorously agreed to a cage fight against each other. The release of ‘Threads’ follows an announcement by Twitter that TweetDeck, a popular…
37-year-old poet and novelist, Victoria Amelina became the 13th person to be killed in the missile strike on the Ria Lounge restaurant in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine on June 27. Just a year before, she had written on Twitter; “I’m a Ukrainian writer. I have portraits of great Ukrainian poets on my bag. I look like I should be taking pictures of books, art, and my little son. But I document Russia’s war crimes and listen to the sound of shelling, not poems. Why?” As writers around the world, pay her tribute, human rights activists called her death a war crime. Her death…
Victor Hugo Sosa, the mayor of San Pedro Huamelula, a town in southern Mexico, got married to a female crocodile called “La Niña Princesa” (“The Princess Girl) in a traditional rite on June 30th to bring good fortune to his people. According to the AFP report, this marriage ritual has been rehearsed for 230 years to monumentalize the peace between the Chontal and Huave Indigenous groups. The mayor, embodying the Chontal king, weds the reptile, emblematizing the union of the two cultures. The marriage ceremony allows the communities to connect with the earth and seek blessings for rain, crop germination, and harmony. Speaking during the ritual, the mayor said “ I accept responsibility because we love each other. That’s what’s important. You can not have a marriage without love. I yield to marriage with the princess girl. ” Jaime Zarate, an annalist of San Pedro Huamelula, explained that “ The wedding allows the sides to link with what is the hallmark of Mother Earth, asking the each- important for rain, the germination of the seed, all…
Known as “the giant of Africa”, Nigeria hosts several cutting-edge engineering masterpieces. Below are some of the most notable engineering landmarks in the country. Dangote Refinery Dangote Refinery is an oil refinery owned by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote. The refinery sits on a 2,500 hectares site at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lekki, Lagos State. It is supplied with crude oil by the largest sub-sea pipeline infrastructure in the world (1,100 km long). It has been estimated to provide 135,000 permanent jobs in the region. The world’s largest crude distillation column, weighing 2,350 tonnes, was installed at the Dangote refinery…
Nigeria may thrive in starting out projects, but on a number of notable occasions, it faces the challenge of continuity and sustainability. This attribute is important to economic growth and until we resort to breaking the trend of stopping halfway, there is only a limit we can reach as a nation. Projects like National Stadium in Lagos, Tiga Dam and Power Station, and the Lagos-Kano railway line which was abandoned for a long while have been rehabilitated, but some projects still lay abandoned or underutilized. They include; Ajaokuta Steel Company Built on 24,000-hectare land, Ajaokuta Steel Company, located in Ajokuta,…
Nigerian Visual Artist, Ife Olowu has caught the eyes of the world by bringing his art to life through the technology of Augmented Reality (AR). The artist stated that his goal was to turn an exhibition into an experience of art that defies boundaries. His works are part of a collection of 8 pieces titled “Colored Reality” and are worth about $10,000. Visitors at his art studio in Lagos use their Android or IOS device to scan a bar code which allows them to interact with the artworks. Some of his artwork features notable places in Lagos, Nigeria. Some of…
On the 16th of the month before the festive month, an almost 19-year-old girl arose to bring Nigeria’s name to the world stage, her name, Agbani Darego. The year was 2001 when Nigeria was still finding its ground amidst its economic situation. Agbani Darego was then a student of Computer Science at the University of Port-Harcourt. Although just 12 when she lost her Mother to Breast Cancer, she remained undeterred in pursuing her dreams. Her win did not only mark a breakthrough for Nigeria but for Africa as she became the first indigenous African, crowned Miss World. The 6ft 1-inch…
The top 10 Nigerian meals great for losing weight Whether you are a fitness guru or you are just starting out on your fitness journey, getting the dietary basics right is important for keeping fit. According to Rachel Attard, a renowned fitness trainer, every lady falls majorly under either of the three body types. These body types are not just about what you look like but your ability to gain/lose weight and muscle as well. They include; ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph body types. Ectomorphs are usually naturally slim and find it hard to gain muscles. Mesomorphs can be quite athletic…
“Human teeth bites can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses contained in the human mouth” – Mayo Clinic Discussion Opening of Human Teeth bites According to Cleveland Clinic, there are two distinct types of human teeth bites. They include; occlusion bites and closed fist bites. Occlusion bites occur when someone else’s teeth sink into your skin with enough force to break through the surface, while closed fist bites occur when someone’s fist makes contact with another person’s teeth, puncturing their hand in the process. This occurs with…
Since their establishment in 2001, Hikvision and Dahua have grown to become two of the world’s leading manufacturers of surveillance cameras. However, as part of a series of experiments run by Panorama to test the security of some Chinese-made surveillance cameras, Panorama collaborated with IPVM, a notable global authority on surveillance technology, to conduct an assessment on determining the vulnerability of Hikvision cameras to hacking. According to a Freedom of Information request, around 35 UK local authorities use Dahua cameras, while 227 councils and 15 police forces use Hikvision. UK’s surveillance camera commissioner, Prof Fraser Sampson, warned that the country’s…
Beans are popular legumes many Nigerians consume due to their taste, fiber attributes, and protein content. However, it is essential to know that often at times, these legumes are sprayed with dangerous chemicals by farmers. An example of this chemical is a popular pesticide called Sniper, which contains the active ingredient Dichlorvos (DDVP), a toxic organophosphate compound that can be harmful if ingested in large quantities or over an extended period. Although efforts have been made by the Ministry of Agriculture to curb the use and application of dangerous chemicals to store beans, an untold number of farmers still use these…
Before and after her independence in 1960, Nigeria’s architecture has improved considerably featuring distinctive structural forms, towering heights, and well-planned landscapes adorned with cultural effects. Some of the top architectural masterpieces across Nigeria include; 1. The Centenary Hall The Centenary Hall is located in Abeokuta and was built over 80 years ago to mark the end of the inter-tribal wars in the Egba land. The portrait of past heroes of the Egba land is used to adorn the walls of its interior. 2. The Moroccan Building and Tower,…
The history of Nigeria draws back to ancient times, with evidence of human habitation dating as far back as 9000 BCE. However, written records of Nigeria’s history began much later, with the arrival of various kingdoms and empires. In the first millennium BCE, the Nok civilization emerged and was known for its distinctive terracotta sculptures. The Nok people were skilled ironworkers and engaged in trade across the region. Between the 9th and 19th centuries CE, several powerful empires rose in different parts of Nigeria. One of the notable early empires was the Kanem-Bornu Empire, located in the northeast, which thrived…
Beyonce donates £8,000 to Struggling Nigerian Tapas Restaurant, Chuku’s Firstly, Led by a brilliant brother and sister duo, Chuku’s Restaurant, situated at 274 High Road in Tottenham, North London, found itself teetering on the edge of financial strain due to rising energy bills and living costs. The restaurant had opened five weeks before the Covid-19 lockdown and had struggled to keep up with management costs as it approached its fourth anniversary. “However, luck favored them when the renowned pop star, Beyonce, chose them as one of the ten restaurants to receive a generous grant.” According to the siblings who are…
Located at the core of Lagos, Nigeria, the Third Mainland Bridge gracefully extends, seamlessly connecting the bustling commercial hub of Lagos Island with the vibrant mainland section of the city. At 11.8km long, it stands as the longest of the three road bridges (Eko and Carter) crossing Lagos Lagoon. At the time it opened in 1990, the structure was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed. The structure made use of reinforced concrete and engineers had to construct an artificial island in Lagos Lagoon at the point the bridge met…
The Song Obasanjo tried to Ban in Nigeria during his tenure Eedris Abdulkareem, Nigeria jaga-jaga In 2004, Eedris Abdulkareem released a song that caused a stir in Nigeria. The song lyrics portrayed Nigeria as a scattered, impoverished country filled with suffering. Although, it captured some of the harsh realities of the country, it made use of violent vocabularies and exaggerated the situation in a manner that sparked conflict rather than fostering innovation among its listeners. At that time, it was widely celebrated in the streets; and clubs took to play the song even after the then-president Olusegun Obasanjo banned the…
It is often said that love is blind but when faced with the harsh reality of sickle cell disease: should love persist in keeping its eyes shut, or courageously seek a path forward? According to the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, in Nigeria, the prevalence of sickle cell disorder is estimated to affect two out of every hundred children born, making us the largest number of people living with sickle cell disorder in the entire world. This information suggests that a significant portion of the population, especially those with limited education, may still lack awareness of sickle cell disorder or show…
In 2017, a study funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that bad diets were responsible for more deaths than smoking globally. Hence, the necessity of incorporating fruits and vegetables to our diet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) adults are to eat at least 5 servings (around 400 grams) of fruits and vegetables per day. However, a lot of persons are not able to hit this target thus, the significance of smoothies. Smoothies are delicious and velvety drinks typically created by blending a combination of pureed fruits, vegetables, juices, yogurt, nuts, seeds, and/or dairy or nondairy milk. It…
Kraven the Hunter is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He is primarily depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man and is known for his exceptional hunting skills, physical prowess, and his obsession with proving himself as the world’s greatest hunter. The trailer hints at the idea that “there is an animal within all of us” and suggests that villains are not inherently born, but rather created through certain circumstances or experiences. It explores the transformation of Sergei Kravinoff, depicting his journey from a young boy growing up in challenging circumstances to becoming a formidable and ruthless threat. He…
In their maiden edition of 2023 Europe Day Afro-Euro Runway fashion, the European Union (EU) chose to sponsor a talented young Nigerian fashion designer, Oyindamola Aleshinloye, to participate in this year’s Madrid Fashion Week, scheduled for September. Aleshinloye earned this opportunity by winning the 2023 Europe Day Afro-Euro Runway fashion show held in Abuja over the weekend. Out of 124 young Nigerian designers who submitted their entries, Aleshinloye emerged as the victor, surpassing six other finalists. The judges based their decision on five key aspects: the interpretation of Afro-Euro fusion, creativity, execution, cohesiveness and presentation, and storytelling. Among the other…
Netflix revealed a sneak peek of the upcoming season of the Korean drama Squid Game, titled “Squid Game: The Challenge,” during its worldwide fan event Tudum 2023 on June 17. The 30-second clip showcased the preparations for the upcoming competition, declaring it as “the world’s most infamous game brought to life.” https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1670169697868734470 New players were confirmed by the streaming service to join the cast. Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong-Geun were announced as the latest additions to the cast. While Lee Jung-jae, who played the lead role Seong Gi-hun (a.k.a. Player 456), Lee Byung-hun, who portrayed Front…
Just last Monday on 12th June, 2023, more than 100 people drowned whilst travelling on an overcrowded wooden boat in Patigi in Kwara State. According to BBC, many of the 300 passengers onboard were reportedly said to have been returning from a wedding. The boat had left in darkness just before 4:00WAT and capsized about 10 minutes after they took off. While the Niger River is navigable in certain portions, the presence of cataracts in different areas of the river and seasonality makes it largely unnavigable. However, during rainy seasons which starts from April to October, many locals prefer boarding…
Nigeria is a developing country located along the captivating Gulf of Guinea in the western part of Africa. Home to over 200 million inhabitants, the country sits on a landscape, where the unruly waves of the Atlantic Ocean kiss its southern shore. To the west, the nation of Benin stands as a neighboring country, while to the north lies the vast expanse of Niger, stretching towards the horizon. As the sun rises, it illuminates the eastern borders, where the countries of Chad and Cameroon converge, bringing together a rich blend of cultural diversity and natural national beauty. Because of Nigeria’s…
Growing up in a noisy suburban area characterized by bustling streets, that are interlaced with residential and commercial spaces, the Ikorodu Bois have proven that Nigeria Cinema has a great chance at producing epic blockbuster movies. Ikorodu Bois is a group consisting of three brothers, Babatunde Sanni, Muiz Sanni, Maleek Sanni, and their cousin, Fawas Aina. Together, they make impressive recreations of popular movie trailers, music videos, and other viral content making use of low-budget props, basic household materials, and homemade special effects. The eldest of them, Babatunde Sanni, who is also their producer, in an interview with CNN spoke…
Just yesterday, Bolanle Ninalowo known as Nino B, took to his Instagram page to announce his role in the Extraction 2 Mockumentary, titled Distraction, the Extraction of Don. The Mockumentary also featured Donovan Goliath and Noxolo Dlamini. The Mockumentary was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa. Extraction 2, however, was released on Netflix this morning at 8:00 am. Watch Mockumentary Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/iamnino_b/
“Until death do us part” has long been known as a powerful commitment made in love and marriage. It signifies a lifelong promise to be present in each other’s lives, even in the face of difficulties and challenges until the inevitability of mortality. Yet, this same phrase has been responsible for so many untimely death of spouses attempting to keep their marriage promises. The media is well-acquainted with news stories involving murder caused by abusive partners. One such case is the death of Gospel singer Osinachi, who passed away over a year ago due to a blood clot resulting from the…
Oluwatosin Ajibade also known as Mr. Eazi unveiled his multi-million naira Estate in Rwanda. Recently, selling his portfolio company Zagadat Capital for 1 billion dollars, the popular singer has held a track record of exploring multiple income streams outside the Entertainment industry. The property still undergoing construction, is said to have 2000 local workers on-site with 30% of them being female. Mr. Eazi also claimed through his Insta post, that the project utilized local tech and would be affordable for customers. Mr. Eazi said of the project that he couldn’t wait to see other African countries adopt its sustainable housing…
Nollywood has grown undeniably and impressively, to the point of being the second-largest film industry in the world. According to PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook for 2022-2026, Nollywood contributed 2.3% ($660 million) to GDP. In addition to this development, IMF reported that in 2020, Nigeria overtook South Africa in pay TV subscriptions with over 6.9 million pay-TV households as of 2021. The number has been projected to grow upwards to 7.4 million by 2023. Yet, despite these achievements, it is important to note that the Cinema of Nigeria heavily focuses on popular genres like drama, comedy, and romance, although…
