₦airaland Forum

As the first college of journalism in West Africa, established in 1961, and the first indigenous university in Nigeria, it was expected that the mass communication department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) would be among the pioneers in unbundling mass communication department for professionalism and specialisation, in line with societal trends.

According to Prof. Michael Ukonu, of the aforementioned department, technology has drastically impacted the field of mass communication to the extent that the concept of “mass communication” itself has been redefined, necessitating unbundling.

Reports revealed that in 2019, the National Universities Commission (NUC) proposed the idea of unbundling mass communication departments across Nigerian institutions to meet the current demand in university education and keep up with global development and best practices.

As reported by Leadership news source, among the universities that have unbundled their mass communication department into faculty are: Benue State University of Markurdi, Ajayi Crowder University, Oyo, Imo State University (IMSU), Lagos State University(LASU), University of Uyo, Bayero University of Kano (BUK) And Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Looking at the situation, one will be curious to know why all the federal universities have not embraced this development.

Meanwhile, as far back as 2016, and even before the 2019 NUC initiative, the mass communication department at UNN had been making arrangements with the alumni of the department to get the required infrastructure ready for unbundling.

However, a lack of funding to construct buildings and acquire necessary equipment remained a major obstacle to becoming a full-fledged faculty.

Having realized the importance of becoming a faculty, the department had not only sought the school senate’s approval but has been persistent in making plans with the alumni to acquire the necessary infrastructure as Dr. Nwachukwu stated, “The alumni have raised some funds, but what they raised was not enough.”

Read more: https://crispng.com/from-dream-to-reality-unn-faculty-of-mass-comm-complex-paves-way-for-significant-development/

As the first college of journalism in West Africa, established in 1961, and the first indigenous university in Nigeria, it was expected that the mass communication department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) would be among the pioneers in unbundling mass communication department for professionalism and specialisation, in line with societal trends.

According to Prof. Michael Ukonu, of the aforementioned department, technology has drastically impacted the field of mass communication to the extent that the concept of “mass communication” itself has been redefined, necessitating unbundling.

Reports revealed that in 2019, the National Universities Commission (NUC) proposed the idea of unbundling mass communication departments across Nigerian institutions to meet the current demand in university education and keep up with global development and best practices.

As reported by Leadership news source, among the universities that have unbundled their mass communication department into faculty are: Benue State University of Markurdi, Ajayi Crowder University, Oyo, Imo State University (IMSU), Lagos State University(LASU), University of Uyo, Bayero University of Kano (BUK) And Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Looking at the situation, one will be curious to know why all the federal universities have not embraced this development.

Meanwhile, as far back as 2016, and even before the 2019 NUC initiative, the mass communication department at UNN had been making arrangements with the alumni of the department to get the required infrastructure ready for unbundling.

However, a lack of funding to construct buildings and acquire necessary equipment remained a major obstacle to becoming a full-fledged faculty.

Having realized the importance of becoming a faculty, the department had not only sought the school senate’s approval but has been persistent in making plans with the alumni to acquire the necessary infrastructure as Dr. Nwachukwu stated, “The alumni have raised some funds, but what they raised was not enough.”

Read more: https://crispng.com/from-dream-to-reality-unn-faculty-of-mass-comm-complex-paves-way-for-significant-development/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday, June 3rd, revoked the license of Heritage Bank Plc, raising concerns for its numerous customers.

According to the CBN, Heritage Bank violated Section 12(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) (BOFIA) 2020, leading to its irreversible revocation.

In a statement signed by the CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the event became necessary as “The Board and Management of the bank have not been able to improve the bank’s financial performance, a situation which constitutes a threat to financial stability.”

This follows a period during which the CBN engaged with the bank and prescribed various supervisory steps intended to stem the decline. Regrettably, the bank has continued to suffer and has no reasonable prospects of recovery, thereby making the revocation of the license the next necessary step.

Following this development, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was appointed by the CBN as the liquidator of the bank in accordance with Section 12(2) of BOFIA 2020.

The NDIC on June 3rd began the liquidation process, including the immediate payment of insured bank deposits.

Will Nigerians lose their money? Here’s what you need to know:

Nigerians will not lose their money, although it might take a while to recover all if they have above 5 million naira, which is the insured deposit. All depositors will recover their funds up to the limit of 5 million naira. However, depositors with funds above 5 million naira would have to wait until the liquidation process is over to get the remainder of their funds.

Read more: https://crispng.com/heritage-bank-will-nigerians-lose-their-money-as-cbn-withdraws-licence/

Charity, they say begins at home and Engineer Alex Onyia, the CEO of Educare, has proven to be a ‘’nwafor’’, son of the soil.

Eight months ago, Sultan of Software, as he his fondly called, took it upon himself to change the narrative in his village, as over 70% of youngsters in his village that sat for UTME orgainsed by JAMB failed the exam.

His initiative has significantly improved the situation as many of the students aced the 2024 UTME, generating accolades from all quarters.

Onyia is not a mystery, neither myth or legend, but a flesh and blood helping mankind through science and technology with a heart immersed in philanthropy directed at education.

Unveiling the man, Alex Onyia

When he steps into the room you won’t fail to recognise. His towering height, macho body, skin as dark as a humus soil sells him out. He is the perfect description of tall, dark and handsome. With arms built sturdily to bear the burdens of education and a smile that shines through it all. His signature outfit jean and tshirts also says let’s get to work.

Away from the physique, Alex Onyia is a man filled with compassion, a heart of rare gold especially when it comes to education. Tell him of a Treasure Okegbola and he comes running to preserve the bright talent. An Arome Audu would find possibility for his dreams when he steps into the room. An an Angel Alale would need not worry about funding for her university education.

You can call him minister of education of advocacy, as it’s not odd for him to be the voice of teachers, requesting that their reward is neither denied or delayed on earth. According to him poverty not lack of interest his the problem of Nigerian students.

The Sultan of Software as Educare CEO is fondly called adopted the title in March after 16 years of working with and investing in software including deep participation in Edtech, Fintech, AgriTech, HealthTech, PharmTech and Enterprise resource planning (ERP).

Here’s how “Obi” became a man in the education space

Alex Onyia, a proud Ngwo indigene, who graduated from UNN as an agricultural and bioresources engineer emerged from the loins of teacher and perhaps that fuelled his passion for education.

But, this had not been his path until 2014. Prior to the establishment of Educare, Onyia was a blogger. With “Babies are beautiful” he carved a niche for himself and established a huge present on Facebook garnering a followership of 8.7 million which as at 2016 made it the facebook page with the highest followership owned by a Nigerian. The page which was dedicated to posting beautiful baby pictures was however pulled down in 2017, driving 100% focus on Educare.

Read more: https://crispng.com/crispngs-youth-of-the-month-engr-onyia-the-nigerian-improving-access-to-quality-education/

By Kelechi Ogbu

Nigerian students in federal universities have lived a fairytale since the beginning of time. It is believed that if an average Nigerian wants to further their education, the best and most affordable choices are federal universities. However, since the turn of 2022, the reverse has been the case.

It has been an unimaginable turn of events as federal universities’ fees have been hiked outrageously, up to and over 100 percent.

Dealing with over 100 percent fee increases has been a torture for Nigerian students, especially with the present economic hardship, coupled with the high cost of living.

Before 2023, schools like the University of Nigeria hiked their fees. However, in July, 2024 the University of Lagos announced a 600% fee increment for it fees ranging from as low as 19,000 naira to as high as 190,000 naira, citing economic reasons. Some, however, blamed the signing of the Student Loan Act on June 12th, 2023, by President Tinubu. This development led to protests that yielded no tangible results other than students being tear-gassed at the protest ground.

STARTLING STATISTICS

A 2022 UNESCO report noted that about 20 million Nigerians were out of school, mainly due to poverty.

Another report by Student Loans Company (SLC) reveals a concerning trend. Between August 2022 and August 2023, 41,914 undergraduate students dropped out of their courses, an alarming 5% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded figure since 2018-19.

STUDENTS REACT

Reactions from the students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) campus on fee increments shows that there is indeed an impending danger.

Archibong Dunamis Udemeobong, a student in the department of Mass communication stated, “The school fees hike is obviously traumatic because some people are actually sponsoring themselves and they’re going through hard times now as a result of the hike.

Even with this hike, there is no improvement in anything. We still have small classrooms with large numbers of students, high cost of compulsory textbooks etc.

It’s really affecting lots of people as their parents and sponsors will also need money to take care of other things”.

Okanya Chiemerie from the department Veterinary Medicine noted that, “The effect of the hikes in tuition fees in Nigeria Federal institution since the turn of 2021 is quite exorbitant and it’s

actually a big challenge to students as some who cannot afford it dropout of school, some engage in illicit activities just to meet up, while others; of which I am a witness to carry over CBT courses because they could not complete the semester tuition fees after making half payments during the first semester and as if that was not enough instead of it to reduce as you progress to next section it’s increasing and this is actually a great challenge and problem for us.

“To be honest with you,those who have sponsors that are willing and ready to train them,will do that.

“But most of the students that pay school fees themselves and even the ones that do have parents but they are feeding from hand to mouth might be obliged to drop-out.

“Back then I usually thought federal universities were less expensive and that was one of the reasons I applied for UNN, but now the reverse is the case.”

Another student, Alung Glory Agabi of Mass communication department mentioned that, “With the high cost of living, most students will tend to drop-out and look for something more than school. Some might begin to steal to meet up with the high cost of schooling since they can’t meet up, girls will go into a high rate of prostitution to meet up with school demands which is very bad.”

DOOM IN MOTION

The negative effects of the hike in school fees by the federal universities extend beyond students to parents, families, and even the society.

The effects range from psychological distress, to reduced academic focus, low performance, increased dropouts, shattered dreams, depression, and even suicides. For parents, it could lead to stress and high blood pressure which may also result in death

Parents and Students have been suffering since the hike in order to meet up with the fee payment and to solve other basic needs as an individual or family.

Read more: https://crispng.com/nigerias-education-crisis-soaring-tuition-and-impending-rise-of-dropouts/

SPOTLIGHT: Amidu, the Nigerian revamping circular economy space with PlastiBuild
Amidu grew up in Lagos, and one thing that he constantly witnessed was flooding, mostly a direct effect of drainages clogged with plastic waste. This put a burden on him that led to a waste-to-wealth initiative.

He has been ridiculed and even lost the love of his life because a prestigious graduate like him should not be picking waste, but that only strengthened his determination.

Young Amidu’s passion for sustainability via the circular economy has positioned him as an important stakeholder in Lagos State. He is helping the government make decisions, training other young people, and growing the sustainability market through PlastiBuild.

In this interview with CrispNG, Amidu Mohammed Dabban speaks about his passion for sustainability, impacts, challenges, and projects.

Can we meet you?

Amidu: My name is Amidu Mohammed. I’m the founder and creative director of PlastiBuild Creative Solutions Limited. We are a climate-conscious social enterprise that leverages innovative upcycling technologies to bridge the gap in sustainable products by transforming waste into functional items. We transform waste like tires, plastic, fabric, wood waste, broken mirrors, and more into functional products such as home interior decoration materials, footwear (eco-footwear), green furniture, green plastic, plastic bricks, and much more. Essentially, we are transforming waste into wealth.

Can you share the story behind PlastiBuild Creative Solutions and how your enterprise contributes to addressing plastic waste challenges in Nigeria?

Amidu: PlastiBuild Creative Solutions is a startup that I began while I was an undergraduate at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. I live in Lagos, but I studied up north, so I’ve always experienced the waste crisis we have in Lagos firsthand.

As a child, I woke up to a smoky environment, which could be a result of people burning refuse, ‘area boys’ burning tires to send a message of impending violence, an unfortunate criminal being lynched, or possibly some women burning waste from their houses because they couldn’t afford to pay waste management authorities like Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). This made the environment unconducive and even life-threatening for those with breathing-related illnesses or could trigger those health conditions.

For some of my friends who had asthma, whenever it was smoky it was always a terrible experience for them, and even for those of us who didn’t have that condition, having to inhale a lot of smoke was a good experience, as the emissions were too much making the environment unconducive and apart from that, seeing waste littered everywhere clogged the drainages and whenever it rained, my streets transform into a river and that crippled economic activities until the street is dried again.

So, I discovered that it was such a mess, which the government is trying to solve, but they can’t do everything. I felt there should be a way around this problem. We should be able to transform some of this waste into useful products.

When I started, I faced a lot of repulsion from family and community members because, as a graduate of chemistry, they didn’t see any sense in working with waste. They had this mindset that working with waste is demeaning. They thought I was bringing myself down according to their perception of waste management.

I lost my girlfriend because she saw waste as a dirty thing to work with. I asked her to choose me or leave because I wasn’t going to abandon waste management. She left, and that’s when I realised that my passion for waste management is strong.

Could you walk us through the process of converting plastic waste into useful building materials, and what sets your approach apart from others in the industry?

Amidu: What we do at PlastiBuild Creative Solutions is convert tires and fabric waste into functional footwear. We do this by collaborating with local artisans, such as shoemakers and cobblers. In the beginning, I reached out to them requesting footwear, but this time, something different and unique made out of tires. I asked them to show me the process of making footwear, and we looked at alternatives. After overcoming the hurdles, we were able to come up with footwear made from waste materials, specifically tires and fabric.

The furniture also followed the same process. I went to furniture makers and requested furniture made from tires. They initially thought I didn’t know what I was talking about. At that point, they were not interested, so I decided to try it out myself.

My first attempt at turning tires into furniture was a good one. I was able to visualize my idea, although not perfectly. They then understood what I was talking about and decided to join me in making it better. We were able to get a near-perfect product that communicated the concept of working with waste. That’s essentially what we leverage at PlastiBuild to create our products.

We engage in collaborative partnerships with local artisans, craftsmen, and craftswomen; it’s more like a community coming together to design, with one person leading the process. We also work on plastic bricks, but that is not our core focus.

What impact has PlastiBuild Creative Solutions had on reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste in Nigeria, and what are your future goals for the company in this regard?

Amidu: In terms of impact, directly, we’ve been able to upcycle about 50 to 100 scrap tires. We’ve done a lot with plastics, converting them into bricks and interior decorations.

In terms of human capital development, we’ve trained a minimum of 1,000 young people in waste management and waste upcycling through the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. Our impact has spread widely, as impact travels faster than light. We’ve made significant contributions, especially in building the circular economy ecosystem in Nigeria.

Read more: https://crispng.com/spotlight-amidu-the-nigerian-revamping-circular-economy-space-with-plastibuild/

In recent years, Nigerians have endured economic hardships comparable to the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt. Every glimmer of hope quickly fades into darkness, obscured by political and economic mysteries controlled by those in power.

Despite being battered daily by economic challenges, Nigerians have remained resilient. Local businesses continue to thrive, and Nigerians at home and abroad achieve remarkable feats, much like the Israelites who multiplied in strength despite their oppression.

However, there have been recent attempts to undermine the labour force, the strength and glory of the nation, similar to Pharaoh’s actions in the Bible.

The first blow was the hike in PMS and diesel prices, aimed at crippling local producers and manufacturers. Recently, the authorities have also increased electricity tariffs, further straining the labour sector.

On April 3rd, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced that Band A consumers’ electricity tariffs would rise from #62 to #225, before a minor reduction to #206.8. Band A includes customers who receive up to 20 hours of electricity, predominantly in urban areas.

From the classification, the majority of rural areas fall into the category with minimal hours of electricity. So, how do we promote local industrialisation, which feeds urban industries with raw materials, if they have a shortage of electricity?

For instance, sawmills located in rural areas cannot operate efficiently without consistent electricity. Rice farms and other local industries also rely on electricity. The struggles of local industries inevitably impact urban industries as well.

Rather than increasing prices, the focus should have been on the equal distribution of electricity. All towns and cities should have equal access to electricity, not some enjoying 20 hours while others have minimal supply.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu stated that the tariff increase was to attract investors to the energy sector. However, this seems to be a facade for other motives. Attracting investors to a market where consumers cannot afford the service is illogical.

There are economies of scale in business; investors will rather choose where the cost of production (energy being a chief factor and nearness to raw materials) is low. What will investors do in a country where there is little or no regard for the regeneration and conservation of raw materials? Is the decline of raw materials not one of the main reasons why many international firms are beginning to leave the country?

Increasing electricity tariffs is as damaging as raising import duties. When will we stop making decisions that harm our economy? It is paradoxical to increase import duties to encourage local production while simultaneously raising electricity tariffs that cripple those producers. It is no wonder people accuse the current administration of stifling the poor citizens of this country.

HARSH REALITIES AND COPING MECHANISMS

Many families in the city are unable to buy local PMS to provide electricity through generators because of the high price. They have been surviving with electricity, but now that electricity prices have increased by almost 300 percent, it will pose a significant threat to families trying to meet their energy needs.

Mrs. Chioma, an educator in Lagos who falls under the Band A category, lamented that her family now spends 20,000 naira on electricity every two weeks. She noted that some other

Read more: https://crispng.com/let-the-poor-breathe-surviving-rising-electricity-tariffs-in-nigeria/

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have begun their indefinite nationwide strike over the minimum wage and electricity tariff hike.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, held a last-minute meeting with Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, presidents of the NLC and TUC respectively, as well as other union leaders, but failed to stop the strike slated for June 3rd.

Nigerians across the country are experiencing a blackout as the labour union shut down the national electricity grid at 12:19 a.m. In a statement signed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) GM, public affairs, Ndidi Mbah, it was stated that “the labour union has shut down the national grid, resulting in a blackout nationwide.”

Airports have been grounded due to the lack of electricity to facilitate activities, leaving many travelers stranded. Hospitals, ports, courts, schools, as well as other sectors of the economy, have been affected.

In a recent development, the Academic Staff Union of Universities joined the strike. In a statement signed on June 2nd by the president of the union, Emmanuel Osodeke, it read, “The NLC has begun an indefinite strike action starting from Monday, June 3rd, 2024, as a result of the failure of the government to conclude the renegotiation of the minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the reversal of the electricity tariff. Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.”

Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have been in the dark and had lectures canceled, although this is not peculiar to the school alone.

Here are the Key Issues to know

The labour union on April 14th, 2024, demanded that the current minimum wage be reviewed to reflect current economic realities, initially stating that the new minimum wage should be 615,000 naira.

The negotiation table had been opened with the FG offering 48,000, 57,000, and then 60,000. However, the NLC, which reviewed its demand, insisted on 494,000 naira as the livable income in the current economic situation of the country.

Read more: https://crispng.com/nlc-tuc-begin-nation-wide-strike-here-are-key-issues-to-know/

Attraction between the opposite sexes drives them to do many things, one of which is cohabitation. Though not traditionally an African practice and often considered abominable, it has become more common in higher institutions across the country. In this report, PETER OKOYE, a 200-level student of mass communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) examines the practice and associated dangers for students.

The issue of cohabitation on campuses is one that cannot be overlooked. It has been practiced for so long that it has now become a “normal thing.”

There is hardly any tertiary institution around the globe where cohabitation does not exist, given that the majority of the population in these institutions are youths who are not under the surveillance of parents or sponsors.

About 71% of students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions are estimated cohabiting with the opposite sex in school.

The Oxford Advanced Dictionary states that cohabitation is when a man and a woman live together and have a sexual relationship without being married.

A SEARCH FOR THE WHY

One would wonder why this issue of cohabitation is prevalent in tertiary institutions. The obvious factors that lure students into cohabitation include financial constraints, the need for academic assistance, lack of proper parental upbringing, disregard for African norms and culture, youthful curiosity, and peer pressure.

Students in tertiary institutions are within the youthful age bracket of 17-24. At this age, there is a tendency for most of them, who are outside the purview of their parents or guardians, to “explore life” and try many things.

Many would refuse to tag cohabitation as a menace. Logically, they are not to blame as financial constraints are a major factor that promotes cohabitation.

Female students, due to the paucity of finances in school, are pressured to live with their male counterparts and perform duties as a wife to him, including satisfying his sexual urges. The male, in reciprocity, is expected to meet the financial needs of the female student, which includes paying her school and tuition fees, buying textbooks, provisions, and other necessary items.

The male party in this aspect might be a student or a single or married working-class man living within or outside the school environs.

In the case of a non-student, female students, especially those living in the hostels, are pressured to move out of the hostel and live with such a man.

Students living outside the campus are the ones who mostly engage in cohabitation and are affected the most. They are also forced to cohabit in order to cut costs related to their accommodation. These students are compelled to live together and share the rent with their “partners”.

WHAT THERE IS TO LOSE

A greater percentage of students often disagree that cohabitation increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancies, and abortions, but that is far from the truth and is a misconception given the adverse effects of cohabitation in the long run.

Read more: https://crispng.com/single-at-home-married-in-school-concerns-over-cohabitation-in-nigerias-tertiary-institution/

May 29th remains significant for Nigerians as it marks Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one year in office as Nigeria’s 16th president.

Tinubu’s first year as president has been described as a terrible start by some, while others see it as the president’s period of finding his feet, giving him the benefit of the doubt. However, there have also been cheers from supporters.

In this interview, Ambrose Igboke (PhD), the Chairman of the Enugu State Chapter of the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, examines Tinubu’s first year as president and proffers solutions to move the nation forward.

How would you assess President Tinubu’s first year in office, looking at his achievements, if any, and shortcomings?

I’d like to say Tinubu’s government is a continuation of Buhari’s government because you need to judge according to the political parties that put them up. Political parties are basically made up of the same set of people with the same ideologies.

Tinubu had a hand in the last government, and some of Buhari’s men are also in this government because they are from the same political party. However, each government comes with its agenda or framework that enables them to run the government the way they envisage it.

On May 29th, 2023, the President was inaugurated, and in his acceptance, he made one of the greatest blunders by making a careless statement declaring “subsidy gone,” which turned the economic fortunes of the country for worse in a jiffy. The “subsidy is gone” statement was too early for a president sworn in just a few minutes before.

Immediately after that declaration, filling stations stopped selling fuel, leading to almost a week of fuel scarcity. Fuel pump prices went up immediately and increased over time, reaching 600 naira per liter within seven months. Countries don’t act that way, except in cases of disasters, wars, or other uncontrollable emergencies, but this wasn’t the case in Nigeria.

This caused protests because petrol and diesel are essential resources for running the economy. When the protests started, the government became jittery.

Despite that, the Naira’s parity with the dollar reached almost 2000 Naira at one point, fuel prices didn’t increase again for almost a year later. It’s said the government secretly resumed subsidizing petrol.

While struggling with the fuel issue, the CBN, run by Tinubu’s men, decided to float the naira without any prior arrangement or plans to mitigate the consequences. This action worsened the economy. Instead of rectifying it, the government started chasing shadows, blaming open market operators, money changers, and even cryptocurrency.

In terms of the economy, this government has no clear-cut economic policy. All we hear is the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which was used for political campaigns and is not an economic blueprint.

During Obasanjo’s tenure from 1999 to 2007 and Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, we had clear-cut economic blueprints. Obasanjo had the National Economic Development Strategy (NEDS). Now, we don’t have an economic strategy or team. Instead of looking for competent people to run the CBN, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Planning, and other parastatals, they are appointing politicians and political loyalists.

For example, the president appointed someone as Deputy Governor of CBN who was later removed due to political pettiness. We have capable Nigerians who can serve the country and contribute to its growth, but they are removed for not being in the ruling political party. This is the lowest we have gone since 1999.

If you were asked to describe Kalunta Anthonieta in one word, the correct answer would be “optimistic.” Kalunta is a great mind who is on her way to becoming a household name in the Nollywood industry and even beyond.

The actress and women’s advocate began her acting career in the Nigerian movie industry by starring in the multiple award-winning movie, “Milkmaid” and has gone on to do greater things.

In this interview with Crisp Nigeria, the ever-positive and brilliant actress and advocate, speaks on the genesis of her career, her passion for women and girls, and the Nollywood industry, among other things.

Can we meet you?

Kalunta: I am Kalunta Anthonieta an actress and consent advocate. I studied Theatre and performing arts at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I am from Abia state, but grew up in Zaria with three siblings and I’m the third child.

Tell us about your journey to the big screen
Kalunta: My journey officially began in 2018. I graduated in 2017, and at the time, I felt like I was going to immediately pursue my master’s and explore other opportunities. I wanted to act, which is why I applied to study theater arts. However, when you have great brains, you also want to give back. So, one of the things on my mind was lecturing.

During my final year, before my final exams, there was a strike. I took that opportunity to start teaching in a school, which steered me towards that career path. I continued teaching even after graduation, as I was considering going back for my master’s. However, amidst all of that, I received a call informing me that auditions were open for a movie in Taraba state.

I spoke with the director as they were actively seeking actors, but the filming location was unfamiliar to me. However, I decided to travel to Taraba to audition and it went well. I got a call on my way home. They asked if I would be comfortable playing a lead role, and that’s how my journey began.

How has your experience in the movie industry been since your debut?
Kalunta: Honestly, it’s been great. I don’t really have some of the downside stories. Of course, I’ve had my fair share of rejections, but generally, I’d say I’m really proud of the industry, and I feel like my experience has been largely positive.

I’ve met people who are interested in the things that I am, people who are willing to push me. So for me, it’s just been a very grounded experience. I’m growing, and I’m very certain at this point in my life that I’m not the actor I was in 2018.

I have grown because I’ve gotten to work with different people. So everyone is adding to your skills, and it’s just been one upskilling to another, even in terms of just building relationships within our industry and meeting certain stars that I watched as a child and having to work with some of them. It’s just a really humbling and gratifying experience, I’d say. So, it’s been very positive generally.

Read more: https://crispng.com/interview-nigeria-must-take-implementation-of-laws-seriously

The National Bureau of Statistics revealed, as of 2018, that 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 years are into drug use. However, individuals and organisations are working tirelessly to fight this menace, and Dr. Hope Omeiza is one.

As a teenager, Dr Hope Omeiza, who was a victim of drug abuse, was privileged to receive help which saved his life and since 2018 has been reaching out to victims of drug abuse through his non-profit, Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA).
In this interview with CrispNG, Dr Hope speaks of his life-changing experience and the vision, impact and challenges of VGADA.

Tell us about Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA)

Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in August 2018. Since our inception, our mission has been to combat drug abuse and its detrimental effects on Nigerians. We are a national NGO with presence in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and have our office headquarters in FCT, Abuja. Through various avenues such as outreaches, seminars, and media appearances on radio and television talk shows, we have consistently worked towards delivering individuals from the grip of substance abuse.

What inspired the establishment of your NGO, and what specific aspects of the drug abuse menace are you addressing?

In my teen years, I was a victim of drug abuse before I received help which was vital to helping me overcome drug use. Also, while I served as a medical house officer, I unfortunately came in contact with some teenagers who were rushed into the emergency unit of the hospital as a result of a tramadol overdose, they eventually did not make it. All these events contributed to me making the move to establish VGADA.

VGADA was birthed out of a resolve to see to it that teenagers and youths do not venture into drug abuse, and also provide a way of escape to those who are already entangled in this dangerous habit. Our organization initially focused on prevention of drug use, however over the years, we have evolved to also include treatment and rehabilitation of drug users in our programs.

Can you describe some of the key programs and initiatives your NGO has implemented to combat drug abuse within the community?

Since our inception, we have engaged in countless programs to combat the scourge of drug abuse in Nigeria. We have organised and been invited to several Secondary school outreaches to give talks to students and offer counselling to them. We also had a mega rally that featured about 500 participants including 150 corps members who marched against Drug Abuse and Election Violence in 2018.

Read more: https://crispng.com/interview-my-experience-as-a-drug-abuse-victim-inspired-me-to-start-vgada-dr-hope-omeiza/

Marriage is a beautiful thing, but what happens when things go south? What happens when friends become foes, when they have their backs against each other?

It becomes even more heart-wrenching when a public figure is involved. Having everybody’s nose in your ‘bad’ private business doesn’t do any good.

From Tonto to Rudeboy down to Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz, celebrities haven’t had it easy, let alone a gospel artist who had to deal with the divorce controversy—the rightness and wrongness of it.

In this interview with CRISPNG’s BLESSING CHUKWUNEKE, Nikki Laoye bares it all as she speaks on her divorce, sharing lessons and testimonies of a second chance at love with her friend Snatcha.

CrispNG: Was there a time when you wanted to quit music and how did you cope with the challenges?

Going through a divorce was one of the lowest seasons of my life; it made me think of quitting music.

Nobody ever wants to lose their marriage, but the truth is that my ex-husband, Alexander Oturu and I decided to go our separate ways amicably. However, it was a very sad season for me.

I asked questions like, “Why did this have to happen?” But the truth is that every dark season I’ve ever gone through has been another stepping stone. I feel like it’s been another launching point for me because, in that season, God gave me this new song as he always does in seasons like that. It’s called “Trust You,” which is one of my most recent singles that was released last year.

I remember when I had to start living alone, God gave me the song that says, “Through the fire, through the rain, through whatever, come what may, I’m going to trust you.” I told God, I got nobody else; I have to trust you because you’re the only one that can help me. You’re the only one that can keep me and bless me.

There were a lot of talks going on in the industry and the public eye. I asked God why I had to go through divorce, badmouthing, and ridicule, and He gave me that song to remind me to trust Him and know that all things are working for my good.

That is the thing about God: every season of your life, He is going to use it, both the good, bad, and ugly, and will turn it all around for your good. And that’s what God has done with every down season of my life. He’s been faithful; He’s been true, and above all, He’s just been an amazing father.

What lessons can you share from your marital experience?

We should learn to forgive ourselves because the truth is that a lot of us make decisions without properly thinking about it, especially when it comes to choosing a life partner.

Sometimes we’re not necessarily looking at the big picture of what marriage is supposed to be, who we’re supposed to be with, and all of that. My ex is an amazing person, but the truth is that we’re better off as friends than being married.

Read more: https://crispng.com/interview-covid-19-showed-many-married-wrongly-experiencing-divorce-one-of-my-lowest-moments-nikki-laoye/

An award-winning recording artiste, radio & TV host, entrepreneur, and humanitarian; Nikki Laoye isn’t your regular musician.

The proud mother of four is a woman of many parts and one who wears many hats. Despite being a multi-faceted figure, she has continued to blaze the trail in every aspect.

Eclectic is how she describes her style of music, and you can’t agree less. It takes a lot to be different, and Nikki Laoye has never shied away from it.

Talk about a heart of gold—she embodies it, her care for children with cancer and cerebral palsy is all the proof you need.


From “Never Felt This Way Before”, an alternative rock gospel song that made listeners feel what they’ve never felt before, to “Trust You,” and even “Yeshua” Nikki has “Never fail(ed)” to deliver.

There have been storms that rocked her boat, but she stands unwaveringly strong. Eighteen years and counting, and the ‘Best Female Vocal Performance’ winner at the 2013 Headies shines still, even ever brighter.

In this interview with CRISPNG’s BLESSING CHUKWUNEKE, the royal nightingale, Nikki Laoye speaks of her musical journey as an urban contemporary gospel artist, her philanthropy, her breaking points, her losses, and also counts her blessings.

Can we meet you?

I am Oyenike ‘Nikki’ Laoye. I am a recording artist, humanitarian, radio and TV host, and founder of the Angel for Life Foundation. Additionally, I’m a beauty entrepreneur, running my haircare line, Fine Woman by Nikki Laoye.

Tell us about your background and how it shaped your music career

My beginning was more musical, in the sense that I grew up in a musical family coming from the Laoye Ajeniju royal family in Ede, Osun state.

My family is well-known as one of the royal families in Osun state. My granduncle, my grandfather’s brother, was Oba Toyeshe Laoye, while my grandfather was known as Baba Kekere, and was more like the Oba’s right-hand man, but the two of them were both musical.

My grandfather used to play the organ and keyboard, while my granduncle was also known as the drummer King because he played the talking drum.

Oba Laoye made the talking drum as popular as it is today. During Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Nigeria, he welcomed her with the talking drum, and right now, the talking drum industry pays homage to him. It has opened many doors for me because when I go to places and I mention that I’m Laoye, people want to prostrate to me in appreciation of Oba Laoye. That’s how amazing it is.

So, coming from a family that had music in its bones, I grew up watching my dad and his brothers always playing music, always singing together. I would hear them singing in harmonies, in parts.

Growing up as a family, we were all very close. My dad and his brothers always made sure that once a year, we came together to go away on holiday. Our cousins and friends were always present.

My cousin is the popular actress, Ade Laoye, and we all used to sing together and hang out. So we just grew up in the creative system. So, everybody in the Laoye family is very creative. They either sing, dance, act, draw, or do other things in creative space. However, some of us took it to the next level.

While growing up, my dad had a vast music collection. My dad always had music, all kinds of albums, all kinds of recordings. So, I was open to different kinds of music as a child from R&B, Hip Hop, to Reggae and jazz. My mum was a dancer and it added to my music experience.

Growing up, I decided to do music fully, which was a path I built since childhood. I made sure that every time from my primary to secondary school, no matter what school I found myself in, I was always either in the dance club, Atilogu class, or acting class. I was always in every kind of thing that has to do with music and art as a child and it gave me room to blossom and grow in that direction.

When I was at the University of Ibadan, I also joined a group called Exclussia, which was the top dance club at the University of Ibadan at that time. I soon started a girl group called soul sisters with two of my friends, Aboyowa and Debola Kester and we were popular at the University of Ibadan because we were the only female acapella group at that time, which was in the early 2000s, between 2002 and 2004. That was also the stepping stone to me becoming a recording artist because. Soul Sisters recorded a couple of singles. One of our singles, “Babaloke” was featured on my first album. So that was more or less what helped me to grow into the recording artist I am today.

My younger brother, our last born known as Xblaze is also a well-known producer and has been producing for over 20 years. So it was the two of us that decided to go into music fully. My eldest brother, Femi Laoye, who’s also known as Rap2sai, actually featured on Taka Sufe, one of my songs in my first album, alongside Rooftop MCs. While Xblaze produced the song. So, that shows how much everybody in my family has that gift of music and we all use it in different ways. Xblaze right now, works with DJs in Albania in the UK.

Also, doing music in the church helped me. My parents saw my love for music and put me in a choir at age five, an adult choir at that. So the truth is, I’ve just been in that space of being able to work on my music since I was a kid and I thank my parents for that.

How would you describe your style of music?

Nikki is so versatile. I can do any style of music. Like I said, there’s no style of music my parents did not have around them, from R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, Reggae, Funk, whatever it is, I can do all of them, but it always just depends on when I’m writing a song. I try to ask myself which genre or what style of music will best express that song. That’s why my songs have different genres. I would say I’m eclectic in my style of music, I like to call myself an urban contemporary gospel artist because I can do all kinds of styles, but the major theme of my music is God, love and life because I believe that those are three major areas that every human being would need to handle or deal with.

Read more: https://crispng.com/trailblazers-corner-we-suffered-to-make-gospel-music-what-it-is-today-nikki-laoye/

A United Nations report revealed that in 2022 alone, flooding killed at least 662 people, injured 3,174, displaced about 2.5 million, and destroyed 200,000 houses, which are some of the devastating effects of climate change in Nigeria.

As an approach to solving this problem, there have been moves for private-public partnerships (PPP) in embracing circular and designers are not left out, as they play a key role in ensuring that products and services are climate-friendly.

In this interview with CrispNG, Seun Olatunji, design strategist and design thinking expert, and founder OLAT Design Consultancy, talks about the role of design in circular economy and how to embrace this unique design approach.

Can we meet you?
I am Seun Olatunji. I’m a design strategist and a design thinking expert. I help businesses innovate better by deploying strategic and design thinking principles to create products and services that are not just profitable but also socially responsible. I currently own a design consultancy called OLAT Design Consultancy.

Can you share your journey, experiences and what led you to become a design strategist?

My design background started as a graphic designer. I studied industrial design at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and I specialised in graphics. I practiced that for four years before transitioning into design strategy.

What prompted my transition was my love for seeing the value of design in business and also the business value of design. When I started writing articles and researching the details of the business value of design, I stumbled on design thinking.

Design thinking is a methodology that put users at the center of innovation, it’s focused on empathy and creating human-centered solutions. I loved the principle, I adopted it and wanted to practice it better, and design strategy gave me the opportunity to do so, and even to be able to do design better.

When I used to be a full-time graphic designer. In that period, I met people and I discovered over time, especially in this part of the world, that we streamline design to aesthetics. Even as an undergraduate, I discovered that design is actually beyond aesthetics; it’s about problem-solving.

People don’t really see design as the process, they see it as the end goal, but Design Thinking helped me to embrace design as a process, and also to be able to come up with better strategies that are human-centered in nature. The proper definition of what design is made me embrace the profession of design strategy because it helps me to apply it better. So, I transitioned into design strategy in 2020.

As the founder of “The Creativity In You” and OLAT Design Consultancy, what inspired you to start these ventures and what are your primary goals with each?

Back in 2015, I started a design movement called ‘WHATisDESIGN?’ which is a committed movement focused on helping people discover what design is all about through the instrumentality of new thinking technology research, conferences, and seminars. To be able to understand design, I believe that we cannot sideline creativity.

Read more: https://crispng.com/interview-we-need-to-start-embracing-circular-economy-principles-as-designers-seun-olatunji/