Dressed to the nines, many people troop to ‘mama put’ joints scattered around the city of Lagos all day long.

Although first-time visitors to Lagos may be surprised why many of these outlets have so much patronage but the lavish and extravagant display of meals such as amala, eba, semo to rice, beans and salad gives every hungry person cause to salivate at the appealing sight.

If you have an aversion for mama put, perhaps these 5 reasons presented by Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal will convince you to visit one of them soon.



Finger licking meals

When you visit a mama put vendor, you will be amazed at the number of people jostling for plates to buy food on a daily basis. This is the level of acceptance of mama put in Lagos which has existed long before the arrival of fast food. Fast food restaurants are an offshoot of mama put. The food is sumptuous.

Affordable

This is arguably the major reason why many Nigerians relish mama put. In terms of prices, small-scale food canteen is quite inexpensive when compared with the fast food restaurants. The food you will buy for N500 can be used to buy twice of the same food at mama put. Note that, do not allow this to scaffold you into patronizing any mama put restaurant. Ensure that the one you visit is neat and food prepared in a clean environment.



Experience ethnic cuisine

If you want to eat a proper traditional meal, mama put is your best bet. You will be astonished to hear that friends drive long distances to a particular mama put outlet recommended by a friend or colleague to eat.

Variety

You can get carried away by the various cuisines available at Mama put. There is assorted meat that have been branded like the goat meat, cow meat, liver, roundabout, beef, fish and the beloved ‘pomo’. Then to different swallows, amala, eba, semo, and fufu coupled with other delicious meals. You are spoiled for choices.

Healthy

The popularity of mama put has made government environmental agencies to beam their searchlight on them. They are closely monitored to ensure they adhere strictly to hygienic rules and regulation. Thus, the perception that mama put outlets are not hygienic is declining.

World leaders have identified the greater participation of women in corporate leadership positions as key to unlocking the Nigeria’s economic future.

This was a call made by Christine Lagarde, president of the International Monetary Fund, who was on a visit to Nigeria recently when she said, “Empowering women is not just about fairness—it also has macroeconomic benefits. For example, eliminating employment gender gaps could boost GDP by 5 percent.”

While Nigeria struggles to overcome its economic issues, stakeholders are of the opinion that inadequate adoption of equal gender opportunities may be a factor hindering higher revenue growth and holistic operational processes in the nation’s corporate sector.

According to a report released by the African Development Bank (AfDB), a third of African companies in its study have boards without a single woman on them.

As experts around the world seek government interventions in making the business environment more female-inclusive, pundits state that the enactment of policies which ensure 20-40% participation of women at the executive levels of organizations holds the key to profitability.

Speaking on the need for a shift in corporate cultures, Hilda Ato, head of human resources at Jovago.com said, “I think women in the global market at large need to be given the opportunity to become bigger decision makers. At Jovago, we have come to find that once we focus on productivity, things like gender become insignificant and efficiency increases. If you look around we have more women than men working with us.”

A recent study by the University of Leeds revealed that higher stock market activities were recorded where there were larger proportions of women on senior management teams.

Another study found that businesses with a greater proportion of women on their boards outperformed rivals in terms of returns on invested capital (66% higher), returns on equity (53% higher) and sales (42% higher).

Although LinkedIn has often been referred to as the boring brother of Facebook and Twitter, it remains the most popular social network for professionals around the world. With over 380 million members, LinkedIn has grown its influence as a professional networking tool and can be extremely powerful when the user is aware of the platform’s hidden features.

However, many Nigerians are not fully aware of the opportunities presented to them by this platform and the few who are users, do not know how to optimize their web presence. There is a need for business owners and professionals in Nigeria to tap into these opportunities towards building relationships with potential customers, clients, partners and peers, and so Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking portal presents 4 simple and time-effective ways to make the best of your LinkedIn account.

Enhance your profile for search

Everyone who is conversant with social media trends, understands the necessity for an outstanding profile. The way your profile is structured and the information made available on it are key to increasing online visibility with others. Very similar to SEO, all you need to do to achieve this is research the keywords related to your industry or service and integrate them in your profile as naturally as possible.

Encourage your contacts to leave recommendations and make endorsements

Recommendations have always been essential to the reputation and credibility of any professional and so, the LinkedIn platform offers a unique feature that functions as a form of recommendation for users. This feature enables members to endorse each other’s work within specific job roles and organizations, sharing evidence that adds credibility to the user’s profile and reinforcing both current and future applications. It is therefore important that users ask contacts, from colleagues to clients and even friends to endorse their profile. A higher number of endorsements will rank more favorable in LinkedIn search results.

Use video testimonials effectively

Another way to up your game on LinkedIn is to use video testimonials to reinforce the quality of your work. Most users, especially sole proprietors or small business owners that believe they already have a strong, existing consumer base, under-use and undermine the video upload feature on LinkedIn’s profile pages. The use of video, however, can help distinguish your brand or service from the vast majority of profile pages. Do some research, interview, record and upload genuine client testimonials which reflect a positive light on your service. You would be capitalizing on an already existing client base.

Stay active on LinkedIn groups

A lot of LinkedIn users are not very keen on participating actively in any of the plethora of LinkedIn groups as it usually seems time-consuming, however, its benefits and rewards are long-term. All the user has to do is search for relevant, professional groups that are within their industry, make selections based on the group’s popularity, relevance in terms of keywords and existing membership base, then subscribe to daily updates, delivered directly by e-mail. The user can also now participate in group discussions on the go via mobile.

It is a great way to remain visible and valuable in target markets. The key is being careful not to over commit to too many LinkedIn Groups. Simply take five or 10 minutes off your daily schedule to respond and interact with other members, as you share your insight and build strong professional bonds. These interactions usually increase your value on the platform.

It is 2016 and almost everyone in Nigeria has a phone. The thing about these phones are that, like most other gadgets, they use batteries that tend to run out quite speedily as smartphones evolve.

Though these batteries are often cheap to replace, users have over time come up with certain rules to preserve battery lifespan. Although some of these rules are real, there are several others that are just myths that need to be ignored.

Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking service clears the air about some of these commonly-held mobile battery myths.

Don’t charge your battery until it is completely dead and ensure you charge them to full before using them

Click Here To Subscribe To Our BBM Channel! Add Pin: C001AE1AD Or Search “Official Olodo Nation” To Get Live Updates.
If you have ever been to Computer Village on Lagos mainland, you may have encountered a smartphone vendor advising you to refrain from using the device before it is fully charged and that you should only charge again when the battery is flat, as that is the best way to preserve the quality of the battery. Fortunately, this rule is a complete myth. Modern batteries are Li-ion, and they actually perform better when they are not fully discharged. Letting them drain completely has no significant effect on lifespan nor capacity.

The actual threat to the battery is in the number of charge cycles- the number of times the battery goes from dead or nearly dead to full. Each battery has a limited number of charge cycles before performance begins to degrade. To control this, it is best to keeping the battery in the 50 to 80 range, that way you avoid a high number of charge cycles, thus extending the lifespan of your battery.

Turning off the Wi-Fi, hotspot and Bluetooth helps save Battery life while phone calls, data use and downloads deplete battery fastest

It might come as a shock to most Nigerians, but Wi-Fi actually uses less battery than most other cellular functions. Also, smartphones with Bluetooth 4.0 and its Low Energy protocol means that you can leave Bluetooth enabled and your battery life remains unaffected, so, turning them off does not actually help you save battery life in anyway.

Phone calls, data use, downloads and other processes running on your phone, including background apps and tasks actually use some battery energy, but none of them cause severe battery drains. If you want to conserve your battery, you may want to start with reducing the gaming and graphics-intensive processes. Also, cut out streaming video or online games on your smartphone as they are the culprits that drain on your device.

Using your phone while it is charging is a bad idea, so is overnight charging.

Most smartphone users in Nigeria generally believe that it is wrong to use your phone while it is plugged and charging. Aside from the fact that they believe that the user could wind up electrocuted, they think that it takes a toll on the phone battery. But truth is, as long as you are not using a sketchy third-party charger, there are no risks really.

Also, regarding overnight charging, Nigerians may need to know that phone batteries have evolved so much over the years, becoming smarter and easier to manage, and these batteries actually know when to stop charging, whether they are plugged in or not. Leaving it plugged overnight does not necessarily affect the battery life, except in cases of erratic power supply.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-ciBj_lX7-0Y/Vo42-HGNaXI/AAAAAAAAO9k/7SYyAfgi-_A/s400/MAIL%2BMARKE.jpg[/img]

Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal, has identify three awesome tracking software for your business.Thousands of emails are sent on a daily basis even though instant messaging platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Skype have taken over the communication sphere. In fact, recent research shows that there are no signs that indicate the use of emails will decline soon. Today emails have become a veritable marketing tool and many businesses have adopted it to reach out to their teeming customers and subscribers. As businesses use these tool, technology has made it possible for organizations to keep tabs of sent emails through the use of software applications.

Atomic Email Tracker

The atomic email tracker provides a comprehensive rundown of everything you need to know about any sent mail. Information such as who received, when was it received and where? What links were clicked? What is the effectiveness of the campaign? Are answers you can get when you use this app.

ToutApp

This software is very effective for Customer Relationship Management integration. It is mostly utilized by sales persons. Aside from tracking emails, it can also support the tracking of links, schedule emails and initiate sales strategies, and content at every stage of the marketing process.

Sidekick

Sidekick software is another amazing app for monitoring emails. It has both a free and premium plan. The free plan allows you to track up to 200 notifications monthly. As an incentive to users, if you invite friends to use the app, you will be granted unlimited notifications for that month. It is reliable for tracking emails.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-wYLzPjo_T14/Vo-ZtBM7bsI/AAAAAAAAPAk/VrbHq-xLe8M/s320/GOOGLE.jpg[/img]

Google is the biggest search engine in the world as it gives the best and most relevant results compared to other search engines. However, the question is does your business take advantage of Google to boost patronage? Also, do you like what you see when you Google your business?
If you desire to improve your search results, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal outline four steps to help your business achieve this.

Make sure your business’ name is your website’s domain name

This is one of the simplest ways to enhance the search results of your business. You do this by using your business name as your domain.
In addition, the domain name should be mentioned on the homepage rather than the logo. This is because search engines cannot read images. As a caveat, do not use a domain name that is different from what is appearing on the homepage. They must all correspond.

Mention your business’ name on the “About Us” page.

The About Us page should specifically state what the business is all about. If it is a hotel booking portal like Jovago.com, it should clearly be stated in the summary of what the business does.
Also, do not omit the business name and keywords like hotels, and travel. They are the keywords that your clients or customers will search for.

Put the business’ name again on the "Contact Us" page.

When you visit some websites, the “Contact Us” page is usually missing or hidden in a place that makes it difficult to be noticed by visitors.
It worthwhile to have a different contact us page where you state your business name, the address as well as the contact phone number(s). This will help the search engine to link the website with business directory listings thus enhancing the search results.

Open a social media Page for the business.

If your business is not on social media - Instagram, Facebook, Google plus and Twitter, then you are missing out on an opportunity to enhance your search results. Aside from enhancing your social media presence, it is also a good communication tool that helps you bridge the gap between you and your customers. Uniformity is important if you want to really boost your search results.

Lagos seems to have been temporarily purged of its horrific traffic as well as the comical relief it offers on a daily basis because many of its inhabitants are yet to return from their holiday trips. Those who stayed back in the center of excellence wish that the ‘sane’ atmosphere experienced during the holiday season will continue. But the truth is that this is likely not to happen.

Wondering how you will cope with the stress when Lagos returns to its normal mode? Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal highlight 5 reliable ways to beat post-holiday stress.



Exercise

This is probably the most reliable idea for overcoming stress. Its benefits cannot be overemphasized. A 20th-minute walk, run, swim or dance session can do magic to the body. You will definitely feel the immediate impact of your exercise session.

Have a sense of humour.

Having a good sense of humour is another subtle way of conquering stress. According to lifestyle experts, the human brain is closely connected with our emotions and facade. When someone is stressed, it is reflected on their on their faces. But laughing and smiling often will help ease some of the tension and improve the situation.



Meditate.

Engaging in meditation and mindful-prayer when you are stressed will help the body and mind relax and focus. Meditation can emphatically help you have fresh perspectives about issues: develop self-compassion and forgiveness. One exercise that you can employ as a form of meditation is yoga and here are various yoga classes around Lagos.

Identify your hang-up

What exactly is causing your stress? Is it the Christmas shopping and partying or something else? Being able to identify your stress triggers is key in beating stress. The more you can identify your triggers and learn to manage it, the better for you because you will be less anxious and be free from stress.

Take a deep breath

Breathing properly is something many take for granted, but concentrating on it and taking it slow can help bring your body back into balance and calm you down. When your body is anxious, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is unstable according doctors. So, do not hesitate to take intermittent breath in order ease stress.

‘Till death do us part’, is one of the widest used marital vows in the world. The question for many couples, however, is how to keep the romance alive and actually stay together till death separates them and a proven way to boost your romance is travelling.

If you are yet to set out on a wistful journey with your spouse, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares 5 reasons why couples should spice up their relationships by travelling together.



Encourages better communication

Several surveys lends credence to the fact that couples who travel together have less disagreement than couples who do not. Visiting a destination like Obudu cattle ranch in Calabar involves planning and if both couples can pull it off, it brings them closer. This will build understand and make them patient with each other.

Experience something new

Since both couples are in a long time marital journey, travelling together can help them experience something new rather than the daily routine. Travelling can create an everlasting insignia in the hearts and minds of couples thus making them fonder of each other.



No need to sweat little things

Planning to travel can be both demanding and hectic. If both couples travel often, they will rarely complain about who pays for flight tickets, hotels bills and other overhead expenses. In fact, if they inadvertently lose their luggage, they will take it in their strides. No need to sweat it. This is what travelling does to couples.

Both have a good sense of humour

Travel memes never cease when you are in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos. Couples will always have something to laugh about. Remarkably, couples who go on vacation most times evolve a sense of humour which can only metamorphose if they travel together especially when things goes terribly wrong.

Become best friends

Since both couples have fewer distractions when they travel, they become best friends. It’s even more pleasant when their children are not home and then they can travel. They get to know each other and stick together especially when they are having challenges.

Nigeria is a country with a large number of ethnic groups and beautiful landmarks. Across the country, rich customs and traditions abound as visitors explore unique locales, forming their own unique impressions of exciting destinations.

Although there are a stories written about Nigeria showcasing the main hot spots around the country, what attractions are a must see and the way of life of the people; many of them do not give the incentive to explore the Nigerian landscape and as a result travelers tend to relive the same experiences.

If you want more out of your trips this side of the Atlantic, Jovago.com, Africa’s largest hotel booking portal shares 5 tips to help you enjoy Nigerian hidden tourist attractions.



Plan a long and strategic trip

If your intention is delve into the fabrics of Nigeria’s abundant cultures, ensure that you have ample time to do that. Block out at least a month to as much as 3 months to visit the country and ensure that you plan your trip to coincide with major events that are key to Nigeria’s heritage.

For instance, you may want to visit around the last quarter of the year as that is when most of the festivals are held and you can experience first-hand the rich culture of various ethnicities. Also, spending a substantial amount of time in the country gives you a chance to properly acquaint yourself with the vast surroundings and learn the bits that are not usually included in pamphlets and books.



Discard your schedule

It is normal to have an itinerary when exploring a new location, however, to travel deep, you may need to discard the schedule and let yourself get lost in your explorations. Do not be afraid to wander the streets and get lost.

Let your instincts guide you, keep an open-mind and stay determined. You may start with the basics which include visiting museums, cultural centers and landmarks, however do not restrict yourself to them. Wander the different suburbs and even villages and get firsthand experience by making discoveries of your own which you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.



Rent an apartment

While visiting a new destination, the first step when you arrive is usually to lodge in a hotel. Although this move maybe be the safest and most convenient, however, it can be quite restrictive if you intend to see the unsung beauty of that location.

Rather than lodge in a hotel, take a short lease on an apartment. Renting an apartment gives you the opportunity to experience the general lifestyle of that community as you will have to interact with others (locals)and cater for yourself – from preparing your own meal to managing utilities such as electricity and water. For instance, if you are visiting Aba, rather than lodging at the Binez Hotels, you could look for a small apartment at Umungasi to rent for a short while. You will be in the same proximity but will have an entirely different experience.



Participate

Aside from exploring and sightseeing, you should immerse yourself in the daily activities prevalent in the destination. Offer to volunteer in a community project or workshop, sign up to give free classes in a local school or church, set up a short-term trade or business or even enroll for a course on Nigerian history and culture in any of the schools or learning centres around.

Participating allows you to be part of the community, and there is no better way to travel deep than that. If you are visiting Benin, you may decide to sign up for apprentice with the Igun street bronze casters, you will not only learn a lot, you will get the chance to gather knowledge on the ancient Benin history and traditions.



Make a friend

You cannot really say you have traveled deep until you have made friends who regret to see you leave. This is much more than just interacting with the locals.

Ensure you have integrated yourself well enough into the society to make friends with at least a few locals before the end of your trip. Simply start by talking to the people you sees around. Even if you cannot speak the local language or English which is Nigeria’s official language, you will be able to form a bond that will most probably last you a lifetime.

At the beginning of year, a majority of Nigerians pick up their diaries to write down their vacation plans for Easter, summer or other periods when they intend to take their work-leave for the year and one of the most important factors they consider is the destination.

In recent times, the go-to for most people in Nigeria has included Ghana, Dubai, London, and other obvious cities. However, while they may have the time of their lives, visiting these places more than once takes out the fun and makes the journey boring. And these trips almost always bring about major pocketbook damage.

This 2016, Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking site has made a list of top 5 best value destinations for Nigerians. These destinations are not only be novel for most travellers, they are wallet-friendly and offer adventure and stunning scenery. From high style and budget shopping to breathe-taking art, unique cultures and cuisines, read on to discover these places.



Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia is a major destination on a lot of lists (including Lonely planet, Forbes and CNN) as best value for 2016. Found in Northern Europe, it is often described as one of the most wired countries in the continent. Tallinn, the largest city in the state is cheap by most standards and a popular getaway. Food, drinks and nightlife are quite affordable compared to other European cities and visitors also have a lot to see: the preserved Old Town in the capital of Tallinn which boasts of rich history, the enchanting forests of Lahemaa National Park, and other sites.



Kampala, Uganda

Kampala, one of the favorite cities in Uganda, actually beats any other East African capital. While it is not as clean as Kigali, or as globalized as Nairobi, it is a dynamic and engaging city that features worthy attractions enough to keep you occupied for the duration of your vacation. With swanky restaurants and bars around the city, budget lodges and a bustling nightlife, you are bound to get the best value in this city.



Galicia, Spain

The usual destinations for Nigerians visiting in Spain include Ibiza, Barcelona and Madrid, however, Galicia, located in the northwest region of the country offers a rocky coastline and communities barely explored by tourists. Nigerians who love to discover new places will definitely get the best experience in this area. The food- including meat, cheese and seafood- is affordable and can be found in the many restaurants and bars throughout the region. Hostels and apartments are also available accommodations for budget travellers.



Goa, India

Most Nigerians tend to think of India as the place to go to when you have a medical emergency or health problem, however, the country is much more than that. While large cities like Mumbai and Delhi might not be of such great value (budget-wise), Goa a small state in the country offers a great travel bargain. Its collection of beach and inland towns offer enough motivation to hang around. The state also offers the cheapest hotels and a variety of gastronomies for Indian food lovers.

From mountains, hills and caves to seasides and natural springs, the Western region of Nigeria which covers states such as Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti offers a variety of marvelous destinations for adventure seekers.

Although not as naturally endowed as the northern regions of the country in terms of landscape, and inhabited mostly by the Yoruba tribe, indigenes from other tribes as well as tourists from other countries visit the region regularly to seek adventure or test their survival skills.

Visiting western Nigeria and getting bored already? Swap the ‘sightseeing’ for something more extreme. In many survival situations it is up to you to save yourself, so, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has picked out 4 places that will offer you opportunities to learn how to do just that.



Idanre Hills

While Idanre Hill looks like an easy climb, it really is not. Listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) it attracts a lot of adventure seekers from around the world. Featuring a cluster of intimidating and imposing hills with abundant the flora and fauna you already have a lot on your plate. Fortunately, you are free to camp on this site for a while , and this gives you opportunity to gain a lot of survival skills from Navigation, signaling, knot tying, first aid and basic fire-starting.



Ikogosi Warm Spring

Located at Ikogosi in Ekiti State, the spring flows warm water from a rock. Flowing abreast the warm spring is another cold spring which meets the warm spring at a confluence, each maintaining its thermal properties. A wooden foot bridge leads to the source of the cold and warm spring water, and research suggests that the warm spring has a temperature of about 70C at the source and 37C at the confluence. Visiting the spring requires a lot of trekking and exploration on the part of the visitor, as the vegetation at the spring can be considered a highly thick forest. The location tests you in many ways



Olumo Rock

A pillar that dates back to ancient Yoruba folklore, Olumo rock is one of the best places to test your survival skills while visiting the Western region of Nigeria. Aside from the intriguing mystery of the serpent, Olumo Rock which stands at 137metres from its base, makes for an exhilarating climb. The heavy duty escalator and a glass elevator running the different levels of the rock alongside the old stairway are a pleasure to those who love climbing. Generally, it gives your opportunity to test your stamina and build endurance. Also, the caves feed your curiosity and even bring a rush of adrenalin.



IITA Forest Ibadan

One of few natural forest reserves in Western Nigeria, the IITA Forest is a huge part of the renowned International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s Natural Resource Management, and it is located at Ibadan, Oyo State. Covering an area of more than 300 hectares, the forest reserve provides habitat to quite a number of rare and endangered migrating birds and small animals. The IITA Forest Project organizes the event ‘walks on the wild side’, which is open to the general public. The activities in this event are particularly suited to visitors looking test their survival skills.

Edo is a state deeply rooted in culture and the royal seat of its ruler is regarded as one of the most revered traditional stool in Nigeria.

The state which has 18 local governments and an airport boasts of amazing destinations like the Oba’s palace, Benin moat, Benin Brass work and Okomu National park. These sites host visitors from across the world with a tourism sector which has been vibrant for decades.

In a bid to ease your visit to the heartbeat of Nigeria, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal unveils the sights and sounds of Edo State.



Top 3 Destinations

The Okomu National Park

Formerly known as the Okomu Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Ovia South LGA, the park which lies 45km west of Benin City is inhabited by a wide variety of animals like elephants, buffaloes, red river hogs, chimpanzees, leopards, bush baby, porcupine, pangolins, duikers, and antelopes. The white-throated monkey which is one of the rarest monkeys in the world today is found here too and it was established in 1935.

Benin City Wall and Moat

The Benin moats were constructed to protect the city from any external attack in a period of instability in Nigeria. However, a huge chunk of the wall was damaged after the 1897 attack by the British. Notwithstanding, remnants of the moat and wall can be found along Murtala Muhammed Way.

Oba’s Palace

The Oba’s Palace in Benin City reinforces the need for Nigerians to value their culture and tradition. The palace is a fountain of Benin history where visitors will find art works, crafts and other relics of the rich history of the ancient kingdom. It is a monument that dates as far as 900 A.D., and was rebuilt in 1914.



Where to eat

Various restaurants are domiciled in Edo state where you can consume sizzling African and continental dishes. There a wide variety of meals to choose from like black soup (Omoebe), Omi Ukpoka (corn soup), Omisagwe (groundnut soup) pounded yam and garri. There are available in restaurants like Efex fast food, Lincx Cuisine and Mr. Biggs amongst many other restaurants in ancient Benin City.

Where to sleep

With less than 200 hotels to select from, Jovago.com, offers best and affordable for travellers to Edo state. The plush and comfy Best Western Homeville Hotel goes for N23,750. Other sterling hotels you can also stay are Randekhi Royal hotel, Duoban hotel, Wellington Royal hotel, Wesley hotel, and Royal Marble hotels limited.



Where to shop

There are countless places to shop in Edo state. You can either go traditional or cosmopolitan if you want to shop. The Hallmark Shopping mall which is a one stop shopping. Alternatively, if you desire to purchase souvenirs including art and craft, you can go to the Oba Market, Igun Eronmwon (Igun Street) where many of the carvers are domiciled, and Agbado Market amongst others.

Fun Fact

Oba of Benin Omo N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediuwa, the paramount ruler of Benin City is only seen in public once a year that is during the annual Igue festival.

In recent times, more Nigerians visit different locations across the world every year on vacation and it’s no wonder. The very idea of a vacation conjures up images of white sand beaches, clear, blue water, and sunny weather. A major advantage of travelling to international destinations or visiting new places is the opportunity to glean something fresh with each occasion.

Whether you are new to the travel or are a tried-and-true traveling professional in Nigeria, there are certain things you need to know to ensure you have the ultimate travel experience wherever you go.

Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal put together this checklist of 4 things every traveller in Nigeria should know to ensure their time on the road is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.



Learn the exchange rate for Naira

Although the Naira is the primary currency for trade in Nigeria, it is not a global legal tender in other parts of the world. Every Nigerian traveller should have at least knowledge of what the Naira exchange rate is for the currency used in each location they are visiting. This helps them regulate their budget and maintain a level of check and balances while spending abroad.

Master apps which make travelling easier

This is 2016 and being tech savvy is no longer an embellishment but a vital necessity. There are so many apps available to help you score new locations. From figuring out the direction to your hotel to learning how to connect to free Wifi and discovering native restaurants, these apps are life savers.



Know your passport number by heart

The passport is a vital document and is essential to travellers. Not only is it a mode of identification, it is also a form of authentication. It is important to know your passport number by heart in case you need to fill out a form and do not have your passport handy or worse; it gets missing or stolen.



Learn how to contact the Nigerian Embassy wherever you go

Most Nigerians take this for granted, as they do not know the role of the Nigerian embassy. The few who do are those who have had issues and needed the immunity or coverage of this organisation. When travelling, do not just pick out a destination and go, try to figure out which area the Nigerian embassy is located and if possible, pay a courtesy visit.

“Hi, i saw you walking down the street and I had to let you know that i like what i see. I will love to get to know you better. Would you like to grab a bite with me sometime?”

It is no surprise that a large number of guys around world have asked girls out with lines very similar to the one in the quote above…and have succeeded. The love dance between the male and the female is an eternal facet of human drama, and over the years, humans have come up with various tricks and techniques to scale through the process.

Most people believe that asking a girl out is as simple and easy, as all the man needs to do is ask. However those in Lagos, Nigeria, will beg to differ. While writing a message on a balloon and tying it on the doorknob of her house, or buying her heart shaped cookies with a sweet message inside, are cute ways to get a girl to go on a date, they do not necessarily work for girls in Lagos.

The men who are permanent residents Lagos already know this, some of the visitors in the city, have no clue. Matter of fact, a lot of them have been bitten a number of times.

Are you currently visiting the city and thinking of how to ask a Lagos girl out? Jovago.com, Africa’s largest hotel booking portal has 5 ways to get her to say “YES!”



Call Her via a Radio Show

As much as Lagos girls are unique in their ways, they are not very different from other girls across the world. They are romantic and they cherish attention – the kind that takes effort from the man.

A call from the radio station asking her to go on date with you will be an overwhelming experience for her emotionally and there is every chance she will say ‘yes’. This works if you already got her number either from her or from a mutual friend, and she knows who you are or at least has an idea. Most radio stations in Lagos air programs that give such opportunities. Seize one of those and land yourself the girl.

Pay her a compliment

Lagos girls like compliments!

Go tell her you like the way she is dressed and if you are witty, further ask her something like: “Will you dress up like this tomorrow to come out with me for a movie?”. No Lagos girl will be able to resist that, unless of course they are already married or hooked.

Make sure the compliments you pay her are not far-fetched or outlandish. You also need to make your compliments sincere and unique.



Follow Her on Social Media

For some reason, a lot of single girls are huge on the social media scene and they are particular about how many followers they have, how many likes they get and the kind of comments they receive as well.

The moment you are certain you want to ask her out, seek her out either on Facebook , SnapChat or Instagram and like a lot of her picture. Also leave sweet comments and send a direct message asking for her BBM contact or phone number. The minute she sends that across to you (she will), give her a call and ask her out.

Pay for her purchase

This is obviously not the conventional way of asking girls out, but it tends to work here in Lagos.

Corner the girl at a shopping mall or store and wait till you can get behind her on the line. Exchange small talk with her and the moment it is her turn to pay, halt the cashier and pay for her purchase. Afterwards, rush after her and ask her out on a lunch date or movie date. This works all the time.

Paying for her purchase creates the impression that you, the guy, are caring and manly.



Ask her in front of her friends

Lagos girls, like girls in other parts of the world, love to feel attractive and they also like to show off in front of their friends.

Walk up to her while she is with her friends and ask her out right there. This shows her you that you have eyes only for her and that you really like her. Also, she will be so flattered and feel so good that all of her friends saw you ask her out.

Generally, girls love to epic romantic moments in front of their female friends or other girls . It not only makes them feel really special, it also gives them bragging rights.

Hiring a nanny can be an unnerving task. It is a big decision as you would be picking the person you want to share the responsibility of your children with, and you certainly have to make the right choice. From weighing the very safety of your children to judging the person’s personality to know if she or he will be a good fit for your family, you are required to make many critical considerations.

With the frequent release of videos showing nannies around the world, maltreating their wards, most parents visiting Nigeria are now very skeptical with getting household help, but then, hiring a nanny is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

Finding and engaging a nanny in Nigeria is indeed a much more painstaking process. To help you out with the process, Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has gathered five tips to help you not only hire a nanny while visiting Nigeria, but also be confident about the situation afterwards.



Keep your expectations real

Before you contact that hiring agency or post your adverts for a nanny, make a list of your expectations and consider them to know if they are real or far-fetched.

You must first decided on the kind of nanny you are looking for, disciplinary practices or demonstrated ability of any potential nanny to care for more than one child. Ask yourself questions like: what days or hours do you need your nanny to work? Are you looking for a live-in or live-out nanny? What time will the nanny arrive and depart? What hourly rate can you comfortably afford in your household budget?

Ensure you create a thorough list of “must haves” for your nanny search. Knowing your priorities will not only help you attract the right candidate, but also make the right decision

Interview the Candidates

Even if you have employed an agency to contract the nanny on your behalf, ensure you first interview the nanny before going any step further. Pick the best three to ten candidates and arrange a meeting at a neutral location, like an eatery or restaurant of a popular hotel.

Alternatively, you can interview them via video phone or Skype. This gives you a chance to consider each one with an eye towards professionalism and experience. You also get answers to such questions as: Do they have experience? Do their qualifications match your needs? How well do they convey why they want this job.



Conduct an in-depth reference check.

After the interview, do not just rely on the information the nanny has given to you the nanny agency’s background check. Conduct your own research. Conatct the nanny’s past employers and make inquiries, do a thorough criminal background check, and identity verification.

If you are not hiring a nanny on your own, you can contact a private detective do these background checks. Most important, ask her for her medical records and ask her to take vital tests including HIV test, Hepatitis test and other tests to ensure she is healthy enough to work for you and your children are not at risk of any sort of infection from her.

Arrange an initial meeting with the finalist and your family.

After the interview, go ahead and cut the list down to your top two candidates, invite them to your home for an in-person interview. Ask detailed questions about her background and child care philosophies and give them a chance to meet your child(ren) to see how she interacts with them.

Take close note of how the children interact with the nanny. Is the nanny comfortable and acting natural? What is the child’s response to the nanny? if they are old enough, ask them for their opinion. In all, do not be overbearing, rather, trust your instincts. If you do not think the nanny is the perfect fit for your family, keep looking, whoever, if it seems to be a good pairing, and then move forward with the negotiations.

[img]http://blog.ng.jovago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/images.jpe[/img]

Include a trial period in the contract

After you have concluded on terms of employment with the nanny, draft a contract and ensure she signs it. However, it is important to include a trial period before full hiring. It could be a period of 4 weeks to about 12 weeks. During this trial period you train her and stay back for a while to see how well she gets on. If you are satisfied, you can seal a more permanent deal.

Nigeria is flooded with amazing historic sites. These sites such as the Ogbunike Cave in Anambra and Kaduna, Kajuru Castle in Kaduna serve as a timely reminders of Nigeria’s rich heritage and cultural past.

Embedded in each of these unique places are tales that ignite feelings of nostalgia. To help visitors get the best out of their visit to an ancient site, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal highlights some tips you should consider when making the journey.

Respect traditions and observe rites

At some of these sites, there are certain rites every person is expected to observe before being given access. Hence, be prepared to engage in acts like taking off your shoes at the entrance of a cave . These traditions or rites have existed for years so, do not be afraid to perform them as they will not harm you. By respecting the traditions and rites of these ancient sites, you win the support of locals and have an unlimited peek into what their ancient lives were like.



Don’t ignore off-limit signs

Due to the sensitive nature of these sites and the need to preserve and protect them from human encroachment, there are some places designated as no-go areas. These areas are labelled so for a reason. So, to ensure that you are safe throughout your visit to these sites, ensure that you watch out for caution signs and obey the rules.

Cameras

Most ancient sites permit cameras, however, because of the sensitivity of a few communities, cameras may actually be banned. Unless, you are informed by the tour guide that cameras are banned from the site, you are at liberty to freely take pictures.



Take your backpack along

The content of your backpack will be largely determined by the terrain. If you are going to a mountainous area site, do not forget your hiking boots, water bottle, camera, sunglass, snack/lunch food and jackets. These things in your backpack will make easy for you to navigate these ancient sites.

Touch and feeling of artifacts

As simple as this may be, it is very important to consider it before visiting any ancient site. There are some masterpieces that are extremely fragile that any touch or feeling could damage it. The rule of thumb should be: if you don’t need to touch it, then don’t touch it! This is why some of these sites do not grant entry to children.

[img]http://1.bp..com/-42hjXcfGLvo/Vnkc_h5S1iI/AAAAAAAAOMk/L4v6vhoZM28/s1600/CHRISMAS%2B1.jpg[/img]

The biggest turnover for nearly every business occurs during Christmas and many companies make the effort to woo customers through various campaigns and promotions. However while the drive to engage as clients rides as at an all time high, a lull in industry activities has been the experience of many due to tough economic headwinds.

Despite current market situations, it is important to make adequate preparations for the December festivities that are set to occur and Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares five ideas on how businesses can prepare for the coming fiesta.

Create a mailing list

Creating a mailing list is important for your business especially during the Christmas season as it helps you sieve through the pile and identify your loyal customers. It can also serve as a great tool for studying the buying habit of your clients, helping you inform them appropriately about specific deals and offers for the season.

Keep your everyone informed

Aside from creating a mailing list for loyal customers, you should keep your them abreast of company activities. Information such as flash sales and bargain prices should be sent to them so they can make sound choices on the services that you offer. This makes the customers and suppliers feel they are important to the wellbeing of the organization.

Employ additional staff

This is not dire necessity of every organization, however if the business is one that goes through a rosy phase during the Christmas period, you can employ additional staff to assist with the increase in traffic.

Give your website or store a Christmas feel

This may not be necessary, but it can add to the excitement people feel when they visit your platform. Red is the colour for the season, so get playful and give your web page or store a red look in recognition of the celebration. You will be surprised how many people will patronize you because of your store or website’s revamped design.

Make your website mobile savvy

Today, more customers are using mobile phones than traditional desktops due to the multifunctional nature of smartphone devices. If you want customers to have unlimited access to your services, then getting a mobile app or highly functional website is the way to go. Sticking to traditional methods of marketing can cause you to lose out on potential customers.

With the camera of your smartphone, you do not need to be a professional photographer before you can capture beautiful moments, take selfies and make videos. Inbuilt cameras in smartphones perform these graceful functions. However, they may not give you the perfect picture quality. To improve your photo quality, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal rolls out 5 camera apps for taking better pictures.

BestMe

BestMe camera offers you a variety of photo editing tools as well as filters for better photo output. Interestingly, you can share the photos on social media. It’s one of the best photo apps to use.

YouCam perfect

With YouCam perfect, all the pimples, wrinkles and acnes on your face will be cleared by the app. The app features a photo editor, photo booth and real time beautifying effects. You can use the features to prep up your pictures.

BeautyPlus

A single click using BeautyPlus gives flawless picture results. The app can also brighten your eyes with the aid of dark circle remover.

SnapSeed

This is another android camera app that automatically edits your photographs with the aid of exposure, tweak shadow, white balance, contrast and colour adjustments. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can still manually edit the image.

Camera360 Ultimate

Camera360 Ultimate is not only among the most popular camera apps for Android, but it’s also one of the best. For many, this is the go-to camera replacement app and has been for a long time. It has standard features along with a number of filters and effects.

Operators of e-commerce companies have identified costly electricity charges as a deterrent to investment and business development in Nigeria.

This is coming as the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, reveals that less than 40 percent of electricity bills are paid by consumers and as a result higher tariffs are expected to be levied in a bid to plug the loss in power revenue.

Stakeholders state that with a recession poised to sweep through the economy, an unstable currency washing out capital security and epileptic power supply forcing a dependence on generators, the hike in electricity tariffs will limit industry growth.

Speaking on the issue, Kushal Dutta, managing director of Jovago Nigeria expressed, “One of the highest cost e-commerce companies in Nigeria cover is electricity. As online-based businesses need constant power supply to function and deliver services to clients, we spend a bulk of our revenue which should go into increasing operations on buying diesel for generators that run almost 24 hours each day.

“Although we predict better market opportunities for the sector, there is need to curb this inflation in tariff pricing so investing companies can begin to thrive and achieve real growth,” Dutta said.

While consumers of power bemoan the instability and high cost of sourcing electricity, Sunday Oduntan, executive director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, said that the high charges were dismissible in view of the low payment habits of Nigerians.

According to Oduntan in an interview granted to a national daily, consumers pay less than “40 per cent of their actual bills.” This revelation was made after electricity distributors began recording redline cash receipts on a quarterly basis.

“I’ve toured all the 11 Discos and I see the same pattern across board in terms of our peoples’ attitude with respect to the payment of electricity bills,” he said, “You give a bill of N5,000 and they’ll pay N2,000 and will tell you they will clear it next time. This is how it continues to pile up.”

With the government removing fuel subsidies and oil marketers refusing to sell diesel at pump prices, the cost of doing business in Nigeria is expected to double over the next three months especially as oil hits a benchmark price of $38 per barrel with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a further drop to $20 per barrel by mid-year.

Every Nigerian needs to travel once in awhile. Whether it is within your state, country or going abroad, travelling offers essential benefits for the mind and body.

From sightseeing to adventure, a vacation does not only spice up your life, it takes away the daily pressure that come with living in Nigeria. Even more, people who tend to travel often, tend to succeed more at work and business than those who do not. Curious to know how this happens? Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site gives 5 ways travelling can give you the much needed boost at work.



Fosters social skills

Networking is an important skill surviving in any work environment. When you travel, you often find yourself nestled in a new environment with their cultures, languages, society and lifestyle very unlike your own and you would have to find a way to acquire the knowledge you need about these different cultures.

Travelling tests your social skills: ability to communicate freely, patience, tactfulness, and etiquette. If you can pass this test while travelling, it becomes so much easier to scale through similar tests in your career with ease.

Fuels Creativity

Travelling has a way of opening the mind and enhancing creativity. Most people who work in offices or other corporate environments agree that they find it easier to focus on their jobs after a vacation and they find themselves becoming much more creative. This is because have a clearer perspective about almost everything and become less pessimistic.

Creativity is all about finding new, different ways to get things done and handling the impromptu challenges that arise on a journey gives you the skills to solve them.



Advances travelers’ link with technology

While the main idea behind going on vacation is to break free from work, ironically, travel has a way of forcing you to rely on technology while breaking free of corporate hassles at the same time.

Most travellers in Nigeria usually they have to book their hotel rooms or flight tickets online and rely on apps and news websites to keep up with events going on at home. All these help improve their adoption of technology which eventually helps at the office.

Improves the way they organize

This mostly applies to people whose jobs are in Human Resource, Accounting, or Logistics. Whether you are travelling solo or with family and friends, there are certain things you need to put in place.

Before you set out for the trip, ensure your passports and IDs are all updated. Sort out where to stay, what to do, where to eat and they type of fun you want to have. In the process of sorting out all these, you improve your organisational skills. You find that it becomes easier to follow procedures, create and tick off checklists and this also helps you at work positively.

There are a long list of things most people want to do before giving the option of leisure getaway a though. For many their scale of preference may include school fees, rent, upkeep of the family and your general well-being with travelling probably being at the bottom of the list.

Despite these pool of activities, do you know that you can still make your dream to see the world a reality at anytime of the year? Well, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking shares tips on how to travel on a budget if you decide to go on vacation in the New Year.

Be flexible with your plans

Plans are susceptible to change. If a certain time is not convenient for you, it’s better to move it to another date. And if you decide to travel at a particular time, be flexible with the location. For example, rather than go to Dubai for your vacation, you can go to Kajuru Castle in Kaduna state which is fun yet affordable.

Set up a travel account

If you are a travel junkie and are serious about travelling, then contact your bank and open a travel savings account. Do not forget to pay the agreed amount into the account monthly and make it a rule of thumb to only access the account when your ready to hit the road.

Travel during off-peak periods

There are periods the travel industry experience a lull in business. During this off-peak seasons otherwise known as shoulder periods, airlines and hotels like Jovago.com offer amazing discounts. You just need to keep tabs on the trends in the hospitality industry and that advantage of this.



Use apps to call

Network providers are always excited when you roam your number. Because the cost is quite astronomical, even within Nigeria, it is usually cheaper to use apps like Skype, WhatsApp, BBM, and other voice chats to communicate.



Take your own food to the airport

If you carry your food with to the airport, chances are lower that you would spend a ton of money at one of the many fast food restaurants selling over-priced meals at the airport.

Act or travel like a local

Travelling is quite an expensive adventure but if you want to cut cost, travelling like a local. This includes taking public transport, standing in a train, eating at a local joint and buying food stuffs at a local market. This will give you an exceptional feel of the sights and sounds of your destination.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-F9MLdsdxHN0/VoLCZRLlpII/AAAAAAAAOgk/VBttsCazsm4/s400/APP%2B1.jpg[/img]

2016 is a few days away and many are recounting how 2015 went while planning to make 2016 a fantastic one.

Tech geeks and other savvy individuals are not exempted from this routine. Jovago.com, Africa's No 1 hotel booking portal offers some resolutions you can make for 2016.

Remove old apps from your phone

Android compatible phones have countless applications for download. You may be tempted to download these apps which can only take up much-needed space on your phone. As a resolution, delete the irrelevant ones or upgrade your apps to the latest version.

Back up your files properly

Previously, you could only rely on external devices like the Universal Serial Board flash drive or external hard disk.
Now, you can back up your files using cloud-based storage like Google drive or a network attached storage. On these platforms, you can save anything online and recover them anywhere and anytime.
It is important to take these precautions to prevent the loss of important data which may cost you something significant.

Use different passwords for your accounts

The habit of using similar passwords for your accounts is risky. It makes your account vulnerable to hacking and malware.
Although, it is easier to remember, it is not advisable as you can lose essential files, data and even money. You can simply write your passwords in a note pad.

Aim for Zero Inbox

If email is your regular mode of communication, there is the tendency to have a handful of unread emails.
They may not be important emails but make it a part of you to either delete unread messages or mark them as read.

Cut down expenses on mobile data

The amount spent on mobile data is on the high side. With the rise of social media and the need to be online always, many people spend so much on data subscriptions.
You can search for a network provider that will offer the most affordable data subscription.

[img]http://2.bp..com/-Oa4Re-SSxeY/VoUAdbHEpHI/AAAAAAAAOms/WanfdwebHYo/s320/APP%2B3.jpg[/img]

Those who have a tablet, smartphone or mobile device have used an app at least once or twice in their lifetime. Today, there are apps developed for playing games, getting directions, news, weather and other information. According to reports, consumers downloaded approximately 11 billion apps in 2015 alone. While apps make the use of your smartphones more exciting, not all are created equal with no cost attached. In reference to this, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal rolls out 5 things to know before downloading an app.

Read the reviews

One of the best ways to determine if you can download an app is to read the review of other persons that has downloaded the same applications. Depending on the responses whether positive or negative, you can decide on whether that application is for you. If there are more positive reviews, you can download and vice versa.
Data usage of the app

Some apps usually consume more mobile data than others especially if you are intent on cutting down your data usage in the new year. So, before you download; check the data usage of the app. If your app is good for download, you can adjust the setting to stop real-time notifications.
Free Apps

There are a number of applications that clearly state that it is free. But after downloading, you will discover that it is the limited version that you are given. Meanwhile, to access the full version, you will be billed. Even the free applications are usually littered with adverts.

Privacy

Privacy should not be a problem when it has to do with downloading apps. However, there some apps that access your information like phone and email contacts, call logs, device location and other unrelated data. This may probably lead to your account been accessed by hackers.

Virus Infection

While most apps are pre-approved before being added to an app store, hackers have created apps that can infect smartphones and tablets. Be cautious when downloading apps and be sure to use a reputable app store or website to download.

Also known by many as ‘Igoucha’ in Igbo, Port Harcourt in south-south Nigeria, is an affluent, cosmopolitan and animate city which can easily pass as Nigeria’s second economic hub after Lagos. The state is best known for having humongous oil deposits which have driven different people and businesses to the city. These added to the pomp and glitz of Port Harcourt.

The oil-rich city was named Port Harcourt in honour of Lewis Vernon Harcourt by Sir Frederick Lugard in August 1913. Featuring beautiful coastal sandy beaches navigating through major cities and towns, it is an appealing destination for a holistic peek into Nigeria’s colonial past. An event that many dwellers of the city look forward to is the Port Harcourt Carnival tagged ‘CARNIRIV’ held every December.

As a visitor, you can access this city via the International Airport or by road. If you want to visit Port Harcourt in the nigh future, here is how you can make the most of your trip to Nigeria’s garden city:

Tourist Attractions



Port Harcourt tourist beach

The Port Harcourt tourist beach is located on an artificial sand beach along the Kolabi creek east of the old township. It serves as the perfect leisure and relaxation spot coupled with a bush-bar restaurants selling fresh palm wine, local dishes and entertainment. The beach also has a jetty, a restaurant, wildlife, museum and games room. A visit to the beach offers all round fun to fun seekers.

Isaac Boro Garden Park

This is a popular garden park located at the south end of Aba road. This park was named after Major Isaac Boro who died during in the Biafran war. The tomb of the soldiers here marks those who fell in the world wars. The park is a popular venue for live music, picnic and other events including trade fairs.

Port Harcourt Cultural Centre

This centre is where culture meets arts. You can watch stage plays and cultural dances while admiring beautifully carved artefacts and handicrafts on sale. They are significant souvenirs to buy to remind you of a visit to Port Harcourt.



Where to sleep

The era of running helter-skelter searching for a hotel to sleep in is over with entry of Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal into the hospitality industry. Travellers can now book hotels ahead of their travels. Affordable hotels in Port Harcourt include are – Ocabique Planet Hotel-N5,000; Clen phil hotel and suites-N6,500, Hotel Presidential-N47,600, and Beverly Hills-N10,000. You can get more exciting prices on by visiting Jovago.com.

Where to shop

The Mile One market along Ikwerre road is a place to visit to feel the pulse of a buzzing city. You can buy everything from fashion items to consumer goods as well as laugh at the shenanigans of the sellers as they attempt to poach customers. But if you do not fancy this kind of experience, visit places like Park n’ Shop, Everyday Emporium and the Craft Centre among other places.



Where to eat

A metropolitan city like Port Harcourt never lacks fantastic and awesome spots to eat. You can eat great cuisine at one of the many well-established restaurants or ‘bukkas’ along the streets of Port Harcourt. Chicken Calypso Fast food and restaurant, Bouvati fast food and Portofino foods are among the popluar restaurants.

Fun Fact

The oil-rich city of Port Harcourt is believed to be an expensive city because many have the perception that everyone works in an oil company. This is not entirely true. The city is quite affordable.

Santa has come and gone. You have visited at the best vacation spots, opened all the presents brought by friends and families and distributed all the gifts after a stressful shopping at the mall. Your formerly crowded home is now empty as nearly everyone has left for their various houses after the festivities.

Christmas is over and reality sets in as the toughest month of the year beckons. If you are saddled with worry over how to scale through this period, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal outline tips to help you overcome January challenges.

Organize yourself

January is always financially tight because of the additional expenses during Christmas. Notwithstanding, do not sulk about your financial status. You can take time to review your finances before you start spending for the month. The success of organizing yourself, especially your finances will go a long way in determining whether the cookie will crumble during the month.

New year, new budget

A budget is a perfect way to plan what and how much you will spend for the month. If you are cash trapped, you have to fashion out a thin budget. In this quest to survive the January blues, you should be prepared to do away with some excesses. In addition, if you must buy anything, take advantage of online discounts and coupons on hotels, taxis, and other services.

Avoid quick-cash loans

Many times, when people are financially broke, their next resort is to request for quick-cash loans. This is not the way to go because, you can be a mess when January rolls away. The first thing you should is to drastically cut down on your spending. If you are planning to go on vacation to Akwa Ibom Golf resort, you can postpone it.

Don’t buy on credit

A simple tip to avoid the January hangover that may come too late for some is to only spend what you have in the first place. It seems simple enough but with the expectations thrust upon us by tempting offers to buy things on credit many of us can fall into these dangerous debt traps. Living within your means, even at Christmas time, is the first step to banishing the January blues.

In a few days the new year will be riding in full swing and a tradition that ultimately arrives with it is the act of making resolutions. If you are passionate about traveling and aim to have a pleasant travel year, Jovago, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal highlights six possible travel resolutions for 2016.

Learn to cook a different local dish

Nigeria is a diverse country with great tourist destinations and over 250 ethnic groups across 36 states. The food culture is remarkable. If you are Igbo, make efforts to prepare an Ijaw, Ibibio or Edo meal and vice versa. You can do this by asking someone from the tribe to teach you. You will be surprised how open the person will be to the idea.



Read more books

The cliche ‘if you want to hide something from a black man hide it in a book’ always pops up when talking about the reading culture in Africa and Nigeria. To sharpen your mind and keep abreast of happening around the world, you can read about other cultures, fiction, guidebooks, cookbooks and political memoirs. There is so much in a book!

Explore local life

Travelling is not all about the lustre cities and modern landscapes. There are rustic countryside’s where you can enjoy eclectic experiences. From seeing the local market, to observing how to produce local soap, participating in a dance competition, eating at the ramshackle local restaurants and mixing with the local residents are encounters you will never get in a city. So, when planning vacation in the new year, choose the countryside to explore indigenous life. It’s simply amazing!



Find Love

Like D’bang, the fall in love crooner says Love is a beautiful thing, you can also feel this beautiful thing by making a resolution to find love in the new Year. On your part, look as good as you can and before you know it, someone will fall over heels for you.



Travel Alone

It is fun to travel with a significant other because it’s more comfortable and assuring. However, travelling alone can help build your self-confidence as you indulge in just about anything without anyone interfering. Even if you do not want a whole getaway abroad, consider traveling alone once or twice a year. There are a quantum destinations and resorts you can visit in Nigeria like the Inagbe resort, Calabar cattle ranch and Olumirin waterfalls to have an alone time. You will encounter nature in its purest form.

Stop procrastinating

Procrastination has hindered many from their goals. Nothing can be achieved if you are a perennial procrastinator. The aforementioned travel resolutions and every other resolutions that you have made will never be reality if you continue with the habit. Therefore, stop procrastinating and travel, buy that new camera and explore local life.

In Nigeria, as with other parts of the world, the preparations for Christmas often hit the roof on the 24th December. To join in the excitement with pomp and pageantry, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares tips on the things you can do on the day before xmas.

Do last minute shopping

Many Nigerians have the knack for doing things at the eleventh hour. If you are yet to do your shopping, you still have ample opportunities to visit the mall. However, do not expect to walk in and walk out at the snap if your fingers because the malls will be flooded with other shoppers.



Go to Lagos shut down party

The Lagos shut down party is one of the biggest gigs going down on christmas eve in the center of excellence. The party will feature A-list artistes and disc jockeys. The event kicks off at 7 pm at Muri Okunola Park, close to Radison Blu Anchorage Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.



Attend midnight mass

For the religious and spiritually inclined, you can have a tranquil and solemn moment with the most-high at your primary place of worship. Many churches will be open round-the-clock to people who want to have an encounter with their maker. Now you finally get the chance to pray, praise and meet with long lost friends under one roof.

Open a Christmas Gift

Even though the official day designated for opening gifts is boxing day, you can deviate from the norm by peeking in one of the goodie bags you have received on the eve of Christmas. Whichever gifts you want to open, ensure that it is something you can use immediately like a holiday movie, Christmas pajamas or a special ornament.



Propose to your spouse

If you have been looking for the ideal time to propose to your girlfriend, then Christmas Eve is the best time to pop the will ‘you marry me question’. The reason to take advantage of this day is because you will stand a better chance of your proposal being accepted in the spirit of Christmas. Do not forget to make it romantic!

Watch the Stage play Hear Word!

Watching a stage play is another pleasant way to usher in Christmas. Hear Word is a theatre production that concoct real experiences of women with social commentary. The play parades actresses like Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola and Deborah Ohiri among other top notch female acts. The play will be staged at Muson centre with two performances on Christmas eve at 2pm and 7pm.

Customer service is a key part of growing a business. Since customers are an integral part of a business, the manner in which they are addressed and managed before and after patronizing the business is of significance. It requires a form of strategy and planning that could retain customers and keep them engaged and interested. With a number of awards in the sack, and a nomination in recognition of the customer service team which support the customer-centric nature of the company. Jovago.com looks inward to discuss the basics of customer service with our Head of Customer Service for Nigeria, Omolara Adagunodo and shares some interesting tips to boost customer relations for businesses which are a key part of the economies they exist in.

J: How would you explain customer service to a six-year old?

O: Customer service is the way a company helps their customers to understand their products and services while helping them make the right decisions.

J: Customers call for various reasons, could you recall some interesting calls/stories and how you handled the situation?

O: We once had a booking from a guest (who we were later to realize had the nickname ‘Fire’), he had arrived at the hotel and tried to pay them in dollars. The hotel declined the payment and requested payment in Naira as they did not accept dollars. He got angry and tried to leave without paying. The hotel manager asked security to stop him from going out and he in turn, locked their gate and held everyone hostage. The hotel manager then called us moderate the situation. Jovago called the irate guest and pled with him to open the hotel gate. He finally opened the gate after about 1 hour.

J: What are the top issues customers have?

O: Finding availability in certain hotels during the peak season e.g the Calabar Carnival amongst others and conflict of received booking confirmations.

J: What is the most fun part of what you do?

O: Stepping up to different challenges from different people daily.

J: For new business owners, customer care may not be the most important aspect of their business strategy, do you have any advice on promoting customer care for them?

O: Customer care is necessarily the most important part of your business. It is the cheapest and easiest way to attain customer loyalty in a very short period of time. It is great to have a focus on marketing and sales, but more important to ensure that these customers are well taken care of. Great customer experience can lead to an increase in sales and lower marketing expenses. Imagine not ever having to pay for marketing because the existing customers are so happy that they will on their own accord refer your services to their family and friends.

J: What is your magic phrase for calming an unhappy customer?

O: “I understand this is totally unacceptable…”

J: How do you perceive customer care in Nigeria?

O: It isn’t yet where it needs to be. The customers sometimes are not aware of what they deserve and how to demand service. As the customers become more savvy about service issues, they will know to demand service and organisations who wish to remain competitive will have to listen to the market.

About Jovago

Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN and Millicom as its investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 25,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.

Nok is a city in Kaduna state where mysterious and unique cultural statuettes were found as early as 500 BC. This incredible discovery brought global attention to the city as curious archaeologists, wanderlust tourists and fun-seeking travelers paid visits to have a first-hand encounter with one of Nigeria’s best kept secrets.

A tour of Nok offers travelers a pleasant, fun-filled and enthralling journey through a once flourishing ancient enclave. It is the perfect place for an adventurous holiday this Christmas. If you decide to visit, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal rounds up 5 inspiring things to note about Nok culture.



Figurines discovered in Nok in 1929

The figurines were discovered in 1929 when it was accidentally unearthed by tin miners. After several lab tests, the figurines were presumably dated 500 BC by archaeologists. Since, its discovery, people from different parts of the world have flooded the city to see this rare find. Despite this, the tourism potentials of the city are yet to be harnessed even with the establishment of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Had an advanced social system

Nok people had an organized social system, a well-ordered economy and a functional form of governance that promoted peace, equality and justice in the society. This clearly reflects a structured society way before the emergence of modernity and technology.



Evidence of a rich artistic past

The terracotta heads are an unquestionable proof of the artistic prowess of the Nok people. The deft skills exhibited by the sculptors through their carvings was exceptional. The various heads represented human beings, animals and plants captured in positions sitting, kneeling or standing; a rarity in modern art.

At risk of being looted

It is worrisome that many of the terracotta heads have been carted away to foreign museums on display for exhibition or auction. Unless efforts are coordinated towards recovering these heads and preventing the looting of others, the Nok culture and statues, which are invaluable assets to Nigeria, will be lost in the near future.



Nok culture is extinct

The only reminder of Nok culture are the figurines excavated by archeologists. However, Bernard Fagg, who uncovered various Nok sites in 1944 observed that the Ham people of Southern Kaduna was an offshoot of the Nok people. Fagg hinged his decision on the similarities between the cultural practices, dressing and figures represented in the Nok art. A visit to Nok is guaranteed to take you down memory lane of ancient Nigerian heritage.

After a long year of hard work, you deserve a treat and you don’t have to go as far as Dubai or London for it. For your enjoyment, we at Jovago.com have put together some fabulous vacation spots in Lagos you should consider visiting this festive period. Whether for fun, food, shopping or just relaxation, we got it all covered right here. Read on!

The Beach
The festive atmosphere dictates relaxation and the beach side is a perfect place for this. Around Christmas to New Year day, the beaches in Nigeria become the favourite destination for family picnics and fun time. The feeling of the sand beneath your feet and the chilly air will set your mind at ease as you relish in the warmth of the sun. Some of the popular beaches on Lagos Island include: Elegushi Beach, Bar Beach, Alpha Beach, Oniru Beach and Eleko Beach. You can take advantage of Christmas hotel discounts to book beach hotels in Lagos.




Ikeja City Mall

The mall hosts about 100 stores with over 25 popular brands, among which are Shoprite, Mr Price, KFC, Silverbird Cinemas, Apple, Nike and Slot – just to mention a few. You will find a lot of fun things to feed your eyes with, and you may spend hours window-shopping and buying without even realizing you had spent so much time.

The most visited part of the mall is definitely Shoprite, you will often find shopping carts being hurriedly pushed into waiting vehicles and a lot of other shoppers carrying “the yellow” shopping bags, along the walkway. Note however that the mall usually witness a high influx of people during this period.

Lekki Conservation Centre

Ever thought of going on a challenging feat that may leave you sweaty and jittery? For adventure seekers, the Canopy Walkway at the Conservation Center may pose a new rewarding challenge for you to experience nature at its peak and exercise. The Canopy walkway currently boasts as the longest in Africa and the second largest in the world, measuring 401m long and 22.5m high at its peak. It is currently a challenge most people have embarked upon only to return midway – it is not a journey for the faint hearted or Acrophobic! The centre also houses a high number of birds of different kinds and animals that you may not find at a regular place.

Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island

Radisson Blu is a top hotel in Victoria Island, situated at 1A Ozumba Mbadiwe Ave. The rooms, overlooking the City skyline and Lagos Lagoon are fashioned in urban and ocean styles giving visitors stunning scenery. For lovers of seafood and all sorts of local/intercontinental dishes, the buffet session which holds daily at Voyage Restaurant in Radisson Blu Hotel provides one of the best culinary experiences. It is advisable to empty your stomach well before the buffet session so you can fill it up with arrays of sumptuous dishes as there is no room for take away.

The specs of the conference rooms and facilities have also made it one of the most sought after hotels in Lagos by organisations for seminars and workshops. Radisson Blu Hotel is close to City Mall and Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), a center for large and major events in Lagos like ‘Experience’.

Terra Kulture

Terra kulture is a cultural centre in Victoria Island that promotes the richness and diversity of Nigerian culture, arts and languages. Paintings and sculptures by talented Nigerian artistes are beautifully displayed in the centre. At the bookshop and library, you can buy different books by African writers. There is a theatre where stage drama and musicals are performed from time to time. Also visit the Art Gallery and Craft shop to see beautiful works of art. The Food Lounge serves assorted and traditional meals like Efo Riro and Pounded Yam.

What are you waiting for? Come on! Don’t Dull! Go have some swell time!

And, Merry Christmas in advance!