₦airaland Forum

In the 1980s and 1990s the broadcast media landscape in Nigeria was dominated by government-owned radio and television houses. Even after the space was liberalised in 1992 for private media houses to come in, it still took a while before that dominance by government stations gave way to what is now private media dominance. Back then, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was the federal government television station which most people relied on for information, education and entertainment. The station had very interesting and intriguing national programmes, particularly drama series that kept people glued to their sets. Here is a list of top 10 drama series aired on NTA in the 1980s and 1990s.

10) Ripples

At number 10 is Ripples, a popular soap opera produced by Zeb Ejiro. This programme ran for 5 years interrupted (1988-1993) and became a big hit during this period, with several viewers getting addicted to it. Patrick Doyle who played the role of Melvin Dehinde-Phillips reportedly left the show controversially, but this did not stop the momentum of the show. Ripples was the programme that provided Genvieve Nnaji her first TV platform to launch her talent to the World.

9) Basi and Company
At number nine is Basi and Company. The programme became a household name between 1986 to 1990 when it aired on NTA. It was written and produced by late activist, Ken Saro Wiwa. Filmed in Enugu state, the TV series touched on corruption and African folklore. The comedy series starred Albert Egbe, Zulu Adigwe, Aso Douglas, Lasa Amoro and was rested after 150 episodes. Basi and Company is still remembered by many Nigerian viewers who watched NTA in the 80s.

Samanja
Samanja was one very popular, hilarious comedy show which started off regionally in 1973 on NTA Kaduna. It was also on Radio Kaduna. It eventually became a national programme due to its unpopularity and increasing audience base, leading to a change in its format to accommodate a larger audience. The language of the show changed from Hausa to pidgin. Set in a military barracks, veteran actor Usman Baba Pategi played the role of Sgt Samanja- a funny soldier with several rib-cracking antics. Samanja was among the very programmes that captivated viewers across ethnic spread in the 1970s and 1980s.

7) Icheoku
Icheoku was one comedy programme that enjoyed monopoly in the 1980’s in terms of format and rib-cracking humour. It featured a translator wrongly interpreting the words of a white British magistrate during a court session, to an audience that did not understand English. The format of Icheoku is still used by many Nigerian comedians till today. This programme was among the most popular comedy drama series of all time aired on NTA.

6. The Village Headmaster
At number six is The Village Headmaster, one of the most iconic Nigerian TV series of all time. It ran for 2 decades (1968-1988), making it the longest-running series aired on the NTA.
The Village Headmaster which featured greats such as the late Justis Esiri, Dejumo Lewis, Funsho Adeolu, and Enebeli Elebuwa. The plot of this classic drama series was woven around inter-ethnic harmony, problem-solving and intervention in public affairs, health education and fun in the family. It was one of the programmes loved by Nigerian viewers across geographic spread.

5. Checkmate
At number five is Checkmate, another classic aired on NTA in the 80’s. This captivating programme was described as one of the best and earliest television series exports during the famed “golden age of Television”. Staring famous faces such as Richard Mofe Damijo as Şegun Kadiri, Bob-Manuel Udokwu as Richard Haastrup, Kunle Bamtefa as Chief Fuji, a polygamous chief, Francis Agu as Benibo ‘Benny’ Haastrup, Mildred Iweka as Ada, Nduka’s wife and Norbert Young as Professor Okon, a UNILAG academic. Checkmate was one of the programmes that many viewers in the early 1990s could not do without. It kept viewers spellbound on Sunday nights, specifically from 1991 to 1994.
See more:
http://massmediang.com/top-10-nta-drama-series-in-the-1980s-and-1990s/

11 Reasons Why Living In The Hostel Is Best For Female Students In Nigerian Universities
Students want the best for themselves whenever they gain admission into a tertiary institution. Some schools give you the option of staying in the Hostel or paying for accommodation off campus. A research group known as Hypothesis.com did a study and found 11 solid reasons why you should choose to stay in school hostel, especially as a female student.

Good Facilities
There is no disputing the fact that you have constant water and electric power supply in the school hostel. At least the situation is relatively far better than staying off campus where you get accommodation in a building that may not have source of water or constant power supply. Most times you use your money to get these facilities off campus. You could be lucky to get a room in a building that has Generator and borehole but you pay heavily for such facilities.

Communal relationship
People live as one family in the hostel. Those that stay in the same room or even the same floor with you will always look out for you and watch your back. The entire hostel occupants work as one in maintaining facilities, ensuring environmental sanitation and keeping the atmosphere conducive for habitation.

Good Academic Culture
Living in the hostel helps you develop reading culture. You always go to class to read especially as inspired by others around you. The hostel is always within the school premises so you can easily walk to class and read for as long as you wish. Students also study together and engage in group discussions. They are not in a hurry to rush back home like those staying off campus.

Well Planned Rooms
The rooms in hostels are well planned and designed to accommodate a student with well built wardrobes, kitchenette, desk room and seat-out for relaxation. Some off campus lodges are built as if prisoners are expected to stay in the rooms. Such rooms are very small without any consideration for the student’s other property necessary for studies (no meaningful space for table, seat, lockers and all that). The discomfort is often high in most off-campus lodges.

Morality and Decency
Girls who stay in the hostels are known for maintaining high morals. You hardly find anyone who sneaks out at night to go into town for midnight runs or to cohabit off campus with opposite sex. Students in the hostels are discouraged from indulging in such indecent and immoral activities because the hostel is within the school premises and the lifestyle in the hostel is homely and communal. No one wants her bed to be empty at night so this discourages off campus or night runs.

Spirituality
Students in the hostel maintain a spiritual life through such activities as daily hostel prayers and regular attendance to campus fellowships. Because the hostel is within the school premises, hostel girls dominate attendance to campus fellowships and this marks them out as most morally and spiritually sound students on campus.

Sporting Facilities and Healthy Living
Proximity of the hostels to school facilities means that students in the hostel have the opportunity to live healthy by going to the field keep fit and make use of other sporting facilities on campus. Off campus students may get discouraged when they consider the money they will spend to transport themselves to school just to engage in sporting activities. Most times you find girls jugging early in the morning within the campus but this may be difficult to do off campus when the risk of coming out to jug early in the morning is considered.

Security
The high level of security on campus cannot be compared to what obtains off campus. Female students in the hostel are always free to walk to class to read and return to the hostel at any time they wish, even when it is too late. The campus security outfit is always on alert within the school premises.

Unlimited Privacy
Female hostels have rules. Boys cannot go into the hostels at specific times. You enjoy your privacy in the hostel more than those residing off campus.

Quick Response from University management on facility development
Because the hostels are owned by the university, management pays prompt attention to facility development and repairs in the hostels making sure that it is always conducive for habitation. When for instance, a toilet facility breaks down or the roof is leaking during rainy season, the university authorities swing into action when notified. Hostels are even upgraded and repainted from time to time. But some off-campus lodges are owned by “Shylock” landlords whose only interest is how to collect rent from students without minding the decay in facilities.

Early marriage
This is one of the minor findings by the research group. Because of the highly moral nature of female students living in the hostel, reports say that most of these girls marry early after graduation or get engaged (or spoken for) while in school). This, according to the study, is because when men outside hear that a female student lived in the hostel throughout her stay in school, it paints a picture of decency, humility, homeliness and in some cases, holiness about that girl. So men rush for them either while they are still in school or shortly after graduation.

These are facts compiled by the research group called hypothesis.com after about two months of intensive study. You are free to add to these or disagree with any of the facts.

Source:
http://massmediang.com/11-reasons-why-living-in-the-hostel-is-best-for-female-students-in-nigerian-universities/

Mum Hand-Feeds 13-Year-Old ‘Zombie’ Son Addicted To Video Game Because He Can’t Stop Playing (Watch Viral Video)
A woman is expressing her love for her son in a manner that has drawn social media attention.

The Filipino woman, Lilybeth Marvel, goes to an internet cafe to hand-feed her 13-year-old son because he is a video game addict and cannot stop playing for anything, not even to eat food. A viral video shows the woman hand-feeding the boy and even asking him whether he woukd like to go an pee.
The boy refuses to end his 48-hour gaming binge to eat has once again reignited the debate on youth video game addiction.
The 37-year-old mum first noticed there was something wrong with her son Carlito about two years ago, when he began staying up late at an internet cafe near the family home in Nueva Ecija, the Philippines. Things got progressively worse as time went by, to the point where the 13-year-old now spends days on end with his eyes glued to a monitor playing his favorite “battle royale” video game, Rules of Survival. Last week, Mrs. Marvel was filmed delivering her son’s breakfast to the internet cafe and hand feeding him while he continued to play, because he had been there for over 48 hours, report’s Oddity Central.
“My poor child… Here, eat now,” the concerned mother can be heard telling the boy. “You have so much money, it might take till tomorrow for you to get home. Are you still needing to pee? My goodness, just feel sorry for my child. You are so irritating.”

The money she is referring to is the stack of coins in front of Carlito, which he most likely uses to fund his addiction at the internet cafe. It’s unclear whether his parents actually gave him the money or if he acquired it by other means. At one point she tries to take the coins, but he becomes agitated and grabs her hand, not letting go until she puts the coins back on the table.
Watch video here:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/25/mum-hand-feeds-13-year-old-zombie-son-addicted-to-video-game-because-he-cant-stop-playing-watch-viral-video/

Will Human Newscasters Disappear One Day? China Unveils First Artificial Intelligence News Anchor (Video)
This story should interest every broadcast media person. Does it mean that one day we might have television houses without human beings reading the news and possibly presenting programmes? Do you think that is even possible with the way China is going with tech-based news presentation? Check this story out.
The Chinese Government-controlled Xinhua News Agency announced last week Thursday that they were set to roll out their latest female Artificial Intelligence (AI) news presenter, named Xin Xiaomeng, within a few weeks, report’s Interesting Engineering.

Working in collaboration with Chinese search engine company Soguo to produce Xin, it was stated that the new female AI which is the first in the world, will debut during coverage of the upcoming Two Sessions meetings in March.

The news agency had launched two male AI news anchors last year.

In November of last year, the state news agency introduced Qiu Hao—a male-gendered AI presenter modeled on an actual Xinhua news anchor—during China’s World Internet Conference.
Watch video here:
http://massmediang.com/will-human-newscasters-disappear-oneday-china-unveils-first-artificial-intelligence-news-anchor-video/

Journalism is an exciting profession which keeps you at the forefront of events in the society. As a watchdog, people rely on you to inform and enlighten them on developments in their immediate and larger environment. However, this profession is seen as a man’s job across the world. This is because whereas journalism and mass communication training schools are dominated by women, only very few of them end up practicing journalism. Some female graduates of these training schools might want to attempt practicing journalism but could get discouraged by the unpalatable experiences women journalists get in the field. Some get into journalism and get out as fast as they could especially when they look at the future and see how ‘bleak’ it looks for women in the profession.
The situation is the same in Nigeria but the reasons for this might differ slightly among countries probably due to socio-cultural and other environmental factors. Here’s a list of top 10 reasons why women do not practice journalism in Nigeria.

1. Culture: This is one of the major reasons why women are discouraged from practicing journalism not just in Nigeria but most African countries. This could come in different ways. In any typical African setting a woman is expected to be some form of house keeper, staying with the kids and taking care of domestic affairs. If you have to work then you must find a way to combine your house-keeping duties and that job. Journalism is a job that could keep you at work for lengthy hours. In fact, long hours of work is a feature associated with journalism practice. You’re either following up a source or staying late in the office to file a story. African c ulture also frowns at the level of boldness journalism bestows on the practitioners. You are emboldened to speak to sources no matter how highly placed, pursue a story no matter where it leads you and take up daring challenges in the line of duty. Some men in specific cultures might see such a lady as a wild woman who would disrespect her husband. This strange factors discourage women from practicing journalism in Nigeria.

2. Macho Newsroom Culture: This refers to male domination of the journalism profession which also reflects on daily newsroom activities. Macho newsroom culture talks about an atmosphere of work which makes you feel this job is mainly for men. You see it in the concepts used to even refer to practitioners (Gentlemen of the press), assignment of beats to cover, dominance of managerial position in the media by men, among others. The woman is somehow made to feel or think this is not a place for her to build a career. This is a general factor affecting female journalists across the world.

Polly Curtis, editor-in-chief, HuffPost, one of the leading online news websites in the United States of America, once said in an interview, “I have experienced extremely male-dominated cultures in journalism that I found very difficult at times. I also had long stretches of my career when it just wasn’t an issue. At its worst I’ve seen how off-putting that macho culture can be for younger women coming into newsrooms.”

She further observed that this situation was changing but not fast enough. According to her, “You can look across news organisations and see close to gender parity in terms of numbers but who is getting the front page bylines? Who is making the calls on what the most important news stories of the day are? Who is doing the hiring? Having gender parity at all levels of seniority is important.”

Curtis also notes: “Part of the problem is the loss of women from the most senior positions once they have kids so that leadership teams and news editors are disproportionately male. Anything that helps women continue to progress after they have children will help ensure newsrooms reflect the world they are reporting on.”

It is clear that macho news room culture is a discouraging factor for women enrollment in journalism practice.

3. Marriage: This is a factor related to both culture and macho newsroom culture but it requires emphasis as a separate point. Because of the tasking nature of journalism profession, marriage tends to discourage some Nigerian women from becoming journalists. Some ladies especially in Nigeria feel that taking care of the family, running around the house looking after kids, giving attention to your husband, could prevent a woman from becoming journalists. In fact, some ladies in Nigeria have had to leave the journalism profession immediately they got married. Some other men might not want their wives to be going after male sources in search of stories or staying late at work to file stories. In some conservative African societies, female journalists are seen as wayward, so to get married some ladies decide not to become journalists. This might look extreme but it happens. In fact, one of the stereotypes about female journalists in Nigeria is that they do not marry early. This scares a few ladies away from the job.

4. Nature of Work: Journalism is tasking, tedious, and daring. Those who practice it efficiently and seriously will tell you it is not an easy job but that you’ll definitely enjoy it. Work schedule could discourage women from practicing journalism. You could be instructed to follow up a news source, probably male news sorce that you might have to wait for in his hotel to grant you interview. This is no big deal in the western world but in some societies in Africa, Nigeria inclusive, work schedule could be a factor making it difficult for women to take up journalism as a profession. You can also be sent to investigate an incident which so many might feel is not a safe task for a woman to embark on. The nature of work tends to feed the macho newsroom culture because women are majorly assigned beats such as fashion and entertainment while crime and political beats that require extra-mile investigations are assigned to men. This is not the case in every news organization as there are countries where the bravest investigative reporters are women.

5. Religion: Some women keep away from journalism due to religious doctrines. The first thing that comes to mind is the Moslem religion which might limit the flexibility required of women as journalists. But Christianity could also be a factor here for some women. For instance, some Churches might be stedfast on dressing especially not allowing women to wear trousers, and a female journalist might need to be on trousers for some kinds of investigation. This might be a factor too. Someone who attends a church that has a conservative dress code might stay away from journalism. Also, some ladies feel that work schedule of journalists does not give a good moral image for a Christian woman.
See more:

http://massmediang.com/10-reasons-why-nigerian-women-do-not-practice-journalism/

A group of young boys Houston looking for where to smoke weed walked into an abandoned building only to find a very big tiger inside.

The boys took off immediately and called the attention of another lady who put a call through to animal rescue workers who arrived the scene to take away the tiger which was actually locked in a cage and left in the abandoned house.

The woman who called Houston’s non-emergency dispatch line after discovering the tiger inside a cage at an abandoned home told the shocked dispatcher: “I’m not lying.”

The Houston Chronicle obtained a recording of the call after animal rescue workers found the well-fed animal resting on a bed of hay Monday inside a cage they said could be easily opened.

Police say a group of people looking for a place to smoke marijuana happened across the tiger on Monday. The woman told the dispatcher: “It’s pretty big.” Authorities say the animal weighed 350 pounds (159 kilograms).

See more:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/19/boys-looking-for-hide-out-to-smoke-marijuana-find-giant-tiger-in-abandoned-building/

Technology has taken schooling to another level but this one is generating some form of controversy.

The debate followed the story of a young Chinese student who made use of “handwriting robot” to complete her Lunar New Year holiday homework in record time. The girl’s mum discovered the robot in her room and destroyed it.
The story made news headlines in China last week, and sparked off a heated debate. The junior high-school student from Harbin reportedly spent 800 yuan ($118) on a copying robot which allowed her to complete her transcribing assignments and essays faster than expected.

South China Morning Post (SCMP), report’s that the schoolgirl from China decided to use a very different shortcut in writing homework by purchasing a “copying robot” to help do the work.

The woman surnamed Zhang from the northeast city of Harbin found out that her 15-year-old daughter bought the robot over the Chinese New Year holidays, and she uses it for homework exercises such as copying text passages from textbooks and writing essays.
The girl’s mother became suspicious when her daughter turned in her holiday homework, neatly written and with absolutely no errors, despite having very little time to do it, due to Lunar New Year festivities and traveling. Then, while cleaning the girl’s room, Zhang found a bizarre metal contraption as well as its packaging, which claimed that it could imitate any handwriting.
See details and click here to watch video of how it works:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/20/school-girl-uses-handwriting-robot-to-complete-homework-faster/

Watch Video Of Indian Man Stealing Underwear At Female Hostel Long Before It Became Common Practice In Nigeria
Stories of underwear theft stunned Nigerians after it became common practice a few months ago. But it seems the practice has been going on for a while in India before it became associated with ‘yahoo boys’ in Nigeria.
Here is a CCTV footage which captured moments a young man was stealing underwear of students in a female hostel of a secondary school in Bengaluru, India. The story has it that the young man referred to as Notorious Female Underwear Thief has been stealing the underwear in the hostel for a long time but was eventually arrested by the police. The weird thief usually sneaks into Maharani’s Arts, Commerce and Management College for Women, located in Bangaluru, in a semi- nude state and stealing underwear before he was arrested by the police.

This incident happened since 2017, long before it became popular in Nigeria.

So one begins to wonder whether underwear thieves in India use it for the same purpose as their colleagues in Nigeria. Does it also mean underwear stealing is a universal practice? Is ‘yahoo boys’ practice also universal? Questions you can respond to.
Watch video here:
http://massmediang.com/watch-video-of-indian-man-stealing-underwear-at-female-hostel-long-before-it-became-common-practice-in-nigeria/

2018 Was Deadliest Year For Journalists In Recent Times, More Reprisal Murders Recorded
The issue of safety in journalism practice has remained a source of worry, especially with this upsurge in the killing of journalists in the line of duty. This frightening report reveals how more journalists were murdered in 2018 than were killed in war. This includes several reports of incarceration and harassment of reporters across the globe. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, one major factor responsible for this terrible record is lack of international leadership on safety and rights of journalist. This revealing piece by The Independent UK is a pointer to the dwindling safety of journalists operating in various parts of the world.

More Journalists Were Murdered In 2019 Than Were Killed Covering War
The number of journalists murdered for their reporting almost doubled in 2018, contributing to another deadly year for the profession after a period of declining casualties.

The rising toll, together with the record numbers of journalists jailed around the world over past three years, amounts to a “global crisis of press freedom”, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
The brutal murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi captured the world’s attention this year. But he was just one of 34 journalists murdered because of their work in 2018, up from 18 the year before.
A total of 53 journalists were killed around the world. More journalists were killed in reprisal for their work than died covering war, as places such as Syria and Yemen became less accessible.

The press rights group said the rise in killings was partly due to changes in technology that have meant more people can practice journalism. But it also singled out a lack of international leadership on the safety and rights of journalists, particularly from the administration of US president Donald Trump.
“The White House, traditionally a strong defender of global press freedom, has equivocated on the blame for Khashoggi’s murder,” the CPJ said in its end-of-year report. “Essentially, Trump signaled that countries that do enough business with the United States are free to murder journalists without consequence,” it added.
See details:
http://massmediang.com/2018-was-deadliest-year-for-journalists-in-recent-times-more-reprisal-murders-recorded/

Mixed Reactions As Kim Kardashian Wears Bizarre Outfit That Leaves Little To Imagination
High-profile entertainer, Kim Kardashian, stepped out in Hollywood for an event wearing a gown thst drew mixed reactions from her fans.
The mega star strapped her boobs into a bizarre dress that left nothing to the imagination as she stepped out in Los Angeles Sunday night.

The reality star, 38, wore the barely there outfit as she left The Avalon in Hollywood alongside hair stylist Chris Appleton.
Kim – who presented a gong at The Hollywood Beauty Awards – also posted pictures of her outfit to Twitter, where it got a mixed response from fans.
See Reactions and more photos here:
http://massmediang.com/mixed-reactions-as-kim-kardashian-wears-outfit-that-leaves-little-to-imagination/

Female Journalist Goes Completely Topless On Live TV Show During Brexit Discussion (Watch Video)
A female television host and journalist, Rachel Johnson became an instant internet sensation after she did the unexpected, removing her blouses and exposing her br3asts during a live show on Sky News.
The TV host who is the sister of Conservative MP Boris Johnson was on news show The Pledge when she brought up Cambridge academic Dr Victoria Bateman, who campaigns for the UK to stay in the EU while completely naked, report’s Metro UK.

Starting the show in a silk blouse, the journalist said: ‘As I know it can be hard to get your voice heard about Brexit nowadays.

‘It feels like we’ve hit saturation point. Enter pro-EU campaigner Victoria Batemen who’s come up with a striking way this week to get herself noticed.
See details here:

http://massmediang.com/female-journalist-goes-completely-topless-on-live-tv-show-during-brexit-discussion-watch-video/

Dog Rips Open Female Neighbour’s Parcel, Find’s ‘Private’ Toy Inside (Watch Wacky Video)

A man who discovered that his dog had ripped open a parcel meant for his female neighbour was stunned to see what was contained in the torn parcel.
The man, Lee Edwards, 36, had received the parcel on behalf of his neighbour, a woman in her 40s. He kept the parcel behind his door and left for the day. What he saw when he returned home stunned him.

When Edwards returned home he discovered his dog had torn the parcel apart and could not believe what he saw – a six-inch pink intimacy gadget lying beside his dog. He recorded the entire episode.

Edwards and partner Jenna Crozier, 34, took the package in for a neighbour and thought it was safe tucked behind the door. But when they returned home they found their black Labrador pup Bonnie playing with something very unexpected.
Bonnie thought it was just a normal toy
A mortified Jenna put the offending item in a bag and it was collected by the red-faced neighbour later that day, report’s Metro UK.
Dog trainer Lee, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, said: ‘I came downstairs and at first I thought it was a training toy. I train dogs for a living and we do have toys that are similar. ‘Then I thought it might have been Jenna’s and was thinking “why has she bought that?” ‘It was just lying there on the floor then I saw what had happened to the box. ‘I didn’t want to touch it and didn’t want the neighbour to think I’d touched it so I cordoned it off like a crime scene. ‘It’s embarrassing but you can see the funny side of it.’
Watch Video Here:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/17/dog-rips-open-female-neighbours-parcel-finds-private-toy-inside/

A woman has wedded a Zombie doll she is in love with and says she and the doll have already consummated the marriage. The wedding was witnessed by humans and zombie dolls.

The young woman says her ‘world is now complete’ after getting married to her zombie doll. Felicity Kadlec, 20, said she tied the knot with Kelli Rossi (the doll) who she says is 37 years old. The ceremony cost £388 for a wedding dress for Felicity, a suit for Kelly and decorations for the wedding in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The wedding was attended by four humans and eight other dolls, reports Metro.
Felicity, who now lives in Vinita, Oklahoma, claims that marrying Kelly has made her feel closer and more intimate with it. Felicity said: ‘Our wedding ceremony was beautiful and perfect – exactly the way I dreamed it would have been. ‘I made sure that the whole wedding was done properly so it would be as official as possible, and we consummated the marriage afterwards. ‘Kelly was the groom as she takes the male role in our relationship, she is a tom boy so wore a suit – I feel she was most comfortable as the groom. ‘Despite having been in a relationship with Kelly for four years, getting married to her has made me feel so much closer to her, both emotionally and intimately.’
SEE more details and photos:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/16/woman-weds-zombie-doll-says-theyve-already-consummated-marriage/

Yoruba language newspapers are among leading local language newspapers in Nigeria. They constitute a major pillar in the development of newspapers in Nigeria. The first Nigerian newspaper was a Yoruba language newspaper, Iwe Irohin, which was also the first indigenous language newspaper in Africa. It was established in 1859. The media landscape of Nigeria has a number of indigenous language newspapers which shared in the credit of developing a vibrant newspaper industry in the country. Here is a list of the most popular and most widely read language newspapers in Nigeria. The selection was based on circulation and readership ratings.

1. Alaroye
Alaroye was first published in 1985. It was published by World Information Agents, and organization run by Musa Alao Adedayo. The publisher, Adedayo, was then 25 years old when he began publishing Alaroye, while still a staff of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Tejuosho, Lagos.
2. AlariyaThis is a newspaper published by Lanre Dodo Balogun. It has a lot of entertainment content and is very popular among Yoruba language newspaper audience in the South Western part of Nigeria.

3. Akede
4. Irohin Owuro
5. Gboun gboun

If you have commetns and observations on this list, do let us know.
See details here:
http://massmediang.com/top-10-most-popular-yoruba-language-newspapers-in-nigeria/

An Australian couple said it took about nine months of careful maintenance to grow a huge cabbage nearly the size of an adult person.
Rosemary Norwood and Sean Cadman, who operate Forest Walks Lodge, an eco-tourism guesthouse in Jackeys Marsh, Tasmania, said they started growing the cabbage in April and carefully kept it safe from wallabies and other garden thieves until late January.

Norwood said she grows cabbage every year, but this one was especially large.

“It doesn’t always work out like this,” Norwood told CNN. She said the cabbage’s size could be attributed to “a good, wet spring, good rainfall and hot weather in the early summer.”
See more:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/16/australian-couple-harvest-human-sized-cabbage/

Snake Catchers Battle With Huge Python Found In Family Laundry Room (Don’t Fail To Watch This Video)
A viral video has shown how snake Catchers put in their best to capture a huge python found in the laundry room of a family in Australia.

The family was stunned to suddenly discover that a huge python was taking shelter in their laundry room.
The Australian family called for help from snake catchers when they discovered the 90-pound python curled up in their laundry room.
Lea-Ann Kennedy said her family found the big serpent in the laundry room of their Mission Beach, Queensland, home about 4:30 a.m. Friday, so she called snake catcher Charlie Bear to help remove it from the house.
Bear said he took one look at the snake and called colleague Tom Geary to help drag it out of the house.
Watch video here:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/16/family-stunned-as-huge-python-turns-up-in-their-laundry-room/

A man’s nap in the back of his car in Delaware turned into a nightmare after the car he was sleeping in was stolen and crashed.

Musician Justin Koerner told the News Journal he had spent a night playing music with friends, went to sleep in his vehicle and had a dream involving someone jumping in his front seat.

A Newark police statement says someone drove off in the car Sunday morning and bailed after seeing the man sleeping in the back. Police say the car crashed.

Koerner says he awoke and saw car treads on a lawn and a destroyed bush, then realized he hadn’t been dreaming. He says police appeared ready to take him away before another officer said a neighbor had security camera footage of the incident.
See http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/15/mans-car-stolen-while-hes-sleeping-in-back-seat/

Woman Goes Viral For Reviewing Soap Brands Based On How Good They Taste (Watch Video)
Brand review is a serious function in the business world. It is an analysis done to know how good a specific brand is, what differentiates it from others, and why it will succeed in the market. However, when that review is done in a strange manner, it becomes a serious puzzle.
A woman is currently buzzing the internet for her unique but bizarre way of doing soap review – licking the soap to taste their components.

This Indonesian woman who loves to lick various brands of hand soap and rate them by how good they taste is giving the phrase “clean eating” a whole new meaning.

Khosik Assyifa, a young woman from Indonesia’s East Java province, has become an unlikely Instagram sensation based on her bizarre eating habits.

Assyifa has been posting videos that show her licking bars of hand soap and reviewing them based on taste.

She actually licks and slurps the soap like someone licking and enjoying ice-cream. She appears to be enjoying the taste almost as much as people love watching her do it. Her soap-eating videos receive thousands of likes and comments, including suggestions on what soap brands she should try next.
Watch VIDEO Here;
http://massmediang.com/woman-goes-viral-for-reviewing-soap-brands-based-on-how-good-they-taste-watch-video/

Excited Dog Jumps From Second Floor To Welcome Owner, Breaks The Man's Neck After Landing On His By Mistake
This is a pet love stories that ended on a tragic note. A dog that got too excited to see its owner returning home jumped from the second floor of a building hoping to land in the man’s arms only to land on his head and break his neck.
The incident happened in China.
The dog owner ended up in the hospital with a broken neck while the dog left unhurt.
The 67-year-old man, surnamed Liu, was returning to his house in Yongzhou City, China’s Hunan province, on Monday, after visiting some relatives, when something heavy fell from above and landed on the back of his head. Liu was knocked down and rendered unconscious by the impact, and his family immediately called an ambulance. Speaking with Sina News about the incident, Liu recalled that his first thought after waking up in the hospital was that the wall of his house had collapsed on top of him, but he later learned that he had been hit by his pet husky. Apparently, the 60-pound pooch was so excited to see Liu come home that he jumped from the second floor of he house, landing on top of him.
“On the sixth day of the New Year, we were returning home together,” Liu told Sina News. “Just when we were about to reach the front door, we were suddenly stunned by something falling from the sky.”
See details:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/15/excited-dog-jumps-from-second-floor-to-welcome-owner-lands-on-him-breaks-his-neck/

Police in Indonesia have apologized after a viral video showed some of their men using a two-meter-long live snake to interrogate a suspect.

The police in Papua’s Jayawijaya district, Indonesia, issued a public apology after a video showing an alleged thief being interrogated by security forces using a two-meter live snake went viral online.
The action drew serious condemnation from Human rights advocates in Indonesia, who were not happy with the use of a live snake during the interrogation of an alleged thief in Western New Guinea.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, a barefoot, handcuffed man can be seen squirming and screaming as police officers push a live snake in his face and threaten to put in his mouth and in his pants. Later, the reptile is also seen wrapped around the suspect’s neck, as police try to get a confession out of him about some stolen phones.

“How many times have you stolen a mobile phone?” a police officer can be heard shouting at the alleged thief, to which the terrified man answers “Only two times”.

Local police chief Tonny Ananda Swadaya recently issued a public statement, apologizing for the use of the snake during the interrogation, but also pointing out that the media was making too big a deal out of the incident, as the snake wasn’t poisonous and the suspect was never in any real danger.

“The snake was tame and not poisonous or dangerous, and the incident was their own idea so they could get admission of guilt as quick as possible,” Swadaya said. “We will work more professionally in the future.”
Watch Unbelievable Video of Interrogation here:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/15/shocker-police-use-two-meter-live-snake-to-interrogate-suspect-watch-viral-video/

This month is regarded as the month of love; many people express love in various ways this period. Some buy gifts why others just sit out with their partners and have a nice time out. No matter the strategy adopted, words are essential in making the feelings more realistic and appreciated.
Some people find it difficult to pick the right choice of words to express their feelings towards their partners. Well, if you’re searching for the right words to use this valentine period to let your partner know how you feel towards him or her, or how dear he or she is to you, don’t worry. Here’s a list of top 50 wacky love expressions compiled by a group of young Nigerians who feel that there are wacky ways to express affection towards a partner.
1. You are the only fufu in my cooler
2. You are the only meat in my soup
3. You are the only grass in my garden
4. You are the only roundabout in my pepper soup
5. You are the only pure water in my fridge
6. You are in only soap in my bathroom
7. You are the only underwear in my wardrobe
8. You are the only ogogoro in my bottle
9. You are the only kerosine in my stove
10. Anytime you’re sick, I will take your drugs for you
11. You are the stretch marks on my body
12. You are my monthly period
13. Sometimes I can’t see myself when I’m with you, I only see you
14. I love you like cannibals love human flesh
15. My love for you burns stronger than urinary tract infection
16. I will always love the sound of your fart
17. You are the blood that runs through my veins
18. You are the D-Jay that makes my heart beat go kpokpodikpokpo
19. You are that purging feeling that messes up my whole day and makes me happy
20. You are like my indomie spice to me, without you no taste all in my life
21. You are the ukulele in my melody
22. You are the only detergent that washes away my sadness
23. If I’m a shark in the sea and you fall inside I’ll also love you
24. You are the only cancer I will never want to cure.
25. You are the bone of my skeleton
26. You are the meat in my soup
27. You the rat in my room I’ll never disturb
28. You are the snake in my jungle
29. You are the blood in my veins
30. You are the hot pot of jollof in my kitchen
31. You are the pepper in my pepper soup
32. You are the only mosquito in my net
33. You are the syrup on my pancakes
34. You are the icing on my cake
35. You are the chocolate on my ice cream
36. You are the sweet grapes in my wine
37. You are the Ham in my burger
38. You are the chicken to my chips
39. You are the spark to my fire
40. You are the laces to my sneakers
41. You are the bread to my butter
42. You are Amala to my ewedu
43. You are goatmeat to my pepper soup
44. You are cord to my charger head
45. Let me be your Keke for life, just ride me anytime
46. You are bolè to my groundnut
47. You are pillow to my bed
48. You are the toothpaste to my toothbrush
49. You are Sardine to my bread
50. You are the Egg to my indomie
51. I’m ready to live in a zoo for your love
52. I don’t mind being the Okada you can ride forever
53. You are the kuli kuli to my garri 54. You are the own-goal I desire
55. You are the mosquito I’ll want to bite me always
56. If you are a goal post, I’ll only score when you tell me to
57. You are the blades of my industrial fan
58. You are the police cell I always feel like relaxing in
59. Let me be the horn in your car
60. I’m ready to live in Afghanistan just to win your heart
Feel free to add yours if it is wacky;
See http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/12/60-wacky-love-expressions-for-valentine-day/

A young man in Anambra state decided to present a surprise gift to his girl friend to celebrate Valentine day. He had someone record him because he feels what he was about to do was romantic.

In a photo circulating on social media, the guy is seen standing before the girl whose eyes are covered with clothes so she won’t see the gift.
The guy appears with the gift; and what is that gift? A bunch of plantain.

The girl’s eyes are still covered, which means she is still unaware of what the boy wants to present.
What do you think will be the girl’s reaction when she removes the covering from her eyes to see what the guy was holding? What do you think about this sort of creative Valentine gift?
See MORE photos;
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/12/creative-valentine-gift-what-do-you-think-will-happen-if-she-opens-her-eyes/

Scientists have revealed that giving mosquitoes diet drugs prevents them from biting humans and spreading disease.
The scientists who carried out the study found that female mosquitoes, which transmit the microbes that kill millions of people every year, lose interest in human blood if their appetites are suppressed with the chemicals.
The study, which is still in its early stages, was published in the journal Cell. It showed that by manipulating the hormones which make mosquitoes feel full, the insects’ desire for blood can be satiated.

“We were impressed and amazed that drugs designed to affect human appetite worked perfectly to suppress mosquito appetite,” study author Leslie Vosshall said in a statement.
The scientists carried out experiments on female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which require human blood for the proteins they need to produce eggs. This species is responsible for spreading yellow fever, dengue fever and Zika virus.

The researchers noted, however, that once these mosquitoes fed on human blood and become bloated, their attraction to humans declines for several days.
See details;
http://massmediang.com/giving-mosquitoes-diet-drugs-suppresses-their-appetite-for-humans-new-study-reveals/

This story is a bit technical but contains amazing revelations in the field of technological advancements.

A team of Scientists in Japan took time to listen to frog choruses and identified a pattern which they turned into a mathematical model for developing a wireless sensor network.
The scientists discovered that frog choruses are functional and regulated, and came up with a model that inspired an invention. Checkout this story.
Frogs communicate with sound, and amid their ruckus is an internally orchestrated system that lets information get through more clearly while also permitting collective choruses and time to rest. Researchers from Osaka University and University of Tsukuba sought to leverage this amphibious acumen for mathematical and technological aims.
The team looked at the calling patterns of male Japanese tree frogs over different time intervals. To do so, they placed three frogs in individual inside cages and recorded their vocal interplay. They found the frogs both avoided overlapping croaks and collectively switched between calling and silence. The researchers then created a mathematical model to adapt the frogs’ acoustic teachings for technological benefit, as such patterns are similar to those valued in networks. The findings are reported in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

“We found neighboring frogs avoided temporal overlap, which allows a clear path for individual voices to be heard,” study co-author Daichi Kominami explains. “In this same way, neighboring nodes in a sensor network need to alternate the timings of data transmission so the data packets don’t collide.”
See interesting details;
http://massmediang.com/japanese-scientists-use-frog-communication-patterns-to-design-wireless-sensor-network/

Woman Wants To Hire Someone To Make Decisions For Her For One Month, Ready To Pay N900k

A woman who does not want to make wrong decisions has actually resorted to a bizarre option which is trending online.

The woman has found making decisions so difficult she’s currently on the look out for someone to take “control” of her life and make all her decisions for an entire month, including who she will date.
This woman is serious that she’s willing to pay whoever she hires a pretty decent amount of money to do it – £2,000 (about N900,000).
The unnamed woman from Bristol has shared an advert on Bark.com seeking help after having a particularly bad year.

She wrote: “Hiya, bit of a weird one I know but basically, I feel like I need someone to make my decisions for me.

“I’ve had a really rubbish year and would love for someone to take control of my life think of it a bit like a real life Bandersnatch.
“I have no idea if this sort of thing exists, but I came across clairvoyants when I was looking for another service, so I thought it was worth a shot.”
The woman went on to explain all of the terrible things that had happened to her lately, including losing money she loaned to a friend, getting stranded without money while backpacking in New Zealand, being abused by a former partner, and getting mugged after taking a shortcut home.
See details:
http://massmediang.com/woman-wants-to-hire-someone-to-make-decisions-for-her-for-one-month/

This story is a bit frightening but also a warning to those who do not switch on the light in the middle of the night when they want to use the bathroom.

An unlucky lady got an unexpected surprise when she was bitten on the bottom by a carpet python as she tried to use the toilet.

Helen Richards described the startling moment the snake sank its teeth into her behind at her sister-in-law’s home in Brisbane’s west earlier this week.

The 59-year-old has cautioned others to ‘look before they leak’ in a bid to stop anyone else suffering the same fate.
‘I felt this sharp tap and a little bit of pain. I thought it was a green frog, but then I thought green frogs don’t have teeth,’ Mrs Richards told The Courier Mail.

‘I jumped up with my pants down and turned around to see what looked like a longneck turtle receding back into the bowl,’ she added.
See shocking details:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/09/australian-woman-bitten-by-python-hiding-inside-her-toilet-as-she-sits-to-pee/

Propose Day is celebrated across the world as the day people express love to someone they like. It is always celebrated on the second day of Valentine week, after the Rose Day, and this year is fell on Friday, February 8. While the Rose Day marks the beginning of the Valentine Week, the Propose Day is the second day of the Valentine week.
Telling someone how you feel about them can be a daunting thing to do. Propose Day is the perfect day to go ahead and do it. This day of the Valentine Week is a celebration of love, so go ahead and let that special someone know how you feel about them, or remind your partner how much they mean to you by wishing them happy propose day. Just be respectful of other people’s feelings this Propose Day.
There are some Propose Day quotes and images that will help you express your feelings on this special day.

Here are some thoughtful wishes, SMSes, quotes, images and WhatsApp messages to send out this Propose Day:
“On this special day I want to say: Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.
Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
“I give you all my love
I promise to stay forever
And remain true to you
Happy Propose Day, my sweet Valentine.”

“There are many love stories in this world, but ours is the sweetest. It is sweet because you are in the love story. Will you be with me forever?”

“Today the second day of Valentine week, which just started two days back. Love is already in the air, and in my life, because of you. Happy Propose Day, my love.”
See many more here:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/08/today-is-propose-day-2019-see-some-propose-day-quotes-that-will-stun-your-partner/

Is This ‘Good Taste’ In Bad Taste? Giant Advert Billboard In Owerri Animal Rights Activists Might Not Like

Organizations are adopting several creative ways to promote their products and services. But some adverts look so weird that you wonder whether it is actually creativity or the advertiser forgot that some adverts could backfire due to disturbing choice of contents. If you’re an animal rights activist you might definitely take a second look at this billboard.
Here’s a giant billboard promoting the local delicacies offered by a food and drinks joint in Owerri. The billboard is situated in the middle of one of the busiest areas in Owerri, capital of Imo state.

The food joint owners probably wanted to emphasize that they offer goat meat pepper soup, goat head and such other popular local delicacies. The choice of photo to promote their food joint looks a bit weird – a man carrying a dead goat.

Some observers might wonder whether animal rights activists would be unhappy with such unsympathetic expression of joy in the killing and display of a goat in the manner portrayed by the billboard content. Some others say this idea is creative and attractive. A few others might refer to bad taste in advertising.

What do you think about this billboard?
See more photos;
http://massmediang.com/is-this-good-taste-in-bad-taste-giant-advert-billboard-in-owerri-animal-rights-activists-might-not-like/

Ghost In Female Student’s Apartment Turns Out To Be Strange Man Hiding In Her Closet, Wearing Her Clothes

A student of North Carolina university who thought her apartment was haunted after things started disappearing was shocked to find a creepy man hiding in her closet and wearing her clothes.
The female student, who only wanted to be identified as Maddie, had grown to think that the off-campus apartment she shared with a roommate was haunted after her clothes started disappearing and strange handprints started appearing on mirrors and walls. However, on Saturday, she found that she wasn’t dealing with a ghost, but something equally as terrifying – a strange man hiding in her closet and wearing her clothes.


“I just hear rattling in my closet. It sounded like a raccoon in my closet,” Maddie told Fox8. “I’m like, ‘Who’s there?’ And somebody answers me. He’s like, ‘Oh, my name is Drew.’ I open the door and he’s in there, wearing all of my clothes. My socks. My shoes. And he has a book bag full of my clothes.”

The shocked student, who goes to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, managed to keep her composure and quickly called her boyfriend. At the same time, she started talking to the creepy guy in her closet to distract him and stall for time. Interestingly, he seemed more than happy to hang out.

“He tries on my hat. He goes in the bathroom and looks in the mirror and then is like ‘you’re really pretty, can I give you a hug?’” Maddie recalled. “But he never touched me.”
When Maddie’s boyfriend arrived at her apartment he made the uninvited guest leave and called the police. The “closet ghost” was later arrested near the apartment building and identified as 30-year-old Andrew Swofford. On Monday, he was jailed in Guilford County under a $26,000 bond on 14 felony charges including larceny and identity theft.
See details:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/08/ghost-in-female-students-apartment-turns-out-to-be-strange-man-hiding-in-her-closet-wearing-her-clothes/

An online store is selling something that can help people think effectively – a ‘thought box’.

The Thought Box, a $650 cardboard and fabric box which you put over your head, gives you personal place anywhere, away from distraction in your immediate environment.

Just as the name says, The Thought Box is a box to help you think. Just have a seat on the included Thought Stool, put the box over your head and use the earplugs that come with it to detach from everything around you and just think. If that sounds like the kind of thing you need in your hectic life, head on over to The Form Emporium online store and order one today. Just know that you’ll have to pay £495 ($650) for it.
The Thought Box kit is proudly made in Great Britain and consists of a cardboard and fabric (lycra) box, an internal plastic helmet that can be adjusted to fit the user’s head, ear plugs, and 5 interchangeable colored fabric filters to suit your mood. It also comes with a Thought Stool made from solid beech. So yeah, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth with this one.

According to The Form Emporium product page, the Thought Box is intended as a personal space in which the user can simply think. It allegedly “promotes mental efficiency”.
See details;
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/06/online-store-offers-650-thought-box-you-can-put-over-your-head-so-you-can-think/

Prisons create a first impression of some form of shackles that prevent inmates from leading a normal life. But there are some prisons across the world that look more comfortable that even an above average home. When you see a luxurious prison you might wonder whether inmates actually committed crime or paid to spend some time in them. Take a look at this list of top 12 most comfortable prisons in the world.
Here are 12 of the world’s most comfortable prisons – institutions that have changed how we look at correctional facilities.
1. Bastoy Prison, Norway
Located on Bastoy Island in Oslofjord, this prison houses a little over 100 inmates who, within the prison complex, enjoy luxuries like tennis, horseback-riding, fishing and sunbathing. With tasteful cottages to house them and lush farms to work on, the prisoners at this minimum security institution probably often forget they’re prisoners.

2. Sollentuna Prison, Sweden

This prison is that cushiest prison in the top ten lists of luxurious jail which offers its inmates full-equipped gym and workout activities in order to maintain their body shape. This prison also sounds like a home, because you are free to cook your own meals, and watch TV on their own couches, except for the fact that you can’t leave. As well as the surprising fact is that Sweden has actually been closing its prison due to the lack of prisoners, as the whole country has aimed to invest the majority of their time, money, and energy in order to reduce crime

3. HMP Addiewell, Scotland

A designated learning prison, Her Majesty’s Prison Addiewell in southern Scotland allots each of its resident inmates 40 weekly hours of productive skill building. With a special focus on helping inmates transition back to civilian life in a purposeful and fulfilling manner, Addiewell’s 700 prisoners are sure in good hands.

4. Otago Corrections Facility, New Zealand


While its security measures are not taken lightly, Otago provides its inmates with comfortable rooms, and attributes great significance to change through skill building. Holding classes in light engineering, dairy farming and cooking among other things, Otago strives to rehabilitate effectively.

5. Justice Center Leoben, Austria

A quaint European residence for non-violent offenders, the Justice Center prison gives each of its prisoners a single cell, with a private bathroom, and kitchenette, plus a television. All that and their fully-equipped gym, basketball court and outdoor recreation area would make for a considerably cushy sentence, if you ask me.

6. Aranjuez Prison, Spain

Addressing the way that correctional facilities rip families apart, this innovative institution provides for infant children to live their first years with their incarcerated parents. Equipped with cribs, Disney characters on the walls, and a kids’ play area, Aranjuez gives incarcerated parents a chance to experience parenthood despite circumstances, and a parent to those too young to comprehend the reality of being imprisoned.

7. Champ-Dollon Prison, Switzerland

Previously infamous for overcrowding, the newly refurbished residences in Champ-Dollon boasts of spacious triple-occupancy cells that include an attached bathroom. Ample facilities such as these allow the inmates to feel less like prisoners and more like university dorm-mates working together towards rehabilitation.

8. JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, Germany

This Hamburg prison is home to many long-serving inmates who enjoy spacious cells that have beds, a couch and a private shower and toilet along with plentiful natural light. Among its many facilities, JVA Fuhlsbuettel provides its prisoners machines to do their laundry and access to a conference room and a recreation room.
SEE details:
http://wakkinews.com/2019/02/02/top-12-most-comfortable-prisons-in-the-world/