₦airaland Forum

FMC Abeokuta is the worst FMC in Nigeria. The doctors are medical staff there are the meanest kind of human beings on earth. My mother was a victim of their mean attitude.
I'd rather go to a native doctor than to go there.

You are an Iraqi based in London, United Kingdom, how did you learn to speak Yoruba?

I trade at Woolwich Market. That is where I work and where I started meeting many Nigerian customers, especially Yoruba people.

Many of the Nigerians I met at the market spoke Yoruba when they came to buy things from me. At first, I did not understand what they were saying, so I became curious and started asking them to interpret the words they used. That was how I gradually started learning Yoruba from my customers.

What do you sell?

I used to sell pepper and fruit, but now I sell cosmetics and hair. My business has changed over time, but I have continued interacting with many Yoruba customers at the market. Through those interactions, I have also continued learning the language.

How did you first become interested in the Yoruba language?

About 95 per cent of my customers are Yoruba. Whenever they came to buy things, they would speak Yoruba to me. Instead of just listening to them, I started asking questions whenever I heard words I did not understand. I would ask them what the words meant, and that was how I learnt little by little.

The more I listened to them, the more interested I became. I started enjoying the language because I think Yoruba is a sweet language. That was what encouraged me to keep learning it.

What do you like about the Yoruba language?

I like the way the language sounds. For me, it is an interesting language, and because I hear my customers speak it regularly, it became easier for me to pick it up. I also like the way Yoruba people communicate with me when they come to the market.

How did you get the name “Olakunle Oshodi”?

Oh, one of my customers gave me the name. She is a lovely person, and she is Yoruba. She said the name was good for me, and that was how I got the name “Olakunle Oshodi.”

Do you have any family connection to Nigeria?

No, I don’t have any family connection to Nigeria. I have never even been there. My connection with Yoruba came through my customers and the people I have met at the market.

I used to sell pepper and fruit, but now I sell cosmetics and hair. My business has changed over time, but I have continued interacting with many Yoruba customers at the market. Through those interactions, I have also continued learning the language.

How did you first become interested in the Yoruba language?

About 95 per cent of my customers are Yoruba. Whenever they came to buy things, they would speak Yoruba to me. Instead of just listening to them, I started asking questions whenever I heard words I did not understand. I would ask them what the words meant, and that was how I learnt little by little.

The more I listened to them, the more interested I became. I started enjoying the language because I think Yoruba is a sweet language. That was what encouraged me to keep learning it.

What do you like about the Yoruba language?

I like the way the language sounds. For me, it is an interesting language, and because I hear my customers speak it regularly, it became easier for me to pick it up. I also like the way Yoruba people communicate with me when they come to the market.

How did you get the name “Olakunle Oshodi”?

Oh, one of my customers gave me the name. She is a lovely person, and she is Yoruba. She said the name was good for me, and that was how I got the name “Olakunle Oshodi.”

Do you have any family connection to Nigeria?

No, I don’t have any family connection to Nigeria. I have never even been there. My connection with Yoruba came through my customers and the people I have met at the market.


How long have you been learning Yoruba?

It has been about three years. I can speak it because I really like the language, so it has not been that hard for me. I have been learning mainly through my customers and through everyday conversations at the market.

What made you decide to speak Yoruba with your customers?

Basically, I just wanted to learn. You know, Yoruba people joke with you and laugh with you. They want happiness, and they are not fake. That is why I love them.

When they come to the market, there is always a lot of interaction. They joke, laugh, and make you feel comfortable. So, for me, learning the language became a way of connecting with them better.

Yoruba people are lovely. Even when wahala comes sometimes, they are still just lovely. I enjoy the way they joke and laugh with you. They want happiness, and that is something I really like about them.

Being around them has also helped me learn more about the language because I speak Yoruba almost every day with my customers. The more I interact with them, the more I learn.

Has speaking Yoruba affected your business?

Yes, it has made the business grow. Speaking Yoruba has helped me connect with my customers better, and I believe that has been good for my business.

When customers realise that I can speak their language, it creates a different kind of relationship. We can joke together, laugh together, and communicate more easily.

How do customers react when they realise that you can speak Yoruba?

They are shocked, and they laugh. I see them happy, and I laugh with them. Sometimes, you can see that they did not expect a white man to speak Yoruba, so their reaction is usually one of surprise. Most of the time, they are not expecting it at all, especially when they first hear me respond to them in Yoruba.
I enjoy seeing their reaction because you can immediately see the happiness on their faces. Sometimes, they will look at me again as if they are trying to confirm whether I really understand what they are saying. It is always a funny and enjoyable moment for me.

Speaking Yoruba also makes the interaction more relaxed. Instead of just being a customer-and-trader relationship, we can joke together, laugh together, and have a better conversation. I enjoy that connection with them. I laugh with them because it makes the interaction more enjoyable, and I am happy when I see that they appreciate my effort to speak their language.

What goes through your mind when customers are surprised by your Yoruba?

I just enjoy the moment. They are shocked and laughing, and I see that they are happy. So, I laugh with them. For me, it is a nice experience because it shows that they appreciate the fact that I am trying to speak their language.

Has speaking Yoruba helped you gain your customers’ trust?

Yes, 100 per cent. I’m always with them. I spend a lot of time interacting with my customers at the market, so speaking Yoruba has helped me become closer to them. When I speak their language, they know that I am making an effort to understand them and communicate with them in a way that makes them comfortable.

I am not just there to sell something to them; I enjoy being around them and having conversations with them. That connection is important to me.

Have you ever had a funny experience while speaking Yoruba?

Yes, I have. They say, “Ah-ah!” when I speak. They are usually surprised when they hear me speaking Yoruba, and that reaction can be funny.
Sometimes, they cannot believe what they hear. They will react with “Ah-ah!” because they did not expect me to speak the language.

Even though sometimes wahala can come, it is still just lovely being around them. My experience with them has been positive, and they have also played an important role in helping me learn the language.

Do you think your customers have also enjoyed teaching you Yoruba?

Yes, because most of what I know came from interacting with them. When they speak Yoruba and I do not understand a word, I ask them what it means. That is how I learn.

It has been a gradual process. I listen, ask questions, and then try to use the words when I speak to them. I enjoy the learning process.

What are you looking forward to about visiting Nigeria?

As I said earlier, I have never been to Nigeria, but I have plans to go. I have not had the opportunity to visit yet, even though I have developed such a strong interest in the Yoruba language and culture.

I have a plan to go. I have never been there before, so I would like to experience the country and meet more people. I have learnt Yoruba mainly from people in London, so visiting Nigeria would allow me to experience the language and culture differently.

What does Yoruba culture mean to you?

I love the culture. I love Yoruba natives. My connection with Yoruba has grown through the people I meet and the language I have learnt from them. Even though I have never been to Nigeria, I have developed a love for the culture through my customers and the people around me.

What would you like Yoruba people to know about your connection with their language?

I want them to know that I love all of them, and I want to learn more of the language if I can. I speak well, but I only need time. One day, they will see. I want them to know that my interest in Yoruba is genuine. I did not learn it because somebody forced me to; I learnt it because I met Yoruba people, I enjoyed being around them, and I fell in love with the language.

Source: https://punchng.com/my-customers-taught-me-yoruba-london-trader-olakunle-oshodi/#google_vignette

alobright17:
With which code ? Make I try am ?

*939*77#

LOVEGINO:
Airtel smart bundle 1k 6g for 7days.

Point of correction, it's 6.5gig

nlfpmod:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo-10Zv8-M8?si=nQ0abgyXi5LjDToi

It's time for him to take a bow. History will judge him accordingly.

InfoGuru118:
https://news360ng.com/breaking-jamb-admits-errors-in-2025-utme-results/

Lots of questions begging for an answer. How long has this so called technical glitch been happening unnoticed/without knowing while we keep blaming the wards for poor performances? Who is responsible for the negligence? Why was it so pronounced/particular/peculiar in one region of the country? Was it deliberate or accidental?

What has jamb been using all the revenues it generates for year in year out?
What's going to be the financial compensations for the affected, mentally disoriented candidates?
Then a 10 years comprehensive review of the entire system should be done.

Luckylife:
Tears of what ! Can the tears bring 50% of the damage their incompetent have caused to innocent adolescent?

One candidate has already committed suicide in Ikorodu because of this stupid error.

[/b] Demand For Sharia In Yoruba Land Borne Out Of Self-interest, Political Undertone — Mudir Markaz [b]


Sheikh Muhammad Habbibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, Director of the Arabic and Islamic Training Centre (Markaz) and Founder of Markaz University College, has strongly criticised renewed calls for establishing Shari’a courts in parts of Yorubaland.

The Islamic scholar stated that these demands, which have sparked debate within and beyond the Muslim community, are driven by self-interest and political motives rather than genuine religious concerns.

Tribune Online reports that some netizens also took to social media, reacting differently to the news of the planned inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo State. This came after a flyer went viral on social media announcing plans by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo town and its environs in January 2025.

While some expressed support for the announcement, others strongly criticised it.

In an interview, the Markaz Director emphasised that Shari’a has always been a part of the lives of Muslims in Yorubaland, even before the arrival of colonial rulers, and continues to be practised within the framework of existing Customary Courts. He questioned the motives behind the renewed agitations, arguing that they are not rooted in sincere Islamic practice but rather in personal and political ambitions.

Sheikh El-Ilory pointed out that Shari’a was in practice among Yoruba Muslims long before the arrival of British colonialists. However, due to the religious diversity of the South West—where Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions coexist—the Constitution did not formally acknowledge Shari’a for the region as it did for the North.

Instead, he explained, Customary Courts were established to cater to the religious and cultural needs of various groups, with representatives from Islam, Christianity, and traditional beliefs adjudicating cases based on their respective doctrines.

“Despite not being explicitly recognised in the Constitution, Shari’a governs various aspects of our lives, from marriage and inheritance to naming and burial ceremonies,” Sheikh El-Ilory explained. He noted that Ilorin, which historically straddles the North and South West, has continued to operate Shari’a courts due to its unique position, he added.

While acknowledging that the call for Shari’a is not new, Sheikh El-Ilory recalled that a similar push occurred in 1978 during the drafting of Nigeria’s Constitution ahead of the Second Republic. At that time, according to the scholar, Chief M.K.O. Abiola advocated for Shari’a to be included in the Constitution, but his efforts were questioned by prominent scholars, including Sheikh Adam Abdullah El-Ilory.

“Sheikh Adam asked M.K.O. Abiola: ‘Have you been prevented from practising your religion? Has anyone stopped you from conducting marriages, burials, or inheritance according to Islamic law?’ When Abiola answered in the negative, the agitations were abandoned,” he recounted.

Sheikh El-Ilory believed that today’s push for Shari’a in Yorubaland is not a religious necessity but a means for certain individuals to gain political influence. “Some people are using Shari’a as a tool to sideline respected indigenous Muslim leaders and take over the leadership of Islam in Yorubaland, particularly in the Robita,” he said.

The scholar noted that several South West states, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo, have outrightly rejected the establishment of Shari’a courts, emphasising that Muslims in these states already practise Shari’a in their daily lives without government interference.

“When Ogun State refused to approve Shari’a courts, some questioned whether indigenous Muslims exist there. But the reality is that Yoruba Muslims have long intermarried, conducted naming ceremonies, and buried their dead in accordance with Islamic law. If these do not align with Shari’a, then what exactly do they mean by Shari’a?” he asked.

Sheikh El-Ilory also dismissed claims that Nigeria is a secular state, clarifying that the country is instead a multi-religious society where no single religion is given preference in governance. He traced the origin of secularism to medieval Europe, where the Catholic Church once wielded excessive power over state affairs before the rise of scientific reasoning diminished its influence.

Mudir Markaz firmly stated that the push for Shari’a in Yorubaland is unnecessary and could potentially cause division.

“Are we already practising Shari’a or not? We are. So why demand it now? It could create a crisis when no one is stopping us from living according to Islamic principles,” he warned.

He urged the Muslim community to focus on unity and true Islamic scholarship rather than political manoeuvring disguised as religious advocacy.

“Not everyone who identifies as a Muslim scholar truly understands Islam. Attending MSSN programmes or being a committed Muslim does not automatically make one an authority in Shari’a,” he noted.

Link: https://tribuneonlineng.com/demands-for-sharia-in-yoruba-land-borne-out-of-self-interest-political-undertone-mudir-markaz/amp/

Demand For Sharia In Yoruba Land Borne Out Of Self-interest, Political Undertone — Mudir Markaz.



Sheikh Muhammad Habbibullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, Director of the Arabic and Islamic Training Centre (Markaz) and Founder of Markaz University College, has strongly criticised renewed calls for establishing Shari’a courts in parts of Yorubaland.

The Islamic scholar stated that these demands, which have sparked debate within and beyond the Muslim community, are driven by self-interest and political motives rather than genuine religious concerns.

Tribune Online reports that some netizens also took to social media, reacting differently to the news of the planned inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo State. This came after a flyer went viral on social media announcing plans by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo town and its environs in January 2025.
While some expressed support for the announcement, others strongly criticised it.

In an interview, the Markaz Director emphasised that Shari’a has always been a part of the lives of Muslims in Yorubaland, even before the arrival of colonial rulers, and continues to be practised within the framework of existing Customary Courts. He questioned the motives behind the renewed agitations, arguing that they are not rooted in sincere Islamic practice but rather in personal and political ambitions.

Sheikh El-Ilory pointed out that Shari’a was in practice among Yoruba Muslims long before the arrival of British colonialists. However, due to the religious diversity of the South West—where Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions coexist—the Constitution did not formally acknowledge Shari’a for the region as it did for the North.

Instead, he explained, Customary Courts were established to cater to the religious and cultural needs of various groups, with representatives from Islam, Christianity, and traditional beliefs adjudicating cases based on their respective doctrines.

“Despite not being explicitly recognised in the Constitution, Shari’a governs various aspects of our lives, from marriage and inheritance to naming and burial ceremonies,” Sheikh El-Ilory explained. He noted that Ilorin, which historically straddles the North and South West, has continued to operate Shari’a courts due to its unique position, he added.

While acknowledging that the call for Shari’a is not new, Sheikh El-Ilory recalled that a similar push occurred in 1978 during the drafting of Nigeria’s Constitution ahead of the Second Republic. At that time, according to the scholar, Chief M.K.O. Abiola advocated for Shari’a to be included in the Constitution, but his efforts were questioned by prominent scholars, including Sheikh Adam Abdullah El-Ilory.

“Sheikh Adam asked M.K.O. Abiola: ‘Have you been prevented from practising your religion? Has anyone stopped you from conducting marriages, burials, or inheritance according to Islamic law?’ When Abiola answered in the negative, the agitations were abandoned,” he recounted.

Sheikh El-Ilory believed that today’s push for Shari’a in Yorubaland is not a religious necessity but a means for certain individuals to gain political influence. “Some people are using Shari’a as a tool to sideline respected indigenous Muslim leaders and take over the leadership of Islam in Yorubaland, particularly in the Robita,” he said.

The scholar noted that several South West states, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo, have outrightly rejected the establishment of Shari’a courts, emphasising that Muslims in these states already practise Shari’a in their daily lives without government interference.

“When Ogun State refused to approve Shari’a courts, some questioned whether indigenous Muslims exist there. But the reality is that Yoruba Muslims have long intermarried, conducted naming ceremonies, and buried their dead in accordance with Islamic law. If these do not align with Shari’a, then what exactly do they mean by Shari’a?” he asked.

Sheikh El-Ilory also dismissed claims that Nigeria is a secular state, clarifying that the country is instead a multi-religious society where no single religion is given preference in governance. He traced the origin of secularism to medieval Europe, where the Catholic Church once wielded excessive power over state affairs before the rise of scientific reasoning diminished its influence.

Mudir Markaz firmly stated that the push for Shari’a in Yorubaland is unnecessary and could potentially cause division.

“Are we already practising Shari’a or not? We are. So why demand it now? It could create a crisis when no one is stopping us from living according to Islamic principles,” he warned.

He urged the Muslim community to focus on unity and true Islamic scholarship rather than political manoeuvring disguised as religious advocacy.

“Not everyone who identifies as a Muslim scholar truly understands Islam. Attending MSSN programmes or being a committed Muslim does not automatically make one an authority in Shari’a,” he noted.


Link: https://tribuneonlineng.com/demands-for-sharia-in-yoruba-land-borne-out-of-self-interest-political-undertone-mudir-markaz/amp/

Dear nairalanders,

I want to become a NIN enrollment agent. The problem is I don't know how to go about it, where to get the machines/ devices and at what cost. Also I heard there's license and VPN something which I still don't understand.
Can someone please assist?

I want to become a NIN enrollment agent. The problem is I don't know how to go about it, where to get the machines/ devices and at what cost. Also I heard there's license and VPN something which I still don't understand.
Can someone please assist?

Rule number one: Don't run out of garri.

Peace