You don’t replace your loofah frequently enough
The loofahs we use to clean our face can harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast, among other harmful things. Always wash it thoroughly after using and leave it to dry completely. You can replace it frequently for best results.

You don’t shower right after a workout
Regular workout is the key to a healthy body and mind. However, it is important to shower right after your training sessions for a beautiful skin.
Sweat becomes easily trapped inside tight-knit clothing, which can lead to acne, irritation, and other problems.
Wash your body with an antibacterial body wash and focusing on areas where your skin touched the exercise equipment, or anywhere you’re prone to breakouts (like your chest and back).

You always shower in the morning
Most of us shower in the morning for a refreshing day at work but forgets to wash down after work. When this happens, all that ick from the day is transferred to our bedding, which leads to a cycle of all that ick going right back into our skin. It is very necessary to shower in the evening to wash away the pollen and other impurities you’ve come in contact with throughout the day.

You don’t clean your makeup brushes.
Cleaning your makeup brushes on a regular basis is a fundamental aspect of a good skincare routine. If not properly cleaned, makeup brushes can carry hordes of bacteria that can cause serious damage to the skin. The dirt also hidden inside the bristles causes them to deteriorate quicker, affecting your makeup application.
Clean your tools regularly. You should spritz your brushes once a week with a cleansing spray and deep clean them once a month with shampoo or gentle soap.

https://www.nigerialog.com/beauty/4-bad-skin-care-habits-you-need-to-stop-now/new/#new

How difficult is it, stopping yourself from biting your nails, so much you start to wonder if it isn’t genetic or hereditary. Well, it is very likely kids whose parents bit their nails to do same. Studies have also shown the possibility even when the parents stop before their kid are born.

Nail biting for the different person is as a result of different reasons.
For some, nail biting is simply one of the many Body-Focused Repetitive Disorder, characterized by impulsivity.
For others, it could be a sign of mental stress, emotional imbalance or anxiety disorder. Whatever the case may be, biting your nails does have its downsides which you should know, both health and social wise.

Exposing skin to bacteria from your mouth

The mouth houses bacteria that cause infection, harmful to your health when exposed to the delicate skin beneath your nails. It also houses saliva, which is filled with chemical compositions that aid digestion but that is however where its necessity resides in.

Think about it, why do you think your lips get chapped from licking them? This is because the saliva is corroding them, which is the same thing that happens to the skin surrounding your nails, inflaming and damaging it. Asides that, how about what it look to the other person seeing you pick your nails?

Exposing your mouth to pathogens
It works both ways, you know. Granting access to your mouth, the microorganisms on your fingers is as bad as exposing your fingers to bacteria in your mouth. The hands do practically all the activities you engage, going as many places as possible, coming in contact with all the imaginable which is not exactly serving as food nor nutrient to the body.

Nail Deformity, social implication
The fingernails contain a generative layer called the matrix from which the nail cells flowers. Continuous biting off your nails, with the infections that come with it, can damage the matrix. Thereby making it growth weird. It gets worse. Communication and social interaction go together with your mouth as well as your hands. Think about displaying such in a social gathering and think again about biting your nails.

Dental issues, smiling gets hard
It starts with fractures on the teeth you use to nibble on your nails. Progresses to destroying the socket that holds the teeth and then to the teeth becoming crooked. Further down the lane, laughing or smiling gets hard because showing off such means probably answering questions you do not want to.

Nail biting is not just a habit anymore if it affects you in more ways than one. Breaking it off becomes essential.

https://www.nigerialog.com/health/nail-biting-health-and-social-risk-a-habit-to-break/new/#new

Career advice is cheap and many people actually think they are good at advising others about their occupation.
A career is an occupation of a profession that defines a significant part of your life and when seeking advice about this, you need to be careful because not all career advice is good.
Here are five bad pieces of advice you should absolutely ignore.

1. Take any salary you are offered
''You know there is no job anywhere and this one is probably the best you can get. Just take that small salary they offered you and as time goes on you can move on to a better job''.
This piece of advice seems good because the person giving it does not want you to be unemployed. Nevertheless, don't just accept any salary offer. The employers actually have a range and they expect you to negotiate your salary.

2. You might hate that job, but don't quit
This is probably the most negative career advice you can get. Don't let someone who does not know what you go through at work and how frustrating the job is advice you to stay in a job you despise.

3. Stay as long as you're comfortable with the job
No. If you really want to have a career you won't stay in a job because you are simply comfortable. Job satisfaction is also important. It is when you have this you grow and enjoy your career.

4. Just take a job for now even if you don't want it
Except you're very broke and you need money, accepting any job offer is absolutely a wrong career advice. A piece of advice like this will only leave you sad and unmotivated in the job.

5. Follow the money
One of the reasons you want a job and a career is to make money but the salary shouldn't be the only consideration when accepting or staying in a job. Money is not everything. If you are earning big but you are not happy with the job, you may need to consider another job. Don't follow the money at the expense of your happiness.

https://www.nigerialog.com/career/5-career-advice-you-should-absolutely-ignore/new/#new

A people of rich culture and tradition, let's take a brief walk into the lives of this ancient ethnic group, the Gade tribe of Nigeria.
The Gade tribe and settlements are
predominantly found in parts of the FCT, Nassarawa and Niger states.

Brief History
The Babye, popularly known as Gade people, can be traced back to their first ancestors called
Adakpu.
Adakpu migrated from the Congo-Niger Basin through Sudan to Kano area in search of farmland, in the year 1068 AD. They settled in the Gadawur area, present Jigawa State, with their leader Gakingakuma during the reign of
Tsamiya, the then Emir of Kano, till 1075 AD when Tsamiya was succeeded by Bagaudu. In the course of their migration, they joined other Kwararafa lineage such as Jukuns » , Igala, Alago, Afo, Korn and Egburra.
When the Gade leader, Gakingakuma, died, it led to the mass exodus of the people from Kano to the Doma area in the present Nasarawa State.
Gade is actually a corruption of the word Ngade meaning, "I said", a name adopted because the Hausa people wanted to distinguish between Gade and Maguzawa. Within themselves, they are known as Babye. The group can further be split into the Gazargawa, Zadawa, Sheme, Gadawa and Tokarawa tribes.
Today, the Gade can be found majorly in the North Central region of Nigeria. In the FCT, the Gade settlements include Yanga, Kurudu, Anguwa Gade Gwagwalada, Anguwan Gade Dobi, Anguwan Gade Tungan Maje, and Anguwan Gade Dabi and Sabo.

Economy
The Gade people engage in many activities for economic purposes, but mainly, farming and hunting are their main occupation. Their women are good weavers of clothes and makers of baskets.

Culture and beliefs
This ethnic group are predominantly of Islamic religion but have mystic and traditional beliefs. During their festivals, memorial ceremomies and occasions such as the Annual Gade Cultural Festival, there are masquerades that come out to display such as Adakpu masquerade, Zurukpukpu masquerade, the masquerade for women Kakamauwu and the Zurunuba masquerade. At their festivals, some of their mystic displays include pounding of millet with a mortar placed on the abdomen of an old man and young men slicing every part of the bodies with sharp knives.

Language
Gade is of the Niger-Congo family and Volta-Niger classification. A Nupoid language of Nigeria, the dialect of the Gade is Libye/Ribye.

https://www.nigerialog.com/culture/gade-tribe-a-brief-walk-into-the-lives-of-this-ethnic-group/new/#new

There are many arguments for male grooming especially in regards shaving their body hair. When we refer to ‘shaving’ here, the focus is not about shaving your facial hairs rather it is on shaving your body.

There are endless questions as to what body parts should be shaved and what body parts should be left to grow wild and free. This dilemma has left many men confused whether it is a good idea to shave certain areas. In this article, we look at where should be shaved and what areas should be left alone.

Legs and arms?
One sign attached to masculinity is leg and arm hair, so if you are looking for the macho male appeal, you might want to leave your hair on these parts. Unless you are an athlete who needs it for wound healing and aerodynamics, it is best you leave these parts as natural as possible. Another reason to consider leaving this is that body hair grows back when shaved and while this might be okay when it’s your face, you may find it uncomfortable for your arms and legs because they grow back thicker and faster.

Armpits?
This is a matter of preference but it should be necessary if you have the tendency to sweat a lot and smell as a result. Perhaps everyone sweats but the odour that comes off it is caused by gathered bacteria. These bacteria are much more likely to grow and multiply in the damp of the armpit hair. If you shave your armpits, there is less chance any bacteria will grow and so your deodorant will be much more effective.

Chests and backs?
One major area of the shaving debate is the chest. Just like the legs, it boils down to preference. You may also want to consult your partner to ask them about their preference.

As for the back, there is no thinking about it twice; you should consider getting rid of back hair if your aim is to be a groomed gentleman. Admittedly, it is not the easiest body part to shave, but it is very much worth it, you can even recruit someone to help with the task.

The pubes?
This right here is a tricky business so, to put it bluntly, you need to have the balls for it (pun intended). Be sure it is something you are ready to commit to and you should opt for the trimmed look rather than a full-on hair or no hair at all. Depending on your preference, you can always go with what you want.

Not every man wants to be covered in hair but not all have that choice so if you find yourself on the hairy side, you now know what areas you can shave.

https://www.nigerialog.com/beauty/where-should-men-shave/new/#new

An amazing thing about this soup is that it tells you so much just with its name. Ofe Owerri which means Owerri soup is peculiar to the people of Owerri, the capital of Imo state. What makes this soup are the leaves used which are ugu and okazie, although some people add uziza or oha to theirs.

Another major ingredient is the thickener used, which vary such as ede (cocoyam), ofo or achi.

Songs have been sand about this indigenous dish like, ‘oye ne were ego, o ne ri ofe Owerri’. This translates “If you do not have money, do you eat ‘Ofe Owerri?



Ingredients
Assorted meat
1 big sized dry fish
1 huge sized stockfish (okporoko)
Sliced ugu leaves
Thinly sliced okazie leaves
3 tablespoon of palm oil
5 medium-sized ede
1 tablespoon of ogiri
1 medium-sized onion
3 tablespoon of ground crayfish
3 teaspoon of pepper
4 cubes of seasoning
Salt
Water

Preparation
-Start by boiling your ede first.
-In another pot, boil your assorted meat, stockfish and dry fish, three cubes of seasoning, onions and salt with a little amount of water at first to allow the meat soak up the ingredients.Then add a generous amount of water afterwards will make up the quantity of the soup.
--While the meat heats, take out your ede which should be soft, and pound.
--Back to the meat, check if they are tender. Then add your palm oil and ede together as the palm oil allows the ede dissolves.
--Add your crayfish, ogiri, pepper and the Okazie leaves and allow heat for a while. The okazie leaf is added now as the leaf is hard and needs a longer time to soften as opposed to ugu.
--Taste to know if any ingredient is not represented in the food, then add your ugu.
--Allow boil for a minute, turn off the gas and food is ready.
--Serve with whatever swallow of your choice.

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/how-to-prepare-ofe-owerri(pic)/msg50852/#msg50852

Noodles are staple food savoured by almost everybody. In Nigeria it is cooked and served with delicious ingredients while in other countries like China it is served in a cup with chopsticks or with seafood.

Here are facts you should know about this instant food.

Noodles is an ancient food

Noodles are at least 4000 years old. In 2002, a bowl of noodles believed to be 400 years old was dug up in Qinghai province, China. The earthenware bowl and its preserved contents were found buried beneath three metres of ground at an archaeological site in Lajia.


‘Noodle’is German
The noodle may be originated from Asia but the food’s name most likely has its roots in the German language. It is thought that “noodle” comes from the German word “nudel” which itself comes from “knödel”, meaning dumpling.

The instant noodle was invented to cure world hunger

Momofuku Ando, a failed Taiwanese-Japanese businessman, spent a year finding a solutuin to the hunger that ravaged the populace aftre Japan’s defeat in WW II hence he came up with the chicken ramen instant noodle. Instant noodles first went on sale in 1958, and hasn’t changed much

Millions of instant noodles are eaten every day all over the world
270 million portions of instant noodles are now eaten around the world every day according to the World Instant Noodles Association.

Japan has three museums dedicated to instant noodles
In Japan, it is polite to slurp noodles

It is a sign of appreciation to noisily slurp noodles in Japan

In China, noodles symbolise a long life
Noodles are a symbol of long life in China. “Longevity noodles”, which are longer than normal noodles are often eaten at Chinese New Year celebrations. It is considered very unlucky to cut up a strand!

The world’s longest noodle was over 3km Long

According to The Guinness World Record, the longest noodle was produced by a Chinese food company, Xiangnian Food Co. Ltd. The staff spent 17 hours rolling out the enormous noodle, which was made from a traditional ramen recipe and included 40 kg of bread flour, 26.8 litres of water and 0.6 kg of salt. It took the adjudicator three hours to check that the noodle was just one string and not several noodles joined together in order for the record to stand.

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/facts-about-noodles-you-should-know/new/#new

Searching for a good and rent-able apartment can be time-consuming.
You'll meet an agent that is ready to take you everywhere only to show you an apartment that does not meet your specifications.
While searching for an apartment, most people often get desperate and don't really take time to inspect the house they are paying for.
You move into such an apartment and then find out that the water is not running and the toilet facility isn't working properly.
This should not happen to you. When renting an apartment, don't get too desperate and don't make any hasty decision.
Again, if you aren't sure about the best time to go house-hunting, you should find these three tips helpful.

1. Weekend
In order to avoid making hasty decisions about renting an apartment, it is better you do the house hunting on weekends, preferably Saturday. This allows you to relax and inspect any apartment your agent takes you to.
You can check the apartment facilities from Kitchen to toilets. Check if there's a need to fix anything in the house and speak to the agent or the Landlord about it. If it takes you the whole weekend to do this, please do, I am sure you won't regret spending the whole weekend inspecting the apartment you like.

2. When the weather is fair
While you choose to go house-hunting with your agent on a Saturday, ensure the weather is fair enough to allow you to move everywhere you want.
However, if you are looking for an apartment in a city like Lagos, it is better you consider a rainy day. This is to ensure you're not getting a place that has flood issues when it rains.
Agents will downplay flooding issues as much as they can, but don't believe them.

3. When you are financially ready
If you're not financially ready to get an apartment, don't bother to look for one, because no landlord will allow you to move in when your rent is incomplete.
Apart from the rent, you must also prepare for other charges like agreement and commission fee, which may cost you N100k or N150k depending on the area. There's also a damage or caution fee which is said to be refundable after you decide to move out.

https://www.nigerialog.com/properties/when-is-the-best-time-to-go-house-hunting/new/#new

Being a parent is the most serious job here is on earth. The life of another being is entrusted to you and to a large extent, you can make or mar that being’s life.

Sometimes, you are just not sure how best to impart certain values on your children without compromising on their individuality. The perfect example of this is a woman who shared a video on Facebook that she teaches her son that he does not have to share his toys.

Sharing is a fundamental lesson we teach our children but there was a woman who didn’t think the same. Her excuse? She said once she took her son to a park and the moment they arrived, a group of boys, bigger than her son, approached the boy and asked to play with his toy. He had brought it to play with someone else and so the little boy was confused and also uncomfortable with the way the boys swarmed him.

She said she encouraged her son to say ‘No’ because he had a right to decide whom to share with. She added that in such a scenario, the person with the impolite behaviour is the stranger that insists on taking what isn’t his despite the obvious discomfort of the owner. Do you agree with her?

Sharing is an obvious value to teach your children but it should be balanced. Your child should have a mind of his own. He should share because he wants to rather than allow himself to be bullied into what he doesn’t want to do.

This can be applied to other life lessons. Empower your children by teaching them why they should do stuff. Don’t just enforce it on them. Once they understand the principle behind it, the lesson stays with them better. That’s how you balance out parenting.

https://www.nigerialog.com/family/balancing-out-what-you-teach-your-kids/new/#new

Health is a precious commodity to any society as no society can work if its members are unhealthy. Despite the desire for a healthy society, it is not unlikely for individuals to fall ill; and they turn to health practitioners.

Despite derision of its effectiveness and reliability, traditional medicine continues to thrive among the Nigerian populace. Traditional medicine relies on practical knowledge and observation passed down from generation to generation in the diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical and mental imbalance. There are different categories of traditional health practitioners such as bonesetters, herbalists, traditional birth attendants, traditional surgeons, practitioners of therapeutic occultism, etc.


These traditional healers make use of herbs, that is, medicinal plants or parts of such plants, sometimes, small whole animals like snails, snakes, chameleons, etc; and inorganic residues like salt, alum, camphor, and insects like bees, black ants etc. in the treatment of maladies.

Whatever the case may be, there is always a reliance on natural ingredients. Some traditional practices are listed below:

Palm oil as an efficacy for poison and itching
Traditionally, palm oil is administered for poison ingestion to induce vomiting with the belief that the palm oil kills the potency of the poison and detoxifies the body of the poisonous substance ingested.

Palm oil is also used to treat itching and rashes. The patient is made to take a bath and palm oil is administered all over the body as an ointment.

Incisions to get rid of ‘bad blood’
When some patients visit traditional health practitioners, the incision of blades on the affected areas by the native doctor is a common practice. The belief behind this is that the sickness could be because of ‘bad blood’ especially in cases of swollen body parts and the incisions allow the bad blood to seep out. They then treat the incisions and the patient regains sound health.

Urine for treatment of Apollo (Conjunctivitis)
Another age-long traditional health practice is the use of urine to wash the face when a patient has Apollo. They believe the composition of the urine helps to reduce the swelling and clear the eyes.

Herbal concoctions (Agbo) for many maladies
People go to traditional herb sellers who diagnose them and then give them concoctions to treat them based on the symptoms described. They use these concoctions to treat ailments like malaria, fever, typhoid and body pains. They also prepare some of these concoctions to help fertility, boost sexual drive and the immune system.

Salt and water for stomach disorders and infections
A mixture of salt and water is used for stomach related maladies to reduce pain or discomfort.

Divination and spiritual solutions
Some traditional health practitioners rely on spiritual methods to cure maladies and consult with ancestral forces to seek solutions especially for ailments perceived to be unnatural.

https://www.nigerialog.com/health/traditional-health-practices-in-nigeria/new/#new

In the years that led to Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960, there were women whose contributions not only defined how Nigerians stood up to the colonialists then but also led active political and socio-economic movements that culminated into Nigeria’s independence.

But most often than not, when the likes of Anthony Enahoro, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Remi Fani-Kayode are mentioned, names of women like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, and Margaret Ekpo are conveniently left out.


As Nigeria celebrates her 58th anniversary, we look at a few of these women.

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Born October 25, 1900, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti earned herself the nickname Lioness of Lisabi owing to her successful campaign against arbitrary taxes levied on Egba women.

A teacher by profession and political campaigner and women’s rights activist by conviction, Ransome-Kuti, in 1949, led a protest against the Alake of Egbaland, who was collecting taxes on behalf of the United Kingdom Government. The protest forced Oba Ademola II to relinquish his crown. She also led a successful campaign against separate taxes for women.

Through the Federation of Nigerian Women Societies, which she founded in 1953, Ransome-Kuti continued to champion women’s rights in the years leading to Nigeria’s independence. She was one of the first Nigerian women to form political parties and was one of the delegates who negotiated Nigeria’s independence from Britain.

She was killed in 1978 when ‘unknown soldiers’ attacked her son, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Kalakuta Republic residence.

Hajia Gambo Sawaba
Born Hajaratu Amarteifo to a Ghanaian father and Nupe mother on February 15, 1933, in present-day Niger State, Sawaba was the fifth child of her parents. Being orphaned at a young age forced her to drop out of school and by the time she was 13 years old, she was already married off to a World War II veteran Abubakar Bello.

At age 17, Hajia Sawaba had already become politically active and used her membership of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) to campaign against under-aged marriages, forced labour and also advocated for Western education.

With mentorship provided by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Sawaba became a driving for northern women liberation and was a guest of security agencies for her views, which raged against the prevailing values of northern Nigeria in those days.

Hajia Sawaba died in October 2001.


Margaret Ekpo
Born July 27, 1914, in Creek Town in the present-day Cross River State, Ekpo’s education was temporarily halted after her father Okoroafor Obiasulor died in 1934.

Her journey into politics was fortuitous. Her medical doctor husband was working for the government and could not attend political meetings. Ekpo attended those meetings on his behalf, and her interest in politics grew. She later formed Aba Township Women’s Association in 1954, a year after the NCNC nominated her to the regional House of Chiefs.

Ekpo also worked with Ransome-Kuti to protest the killings of the leaders of a local group that protested against the practices of the colonial owners at an Enugu coal in the early 1950s. She was elected into the Eastern Region parliament between 1961 and 1965.

https://www.nigerialog.com/random-thoughts/three-women-behind-nigerias-independence/new/#new

The country Nigeria is great nation with great people from diverse culture. Let us take a look at some amazing facts about the country you probably didn’t know about until now.

1) Nigeria is home to seven percent (7%) of the total languages spoken on earth. Taraba state alone has more languages than 30 African countries.

2) The Walls of Benin (800-1400AD) in present day Edo State, are the longest ancient earthworks in the world, and probably the largest man-made structure on earth. They enclose 6500 square kilometers of community lands that connected about 500 communities. At over 16000km long, it was thought to be twice the length of the Great Wall of China, until it was announced in 2012 (after five years of meticulous measurement by Chinese surveyors) that the Great Wall is about 21,000km long.

3) The Yoruba tribe has the highest rate of twin births in the world. Igbo-Ora, a little town in Oyo state, has been nicknamed Twin capital of the World because of its unusually high rate of twins that is put as high as 158 twins per 1000 births.

4) Sarki Muhammad Kanta The Great of Kebbi, was the only ruler who resisted control by Songhai, West Africa’s greatest empire at that time. He founded and ruled the Hausa city-state of Kebbi around 1600 A.D and built Surame its capital, a planned city which was almost impossible to penetrate during war. In fact UNESCO describes Surame as “one of the wonders of human history, creativity and ingenuity”, and probably the most massive stone-walled constructions in West Africa. He is listed in Robin Walker’s 50 Greatest Africans.

5) The Jos Plateau Indigobird, a small reddish-brown bird, is found nowhere else on the planet but Plateau state, Nigeria.

6) The Niger Delta (which is the second largest delta on the planet), has the highest concentration of monotypic fish families in the world, and is also home to sixty percent of Nigeria’s mangrove forests. You should know too that Nigeria’s mangrove forests are the largest in Africa and third largest on earth.

7) According to the World Resources Institute, Nigeria is home to 4,715 different types of plant species, and over 550 species of breeding birds and mammals, making it one of the most ecologically vibrant places of the planet.

Ile-Ife, in present day Osun State, was paved as early as 1000AD, with decorations that originated from Ancient America suggesting there might have been contact between the Yorubas and the Ancient Americans half a millenium before Columbus ‘discovered’ America.

9) Sungbo’s Eredo, a 160 km rampart equipped with guard houses and moats, is reputed to be the largest single pre-colonial monument (or ancient fortification if you like) in Africa. It is located in present-day Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and when it was built a millennium ago, it required more earth to be moved during construction than that used for building the Great Pyramid of Giza (one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World). The most astonishing thing is that Sungbo’s Eredo was the biggest city in the world (bigger than Rome and Cairo) during the Middle Ages when it was built.

10) The Anambra waxbill, a small bird of many beautiful colours, is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else on earth.

https://www.nigerialog.com/travel/10-amazing-facts-you-probably-dont-know-about-nigeria/new/#new

It is important to know where you've come from in order to know where you're going. For a blast from the past, here are 10 Nigerian cultural icons worth celebrating on Independence Day.
From the man who coined the term "Naira" to the voices that led independence, we can never forget the roles that these figures played in the cultural and political development of Nigeria.

1. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe was born on the 16th of November, 1904 and is known as one of the founding figures of Nigerian nationalism. He was the first president of newly independent Nigeria. He believed so much in the concept and practices of pan-Africanism and promoted the pro-African nationalist agenda. When he returned to Nigeria in 1937, he founded the West African Pilot and later, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944 alongside
Herbert Macaulay . Azikiwe's portrait adorns Nigeria's 500 Naira currency note and the has the Nnamdi Azikiwe Internawtional Airport Abuja and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka named after him.

2. Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti 's legacy and legendary is untouched. He was a brilliant artist and a tireless activist. He used his skills in saxophone, piano, guitar, dance, voice, drums, to voice out truths about the human condition and the Nigerian state. He formed his own kind of art and resisted formalism in art and music. He was a staunch believer in pan-Africanism even in the face of adversity and brutalities from the Nigerian government. He renamed himself "Anikulapo" meaning "He who carries death in his pouch" after the countless jail times and beatings he had received from soldiers. His charismatic music is known all over the world till this day.

3. Wole Soyinka
Born on July 13, 1934, Professor Wole Soyinka is a living legend. His mother, Eniola Soyinka , co-founded the Egba Women Union with Mrs. Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti and played a prominent role in decongesting Nigeria of colonial manipulation. Her son, Wole Soyinka continued the work of cultural hero by being an academic, scholar, award-winning writer, playwright, poet, novelist and theorist of the human and African condition. He damned all consequences and took a chance by meeting Col Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967 to seek a way out of the civil war. He spent two years in jail for this but continued to lend his voice to the truths and critique, even while in solitary confinement. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986.

4. Sir Tafawa Balewa
We cannot talk independence without talking about the first and only prime minister of independent Nigeria. Tafawa Balewa was a trained teacher and a vocal representative of Northern interests as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time. He was nicknamed as the Golden Voice of Africa because of his oratory skills and due to his efforts towards independence, is known as one of the founding fathers of Nigeria. He delivered an epic Independence speech on October 1, 1960. He was assassinated in 1966 during the first coup.

5. Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti
Chief Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a radical feminist and Nigerian activist who believed in freedom and justice. She was a major force in Nigeria’s anti-colonial struggle and inspired and articulated the Nigerian feminist movement principles of suffrage and equal rights for Nigerian women long before the second wave of women’s movement in the US. Because of this, she was known as "The Mother of Africa" and the "Lioness of Lisabi." She represented Nigeria's culture by always adorning her traditional attire wherever and whenever she appeared. Ransome-Kuti was thrown from a third-floor window of her son Fela's compound when it was stormed by one thousand armed military personnel. She passed away on April 13, 1978 after months of being in coma from the fatal injuries.

6. Chief Anthony Enahoro
Born on 22 July, 1923, Chief Anthony Enahoro became Nigeria's youngest editor at the age of 21 in 1944 at the Southern Nigerian Defender, the newspaper established by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. After which he joined the struggle for independence by leading protests, and was jailed on two occasions jailed for writing satiric articles. In 1953, he became the first to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence, though unsuccessful. He died on December 15, 2010.

7. Chinua Achebe
Born on November 16, 1930, Chinua Achebe was a cultural hero and literary legend » in whose words and writings our collective memories live. Along with other writer-activists like Wole Soyinka, Buchi Emecheta , Ken Saro-Wiwa , he challenged western and white supremacist thinking, changed the way African cultures imagined representing themselves, and got his stories heard by those who didn't want to hear them. He documented the independence and the war in his books, There was a Country and book of essays, The Education of a British-protected Child.

8. Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Chief Obafemi Awolowo was one of the pioneer leaders that fought for Nigeria’s independence and among the three national heroes along with Azikiwe and Balewa. Along with his agitations for the termination of the British rule, he introduced free education in the western region in 1955 and helped found the Society of the Descendants of Oduduwa, Egbe Omo Oduduwa, an organization devoted to the study and preservation of Yoruba culture. In 1954, he became the first premier of the Western Region. During his time as Commissioner of Finance, he coined the term "Naira" and his portrait adorns the front of the 100 Naira notes of today.

9. Margaret Ekpo
Margaret Ekpo was a women’s rights activist and one of the pioneering female politicians in the country’s first republic. In the era of male dominated movements towards Nigeria's independence, She rallied women, along with other Nigerian women activists, beyond notions of ethnic solidarity and played major roles in grassroot and nationalist politics in the Eastern Nigerian city of Aba. She became president Women's wing of National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (N.C.N.C) and was nominated into the regional House of Chiefs in 1953. In 1950, she alongside Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti protested killings in an Enugu coal mine. In 2001, Calabar Airport was named in her honor.

10. J.P. Clark
John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo is a cultural hero. He is a thinker, dramatist, classicist and poet. His poetry celebrates the physical landscape and recentred the way the world viewed Nigerian narratives. He was also a journalist, playwright, and scholar-critic who conducted research into traditional Ijo myths and legends and wrote essays on African poetry.


https://www.nigerialog.com/random-thoughts/10-nigerian-cultural-icons-worth-celebrating/new/#new

There are many clubs that will give you a taste of what Lagos nightlife is like. So, here are five of the hottest nightclubs in Lagos right now. Going to a nightclub is just an epic way to end your week. Clubbing powers Lagos' night and underground life. So if you're in search of exciting things to do this weekend, here are the top nightclubs now on the Island.

1. Quilox
Club Quilox is a luxurious style nightclub in Victoria Island, made for the richest in Lagos. Housed in a massive building, Club Quilox also operates a restaurant and bar. It is one of the biggest and most expensive nightclubs in Nigeria with the best DJs on call.
Location: 873 Ozumba Mbadiwe Rd, Victoria Island, Lagos

2. Vellvett
Restaurant by day, club by night, Velvett is another place where you can go and let down your hair at the end of the week. Mingle with the young, wild, free and connected people of Lagos.
Location: 19B Idejo St, Victoria Island 101241, Lagos

3. Club 57
Club 57 was formerly known as the Bacchus Club but has been rebranded as one of the most popping clubs of 2018. Lose your inhibitions and party hard, any day of the week.
Location: 57 Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos

4. Cubana
Cubana operates a restaurant as well as a club at night for high-end clients. It also offers great cocktails.
Location: 1090 Adeola Odeku St, Victoria Island, Lagos

5. Kabaal
Kabaal is a nightlife prive and restaurant that offers high class fun without the crowd.
Location: 37 Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos

https://www.nigerialog.com/metro/here-are-5-of-the-hottest-nightclubs-on-the-lagos-island-in-2018/new/#new

These two common Nigerian snacks are very similar, but to what extent?
Let's see the difference between scotch egg and egg roll.
Egg roll is more similar to Nigerian buns than scotch egg. It is made by deep-frying dough wrapped around a hard boiled egg. It is totally different from the Chinese egg roll.
Scotch egg on the other hand is made of seasoned mashed sausage meat, wrapped around a hard boiled egg, dipped in egg and bread crumbs.
The only similarities are that they are pastries that hold eggs in them and are fried.

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/scotch-egg-and-egg-roll-what's-the-difference/new/#new

Known in Nigeria as dodo and cooking bananas in some parts of the West, this major source of carbohydrates can also be used as a side dish or main dish. Not only does it have a sweet taste, it has a wide variety of options of what they can be turned into:

Here are a few:

Go regular
This regular consists of roasted plantain (boli) or fried plantain. This is a good option for your Sunday rice, beans or breakfast with custard or a quick lunch with groundnuts. They are simple and super-fast to make.

Go for a sandwich
Yes, you can make sandwiches out of plantains, all you have to do is, fry your plantain slices, flatten them till you have a thick amount for both ends and fill with any filling of your choice such as egg, cheese, vegetables, and even hot dog.

Go with meat
This is a combination of Gizzard and Dodo which is termed as Gizdodo. To make this, cut your plantain and Gizzard in small bits and fry with seasonings of your choice.

Have a plantain pizza
This is delicacy is definitely making a lot of waves and all you need is your plantain with lots of egg. You could either fry or bake your sliced plantain, put them into a whisked bowl of egg filled with seasoning, meat or chicken, and some veggies then fry or bake for 10-15 minutes.

Go local
Something good comes from overripe plantain rather than throwing them away. Just the way you make your beans moi moi, you could also make plantain moi moi and enjoy it.

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/five-dishes-you-can-make-with-plantain/new/#new

Parenting is about readiness. If you are not ready for parenthood, why are you being sexually irresponsible?
On his 2017 song, Family Feud about how his sexual irresponsibility took a toll on his family, rap legend, Jay Z raps, “Let me alone Becky, a man that don’t care of his family can’t be rich. ”
A few people grow into parenthood, but many a people pee the entire kitchen at parenthood when it ‘happens by mistake.’

If you cannot be responsible, stop bringing children into the world to suffer for your stupidity. ‘Daddy issues’ and ‘abandonment issues’ are real and trail people into adulthood.

If you are not ready for fatherhood, use protection. Hey, we know mistakes happen and life doesn't go according to plan. If you find yourself in the situation of being a baby daddy, here are 5 ways not to be dead beat father.

1.) Pay your child's bills
Money makes the world go round and you need to grease the wheel of existence to give your child the best life because your child deserves the best.
Payments like child support should never be lacking. If you brought the child into the world, you should have the money to take care of that child.
Asides that, paying your child's bills involves paying your baby mama's bills. Making your child happy should involve making his mother happy.

2. Spend time with your kids
A lot of people aren't prepared for a child, but when it comes, it comes. Love is natural when parenthood is concerned, after you see your child.
Parenthood is however as much a full-time job. You have no choice. You have to be there.
You might not feel it now, but further, down the years when you’re older and more responsible, you will regret not being in your child’s life during the formative years.
Parents say those years are the most tasking, yet the most fun part of parenthood, when children are still attached to them as if everything depends upon them.

3.) Show up to your child's events
Fatherhood is also not just about money. It’s a 360 job that demands your presence, your participation, your time, sacrifice, key decisions and presence at milestones.
A lot of children want their parents at their birthdays, their football games, their end of year parties, recitals, stage plays, performance and all of that.
These situations forge an unbreakable bond between the children and parents. Children see their fathers as gods who can make anything happen.
That perception fades little by little with every shred of unwarranted absence. The child might feel bad growing up, the problem is when he doesn't care anymore.
You don’t want to scar your child. Don’t just do it for the child, do it for yourself. Part of that also means communication with his mother and agreement, sacrifice and compromise.
The child needs you both to thrive.

4.) Treat your baby mama right
First, you have to realize children are more attached to their mothers than their fathers.
Asides that, she is the mother of your child and what she deserves in anything - even in conversations while she isn’t present - is respect. She isn’t some groupie or whatever, blood ties are there now.
It is not only responsible, but it is also simply courtesy; civility to live life with. Mostly, if you trash her, what does that make you? You slept with her. Whatever she is, reflects on you.
Trashing your baby mama in any way degrades you too. Asides that, it is simple enough to want to respect her because she is now a mother. Naturally, those deserve good treatment.
That also means her consent is sought on anything. She won’t always be right, but why not communicate instead of simply calling her names and whatever.
Making her happy equals making your child happy. As such, you need to make sure she’s happy and good as much as you can.

5.) Keep the drama off the public eye
That starts with family intercession in your affairs, not just social media. You are tied to your baby mama for life, protect that child.
Public scrutiny will further create rifts as you would read into third-party comments and they will influence your decisions.
You need to be sensible and sensitive.

https://www.nigerialog.com/family/here-are-5-ways-to-not-be-a-deadbeat-dad/new/#new

The phrase “thank you” has proven to be the all-time appreciation magic. It is often said that saying “thank you” shows appreciation to an individual for choosing to take action over being told to do same.

However, recent incidents have shown that these words are becoming a cliché. Yet we continue to question if everything appears better with these magic words.

As humans, we, sometimes, need help to help get things done and be appreciated for doing things. However, we are also sensitive and intelligent beings capable of seeing when we are being taken advantage of even while being supposedly appreciated for it.

We feel this way because some might use the opportunity to ask for help on an almost consistent basis with entitlement sentiments. Because of this, it depletes the strong effect of it and makes it look ordinary and even annoying.

Some who have gone beyond the limit can tell that they have but exploit the other person offering to help by smiling and using the magic words even though some might like to live in denial and act like they do not see the expression on the other person’s face.

Yet, “thank you” brings about a certain kind of joy that makes almost the entire human feel better about themselves. Let us help keep it that way. Thank you.

https://www.nigerialog.com/random-thoughts/does-saying-thank-you-make-everything-better/new/#new

Finding the perfect frame does not require your being a fashion expert.

One rule you should bear in mind while choosing frames is that opposite attract. This is because frames that contrast from your facial framework brings about balance to your prominent features.

Here are some tips to help with your selection.

The shape of your face is not the only thing to consider when picking out a frame for yourself. Your skin complexion basically serves as a determinant for the colour your frame will take. As mentioned earlier, the opposite attracts. For a fair skinned person, frames with dark deep colours will suit better. This way there is a balance in the skin colour as well as the colour of the frame with both standing out. For a dark-skinned person, the reverse is the case. However, in some cases where the skin colour cannot really be placed, these people are able to try out almost all colour.

Personality and lifestyle
Your personality tells about your lifestyle. Fit frames to suit the different sides to your person. The down to business frame during weekdays and frames for whatever you want to be during the weekend.

Face span
The length and width of your face do matter also in your selection.

Tall big faces
Tall lenses are perfect for you as they take up space and create a uniformity between your face and glasses. When going for an oversized glasses, choose one wide enough to cover your face from one side to another. Thick glasses also fit well with tall big faces.

Short small faces
Just as tall faces, short faces preferable work best with short, narrow and small lenses so as not to take up spaces from your face or make them look smaller than they really are.

https://www.nigerialog.com/fashion/three-things-to-know-when-picking-an-eyeglass-frame/new/#new

Life comes from water and needs water… Prof. Wallace J Nichols

Very recognisable by some person is the calming effect of being around water. Water, since early times, has been attributed with transformational properties, ranging from spiritual cleansing to salvation and rebirth by various culture. Research studies have also shown that just living within sight of water is often correlated with a healthy outcome.

Below are reasons why you should tap into the therapeutic features of water.

Rest
With our everyday lives constantly bombarded with sensory stimuli, be it from the home or the office, our brains rarely get enough downtime which it needs. Being around water can give our sense the rest it needs from overstimulation.

Meditative state
Given that the brain or senses rest when being around water, it does not shut down completely. They keep working, but in a meditative state of calm awareness and attentiveness, allowing the brain to still yet focus while being relaxed.

Connection
True to no coincidence is the many life’s romantic moments taken place by the water. Water invokes the feeling of connection to something or someone and even oneself especially in moments when you start to doubt your belief in yourself. It allows you to put things in the right perspective.

Creativity
Our minds rarely get the chance to rest and wander freely resulting from always-busy and screen-saturated lives. You should, however. Because when you do, the mind goes into a default mode associated with the consolidation of memories, imagination, self-referential thought, insight and introspection. This way, you are able to put your thoughts together and make the most out of situations, thereby fostering creativity.

Physical and mental health
Benefits associated with water by a growing body of research has been identified, with the inclusion of low-stress levels, relief from mild anxiety, pain and depression, better sleep quality and improved mental clarity and focus.
Like nature, spending time surrounded by water with the idea of getting better is intuitive. So, feed that urge, take a walk to the beach, take a vacation to places where you can see water, it helps.

https://www.nigerialog.com/random-thoughts/five-induced-effects-of-being-surrounded-by-water/new/#new

The bedroom is mainly a place where people sleep or relax after having a long day. Due to the ever busy schedule of humans, people tend to turn the bedroom into a place where other activities are carried out which is quite unhealthy.
These are things that you should get rid of in your room as soon as possible:

Food
Having your meal or eating edibles on the bed is very dirty because you will most likely not wash your hands after the meal and also not wash your sheets if something spills on it.
Eating in bed is most times associated with another activity like watching tv or reading, this might lead to overeating and puts you at a risk of indigestion. Leaving dirty dishes in the room as well attract pests.

TV
Just like mobile phones, installing a television set in your bedroom is quite a huge distraction. It can completely deprive you of sleep.
According to sleep.org, “one problem with bedtime TV watching is simply the temptation to stay up late to find out what happens next. ”

Cellphone
This shouldn't be found in your bedroom to get as much comfort as possible. The incessant vibration and ringing of phones as well as the ever-present social media distractions are harmful to your health.
The light emission from cell phones can disturb melatonin production, hereby causing poor sleep patterns.

Desk
The bedroom should be mainly for you to get rest so there should be no association of work with your place of rest.
You can create a space in your living room or corridor to carry out your office works.

Pets
Pets generally mess up the room if they are not well trained yet and this may lead to germs, fleas, etc.
If you really have to sleep close to your pet to have a feeling of safety, love and companionship, you can make another bed for the pet metres away from your bed to curb interruption of your lovely sleep.

Old and low-quality mattress and pillows
Uncomfortable mattresses always ruin a good sleep so if you haven't changed yours in more than 10 years, you need to go spend that money now.
Also there are different pillows for different sleeping patterns of people, so it is advisable to buy pillows that goes with your sleeping style to give you an enjoyable rest.

Very bright colour
Painting your bedroom walls with very bright colours would not give you the best environment to relax.
According to a survey, shades of blue, yellow, silver, green, and orange are the most conducive for relaxation while brown, gray and purple painted rooms are the worst.

https://www.nigerialog.com/random-thoughts/7-common-things-that-shouldn't-be-found-in-your-bedroom/new/#new

Weirdly enough, knowledge of one of the major Nigerian languages can bail you out from tough situations outside Nigeria. See the countries where Nigerian Languages can actually come in handy.
Due to many reasons — trans-atlantic slave trade, cattle grazing, immigration — small communities have grown in other countries where some Nigerian languages are actually spoken.
Ghana- Hausa
The Hausa are the largest ethnic group in West Africa with native speakers higher than any other language in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at 22 million. They are originally from Hausaland in Nigeria, straddling the border between Nigeria and Niger. The Hausa people are nomadic in nature and began settling in the Northeastern part of Ghana over 500 years ago. However, due to trade expansions in the 18th century and the Fulani holy wars in the 19th century, the rate of immigration increased. Soon enough, a Hausa community began in Ghana. The Hausa of Ghana are virtually all Muslim so the mannerisms and cultures of Islam is common in their community. Their presence in the Northeastern part of Ghana (and northern Cameroon) is emphasised by the radio broadcasts in Hausa to cater to the Hausa speakers. If you have a knowledge of Hausa and find yourself in that area, it will help to make the locals warm up to you. Here's all you need to know about a trip from Nigeria to Ghana .

Equatorial Guinea- Igbo
The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa as native speakers are estimated at 24 million. In Equatorial Guinea, Igbo is recognised as a minority tribe with about 53,000 speakers. In Cameroon however, there are an estimated 105,000 Igbo speakers in the country. The Igbo "Red Eboe" people were also a huge part of the formation of Jamaica and its language due the large influx of Igbo Slaves during the slave trade. Hence, you are very likely to find the Red Igbos of Jamaica . Since most of Equatorial Guinea speak Spanish, maybe a knowledge of Igbo will help you navigate the country.
Republic of Benin and Togo- Yoruba
Though one of the most widespread languages, it has 20 million estimated speakers across Africa, according to Buzz Nigeria. Outside Nigeria, you can find large yoruba-speaking communities in Togo and Benin Republic. Smaller communities can be found in Sierra Leone, Liberia and other African countries. However, due to slave trade, non-vernacular parts of the language remain in Brazil and the Caribbean Islands. It was even a huge part of creating Jamaican Patois language . In Benin and Togo, French is the lingua-franca but perchance you can't speak it, Yoruba is your next best option.

https://www.nigerialog.com/travel/see-the-countries-where-nigerian-languages-can-actually-come-in-handy/msg49896/#msg49896

As parents, we erroneously believe that the buck stops at providing shelter, clothes, food and a good education for our children. In some cases, we take it a bit further by grounding them in our religions. However, these things are not all that we should do as parents.
Children are gifts who are, more or less, solely dependent on you for their identity. More often than not, who children grow up to be is a direct reflection of the kind of parenting they got.
As you can imagine, it is not merely the clothes, food or schools you provide for your children that shape them. The way you talk to and relate with them generally goes a long way in determining who they become. There is a psychological aspect of parenting that too many of us ignore.
Ideally, it is in the home that children get a true sense of how they are, all they can become through an awareness of their self-worth, which is your duty to instill in them. You see, when they go out into the world, it is their understanding of themselves that helps them decide what to internalize and what to discard.
It is unfortunate that too many of us would rather ignore this hugely important part of parenting in favor of the tangibles. I am not saying those tangible parts are not essential, but even if a high level of self-esteem is all you can give your children then you have done them a world of good.
From today, be mindful of the way you address your children. Correct them in love. Encourage them and build their sense of self-worth in any way you can. Recognize them as individuals deserving of your respect and when they go out into the world, they will demand nothing less.

https://www.nigerialog.com/family/the-psychological-responsibility-of-parenting/new/#new

People do not usually mention this when asked about the place they would like to visit or see. But tucked away in Enugu is the red earth and sleepy town of Nsukka which happens to be one of the biggest towns and important central city in Enugu.

The city which revolves around the wet and dry climate, with an estimated population of 941,000 comprises of towns such as, Opi, Enugu-Ezike, Obollo Afor, which all hold a novelty of the own.


Here are the reasons why Nsukka should be your next stop.

The history: Nsukka is home to the renowned and prestigious University of Nigeria which is today still one of the leading universities in the country. Get close to one to the leading locations during the time of the civil war and see for yourself how structures could be gotten out of smoke and debris.

The food: Enjoy the variety and mouthwatering dishes Nsukka has to offer. Abacha (African salad) comes with Ugba, fried fish, Kpomo, vegetables, garden egg, and a natural taste, Okpa is best served hot, di okw as the sellers popularly say it and of course, ayaraya ji, pigeon peas which are extremely healthy.

The quiet, peace and calm: Nsukka has been known to spur people’s creative side or give the necessary quiet for introspection. The town is perfectly away from civilization to a place of nostalgic comfort that you do not miss where you came from but spend the time to discover red earth woman of a city.

The culture, tradition and heritage: The city is an epic sight during festivals such as the Omabe Masquerade Festival where you enjoy the thrill of staying indoors all day and avoiding these spirit beings, the Onwa Ito festival where there is the slaughtering of several fowls in memory of deceased family members and the Onwa Ise which coincides with the New Yam Festival. You could also enjoy the schools’ matriculation and convocation ceremony which the town stands still for.

Must see sites in Nsukka

• The Ogige main market which is a beehive of activity
• The school’s vet mountain which is a good fitness routine and a perfect aerial view of the school.
• The Opi lake, where there is a total of 8 natural lakes to form a waterfall
• Onuiyi Haven which happens to be a one-time abode of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
• The St. Paul’s Cathedral Church which is a gigantic architectural art piece that accommodates hundreds of worshippers at once.
Or simply go clubbing to unwind at a pub or lounge

Things to go with…
• An Igbo speaking buddy
• A camera
• Boots and warm clothing

https://www.nigerialog.com/travel/reasons-you-should-visit-nsukka/new/#new

This brown rice recipe is a simple DIY hack for baby food. You can also substitute with white rice but it doesn't contain as much nutrients as brown rice. Suitable for babies from 4-6 months.

Cooking method
Boiling

Recipe Yield
1 serving

Nutrition
Brown rice is rich in vitamins B1, B3 & B6, phosphorus, manganese, essential fatty acids and fibre.

Ingredients
3 tbs brown rice
Water
Milk (breast or formula)

Instructions
1. Dry blend the brown rice to form a brown rice powder. If you are using white rice, do the same.

2. Heat a small pot of water, proportional to the amount of rice.

3. As one would do when making Semovita, put the stove on low heat, and then pour the rice powder, while stirring to avoid formation of lumps.

4. Allow to heat for about 10 minutes before turning the heat off.

5. Add the milk and mix to your desired consistency.
Your baby cereal is ready!

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/how-to-make-homemade-baby-food-from-brown-rice/new/#new

It feels good to hug and be hugged not to mention the health benefits that go with it. Nevertheless, hugging is a personal choice that differs for individuals.

Having this in mind will enable you not to feel hurt when someone declines you a hug.

To avoid awkward situations, here are some tips you could use:

Read the other person’s signal
Do not rush into a hug, assuming that it is okay. Take a pause and study the other person’s body language. Is he or she standing upright or leaning towards you?

Ask for permission
You might start to wonder on the relevance of asking for the permission to hug, but believe that is not cliché, it is civilized and it gives the other person respect and opportunity to voice out his or her to voice their comfort level. An exception to this is when you are already on intimate terms.

The three-second rule
According to the three-second rule, placing your arm not too low around the other person, is best when hugging someone for the first time. Being that hugging is communicating, and listening is key, you both can be able to determine how your next hug will be.

Maintaining personal hygiene
When sweaty, it is best to avoid hugging someone, except the person tells you that he or she does not mind. Also, stay clean. Body odour is offensive.

The type of hugs shared amongst people, says a lot about their relationship. The duration, as well as the proximity, determines the depth.

Here are some types of hugs:

Hand-hug
Also known as a handshake, this is the most commonly shared hug. Appropriate for the workplace, it also best for when you just cannot read the signal right.

Side-to-side hug
This is two people standing next to one another and embracing around the waist or shoulder.

Bear hug
This is a full body hug with both persons wrapping their arm tightly around each other and sometimes rocking back and forth.

Wandering hands hug
As the name suggests, this type of rug is characterized by hands roaming and caressing around the backs of each other.

Pound hug
This is mostly always performed by two males. It is the combination of a hand-hug and a one-armed hug which lasts for about a second.

Hugging is a wonderful way of showing your affection but remember to use your best judgment when engaging in one.

https://www.nigerialog.com/family/the-four-ultimate-rules-of-hugging/new/#new

Commercial drivers and commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have lamented the gridlock caused by the illegal roadblocks mounted by some men and officers of the Nigerian Army on both sides of the expressway, opposite the Deeper Life Conference Centre.

It was learnt that the soldiers, who had earlier mounted the roadblocks at the Oremeji end of the expressway, recently moved them to the Deeper Life end.

It was gathered that the soldiers usually operated between 9pm to 5am every day to extort money from drivers.

They opened a lane on both sides, as they extorted money from commercial drivers and truck drivers.

The action slowed down traffic.

Some drivers and passengers, who spoke to journalists lamented the effect of the extortion on the traffic.

A driver, who identified himself simply as Baba Ibadan, lamented how the soldiers usually extorted money from him any time he passed the road.

He said, “As drivers plying the Mowe-Ibafo route, we are tired of the traffic caused by these soldiers at night. They were at the Ascon Filling Station end of the road before they moved to Deeper Life to cause this gridlock.

“When we are supposed to spend 20 minutes on the road, we spend about two hours because of the traffic.

“When you get to where they are, they will ask you for money and if you do not give them, that means you are not ready to go. They will tell you categorically the amount they want to collect; they once told me to give them N200.

“We can’t argue with them because of their uniforms and guns. We beg the government to caution them; they should leave the road.”

Another bus driver, Kehinde, claimed that the soldiers did not disturb private car owners.

He said, “They don’t disturb private car owners; they only collect money from commercial buses and truck drivers.

“They stop us because they know they will surely get money from us and there is nothing we can do about it. Because we don’t want them to disturb our work, we pay them whatever they ask for.

“The soldiers are the cause of the gridlock on this expressway. Where we are supposed to go for two to three trips, we can only go on one trip. At night, we spend over three hours in traffic.”

A driver, who plied the Ketu-Mowe route and gave his name simply as Olatunbosun, said anytime he decided not to give the soldiers money, he would be delayed, adding that grumbles from his passengers usually made him to succumb to their demand.

He said, “The traffic caused by the soldiers is affecting my work; it disturbs everybody passing through the expressway. Any day I decided that I would not give them money, they would ask me to park my bus by the roadside.

“Sometimes, they collect N100 from me. But they collect between N500 and N1,000 from truck drivers. The soldiers are after money. Even if there is an emergency, there is no way an ambulance will pass through because traffic is always on both sides of the road.”

The Secretary of the Ketu-Mile 12 chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lukman Owotutu, said the soldiers, who were meant to protect the citizens, were only protecting their pockets.

He said, “They protect only their pockets; they disturb commercial bus and truck drivers and cause traffic, which is affecting our work.

“When it affects our work, the drivers take it out on the passengers by increasing the transport fare. When there is no bus that will take them, the commuters will be forced to enter the buses they see.

“Apart from the soldiers causing traffic, the motor park boys at Asese bus stop are also compounding the problem. We want the government to come to our aid.”

Some passengers lamented the time wasted on the road and the increase in transport fares.

One of the passengers, who identified herself as Iya Adija, lamented the increase in transport fares.

She said, “The government should help us to send these soldiers back to the barracks because we cannot continue like this. From Ketu to Mowe that we used to pay N150 or N200 for, is now N300 and when it is late, you will pay N500 as transport fare.

“Since this traffic started, I don’t close late again. Despite that, I spend close to three hours in traffic.”

Another passenger, who did not identify herself hurled curses on the soldiers, adding that they compounded the gridlock caused by ongoing construction work on the expressway.

A private car owner, Tayo Popoola, alleged that Nigerian soldiers were now behaving like the police.

He said, “The soldiers bring hardship on the people staying in this area. You can imagine the number of hours that motorists spend on the road for a distance that is not up to five kilometres.

“They are to provide security to citizens rather than extorting money from them. It is unfortunate that Nigerian soldiers are equally behaving like Nigerian policemen.

“Extortion used to be a police affair before, now it has extended to soldiers. This is one of the reasons we are advocating that soldiers should not be involved in civil matters because it can corrupt them and once they are corrupt, it can be equally dangerous to our democracy. They have no business on the road.

“Since the government knows that it wants to repair the road, it should have put the Ikorodu-Sagamu road in good shape for people to use. Motorists would have taken that area instead of putting pressure on the expressway.

“The government should release money to Julius Berger to complete the road and give the firm an ultimatum to finish the construction in good time so that this pain will be a thing of the past.

“They should also remove the soldiers; let them leave this place and go back to the barracks. They should leave police work for policemen to handle.”

The Army Public Relations Officer, 81 Division, Lt. Col. Olaolu Daudu, promised to investigate the allegations.

He said, “Soldiers are professionally trained to carry out their constitutional role, I am not aware of this illegal activity. However, we will investigate the allegations because we are not even sure if they are soldiers in the first place because soldiers are disciplined.

“We want the public to know that we have a very regimental disciplined army; if we find out that they are carrying out this illegal activity, we will deal with them accordingly.”

https://www.nigerialog.com/metro/lagos-ibadan-expressway-gridlock-drivers-commuters-decry-roadblock-extortion-by-/new/#new

Being a mother is the most complex task and requires great knowledge on how babies are handled. While we may think babies know nothing, they actually know a lot. As a mother (or even a father), you are charged with the responsibility to take care of your baby.
Here are 5 things you shouldn't do to your baby;

1. Let them cry for a long time
Letting your baby cry for long is a big mistake especially when you are around them and they can see you.
This causes distress to them which can in turn affect their emotional development. Attend to your baby when he/she cries,avoid ignoring them.

2. Leave them alone
Babies just like grown ups need attention for their mental development. Always be around your baby when you are not busy or held up with something. Besides babies can roll and fall when left alone.

3. Shaking them when they cry
It is not recommended that you shake your baby when they cry. This might pose health hazards. Shaken Baby Syndrome which is caused by shaking of the brain. Blindness is another development risk associated with shaking babies.

4. Slapping them when they cry
When your baby is crying and you feel angry with them, don't slap them on the buttocks or hands. What you should do is look them in the face and talk to them with a sweet voice. Beating a crying baby is so wrong.

5. Not letting them burp after feeding
Babies must be made to burp after meals. This lets them release gases that are produced by the stomach during meals. If these gases are not released, the baby might be uncomfortable and cry all along.

https://www.nigerialog.com/family/5-things-you-should-not-do-to-a-baby/new/#new

Your university days may be some of the most transformative and memorable moments in your young adult life. Those days may ultimately lay the framework for your future and many important life choices and habits you will continue to follow , especially when pertaining to your health.
So many of the health habits from that time, have the tendency to remain with you throughout adulthood.
Nonetheless, it’s crucial for students to take full control of their health early on and more so become aware of the following issues that may severely impact their health and wellness while living on campus.

Dating Abuse
The topic of dating abuse and violence really isn’t discussed enough , though it happens often on university campuses.
Your first serious romantic adult relationship may occur while away at school , and as you are swept away by “love ”, you may not even be aware of how insidious elements of abuse may manifest and find its way into your relationship.
Always keep in mind that abuse doesn ’ t only come in a physical form , and verbal or emotional abuse are often the antecedents to physical violence.
If your partner tries to dictate who you hang out with , or tries to control things like your wardrobe or hairstyle, then that is a red flag.
If your partner constantly tries to check your email or phone , those are also concerning controlling behaviors that are major signs that abuse is looming .
Of course, any element of physical or sexual violence is unacceptable and rest assured , if it happens one time then it will likely occur again at another point in the relationship.
If you experience any of these things while dating , then you need to get out of that relationship immediately!

Sexually Transmitted Infections ( STIs)
For many university students , this time period may be their first real opportunity to start exploring their sexuality.
In doing so , the most important rule to follow is that you must always stay safe and protect yourself during any and every sexual encounter.
You can ’t ever afford to ignore your sexual health , so adequate protection with consistent condom use is essential. Do realize that all it takes is just one unprotected sexual encounter to expose yourself to the world of sexually transmitted infections.
The prevalence of HIV amongst the nation ’s young adults only continues to rise and prevention is the only mainstay method to help curtail this epidemic.
Other common STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are also growing concerns; although they are both treatable with antibiotics, again prevention really must be the focus .
All sexually active students should make it a top priority to get tested for STIs ( including HIV , syphilis, gonorrhea , chlamydia , HPV, and herpes ) , receive appropriate treatment if positive for an infection , and inform all sexual partners of any positive test results.

Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis causes inflammation of the meninges and spinal cord and complications may result in hearing loss , neurological problems , and even death.
University students in particular are vulnerable to the infection by sheer virtue of living in very close quarters on campus in crowded spaces that can increase the likelihood of exposure to the infection. Vaccination prior to the start of school is recommended.
Meningitis may be spread while coughing , sharing a drink , and even kissing.
While on campus , make sure you adhere to very strong hygiene habits (e.g . consistent hand washing ) to avoid further spread of infection.
The hallmark meningitis symptoms to look out for include fever, headache , sensitivity to light , and neck stiffness .
If you exhibit this constellation of symptoms , then seek medical treatment immediately.

Depression
Young adults may have their first bout of major depression during their university days.
The transition into university life is not an easy feat, and on campuses worldwide the problem of severe depression is eating away at so many students.
The stress about grades , career plans , and what lies ahead in the future may cause one to feel extremely overwhelmed.
Without the appropriate coping strategies , it’s not difficult for students to head towards the path of high anxiety and depressive states.
Not only can unaddressed depression pose a severe barrier to academic success , it can also contribute to even higher rates of student suicide.
If you start to experience feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy , weight changes , social withdrawal, and especially thoughts of self harm while at school , then getting help is simply a must.

Poor eating habits
Whether you are a party animal or strictly a bookworm on campus , one thing is for sure, it can be easy to slip into unhealthy eating patterns.
You may have a favourite food that you choose to eat non stop as your breakfast , lunch , and dinner simply out of convenience.
Don ’t fall into that trap of eating the same thing all of the time . You will likely not obtain the adequate nutrients your body requires.
Although your schedule may be so chaotic and you may always be seemingly on the run , you must stick to a well balanced diet. You should incorporate a mix of protein , vegetables , fruit , and whole grains with every meal and do your very best to avoid junk food. Moreover, your days on campus will surely fly by quickly. But make sure you enjoy and embrace this special time while still paying attention to your physical, mental , and emotional health.

https://www.nigerialog.com/health/campus-health-basics-for-university-freshers/new/#new

Ayamase stew is a spicy stew usually eaten with Ofada rice. It is the perfect meal to be eaten on a cold day.

Cooking time
55 minutes

Recipe cuisine
Local/South Western Nigeria

Cooking method
Stewing

Recipe Yield
8 to 10 servings

Nutrition
A serving contains about 403 calories

Ingredients
7 large bell peppers
3 scotch bonnet peppers
4 large red onions
2 lbs braised goat meat
Smoked dried fish
Half cup of palm oil
2 seasoning cubes
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Iru (optional)

Instructions
1. Blend the pepper and 1 onion together. Then boil in a pot until the moisture reduces and it becomes thick.

2. Boil the blended peppers on medium high heat till it reduces to a paste.

3. In another pot, sauté sliced onions in palm oil on medium heat till soft.

4. Add the iru and grounded crayfish to taste. At this point, you can tell how delicious the stew will be by the aroma oozing out of the pot.

5. Then, add the pepper paste and fish/meat, and cook for 10-15 minutes. Stir at intervals.

6. Add salt and seasoning cubes to taste. Cook until stew separates from the oil.
Your stew should be ready to serve! Serve with Ofada rice.

https://www.nigerialog.com/food/how-to-prepare-the-hot-and-spicy-ayamase-stew-for-a-cold-day/new/#new

These confectionery snacks were quite popular back in the day, and if you can relate, you're definitely not a kid anymore. We're taking you for a walk down memory lane with these old time favourite confectionery snacks.
80's and 90's babies will relate to these street snacks , biscuits, sweets and drinks they grew up seeing and eating.

1. Goody Goody
Goody Goody gave us some of the best childhoods. It was a delicious caramel chewy that children could sell their parents for.

2. Any of these cookie biscuits
Speedy, Milk Maid, Fishly, Coconut Cookies, Pepper Snacks — these biscuits flooded street stores at a time.

3. Okin biscuits
Who doesn't remember the epic and legendary Okin biscuits?

4. Baba Dudu
How long can your baba dudu string be?

5. Kiddy
The chocolate and cream delight never seemed to be enough. It always left you wanting more.

6. "GSM drink"
The epic drink sold in a GSM pack was very popular. It came in different flavours and colours.

7. Choki choki and Ptit
Anyone else craving this chocolate goo that comes in fun size?

8. Any of these drinks
The 90's were indeed a dark time. Who else hated Krest?

9. Any of these bubblegum brands
Banana, Bazooka, Robot are just some of the chewing gum brands that were royalty in those days.

10. Planta Margarine
Did you ever use this margarine?

11. Trebor and Robo
What other snacks or beverages do you remember from your childhood?

https://www.nigerialog.com/metro/walk-down-memory-lane-with-these-old-time-favourite-snacks/new/#new