Great100000: Nigerian Girl Gets N19.4 Billion Funding After Creating Air Filtering Device in USA
- A Nigerian girl has received funding in the USA after building a valuable device that could filter and purify the air.
- The device resulted from a class assignment and is said to be capable of removing 99% of viruses in the air.
- The 12-year-old girl, Eniola Shokunbi, received $11.5 million (N19.4 billion) in funding to mass-produce the device.
A girl of Nigerian origin is being celebrated online because of her scientific prowess.
Eniola Shokunbi, a fifth-grade pupil, was given an assignment in class, which led her to create something valuable.
According to the story, 12-year-old Eniola was a student at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Connecticut, where the class assignment was given.
The class was tasked with producing a solution to a possible future pandemic, such as COVID-19, which spread through the air.
Eniola's impressive efforts resulted in her air purifier, which is said to be of low cost.
After rigorous testing at the University of Connecticut, it was confirmed the air purifier could remove 99% of viruses from the air.
Also, Eniola's device was further tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which confirmed its efficacy in purifying the air.
Eniola explains how air filter works
Following the success story of Eniola's invention, the Connecticut State Bond Commission has approved $11.5 million (N19.4 billion) in funding for its mass production for schools.
Reacting, Eniola explained how the $60 (N101,000) device works:
“The air goes through all the sides, and it comes out of the top, so it filters in and out."
She said she hoped people would continue to fund scientific solutions. Her words:
“A lot of people don’t realize that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science."
On her website, she explained further:
"I played a pivotal role in securing an $11.5 million grant to fund the construction and installation of DIY air filters in schools throughout Connecticut. With this determination, I aim to expand my efforts to ensure that every classroom nationwide and around the world benefits from cleaner air."
Eniola's story has been shared by many social media platforms, including on X by @mymixtapez.
Nigerian engineer reacts to Eniola's success abroad
Speaking to Legit.ng on the development, an engineer, Ziko Abara, said Eniola may not have received the funding support if she were to be in Nigeria.
Ziko studied electronics and computer engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
His words:
"Who cares about air quality development in Nigeria? Talk more about funding such an idea... It's in areas where the fight against negative climate change is active that her work will thrive in."
Ziko said lack of funding was one of the greatest impediments facing innovators such as himself in Nigeria.
Ziko, who built a jet engine, said:
"I'd say funding, and an enabling environment. Let me use myself as an example, the jet engine project development has gulped about N1.2m. If we didn't have the resources and support to do it, we'd never have done it. I see many creators building their ideas with paper and cartons and it's sad to see. Source: https://www.legit.ng/people/1626709-nigerian-girl-n194-million-funding-inventing-air-filter-system-usa/
That's mad cool.
She'll soon be featured on the pages of "Black Enterprise Magazine."
AmazingGenius: The United Kingdom on Wednesday unveiled its largest Visa Application Centre in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos.
Operated by VFS Global, the new centre marks a significant step in enhancing visa application services for Nigerians travelling to the UK.
This was contained in a statement by the British High Commission in Lagos on Wednesday.
With additional centres in Abuja and Victoria Island, Lagos, now operational since November 19, the facility in Ikeja is designed to streamline visa submissions and offer applicants a seamless experience.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, attended the launch in Ikeja, emphasising the importance of the UK-Nigeria relationship.
He expressed optimism that the new centre would provide improved services for applicants.
“I am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa. Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS deliver ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK,” Baxter said.
Also, the Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, Marc Owen, described the development as a milestone in offering world-class visa services.
Owen noted that over 225,000 UK visa applications from Nigerian nationals were processed in the year to June 2024, reflecting the growing demand for travel to the UK.
“The opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in the provision of a world-class UK visa service here in Nigeria and elsewhere across Africa.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all applicants,” he noted.
The new partnership introduces a range of enhanced services, including document upload assistance, extended submission hours, SMS updates, courier passport returns, and the option for applicants to retain their passports after biometric enrolment.
Additionally, Abuja residents can now submit applications from their preferred locations using the Mobile Visa Service, while a Premium Lounge option offers a personalised experience with dedicated staff.
These optional services aim to enhance convenience for applicants without affecting processing timelines or outcomes.
The UK remains a top destination for Nigerian travellers, who account for five per cent of all global UK visit visa applications.
The new facility underscores the UK’s commitment to meeting this demand while maintaining efficient and accessible visa services.
Indeed, it's an enhancement for improved, world-class services due to increasing population of regular and new travelers. The Ikeja location on the Lagos Mainland is a brilliant idea for decentralization of services.
While noting that the multipurpose card would soon be available to the general public, the Presidency emphasized its resolve to bring more Nigerians into financial inclusion through the multipurpose card.
“The National ID Card aims to bring over 100 million Nigerians into the banking sector as it automatically bestows on them an inclusion that has evaded more than half of the country’s population for a very long time,” it said.
“Users also have the option of requesting either credit or debit cards,” it added.
While the NIN is already a prerequisite for obtaining an international passport and driver’s licence, among others, the Presidency said this will now be required to apply for government jobs as well as private sector jobs.
It said this would give employers confidence on the profile of the job seekers as verified citizens without questionable records.
How to get the card
Explaining the modalities for the distribution of the cards during a media workshop in Lagos last week, the Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, Dr. Peter Iwegbu, noted that while the NIN is mandatory for every Nigerian, those who need the card would have to request for it.
While noting that the multipurpose cards would launched in a matter of weeks as the sample test cards had been received, Iwegbu, said NIMC has also decentralised requesting and collecting the banks to make it easy for Nigerians.
According to him, the NIMC is working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request a card.
He said the Commission would also ensure that the cards are issued at uniform price across the banks.
Reno Omokri, a prominent social commentator, recently disclosed the phone number of Ajibade Onabanjo following a disturbing incident. Onabanjo had allegedly posted a Facebook message wishing death upon Omokri's wife and children. In response, Omokri shared Onabanjo’s phone number publicly but provided no additional information about him.
Curious about the identity behind it, I conducted a follow-up investigation into the phone number using Opay, a financial platform that links accounts to phone numbers. Through this method, I discovered that the number is registered under the name Olabanji Nurudeen Muhammed, rather than the alleged Ajibade Onabanjo. This discrepancy raises questions about whether Onabanjo may have used a pseudonym online or if the number had been falsely attributed to him
Screenshots
From using Ajibade Onabanjo (which I knew was fake) to make threats to Reno's family on FB, to using Olabanji Nurudeen Muhammed on OPay. He will be smoked out soon and his real identity will be revealed because Reno is close to the intelligence agency chaps.
lagostrendboy: Billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu is celebrating his triplets as they turn 18 years old. The UBA executive shared his joy on Instagram, posting a charming black-and-white photo of his daughters to commemorate their special day. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
In his caption, he extended heartfelt birthday wishes to them, saying,
Followers quickly flooded the comments section, offering their own heartfelt birthday wishes for the girls. Check out some reactions that was gathered …
savagefave’ said: “Happy birthday to the Toe Princesses and me 😍”
promiseuchechi wrote: “Happy birthday beautiful ladies, wishing you all the best things you deserve. I’m also a triplets mom”
TheChameleon: I can bet anything they are preparing to be harvested by Yoruba guys. Them no gree return to 5% land.
Them just glue for Lagos
Their difelopa men will come crying now
Tony Elumelu is from Aniocha LGA of Delta North (Anioma) in Delta State and NOT from the core South East across River Niger. NO doubt people from Anioma or Delta North marry Yorubas more than the South East because they are more tolerant and were formerly part of the Old Western Region of Nigeria till the 1963 referendum when the Mid West of Nigeria (later named Bendel State then Edo and Delta States came into existence). Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's oldest biological daughter got married to a Yoruba guy a couple of years back so that's an indication that they largely have no issues with marrying out of their Anioma domains as long as you have potentials. A couple of Yoruba women too got married to men from there as well. The wife of the last reigning Asagba of Asaba was a Yoruba woman.
Peterobiisathie: The biggest national security threat facing Nigeria today is not Boko Haram or bandits. Boko Haram is fighting to have an Islamic Caliphate, and their leadership has been decimated, while their ideas are being rejected and recruitment has dropped.
Bandits are criminals, and their operations are purely for commercial gain.
But the Obidient movement is different. They are fighting against democracy by refusing to accept the will of the Nigerian people as freely expressed during the #NigerianElections2023, and insisting that Peter Obi won an election in which he came third. They attack the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, falsely claiming that the INEC was mandated by law to declare results electronically, thereby undermining the trust that the public has in that vital institution.
Their fight against democracy is being escalated to the point that where anyone with an opposing view to theirs and who refuses to support their candidate and their movement has a brand, they use every means, fair or foul, to engage in reputation-savaging and to cancel that person and their brand as well as threaten their family members.
They set up crowdfunding to report the social media profiles of their opponents and write bogus petitions against them to national and international organisations while coordinating on WhatsApp to use robotic devices to mass report their social profiles.
Working with Arise TV and several influencers, they spread fake news and propaganda against opponents of their movement and the Nigerian state. They have a confirmation bias against Nigeria, especially the North and Southwest. As a result, they question positive news about Nigeria, even where it comes with evidence and promote bad news about Nigeria, even where it has no basis.
Not stopping there, they constantly de-market Nigeria by misrepresenting the true state of government policy, such as the Samoa Agreement, which an Obidient, Sonnie Ekwowusi, lied about, falsely alleging that it is to promote the LGBTQ agenda.
And in the wake of the Kenyan protest, their leader, Peter Obi, in a post on social media, asked why Nigerians do not learn from Kenya, an obvious attempt to trigger Kenyan-style protests.
Their movement is actively seeking to instigate ethnic strife in Nigeria when their leader, Peter Obi, falsely asserts that people of Igbo origin are being targeted for demolition in Lagos as punishment for not voting for the APC when not one person has shown that their structure was illegally demolished.
This is even as Peter Obi lied that a court had given a verdict ordering the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. However, contrary to Peter Obi's IPOB-inspired lies, in a unanimous ruling on December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Nnamdi Kanu had a case to answer for treason. After that, on May 20, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Nnamdi Kanu should be denied bail.
Finally, there is a sustained effort by Peter Obi and his movement to undermine President Tinubu personally, by making false claims about him, including that President Tinubu paid for 1411 people to go for #COP28 with government money. In fact, only 422 of the delegates of Nigeria were publicly funded. And not all of those publicly funded were financed by the Presidency.
Unlike Boko Haram and bandits, Obidients are attacking the institutions that uphold our democracy, including free speech, the judiciary, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the corporate existence of Nigeria and her political stability are at risk if nothing is done, within the ambit of the law, to curb the excesses of this movement.
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.
ElSudani: Very backward practices. Only males can inherit land bla bla bla. Why is Abati being attacked if what he said is the truth? Write up garnished with lies about land ownership in Yorubaland. If you like change your ethnicity to bororo Fulani that is your problem, I doubt if there's a single Yoruba who will even bother to ask you why?
Don't mind the toxic low self-esteem bigot of an OP who claims to live in Rwanda and has become notorious for ranting B.S. on this website. How can someone who claims to run a business concern in Kigali be using his NL profile to at the same time spew hate? He is destroying potential business that would have come his way from those of us who have international business ties. He could have made his points WITHOUT fabricating reckless tales about land ownership in Yorubaland and resorting to casting aspersions on the Yoruba folks who are over 60 million people worldwide and indigenous to multiple West African countries. He thinks by saying he prefers to be a "Fulani" he would hurt Yoruba folks. Such a bloody idiot!
I have known about this Ibo system of land ownership for years because I read a lot so what's with the simultaneous useless sob story and bragging from this creepy OP? Yoruba folks and Ibos East of River Niger DON'T share direct ancestry and cultures. The closest buffer ethnicity between the Yorubas of Kogi and Anambra and Enugu are the Igala ethnicity whose language is Yoruboid meaning it's very close to Yoruba being that some Yoruba ancestries exist within Igala which is a fusion around the Niger confluence and Idah axis of migrant Jukuns from Wukari now in Taraba, Yorubas, Edos, etc, within the last 600 to 700 years according to a 2017 interview that the late Attah of Igala granted to Sunday Punch. Agenebode in Edo State faces Idah on the other side of River Niger in Kogi State directly on the Nigerian map. This is why Yorubas and Igalas use similar words like Omi (meaning water), Ifa (Ifa areligion), Ogede (meaning plantain and banana), Igbo (Igbo in Igala meaning bush or forest), Akuko (meaning cock) which all do NOT have spelling variations... and other words such as Ewa (Egwa in Igala), Egungun (Egwugwu in Igala), Ogun (Ogwu in Igala meaning medicine), Ogun (Ogwu in Igala meaning war). These words and many more in Igala language are pure Yoruba words derivatives because of ancestral relationships between Yorubas and Igalas. This is how a tiny amount of those Yoruba words found there way into Igbo language such as Akuko which is purely a Yoruba word and definitely came into the Anambra area through the indigenous Igalas of Anambra and or Enugu States). So, that's where the link ends.
Any land you see being (leased) in Yorubaland is just EXTRA lands belonging to prominent land-owning families and will be returned to the owners after the lease period expires. Whatever house, mansions, factories or buildings exist on the LEASED or RENTED land is demolished by the Yoruba land owners after the lease period EXPIRES. Such a thing took place a few years back in the 2010s when the lease on some lands ended in Ojo area in Lagos and the courts granted the Yoruba land owners to move in and demolish the large numbers of houses on the tracts of lands for other purposes. In reality NO land is sold BUT only rented out or leased.
In Ghana, the lease period of lands is 50 years for all foreigners after which the original owners collect their lands back for other uses.
The Miss Polo International non-bikini beauty pageant recently took place at the luxurious Ramee Dream Hotel in Dubai, showcasing a stunning array of talent, beauty, and athleticism. This year's event proved to be a magnificent affair, culminating in the crowning of Princess Joy Tocao from the USA as Miss Polo International. A fitness instructor with a fervour for sports, Princess Joy embodies the perfect fusion of beauty and athletic prowess, captivating both the judges and the audience alike.
The competition was fierce, with remarkable contestants representing various countries. The first runner-up, Miss Polo Colombia, Patricia Diaz, dazzled with her poise and charm, while the second runner-up, Miss Polo Mexico, Esther Cardenas, showcased her vibrant personality and commitment to fitness. Completing the top five were Miss Polo Belarus, Julia White, as the third runner-up, and Miss Polo UAE, Lucy Mila, as the fourth runner-up.
In addition to the main title, special awards were presented, with Chymbeelyn de Pasion from the Philippines earning the title of Miss Polo Tourism and Precious Epiphany from Tanzania being honored as Miss Polo Charity. Both winners demonstrated exceptional dedication to their causes and the spirit of international camaraderie.
The judging panel was comprised of esteemed individuals who brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the event. Her Excellency Dr. Doreen Yusuf, a prominent figure in the field of diplomacy and humanitarian work, lent her discerning eye to the proceedings. Antonio Rubel, a celebrated fashion designer, contributed insights into the world of beauty and aesthetics. Francisco Mitrano, a renowned sports consultant, evaluated the contestants’ athletic abilities and sportsmanship. Sheikh Mohammed Alshalan, a respected member of the Emirati community, provided a cultural perspective that enriched the judging process. Special guest Khaled Aishareef, a prominent social media influencer, added a modern touch to the event, engaging with the contestants and audience alike.
The mastermind behind this prestigious event is Mrs. Ibife Alufohai, the founder of Miss Polo International. Her vision of celebrating beauty in a non-bikini format has attracted contestants and supporters from around the world, promoting a message of empowerment and self-confidence. Mrs. Alufohai's dedication to the pageant's mission is evident in every aspect of the event, from the selection of contestants to the overall organization of the pageant. Her commitment to fostering a platform for women to shine both in beauty and talent is truly commendable.
As the event drew to a close, a heartfelt thank you was extended to Zainab Al Taher, the assistant to Mrs. Alufohai, for her efforts in coordinating the logistics and managing the contestants, contributed significantly to the smooth execution of the pageant. And an appreciation to Her Excellency, Dr. Doreen Yusuf all the way from Canada for unwavering support and meticulous attention to detail played a crucial role in ensuring the event's success.
The Miss Polo International pageant was not just a celebration of beauty; it was a testament to the power of sports in uniting people from diverse backgrounds. The contestants, judges, and attendees mingled in a spirit of camaraderie, sharing their passion for fitness, culture, and philanthropy. The event successfully highlighted the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle and the role of women in sports.
It was indeed a memorable and colorful event that witnessed contestants from all over the world in Dubai except few countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran Mauritania, Ghana etc that could not make due to visa restrictions.
That's an impressive Miss Polo International "non-bikini" beauty pageant that took place in Dubai. It shows that beauty pageants can throw up a stunning array of beautiful and well-spoken women WITHOUT revealing way too much on the stage in bikini outfits.
PressMyButton: MC Oluomo’s ex and designer, Ehi Ogbebor, has shared photos from her visit to his office in Abuja. Ehi Ogbebor shared the purpose of her visit to the NURTW president, who she called a good man.
Popular interior designer Ehi Ogbebor is the first celebrity to share pictures from her courtesy visit to her ex Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, after his appointment as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Ehi Ogbebor, who used to be an item with Oluomo in the past, was seen with some people who seemed to be a part of her crew at the NURTW president’s office in Abuja.
The interior designer revealed she visited Oluomo to congratulate him on his new appointment.
She posted pictures of her visit, describing MC Oluomo as a good man, adding that his new appointment was well-deserved.
“Stopped by to congratulate a Good Friend n a good man on His new appointment…..Alhaji Ayinde….alias presido Nurtw….Congratulations…well deserved," Ehi wrote in her caption.
Ehi Ogbebor is a well-spoken big babe who knows her craft as a top millionaire interior designer. I FIRST noticed Ehi a few years ago in the video of one of those Nigerian travel YouTubers. Yes, I now remember it was the video by the young man Steven Ndukwu showing her massive palatial residence (with incredibly beautiful interior decorations and furnishings) which she personally built from the scratch in the Lekki Peninsula area of Lagos State.
The popular Ogbebor family name is originally from Usen and are strongly represented in the nearby Benin where other Ogbebors have lived for centuries. They are part of the people of Ovia South West LGA of Edo State who salute or greet one another by saying "Delauhe" or "How is Uhe/Ufe or Ife?" (signifying that they are of direct Ule Ufe or Ile Ife ancestry).
The video timestamp from 09:57 to 10:30 BELOW, shows the "Esogban of Benin" explaining clearly where he ancestrally came from and the unique salutations or ways of greeting one another in Benin based on their different family ancestral origins.
TUTU147: His urhobo as a tribe are disappointed in him,let him continue claiming yoruba.
Let me educate you here and correct the historical errors in your post.
Reno is paternally Urhobo and his mother is an Itsekiri from the Royal Itsekiri family. Itsekiris are directly and ancestrally related to the Yorubas of Ilaje, Ijebu, and Ife descents who spread to the current Delta State area centuries ago and they constituted the original Itsekiris. It was later in 1480 that Prince Iginuwa, the first son of Oba Olua of Benin Kingdom went on exile with 70 children of Benin noblemen and arrived in Ode Itsekiri which was occupied already by Chief Lenuwa and his Ijebu followers who welcomed them and they ended up staying there. They then married some of the Ijebu women from the Ode Itsekiri community (Big Iwere or corrupted to Warri). Iwere has to do with "prosperity or wealth" in Ijebu dialect. Omadino is another Itsekiri community founded by Ijebus.
Ugborodo (formerly Escravos) an oil and gas-rich community was founded by Ilaje migrants over 500 years ago from the equally oil and gas-rich Ugbo Kingdom now in the current Ondo State since Ondo and Delta States share direct boundaries along the Ilaje and Itsekiri borderlines. When Aare Onakakanfo Gani Adams visited the Palace of the Olu of Warri in early 2024 to pay homage to the Olu, he clearly stated that he understood every word they spoke in the Palace because the Itsekiris speak a Yoruboid language as well due to this same direct ancestral origins. The story was published in some major online newspapers I read.
So, Reno is NOT out of point to associate with his Itsekiri kinsmen on his maternal side. Reno will ALWAYS and FOREVER remain paternally an Urhobo and maternally an Itsekiri with direct ancestral links to the larger Yorubas as well. The Aare Onakakanfo (or Generalissimo) of Yorubaland Gani Adams is currently married to an Urhobo woman as a second wife. Urhobos have always married Itsekiris more than any other group and Yorubas as well so I don't see how Urhobo people would be upset with Reno Omokri for identifying with his Itsekiri maternal lineage.
The Vanguard newspaper founder, Uncle Sam Amuka has an Itsekiri father and an Urhobo mother. That's how the bond between Urhobos and Itsekiris has been for several years. Sam Amuka is currently married to a Yoruba woman for years NOW and his first son married a Yoruba lady as well. The iconic Richard Eyimofe Damijo's father is also Urhobo but his mother is an Itsekiri. Senator Oluremi Tinubu's father is an Ijebu man from Ogun State while her mother is an Itsekiri from Delta State. Festus Keyamo's father is an Urhobo while his mother is a Yoruba from the Ilaro area of Ogun State (but with a family house in Lagos State). I'm stating all these to show that there is NO fuss here and NO Urhobos hate Reno Omokri because he identifies with his maternal Yoruboid kinsmen. The Urhobos and Itsekiris would probably have killed one another in past community disagreements if it wasn't because of those STRONG family ties.
NLCreator: Can anyone help me find this man, Ajibade Onabanjo, so my family and I can make a formal report to the Nigerian Police? I do not mind these types of evil words when it comes from certain places because I know their culture is conducive to such.
However, I will take it seriously when it purportedly comes from someone who is meant to be an Omoluabi. We must cleanse such unbecoming conduct from our culture, lest it take root and defiles our youth.
Are you sure that guy is even a Yoruba guy? A lot (thousands) of fake X accounts exist out there as part of online troll farms.
The BBC Global Disinformation Team exposed this in an exclusive 2022 video documentary BELOW exposing the activities of those members of a notorious secessionist group who are operating from Finland, Italy, the UK, Canada, United States, South Africa, while sponsoring killings and assassinations in Igboland, destabilizing Nigeria through fake news and disinformation and spreading hate speech online from those countries on several online platforms (using YouTube, Facebook, X, Nairaland, etc).
Ipob: Biafra 'media warriors' call for killings on social media - BBC Africa
Morocco wasn’t the paradise I had imagined. Instead, it was a labyrinth of suffering. I ended up in Casablanca, living in a cramped ghetto with other migrants. Odd jobs like washing cars and unloading trucks barely kept me afloat. It was here that I uncovered a horrifying secret.
One night, while working at a car wash, I overheard a heated conversation in pidgin English. Two Nigerian men were arguing about “the girls.” Curious, I followed them to a run-down house. What I saw inside chilled me to the bone.
The house was filled with young women—mostly from Edo, Calabar, and Igbo states. They were barely dressed, sitting in silence with vacant expressions. One of them, a girl named Blessing, whispered to me, “Brother, please help us. We are trapped here.”
The Dark Trade
Over the following weeks, I pieced together their stories. These girls had been lured with promises of jobs in Europe, only to be trafficked into Morocco as sex slaves. Their “madam” confiscated their passports and forced them into prostitution to repay imaginary debts.
One girl, Ejiro, shared her story with me in tears: “I sold everything to make this trip. They told me I would be a housemaid in Italy, but I’ve been here for two years. I’ve tried to escape, but they’ll kill my family if I run.”
The desperation in their eyes haunted me. Some had been there for years, trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the danger, I decided to help them. I secretly contacted a local priest who was known for assisting migrants. Together, we devised a plan to help some of the girls escape. It was risky—if the traffickers found out, we could all be killed.
One night, under the cover of darkness, we managed to smuggle three girls out of the house. They were taken to a safe house run by an NGO. But the success was bittersweet. For every girl we saved, dozens more remained trapped.
Lessons from the Journey
If there’s one thing my experience taught me, it’s this: not all that glitters is gold. The dream of greener pastures can easily become a nightmare. To anyone considering such a journey, I urge you to think twice.
I hope my story serves as a warning. Be cautious. Be informed. And above all, cherish the life you have.
Due diligence. When you tell some people, they won't listen and think you hate them until they fall right into the HIGHLY dangerous Sahelian and North African travel route trap.
I appreciate your sharing this deep info with everyone and hope with doggedness, you will recover all you lost from that bizarre travel experience and gain more financial insights that will lead you to more success.
My journey taught me that not all opportunities are real. Sometimes, the dream of greener pastures can turn into a nightmare. If you’re considering leaving Nigeria, please do your research and ensure your plans are legitimate. Don’t let desperation cloud your judgment.
I hope my story saves someone from making the same mistake.
You write lucidly. It gladens me to know you made it out of that Morrocco travel quagmire.
In Algeria, things went from bad to worse. Bandits raided our group near Tamanrasset, stealing whatever we had left. I had hidden $200 in my socks, which saved me from complete destitution.
In Oran, a coastal city, I worked as a porter for three weeks to save enough money to continue the journey. I met a kind Algerian woman named Amina who gave me food when she saw me begging. Not everyone was kind, though. Many locals treated us like animals, spitting at us and calling us “black slaves.”
The first major setback came on the journey from Kano to Niger. The vehicle I boarded had to pass through Maiduguri, a Boko Haram hotspot. Somewhere near the outskirts, we were stopped by armed men who forced us out of the vehicle.
They claimed to be “freedom fighters” but robbed us of everything valuable. A woman traveling with her child was beaten for hiding money in the baby’s diaper. I lost ₦50,000 and my phone. It was pure chaos, and I was lucky to escape with my life.
Niger: The Desert Crossing
From Maiduguri, we made it to Agadez in Niger, a hub for human trafficking and migration. This was where I realized the full extent of my mistake. The agent who was supposed to connect us to Morocco vanished after collecting the remainder of my money. I was stranded with no papers and no way forward.
I met people from Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia—all stuck in the same trap. A Gambian man named Lamin shared how he had been stranded in Agadez for two months after being robbed. Yet, despite the hopelessness, we pooled resources to pay a smuggler who promised to take us to Algeria.
The Sahara Desert was a nightmare. Packed into a Toyota Hilux with 15 people, we endured three days of unbearable heat, freezing nights, and minimal water. I saw a young man from Togo collapse and die. The smuggler didn’t even stop to bury him.
This was my first hurdle. I sold my small shop and all my tools for ₦400,000, borrowed ₦500,000 from a microfinance bank, and collected the rest from friends, family, and a cooperative society. I still had to pay the agents for the connections and transportation.
I never suspected that I was being scammed.
The Journey to Kano
The journey began with a night bus from Ikorodu to Kano. The agent had warned me not to carry too much luggage to avoid suspicion. I had a backpack with clothes, a Bible, and some cash hidden in my shoes.
In Kano, I met other hopeful travelers at a shady motel near Sabon Gari. Some had sold their homes to finance the journey. I met a man named Musa, a mechanic who shared stories of friends who had “made it” abroad. His optimism was contagious, and for the first time, I felt like this was the right decision.
cathodekazim: My story isn’t one of triumph but of lessons learned in the hardest way possible. I left Nigeria with big dreams but returned with nothing but heartbreak and regret. This is my journey.
The Call to Adventure
It started in Ikorodu, Lagos, where I worked as a phone repair technician, barely earning enough to feed my family. One day, a relative who lived abroad called me with an opportunity I thought was heaven-sent. He claimed Morocco was a land of opportunities where I could earn in dollars working in construction or as a welder. “You can make ₦500,000 monthly,” he said.
The cost of the journey was steep—nearly ₦2 million—but he promised to connect me with agents who would handle everything. I thought about my wife and two kids and decided it was worth it. The goal was to leave Ikorodu with hope and return with success.
Elzazzi: Na wetin Tinubu been dey sell and sniff before he forfeit $460K to the US government for 93. I'm sure he still sniffs till date. Hence, why the country is being ran aground.
Your post is CRIMINALLY defamatory and most irresponsible! Do you realize that the U.S. government returned $1.4 million USD back to the Nigerian President Tinubu's U.S. bank accounts in that same 1993? The $460,000 was a forfeiture for the backlog of unpaid taxes he didn't pay because he returned to Nigeria so it was deducted from the overall money he had in his U.S. bank accounts. As of that 1993, I was AWARE of the court case in the U.S. which later exonerated him because he had NO case to answer. The Americans are very meticulous and do NOT do plea bargains with bloody drug barons and drug dealers who have destroyed the lives of millions of people worldwide. General Manuel Antonio Noriega who was the military dictator in Panama was in 1990 forcibly brought by U.S. troops to face criminal charges for being a drug baron. Panama invaded in December 1989 and by January 1990 he had surrendered from his hiding place to the troops and flown to the United States. I witnessed all these events in real time on satellite television in 1989 as Panama was invaded by U.S. forces just to bring one man to justice in the United States for sponsoring drug trafficking to their country and other countries. The United States can be VERY ruthless with drug barons and Bola Tinubu wasn't one but he was a tecnocrat with Mobil Nigeria (now ExxonMobil) who rose to the prestigious role of a treasurer.
I'm NOT a big fan of Tinubu (because he tends to be too nice and allows all sorts to be said about him and NOBODY respects people like that), but I hate it when some people blatantly and relentlessly tell lies against others on an open forum like Nairaland with so much confidence thereby MISLEADING others. I have a great deal of revulsion towards such people. You won't blame Tinubu if he angrily strikes all of you one by one for this because even in 2001, the U.S. Embassy in Lagos had issued a CLEAR press release stating that the then Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State had NO criminal case in the United States. Despite all the evidence posted to counter these criminal defamations, I do NOT expect any normal person to continue to derail threads with these kinds of blatant FALSEHOODS but it has persisted. You can rightly accuse him of ANY other thing but NOT being a heroin addict and drug baron because the meticulous U.S. courts declared him innocent in 1993.
Seyi Tinubu is a UK-trained lawyer... The day Bola Ahmed Tinubu decides to take his image seriously and take legal action against all of you online and offline defamers who are deliberately spreading FAKE news about him, is the day you all will learn a big lesson that there is NO absolute freedom to CRIMINALLY defame other people in public.
Newlymarried: Nigerians have called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to probe a weight gain pap for babies being sold by a TikTok user.
The TikTok user shared a video of an overweight four-month-old baby girl, claiming she gained weight after being fed the product.
“The Baby is only four months old. POV: my customer's baby while using our Baby's weight gain Pap. Now tell me why haven't you gotten our products yet,” she captioned the video.
She also shared another video of a one-year-old, claiming he weighs 47 kg.
“He is currently weighing 47kg. This was last month when I checked. And he is only a year old tho. Our baby's weight gain pap keeps doing the magic,” the caption on the video reads.
The review read, “We are four months. She is doing wonders. People dey gather her; they call her boss baby. Madam, what are you feeding her with? E choke, my baby na celeb everywhere we dey. The joy is heavenly."
Reposting the videos, some X.com users raised concerns about the potential harm of the product.
Popular Nigerian health influencer, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, better known as Aproko Doctor, urged NAFDAC to take immediate action.
“Dear #NafdacAgency, I’m guessing this is within your purview. No one knows what is inside that pap. Also, this is setting these babies for damage," he wrote.
Sharing the videos, #JaceTheJace wrote, “Can you just imagine this? We need to find a way to stop this person. She took the video off her page; this is the page in question.”
Another X user #Talk2veee questioned the obsession with “chubby babies” and the potential harm of promoting such products.
“What’s the obsession with chubby babies? Are slim babies unhealthy?” she wrote.
Another user wrote: "Are these people aware children can get diabetes? Even certain adults don’t weigh that much!!!! This is not healthy!!! Obesity is not healthy and it’s linked with different diseases!
They have branches at Lekki, Ikota, Ikeja and Abuja. At Blanche Dental clinic, all major Dental care services are offered such as Veneers, Teeth Whitening, Scaling and Polishing, Braces, Tooth Extraction, and Aligners.
Morbeta11: "This is the largest fossilized human feces ever found. It belonged to a sick Viking in 9th Century AD, and has been valued at $39,000".
The large, “precious” feces, officially known as the Lloyds Bank Coprolite, the word “Coprolite” simply meaning fossilized manure. This 1200 year old log that is thought to be the largest recorded in human history.
At 8 inches long and 2 inches wide, specimen was discovered, in York northwest England in 1972 by construction workers during the building of a Lloyds TSB branch, in an area once ruled by Norse warriors. It takes its name from institution Lloyds Bank.
The huge feces had another red-letter moment in 1991 when scientist Dr. Andrew Jones appraised the piece in the name of insurance. “This is the most exciting piece of excrement I’ve ever seen,” he told the Wall Street Journal at the time. “In its own way, it’s as irreplaceable as the Crown Jewels.”
Paleoscatologists have been able to discern much from the girthy deposit, including that its producer ate mostly meat and bread was likely a Viking, lived in approximately the 9th Century AD, and had a gut full of parasites. Indeed, the manure was found to be infested with Whipworm and Maw-worm eggs, suggesting the Viking often had an upset stomach and other gastrointestinal problems.
Today, the log resides in a glass box at the Jorvik Viking Centre, York, England; where, in 2003, visitors dropped it, breaking it into three pieces. It has since been repaired.
oxygenator: Public swimming pools are treated with chemical chlorine to kill germs, bacteria, and viruses to make them safer. It is safer to swim in these pools than in a stream.
BALLOSKI: In 2021, I was seriously involved in the movement of cocoa from Starlink yard on that Apapa-Oshodi expressway. We were moving the goods to Calabar port to be exported. I think there was issues with congestion at Apapa then, so they opted to ship through Calabar.
Why am I giving you this background? As a Nigerian, it's a thing of joy to see the number of Nigerians - both young and old- working there; the sight of those women sorting and sewing sacks give me joy. It's also a sad reality to see that, as a nation, we can't export finished goods, we export raw material and in turn import finished goods. It's disturbing. This is the same template being deployed in the oil sector.
Very insightful. The end users in Europe, America, and Asia always want to dictate what commodities to sell to them and they prefer the raw commodities. As long as Africans don't invest in top-notch value addition to meet the standards of these countries, the export of raw commodities and/or semi-finished commodities will continue.
FreeStuffsNG: Starlink Global, an indigenous Nigerian company, account for 30.93% of non-oil export earnings
Starlink Global, Dangote Fertilizer lead Nigeria’s $510 million non-oil export in April 2024
Nigeria’s non-oil export sector experienced a marginal increase of 2% in earnings, reaching $510 million in April 2024, up from $500 million in March.
This is according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) April 2024 Monthly Economic Report.
The report read: “Higher commodity prices boosted earnings from nonoil export. Provisional data indicated that non-oil export earnings increased marginally to US$0.51 billion, from US$0.50 billion in March 2024.”
This growth was largely driven by higher commodity prices and the robust performance of key exporters such as Starlink Global and Dangote Fertilizer Ltd, which emerged as the top contributors.
Starlink Global account for 30.93% of non-oil export earnings
Starlink Global, an agricultural produce marketing company exporting cocoa, cashew, sesame seeds, among others, from Nigeria, led the charge.
The company accounted for 30.93% of the total non-oil export earnings, primarily through the export of dairy products.
Dangote Fertilizer followed closely, contributing 23.33% with its urea exports.
Indorama Eleme Fertilizer also made a notable impact, accounting for 17.77% of the earnings from its urea exports, while Outspan Nigeria Ltd added 16.88% through dairy product exports. Metal Recycling Industries Ltd, specializing in aluminum and copper ingots, contributed 11.09% to the total.
The CBN report noted: “Receipts by the top five non-oil exporters rose to US$0.14 billion, from US$0.11 billion in March 2024. Analysis by share showed that Starlink Global and Dangote Fertilizer Ltd were the leading exporters, accounting for 30.93 and 23.33 per cent of the total, from the export of dairy products and urea, respectively.
“Indorama Eleme Fertilizer accounted for 17.77 per cent from urea export. Outspan Nigeria Ltd contributed 16.88 per cent from the export of dairy products, while Metal Recycling Industries Ltd with the export of aluminum and copper ingots constituted 11.09 per cent.”
Vietnam, US top non-oil export destinations The primary destinations for Nigeria’s non-oil exports included Vietnam, the United States, and the Netherlands, which collectively received a significant share of the country’s exports.
Other notable destinations were Malaysia, India, and Japan. Key commodities that fueled these exports were cocoa beans, cashew nuts, urea, cocoa products, and sesame seeds.
The report read: “Analysis showed that the key destinations of Nigeria’s non-oil export were Vietnam (13.96%), the US (13.87%) and the Netherlands (11.81%). Other notable destinations were Malaysia (7.25%), India (6.44%), and Japan (6.37%). Analysis revealed that the main commodities exported were cocoa bean (19.95%), cashew nuts (18.25%), urea (13.21%), cocoa products (5.34%), and sesame seeds (4.79%).”
What you should know Nairametrics earlier reported that Nigeria’s non-oil sector exhibited signs of stagnation despite Nigeria’s overall growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2024.
According to the latest GDP report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the second quarter of 2024, the non-oil sector recorded a growth rate of 2.80% in real terms, mirroring the growth rate seen in the first quarter of 2024.
This growth rate is notably lower than the 3.58% recorded in the same quarter of 2023, indicating a slowdown, and raising concerns about the country’s economic diversification efforts.
While the non-oil sector continues to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy, its inability to sustain robust growth amidst fluctuating global oil prices and economic pressures raises concerns about the country’s economic resilience and long-term growth prospects.
That's a huge one from Starlink Global, Lagos. Kudos to the silent billionaire founder [Alhaji R.A. Adeniji, a High Chief from Ode Omu, Osun State] of the export trading company.
envoymedia: Nigerian Chef, Tope Maggie ‘Breaks’ Irish Chef, Fisher’s Cooking Record, Awaits Confirmation From Guinness Records
Nigerian Chef, Tope Maggie Completes 200-Hour Cooking, Seeks To Reclaim Guinness Records For Nigeria From Ireland’s Alan Fisher
Nigerian chef, Temitope Adebayo, better known as Tope Maggie, is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, to take the record of recently declared Irish chef, Alan Fisher who completed 119-hour and 57-minute record.
According to Oyo Affairs on X platform (formerly Twitter), Chef Maggie completed a 200-hour cook-a-thon which ended in the early hours of Saturday, November 18.
The video was captioned, “Congratulations to Chef Tope Maggie and his team for completing a 200-hour Cook-A-Thon, which came to an end at exactly 3am this morning.”
Tope, it was gathered, surpassed the record set by Fisher, as he pulled off a 200-hour cook-a-thon to the cheers of supporters at the venue.
The cook-a-thon is said to have commenced on Thursday evening, November 9th, and ended on Saturday morning, November 18th.
It was held at Ogbomoso Recreation Club, opposite LAUTECH College of Health Sciences, Isale-General, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Tope currently awaits the confirmation of his record by the GWR as congratulations and celebration over his feat reign on.
Tope Maggie is a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, where he studied Hotel Management. His name “Maggie” was inherited from his mother, under whom he learnt cooking.
Tope currently manages a chain restaurant in Ogbomoso.
SaharaReporters had on November 7 reported that an Irish chef, Fisher, who owns a restaurant in Japan, dethroned Nigerian cooking Queen, Hilda Baci, as he broke two cooking-related Guinness World Records (GWR) titles.
The Records which announced Fisher’s emergence as the new world longest cooking title holder said that Fisher “claimed the longest cooking marathon (individual) after clocking in a time of 119 hours 57 minutes. That is more than 24 hours longer than the previous record held by Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci.”
We have some data that can suggest middle-class levels.
Middle-class people tend to have good salaries, own small or medium businesses and they buy goods that generate VAT.
I have removed Lagos from SW figures and FCT from NC figures so you don't say it is unfair. That is me being unfair to Yorubas because they are the tribe who have the largest proportion of their total & best wealth and business activities located in Lagos; but removing Lagos gives their figures more ethnic purity and a better odds of not claiming it is not like-for-like comparisons. See the figures below.
Salaries indicators via PAYE collections SS - 227.8bn SW (minus Lagos) - 90.4bn NW - 77.0bn NC (minus FCT) - 58.2bn SE - 50.2bn NE - 45.1bn
SMEDAN 2017 records on SMEs by region SW (minus Lagos) - 14,896 NW - 11,731 NC (minus FCT) - 10,553 SE - 9,731 SS - 9,502 NE - 5,449
Self-employed income indicators via Direct-Assessment Tax collections SW (minus Lagos) - 5.0bn NW - 4.8bn NC (minus FCT) - 4.7bn SS - 3.8bn SE - 1.5bn NE - 1.2bn
Middle-class spending measured via VAT collections SS - 135.8bn SW (minus Lagos) - 89.6bn NW - 56.7bn NE - 27.7bn SE - 25.3bn NC (minus FCT) - 19.5bn
Middle-class spending measured via internet subscriptions NW - 28.12m SW (minus Lagos) - 26.1m SS - 22.5m NC (minus FCT) - 22.3m NE - 15.0m SE - 14.6m
Now, you can spend some time factoring in population size differences. Without a reliable census, we can't know for sure; but speculations are roughly NW (25%), SW including Lagos (19%), NC including FCT (16%) , SS (15%), NE (13%) and SE (12%) as the distribution of where people live in Nigeria.
SW minus Lagos (12%) and NC minus FCT (15%).
Whatever way you juggle, cut and factor it, the point will still remain that Igbos don't out-excel, dominate and out-beat all other Nigerians in the economic prowess or performance. You are making empty chest-beatings as usual!
You guys need to relax with your boasting! You are increasing irritating lots of Nigerians and alienating yourselves.
Racoon: Western Cape region, features architecture dating back to 1690, a farm, orchard and vineyard and more.
Patrice Motsepe has a net worth today of $2.3 billion. The mining tycoon is the founder and chairman of African Rainbow Minerals. He became a billionaire in 2008 – the first black African on the Forbes list. In 2016, he launched a private equity firm, African Rainbow Capital, focused on investing in Africa.
Motsepe is also the president and owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the most valuable clubs in Africa. In March 2021, he was elected president of the Confederation of African Football.
JADEK04: Nigeria bank don't know how to make money legally....I do export very well..when you give them goods deal. On export of commodities...with good payment term...either u go to them for loan or partnership ...it will take forever for them to answer u...and if they finally answer u.it will take another several months before your loan coming...if u r not careful..d loan will useless and become debt on u..another of their problem...if u find others way round to source your own fund ..it will take them forever to perfect your documents nd to send it to buyers bank for your payment ...this years we pay 27000uad for demourage because buyer didn't get bill of landing from bank in time...last year's. me nd manager of one of this bank fight to the extend of arresting me...they couldn't find my documents again for almost 3 week....Nigeria bank is a joke..one of them is processing a loan for me since 3 month now. a loan of 8m..with inflow of over 200m .....they hold my 2m down for insurance nd 10% down for decades all in d name of loan...
Contents: Nigeria is strengthening its drive to diversify away from oil, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is leading the charge. At a recent seminar hosted by the bank, government officials and industry leaders highlighted the untapped potential of non-oil exports, particularly with the added incentive of zero tariffs and customs charges.
Managing Director of FCMB, Yemisi Edun, affirmed the bank's commitment to this economic shift, revealing that FCMB has already supported over $900 million in export flows this year. The Nigerian government is also stepping up, with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) implementing digital reforms and a dedicated export command to streamline trade.
"Non-oil exports are duty- and tax-free in Nigeria, with no associated charges for customs export procedures," said Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the NCS, represented by Assistant Comptroller Olusola Salako, Adeniyi at the seminar. This, coupled with initiatives like the Regional Sealink Project aimed at improving trade connectivity, paints a promising picture for Nigerian businesses looking to expand into global markets.
The seminar emphasized the critical need for Nigerian exporters to scale up production and elevate product quality to achieve competitiveness on the international stage. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) CEO Nonye Ayeni highlighted the Council's "Export 35 Refined" initiative, focusing on providing specialized support for high-potential agricultural products. Ayeni expressed confidence in the potential of Nigeria's non-oil export sector to drive significant economic growth.
The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) Managing Director Abubakar Bello also spoke at the seminar, highlighting the Bank's focus on bridging the non-oil export financing gap and fostering trade connectivity through the Regional Sealink Project. He welcomed collaborations to identify and fund viable non-oil projects, particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing, solid minerals, and services.
The overall message from the seminar was clear: Nigeria's economic future depends on diversifying its exports beyond oil. With FCMB's financial backing and the government's proactive policies, the country is well-positioned to unlock substantial growth opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and services. https://tribuneonlineng.com/fcmb-stakeholders-push-to-expand-nigerias-non-oil-export-trade/
Business › Re: Eniola Shokunbi Gets ₦19.4 Billion Funding After Creating Air Filter In USA by XAUBulls: 3:44am On Nov 28, 2024
