Children’s Day: A Vote For Vernacular

Essay, Stories12 Comments

No doubt, children are a blessing to anyone who is lucky enough to have them. Oftentimes, parents talk about giving their children the best they can afford. Where matters concern the fruit of our loins, nothing is too much or beyond reach. Some even go the extent of borrowing or committing crimes just to satisfy the needs of their child, but many times parents and guardians forget that when it comes to raising children, money is not necessarily the most important factor. Inculcating the values of discipline, integrity, honesty, respect, self-confidence and an appreciation of their mother tongue (the focus of this piece) in our offspring doesn’t cost money.

…Of Silly Trekkers And Misplaced Priorities

Opinion Pieces, Stories12 Comments

If you are oblivious of the latest reality show going on in Nigeria, then you must have been hibernating under a rock or something. What started as the “ambition” of a young man to according to him “fulfill a promise” he made two years ago to trek from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate in solidarity with General Muhammadu Buhari should he emerge winner of the 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria has quickly escalated into a competition of sorts resulting in not less than eight other young Nigerians trekking from one part of the country to the other in order to show support for their political candidate. Like almost every other venture in Nigeria, the bandwagon effect has taken its full course on this trekking madness.

Presidential Paranoia

Politics/Governance8 Comments

It’s just over two weeks to May 29, also known as democracy day in Nigeria. This time around, the circumstances are slightly different. Nigeria has a date with destiny. A democratically elected incumbent president who lost at the polls in his bid for a second term in office will be handing over power to another democratically elected one – the first time this would be happening in Nigeria’s sixteen years of democracy. As expected, many issues are coming to the fore, with the most pressing being the embarrassing problem of the scarcity of premium motor spirit, popularly called petrol which Nigerians have had to deal with yet again! Even though as usual, this too shall pass, and the average Nigerian who has been naturally imbued with a never-say-die spirit will trudge on in spite of whatever is thrown their way.

Lessons From Mayweather And Chelsea FC

Sports16 Comments

“Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.”- 1 Corinthians 9:26 (The Holy Bible)

The much hyped fight between the Filipino eight division world champion, Manny Pacquiao and the undefeated American five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr finally took place as scheduled on the 2nd of May. At the end of the twelfth and final round, the Money man Mayweather was adjudged the winner in a unanimous decision by all three judges. A lot of people felt that the boxing bout didn’t exactly live up to its billing as the “Fight of the Century” as dubbed by its promoters. Those who were expecting to see a technical knock out ended up disappointed, but at the end of the day, the man tagged the best pound-for-pound fighter by many sporting news and boxing websites took the day.

Thoughts On The Buhari Vs AIT Brouhaha

Opinion Pieces, Stories6 Comments

There has been an on going debate since the news broke that the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari barred the reporters of African Independent Television (AIT), a privately owned tv station from covering his activities citing security concerns over his family and ethical issues as reasons for the decision. Nigerians are divided over the expedience of this decision, with a section of the populace insisting that it doesn’t bode well for our democracy especially in the light of the fear among certain quarters that General Buhari who was a former military dictator cannot totally shed his military toga and embrace the ideals of democracy altogether. With a history of fiercely clamping down on the media and free speech through the enactment of the Decree 4 which forbade any journalist from reporting any information considered embarrassing to any government official during his first stint at the helm of affairs, some people are justifiably worried by the news of Buhari barring AIT.

Xenophobic South Africa: Why Nigeria Needs To be Fixed Fast!

Opinion Pieces, Stories5 Comments

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithi stoked the embers of discord and violence when he called for the deportation of foreign nationals living in South Africa, saying that it was unacceptable that locals were being made to compete with people from other countries for the few economic opportunities available. What’s with Kings and unguarded utterances in recent times? In the meantime, what started as a form of growing discontent and grumblings among the people living in the poor regions of South Africa has quickly escalated into a full blown massacre of other black Africans no thanks to the King’s statement.

“Examination Is not A True Test Of Knowledge” If I Hear!

Guest Blogger, Stories2 Comments

”   Today, Lolo’s thoughts features a guest writer. In this thought provoking piece, Opeyemi Adediran challenges the veracity of the common claim that examination is not a true test of knowledge. Ope is a BSc and Masters degree holder in Animal Science from the University Of Ibadan. He enjoys reading, tackling trivia questions and browsing. He writes…

How To Be A Lagos Big Girl

Satire, Stories27 Comments

Away from all things too serious, I am sharing an extra post this week. I will be writing on something that has always fascinated me…”The Lagos Big Girl Tag.” The city of Lagos is regarded as a land of opportunities where people come in search of the golden fleece that is often talked about. Everyone wants to be seen as “doing well” or “making it.” Now, the ways of achieving that aim differ from person to person. Today, I will be attempting to assist the ladies who aspire to be tagged “Lagos Big Girls.” Feel free to scratch Lagos and insert the name of your city of residence.

The Chibok Girls: One Year After

Opinion Pieces, Stories12 Comments

    “Chibok girls saga remains an open sore on the conscience of our nation” – Wole Soyinka

It’s my 50th blog post, and I am dedicating it to the missing Chibok girls. One whole year has passed since an entire set of teenage girls were forcibly taken from their school, the Government Secondary School in Chibok town, Borno State, Nigeria. 365 whooping days! Over 200 girls whose only crime was an ambition to make something of their lives by getting a western education were abducted from their dormitory on the 14th of April, 2014 by the dreaded Boko Haram sect. The Islamist militants have held the north eastern part of the country, and by extension the whole of Nigeria by the jugular for the past six years! However, the case of the kidnapped Chibok girls was the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back. Boko Haram hit our last nerve. It was and still is a bad dream…a terrible nightmare which has unfortunately dragged on for far too long.

Epic Battle For The Soul Of Lagos

Politics/Governance6 Comments

The presidential elections have come and gone, with many heaving a huge sigh relief as a result of a potential unrest being averted by the timely concession of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan. But it is not yet uhuru. The gubernatorial elections in majority of the states of the federation comes up this Saturday. Lagos in particular is on the radar, and understandably so because it is the commercial nerve center of Nigeria, it is the hub which generates a substantial proportion of the revenue of the country. Lagos being the most populous city in Nigeria, the second fastest-growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest- growing city in the world, with a population of about 20 million people has earned all the attention it receives as the microcosm of Nigeria, and so when Lagos sneezes, the rest of the country catches the flu!