We've moved!!!

I'd like to apologize for posing a bit of an inconvenience to you, but the blog has been moved. Therefore the blog you once knew as www.chibugo.blogspot.com has been moved to https://sincerelychibugo.wordpress.com/. (Sorry for the long address; hopefully you'll get used to it?). All the posts and comments have been moved too, so its not really like a completely fresh start. I'm thankful to those who have followed this little blog of mine from day 1, and I hope never to disappoint you. Hopefully, you'll still be edutained (educated and entertained), and hopefully too, we can all still discuss global and local issues that affect us, and this time you'll definitely be able to join the conversation through the comments section which is so much easier to use. I intend for readers to contribute, since I definitely don't know it all.

Thank you so much. Here's to a better 2016!

Monday Humor - Busted!

I hope you've all been enjoying the holidays so far, despite the fuel situation. Eku enjoyment. How many of una travel go village? Hope country life dey totori una o. Life is too short not to enjoy your holidays biko. Yes its a public holiday and you're all chilling at home with your loved ones, but a little laugh never hurt anyone, right? Lately I've been reminiscing about my uni days and my escapades as an undergrad student (which really aren't much, but make me shake my head a lot of the time). I'm terribly glad I have the ability to laugh at myself in many situations oh. Abeg hypertension cannot come and kill me on top de mata. I wonder how one person could have been in so many hembarrazzing situations in one lifetime. Anyway, I obviously survived them all, so here goes.

While I was in uni, I was what you could call a triangular student. The three locations I was always likely to be found were class, church, or the hostel. I had this really serious facial expression that when people were able to finally get to know me as a friend, they wondered how someone's appearance could be so deceiving, because despite my seriousness, I am a fun person, really. I just didn't play around with my studies. My papa nor send me come school to play.

People would always describe me as serious, focused, churchy, efiko(I wish), upright, echetaram echetaram. I was(still am) that kinda person. Someone said she liked to come to the hostel tap to fetch water whenever I was there because you could be sure that everybody would use their turn and not jump the queue because I would be ready for you! I had people saying "good evening" or "good morning" to me right from first year and always wondered why, until I realized it was my serious face. Chai!

Anyway, on to the mata wey carry me come today. That was how this particular day in my third year, there was a birthday party going on in the hostel lounge. I had been studying all day and I was tired. As I decided to come up for air, since the music from the lounge was quite loud, na im the dj put one beta jam like that. Here's a little secret about me: I'm a really good dancer(especially where no one can see me. lol). Yours truly stood up to the occasion and began to dance her heart out. Chei! I dance ehn, soteey sweat full my body. There was no style I didn't dance that day. You know how you dance without inhibitions when you feel no one is watching? All my craze was let loose that evening into the dance. When I had used dance to exorcise all the demons that usually gather in my head after long hours of study, I was finally satisfied with my little exercise and decided to go to the hostel canteen to get myself a drink. As I passed by the lounge, I saw that the place was full to capacity and people were standing around. They were all over the place. I wondered the big babe that was celebrating this time. As I got outside, I saw that there were even more people gathered there. But here's the weird thing. They were looking at me! And some were trying hard not to. Alarm bells were already going off in my head. I paused first to gauge the situation. I know I am not bad looking, but my beauty is definitely not enough to make these people stare at me like this. I just jejely continued my waka down to the canteen, and guess what I discovered! My window! The darned thing was closed, but the curtains were all open! My room was on the ground floor, so you should know the implication of this discovery by now. The whole world had just witnessed what I call my "craze dance"! My heart started going gbigidim gbigidim gbigidim. I was frozen in place like this for some seconds

before I got myself, closed my open mouth, and kept moving in typical Chibugo style, trying to maintain my composure like nothing happened, while in my mind, this is how I was:

source

How would I show face again and still be taken as the serious and efiko Chibugo they all knew? Ah! Mogbe! *hands on head* My own yaff finish! I made it back to my room without any mishap other than a few open stares and laughs with pointing fingers. It was not a small something and I'm glad I survived it. Oh boy! Imagine all the babes with their boyfriends and all the chykers who we derisively nickname Ogos(Inlaws in Igbo) watching me in my moments of madness without gate fee. Smh. Shame wan almost kee me that day. Thankfully no one that knew me very well was among the crowd that evening. Praise Master Jesus! I for no hear word till I graduate. On thinking about it later, I realized that I should be glad I was fully clothed while doing the dance, if not,.....*faints*. You know how we can like to wear next to nothing in the dorm rooms, all in the quest to be comfortable. Hehe. Chim mu anya. *beats chest* My God is awake. He wee not let such evil befall Him pikin.

Fin

I hope the story above made you laugh off life's stress. A reader suggested I request other readers to contribute stories to the Monday Humor column, to enable some variety. I quite agree. So if you have funny personal stories you would like to share, do send it in an email to bugovidase@gmail.com.

Dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt. Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.- William W. Purkey

Life Lessons I Learned From Miss Universe 2015

Christmas night, I was unusually idle and decided to check through Youtube for anything funny to watch. Since I don't do much television, I'd only heard in passing that something happened at the 2015 Miss Universe and didn't pay any mind to it. On browsing through trending videos, I came across the video of that particular event and out of curiosity I decided to watch it. You can watch it yourself here. Chineke God of Mercy! Yeeeeeeeh! *Hands on head* I reject this kind of situation in Jesus name! I thought my reaction was dramatic until I read Sisiyemmie's reaction on her blog. LMAO. Y'all should really check her out. She composed prayer points against the situation. You can see her reaction here.

Okay, let me break down this situation to you. A girl participates in a huge beauty pageant and is picked out of a whole bunch of other girls. She is on the stage with just one contestant beside her, so it's either of them. One of them is Miss Colombia and the other is Miss Philippines. Next thing the name of the winner is called out and voila! Its the girl next to her, Miss Colombia. She receives her flower and crown, and excitedly waves her national flag. Miss Philippines is sent to stand back in line with the others. In the next two minutes the event moderator comes to announce that there's been a big mistake and that the real Miss Universe is Miss Philippines and not Miss Colombia! OMG! You may not feel the gravity of this situation if you don't watch the video.

source

photo of the result card that got Steve confused

Anyone who has participated in a pageant of any sort, no matter how small, in fact any competition at all, would understand how nerve racking this kinda situation could be. I really felt bad for Steve when he came in, looking embarrassed and said: "Okay folks, I have to apologize...". Even though I'm surprised that Steve Harvey my man, who is such a pro at what he does, could make such a mistake, I'm feeling somewhere in my mind that this was a stunt by the organizers of Miss Universe to gain popularity! If it is, I sure hope he was well paid! That's just a thought though, don't sue me. Before I ramble on and on and forget why I began writing this post in the first place, let me give you these two heavy duty points I was able to take away from this event.

1. No one on earth is has the ability to permanently keep you from reaching your dreams. In simple English: delay is definitely not denial. (If you're ever in Miss Philippines' shoes, this is for you)

2. The tides of life sometimes bring us fleeting victories. In whatever context whether victory or defeat, remain gracious. Summary of my point: Be gracious even in defeat. (This is for the Miss Colombias). If you watched the video, you must have noticed that even when it was clear that Miss Colombia's two minutes of fame were over, she couldn't bring herself to graciously hand over the crown. The Ex-Queen had to come remove it from her head to place upon its rightful owner. I believe the whole world would have had a whole lot more respect for her if she had made the move herself. If I were her, I would definitely have removed the crown myself, if not for anything, just for the fact that the whole world was watching me at that moment. Anyway, we'll just chalk it up to shock.

Personally, I'd rather be a Miss Philippines than a Miss Colombia in this life. I'm just talking my own oh. Chai! It can be painful to have a lump of sugar placed in your mouth and be forced to spit it out to be given to someone else. You get warra mean? Speak your thoughts in the comments if you can relate.

Have a lovely Christmas weekend!

There are winds of destiny that blow when we least expect them. Sometimes they gust with the fury of a hurricane, sometimes they barely fan one's cheek. But the winds cannot be denied, bringing as they often do, a future that is impossible to ignore. - Nicholas Sparks.

What Is Christmas To You?

Christmas is here!!! I wish I were more excited though. Somebody please bring back my childhood!!! I can tell that Christmas means many different things to many different people just by walking down the street. Its funny that the real reason for the season is sometimes totally forgotten in the midst of it all. For some, It could mean

1. A time to travel home

2. A time to play with fireworks and play pranks with friends

3. A time to socialize, visit all the people you missed visiting all year

4. A time to soberly reflect on the almost concluded year

5. A time to go out, party and get "weisted". You know warra mean

6. A time to buy stuff you know you can't afford in order to make expensive shakara

7. A time to share time and resources with loved ones and the needy

8. A time to just sleep and catch up on rest

9. A time to be with family

10. A time to #turnup at Church

If you're a combination of groups 1, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10, then you're pretty much a laid back low-key kinda person; much like me. Lol

If you're a combination of groups 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10, you're too much of a social animal. *runs away*

If you're a combination of groups 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, errr, I think I need to help you manage your account.

If you belong to only one or two groups, OYO is your case oh!

Just thought to peep through this flimsy excuse of a post to wish you my friends and blog visitors a Very Merry Christmas!!! I detest having to say Happy Holidays, but since I know its not only Christians that visit this space, let me wish you all a joyful Christmas celebration and happy holidays. Keep in mind that Jesus is the reason for the season, and behave accordingly! Ahem!

Have fun, but remember to stay safe too! Kizzes!!!

Mid week Mendemende - Look What Linda Ikeji Caused

When I decided to start writing this blog, I had one thing in mind; to have an interactive space where people(my target audience being young people like myself) could drop by and share ideas, be entertained sometimes, and proffer solutions to current issues where applicable. I started this blog almost two years ago but only got around to writing in it some months back. It takes time and commitment to keep to a schedule, and not just that, but to come up with creative and original stuff to blog about. I really hate to steal people's ideas as pose them as mine. Every single post is well thought out before it gets published.

Imagine my surprise when an old friend from uni called me to congratulate me. The conversation was something like this:
Friend: Hey Bugo, what's up?
Me: I'm great, how u doing?
Friend: I'm managing oh, unlike you naaw. I heard you started writing a blog
Me: Haha. But that doesn't change anything naaw. I'm still a struggling babe.
Friend: Hmmmm. You people sef. The next thing I know now you'll buy your own house on Banana Island. Be there deceiving us.
Me: (Jaw dropping)Ewo, How that one wan take happen naaw?
Friend: Meaning you're not making anything reasonable from your blog ehn?
Me: Oga, I'm not making shishi. What even makes you think everyone who owns a blog actually makes money from it? I even spend on my data and all that, and this one is speaking of money. Choi! Na wetin Linda Ikeji don cause be dis!
Friend: Then what inspires you to keep posting when there seems not to be any benefit from what you're saying?
Me: The fact that people actually read my blog and give me great feedback, dazall.
Friend: I find that hard to believe o
Me: Ngwanu, believe whatever you may, but I don't make anything from my blog. I'm even hosting it on a free platform at the moment.(already getting annoyed)
Friend:(taking the hint) Okay ooo, I just felt that knowing what you're capable of, that blog would be making plenty money for you right now and I decided to congratulate you and famz small. I didn't know it wasn't so. Biko nor vex.
Me: Issorait.

I have a feeling he still doesn't believe me and I laugh when I think of this call. I wince when I think that many other people must  be thinking the same way. So all bloggers are rich ehn? SMH. If it was so, every Nigerian who owns a laptop would be a blogger by now. Abi you no trust Nigerians? LOL. It takes time, commitment and creativity to build a blog from scratch and sustain it to the extent that it drives enough traffic to draw advertisers, which is where most of the money usually comes from. You have to be in it for something other than money: passion. I'm from a very sciencey educational background and I love my sciences but I also love to express my artistic side through writing about stuff around me, expressing my thoughts and opinions in my very own unique style. I'm still very new at blogging and it will take ages before I make one kobo here, if I eventually monetize. The feedback I get from the blog via emails, calls and messages from those who want to comment but can't, is sufficient to keep me going. If I eventually start making anything from this space, trust that you guys would be the first to know. Some people actually decide not to make anything from their blogs even when they have the traffic. Who knows? I may follow that path. People be comparing every blogger to Linda Ikeji. Smh. I have lost count of the number of ads on her blog. Its really like comparing a fry to a whale. LOL.

So guys, what is the biggest myth you've ever had to bust in your niche? How absurd did it sound? Please share in the comments section!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!!!! BLESSINGS!

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - Maya Angelou

Monday Humor - The Facebeat

Hi guys! How was the weekend? Too short eh? But we still gotta do what we gotta do, right? So during the weekend, I realized I didn't have any story in my head for today's Monday humor post. How is that even possible? My life is one series of funny events!(Not always funny to me though) But alas, I was blank. Not for long though. I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of the harmattan winds howling fiercely and rattling the windows in the house. Brrrr! Terrible stuff! As I was about diving back into the blankets I had a flash back to another harmattan, exactly eleven months ago......


I was a youth corps member serving in a rural part of Benue state at the time. I'd been there for a couple of months and felt I had acclimatized. Until the harmattan came upon us. One would think I wouldn't be too bothered; I after all went to uni in Nsukka, which is known for its phenomenal harmattan cold and accompanying "fog". I learnt the hard way that compared to the harmattan in Benue, that of Nsukka was still "learning work". Keep a slice of bread on the table and blink, and you would be left with a slab of concrete. It was so dry, your spit could dry up before it hit the ground. I kid, I kid. But it was indeed terrible. The dryness was unbelieveable! And the cold? God knows why he made me a Nigerian oh, because if winter is said to be worse than the harmattan which we complain of, then I can only wonder what winter is like. Everyone went about wearing sweaters and socks and I am sure every Sunday in church during that period, we must have had more than a few people with unwashed bodies; all for the fear of harmattan's bite.

But then I digress. In my LGA of Benue state, we had no bank. Unbelievable right? I know, I know. Even I don't know how I survived without a bank around for almost a year. So in my LGA( Ugba town in Logo LGA), the corps members and anyone else who needed to use a bank would have to "travel" to the next LGA(Ukum LGA) to use the ATM machine. We usually did this once or twice a month to reduce the stress of moving around unnecessarily. Sometimes you could have company, especially if it was market day (which coincided with our CDS day)but other times everyone would be forming broke and beg you to help them withdraw. One could leave for Zaki-Biam town in Ukum with as much as 6 atm cards!

So on this day, I really had to withdraw some cash as I had run out. No one wanted to go with me and so I had to do my thing solo. I didn't want to go because the cold and dust was on another level that day. I took one look at the okada riders and my liver fail me. They looked like they had been rolled in sand over and over again. I chalked it up to the fact that they must have plied the Ugba-Zaki Biam route many times and I felt pity for them. Imagine having to breathe all this dust to make a living. This harmattan is not nice. But yours truly took just one look at her wallet and knew she was playing. I HAD to go. So I took a deep breath and walked to the taxi park. No taxis. Ewo. It had finally come to this. I had to take a motorcycle. So I said warraheck and got on one. As we went along, the wind played with my hair and I began to compose a poem in my mind. crazy much? Even though it was cold, I was well protected by my sweater and so got lost in wonder as I looked at the once green countryside that had now gone totally brown.

 In no time I had arrived my destination so I jumped down and dusted myself hastily. I got to the ATM machine and found people gathered round it speaking Tiv rapidly. Even though they all looked at me weirdly, I gathered that the machine had given up few minutes ago. I quietly slinked into the banking hall before it would occur to them to crowd the hall in order to try withdrawing over the counter. In the bank, I got talking with the customer service guy and I was surprised he was smiling so openly while speaking to me. That was unusual of him. He was always business-like every time I came there. I shrugged it away and proceeded to collect my cash. While in line though, I had noticed that the people around were looking at me strangely, but I decided to ignore them. It isn't unusual to be stared at as a corps member in a rural area, especially when in uniform, which I was. So I shrugged it off, took my money and left. As I entered the security doors while exiting the bank, I thought I heard someone make a statement in Tiv and everyone laughed while looking in my direction, but I couldn't be sure it was me they were laughing at, so I smiled too and left.

Another bike ride later, I was home. whew! Thank God that was over. I entered the house, and found my roommate asleep. While taking off my sweater, I saw a reflection of myself in the mirror. And I screamed!!! I looked like this:

source

As I yelled dramatically, my roommate woke up and asked what the matter was. I told her and she only laughed her head off while I continued in my hysteria. OMG! No wonder the customer service guy had been so friendly suddenly. And the people had probably been laughing at me!!!

Oh the shame! The shame! The shame! Such mean people! And no one had thought to tell me either! I smacked my head comically several times, only serving to fuel my roommate's laughter. I really resembled the boy up there, and I couldn't wrap my mind around that fact. I mean, I'd left the house looking like a diva, makeup and everything! The gel in my hair had only made the situation worse; it served as an adhesive, attracting all the dust that came my way and packing them on my head. Was it my lashes? I hadn't any. They were completely brown and blended into my face. Chai. What a mean world.

I still laugh privately in embarrassment whenever I remember. Hehe. Have a great week, amigo!

Fin

I hope the story above made you laugh. A reader suggested I request other readers to contribute stories to the Monday Humor column, to enable some variety. I quite agree. So if you have funny personal stories you would like to share, do send it in an email to bugovidase@gmail.com.

The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the embarrassment he can take -  Douglas Engelbart

Mid-Week Mendemende - Celebrity Status: Would You Want It Or Not?

As I sang the last few lines of my song, ending my performance for the night, thunderous applause greeted me. I waved and curtseyed a few times, grinning from ear to ear while blowing kisses at my fans even as they screamed my name in a rhythmic chant:Chibugo! Chibugo! Chibugo!  They threw roses at my feet and the camera lights went off from all directions, almost blinding me..... "Wake up jooor! Sleepy head! It's time for morning prayers." As usual, my big sister, (whom I will call Kembu for the purpose of writing on this blog) had put on the lights and shaken me roughly out of my sweet sleep. Here was stark reality. I was no superstar. As I grabbed my bible and groggily stumbled over into the living room, I wondered what it would really be like to be a star.

I am pretty sure this isn't too far from the dream of many young people.  To be famous. These days it's really easy to become famous, what with the help of social media and the Internet boom. All you have to do is consistently take sexy pictures of yourself and gain many followers, and bam! You're an Instant Instagram Celebrity. Recently though, in my more serious moments of soul-searching, somehow my teenage dream of being a star slid into my consciousness and I marveled at how things had changed between then and now. I'm no longer so sure that fame would be such a great thing for someone like me. So., what's your take? Do you crave celebrity status? What extent do you think you can go to get there?

Let me breakdown some of the pros and cons of being a celebrity. I'll start with the good part. 

PROS

1. You will be rich:. This is the most obvious benefit of fame. Whether as a sports person or an entertainment personality, you're generally going to make money much faster than the average Obi that works in a bank. This translates to luxury houses and cars, designer everything, first class trips to places only seen in magazines and the best of everything money can buy. Dang! It is a great life, I must admit.  Who nor like beta tin? 

2. You will get special treatment almost everywhere: You will be given the best treatments in restaurants, bars, at the cinema, in the banks and airports, and even in church. People of the opposite sex will come running when you call.   Enough said. 

3. You will have a lot of fans: If you are a guy, be prepared to see girls faint when you enter the mall. Whatever field you're a star in, get ready to be constantly surrounded by your supporters. You will be asked the dream question: "Could you please sign my autograph?" Trust that you will be recognized everywhere you go. This can be a serious ego boost. 

4. You will have more opportunities: When you excel in your field, it is highly likely that you will be called upon to be a brand ambassador for a brand associated with what you do. This translates to more money! I heard the alleged amount that Kim Kardashian charges to promote a brand by only sending out a tweet and I was dumbstruck. Ees not a small something  oh. 

CONS

1. No privacy: This is the number one problem with fame, I think. With the advent of social media, it gets worse since whatever you put up is out there for the whole world to see..  Even if you don't subscribe to social media there is every possibility that the paparazzi will stalk you wherever you go. This can make one get paranoid or live one's life always trying to be and look perfect. We know it isn't possible to always be perfect, so being caught in an unflattering position is going to happen often. Your life becomes fodder for the gossip blogs and they can be ruthless. RUTHLESS, I tell you. 

2. You will be constantly judged: You don't have to be bad to be judged. Just one bad outfit to an event, or one grammatically incorrect statement and you're it. You decide to give birth in Nigeria, you will be called broke. You decide to give birth in the US, you will be called unpatriotic and ostentatious in spending. You decide to drive an average car, you will be called aka-gum, you decide to do the flashy cars, people will prophesy about your imminent downfall due to overspending. You really can't please everyone, heck, even an average Joe couldn't please everyone if he tried. Your case will only be worse. 

3. You can't do what the average guy can do or go where he can go: You could be mobbed by fans just because you stepped out to get a bottle of water from the shop down the street. You will need security. Not nice. Everyone will feel they have a right to you, like, brother, you just became public property. You have to always be in the mood to smile and say nice things to people you don't know, even when you're in the exact opposite mood. So somebody cannot just be free to vex as he/she wants? Na real wah. 

4. You will be surrounded by lots of fake friends: You will have lots of friends but may not be able to distinguish between  who is in it for you and who is in it for what you offer them.  After all your fame also rubs off on them. This translates to every relationship including romantic ones. Celebrities that are on the hunt for "true love"  may find it twice as hard as the average Kunle or Bala that does a normal job and lives a normal life. Everyone or almost everyone will want to exploit you because of what they think they can gain from you. Including family. 

5. You become a target for criminals. Even if you're not financially buoyant at the time, you will still be seen as a star with loads of money. So the criminals may feel they need to relieve you of a couple million and decide to rob or kidnap you or a loved one. 

I think that to be a celebrity you need to have spine. It's easier to just be rich and only have to worry about your security but to be a celebrity, you will need to be a certain kind of person to get famous, remain famous, and have some semblance of normalcy in your life, just like every other human being(which we often forget that celebrities are). 

Would I want to be a celebrity? My default answer is no, but then, who knows tomorrow? ;)  I can't tell what could make me famous someday. I would like to be rich though, that brings some kind of fame, just not as glaring. That kinda fame, I can handle.  :D What about you? Do you crave celebrity status? Do you think you could deal with everything that comes with it? 

Share! 

Kisses, hugs and steaming suya

Chibugo.

Make sure your desire to do what you're aspiring to do is deeper than just fame and being a celebrity  - Meagan Good 

Monday Humor on a Tuesday - Antsy

Hello people.
Just pretend today is Monday and read my post. Life happened, and before I knew it, Monday was over and the Monday humor post was not up. Hope I'm forgiven, and I hope you get a good laugh too!

So, ;D. As some of you must have guessed by now, I'm a naturalista. Well, that's what they call us who wear our African hair in its natural state without processing it to permanently look straighter or less nappy. So, yeah, I move around with a great Afro sometimes. Being natural has taught me to take better care of myself, not just my hair, but my whole body, inside and out. Its led me to become my own manufacturer of products. In fact, most of the products I make to use on my hair are edible, so edible that I sometimes get jealous of my own hair. Imagine a blend of bananas, avocados, with honey and yogurt! Yummy! Just when someone else thinks I'm about to drink a smoothie, I slap it on my hair in the name of deep conditioning! LOL.

It happened that this day was wash day for me. Any natural in the house will know what that means. You have to arrange your schedule so that nothing interferes with your regimen or makes you rush it. In fact, for some naturalistas, this day takes on some kind of ritual. This happened to be one of those days when I'd rather be doing any other thing but washing my hair. So  I delayed till evening and ended up rushing so I would get other things done. I was almost done but I couldn't finish up without deep conditioning, so  decided to compromise by not doing anything too complicated; just olive oil and honey. I was supposed to leave it in for just 30 minutes, but in the spirit of true laziness, I fell asleep waiting for the time to elapse. At some point I must have woken up because I remember making myself more comfortable on the bed.

It wasn't long before I felt a crawling sensation all over my body, especially around my head! I stayed put in typical lazy fashion, hoping it would go away, but the very next minute, I had to jump out of bed! I was being attacked! By ants! They were everywhere; on the bed, pillow, floor... you get the picture. By the way my head and upper torso were on fire. How they stung! In the middle of my frantic dance, in a moment of lucidity I remembered putting my honey and olive oil mix in my hair and I wanted to sob. That must have called the ants forth. As I attacked them back, killing as much as possible and getting the place into a semblance of tidiness, those on my body kept up their affair. What nerve! My last thought before I desperately dived into the shower was that this must be what we Igbos call Isi Mgbaka. LOL.

I believe I will never fall asleep with deep conditioner in my hair. Ever. Again.
Every time I see an ant, I gain some perverse pleasure from squashing them to death. I won't be made a victim again.


An ant may well destroy a whole dam - Chinese quote

Cool Gift Ideas For This Christmas..... All Under N2000!!!

Gosh! Christmas is so close! I just realized that the year would come to an end really soon and a "gifter" like me never lets any year go by without giving few gifts. I noticed something not so good though. All through this year the same thing has been on everyone's lips: No money. Its not the usual no money that we heard the years before. This year, it got really worse. Does that mean we won't be giving gifts this Christmas? Mbanu. I went online in a bid to get ideas on what to buy for loved ones and I saw great stuff, until I checked their prices. Say whaaaat! *runs away* Ema binu, biko, please, mbok, I will not goan empty my entire account to buy gift. Call it frugality, Chibugo says its sensibility, especially when you're from a large family like me. So I compiled this list for those of us who are going to be going shopping for Christmas gifts while working on a tight budget. I hope you get pocket-friendly inspiration! Next year will be a time of great abundance!

In no particular order of importance, here goes:

FASHION ITEMS

I don't know why but the few times I get gifts, they're almost always fashion items. I am such an mgbeke but I always appreciate them :D

1. A Hat. 

          Hats are really fashionable and add taste to any outfit, especially casual ones. There are different kinds for everyone, whether male or female.

a gatsby

a fedora

a bowler hat

a sunhat

These all cost between N1200 and N2000. I did not send you to enter boutique on the Island oh. Find your way to a store in a real "market area". Like Balogun, Trade fair or Yaba. *straight face*

2. Sunglasses: Sunglasses have a way of adding the "cool" factor to any outfit. I love 'em, and you dont have to break a bank to get nice ones.

I wouldn't mind one of these myself. They're so cute. I can also confidently tell you that with N1000-N1500, you can get someone a pair of these.

3. A sweater: 'nuff said. Its harmattan. who wouldn't appreciate one? I got a sleeveless one for my brother earlier in the year for N1300.

4. Thick socks: A friend got me one of these some years back and I remember her fondly every harmattan because of how useful they are. I'm wearing them now ;D

5. A tie: They come in different colours and trust me, N2000 is more than enough to get someone a decent tie.

6. Trendy flat shoes: you can actually get a decent pair of ballerina shoes for as low as N1500 at Trade fair or any other market in Lagos. Some could cost more, it all depends on your budget.

There are a lot more ideas swirling around in my head and i doubt that i'll be able to provide images for them all: You could get
a belt,
colorful beaded wristbands,
lipstick,
eyeshadow (House of Tara and Sleek stock affordable makeup products),
a set of false lashes,
eyeshadow shields,
 a scarf, whether silk or pashmina,
a set of nail polish,
hair products for the naturalistas,
cologne,
costume jewelry; the list is just endless, it all depends of the different personalities and what they would appreciate.

Okay, I'll just write them down in whatever order they come to mind. Where images are required, I'll provide 'em
1. A Bible cover
2. A backpack/ duffel bag
3. Data bundle
4. Game set,e.g., monopoly, chess, scrabble, ayo/ncho

5. Leather ware: Our northern brothers sell their handmade wares all over Lagos and it only takes one look for you to get hooked. It helps that they're pocket friendly too.

6. A mobile shoe rack/hanging shoe holder: 

7. A set of of underwear

8. Earphones

9. A decorative picture frame

10. A doll/teddy for the kids.

11. A few yards of fabric

12. A book. I love books a lot. A well chosen book is the ultimate gift anyone could give me. I could actually recommend a few I've read(which you should too);

FICTION

The secret lives of Baba Segi's wives by Lola Shoneyin

Everyday is for the thief by Teju Cole

Everything good will come by Sefi Atta

The concubine by Elechi Amadi

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Jagua Nana/Jagua Nana's daughter by Cyprian Ekwensi

Second class citizen by Buchi Emecheta

Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe

Half of a yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Efuru by Flora Nwapa

CHILDREN'S FICTION

Zahrah the windseeker by Nnedi Okoroafor

Behind the clouds by Ifeoma Okoye

Chike and the river by Chinua Achebe

Mother's choice by Agbo Areo

A second chance by Nyengi Koin

MOTIVATIONAL

A purpose driven life by Rick Warren(highly recommended)

Think big by Ben Carson

Why you act the way you do by Tim LaHaye

The five love languages by Gary Chapman(highly recommended)

There are countless kinds of books to make your selection from. You just need to go out and see for yourself.

 So, what will you be getting your loved ones this Christmas? Put smiles on their faces but remember not to break the bank. Remember too, the very poor, whose biggest fear is not seeing the next meal to put on the table. Three paint buckets of garri and a gallon of palm oil is probably around N2000. I'm just saying though....

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.....-  Jesus.

Monday Humor - Hey, Miss Wiggins!

Welcome to the very first Monday in the month of December. I can smell my Christmas rice already! *dancing* Hope you're not too sad the weekend is over. Here's a little something that I hope will sweeten this dusty and dreary Monday a bit. Here goes:

So that morning I stood at the bus stop as usual, waiting for my bus. It was about to rain and the wind was howling fiercely. I wasn't up to rushing for buses that morning so I just stood there waiting for the crowd to dwindle enough for me to make my choice of buses without hassle. It would probably rain on me, but frankly, I didn't care. I just didn't wake up on the right side of the bed that morning. Even if it rained, what did i have to lose? My hair was out in its normal afro state and I was wearing a pair of rubber sandals(you would never know, hehe). Worst case scenario, I would get drenched, right? So  I stood there, oblivious, with Lucky Dube blasting away on my earphones.

As me and my fellow waitees stood waiting for the next bus, the wind suddenly picked up and blew with such force that I actually got a little worried. There was a woman beside me with a little child. I had some pity for them. Now the wind blew so hard that I thought I was going to fall. "Chei! I wouldn't feel so light if only I'd had some breakfast", I thought. The wind blew up dust accompanied by littered sachets of pure water and tiny empty sachets of dry gin aka ogogoro, and all whatnot: the debris of everyday street life in Lagos. I looked to my left and saw a pretty lady, well dressed, and wearing such a long, curly, expensive looking weave that I unconsciously began guessing how many Indian or Peruvian or Cambodian(I hope I got that right) women surrendered their hair to make that weave possible. I thought it weird that she was so still and composed, for someone standing in a strong wind. "Whatever...maybe she's a model", I thought, about looking away.

I didn't even get the chance to register another thought when suddenly, the lady before me became hairless!!!

 It was like magic! One minute she had long flowing curly hair, the next minute she looked, well, strange! I couldn't have been more surprised if her clothes had suddenly been blown off her body and she was absolutely naked. Apparently her wig had come off because of the wind. Gosh! I was too surprised for words. My ever present reflexes kicked in, and as Usain Bolt's twin wey I be, I took off in typical fashion, running after the offending weave and catching it just before a keke napep got to it. Walking back truimphantly with my trophy in hand, I saw the faces of all the people at the bus stop, and it was a riot of laughter. Some did their best to cover it, while others laughed with unabashed amusement. The lady in question looked like she was about to cry. She wore high heels and so there was no hiding for her.

As I came closer I noticed why she looked entirely too weird. Her whole front hairline was gone. Except for some hair that resembled grass struggling to grow in the harmattan, her edges were what Lagosians would call  Iya Iyabo  edges. She had quite abundant hair towards the middle and the back, but just above her forehead area was a desert. It had a devastating effect on her appearance and I felt so bad for wanting to laugh too. Handing her the weave I studied her, not knowing what to say. When she saw the confused expression on my face, for a moment she simply held on to the weave and looked at me. Then we both burst out laughing. I have no idea why we were both laughing, I just know it felt good at the moment. Haha. We laughed, even as she struggled to wear the wig properly, and all the way into the bus that finally decided to come. On the bus she noticed my great halo of hair and confided in me that it was the quest for very neat hairstyles(braids) and the use of weave-on glue(i.e bond) that cost her most of the hair on her front hairline. Its amazing how most hair mishaps suddenly earn you unexpected friends. I won't go into details as to all the advice I gave her on hair care, but I bet she won't be forgetting that incident anytime soon.

I still laugh every time I think of it. The wind was surely on a mission that day.

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair... Kahlil Gibran

PS.: Never wear a wig out on a windy day. If you must wear one, make bobby pins your best friend. If the wind gets too much, don't be ashamed to hold your head, lest your wig fall off. I repeat, HOLD YOUR HEAD. There's no shame in it. Don't say Chibugo did not tell you. Hehe.

**Best advice: take good care of your real hair underneath, I mean, don't trade the health of your hair for the beauty of a 1 month hairstyle. Care for it the way you care for your skin, desist from overly tight hairstyles that pull out your hair, and don't neglect its health, so that you won't die of shame IF the wig decides to dance with the wind! Have a flavorful week mi amigos!:D

An Ode To The Ones.... Who Left Too Early

Like a seed, we were all planted;

In due time, we all sprouted;

We grew too, as was expected;

....Tobe, Suleyol and Tyofa;

Our harvest time should have been farther;

But I have to bid you Adieu; for you now rest yonder.

- Sincerely,

A very sorrowful Chibugo

I was away for a while; I apologize. 

I was in Abuja on the 21st of November for a bosom friend's wedding when I received the shocking news of the death of one of my brightest female pupils in Ugba, Benue state where i had my NYSC. Her name was Suleyol. Thank God the wedding was already over when I got the news because it rendered me near useless for the rest of my stay there. While i was serving, i had already buried one of my class kids, Tyofa. Now, while 16 year old Tyofa wasn't the brightest kid on the block, the efforts he made to understand my teaching were very commendable, and I loved him so much for it. He had only complained of a headache the day before he died. His death brought so much sorrow and fear into my class (they are a very superstitious people, the Tivs). Rest on, Master Orbam Tyofa.

14 year old Suleyol, for her part, was the epitome of intelligence and responsibility. She was beautiful, with ebony black skin and sparkling white teeth. The way she handled her two little brothers who were in nursery school back then, I had no doubts she would make a great mum. In class, she was usually third or second place out of almost 50 pupils, especially in mathematics. The story was that she also complained of a severe headache before she died. Thinking of it, I remember now that she was always having these headaches. Mysterious, but the deed's been done. Rest on Miss Shimave Suleyol.

I never would have composed the poem above, or written this post, if not for the death of Tobe. Now, Tobe and I weren't very close. We met in 1st year in uni, the students who were not accepted to read medicine but were given a close alternative. We all complained about our course, but no one did anything, except for a few brave guys like Tobe who braved it and re-wrote JAMB to seek the path of their dreams. Early last week, the day after i returned from my Abuja trip feeling worn out, I got the news of Tobe's death. He was to have been inducted as a doctor in two days. *deep sigh* We weren't close; in fact we hardly communicated except for Facebook chats, but Tobe's death got to me in a way I didn't believe. I sobbed for days. I wondered what his family would be going through if I was wailing that way. I fluctuated between phases of depression and anger. Depression at the transient state of this life, and anger at God for letting such good guys die while so many bad guys lay all over the place doing evil. He was just 24! He slumped while watching a football match. Just like that, he left. Tobe was a great guy, calm and nice to everyone. I'm sure he would have made a great doctor. Rest on, Doctor Tobenna.

Death is such a mystery. I do not even want to try understanding it. I have learnt a few lessons from these though: 

• I will chase my dreams no matter what, lest I end up regretting what I didn't do in the next 40 years. 
• I'll do my best to leave a positive impact on everyone I meet so that when I'm gone, I would have touched many people in a good way and would be remembered for my deeds.
• There is a better life ahead of this one... [Earth is only the nursery].. I hope not to miss it.

Writing this was very therapeutic for me, and to everyone who reads it: Thank you. I hope you take something good away from it. 

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their own dreams - Tina Turner

And oh, lest I forget, happy harmattan! It swooped down so unexpectedly and right now, my part of Lagos is covered in a dusty haze. I do not envy anyone in Nsukka or anyplace farther north. All I'm waiting for is when my beloved Udala/Agbalumo will be in season.;-) Have a great weekend ahead folks!

What A Black Friday It Was

Yesterday, I felt a very great disappointment in our government; badly let down, in fact. I am not one to complain about the government and their ills; all I do is shake my head at their antics and sit back and watch for the next season, while going about my business. Because yes, to me, the Nigerian government is run like a seasonal movie that never ends. Unnecessary drama, year unto year. Dear people, this here post is a rant. Pardon me in advance, for I intend to vent my spleen on here. 

In the past week (a total of 168 hours) I have had electricity for a total of 3 hours. Yes, three. As in ato in Igbo, meta in Yoruba, uku in Hausa, just in case you thought that was a typo. I normally would not feel so bad about this as it is the trademark of our Power withholding Companies, but for the circumstances that surrounded this blackout. You see, we do not depend on the Water Corporation for our water supply, because we know just how reliable they are. Therefore, we pump our own water; but today, there was not a drop of water left. That was not the problem, really, you know we Nigerians have such tough skins. Now, almost every gas station in Lagos is closed down because of the senseless fuel scarcity going on right now. And so we had no power, no water, and no petrol to generate the both. You may have to experience this personally to understand the feeling of utter helplessness and anger that it brings upon you.

I mean, how do you explain why an oil producing country has no petrol in its gas stations? Our electricity gets taken away, we divert to generators. Now our fuel has been taken away and we are left stranded. Its funny how there's no petrol to sell to consumers, but the guys who sell in the black market always have petrol to sell. At 200 Naira a litre! Who are we kidding? Where do they get theirs from? Thin air? I am certain that there is constant power in the homes of our national leaders who feed us with propaganda instead of giving us results. This, to me, is the mark of an insensitive government.  Everyday we are told that we are fighting corruption, while we suffer deprivation left, right and centre! Ha! The irony is laughable. Why will a hungry people not choose the corrupt route when the very leaders they look up to are the epitomes of it?

My generation and I have been heavily let down; so do not blame those of us who are apathetic towards the government and all it stands for, or those who simply dance to the tune of corrupt politicians in the hope of getting crumbs from their table to make their lives a little more bearable. Everyone is going on and on about black friday, and I'm here in the dark like,"Yeah, its a really BLACK Friday for us over here". No pun intended. 

Are we the generation to effect change? Maybe, but first, we need a complete overhaul of.... many things. My fury is not spent yet, but I have to pick up my gallon and continue my hunt for petrol. This girl and her family must survive. See you soon.

"No matter the era, no matter which side you are on, and no matter where you live, the government will find ways to break your heart...." - Kurt Vonnegut

Monday Humor - The Change Race

I know Mondays are our worst day of the week, abi? I personally have nothing against Mondays, being the workaholic that I am, but for those of you who do, I'll be having a little something from now on, to make you smile through the day. If you like, don't laugh, God is watching you in 3D.

Source

On this clear morning, I decided I was going to put on a really nice dress. Not because of anything special, but because I just felt like it. With a nice dress, of course, came nice shoes (with heels), and of course, nice make up. Looking in the mirror, I grinned. I was set. I stepped out, expecting everyone else to be ready to go, but alas, the gods had other plans. I received crisp instructions to "go on." Obviously I wouldn't be "chauffeured" today. "Chai. What a waste of dress!" I thought to myself. I began the trek from the house to the bus stop, walking as carefully as possible to avoid any mishap.

I boarded the first bus, alighted at my stop. No problem. I boarded the second one, alighted at my stop. No problem, except for a few mildly interested stares. This is Lagos anyway, everyone stares at everyone else. The last bus was one of these large coaster buses in which everyone sits butt to butt with each other, without even an inch of space between. I happened to be one of the first to get in so I took up a nice seat by the window and promptly plugged in my earphones.

Passengers began to troop in, and owing to my position, everyone had to see me before getting into the bus. There were quite a number of appreciative eyes, especially male ones. I sat straighter. The open and unabashed "lookery" was quite unsettling. I remembered I took good time with my dressing that day. Chai. See unnecessary attention. Who send me message?  A certain "gentleman" couldn't bear it any longer and decided to change his seat to sit beside me and initiate toaster-type conversation. I snubbed him since "no be boyfriend I come find for inside molue". We sped on. I answered a phone call in my most "tush" voice to match my "tush" appearance. When I got to my bus stop, instead of the default "Owa o!", of course I had to say, "Driver, I'm stopping here please". Hehe. I alighted like I imagined Queen Elizabeth would alight from a carriage. As the bus moved, I heaved a sigh of relief. Chai! Shakara no easy ooh! I had taken only three steps when a loud alarm rang in my head, making me halt in the most dramatic way. "Yepa" I thought, "No way did I forget my change on the bus!" 

I deserve Usain Bolt's medal for the race I ran that morning. I ran, soteey everyone had to stop to find out what could be making such a well-dressed lady run so fast on a weekday morning, on a busy Lagos road. I could already imagine the black lips of the conductor as it would stretch in a smug smile over his tobacco-stained teeth while counting my change and preparing to pocket it. Heck no! I ran faster. Finally I spotted the bus, stuck in a little traffic ahead. For the first time in my life, I thanked God for Lagos traffic. The agility with which I swung into the molue is better imagined. I was panting heavily, caring very little about the 30-something pairs of eyes that were riveted on me.

 I sat down to catch my breath before demanding,"Oga conductor, wey my change?" When he tried acting like he didn't know what I was talking about, I saw red. In my most Agbero tone, I lashed out at him in fluent pidgin and Yoruba, while standing up to my full height. "If you nor arrange ya brain shapaly make e remember say you never give me my 900 Naira change ehn, you go know say weere pass weere! Oloriburuku oshi! Ole! Fun mi l'owo mi nsin nsin, or else, ma se lese ooh! (translation: If you don't quicky remember my 900 Naira change and hand it to me, you'll know that madness has different levels! Jerk! Thief! Give me my money immediately, or else, I will do something terrible to you!) I hadn't even finished my tirade when he hastily counted the 900 Naira into my hands. The fury in my eyes couldn't be banked. The other passengers then joined me in raining insults on the man, knowing that he deliberately tried to swindle me. Then the toaster-passenger remarked," So fine geh like you fit run like Okagbare on top high heel shoe, come speak correct pidgin on top the 900 Naira matter? Shoo? Na wa ooh. With all the supri supri wen u bin dey speak for this bus before, who for believe say you dey even shit?" Everyone on the bus laughed and I had no choice but to join in. I looked a mess.

On getting down from the bus and walking back to my destination, I received so many stares, this time in amusement. One of the heels of my shoes was about breaking off from my run, my hair was disheveled from the run and I was sweating profusely; the exact opposite of the girl who stepped down from the bus minutes ago. I laughed at myself. I'm still laughing at myself as I write this. Hope you laughed while reading this too! If you didn't, you really do need to see a doctor. *mishievous wink*  :D

Before I dance out, let me wish you a great week ahead, friends!

"A man who can laugh at himself is truly blessed, for he will never lack for amusement" - James Carlos Blake

"The Mainland" Versus "The Island" Issue: What's Your Take?

Anyone who lives or has lived in Lagos must have heard the debates and constant (unnecessary) comparison of these two parts or "divisions" of Lagos called "The Island" and "The Mainland". I've heard people make statements like "I can't live on the mainland oh! It's too rowdy for my taste", or, "These Island peeps sef. Always feeling like they don't shit like the rest of us". So that I don't confuse those of us who don't live in Lagos, here's some info to help you understand this post better.

Lagos Island at night
Source

FACTS ABOUT LAGOS

1. Lagos is, and has been, since before its creation in 1967, Nigeria's commercial centre and one of the most populated cities in the world with more than 10 million residents according to the last census. The city houses the country's main ports and is home to the headquarters of major organizations like banks and other financial institutions, IT and telecommunications companies.
2. Lagos is made up of three islands and a mainland. The islands of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Island are located on the Lagos Lagoon, separated by creeks and connected to each other and the Mainland by bridges. Each Island has its own unique characteristics with Victoria Island being home to five star hotels, high class commercial real estate, big businesses, high class private schools, trendy cafes, night clubs and bars. Most foreign professionals,i.e, the "expats"(expatriates) live on this here piece of Lagos.
3. Ikoyi isn't as noisy as Victoria Island and is the main residential area for the upper middle class elite and the expatriate communities. Extravagant mansions built during the colonial era still stand amidst more modern ones. Residential real estate in Ikoyi are some of the most expensive in Africa. And when I say, most expensive, I say it with a hushed tone of voice, because the kind of money we are talking about should not be mentioned in the presence of children. Mbanu. Other parts of the island are Banana Island, Eko Atlantic, Onikan, Lekki and the Marina.
4. Lagos Island is really just a mishmash of poverty and wealth living side by side in shocking contrast to each other. The Financial district, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Broad street and Obalende, which is one of the slums of Lagos are all situated on Lagos Island. Other landmarks include CMS cathedral, Tafawa Balewa square and the popular Balogun market.
5. The Mainland is where the majority of Lagosians live, and this area includes Yaba, Oshodi, Surulere, Agege, Mushin, Ikorodu, the capital Ikeja, amongst other areas. Ikeja is home to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and is the administrative seat of the Lagos government as well. As a matter of fact, it is quite an exclusive area, competing with the Island in terms of polish. It is home to local industries and businesses(think Computer Village and Ikeja City Mall), and actually has many companies having their headquarters in it. 
6. There again is Yaba, home to the prestigious University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology, two of the most well known citadels of learning in the South West. Yaba is also home to the popular Tejuosho Market, brimming with trade.

There are a lot of stereotyoes associated with this Mainland - Island tussle. In a nutshell the Island is assumed to be the home of the rich and the very rich, more secure, and better for clubbing(Can't help but LOL here), while the mainland is assumed to be the exact opposite. Let me tell you brethren and sistren, this is quite false.

Now to the issue at hand. Is any one really better than the other? My candid answer? A conditional No. Here's why. The Island, in my opinion, is a great place for work and fun, but when it comes to residential living, given the situation of the economy, is it really worth it to be paying for the area and not for the house? In case you didn't know, to an average Nigerian, everything on the Island would be overpriced. The Mainland, in my honest opinion, while not so ostentatiously luxurious, has a good portion of relatively quiet and well maintained residential areas. It has a good number of entertainment spots too. You can say I'm putting in a good word for the Mainland, but then again, why not? *big grin* #proudmainlandgal. The Island is for the most part, more beautiful(especially at night), I admit, but mbok, we go chop beauty? If you have the resources and desire to live there, by all means, go ahead! I do not dislike the Island, I actually find it attractive in the way that you would rather admire something beautiful from afar.

Lagos Island
Source

The main error people make in comparison of these two areas is the assumption that if you live on the Island, then you are of the upper middle class, i.e, you're rich; while if you live on  the Mainland, you're from the raggedy part of town, i.e, you no get money. This is so wrong, and I don't really blame the proponents of this idea since such a conclusion was obviously made out of ignorance and due to the fact that in Lagos, class and social strata are extremely exaggerated. 

Lagos Mainland
Source

My answer is so because it all depends on what you want and what you're comfortable with. Most professionals in Lagos live on the mainland and work on the island, and while this isn't a very easy commute to make every day, it has become a way of life. Being the person I am, I believe it is impractical to aspire to live on the Island just for the heck of it, or because that seems to be where the creme de la creme of Lagos society live, without putting into consideration the absolutely ridiculous cost of living on the Island and whether one can keep up with it. By the way, the main factors that should concern any reasonable person instead of proof of status are proximity to work, school and availability of basic amenities. In this regard, the Island and the mainland are plagued by the same ills. Bad roads, lack of water, erratic electricity, traffic and security problems plague the two areas almost equally. The reason it may seem higher on the mainland is because of course, the mainland is more populated than the island.

I personally feel that life on the mainland is more "real", as opposed to life on the island which seems like something of a performance. Everyone is working, not just to live comfortably but to remain in vogue, so having the latest brands of cars becomes a must, having the highest class of everything becomes a thing of importance. I personally can't abide that, so maybe this is just me. Its easier to live within your means without the pressing need to impress anyone on the mainland. We don't have to wonder why the mainland is called the "Real Lagos".

Finally, if everyone lived on the island, who would live on the mainland? The island is only so big. My two cents: wherever you live, make it your own paradise, be it the island or the mainland. 

Fin.

"The activist is not the man who says that the river is dirty; the activist is the man who cleans up the river". - Ross Perot

The Nigerian Factor - Aren't We Supposed To Be Improving?

Nigeria, my dear Nigeria. When will our people change? Months back, when I heard that the deadline for the registration of the Bank Verification Number had been moved to October 31, I was happy. At least, people wouldn't have an excuse anymore.  Boy, how wrong I was. Imagine my shock when the news making the rounds on Friday was that crowds had blocked the entrances to various banking halls nationwide. I wanted to choke. Really? Like, REALLY??? I wasn't sure I heard right. After four months, this was what we could come up with? I'm exasperated.

Little wonder the phrase "African Time" has come to stay. Nigerians sha. We push the limits sometimes. And talking of deadlines, did you hear what was also in the news last week? MTN Nigeria was fined for not disconnecting the lines of people who hadn't registered their sim cards. Now, that isn't the real issue here. The real issue is that they were fined 1.4 TRILLION Naira to be paid up by November 16th!!! What was NCC thinking when they decided on such a punishment? I mean, Nigeria's economic situation isn't one to write home about at the moment, and NCC pulls such a stunt?

          The implication of this imposition is that ultimately, foreign investors will be afraid of coming in to invest in Nigeria. We're all about economic improvement, but in this case, we just shot ourselves in the foot. Imagine! Nigeria doesn't even have a Minister of Finance yet! At the India-Africa Summit, I believe PMB said something about wanting foreign investors to come in and develop the country. Why then would a part of his government impose such a jaw-dropping fine on one of Nigeria's top investors? I respect PMB and most of what he stands for, but on this one, I believe he should put his house in order and let what he says be commensurate to what his government agencies do. You cannot say one thing and allow your underlings do another. Granted, what they did what irresponsible and a blatant show of insolence; still, the punishment isn't commensurate to the crime. That's my opinion though. 

          Another problem I have with this imposition of fines is this: where does the money go? MY PEOPLE, WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?? The same question goes for the so called "recovery" of looted funds. Where is all this money? In as much as I'm happy with the recent anti corruption policies being put in place, I'm not so optimistic about the disposal of these recovered monies. I earnestly pray we're not pouring stolen water into a leaking basket. What's your opinion though? Say your mind in the comments!!

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. - Vince Lombardi

Personality of the Week: Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo

Hello dear readers, hope you had a swell weekend. Mine was great, thanks. After some thought, I've decided to add a new section to the blog: Personality Of The Week. Our POTW will be selected based on these criteria:

1. He/she must have contributed to the improvement of the society through bettering people/developing talents/helping the less privileged.
2. He/she must be successful in chosen career, although he /she may or may not be very financially wealthy.
3. He/she must be below the age of 50(I'd thought of making this 40 but for some reasons I decided on 50). Any change in this aspect will be for a special reason.
4. He/she could be of any race, but at the moment our focus will be on Africa and Nigeria in  particular.

This section has been added in the hope that it will be a source of inspiration to someone out there looking to succeed in life despite all odds, and to touch lives positively.
That said, I present to you our very first Personality of the Week:

COBHAMS EMMANUEL ASUQUO

Can I hear an applause somebody?! I decided to make Mr. Asuquo our first Personality of the Week because of my undying love for his music and due to the fact that he always delivers! I remember watching him rap in the song "Mo like Jesu gan" as a young teenager and being so awed at his prowess while at the same time shocked at the fact that he was blind!!! I always looked out for him from then on; from "Mo like Jesu gan" to Rooftop MCs "Lagimo"(how I still love that song!) to the more recent "Ordinary People" and "Do the right thing" featuring Bez. Do yourself a favour and get these songs. Thank me later.

Cobhams is a Nigerian singer/producer/songwriter who is a true embodiment of the phrase "succeeding at your passion". He has made a definite mark in the music industry, helping produce acts like Asa, Waje, Timi Dakolo and Tosin Martins.

According to his mother, Mrs Gladys Asuquo, Cobhams seemed perfectly normal at birth until about three months after, when she noticed his clumsiness. At the hospital, her worst fears were confirmed: her son was congenitally blind and nothing could be done about it. Rather than bemoan her fate, she resolved to teach him to be as independent and capable as he could. It was not easy, as Cobhams Army officer father was hardly home, so she catered for him and his siblings almost on her own sometimes.

 At a point in time when things became really difficult for them so much so that she had to boil and sell groundnuts to keep the family going, she noticed her son's love for drums. According to her," he would beat on anything he could lay his hands on, so I encouraged him by buying him musical toys. Cobhams never went to school to learn to play any instrument; I think it was just an escape route for him". Unsurprisingly, Cobhams dropped out of University of Lagos as a 300L student of Law to face his passion fully.

Today, 34 year old Cobhams is well known for producing some of the finest artistes in Nigeria, notable among them Asa, whose debut album in 2007 rose to international acclaim. In addition to producing the album, he wrote and co-wrote some of its songs. But before this, in 2005, he signed on to Sony ATV London as a songwriter, and a year later, after working as head of audio productions for Questionmark Entertainment in Nigeria, he set up his own recording facility. According to his interview on BBC's African Dream, he had no capital, just a computer and ideas that he took to different companies offering advertising and begging for work. He is now the CEO and Head of Productions of Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions(CAMP) in Lagos, which according to him is an all-encompassing entertainment firm.  He has written and produced work for a number of organisations including MTN, Globacom, Etisalat's 0809ja campaign music, Stanbic IBTC, Cocacola, Close up, among others. Signed on to his label are Bez, Stan Iyke, and others.

Like his hero Stevie Wonder, the musician has never let his lack of sight hold him back. "It is assumed that there are many things you cannot do because you're blind. And so for me, I had to prove that there are many things I can do because I'm blind, and there are many things I've done because I'm blind.", he says. But he points out that he is not interested in working withpeople whose only drive is the potential financial reward the industry offers. According to him,"I like to work with people who want to create magic, people who want to go a little afield, go a little off the usual path."

In his words, talent is just not enough. He advises persistence and consistency. He also believe people should strive to be themselves and not a carbon copy of the people who must have influenced them. Some great words from him: "You've got to have something unique, whether its your story, your voice or your lyrics, the sound of your instrument, or a combination of all these different factors. I just believe that everything depends on everything and so whenever I have an opportunity, I give it my very best shot". Note the words I put in bold?That's some solid advice coming from a great man to everyone looking to excel at something in life

Cobhams got married in 2010 to Ojuolape Veronica Olukanni and they have a son together.To read more about how he wooed and proposed to her, read here.

To read a little more about Cobhams, you check this out. That's it guys. A dose of inspiration to start the week with. Researching for and putting this piece together taught me a lot and I'm resolved to stand by all I've learned so far. I hope you were touched too. You can speak your mind in the comment section! I'm all ears.

Be better, Do better.

XOXO, Chibugo.

photo credit: www.africanseer.com, stargist.com, muzikstreets.com, www.naijashine.com.ng.