Lifestyle

Video Chat; Zoom Fatigue

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top view of silver macbook beside a shopping cart and black friday sale signage

Video chat is helping us stay employed and connected. But what makes it so tiring – and how can we reduce ‘Zoom fatigue’?

Your screen freezes. There’s a weird echo. A dozen heads stare at you. There are the work huddles, the one-on-one meetings and then, once you’re done for the day, the hangouts with friends and family.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we’re on video calls more than ever before – and many are finding it exhausting.

But what, exactly, is tiring us out? According to Gianpiero Petriglieri, an associate professor at Insead, who explores sustainable learning and development in the workplace, and Marissa Shuffler, an associate professor at Clemson University, who studies workplace wellbeing and teamwork effectiveness, when asked if video chat is harder compared to face to face communication.

Being on a video call requires more focus than a face-to-face chat, says Petriglieri. Video chats mean we need to work harder to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, and body language; paying more attention to these consumes a lot of energy. “Our minds are together when our bodies feel we’re not. That dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is exhausting. You cannot relax into the conversation naturally,” he says.

Delays on phone or conferencing systems of 1.2 seconds made people perceive the responder as less friendly or focused

Silence is another challenge, he adds. “Silence creates a natural rhythm in a real-life conversation. However, when it happens in a video call, you became anxious about the technology.” It also makes people uncomfortable. One 2014 study by German academics showed that delays on phone or conferencing systems shaped our views of people negatively: even delays of 1.2 seconds made people perceive the responder as less friendly or focused.

An added factor, says Shuffler, is that if we are physically on camera, we are very aware of being watched. “When you’re on a video conference, you know everybody’s looking at you; you are on stage, so there comes the social pressure and feeling like you need to perform. Being performative is nerve-wracking and more stressful.” It’s also very hard for people not to look at their own face if they can see it on screen, or not to be conscious of how they behave in front of the camera.

How are the current circumstances contributing?

Yet if video chats come with extra stressors, our Zoom fatigue can’t be attributed solely to that. Our current circumstances – whether lockdown, quarantine, working from home or otherwise – are also feeding communication,

A 2014 study found that delays on phone or conferencing systems shaped our views of people negatively (Credit: Getty Images)

Petriglieri believes that fact we feel forced into these calls may be a contributory factor. “The video call is our reminder of the people we have lost temporarily. It is the distress that every time you see someone online, such as your colleagues, that reminds you we should really be in the workplace together,” he says. “What I’m finding is, we’re all exhausted; It doesn’t matter whether they are introverts or extroverts. We are experiencing the same disruption of the familiar context during the pandemic.”

Then there’s the fact that aspects of our lives that used to be separate – work, friends, family – are all now happening in the same space. The self-complexity theory posits that individuals have multiple aspects – context-dependent social roles, relationships, activities and goals – and we find the variety healthy, says Petriglieri. When these aspects are reduced, we become more vulnerable to negative feelings.

Imagine if you go to a bar, and in the same bar you talk with your professors, meet your parents or date someone, isn’t it weird? That’s what we’re doing now – Gianpiero Petriglieri

“Most of our social roles happen in different places, but now the context has collapsed,” says Petriglieri. “Imagine if you go to a bar, and in the same bar you talk with your professors, meet your parents or date someone, isn’t it weird? That’s what we’re doing now… We are confined in our own space, in the context of a very anxiety-provoking crisis, and our only space for interaction is a computer window.”

Shuffler says a lack of downtime after we’ve fulfilled work and family commitments may be another factor in our tiredness, while some of us may be putting higher expectations on ourselves due to worries over the economy, furloughs and job losses. “There’s also that heightened sense of ‘I need to be performing at my top level in a situation’… Some of us are kind of over-performing to secure our jobs.”

But when I’m Zooming my friends, for example, shouldn’t that relax me?

Lots of us are doing big group chats for the first time, whether it’s cooking and eating a virtual Easter dinner, attending a university catch-up or holding a birthday party for a friend. If the call is meant to be fun, why might it feel tiring?

Part of it, says Shuffler, is whether you’re joining in because you want to or because you feel you ought to – like a virtual happy hour with colleagues from work. If you see it as an obligation, that means more time that you’re ‘on’ as opposed to getting a break. A proper chat with friends will feel more social and there will be less ‘Zoom fatigue’ from conversations where you’ve had a chance to be yourself.

It doesn’t matter whether you call it a virtual happy hour, it’s a meeting, because mostly we are used to using these tools for work – Gianpiero Petriglieri

Big group calls can feel particularly performative, Petriglieri warns. People like watching television because you can allow your mind to wander – but a large video call “is like you’re watching television and television is watching you”. Large group chats can also feel depersonalising, he adds, because your power as an individual is diminished. And despite the branding, it may not feel like leisure time. “It doesn’t matter whether you call it a virtual happy hour, it’s a meeting, because mostly we are used to using these tools for work.”

So how can we alleviate Zoom fatigue? 

Both experts suggest limiting video calls to those that are necessary. Turning on the camera should be optional and in general there should be more understanding that cameras do not always have to be on throughout each meeting. Having your screen off to the side, instead of straight ahead, could also help your concentration, particularly in group meetings, says Petriglieri. It makes you feel like you’re in an adjoining room, so may be less tiring.

In some cases it’s worth considering if video chats are really the most efficient option. When it comes to work, Shuffler suggests shared files with clear notes can be a better option that avoids information overload. She also suggests taking time during meetings to catch up before diving into business. “Spend some time to actually check into people’s wellbeing,” she urges. “It’s a way to reconnect us with the world, and to maintain trust and reduce fatigue and concern.”

Building transition periods in between video meetings can also help refresh us – try stretching, having a drink or doing a bit of exercise, our experts say. Boundaries and transitions are important; we need to create buffers which allow us to put one identity aside and then go to another as we move between work and private personas.

And maybe, says Petriglieri, if you want to reach out, go old-school. “Write a letter to someone instead of meeting them on Zoom. Tell them you really care about them.”

Entertainment, Lifestyle

Temi Otedola opens up on how she felt kissing on “citation” set.

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It felt weird kissing on set. Billionaire, Femi Otedola’s daughter, Temi, has opened up on how she felt kissing Gabriel Afolayan, in the movie, Citation.

In an interview , the fashion enthusiast who just landed her first acting gig revealed that it felt weird kissing on screen, interestingly, her musician lover, Mr Eazi, has no problem with the kiss.

She said, “He knows that for me it is work at the end of the day and I would not have been able to take this role if I did not have that relationship with Koyejo (Gabriel Afolayan). He has always been supportive and I am really thankful for that.

“Honestly it was weird of course, on set, but everyone was made to feel comfortable and you just have to see it as work. There is real life and there is work. We tried to do those types of scenes especially the assault scenes as few times as possible because they could be emotionally draining.”

Meanwhile, commenting on the kiss his girlfriend shared with another man on screen, Mr Eazi in an exclusive chat simply said, ‘She was on the job.’
The singer said, “She was on the job so it was not Temi doing that, it was Moremi; so Moremi is different from Temi. I did not feel anyhow because she was on the job.

Mr Eazi continued, “Watching the movie, I felt awesomely proud; I felt super proud of her on her debut movie. It is a beautiful movie and she portrayed such am emotional role and seeing her be able to put it on screen. At some point, I remember I was sitting beside her and I asked, ‘who is this person I am seeing on the screen?’ because I was seeing a different Temi which just goes to show how good she was and I feel this is just the beginning. I am super proud of her.”

Lifestyle

Anarchic actions

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People who destroyed properties in the name of protest should be fished out and punished.

OBVIOUSLY, those who took advantage of the widespread #EndSARS protests and set fire to many commuter buses in Lagos, among other things, should be arrested, tried and punished. Their destructive actions are condemnable. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminals at Iddo, Ojodu and Ikotun in Lagos were affected.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said 80 BRT vehicles were destroyed: 23 big BRT buses burnt at Ojodu and 57 medium-sized BRT buses burnt at Iddo. The 80 destroyed BRT buses are valued at N3.929 billion.

The protests against police brutality and abuse of power that prompted the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), known as SARS, did not justify wanton destruction.

The police arrested two suspects, Ebere Reuben, 29, and Samuel Oyediran, 16, allegedly involved in burning the BRT terminal at Berger and Television Continental (TVC) at Ikosi-Ketu. According to Lagos police commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, “a total of 520 suspects” were arrested for various offences including “arson, robbery, murder, rioting, malicious damage, and unlawful possession of firearms.”

The list of destroyed public assets includes the High Court complex, Igbosere; Lagos State DNA and Forensic Center, Broad Street; Ejigbo LCDA secretariat; City Hall, Lagos Island; COVID-19 warehouse at Monkey Village; Ajeromi Ifelodun LG secretariat; and NPA head office, Marina.

It is disturbing that 16 police stations were burnt by rampaging mobs across the state, and 13 police formations were vandalized as well as police posts at Mowo, Morogbo, Ikota and Mawa, symbolizing a breakdown of law and order.

Odumosu said:  ”Some private facilities, as well as other investments that were partly torched and vandalized/looted, include the Oba of Lagos’ Palace; Television Continental (TVC) at Ikosi-Ketu; Access Bank, GTBank and Ebeano Supermarket at Victoria Island; The Nation office at Fatai Atere Street, Mushin; Shoprite Malls at Ajah; LTV 8, Alausa, Ikeja; Samsung outlet at Apple Roundabout, Festac; Shoprite at Festac; and Samsung Office, Oyingbo.”

Rebuilding Lagos, the hardest-hit state, will require not only political will but also massive funding. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, spoke about the huge funds needed for the reconstruction and repair of the affected properties and infrastructure, saying he “learnt from the governor of Lagos State that it will take N1trn to rebuild what had been lost.”

It is significant that 17 senators representing the six Southwest states, after a visit to assess the scale of the destruction, concluded that the state government could not carry the burden alone and promised to push for assistance from the Federal Government.

The state’s status as the country’s economic and commercial capital makes rebuilding it crucial. It is lamentable that funds which could have been used to further develop the state would now have to be used for its rehabilitation.

Furthermore, the destruction of infrastructure will make things difficult for many people. For instance, the burning of BRT buses means that commuters will scramble for places on fewer buses, compounding the city’s transport problem. Also, the burning of police stations will compound the challenges of the police and diminish their capacity to maintain law and order.

Police investigation into the mayhem should be thorough. Some of the arrested suspects were reported saying they were innocent, and “claimed they were arrested at the bus stop or apprehended in front of their shops or near their homes.” The police must avoid scapegoating. This applies to all #EndSARS –related cases of looting and arson across the country.

Sponsored hoodlums are believed to have hijacked the #EndSARS protests and introduced violence and destruction. Beyond arresting and prosecuting those who carried out the anarchic actions, the police should track down those who masterminded the mayhem.

Lifestyle

Kayode Soyinka’s intriguing memoir resurrects Mandela, Abiola, Dele Giwa

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Kayode Soyinka became a man of history in Nigeria and globally on October 19, 1986 when he survived a letter bomb which killed his boss and friend, Dele Giwa. In his recently-released book ‘Born Into Journalism’, Soyinka tells enthralling tales about his life, great men he met and Nigeria, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU.

ITS title suggests it is about Kayode Soyinka, who began his career as a cub reporter at 18, became a foreign correspondent in his early 20s, editor not long after and publisher before he turned 40. But, this important and mesmerising book is much more than that. In a part, it reads like a mini history of an era in Nigerian media; in another, it reads like a special focus on some important people; and there are even areas that give the feeling of the book being about a period in the Western Region of old. Soyinka’s life is interconnected with all these.

On the pages of ‘Born Into Journalism Memoir of a Newspaper Reporter’, you will meet the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, the great man who won the June 12, 1993 presidential election annulled shamelessly by the Ibrahim Babangida military junta. Copious space is reserved for the story of the first and only parcel bomb incident in Nigeria’s history. It killed Dele Giwa, one of the brightest minds in Nigeria’s journalism. Soyinka was with Giwa when the incident happened and survived miraculously. His account is first class. You will also meet Aremo Olusegun Osoba, another of Nigeria’s greatest in journalism, who later led Ogun State twice. Soyinka’s account of their encounters while he was foreign correspondent for Sketch is delivered in superb prose and the details are so juicy you will keep reading. His meeting with Nelson Mandela is recounted in a way that clearly screams: A truly great man once passed the African soil. Imagine Mandela waiting for a reporter at the appointed time and venue for an interview without the reporter being first kept in a reception for hours to wait for the big man!

The book also tells the story of the Egba people and their peculiarities.

Soyinka’s account of his time with the late Abiola is very intriguing. The publisher of Africa Today was appointed by Abiola’s Concord at a time he was going through a rough patch in Sketch. The great Henry Odukomaiya was the Managing Director of Concord Group of Newspapers at the time the young Soyinka was offered the lifeline to work with the firm. He was in his early 20s, a student of journalism in London and a frustrated foreign correspondent with Sketch whose management had stopped his entitlements for reasons he believed and still believes were flimsy.

Soyinka and Abiola met not long after. He was initially not happy that he was not carried along in the appointment but he made no issue out of it and Soyinka got along very well with him; so well that he was sole signatory to Concord Press’s London bank account and Abiola entrusted him with thousands of pounds.

Though employed as a correspondent, Soyinka soon became like a personal assistant to the late Abiola. He ran errands for the Concord Group outside of foreign reporting. He arranged the purchase of consumables for the presses and he and Abiola inspected a facility that would have seen Concord becoming the first newspaper to do simultaneous printing in Lagos and somewhere in the North. It took several years later for newspapers like The Nation to start this concept.

You will find interesting Soyinka’s account of how he was shielding the late Abiola from the many women always seeking his attention. His account of a particular woman who laid siege on the Concord office in London and succeeded in seeing the late Abiola is stranger than fiction. The late Abiola was angry at the woman but still issued her a ten thousand pounds cheque. The woman told Soyinka he was in love with Chief. It was an hilarious Abiola who told Soyinka later that night that the woman and others only loved his money.

With their chummy relationship, you will think the late Abiola and Soyinka would be together forever but a spanner was thrown into their works a few years after. One day Soyinka was in his office and he was told he had a visitor. The visitor turned out to be a man the late Abiola had verbally appointed to take over Soyinka’s job. The then young man would not give in easily. He insisted there must be a letter to that effect.

Meanwhile, this twist in their relationship was at a time Soyinka was about to marry the love of his life, who, incidentally, was related to Bisi, one of the wives of the late Abiola. If you think that should have helped, it did not. Abiola attended their wedding, where the families refused to make him the chairman of the occasion. He also was at the in-law’s place where Soyinka took delivery of his angel. After the marriage, Soyinka and his wife went to see Abiola but he insisted the then London correspondent must return to Lagos for a new assignment. Soyinka refused. Abiola could get no senior member of the Concord management to write a letter sacking Soyinka so he did it himself, at a time the young man just got married and his wife was expecting their first child.

Soyinka was not surprised because Abiola once sacked his blood brother, who was Controller of Finance, via a phone call while he was vacationing in London. Soyinka put it all on the fact that Abiola was human. He never forgot the good deeds of the past and he helped in his little way years later when Babangida denied Abiola his rightful place as Nigeria’s democratically-elected leader.

He moved on to work with the trail-blazing Peter Enahoro as the General Editor of his magazine, Africa Now, from where he joined Newswatch where Giwa, the man who fondly called him ‘Grand Kay’ was Editor-in-chief. Giwa was Sunday Editor in Concord and worked closely with Soyinka. They spent time in each other’s homes in Lagos and London and it was during one of such times after Soyinka had joined Newswatch that the parcel bomb which killed Giwa was delivered.

Giwa is resurrected on the pages of this amazing book, his likes, his dislikes and all come alive in blazing colours.

Recalling the day Giwa was killed, Soyinka writes: “During my time at Newswatch, a horrific incident, unique to Nigeria, occurred on 19 October 1986. It was the gruesome murder of Dele Giwa. I miraculously survived the attack. I was on an official visit to Nigeria from London. As usual, I was staying with Giwa at his Lagos home, which was then on 25 Talabi Street, Ikeja. That was when a parcel bomb was sent to him.

“The deadly package was delivered to him by his unsuspecting son, Billy, in his study, where we were having our breakfast. He took a quick look at the parcel and handed it over to me to see. I held it in my hand, looked at it, and handed it back to him. When he took it back from me, he said: ‘This must be from the president.’ The padded envelope, just slightly bigger than A4 in size, had marks that suggested it had been sent from the ‘Cabinet Office’ in Lagos. It was addressed to ‘Chief Dele Giwa’ – though he was not a chief – and with the instruction printed on it that it must be opened by the addressee only. Dele thought the envelope contained some vital documents which may help Newswatch with some stories. As he readjusted his chair and tried to tear the envelope open from the top left-hand corner, the envelope exploded. It was a huge and horrific explosion. There was a big ball of fire.

“Dele absorbed the shock and most of the impact of the massive explosion on his body, as he was the person who held the envelope and had tried to open it. I was saved by the huge mahogany L-shaped table on which we were eating. That table was so strong with a thickly padded lower part that it absorbed the impact of the explosion that would have affected me directly. Still, the explosion was powerful enough to lift me from my chair and throw me on the floor in front of the door to the study. Dele Giwa was in deep shock. He was still alive, as helpers rushed in and helped to carefully drag him out of the rubbles of the explosion. He was rushed to First Foundation Hospital, in Opebi, owned by a close friend of ours, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

“There, he died early afternoon that Sunday. He was silenced permanently, and the Newswatch dream permanently died with him. I was extremely lucky that I survived. If there was truly that something called ‘Biblical Miracle,’ my surviving the parcel bomb was it.”

The personal story of how Soyinka’s parents waited for about a decade before having their first child and went ahead to have five more shows that it is not over until it is over. This part of the book also contains the shocking reaction of his mother anytime she had a boy. You need to find this out yourself.

He will be 45 years old in the journalism profession next year. He released his memoir one year early.

Written with an easy-to-grasp style and diction, Soyinka has written an irresistible book. Its page-turning capacity shrinks its relatively huge size.

It is an important book which should be widely read by journalists, students of Mass Communications and Journalism, veteran journalists and anyone interested in history and understanding power and ego.

The book is available on amazon.co.uk; amazon.com; and Barnes and Noble (bn.com).

Lifestyle

Do things happen by chance?

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I got carried away in deep thoughts , thinking about recent happenings. Then I said to myself, “do things happen by chance?”. Have you ever felt like a particular scene is on repeat? Like something happens somewhere , precisely right in your presence and the following week , the exact thing occurs again. As an graduate of engineering , I recall from telecomms that , “a video is made up of several pictures or scenes put together continually to look like a moving scene”. Hmmm, video…motion pictures.


Well this is how life is , life keeps moving as scenes are put together while we progress. It feels like the supernatural one is writing the scripts and recording the scenes , while what we are expected to do is act our roles appropriately. So what script are you acting? Is it making any sense? Is it inclined with the purpose and goals you have set for yourself ?… Hey, are you with me? This is quite sensitive for me and I believe that some utterances are divine , some actions are divine and some interests are divine too. If you focus and think deeply about these words , it will in turn make you reflect about life and purpose.


Sometimes I sound too optimistic to some people and they ask , ” how will you do this? ” and others will say , ” why is she so confident?” but mind you , optimism is what drives our hope and saturates our dehydrated system. So at times, I am not really bothered about perfection but rather about progress in relation to my real life roles. I just play my real life roles in truth and optimism. Yes, truth and optimism coupled with the conviction that the divine is involved in all that concerns me.


How do you act your roles without thinking you are ruining things for yourself? Sometimes little compromises can ruin whatever progress one is building. Recently, I refused a bribe. Why? I thought about the fact that things might go wrong/awry after accepting the bribe and I might get caught up in a deep shit hole ? These thoughts rolled in and hey, I stood my ground.
Do you have a change of heart already? What kind of roles will you start acting onwards?!

Lifestyle, World News

Lagos State lifts curfew

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Lagos State government has lifted the curfew imposed following the crisis which erupted across the country. Ater the EndSARS protest was attacked which resulted to violence and looting across the Nation. In a statement released by the Lagos State commissioner of information, Gbenga Omotoso, he noted that the 12am – 4am curfew imposed to restrain the spread of Covid-19 by the Federal Government still remains.

He noted that “Lagosians are free to go about their businesses without any hindrance whatsoever. Security agencies will continue to discharge their duties.“Lagosians are urged to co-operate with them to maintain the status of our state as one of the most peaceful.”“The 12 a.m. to 4a.m. curfew imposed by the Federal Government to curb the spread of COVID-19 remains,” He added that the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu In his statement, thanked security operatives for their efforts in restoring peace to the troubled communities in the state.

“The governor also urged the citizenry not to do or encourage any action that may turn back the clock, but to keep living in harmony as we get set to rebuild our dear State and strengthen the unity that we are known for,” Omotoso added.

Entertainment, Lifestyle

Williams Uchemba proposed to his girlfriend.

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Nollywood actor, Williams Uchemba has proposed to his girlfriend. The actor who starred in numerous movies which includes; merry men, sugar rush and so on, displayed his unique comedy talent.

He revealed the intention to get married via his Instagram page , as he posted pictures of his proposal. Alas, the actor is leaving the bachelors club.

He posted the pictures of his girlfriend , now fiancee and typed the following as seen below.

Williams Uchemba also posted a video revealing the face of his beautiful fiancee.

Lifestyle

…she pretended and put up the act of crying.

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Many children, teens, youths and young adults have been abused over time and in many ways. The most prominent is the sexual abuse. Many found their way back on track and their lives have taken a turn for better while others’ lives got ruined in the process. The level of sexual harassment isn’t getting any lower in the society today rather, we have lots of victims. Many victims have been silenced by threat , shame or stigma, while some have found the courage to speak out “sòrò sókè” .

At this point, I need to make bare the painful but true story of an old friend.
He was a young, naive 200 level student of a University back then. He had friends who were just like him, they go out together as chaps. There was an older lady, a companion also and they sometimes go out as friends with the older lady who happened to be like an elder sister to them.

She was a very polite lady in her early 30’s. This lady discussed with the boys, shared her thoughts and encouraged them to face various challenges fearlessly. She was a mentor to them and they saw her like someone who cared for their wellbeing. The lady however had keen interest in my friend than the other boys. She told him about her abusive relationship with Dan. According to her and as explained by my friend , she was about to be married to Dan but she called it quits because Dan beats her at the slightest opportunity.


My friend must have thought it was an auspicious day when this older lady friend invited him for a drink at the beach. Alas he was so wrong and worse still so vulnerable because unknown to him, he was about to have a drink with the devil’s incarnate. How would he have thought that she could be so mean, heartless, callous and super devilish to do something so demeaning? As soon as he got to the beach , she offered him a drink and no sooner had he started to drink than he began to feel weak and dizzy. She offered to help him get home. He was however not conscious of what was happening around him and she took him to her apartment where she sexually harassed him in his unconscious state. She RAPED him.

Rape according to an online information disseminator is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, has an intellectual disability or is below the legal age of consent.The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault.


He respected her, trusted her and believed she cared much for him and his friends. My friend really had nothing to worry about thinking she had good intentions but on the contrary, she drugged him and sexually assaulted him. He woke up after lying unconscious for 3days in her appartment with very serious pain all over his genitals.


She pretended and put up the act of crying, claiming she didn’t hurt him on purpose and it was the devil’s doing. Why do people blame the devil for everything? Are we humans or wild animals? Humans have the ability of being compassionate but wild animals will always hunt regardless. This is a woman who was about to be married to a man who often beats her, she could have understood better what it meant to be physically abused. Is she better than the man who beat her? It just turned out that her fiance was the devil’s incarnate and she was the devil herself.

He told his friends but they laughed at him, he told his best friend but she broke up her friendship with him . Why do victims suffer more for being victims? He wasn’t lucky, he trusted her and never thought that he would find himself in such a dilemma. If his friends didn’t belive his story, who then could have believed that he was raped by a woman?

Oh , the story isn’t over yet…few days later, she sent him a text and asked him to send his bank account number but instead, she got blocked by the victim. He blocked her right away because he knew it was a rape case and didn’t consent to it. So then, why did she want to pay him knowing that what happened wasn’t as a result of a mutual agreement? Of course, he wasn’t a muttonhead and he knew the reason for which she wanted to send him some money. He was broken but now stronger. His friends left him, no one believed him. Who will listen to victims, who will believe them?

Today my friend is doing fine after he had put that ugly occurrence behind him and moved on. It was pretty difficult for him to get over the emotional and physiological pain , as he had flashbacks frequently. I tell you, the most difficult pain to get rid of is the “emotional/psychological pain”. Only time can heal such pain.

He is a living witness today of the words which states that , ” tough moments don’t last but tough people do”. Everyday for him feels happier ever since he forgot about the ugly past, now he is stronger , better and much more sensitive to danger.

Entertainment, Lifestyle

Kim Kardashian West turns 40, gets an hologram of her late dad as birthday gift from husband, Kanye West.

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Kim Kardashian West recently turned 40! The beautiful model , business woman , mother of 4 kids and wife of famous rapper “kanye West” celebrated her birthday recently in a grand style.

Kim and her siblings.

She posted pictures of her birthday party on her Instagram page and wrote the following;

Kim’s birthday cake on her 40th birthday.

She also posted a video showing the most precious gift she got on her birthday, courtesy of her husband, Kanye West. She said;

“For my birthday, Kanye got me the most thoughtful gift of a lifetime. A special surprise from heaven. A hologram from my dad. It is so lifelike and we watched it over and over, filled with lots of tears and emotion. I can’t even describe what this meant to me and my sisters, my brother, my mum and my closest friends to experience together. Thank you so much Kanye for this memory that will last a lifetime.”

Kim, her husband and children.

Below is the video of the hologram she posted on her Instagram page.

Lifestyle

800,000 babies die due to poor breastfeeding annually – Ekiti Commissioner

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The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, has disclosed that no fewer than 800,000 babies die of poor breastfeeding yearly across the globe.

Oyebanji stated that poor breastfeeding was largely responsible for high infant mortality in Nigeria, which he said was being gradually checkmated due to the advent of exclusive breastfeeding and improved medical practices.

Filani spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at a press parley commemorating the 2020 edition of breastfeeding week in Ekiti State.

The Commissioner said Ekiti was rated as having 55.4 percent compliance with the first six months exclusive breastfeeding in 2019, saying the improvement in Ekiti was due to the proactive action taken by Governor Kayode Fayemi to increase sensitization in the state.

“Findings have shown that investing in breastfeeding will prevent 13 percent of child deaths and morbidity if 90 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life.

“Globally, only 38 percent of infants are exclusively breastfed and sub-optimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths globally on annual basis.

“So, any baby who is exclusively breastfed for the first six months without any formula has fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea and has fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.

“It is so significant that it has helped to remove the myth and unacceptable use of herbs and concoctions for neonate and young children”.

Lifestyle

Three trucks burnt as tanker explodes in Lagos

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At least there trucks were at the early hours of Thursday burnt after a Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) laden tanker exploded around Mile Two along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The incident was said to have occurred around 1am while the exploded tanker was trying to navigate a bad portion of the road.

It was gathered that the tanker went up in flames as soon as it overturned while its contained spilled all over the expressway.

Following the trail of spilled PMS, the fire in no time gutted a truck loaded with beverages from LACASERA as well as another petroleum tanker on the side.

Confirming the incident, Director General (DG) LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said no life was lost.

He said: “There was no loss of life. We received the distress call concerning the explosion around 1am and activated emergency response plan.

“On arrival, it was discovered that a fuel tanker loaded with PMS had overturned and burst into flames due to the oil spillage. This in turn affected some stationary trailers parked inwards Apapa.

“A combined team comprising Lagos Fire, Police, Federal Fire and LASEMA responders have extinguished the flames.

“Operation to remove the affected vehicles is ongoing while road users are encouraged to use alternative routes.”

Lifestyle

EFCC files additional ‘evidence’ against Malabu Oil in money laundering case

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday filed additional proof of evidence against Malabu Oil & Gas Limited before Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja in the alleged money laundering case involving the company to the tune of $875,740,000.

Prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga had at the sitting announced the readiness of the prosecution to proceed with the day’s business as well as the presence of Prosecution Witness One (PW1), Temitope Erinlomo in court.

He further informed the court of the filing of additional proof of evidence against the first defendant, Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, which he said was not to complicate the matter before the court but for further assistance to the court to reach its conclusions.

However, defence counsel declined cross-examination of the witness on account of the prosecution’s new proof of evidence, which the defence team said was served on them at a short notice, arguing that they needed no less than 24 hours to go through the application.

They further submitted that it was beyond the prosecution to determine whether the additional proof of evidence will be helpful in the matter or not.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till November 28, 2020 for continuation of trial.

The prosecution had on September 10, 2020, concluded its evidence-in-chief with PW1, giving way to the defence to proceed with the cross-examination of the witness.

Lifestyle

Caring for oily skin

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People who have oily skin tend to have a love-hate relationship when it comes to their skin .

Oily skin usually has a lot of shine, is greasy and prone to breakouts. people with oily skin mostly suffer from pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, and enlarged pores and this is because of the sebaceous gland (the oil gland), which is overstimulated and produces more sebum (oil) than the normal skin type. 

Having oily skin can sometimes be frustrating and caring for this skin type can leave you exhausted.

However, having oily skin isn’t all bad and you shouldn’t totally condemn your skin. There are a few benefits to having oily skin which most people are unaware of. You’re probably wondering “what possible benefits could oily skin have”?

Well, skincare experts believe that oily skin and combination skin types tend to age more slowly in comparison to other skin types. This is because the oils produced keeps all the moisture locked into the surface of the skin, meaning fewer signs of wrinkles and other basic signs of aging.

So, now that you know the basics about your oily skin type, I’ll be sharing with you  5 skincare tips to live by if you have oily skin.

wash your face regularly

Tip #1: Wash Regularly

One of the most important ways to keep your skin grease-free for as long as you can is to wash it regularly.

It is advised to wash at least twice a day in order to get rid of the oil build-up which can lead to acne, clogged pores, and so on. When washing it is preferable to make use of lukewarm water and a face wash that is not too harsh on the skin so as not to strip off all the essential oils on your skin, having a reverse effect. You also need to be gentle when cleansing.

Tip #2: Adopt A Skincare Routine

Having a skincare routine makes a lot of difference when it comes to caring for oily skin or any skin type for that matter. This is one major habit of people with fabulous skin. A basic skincare routine consists of :

  • Cleansing: Asides from washing regularly, you should go the extra mile by cleansing your face with a non-alcohol based cleanser. This gets rid of tiny dirt particles and makeup deeply logged underneath your skin. 
Fresh and lovely woman washing her face

Exfoliate: Scrubbing once or twice a week is very good for oily skin. This helps to remove the dead skin cells on the skin due to the oversecretion of oils leading to pimples, acne and blackheads. Including this vital step in your skincare routine will help to prevent breakouts, renew the surface of your skin, and keep any further skin issues at bay.

Woman exfoliating her face
  • Tone: In your skincare routine do not forget to tone regularly. Toners help to remove dirts and other residue left after cleansing the face, it restores skin’s pH balance, reduces the appearance of pores, hydrates the skin, prevent ingrown hairs, reduces acne and blackheads, and so on. Make use of an alcohol-free toner because toners that contain alcohol might be too drying and would cause your face to produce more oil if you’re not careful.

 If you get acne frequently, you can opt for toners containing salicylic acid, this is one of the best products to use when trying to get rid of acne. An affordable/DIY toner is rosewater and witch hazel. Many skincare lovers swear by this and it’s also an ingredient in some dermatologically recommended toners.

  • Moisturize: Do not skip this process because keeping your skin hydrated reduces the sensitivity of your skin and the tendency to produce more oils as opposed to what most people think. You should make use of an oil-free moisturizer, preferably a water-based moisturizer to keep all the moisture locked in.

Tip #3: Avoid Greasy Foods

In caring for your oily skin what you eat really matters. If you have oily skin you are more prone to skin problems like acne, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and so on. Because all these problems are more common to your skin type it is advisable for you to avoid greasy foods as much as you can. In other to reduce the amount of sebum produced by your skin stay away from or reduce to the barest minimum food items such as butter, groundnuts, and meals that require a lot of grease to prepare. In some cases, you need to recognize foods that trigger breakouts and avoid them as well.

Tip #4: Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most underrated skin essentials. Having a whole skincare routine and applying all sorts of products on your face might all be in vain if you allow the ultraviolet rays from the sun to tamper with your skin.

We also have to realize that it’s not only when we are going out we use sunscreen. NO!, wear sunscreen indoors as well because there are certain uv rays that can penetrate your windows. Exposing your face to heat while cooking in the kitchen also predisposes your face to high temperatures that can cause heat damage.

Do not compromise on applying sunscreen. This prevents damages to the skin such as pigmentation, brown spots, and sunburn all caused by sun exposure. A gel-based sunscreen will do just fine, or you could also opt for products, creams, lotions, and makeup that contains SPF to further protect your skin.

Tip #5: Avoid Oil Based Products

Steer clear off products that are oil-based in nature as this will further help to reduce the over secretion of oil from your skin. If you use makeup you should go for products that are water-based or matte to avoid overstimulating your oil glands. Oil control products are a must-have in your makeup kit to keep the oils locked in for as long as possible so your makeup stays in place all day. Most of your skincare products such as your moisturizer, lotion, tonner, etc, should also be non-oil-based to reduce the production of sebum.

Bonus tips

  • Stay away from sugary foods, and junk food. Other than the fact that they aren’t so good for your overall health, they also contribute to your skin issues.
  • Drink lots of water to remain hydrated and flush out toxic waste from your body, and also make lots of greens, fruits, and veggies part of your diet.

There are lots of factors to consider when it comes to skincare, and it really does not have to be a nightmare. Following all these basic steps can help you manage your skin better so you look your absolute best at all times.

Lifestyle

Adeboye declares 30-day fasting and prayer over situations in Nigeria

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Apparently worried by the current situations in Nigeria, General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Tuesday declared a 30-day fasting and prayer across the country.

Nigeria has in the past week been embroiled in a series of crises which started with the protest against police brutality now widely known as #EndSARS protest and also the shooting of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20.

However, based on the situation in the country, the RCCG General Overseer has directed that its members and the entire country should embark on 30-day fasting and prayer which is expected to begin on Sunday, November 1.

According to a statement by Pastor J.O. Odesola, the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration and Personnel on behalf of Pastor Adeboye, the prayer is to hold from November 1 to November 30 from midnight to 6.00 p.m. daily while the marathon fasting is to hold from November 1 to November 14.

The statement entitled: ‘Fasting and Prayer for Nigeria’, reads: “We hereby wish to inform you all members of RCCG that the General Overseer has directed that we should commence thirty days fasting and prayer exercise from Sunday 1st November 2020.

“1st-30th November 2020 from midnight to 6 pm daily. Marathon Fasting – 1st-14th November 2020. Prayer guide shall be forwarded soon.

“Where possible, brethren should be encouraged to come together for prayers while ensuring that all COVID-19 government regulations and safety precautions, social distancing, use of nose mask, provision of hand sanitizers or wash hand basin are put in place.

“You are to kindly inform and encourage all and sundry to participate in this exercise.”



Lifestyle

Gov Sanwo-Olu finally discloses who ordered Lekki Toll Gate shooting

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has finally said Nigerian Army ordered the shooting of End SARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had earlier stated that its men were not present at the toll gate during the incident on Tuesday, October 20.

They also said that viral videos of the shooting were “photoshopped.”

But, speaking to CNN on Monday, Sanwo-Olu said footage available to him shows that the Nigerian Army ordered the shooting.

He also promised that after investigations, everyone found culpable of the act will be persecuted.

Sanwo-Olu said, “From the footage that we could see, it seems to be that men in military uniform, which should be Nigerians Army ordered the shooting.

”They will be available for the judicial panel to review. They will certainly be held accountable, we will do everything possible to make sure they are held accountable.

”When the report is out we will channel it to all the relevant authorities in the state to ensure that everyone found culpable is accountable for the act.”

Lifestyle

IPMAN claims Fuel scarcity may last for two weeks

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National Vice President of The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, has said the scarcity of petroleum products that hit some States may last for up to two weeks.

Most of retail stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were on Monday under lock and key.

Those that were opened to customers, ceased vending before dusk.

The Nation had reported last week on imminent fuel scarcity.

Speaking with The Nation on phone, he blamed the scarcity on the EndSARS protests across the country.

According to him, Lagos, which is the epicentre of the crisis, also harbours most of petrol depots.

He noted the protest have degenerated to an imposition of a curfew,  which has brought the haulage of products to a halt.

Maigandi said besides the curfew in Lagos, the marketers are afraid their truck might run into a crossfire and probably being set ablaze.

He explained since the stoppage of haulage of products has lasted for over a week, it might take some weeks to return to normalcy.

The National Vice President, however, said there is availability of stock.

He urged consumers to desist from panic buying.

He said: “You shouldn’t ask why petrol is scarce. Last week, I told you that some depots were not loading products.

“I told you that because of the protests our loaded trucks were parked in some yards for fear of being set on fire.

“It may take up to two weeks to normalize the situation. One good thing is that the products are available.  So, customers should not involve themselves in panic buying. “

Lifestyle

FG urges States not to close isolation centres yet

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The Federal Government has urged states and other stakeholders not to completely close isolation centres because of the drop in the number of cases on admission and apparent decline in the number of active COVID-19 cases.

Rather, it advised them to maintain some of the isolation centres in readiness for a possible surge in cases and a second wave of the pandemic as evident in other countries.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

He said: “With the decline in the number of active cases and the number of cases on admission drops, some isolation centres in the country are already making arrangements to rationalize the number of frontline health personnel into the reserve pool or redeployed. This would be done in a manner that will allow easy re-mobilization where necessary.

“We however advise states and relevant stakeholders not to completely close all isolation centres due to consistent lack of patients but some centres should rather be maintained.

“This is to ensure promptness and readiness against any surge as part of l preparation against possible second wave.

“We are taking advantage of this low active cases to carry out appraisal and reappraisal of activities at the isolation centres.

“This is necessary to assess and understand areas of strengths, weaknesses, available opportunities as well as dangers.

“Such activities will consolidate gains while taking measures to prevent re-occurrence of errors as well as deployment of appropriate resources.”

Ehanire, while urging protesting youths not to attack medical stores and the NCDC warehouse because the medicines and other medical consumables are stored under controlled environmental conditions, also noted the destruction of these items will impact negatively on our response to the pandemic.

Lifestyle

Church in Nigeria holds special procession for Trump ahead of Nov polls

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A church in Nigeria, the Living Christ Mission Inc., embarked on a street procession on Sunday, October 25 in support of President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming November 3 polls in the United States.

The evangelical Christian church counts among its reasons for the support of Trump his aversion to abortion, support for the state of Israel as well as other reasons members say are their Christian values. Led by the church founder, The Most Rev. Prof. Daddy Hezekiah, nicknamed the International Mayor of Peace, congregants marched amid drumming and singing through the streets of Onitsha, Anambra in southeast Nigeria.

A video that was posted on the church’s Facebook prior to the march said the occasion was in “favor of Donald Trump and the United States of America”. The video also quoted the Bible verse from Proverbs 29:2 to buttress the church’s support.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people groan,” the verse said.

But President Trump’s appeal in Africa far extends beyond the Living Christ Mission Inc.

While many have seen his ‘Make America Great Again’ as a patriotic slogan that shames Africa’s own enigmatic politicians, Trump is also widely supported by many Africans on the continent where conservative Christian values are pervasive.

In June, the leader of Loveworld Inc, on of the biggest churches in Africa, Chris Oyakhilome, held a church service, partly in support of the US president, saying: “Pray for him [Trump] because when God places any of his children in a position, hell sometimes would do everything to destroy that individual.”

“They are angry at Trump for supporting Christians, you better know it. So the real ones that they hate are you who are Christians,” Oyakhilome added.

Lifestyle

Emir claims disbanding SARS is not a solution to police brutality

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The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Dr. Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi has said disbanding SARS is not a solution to the alleged police brutality in the country.

The emir disclosed this when he received the Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu at his palace in Dutse, the state capital.

He said the scrapping of SARS by the Nigeria police force will not be the permanent solution to the alleged police brutality until the recruitment and training process is corrected.

He explained that lack of adequate training and corruption in the recruitment process in the Nigeria police force were the main causes of the recent tension in the country.

“Whatever name you changed SARS to, it will not change anything, unless the police recruitment and training process is changed.

“Initially, traditional rulers were involved in police recruitment process in order to ascertain the behavior and character of each candidate.

“And we have to train and retain our police officers on how best they can use arms and resolve crisis without using force.

“Security forces nowadays don’t have knowledge on how to amicably resolve issues but using gun power.

“Recently, three persons were shot dead by police in Dutse in a simple case that can be resolved easily.

“If they were involving traditional rulers in all aspects of crisis management, most of these problems could not have happened and at times, even if you talk to them, they would not listen”

Earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Eng Sulaiman Hussain Adamu who visited the Emir at his palace in Dutse said president Muhammadu Buhari was worried over the unfortunate destruction and looting that followed the EndSARS protests across the country.

The President, however, called on the traditional, religious and community leaders to continue to enlighten the people on peace and unity in the country.

Lifestyle

Over 70 public, private property looted, vandalized in Cross River [See list]

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Over seventy public and private property in Calabar, the Cross River State capital have been looted, vandalized, destroyed and burnt by thousands of people suspected to be hoodlums.

As at the last count, DAILY POST listed looted and destroyed items between Friday and Saturday to include: Cross River State Property Investment Limited, CROSPIL Office, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate, Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC office, Marian Road.

Others are Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency, CTRA office (100 Marian), Marian Road, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR , Atakpa Police Station, Watt Market – burnt down, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised.

Calabar Discount Mall (harbouring Valuemat Supermarket and other stores), Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised, Ministry of Works warehouse, Ekorinim II – looted and burnt down, Cross River State Roll back Malaria Centre, Barracks Road – Looted and vandalised, Bulavaard Joint owned by APC chieftain, Ntufam Hillard Ettah, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised.

First Bank, 8 Miles – vandalised, West African Examination Council, WAEC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – burnt down, Federal Psychiatric hospital, Calabar Road – looted and vandalised, Access Bank, Mayne Avenue –vandalised. Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s House, Asari Eso – looted and burnt down, Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Asari Eso – looted and vandalised.

Cross River Garment Factory, Goodluck Jonathan bypass – Looted, Ayade Fuel Station, Murtala Mohammed Highway – looted and set ablaze, Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Mayne Avenue by White House – looted and burnt down, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC Office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – set on fire, Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Etta Agbor – looted, Cross River Agric Development Project, IBB way opposite Margaret Ekpo International Airport – looted.

Also affected are IDH Hospital, Chamley area – looted and vandalised, Empowerment warehouse, Henshaw Town – looted and vandalised, University of Calabar, UNICAL Publishing Center, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised, UNICAL Microfinance Bank, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised, UNICAL Main Library – vandalised, most banks and shops/transport companies, Ettah Agbor – vandalised.

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