Hafsat Abiola - Women's Month Motivational Story #10

Hafsat Abiola is a young activist who works to promote women, youth, and democracy in Nigeria, and around the world. She is a founding member of several initiatives including Global Youth Connect, Youth Employment Campaign, and Vital Voices: Women in Democracy. She is a member of the World Wisdom Council and the World Future Council. Hafsat is the author of many articles published in international and national media, and assistant editor of Imagining Ourselves, an international anthology of women.

Hafsat is also the Executive Director of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, an NGO that seeks to empower democracy and development in Nigeria by strengthening organizations and creating initiatives that advance women. KIND’s main programme is Kudra, a programme that offers leadership training to 750 young women across Nigeria each year.

Charles Novia Reviews the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

The invitation cards for the first Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards were as much in demand as one would wish for an oil block from President Jonathan. And if getting an oil block is so easy in Nigeria, then it means those of us who received the beautiful and well-packaged jewel- encrusted invitations with an ATM-cloned VIP card attached, got our 'allocations' for the event quite easily. One good thing the card did for whoever got it; it made one feel special and honoured. On that level of planning, the organisers deserve an 'A plus'

The night was one of glamour,glitz, fun and little screw-ups: at least to the discerning eye present in the hall. I was among many of the invited guests from Nigeria and other parts of Africa; a mix of the artistes, business men, government officials and perhaps the usual event crashers. Almost everyone present looked dapper and dazzling, with fashion designers having a field day for this event, I can bet my last buck on that!

The venue, Eko Hotel and Suites, was the perfect event centre for this show. The ambience of hospitality could be felt as guests trooped in. There was much mingling and lots of greetings and hugging going on with almost everybody looking so resplendent, it seemed surreal!

10 Things You Never Knew about Toke Makinwa

Toke Makinwa is a Rhythm 93.7 radio presenter, and she was profiled on the ThisDay Sunday newspaper where she revealed ten things about herself, some of which I found quite interesting. I also saw her interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and I think I'm beginning to like her. She shows this self-awareness that comes with maturity, and she can laugh at herself too. Enjoy the interview below. I also suffered the short-girl syndrome when I was younger, I think I'm mostly over it now, lol...

• “I suffer from short-man syndrome. A lot of people think I’m snobbish, or I’m a rude person. But it’s just us short people we always think people want to take us for granted because of our height. So I’d rather cut you off before that happens.”

• “My favourite food is Amala, Gbegiri and Ewedu. I don’t get to eat that as much as I’d love to but every time I go to like a local restaurant I always order that.”

• “I cry easily. I’m a big softie. I’m a hopeless romantic – I don’t go to weddings because I cry a lot. That’s one thing people don’t know. People invite me for their weddings and I don’t turn up, and they don’t understand why.  I’ve been to a few weddings and I cried my eyes out.”

Watch Gidi Up Episode 3 - Keeping Up Appearances

Watch Episode 1 and 2 if you missed it. In this episode 3 of Gidi Up, Tokunbo and Eki make a connection, while Obi and Yvonne share a lot but don't realise how much they have in common, and Folarin gets desperate. Music by: Temi Dollface - The Box, Falz - 1, 2, 3, and Ajebutter22 with Serenre.

I felt this episode was a bit short and not much happened. Tell me what you think so far.

Happy Mothering Sunday

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and some other places around the world. You see I did not include the United States because there's another date still coming for us. It can all get confusing sometimes, I know also there are even two mothering Sundays in Nigeria, Anglican and Roman Catholic if I'm not mistaken :)

But no matter. Even three days is not enough. I cherish my mum like no man's business and have already called to tell her that. I also appreciate all the other mothers in my life, my MIL and you readers, mothers to your own children, and whose motherly advice myself and other younger readers gain a lot from.

Happy Mother’s Day for being so amazing. Thank you.

Lynxx and Efya at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

Lynxx and Efya - Are they a couple?

It would be nice to think that Lynxx and Efya's black and white matching suits are a romantic couple's anco, but I think it's more that they're business and music partners. Last year, Lynxxx and Efya had a tour of four U.S. cities, and both have featured on each other's albums or collaborated on tracks. They look good together sha :)

Chika Unigwe - Women's Month Motivational Story #9

Chika Unigwe was born in Enugu, Nigeria, and now lives in Turnhout, Belgium, with her husband and four children. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an MA from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. She also holds a PhD from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, having completed a thesis entitled "In the shadow of Ala. Igbo women writing as an act of righting" in 2004.

Chika Unigwe is the author of fiction, poetry, articles and educational material. She won the 2003 BBC Short Story Competition for her story "Borrowed Smile", a Commonwealth Short Story Award for "Weathered Smiles" and a Flemish literary prize for "De Smaak van Sneeuw", her first short story written in Dutch. "The Secret", another of her short pieces, was nominated for the 2004 Caine Prize. She was the recipient of a 2007 Unesco-Aschberg fellowship for creative writing, and of a 2009 Rockefeller Foundation fellowship for creative writing.

I'm #10 in the Top 100 Relationship Blogs To Follow In 2013

Coupon Audit is a site known for putting together infographics that can be useful to people who use the interwebs regularly to know who to follow on social media and the top blogs and websites that are worth their time to read. Recently, they made one for the Top 100 relationship blogs to follow in 2013, and I showed up at #10!

Thanks to Coupon Audit for including me.

I also see some of the sites I visit on the list, along with a few that made me go huh? LOL... there’s definitely something here for everyone. Check it out below...

Nkem Ivara - Closer Than A Brother [Author Interview]

I have featured Nkem Ivara,  previously on this blog, where she shared her own love story. She is the blogger behind The Wordsmythe, and back then I described her as also a writer, and aspiring author. Today, her first book, Closer than a Brother, has just been published by Whispers Press. Talking about the road to publishing this book, Nkem says;

"I'm a hopeless romantic, I love happy endings. I grew up reading lots of romance novels whose heroes and heroines were predominantly white. I wanted to read stories about black characters falling in love but there were none. This has changed considerably since my youth, there's now a representation of the black community in the romance genre. I wanted to write a story that explored the transition of best friends from friendship to falling in love."

She adds that the Internet has been a powerful tool in helping her not only to write but to network, collaborate and share with and among fellow writers. Just like in my own experience, the internet and social media made it easy for Nkem to reach a wide audience and get instant feedback. We are both members of the Romance Writers of West Africa, and it was a pleasure to engage Nkem in this informative interview.

Never Rob a Woman in Pajamas by Afronuts

‘Wetin dis girl wear so? No be pinjamas be dat?’ Wasiu whispered harshly, his hemp smelling breath fanning across Rasaq’s cheeks.

Rasaq squinted and furrowed his nose. Though he had spent majority of his lifetime living amongst weed smokers who tried to buy his interest by exaggerating its purported ‘benefits’, he still could not generate an iota of affinity for the infamous herb.

‘E be like so oh’, He replied frowning to focus as if his vision could zoom in.

They were poised to operate for the night; Wasiu with motorbike revving and ready, Rasaq seated behind with a locally fabricated pistol held tightly in his right hand positioned for action. Their target was a lone female figure strolling briskly along the dark edges of Ayanikoro neighborhood; the areas that the poorly lit streetlights failed to illuminate.

She actually was in a weird white outfit that looked pajamas with a pair of sandals. Though she wore a haircut, her gait, the presence of a full backside and pointed breasts was what assured them that she was female. She carried a rucksack on her back and a polythene bag in her right hand.