Do you know that?

1. The River Niger Bridge at Onitsha was constructed between 1964 and 1965 by Dumez- a French construction company and cost £5 million.

2. Pat...ience Jonathan is one of Nigeria’s most-educated First Ladies, with an NCE, a B.Ed, and a PhD from University of Port-Harcourt.
3. The highest peak in Nigeria is located in Taraba and is called Chappal Waddi which means “The Mountain of Death”.
4. There are 196 countries in the world and at least one Igbo person from Nigeria lives in every one of them.
5. The Pidgin word ‘Sabi’ came from ‘Saber’, Portuguese and Spanish for ‘to know’. Both country’s ships traded slaves from the Bight of Benin.
6. Katsina College (now Barewa College in Zaria) has produced 5 Nigerian Presidents/Heads of State since it was founded in 1921 in Katsina.
7. Ojukwu taught Murtala Mohammed and Ben Adekunle at Regular Officers Special Training School, Ghana. Both ‘fought’ their teacher during the civil war
8. At Nigeria’s independence in 1960, there were 41 Secondary Schools in the North and 842 Secondary Schools in the South.
9. In 1983, Senator Arthur Nzeribe spent $16.5 million to win a Senatorial seat in Orlu (in Imo State).
10. In 1973, the Federal Government of Nigeria considered officially changing the name of “Lagos” to “Eko”. Regarding “Lagos” as a colonial name.
11. The geographical area now referred to as Nigeria was once referred to as ‘Soudan’ and ‘Nigiritia’.
12. Offences punishable by death sentence after the 1966 coup included embezzlement, rape and homosexuality.
13. MKO Abiola was named Kashimawo (Let us wait and see) by his parents. He was his father’s twenty-third child, but the first to survive infancy.
14. Jaja Wachucku was the first person to refer to Lagos as a “no-man’s land” in 1947, provoking a national controversy.
15. Jollof rice, chicken breast, serve of ice cream, tea, coffee or Bournvita, with full cream milk and sugar: Meal Cost = 50Kobo- Unilag in the late 1970s
16. At the point death in 1989, Sam Okwaraji was a PhD candidate and qualified lawyer with an LL.M in International Law (University of Rome)
17. When British Bank of West Africa (now First Bank) opened a branch in Kano in 1929, Alhassan Dantata (Dangote’s Grandfather) opened an account depositing 20 camel-loads of silver coins.
18. Jaja Wachuku is reputed to have owned the biggest one-man library in West Africa. Balewa sometimes referred to him as “Most Bookish Minister
19. The colonization of Nigeria took more than 40 years to achieve and the territories were integrated by the use of force.
20. Yoruba is spoken as a ritual language the Santeria cult in Carribean and South-Central America.
21. Slavery existed in the Nigerian territory before the 15th century and was abolished in the 19th century- 1807 by the British.
22. At least 55 women were killed in South-East Nigeria, in 1929 when the women forced the Umuahia warrant chiefs to submit to their rule.
23. The coinage ‘Supreme Court’ was first used in 1863 by the colonial administration through the enactment of the Supreme Court Ordinance No. II.
24. MKO Abiola died suddenly on July 7, 1998, exactly one month after General Sani Abacha died mysteriously on June 8, 1998.
25. Agbani Darego was the only one to wear a maillot as opposed to a bikini during the Miss Universe contest in 2001.
26. The ‘Ankara’ material is not indigenous to Nigeria. Our indigenous textiles include the Akwete, Ukara, Aso-Oke and Adire.
27. Aloma Mukhtar is the first female lawyer from the North and went on to become the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.
28. The area known as Makoro town in Lagos was first a swamp, later sand-filled by the colonial government and served as the first bridge to the Island.
29. Esie Museum is Nigeria’s first museum, established in 1945. Once reputed to have the largest collection of soapstone images in the world.
30. Aminu Kano formed the Northern Teachers’ Association (NTA) in 1948, the first successful regional organization in the history of the North.
31. George Goldie, who played a major role in founding Nigeria, placed a curse on anyone who attempts to write his biography.
32. In 1996, John Ogbu, a Nigerian Anthropologist firmly advocated for the use of African-American Vernacular to teach in the U.S
33. Hause Language indigenous to Northern Nigeria is spoken in 11 African States. Germany, French, U.S., and British International radio stations broadcast in Hausa.
34. The surgeon who ‘killed’ Stella Obasanjo was sentenced to 1 year in prison, disqualified for 3 years and fined €120,000.
35. The word ‘asiri’ means ‘secret’ in Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe and Igarra. It also means ‘gossip’ in Igbo.
36. Igbo-Ora in Oyo State, Kodinji in India and Candido Godoi in Brazil are the towns that produce the highest number of twin births in the world.
37. Bishop Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba, in 1857 produced a reading book for the Igbo Language and a full grammar and vocabulary of NUPE in 1864.
38. The first TV broadcast in Nigeria and Tropical Africa was on October 31, 1959.
39. In 1978, a 50Kobo increase (from #1.50 to #2) in the cost of University Students’ meal per day caused the ‘Ali Must Go’ protests.
40. Albert E. Kitson discovered coal in Enugu in 1909. This discovery led to the building of Port-Harcourt town in 1912.
41. Today, only Nigeria has a larger black population than Brazil. More than 3.5 million Africans were captured, enslaved and transported to Brazil.
42. Groundnut pyramids were the invention of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata to stack bags before export.
43. In 1967, old traditional ruler, Oba Akran and A. Ademiluyi were jailed for 14 years (7 each) for stealing £504,750 (#2.5b).
44. Since 1960, Nigeria has been either ruled by an ex-lecturer/ex-teacher or military man. The only exceptions are Azikiwe and Shonekan.
45. If you visited Lagos in 1975, you could spend a day at the Presidential Suite of Federal Palace Hotel for #100, single room for #19.
46. The first aircraft to land in Nigeria landed in Kano in July 1925. A British fighter jet flew from Khartoum (present day Sudan).
47. In 1895, Koko of Nembe (now in Bayelsa) took 60 white men hostage. When the British refused his demands, more than 40 of those men were eaten.
48. The ‘Naira’ was coined by Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was serving as the Federal Commissioner of Finance.
49. Koma Hill (settlement in Adamawa where people lived and practised the killing of twins) was discovered in 1986 by a NYSC corps member.
50. The pilot (Francis Osakwe) that flew Ojukwu away from Biafra (1970) was the same pilot that flew Gowon to Uganda (last flight as Head of State).
51. In 1986, Shehu Shagari was banned from participation in politics for life. The ban has still not been lifted.
52. As the wife of the deputy Head of State (Vice President of Nigeria) in 1984, Biodun Idiagbon personally ran a small ice cream shop in Ilorin..
53. Koma Hills (Adamawa State) inhabitants when discovered were observed to engage in the practise of borrowing wives among themselves.
54. Juju, Dashiki, Yam and Okra are words in the English dictionary that originated from ethnic groups located in present day Nigeria.
55. Nigeria has more English speakers than England, and more Muslims than Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Psalm 23 in Nigerian Pidgin English

Psalm 23 in Nigerian Pidgin English, I can't stop laughing. Officially authorized version😜

1. The Lord na my shepherd, I dey kampe.

2. E make me sidon for where better dey flow yanfu yanfu. And come put me next to stream make my body thermocool.

3. E panel beat my soul come spray am white, come dey lead me dey go through express road of righteousness because of Hin name.

4. Walaii! If I waka pass where arm robber, 419 and juju people boku,come even join boko haram reach valley of the shadow of death sef, liver no go fail me. Your rod and staff nko? Na so dem dey like backbone dey comfort me. 

5. You don arrange good fufu and Amala on top table make I chop. See bad belle people dey look waa waa waa. You rub me for head with vaseline intensive lotion. My cup come be like River Niger dey troway dey go.

6. True true, better life and mercy go dey follow me till I quench. And I go tanda for God house... lailai I no go comot for wia better dey. God Almighty, Na you biko! AMEN.

Commonsense with Ben Murray Bruce

Making common sense is what he calls it, but recently Ben Murray Bruce has been more active with the media and Nigerian politics.

Both the Federal and State governments are owing workers salaries, yet we want to consume 30 Billion on cars? No way! "Pay Salary Before car" - Ben Bruce told Nigerian Government.

The President, 36 state Governors, Senators all politicians whether elected or appointed should forget about buying new cars! If you as an elected or appointed official are so desperate for a new car, then sell the old one you had.

The Presidency bought new cars last year. If the President wants new cars this year he should sell the old ones. The same applies to the 36 state Governors. If they want new cars, let them sell their old official cars and add money to it.

Cars aren't perishable products. They don't expire every year. Why should we buy expensive cars every year for officials? What is wrong if Senators use public transportation once in a while? What is wrong if they drive their own personal cars?

What is wrong if our ministers use public transportation or taxis once in a while? British Prime Minister, David Cameron uses the London Tube. Is he less of a human being than us?

So-called "big men" that cannot generate ideas. Cannot generate jobs for unemployed Nigerians, yet we all want fancy luxurious cars. Before we buy any car for anybody let us pay all Nigerian workers who are being owed salary arrears #PaySalaryBeforeCar

My name is Ben Murray Bruce and I just want to make Commonsense!

MANDELA TO NIGERIA

“YOU know I am not very happy with Nigeria. I have made that very clear on many occasions. Yes, Nigeria stood by us more than any nation, but you let yourselves down, and Africa and the black race very badly. Your leaders have no respect for their people. They believe that their personal interests are the interests of the people. They take people’s resources and turn it into personal wealth. There is a level of poverty in Nigeria that should be unacceptable. I cannot understand why Nigerians are not more angry than they are.

“What do young Nigerians think about your leaders and their country and Africa? Do you teach them history? Do you have lessons on how your past leaders stood by us and gave us large amounts of money? You know I hear from Angolans and Mozambicans and Zimbabweans how your people opened their hearts and their homes to them. I was in prison then, but we know how your leaders punished western companies who supported Apartheid.

“What about the corruption and the crimes? Your elections are like wars. Now we hear that you cannot be president in Nigeria unless you are Muslim or Christian. Some people tell me your country may break up. Please don’t let it happen.
“Let me tell you what I think you need to do. You should encourage leaders to emerge who will not confuse public office with sources of making personal wealth. Corrupt people do not make good leaders. Then you have to spend a lot of your resources for education.

“Educate children of the poor, so that they can get out of poverty. Poverty does not breed confidence. Only confident people can bring changes. Poor, uneducated people can also bring change, but it will be hijacked by the educated and the wealthy...give young Nigerians good education. Teach them the value of hard work and sacrifice, and discourage them from crimes which are destroying your image as a good people.”

(Excerpts taken from a 2007 interview with Mandela conducted by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed).

NDDC Postgraduate Overseas Scholarship 2016/17

Are you seeking for Overseas Scholarship for Nigerians? There is an offer on NDDC's official website for Postgraduate degrees, both masters and doctorate programs. It has a short window, so if you are interested, ACT NOW! You can contact me or drop a comment if you need help.

Presently, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the 2016 Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.  http://www.nddc.gov.ng/2016scholarship.html 

INTRODUCTION
As part of our Human Resource Development initiatives, NDDC is embarking on a Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship Programme to equip Niger Deltans with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the Local Content programme of the current Administration as well as compete globally in various professional fields.

The Scheme is for applicants with relevant Bachelor's/Master's Degree from recognized Universities in the following professional disciplines:
i. Engineering.
ii. Medical Sciences (M.Sc. Public Health excluded).
iii. Computer Science/Technology.
iv. Geology.
v. Geosciences.
vi. Environmental Sciences.
vii. Agriculture.
viii. Environmental or Gas/Oil Law.
ix. Project Management.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. First Degree with minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division for those wishing to undertake a Master's Degree programme and a good Master’s Degree for PhD candidates from a recognized University.
2. Applicants must have gained admission for a Post Graduate Programme in any of the listed disciplines above, in a foreign University.
3. Applicants who have already enrolled in overseas’ universities are NOT eligible to apply.
4. Guarantor's written consent of good conduct of the applicant from any of the following persons from the applicant’s community /clan.
a. Member of National Assembly
b. Chairman of the LGA
c. First Class Traditional Ruler
d. High Court Judge.
5. Persons with evidence of cult membership or criminal record shall not be considered for the award.
6. Applicants must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
7. Applicants must have a valid Admission Letter from a Foreign University.

MODE OF APPLICATION
Application must be made on-line at the Commission’s website: (www.nddc.gov.ng) with the following attachments:
a. Recent passport photograph
b. Local Government identification letter.
c. Post Graduate (PG) admission letter from Overseas University.
d. Relevant Degrees from recognized University.
e. N.Y.S.C Discharge Certificate.
Successfully completed application form will be assigned a registration number automatically. Print the hard copy of the on-line generated acknowledgement for ease of reference. All shortlisted applicants will be posted on NDDC website.

DEADLINE:
All completed applications must be submitted on or before Friday 22nd April, 2016.

Healthy without Fibroids

It is not easy dealing with Fibroids, as it hurts more than Ulcer. My late mum had fibroid  and it really was a painful ailment that she had to cope with, live with, manage and seek various sources of help. She tried them all: surgery, medical pills prescribed by her physician, to traditional herbs, but yet the pain was there. She even had to change food lifestyle, and I can remember those ginger, garlic, lime, lemon and the ones I don't know about.

Are you a lady? My advise is watch what you eat. Avoid things with high cholesterol, and reduce taking meat- both red meat and white meat. Avoid eggs, if you must take, never go above one egg a day. Be yourself and always eat like a lady.

Do more of vegetables, salad, nuts, less of fatty food and less of fries. Do some excercises, even if it be walking. Be active at using the gym, or doing a routine of exercise and have rest. Be encouraged, be positive, live a happy life and keep fit. It will make you fab and healthy.

From research, fibroids are the most frequently seen tumors of the female reproductive system, as they are also known as uterine myomas, leiomyomas, or fibromas, are firm, compact tumors that are made of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue that develop in the uterus. It is estimated that between 20 to 50 percent of women of reproductive age have fibroids. Some estimates state that up to 30 to 77 percent of women will develop Fibroids sometime during their childbearing years.

Generally, women who are approaching menopause are at the greatest risk of fibroids because of their long exposure to high levels of estrogen. According to a statistic report, 1 in 4 women in Nigeria have Fibroids between the age of 30-50 years.

The causes of Fibroids can be traced to the unhealthy lifestyle that women now live. The lifestyle we now live in this century cannot be compared with the natural lifestyles of the people of old. As I mentioned earlier, there are so many things that are bringing in a lot of estrogen (hormone influencing the growth of Fibroids) into the body systems now, like plastics, pesticides and even the foods and the processes under which we breed animals for consumption. Most of these things, including fishes, are bred artificially. So they store those hormones that we are imbibing and that is what is causing Fibroid problems.

The symptoms of fibroids are the following:

Anemia (as a result of heavy periods)
Backache
Bloating regularly
Constipation
Discomfort in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)
Frequent urination
Heavy painful periods
Pain in the legs
Painful sex
Swelling in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)

The Complications associated with fibroids are:

• Abdominal pains–Fibroids can cause swelling and discomfort in the lower abdomen. A Fibroid patient may also have a sensation of being constipated. Fibroids can also cause pain in bowel movements.
• Infertility and Repeated Miscarriages – Fibroids can cause infertility in a number of different ways. A Fibroid can cause compression on the fallopian tubes resulting in a blockage of the passage of sperm or eggs. Fibroid can also distort the pelvic anatomy sufficiently to make it difficult for the fallopian tube to capture an egg at the time of ovulation. If a fibroid extends into the uterine cavity or causes distortion of the uterine cavity, it may present a mechanical barrier to implantation. Studies suggests that Fibroids in the muscle portion of the uterus can cause an alteration or reduction of blood flow to the uterine lining making it more difficult for an implanted embryo to grow and develop. 
• Pregnancy complications – Studies have suggested an increased risk of certain problems during pregnancy in women with Fibroids, including difficulties with labor, breech presentation of the fetus, premature rupture of the “bag of waters”, and abruptionof the placenta (a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall during the pregnancy).
• Repeated Miscarriages – Fibroids can cause repeated miscarriages, as studies also suggests that even small Fibroids that grow inside of the uterine cavity may act as a foreign body and result in an inflammatory reaction that makes the uterine environment hostile for an embryo to implant, making it difficult for the woman to get pregnant. They can affect whether sperm and egg meet, they can affect whether an embryo can implant, they can affect whether a pregnancy can continue, and they can affect the growth and positioning of the baby.‎
• Menorrhagia (heavy periods/increased bleeding)– Fibroids may cause the menstrual bleeding to be heavier, or increase in the duration of bleeding or may cause bleeding in between periods. Some women may have a combination of bleeding symptoms. The presence and degree of uterine bleeding is determined mainly by the location of the fibroid. Women with Fibroids that protrude into the uterus are more likely to have significant increase in bleeding.

44 Visa-Free Countries for Nigerians

Do you like travelling? Are you a Nigerian and you are looking for somewhere to have a vacation? Do you know that there are 44 countries that nigerians don't visa for?

Alot of people have difficulty arranging a visa. Nigeria is an ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) nation. Currently, they are 15 ECOWAS nations as follows:

1. BENIN

2. BURKINA FASO

3. CABO VERDE

4. CÔTE D'IVOIRE

5. The GAMBIA

6. GHANA

7. GUINEA

8. GUINEA BISSAU

9. LIBERIA

10. MALI

11. NIGER

12. NIGERIA

13. SENEGAL

14. SIERRA LEONE

15. TOGO

The list was as at the time of publishing this write-up but please, do research the country too because some countries listed here would grant you visa upon arrival for a small fee, but basically they are all visa free for Nigerians. They 44 countries that Nigerians can go to visa free are as follows:






1. Bangladesh (Visa on arrival)
2. Barbados ( Visa free for 6 months)
3. Benin Republic ( Visa free)
4. Burkina Faso ( Visa free)
5. Burundi ( Visa on arrival for 30days)
6. Cameroon ( Visa free)
7. Cape Verde ( Visa on arrival)
8. Chad ( Visa free)
9. Comoros Island ( Visa on arrival)

10. Cote d’ivoire ( Visa free )
11. Djibouti ( Visa on arrival )
12. Dominican ( Visa free for 21 days )
13. Fiji Island ( Visa free for 4 months)
14. Gambia ( Visa free for 90days )
15. Georgia ( Visa on arrival )
16. Ghana ( Visa free )
17. Guinea ( Visa free )
18. Guinea Bissau
( Visa free for 90 days )
19. Haiti ( Visa free for 90 days )
20. Iran ( Visa on arrival )
21. Kenya ( Visa on arrival for 90 days )
22. Liberia ( Visa free )
23. Madagascar ( Visa on arrival for 90 days )
24. Maldives ( Visa on arrival for 30 days )
25. Mali ( Visa free )
26. Mauritania ( Visa on arrival )
27. Mauritius ( Visa free for 90days )
28. Micronesia ( Visa free for 30 days )
29. Mozambique ( Visa on arrival for 30 days )
30. Nauru ( Visa on arrival )
31. Niger republic ( Visa free )
32. Palau ( Visa on arrival for 30 days )
33. Samoa ( Visa on arrival for 60 days )
34. Senegal ( Visa free )
35. Seychelles (Visa on arrival for 30
days )
36. Sierra Leone ( Visa free )
37. Somalia ( Visa on arrival )
38. Sri Lanka( Electronic travel authorisation )
39.Tanzania ( Visa on arrival )
40. Timor-Leste ( Visa on arrival for 30 days )
41. Togo ( Visa free )
42. Tuvalu ( Visa on arrival for 30 days )
43. Uganda ( Visa on arrival )
44. Vanuatu ( Visa free for 30 days )