Sir: “She (Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo) is among the few left in her era, she was trained, and she trained herself.” - Mustafa Kabiru Olowolagba. The wife of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo is an epitome of grace and…

The Ogidi Day celebration, a cultural festival of Ogidi people of Kogi State has continued to draw both local and foreign participation. The cultural fiesta, which started in 2007, has become a rallying point for the people and has attracted development to their area, as well as boost the economy. Once again on June 15,…

In the pre-independence period up into the early post-independence era, Nigeria was made up of three regions – Northern, Eastern and Western Nigeria. Midwestern Region was later carved out of the Western Region. The Western Nigeria, with Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the helms, had a development ideology focused on the empowerment of the people. A…

University administrators have been charged to uphold the values, culture and principles of their institutions while embracing new technology and best practices in order to be globally competitive and be at par with their colleagues in developed countries. This formed the thrust of the workshop attended by administrators drawn from over 20 institutions in the…

Most people don’t like to think or talk about death, but for the people of the Toraja region of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, the dead are a constant part of day-to-day life. Traditionally the dead are buried or cremated within days of passing away, but the Torajan people keep the bodies of their relatives at home…

The inauguration of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the 6th civilian governor of Imo State on May 29, 2019, has thrown up many challenges for the Governor, who, however, appears prepared to, squarely, face them all. With a vision to make Imo become one of the three most developed states in Nigeria by 2025, as…

Quite a few African tribes commonly indulge in body modifications like inserting lip plates, also known as lip plug or disc. This modification is done by inserting increasingly large discs, usually circular, and made from clay or wood, into a pierced hole in either the upper or lower lip, or both. Archaeological evidence indicates that…

Founded in 2016 with a mission to promote a more positive image of Africa and Africans to the world, WISH Africa, a social enterprise in the form of media and marketing platform with focus on culture, commerce and its development in Africa will launch its inaugural expo come June 8, in London. The maiden edition will showcase the…

Usman dan Fodio was an Islamic preacher, reformer, scholar and statesman. Born December 15, 1754 in Maratta, Gobir in today’s northern Nigeria, Dan Fodio devoted his youth in pursuit of Islamic education, preaching, teaching and writing.   He lived in Gobir until 1802, when his reformist ideas ran counter with local authorities, which made him and his followers to…

With reactions still trailing the initial removal of history from Nigeria’s secondary education curriculum, as well as lack of proper knowledge of the country, the artist, Olola Olabode Ogunlana, has emphasised the need for story telling to fill the vacuum. Ogunlana, who is a folklorist and storyteller, said story telling helps to document history, as…

The Sama-Bajau are traditionally from the many islands of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, coastal areas of Mindanao, northern and eastern Borneo, the Celebes, and throughout eastern Indonesian islands. A tribe from Borneo known as the Bajau, are considered ‘sea gypsies’ for good reasons, the peaceful tribe has made a life revolving around water…

When it comes to body goals in this new era, becoming “fat” doesn’t appear on the list. However, these clans – Kalabari, Efik, Ibibio – embrace it as a culture, hence the existence of the fattening room. The fattening room is a place where young women experiencing puberty are taken to in order to be…