ENTERTAINMENT: Imagining Dragons

 TFK talks to Pete's Dragon co-stars Oakes Fegley and Oona Laurence

 

 

 

Pete, played by Oakes Fegley, ventures into the water with his dragon pal, Elliot, in the new movie Pete’s Dragon.

 Do you believe in dragons? On August 12, one of these mythical creatures lands a starring role on the big screen in Pete’s Dragon. The film brings an animated dragon, Elliot, and his human best friend, Pete, together. Shooting it took a lot of imagination for Oakes Fegley, the 11-year-old actor who plays Pete, and Oona Laurence, the 13-year-old actress who plays Natalie. She discovers Pete and Elliot in the woods. Oakes and Oona talked to TFK’s Rebecca Katzman about training for stunts, acting with green pool noodles, and their favorite types of animals.

10 natural ways to reduce wrinkles

 Wrinkles – or what some otherwise refer to as faciak foklds - are nature’s way of reminding us that we all have to get old someday. Sometimes they start to show up on our skin when we’re just 35, and sometimes they lie in wait until we’re in our fifties.

 Whenever they strike, it’s a pretty horrifying moment. You finally have to wake up to the fact that you’re not 21 anymore.

 Many of us are losing the fight against wrinkles because we’re not even trying to combat them. When we first spot a few of them on our skin, we hold our hands up and admit that we’re at last getting old.

7 tips to survive mosquitoes during the rainy season

The rainy season has resumed with full force, and if you are living in or visiting Nigeria, you may have already felt a sting or two of mosquitoe bites. Being bitten by insects such as mosquitoes can put a damper on holiday fun and potentially transmit diseases like Malaria. Most visitors have testified that the mosquitoes in the country have iron teeth and that the common commercial bug sprays which contain toxins and chemicals, do not kill them or reduce their terror and are harmful to humans.

8 reasons to love your pregnant body

“Beautiful, glowing,” they say. “Whatever,” you say. All you notice are the extra twenty pounds that are hanging out not only on your belly, but everywhere else as well.

And, you still have weeks to go. In love with your body, you’re not. Pregnancy love, sure, but the day your baby arrives and you get your body back to yourself couldn’t come sooner.

If you’re one of those mommies that just can’t enjoy the way your body looks and feels during pregnancy, here are a few reasons you should love your pregnant body.

Weird stress signs most Nigerians Ignore

Thanks to the economic state of the nation, citizens of Nigeria have doubled their hustle and as such, many are under a lot of strain and suffer great stress. Unfortunately, not every one of us can tell when our body is crying out for help as sometimes, the symptoms exhibited by the body can be very subtle.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Coconuts

 

Today, the coconut is making a huge comeback as the new miracle food. Coconuts are highly nutritious, rich in fiber, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

From culinary creations to magic beauty potions, coconuts pack a good punch.

Top 3 ways to treat neck, back pain on long trips

Nobody enjoys a long road trip, especially when traveling alone or for business. Aside from the boredom that you will have to deal with in the long run, the neck or back pain which ensues can make it all the more stressful and take away any possible delight.

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF ONION JUICE

Onions are definitely not a vegetable you initially associate with juice. Don’t get me wrong, onions have always been one of my must-have toppings on salads and sandwiches but when I first heard of onion juice I cringed a little. Just imagine the bite you must feel in the back of your throat when swigging down a cold glass of onion juice! I was more than a bit sceptical.

While extensive research has not yet been done on onion juice specifically, plenty of people claim onions have some amazing properties that are worth sharing with you.

Habits for healthy living

We need to be healthy and sound, filled with abundant energy, sound sleep, disease free body and fit. Good health is of prime importance to every individual as it gives us sense of overall well being.

 

In order to be fit and healthy we need to practice healthy living styles with proper food habits and exercise. We cannot be healthy if we are lazy and lethargic. We need to work hard both physically and mentally to be fit and healthy.

5 health benefits of eating bitter leaf

 

Studies conducted by various institute have concluded that incorporating bitter leaf into your routine diet could reduce risk factors for such health conditions as breast cancer and type II diabetes.

 African cuisine to contain bitter leaf as an ingredient is normal. Even though it is called bitter, the taste has a mild flavour as there is several health benefits perform by bitter leaf for many people around the globe who consume it regularly.  

Problems and Prospects of Islamic Banking in Nigeria

 Islamic banking is very common in Arab countries and in the Northern states of Nigeria but it originated from Pakistan and Egypt. Islamic banking and other forms of banking are of related purpose except that it operates using Sharia rules known as Figh al-Muamalat (rules for Islamic transactions). Notable concepts in Islamic banking are safekeeping (Wadiah), joint venture (Musharakah), cost plus (Mubarahah), leasing (Ijarah), profit sharing (Mudharabah).

10 WAYS TO REALLY CONNECT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

People are using the internet to connect to information, but more importantly, to connect with people. And yet so many people seem totally confused and overwhelmed about the right way to connect through social media channels.

CHRISTIANITY: A WAY OF LIFE OR BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

By Iloh Mmesoma

Christianity is one of the most wildly recognized religions in the world, characterized with unconditional love and self contentment deriving its roots from the model of the faith, Jesus Christ. The origin of Christianity can be traced to the early church consisting of people who were dedicated to communal living and displayed Christ-like characterization. They lived together in one accord and even sold their possessions to satisfy the societal needs of all.

 All over the world Christianity has about 2.4 billion followers and has been described as the second world’s fastest growing religion.

SHARO FESTIVAL: CULTURE OR TORTURE

 

By Iloh Mmesoma

Nigeria is a country encapsulating diverse cultures and traditions dating as far back as the pre colonial era. These cultures come in variants and are strongly attached to ones tribe, ethnicity or race.

The Sharo festival is however one of the rarely spoken culture in Nigeria. It is also referred to as Shadi and is celebrated among the Jafun Fulani. Not all Fulani nomadic groups observe this ceremony or insist on it before a young man may marry. For some it is merrily a sport, indulged in for its own sake.

APC, Buhari treading a perilous path

By Oladele Oguntimehin

To many, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari have achieved different feet. Some are of the opinion that the president has not really lived up to the expectations of the nation rather have engaged in a one sided anti-corruption campaign.

The campaign which seems to focus on their predecessor allies (People Democratic Party) have created a gravity of imbalance, plummeted economy and planting seed of both social and political conflict.

Leicester sign Poland winger Bartosz Kapustka

Premier League champions Leicester City signed teenage winger Bartosz Kapustka from Polish club Cracovia for a reported £7.5 million on Wednesday.

Kapustka agreed a five-year contract with Leicester after catching the eye of Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri with his international performances for Poland over the last year.

Man city signs Leroy sane for £37m

Germany midfielder Leroy Sane has completed his move to Manchester City for a fee of £37m plus add-ons which could rise to £42m.

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract after leaving Schalke.

City manager Pep Guardiola said: “He is a special talent and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching.”

Snails Use Just Two Brain Cells To Make Decisions

 

Snails' brains shut down until they found food, researchers learned

 Scientists have discovered that snails solve complex decisions using just two brain cells, in a discovery that could help engineers develop energy efficient robots.

 By attaching electrodes to the brain circuitry of freshwater snails that were on the hunt for food, researchers learned the molluscs used only two neurons when they found a tasty lettuce.

WHY IT IS SO HARD TO GENERATE REVENUE IN NIGERIA

In the last few months, the story that many of our states are unviable and therefore unable to meet basic needs of their people such as payment of workers’ salaries has taken a firm root in everyone’s sub-consciousness.

The reason for it is not only because it true but more because it has been repeatedly said even at the highest quarters. There is the hypothesis that states are unable to generate revenue because our people don’t like to pay taxes.

How To Break Up With Someone You Love

Three Parts: Getting Yourself Ready, Breaking the News and Moving on After the Break Up

Sometimes you reach a point in a relationship at which you realize that you love the person you're with, but that you're no longer in love with them. While there's no right way to break up with someone, there are definitely certain things you can do (and not do) to make things easier for both parties.

  PART ONE: Getting Yourself Ready

1.       Be sure that you really want to permanently end the relationship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MYSTERY BEHIND DREADLOCKS

 

By Iloh Mmesoma

 Dreadlock popularly known as “Dada” in Nigeria has however brought about conflict of ideas overtime due to diversifications in opinions, views, religions and culture of several people in its regards. Dreadlocks today is rocked by almost everyone contrary to the original superstitious and fetish belief attached to it.

HOW TO QUIT YOUR JOB

 

Help with how to quit your job. You have decided to move on and want to resign from your job. Follow the resignation guidelines to resign in a diplomatic and professional manner. Use the free sample resignation letters to make sure that the process of leaving your job is properly and smoothly managed.

Online Payment in Nigeria: Is it really Safe and Secure?

Nigeria is witnessing a new standard in banking and online marketing with virtually all banks in Nigeria making online transaction easily assessable for their clients. The service open door for online purchase (airtime, goods and services) via your bank ATM card, be it MasterCard, verve or visa card.

Electronic Banking in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

 

 

by Iloh Mmesoma

It is an unequivocal fact that on daily basis the world experiences new inventions, innovative ideas and technological advancement and these inventions spread across various continents of the world including Africa.

Electronic Banking today is one out of the thousands of technologically advancement paving ways in Africa especially Nigeria. It has made banking easier and as a matter of fact created mobile service for bank users. Electronic Banking is however a critical variable with national standard improving capacities and posses several advantages:

ADVANTAGES

·        Expenditure monitoring: the advent of electronic banking has helped immensely in the aspect of expenditure monitoring in regards to customer monetary consumption. This however improves prudence and adequate recording capabilities of the customer in other to know where to draw the line in regards to spending. Spending rates previously unrecorded by customers can now been recorded through electronic banking. It is also evident to know that some banking application go extra miles to give diagrammatic representation of how expenditure was made at a particular period of time.

 

·        It is economizing : considering the fact that on daily basis people spend large amount of money purchasing fuel (even at unstable price rates) for their vehicles and jumping from one bus to another shows that electronic banking is however a more prudent means of money transaction. The money supposed to run those transportation expenses if saved will be of positive value to the customer.

 

·        Barrier of Location: electronic banking has however assisted to curb the dependence of customers of certain locations of banks in other to engage in their transactions. One can cross his legs at home and make transfer and reception of huge amount of money even without stepping his foot at a bank next door or waking up early in other to avoid overcrowding at the bank. Electronic banking by this undoubtedly reduces congestion at bank locations.

 

·        Time saving: Electronic banking saves the time of both the customer and the time of the banking officials. Hours spent engaging in rigorous and stressful transaction processes at the bank can be saved and used for something meaningful and beneficial. Thus, electronic banking has the tendency to encourage multitasking which is a positive working variable.  

·        Efficient International transaction systems: Electronic banking has however made the world a global village. Through electronic banking, transaction can be made between people living in Nigeria and other foreign counterparts at the twinkle of an eye without the stress of going to the bank and standing on long queues before being attended to. Also, in the aspect of trade, through electronic banking you can pay for products purchased in other countries thus making Nigeria rub shoulders with other countries in global market participation.

 

·        Relief Industrial: through the advent of electronic banking organizations and industries no longer need to stress themselves getting business associates money to the bank. Just by clicking few buttons on the computer or electronic gadgets huge amount of money can be received and transferred between organization and other organization or organization and employees. This method has enabled banks to minimize the cost of labor and the cost of supply by making the customers to handle certain transactions by themselves instead of the banking officials handling it. This is an industrial benefit for banks in Nigeria.

 

·        Mobility: Electronic banking has helped to make banking at ones finger tips. Customers can receive alerts; make transaction local, national and international at the shortest time. This however has curbed the rigidity associated with manual banking.

DISADVANTAGE

 

Although electronic banking can be said to be a positive development as far as Nigeria is concern, it also has its own loop holes which if critically examined will lead to utmost technological and National growth.

 

·        Fraud: This is however a termite that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the electronic sector. People now pose who they are not to withdraw other people’s money while some others hack into people’s account and transfer their money to their own account without the owner’s consent.

 

·        Hackers: Banks now suffer the risks of being attacked by internet hackers who withdraw bank owned money for their own personal use and in turn put the innocent ones put in charge of overseeing the money at the risk of losing their jobs.

 

·        Unemployment: electronic banking has made human labour less and thus has reduced employment because the bank authorities believe that if the computers can and customers can do the transactions on their own then there is no need to employ staffs to do such work. This however consciously and subconsciously reduces employment

 

·        Poor internet connection: This is another disadvantage of electronic banking, a developing country such as Nigeria is faced with the problem of poor internet connection which is actually the power house of any electronic banking activity and so in a case where the internet connection is poor there is bound to be transaction failures and sometimes in case of money transfer one can get debit alert without the receiver confirming the transaction. 

 

 

SOLUTIONS

 

·        Quality Internet security Service: This is however one of the areas which Nigeria’s electronic service is facing a setback. If there can be good and quality internet security service then there is a certainty of having more electronic banking users. Those in charge of the security aspect should try to pull resources together to see that a strong security electronic banking system is put in place.

 

·        Anti-hack systems: Introduction and implementation of anti hack systems to Nigerian Banks will go a long way to improving electronic banking system in the country. Proper alert system should also be attached to accounts of customers in case of illegal or unauthorised access.

 

·        Apprehended fraudsters should also be made to face the law in other to discourage others in the business or who harbor the thought of venturing into it. If adequate punishment is meted out to deviants then electronic banking has a higher possibility of being embraced by many.

 

·         Public enlightenment: The Nigerian public needs to open their eyes to the activities of fraudsters. Banks should notify their customers to take necessary precautions. The government should also create more awareness on the techniques used by fraudsters. This can be done by making use of the radio and television. This will keep Nigerians at an alert.

 

·        Recruitment of Qualitative Staffs: In recruiting and employing staffs to occupy such sensitive positions such as internet banking, credible and loyal individuals should man the position in other to avoid leaking official secrets or siphoning of funds belonging to individuals and organization.  Also, selection should be made based of qualification and not favouritism in other to achieve positive output.

 

Banning Street Trading in Lagos: Issue at Stake

The Lagos state implementation of Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition law in Lagos came as a shock to many as it takes effect on 1^st of July 2016, however the government  has not properly spelt out what “Street trading” clearly means.

Some set of trader will stop whereas they do not fall under the category of street traders, while some people will get arrested out of sheer ignorance. The Lagos State Government should address this issue on time.

An article written by Reuben Abati pointed out only seller of edible items like ‘gala’, biscuits and drinks as those affected by the law but some seller with a small kiosk in their street stated that they wanted to be sure whether they are included before opening their shops.

In situation involving life and survival, Nigeria is a country that has serious misinterpretation issues which should be properly communicated to the public so that everyone can have firsthand knowledge of the situation.

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, in his act showed that he indeed cared about the lives of Lagosians; however the decision was quite sudden and filled up with many future consequences.

Street trading most especially traffic Hawking is one of the most functional markets in Nigeria and a source of living for over hundreds of Lagosians with an average age of  12 to 30 years. Many of them only have their primary school certificate but go into hawking as a result of poverty and condition.

Hawking is not something everyone will love to do most especially when little boys and girls below the age of 15 are involved because of the stress and hardship involved. As bus driver are not considerate enough to wait for the transactions to be completed and Nigerians have the “goods and change before I give you money” mentality the young hawkers will be helpless and just have to run daringly after the buses at the risk of their health and life’s just to survive.

Meantime, street traders are sometimes responsible for damaged roads, robbery and destroy the driving force for kids to go to school. Uneducated parents introduce their children and other children into this trade and any prospects for their education might be destroyed.

Street trading has its importance as it provides easy access to food for motorists and travellers. These days, you can even get virtually everything you need on the road. They have also being able to indirectly reduce accidents on the roads as their presence will make drivers to control their over speeding and stay alert.

Street traders deserve a better life and should be help by government by taking them off the street to another better occupation so that you do not take food out of a man’s mouth when you do not have an alternative for him.

These men and women chase after speeding cars and buses and are no doubt ‘able bodied’, and fall within the most youthful age range. If these people turn to the dark side all at once we can’t start to imagine the results.

“Street trading should be scrapped”, is something that is good to do but it should be done gradually and strategically.

Gun battle rages as militants engage police, soldiers in Igando

 

 

Militants in the early hours of Tuesday morning attacked habitants in Igando area, South West of Lagos State. The attack was said to have escalated into a gun battle between the militants, the police and army.

It was however gathered that the militants invaded Ewedogbo community in Igando area of Lagos terrorizing residents, and engaged the military in an intensive gun battle.

A resident, who craved anonymity, said that as at 1:00pm on Tuesday sporadic gunshots was heard in the community, the police and soldier moved in to try to salvage the situation while the streets were deserted.

A Rapid Response Squad, RRS, disclosed that the police were shielded inside an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, as they approached the retreating militants who engaged them in shootout around Imose and Totowu waterside.

It was recorded that a resident at Ewedogbo community had sent a Save Our Soul, SOS, message to the police and the state government to quickly act as the militants were killing people.

“Please help us call emergency line right now, Ewedogbo area of Igando, LASU Road is on war, Niger Delta militant are killing people right now, no one can call or go out, I am an eye witness, please, help us spread the information,” he said in an urgent whatsapp message around 8.00am on Tuesday.

A top police officer, who craved anonymity, said the police were aware of the invasion, saying that policemen had been drafted to the area to protect lives and properties.

He added that an Armoured Personnel Carrier, had been stationed in the area, as the police were on top of the situation, but could not confirm if there were casualties.

Nigeria’s problem: who is to blame?

By Oladele Oguntimehin

Nigeria is faced with so many challenges from various segment of the society. Nevertheless, it is difficult to point out the sole orchestrator of all these, ranging from high rate of unemployment, uneven distribution of income and wealth, epileptic power supply, insecurity, abject poverty, social and political unconsciousness, high illiteracy rate, poor healthcare services, inadequate housing, ethnic crisis, unstable economy and more recently, renewed agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra and the resurgent militancy attack on oil installations in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

However, no one seems to be accepting the blame for all these retarding problems the nation has been grappling with for decades now. The man in the street will blame the government; those in government blame the previous administrations, just like the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is blaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for our nation’s woes, and the previous administration blaming the government in power for jettisoning their great legacies and unimplemented programmes. But of course, no new government would like to implement the unfinished programmes of their predecessors; instead they would start their own fresh projects all in the name of implementing their campaign promises.

The impact of those occupying one political office or the other to some extent has not been felt by the wider collection of Nigerians who are at the receiving end of every government policy and programme. Political analysts are of the view that the vision of our founding fathers is being blurred by the present crop of politicians in this past decade.

Take for instance during the military in 1995, Nigeria recorded its lowest ever unemployment rate with just 1.9 percent of the country's population are unemployed and this is about 2.1 million out of about 111 million of the total population. Nigeria's trend of unemployment in the year 1999 is something to worry about as it record about 22 million of the country's total population unemployed in 1999 and dropped down to 16 million the following year 2000.

Since 2007 till date, Nigeria unemployment trend has increased as the population size increases with the latest recording about 12.1 percent in March quarter of 2016. By implication it means if Nigeria's population is 140 million, then 50 percent of Nigerians are unemployed.

The present leaders and politicians have failed to emulate what was done by the founding leader then to reduce unemployment and other related problems like power generation and distribution,  as a result of  Poor economic growth rate  in terms of  high level of corruption, mismanagement of public funds, harsh economic policies and the insecurity of the Nigerian environment coupled with long term despotic rule of the military among other factors have dampened the spirit of economic growth for a long time.

The politician and leaders of Nigeria neglect agricultural sector which has been the leading provider of employment in Nigeria especially in the sixties and in the seventies when the sector provided employment for more than 60 percent of the Nigerian population, at the wake of oil discovery. The attention on this anchor of the economy was gradually drawn away to the oil sector where employment capacity is very low. The resulting effect is the large number of job seekers who have no place in the oil industry even with the expansion of the industry unemployment has continued to grow at an alarming rate.

The problems of Nigeria has increase immeasurable as security has grown more weaken over the year forcing foreign investor to leave the country which as result greatly in the unemployment and poverty level among the people, nevertheless the leader are not applying the right tactic in solving these rather engage in endless dialogue which as not being able to solve the problem instead we have increment in militant attack.

It is believed that most of the developmental deficiencies currently being experienced across the country is as a result of bad administration and mismanagement of public funds by political office holders who seek for their own interest and not that of the people. They engage in diverting, laundering and looting of the national treasury for their inordinate use, abandoning the poor and helpless masses to wander in poverty in neglect.

Politicians during electioneering tend to play up the insanity of ethnic differences in order to accumulate the votes needed to make them victorious, thereby breeding ethnic hatred which has been identified as one of the root cause of our present disunity.

History has it that ethnic hatred was first caused by the Nigeria–Biafra Civil War of 1967 to 1970 and has being affecting every segment of the country in terms of economic and political development as disunity is disincentive to national development.
Unfortunately, the past military and civilian leaders to present have failed to entrench national cohesion and unity in Nigeria who are still slaves to ethnic sentiment. Rather than condemning it, politicians have taken advantage of it to achieve their individual desire and goals.

Clerics blame their religious faithful, religious faithful blame their clerics for allowing themselves to be used as political tools. Youths blame the older generation, as the elders   blame the youths, People point hand to others’ ethnic group, Opposition blame the ruling party, Illiterates blame the elites, and elites blame illiteracy/illiterates.
We are all caught in the ‘shift the blame game’. No one seems to be responsible for the nation’s woe but the fact is that we absolve ourselves of any culpability.

The people are not being passionate enough as they ought to be in the fields they find themselves. Nigerians are recorded, according to some, as the most educated world over, meaning we have Scientists, Engineers and well educated people in various sector but the question is how many of them are applying their skills and actually willing to educate themselves beyond college so they can achieve even more? How passionate are they in the field they are in?  .

How good is it having a doctor who does not really care to update his skill set to compete with the rest of the world but is more concerned about how much profit his retail stores are bringing in for him at the end of the week/month. So the people need to address the aspect in order to be free and solve part of the quagmires.
Until Nigerians realise that our collective actions and inactions brought us where we are, until we all take collective responsibility for the failure of our country, only then can we make effort at making the changes we so much desire and charter a way forward.

These changes would only be achieved when we start revolting against our corrupt thoughts, homes, offices and society at large.