I am clocking 23 soon and at times I just want to go back to being a child again. I want to go back to the worry free life, no pressure, no responsibilities, just food! play! sleep! and food again. Is that too much to ask? Childhood play was not a ” class” thing, may be a little different from how the game goes in various areas but we all had a good time then. It was all shades of awesome, annoying because of some parent and purely insane. From the street football in the rain, suwee, tinko tinko, ten ten, etc.
Kids playing who is in the garden game
Did you do mommy and daddy, then cooked rice with sand and use small stones as meat, leemao. I was always doing daughter because I was very tiny then. We were just too smart because I wonder why we assumed the tiny person should be a child and the taller ones were mommy and daddy. Did you build a house with your leg and the sand at the beach? These days child’s play are now mostly online such X-box, PlayStation, etc. Aside from being fun, the games built social interaction, physical team coordination and even helped in strategic thinking at times.
Kids seen playing SuweeThe Ten Ten game
Some of these games were played alongside our parents, we use to play After Round One with our mommy, she also use to help us hide during boju boju. The more the number of participants, the more interesting and exciting the game gets. Rolling tyre in the mud, skipping rope, I call on, Bread and butter, who is in the garden, police and thief, etc.
Children playing After Round OneThe bread and butter gameRolling Tyre in the mud
It was more fun in the streets than playing indoors with your siblings alone, more fun in the streets than playing in the estate. Street play was everything, you get to meet different peers and even make more friends, at times, we form groups and even have a leader. very funny. But you see, there’s a Yoruba adage that says “Ogun omode ko le sere fun ogun odun”, meaning ” 20 Friends cannot play together for 20 years straight “. How many of those friends am I still in contact with now? very few, sadly! Do you have a close friend of over 20 years today? Its just life and we just have to keep moving, right? My favorite game then, was Ten ten and boju boju. Which was your favorite?
Creative kids doing their constructionPlaying which team is more powerful
Childhood, no doubt was an amazing experience. Tell me about yours in the comment section!
Business, business, business, choking everywhere. Facebook, twitter, whatsapp, instagram, even on LinkedIn. There’s online vendors everywhere, graduates, undergraduates, doctors, lawyers, librarians, accountants, etc. Literally on everybody’s whatsapp status now, there’s about 2-3(If not more) people selling something. Some started by choice and passion, some due to unemployment, some due to influence, some due to “wanna be CEO” everybody with their “behind the story”.
You see its absolutely fine if you do not want to do business or be an entrepreneur, there’s no compulsion in it. Just find your path and work towards it. Entrepreneurship is an amazing journey, doing business is good but requires a lot of hard work and consistency. My mom is a nurse and has never done business before. Recently, she was saying she could’ve opened a pharmacy a long time ago. She was pissed at herself that her friends that had that initiative are doing great now and are not working under anyone anymore. You see, that’s her major reason for wanting a business now. Anyways, I cheered her on and told her it’s not too late. Go get it mommy! 👍👍
My cousin Hasmau, during the corona&lockdown in 2020 started a popcorn business which at the beginning was good, she use to buy a bag of maize then for #9000. It was like that for about two months and she made her profit. Gained her machine and generator capital back at least. All of a sudden, bag of maize increased to 11k, not only that, butter increased, milk increased, and oil too. All of that resulted to her reducing the size of her popcorn. 😂 😂 Lagosians that prefer quantity. Her customer base reduced drastically. There was non-stop complaints about the quantity. She managed to finish that bag of maize but made little profit. As a business enthusiast that she is, she went to the market to buy another bag of corn and boom! Corn was now 14k!!!!!She was discouraged, she came back home sad. She calculated that if she should buy that 14k corn and every other ingredients like that, she won’t only not make gain but also loose. Therefore, she stopped the Business. Sold her machine and generator. Told you she loves business. Her daddy told her to go and start her masters degree. My sister has written exam but she’s praying Unilag won’t grant her admission. She’s determined to do business, she has recently started mini importation. She said: You see this business, we go do am together,na personwey give up fuck up. 😂 I wish you the very best Sister!
Morenkeji on the other hand, has always been struggling with her business. She has been into mini importation for over two years now. Struggling but consistent about it. She has never for once stopped, even though she complains about shipping fee being too high here in Nigeria. But she’s still in the game keeping her head up. One unique quality from her is her Consistency.
Well, like I said in the second paragraph. It is okay not to want to do business. I never wanted to do business in my early life at all. I just want to graduate and work in the corporate world and invest in real estate /agriculture. The “start small business” was never in my thoughts. Have always dreamt of that work in the corporate world for a while, gather up capital and open up a massive supermarket. 😂 It doesn’t work like that all the time. I have come to realize that starting small is great, and not a bad idea at all. If you have an idea, start small and be consistent.
Because I can relate well with Lagos, I tend to use it a lot. Some people are just going out everyday and comes back with nothing, some with little, some it’s a daily bread thing( A lot of Lagos business owners were affected during the lock down, you know why? They don’t have savings, not shaming them, it’s just their business. They don’t get to save, there’s no much gain in what they are selling, there’s hoodlums collecting “Owo Ile” from how much?) It’s hard. Likewise, in this same Lagos. You will see rich and fast selling business owners. Go and ask them, they didn’t accumulate the wealth in a day. Some have been in the business for 20years upward.
Conclusion
If you want or are passionate about business. Do it, start now, source for capital and start small. If you don’t have the passion or interest at all. Please don’t do it, find your path and follow your career. If you have a business, work on your digital marketing, try facebook ads, whatsapp, twitter ads and Instagram. Be aggressive with your marketing. Business isn’t for everyone!
This is a very personal blog and I’m sure a lot of people can relate. Literally, everyone has a story about employment, job search, networking, the fake interviews, etc. Firstly, as a Nigerian from an average family and lets say your parents do not own a running company, Nigeria is already ahead of you. That’s 1-0 (Nigeria is leading). Searching for job in Nigeria is a big deal, honestly. But, don’t give up sweetheart. Never Give Up, your victory is right around the corner.
On the blog today, I’ll be sharing few experience from my friends and myself. I am taking you on a short journey which you can as well drive along in your head as you read and relate. According to my friend, Mayowa who’s now working in a reputable organization after multiple struggles. Mayowa graduated in 2016 plus NYSC with a good grade, in fact. Right after NYSC, the struggle began. Man didn’t even bother resting at home, he did online applications and even did Walk ins( He said, this was a bad idea because, he always had to drop his CV with the Gate man or whenever he gets lucky to enter the company he gets to submit to the Secretary and that surely won’t get anywhere). In the middle of all of this comes family pressure, peer pressure, and it all affected his mental strength, demoralized him as well. He said for weeks, you might not get any test nor interview invite which makes you doubt yourself and ask what are you not doing right. Mayowa eventually, got his first job towards the end of 2017, even though it was an Ad-hoc job which was supposed to last for 3 months with promises that some of them will be converted to staff at the end of the programme. Guess their pay?! Forty Thousand Naira!!! For someone who spends Six Hundred Naira on transportation daily without feeding. Sad Right? But, I’m telling you, there are people collecting lesser in Lagos, Nigeria. Good for Mayowa, after the three months contract job, he got two jobs (just a bit better than the contract salary) between that 2017 – early 2019 before his official breakthrough in December 2019 and all he has to say was that he never stopped applying. Congratulations Mayowa.
My other friend, Yissau who finished his Nysc in 2019. He said, it was in the bus from Jos to Lagos that everything dawned on him that reality has just begun. The hassle of applying to different job sites alone wasn’t easy. He said he spent 6 months on job search, such a lucky guy, I must say. But during the 6 months, how was he feeling? what kind of thoughts came to his mind? He said the constant rejections, and the series of we will get back to you broke him. At the end of our conversation, he said he’s quite happy he’s no more in that struggle and he hopes every other job seekers out there get their dream jobs ASAP.
Moving down to my personal brief story, finished Nysc in 2020. I for sure have been applying for entry level jobs before the end of Nysc. Got a job in November 2020 as an Executive Assistant on a 50k pay. Transportation to Lekki alone covers about 20k. I actually was just going because I was learning a lot from the firm but it really wasn’t convenient at all. I stopped at the end of February 2021 and honestly job search has not been easy. Is it the the online test, Gmat that was never mentioned to us in the University or the critical and numerical thinking tests. Good companies like the Big 4, Flutterwave, Banks, etc, all now writes series of test for what? because applicants are too much!! Or the silly 40k, 50k, offers with so much responsibilities, or the fake interviews, the GNlD disguisers. I am still very much open to opportunities, using my time to practice the Gmat, and that’s my candid advise to every job seekers out there. Please plan ahead if you want to land in a good company. They won’t come to you on a platter of gold, you have to work harder. Below is a list of 15 fake interview addresses/scam companies in Nigeria.
Plot 5, Voda Paint plc, University Press House, Fumec Bus stop off Adeniyi Jones Ogba lagos
3rd floor, 8 Thomas Salako Street, Ogba Bus Stop, Ikeja Lagos
65c Opebi Road, Opposite glass house by salvation Bus stop, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos
HYINSCO Office. No. 4, 2nd floor, upward sanitas outlet, Alara sStreet, off commercial avenue, Onike, Sabo Yaba, Lagos
4B, Ogungbeye street Oppt African Shrine by Cadbury bus stop, Agidingbi Ikeja, Lagos
Plot 5, university press building, along industrial road, Ogba, Lagos
No 4, Ahl Ogungbeye Street off Amaraolu road, Opp Mega chicken bus stop by first gate, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.
32, Olufemi Road, off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere Lagos, YDNJI
It’s no surprise she’s this amazing and brilliant. Guys! She’s the first child of two professors. 😱 She graduated from Covenant University with a First Class Degree. Launched Push CV alongside Somto Ifezue and Joshua Chibueze. Few years later, the Trio launched Piggyvest. Wow, right? ☺
Odunayo Eweniyi is Co-founder and COO of PiggyVest. She previously cofounded pushcv.com, one of the largest job sites in Africa with the largest database of pre- screened candidates. She was named one of Forbes Africa 30 under 30 Technology in 2019 and one of 30 Quartz Africa Innovators 2019. Do you know that growing up for her. She wanted to be a doctor.
Awards And Recognitions
Future award Africa price in Technology 2018
Forbes Africa Technology under 30, 2019
30 Quartz Africa innovators
Forbes Africa’s list of 20 New Wealth Creators in Africa 2019
She was listed on Time 100 next 2021 for her joint contributions during the End SARS protests of October 2020.
Our very own father of Literature. Literally every Nigerian secondary school literature Student’s Role Model. He was part of my list of Role models then 😂. Haven’t even read any of his book then but I just love him, probably because of the full grey Afro, maybe.
Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka AKA Wole Soyinka: First Sub-saharan African to be awarded a Nobel Prize In Literature in 1986. An amazing Yoruba born man, who also, took an active role in Nigeria’s political history and its struggle for independence from the British.
His Forest House In Abeokuta
Located far away behind a think forest, that from the road you will never imagine there’s a house at the end. The area is known as Ijegba background, one side of the main building stood on pillars, and it led to an adjourning building by the rear. His neighbors were animals and birds, no nearby building. Weird right?
The interior of the residence is laden with an array of ancient pieces of art collected by Soyinka over the course of his years, and some gifted. The main building has an amphitheater for drama rehearsals and performances, shooting range that provides a bird’s eye view of a section of the path that leads to the house, hidden reading rooms, a lot of reading spaces and a special prayer room for Christians, Muslims and traditionalists – to Soyinka, there is room for all religions to co-exist.
We won Grammy!! Yes! 14th of March 2021 was a dream come true for Nigeria’s Music Industry and Nigerians at large. Grammy is an award presented by the Recording Academy to basically recognize achievement in the Music Industry. In a simpler tone, the Grammy is the biggest, and most recognized Award for the Music Industry in the world. That is to say every single artist pray and hope to at least get nominated for the Grammy’s one year. A Nigerian Afrobeat Artist “9ice” mentioned in a line ” Don’t doubt me, I go bring home Grammy”– Street Credibility. That’s to explain the extent to which every artist would love to own a Grammy.
Fela Anikulapo’s Contribution.
Born into a prominent Yoruba family. Baba was known for his talent, and his involvement in African Politics. It won’t be proper not to mention impact and importance of Fela’s achievement to the global musical platform. He was the founder of Afrobeat Genre. Did you know that Queen Beyonce and her band paid tribute to the legendary by performing a rendition of the Afrobeat legend’s classic 1976 track, ‘Zombie.’ That’s how big he has and still is influencing the Music Industry even after his death.
2face, Dbanj, And Psquare
Dbanj has won various Awards including BET, MTV, EMA, etc. He is best known internationally for his 2012 hit “Oliver Twist” evergreen hit, I must say. Along with his great producer Don Jazzy. Oliver Twist topped the African charts in 2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles chart in 2012 reaching No. 2 on the UK R&B chart.
2face is one of the most celebrated and successful Afro pop artists in Africa. 2Baba is the first winner of MTV Europe, Best African Act Award in 2015. He had his international recognition in 2006 on his hit “African Queen”. He is considered Africa’s most bankable artist and is the only non-Liberian to land in the Liberian music society for his contributions to African music.
Psquare music was basically in pidgin English with mixture of their native Igbo Language. By their fourth album, they had conquered Nigeria and were well known all over West Africa. They gained international partnerships – including a record deal with Akon’s ‘Konvict music‘, and a distribution deal with Universal Music’s South African branch – recorded chart topping hits with artists like TI, & Rick Ross, performed alongside powerhouses like Usher. I miss the duo so much. Let us know if you do too in the comment section. ☺
We can’t discuss the whole journey in just one article because there’s a lot to talk about honestly, drop your gist and opinions on the comment section guys. Moving on…
Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, And Yemi Alade
Yemi Alade AKA Mama Africa. Her hit song ‘Johnny’ made her the first African female Afropop artist to smash 56 million views on YouTube. Her debut album sold over 100,000 units and was followed by 2016’s ‘Mama Africa’ which charted in Germany, Malaysia and France, as well as being a major hit across Africa.
Tiwa Savage
Undeniably the Afrobeat Queen who in November 2018, became the first woman to win the ‘Best African Act’ at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards. She has toured the world as a vocalist for renowned artists like Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan or Spice Girls. In 2019 she had an exclusive global recording agreement with the Universal Music Group.
Davido
Absolutely one of those putting the Nigeria’s Music Industry on the international map. Born in riches and very hardworking at the same time. Over 20 international collaborations with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Akon, Popcaan, Meek Mill, etc.
Wizkid
Starboy was the first African Artist to own 7 Billboard Nominations in 2017. Wizkid is the first African to not only perform but also sell out London’s most iconic venue, Royal Albert Hall. He is also the first Afro-pop artiste to appear in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is as a result of his contribution to Drake’s smash hit, ‘One Dance’, which topped several charts worldwide. Finally, his first ever Grammy Award, for the Best Music Video’ for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Beyonce’s 2019 hit song.
Burna Boy
2021, definitely the Outsider’s Year! Cheeiiiiii 😂 Burna Boy won the most anticipated Grammy award in the ‘Best Global Album’ category for his ‘TWICE AS TALL’ album. Nominated for the second consecutive time. Not to forget that he also won the Best International Act Category at the 2020 BET.
Omitted a lot of accomplishments from these amazing Artist, they’ve done more than I mentioned but we’ll continue that some other day. I love them, love their work, love how they are influencing other upcoming stars and can’t wait to see them do more. I am fan of all! Let me how you feel in the comment section. Cheers!!
Unarguably Respect and Culture are definitely something that you can’t take out from Africans. Those two attribute are very significant to various tribes in Africa. Despite the development, technology advancement, modernity, there are some African customs and traditions that are weird, strange, unusual and you probably didn’t know existed. On 360gistswithayoka today, we’ll be discussing 2 absolutely odd cultural practices in Africa:
1. The Powerful Healing Dance of the San, Southern Africa
How can people believe dancing in a particular way can heal an illness or even heal a negative habit of anybody? What a belief! Unbelievable right? It’s actually believable because it is the religion of the San people from South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Formerly known as Bushmen. This particular dance is considered to be Sacred Dance. The have leaders called Healers/Elders.
How do they do the dance? The whole community gather around the fire, while the healers dance and make chants till they are granted access to the spirit world. The San people have no other religion, the dance practice is their major religion belief and they still practice it till date. If the dance really could cure illness as they believed, why are we still fighting COVID19 after a year!? Poco lee and Kaffydance could’ve danced Nigeria’s COVID19 way out by now!
2. The Wodaabe Courtship Dance
This is actually a funny one, please take a laugh while you read. Men dressing up, using make up, display, only for women to pick them as husbands. The Fulani’s are known for not settling in a particular place, they are also known for different cultural practices as well. They are found in Chad, Nigeria, Senegal, Niger and Sudan. The Wodaabe Tribe is even a sub-group in the Fulani Tribe, the tribe name is said to mean “People of Taboo”.
So basically there’s an Annual Ritual competition that young men gets to dress up, paint face, gather up in line and dance to get attention of the young women who are eligible for marriage. Also, it’s not just about that, an ideal fine man in this tribe is the one with the bright, shinning face, and teeth. So the men have to always smile and show their white teeth. Strange but sounds cool, kind of 😂
Award winning media entrepreneur, a philanthropist, mogul, talk show host and The First Woman To Own A Global TV Network In Africa. Meet Mosumola Abudu AKA Mo Abudu. A significant behind the scene cast in Films such as Fifty, Oloture, The Wedding Party 2, Her excellency, and Chief Daddy.
Her Early Life
Born on September 11th, 1964 in London. Spent part of her early life in Ondo State, Nigeria with her grandparents but left for college, and even had her masters degree in London. Relocated to Nigeria in 1993 as Head of Human Resource and Administration at Exxon Mobil. Why didn’t she just stay at Exxon Mobil? Why Entrepreneurship?
Her Entrpreneural Story
You see, she figured there’s a problem. She figured organisations need talent to be part of their team. She then set out to find a solution to it. She established her own firm Vic Lawrence &Associate Limited In 2000. The company basically offers Human Resource Management Solutions to companies.
Winning In Nigeria Entertainment Industry !?
‘Moments With Mo’ is Africa’s first daily talk show that celebrates Africa’s wins and it’s people. The talk show airs across 49 African countries and on a cable TV in UK. She has played host to many A list celebrities, governors, presidents, Nobel Laureates, including the US Secretary of State; Hilary Clinton and the managing director of IMF- Christine Lagarde.
The Birth Of Ebony Life Tv
It all lies in passion and vision. Nothing beats having a vision and the plan to actualise the vision. It’s an amazing feeling that I myself can’t wait to experience. She launched EbonyLife TV, the first black entertainment and lifestyle global network in 2013. It began broadcasting on MultiChoice DSTV CH 165 and later moved on to Star Times Network In 2019.
Awards And Recognitions
25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by Hollywood Reporter 2013
Recognised by Forbes Africa as First Woman to Own a Pan Africa TV Channel 2013
Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) from Babcock University 2014
Entrepreneur of the Year at International Women’s Day Forum in New York 2014
Movie Producer of the Year (English) at City People Movie Awards 2015
Listed as one of ‘Forbes Africa Most Successful Women’ 2015
African Achievers Awards at UK House of Common 2018
Are you really a Nigerian, if you’ve not visited the exciting Lagos State? Yes/No. Yes, yes! You’re here to read the usual story about Lagos, the real story and the untold story. Anxious? Calm your nerve and walk with me.
Experiences are unique to every human. in Lagos, you can’t just generalize with your personal experience as to what every other person must have experienced. You literally have to walk up to each person you meet and ask about their experience in Lagos. A quick sad, but now funny gist experience in Lagos: With her permission, of course. It was my friend’s first time in Lagos in 2019 for her NYSC.
A supposed to be exciting experience right? Unfortunately, right after her camp at Iyana-ipaja, her phone was stolen in the popular “Danfo” and her first allowance was used to buy airtime. Sad but that’s not all. The fact that, not all of them was paid the first allowance on camp as it was in other state, instead it was paid into their account, cash was given to all corps members in some other states. And for this, after her phone was stolen at almost the end of November, the second allowance was due to be paid, she had to quickly rush to the bank to change her details and all. She had her ATM card on her, guess what! Somewhere around Ikotun, first she missed the bus stop that was close to the bank because she was not yet familiar with the whole area, as she was walking down to the bank. She said, a man tried stopping saying he needs help, did I tell you how pure of a person this my friend is, she’s so kind hearted, trust me she can give anyone her eyeball. I’m not even exaggerating, she’s that sweet. So she stopped and listen to the man tell him his story that he’s an importer and he’s goods are somewhere, he needs my friend to follow him somewhere. (It doesn’t make any sense now but she said she really wasn’t thinking of anything at that moment), she followed them somewhere and they turned paper into money with the use of a chemical. They made her withdraw all her second NYSC allowance. They even asked her to go home and bring more money, and honestly she did went home and it was at home that her senses came back that she has been duped! It took my friend months to tell me all of this. It was really a horrible experience for her.
Lagos, Nigeria
The city has two sides: the Mainland and the Island. The major places are Lagos Island (originally and still commonly called EKO), Epe, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Surulere, Yaba, Apapa, Victoria Island (the financial centre of Lagos), and Ikoyi to name a few.
What’s The Usual Lagos Story?
It’s the popular story that Lagos is known for its ‘smart’ people. There’s a popular saying that ” If you’re not smart in Lagos, you can never be smart again”. Also famous for its fast-paced life, snatch and grab life, traffic jam, and of course the entrepreneurial energy of the city.
What’s The Real Lagos Life Story?
From personal experience, lagos has taught me few things: You see, in Lagos, there’s a difference between being smart and being street-smart. But I kept on asking myself, why do people keep trooping into this city everyday?. The reason is that hustle spirit. Do people even sleep in Lagos, I doubt if they do. Night life in Lagos is amazing, it’s also a place filled with opportunities. There are business ideas that wouldn’t sell anywhere else but Lagos.
What’s The Untold Story?
As stated earlier, lagos is divided into the Island and Mainland. Island is known for its luxurious life, the beach, the clubs, the beautiful and basically the part of Lagos that is mostly displayed on TV. Here, I’ll mention few places that you probably have never seen before. Slums like Makoko, Ijora, Agege, Ajegunle, etc. Using Makoko as evidence in this article.
Residents in Makoko move from one to another on canoes, calling out to neighbours and friends. The water is full of household rubbish, including needles and human faeces. There is a suffocating smell of rotten fish hanging in the air. There’s the hustle and bustle of human activity: women smoking fish or peddling food, half-naked children rowing their own boats or playing on the verandas of the wooden shacks. To end with, I am using this medium to call on the government to focus on providing the infrastructure that citizens expect of their administrators – hospitals, schools, electricity – and allow Makoko to develop in its own way and at its own pace.
Faidah's Musings 