A Nigerian immigrant’s dream came true when President Barack Obama signed into law a rare private bill granting him permanent residency in the Unites States. CNN reported that Victor Chukwueke, who lives in Michigan on an expired visa, came to th...
When in a relationship, cementing it towards marriage with your man is as important as starting the relationship in the first place. Blessing Ukemena writes on how to know when he is serious about you.
This is the time of the year when you know if your man is serious about you or no. A lot of things happen towards the end of the year, especially in relationships. Many couple even get married at this time. A lot of travelling, meeting of parents and all that happen this period. In case you are not among those lucky few, here is how to know if your man wants you for keeps or for the fun of it. It can help you answer questions like if he is interested in taking the relationship to the next level?
He introduces you as his girlfriend: If you have been going around for sometime and he, one day, just introduces you very comfortably to his friends saying, "Meet my girlfriend, or the woman of my life", it is a milestone. It means he has accepted you as an integral part of his life. Counsellors and psychologists agree that men normally do not want to give instant commitments, so when he introduces you as "his girlfriend or his lady" it means he is comfortable about his friends knowing your importance in his life. They consider their friends' opinion important. This shows a sense of acceptance for you and a commitment to let the relationship move ahead.
You have a big fight... and make up. Familiarity leads to fights, and all couples have fights, very nasty ones with abuses and allegations. There is something to be learnt about your relationship after the fight. When a couple makes up after a fight, it shows that the partners want to resolve issues and continue. Psychologist Saloni Sawnani says that, "What makes these relationships strong for a lifetime is that no matter how major the argument, there is always resolution and compromise". When the same happens in your relationship, a sense of permanency sets in. Then, you can be quite certain it is for keeps.
You can show your disapproval for something: You hate football, but pretend to follow it just for your boyfriend. If this has been going on for months, and one fine day you lose it and scream, "I just hate this game!" Be ready for the guy to scream back that he doesn't like your chicken sauce (though he loved it last week). Consider this a turning point. The real test is when you start speaking up frankly and that is the phase of acceptance. In this phase, you want the other person to accept you as well as be your own self in different situations. The Reiss Wheel Theory of Love states that the second phase is when the worst in people shows up. Things such as their limitations and how the other person takes it tell whether you want to continue or give up.
You attend a wedding together: If a guy agrees to accompany you to a friend's wedding, he is showing another sign. Watching your friend taking her wedding vows brings you closer as a couple as it sets the man thinking. Attending social functions together signifies making a relationship public. It also builds dreams of staying together and how you want to go about it. Attending any serious function together means the relationship is actually moving from being carefree to committed.
You realise he is very important: As a couple, you may be with each other for a year or three years, and when you look back, your best memories are of you both together. The realisation that you have had some of the best times together is a great one. Sawnani says, "It's a very strange and nice feeling when you realise that even though the quantum of time spent with someone maybe lesser than the time spent with family or others, the contentment is a lot more. We all know that sometimes an hour feels like a minute, and sometimes, like a whole day... It is when the togetherness moments start becoming important that you take the relationship to the next level."
You visit his house, meet his family: When the guy invites you over to his parent's place, it's a huge milestone. He could also agree to come to your place to meet your family. Inviting you over means he wants to let you into his world and meet his folks. Meeting his family shows he is serious about you. When he invites you over to his family, he wants his family to see you and expects you to bond with his family. He is making you aware of his home life, traditions, culture, family environment and habits. In short, he is giving you a microscopic view of his own life, his beliefs of family structures and wants to know what you feel about it.
You face tragedy together: Being together means facing situations together, and this could include a tragedy. Death, financial difficulties, job issues, problems with family are the things a couple face. When the guy just wants to be with you in a difficult time, he is ready to commit.
So watch out ladies, if he is not showing any of the above signs, you should seriously start considering other options. Really, how long does it take for a man to make up his mind about you if you guys have been together for two years and he really loves you as he claims?
New Year is a period to reflect on past experiences and probably make new resolutions that will guide us through the year. It does not only entail setting some standards that would directly or indirectly be a guide, but your home also should be the first point of call.
New Year décors should be harmonised in such a way that your guests will have fond memories. Apart from the décors, your family should be treated with delicious meals and drinks.
In China, their New Year décor is even more complicated than the Christmas décor. Their New Year decorations are not complete without the colourful lanterns that adorn the house since the lantern signifies life and happiness.
Different items like customized balls, wreath, flowers, ribbons and bells should be used so as to create a festive mood.
A blend of silver and gold colours can brighten your home in the New Year as well.
Decorating For the New Year
Beautify the entrance with sparkling light and wreath.
Doors and balcony should be decorated with wreath and ribbon.
Jazz up the dining with scented candles and champagne. Also, white cloth with a touch of gold spread on the dining table creates a festive mood.
Cut shapes such as stars and triangle from decorative papers. Attach the stars to a sparkling and hang in the room.
Enhance the children's room with colourful balloons, decorative paper flowers and ribbons.
Every lady wants to look fabulous during this yuletide season. blessing ukemena writes on how to keep those braids looking nice through the harmattan.
Well, at this yuletide season, most ladies are most concerned about their hair looks more than ever. For those who favour braids, there are some things they need to keep in mind. When done properly, braids are a healthy, convenient and stylish hairstyle option. Braids help in growing out one’s hair with very little external stress from the weather. However, when done improperly, putting your hair in braids can be quite disastrous. Below are some tips that ensure that you enjoy the full benefits of braiding your hair:
Washing and conditioning
Be sure that it is in a "healthy condition". This means treating your hair to a deep wash and conditioning, at least a week before braiding it. And relaxing the hair before putting them in braids. This is a personal choice that must be carefully considered. If you choose to relax your hair (either to make it easier to manage, or meet the texture of your extensions) be sure to do so at least two weeks before braiding your hair. It is not advisable to relax your hair and braid them on the same day. This is because relaxing one’s hair often leaves it weak and putting your hair in individual braids makes one to damage the already fragile hair.
Oil treatment
If your hair is often overworked, stressed and weak, give yourself a hot oil treatment; preferably one with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is formulated to treat dry, stressed and damaged hair, by re-constructing the bonds that hold the hair strands.
Choose your style and extensions carefully!
When it comes to picking a hairstyle, remember what works for another will not necessarily work for you. If your hair is brittle and weak, putting them in micro-braids will only further damage your hairline.
When choosing extensions, be informed of the following:
Human hair extensions tend to hold more moisture, while synthetic hair tends to strip hair of moisture. So be sure to always moisturise when wearing synthetic hair. Most synthetic extensions have alkaline bases that tend to dry out one’s hair and can be removed by soaking the hair in vinegar and water.
Be sure to moisturise: When hair is in braids, it often loses its moisture, making it easier to fall out. To help seal in moisture, remember to spritz hair with store bought braid sprays or a concoction of your own. You can create your own mixture by mixing oils like Jojoba, Olive, with water and glycerin.
Pay attention to braid build-up and new growth: This usually happens when you have used too much product and your hair knots up at the roots after the emergence of new growth. At the site of build-up, simply take out old braids and re-braid. Doing so often ensures your braid is always looking fresh.
Remember to Wash: Just because your hair is in braids does not mean you should stop washing it. One easy way to wash your hair and maintain the style is to wash it with diluted shampoo while in the shower. Massage your scalp to release the debris, move along to the rest of your hair, and be careful not to tug on your hair too much. Don’t forget to condition your hair after washing. This can be achieved with the help of a leave-in conditioner. Be sure to wash your braids once in two weeks, pay particular attention to the scalp.
Cover your braids before you sleep: Whether it is a hair net or silk scarf, it is important to protect your braids from loosening while you sleep by covering it.
After a while, do take out your braids. Your hair should not be in braids for more than two months; leaving it longer than necessary can lead to hair-loss. Once you remove your braids, wash and deep condition your hair, as well as give yourself a "hot-oil" treatment. Be sure to also let your hair rest for at least a week or so before relaxing or braiding it again.
Remember these facts:
Do not braid your hair too tightly.
Do not leave your braids on for longer than two months.
Keep your braids neat by rebraiding at the sight of new growth.
Condition your hair before you braid it and condition afterwards.
Pick a style that will not be too stressful for your hair and scalp.
Moisturise and wash your hair at least once every two weeks.
When braids or weaves are removed, allow hair to rest first before styling again.
Chin-chin is a deep fried Nigerian snack made primarily from a combination of baking ingredients. It is a sweet, crunchy and tasty snack for most families especially children. Chin-chin is quite simple to prepare and does not require much stress. It ca...
The age long crisis rocking the four areas of Egba nation was over the weekend resolved amicably through the efforts of the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Sonekan.
The crisis which had been on for more than two decades was amicably settled with all the four sections of the kingdom recognizing Oba Adedotun Gbadebo as the paramount ruler of Egbaland.
It could be recalled that the four Monarchs: Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Gbagura of Agura, Oba Halidu Laloko and Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosumu had over two decades been insisting that they have equal status with the Alake.
The situation had resulted in litigation and bad blood between the occupants of the Alake stool and the three kings and all efforts by prominent personalities to resolve it had failed. The bad blood between the kings got to a stage when the three monarchs were not on talking terms with the Alake.
But at a brief ceremony at the Isale-Igbehin, Abeokuta Government House over the weekend, the four kings told journalists that all was over. “We have all resolved to bury our individual differences in the interest of Egba unity and progress”, Gbadebo said in a communiqué, signed by Tejuoso, Laloko and Dosumu.
Present at the ceremony were Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former Head of Interim Government, Chief Earnest Sonekan, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Chief Tunde Abudu, a prominent industrialists and Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, a renowned medical practitioner who are all prominent sons of Egbaland.
The remains of the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) of Governor Wada Idris of Kogi State, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Idris Mohammed, were buried in Zaria yesterday. Mohammed died in the auto crash which involved the vehicle of Governor Wada at Emi Woro...
A multiple road accident along Benin-Asaba express way over the weekend claimed the lives of 18 people with several others injured. The accident which occurred in the early hours between Okhuae and Ugoneki axis, eyewitnesses said, involved two tr...
Police detectives in Asaba Delta State have arrested a kidnap kingpin who has been on their wanted list in the last two years. According to the police spokesman in the state, DSP Charles Muka who confirmed the arrest of the kingpin, he said he was ...
An Indian woman who was a victim of assault by a gang in New Delhi died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday due to some injuries she suffered during the attack. The six suspects held in connection with the December 16 attack on the 23-year-old medical ...
A passenger plane overshot the runway at a Moscow airport Saturday, killing two of the 12 people on board, according to state media.
Three others were seriously injured in the crash of the Tupolev airliner, Ria Novosti reported, citing Russia's Interior Ministry.
The Russian Red Wings Airlines flight was arriving to Vnukovo International Airport from the Czech Republic. Four of the 12 were crew members, though it wasn't immediately known if they were among the injured.
A bus explosion Saturday in the Pakistani port city of Karachi killed at least six people and wounded 40 others, police said. Most of the victims were bus passengers, said Muhammad Aslam, a Karachi police official. The cause of the blast was under inve...
The Ebonyi Police Command on Saturday in Abakaliki released some innocent suspects who were arrested in connected with the kidnap of a man on Dec. 21. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Franklin Ajah was abducted by a group of armed men a...
The Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Capt. Mukhtar Usman, on Friday disclosed that an accident investigation laboratory would soon be inaugurated in the country.
Usman made the announcement in Lagos while speaking with with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He said that the laboratory built at a cost of 5.5 million dollars would be located in Abuja in line with international practices.
``The bureau is very close to launching its own Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) laboratory being installed by the CAE/ FlightScape Incorporation of Canada which will enable us to download both flight recorders promptly during investigation.
``Hitherto and now, these units are taken overseas for downloading, `` he said.
Usman added that when completed, the laboratory would also handle cases of air, marine, road and rail accidents.
``We have highly qualified accident investigators who were trained in world class institutions to man the laboratory on inauguration, he said.
The CEO also said that the bureau had commenced training its personnel in investigating marine, road and rail-related accidents whenever they occurred.
``So AIB's planned collaboration with the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) in this respect is still ongoing,'' he said.
Usman said that 20 out of the bureau's 32 recommendations had so far been implemented by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation.
He identified some of the recommendations as the establishment of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project and airlines installing ground tracking devices in their offices to monitor their flights while flying.
Usman recalled that no passengers could be rescued in the ADC, Bellview and Beachcraft 1900 D air crashes because there were no radar system to track them.
The Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) has embarked on sensitisation of people in its catchment areas on the dangers of pipeline vandalism.
The Deputy Manager, Community Relations of the company, Mrs Edith Johnson, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eleme, near Port Harcourt, Rivers, on Friday.
Johnson said that vandalism seemed to be on the increase, explaining that the high rate prompted the refinery to embark on the campaign.
She enumerated the dangers of pipeline vandalism as pipeline fire, pollution of the environment, loss of lives and economic sabotage.
Johnson said that the enlightment campaign would be carried out at Okrika, Eleme, Port Harcourt Depot areas, trailer parks and other flash points in the area.
Also speaking with NAN, the PHRC Deputy Manager, Safety, Mr Uche Nna, said the organisation had been engaging the host communities on pipeline safety.
Nna said that the company had set up a surveillance team to police the areas. ``Even at that, the rate of vandalism is still very high.
I can speak that between PHRC pipeline outlets through Okrika to Jetty; so sometimes, we have several breakages daily.
``The Local Government chairman (Okrika) has been doing so well recently, trying to ensure that structures that are along that line are being cleared,'' he said.
Nna said that some people had built structures along the pipelines where they could easily lay pipes underneath to tap oil unnoticed.
He said that the company had many pipelines passing through the community to the jetty where the bulk production of oil was pumped into ships.
Nna said that the pipeline Right of Way (ROW), established by Gov. Chibiuke Amaechi was another measure to check pipeline vandalism.
He said that the ROW involved PHRC, Shell, AGIP and other companies that had their pipelines running through the 23 Local Government Areas with the state's Ministry of Environment coordinating.
``We have got to a stage where we identify and mark those structures so that as soon as the State Government comes in with the chairman of the Local Government area, we will remove those structures.
``As we are removing the structures, then the oil companies will quickly recover their right of way,`` Nna said.
He said that apart from the fact that the pipelines were vandalized; the vandalism could clear a whole community.
``Once they vandalize the pipeline, if there is no fire coming from dowser strikes or coming from any other source of fire, all the materials, that is, the petroleum products, will find their way to the aquifer.
``As soon as they found their way to aquifer, the eco-system is altered, you will have the underground water contamination, you will have soil pollution.
``And to remediate and recover those surfaces and take them out of the water is quite a lot.
``And if care is not taken and it gets down to Bonny Basin, that means the whole place is real issue, so it is a real concern,`` Nna said.