Cheta Nwanze: We made a terrible choice

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani: How I was banned from speaking Igbo

by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani In our series of letters from African journalists, Nigerian novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani recalls how she was banned from speaking her mother tongue. My parents forbade my local language, Igbo, from being spoken in our home when I was a child. Unlike the majority of their contemporaries in our hometown... Read More

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, BBC, culture, english, igbo, languages, nigeria, parenting

Opinion: Financial institution crisis in Africa | Causes and Solutions

by Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi Formal financial sector in Africa has been rocked with tough crisis over the recent decade; events of recent years have deepened the crisis. In all African nations, financial institutions are faced with at least one major national or continental crisis. Taking examples, since the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in... Read More

africa, financial crisis, financial institutions, Forex, opinion

Opinion: Data rate hike | Time to call Buhari to order

by Adekoya Boladale The Yorubas have a saying: ‘agilinti ti nse ginniginni, iku apaa, ambelente opolo to fi ojojumo gbe ara re sanle’ – a cameleon that threads with caution dies, how much more the toad that hops around with much energy. The recent report on the move by the Nigerian Communications Company (NCC) acting... Read More

APC, Buhari, Data hike, ncc, nigeria, opinion, telecommunication companies

The Thread: NCC’s decision is an act of outright corruption

Since NCC released that directive, the anger Nigerians feel can be cut with a knife. The eloquent, politically astutute and everyone who knows how to make 140 characters work is saying something. Whew, these threads are just writing themselves, really. Please see below what Japhet Omojuwa, speaker, social media influencer and entrepreneur has to say about... Read More

corruption, data, Draconian laws, ncc, nigeria, Price fixing, suffering

Eyiamoni Apeji: A world without heroes [NEXT]

by Eyiamoni Apeji It has taken me nineteen years of conformity to realize, but finally I can say with absolute certainty that I do not believe in world peace. Growing up, I was told to aspire to be different, to be extraordinary, and to make a difference. I was taught to love, to think good... Read More

‘Heroes’, ambition, Conflict, Eyiamoni Ipeji, NEXT, war, World peace

Opinion: Nigerian youth and the insanity of NCC

by Irebami Taiwo Dear young fellow, I’mm angry that at this moment when we are supposed to be at the frontiers of this change, we are here taking the back seat and letting a few of the older generation sway us about. The prices of goods and services have increased in the last six months... Read More

complaints, economy, Expensive data, NCC Nigeria, nigeria, Nigerian Youth, recession

Lekan Olanrewaju: Civic duty [NEW VOICES]

by Lekan Olanrewaju One of the most persistent revelations of any election cycle is the nature of the Undecided Voter. No, not the genuinely confused and/or torn, and not — but slightly close to — the self-proclaimed “objective” voter whose objectivity serves usually only to remind everyone who’s chosen to believe in (or, in the absence of belief, at... Read More

elections, lekan olanrewaju, New Voices, nigeria, Politics, Voter apathy, Voting

The Thread: Dear President Buhari, increasing data prices is to young people as increasing fuel prices

December 1st is just around the corner, and Nigerians are pleading with President to have a change of heart about the new Nigerian Communication Commission directive to increase data prices. Dec 1st is the date when the directive from NCC comes into force. That directive stipulates that 1.5 gig will sell for 3,000 naira. Nigerians... Read More

anguish, economy, fear, frustration, hardship, ncc, nigeria, recession, sticky, Taxes

The Thread: Buhari is failing and Nigerians have had it

Following the announcement of the new Nigerian Communication Commission directive to raise data prices, Nigerians are blaming Buhari for their current predicament. It’s probably safe to say that almost every Nigerian has now become a wailer, and if things get worse, 2019 will be the year Nigerians show Buhari the back door- at least if... Read More

Buhari, corruption, Economic policies, economy, nigeria, recession

The Thread: The Nigerian government keeps scoring own goals

Lamentations are rising from Nigerians, and it’s quite in order. The frustration the Nigerian government is unleashing upon its citizenry is causing the hearts of many to boil. The insensitivity of actions they have taken in recent times is unpardonable. See NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission) , the Supreme ruler of the communication sphere in the... Read More

The Thread: Here’s how to get money to start your business

If you’re looking for how to get money to start your business, this is for you. CEO of Profits Marketing, Ikenna Ronald Nzimora has quite some comprehensive advice for you. Please see below: Good Morning! So in this thread I want to share how you can get money to start your business. (1) — Ikenna... Read More

Opinion: How I lost a job with Google

by Viola Ifeyinwa Okolie I had a friend in school, the “most likely to succeed” type. She was brilliant – book and street smart – had the drive and ambition, was almost always the first to be considered for a position of responsibility but… Ten years after we graduated, she was still job hunting. From... Read More

competition, Google, Jobs, Keeping up with the Joneses, life, nigeria

Cheta Nwanze: Pythons don’t dance, they kill

by Cheta Nwanze When you travel towards the South East from Lagos, there’s a distinct pattern to the stops that you are subjected to. There are multiple police and FRSC checkpoints in Ogun and Ondo states, where you will be harassed regardless. By the time you cross the divided town of Ofosu into Edo state,... Read More

Cheta Nwanze, Immigrations, Nigerian Army, Operation Python Dance, opinion, south east

Pius Adesanmi: Finding crude oil in the North is Buhari’s understanding of economic diversification

by Pius Adesanmi In my entire adult life, every government in Nigeria has mouthed the platitude of economic diversification. Whether military or civilian, every administration has gone to the Aso Rock Villa screaming her determination to wean Nigeria of oil dependency from the rooftops. Such administrations wax nostalgic about the groundnut pyramids of Kano, the... Read More

Economic diversification, Fashola, Niger Delta, Northern Nigeria, oil dependency, president buhari

Alawee, CAMP, nigeria, nysc, Orientation Broadcasting Service, service year, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development

Opinion: The NYSC service year manual

by Manasseh Victor I started the service year with a sense of uncertainty and anxiety as most intending Corp members. I heard different stories from different ex-Corps members on expectations and outcomes of the service year; the baseline wasn’t so encouraging, yet I was determined to make the most of it. Most of those I... Read More

Barrister Jimoh IbrahimDr. Olusegun Rahman Mimiko, Eyitayo Jegede, olusegun obasanjo, Rotimi Akeredolu a.ka. Aketi

Opinion: The new order in the Sunshine state

by Anthony Ademiluyi The APC came into power last year chanting the change mantra which saw them make history by defeating an incumbent. More than a year later, some critics have renamed the APC ‘All Promises Cancelled.’ The current recession didn’t help matters as Buhari and his egg heads are bashed on a daily basis... Read More

Ebenezar Wikina: Stay hungry, stay foolish, and also stay frustrated [NEXT]

by Ebenezar Wikina Two days ago, I was just down; exhausted and almost depressed. I usually write away my sad thoughts, in my little journal I call Daybooks—I’ve filled 89 journals between 2009 and 2016—to help overcome the bad feelings. However, this time, I typed the thoughts on my Facebook Status update field. I clicked... Read More

donald trump, Hillary Clinton, nigeria, US Presidential Elections

Opinion: Brand lessons from US presidential elections

by Oluwaseun Adetunji & Uche Briggs The Nov 8th presidential election is without doubt one of the most dramatic elections in the history of the United States. If we look past the hubris of race, propaganda and media convulsions, the result throws up interesting insights for the management of brands. While the world is stunned... Read More

Opinion: #NotTooYoungToRun | Political relevance for Nigerian youth

by Jude Feranmi What would you do if you had all the political capital you needed in a political party? This question is meant for young Nigerians. Now, take a minute to think about it. Going forward, I would be assuming you have a mental list of all those things you would do if you... Read More

nigeria, Nigerian Youth, NotTooYoungToRun, opinion, political power, political relevance, Politics

Adeboro Odunlami: Use your legs [NEW VOICES]

Dear Nigeria, All the decades you have lived, there’s only one thing to say to you: you deserve better. On the operating table of colonialism and ease of administration, you were sewn together. Putting together pieces and parts that do not necessarily belong together, they made you who you are. When the surgeon introduced you... Read More

colonialism, Federalism, independence, nigeria, youth

Rejoinder: The threat of a new political party

by Victor Terhemba I have decided to write a rejoinder to Mr Reuben Abati’s latest piece and maybe if I am able to one day gather enough social capital to write as long as the said piece and still maintain my readership, I will write a long one. Until then, this is a short rejoinder.... Read More

corruption, New political parties, nigeria, political parties, reuben abati, Vote buying

Ikechukwu Yadi: Bola [Nigerian Voices]

by Ikechukwu Yadi I sat in class drawing on an exercise book. Someone sat beside me. “How far your church girl?” “Titi?” “No, Mary Magdalene.” “She came to my house yesterday with some church women.” I cupped from the slip up. “So if I didn’t ask, you wouldn’t…” I didn’t respond. Kay continued, “What happened... Read More

Nigerian Voices

Bola, First Kiss, intervention, Nigerian Voices, Relationships, romance, School tales, teenagers

Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto: I saved my marriage [Nigerian Voices]

by Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto That was my wife, Chiamaka, approaching. People thought her puerile and naïve but I deemed her exquisite. She was blithe and permissive, carefree and lax. We had been married for five months through the declarations of our parents and other adults. I was seven years old and she, just six. Her mother... Read More

Nigerian Voices

children, life, Marriage, memory lane, Nigerian Voices, Playmates

The Thread: Light skin is as much a privilege in Nigeria as whiteness is in America

Bleaching is a thing in Nigeria; a very serious thing. To understand just how serious it is, Bobrisky, one of Nigeria’s cross dressers claims to “gross over N2 million, sometimes N1.5 million monthly”, and his profit is “N300,000-400,000 monthly”. That’s just one individual. If you enter Balogun market in Lagos Island, there’s a bleaching cream... Read More

Cover Stories

bleaching, nigeria, skin cancer, toke makinwa, White privilege

The Thread: “Are you a gay Nigerian man married to a straight woman?

Following the circulation of this clip below, where a lady caught her son with another man, neurosurgeon and writer Jasper Chinedum, who tweets @JajaPhD, shares his thoughts about the number of men in Nigeria still hiding in the closet. Do see below: https://twitter.com/Hellamud/status/783707563665653760 https://twitter.com/JajaPhD/status/803134964015435780 https://twitter.com/JajaPhD/status/803136643263819781 https://twitter.com/JajaPhD/status/803137676752789504 https://twitter.com/JajaPhD/status/803138648220651520 https://twitter.com/JajaPhD/status/803139242431913984 https://twitter.com/Kemji/status/803142422163312640 Reactions https://twitter.com/TheTrueSaheed/status/803159051659943936 lol TBH, if I... Read More

Cover Stories

closet, entertainment industry, gay laws, homosexual, Marriage, nigeria

Opinion: Revisiting anti-gay laws

Chris Izu Okafor It’s quite easy to stereotype. It eases up the responsibility of explaining. Stating without variations is often much easier than describing exceptions and the whys that follow. Stereotypes do not give room for explanations too. They are cut-in-stone conclusions. The indelible absence of buts design them. All aspects of sexuality has been... Read More

anti gay laws, Christianity, homosexuals, nigeria, Religion, Stereotypying

Opinion: If Tinubu walks, Buhari will go

by Umar Hassan The absence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some APC South West Governors from the November 12th rally held in support of the Party’s candidate in the Ondo gubernatorial elections Chief Rotimi Akeredolu spells doom for President Buhari’s 2nd term chances. It’s one thing to not have the party in his grip and... Read More

akeredolu, APC, nigeria, PDP, Politics, president buhari, South West Tinubu

‘Don’t dream for too long such that you remain a lady in waiting’ | Lady Boss, Seun Tayo-Balogun answers #LLA10Questions

One word we can use to describe our Lady Boss today is ‘pioneer’. Seun Tayo-Balogun, CEO of Brief Essentials saw a gap in the e-commerce sphere and set up an online shapewear and lingerie business at a time when no one was doing so. In our interview with her, Seun shares the story of how... Read More

Brief Essentials, Female entrepreneurs, Lingerie, Seun Tayo-Balogun, technology