$500 million; 471… | The 5 numbers that mattered this week

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM VII: The ones government left behind

by Eromo Egbejule You hear a lot of stories about North-East Nigeria, a slice of the country that has been at war since 2009, at the hands of Boko Haram. But we have largely only heard a single story. Sending a reporter across 7 cities, we tell a more complete story – personal tales of... Read More

#northeaststories, adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gwoza, Ibrahim Wala, IDP, nigeria, north-east stories, Oxfam International, sticky, terrorism, they survived boko haram, Umaru Ibrahim, USAID, we survived boko haram

Femi Aribisala: Apostle Paul’s doctrine is at variance with Jesus’ – see proof

Paul provides the most outrageous justification for sin in the entire bible. Why are some Christians so upset when we question Paul’s epistles? Why do they become abusive when we demonstrate painstakingly that Paul’s doctrine is at variance with Jesus’? The reason is simple; many Christians are Christians not because of Jesus but because of... Read More

Apostle Paul, bible, Faith, Femi Aribisala, Jesus, lawlessness, matthew, Sin

Simon Kolawole: If symptoms persist after one year…

Time changes everything. My barber voted for change last year. Which means he voted for Candidate Muhammadu Buhari. After Buhari’s inauguration and the stable power supply that followed, he felt justified. “Power has become regular in just a few months,” he said triumphantly. Over time, though, he has transformed from Buhari’s admirer to critic. Last... Read More

APC, CBN, Edo, Godwin Emefiele, INEC, lai mohammed, Muhammadu Buhari, PDP, simon kolawole

PROFILE: Raphael Afaedor is one techpreneur who simply gets it right

by Usman Alabi The first time Raphael Afaedor was in Nigeria, he came in as a staff of the Notore Chemical Industries, a fertilizer company. He might not have known what fate had for him at that time, but Raphael was definitely not a kind of man who would lie low in the face obvious... Read More

Jumia, mark zuckerberg, nigeria, raphael afaedor, technology

Shaka Momodu: Has the man died in Wole Soyinka?

The constant stream of bad news on the state of the economy, nay the state of the nation leaves one feeling down in the dumps. And there is no one else to blame other than ourselves. I am not proud to say: some of us saw it coming. We shouted ourselves hoarse warning the electorate... Read More

Kongi, nigeria, Rotimi Amaechi, Shaka Momodu, Tunde Bakare, Wole Soyinka

How we came up with the ‘Change Begins with Me’ idea – Consultant opens up

Brian e Ebden, a creative consultant based in Lagos has given an insight into how the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign, launched on Thursday, September 8, 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, was birthed. Ebden who boasts of 16-years advertising experience in South Africa and Nigeria released a statement refuting claims by some individuals that... Read More

Featured, The News Blog

Brian e Ebden, Change begins with me, FRCN, lai mohammed, Muhammadu Buhari, nigeria, NTA, plagiarism, Shoprite

Olusegun Adeniyi: Just the same old story…

“Sir, my sense about what is going on is that you are not likely to have much problem with the election. I believe you will win even though I also fear that you may find it difficult to govern the country after the polls”. When I made that statement to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in... Read More

#BBOG, Boko GHaram, Chibok girls, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, Olusegun Adeniyi, Sambo Dasuki, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Dele Momodu: Unveiling President Buhari’s mindset

Fellow Nigerians, I doubt if there is anyone who does not see and feel President Muhammadu Buhari is a complex character. As a matter of fact, that is the veritable hallmark of his persona and super brand. Those of us that supported him voluntarily, and almost blindly, last year did so out of our acute... Read More

Akinwunmi Adesina, Aminu Tambuwal, APC, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Charles Soludo, Dele Momodu, Donald Duke, Goodluck Jonathan, Kayode Fayemi, lai mohammed, Mobola Johnson, Muhammadu Buhari, Nasir el-Rufai, nuhu ribadu, Oby Ezekwesili, pat utomi, PDP, pmb, Rotimi Amaechi

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM VI: The Commander

Abba Aji Khalli, boko haram, JTF, maiduguri, Niger Delta, nigeria, north-east stories, northeast, sticky, terrorism, they survived boko haram, we survived boko haram

September 9, 2016

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM V: “I’m not leaving here. It’s my home”

#northeaststories, Asauten Anderibom, Benue State university, insurgency, Jimeta Modern Market, maiduguri, Muhammadu Buhari, nigeria, north-east stories, sticky, terrorism, the banker, we survived boko haram, Yola

September 9, 2016

PODCAST: Ifeanyi Dike Jr shares what it means to be a young actor in Nigeria these days

“Actors can’t spend the time that is needed to focus on their character because they have to make ends meet by doing other things,” Ifeanyi Dike Jr tells me matter-of-factly on this week’s Conversations with Chude. “When more attention is paid to equipment and actors are offered peanuts for a role, it hurts to know... Read More

Acting, Conversations with Chude, CWC, Ghollywood, John Boyega, lupita, nigeria, nollywood, podcast, podcasts, TIFF

September 8, 2016

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM IV: Jibrin went back to school

#northeaststories, boko haram, Fiona Lovatt, Jibrin, maiduguri, NEMA, nigeria, north-east stories, SEMA, sticky, terrorism, we survived boko haram

September 8, 2016

PODCAST: Bobrisky, dangerous gossip blogs and more on The Media Blog Uncensored

Ifeoma Areh is creative director of Wildflower PR & Company, Lekan Olanrewaju is a scriptwriter (credits including Tinsel and Hotel Majestic), and Isime Esene, managing editor of YNaija.com stands in for Tosin Ajibade, founder of Olorisupergal.com on this episode. Together with the host, they talk about everything that’s important in Nigeria’s media space today – Mark... Read More

The Media Blog

Bobrisky, Ifeoma Areh, Isime Esene, lagos, lekan olanrewaju, nigeria, NulliJuice, Olorisupergal, podcast, The Media Blog, TMB Uncensored, Tosin Ajibade

Opinion: Now that cattles are getting into Lagos faster…

by Usman Alabi The recent transportation of cows via train from the north down to Lagos is a welcome development and long awaited one at that, no thanks to the belated resuscitation of the train transport sector in the country. This would bring about a faster integration of the northern economy to the southern economy;... Read More

economy, lagos, livestock, nigeria, Zamfara

Usman Alabi: APC and the president’s unending blame game

by Usman Alabi Leaders are called to solve problems and give hope to their followers in times of uncertainties; however some leaders have specific qualities for unusual or peculiar times. The Nigerian economy was in a bad shape in 1983 when President Buhari became the head of state after a military coup. Being the leader,... Read More

analysis, APC, blame game, economy, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, PDP, Politics, Usman Alabi

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM III: “We survived Shekau’s men, we can survive hunger”

#northeaststories, boko haram, Borno, Falmata, maiduguri, NGO, nigeria, north-east stories, SEMA, sticky, terrorism, we survived boko haram

The Media Blog: Blood of GOD. Have you seen this crazy blog?

How has no one sued them to court? How has no one attempted to shut it down? How has no one noticed to bring everyone’s attention to the mainstream media? We have one take: it’s difficult to confess that one has discovered and is reading a blog like NaijaGistLive.com. Go ahead. Check it out. You... Read More

gawker, gossip, Linda Ikeji, Media, NaijaGistLive, nigeria, SDK, StellaDimokoKorkus, The Media Blog, TMB

September 6, 2016

The Media Blog: When it comes to top-banner ads, Premium Times is the new LIB

We never seem to talk about folks like Premium Times and Sahara Reporters when we speak of online media revenue models. Maybe for good reason, seeing as grants are a major part of their model. Which is legitimate of course. The kind of important, dangerous journalism they do (and the extra-judicial journalism, for want of... Read More

ads, alexa, LIB, Linda Ikeja, Media, new york times, nigeria, NYT, Premium Times, Sahara Reporters, The Media Blog, TMB, top banner, Vice

September 6, 2016

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM II: F is for Fati, and Faith

#northeaststories, boko haram, Borno, cnn, facebook, Fati Abubakar, IDP, maiduguri, nigeria, north-east stories, sticky, terrorism, twitter., we survived boko haram

September 5, 2016

WE SURVIVED BOKO HARAM I: The boy from Bama

#northeaststories, Bala Geidam, Bama, Bauchi, boko haram, Borno, Dauda Abubakar, Jamare, Konduga, nigeria, north-east stories, sticky, terrorism, we survived boko haram

I am Oshiomhole’s stooge, I accept – Godwin Obaseki

Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo state has dared his opponents to go-ahead and prove he is a stooge to Governor Adams Oshiomhole as they claim. Obaseki who is an integral part of the APC government over the past 8 years refused to debunk any... Read More

Adams Oshiomhole, Benin, Edo, edo decides, Edo election, Godwin Obaseki, Lucky Igbinedion, nigeria, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Pastor Ize-Iyamu

Tony Elumelu: Role of private sector in fighting poverty

Over one billion people, referred to as the “bottom billion” live on less than $1.25 a day worldwide. In Nigeria, it is estimated that up to 70 per cent of Nigerians can be classified as living in extreme poverty. Without a doubt, poverty statistics can be overwhelming, but I am certain that the fight against... Read More

africapitalism, Kehinde Yinusa, Nasir Daniya, nigeria, Nkem Okocha, TEEP, Tony Elumelu, UBA

Femi Aribisala: The Bible is not infallible

Jeremiah predicts Babylon would be suddenly and completely obliterated. But this did not happen. There are false prophecies in the bible. They are intended to dilute the impact of the more radical prophets. Everything points to the scribes and the priests as the architects of these distortions, since they are often pilloried by the radical... Read More

bible, Christianity, egypt, Femi Aribisala, God, Jeremiah, Jesus, Nebuchadnezzar, prophesy, Truth

Dele Momodu: In search of a simple roadmap

“In the past what we have done has been to manage the situation. I do not intend to manage ourselves out of the situation as has been done in the past. I intend to fix it! I owe it to the Ghanaian people. I, John Dramani Mahama, will fix this energy challenge.” – President John... Read More

Akinwunmi Ambode, babatunde Fashola, Dele Momodu, Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, John Dramani Mahama, lagos, mark zuckerberg, Muhammadu Buhari

Simon Kolawole: Recession, recovery and our relapsing fever

Confirmed. The Nigerian economy is in recession, the first in decades. The official report by the National Bureau of Statistics is finally out, confirming what we suspected and expected all along. Many will hear the big word “recession” and ask: rece-gini? Economists define recession as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. As a villager,... Read More

Abubakar Shekau, boko haram, economy, kemi Adeosun, mark zuckerberg, Muhammadu Buhari, NBS, nigeria, recession, simon kolawole, ThisDay Newspapers

September 3, 2016

The Media Blog: Beht why na, NotJustOk TV?

Mobile internet data these days is expensive o. And Nigerians don’t have time for anything that doesn’t really work. So we wonder about anyone who isn’t reaching for the stars. Today: We are on NotJustOk.com NotJustOk is the most popular music download site in Nigeria, at least if you think of the brand. So maybe... Read More

Ayojay, Don Jazzy, Linda Ikeji, Naijaloaded, notjustok, NotJustOK TV, sticky, TooXclusive, youtube

September 2, 2016

PODCAST: ‘So what if Funke Akindele got married in secret?’… and more on The Slab with Isime

It’s Episode 10 of The Slab with Isime. Today, we talk about celebrities keeping their private lives private – Funke Akindele, D’banj, Di’Ja, Banky W and more; the Presidency’s reaction to the case of the dog named Buhari; and the social media debate on if 200k salary is enough to start a family in Nigeria.... Read More

200k, Buhari, D'banj, Davido, entertainment, Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz, Joe Chinakwe, podcast, podcasts, The Slab With Isime, The Slan, tiwa savage, ynaija

September 2, 2016

The Media Blog: Introducing The YNaija Ombudsman

We have always liked the tradition of newspaper Public Editors. The New York Times’ Margaret Sullivan was particular a favourite of ours. They serve as an Ombudsman, taking on-board review and criticism of the paper’s inevitable foibles and errors and mistakes. It’s an act both of hubris and of humility – about the above-boardness of... Read More