Magazine

October 21, 2017

So you think you know Lagos X: Badagry – a town of many firsts held prisoner by history

Badagry sits on one end of Lagos like an ignored elderly woman, whose hands raised nations but time and circumstances have snatched vitality from her. She is seen but often not heard and her past stares at her constantly, never forgetting. These lands have seen glorious days and Nigeria’s history begins with her for it was... Read More

Citizenship, Featured

Badagry, lagos, Lagos Series, magazine, Magazine, magazines, So you think you know Lagos, special

October 20, 2017

So you think you know Lagos VII: New Lekki repeats the mistakes of old Lekki?

The sun is at its highest point, beating down with an intense ferocity that was merciless and unyielding. The tarred roads here absorb the heat and throw it back up so that it feels like both land and the sky are in war and earthlings are caught in their crossfires. Someone had said to me... Read More

Citizenship, Featured

lagos, Lagos Series, lekki, Magazine, So you think you know Lagos

October 20, 2017

So you think you know Lagos V: Ikoyi through Victoria Island – Where money goes to sleep and Afropolitans find a home

My relationship with money began when I overheard one of my older cousins say that money has a smell and spirit – and both can possess a man to do unspeakable acts. That the pungent, sweaty smell of money was like an adrenaline shot to the brain and the spirit like demons. Both smell and... Read More

Citizenship, Featured

ikoyi, magazine, Magazine, So you think you know Lagos, victoria island

Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers II: ‘Please don’t cut my leg’

by Patrick Egwu Ejike Clinging to his crutches in both hands, Sylvester Egbunna 70, limps to the spot where his dotted T-shirt was hanging in front of the veranda to put on. He moves to a wooden bench which was placed in front of the veranda to sit. His thirteen-year-old daughter is sitting close to... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Featured

Biafra's Forgotten Soldiers, Magazine

Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers I: Bullet in my chest

by Patrick Egwu Ejike Sixty-six-year-old Lawrence Akpu is sitting on a black wheelchair which makes squeaky sound at each move – a sign that it’s in a very bad shape. Hanging on the wall are black and white picture frames and calendars of Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, leader of the defunct state of Biafra who led... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Featured

Biafra's Forgotten Soldiers, Magazine

SPECIAL SERIES: A tale of woes, abandonment and rejection of Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers

by Patrick Egwu Ejike In commemorating the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra on May 30, 1967, I traveled to Ezeagu, Oji-River in Enugu state and Okigwe, in Imo state where the disabled war veterans of Biafra are staying in resettlement camps to write about the harrowing, heart-wrenching, sole-surviving stories of Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers –... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Featured

Biafra's Forgotten Soldiers, Magazine

Editor’s Note: Introducing “Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers”, a 10-part citizenship series on YNaija.com

Today we launch the YNaija.com Biafra’s Forgotten Soldiers series – a special collection of stories telling the war experiences, triumphs, woes and tales of some of the soldiers engaged in the 3-year civil war. This 10-part series will run for the next 5 days in the month of May, and is part of YNaija’s citizenship series. The idea... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Featured

Biafra's Forgotten Soldiers, Magazine

beyond biafra

BEYOND BIAFRA: The Olu-Aka academy is on a mission to battle youth unemployment

by Victor Akhidenor Finding the Olu-Aka academy is, in itself, a test of patience and endurance, a function of the fact that the roads leading into it, as well as other buildings around it are still work in progress in this serene environment of Obinze, Owerri west in Imo state. Two identical one-storey buildings sit... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

Beyond Biafra, Magazine

beyond biafra

BEYOND BIAFRA: The Onitsha market where dreams refuse to die

by Victor Akhidenor That there is no visible sign post announcing the Onitsha Main Market does not stop anyone from finding it when they want to. Interestingly, most streets around the market bear names of state or state capitals in Nigeria. Bida is a local government area in Niger state and the town is known... Read More

Beyond Biafra, kano, Magazine, onitsha, Sokoto

beyond biafra

BEYOND BIAFRA: In Enugu State, young people look from education to enterprise

by Victor Akhidenor Nkechi Nwobodo looks glum right now and it’s for one simple reason: NYSC. More specifically, she’s unhappy with her call-up letter from the National Youth Service Corps. “I’m not happy NYSC posted me to Plateau state,” she says. “My parents own a shop in the state and that’s where we reside.” She’d... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

Beyond Biafra, Magazine

Brave Women: “People told me not to show her to the world” | N’kiru Njoku on raising a special needs child and more

by Nk’iru Njoku On the meaning of bravery Bravery is to me, simply doing what you have to do, when you have to do it, regardless of how afraid you are. On having a special needs child and how it has changed her life Before having Didi, I thought I understood the meaning of... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, International Women's Day, IWD, Magazine

Brave Women: “It sometimes annoys me, the level of things she takes from people” | Aisha Yesufu profiles Oby Ezekwesili

by Aisha Yesufu On the 30th of April 2014 I came face to face with an individual that made me to believe in Nigeria. That individual is Dr. Oby Ezekwesili. On that day I saw what Nigeria can be if only we would allow those who truly believe in this country and care for its... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BBOG, #BeBoldForChange, #BringBackOurGirls, Aisha Yesufu, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, bring back our girls, Magazine, Oby Ezekwesili

Brave Women: Seyi, the 24-year-old mother of 12 children

by Seyi Oluyole My name is Oluwaseyi Oluyole, but I go by the name Seyi Oluyole. I am from Ondo state; I am 24. I am a Writer, dance choreographer, fitness trainer and a child lover. I was born and bred in Lagos. When I was 10, my parents sold our house at Mile 2... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, dance, International Women's Day, Magazine, Oluwaseyi Oluyole

Brave Women: Febisola Okonkwo is touching lives

Nigeria has one of the highest populations of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the world; now estimated at 17.5 million, which is 24.5% of all children under the age of 17 years in Nigeria. Amid this is Mrs Okonkwo, a woman who left her banking job to establish Help Initiative/Tabitha Home, a home for... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, Magazine

Linda Ikeji

Brave Women: The rise and rise of Linda Ikeji

Linda Ikeji, 36, is Nigeria’s highest paid blogger who took to the medium as a pastime in 2006. In this entry, Festus Iyorah profiles her rise to stardom from little beginnings. Following the emergence of web 2.0, an interactive form of website in 2004, International media such as BBC, CNN had started making use of this... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, blogging, Brave Women, Linda Ikeji, Magazine, Media

Brave Women: The game-changing Grace Ihejiamaizu

Nigeria is blessed with social entrepreneurs who have been making a difference despite the fact that they encounter series of challenges ranging from finances to earning people’s trust. One of them is Grace Ihejiamaizu, the founder of ikapture Network and Opportunity Desk. Festus Iyorah writes. Calabar, Nigeria—When James Okina, 17, graduated from secondary school in... Read More

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, Grace Ihejiamaizu, ikapture, International Women's Day, Magazine, Womens Month

Brave Women: From rags to riches, the story of Madam Burgess

by Festus Iyorah After the death of her husband 17 years ago, her in-law took everything that belongs to her husband and left her with nothing. Mrs Ernestina Okwuchukwu popularly known as madam burgess in this series narrates her experiences and how she became a millionaire from building a business from nothing. Lagos, Nigeria— on... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, International Women's Day, Magazine, Womens Month

Toke Makinwa YNaija

Brave Women: “A testament to what is possible when you have the guts to chase your greatness” | Arese Ugwu profiles Toke Makinwa

by Arese Ugwu The first time I met Toke was at my leaving do in London, I was moving back to Nigeria and it turned out we were in the same NYSC batch. We were fast friends, we went through the rigors of NYSC camp together, did driving school together and she was one of... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Arese Ugwu, Brave Women, Magazine, toke makinwa

Brave Women: Itoro Eze-Anaba is saving lives with the Mirabel Centre

In Nigeria there is an increase in sexual assault against girls and women. Despite this increase coupled with an extremely low conviction rate for rape and sexual abuse, very few are doing anything to combat this problem. Enter Mrs Itoro Eze Anaba, the founder of Mirabel Centre, the first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

Domestic violence, Domestic Violence Bill, DVB, Itoro Eze-Anaba, Magazine, Mirabel Centre, rape, Sexual assault

Brave Women: “The heart of a lion” | Mo Abudu profiles Kemi Adetiba

by Mo Abudu The shock appears to have come and gone. The headlines remain, but by now, the figures are not news anymore. Not unknown, but likely less prominent in public consciousness is how it came to be. The story of 4 film studios coming together in an unprecedented and, ultimately historic partnership that has... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Brave Women, EbonyLife, elfike, Kemi Adetiba, Magazine, Mo Abudu, The Wedding Party

Brave Women: Pamela Adie is changing Nigeria’s LGBT narrative

After the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) was passed into law in 2013 issues concerning homosexuality are discussed at the fringes and in whispers of the society. It’s considered as sensitive owing to the high wave of discrimination they face in Nigeria, amid this controversies and challenges is Pamela Adie, a courageous queer, activist... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Brave Women, LGBT, Magazine, TIERs

Brave Women: Iheoma Obibi is leading a bedroom revolution in Nigeria

by Festus Iyorah Discussing related to sex is considered little more than taboo in Nigeria. It’s fine to talk about them behind closed doors, but be careful to make no attempt to complain about not getting sexual gratification, for you might crucified. Consequently, many women live the best part of their lives not being satisfied sexually. They complain silently that the... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories

#BeBoldForChange, Brave Women, Iheoma Obibi, Magazine

Brave Women: The melon business women of Agyragu

by Festus Iyorah It’s a Friday—the busiest market day at the Agyragu melon market, Nasarawa. The market is dominated by women of Agyragu attending to potential customers from Lagos, Onitsha, Aba including neighboring countries of Cameroon and Benin republic. Just like every other Friday, the market hums like a well oiled machine, alive with... Read More

Citizenship, Cover Stories, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Agyragu, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, Magazine, Margaret Yohana

Brave Women: Tara Fela-Durotoye is a trailblazer

In Nigeria, the beauty industry has grown by leaps and bounds. A report by Euromonitor projected the Nigerian beauty and wellness market to value about $3 billion in 2017. Beyond the figures is an amazing woman, Mrs Tara-Fela Duroye who pioneered the beauty industry in Nigeria. Festus Iyorah reports. In the late 90s, just after... Read More

Citizenship, Thinking Through

#BeBoldForChange, Be Bold For Change, Brave Women, House of Tara, Magazine, tara fela durotoye

Brave Women: Benedicta is limitless (Part II)

Click here for part I of this story. — by Festus Iyorah Benedicta is impaired, not impeded In Nigeria, tertiary education is not meant for able-bodied students alone, visually impaired students have not been left behind in the acquisition of degree in different field in the University. Statistics from Jamb show the number of visually... Read More

#BeBoldForChange, blindness, Glaucoma, LASUTH, Magazine, Opthalmology

Brave Women: Benedicta is limitless (Part I)

One afternoon in 2003, Benedicta Ogbonna was reading a novel when she lost sight in her right eye after scratching it slightly. In a bid to prevent the second eye from being affected, she lost her sight completely to an Ophthalmologist during an operation. Festus Iyorah in this series tells her wrenching, but ultimately, inspiring story.... Read More

#BeBoldForChange, Glaucoma, LASUTH, Magazine, Opthalmology

February 7, 2017

Herdsmen Hazards VII: Many sides to a forgotten crisis [Part 2]

by Festus Iyorah Following the seven-year bloody reign of the deadly Boko haram terrorists in North east part of the country, Nigeria, is yet again embroiled in another conflict that has killed thousands of people from 63 in 2013 to 1,229 people in 2014, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. FESTUS IYORAH in this... Read More

Citizenship, Thinking Through

Fulani herdsmen, herdsmen, Herdsmen Hazards, Magazine, Special Series

February 6, 2017

Herdsmen Hazards VI: Many sides to a forgotten crisis [Part 1]

by Festus Iyorah Following the seven-year bloody reign of the deadly Boko haram terrorists in North east part of the country, Nigeria, is yet again embroiled in another conflict that has killed thousands of people from 63 in 2013 to 1,229 people in 2014, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. FESTUS IYORAH in this... Read More

Citizenship, Thinking Through

Fulani herdsmen, herdsmen, Herdsmen Hazards, Magazine, Special Series

February 5, 2017

Herdsmen Hazards V: Living in poverty and fear

by Festus Iyorah Following the seven-year bloody reign of the deadly Boko haram terrorists in North East part of the country, Nigeria, is yet again embroiled in another conflict that has killed thousands of people from 63 in 2013 to 1,229 people in 2014, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. FESTUS IYORAH in this... Read More

Citizenship, Thinking Through

Fulani herdsmen, herdsmen, Herdsmen Hazards, Magazine, Special Series

February 4, 2017

Herdsmen Hazards IV: The Agatu Massacre [Part 2]

by Festus Iyorah Following the seven-year bloody reign of the deadly Boko haram terrorists in North east part of the country, Nigeria, is yet again embroiled in another conflict that has killed thousands of people from 63 in 2013 to 1,229 people in 2014, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. FESTUS IYORAH in this... Read More

Citizenship, Thinking Through

Fulani herdsmen, herdsmen, Herdsmen Hazards, Magazine, Special Series

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