Exclusive UYAI: 4 TIPS TO AVOID SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD.

Exclusive UYAI: 4 TIPS TO AVOID SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD.: May 27 of every year is set aside to celebrate children all over Nigeria. On this day every year, its a holiday for children as several...

4 TIPS TO AVOID SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD.

May 27 of every year is set aside to celebrate children all over Nigeria.
On this day every year, its a holiday for children as several social activities are centred on and for them.Most children converge at stadiums and centres to commemorate the  day.

It is also a habit of some government officials and media organisations to honour some children with leadership opportunities and awards. Some radio and TV stations do this by featuring child broadcasters on air and letting them anchor their programmes for the early part of the day and are being interviewed.


On this day I was watching a program on one of the television stations and stumbled on an interview where a young girl of 14 year old was talking about child abuse and it was centered on child rape cases.
I went down memory lane when I was a young girl of 7 and we, that is my family were living with my Uncle as we yet to secure accommodation in Lagos.
I was the most senior of my siblings, I had a brother and two sisters with my mother and father. The compound we lived in was a three storey building and there was the servant's quarters or would you call it Boy's quarters.
We had enough space to play around as we loved playing hide and seek.
There was a Man living at the boys quarters, I don't know if he was related to us or he was one of the help in the compound. I can still remember his name which was Aniekan and any time he saw me, he always refereed to me as his wife, which made me blush and will tell him that I was not his wife.

One of those days when I and my siblings were playing the hide and seek game, I ran and hid behind one of the doors in the servant's quarters, praying I won't be discovered. When suddenly this Aniekan Man appeared in the room and as innocent as I was;I hushed him not to talk to me so that I won't be discovered but he had other plans.

He started towards me and pulled me to himself, I was struggling with him and told him that he wants them to catch me, not knowing he was trying to have his way with me,he suddenly put his hands under my skirt that's when it dawned on me that this was something else, I didn't think and started screaming he covered my mouth with his palms and begged me not to scream again that he won't harm me,but my siblings had already heard me scream and they ran in there shouting, "we catch you" oblivious of what almost happened to me and we all ran out of that room.

After that incident, I knew that I was not to go near that area again else something bad might happen to me. And the kind of child I was, I never told anyone about it till date. Luckily for me Aniekan never tried anything with me again and even calling me wife had ended.

So many young girls are not as lucky as I was.

             4 TIPS TO AVOID SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD.

1. Parents should be close to their daughters so that if they are faced with such a thing can can tell them immediately a man tries anything funny.
2. parents teach your children sex education at an early age, let them be aware of the differences.

3. Parents should be aware that the people that abuse children are not strangers but close people around,such as relatives, neighbors, friends etc.

 4. Avoid using Male housekeepers in a home with young girls, you see some families prefer their househelps to be males because they don't want the house help to have an affair with the oga but which is better, for your daughter to be sexually abused, raped?

FOUR (4) WAYS TO LET GO OF PAST HURT

FOUR (4) WAYS TO LET GO OF PAST HURT
There is no one alive that has not been hurt one way or another, we have all experienced some kind of emotional pain. Yeah yeah, it hurts. I get that.
It is very important how you handle the hurt than the hurt itself. The question then is, how dou you let go of past hurts and live a happier life?
Still haunted by our past? Then this post is for you, that is only if you want to be free then read on.

An real example:
From first hand experience, for many years; I have nursed this feeling of anger and bitterness about the past. The feeling of abandonment by my mother, my mind kept screaming about "what should have been" and the endless list of what I experienced without her then kept plaguing my mind.
A time came when there was an outburst, all the pain and bitterness I ever felt came out through words. The pain caused by words of anger and hurt is deeper than using a cane to flog someone. Words linger, even after months pass by, the words still echo as fresh as if it was said yesterday.
I saw the light and decided to take responsibility for my own happiness. My bitterness and hurt was preventing me from experiencing the ease and well-being I so desired, so I stopped dwelling on it.
I ended the blaming game, no more stories of what should have been. The identity which I once had as a wounded child totally vanished. Finally what I yearned for, happiness and peace all round is what I got in return.

FOUR (4) WAYS TO LET GO OF PAST HURT
1. Take a firm decision to let go. Its not east for the hurt to just disappear on its own.You need to make a commitment to let go. If you don't make a conscious effort to work on it, you will still remain on the same spot. Stop going over the details of the story in your head every time you think of the other person, change the topic of discussion when with people and you think the discussion is dragging towards the hurt.

2. Stop blaming others. It might sound good being the victim in this plot but guess what? The world doesn't care, so just get over yourself.
You are important, yes and so does the other person. Life is so deep. Its about
the choices we make. Take responsibility for your life and happiness. Don't allow anyone have that power over you.Be an active participant in your life and not a hopeless victim.

NOTE: DO NOT LET YOUR PAIN BECOME  YOUR IDENTITY.

3. Focus on the present (the now)
Remember you can't undo your past. Stop telling yourself stories from your past. What you can do is to make the present the best day of your life.
Focusing on the present gives you less time to relive your past. Your past is bound to creep in one time or another, just acknowledge it for just a moment and get back on track.Tell youself "its alright" or "such is life", words that encourage.
4. Forgiveness (you and them)
Forgiveness is a two way thing, both for you and the other person. You may not have to forget another person’s bad behaviors, but virtually everybody deserves our forgiveness. Sometimes we get stuck in our pain and our stubbornness, forgiveness isn’t saying, “I agree with what you did.” Instead, it’s saying, “I don’t agree with what you did, but I forgive you anyway.”

Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. Instead, you are simply saying, “I’m a good person. You’re a good person. You did something that hurt me. But I want to move forward in my life and welcome joy back into it. I can’t do that fully until I let this go.” It’s also a way of empathizing with the other person, and trying to see things from their point of view.

And forgiving yourself may be an important part of this step as well, as sometimes we may end up blaming ourselves for the situation or hurt. While we indeed may have had some part to play in the hurt, there’s no reason for you to keep beating yourself up over it. If you can’t forgive yourself, how will you be able to live in peace and happiness?

I don't think anybody’s life should be defined by their pain/hurt. It’s unhealthy, it adds to our stress, it hurts our ability to focus on activities and it impacts every other relationship we have (even the ones not directly affected by the hurt). Every day you keep holding on to the pain is another day everybody around you has to live with that decision and feel its consequences.

Please do yourself and everyone around  a big favor: Let go of the pain. Do something different today and watch as  happiness comes back into your life.

Exclusive UYAI: TIPS ON HOW TO TREAT BLEACHED AND SUN PATCH SKIN WITH ALOE VERA

Exclusive UYAI: TIPS ON HOW TO TREAT BLEACHED AND SUN PATCH SKIN WITH ALOE VERA

TIPS ON HOW TO TREAT BLEACHED AND SUN PATCH SKIN WITH ALOE VERA

TIPS ON HOW TO TREAT BLEACHED AND SUN PATCH SKIN WITH ALOE VERA

I bumped into an old classmate of mine on one of my trips out of time and my oh my what i saw on her was a sorry sight. She had like dark/red patches on her face, she wore a sleeveless silk blouse which made her arms so obvious and you won't help but stare and wonder. I lowered my eyes in a discreet manner to peep at her upper arms close to her armpit, it was an eye sore, snake -like veins stretched through and was red and disgusting to look at.
I thought of a better way to bring up her skin issue without making her self conscious mind her or embarrassing her. So I decided to ask her what she does for a living, she told me she is into catering, so I also told her am in training to open my own spa. She didn't quite understand what I meant by spa. I had to explain, yes! that was the opportunity I was looking for, so I told her its about skincare, if you have problems with your skin, I handle every issue or concerns of the skin.
So I ask her what cream she uses, she told me she combines a tube cream with another cream, permit me not to mention it here. I asked her if she is comfortable with the way her skin was, she replied that the person that told her to use it said that's how the cream reacts at first then later it would stabilize and give her a glowing skin.
I couldn't but giggle at such ignorance, I told her, if she doesn't want to develop skin cancer she better stop using that cream.

I had to be blunt about it though, I told her how irritating her skin was, and it would scare people away from her. I didn't need talk much because  she knew I was telling the truth, I told her to try Aloe Vera gel,
It's perfect for treating most skin problems. It works on hyperpigmentation by encouraging the skin to regenerate new skin cells. As the new skin cells form, the old ones are sloughed off, leaving a fresh, new area free of the unsightly dark spots. Additionally, it adds moisturizing and cleansing properties that leave the skin looking and feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
I told her to look for it and use consistently for a month then let me know how far the healing has gone.

How to treat sunburn skin with aloe Vera
You want to get rid of dark patches on the skin using
aloe vera, you can simply use a freshly picked leaf.
1. Cut a freshly picked aloe vera leaf
2. Rinse it with water
3. Squeeze out some gel
4. Apply the gel onto the dark spots on your face or skin(preferably at night)
5. Leave it to rest for a few minutes (about 30) then rins off with tepid water or rinse off the following morning using mild soap.
6. Repeat the procedure everyday for about a month, depending on individuals' skin, improvement is noticeable between 2-3weeks.Instead of spending loadz of money on expensive creams that have harmful chemicals which can spoil the skin, why not try natural products especially plants extract, such as aloe Vera, you could even plant it in a flower pot or in a little garden, it will grow whether rain or shine. I use it as a moisturizer. Tell us about your experience with aloe Vera, was it helpful or not?

Exclusive UYAI: CELEBRATING CAESARIAN AWARENESS MONTH

Exclusive UYAI: CELEBRATING CAESARIAN AWARENESS MONTH

CELEBRATING CAESARIAN AWARENESS MONTH

CAESARIAN AWARENESS MONTH

The caesarian awareness month falls in April of every year. This is a month dedicated to educate and raise awareness about caesarian. Its a month to encourage women to opt for natural/vaginal delivery rather than Cs because of the risk involved in Caesarian section.

A cesarean section or (CS) for short, is a surgical operation in which a baby is delivered through a cut in the front wall of the abdomen and womb.
We are not saying women should not have caesarian section but only as the last option if the lives of mother and child are in danger, or baby is feet down instead of head,or prolonged labour. CS is not without its risk, its good to be aware of every choices or options we decide to go with.

Amanda shares her experience during her delivery, she is a mother of two lovely children all through the caesarian section. We asked her why she choose to have her baby through caesarian section instead of vaginal birth?

Here is Amanda's Account of her Caesarian section birth story

Amanda: I got married to my husband and I took in during our honeymoon, my husband works in another state while I was at my station. I was not ready to quit my job and he didn't urge me to either, we had an understanding. I would always travel to be with him every other weekend I was less busy. Now back to work after the honeymoon, I had to face my work squarely as I had taken my annual leave for that year, before I knew it I was now approaching the end of my second trimester and could count the number of times I had been with my husband.

When I go for ante-natal at the health care, the nurses always remind us spend more time with our husbands because of its benefit even though that's the worst time to feel in the mood, on my own part I just wonder, what about me that I barely see the man? That was a question I threw only to my self without any answer.
The D day came for me, as I started experiencing cramps in my lower abdomen, which came at intervals. I just knew that was sighns that I was in labour. So I carried my already pack suitcase and called on my landlady who was, thank God available, she drove me to the hospital where I was to have my baby.
I was checked in by the nurse attendant at the counter, the midewife came to check how long I was dilated.
I was just 4cm, she told me I had a long way to go but that everything was alright. The contractions came harder, she came back to me, after checking me she still said, its still the same gal, you better save your strength for latter.

I kept having contractions that were very close in between but hadn't dilated enough to start the push. From one hour to four till almost twelve hours having contractions and not dilated more than 4cm. The doctor decided to induce me which was the worst thing that could happen to me, still no way and I think the inducement did something because my baby was ready to be born but the passage was not ready, so the doctor decided instead of waiting any longer which might hurt me and my baby we should take that route.
They had to call up my husband for his consent before the procedure. My husband was reluctant to give his consent for almost 1hour, while I was groaning in pains waiting for just the "yes" which would relieve me of the pain I was experiencing.

Finally, it came. He said the word. And before I knew what was happening, I was wheeled on a stretcher to the theatre. I was first give anastesic to numb any feeling in my lower body, seriously all the contractions vanished.  I felt so peaceful, all I could hear were voices of the doctor and the widwife with the attendant present, it wasn't up to 10minutes when the doctor held up my baby for me to see and placed him in the midwife's arms as she started cleaning him up. The doctor was now working on me so fast, that I kept wondering what he was doing with such speed. I kept muttering prayers under my breath for God to direct him, there should be no mistake as I have heard of horrid stories.I refused to dwell on those stories, the Doctor was talking to me all this while and asking me questions, some I couldn't answer, I guess that was so that I wouldn't sleep off.

Minutes later, or should I say hours later, I didn't check the time so I can't actually say how long the operation took, but I was wheeled out to the post partum ward while the midwife followed with my baby.

I was given specific instructions not to lift my head for any reason, I was too weak to even ask the reason. That's how I laid on my back for 3days at a stretch. I couldn't breastfeed my baby because my milk hadn't come in. The attendant cleaned me daily and kept checking my back, I asked her why, she said she was checking in case I developed bedsores.OMG. The things we go through, on the fourth day, I could lift my head and I was encouraged to try and walk.
It was so painful, I was bent over because of the pain that didn't allow me walk erect.And this past 3days I was not eating anything except the drip which according to them gave me all the nutrients I needed.
Almost five days in the hospital, though it was worth it, my baby hail and hearty gave me the consolation even though I couldn't care for him. My family helped me my baby, from diapering, to helping me breastfeed him, to bathing him. I really wished I could but the stitches on me didn't let me.
I could go on and on with my experience during the caesarian section but my last thought is that mothers should embrace vaginal or natural childbirth, because its easier, less painful,  less exposure to infection and complication,less expensive and more or else gives you the chance to bond with your baby during the first hours of his birth.

Exclusive UYAI: Benefits of house chores on children

Exclusive UYAI: Benefits of house chores on children

Benefits of house chores on children

The road to getting children to do chores is not an easy one but its worth the try and very beneficial to them in the long run.
Experience has shown that children who have a set of chores assigned to them are better able to deal with frustration and have higher self esteem and are more responsible.

Parents should at an earlier age introduce doing house chores to their children, it will only help them in the long run, you as a parent should not feel guilty making your children engage in house chores, or you might feel they are still so young to take on responsibilities, you should know their capabilities at a certain age and the appropriate chores to assign them.

Chores such as, pick up toys (even if you didn’t make the mess!) on the living room floor, make your beds etc, the family and they begin to see themselves as a very important contributors to their family. Children should be held accountable for their chores, this can increase their sense of  responsibility and prepare them for more responsibility as they grow up.

By assigning chores to your children, you are teaching them skills of every day living.For parents who did not begin a chore plan when their children were younger,its not too late to help your kid
Your home truly is the training ground for the playground, the classroom, and the workplace. The expectations that you demand will set the stage for
how well your child adjusts to the expectations outside of the home.
 Read more on  www.webmd.com/parenting/features/chores-for-children

2 WAYS ON HOW I GOT RID OF SMELL FROM PLASTIC BOTTLES

According to my sister, google it, or she'd say google should be your friend, and so I took that advice. If I need to do something and am stuck at how to go about it, I just google for answers.
The internet is a wealth of knowledge, there is so much that it can help you achieve.
Well I needed bottles to store oil, I mean red oil(palm oil) but the bottles I got were shampoo bottles. The seller said I could wash it and use but I was sceptical because of the smell of the shampoo in the plastic bottles affecting the oil, so I thought of how to get rid of the smell that defied washing with hot water.

Google came to the rescue but not all information gotten from the internet actually works in real life, that was an opportunity to find out.
I started surfing the net on how to get rid of smell/odour from plastic bottles, I came across so many options but decided to try out the easiest.

Some options of getting rid of the shampoo smell in the bottles involved using some form of chemical substance which requires spending some good money to buy and I was not ready to do away with any money just to get rid of the smell from the bottles when I would have rather bought brand new bottles.
So I took a look in my pantry to see if I had some of the things mentioned , yes I had Like two available things which are the newspaper and baking soda otherwise called bicarbonate of soda.

 

I started with the newspaper, I crumbled pieces of newspaper and put it inside the bottles and closed the lid, I left it for approximately 6hours, by the time I opened the bottles, I removed the crumbled newspaper, do u know what I discovered? The paper had absorbed the smell of the shampoo from the bottles, I was a bit disappointed though as I could still smell the shampoo faintly, should I have left the newspapers a little longer or the newspaper was not enough? Well I didn't have that patience to wait, so I decided to make use of the baking soda.

I filled the bottles with water, i dropped in 3teaspoons of baking soda and covered the lid, then I shook the bottles and left it for a day, the following day I poured out the liquid, to my amazement that faint smell of shampoo had vanished totally.
It worked, so when next you have bottles or anything with smells you don't gbadun just try this methods I used, tested and trusted. 

NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES REVEALS SECRET ON HOW THEY STAY YOUNGER AND BEAUTIFUL.

Getting  flabbier and  saggy was a thought associated with the process of ageing but in this day and age the ladies in the spot light have proved that to be wrong. Instead beauty comes with aging and so many of them are aging beautifully.

Bukky Wright who is in her 50s, but who can tell.She has flawless skin and She is an actress one can say is  really aging gracefully. She told Encomium Magazine that she uses African Shea butter on her skin, she uses it as body butter.
she also revealed another beauty regime; " I do have facials, but I’ll tell you something, I like to do them myself. I’ve discovered what works for me and I don’t want to go for a facial and some one puts something on my face that will ruin it. One thing I do is something called oil and honey therapy. Its red oil (epo or palm oil) mixed with honey and a little lime. I rub it on my skin for ten to twenty minutes and then shower, come out glowing. Also, at other times, I add a little St. Ives Scrub to the oil and honey mixture and use to scrub my face. Before this I use a hot damp towel to open the pores. Then I scrub, wash off, dab the face and use an icy cold towel on my face to help close the pores again".

 Ireti Doyle is in her late 40s, here we have a beautiful and  youthful lady who doesn't seem to age as the years go by, you would  wonder what is the secret behind it but she owes it all to God.

Omosexy for short as she is popularly called, is one of the finest face in Nollywood, she took to her social media pages on her secret to her youthfulness.
Here's what she said:


"asking how I keep my skin glow. 1. I drink a lot
of water 2. When I fall asleep , I really sleep 3. I drink a
lot of fresh fruit juice 4. I only use baby lotions and
moisturizers ( my mum's secret) 5. Peace of mind ...
hope at least one tip helps..." she posted.

Another ageless beauty on our list is Rita Dominic who is in her late 30s,
In a brief chat with Sunday Express, Rita said the secret of
her new look was her spa treatment which she uses to pamper herself. “I make sure
that I get to the spa for some ‘me alone’ time. I also
exercise almost every day to deal with stress.
I go to the spa to pamper myself. I believe in massages and
therapeutic body treatment to remove the toxins in my
body”.

So ladies, you don't have to wait till your 30s to start looking after your appearance, skin, face, dressing and otherwise. When you look good, you will definitely feel good thereby boosting your self confidence. Chao!

3 WAYS TO MANAGE A TOXIC MOTHER

A toxic relationship is a relationship characterized by a behaviour of a toxic partner

that are emotionally and, not infrequently, physically damaging to their partner. 

A toxic relationship damages self-esteem and drains energy. A toxic relationship, is not a safe place. Characteristics of a toxic relationship is feeling of insecurity, self-centeredness, dominance, control. You are at risk at being or staying in such a relationship. 

Worthy of note is that a toxic relationship is between two people, there is the victim and the toxic personality. A toxic relationship cuts across abusive boyfriend or girlfriend, spouses, coworkers and also amongst family members.

A toxic personality is one who engages in

inappropriate controlling and manipulative behaviors on regular basis.

What happens if the toxic personality is your beloved mother?

She portrays you to others around, such as relatives or friends as being ungrateful, frustrated, troubled person who looks for whom to blame for how your life turned out, or she voices out details of what you might have told her to relatives, belittling you and making you feel drained, unfulfilled, not feeling good about yourself or regret having her in your life.

Some toxic mothers are just abusive as they picked up such habit along the way, maybe through hard life experiences or just learned responses. 

THREE WAYS YOU COULD MANAGE THE SITUATION

1. The first and most important step is the acceptance of who your mother is, you cannot choose who your mother is, or can you?

2. Set boundaries. Let your goal be on self control. Instead of being on the defensive or trying to attack her with words which would only lead to argument and accusations. Let her know your feelings in simply and short sentences, such as "this works best for me" or " please let it go", am not saying she will accept your feelings immediately but she gets the message you are sending which is you don't accept any longer the way she treats you or makes you feel. 

You do not need to abuse your mother, the Holy Book says to 'honour your parents'. You just stand your ground on what you want, having at the back of your mind that you are an adult not a child. Though you will always wish for and grieve a relationship you wished you shared with your mother.

3. Mothers do have a great effect on their children especially during disagreement. If the toxic relationship between you and your mother affects your health,my dear its high time to really think hard about the situation and find a lasting solution. Developing high blood pressure isn't a child's play as it could lead to life threatening situations. That's when you need to seek help from God, seek counsel from Men of God, you can also seek professional help from a psychologist.

I came across this Mark Tyrrell's Therapy Techniques, you could check it out, find out what solution will work for you.

BUT THE LOVE OF A MOTHER IS SWEETER THAN SUGAR.

5 THINGS A MAN SHOULD NOT DO TO A WOMAN

5 THINGS A MAN SHOULD  NOT DO TO A WOMAN

Ø  I am sure you have heard of people breaking up with people by text messages, which I think is a bad idea. But the main thing is proposing by text message. That is a big no for me. Proposing by text message??

I mean is this man out of his senses. Even if the man does not have the money to take the woman to an expensive restaurant. That should not be an issue. The main point is that the proposal should be done face to face. Sending a proposal by text, in my opinion, tells me how little the man values the woman or that he didn’t take time to think about the proposal and if I may be so bold to add, that he is a coward.

Ø  Never put a woman down, just because she has done something that a man should have done.

An example, if both a man and a woman are going somewhere in a car and the car happened to have a flat tire and the woman decides to change the tire instead of waiting for the mechanic, then let her. The man should not bash her or insult her or say something like “I don’t want a man” as if to say God made a mistake in her identity.

photo credit:www.dailyclipart.net

 

Ø  Another thing a man should not do to a woman is insult her. some men cannot take it if a woman he is wooing refuses, before you kow it he tells her so many hurtful things such as; that she should be happy that he is telling her that he loves her, and that there are other women that would love to hear that.

First of all, we as human beings are not all the same, so just because a particular   woman is not interested or does not fall head over heels for a man when words of love is spoken by the man, should not attract insult from the man.

Ø  Never use the woman as a money vending machine.

You might ask is that possible? Well the answer is yes. Back in the days when girls were girls; a friend of mine who was very young and naïve fell prey to this guy, he was fully employed and earning income then my girl who is merely a student. This guy used every tactics in the book get money from her, and she some many times had to borrow from friends to satisfy the gold digging Bf.

Ø  Never tell the woman you are wooing or in a relationship with that you dated a beauty queen or about your sexual conquest with other women.

You should appreciate her for who and how she is, a big NO to comparism of physical, emotional characteristics.

I would like to recommend the books by Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages, The Five Love Language (Singles edition) and Love is a Verb. You can also research online for his other books in the “love language series”

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP YOURSELF TILL MARRIAGE.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP YOURSELF TILL MARRIAGE.


Women lose when we give in  Call me old fashioned, but I believe sex should be between a married couple.




This comes as a realization when I had made a mistake and yes a mistake not several but just one mistake. An experience so many young unmarried women can tell.


There was a man whom I believed I was going to marry and I fell in love with him but when we quarreled the truth really came out about how he felt about me. I was a virgin when I met him. We were “intimate” but when we quarreled he said he didn’t think I was a virgin. Such statement sent me into a period of “deep mourning” believe it or not, I came to the conclusion that I will do it God’s way no matter how long it takes to get a future partner (husband).


NOTE:
Women should hold themselves in high esteem, and not give into sexual desires that is not in marriage.


Most importantly, we as women need our emotions intact so that God can use us for his glory. When we give in, we don’t only lessen our value, we sin against our body. This advice can also apply to men. Our body is the temple of God and should be treated as such. The Bible says in 1Cor 6:18, flee fornication.


This is very important to God,  it says in the 7th commandment in the Bible, thou shalt not commit adultery and we can substitute adultery for fornication. Notwithstanding, Jesus Christ came to the world to give us grace and truth. It is by the grace of God that we are saved and not by works or following the ways of the world.

TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE THE ABUJA TRANSPORTATION FARE HIKE

A visitor to the FCT may experience what I just did. If it is your first time in Abuja and you don't have any one to give you directions or tell you how much the cab fare is, just get ready to spend all your money on transportation to your destination. Unsuspecting visitors fall prey to this such of situation in Abuja.
 Standing at Uye bus stop  looking for a cab to take me to Shoprite at Apo. I asked the first cab, a dark-skinned man, possibly  in his 30s, he said Menini! speaking in Hausa  as if I understood  what that meant. I replied  Apo, he blurted  out three Thousand , e far like that, was what I could reply as he zoomed off,in search of another passenger.
I stood there for like 20 minutes  still trying to get a cab.Finally I got tired and frustrated  and decided to go with the next cab that stops  for me, suddenly  a cab approaches  me, the driver of the cab waves his hand at me, pointing at a position adjacent the road I stood, I just guessed  that meant my destination,and I asked how much for Apo? I didn't wait to banter  the fare with him, I just opened  the cab door and practically jumped in so that he won't have any reason not to pick me,as he sped away.
The road was free not the usual traffic holdup peculiar  to Lagos, though the it was busy but no traffic jam.
The sight was delightful to the eyes, as I passed luxurious  buildings in choice  places, business premises as well as hotels which all smelt big buck, what can I say,Abuja is a very beautiful  place.
Almost at my destination, the cab driver asked for the exact place I was going to in Apo, I told him family Christian Center, at least that is what I was told to say as its easier  to locate my destination  that way.
The cab pulled  up at my destination, I asked the cab man how much I was to pay him, he said 3000naira, I told him I couldn't  pay that amount  of money for such a short  distance. He started speaking  his language (mother tongue)I didn't  understand  a word of what he said, but thank God he could communicate  with me. Finally, we came to an agreement  and I paid 1500,whoof, at least, ok right?

 Hints on how to  survive  the Abuja Transportation fare hike.
* Be smart
* Wake up early to avoid the early morning  rush.
* Don't act like a stranger
* Call whoever  you are visiting  to give you  directions  and tell you how much it cost to get there.
* Consider jumping bus/cab or unless you can afford it, go for the cab;you will arrive your  destination in record time.

Exclusive UYAI: THE IBOM PLAZA: HOT SPOT?

Exclusive UYAI: THE IBOM PLAZA: HOT SPOT?

Exclusive UYAI: THE IBOM PLAZA: HOT SPOT?

Exclusive UYAI: THE IBOM PLAZA: HOT SPOT?: As I sat in a two storey building adjacent the plaza in Uyo Metropolis, which houses businesses of all sort, ranging from sales of pho...

THE IBOM PLAZA: HOT SPOT?

As I sat in a two storey building adjacent the plaza in Uyo Metropolis, which houses businesses of all sort, ranging from sales of phones and accessories to repairs of phones, tabs, computers, Longrich distributor, startimes, etc. While waiting to get my tab fixed by a phone technician, I sat close to a window because the room was not well ventilated, many people were also trying to do one thing or the other, so I looked out the window and the sight that met my eyes was so fascinating.

From where I sat I could view everything happening below. The hustle and bustle at Ibom Plaza makes that spot so intriguing.

People are seen doing different things, Some are reading newspapers which are on display on the pavement, you pay a token to read the newspapers, though I can't tell how much because I didn't ask, there are also analysing the news, giving one comment or the other. I wonder how they manage without a fight breaking out as there are differences in views and opinions.

Photographers beckon on passersby to take a shot as if it were free, hawkers hawking their wares, some just display their wares on the pavement and just sit there beckoning on passersby to buy from them, children hawking sacheter(pure water) and all sorts of things.

The Ibom plaza is the most lively place in Uyo metropolis.In the evenings, the Ibom plaza is a place to behold, the water fountain and the lighting all give a pleasing sight within the Ibom plaza, there are bars/drinking parlours, restaurants and a great sit out for lovers to hangout, little meetings even take place here.

If you are a visitor to Uyo the capital of Akwa Ibom state and you have not been to the plaza or passed by then you need to pay it a visit, or you are just up for sightseeing, don't you think Ibom plaza is worthy of mention amongst those places?

Tips on actualising your New Year Resolution

Tips on actualising your New Year Resolution

A new year resolution is a promise or vow one makes to himself to achieve an aim and mostly done during a beginning of a new year. Its a time one sits down and reflect on your past and how and where to adjust.

Some new year resolutions could be quitting a negative habit such as smoking, cutting down on late night partying etc, bring idle.

A new year resolution does not necessarily mean trying to quit a negative habit, it could also be learning a trade, or advancing one's educational pursuit, eating healthy,losing a few pounds etc.

1.  Write down your new year's resolutions on a your diary or calendar, some people write on sticker papers and stick it where will be visible. You could paste it on your bedside etc.
2. Work towards it.If you intend to quit smoking for example, avoid things or places that bring on the urge. You can even avoid those of your friends that are smokers, just for a while ooo.
3. Stop procrastinating - Procrastination is the greatest obstacle that hinders people from actualising their goals, when you keep postponing what you would have done today for later.If you have the intention of furthering your education, you have to first of all make enquiries then purchasing of the forms for the school you intend to enrol.Don't wait.

My believe is that, you should start whatever you want to achieve from the very first day of the new year. A to-do list will help you actualise your goals. If you have a better way of actualising your new year's resolution, please send to us.

5 steps to get your chicken defeathered like a Pro.

Chicken, its only palatable for some people after it has been cooked and ready to be eaten but the process of getting to that stage is what so many cannot stand, moi for example.

This Christmas was the first time I have actually stood to watch the process, I have always ran far far away when its time for killing of the chicken but this Christmas I don't know where I got the courage to watch it..

 My kids decided that they'd rather visit grandma for the Christmas than what I had planned for them.

Grateful for that, after the Christmas service at the church we headed for our hometown which is just a 20 minute drive.

On arrival, after exchanging of pleasantries with relatives, my usual self I went to the kitchen, there was no one there, so I decided to check the backyard, OMG the slaughtering of the Christmas Chicken. Thank God I didn't meat the squeaking  and feather flapping of the chicken as it struggled to free tself.
 Even though I came after the neck had been cut off, that means I missed the scariest part or should I say the part that scares me, but at least you will still know how to get the defeathered chicken found in cold rooms,when we go to buy frozen chicken..winks.

Things needed:
Big Basin
Hot water(boiling point)
Sharp knife
Chopping wood(ajiok)
Plantain leaves or whatever you can to place on the ground against blood spills.

Step1: Missed that.Thank God
Step 2: put the beheaded chicken in hot water

Step 3: After like 2-3 minutes, start plucking the feathers off the chicken. The hot water is to make the feathers come off easily. Be fast about it, and it depends on the breed of the chicken.The skin of the chicken might start coming off, so its best you remove the chicken from the hot water and defeather.

Step 4: place the defeather chicken on the plaintain leaves or whatever you have that will not allow blood to stain the floor.

Tada! You get your chicken but its not finished. Now to the part for those with experience. 

Step 5: cut out the two legs, starting at the tight, oh OK drumsticks . cut it out like in the photo below.

Be careful here, there is something inside the chicken that is bitter, not bitter Like bitter leaf but worse if it breaks. The whole chicken will be affected and that means nobody can eat the chicken even if you wash with all the water in the world, or maybe am yet to hear of a way to get such bitter taste off.

That's it, remove the intestine paying attention to the greenish thing very close to the intestine. After removing it slowly, you can isolate it and finish the cutting of the chicken before attending to that part.

Now the question is do you prefer getting a live chicken or getting frozen chicken? You can send in your answers to uyailady@gmail.com or use the comment space provided.

HOW WE CELEBRATE NEW YEAR THIS SIDE

New Year celebrations is for people of all faiths and religious creeds, because it is a celebration of life and gratitude for being alive to witness a new year.

Christians as well as Muslims alike all celebrate New Year, even though the form and manner of celebrations differ from religion to religion, culture to culture.Whatever the style its just a celebration and show of gratitude to the Almighty.The Christians attend a service in Church to usher in the New Year amidst prayers, singing and jubilation.

In Nigeria, people travel from the cities back to their villages to celebrate New Year with grandparents and relatives. Celebrating Christmas and New Year in villages with one’s extended families and folks is a Nigerian thing, and this involves a lot of preparations and spending.

People travel back to villages to see their older folks, and those in villages come to cities to see their brothers and sisters and to enjoy the season in the city. People also buy new clothes or sew new ones to reflect a new appearance; while individual homes and streets get decorated with ribbons and lighted Christmas trees and all sorts of colourful lights.

During the New Year celebrations, youths light fireworks or as we call it “bangers” in the spirit of celebrations,and in Nigeria for example, State Government and Corporate bodies as well as individuals organize carnival parties that might last from a day to a couple of days.

The Calabar Carnival which is organised by the Cross River State government, the Dakkada Unity Festival put together by one of the sons of the soil Nature Udoh, to bring fun and enjoyment to Akwa Ibomites.The carnivals take the form of street processions and dancing to parties and music

The Christmas and New Year celebrations would not be complete without food.Almost all families slaughter goats, sheep, ram, chicken or turkey to make the best of pounded yam, jollof rice, fried rice, vegetable salad, local soups and all types of delicacies. And there is free flow of beer, palm wine, exotic wines, locally brewed drinks, and fruit juices among others.

After the the service to thank God for allowing us witness the new year, some families take their families out to eateries or for sight seeing or return home to eat home cooked meals.