Some Pampering Gifts For Loved Ones

Written by Adjekpagbon Blessed

Teaser: Are you thinking about ways or gifts that you can use to pamper your loved ones? There are many kinds and ways to pamper our loved ones. It depends on the category they belong in your life.

Various types of pampering gifts are available for you to show how much you care for diverse classes of folks. For instance, they could be men, women or soon-to-be-parents. The gifts can be tangible or intangible gifts.

Introduction: Pampering simply means to give someone great attention, or being often kind and caring to someone. We are not created to go through life alone. If you are looking for the best items or ways to show kindness or love to people you care for, this piece is for you.

As there is a saying that "There are different strokes for different folks," likewise there are different pampering gifts for different categories of people. Here, Bulkybon News is concerned with some gifts and ways to pamper women, men and soon-to-be-parents.

Some cozy, affordable, unique and luxury pampering gifts which you can choose from are the meat and potatoes here. They are tangible and intangible in nature, such as: time, face fresher, spa, classic t-shirts, sport, hugs/kisses, baby diapers, classic toys and books for babies. 

Others are; neck pillow, scuff slippers, bliss plush throw, bath pillow, nail tools/polish, body spray, stretch marks cream, etc that are categorized in this piece.

Pampering Gifts For Women: 

Women generally like to be pampered by men. Do you have a mother, sister, wife or lover, you want to show love with special gifts? We are here to guide you on how you can use three different categories of gifts to pamper any woman or lady. Pampering a woman is not just all about giving her money or tangible things every time. Many women like spouses that create time to be with them once in a while. 

Time: is one of the most valuable intangible gifts you could use to pamper a woman. Take one or two days break from your personal schedules and take her out or spend the whole time at home or at a cozy resort with her. Even though time is an intangible phenomenon, it is highly valued by the majority of women. 

Face fresher: The first part of a woman's body that she wants everyone to admire is her face. Buy her beauty products that are especially meant to make her face lovingly fresh like an apple. Some top skin care products women uses to fresh up their face include lancome, clinique and clarins etc. They are available at some beauty shops online and offline. 

Clothes: Women likes looking good in the public and at home. Buy some romantic lingerie for your woman to look sweet for you at home. Lovely lingerie makes women look "tenderly – genderly," with enticing feelings such as those evoked in a romantic poem titled "Tenderly - genderly," by Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon. You may also order for attractive blouses, gowns or skirts that can accentuate her body size or shape in the public. Some top ranking shops dealing on female clothing could be found online and offline.

Pampering Gifts For Men:

Even though men are seen as brave and could withstand tough situations, they are humans with feelings too. They like to be pampered by their loved ones as well, with tangible and intangible gifts.

Hugs/kisses: Many men appreciate when they are constantly hugged, pecked or kissed by their female spouses or lovers. It is very important to give your man hugs, pecks and kisses from time to time. It will make him feel loved by you. Whisper a sweet rambling into his ear, while pecking or hugging him.

Sport: lf your partner is the type that loves watching football, or any other type of sporting activity, you can show your care for him by also watching it while seated close to him. Support his favourite football team like Manchester United or Real Madrid or Barcelona. By doing so, you are pampering him with his sporting passion and fanship. Such support is very fulfilling even though it is an intangible gift. 

Classic t-shirt: Apart from intangible things, men also like receiving tangible gifts. One of the tangible things you can use to pamper a man includes colourful t-shirts. Most men like wearing t-shirt  on jean pant during summer weekends. Classic t-shirts are available at various online and offline shops.

Pampering Gifts For Soon-To-Be-Parents:

Three pampering gifts that can be presented to show love to soon-to-be-parents includes baby diapers, classic baby toys or baby books for the baby, and stretch marks cream for the mother. 

However, in terms of other classifications, pampering gifts can be classified into cozy, affordable, unique and luxury pampering gifts.

Three cozy pampering gifts: Cozy gifts are tangible items that are mostly used indoors. There are some that are meant for outdoors purpose too. You can give any of your loved ones cozy gifts such as Tempur - neck pillows, cuff slippers and bliss plush throws. These are pampering gifts for warmth indoors.

Three affordable pampering gifts: Bath - pillow, nail tool/polish and body spray are pampering gifts you can give to your loved ones without emptying your bank account.

Three unique pampering gifts for women: There are various pampering gifts that can be given to women. But the three most unique ones that we chose here for you, are; time, face fresher and clothes.

Three luxury pampering gifts: Holiday scented candles set; fragrances and lipsticks are on top of the list of luxury gifts that are cherished by women.

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Niger Delta's recurring controversies

Book: Friends and Enemies of  the Niger Delta

Author: Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie

Publisher: Designers Palace and Azuka Books Incorporation, Lagos

Book Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed

Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta, is a compilation of all the views of Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group and former Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC). The book mirrors the Niger Delta problems, challenges and the way forward.

The book was edited by late Jeremiah Egbemo Ifie, who was a lecturer in the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan. The compilation was first published in 2005 and re-edited in 2006. All the issues raised in its content are still as fresh as ever as Joseph Evah, whose activities of quest for rights and betterment of life for the people of the oil producing region forms the musings in the book.

It contains 400 pages made up of 19 chapters. The briefs of Evah and the editor/author are stated in the pages before the contents page. The mission of the compilation, according to Ifie is: "The total emancipation of the Niger Delta from social, economic, political and educational bondage."

Ijaw and the Niger Delta in Nigerian History, is theme of discussed in Chapter One. It is a historical analysis of who the Ijaw people are, which is an adaptation from a paper delivered as a key note address at the 'Boro Day' celebration of the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INNA) at the Hilton, Woodbridge, New Jersey, on May 24, 2003.

The first publication signed by Evah on behalf of the Ijaw National Congress that led to his first detention by security agents during the Abacha regime is the concern of Chapter Two. Under the theme Ijaw Declare War on Oil Firm, Evah says: "Everything in this world comes and goes; the oil wealth cannot be an exception. When such moment comes, what do we tell our children? The future generation will never forgive us."

Ijaw Youths vow to resist River Niger Dredging is the topical issue of Chapter Three. Evah explains; "The dredging of the lower Niger Delta is a time bomb to our fragile ecosystem which we must resist with our last blood." He further discloses that, "Our youths are prepared along the water ways. We are not only going to line up along the dredging routes, but we are also going to use the oil companies workers as shield in terms of dredging ourselves." He is of the opinion that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a smokescreen.

The exploit of Nigeria in the world beauty pageant won by Miss Agbani Darego, in 2001, which brought pride to the people of the entire black race is the meat of Chapter Four. Other issues raised in this chapter are under sub-themes such as Ijaw Seek Support For New Local Government in Warri; Ijaw Congratulates Clark, Dafinone; Ijaw Ready For Peace; Ijaw Students Should Embrace Peace; Group Applauds Ijaw Women Over Seizure of Oil Wells; Ijaw Condemns Biafra Map; Niger Delta Crisis; Ijaw Ready For Dialogue; Ijaw Mourn Brisibe; Marshal Harry: Ijaw Group Indicts Federal Government; and Ijaws Console NUJ Over Drowned Journalists, and others.

In Chapter Five with the thematic headline, Niger Delta Breeds Bread and Butter Politicians, Evah in his no nonsense manner, lampoons some sycophantic politicians of the Niger Delta region. He further points out that without a visionary leadership both at the federal and state government levels, no appreciable progress can be made by the NNDC or any other ministry set up to look into the problems and needs of the Niger Delta people. This section tackles the issue of the newly established Niger Delta Ministry. He expresses fear that it does not go the same way like NDDC and OMPADEC.

The social crusader expresses his joy over the day Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri mixed together freely to organise a boat regatta on Warri River, as a common source that binds them together. Hence, the people of the Niger Delta should cooperate to find a common ground to live and love one another as a people united by not only water, but also by blood through intermarriages over the years. He says it is symbolic for Warri, the engine room and heartbeat of the Niger Delta. The human rights activist is a man of peace, love and cooperation, judging from his general concern for the people of different ethnic nationalities in the oil producing region of the country. If such spirit of good neighbourliness can be inculcated and displayed by our communities, local and national leaders, discrimination about where you come from and the religion you practice will no longer act as clog in the wheel of our national harmony and development.

From Chapter Six to 15, different topical issues that are very engaging are highlighted with eloquent sagacity. Such issues include, Leadership Problem of Niger Delta; On the Destruction of Odi; and Finding A Lasting Solution to Niger Delta Youths Restiveness, and so on.

Chapters 16 to 19 deals with miscellaneous issues. Social critics and environmental activists from the Niger Delta speak on topics such as Ijaw National Congress (INC); Constitutional-making and the struggle for resource control in Nigeria, amongst others. These issues are very thought provoking considering previous statements made by Evah in the past, which later turned out real.

Evah says the only solution to the Niger Delta problem is when the federal government, the oil companies and some flatterers claiming to be patriots of the Niger Delta stop telling lies, and make genuine efforts to develop the area to look like Abuja.

The book ends with a pictorial of the activist and some notable personalities from the Niger Delta and other regions of country such as, Miss Anne Kio Briggs, Director of Mobilization of Ijaw Monitoring Group; former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; members of the Niger Delta Blind Students; former President of Arewa Youth Consultative Assembly; former Ndigbo Leader of Lagos and a host of others.

For those who are not well enlightened about the problems and degradation facing the Niger Delta people from time immemorial, Friends and Enemies of the Niger Delta is a good material to read. Experts working on issues concerning the Niger Delta will also find the book resourceful for study.

However, there are some shortcomings in the book. Typographical errors here and there and the non-specific identification of the Arewa President and Lagos Ndigbo leader by their proper names for better clarification in the pictorial pages are major flaws. Such errors need to be corrected during re-impression of the book. These errors notwithstanding, it is an eye-opening book which every individual who has the Niger Delta people's love at heart need to read.

                                                            END

 

Book Review: Media's Role As Environmental Watchdog

Book: The Environment As Seen By The Nigerian Media

Edited by: Philip Jakpor

Publisher: Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria

Year: 2012

Pages: 88

Reviewer of book: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

"The Environment As Seen By The Nigerian Media," is a book that highlights the importance of reporting the environment through proper journalistic training to enhance information dissemination to the public concerning climate change, gas flaring, desertification, environmental governance, deforestation amongst other issues.

In the foreword, renowned environmental activist and executive director of "Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria," Nnimmo Bassey says the book “is an attempt to assess the quality of reports from journalists that have participated in the trainings as well as those that subsequently agreed to be part of the Journalist Network for the Environment (JNE). Like the trainings, it is our belief that this book will contribute to enhancing the capacity of members of the network and media users to further broaden the environmental discourse by opening new vistas for investigation.”

Philip Jakpor - book Editor

From the foregoing, the 88-page book which contains sixteen articles throw light on various environmental issues under different themes as follows: ‘Something is wrong with the Water,’ ‘Tsunami in Lagos: Coast not Clear,’ ‘When quest for profit endangers lives,’ ‘Global warming: How poverty supports the most dangerous kind of emissions,’ ‘What a waste,’ ‘Are Lagos canals ready for the rainy season?,’ ‘Deforestation: Looming Self-Inflicted Disaster,’ ‘Use of explosives in mining business undermines national security,’ ‘Nigeria’s Horrifying Oil Spill Response Management,’ ‘Ibadan Flood: The Story Three Months After,’ ‘Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges,’ ‘Nasarawa’s ever-present refuse dumps,’ ‘Spilling a Controversy,’ ‘Drying Lake Chad Puts 30 million Lives on Edge,’ ‘Tsekelewu: A community ravaged by oil prospecting activities,’ and ‘Radioactivity threatens miners in Plateau, Nasarawa- Why residents of affected areas give b
irth to deformed babies.’

Apart from the aforementioned articles, the book also contains four news reports namely, ‘ERA Exposes Shell Again On Environmental Terror,’ ‘Nigeria loses 3,000 hectares of vegetation yearly- ERA,’ ‘Lead Poison: ERA Blames Zamfara Government,’ ‘Environmental say COP 17 agreement hazy,’ respectively, and pictures from the JNE media training.

The outbreak of cholera at a particular time in Lagos and other states of the country makes Ben Ezeamalu’s article titled ‘Something is wrong with the Water,’ very refreshing. Its sub-theme titled ‘Petrol-water mixture,’ brings to the fore the importance of making sure water being consumed by the public is well taken care of. Cholera respects no age as water pollution can cause danger to anybody’s health based on some respondents statements quoted in the article. According to a saying, ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’ Hence, it is important to avert water pollution before it gets out of hand as it is the quickest means through which diseases could spread.

‘When quest for profit endangers lives,’ written by Sam Nzeh, is another notable article that discusses the establishment of companies in residential areas and the subsequent harms they could cause to people living in such environments. Making reference to some companies threat to folks living in the localities where they are sited, Nzeh says: “Since the companies began operation some years ago, not only have both communities been subjected to rising noise level, the air and water sources in these communities have been polluted… This is aside the fact that roofs of several buildings in the communities have also been perforated courtesy of flying stones from the quarries.”  The article also beams about how ERA demanded that the companies be compelled to produce the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted on the existing project sites and mitigation measures contained therein. This underscores ERA as an environmental warlord that protects the rights of oppressed folks by nonchalant companies in the communities they operate in.

The power poverty has over many people in the world which makes them reside in horrible environments, comes to the fore in Ugochukwu Chemziri’s article titled ‘Global warming: How poverty supports the most dangerous kind of emissions. The writer says, “Poverty has immense contribution to gender imbalance, abuse of rights, inability to access good food, water, healthcare amongst others… Nigeria is one or perhaps the only country in Africa housing over 15 million of various versions of 2-stroke engines… there are three types of 2-stroke engines that dominate the system. The two-wheeled bikes are called ‘Okada’ while the tree-wheeled ones are named ‘keke or Napep.’  The article says many local respiratory related deaths are either not investigated or believed to be effects of tobacco smoking; it is becoming evident that most cases linked to tobacco smoking in these countries are actually caused by 2-stroke engine emissions in the air.”

Poverty has therefore been contributing to more gas emission as many jobless people have been using 2-stroke engines for transport business over a decade, to make ends meet.

‘What a waste,’ written by Ben Ezeamalu, Segun Balogun, and Simon Ejembi, reminds the reader of  the constant indiscriminate burning of waste by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) at the Olusosun-Ojota waste dump, which always choke residents of Ojota and Ketu, and makes them cough ceaselessly from time to time. The article highlights the danger inherent in constant burning of waste by not only LAWMA but individuals and companies nationwide. Government’s effort to curb the menace is also elaborated in the article.

‘Nigeria’s Horrifying Oil Spill Response Management,’ written by Clara Nwachukwu is a very commendable piece about oil spill in the Niger Delta area; the nonchalant attitude of multinational oil companies and the federal government to clean up the damages; and the duo's refusal to adequately compensate folks whose water, land and atmosphere are rendered useless. The article asserts that in Nigeria, “Government cannot hold oil companies accountable like the US Government did with BP” in the Gulf of Mexico incident.

Tina Hassan’s ‘Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges,’ and ‘Nasarawa’s ever-present refuse dumps,’ are two interesting but worrisome articles that discusses environmental challenges that borders on desertification, wind erosion in the north, gully erosion and severe floods that ravaged the country’s six geopolitical zones in some years ago, and some people’s attitude of dumping refuse on major roads and street corners not only in Nasarawa but in many other states nationwide, are issues telescopically captured in them. This reminds the reader about Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon's anthology of short stories titled "When the King cries and other stories," that contain issues relating to environmental degradation and the bad habits of some Nigerians fond of either dumping refuse in drainage systems or building illegal structures on sewage channels.

Also worthy of mention is ‘ERA Exposes Shell Again On Environment Terror." It is a very good news report written by Akanimo Sampson, where underhand dealings of environmental degradation by multinational oil companies against host oil communities are revealed with factual electricity.

By and large, the book is a commendable compilation by Philip Jakpor. It is a book all government agencies concerned with environmental issues should read from time to time, to refresh their minds about the necessary things they ought to be doing to take proactive steps in preventing environmental pollution nationwide. The journalists who wrote the articles have shown that the training they underwent for environmental reporting was worth the efforts and time they invested in participating in the project.

                                                                     END

 

Environmental degradation, health hazards in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

Soot  rising from the site of  crude oil refiners 

The recurring experience of soot in Port Harcourt, River State capital city has become a source of concern to the residents of the city, considering the danger it poses to human and domestic animals health. 

The folks living in various communities where crude oil is being tapped in the Niger Delta of Nigeria have been facing environmental and health hazards from the beginning of time since multinational oil exploration companies began operation in the region from the 1960s till date.

In retrospect, from my childhood experience when l usually followed my maternal grandmother to farm to harvest cassava tubers, oil spill damaged her farm land and made the tubers decay underground. Since then, l have been wondering when the environmental degradation of the area will stop. 

Most of the local folks in the region are farmers and fishermen. They have no other means of sustaining themselves. When one of our farms land was damaged by oil spill, we suffered the consequences in silence for years, because the local government authority of our community was unable to assist us and other affected farmers to get compensation. 

The situation of the environment and health of the folks have become more threatened over the years due to the emergence of new illegal local refining oil groups and bunkering operations in the area. 

The people living in Port Harcourt especially, are the worst hit in recent times as the activities of oil explorers have been producing soot spreading in the atmosphere and settling into residential buildings from time to time. 

Hence, the residents had vehemently cried out following the increase in horrible black soot that blanketed the atmosphere due to the unchecked activities of illegal refiners in the state.

Nonetheless, not quite long, Bulkybon News gathered that there has been renewed worry by some folks in the state capital as the 2023 general elections in Nigeria draws nearer. Some folks said the amount of black soot in the atmosphere may return again soon as it usually happens when some local politicians suspected to be sponsors of oil bunkering resume their activities in order to make brisk petro - dollar to pursue their political activities. According to some observers, the usually naturally bright weather of the city turns into a deadly harmattan - like hazy atmosphere when it is not yet the season, whenever local illegal oil refiners intensifies their operations.

While speaking with one of the folks on the condition of anonymity, he said, "l just hope people will not start dropping dead soon before government do something about it as we are approaching elections period in Nigeria. Our government from local to federal level is not proactive. It does not usually take proactive steps to checkmate life threatening environmental and human health situations, until it gets out of control just like other societal ills like kidnappings and banditry that were not nipped in the bud at their early stages of happening.

"One other reason illegal refiners of oil engage in such bad business is when there is fuel scarcity. Many people usually cough due to the effect of soot on their health. Those suffering from asthmatic disease can easily die as a result of the choking effect of the soot."

He further pointed that people found it difficult to go about their daily compulsory activities without putting on nose mask (face mask) because of the health threatening situation, especially during the twilight of 2021 when soot blanketed everywhere in the city. 

Moreover, other respondents that also choose to speak on the condition of anonymity to avoid falling victims of attack by those responsible for the soot said a lot of folks coughed uncontrollably and fell ill due to constant inhalations of soot during such occasions. 

"Even dogs kept barking and became restless when they could not properly breath," one of the respondents said.

Therefore, at this point in time, they want government to take drastic action to stop the recurring decimal of environmental and health pollution by both multinational and illegal refiners of oil in the region, as fuel scarcity is being experienced at present, in some states in the country.

END

 

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Book Review: Geo-info crucial in Nigeria’s development

Book:         Geo-information Technology and Development: A Compendium of

Selected Papers

Author:      Peter Adeniyi (PhD)

Publisher:   Wura-Kay Prints, Lagos

Year of Publication: 2009

Reviewer:   Adjekpagbon Blessed

Geography and information technology don, Peter Olufemi Adeniyi’s capsular publication of his core field of long research, geo-information is quite impressive. It is an enlightening collection that offers even the green horn an ample view of the subject. The Professor emeritus, who joined the service of University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1973 as Lecturer II and rose to through the ranks to become a professor in 1986, marked his retirement some years ago from the teaching service of the ivory tower with a public launch of the new book entitled, Geo-information Technology and Development: A Compendium of Selected Papers.

The 321-page book of 12 chapters contains the author’s selected papers, spanning several issues on the research field. Issues of land-use, census preparations, agricultural development and statistical analysis, applications of remote-sensing among others, feature in the collection which comes across as a deliberate attempt to create and establish the scope of a relatively less known field of study.

Prof. Peter Adeniyi

From the outset, it strikes clearly that author is consciously charting a course. He intends his book to assist policy makers, government agencies, researchers and students to improve on the current state of information gathering and use in the country. In the preface, Adeniyi states that the selected papers are collected in book format because Nigeria still does not have a comprehensive geo-spatia data about how its land resources are being used.

Interestingly, Adeniyi introduced the teaching of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) into the curriculum of Geography Department, UNILAG and served as the Director of the Laboratory for Cartography and Remote Sensing in the university from 1980 – 1983. He also served later as Coordinator of Remote Sensing and GIS Laboratory from 1993 to 1994. Given this background, Akin Mabogunje, a UNILAG Professor, who wrote the book’s foreword offers that the material “underscore the wide range of research activities with which Professor Adeniyi has been concerned over the many years of his university employment.”

Topics in the first section of the book include, Land and Land-use Planning in Nigeria; Land-use Charge Analysis Using Sequential Arial Photography and Computer Techniques; Digital Analysis of  Multi-temporal Land Suit Data for Land-use / Land-cover Classification in Semi-arid Area of Nigeria; Land-use/Land-cover Change Evaluation in Sokoto-Rima Basin of North-West Nigeria Based on Archival Remote-Sensing and GIS Techniques. This part contains four chapters. In Part Two, the book beams light on the knotty issue of census and population estimation. The author handled the topic with focus on aerial photographic method for estimating urban population. He also engaged the matter of using remotely sensed data for census surveys and population estimation in developing countries using examples from Nigeria. Mabogunje primes the reader’s taste through his in-let into the author’s scholarship trait. He informs that Adeniyi is largely concerned with improving the Nigerian situation. Hence, there is a certain penchant for national questions in the topics. “Adeniyi worries a lot about how development and growth can come to Nigeria. More than this is conveyed in the book’s pages,” notes Mabogunje.

It is therefore, from this perspective that the thrust of Part Three can be well appreciated. The section which contains two chapters takes a periscope of Agricultural Land-use Investory and Mapping in Nigeria; Application of Remote Sensing; and Using Remotely-sensed Data for Tackling Fundamental Agricultural Problems in Nigeria.  Some of the sub themes in the part include – Agricultural Programmes in Nigeria; Status of Remote-sensing Applications in Nigeria; and Application of Remote-sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) in the Mapping and Monitoring of Agricultural Resources in North Western Nigeria. Borrowing from Hardy (1982), the author states: “Remotely-sensed data provide information about physical and cultural environments with unique and valuable characteristics. The information can be generated in unbiased form, acquired at a known point in time; displayed accurately; geographically referenced; prepared in real time (or nearly so) and assembled in useful, storable format.”

He points out that given those characteristics, several scholars such as Reining (1974); Tobler (1968); Conant (1982); and Stem (1982) have used remotely-sensed data to identify settlements and to revise topographic maps, such as the maps done by Moore (1982) and Gregory and Moore (1986). Adeniyi captures the current status and challenges facing geo-information technology adoption, application and development in the book’s fourth part, which comprises four chapters. Themes analyzed in this part include – Some Lessons of the Nigerian Radar Project (NIRAD); Remote Sensing, Resource Development and Education in Africa; Issues and Strategies for Developing and Managing Resources Information in Africa; and Geo-Spatial Information and Disaster Management. Throwing more light on remote-sensing in this part of the book, Adeniyi rubs in that good use of the technology can equally help food production, general economic employment and welfare of the African continent.

“Africa accounts for approximately 28 per cent of the earth’s land surface.  Since land is basic for the production of the most essential resources such as food, fibre, minerals, fuels, shelter and water, Africa has therefore been generally claimed to be endowed with abundant resources. Yet, over 50 per cent of the total annual revenue of many African countries is spent on the importation of food and related items,” he writes. The Remote-sensing expert adds that there is hardly any aspect of social development where the lack of basic resource information has not inhibited the advancement of the continent. According to him, “to date, most African countries do not have current and accurate information about the number of inhabitants they purport to plan for.” Though it dwells on a very technical subject, the use of simple language helps the reader through the book. Any averagely educated person can read it and understand. The language is simple and straight devoid of circumlocution. Adeniyi writes like a good communicator, passing across his message without creating ambiguity with the use of complex words.

His book is a highly recommendable compendium on geo-information technology and development in Nigeria and the African continent. It is a very resourceful material not only for researchers but for governments and citizenry as anyone willing to be well enlightened about his environment can gain a lot from it.

Adeniyi who obtained his PhD in Geography, with specialization in Remote-sensing and Geographic Information System at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (1978), is a former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure. The Professor also had a diploma in Photo Interpretation for Geography and Masters Degree in Agricultural Land Use from the International Institute of Aerospace Survey and Earth Science, Enscede, The Netherlands.

END

Freedom From Spiritual, Physical, Emotional Darkness Of Disobedience

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Title: Grow Where You Are Planted

Author: Saviour Ekere

Year: 2022

Reviewer: Blessed Mudiaga Adjekpagbon

Saviour Ekere's newest work titled "Grow Where You Are Planted," is an inspirational book which the author says the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for the benefit of mankind in this period of global crisis.

Its foreword is written by Pastor Daniel llori who says: "To connect with purpose, you need to connect with the purpose driven God who is interested in opening you to what matters most in your life. This book opens the mind to the need to get connected and grow purposefully. It gives insight to why you need to be planted where God's purpose for your life can be fulfilled. Once you are connected and stay connected, you will be directed (Psalm 37:23, 32:8)."

Mr. Saviour Ekere

Divided into six chapters, the topics in the book are: "Grow Where You Are Planted," "The Garden ls Your Place," "Adversity ln The Garden," "You Are A Fruit Tree," "Everyone Created by God ls Great," and "Just Trust And Obey."

The cover title, "Grow Where You Are Planted" is very insightful as it tends to advise folks to obey the voice of God by following the direction He asks them to follow to their promised land, instead of just following or copying others blindly in a world where many people prefer to listen to the voice of men instead of God's. Hence, the cover story xrays why some folks fail to prosper in life. lt however, provides remedies to how one can overcome the spirit of disobedience to God's voice, so that one can grow where he/she is ordained to prosper.

"The garden is your place," is a reminder about where God originally created humans to live and enjoy. Aside the beauty of the garden, this topic says the garden nourishes and enriches the body with various herbs and fruits in it. It dwells on how some folks fall out of their garden of enjoyment into the abyss of suffering into a "forest of life" that involves pain and sorrow. What to do to avoid falling from the garden of enjoyment are also pinpointed in the chapter.

"Adversity in the garden," portrays a saying that "Life is full of ups and downs." Here, the author shares his experience about the adversity of life. He refers to a poem about the adversity of life, which is one of his creative works, to boost folks moral in the face of adversity. The poem is titled "Press On." It is a  stylistically woven  sonnet, crafted with heroic or even couplet rhymes of aa, bb, cc, dd, ee and so on and so forth. This shows the creative gift of the author by using poetry in a simplified manner to pass across a message of encouragement to inspire readers to be hopeful by the grace of the Holy Spirit. He delves the reader's mind into different situations that have been overcome by those that positively press on.

"You are a fruit tree," is a periscope of what Psalm 1: 3, says, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither, and whatever he does shall proper." Using this as a bedrock, Ekere talks about the folly of being ignorant and pretentious. He posits that "If you are operating below the benchmark of God's expectation, there is a problem. You need to go back to God who will recreate, rebrand and remake  you." One could sense his play with alliteration in his quoted advice to those that want God's immediate intervention in their life. It is one of the author's hallmarks of writing as a creative scholar with inspirational light.

Moreover, "Everyone created by God is great," is an expository of the author's experience as a teacher in a secondary school. He shares his observation in his interactions with students, teachers and parents on one hand, and the underrating of latent  skills in students by parents / teachers who give too much attention to grades, on the other. ln this regard, he avers that "My concern is this, most of these students we label 'poor' have potentials of creating something apart from being confined to school subjects and grades." What the author is simply saying in this chapter is that "Education should develop the minds and not to confine children to conventional life style." 

He makes reference to Albert EInstein, Robert Kiyosaki, Thomas Edison, Lao Tzu and Psalm 4:7 to buttress the need to also develop skills of students instead of focusing only on the grades they make in subjects.

In "Just trust and obey," the last but not the least chapter, the author presents a microscopic and macroscopic analysis of a popular song known as "Trust and obey." It examines the power of obedience in conjunction with Romans 4: 18 -12 and various biblical verses to encourage folks about how to become successful by growing where they are planted, instead of trying to dictate to God what He should do.

By and large, the messages in the book are very insightful about how we can overcome different challenges in life with reliance on scriptural and positive attitude of obeying the Holy Spirit towards doing things that may not appear significant to our egos, yet ordained by God to take us to great heights of accomplishing our individual destinies in life. A versatile reader will certainly observe that the author carried out commendable sociological, scriptural and scholarly researches that gave birth to the highly inspiring book. With the situation of happenings in the world today, the book could help to save many folks from loosing hope or going astray, and also help those that have already gone astray to retrace their steps, to embrace salvation and success.

Saviour Ekere has written various inspirational books over the years. One of them is titled "Think Outside The Box."  "Grow Where You Are Planted" is available on amazon platform via this link: https://www.amazon.com/GROW-WHERE-YOU-ARE-PLANTED-ebook/dp/B09Y98TYXQ/

Ekere teaches English Language at a private secondary school in Lagos. He is married and living fine with his family.

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Magazine Review: ln retrospect: Nigeria's private schools' proprietors activities in 2021

 Written by Blessed Adjekpagbon

The first edition of The Nigerian Education Times magazine of 2022 is replete with a lot of interesting and insightful stories concerning some notable news and events that happened in 2021 after schools fully resumed from Covid - 19 induced lock down.

The cover story titled NAPPS Establishes Conference Centre / Estate In Agbowa, Lagos, talks about the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and its proposed establishment of a conference centre / estate in Agbowa, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, Nigeria.

According to NAPPS President, Chief Olawale Amusa, "NAPPS Conference Center / Estate will start soonest with the acquisition of already out 120 plots of land, fenced in an easily accessible area at Agbowa, Lagos State." 

Other interesting articles in the magazine's contents includes In search for quality education in Nigeria; Enough of distraction to education of the Nigerian child; Name Lagos State University (LASU) after Jakande, Curbing act of bullying in schools, Challenges in managing the secondary education sector, Press Release: Step up school safety measures, Lagos urges school administrators; There is the need to address the challenges faced by women and children in Nigeria.

ln addition, some notable topics that also feature in the magazine are: "Reforming Education in Nigeria; No nation makes meaningful progress in its development, without embracing science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship; WAEC announces release of results of the West African Senior School Certificate examination for school candidates; and My husband is not the true biological father of our son.

However, the press release by the Lagos State Ministry of Education is worth highlighting as it urges administrators in both public and private schools operating in the state, to step up school safety measures to curb negative happenings in their environment.

Part of the press statement by the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo says "School administrators should devise appropriate strategies to advance teacher/student interaction in order to gain an insight and expose negative tendencies before they metamorphosed into unfortunate situations." This is very imperative at this time because of recent happenings among some private schools’ students in the state, in terms of the death of a student of one popular private school in Lekki suburb, and a pornographic video of a junior female student of another private school that went viral on the internet.

Another noteworthy article in the magazine is the one titled "No nation makes meaningful progress in its development, without embracing science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship." This assertion is credited to Nigeria's current Minister of Science, Technology and lnnovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. In the article written by Ebenezer Oloyede, the minister says the "political will" to provide quality education is important for innovation, sustainable growth and socio - economic development across nations.

Nonetheless, the concluding part of the magazine is a human interest story titled "My husband is not the true biological father of our son."  In the article, a woman confesses that she got married 35 years ago and the marriage is blessed with three children- a male and two females. The trio are university graduates. lt is an interesting read and highly recommended for those who might want to know the details in order to learn some lessons from it. 

Some commendable qualities of the magazine are its glossy and colorful pages from its beginning to the end, bright/clear pictures of various notable personalities, divers schools' advertisements; coupled with very simple diction. These make reading it worthwhile.

Chief Tunde Ogunsola is the magazine's Editor - in - Chief and CEO. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

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