Author: user user

You graduated in the top three per cent and received the Icon Female Law Student Award from the University of Nigeria Law Faculty and another First Class from the Nigerian Law School. Have you always been this brilliant from primary through secondary school? Which secondary school experience would you share with us that demonstrated your intelligence and brilliance?

No. I do not think I have always been this brilliant. Smart, maybe. I like to think that brilliance is often very theoretical, lacking in practical knowledge, and tied to academic achievements. I am a very practical person, and I have never had the patience for the deep and theoretical thinking that brilliance requires. I developed the patience for theoretical intelligence in junior secondary school – that is my earliest memory of being brilliant and exceptional. Before then, I was simply a smart kid, the one who could explain what the teacher had taught and apply it well, but may fail at writing it exactly the same way the teacher wanted it (or taught it) in an exam.

My father, God bless his soul, got tired of my average grades in junior secondary school and spoke some sense into me. He believed I could do more.

I think there are quite a few, but mostly winning some of the most competitive secondary school debate competitions was a top-notch experience for me. I could almost always tell that if I was on the team representing my school in a debate competition, we would be in the top three. I think of all the possible loopholes to my arguments ahead and fill the loopholes so I always see my opponent’s rebuttal coming. I also like to think that reading lots of novels demonstrated my intelligence and brilliance. I read a lot in secondary school and had a penchant for being able to weave out the theme of the story and the deeper message the author was trying to pass along. Those were fun times.

You are now a master’s student of law at Harvard Law School, United States. What is the Harvard experience like? Which area of law are you majoring in at Harvard, and why?

Exciting. Stressful. Exhilarating. It is like being stressed from having too much fun and mental activity. It is also like travelling around the world while being stuck in a place. Harvard brings in students from all over the world. So, I am learning interesting things about countries I have never been to.

I am majoring in corporate finance and international finance. The master’s program at Harvard is general, so students get to pick courses across their focus areas. So, the majority of my courses are tied to these two areas. First, because I love corporate and debt finance, particularly when development finance institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank play a role in it. The structures you see play out are fun. It gets you thinking about structures to protect lenders’ interest in a financing – why lending institutions think and operate the way they do, and why companies would prioritise debt over equity financing. I find it interesting, and it makes me think. I love stuffs that make me think. Also, because these areas are tied to investments, which is an area I love.

You mentioned that apart from the Harvard admission, you got admission offers from Columbia Law School and New York University (NYU). Why did you settle for Harvard instead of Columbia or NYU? How are you covering your Harvard tuition and living costs in the United States?

I do think that the answer to this question is obvious. Okay. Please, do not mind me. I understand that both Harvard and Columbia are Ivy Leagues, while NYU is a new ivy school, but I settled for Harvard because it is arguably the best school in the world, and also because Harvard gives you a community for the rest of your life. It is like being in this beautiful world where the school stands as a shield for you – protecting, guiding, and fighting for you, even long after you have become an alumnus. The system propels you and supports you to become the best of everything you want to be. Secondly, I got the most funding from Harvard, compared to the other two schools.

My tuition and living costs are being covered by funding from Harvard.

In your bio, you mentioned that you bagged the award for the best graduating female student in civil litigation from the Nigerian Law School. Why did you not focus on civil law, for which you earned an award, for your master’s degree? In your opinion, how does a civil lawyer differ from a finance lawyer?

I do not like civil litigation as much as I like corporate law. My uncles think that I would have made a great trial attorney and maybe become the Chief Justice of Nigeria one day. I do not think so. The trial system is fixed. There is a standard way to file motions, systems to argue your case before a judge, precedents to make your argument, and a solution-like system to every problem one might have or think to have in the future – you simply need to ‘research’ and you would find a case, binding or persuasive, to support your argument. The chase is in the manner you decide to write your argument and how well you can convince the judge.

Corporate law is malleable. Parties can get on a debt financing transaction and propose a ‘never-before-seen’ structure to the financing to protect a party’s interest. That, to me, is fun and interesting. I like it here. At least, for now.

Civil lawyers handle disputes between people, businesses, and/or organisations, and it does not involve crimes. Finance lawyers focus on financial transactions, banking, investments, mergers, and corporate funding.

In one of your recent LinkedIn posts, you stated that when you informed your mother that you were applying to some of the most difficult and competitive Master of Laws (LLM) programmes in the world, she said that she believes that there is nothing you cannot achieve, saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get in. You always get these things.’ How did this statement make you feel? Would you attribute it to your getting into Harvard? Do you see her believe in you, motivating you to be the best in your Harvard Law class?

I think it made me less anxious through the application process. I was at ease during my application and even during the waiting period leading up to the receipt of the admission letters. It is not the first time she has told me point-blank that I would get something, and I end up getting it.

Yes, I attribute it to getting into Harvard. My mum is one of my biggest cheerleaders. I would say that I am fortunate to have lots of people who believe in me. I did not want to let her or these other people down. Yes, if she is not on my WhatsApp daily, asking me how everything is going, she is telling me not to worry, that everything will pan out well.

For your thesis, project, or long essay, what would you like to research or work on? How do you think the thesis or essay would impact society or the financial sector?

I intend to focus on the financing structures of development finance institutions (DFIs), with a particular interest in how the structures shape access to funding. I believe the research could provide valuable insights into strengthening Nigeria’s and other developing countries’ ability to attract DFI financing, which in turn could enhance funding for critical infrastructure.

You studied in Nigerian Law School and are now studying in a prestigious US law school. What four lessons can the Nigerian law faculties or Law School learn from the Harvard Law School?

First, teachings should be more practical and less about theories. Second, students’ welfare, physical and mental, should be made as central as learning is. Third, opportunities should be put in place to help students put into practice what they have learnt – fellowships, competitions, summer associateships, etc. Lastly, a less-rigid examination system should be adopted, one that tests students’ understanding of what has been taught and not their ability to memorise and regurgitate what was taught.

From the knowledge and skills you have gained studying financial law, what major financial law problems would you like to address if given the opportunity to address them?

I have only practised finance law, and Harvard is my first ‘major’ contact with finance law in an educational setting. I would like to address the dearth in climate finance.

A section of your bio reads ‘Susan is constantly contributing her quota towards solving climate change issues, educating indigent children, and fighting against gender-based discrimination.’ What inspired your interest in indigent children and gender-based issues? With your busy schedule at Harvard, how do you engage in these endeavours?

I like to think that no nation can thrive if its children are uneducated and if gender inequality persists. Children, to me, are like a wonder, malleable, and can be everything beautiful. I also often think about how disastrous my life might have turned out if I were not educated.

I have not started any volunteering activity at Harvard. I do have a volunteering activity next month, though, related to children’s health.

With all the scholarships, fellowships, grants, and support you have received from US organisations for your law school master’s programme, what is expected of you from Harvard or the US during and after the programme? And where do you see yourself in five years?

Read, meet as many people as I can, be the best I can, and probably become the next Minister of Finance for Nigeria. What Harvard expects of me is not cast in stone. I just need to be the best I can be.

In five years? Maybe at a DFI or law firm. Let us see what the future holds.

What is your advice to Nigerians hoping to study at Harvard Law School on scholarship? What did you do to get into Harvard that they can do better?

Read as many sample Harvard application documents as you can find. You might find that there is no central link to all applications, but it is a good place to start. Be yourself and tell your own story. Be exceptional. You should be able to look back and say, ‘I couldn’t have done it any better’.

I did all these. I was disciplined enough to put in the work, and I prayed.

The 10th season of Big Brother Naija, themed 10 over 10, has delivered a spectacle of strategy, rivalry and romance that has kept audiences across Africa glued to their screens. From its dramatic double opening nights to the last eviction show, the season has unfolded like a soap opera, with shifting alliances, tangled relationships and unforgettable moments that have redefined the franchise.

This season began with 29 housemates whose diverse personalities shaped the rhythm of life in Biggie’s house. Housemates such as Rooboy, Imisi, Koyin, Kuture and Jason Jae drove much of the energy, mixing lighthearted fun with fiery clashes that quickly became viral moments. Jason Jae, Koyin, Rooboy and Kuture set the tone at the Saturday night parties, while Imisi’s spirited confrontations and resilience positioned her as a fan favourite.

Romantic entanglements added further intrigue. Dede’s relationship with Kola swung between attraction and mistrust, while her unpredictable dynamic with Koyin fueled speculation of a triangle that dominated conversations both inside and outside the house. Koyin’s lighter bond with Isabella, as well as the casual connection between Sultana and Jason Jae, added layers to the season’s complex relationship arcs. Meanwhile, friendships such as those between Rooboy, Mensan and Koyin provided moments of warmth in an otherwise tense atmosphere. Kaybobo endeared himself as the resident cook, Zita thrived on blunt honesty and mischief, and Imisi balanced vulnerability with spirited clashes that kept her central to the narrative.

Other housemates carved unique identities. Faith, initially seen as calm and caring, embraced controversy after his fallout with Imisi, cementing his role as one of the season’s most polarising figures. However, in one of the season’s most dramatic developments, Faith was disqualified from the competition following a violent confrontation with Sultana. His disqualification has significantly reshaped the dynamics going into the finale.

The final week has been marked by both drama and emotion. Jason Jae holds the distinction of being the first and last Head of House this season and in a humorous twist, Isabella and Imisi were tasked with wearing snail costumes, adding levity to the tense atmosphere. In one of the season’s most emotional moments, Biggie surprised housemates with reunions with their loved ones, made possible when Koyin accepted a ?4.5 million offer on behalf of the house.

For the first time in the show’s history, Big Brother Naija will crown its winner from a line-up of 9 finalists: Dede, Faith, Imisi, Isabella, Jason Jae, Kaybobo, Kola, Koyin, Mensan and Sultana. Only one will walk away with the grand prize.

The highly anticipated finale will air live on Sunday, 5 October 2025 on Showmax and on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49.

Nigerian American Gospel Artiste, Dr. Adebola Adeleye has stated that music is ingrained in her.

Adebola, who spoke on how she ventured in music, expressed feelings of being a singer for a long time but ignored it.

She recalled being pulled back whenever she pushed away from it.

The Singer acknowledged her love for music, adding that her father was a lover of gospel music.

Adeleye described her music as a reflection of her journey.

‘Music is something that is ingrained in me. I feel it is something that has been there for the longest time even though I ignored it.

‘The more I tried to push away from it, the more I got pulled into it. It became obvious that this is a part of me that I could not do away with.’

‘I love music, and I love to sing. My dad loves music, and I remember he always played gospel music throughout my childhood and growing up years.’

‘My songs are a reflection of my faith journey, growth process, and a capture of how I got to where I am today,’ she said.

Although former President Goodluck Jonathan hasn’t formally declared his intention to run for president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears to be already worked into a frenzy by the mere prospect of it, at least judging from the sensation of fright that drips from the statements of his spokespeople and close supporters.

Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s official spokesperson, described the proposal to draft Jonathan into the 2027 race as ‘delusional!’ As if he somehow embodies the Nigerian electorate, Onanuga warned that the Jonathan administration’s record on the economy and governance would constitute an insurmountable obstacle on his path to the presidency. He also raised questions about Jonathan’s eligibility for a third term and cautioned that those promoting his run may abandon him midstream.

The Lagos State branch of the APC, perhaps the most strategic APC branch in Nigeria at the moment given that Lagos is Tinubu’s home base, has also mocked the idea of Jonathan’s comeback, arguing that he would need ‘an overdose of good luck’ to be competitive. It framed the push for his return as rooted more in nostalgia than in competence and questioned internal democratic practices within the opposition.

I told a reporter who interviewed me a few days ago that the apparent panic in the Tinubu power circles over Jonathan’s rumored entry into the presidential race is puzzling to me for at least two reasons.

One, at the moment, Jonathan has no political base. The PDP, on whose platform he is likely to run (should he decide to run), is vastly enervated and riven by what seems like irresolvable dissension. The Southeast, which used to be a solid, reliable support base for him, is now seduced by the charm and promise of its own son, Peter Obi.

Without a strong grassroots structure, a solid party platform, or the support of governors, a Jonathan comeback bid would be a damp squib. If anything, the presidency’s statement inflates his relevance more than his actual political strength warrants.

Second, if I were in Tinubu’s inner circles, I would actually encourage, even slyly sponsor, Jonathan’s participation in the 2027 election since he appeals to the same demographic slice as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. His participation in the 2027 election, along with Atiku and Obi, would ensure that the opposition self-cannibalizes, just as it did in 2023.

If Jonathan isn’t a real threat – if Jonathan would, in fact, be a boon to Tinubu – why does Tinubu seem terrified at the prospect of a Jonathan comeback bid? Here’s what I think.

When Onanuga pointed to Jonathan’s abysmal record on the economy and governance as a reason the electorate would not want him back in the saddle, he unintentionally gave vent to deep-seated but unacknowledged anxieties about Tinubu’s own record. Despite different contexts, Jonathan and Tinubu converge on their style of governance and economic policies.

Tinubu is pursuing the exact same economic policies that Jonathan attempted, which he was compelled to roll back after Tinubu and several people who later constituted the APC joined forces with ordinary Nigerians to fight back.

As most people can recall, Jonathan’s New Year ‘gift’ to Nigerians in 2012 was an attempted full petrol-subsidy removal. After mass protests, he was forced to implement a partial price rollback, but he paired the watered-down version of the subsidy-removal policy with SURE-P to cushion its effect on ‘vulnerable’ households and to fund social and infrastructure projects.

On Inauguration Day, May 29, 2023, Tinubu also announced the end of petrol subsidy. But thanks to the success Muhammadu Buhari had achieved in taming any consequential, sustained opposition to unpopular government policies (and, of course, the integration of several careerist protesters into the government), Tinubu’s announcement didn’t attract any mass protests. Nigerians have learned to accept their piecemeal incineration with equanimity.

But like Jonathan’s SURE-P claimed it did, Tinubu restarted cash transfers to millions of ‘vulnerable’ households as ‘palliatives,’ although most Nigerians I have read and spoken with haven’t had the luck to benefit from these palliatives.

The very economic policies Onanuga invokes as a major reason why Nigerians will resist Jonathan’s return to the presidency are the policies the Tinubu regime not only defends but celebrates as an unprecedented, all-time-high achievement which, though biting and bitter, they insist will birth an El Dorado at an indefinite future.

And this is where Lagos APC’s reference to nostalgia for Jonathan is important. At the core of their consciousness, Tinubu’s honchos know that Tinubu and Jonathan are basically indistinguishable in their policies and philosophy of governance, with Tinubu only being luckier than Jonathan in the quality and virility of the opposition that confronts him.

This kind of rhetorical inversion draws on a well-documented psychological mechanism known as projection. In projection, individuals or groups unconsciously attribute their own flaws, motives, or behaviors to others as a way of deflecting scrutiny and avoiding accountability. When accused of what they are themselves guilty of, they attempt to confuse the moral ledger by shifting attention outward, creating a smokescreen that redirects blame.

Politically, this tactic is especially potent: it muddies the waters, preempts criticism, and rallies supporters around a narrative that appears to expose an opponent’s failings, when in reality it is a mirror image of their own.

In this case, APC operatives attack Jonathan’s economic record not only to tarnish him but also to mask the uncomfortable resemblance between his policies and those Tinubu now implements.

And nostalgia can be a powerful winning tool in elections. Donald Trump benefited from it. The American electorate remembered that prices of eggs were lower when he was president, not minding that the lower prices had nothing to do with him. In fact, the prices have tripled since his return.

In Malawi, 85-year-old former President Peter Mutharika defeated incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in the 2025 presidential election partly because of nostalgic feelings about his time in office and hopes that he can recreate that time in place of the hell Malawians are going through now, although as Boniface Dulani, an associate professor of political science at the University of Malawi, told The Guardian, ‘If there was an election that one would want to lose, then maybe this was one election to lose for Chakwera, because I don’t really think they are going to be able to turn things around.’

In my August 16, 2025 column titled ‘Jonathan’s Entry Would Radically Shake the 2027 Election,’ I conceded that ‘there are some genuinely praiseworthy things Jonathan did when he was in power, which many of his critics, including me, acknowledge only with the benefit of hindsight. For instance, his willingness to back down from unpopular policies after sustained outcries and protests, which we took for granted but which none of his successors has replicated, has stood him out.’

That is precisely why Tinubu’s people may be deeply unsettled by the prospect of Jonathan’s return. In the midst of the economic torment Nigerians are enduring, the memory of Jonathan’s era, however imperfect, can take on a golden hue.

The danger for Tinubu is not that Jonathan has a magic formula to solve Nigeria’s crises, but that Nigerians, weary of hardship, may cling to the relative stability, tolerance for dissent, and responsive governance they now retrospectively associate with Jonathan’s presidency.

Even if Jonathan cannot turn things around, nostalgia doesn’t need to be rational to be politically potent; it only needs to resonate emotionally with a suffering electorate.

This latent power of memory is, perhaps, what keeps Tinubu’s camp on edge – particularly in the unlikely event that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi decide to forgo their ambitions and unite behind him.

Tinubu’s fear of Jonathan says less about Jonathan’s actual political strength and more about the fragile legitimacy of Tinubu’s own policies. When a government mirrors the past it once condemned, it risks empowering nostalgia as a political force. And in a country battered by hardship, memory can be as decisive at the ballot box as manifestos.

Sex is central to the survival of every marriage. Once sex is not available or inadequate in marriage, the relationship becomes endangered. Today, the infidelity of married couples has reached such an alarming stage that no effort should be spared to handle everything responsible for the sex deficit. This is why I am writing about how married couples can handle themselves sexually for maximum satisfaction.

Sexual fulfilment requires a couple to master how to handle each other’s bodies. Without this, sex will be a duty-bound exercise, rather than a lovemaking adventure. There is a way you can handle your spouse that will make room for sexual fulfilment. This varies between husband and wife.

Let’s consider the ways a wife should be sexually handled.

How to sexually handle a wife

Emotionally. Give her peace of mind since her first sex organ is her mind. How this plays out is to ensure that conflict is minimised in your relationship. Also, conflict resolution must be given topmost priority. Don’t expect great sex when your wife is upset with you. She will never be in her best sexual mood when she is not happy with you.

Foreplay. This is the foundation for sexual engagement. It’s due to the difference between a male and a female with respect to sexual response. A man’s response is quick and immediate, while that of a female is slow and non-spontaneous. So, there is a need to put the wife in the mood for sex well ahead of the time for the act. This must be well understood by couples, and building their sex act around it gives mutual fulfilment to the partners.

Sex Channels. There are spots on the body that make a man or woman turn jelly for sex. It may be the inner thighs, buttocks, earlobe, breasts, male and female sex organs, etc. Anyone who enjoys regular sex must master such spots on the body of his or her spouse, especially the wife. That’s why wives are often called pretenders when it comes to the matter of sex. Once you press her turn-on button, she will cringe for you in bed, making you wonder where ‘I’m tired’ had disappeared to. You must communicate how you want to be touched for maximum sexual experience. This gets the job done easily. A wife who will put up a great performance in bed must be touched where it turns her on the most.

Sex styles or positions. Sex has gone beyond the traditional approach of ‘husband on top’ for sex. This is the most common type of position couples use for sex. However, more positions produce maximum pleasure in bed. Couples must thus have conversations around the styles that best suit them for mutual sexual satisfaction. For a wife, there is a sex position that gives her an orgasm. Therefore, the husband must know it and exploit it to their best advantage in the sex act.

Locations for sexual engagement. Traditionally, the sleeping object of mats or beds used to be the only acceptable place for sex. However, experience has taught us that sex can be great fun and excitement if it takes place in other places, like on a chair or couch, table top, sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. As long as it’s comfortable and safe, without compromising privacy, sex is okay in any place you mutually agree on. When a wife is placed at the location where she enjoys sex the most, she will give her best in the act.

For the husband

Giving him direction in the act, such as spots to touch, enhances his performance in bed. So, a wife should actively engage him on this.

Being active in bed helps a husband to enjoy sex more, and to also go all out to help his wife enjoy sex. A wife should not be a log of wood in bed with her husband. Rather, she must be an active participant. She shouldn’t put up the attitude of ‘Do whatever you want to do quickly, and leave me alone.’ But, she should follow along with her husband in the act.

Both husband and wife must know their sex turn-offs to give sexual fulfilment to each other. Dirty appearance, dirty inner wear, unkempt hairstyles, bad odour, etc., can be bad for sexual engagement. You should try to look nice, smell nice, and be clean. Stop carrying dirty inners around, and learn to understand that armpit and vagina hairs need to be shaved or trimmed. It’s so annoying that some of us smell badly inside there, which comes as a distraction for sex.

These are some of the ways that married couples can handle themselves sexually to have sexual fulfilment.

When the ageing process sets in, couples must learn the rudiments of sexual enjoyment in that phase of their lives, without allowing frustration to set in.

For a wife, you have to bear with him when the erection is not rock-solid. Instead of getting frustrated, you have to learn the art of kick-starting the ‘engine’ using your fingers. And when it doesn’t work, make do with the fingering and work towards getting better results next time.

For the husband, note that the dryness of the vagina makes sex a difficult and painful experience for your wife. So, bear with her when she dodges at times. Then, encourage her with water-based jelly to make penetration easier for you and less painful for her.

Cooperation is the key to a mutual sexual fulfilment in marriage, and this must not be compromised.

A business woman, Halima Damina, has dragged her husband, Jacob, before a customary Court in Jikwoyi, Eederal Capital Territory (FCT) accusing him of throwing her out of their matrimonial home.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she said this in a divorce petition she filed against him in the court.

‘Some time ago, I visited my ex-boy friend’s mother and people lied to my husband that it was my ex-boy friend that I visited.

‘When my husband came back home, he threw me and my belongings out of the house.

‘I tried to explain things to him but he would not listen.

She told the court that their relatives intervened and tried to reconcile them all to no avail.

‘It is on these grounds that I seek divorce, ‘she said.

The respondent was present in court but denied the allegations.

The judge, Thelma Baba, advised the couple to seek reconciliation and adjourned the case.

AS a very critical part of her 65th birthday celebration, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, restructured the usual pomp that attend the birthday celebration of the political class as we know it. Rather than submitting herself to the numerous treats, felicitations and pageantries that would be sure to have been deployed to mark the auspicious occasion, she demanded that anyone who needed to celebrate her should focus their largesse on the furtherance of the National Library project, and possibly its final completion. And that appeal has generated a beautiful sum of N20b. This is all so grand, and noble but unusual. It is an unusual gesture because a member of the political class, rather than the government itself, is the one championing the resuscitation of the National Library project. Maybe it is the government by association, but then the gesture is not the result of an intentional and deliberate policy commitment that enable the government to connect the library to the larger goal of national development. How do we read this strange but commendable gesture into the overall development status of the Nigerian state?

The current state of the Nigerian National Library speaks tremendously to the possibilities and failures of the national development project in Nigeria. In many nations of the world, from the Library of Congress in the United States to the Bibliotheque de France and also the National Library, Singapore, the national library signals the single repository of books, manuscripts, orature, archival materials that connects cultural heritages, knowledge production programmes, critical ideas and paradigms, historical documentation and national memories. Adolf Hitler perfectly understands this fundamental significance of the knowledge base of any nation. And this is why, in a most pernicious manner during the Second World War, he ordered the massive destruction of books and materials that were considered to be subversive of, or even contrary to, the ideals of the German Third Reich project.And quite fortunately and pragmatic enough, the allied forced, led by the United States thought it significant and strategic to fight back by making the book resurgent from their crematorium.

This speaks to the indomitable spirit of ideas, ideals and knowledge that books embody. Knowledge, ideas and books-indeed the entire educational structures-reinvigorate the ways a state keep reengaging its problems, challenges and the solution and resolution frameworks for understanding and undermining them, and how leaders connect with these ideas and knowledge through what they read.When I wrote my op-ed piece on the reading habit ofHE Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, I opened up the possibilities for a nation that an enlightened leadership embodies.

Unfortunately, Nigeria does not have a national library. Or more precisely, the national library project that was formulated in 1981 has refused to materialize into a symbolic and concrete structural manifestation of Nigeria’s willingness to join the global knowledge society. The idea of the national library was muted in 1981, but it took the next twenty-five years for the idea to get an enabling contract in 2006. And yet forty-three years later, the structure remains a pipedream that refused to take off. And so, while it was all too easy to build the National Ecumenical Centre and the National Mosque within which the dilapidated library structure located, this significant element of Nigeria’s progress has remained uncompleted.

All these dysfunctional issues are surprising given that the Nigerian state is very concerned about both her geopolitical status and credentials as a democratic and developmental state in the world-as the Giant of Africa-and also to achieve a stable and empowering economic growth that measurably improve the life prospect and economic lives of her citizens. And yet, the quality of a nation’s human capital is measurable only to the extent of the place of an enlightened reading culture, symbolized by a functional and efficient library systems.

Thus, a state is instigated not only by the economicresources at its disposal, but by the availability and the rate of access to the information resources and the extensive reading rate per capita are the development indices of a society. The number of published books, journals, libraries, readers, writers, translators and publishers of a country are all indices and fundamental criteria of its development. Extending the culture of studying and book reading, developing libraries, publications and distribution of books and utilizing these unrivaled cultural instruments are therefore the requirements and necessities of each society’s growth.

Thus, a lot is riding on Nigeria’s capacity to build a functional and efficient national library as a repository of local, national, regional and global experiences, histories, ideas, paradigms, ideals, perspectives and creative innovation. So, does it matter who lead the crucial initiative to jumpstart and crystallize the national library project as long as it is done? The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, saw what should be considered a national embarrassment, and responded to it while also ensuring that the gesture is funneled through government institutions, like the Federal Ministry of Education. Having woken up the nation from its slumber on this unarguably defining project with deep essence, it is now an all-stakeholder national challenge to get the noble gesture by the First Lady concluded and put into use.

However, whether we like it or not, the fact that it is an individual and not the government that is pushing for the realization of this project is an indictment of national proportion. This gesture has therefore become an instigator in terms of what the citizenry can do to push the government to implementing the general will. And this is even all the more crucial because it is coming from a bona fide member of the government itself. This then implies that the government is now instigating itself to action on behalf of the Nigeria Project.

I want to know if it is true that walking can actually lead to weight loss.

– David (by SMS)

Yes, walking is a great form of exercise and an additional way to lose weight. Apart from being low intensity, you don’t have to buy lots of expensive equipment to get the benefits. You simply take on a pair of shoes, put on some comfortable clothes, and get the fresh air.

Luckily, anything that burns calories can help you lose fat, including walking. Although walking doesn’t burn as many calories as running, cycling, or playing sports, consistently getting 7-8k steps (1-1½ hours of walking) daily can help you burn anywhere from 300-400 calories. Combined with a balanced diet, it can make you see massive weight loss.

KINDLY let me know what could be the cause of my frequent urination at night. I am a 65-year-old man.

– Rauf (by SMS)

Frequent night urination (Nocturia) can be caused by many factors. It’s a common condition, especially in older adults, and is often a sign of an underlying health issue rather than just a normal part of aging.

Causes can range from sleep disorders and increased urine production (nocturnal polyuria) to bladder problems (like an enlarged prostate or overactive bladder) and fluid retention. The number one reason is a UTI (urinary tract infection).

It is the irritation, itching, and urge to relieve that make one take a trip to the bathroom. For men over 40, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostate cancer are the reasons to get up in the night multiple times to urinate. It is not just a tremendous amount of urine one has to pass. The compression of the urethra caused by the enlarged prostate can lead to incomplete voiding.

Going to the bathroom at odd hours cannot be postponed or tolerated if one has BPH or prostate cancer. Getting relieved is a good thing.

It will also avoid urinary tract infections due to stagnant urine, which could travel up to the ureter and the kidneys.

AKIN, a 4-year-old boy, was struggling in school to read numbers and alphabets. The parents assume that he must be dull. His sibling, in the same school, reads very well. Despite home coaching, Akin’s grade was falling behind, and his self-esteem was suffering.

Over the news, the parents heard that poor academic performance is one possible indicator of poor vision in a child. They brought the child in for an eye check, and a pair of glasses was prescribed. That child became the best in mathematics.

Unfortunately, avoidance behaviours, low self-esteem, and discontent can arise from vision problems if they are not treated. For example, the child may talk throughout class because she is asking a classmate what the teacher is writing on the board. She might be reluctant to speak up or read aloud.

A child with visual impairments might act irritably, which could lead to disturbances at school. Since they have never had good eyesight, these children are unable to communicate that they have vision issues.

It is sometimes assumed that a child who has impaired vision is impulsive or distracted since he finds it difficult to focus on any subject for an extended period of time.

The clumsiness, lack of interest in academics, or squinting are not examined to determine whether the cause is a vision problem.

Inability to comprehend visual information can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and avoidance behaviours. Important processes, including identity formation, emotional regulation, and self-confidence, might be hampered by untreated visual problems.

In a talk titled ‘Vision Begins Early: Building Statewide Systems for Paediatric Eye Care’ at the farewell event honouring Professor AderonkeBaiyeroju’s 70th birthday and retirement, Professor Ademola-Popoola said that a child’s eye may be normal despite having extremely severe visual impairments.

Ademola-Popoola, head of the Ophthalmology department at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, explained that a child is unlikely to complain of a vision problem. Someone needs to find it because vision contributes about 83 per cent to learning in early life.

‘But if the child is not seeing, eating will become problematic. Expressive language and other learning skills, including walking, are delayed. Phonation is by watching an adult whom the child likes to speak to. So when vision has a problem, many things will be delayed,’ she added.

Many things may indicate that a child is having difficulties due to a vision problem. According to her, some indications of this include holding a book too near to one’s face, being distracted, isolating oneself, having poor handwriting, and engaging in abnormal behaviours like persistent frowning.

When they discover how hard school is and that their grades are worse than other classmates, some children become agitated or act out in anger. In fact, visual problems could even lead to an inaccurate ADD or ADHD diagnosis.

Recent research reveals a startling connection between vision impairment and mental health issues, particularly in children. A study reported that children with visual impairments are at a higher risk for mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, poor vision cuts across children of all socioeconomic classes. Also, from a child born premature to the older child, all can be affected by poor vision. And there are consequences when it happens.

In addition to what a child can see, vision abnormalities such as strabismus, or eye misalignment, can also impact how the child interacts with the outside world and how they see themselves. In addition to physical blindness, these illnesses often result in mental difficulties that hinder socialisation, academic performance, and self-worth.

Furthermore, almost 90 per cent of blind people do not go to school. Furthermore, we will be sustaining the cycle of poverty based only on one child’s visual impairment because someone needs to be there to mentor and care for them while they are not in school.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that child blindness contributes to one-third of the total impact of blindness in the world, and so they make it important.

Ademola-Popoola added, ‘Eight out of 10 individuals who have been blind since childhood never had an eye examination to prevent needless blindness. Moreover, approximately 80 per cent of the causes of their blindness are completely avoidable.’

She listed the causes of preventable blindness in children, including cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, and retinopathy of prematurity.

‘Children who are born prematurely are eligible for screening. Between four and eight out of every hundred will become blind if nothing is done to treat the condition within the first two months of life. When we examined paediatric cataracts, we found that about 38 per cent of the cataracts we operate on in children result from trauma,’ she said.

Prof. Ademola-Popoola stated that vision screening to catch vision problems and eye diseases should leave no child behind, from premature babies, immunization and well-baby clinics, and regular schools to schools for children with special needs.

She added, ‘Everyone should be aware of this problem and trained to perform simple actions that can help get a child to the hospital quickly. Our studies show that in over 85 per cent of cases, the family already knew there was a problem.

‘Childhood blindness steals both sight and future. Prevention saves them both. It costs less to preserve a child’s sight than to rebuild a lost future.’

No doubt, there are many cases where children have been referred to all kinds of doctors, from neurologists to psychiatrists, when all they needed was vision care. Sometimes, these are subtle signs for glasses or other vision care!