British-Nigerian actor John Boyega delivers toys to sick children at UK hospital

British-born Nigerian Star Wars actor, John Boyega, 24, delivered toys to sick children at the Royal London Hospital. Among the children he visited was Daniel Bell, from Ormskirk. 5-year-old Daniel who has been living with a brain tumour said he wished he could hand out presents to children alongside his favourite film character.

Read More

Nigerian-born doctor left critically injured and fighting for life after being hit by lorry in Las Vegas

Dr Sebastian Kola-Bankole, from Camden, UK is fighting for his life after he was knocked down by a lorry as he crossed a road off the Sunset Strip on February 15. The 35-year-old doctor, from the Royal London Hospital, had flown out to Los Angeles before the accident for a friend’s wedding. 

 

But his family, who have travelled out to be at his bedside, cannot find a record of him taking out travel insurance so they are faced with paying for his mounting medical bills. They have launched a £250,000 appeal for treatment and to bring him home to the UK.

Dr Kola-Bankole, who specialises in infectious diseases, has three broken vertebrae in his neck and has already had emergency operations to his spine, ears and arteries. He is in an induced coma in intensive care at the Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas and it will be at least two weeks before he is stable enough to be repatriated.

The cost of the treatment and of bringing him back to the UK on a  specialist medical flight is estimated to be £250,000. The online fund had today reached £100k just 48 hours after it was launched.

A close friend, Dr Pawandeep Sarai, who spoke to the Standard described the young doctor as the most selfless and giving person"

"He is still in a  critical condition. We are all doing everything we can for Seb to get him the treatment he needs and back to the UK. His family are obviously devastated by what has happened. 

"Seb is just the most selfless, giving person, everyone who has met him will know what a huge personality he has. 

"He volunteers for charities, he is always giving to others. He’s a very dear friend and a very caring doctor and he needs our help to get home."

Dr Kola-Bankole is believed to have been hit outside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The collision is currently being investigated by Las Vegas police.

His friends, many of whom are  doctors, are now looking for a suitable hospital in London that will agree to take him. It is thought St Mary’s in Paddington could provide treatment.

Nigerian-born Dr Kola-Bankole  graduated from University College London in 2008 and was based until recently in the infectious diseases department at the Royal London, but had taken time off for the US trip.

"Seb is usually incredibly organised, but we can’t find any insurance for this trip... we’ve been on his email and looked in his flat. We are working on the assumption there is no insurance." said Dr Sarai.

Read More

Street - What do you like about Small Doctor

Oya! Aja 4  … Gbera!
 
You just have to love this dude.. He’s been able to get the Street and Posh market feel his Creativity, You can’t push him away.

What Exactly do you like about Small Doctor?

Read More

Davido Covers The Fader Magazine

Davido is the cover star of Fader Magazine’s Global Issue for Feb/Mar. He opened upmon why he took the Sony Music World deal, what his strategy is for the singles on the album and much more. You can read the full article.

Read More

Nigerian Female Celebrities Featured On CNN African Voices

Unlike women in several African cultures, the women in Nigeria are daring and are not afraid to be who they know they are meant to be.  They are hardworking, driven and very ambitious. From time to time, some of these women who have made their mark are recognized and showcased in the media to serve as inspiration to others who aspire to aim higher.

CNN’s African Voices,  a weekly show on the international network that highlights Africa’s most engaging personalities – people who are shaping change in Africa, exploring their lives and passions, is one of these media platforms upon which some of these Nigerian women have been showcased. If you are visiting Nigeria and looking to meet up with any of these female celebrities who have graced this show, we  point you to 4, from whom you are bound to garner great inspiration.


Omotola Jalade
Although featured on CNN African Voices about 2 years ago, the Nollywood superstar who is also a UN ambassador, in an interview with  Vladimir Duthiers opened up on the challenges she faced and experiences garnered  starting out as a model, getting her first role, starting her reality TV show – Omotola: The Real Me, raising her children, and more. She also revealed her passion for activism and future plans: “I’ve reached a point in my life where I’ve realized I have to leave something. I have to have a legacy. I decided I will be an activist for Africa. My experience with the UN and other humanitarian organizations inspired me to want to speak out and say more and there’s so much you can just say with words. This was my motivation for singing.”

Tara Fela Durotoye
Chief Executive Officer of House of Tara,  Mrs. Tara Fela Durotoye, who is unarguably, one of the  pioneers of the Make-up and beauty business in Nigeria as she is reputed for setting up the first make up studio and  first make up school in Nigeria in the year 2004, is another Nigerian celebrity who has been featured on  CNN’s African Voices. In her episode, she talks about her brand being Nigeria and indeed Africa’s leading beauty brand, her passion for empowering young women to build businesses and blazing a trail for young Africans and young African women especially to believe in themselves and to build their communities.

Olajumoke Adenowo
Once described as the “face of architecture in the Nigeria”, Olajumoke Adenowo is one of the few females in Nigeria recognized in the architecture/building sector of the country. Involved in the design and construction of over 70 buildings, she is responsible for breathing life into several institutional facilities, auditoriums, residences, estates and cutting edge corporate offices both within and outside the country. In her interview with CNN African Voices, she revealed how she goes about her designs:both functional and beautiful structures across the continent, gives top tips for her success and explains why and how she intends to inspire the next generation.

Waje
Most recently featured on the show, Nigerian female famous vocalist and UN ambassador Waje  talked about several issues including the African Women project, her mission to help homeless kids in Nigeria through her Waje Safe house project partners with Child Life  and her forthcoming album as well as  what her fans should expect from it, while on the show. The 35 year old singer also  threw light on how she uses her music platform to impact lives and be a voice to several Nigerians.

Read More

Habits Every Nigerian Traveler Should Drop - Is it Annoying

A majority of Nigerians love to travel whether within the country or around the world. While a number of them have good travel habits which keep them alert and prepared for possible setbacks including losing their luggage, getting sick or having something stolen, there are some who often exhibit behaviours that not only put them at risk and set them up for dire challenges while travelling, but also upsets other passengers unlucky to be on the same path as they are.

The thing is, most of the travelers who exhibit these habits do not even know that they do and so have no clue that they need to tackle them. To help set them straight, we reveal 5 annoying travel habits that all savvy Nigerian travelers need to drop to ensure they enjoy a continuously smooth experience.



Arriving late
Arriving late to the airport or terminal is a common habit for most people. They fail to consider the possibility of traffic or car failure when estimating time needed to get to the airport. Some do not pack at least a day before the trip but leave it for the morning of the journey and as a result, arrive late and miss their flight or bus, creating difficulties for not just themselves, but also the officers who help them cancel or re-book their flight. In some cases, people who have to stop over at multiple locations while traveling to a country abroad, arrive late to the plane, causing delays for others or in dire cases, facing the horrible challenge or re-routing or re-booking their flight. While travelling, it pays to keep to time.
Over packing
Many women are known for extra luggage. They like to travel with a lot of bags even if it just a short trip, and this habit can be very annoying as they end up taking most of the cabin luggage space, forcing other passengers to squeeze their luggage in tiny corners. Hotel staff get discouraged, escorting them to their rooms as they worry about carrying a lot of luggage.To save yourself the stress, stick to taking the essentials and do not pack anything you can get at your travel destination.


Asking for favours
Some people make a habit of asking for favours while travelling. Some of the popular favours they ask include: ‘Please, do you mind if we switch seats, I really do not like seating next to the window, I find it super scary’, ‘Do you mind if I put my things under your seat? I can’t fit these extra bags that I smuggled onto the plane under my own seat’, Or “Can I please use your phone to call my friend so she can know that I am close to the airport, I have run out of minutes.” Most passengers who give in to these request hold a level or resentment inside or get irritated. To keep the a cordial atmosphere with people they meet, they should ensure they make proper arrangements and do not bother others by asking for favours on the road.

Ignoring Seat Etiquette
Some air passengers are the worst when it comes to observing seat etiquette. They find it hard to keep to their own space while on their seat. They fail to understand the need for the armrest between two seats and they ignore the tray tables when eating, sometimes spilling food on other passengers as a result. The worst is when they sleep on the shoulder of the neighbor sitting next to them, possibly drooling on them. When travelling, ensure you keep to your seat and observe all etiquette, that way you are not a burden to your neighbor.

Flashing money
When traveling, it is important that you hide your valuables and only use them when necessary. This is to avoid attracting the wrong set of people, and is instrumental to ensuring you do not become an easy target for thieves and marauders.  Nigerians however, like to flash their money and even dress up in their expensive clothes and jewelry when travelling, especially abroad. They do this mostly to create the impression of affluence as most believe that affluence commands recognition and respect. However, unless you have body guards or some kind of immunity, it is important to drop the habit.

Read More

How Can Nigerians Make Their Password Hack-Proof

By Nkem Ndem

Nigerian are very social people and with the rise of social media, a majority of them now spend most for their time online. Whether at home, school, work or even while on the move  Nigerians are constantly connected to the internet via their mobile phones, computers, tablets and smart gadgets. While completing tasks online has major pros, seeing as it is easier and faster than normal operations, it also has major cons as it makes one vulnerable to data theft and online scams.

Read More

What Nigerian Guys Do To Ladies in Night Clubs

Hmmm! Is this the latest trend? 

Read More

Nigerian celebs at the White House

A few Nigerian celebs including D'banj, Omawumi, Femi Kuti, Cobham Asuquo, his wife, Victoria Kimani and other African celebs are currently in the US to attend the 2014 Young African Leadership Initiative summit in Washington D.C. See more photos after the cut...

 

Read More

Nigerian history 101: The story of Overami, former king of Benin

It wouldn't hurt to know a bit of your history. Read about the King who ruled Benin from 1888-1897

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (ruled 1888–1897), also called Overami, was the Oba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin up until the British punitive expedition of 1897.

At the end of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a monopoly over trade which the British found irksome. The territory was coveted by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as palm-oil, rubber and ivory.

The kingdom was largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba.

A British invasion force headed by Phillips set out to overthrow the Oba in 1896. The force's weapons were hidden in baggage, with troops disguised as bearers. Phillips plan was to gain access to Ovonramwen's palace by announcing that he intended to negotiate. Ovonramwen's messengers issued several warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty, claiming he was unable to see Phillips due to ceremonial duties. Having been warned on several further occasions on the way, Phillips sent his stick to the Oba, a deliberate insult designed to provoke the conflict that would provide an excuse for British annexation. Phillip's expedition was ambushed and all but two were killed. 

Subsequently a military operation against Benin in 1897 led by Harry Rawson resulted in the burning of Benin City and the deaths of untold numbers of its inhabitants. Although the British had orders to hang the Oba, Ovonramwen escaped, but later surrendered.

Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar with his two wives, and died there in 1914.

Source: Wikipedia 

Read More