Last week I heard that Nigeria plans to put someone in outer space (yes, outside the atmosphere of the earth) around 2030. My first reaction was the usual Nigerian cynicism and incredulity.…
Finding Our Voice As A Nation
The events of last week leading up to the cancellation of the nationwide protests called for by TuFace (2Baba as he is fondly called) brought some jarring memories for some and touched…
Intimacy and Communication
Two, maybe three years ago, I was the biggest supporter of text messaging and all other forms of written communication. Letters, emails, DMs, tweets, you name it, I loved it. And why…
Musings On Our Capability For Selflessness
A couple of years back, I wouldn’t have been the person to say, “I think all human beings are inherently good.” I’d have considered that a reckless statement. I only had to watch/read…
How It Feels to be a Single Mum in Nigeria
Hi there, my name is Single mum. My name tag reads Single mum and society believes That I don’t deserve good men because I’m now “secondhand” That I am not worthy of…
Let Girls Be Girls, Nigeria!
Last Friday, news broke that a 14 (going on 15) year old girl in Katsina State had been married to the Emir, and when her parents protested that she was not only…
VOICES IN OUR HEADS
Hello Again! Long time no see? Whatever it is we do, I missed you. Where did you go? Did you leave or did I? Maybe it was both, or neither. It doesn’t…
The Begging Culture
Last week I had the chance to leave my little Nigerian bubble and step out into the real world for a bit. I went to clear sports goods I bought for friends…
Emotional Maturity: On Learning to Parent Our Inner Child
When I was younger – late teens, early 20s – I had this idea about what emotional maturity was supposed to be about: not being childish; “childish” being a catch-all for certain behaviors…
Of Friendship
After reading this Brain Pickings article, and consequently, this one, I’ve found myself intensely fascinated with the concept of friendship. I’ve always been very wary of saying the words “he/she is my friend”; in…