By Morenike Taire

1.DRINK PLENTY OF WATER EVERYDAY

It’s the same one you’ve always and modern day traditions have not been able to sweep it away.

2. LEARN HOW TO DO YOUR OWN MAKEUP

There are different ways to do make up for the office, evening or a date. Let 2013 be the year when you learnt to do your own make up, and have fun along the way.

3. CARRY YOUR OWN HAIR

Chances are your hair has been bogged down over the years by weaves and braids. Now it’s time to wear your own hair and do so with pride. Experiment with temporary colours and haircuts.

4 KNOW YOURSELF

Know the exact shade of red lipstick, haircut or moisturizer that will make you feel your very prettiest.

5. MANICURE

Take your time to actually sit down and let your manicure properly dry naturally. It’s one of those because-you’re-worth-it kind of things.

6.WEAR SUNSCREEN

Okay, you are black and all but the fact that smoking, unremoved make up and yes- the sun, will make you age faster than you ought to. In  2013, totally, fully commit yourself to wearing sunscreen pretty much all the time. It is not always easy, but it is super necessary.

7. SPLURGE

Leave you cheap days behind in 2012. When you need to splurge on some good lipstick, mascara or make-up brush, do so without even thinking about it.

8 LOVE YOURSELF

Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and tell yourself you are absolutely beautiful.

9. MATCH YOUR LIPS AND NAILS

That colour blocking trend of years not so far away is not going to be so hot in 2013, experts have predicted. Bold colour blocking is going to give way to the demure and the feminine and the matching. Go with the flow.

10. TRY FALSIES

False eyelashes might not be your thing but if you are not wearing a pair at some point in 2013 you will likely not be seen to be adventurous

11. DO “ME TIME”

Never underestimate the power of re-charging your batteries. Aim to set aside one evening per week when you lock the bathroom door for a well-deserved pamper. Use this time to take some deep breaths and just focus on yourself with no distractions.”

12. EAT FOR BEAUTY

Another rule that still stands is that beauty comes from inside out. Eat for your skin.

13. MULTITASK PRODUCTS

Avoid so many beauty products on your same one skin. Rather, go for one cream that can do many different things.

Dynasty of the Wives

*Patience Jonathan

Nigerians once again displayed great outrage when  the wife of Nigeria’s President, Dame Patience Jonathan,  recorded history as the First Lady of the country to be appointed Permanent Secretary in a state civil service. Although Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said  at the time that it was a routine action in the civil service, the country at large has shown great concern over this growing trend, particularly as it has continuously appeared that the voting into the presidential office of Goodluck Jonathan had served no purpose other than its being politically correct.

While the Akwa Ibom state governor Godswill Akpabio has been roundly commended (including by himself!) for clearly putting most of his state’s  resources into capital expenditure use than any other state, most of the oil-rich South-south continues to wallow in relative underdeveloped despite the amount of resources received by the states. It is therefore irksome that the political dynasty trend that first appeared on the country’s terrain  in the South West with godfathers replicating themselves in the system not by their political godchildren but their natural ones, has metamophorsized into the current wife dynasty trend.

No one really thought of former president Obasanjo as being less than he was for his daughter, Iyabo, being in the national assembly, until the ACN became the party that most promoted family dynasty.

The ascendancy of the Niger Delta in the political scheme of things afforded by  a son of the soil living in Aso Rock appears to have replicated the trend in the region.

Also prominent among those appointed permanent secretaries was Linnet Tebepah, wife of the current Chairman of NDDC, Tarilah Tebepah.

The concern is that this trend clearly undermines the achievement of women who have fought for equality in politics and have earned elective or appointed positions for themselves. It also borders on abuse of power, and is likely to promote corruption. It is to be hoped this trend will not  continue in 2012.