Some Nigerian female athletes recently brought continental honour home to us in two different sports in consecutive weeks almost. In doing so, they gave Nigerians some respite from the gloomy pall which now seems to hang permanently in the air like a dark cloud that is pregnant with rain. It was a joy seeing Nigerians at viewing […]

The ways of our politicians are confounding sometimes. The constitution is the document that binds people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities together and therefore must be seen to be truly representative. Unfortunately, it is not often available. It is also often worded in a legal and technical manner that makes it difficult for an average person to […]

Sometimes, what one ‘looks for in Sokoto (Town) can be found in sokoto (trousers)’. So says a Yoruba adage. It is also one of the lessons I learnt from a timeless book titled ‘The Alchemist’

The other day in church, a Priest recounted an experience he had as a young Seminarian. Although it happened many years ago, it was an experience that has obviously stayed with him and has probably helped in shaping his priesthood. He had come to visit his parents in Lagos from his seminary in Ibadan during an Open […]

It usually starts with a barely noticeable spark, then it spreads quickly until it becomes uncontrollable. That is the nature of wildfires. That is also the nature of certain volatile newsbreaks. Managing such newsbreaks was my business for years and it doesn’t quite leave you. Like wildfires, the source is important and the trick is […]

It should not happen to anyone. Nobody should have to wake up in the morning to see their property worth billions of naira being demolished; or worse, completely demolished. And as a consequence, to find that the future of a business the property houses, a labour of love and sweat of several years, has suddenly become seriously […]

Many moons ago, when LMTS (Lagos Municipal Transport Service) used to rule Lagos roads, a senior in my secondary school entered a crowded bus. He had to stand up because all the seats were taken. It was not unusual and it was not uncomfortable. As he familiarized himself with the other occupants, he saw a younger student […]

‘Young people starting out in television sometimes say to me: “I want to be you”. My stock reply is always: “Then you have to take the whole package.” That was Barbara Walters, the celebrated broadcaster, the first female face on TV in the US – aptly described as the most important woman in the history […]

I will call him John for the purpose of this article. He is one of the internally displaced persons living in the camp at Yelwata. IDP camps are dotted all over parts of the north as a sign of the times we live in – but that is a story for another day. John had gone […]

There is a feud currently going on in the US between its President and the Governor of California. It largely has to do with jurisdiction, or the limits of power if you like. The week has witnessed some protests against the forceful immigration policy of President Trump in parts of California, especially Los Angeles, America’s second largest […]

Former President Bill Clinton left the White House at fifty-four with a financial challenge. It is inconceivable for us in Africa and especially in Nigeria, for a former President who had been a two-term Governor to boot, to ever face the daunting prospect of insolvency on leaving office. It is not as if he had a […]

The whole world, not just the Catholic or the Christian faithful, welcomed the announcement of the new Pope with joy and possibly expectation. The euphoria that surrounded this announcement as captured by the media, cut across race and religion. It was the joy of a world searching for a true, non-partisan, non- sectarian leadership. In […]

A friend came visiting recently. It was his first time to the house so I took him round our home before settling him in the family living room which I felt was cozier since it was just the two of us. He commended the arrangement of the apartment and its ‘view’. Compliments over, we settled down to […]

I should have given a thought to it but I didn’t. The breeze coming through the open French windows had become distinctively cooler and fresher, meaning it could rain. Instead, groggy with sleep, I covered my head and snuggled into my pillow for warmth. Then, in the small hours of the morning, the breeze brought […]

I saw a lot of C.Vs during my years of ‘Face To Face’ interviews. Some were captioned, many were not. But almost all were impressive because they were meant to be; after all, many were acclaimed achievers. One C.V struck me however because of the uniqueness of its title, and it has since stayed in […]