7 Tricks To Learn Any Language In 7 Days

Do you really have to travel to another country to learn the language? The 10-language twins undertook the challenge of learning a language in a week in Berlin, their city of residence. What can we learn from how they learned?

What’s possible in a week? If you dedicated seven days to the achievement of one goal, how ambitious could you make this goal? These were the questions that the multilingual twins Matthew and Michael Youlden posed themselves when they determined to learn Turkish in one week. They would attempt to liberate themselves from the distractions and responsibilities of modern-day life in order to cram eight hours of study time into their daily routine. Here are the seven things that I learned by observing some of the world’s most capable language learners.

1. Get To Know Why

Lesson learned: Clearly define your goal at the very beginning and then plot a route towards this goal’s achievement.
The twins set themselves the challenge of learning a language in a week in order to stretch themselves, and then it was a question of choosing which language to learn. Turkish presented itself as a natural option; there are nigh on 300,000 Turkish speakers in Germany’s capital, and the areas of Kreuzberg and Neukölln are dotted with stores adorned with signs in Turkish. Truly understanding one’s environment in these neighbourhoods requires one to first understand Turkish.

2. Get Sticky

Lesson learned: Map and label your immediate environment in the new language from the very first moment. You’ll build and reinforce associations passively while going about your daily life.
The first operational step in the twins’ learning process was to decorate the entire apartment with sticky notes. This had an almost ceremonial touch to it as the twins delved into dictionaries and proceeded to label everything with its corresponding Turkish name. Within the space of about an hour it was impossible to carry out any menial task, be it making a coffee or flicking off a light switch, without first being presented with at least three different words related to this action.

3. Get A Partner

Lesson learned: There are few better motivations than a peer with the same goal. Whether you’re motivated by competition or a sense of mutual responsibility, the mere presence of a learning partner is likely to exert just the right amount of pressure to keep you on track.
The importance of the other twin’s presence became immediately apparent as Matthew and Michael delegated responsibilities for rooms to decorate with sticky notes. This simple task was augmented by continuous little tests that they would spring on one another, and the fact that they split up their day slightly differently and studied different topics meant that each twin became a source of knowledge for the other; the question how do you say that again? was met surprisingly often with an answer. The most extraordinary moment came towards the end of the week when the twins simply switched their everyday conversations to Turkish, asking one another if they wanted tea or coffee, were ready to cook dinner or when they were going to leave the house the next day.

4. Prepare Mini-Motivations

Lesson learned: You need landmarks on your route towards your goal. These landmarks can consist of small challenges - real life interactions in the language, for example - which force you to prepare areas of vocabulary to overcome them. The gratification that will come with their completion will serve to spur you on to ever greater heights.
Matthew and Michael had numerous micro-challenges throughout the week. On the first day they were visited by a Turkish friend who greeted them in Turkish and complimented them on how quickly they’d picked up their first words and phrases. They then learned the names of fruits and the numbers from one to a billion so that they could visit the Turkish market in Kreuzberg (although they refrained from purchasing nine hundred thousand kumquats). Displaying their haul after their first functional exchange in Turkish, they beamed with pride and a palpable sense of accomplishment before marching back home to study further.

5. Eat The Language

Lesson learned: Find a way to tie everything you do to learning. Surround yourself with the food, the music and the films, so that even in your downtime you can prime your mind towards the language and perhaps trigger further areas of interest and motivation.
On our second visit to the brothers’ apartment 24 hours into the week, we found them sampling dozens of different kinds of Turkish snacks. Like kids staring at the backs of cereal packs before heading to school, the nutritional information and various special offers and competitions on the packaging were analysed during snack breaks. There was no moment of complete removal from the language learning process during the eight hours that the twins had allotted to it. The intensity ebbed and flowed, but it never dissipated entirely.

6. Use What You Already Know

Lesson learned: The greater the depth of processing, the more likely the information will be remembered. Find pleasure in drawing parallels and making comparisons between the language(s) you already know and your new language.
One of the twins’ most common phrases was, “ah, that’s a bit like in … ?” They were constantly using their existing knowledge to support the ever-growing knowledge of Turkish. Not only did this spark some energetic exchanges regarding the etymology of various words, but it also ensured new words would never be forgotten once woven into their web of associations. Even if you are learning your second language, you will likely come across words that share common origins with words in your native tongue.

7. Variation is the spice of life

Lesson learned: So you have your route plotted and an idea of your favored methods, but do remember to try new things; your new language has just as many sources as your native language.
The twins spent a lot of time engrossed in books or on their computers and apps, flicking and swiping their way through exercises eagerly, but at other times they were to be found searching busily for Turkish radio stations and write-ups of Turkish football games on the web. There is no definitive method to learn a language, nor any tool or teacher that will single-handedly deliver you to the holy grail of fluency. Language is written, spoken, read and heard. Each of these areas is considered a core skill within which there are myriad potential inputs; would you restrict yourself to one in your native language? All too often, people enter their weekly language class to converse with their teacher, but then barely have any contact with other native speakers or the media being broadcast in their target language. Try something new every day. Listen to a cheesy song, read a newspaper article from a newspaper whose politics differ from your own, write a story for kids, attempt some improvised theatre and talk to yourself while cooking. Spice it up and add some flavour to your language learning!

Learn Turkish (or any other language) >click here

Tiny Device Allows You To Track Your Vehicle Using Your Smartphone

With Over 1.5 Million Units Sold Worldwide, This is The Most Affordable Solution to Find Your Lost Items!

Have you ever lost your car on a parking lot? It happens. You park and go shopping. When you get back, you don't have a clue where your car is. Then you start roaming around clicking on the panic button on your car keys so the alarm goes off. It can be frustrating, especially on a hot, sunny day.
No, you don't need to install an expensive GPS system to keep track of your car. That's way too expensive. You would need to pay a monthly subscription fee just to use it. Don't we have enough bills to pay already?
But is there a way to track your vehicle without spending a fortune? Yes, now there is!
A California-based startup company was able to make this a reality. They created a tiny device that works with your smartphone, and it could be exactly what you're looking for!

What is it?

It's called TrackR. It is a state-of-the-art tracking device the size of a quarter. It's changing the way we keep track of the important things in our lives.

How Does it Work?

It's easy! Install the free TrackR app on your smartphone, connect the app to your device and you're ready to go! Simply attach TrackR to whatever you want to keep tabs on. The entire process of setting it up only takes 5 minutes or less.
You can attach it to your keys, briefcase, wallet, your latest tech gadgets and anything else you don't want to lose. Then use the TrackR app to locate your missing item in seconds.

---

"This device has saved me tons of time and money!"

---

Forget expensive GPS systems or tracking services. Nobody wants to pay expensive monthly subscription fees. We understand how stressful these things can be, and this is the reason why TrackR was created. This device is your VIP when you need to take care of more important things in life.
Remember the car scenario above? If you have the TrackR, you can just hide it under your car's floor mat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Somewhere it won't be found if your car gets stolen.
If you forget where you parked your car, whip out your smartphone and open the TrackR app. Tap on the "find device" button on the screen and the app will tell you the exact coordinates of the last known location of the TrackR.

With TrackR you'll gain peace of mind, knowing you can find your car quickly.

How Much is it Going To Cost Me?

You're probably thinking that this device is very expensive... False! TrackR only costs $29! That's a small price to pay for peace of mind, isn't it?

Where can I buy one?

You can buy it directly from the company's website by clicking here.

NOTE: As a special summer sale, the company is now offering an incredible "Buy 4 – Get 4 FREE" deal to all new customers.

What else can I do with TrackR?

As we said before, TrackR has unlimited possibilities. The device is small and unobtrusive enough that you can attach it to your pet. Put it on their collar, and the issue of searching for them as they scamper off to nearby places will be over! Attach it to your keys and wallet, and never waste a minute rummaging the whole house for it.
TrackR even comes with a double-sided adhesive so you can stick it to your laptop or under your bike seat. Track down and punish the thieves who steal your expensive things!

Attach it To Everything That's Important To You...

Now that you've been informed about this brilliant invention, let me show you how easy it is to track your valuable items. All you need to do is to follow these 3 steps:

• Step 1: Order TrackR today to take advantage of the 50% OFF sale.
• Step 2: When you receive it, open the package and place the thin battery inside the device. Then download the free TrackR app on your smartphone and link up the unit with the app. Finally, hide TrackR in your car or attach it to the item you wish to track.
• Step 3: Relax... Use the TrackR app to find your things. It's easy!

Here's a tip: TrackR is a great gift idea because there's no monthly fee involved!

"Remember, they have an amazing summer sale going on right now. If you buy 4 TrackRs they will send you 4 extra ones for FREE!

This way you and your loved ones can keep track of everything. Keys, car, wallet, bike, toys, pets and even electronics such as a laptop, iPad or Kindle!"

Windows 10 Updates: Hello Night Mode

The next Windows 10 update looks like it might be getting a new ‘night mode’ and it’s probably about time.

As anyone who’s ever used any versions of Windows from the current no 10 version all the way back to the early 90s and Windows 3.1, the colour of Windows, is, well, blue.
But blue light has long been touted as something that disrupts human sleep patterns. Ok, so yes, the argument about quite why you’d keep your computer screen on, and running beside your bed when you’re trying to sleep is a valid one. I mean, why would you do that?

Ok, so maybe nobody does actually do that. But there is a market for 3^rd party software that changes the white balance of your computer screen toward the red part of the spectrum gradually over the course of the night, such as f.lux, which is free for Windows and Mac users. (For some reason we don’t seem to have it on Filehippo.com yet: I’ll look into that and get it sorted)
But anyway, Microsoft have looked into it, and while on the whole, there doesn’t seem to be that many significant changes coming in the next update from the Redmond based tech firm, some Windows Insiders have seen the light encoded deep within the Beta version of Windows 10.

References to a “BlueLightReduction” mode have been found, and should it prove to actually work, users can expect to be drawn to the light and access the new feature via the action centre, when and if it goes live.
Studies over the years have shown that bright blue light, may trick our stone age brains into thinking its day time, and disrupt our circadian rhythms, making it harder to fall asleep.
However, it’s not like Microsoft are breaking any new ground. Apple added the ability to reduce blue light on its Mac software back in March, and also for its iPhones.

What’s In Store For The New iPhone?

The upcoming release of the iPhone 7 has carried all the usual hush-hush speculation and squashed rumors, but so far, this iteration of the popular mobile device looks to be one of the most truly “changed” versions yet. While it was still carry its none-too-tiny Apple product price tag, some big upgrades have already been predicted.

Probably the first change that the average, everyday consumer will notice is the rumored lack of a headphone port. This is already being called a blessing and a curse by some sources. While the thinking is that the phone will come with either headphones that connect via the lightning port or Bluetooth “AirPod” ear buds (smaller than many hearing aids), it does mean you won’t be using your expensive Beats headphones. However, there are some rumors that the phone with possibly include a lightning-port-to-headphone-jack converter; sadly, everything that’s good about switching to the lightning port, namely its better sound quality, just went out the window when you add a small converter cable to the mix.
This design feature has been speculated due to leaked images from the factory, but one of the more telling aspects that supports it is Square Reader’s rollout of a Bluetooth version of its product. The company has an entire line of gadgets for small retailers who can’t afford a major cash register system, or who take credit card payments on the go for their services. Square launched its new product quite some time ago, possibly ahead of the rush to lose the headphone jack.
As for the software that powers the new device, CNET had some very interesting clues for what users will love in iOS 10. The most exciting may be the third-party integration with Siri, meaning developers will finally be able to incorporate Siri into their own products’ functionality. That would be a huge step forward in competing with some other VA giants. Other than that, typical users will be thrilled to finally be able to delete some of the pre-installed proprietary apps that they don’t plan to use, rather than hiding all of those unwanted apps in a folder on their home screens. Finally, the new map upgrades mean easier navigation and less likelihood of being taken to the geographic center of a town if the map can’t pinpoint exactly where you want to go.
As always, Apple has a few tricks up their sleeves that won’t be revealed until the device actually hits the market, but so far the rumors mean this may be the most useful device launch in terms of actual changes the company has produced in a while.

Hausa, Fulani in bloody clash in Lagos

There was chaos on Wednesday at the Lagos State Abattoir, Agege, as Hausa and Fulani traders clashed.

No fewer than three persons were killed, while more than 20 people reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to different hospitals in the area.

during a visit to the area, counted six vehicles that were vandalised and some cattle that were also reportedly killed by the warring groups.

Our correspondent observed patrol vehicles from the Elere, Abattoir, Alakuko police divisions, while some military officers and men of the Rapid Response Squad were deployed in the area to maintain peace and order.

Our correspondent gathered that the two groups started having issues after the Nigeria Railway Corporation demolished some shanties and shops erected around the railway line.

The structures were reportedly owned by the Hausa, who were majorly scrap collectors.

They were said to have accused the Fulani, who were cattle dealers of being responsible for their ordeal, adding that the Fulani encouraged the government to demolish the structures to facilitate easy rail transport of their cows from the north to the abattoir.

A trader, Jimoh Umoru, said crisis erupted after a Hausa woman was assaulted by a Fulani man, who had bought food from her and refused to pay.

He said, “The Hausa are majorly scrap collectors, and they ply their trade around the railway line where they also built their shanties.

“On Saturday, the government demolished their shanties and shops and many of them were displaced and lost their means of livelihood. They felt that their Fulani brothers, who deal in cattle, were behind what happened to them.

 “The matter came to a head on Tuesday after a Fulani man bought food from a Hausa woman, and refused to pay. There was argument between them and the man assaulted the girl. That was how the two tribes started fighting each other.

“Around 1am on Wednesday, some of the Fulani youths invaded the apartments of the Hausa and killed some of them.

“By 5am, the Hausa launched a reprisal and injured many of the Fulani and destroyed their property. The Hausa suffered higher casualties.”

Our correspondent was told that some of the victims were taken to the New Merit Hospitals in the Oko-Oba area of Agege.

A trader, who did not identify himself, blamed the cattle dealers for the mayhem, saying they were intolerant of other traders.

“The Fulani in the market are not tolerant. Any little disagreement, they would start threatening mayhem. The government should be proactive because the Hausa have vowed to avenge their slain brothers. The battle is always at night when people have gone to bed. We are not safe,” he added.

When PUNCH Metro approached the Hausa group in the market, they declined comment.

“We lost three of our people. We won’t say more than that. At the right time, we will call the press,” one of them, who did not identify himself, said.

The spokesperson for the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, Salisu Jikantoro, said 20 Fulani men were injured, adding that vehicles belonging to the Seriki Fulani were vandalised.

Jikantoro explained that the grouse of the Hausa people was that the Seriki Fulani refused to fight for them when their structures were demolished.

He said, “Last week, the NRC demolished structures where the scrap dealers do their business. The scrap dealers came to complain to the Seriki Fulani and he told them to comply with the government’s directive. He said after the demolition, the little space left should be managed. They left disappointed because they were expecting him to order them to start fighting.

“Today (Wednesday), around 2am, they attacked the cattle dealers to protest against what the government did to them. They entered into the market, burgled some of our shops and beat up people who were sleeping. We didn’t lose anybody, but 20 of our traders were seriously injured.

“Six vehicles, one belonging to the chairman of the cattle dealers, and five others belonging to the Seriki Fulani, were vandalised. Seven of our cattle died as a result of this clash and we have decided that we are not selling cattle today to protest against this havoc.”

Jikantoro said his group gathered that the Hausa were planning to attack them and had started recruiting gangs from the Mile 12 and Ojota areas of Lagos State.

The Galadima Yamma of the Abattoir Market, Alhaji Umar Adam, said he met the police presence by the time he arrived at the market.

“There was a misunderstanding between some Fulani men and the scrap dealers and truck pushers operating in the railway line.

“The issue was not properly handled and it escalated. But with the intervention of the police, calm has been restored.

“The major cause of all this was the demolition carried out on the railway line,” he added.

When we visited the New Merit Hospitals where some of the victims were reportedly taken to, he was told that two people were brought into the hospital.

The medical director was said to be unavailable, but a nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The two people had cuts in their head and hand.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said one person died in the incident.

 She said, “At about 1am today, we received a distress call that there was a serious fight between the Hausa and the Fulani communities in the Abattoir.

“The report indicated that the crisis started after a young Hausa woman was beaten by a Fulani man.

“It degenerated into serious fight and subsequent destruction of property.

“The command’s operatives from Area G, RRS and Abattoir division were moved in to quell the crisis and normalcy has been returned to the area.”

She said the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had ordered a peace parley between the two groups, adding that the police arrested four suspects.

Robbers invade Basketmouth’s apartment in Lagos

Armed robbers on Tuesday invaded the apartment of popular comedian, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, in the Lekki area of Lagos State, carting away valuables.

Our correspondent learnt that the gun-wielding robbers stormed Basketmouth’s apartment in the Lekki Phase 1 area around 2am, and held the comedian and his family members hostage for about two hours.

This is just as some gunmen attacked residents of Ogudu in the Ojota area, during which there was an exchange of gunfire  and one robbery suspect was shot dead.

The gunfire exchange, which occurred around 12pm, was we learnt that in the robbery in Basketmouth’s apartment, the robbers made away with valuables of the comedian, including the Closed-Circuit Television Cameras installed in the apartment.
between the police and the fleeing robbers.

A fellow comedian and Basketmouth’s friend, Bovi Ugboma, said on his Instagram page that although the robbers carted away property during the two-hour attack, no one was hurt.

He said, “Basketmouth was robbed this morning in his home in the Lekki Phase 1 area between 2am and 4am. He and his family members were held at gunpoint, while the sad episode lasted. Nobody was hurt. Valuables were taken away, including the CCTV device. A report has been made at a police station. He can’t be reached at the moment, but he will be back as soon as possible. While this is sad news, we are extremely thankful for their safety.”

A source in the area said the robbers were suspected to be people who knew Basketmouth’s family members and their schedules.

“For the robbers to have carted away the CCTV, it signified that they knew the building very well. Thank God that no one was hurt,” he added.

Our correspondent learnt that the robbery was reported at the Maroko Police Division.

In the Ogudu area, Ojota, on Tuesday, some robbers attacked houses and exchange fire with policemen.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The robbers came at about 12pm. They attacked some houses. The police were alerted. There was a gun battle between them and the armed robbers. One of the robbers was shot dead during the exchange.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the attack on Basketmouth’s apartment.

She said, “The command received the report that some suspected robbers broke into the comedian’s house and carted away some valuables. The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the case be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further investigation.”

She had yet to reply to a text message sent to her phone on the Ogudu robbery incident.

Jealous wife bought cutlass two weeks before hacking husband -Police

An irate housewife, Oluwakemi Otun, who attacked her husband, Kehinde Otun, brutally with machete last Saturday, has told the Police interrogators that she bought a new machete two weeks ago solely for the purpose of attacking her husband.

Oluwakemi is said to have had five children for Kehinde, with only three surviving. The couple lived in separate addresses.

The acting state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to our correspondent on the latest findings concerning the incident.

He said Oluwakemi explained further that after purchasing the machete, she hid it in her apartment at Erinlu area of Ijebu Ode, so as not to alert her husband, while she waited for an auspicious time to strike her target.

Her waiting paid off last Saturday as she succeeded in luring her husband to her apartment.

Our correspondent gathered that she had invited the husband over to her residence to spend the weekend with her, which the man honoured, not suspecting anything.

It was learnt further that while he was there, she treated him warmly, only to attack him with machete later, inflicting several deep cuts on his chest and other parts of the body while he was asleep.

She was later arrested by men of the Obalende Divisional Police headquarters, while the husband was rushed to the State General Hospital in Ijebu Ode, where he is currently receiving medical attention.

Oyeyemi said the machete has been recovered.

He said, “The woman has told the police that she bought the cutlass she used in inflicting cuts on her husband two weeks before she attacked him.

“She had claimed that she attacked her husband following moves by him to marry a second wife.”

Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the suspect would soon be charged to court with either “wounding or attempted murder” at the  Ijebu Division of the Ogun State judiciary.

Meanwhile, a source at the State General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, said Kehinde is responding to treatment.

Zuckerberg: How Lagos stood still for the tech guru

When, in the evening of Tuesday, it emerged that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the popular social networking website Facebook, had arrived Lagos, not many in the commercial capital were prepared for the visit. It is true that such global figures as Bill Gates have visited the country in the past without much ceremony, but many felt the coming of one of the world’s youngest millionaires should have been announced several days or weeks before.

“Wait, Mark Zuckerberg quietly came to Nigeria? Wow!” tweeted a popular blogger on Tuesday. Many people, likewise, chattered on about how odd it was that the 32-year-old businessman had visited the country “unannounced” and “unceremoniously”.

“I thought it was a joke…,” posted another writer. “Of course, I thought it was a Photoshop joke. How can Mark Zuckerberg be in Nigeria unannounced?”



The search

After residents had overcome the first flash of shock, they quickly settled down to the all-important task of playing host to the visitor. To them, however, this meant reporting his activities and itinerary, and harping on endlessly about his many achievements.

The Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) at Yaba where he first visited also became something of a pilgrimage centre.

“When I heard that he was at Co-Creation Hub, Yaba, that evening, I rushed to Sabo,” said Uzomdi Ogbe, a student who lives at Akoka. “I know the office; it’s at Herbert Macaulay Way, but I was told he had left, when I got there.”



Simplicity

But it was really Zuckerberg’s dress sense which dominated most discussions. Many of those who shared their thoughts with Saturday Tribune said there were many lessons that members of Nigeria’s Upper Class could learn from Zuckerberg.

“The first thing I noticed about him is that he is down-to-earth,” said Taiye Kolawole, a student who lives at Apapa. “You saw the way he was keen on learning from the people he interacted with; you saw the way he was trying to get familiar with the environment.

“I saw the pictures and I saw him on TV. Everybody is talking about his simple dressing. But that is how he has always been. And that is how many inventors and successful people dress in developed countries. Our people should learn from them.”

Kolawole, however said he was surprised that Zuckerberg chose Nigeria, since (in Kolawole’s words) Nigeria was “probably home to most of the world’s ‘abusers’ of Facebook.”

“Nigerians abuse Facebook a lot,” he said. “Sometimes you find things posted on your wall, and you know you didn’t put them there – things like nude pictures and videos. Sometimes, you find a lot of fake adverts.”



Messiah

For many others, Zuckerberg‘s appearance and action did not only show he is simple, but also very humble. To situate this properly, Andy Akhigbe, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, asked: “Which Nigerian Pastor is as humble as Mark Zuckerberg? Please name one” – a question which attracted nearly 100 comments and 60 “likes”.

Explaining further, Akhigbe said: “The idea behind this post is to get people to think. We need a huge dose of thinking in this country. I can see a lot of youth salivating over Zuckerberg yesterday…It is to Mr Zuckerberg’s credit that we have a platform that has engaged the world and made communication better… the proceeds of such mindful engagement are still being deployed to the benefit of mankind. I wish some of our men of God are so aligned. The word can be better than it is today.”

Most of Akhigbe’s respondents also called on Nigerian leaders to follow the Zuckerberg example:

“If many Nigerian politicians are finding it as a curse to visit their respective constituencies, not even for the purpose of commissioning a project, I wonder what will happen if God should elevate them to Zuckerberg’s position,” said Seun Morire Philips.

Another Facebook user, Modupe Debbie Ariyo, outlined the benefits of the visit to the country as a whole.

She said” “In just one day, he showed the world that Nigeria is not ravaged by Boko Haram; Nigerian youth are not drug pushers and fraudsters but successful entrepreneurs; there are hundreds of Nigerian start-ups to invest in, with potential for high returns; that photo of him jogging on Ikoyi Bridge will promote Lagos a lot more…; Nigeria is a safe place to walk on the streets; that Nigerians are a great people; we make the best Jollof rice.”



Jokes too…

Expectedly, a large number of jokes were circulated throughout the period; they appeared mainly in the form of tweets and display pictures used on social media platforms. One of them read: “Fadalud (Father Lord), please, don’t put us to shame; see as this 54.4 Billion USD is walking up and down. Don’t let him be kidnapped in our country, abeg.”

Another said: “Igbo boys at Yaba no send o. They will see Zuckerberg and still say, “Sssss, oyinbo, you need jeans? I get correct chinos here.”



Endorsed

For most Lagos residents, however, the visit held a lot of significance. In the first place, it was a kind of endorsement. While previous visitors rarely looked beyond Abuja, Zuckerberg came to Lagos; he understood the place of Lagos in the global economic scheme.

Even in Lagos, observers say, it was victory for the masses. Facebook’s Founder did not choose to lounge with the rich and powerful in their homes at Victoria Island; he preferred to interact with young small-scale business owners.

Alfa butchers 25-year-old, dumps his parts on expressway

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The Osun State Police Command has arrested an Islamic cleric, Kabir Ibrahim, for allegedly butchering a 25-year-old farmer, Lukman  Adeleke, and  dumping his remains along the Akure-Ilesa Expressway.

The police said the cleric wanted to use his victim’s hand for a money making ritual for another man. They are now both in police custody in Osogbo.

A police source told our correspondent on Friday that Adeleke sold his cocoa and made N300,000 from it and wanted to buy an uncompleted building with the proceeds.

 

But  not wanting to invest the money without spiritual guidance, the young farmer was said to have consulted  Ibrahim, who is also known as Akewusola, to pray for him.

 Ibrahim allegedly asked the cocoa farmer to come with the whole N300,000, promising to pray over the money. He said the young man would also have to sleep over at his place for the prayer session.

He allegedly put up the farmer in a room where he later killed him while he slept.

To conceal his act, Akewusola dismembered the corpse and dumped the body parts packed inside a sack along the expressway.

The family of the young farmer was said to have become worried, when they could not locate him for many days. They reportedly went to an okada rider with whom he was last seen.

Our correspondent learnt that the okada rider took them to the alfa’s residence and following rigorous questioning by the police , he confessed.

However, before Akewusola dumped the victim’s body on the highway, he  was said to have removed the  victim’s right hand, which he wanted to use to do a money ritual for his client.

A police source told our correspondent, “He told them how he killed and butchered the man. The alfa said he wanted to use the right palm of the deceased for money ritual for another client. So he and the client were  arrested.”

The Police Public Relations Officer  in Osun State, Mr. Ajigbade Egbedele,  confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.

“The case is still under investigation. We will do everything to get to the root of the matter, We cannot say if he  (alfa) actually butchered him because the body was already decomposing as of the time we recovered it but investigation would reveal everything,” the PPRO said.

Special Treat: Poorly processed garri can cause blindness, other diseases —Experts

In spite of its being a major staple food in the face of economic crisis, experts have stated that garri, when poorly produced, can cause blindness and when taken in excess also poses significant health threat to the body.

 ophthalmologist and Group Director of Eleta Eye Institute Complex, Ibadan, Dr Ben Ajayi, said, “Cassava peels contain cyanide which protects the tubers from pests and some animals. For garri, which is derived from cassava roots, to be safe for consumption, cyanide must be completely removed. When the process is incomplete or not properly done, the cyanide becomes toxic to humans when consumed.”

Explaining how this could lead to blindness, Dr Ajayi, who retired as Visiting Consultant Ophthalmologist to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan stated that, “Cyanide is slightly similar in structure to Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin 12). So, it competes with Vitamin B12 replacing it and affecting rapidly growing tissues or tissues that are regularly renewed such as the skin, peripheral nerves and the nerve of the eye – optic nerve. It’s the involvement of the optic nerve which leads to blindness.”

He, therefore, explained that “If a person is eating adequate amounts of proteins and B12, the quantity of the B12 in the blood will neutralise the cyanide and it won’t cause any problem.

“So, for badly processed garri containing cyanide to cause blindness, three other factors must be present: Imbalance Diet deficient in protein; Vitamin deficiency, especially Vitamin B12 and Cyanide present in the garri because of poor processing.”

Dr Michael Richard, a general physician of the Brian Medical Consulting, Ikeja, Lagos, who spoke to Saturday Tribune, described the cassava root as having a high starch (carbohydrate, sugar) deposit, making its excessive consumption compliant to all blood sugar crises.

“Due to the high starch content in garri,” he said, “its excessive intake reduces the chances of the pancreas to regulate the sugar level in the body. And when this habit continues for a long time, the excess sugar flows into the blood stream which circulates round the body. This might cause diabetes, which in turn leads to conjunctivitis, kidney failure, stroke, impotence, among other health complications.”

According to him, “Cassava root is an energy-dense food. The root is a physiological energy reserve with high carbohydrate content which ranges from 32 per cent to 35 per cent on a fresh weight basis, and from 80 per cent to 90 per cent on a dry matter basis. Eighty per cent of the carbohydrates produced is starch; 83 per cent is in the form of amyl pectin and 17 per cent is amylose. Roots contain small quantities of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and maltose.”

The president of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), Dr. Alkali Mohammed, added that “the fibre content in garri helps in digestion, prevents intestine track diseases and slows the release of sugar in the body.”

He, however, said that “the fibre content in cassava roots depends on the variety and the age of the root. Usually, its content does not exceed 1.5 per cent in fresh root and 4 per cent in root flour.”

He admonished also that the improper processing of garri will lower the fibre content and increase the presence of harmful chemicals such as cyanide.

He equally stated that the method of processing cassava has been associated with goitre and nervous system breakdown.

“Besides diabetes, which the excess intake of garri might complicate, the product must be properly prepared before consumption. Improper preparation of cassava can leave enough residual cyanide to cause acute cyanide intoxication, goitres, and even ataxia or partial paralysis.”

Also speaking about the health challenges of the frequent intake of garri, Dr. Olubunmi Omojuowolo, a cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA), Lagos chapter, added obesity as part of fallout of garri over-consumption.

“Too much of carbohydrate is converted into fat and can lead to obesity. If the individual is prone to diabetes, it can worsen the condition,” Dr Omojuowolo said.

Speaking about the processing of garri, he said, “The way garri can be better processed is to make sure that the water, which contains starch and cyanide are properly extracted from cassava. When this is done, garri would be safe for consumption.”

Rich men here don’t dress like you, Buhari tells Facebook founder

Zuckerberg attends Aso Villa Demo Day
CO-FOUNDER and the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of social networking website, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, returned to Nigeria on Friday to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the meeting, the president noted the simple lifestyle of Zukerberg saying rich men in Nigeria were not known for such low profile.
The American businessmen had left Lagos earlier in the week for Kenya amidst speculation that he had been shunned by government officials who had no contact with him during his stay in Lagos.
But Zuckerberg returned from Kenya and was ushered into the president’s office for a meeting, also attended by numerous ministers, including Adebayo Shittu, Ogbonnaya Onu, Okechukwu Enalemah and Lai Mohammed of Communications, Science and Technology, Trade and Investments and Information and Culture, respectively.
At the meeting, Buhari commended Zuckerberg for sharing his wealth of knowledge with Nigerian youths, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.
President Buhari said the various meetings held with Nigerian youths since his arrival were most timely as the country was already exploring opportunities to spur development through entrepreneurship.
He said: “Nigeria has always been identified as a country with great potential for growth, especially with our youthful population, but now we are moving beyond the potential to reality.”
Famous for appearing in T-shirts, jeans trousers and sneakers, Buhari told Zuckerberg that Nigerians were not used to seeing wealthy people like that.
“I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income,” he added.
The President noted that the simplicity and magnanimity of the entrepreneur, who is among the world’s richest men, had also challenged the culture of lavish wealth display and impulsive spending that had become peculiar to Nigerians.
“In our culture, we are not used to seeing successful people appear like you. We are not used to seeing successful people jogging and sweating on the streets.
“We are more used to seeing successful people in air-conditioned places. We are happy you are well-off and simple enough to always share.”
In his remarks, Zuckerberg said he was impressed by the interest, energy and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by young Nigerians in all the ICT camps that he had visited.
“I was highly impressed by the talent of the youths in the Co-creation Hub in Yaba. I was blown away by their talent and the level of energy that I saw,” he said.
Zuckerberg said he was in the country to promote the penetration of “fast and cheap” internet connectivity, Express-wifi, that would help people create online businesses and reduce poverty.
Zuckerberg, who was dressed in black suit and neck tie, later attended Aso Villa Demo Day, a programme organised to pick winners of innovative ideas in start-up businesses organised at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
The American entrepreneur said he was impressed by what he has seen on his trip to Nigeria.
He said: “It’s so inspiring to see what you have built here. This trip has really blown me away by the talents of young entrepreneurs and developers in this country, and making a difference and making a change.
“It reminds me of when I wanted to start Facebook. I wasn’t starting a company at the time but wanted to build something to see if it would work.
“And that is what I see people here do, pushing through challenges, building things that you want to see in the world.
“If it will help the company great, if it will help the country great. You are not just going to shape Nigeria and the whole of Africa but the whole world.
“So, what I will say to the winners today and all the people that participated is that I’m blown away by what you are doing. I believe in you and I look forward to seeing what you do and congratulations.”
In his remarks, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo noted that Zuckerberg had demonstrated that it was possible to live “your dream, influence the environment and the world.”
“Your coming to Nigeria has been especially energising, not just for the young people, but for everyone else,” he said.
He commended the 30 persons who made the shortlist of the Aso Villa Demo Day and the three eventual winners who went home with various sums of money.

Child hunger in Borno, Yobe horrifying —Report

Child hunger in northeastern Nigeria, has entered a horrifying threshold with the latest data showing a deepening crisis, humanitarian news agency, IRIN, has reported.

Levels of Global Acute Malnutrition recorded in July and August in Nigeria were well over the 15 percent

threshold deemed “critical”, and, in some cases, higher than 50 percent, meaning more than half the children surveyed suffered from moderate or severe acute malnutrition.

In a special report on the “possibly deteriorating” situation in Borno and Yobe states, FEWS NET, a network set up by USAID to provide early warning on famine and food insecurity, said surveys and screenings indicated GAM rates “ranging from 20 to nearly 60 percent”.

“This level of acute malnutrition reflects an ‘Extreme Critical’ situation… and is associated with a significantly increased risk of child mortality,” it said. “Conditions may be even worse in areas that remain inaccessible.”

UNICEF helped to draw attention to the unfolding crisis in northeastern Nigeria in July, highlighting the fact that an estimated 244,000 children faced severe malnourishment in Borno State alone and warning that an estimated 49,000 – one in five – would die if they didn’t receive treatment.

Elizabeth Wright, head of communications for Action Contre La Faim (Action Against Hunger), which conducted several of the nutrition surveys, said the situation – not in northeastern Nigeria alone, but also in Yemen, South Sudan, and Central African Republic – represented the worst humanitarian crisis and suffering since World War II.

“We are seeing a horrifying prevalence of malnutrition that far exceeds emergency thresholds, and people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity,” she told IRIN by email.

The latest red flag from FEWS NET draws particular attention to places like Banki Town and Bama in Borno State, where the threat of Boko Haram violence continues to limit movement and prevent humanitarian access.

Wright according to IRIN said the information they had for outlying areas, like Gwoza, was incomplete.

“The humanitarian community does not have adequate, reliable, statistically representative data on nutrition status for many of the newly liberated and inaccessible areas of Borno.  Severe access constraints have prevented humanitarian actors from reaching populations in need,” she told IRIN.

“It is vital that humanitarian actors are able to conduct technically sound nutrition assessments in newly accessible areas of Borno to quantify the scale and severity of needs and to guide the most appropriate, effective humanitarian response.”

strong man secret

“I Was Dumped By 5 Different Girls in 3 Years, No Thanks Premature Ejaculation & Pencil-Like Manhood... I Lost Hope in Every Medication Until This No Side Effect 2-in-1 Remedy Came to My Rescue”
 

"...at a point, I concluded that GOOD sex was over rated"

 

But my breath-taking story, and eventual discovery of the solution you'll learn about shortly changed it all...
 
I could not have believed any man who described the true bitterness in a woman's heart when starved in bed because I grew up thinking that sex was something women do to make men happy.


As a grown adult, I've now seen how wrong I was.


Experience has given its tough lessons and I've learnt that sexually active women derive much more pleasure from sex than men.

It's so when a man comes with a big pounding dick to make her moan in ecstasy, and not a small dangling thing that gets missing in her punani.


Same thing for that man that can last longer in bed to drive his woman wild, make her cum first before he thinks of doing so himself.

This is nature. This is fact.
 

Sadly, I wallowed in the exact opposite direction for years, with lots of heart breaks and disappointments...

Until this knowledge came late to me....  I made a vow that never will I be alive and see any man suffer the same fate I suffered.


Funny enough, the solution was so simple... 

Thank God it finally came... and I can now take my rightful place as the man I should be!

My name is Mr. Akinkunle - a successful banker of 3 years.

I think I've got most of what would tempt a lady into falling in love;

- 5 ft 9 in height,

- fairly toned skin,

- considerably muscular with broad shoulders and;

- a beaming confidence.


Right from my teenage days, people, especially girls admired these qualities and that gave me loads of mind lifting feelings.

But beneath the joy of these sweet attributes, I wasn't really feeling like an endowed man each time I pulled off my cloths.


My john thomas was nothing to write home about.


Yes...! I was a little man down there.

Plus, I shoot in bed within the first 4 minutes.

Some times, I even ejaculate during foreplay... or with mere thought of being with a woman

It was that bad eh.


Although, I didn't particularly attach much importance to that at first but it soon became a problem that constantly stole away my peace.

Fast forward to my adulthood when I had started dating well grown ladies. I began to notice something that slowly killed my confidence.


Suddenly, it dawned on me that none of those ladies flocking around me could put up with a guy with small penis... let alone a guy that arouses their inner woman, and leave them hanging half way... no matter how handsome he looks.


It started with Aminat.


She was my first girl friend.

It once happened that Aminat came to spend a weekend with me following my persuasion.


We did the needful at night and when she woke up in the morning, she was very moody.


After several effort to find out what went wrong, she told me that she had decided to stop having sex but refused to say why.


Well, I didn't buy that idea so she stopped coming.


Soon, I wooed Princess and she agreed. We dated for two months without sex.
 

The day we finally did it was the day our relationship flopped.

She left my place and started ignoring my calls. When she managed to speak, she lied that she's giving her life to Christ.


Confirmed that I am a half man...


What I did next was epic... it's the reason the next girl does not want to leave me... till date

It Has to do With a... Dildo

Some months later, Bunmi came into my life...

She was living alone so I felt free to visit her.

I went there one evening and found a dildo hidden under her pillow.

I was playing with the pillow when I fumbled at a massive dick-like-dildo.


What the heck!

If I was to measure, that artificial thing could be three times bigger than my dick.

I asked what on earth she needed a dildo for and she denied being the owner, saying it belonged to her friend.

I was so mad at her because I was beginning to see her as a liar.

At this point, she came plain and clear.

She promised to do away with the dildo and continue dating me only on the condition that I would allow her keep another boyfriend.


Seriously, I didn't understand why she needed another boyfriend and she refused to say anything further.


But after dating a total of five girls who dumped me for no other reason than what I believed to be my small penis, and not being able to last long enough to make them orgasm, I decided to find a solution at all cost.


But this was not to come until 2 years later, after having lavished my hard earned money on several kinds of drugs that produced virtually no result.

I was already about to give up on my attempts to get my dick bigger when I decided to share the problem with a friend called James.
 

James is my saviour.

Who could have believed that someone I see almost on daily basis knows a solution to such a problem that had been hunting me all along!

But, yes! James knew something I didn't know.

When he told me the effectiveness of "the device",

I thought it was going to be another avenue for wasting money but I gave it a try, nonetheless.


And what happened next was a real miracle!


It took just a little time to practically enlarge my penis to a new size, rocky proudly 7 inches long, and comfortably thick... the size I had always dreamt of.


With the small dick issue out of the way...


I'm now left with the problem of not being able to last more than 4 minutes in bed.

Who do I run to?

Why I was still being discouraged by my past wasting of money... on trial and error, I made up my mind to keep trying.

I took off all the shame from my eyes and formed the habit of sharing my problems with anybody that looks like he has the solution.

So, it continued till about 3 months later.

I remembered a friend of mine in school, now a doctor who was fond of churning out articles back then on fertility issues. Most of his articles were published in international journals.

He later traveled to Russia to specialize on fertility. He works there till date.

Thanks to Facebook, I got hooked up with him, and shared my predicament with him.

Long story short;

He ended up recommending a solution to me.

"Gosh... I've taken loads of similar stuff" I thought.

But in all honesty, the recommendation he gave me this time was far far different from what I've seen before.

However, getting access to this very solution wasn't easy... since it's not made in Nigeria, but a foreign product.

With his help, I ordered just one pack, and got it in about 7 days via FEDEX.

 

The RESULT?

Awesome. Wonderful. Sweet!

What baffles me about this very solution is not just that it helps you last up to 39 minutes the very first night you take it

... it's in the revitalization function it does.

Once you start applying it, it rebuilds your body system ... and you WILL NOT need to continue using it.

So, it did for me.

I even didn't finish the pack I bought... before I noticed a huge difference in my staying power, confidence and stamina.

Unlike other similar solutions out there, you do not have to continue taking.

Just use it to correct your problem... and you can do your thing on your own.

Now, I know you must be eager to see what these 2 solutions that worked for me looks like... so you can probably see if you can use it on your self right?

click here

Soldiers kill 27 Boko Haram terrorists in Cameroon

Soldiers killed 27 Boko Haram insurgents and arrested 10 others in Northern Cameroon, the Commander of a Regional Army Force said on Thursday.
“A Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) set up by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon to fight Boko Haram across borders, ambushed a group of the terrorists on Wednesday, near the town of Fotokol.
“It is located close to the border with Nigeria.
“No soldiers were killed during the clashes, according to Dobekreo,’’ the MJTF Commander, Bouba Dobekreo said.
Boko Haram poses a steady threat to communities in the North-East and has also launched offensives in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The group’s goal is to enforce a strict interpretation of Islamic law, known as Sharia.
Since 2009, at least 14,000 people have died at the hands of the Sunni fundamentalists.

16 Biggest Dogs In The World

Have You Seen The Biggest Dog In The World?

In case you haven’t noticed, the popularity of pint-sized pooches continues to rise. But while chihuahuas and yorkies are totally adorable and can easily fit into your handbag or carry-on, there’s just something majestic about BIG dogs. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest dog breeds in the world for your viewing pleasure, some of which don’t seem to understand just how gigantic they really are, and we promise you’ll be blown away. Are you ready to see the biggest dogs on earth?

click here

Yoruba and Buhari’s government

Is it that everyone has been silenced, or these times are just normal or what really is happening? One Igboman wrote a provocative piece last week challenging what he called the inexplicable silence from the South West in the face of the debilitating economic crisis in the country and, in particular, the zone’s manifest marginalization in the present power order. I read it online. He claimed that in private discussions, he found Yoruba people livid with anger at the shut-out they suffer presently but they just won’t vent their spleen in the open. Why? Are they afraid? Afraid of what and of whom?  He asked.

I read the Igboman and asked: What is he really insinuating? What is his own stake in this matter? Why can’t he just concentrate on mending his own rent garment? Can’t people just mind their business for once? Questions. Questions. But then I knew there were some truths in his unsolicited advocacy. What is happening?

Yes, there are problems. Some are eating and can, therefore, not talk now. Some ate too much and today suffer constipation and cannot talk again. Some are just, by choice, dumb. But these are not the people who lead because they don’t last. Men who eat with 10 fingers are never on the radar when searches are conducted for leaders who speak for the people. The leaders who matter know themselves. They also know when their masquerade must come out to confront the principalities of injustice. The north has the President, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, SGF, NSA,  Heads of the Army, Air Force, Police, SSS, Immigration, Prisons, Customs, Civil Defence — then the Ports, NNPC and others – and we are still counting. Trust and competence are said to be the criteria for these choices. So, trust  and competence that were present with the Yoruba before and during the 2015 polls no longer reside in them?!

And, it would have been excused if the “trusted” and the “competent” men of the moment are doing the job right for the people’s wellness. But the people are suffering and dying in manners that suggest the entire country is fast turning into one vast IDP camp. And we are silent!

The 2015 coalition that defeated the PDP was one of promise, wile and guile. A party apparently saw the others as dispensable after the war. The hunter thinks the monkey a fool. The monkey is not a fool. He has his own logic. Have you ever heard the story of the friendship between wily monkey and burly crocodile and how monkey eventually proved that raw strength and brute force alone can’t see one through life? Mounting on crocodile’s scaly back through the waters of life’s serial failures to victory, triumphal monkey yanks off his friend:

What a strong, great swimmer you are

But how dim-witted is your being

Now, I am done with you, ugly one

You can swim on to the next river.



But then, every wise person knows that there are consequences for every bridge burnt.

The Yorubaman has a very complex sociopolitical persona. His worldview is also as complex as his politics. There is this rat (eku) in Yorubaland called eda. It is always the cause or bringer of bad things. There is always an eku eda in every season of trial.  And, so the Yoruba would interrogate every bad situation, identify the eku eda which “created” it and challenge that rat to find a solution to the communal affliction it caused. When former President Goodluck Jonathan felt so comfortable, big, strong and powerful and then shut out the Yoruba from his government, it was not difficult for the Yoruba to identify among them, Olusegun Obasanjo as the eku eda who inflicted the Jonathan government on them. And, so, he had to be asked to be part of the solution to the challenges the people faced in and with that government. And he was. Every Yorubaman knows who the eku eda of this Muhammadu Buhari era are. Should they, therefore, start agitations now that what they saw, resented and rejected in the Jonathan government now pales in the face of what today’s power wielders dispense to them with ease?

One sunny, harsh afternoon in 1982, I engaged my late father on the grim economic and political realities of the Shehu Shagari era. Sitting beside him under the cool, enchanting canopy of our cocoa farm, he took a long look at the horizon. His reply was “Baba t’o dake yi” (This Baba that is silent).

“Which Baba?” I asked.

“Awolowo,” he answered and then took me on a long lesson on the politics of the Yoruba. He wasn’t a politician, never went to school but had been around long enough to know that unusual silence from the Yoruba leader should give any fumbling Nigerian power wielder every reason to worry, and every sufferer of systemic privations reason to hope.

Power, to the Yoruba, is a divine test, he told me. When you use it with fairness and justice, you receive God’s pass mark, otherwise, you are a stark failure, and your place, another takes in the heart of the Yoruba.

“When you are withdrawing from a friend whose ways you no longer understand, should he hear the receding thuds of your steps?”

“No, it is not wise.”

“If a merchant was here last year to buy our cocoa and defaulted in payment, can he come again this year?”

“He can only come if he thinks we are fools.”

“And if he calls you a fool by coming what would you do? Remember he is rich and powerful.”

“We handle him with wisdom.”

“He supplies the chemicals with which we fight black pod disease.”

“Yes.”

“Great. And without the chemicals there won’t be harvest next season.”

“Yes. We must have the chemicals.”

“Good. When the ocean charges at your vessel with fury, you do not charge back at it paddling with fury. If you do, it overwhelms you and the boat capsizes.”

“Hmmmm.”

“Sometimes even swinging your arms becomes a burden. What then should a man do?”

“You fold them on your head.”

“If a man takes you for monkey, how would you react?”

“I will demonstrate to him that we are no monkey; that even monkey is no fool. He is wise. He is only using his introspection to deal with the situation.”

In January this year, there were trending photographs online of a monkey holding onto a distressed puppy in Rode, India. A report quoted a Facebook post as observing that the monkey “makes sure the little dog’s stomach is full before eating himself” and “protects the pup from other stray dogs.” Interesting. “The adorable friendship,” a commentator stressed, “is a tribute to the power of animal compassion.” Should that vulnerable puppy then see the monkey as a fool for the sacrifices he made? The monkey is no fool; he has his own sense of justice, and care. And he serves justice in the right measure, at the appropriate time.

Justice is the appetiser, the main course and the dessert on the Yoruba’s political menu. He serves it daily to everyone who comes his way. He expects and demands it from every other person who interacts with him privately and publicly. So, if he then sees any fellow, partner, friend who thinks justice is a privilege and not a right, the Yorubaman has options. First, he gives the cheating fellow the benefit of the doubt, offers him advice and even makes excuses for him. Next, he grumbles. Next he shouts. Then he keeps quiet. That quiet stage of silence is the port of no return.

I regret marrying many wives —Jide Kosoko

Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, would have been celebrating his 52 years of acting career, but the death of his wife, Henrietta, some weeks ago made him to shelve the plans. The former President of Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), who returned to acting days back, in this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO, speaks on the loss of his wife, among other issues.



You just signed an endorsement deal with MeritAbode Limited, owners of Emerald Estates. This is coming at a time when you are yet to get over the demise of your wife, Henrietta. Tell us about the deal.

The deal has actually been on the table for some months now. It was borne out of the fact that the company is genuine and trustworthy. I am happy to be associated with them and I am ready to help the company achieve its aim of bringing me on board.



What did that deal fetch you in terms of cash and other benefits?

It is not in my character to reveal what a deal fetches me. You will agree with me that I don’t do such and this is not going to be an exception. The deal means a lot to me because this will help in ensuring that Nigerians think in the line of owning their houses. This is a way of enlightening the people who believe that what they receive as salaries or proceeds from the little businesses they engage is not good enough to build a house, but that is wrong. If people are really determined and they set their minds at it, they will become house owners. This will also help the country because the people will be happy to avoid getting into the usual controversial landlord-tenant tussle.



It is more than 41 days since you lost your wife, Henrietta. It is on record that you have resumed work. How have you been coping with life without her?

When you say how I have been coping, honestly I don’t know how to answer that question. I don’t know if I should tell you I have been fine or otherwise. I can only say God has been my rock till this moment. The truth is that I am yet to come to terms with the reality that she is no more. I don’t want to believe that she is gone. So many things have been coming up since she passed away and I know things will continue like that for some time.



What are the things that have been coming up?

Why do you want to know those things?



A lot of people are interested in knowing what has been happening to you.

What I can tell those who want to know is that God is in control. I have a serious business in hand now. There are children to take care of, which implies that I have to double my efforts to make sure that I am strong physically and financially to take good care of everybody.



What can you say about her that people didn’t know?

She was everything that you can imagine. Which one do I want to mention that is not important to me? I can’t start to explain everything to you in the course of this interview. I don’t even want to talk about it. I think we should let it be for now.



When she died, there were different reports about what led to her death. The most popular one was that she died of diabetes. Could you tell us what led to her death and your last moments with her?

You still won’t stop asking me questions about her. Everybody knows what led to her death. It is already in the public domain. She died of complications arising from diabetes.



Why did her family insist that she should be buried in Delta State against the arrangement you had made for her to be buried in Lagos State?

That was the misconception that people had about the burial. Since the day she died, her family had wanted her to be buried in Delta. There were no issues about that at all. I was only trying to bargain for her to be buried in Lagos.



What kind of relationship did you have with her parents; did you receive their blessings before you decided to marry her?

Since the beginning of our relationship, her father did not hesitate to let me know that they had customs and tradition that must be strictly adhered to.  The man told me that I am giving you my daughter but I am not releasing the rope. So when she died, I only proposed that she should be buried in Lagos but I am a man of culture and I respect tradition very well. So, there was no fuss about where she would be buried because we already knew where we were going.



Before she died, did she tell you about her dreams she could not fulfill?

What we were planning before she died was my 52 years of acting. That was the celebration we were both planning.  I wanted to do something that would be different from what others have been doing. With what has happened now, I have nothing to rejoice about anymore. But somewhere along the line, I will launch my book, which I called a Warrior’s Lamentation. I wrote the book myself because I used my words to capture the message I am passing across to the people. People will have a lot to learn about my experience in life; my sojourn into the movie industry. I am going to bare it all in that book; I am not going to hide anything. Some names will come up in that book. These people have contributed to the rise and fall of the movie industry. I will also talk about our collective mistake that worked against the progress of the industry.



As things stand now, what are you doing to make sure that her memory is not forgotten?

I am doing everything possible to make sure that I immortalise her. She meant a lot to me and the movie industry. Apart from the foundation which I intend to put in place, there are other things that the children and I are still working on. Don’t forget that she has a son who is into music, and my primary assignment as we speak now is to make sure that he excels in the career he has chosen.



How are you coping with the insinuation peddled in some quarters that losing three wives was not natural?

Segun, why are you asking me this question? I hope you don’t want us to discontinue this interview? I don’t want to start discussing all that. I don’t know what you expect me to tell you. Henrietta lived with me for over 20 years. I never expected or prayed that she would die. It saddens my heart when I hear people saying all sorts of things about her death. We all come to this world at one point in time and our exit will happen one day whether we like it or not. God is the giver of life. He gives it and takes it when He likes. I wish I could stop Henrietta from dying. I believe she died at God’s appointed time for her. If it is my turn tomorrow, I will not exceed that day. It is in whose place to say that someone’s death is not natural? I leave them to their belief. I leave them to God.



You are over 60 years old and you are blessed with children. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind for your family when you are no more?

You can easily call my family an entertainment home. I am happy to see my children taking after me. I am even more joyous that they are doing well for themselves. They don’t have to look up to me to live their lives the way they want.  Already, the namjide-kosoko3e Kosoko will remain a reference point in the entertainment industry and generations to come will know that there was a man who lived all his life in the theatre world. If you are talking about living properties behind for my children, then you might be missing the crux of my discussion. I am grateful to God that all my grown up children are graduates. I have about eight children who have graduated from higher institutions, which is good enough for me. I have those who are yet to secure admission into the university. I feel fulfilled already as a man.



Would you love to have more children?

That will be madness. Let me say this today for the first time, I never planned to be a polygamist. I found myself in that situation and I had to adjust to the system. I didn’t set out in life to go into polygamy. So for me, having more children at this stage is madness. Apart from age, If you hear that Jide Kosoko welcomes new baby tomorrow, I am sure you will say this man is mad. Am I going to be selling the children to make money?



Do you regret being a polygamist?

Let me tell you, I don’t pray that my enemy should practice polygamy. And, this should be a lesson to the young ones coming. I know some people will say their religion permits it, but the religion did not enforce it.  I have serious business to do now. I have young children to take care of.



As an authority in the movie industry and with the way things are going, what do you think will happen in the movie industry in the next 10 years?

I have written that answer in my book. You will read about it when I release it. I already know what will happen in the movie industry in the next 10 years.



What will that thing be?

You will get it when I release my book.



In your 52 years of acting, what is that thing you have not achieved?

As one of the strong administrators in the industry, I am sad that we have not taken the industry to the level that we want. I will be happy when the industry has been properly regulated.  We have tried to have got to this stage, but we still need to speak with one voice. We need to guide ourselves with all the necessary ethics. I am part of the body that set up Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) and I will be grateful to God if it actually comes to be.



That is for your acting life, what about your personal life?

One problem with me is that my personal life and career are too interwoven; you cannot separate one from the other. I am happy with my immediate family. We are not static. Every member of my family is doing very fine.


What would you have been if you were not an actor?

Honestly, I don’t know what would have happened to my life. From the beginning of my life, all that has been in my head has always been acting. I am not sure I didn’t start acting from my mother’s womb.



What would you want God to do for you again?

I wish God could reduce my age to 10.



Why?

I have many corrections to make.



What were those things you didn’t do rightly?

From the beginning of my life, I was never designed to have two wives. My major regret in life is that I went into polygamy. My second regret, which is not my fault entirely, was that I was lucky to be one of the pioneering members of ANTP. I and some few people did not guard the industry jealously. We opened the gate without ensuring that anybody that was coming in was trained. No matter how talented you are, you still have to be trained the rudiments of acting.