Category: Featured

  • 11 Attributes every man finds desirable in a woman

    11 Attributes every man finds desirable in a woman

    Here are qualities men find desirable in women:

    1. She is family oriented.

    Before I get heat from people who say that not everyone is close to their family and that doesn’t make them a bad person or whatever – that goes without saying. Let’s keep in mind that I speak from my own perspective and to me, a woman who values both her and my family is important when considering a long term future. I’m sure most men who someday want a family of their own would agree with me.

    2. She is kindhearted.

    I’m not quite sure how to explain this one. I feel like just the word ‘kindhearted’ in itself gets the point across. A woman who is thoughtful. Loving. Caring. Who does small things for you for no other reason that she loves you (as you do for her). A woman who, when she smiles at you, gives you no choice but to smile back. A woman who radiates warmth from her heart. That is a woman a man would want to marry.

    3. She is intellectually challenging.

    There is no denying that someone’s looks are what initially draws us to them. It’s difficult to spot a great personality from across the room. Many a fling was built on physical attraction alone, but how long can it last?

    When conversations lack depth or intrigue, we often fill our time with physical activity together, but it is impossible to build a real connection or lasting relationship with someone on that alone. Being intellectually challenging and having the ability to hold real discussions about meaningful topics, will always trump shallow beauty in the long run.

    4. She is understanding and empathetic.

    Being compassionate, supportive, and encouraging towards your partner is a huge part of building a successful relationship. Nobody wants a person who is a “Debbie Downer” all the time and will not support them in their endeavors or their times of need. Life is full of challenges that any couple will face together, particularly a married couple. Sometimes men need a shoulder to cry on, too.

    5. She is ambitious.

    In addition to supporting and encouraging you pursuing your own goals and dreams, she will have her own as well. A mature woman has a vision for her future and chases after it with voracity.

    A mature woman will be someone you can take on the world with. A partner in crime, a teammate in your relationship, and in life.

    6. She is consistent.

    Being consistent is a valuable virtue because it lets your partner know that you really are who you are. You haven’t sent your “representative” to get to know them during the first couple of months of dating, but then suddenly transform once they’ve committed themselves to you.

    To clarify the point, think of consistency as the opposite of volatility. If someone is unpredictable and volatile, it’s difficult to know how they will be acting towards you on a certain day, and that gets old no matter how aesthetically pleasing she is.

    7. She is willing to put in effort for you.

    I am all about giving in relationships. I believe seeing your significant other happy should also make you happy – but it is important to understand that it goes both ways.

    Her putting in effort doesn’t have to be much. It can be something as simple as slipping the waiter her debit card to pay for dinner. It’s no secret that sometimes the romance wears off of longer term relationships, but you shouldn’t let it – and neither should she.

    If a woman continues to do what she knows attracted you in the first place, even after she got you a long time ago, it shows she cares about keeping you around.

    Side note: Equally as important is to make sure both teammates always show the other their appreciation for this effort. Feeling taken for granted can easily lead to resentment and other negative results in a relationship.

    8. She holds similar values as you.

    This is often an extension of the family-oriented point in the beginning, because many times our value system comes from our upbringing. The things we find important (or not), the things we believe in strongly (or not), the way we treat others, and ourselves. It doesn’t matter how attracted you are to someone or even how well you get along, if your values don’t align, you will always be clashing in the long term.

    9. Physical attractiveness.

    Sorry, but it has to be said. The good news is, every man is attracted to a different type of woman and has his own personal tastes. Meaning, I am in no way suggesting a woman has to fit a certain image of ‘beauty’ in order to be considered ‘wife material.’ But, as is true for both men and women, there needs to be a physical attraction between two partners to kick off a relationship, which also plays an important part in holding it together.

    10. She is friendly and sociable.

    I know, at least for me, I enjoy being social and I love having my girlfriend by my side. So, naturally, we will find ourselves together out at events or even just bumping into people at a restaurant or bar. No man wants to be worried about the attitude his girlfriend or wife is going to give to the friend he is trying to introduce her to. He doesn’t want her to turn up her nose or be short with them – it is important that as his teammate in life, she is his teammate in all areas of life.

    It is important for a couple to be able to be playful and joke around with each other. It helps lighten the mood, makes extended periods of time together more fun, and laughing together never gets old.

    11. She is loving and affectionate.

    This is more of a bonus point. It may not need to be said, because a few of the points above just direct back to someone being loving in general, anyway. But, I think it’s important to state just the same.

    For me, affection is important. Holding hands, hugs, just being physically close together. It symbolizes a connection. It’s a warm, loving feeling, and I would have a hard time building a long-term relationship with a woman who shrugs off your arm when you put it around her or always feels ‘separate’ from me.

    Needless to say, every man likely has a different ‘checklist’ for what he is looking for in the woman that he would consider potentially making his wife someday, but my instinct tells me one would be hard-pressed to find a guy who didn’t agree with the points listed here.

  • 8 Signs you are leading him on

    8 Signs you are leading him on

    We’ve all been in a situation where we led someone on, but if you watch out for signs you’re leading him on, it might be easier to stop. Leading someone on is never a good thing, especially if you know you are leading them on. There are a lot of signs you’re leading him on to watch out for, girls, so make sure that you are careful!

    1. UNKNOWING FLIRTING

    Sometimes, flirting and being super flirtatious is one of the signs you’re leading him on that you might not even know about! Flirting can be anything from flashing a toothy smile all the way to touching him a little bit. If you know that he has feelings for you and you don’t feel the same, you might want to cut the flirting out.

    2. BEING TOO NICE

    Are you constantly nice to him? I don’t mean just regular nice, but do you go out of your way to be nice to him but you feel that it is just being friendly? That could be a sign that you’re leading him on to think that you really like him. Recognize exactly how nice that you should be and stay within those limits if you aren’t feeling the same way.

    3. DRUNK MAKE OUT SESSIONS

    Oh, this is a big one. Just because you are drunk, doesn’t mean that you need to make out with the guy that you don’t like that way. This can send a bunch of mixed signals to him and he can actually really think that you like him like that. Trust me on this one, this is the #1 sign that you’re just leading him on.

    4. SHOWING FAVORITISM

    Let’s say that you are in a group of friends, but you are showing him all of the attention and even sitting very close to him. This is another sign that you could be leading him on. Don’t show favoritism among your friends, they should all be treated exactly the same!

    5. BEING OPEN ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP

    Now, this one can be a little tricky. Because he might be your friend, you can talk to him about your relationship, but do you over share about a lot of the problems that you have in your relationship? Do you constantly complain about your boyfriend and constantly compare him to your friend?

    6. BEING TOO TOUCHY-FEELY

    This goes hand-in-hand with being too flirty. If you are constantly touching him and constantly feeling him – even going as far as sitting in his lap, he could think that you really like him. Lay off the touchy and feely things, girls, especially if you have a boyfriend!

    7. YOU LET THEM BUY YOU THINGS

    How about him buying you things or even taking you out? Does he do that often? That’s definitely something that could make you want to lead him on, but it isn’t right. If he is constantly buying you things because you don’t have the money or because he just likes you – maybe you should turn him down once in a while.

    8. DEPEND TOO MUCH

    Finally, if you are constantly depending on your ‘friend’ to do everything. He was there to help you move, he was there to help you clean up, he was there to drive you home when you were drunk – these are things that can make a great friend, but it can also send mix signals on your part, if you are constantly depending on him.

    So girls, have you ever led someone on? Did you mean to do it? It’s all about the signals, girls, you’ve got to watch that. I know that I’ve led quite a few people on and I didn’t even know that I did it! Now that you know, remember that it can be hurtful! Has a guy ever done any of these things to you?

  • 8 Skincare tips for a healthy skin

    8 Skincare tips for a healthy skin

    It is important to take care of your skin because a healthy skin makes you more beautiful. It may take a lot of effort to take care of the skin but it is worth it.

    So, here are tips for a healthy skin:

    1. WASH TWICE A DAY

    Your face really needs to be washed twice each day. Wash your face with warm water and a mild soap. Stay away from any products that are too abrasive, and avoid harsh chemicals as well. In addition, one of the best tips for young skin involves how you wash. When washing, massage your face in a circular motion. Do not scrub. It will irritate your skin and cause more breakouts.

    2. MOISTURIZE

    After washing your face, follow up with a moisturizer that contains benzoyl peroxide. The benzoyl peroxide will decrease the oil and bacteria on your skin. If your skin is prone to a lot of breakouts, make sure you don’t choose anything that will leave it looking greasy. To take care of younger skin, you have to know your skin type.

    3. NO PIMPLE POPPING

    One of the most important tips for young skin is to not pop your pimples. Bursting blemishes can cause scarring, swelling and redness. You can also end up with unsightly acne scars. No matter what, popping a pimple is never a good idea.

    4. NO TOUCHING

    Don’t touch your face. Your hands are dirty. When you touch your face you are transferring that dirt and oil to your skin. That same dirt and oil is likely to cause your pores to become infected and breakout.

    5. BODY ACNE

    When we think about skincare we mostly think about our face, but it is also important to address the rest of your skin when giving tips for young skin. If you have body acne wear loose closing to let you skin breathe. Also, look for a body wash that helps take care of your body blemishes.

    6. WHAT ELSE IS TOUCHING YOUR SKIN?

    It’s not just your hands that can put dirt on your face. Your hair can also put extra dirt and oil on your face. Keep your hair clean and try to keep it off your face. Other things like your sunglasses, phone, scarves, and hats, can also put dirt and oil on your face. Make sure to clean those things regularly or keep them off your face so that you can properly care for your younger skin.

    7. SUN PROTECTION

    Many people like to tan. In fact some people believe a good skin care tip for young skin is tanning to prevent acne. This suggestion is wrong. Not only will tanning not improve your acne, it will cause more damage to your skin, resulting in wrinkles and increasing your chance of skin cancer. Avoid tanning beds and always wear sun screen.

    8. HYDRATE

    Your skin needs water. Drink up and stay hydrated. Water is one of the best things for you skin so get plenty of it.

    The tips for young skin that you follow now will help you have better skin as you age. Taking care of your skin now is important. It will improve your appearance and make you feel better.

  • 7 Helpful tips to make you look great in pictures

    7 Helpful tips to make you look great in pictures

    Here are helpful tips to make you look good in pictures:

    1. AVOID THE DOUBLE CHIN

    No one is going to look great in a picture with a double chin. You can save yourself from the dreaded double chin by pointing your chin down and keeping the camera at or above your eye level. It’s important not to let people shorter than you take your picture unless they are standing on a chair.

    2. TAKE OFF THE POUNDS

    I’m sure you have heard that the camera adds 5 pounds. This may be true, but with the right stance you can actually look thinner in your pictures. This tip on how to look good in pictures had been shared by the stars on the red carpet for years. When standing, turn your body at a 45 degree angle away from the camera, and then turn from the waist to face the camera. Think of the classic Paris Hilton pose when trying to position yourself for you next photo shoot.

    3. NO SHINY FACE

    You don’t want to be the girl that reflects the camera flash. It’s not flattering to have a shiny forehead in the picture. If it’s a hot day and you’ve been sweating, pat off your face and neck. If your skin is just naturally oily, try using a matte finished foundation and powder.

    4. STAY OUT OF THE SHADOWS

    People that know how to look good in pictures know to stand in front of the sun. Light can create unattractive shadows on the face. It can give you dark shadows under the eyes, on the side of your nose or under the chin. If you stand in front of the sun outdoors or stay clear of any overhead lighting indoors you will avoid unwanted shadows in your pictures.

    5. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

    It might sound silly but people that know how to look good in pictures practice smiling in the mirror. You want your smile to look natural, not cheesy and plastered on your face. Standing in front of the mirror and practicing your smile will help you know how a natural smile feels. Then you can achieve the same look when having your picture taken.

    6. CHOOSE FLATTERING CLOTHES

    If your outfit makes you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable is it going to show in your pictures. Don’t wear something that you don’t feel 100% beautiful in when you leave the house. You don’t want to be caught on camera fidgeting with your clothes or trying too hard to suck in your stomach.

    7. MAKE-UP

    Make-up is very important when you want to know how to look good in pictures. First you don’t want your make-up to be too heavy. Heavy make-up will look even heavier in pictures. You also don’t want to look washed out by not having on any make-up. For best results keep your make-up natural and highlight your best features.

    You see, knowing how to look good in pictures can be easy. It’s just a matter of knowing a few important tips and using them to your advantage. Do you have any other tips on how to look good in pictures that you want to add? Please let me know, because remember, our photogenic friends shouldn’t be the only ones who know how to look good in pictures!

  • 7 Inspiring Books You Need to Read to Get to Know Yourself Better

    7 Inspiring Books You Need to Read to Get to Know Yourself Better

    I always loved reading a book that can help me discover who I am, what I want, and how I can reach my full potential, so this is why I thought it would be nice to tell you about some really inspiring books you need to read to get to know yourself better. A good inspirational or motivational book will help you see things from a different perspective and will also help you learn to believe in yourself enough to know you will succeed. So here is my list of 7 inspiring books you need to read for getting to know yourself better:

    1. DANIEL GOLEMAN – EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: WHY IT CAN MATTER MORE THAN IQ

    I’ll start my list with one of my top favorite inspiring books you need to read in order to get to know yourself better, and I’m talking about this amazing masterpiece written by Daniel Goleman. It was hard for me to choose just one of his books, because he has so many great books that will help you get to know yourself and the people around you in a more objective and sincere manner. A lot of the critics said that this wonderful book redefined what it meant to be smart, and I guess that says a lot; in my opinion, that’s the best way to describe this incredibly amazing book.

    2. GEORGE W. BURNS – 101 HEALING STORIES: USING METAPHORS IN THERAPY

    Oh, how I love this absolutely amazing book! I know it can be a real gold mine for a therapist but it’s also extremely valuable for anyone who is seeking themselves or who seeks answers to some important existential problems. It contains 101 inspirational stories, parables, fables and metaphors applicable to a very wide range of problems and, at the same time helping people rediscover the strength and resources hidden deep within them. You should definitely give this book a chance; it is totally worth it!

    3. DANIEL GOLEMAN – SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE NEW SCIENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

    I know, I couldn’t help it, I had to include another wonderful book from Daniel Goleman in this list, but that’s only ‘cause it’s such an amazing and useful book. This was even a huge international phenomenon; it appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year and sold more than five million copies worldwide. You can even consider it to be the sequel to the first book on emotional intelligence. If you’d like to get to know yourself and especially others better, you should definitely check this book out!

    4. GUY FINLEY – THE SECRET OF LETTING GO

    Oh, this is another one of the most amazing and helpful books I’ve ever read! Peggy McColl, New York Times best-selling Author of Your Destiny Switch says, “The Secret of Letting Go is a vital guide for anyone who wishes to break free from self-limiting beliefs and behaviors.” I find this to be the perfect description of this wonderful book. It was a great motivation for me especially because it’s about letting go of negative self-talk, a really destructive behavior. This book really works wonders!

    5. BERTRAND RUSSELL – THE CONQUEST OF HAPPINESS

    You could really say that this book written by Bertrand Russell represents the perfect recipe for good living. First, he describes the main causes of unhappiness and in the second part of the book; he talks about the essential causes for having a happy fulfilled life. I like a lot this particular quote: The wise man will be as happy as circumstances permit, and if he finds the contemplation of the universe painful beyond a point, he will contemplate something else instead. This book is really a must-read!

    6. KLEIN & LEHMANN – THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS: HOW OUR BRAINS MAKE US HAPPY-AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET HAPPIER

     

    The authors of this extremely useful book, two science journalists, explore the nature of happiness with the help of the latest research in brain science. I’m really happy I read this book! There’s a famous anonymous quote that “much happiness is lost in the pursuit of it.” But thanks to this great book that problem is solved. This book is not just for science fans; it’s pretty easy to read and it can help you gain a lot of insight. It’s such a light, enjoyable read!

    7. STEVEN PINKER – HOW THE MIND WORKS

    In this very enjoyable book, Steven Pinker, one of the world’s leading cognitive scientists, explains what our mind is, how it evolved and how this fascinating part of us allows us to think, see, hear, feel, laugh or interact. This book is a bit hard to read, it’s not very light because it has a lot of scientific facts and terms but it can really help you get to know yourself better so I think that definitely is worth the effort. You’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.

    So, this is my list of 7 most inspiring books you need to read if you want to get to know yourself better. Do you know any other inspiring books I missed mentioning here? What are your recommendations? Please share them with me!

    Source: allwomenstalk.com

  • 7 Things Men and Women Interpret Differently

    7 Things Men and Women Interpret Differently

    We women over-analyze everything, whether we like to admit it or not, and that is why I am going to share with you 7 things men and women interpret differently. More often than not we text, email, or say things to a guy with an alternative agenda, and as a guy he just takes it for what it is. I like to say women are about 50 shades of grey, while men are basically black and white. Just because we state we want to go see a movie, tell them we’re going to be at a place with friends, or ask what they are doing, it’s usually because we have an ulterior motive. Instead of just being upfront and honest and telling a guy we’re thinking of them, we’d like to hang out with them, or that we had fun the other night, women use every other option possible to beat around the bush based off of fear and insecurity. When in actuality, guys need you to be upfront because they aren’t going to be able to read your mind. We think they have special powers but all in all, men really only read what you put in front of them. The following are going to help you see 7 things men and women interpret differently.

    1. THE INITIAL HELLO

    How many times do you look at your phone when you’re texting a boy and what he uses as the initial hello is going to make or break the conversation? For some reason many girls have come to believe if he writes just a “hi,” it’s bad, and if he gives you a “hey!” it’s great, when in all honesty that is just not the case. We base the amount of emoticons, punctuation marks, and word choice of a greeting on how much a guy is into us, making this one of the biggest things men and women interpret differently. In actuality, we never really know what he’s doing at the moment or where his head is at. Maybe you caught him at work, getting his exercise on, or he’s busy driving and doesn’t want to get a ticket. On the other hand, he could be talking to other girls, or maybe got back with an ex girlfriend. The point is to not make yourself crazy because a guy definitely isn’t doing that to himself. How you say hi to a guy isn’t going to bother him at all. If he doesn’t care, then don’t worry yourself either!

    2. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

    Those four words are the most analyzed and open ended words in any conversation. When a guy reads that, he thinks of it as what it is. When a girl says that or reads that, her mind goes into overdrive. He is asking you that because at the moment he does want to know what you are doing. For a girl it means “I would like to hang out with you.” Of course we think if he’s asking us that it’s because he wants to see us, but it’s not always the case. Sometimes guys just are trying to make small talk because they don’t know what else to say, but do want to talk with you. And sometimes it is because he wants to know if you are available to hang out. Just know if you are asking a male those four words he is most likely to interpret them differently than you. So if you want to hang out, try just asking him instead of hoping he can decode your true motive.

    3. THAT SOUNDS FUN

    Men constantly take things sexually, even if you aren’t purposely putting it that way. This is one way to be able to flirt with a boy with out being so open about it. When a girl hears these words, we take it as him being sarcastic, or flirty, or just plain serious that whatever you are talking about sounds fun. When leading a conversation, use this saying to your advantage to tangle the bait in front of the boy you are playing with. When it comes to hearing it from him, don’t be that crazy that girl overreacts to everything. Just know more times than not, he literally means what he is saying with no hidden meaning.

    4. EMOTICONS

    Let me put this very clearly on where I stand with emoticons: do not use them. They are a lame excuse to hide your motive about how you really feel. If you let a guy know you are having a good day, no need to add a smiley face, pretty sure he thinks you’re smiling if your day is swell. The universal meaning behind a winking face, “Please don’t think I’m creepy. I just made an awkward joke. Text me back LOL because my ego is on the line.” Be aware of boys who use emoticons. They think they are coming off cute but truth is they either are trying too hard because you make them so nervous, or they are just simply sleazy. When a guy is seeing emoticons from a girl, it’s a simple trigger point for them to know you like them. Don’t give your emotions away too easily in those emoticons!

    5. I LOVE YOU

    Those three words have probably the most different meanings between men and women. When a guy says it to a woman, whether it’s his friend, his family member, whomever, it usually just means I care about you. It’s a symbol of “you are important to me and I want you to know it.” A lot of times girls want to over think when they are told that. There is that special, Notebook moment, when a boy tells a girl he is in love with her. Girls, make sure you are clear on the difference between a boy saying, “I love you” before he hangs up the phone, and you being brought into a room full of candles and having a man confess his complete and undying love you for you. Just because a guy can say it to a girl with no problem, doesn’t mean it is mirrored the same way. Anytime a guy hears a feeling come out of a girl’s mouth, he freaks! So be very careful about throwing the L Word around, because it is not something a guy takes lightly. You might just scare him off, even if he is just a friend.

    6. A NICE COMPLIMENT

    Girls, listen closely to this one! When talking with a guy, a nice compliment goes extremely far. The goal is to use flattery as a way to throw your crush on a roller coaster ride. Don’t overly flirt and flatter him, so when you do let him know his hair looks great, or he should wear that color shirt more often, he won’t know exactly how to react. It’s a way to hint at him you are interested without losing any of the hard to get factor. Also, in general we say nice things to guys without thinking about the repercussions. We don’t always like the guy we are giving compliments to. Be careful, because when boys give a compliment it is them hitting on you, so in their minds it means the same thing when you compliment them. If you don’t hear nice things coming out of a guy, he isn’t that interested. If he is flattering you, or smothering you, he definitely is interested in you. Whether it’s a relationship, or just a fun night, you are definitely wanted.

    7. THE GOODBYE

    When it comes to closing a conversation it is the same feel as the opening. Boys do not care whether you say, later, bye, see ya, adios, etc. Girls dissect into pieces every way a boy closes a conversation. Here’s the thing, just because he doesn’t say, “see you soon” doesn’t mean he won’t see you soon. He is simply saying bye. When we say goodbye we are looking to get a response from him, some type of reaction. In a dream world, we would say farewell, and be chased after by Prince Charming asking us when he would be with us again. But that doesn’t happen in reality. So ladies, keep calm and stay relaxed when ending a conversation with a boy. Try not to over think it, and remember, if he wants to talk to you, he will talk to you. It really doesn’t matter if he says, “bye” or “talk to you soon.” Just be happy you got to talk in the first place!

    My favorite thing about this post is that there is some type of decoder between the male and female brain. These 7 things women and men interpret differently will help your love life, friendships, and free time. Instead of having to blow up all your friends’ phones to figure out what he meant when he said, “xyz,” or asking advice on what you should text him, just refer to this article to realize it all isn’t as big of a deal as we make it out to be.

    Source: allwomenstalk.com

  • IGP tasks Petroleum, Illegal Bunkering Taskforce on firmness

    IGP tasks Petroleum, Illegal Bunkering Taskforce on firmness

    By Our Reporter

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu has called on the Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering to be firm in the discharge of their duties.

    Adamu made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at his maiden meeting with sector, intelligence and unit commanders of the task force.

    He said the meeting was convened to engage the commanders on new approaches to the security of critical assets in the oil sector.

    Adamu said the task force was established with mandate to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other security agencies to protect oil pipelines and prevent illegal bunkering.

    “Your core duties in this regard include and not limited to the protection of NNPC pipelines/infrastructure throughout the federation, identify and destroy all illegal refineries and depots.

    “Surveillance and generation of intelligence that could be utilised to prevent any act of sabotage in the oil sector, arrest and prosecution of pipeline vandals and those engaged in illegal bunkering,” he said.

    According to him, in the performance of your duties, you are to be guided by the fact that oil pipelines are not ordinary assets and their security is of strategic importance to the country.

    He called on the commanders to imbibe the virtues of inter-agency collaboration, partnership with the host communities, NNPC and other stakeholders in the discharge of their duties.

    “You must constantly demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and eschew all forms of corruption.

    “You must be firm in your enforcement operations, ensure diligent investigation and speedy prosecution of arrested vandals, oil thieves and those involved in illegal bunkering.

    “You will be held liable for any action or inaction that engenders any security breach within your operational jurisdiction as regards pipeline security,” he added.

    He said plans were ongoing to engage community policing practice, intelligence-led operations and technology driven strategies to support the task force in the discharge of its duties.

    According to him, this will involve the deployment of our newly acquired long-range monitoring, vehicle-mounted CCTV system to support your pipeline surveillance operations. (NAN)

  • EFCC arrests 4 INEC officials over alleged diversion of N84.7m

    EFCC arrests 4 INEC officials over alleged diversion of N84.7m

    By Our Reporter

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sokoto Zonal Office, has arrested four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for alleged diversion of over N84.6 million for ad Hoc staff allowances.

    This was contained in a statement by EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made available to newsmen by the commission’s Sokoto Zonal Office, on Wednesday in Sokoto.

    He said the arrest was due to a petition by one Abdullahi Nasiru who wrote on behalf of all presiding officers that worked for INEC during the 2019 General elections in Zamfara State.

    “This, alleging that the Adhoc staff were denied payment of their N6,000 movement allowance each for the two elections.

    “They further alleged that what the Commission paid to them was different from what other states paid their Adhoc staff.

    “The Commision allegedly paid its staff the sum of N9,000 in Zamfara while other states like Sokoto State, the commission paid N12,000.

    “However, investigation by the EFCC revealed that none of the 10,500 presiding officers who participated in the elections were paid their entitlements commutatively put at N84,696,000,” he said.

    Uwujaren added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    Those arrested were Hassan Aliyu, Administrative Secretary, Hussain Jafar, Head of Operations, Abdullahi Abubakar, Accountant and Abdulmumin Usman all officials of INEC in Zamfara state. (NAN)

  • 7 Helpful tips on how to have more maturity

    7 Helpful tips on how to have more maturity

    A lot of people want to learn how to be more mature because they are so tired of the constant nagging of their close ones who are always suggesting them that maybe it’s time to act in a more responsible manner. It’s not that hard to learn how to be more mature. You just need to put a little effort into it and stay motivated and you’ll see how much better you’ll fell about yourself in no time.

    1. BE PERSEVERANT

    The first thing you should know if you want to learn how to be more mature is the fact that this process can take a while, and you shouldn’t get discouraged if the results don’t show up the next day. Just be perseverant and keep on trying! This change needs a lot of hard work and commitment on your behalf. Don’t give up halfway and remember your goal. Perseverance is definitely a sign of maturity and responsibility.

    2. SELF-CONTROL

    In my opinion, being more mature is synonymous with having more self-control, and when I’m talking about self-control, I’m referring to being able to control your thoughts and emotions, and also, being able to evaluate and analyze your actions and your behavior. It takes a lot maturity to distinguish right from wrong, to say no to certain things or people and to think about other people’s needs first.

    3. BE MORE TOLERANT

    Another tip I could give you if you want to learn how to be more mature, is to advise you to try to be a bit more tolerant in the future with other people and especially with yourself. It’s very important that you don’t develop the obnoxious behavior of constantly judging everyone around you. Just learn to accept people for who they are because people are different and that doesn’t make them good or bad, superior or inferior; just different, thus more interesting.

    4. BE EMPATHETIC

    Another great way to learn to be more mature is by learning to behave and think in a more empathetic way. You can do it by putting yourself in other people’s shoes, so you will understand why some people do things differently, why they choose to do them in the first place and think about how would you do it if you would be in the same situation. It’s not that hard, there actually are a ton of good books on how to develop your emotional intelligence, so there’s plenty to choose from.

    5. BE POLITE!

    The best way to prove someone you have become a more mature version of your old self is by behaving in a more polite way. Well, actually, this is the right way everyone should behave. Pay attention to the little things, like the way you shake hands when you first meet someone or the fact that you should always say thank you and please. Avoid interrupting other people in the middle of a conversation just to make your opinion heard and wait a little for your turn to speak. Think about other people’s needs and feelings and be polite!

    6. LEARN MORE!

    Another best way to be more mature is to try to always be informed about the things that happen around you and learn as much as possible about, well, pretty much everything. Be curious and do your research! Part of being mature is understanding the things that happen with/to you or around you, so never stop learning! This way, you will be more prepared for all the different situations you may encounter along the way.

    7. DON’T BE ARROGANT

    A lot of people believe that arrogant individuals are in fact immature and sometimes, even annoying. I personally, wouldn’t like hearing someone brag about stuff they didn’t do or seeing them treat others with disrespect. It does take some courage to admit that you’re not perfect, that you do have some insecurities but hey, that’s what makes you unique and authentic and you should be proud of the wonderful person you are.

    You can also be more mature by being helpful to other people, by not trying to be the center of attention all the time, by giving more compliments to the people around, by accepting criticism with maturity, by controlling your temper and by being more responsible for your actions. What do you think? Is it hard to be more mature? Do you know any other tips on how to act in a more mature manner? Do tell!

  • Teachers’ Day: Education ministry says vision 20:2030 on quality education feasible

    Teachers’ Day: Education ministry says vision 20:2030 on quality education feasible

    By Our Reporter

    As the world prepares for Teachers Day, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba, has expressed optimism that a greater proportion of Nigerians would access quality education toward achieving vision 20:2030.

    Nwajuiba spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference to herald the 2019 World Teachers’ Day Celebration holding on Oct. 5.

    He said that no nation could rise above the level of her teachers, adding that government was conscious of the quality of teachers and learners.

    According to him, it was in view of the prevalence of unqualified and incompetent teachers in the education system that the ministry re-positioned the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), to professionalise teachers and the teaching profession.

    “The ministry is systematically and fully committed to constant upgrading of the teaching standards and contents to boost teacher quality in Nigeria.

    “We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to ensure that teachers are professionally qualified, empowered and adequately remunerated, motivated and supported for efficiency and effectiveness.

    “The National Teachers Institute (NTI) has been in the forefront of capacity building of primary school teachers to improve their pedagogical skills.

    “The institute has been engaged in upgrading under-qualified and unqualified teachers by providing courses of instruction bearing in mind that the exit date for unqualified teachers in our educational system remains Dec. 31.”

    Nwajuiba also disclosed that the ministry had put in place various mechanisms toward strengthening the implementation of teacher education, adding that quality was being reviewed while monitoring instruments had been upgraded to meet global standards.

    He said that the bill seeking the review of retirement age of teachers from 60 years to 65 years was before the National Assembly, stressing that all issues around it were “almost sorted out”.

    The minister called on development partners, private sector, civil societies and every citizen to join hands with government at all levels to invest in education as a tool for national development.

    Meanwhile, Dr Muhammed Idris, National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has commended the collaborative efforts of the ministry, NUT and other stakeholders toward the success of the quest for the review of the retirement age of teachers.

    Idris called on those involved not to rest on their oars until the bill saw the light of day.

    Earlier, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Chief Executive Officer, TRCN, had said that the council was committed to improving the quality of education in the country.

    Ajiboye assured Nigerians of TRCN’s readiness to ensure that the nation’s teachers were at par with their colleagues the world over, adding that the council had introduced innovations such as professional examinations and digital training programme, to address emerging challenges.

    The World Teachers’ Day was established in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO recommendation at the special intergovernmental conference on the status of teachers held in Paris.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Young Teachers, the Future of the Profession”. (NAN)