Lifestyle

By Bilyaminu Abdulmumin

Guns are the enigmatic force that charm practitioners, all over the world, have been trying to crack since time immemorial. There was no length these charm practitioners didn’t go to contain this mysterious “oyibo” invention. In 2017, Daily Trust reported an awful story about a member of a Vigilante Group in Katsina and his quest for bullet charm. This lad was said to test the charm while in the middle of the vigilante gathering, so in a show of bravery and gallantry, he wrapped himself up in the charms, did incantations, picked a dane gun, and fired on himself. He died instantly!

Coincidentally six years later two similar stories shook the internet. One was in Bauchi State. According to an interview by the Bauchi police in the viral video of the purported spiritual helper, luck ran out of them. As he was testing the charm on his client the bullet pierced the helper’s stomach. The second incident, all the way in Ghana, but this time around it was gang members who claimed to have gotten the charm against the bullet, so this too, when testing the charm against one of them he immediately kicked the old bucket. Why is the constant desperation going unorthodox ways for bulletproof when it could be easily achieved when tuned to science’s endless ways?

Bulletproof materials are simply materials fabricated using layers of strong fibers. The fibers that are strong enough can “catch” and deform a bullet, mushrooming it into a dish shape and spreading its force over a larger portion of the fiber materials. In other words, fiber materials like vests could absorb the energy from the deforming bullet, bringing it to a stop before it can completely penetrate the textile matrix. There are fibers everywhere including heaps of waste along the roadsides in our cities, this could be harnessed for such purposes. Some time ago, I heard in an interview from one Nigerian student who was working to harness the fibers in chicken feathers to develop a bullet vest. This student further elaborated the idea behind the bulletproof in another way, he said strong fibers arranged in a particular way act like black hole phenomena, the concept that was revolutionized by the greatest 21st theoretical physicist, Sir Steven Hawking.

A black hole consumes any force that comes close to it without a trace. So a carefully prepared fiber material has this awesome feature. I wish I could learn further where the idea of this student has gone. Perhaps for the show of bravery and gallantry the charms practitioners want it natural, without the use of any vest. Then they should cry no more because there is equally a research in this direction. This involved directly engineering human skin to deflect the bullet. In the Netherlands, another student researched this by bioengineering a small sample of human skin to include spider silk between its layers. The Netherlands Forensics Institute has test-fired low-speed rifle bullets at it, and shown that it halts them.

So, it’s up to researchers to pick up from here by bioengineering human skin with spider silk for higher rifle endurance. The sons of slain victims of bullet charm would have very good motivation to continue with this research. Whenever it comes to bullet charm, Bokero’s legacy stands out. Bokero claims to be possessed by snakes, as a result, he became known for assisting with every spiritual help. So when the East African countries, Tanzanians and co, grew impatient with German colonial rule, back early in the 1900s, they turned to Bokero for help. He provided them the war medicine, according to Bokero the concoction would not only protect them from the German bullets but would turn the bullet into water, motivated by this new charm, these zealots would confront German firearms. May the souls of about 300,000 rest in peace.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

If excellence means possessing good qualities in an eminent degree and superiority in virtue, Mrs. Mba, the Executive Director of Cooperate Services in the Niger Delta Power Holdings Company (NDPHC), is a personification of it all. Beyond meritorious service to the nation of Nigeria, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by unwavering dedication and exceptional achievements.

One of Mrs. Mba’s notable accomplishments has been her role in spearheading initiatives to address Nigeria’s power crisis. Through her strategic vision and tireless efforts, National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) has been making progress in increasing Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity. Her tireless effort towards ensuring a stable and reliable power supply continues to impact businesses and households, fueling economic growth and improving the quality of life for millions.

Her leadership style has been a source of inspiration for her colleagues and subordinates. Under her stewardship, NIPP has witnessed significant improvements in corporate governance, efficacy, and transparency. Moreover, corruption and favoritism have never been her portion; she believes in merit and ability to deliver, which is the only yardstick that would propel every organization, not only NIPP.

Beyond professional feats, Mrs. Mba is becoming a champion in social responsibility, where she actively engages herself in community development projects, promoting sustainable practices, and empowering local communities. Her achievements in this regard are clear for all to see and appreciate. I can only mention a fraction of her distinct accomplishments in service to God and humanity. Through her passion for environmental conservation and social welfare, she is leaving indelible marks on the regions served by NIPP; though, NDPHC’s footprint cuts across every nook and cranny of the country.

Mrs. Nkechiyelu Mba embodies the values of integrity, excellence, and service to the nation. Her meritorious service to Nigeria in the realm of energy and corporate governance has not only transformed the power sector but also served as an inspiration for future generations of leaders. I foresee that Nigeria will attain its full potential with her caliber in the energy sector. Again, her legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the betterment of her country, making her an exceptional and revered figure in Nigeria’s history of public service. On a personal note, I cherish and adore this woman of substance, who is a mother, the voice of the downtrodden, and an inspirational leader to the unborn generation.

History is more than the path left by the past; it can influence the present and shape the future. Mommy, I’m certain that history will be kind to you.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Abuja.

By Manasseh Mercy

Social media integrates digital media platforms, including combinations of electronic text, graphics, moving pictures and sounds in a structured computerized environment that allows users to interact with the data for appropriate purposes or otherwise. The digital environment can include the Internet, telecommunications and interactive digital television. The Web is now part of the overall business of communication, sales and services. It changes business practices across the globe.

Its technical limitations affect the amount of material and the speed of access. The network depends mainly on the connections of the telephone line, so the more they are good on a territory, the more the service will be reliable. As a result, messages can reach audiences and target groups in real-time and generate changes and trends.

Nowadays, younger generations grow up having good contact with different social networks, easily acquire digital culture and live in a digital world where only adults are naturalized citizens. Trends can bring awareness to other organizations and not just for selling products. 

In 2014, the ice bucket challenge was a popular trend that spread across Instagram’s platform. The trend was created to help bring awareness and donations to Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Pete Frates, a former baseball player for Boston College, helped promote the nonprofit organization ALS Association because of his diagnosis of the disease. Both celebrities and regular social media account holders made videos of pouring ice water on themselves while tagging at least three friends to post themselves participating.

This trend was an example of one of the many situations that brought light to very serious topics. The millions of people posting about the ice bucket challenge resulted in the organization raising millions of money. That year, an estimated $115 million was raised for the cause in just a few months. The Ice Bucket Challenge was created to raise money for research purposes in hopes of finding a cure for ALS disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is just one of the many trends that took over social media platforms. Many nonprofit organizations have been going viral over the years, bringing awareness to millions of people. Situations like these can come out of pure luck to get everyone on the Internet to discuss a topic. Getting people to talk about specific issues brings attention to a cause that can get people to donate money. It’s not only companies and organizations that get attention online but also individuals as well.

TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. Young people use the App to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy and lip-syncing. It allows users to create videos and share them across a community. It is one of the most popular social media platforms in the 21st century. 

In Today’s generation, popular trends on social media have a significant influence on younger generations. Trends can consist of different things such as makeup, clothes, music, toys, and interests. TikTok trends are viral short videos that use popular features, songs, sound effects and hashtags. 

Some current TikTok Trends (November 2023) include Bird’s-eye View — November 17, 2023. In this trend, you grab your friends or coworkers, tape your phone to the ceiling, and record yourselves dancing and being silly. Another was (Added November 20, 2023) Smug Corgi/Confused Dog Meme Trend. Example: Posting a video with the CapCut template from the example with a funny text overlay describing a situation where you (the corgi) would be smugly doing something while the other person (represented by the other dog) is super baffled, often about spend a lot of money on something like Christmas decorations.

What are the potential risks? Users may be exposed to foul language and sexual content. Users can comment on other videos, which leaves the potential for online bullying or negative comments. The App promotes positive comments and encourages users to ‘say something nice’. However, if you encounter an inappropriate comment, you can report it as abuse. 

Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks and misuse of information are some of the threats social media users face. Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they share content that should not be in the eye of the public. 

These dangerous trends are not only harmful to the individuals who participate in them, but they also hurt society as a whole. When young people engage in these trends, they send their peers messages that it is acceptable to engage in risky and inappropriate behaviours. This can lead to a culture of recklessness and disregard for personal safety and etiquette.

It is essential for parents and educators to be aware of these dangerous trends and to talk to young people about the potential consequences of participating in them. It is also essential for social media platforms like TikTok to take responsibility for the content shared on their platform and to take steps to remove the dangerous content.

In conclusion, TikTok trends influence the social behaviour of Nigerian youths in one way or another. Nigerian youths engage in time-consuming and energy-draining trends, and sometimes, they cost money because they want to be famous and act like their peers. The Nigerian government should closely monitor and adequately regulate TikTok trends so as not to destroy Nigerian youths’ moral and social behaviour.

Mercy Manasseh is a student of Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri and can be reached via mercymanasseh951@gmail.com.

By Laraba Jauro

Women advocates in Nigeria, like other women in the world, encounter numerous challenges in undertaking advocacy, especially in the country’s northern region. The women’s voices are not heard, and want to be heard. And their vulnerability is a high risk in society.

The United Nations declared 1975 through 1985 a “Decade for Women”. Four world conferences on women were held: Mexico City 1975, Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985 and 1995 Beijing. These conferences directed the searchlight on various issues affecting women’s status in society. 

These issues, among others, include Violence against Women, Women’s Rights as Human Rights and Women’s Reproductive Health. It was not until then that the woman’s question entered the political agenda in Nigeria. 

Various national development plans were gender-blind and gave no specific place to gender issues in Nigeria. These Conferences encouraged Nigerian women to come and form their Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to empower themselves.

Being a woman in Nigeria comes with deliberate discrimination, social, religious and economic inequality, misogyny and gender-based violence. Being a woman in Northern Nigeria sometimes comes with the aforementioned challenges.

Northern Nigeria is a diverse region with people from different groups, religions and cultural orientations towards women’s rights.

In an interview with executive Director Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support, Aishatu Kabu Damboa, a gender equality activist in Maiduguri, said, according to the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, of the 7 million people affected by the insurgency in north-east Nigeria, about 1,750,000 are women and girls of childbearing age who need sexual and reproductive health services.

“Through my foundation, I worked on sensitisation programs on the prevention of SGBV and provision of re-washable menstrual sanitary pads at camps for internally displaced persons in Maiduguri. She is also actively working to support adolescent girls in IDP camps by providing access to vocational skills.”

She added that women and girls in Borno state, like any other place in Africa, deal with poverty, rape, domestic violence and gender discrimination, and there is a need to raise their voices for government to take necessary action.

She said being a woman advocate in Borno state and anywhere in the north is full of threats, insults and rejection. When men, and even some women, hear you mentioning equality for women and girls, they think you are starting a war with men. 

Threats of physical violence, name-calling, trolling and online abuse come with the territory. The abuse used to hurt me, but then I understood that here in the community where I came from, it is not the norm for women to be outspoken.

Women in politics or who hold public office are called prostitutes. But she isn’t letting it get to her or stopping her from her mission of educating women and ensuring a gender-balanced society. I strongly believe in education. Our people must be educated; it is the long-term plan to change things.

However, she believes education is the key to lifting women and girls out of poverty. She said women are breaking the culture of silence, unlike their forebears who kept it to themselves and died in silence. 

Being vocal about women’s rights on a public platform as a young Northern Muslim woman has a challenge in northern Nigeria. She also advised the government to ensure women representatives on every issue in Borno state. People should understand their aim and stop harassing women advocates in northern Nigeria at large. 

Laraba Jauro wrote from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

In simple terms, body shaming is defined as the action or practice of mocking or stigmatising someone by making critical comments about the shape, size, or appearance of their body.

Body shaming involves humiliating someone by making inappropriate or negative comments about their body size or shape. As well as “fat shaming,” you may also hear negative comments if you’re underweight or about a specific body part.

This type of criticism can be made to others or yourself. You may feel unhappy with your weight or body’s appearance and judge yourself harshly. You may even engage in negative self-talk, such as “I feel so fat today” or “I need to stop stuffing my face with food.”

The act of body shaming can be carried out in person or remotely via the internet and social media and can be done by your parents, siblings, friends, or people you’re not even close to.

Even in a joking manner, remarks about what you eat or how much food you consume constitute body shaming. Giving someone advice about dieting or praising weight loss is also considered body shaming, whether intentional or not. 

Your friends and family often don’t want to hurt your feelings, but their comments can still be critical. They may not realise the negative effect that questions like “Have you lost weight?” or “Do you need to eat all of that?” can have.

Why Do People Body Shame?

You know how hurtful these behaviours can be if you’ve received those judgments—or even within earshot of words, looks, and gestures that judge others. So why do people do it?

Before I discuss why people choose to body shame others, I would say right up front: reasons don’t equal excuses! Ever. There’s no appropriate reason to make another person feel bad about the skin they’re in.

At the same time, it can be helpful to understand the motivation behind a person’s hurtful words. Doing this gives us perspective. Perspective helps us decide on the best path forward. Depending on the situation, we might:

* Shake off what another person says about us

* Remain confident as we see the lack of confidence in others

* Understand the heart behind hurtful words

* Call out misbehaviour in a calm, respectful manner

* Shut down rude talk without room for more to be said

With this in mind, let’s gain some perspective on why people do it.

We could talk about many interesting things—and have many good reasons to laugh. So why talk about how a person looks, right? Unfortunately, plenty of people do. Let’s look at some of the reasons why

1. Insecurity: When a person feels self-conscious about their body, they may talk badly about another person’s body to make themselves feel better. 

2. Societal norms: For so long, joking about how people look has been something that many people were brought up thinking is okay. This is learned bias.

3. Societal norms: For so long, joking about how people look has been something that many people were brought up thinking is okay. This is learned bias.

4. Best of intentions: Friends, family members, and even medical professionals can think they’re helpful by pointing out perceived areas for improvement in another person.

5. Lack of awareness: A person may refer to a friend’s stature or frame and not realise that they’ve crossed a line or that the person on the receiving end doesn’t like it.

5. Immaturity and lack of empathy: Some people don’t take the time or care to consider their words or how they might affect another person.

Please, allow me to be blunt. Beyond gaining perspective, it doesn’t matter why a person chooses to body shame. After all, the results are the same. Body shaming is known to cause mental health problems, eating disorders, low self-esteem, etc.

Most of us know firsthand about the adverse effects of body shaming because we’ve been on the receiving end of it at one time or another—especially when we were growing up. Research shows that 94% of teen girls and 64% of teen boys have been body-shamed.

The effects of body shaming and how to overcome it

Hearing negative comments about your appearance can impact your body image and leave you feeling anxious and self-conscious. However, there are ways to manage body shaming or other critical remarks and achieve body acceptance.

Supermodels and prima ballerinas have insecurities and imperfections, but we still perceive them as the ultimate representations of beauty. You may feel inadequate and unworthy if you don’t meet these standards.

And if you experience body shaming by others and take their negative comments to heart, it can lead to unhealthy behaviours and mental health problems, such as:

Eating Disorders: Having a negative body image is one of the main factors for developing disordered eating or an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating.

You may start a diet that involves restrictive eating to change your body shape or size. However, such dieting can spiral into harmful behaviours like skipping meals, fasting, vomiting after eating, excessive exercising, or overusing laxatives. Over time, you deprive your body and brain of essential nutrients necessary for optimal health.

Body shaming comments such as “Did you lose weight? You look so much better” can be triggering and create more disordered eating habits in an attempt to maintain or lose even more weight.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Experiencing body shaming can interfere with your self-image and make you feel highly self-conscious. This can escalate into body dysmorphic disorder, where you become obsessed with a perceived appearance flaw that can create repeated avoidance behaviours.

Daily life can become consumed with concerns about a minor flaw or one not apparent to others. You may constantly look at yourself in the mirror or avoid mirrors altogether, conceal body parts you don’t like, pick at your skin, or frequently ask others if you look okay.

Being constantly ashamed of your body can also impair your performance at school and interfere with your relationships with peers, teachers, and family members. Fears about being judged by others may cause you to limit or avoid social activities.

Anxiety and depression: Body shaming can trigger or worsen existing symptoms of anxiety and depression. If you are body-shamed in public or on social media, you may try to avoid going to school or other situations where this shaming might occur. You may withdraw from others and feel isolated and alone.

Hearing critical comments about your appearance can also be humiliating, heighten your insecurities, and damage your self-esteem. Consequently, you may engage in negative self-talk as you internalise these feelings of worthlessness. You may tell yourself things like “I am a bad person” or “I am completely worthless.” This can escalate into extreme loneliness, depression, anxiety, and poor body image.

Physical Health Issues: Fat shaming, in particular, is rampant in our society as obesity is associated with being lazy, unattractive, and lacking the willpower to lose weight. In one study, over 70% of adolescents reported being bullied about their weight in the past few years. This can be harmful to your physical as well as psychological health.

Rather than being a motivating factor for losing weight, fat shaming has the opposite effect. The stress has been linked to a reduction in physical activity and the consumption of more calories.

Don’t body shame others

Research shows that when you promote body positivity to others, you also feel more positively about your body. Surround yourself with people who are courteous and treat others with respect. Avoid bullies who engage in body shaming and talk about the flaws of others.

Establish boundaries with your friends and clarify that you will not tolerate comments about your body or weight. You can also set an example by standing up for others who are the targets of body shaming.

So, let’s work together to stop body shaming and talk about more interesting things. The truth is, we all body shame one another. We are sometimes the villains and sometimes the victims. And the society has made it very normal. If we genuinely believe that every one of us is created by our Lord, none of us chooses how we look in most cases, and none of us knows how we will look tomorrow (life happens… story for another day), then we should stop body shaming. It starts with you and I. 

Were you ever body-shamed? Please share with us how you felt, how it affected you, and what you did to overcome it.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology. A wife, a mother, a homemaker, caterer, parenting, and relationship coach. She can be reached via aishamuauyo@live.co.uk.

By Zailani Bappa

The satellite television, Arewa24, with headquarters in Kano, will continue to be a pain for northerners who cherish their heritage. It is a necessary evil and a bad influence on the teeming youth in a predominantly conservative society. But, it is established to achieve a purpose and do that efficiently and quickly.

I learned the medium was established by the US government through one of its established NGOs some nine years ago. Amidst the devastating experience of Boko Haram in this part of the country, several studies have indicated to the West that the passion for Islamic values in the North and the teeming followership of a springing set of radical Salafists in the region is the major cause of such developing activism….or should I say…terrorism.

Hence, the decision to spend the hard-earned tax-payers money of the American people to build an entertainment television station in the heart of conservative Kano (after rejecting Kaduna and Abuja as a base for the new medium). I am sure you know that when these guys give you a dime worth of something with the right hand, they are sure enough to take back something worth a dollar from you with the left hand.

So, the Arewa 24 came into light with a bang…..good hands employed mostly popular actors from the entertainment industry as pioneer staff, with good pay for them to work optimally and to stay, very enticing and entertaining programmes with fresh breath of air and of course, all programmes beamed to us with the best of technology one can find around here. Significantly, most programmes target women and the young.

Free of charge, we were entertained until the station became a menu that came to every table in the house. Then came the next stage of the plan (as I see it). It was sold out to a very rich and powerful Nigerian who has the capacity and the passion to run it according to both the quality of content and the pursuit of the target.

Gradually, the programmes started becoming more daring in their approach to change. There is mild and uncoordinated resistance here and there, but the medium has a strong advisory consultant. They evade or outrightly neutralise every challenge from angry quarters at times. And they will continue to do so.

I firmly believe that the Arewa 24 debut, acceptability, prowess, and popularity (often challenged with visionless resistance) are only the tip of the iceberg. This is an era of globalisation. It is a moving train we cannot stop. It will reach its destination, ultimately. Our resistance to it will continue to be a massage to its global ego.

So, for those who understand this phenomenon, just pray, stay calm and do your own thing according to your conscience. Teach your young ones to value your values the way you can, very hard and consistently; then, leave the rest to God. This fight is just too big for us……..for every one of us.

Zailani Bappa wrote from Bauchi State via zailanbappa@gmail.com.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

As a wife, your confidence can wither away if you continue to live your life only through the eyes of what your husband thinks of you. Yes, you have read that correctly.

Naturally, you want his approval, attention, praise, and appreciation for all that you do. From taking care of the home front to always being on top of the kid’s school projects and progress to making delicious dishes, entertaining guests, and remembering the family schedule of events, the list is endless!

But he is another human being preoccupied with his thoughts, goals, and ideas and isn’t always tuned in to what you are doing.

While I believe it’s important for a husband and wife to consistently express their appreciation, love, or admiration for each other, the REALITY is that life happens. When it does, those things don’t always come as regularly as you would all like.

As much as it is natural for women to need and want genuine compliments that uplift and celebrate their unique qualities, men are naturally reserved when it comes to expressing their thoughts and feelings. So, please don’t hurt yourself waiting for his verbal validation.

Here are a few things you should do:

Surround yourself with purpose and meaning: When you surround yourself with purpose, you prioritise the things that truly matter to you. Filling your physical space with meaning can create a sense of harmony and inspire your daily interactions. Consider incorporating books, phrases, artwork, or websites that hold significance to you. They can serve as constant reminders of your values and goals, grounding you and igniting your passion to pursue a meaningful life.

Moreover, seeking activities and endeavours that resonate with your purpose can bring immense fulfilment. Whether it’s volunteering for a cause close to your heart, pursuing a career that aligns with your passions, or dedicating time to personal growth and self-reflection, these intentional choices infuse your life with purposeful actions and contribute to your overall sense of fulfilment.

Remember, surrounding yourself with purpose and meaning is not a one-time endeavour but an ongoing process of introspection, evaluation, and intentional decision-making. It entails regularly reviewing and adjusting your surroundings to ensure they continue to inspire and support your journey.

So, take the initiative to curate a life that reflects your values, passions, and aspirations. Embrace the power of purposeful surroundings, and let them guide you towards a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.

Spend time with people who understand you and are motivated by your ideas and vision, and vice versa. Make a conscious effort to be surrounded by people who inspire you, support your growth, and share your vision. These relationships become the foundation for collaboration, encouragement, and personal development.

Give in “whatever” capacity you can to your dreams and aspirations that go beyond the walls of your home. The capacity will vary from family stage (beginners with small kids to middle-aged families with grown kids) to family educational background, religion, and financial stability.

Fingers are not equal, so be true to your situation while still not compromising your dreams and aspirations.

Make du’a and speak to Allah often the ideas in your heart. Praying and talking to Allah regularly is very important for deep Spiritual Connection, which allows you to strengthen your faith and feel His presence in your life.

He will provide you with guidance, clarity, and wisdom when you’re faced with important decisions and or challenges.

When speaking to Allah, make it a point of expressing gratitude. Be grateful for His endless blessings, and seek forgiveness for your sins and mistakes.

Sharing your thoughts and feelings with Allah offers relief and support during difficult times. It encourages self-reflection and a sense of purpose in life.

Overall, praying and speaking to Allah helps you maintain a strong connection with your faith, find guidance, and nurture a sense of peace and well-being.

Develop a sense of contentment. Like anyone else, a wife should develop a sense of contentment as it promotes mental and emotional well-being. Contentment helps you find happiness and satisfaction, reduces stress and anxiety, and fosters a positive outlook.

It also leads to healthier relationships and a greater sense of fulfilment, allowing you to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and peace.

Dear wife, resist the idea that your husband “completes” you, and therefore, you are always in need of him completing you while you wait for him to take notice of the intricacies of your world.

You are whole.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology. A wife, a mother, a homemaker, caterer, parenting, and relationship coach. She can be reached via aishamuauyo@live.co.uk.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, Nigeria, has announced the successful launch of an innovative laser surgery programme for urological conditions.

The new programme is expected to provide advanced care for patients suffering from a variety of urological ailments, including kidney stones, prostate issues, and other related illnesses. 

The program was launched with the inaugural surgery, which was led by Dr. Evaristus Uzuma Azodoh, a renowned consultant urologist who arrived from the Chiva Specialist Hospital in Abuja.

The procedure, which lasted approximately one hour, was a resounding success, despite being the first of its kind in Bauchi. 

“This is a significant milestone for ATBUTH,” said Professor Yusuf Jibrin, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital.

“We are committed to providing our patients with the best possible care, and this new laser surgery program is a major step forward in our efforts to do so.” 

The new programme is expected to significantly reduce the need for patients to seek treatment elsewhere.

“In the past, patients in Bauchi who needed urological surgery had to travel to other cities or even abroad,” said Dr. Azodoh. “This new program will make it possible for them to receive the care they need right here in Bauchi.” 

By Uzair Adam Imam

The future of some graduates of the Basic School of Midwifery in Dambatta hangs in the balance, as they were left without licences to practice their profession years after graduation.

The graduates recount their ordeal at the hands of the school management, saying that they have been left stranded for years.

The graduates accused the school management of “intentionally dragging them into a dilemma and academic standstill.”

A former student of the institution said that the licence “is the only thin veil that serves as a blockade to his future.”

Many of the former students of the institution decried alleged widespread corruption by the school officials, whom they accused of giving licences to only the well-connected.

The Daily Reality gathered that the licence that is issued to students upon successful completion of their studies is the only barrier between students and multiple job opportunities or university admissions waiting at their doorstep.

Our prayers for intervention were in vain.

The students said that all their efforts to seek intervention from the state government and relevant authorities were in vain, a development that exacerbates their condition.

Mukhtar Ali (not real name) said that some of the students had paid the amount prescribed by the institution to secure the licence, but they have neither received the licence nor a refund of their money.

However, it was gathered that among the students struggling to secure their licences were the first set of students at the institution who had completed their studies eleven years ago.

Members of the batch of graduates said that they had sought intervention from the immediate past administration in the state and the school management, but also agencies like the Human Rights Agency and Anticorruption, but the outcome was not fruitful.

A female student who preferred anonymity said that it was unfortunate that her future was being unjustly destroyed despite the huge investment her parents made in her studies.

She said, “Despite paying for the licence over the years, I have yet to secure it. However, some of my friends who have connections have already secured theirs.

“My fear is that some selfish individuals have gone with our money because the school management denied knowledge of our payment for the licence, even though we have paid. We went back to the place we made the payment, but the whole thing is confusing,” she added.

Another student told our reporter that the school management put pressure on them to pay for the licence as soon as they graduated.

“A very high pressure was mounted on us to pay this money by the school management. We paid N38,000 each. However, three years later, we are yet to secure the license.

“We are confused as to where the problem is. We are urging the Kano State Government to please come to our aid so that we can get our licence and move on.”

Sadiya Ibrahim, not her real name, said that she is totally disappointed by the development, saying her future is being robbed.

Sadiya Ibrahim said, “My fear is that the school management may require us to pay another N38,000, despite the receipt we showed them to prove that we had made our payment.

“The whole thing is so disturbing that the government should please intervene and talk to the relevant authorities about the development,” she stated.

Students with connections not involved

The students disclosed that other students who have connections with some politicians have already secured their licences, as many of them have started practicing or got admissions into the university.

They also stated that daughters of influential businessmen or traditional rulers grab their licences immediately after they graduate from school.

We are working to address the issue— Management

When contacted, Hajiya Asiya Sani, the principal of the School of Midwifery Dambatta, said that the school management has been working tirelessly to address the issue, saying their efforts have started to see the light of day.

She said some of these licences are now ready and will soon be distributed to the owners.She explained that the problem is a vital one that the school management has devoted its time to addressing.

She said, “I am aware of the problem. However, as I am speaking with you now, the Ministry of Health is involved in addressing the problem.

As it is known to everyone, including the students, we don’t give this license. Instead, we also applied for it.”                                               

By Aisha M Auyo

Rider: “In the intricate tapestry of marriage, love is but one thread”.

Marriage is not just the union of people who are genuinely in love with each other. It requires a whole lot of other factors to keep it going. I can confidently tell you a marriage can exist without love if the other factors exist. Our grandparents and generations before them have done it, and the divorce rate was very low compared with ours. Their marital relationship is stronger than ours, which capitalises on love.

Theirs is a relationship built on patience, understanding, selflessness, respect, belief in qadr, devotion, and peace. Not on lust. Not on love. Not on desire. Not on physical look. Not on avarice. It is almost the total opposite of marriage nowadays.

A strong marriage is determined by the sacrifices and struggles a husband and wife go through and their ability to stay strong and be patient with each other. There is no marriage without problems, issues, or tests. Even in the noble house of our Rasool, SAW, they had issues. From small ones that involve petty actions fuelled by jealousy within the wives to bigger problems that involve an accusation of adultery levied against Aisha, RA, also known as the “event of Ifk“, which can be traced to Surah An-Nur.

Couples should try not to give up when undergoing tests, DIVINE TESTS such as poverty, infertility, illness, polygamy, etc. Please understand that I am not saying we should condone HUMAN MADE CHALLENGES such as bad character, SERIAL infidelity (there may be exceptional cases of being victims or moments of weakness which should not be more than once), abuse of any kind, (mental, verbal, physical, or emotional), etc. We should be able to explore the fine line between Allah’s tests and man-made issues.

Allah says in the Qur’an, “We will test you with something of fear, and hunger and loss of wealth, and souls and vegetation. And give glad tidings to those who have patience. Those who, if in any difficulty or trial, or tribulation occurs to them or happens to them, they say: ‘Verily we are from Allah and to Allah we return.’ They are those who will receive prayers from their Lord and Mercy, and it is those who are guided.” Al baqarah.

The missed nuances in Northern Nigerian marriage customs, emphasising materialism over the essential attributes of lasting matrimony, have contributed immensely to the high divorce rate in our community. Parents neglect the core aspects of marriage and pay more attention to the superficial and materialistic aspects. Instead of counselling their kids on how to live with each other, the groom side will be busy making plans on ‘Kayan life‘ and ‘gida na gani na fada’. The bride side will be busy buying expensive furniture and ‘gara’, ‘kada a raina mu‘. The couples will be busy organising ‘Instagrammable’ wedding events that will trend for a week.

At least, the bride’s family does not joke with kayan mata and little Nasiha on ‘Yi, nayi, bari na bari’, ‘A yi haquri’. But on the groom’s side, no one says anything to him regarding how to live his life with the bride.

Then, after all the events, reality sets in. Expectations not met. The pretence energy is exhausted. Before you know it, ‘hide my ID’, parents’ intervention and divorce will happen. In less than five years, the marriage will be dissolved, with two or three innocent kids involved.

Many people would look at the marriages and successes of others and wish they were them, not knowing how much they struggled to get there or the sacrifices they made to succeed in their marriages.

In sum, I have delved into the enduring factors that fortify matrimonial bonds beyond love, drawing wisdom from the timeless legacy of our forebears. The essence of patience, understanding, selflessness, respect, belief in destiny, devotion, and peace is the age-old recipe for marital success. How strong unions are forged through trials and sacrifices. I hope this will guide parents and couples in nurturing resilient marriages by shedding light on the struggles behind seemingly idyllic unions.

May Allah make it easy for all those going through hardships in their marriages and protect us from such calamities, amin.

Always remember that, with divine guidance and patience, weathering marital storms can lead to stronger, more enduring love.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology. A wife, a mother, a homemaker, caterer, parenting, and relationship coach. She can be reached via aishamuauyo@live.co.uk.