Lifestyle

By Musa Idris Panshekara

The first human being was created single. Then another creature was created from him. Later all generations were created from the two. Then they were all dispersed on the face of the earth. Some are black, some are yellow, some are tall, some are short while, some are medium, some are fat, and some are thin. All these differences were prescribed for us to contemplate God’s creatures and better interact with one another.

Allah said in the glorious Qur’an, “…the camels, mules and donkeys (were created) for travelling and luxury, and He creates (continuously) what you (companions of the prophet and we) would not know.”

Allah, the alpha and the omega, the omnipotent, the omniscience and the omnibenevolent, knows all that human beings need for their better survival on this globe. That is why He creates us and provides us with all we will rejoice in in our lives.

As a result of technological advancement, it makes life expedient. As a result, the world has become small, and what are remote are brought closer. However, the ubiquity of cell phones resulted in a constant increase in social media users, whereas social media helps get the world close to one another too. These platforms are; Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok.

Some social media users utilise it in a meaningful manner, while others misuse and abuse it. The constant increase of users increase social media abuse. As a result, cybercrimes such as cyber fraud, phishing, social engineering, etc., also increase. On the other hand, some use it in a beneficial and meaningful manner, such as teaching and learning, mentorship, digital marketing, etc.

Some people think social media brings, helps, and contributes to spreading some acts of immoralities. In contrast, some condemn the entirety of social media and label it a means of spreading numerous immoralities in our society. Nevertheless, I can neither deny nor accept all the claims.

Let us scrutinise the following analogies;

The producer produces cups and sells them in the market; consumers buy. Some will use them to drink water and tea, while some will use them to drink intoxicant drinks and other alcoholic beverages, and some will even use them to feed others with poisonous drinks. Therefore, how could the cups be blamed for the above mentioned positive and negative uses? You use your cup and drink cool water or juice. What if I use mine for drinking poison and committing suicide? Whose fault is that? The cup? Never!

Moreover, medicines are made to cure diseases and illnesses, but some people use them otherwise. If a hacker uses a computer and commits malicious acts like fraud, phishing, or hacking someone’s device, whose fault is it? The hacker or the computer? Allah created the world and its contents (social amenities) for human beings to enjoy and perform their prescribed worships (for them to be rewarded in the Hereafter). If humans did not utilise the opportunities and provisions provided to them righteously, who would be blamed?

Social media is no different from the physical world in so many instances. There are friends and acquaintances, family and relatives, teachers and students, mentors and mentees, just like the physical world. But, despite all these, it does not prevent someone from doing what they desire to do on social media. Similarly, all the personalities mentioned above do not prevent someone from misbehaving in the physical world.

We should not call social media terrible or obnoxious. On the contrary, social media is innocuous itself operated by humans. Therefore, it should be considered as another world. In this manner, you would find many people of your ilk (if you are good or otherwise), despite some users portraying their mirror side like a “hyena shrouded with a goat’s skin”.

If you want to benefit from social media, minimise using numerous platforms (you must not be on all platforms). Choose the most important ones and leave the rest. When you are on the selected ones, follow or befriend those whom you will benefit from their educative posts and speeches. Block and unfriend or do not follow those who spread immoralities, whose posts are devoid of knowledge and wisdom.

Avoid engagement in any controversial trending topics, and always remember that those who created the platform you are using are not illiterate or uneducated. They did not make it for charity rather than as a source of income. Therefore, do not let yourself be distracted from whatever you know is important to you. Finally, always remember God watches over you. Whatever you are doing, everywhere you are.

Musa Idris Panshekara wrote from Kano via pmusaidris@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Abdullateef

A team of researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, says it has reviewed over 357 publications estimating 15.8% of the global population have a headache on any given day signifying the prevalence of headache worldwide.

This estimation is reported in a review of 357 publications from between 1961 and the end of 2021. The review was published in The Journal of Headache on Tuesday, 12th April, 2022.

Noting that the majority of publications reported in the review indicate the prevalance of headache among adults between 20 and 65. It also reports that children upto five years of age and adolescents suffered acute headache.

Similarly, the newswise.com reports that of the 357 publications reviewed, it has found that 52% of the global population have experienced a headache disorder within a given year, with 14% reporting a migraine. 26% percent reporting a tension-type headache and 4.6% reporting a headache for 15 or more days per month.

The Lead Author, Lars Jacob Stovner says: “Compared to our previous report and global estimates. The data does suggest that headaches and migraines rates may be increasing. What is clear is that overall,headache disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can be a high burden.”

“It may also be of interest in future to analyse the different causes of headache that varied across groups to target prevention and treatment more effectively.”

Jacob adds that all the types of headache are more common in females than males most especially migraines.

Noting that there are 17 percent in females compared to 8.6% in males having headache for 15 or more days per month representing 6% in females compared to 2.9% in males.

He maintains that the majority of the publications reviewed reported from high income countries and gave recommendations that further investigation into middle and low-income countries would help present a more accurate estimation of prevalence of headache in the globe.

By Abdullahi Abdullateef

The Lagos State Government, through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has shut down Medville Global Health Centre located in Okota area of the state over its illegal operation and low numbers of personnel working in the hospital.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Head Public Affairs of HEFAMAA, Mr Muyideen Ayokunle Uthman on Tuesday, 5th April, 2022.

According to the statement, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Abiola Idowu, says that the Medville Global Health Centre which is located at 1, Bashiru street, off Lateef Adegboyega street, Ago Palace Way, Okota is sealed for not complying with the set standards.

Reacting to the demise of one Mr Triplem C. Mchaty’s wife, she said the agency carried out preliminary investigations which revealed that the hospital was not registered with HEFAMAA, noting that this contravened the 2006 health sector reform law.

She stated, “It means the facility was operating illegally.” She added that the hospital had inadequate personnel.

Reiterating the allegation on social media, in a tweet, one Mr Triplem C. Mchaty @scantee stressed the sad moments on his Twitter account @scantee. The tweet reads thus:

“Good morning family, I am really heartbroken now. My wife died at MEADVILLE GLOBAL HEALTH CENTRE (HOSPITAL) NO. 1 Bashiru street,off Lateef Adegboyega Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota.

“We just got married 10 months ago, she took in, she was undergoing Antenatal in Onitsha, Anambra [state].”

However, Dr Idowu disclosed that the Chairman Dr Solanke Kayo Esq. has ordered the agency to carry out a full investigation to uncover the facts of her death.

Relating with the closure of the hospital, she maintained that the agency has taken the crucial decision in furtherance of public protection awaiting the final outcome of the ongoing investigations.

She finally urged all administrators of health facilities in the state to adhere strictly to the set standards and cooperate with the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

By Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim

There is a significant thing for university students doing nothing at home, in their neighbourhoods, or going from one town to another town. Still, some of these students just waste their precious time on social media, which can be described as a “waste of data.” Thanks to the students’ lack of the mindset to learn a skill or handwork.

Learning skills will benefit them even after graduating from university. Therefore, the fruitful result is that they will become employed or employers, instead of moving up and down looking for an even non-existent job, just like everyone following events in Nigeria knows today.

Engausa Global Tech. Hub hereby welcomes all enlightened students who have realised that we are now in the age of “Digital Technology”. Thus, because we know of such challenges and joblessness, we established EngausaHub.com, whose main aim is “Breaking Barriers and Bridging Gaps.”

Before suspending the ongoing ASUU strike, students can gain a lot. And even afterwards, what they must have learnt will benefit them, in and outside the university. In fact, it’s ridiculously unwise for a young person not to have where he acquires a modern skill or handwork. Otherwise, he would just be going to the university with an empty pocket, with nothing to buy anything they desire.

The universities themselves should have skills acquisition centres because it has become pervasive for graduates—sometimes, including master’s and PhD holders—to finish school and never get a job. They would just “enmesh” themselves in the so-called “Labour Market” without any fruitful result in the end.

Hence, I advise the ASUU, federal and state governments to establish vocational training centres in our universities and other tertiary institutions. Most of these sustainably developed countries also adopted this same method of getting exceptionally good young people. The Vice-chancellor of Skyline University, an Indian, confirmed this assertion to me when he recently paid us a familiarisation visit at ENGAUSA HUB. 

We seek Allah’s guidance.

Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim is the Founder/CEO Engausa Global Tech. Hub, Kano. He can be reached via ringims@gmail.com or 070383224643. Their websites are www.engausahub.com and www.chosenglobalech.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Materialism is not limited to friendship or brotherhood; marriages and relationships also suffer greatly.

Friendship and brotherhood are gradually losing their true meaning, if not buried at all, because of this sudden shift of behaviour to materialism, The Daily Reality gathered. 

The menace led and is still leading to the breakdown of many relationships, including marriages, thereby manifesting itself into a serious problem in society – such as the increase in the number of widows and heartbreaking individuals.

The Daily Reality speaks with some people on this issue.

People like Aisha Mujitaba believe that guys pretend to be rich in life in order to woo girls.

“Nowadays, both loves and marriages are based on materialism; that is how equivocation and deception have chipped in in the process of getting married.

“Guys pretend to be wealthy in order to win girls’ hearts. Consequently, when they are joined in matrimony, the true nature of what the person is will be revealed. This leads to the breakdown of relationships,” Aisha said.

Parents were also accused of encouraging this lingering issue in society, according to Suwaiba Umar. 

She said, “Today, parents encourage their children to marry rich people. Marriages nowadays are not for the sake of Allah, the almighty. That is why guys make-believe a big life.”

Frowning at this behavioural change, Juwairiyya Aminu compared marriages in the past and marriages today.

She said, “Marriage in those days was entirely different from the marriage in these days, including the process, lefe (trousseau), ceremonies and whatnot.”

Both girls and their parents find it very exciting to have rich as their husbands or sons-in-law, making it difficult for the poor to get married.

“A poor man finds it very difficult to be loved, much less being married. But when a rich person proposes, without hesitation or any proper investigation on his religion, habit or maturity, he will be accepted,” Sa’adatu Shu’aibu.

Buhari Ahmad posited that guys fear being rejected by the girls, let alone the parents. For this, he said, “Guys make a pretence of big life out of fear of being rejected by girls and their parents.

“That is why guys now rent clothes, hats, shoes, bikes or even cars when visiting their suitors.” 

Materialism: What Brings About It?

Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi is a lecturer at the Department of Nigerian Languages, Bayero University, Kano. He told this reporter in an interview that many reasons made our society materialistic.

“There are so many reasons which contribute to the moral decadence we are witnessing today in the Hausa society. I can summarily list them as follows:

“1. Deficiency in terms of Islamic education and pursuing more in terms of Western educational life and style.

2. Negative modernity

3. Access to the new media and multi-media stuff which led to increasing in absorbing haram items.

4. Lack of proper orientation, etc.”

The solution to materialistic life

“Having sound Islamic education and fear of Allah, pursuing what is halal in any form of education and social life; and abiding strictly to Islamic teachings are the solution,” Sulaiman added.

By Bilyaminu Idris Ndasadulau

I believe in collective action, responsibility and collaboration. That’s why I joined as a man to fight against period stigmatisation and period poverty. It’s everyone responsibility, not only the females.

Menstruation matters to me. Thus, I consider any form of stigma associated with menstruation a social abuse and crime against women. Unfortunately, millions of women and girls continue to live in period poverty around the world without any support from the government to end the problem. We need to address the issue collectively. That’s why in 2019, I started online research studies on health matters, and I found out many women and girls need pads, but they cannot afford them, which can often lead to girls not attending school and also unhygienic practices. 

So in 2020, we initiated the “Rescue A Girl” project, which aims to end the stigma and discrimination and focus on enhancing, from the grassroots, adequate education, health and gender equality, which is a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. 

In the same year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched the project on International Girl Day. We outreached to different schools and communities where we educated and impacted over 350 women and girls with free sanitary pads.

After our 2020 project report, we understand that sanitary pads are not the best solution to end period poverty and financial inequality worldwide. So we design a sustainable solution strategy to support these women and girls through reusable pads products. Which is very affordable and also help in economic empowerment to produce these materials and sell them. At the same time, our approach will be a sustainable solution to end period poverty and increase available good health hygiene aids for women and girls. 

In late 2021, we decided to push the sustainable solution to reality, where we visited and trained almost 1000 women and girls in different marginalised places. While we also raise awareness to improve knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene management, especially for the local residents and school girls.

This effort was supported by Connected Development in collaboration with ShareYourself Organization from the USA. Through this project, we build transparency data of impact to ensure our partners and the public can see the sustainability of our work. So we can gain more support around the world. 

This project targets 2000 women and girls just for the 2021 goal. Still, it is a life continuation work to ensure we reduce the high rate of women and girls facing period poverty and lack of MHM knowledge. While we also empower them to become self economic independent and minimise environmental waste caused by sanitary pads. 

We will keep pushing the Rescue A Girl project as a movement to ensure policymakers, government, NGOs and individuals all play their role through taking it as a responsibility and commitment to change the policies and mindsets to support these vulnerable living survivors. 

The experience we gained throughout this health project was unique. We travelled to slums; we met a lot of young housewives and girls, and we built confidence brought hope and a smile on their faces.         

You can reach Idris Bilyaminu Ndasadu’Lau via bilyaminuidrisndasadulau@gmail.com.

By Usama Abdullahi

It’s challenging that we are found wanting in our own culture. We don’t promote it simply because we don’t want to be looked down upon or mocked about it. Western culture has now substituted ours. We assimilate and worship anything western. Ironically, the West doesn’t force their culture on us; we rather westernise ourselves. 

Sometime in 2013, my uncle bought us pizzas. I used to see pizza as the best dish ever, but I was nauseous when I took my first bit. Being in the company of my cousins, I had to conceal my bitter feelings and fake some smiles to fit in. I was pretty low that day. 

For me, pizza is supremely overrated and not as delicious as I thought; it’s aromatic, though. Mind you, I’m not condemning the Italian dish in its entirety. But why do I bring this to light? I felt like sharing my experience, and I want my people to understand that not everything foreign is delectable.

As people with beautiful cultures, we have crazy good dishes that can excite and quench so many aliens’ appetites. Yet, we don’t promote that. We fault it instead. I have watched several western TV shows where the westerners expressed their liking for African culture, particularly their foods.

Arguably, most Nigerians tend to shun and dislike their culture because, to them, it’s worthless. The preference for western dishes leads to the decay of our cultural dishes. Sadly enough, most of the dishes are given western names, which has become difficult to catch on to. Those names don’t correspond and are mostly corrupt versions of the western ones.

Some of us, the so-called civilised ones, erroneously claim that most of our foods are detrimental to one’s health. Though I’m not medical personnel, the little I know tells me that foods like Tuwo provide the body with energy. Awara/Kosai, the most-avoided dishes by the corps d’elite, help build and repair tissues because they are “proteinaceous”. My claims are open to criticism because they are perhaps not well-grounded.

There are others too, which I guess could be harmless and good for consumption if thoroughly examined. It’s time we stopped self-hating or ridiculing ourselves merely because we want to look or sound different, say like the western. Until we promote our culture, our culture will go extinct someday.

Usama Abdullahi wrote from Abuja, Nigeria. Can be reached at usamagayyi@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, claims that a steady decline in COVID-19 case positive has signalled the end of the state’s fourth wave.

On Saturday, Mr Abayomi made the announcement via his verified Twitter account @ProfAkinolaAbayomi, while presenting the state’s COVID-19 report for January 20.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the state notified the start of the fourth wave on December 7 as the virus’s daily infection rate increased.

According to Mr Abayomi, COVID-19 infection positivity rates have decreased from 29.3 percent on December 21 to 1.9 percent on January 20.

According to him, bed capacity utilization is currently at 2%, with a death rate of 0.71 percent.

On the reporting date, 46 additional infections were confirmed, bringing the total number of COVID-19 illnesses in the state to 98,284.

Since the start of the epidemic in the state, 1,023, 203 sample tests have been performed, he said.

To further minimize the transmission of the virus, Mr Abayomi recommended residents be vaccinated and continue to follow non-pharmaceutical approaches.

By Mai-Nasara Muawiya Uzairu

It’s crystal clear that everything that exists on the Earth has a reason(s) for its existence. This is the reason behind our being here. We are now in an age where everything is computerised. Without social media, people would have to continue to live like in the Stone Age without knowing how the world rolls and how things change interchangeably. In my opinion, social media has a vast number of both the positive impacts it creates and the negativity it causes. Although it depends on how one holds and utilises it, the choice solely depends on the social media person.

Many people have recorded successes and achieved their dreams via social media, while others’ remain unfulfilled and stagnant. Social media affects and changes people’s minds about destructive behaviours or otherwise. On the other hand, it sends countless lives to their graves unprepared. Congratulations to those folks for whom social media becomes the reason for their smiles and achievements. May they continue to benefit from the dividends of social media. Best wishes in advance to the future ones who may stir social media with goodness. May they, too, achieve more than today’s beneficiaries achieved, amin. Hard luck to those for whom the reverse is the case.

You are not too late to change the dice rolling with solid hope and unflinching determinations. Many people believe in social media and take it as a means of chatting only with family and friends (FAF) and a means of becoming a nuisance to other people. It is fascinating that whichever group one chooses to belong to will definitely meet people of his ilk or even those who are pretty better than them in that regard. It consists of and explores everything depending on which one decides to choose. I advise you not to be among those who take social media for granted.

Learn, relearn from those great minds, and share your knowledge, experience, and skills with your friends. I call your attention not to share fake news on social platforms. It would be best to share only genuine and beneficial info with your friends, as fake news spreads faster than today’s dreaded virus of todayCOVID-19. Ride your tongue with care; it has a potent venom far better than that of a snake. Mind yourself what you write, share, like, react and comment. Steer clear of unnecessary arguments. Above all, never be addicted to social media impulsively. Manage your time judiciously.

Social media plays a significant role in sharing the development and advancement of today’s generation. Through it, many people make investments and become business tycoons and academic experts, particularly smartly witty ones. Moreover, it helps many connect with their customers and clients from far and distant environments. Without social media, many amongst our business tycoons would not have become what they are today, let alone be known around the world. These include Bill Gates, Otedola Warren Buffet, and Aliko Dangote. All and sundry know these great minds in business circles through cyberspace and their products exclusively. In this regard, we can unanimously say that social media plays a vital role in marketing and economic buoyancy for many of our successful business moguls.

Social media eases and simplifies most things that seem complex. Many people from far distant places have become as familiar and intimate as those with blood consanguinities. We, the generation of social media users, need to use it wisely to avoid hatching rotten eggs among the future generation. We need guidance and parameters to set our activities straight by our great minds who scaled through in life. Our manners need to be replicated for better growth and attainment of better opportunities in this twenty-first, digital century loaded with brouhaha and challenges. Had social media been fully sanitised and sensitised, I am sure the future would have been productive. But, alas! All around us, one can see how the havoc wreaked by people is floating and sinking in a massive wave.

To say a naked and plain truth, children who are yet to reach puberty should be banned from using social media. It is usually the causative factor of their rudeness and moral decadence in society. It is better not to have a child at all than to give a community a notorious child that could threaten the good habits observed by people. Many under-aged children learn to watch pornographic pictures and videos via these platforms.

Fornication, homosexuality and lesbianism could only be eradicated or diminished among our youths by enforcing laws and orders on how social media shall be used. Most parents are lackadaisical in peeping the ins and outs of their children on social media; some are only good at giving birth but very poor in giving moral standards to their children. Children’s phones need to be checked up frequently and unceremoniously. Parents should check to know the children’s friends because bad companies produce harmful products. Friends are the central processors in changing the behaviours of today’s generation, particularly females whose lives are at a zenith than that of males. By so doing, most social vices could reduce to the barest minimum or even be completely wiped away. 

Mai-Nasara Muawiya Uzairu wrote via newmainasara016@gmail.com.

By Safwan Suhaib Ibrahim

Culture, just like science, is never static. As we read more, travel more and impinge more and more on one another through trade, schools, international and religious organizations, our culture and behaviour patterns become heterogeneous – more cosmopolitanised. As people who are committed to the acquirement of wealth and knowledge for the power and insight they give, we must accept the challenges (?) they come with, which is, “Cultural Dynamism”.

Culture, to put it in a mild way, does not only centre on customs and attitudes inherited from our predecessors or the circulation of folktales by word of mouth. It’s also a formal way of training the young in a body of knowledge or creed, borrowing techniques and fashions of others, adopting and selling new ideas or products. Thus, cultural homogeneity is our – everybody’s – way of life.

It’s often not realised, least of all by a layman, that culture is a step further from people’s traditional food, dress, language, music and ceremonies; rather, it’s the people themselves and the society they live in. The human being is an evolutionary animal who is always assimilating new changes brought about by the socioeconomic wind. As we live, we design our culture and we also get designed by it. The everyday flirtation of native dress, songs, dances and language, skin colour or faith are never what exactly our culture is; they only represent a wee portion of it. Our ideas, our ties, our standards and the logic we reflect on a specific problem that confronts us speak more about our culture. 

We – Hausa – have perpetually claimed to be a unique breed of people who despise, or claim to despise, copying others, especially the Western world, though our current moral attitudes and ceremonies are in no way different from theirs. We’re now men of two worlds. So, It’s, of course, a sheer delusion for some of us to pretend to reject everything they’ve acquired from foreign culture simply because it’s “foreign”, but it’s not foolish to rescue one’s culture from total extinction. There’s a need for the revival of awareness of Hausa culture with its great philosophy and epos of music and poetry, dress and language and its ancient literature, but not a total rejection of foreign or alien culture; for that’s as illusive as self-defeating. 

Lest I be misunderstood, I’m not denying that foreign culture or ideas cannot have a destabilising influence on us (of course they do), but I believe there are some that impart a new impulse that prods us to create a new method of organisation and new hope for development. Thus, before we start thinking of driving those alien cultures and ideologies away, we need to study our culture and our people well. We need to start from the basics. That’s, I think, there’s a wider conception of our culture which we give little or no particular emphasis that needs to be tapped now.

Our respect for elders, hospitality to strangers, our feeling of brotherhood and community, our mutual aid for the provision of support and development of services like health protection and education, our freedom of expression, our readiness to provide an economic surplus to neighbours which was so deep-rooted in us that none was allowed to starve, wander in the street or suffer when there’s anything could be done to help him out, and our democratic statecrafts are all but an adventure to us and our progeny. Don’t you think the fight should be on our abstract, not physical culture? 

Safwan Suhaib Ibrahim sent this article via bagwaisafwan@gmail.com.