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The Geegpay Writing and Storytelling Challenge

My story is one of travails and tribulation; like a woman in labor, the birth pangs that eventually bring forth the bundle of joy. From the gutters of Burhama, to the slums of Jakara and Sanka, I have been smashed between chasing my photography dreams and taking care of my family. It is difficult to imagine light at the end of a tunnel, when you live in a single room with your 5 siblings and aging mother whose health is failing, in a densely populated compound that houses 24 rooms, with only one broken toilet for everyone to share, joining a long queue daily in wait for your turn to use a bamboo bathroom, which you have to cover the entrance with your wrapper, to protect your privacy.  I went out everyday with the hope of landing small gigs; something to put food on the table and buy my mother's medications. Some days, I was lucky, and on those days, I was able to improve my craft, and I could afford to pay my bus fare back home, squeezed in-between sweaty, tired fellow slum dwelle...
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Crusader Soap Ban in Nigeria: Medical and Legal Implications.

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Recently, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) intercepted 3 trailer-loads of Crusader Soap, a product banned in 2019 for containing mercury. These 3 trailers amounted to 4,000 cartons by 12 packs by 12-tablet soap. Further investigation through the ports show that the banned soap was imported seven times in 2021 alone and each consignment is not less than three containers with 4,500 cartons of the soap. What are the medical implications of mercury in cosmetic products, first of all? Was the ban necessary? The mercury in cosmetic products can be absorbed through the skin. Mercury can damage the brain, nervous system and kidneys. It may also damage the skin, cause rashes and blotchy spots, and give skin a grayish color. You can read up on the medical implications of mercury  here The longer and more often products containing mercury are used, the greater the health risk. These products can be especially harmful to children. What are the legal imp...
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Coroner's Inquest and Mohbad's Death

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Ever heard of the term Coroner's Inquest? I bet most people haven't. It's not a very familiar term, considering that it is not one that is used everyday. The recent happenings in Nigeria following the death of the late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, a Nigerian music artist popularly known as Mohbad, has left many Nigerians heartbroken and confused. The 27 year old died under very suspicious circumstances, leading to a massive call for an investigation into the cause of his death. Many steps have been taken by the Lagos State Government to ensure that Mohbad gets justice. And now, a coroner's inquest into his death is to commence on Friday, 29th September, 2023, reports  Arise News . Who are coroners?  Coroners are independent judicial officers who investigate deaths reported to them. This happens when it is believed that the death was not due to natural causes. What is Coroner's Inquest? Coroner's inquest is an inquiry into the manner and  cause of an individual...
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Parody Accounts and Fake News

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In Nigeria, if bad governance doesn't kill us, fake news will do the job. The recent elections in Nigeria has proven that, coupled with the rapid increase in parody accounts on social media, particularly twitter. Every Tom, Dick and Harry had a field day opening and operating twitter accounts in politicians' names and conveniently including “parody” in the bio. Most people went ahead to use these accounts to spread fake news. Tweeps were conveniently retweeting and trending information that never existed. Politicians and their spokespersons  (and this is not me defending them. Dem sef don too do) had their jobs cut out for them, struggling to explain and exonerate themselves from fake news everyday. First of all, what is a parody? A humorous piece of writing, drama, or music which imitates the style of a well-known person or represents a familiar situation in an exaggerated way. Let me give you a few examples. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (parody of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)...
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BETWEEN CULTURE AND CHILD ABUSE – TRIBAL MARKS

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  As a first time mom, I watched my son go through pain after his circumcision. I kept asking why there is no anesthesia for babies. Why should a new born go through such pain? I couldn’t sleep for days, secretly nursing the thought that his tender skin might never heal. Now, imagine an adult in that situation. Won’t he scream down the hospital building? Babies are really strong, and circumcision is a necessity as the health benefits are enormous. Can we say the same of tribal marks? Why give a baby several cuts on his/her face with a hot knife laced with ash? The creepiest part is that the parents seem unbothered amid heart-wrenching cries from those children. How do they sleep at night after allowing their children go through torture at such tender age? I would really like to know whether the local tribal mark giver made them a special portion to drink so they can lose their parent instincts. Let’s consider a brief history of tribal marks. From the Yoruba in the southwest, to...
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What Crisis Demands of a Manager

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  It is not a secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many businesses and educational institutions all over the world. Many companies have shut down and as a result, a good number of people have lost their means of livelihood. Some have managed to survive the wave, but their quality of delivery is poor compared to how it was before the pandemic. While many businesses are struggling, some others have embraced a whole new landscape of innovation which has helped them scale through the crisis successfully. In the words of Sarah Kirby, “those who fail to change will be left behind, exposing their employees to increased risk of financial distress, facing layoffs and closures.” [1] Some companies have even recorded their best numbers; COVID-19 has reinvented the future of work for managers who have taken the opportunity to do better. So why have so many failed and what can be done to fix it? Like Sam Adeyemi stated, “leadership remains the core catalyst for driving creat...
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COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

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Human trafficking is a very disturbing issue that has triggered the concern of government and indeed many NGOs. People all over the world are victims of human trafficking both in their own countries and abroad.  It consists of the transferring, harboring and receipt of a person or persons, often done in violent or deceptive ways, using threat or coercion. Victims are sexually exploited or made to do labor or services through the use of force or coercion. Some of the fundamental challenges surrounding human trafficking in Nigeria include lack of knowledge of the actual volume, nature and impact of trafficking. Also, it would appear that there is a gap in enforcement mechanisms. Despite the seriousness of the crime, the government and law enforcement agencies do not seem to pay much attention to it. Human trafficking often goes ‘under the radar’ of the government. They have prioritized some key crimes and focused on fighting them. Human trafficking needs to be one of these priorities...
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