Dencia reacts to Lupita's speech, says she doesn't know who she is

Dencia has reacted to Lupita Nyong'o's speech at Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon where the Oscar nominated actress made reference to her skincare product, Whitenicious. (Find it here). Yesterday Dencia tweeted that she'd never heard of Lupita. See her tweets after the cut...

Couple jailed for cutting 10-year-old son’s fingers (PICTURED)

A Ghanaian father and mother have been sentenced to spend 6 months in prison after they were found guilty of assault on their son.
Morrison Adenkor and Angelina Adeti were said to have cut the fingertips of their 10-year-old child because he stole meat and coins.
The couple was found guilty of causing harm and were indicted for violating the child’s rights.
According to reports:

However, in delivering her judgement, the court took into account factors, including the nature of the crime, the circumstances of the accused persons and the fact that they were first-time offenders.
Sentencing the accused persons – Morrison Adenkor and Angelina Adeti – the presiding judge, Ms Ellen Vivian Amoah, warned that the court would not sit aloof while the rights
of children were trampled upon.

The court found their action repugnant and a gross violation of the 1992 Constitution and all international conventions Ghana has ratified to protect and safeguard the interest of children.
“What type of parents do this kind of thing to their child of 10 years who is supposed to look up to them. Secondly, what has become the norm in our society where adults and society in general cherishes children? What could enter the mind of a father to cut open all the 10 fingers of his son with the tacit consent of the mother?”
“We have to bear in mind that we owe rights and obligations to the most vulnerable members of our society, that is the children”, Ms Amoah said.

SHOCKING: Baale, Four Others Kill And Bury Housewife In Lagos (PHOTOS)

                      The deceased

 

                              *Basiru                                     
The police at Okokomaiko Division in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have arrested the Baale of Mebamu Kingdom, Chief Mosiu Adio Hassan, and four others over the alleged murder of a housewife.
The woman was shot dead and secretly buried in the area without her husband’s consent to cover up the crime.
It was learnt that the couple was attacked because they are related to the former Baale known as Kolawale, who was dethroned by Hassan last year.
The police also allegedly recovered arms during the arrest of the suspects who have been handed over to the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos for further investigation.
The 24-year old housewife, Faith Elo Ibrahim, was allegedly shot with her husband, Bashiru Ibrahim, while they were returning from the market by the security aides of the Baale.
The woman died a few days after from the gun shot wounds, while her husband survived the attack.
The incident happened at Mechanic Bus Stop near the Baale’s palace in Mebamu area in Ojo Local
Government Area of Lagos.
It was gathered that while Ibrahim was still in a hospital recovering from the gun shot wounds, the Baale allegedly buried the woman without police report and autopsy or even informing her husband.
Narrating what happened, Ibrahim said he went to the market to buy some food items with his late wife on the fateful day.
After buying what they needed that evening and were returning home, they were accosted by some men with cutlasses and guns close to his house and the Baale’s palace.
He said they asked him where they were going or coming from that evening.
Ibrahim said while he was still explaining,  one of them hit his back with a cutlass, while another he identified as Wale pointed the gun he was carrying at him and shot him and his wife and fled.
He said he was shot at his waist while his wife was badly injured both in her waist and other parts of her body and she later died because of the injuries.
Ibrahim said they were left at the scene and neighbours who knew them and saw what happened rushed them to a private hospital, Ademola Medical Centre at Ijanikin area,  where his wife eventually died two days after.
He alleged that while he was still in pains at the hospital, the Baale conspired with other people to bury his wife secretly without informing him.
He said since the incident happened, their only daughter, Opeyemi, had kept asking him about her mother.
Ibrahim said those behind the death of his wife must be brought to justice.
When newsmen contacted Baale Hassan, he confirmed the incident and said it was the security men that shot the victims and he only intervened to settle the matter peacefully.
He said he settled with the family of the deceased before she was buried and declined to comment on the allegations that he  illegally owned weapons and his thugs harassed residents of the area.
A visit to the Okoko Police Division, the DPO, Richard Temple, who confirmed the arrest, said the matter had been transfered to SARS.
He declined to make further comments and referred our reporter to SARS or PPRO concerning the matter.

OMG! Man bores hole in his wife’s private part and padlocks it

A woman, Sitabai Chouhan was rushed to a hospital in India after she had attempted suicide by swallowing rat poison.
It was when the nurses at the hospital  helped clean the poison from her system that a shocking discovery was made.
The woman’s genitals had been secured with a padlock.
Breaking World News Today reports:

Her husband, 38-year-old Sohanlal Chouhan, was questioned by police. Police learned that Chouhan put the padlock on his wife’s genitals nearly four years ago because he feared that she would be unfaithful to him. He allegedly cut holes into his wife’s genitals and locked it with a padlock.
Investigators said that Chouhan began the procedure by drugging his wife, and then he used a needle to puncture holes through both sides of his wife’s labia. 
He inserted a small padlock through the holes and he locked it every morning before he
went to work. He unlocked it when he came home from work. Investigators found the key to the padlock hidden in his sock.
Chouhan, who works as a mechanic, justified the torturous abuse by claiming that several women in his family had been unfaithful to their husbands in the past.
Mrs. Chouhan, married Mr. Chouhan when she was just 16-years-old and they have five children.
She is said to have attempted suicide after her husband allegedly made sexual advances towards their eldest daughter.
Mrs. Chouhan told Indian officials that she attempted suicide because her husband attempted to molest their eldest daughter and she felt that she cannot stand up against him to protect her daughter.
Mr. Chouhan was arrested and charged with cruelty and voluntarily causing grievous injury.

Lupita talks about black beauty & Dencia's Whitenicious at BWHL

The Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon held yesterday February 28 at The Beverly Hills Hotel in LA...and Oscar nominee Lupita Nyong'o was one of those honored at the event which had Oprah, Tyler Perry, Kerry Washington, Michael Ealy and many other black Hollywood heavyweights in attendance. 

Accepting her award, Lupita gave one of the most powerful speeches about self-acceptance and loving yourself just the way you are. Her message basically is; Black is beautiful and you really don't need Dencia's Whitenicious. Yep, she mentioned Dencia in her speech. Check on it after the cut...


Lupita's acceptance speech at Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon

Thank you Alfre, for such an amazing, amazing introduction and celebration of my work. And thank you very much for inviting me to be a part of such an extraordinary community.

I am surrounded by people who have inspired me, women in particular whose presence on screen made me feel a little more seen and heard and understood. That it is Essence that holds this event celebrating our professional gains of the year is significant, a beauty magazine that recognizes the beauty that we not just possess but also produce.

I want to take this opportunity to talk about beauty, black beauty, dark beauty. I received a letter from a girl and I’d like to share just a small part of it with you: “Dear Lupita,” it reads, “I think you’re really lucky to be this Black but yet this successful in Hollywood overnight. I was just about to buy Dencia’s Whitenicious cream to lighten my skin when you appeared on the world map and saved me.”

My heart bled a little when I read those words, I could never have guessed that my first job out of school would be so powerful in and of itself and that it would propel me to be such an image of hope in the same way that the women of The Color Purple were to me. I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin, I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before. I tried to negotiate with God, I told him I would stop stealing sugar cubes at night if he gave me what I wanted, I would listen to my mother’s every word and never lose my school sweater again if he just made me a little lighter. But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips because He never listened.

And when I was a teenager my self-hate grew worse, as you can imagine happens with adolescence. My mother reminded me often that she thought that I was beautiful but that was no conservation, she’s my mother, of course she’s supposed to think I am beautiful. And then…Alek Wek. A celebrated model, she was dark as night, she was on all of the runways and in every magazine and everyone was talking about how beautiful she was. Even Oprah called her beautiful and that made it a fact. I couldn’t believe that people were embracing a woman who looked so much like me, as beautiful. My complexion had always been an obstacle to overcome and all of a sudden Oprah was telling me it wasn’t. It was perplexing and I wanted to reject it because I had begun to enjoy the seduction of inadequacy. But a flower couldn’t help but bloom inside of me, when I saw Alek I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny.

Now, I had a spring in my step because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far away gatekeepers of beauty. But around me the preference for my skin prevailed, to the courters that I thought mattered I was still unbeautiful. And my mother again would say to me you can’t eat beauty, it doesn’t feed you and these words plagued and bothered me; I didn’t really understand them until finally I realized that beauty was not a thing that I could acquire or consume, it was something that I just had to be. And what my mother meant when she said you can’t eat beauty was that you can’t rely on how you look to sustain you. What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion for yourself and for those around you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants the soul. It is what got Patsey in so much trouble with her master, but it is also what has kept her story alive to this day. We remember the beauty of her spirit even after the beauty of her body has faded away.

And so I hope that my presence on your screens and in the magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey. That you will feel the validation of your external beauty but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside.

There is no shame in Black beauty.

How To Invest Your Time Wisely

1. Be Organized
By prioritizing what is most important to you.
By thinking ahead: setting aside or eliminating nonessential tasks, which do little more than consume time and energy.
Simplify your life: Learn to say no to things that are unimportant or that do little more than consume time.

2. Avoid Time Stealers
Procrastination and indecision: Procrastination is a thief of both time and productivity. A farmer who waits until conditions are perfect may never sow seed or reap his harvest. Similarly, we could allow life's uncertainties to make us indecisive. Or we may feel that we have to wait until we have every scrap of relevant information before making a decision. But the reality is that many decisions involved some uncertainties.
Perfectionism: A perfectionist would likely shudder at the thought of failure, an attitude that would impede hi progress. How much better to be modest in our expectations! The modest and humble do not take themselves too seriously and can usually laugh at themselves.

3. Be Balanced and Realistic
Balance work and recreation.
Do not scrimp on sleep: Sleep is a sound investment on time because it aids in concentration and consolidates memories, thus fostering learning. Sleep deprivation, however impedes learning and contributes to accidents, errors, and irritability.

4. Be Guided by Good Values
Consider your value: Your values enable you to gauge what is good, important, and worthwhile. If your life was an arrow, your values would aim that arrow.
Make love your foremost value: We cannot be truly happy and emotionally secure without love, especially within the family. People who disregards that fact, perhaps giving priority to the pursuit of riches or a career, actually invest in unhappiness.
Set aside time to address your spiritual need: Mathew 5:3 , Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need. Are you willing to set aside a little time to address your spiritual need? To be sure, no other investment will give you the wisdom to make the most, not of just each day, but of your life as a whole.

South African Immigration deporting Nigerians for flimsy excuses

For a while now the South African immigration have been deporting Nigerians for the flimsiest reasons. Starting from their airport, they deport you for allegedly carrying what they call 'fake' yellow card. Then sometimes they raid local hotels and even pick Nigerians up while they are going about their business. Today Friday Feb. 28th they deported eleven Nigerians for hotel reservation reasons. The ones staying at apartments too were deported because according to South African immigration, their names didn't appear on the apartment lease while clearly they were just guests. Someone I know was affected.

Why are they doing this? Our government needs to do something about this ASAP. This is not cool!

Why some Men Are Afraid Of Commitment

Why will a man not want to commit to a woman he supposedly loves? This question is quite baffling to many single ladies out there. You know that your man loves you and should commit to you with ease, but alas, he is not ready to commit. Below are reasons why some men behave this way:
1. Fear of Taking on Responsibility
Men know that when they commit, they must be ready to take on responsibility such as bringing money home to take care of the family's needs, maintaining and protecting the family. It will interest you to know that some men just don't like to think about the kinds of responsibility that come with

Again, Gunmen Kill Two, Raze Over 120 Houses in Plateau State

An eye witness said the attackers came into Diyam-Rim at about 2 am, raided the village for about an hour, killing the two persons and injuring two others.

Gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, have again struck on the Plateau, leaving at least two dead and over 120 houses burnt at Diyam-Rim of Riyom local government area, and Rakok and Razat both of Barkin Ladi local government area of the state.

 The other attack on Rakok and Razat in Barkin Ladi left over 120 houses and farm produce burnt by the assailants.

Interim Administrator of Barkin Ladi local government, Habila Dung told newsmen on phone that the unknown gunmen stormed the villages in the early hours of yesterday morning destroying everything they came across.

(Source: Thisday)

Governor Fashola renames hall to honour slain Yobe students

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday Thursday February 27th renamed a hall initially named after him, to “Peace Hall’’, in memory of slain Yobe school children.

Vanguard reports that the hall was constructed by the Lagos Zonal Council of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), located at Fadeyi in Lagos.

Fashola said at the inauguration of the hall earlier named after him by NUPENG that he changed the name to honour the slain secondary school students.

"I appreciate NUPENG’s gesture but I will rename this edifice `Peace Hall`, in memory of the lives of the children that were brutally slain in Yobe by insurgents. The Children will soon be forgotten but as a reminder to us and the need to stand up for what is right, I ask that the hall be re-named as NUPENG’s Peace Hall, as we all search for peace across Nigeria. While we pray for the repose of the souls of these young ones, it is also a moment we must stand up as a nation. Whatever language you speak, whatever faith you practise, whatever ethnic/tribe you claim, this is the time it will not show. No matter how diverse we are, we are still one people, this is a time when colours and flag do not matter and political ideologies mean nothing. This is the time we must show and respect the values of the lives of fellow Nigerians’’ The governor said.

Checkout the towering heels 46-yr old Guinness heiress rocked (PHOTOS)

Daphne Guinness, 46, fashion muse and heiress to the Guinness family fortune, was spotted in these shocking unusual shoes on the streets of New York yesterday.For her age,she walked with alot of confidence in shoes only lady gaga could pull off. What do you think? Sexy or ridiculous....

See More photos below:

I'm No Longer A Thief, I've Just Been Delivered –Actress Yetunde

Embattled actress, Yetunde Akilapa, who was caught with a bunch of keys, said to be tools used in breaking into people’s homes, is said to have returned from a spiritual home, where she went for her rehabilitation.

Yetunde claimed that her ‘kleptomaniac’ habit was not natural, saying she needed spiritual cleansing to regain her normal life. She said she is now ready to continue with acting.

In her words: “I am not quitting again. God has finally shamed my critics and enemies. It’s true I have not been around for two weeks. I was going through marathon fast and prayers. 

"First, I had to go to my hometown on my mother’s invitation. That was where I stayed for about two weeks for spiritual cleansing, and I thank God I have triumphed over my enemies. The devil has lost the battle. I am a conqueror forever.”

Yetunde said although she is a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God she had to attend another church and sick spiritual help which had made her return to her natural self.

“Now, I am happy that the battle is over. As I speak to you, I'm on a movie location with some of my colleagues. They are all happy that I am back. I pray that any weapon fashioned against me again shall never prosper,” the actress said, happily.

Hopefully, we won't hear any funny story about her again!

Student Reveals ---What Boko Haram Did To Us That Night

Do you know that Nigerians are now living as refugees in Niger Republic? That is the reality of the matter, sad as it is. As you read this, tens of thousands of Nigerians have gone to Niger to escape from the latest wave of attacks and bombings by the deadly sect, Boko Haram, that continue to operate with impunity.

One of the students who was shot by the terrorists but managed to survived, said:

“I was shot on my left leg, while I was sleeping. When I woke up, I could not walk and was later taken to the girls hostel where the insurgents gathered us with the female students. They selected some of the female students and went away with them, while they left some of us groaning in pain from gun shot”.

The words of 14ysr old Ibrahim Musa Lampo, a JSS 2 student of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi in Yobe State who was one of the lucky survivors of the Boko Haram massacre on Tuesday,

Nigerian stowaway dies, frozen to death as SA plane lands in US Airport

A Nigerian man, Chris Dikeh was found in the wheel well of a South African Airways plane that departed Dakar, Senegal and arrived the Dulles Airport in Washington D.C on Saturday.
The man is believed to have frozen to death in temperatures reaching -60°C.
Per Second News gathered from the Police that it was a South African Airways jet that was parked now in a remote part of the airport. Grounds crews found the body on Saturday afternoon.”
Airport authorities say the male body was recovered from the landing gear of the Airbus A340 belonging to South African Airways. The flight arrived in Dulles on Wednesday last week.
In a release sent to Per Second News by officials of the South African Airways and signed by SAA spokesperson Mr Tlali Tlali,” (SAA) has initiated an internal investigation into the discovery of a human body on its aircraft in Washington DC, in the United States of America”.
“Once at the Dulles International Airport in Washington DC, it was discovered that there was a fault with the landing gear of the aircraft A340-300 and the aircraft had to receive attention. It led to SAA dispatching its engineers and technicians to the US to identify the cause and to fix the fault on the aircraft”.
“During the process of conducting tests on the aircraft, SAA engineers discovered a human body in the centre wheel well”.
“SAA will offer its full cooperation to the US authorities and/or law enforcement agencies in an effort to ensure that a thorough investigation into this incident is carried out as expeditiously as possible”.
“We regret any loss of human life and are deeply concerned about the suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident and for that reason we have initiated an SAA internal investigation into the whole matter”, Tlali concluded..
According to South African Airways, the plane initially departed from Johannesburg and made one stop in Dakar, Senegal before arriving in the U.S. It’s still unclear when the body got into the wheel well of the plane.

Source: metronaija

14 Reasons Not To Drink Energy Drinks

The next time you are looking for ways to get energy, think about alternative ways before you buy energy drinks. Consuming excess amount of everything is harmful and especially this type of drinks. So instead of solely relying on sugar and caffeine to get you through busy day, take a walk or drink plain water to feel more natural and long-lasting energy.

1) Side effects
If you were not already aware, energy drinks have some extremely serious side effects. Some of the side effects are: agitation, tremors, stomach upset, chest pain, dizziness, seizures, insomnia and even heart attacks. Just because they are easily available and look innocent enough does not mean that they

FGC YOBE ATTACK: Why Girls Were Spared And Only Boys Were Killed

Mass killing of school children at the Federal Government College in the Buni Yadi area of Yobe was shrouded in mystery after reports revealed that only male students were killed.
It has been learnt, however that the extremists intentionally spared the female students.
According to the officials, female students at the co-ed school were spared – and that the attackers instead told them to go home and get married and to abandon their Western education (Boko Haram – meaning “against Western education”).
It would be recalled that the attackers set a locked dormitory on fire in the early hours of Tuesday.
The terrified students escaped through the windows, they were shot and their throats were slit. Some were burned to ashes.

The massacre was followed by violent reactions by Nigerians and top politicians, urging the authorities to put an end to bloodshed in the country.

Source: Osun defender

Boy, 15, Exchanged For 2 Bags Of Rice

                                                              •Seun Aderinwale: Exhanged for 2 bags of rice

A yet to be identified man on Monday successfully traded a 15-year old boy, Seun Aderinwale, for two bags of rice valued at N20,000 at Igando in Alimosho area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

According to eyewitness account, the man, whose address is unknown, went to 4, Ifesowapo Street, Igando, on Monday morning to buy two bags of rice from a shop owned by a woman identified as Iya Ibrahim. 

The rice seller was not available at the time but her son, Ibrahim, agreed to the man’s proposal to drop Seun, an Aluminium apprentice, as collateral, in order to collect the two bags of rice and return later to pay.

However, when the shop owner returned in the afternoon, she was surprised to see Seun who was dropped there in exchange for the two bags of rice taken away by the unidentified man.

When the man failed to return, the 15-year old was held hostage until evening when the pastor of his church, a Celestial Church of Christ around the area, saw him at the shop looking despondent.

When Seun was questioned on how he came about the fraudster, he said he met him casually at Hotel Bus Stop about 300 metres to his residence where a church member had sent him on an errand to play lotto, popularly known as “Baba Ijebu”.

Seun said he did not know the man’s house or have other information about him.

The teenager later regained his freedom when the Celestial Church pastor, known simply as Oluso in the neighborhood, settled the matter with Iya Ibrahim, the rice seller.

He said the woman should take responsibility for one of the stolen bags of rice while Seun’s father, a co-worker with him in the church, should pay for the other bag of rice when he returned from his trip to Ifo in Ogun State. Seun’s father agreed to pay N10,000 for the bag of rice when he returned from Ifo.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the rice seller agreed to the pastor’s proposal and did not report the matter to the police.

“If I report the incident to the police, I cannot leave the station without spending money. Therefore, it is better for me to accept the proposal by Oluso, the rice seller told residents who gathered in front of her shop to watch the drama.

When Ibrahim was questioned why he allowed such an unusual arrangement, he told residents that the conman asked for two and half bags of rice, adding, “when the motorcycle was about to go with the two bags, I asked for the money but Seun assured me he was coming back for the half bag. He even claimed to be a close relation of the man.”

However, some hours after the man had disappeared and failed to return, Ibrahim said Seun retracted his earlier statement, saying he did not know the man.

Source: pmnewsnigeria

How To Conceive Twins Naturally

Many couples dream of having twins! But, is it possible to conceive twins by following a particular regime? Are there any natural ways to go about it without indulging in medications or drugs?
It comes to me that you are wanting to have twins, is it? Or perhaps you and your partner fascinate to be called proud parents of twins?! Well, whatever the reason might be, conceiving twins needs you to follow some dos and don't's which could prove to be useful and the perfect solution to your anxiety. Owning twins is an altogether different experience for the parents as well as the family! And it is fun most of the time!

However, to get into the phase, you first need to understand that the methods and tips described below are a result of extensive research and statistics and might not always be foolproof. Although,

Groom Abandons Bride At RCCG Church on Wedding day, You Won't Believe Why (SEE PHOTOS)

 Bride & Groom

On Saturday, 22nd February, a groom called off his wedding after the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG that was supposed to wed them conducted a pregnancy test and it came out positive.

After keeping guests waiting for about two hours the groom came out and announced to the astonished guests that he was no longer interested in the marriage.

                            Souvenir from the wedding

The bride, Cynthia who insisted she was not pregnant did another pregnancy test in a different hospital which came out negative. The church did a second test with their own doctor and again their own test came out positive again.

The groom said he had never slept with the girl hence he couldn't go on with the wedding.

Despite the wedding being called off, guests still sat down to eat and drink and even pack souvenirs.
To make things even more interesting, the groom's family went on to pack the wedding cake, wine and other drinks as well as souvenirs even though those things were paid for by the bride's family.
All this time the poor bride, still in her wedding gown kept crying and insisting she wasn't pregnant.

Nigerian man who stabbed his wife while she slept jailed for 12 years

A Nigerian businessman has been jailed for 12 years after he was found guilty of stabbing his wife as she slept in their home. Oluwabusayo Abegunde, 38, (pictured above) stabbed his wife repeatedly with a kitchen knife after he went through her phone and discovered she was seeing someone else.

Esther Abegunde, 33, told her husband of ten years that their marriage was over and moved into a spare room on February 16th 2013. Abegunde attacked her with the knife after he discovered why she wanted to leave him. Oluwabusayo stabbed Esther in the chest, arm, and punctured her left lung, according to the Manchester Evening News.
As Esther began to bleed to death Abegunde agreed to call an ambulance after making her promise she would tell police she had caused the wounds herself. To make it believable, he cut himself with the knife to make it look like he had also been attacked before emergency services arrived.

Esther survived the brutal attack and later told the police the truth. Abegunde, who has businesses in Nigeria and was a respected member of Manchester’s Nigerian community was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

He was found not guilty of attempted murder at an earlier trial but the jury at Manchester crown court found him guilty of grievous bodily harm this week and he was jailed for 12 years.

The former couple have two sons, aged eight and four.

OMG!!! This Girl's Hair Grew Mould after She Wore her Weave-on for 6 Straight Months (SEE PHOTOS)

Hmmmnnnn....Some Ladies sha! This young lady's hair grew mold after she wore her weavon for 6 Long months! She eventually had to shave all her hair off to get treatment!

Federal government increases passport fee by 50%

The Federal Government has increased passport fee by 50%. According to a circular signed by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Operations/Passport and released a few days ago titled 'Passport Reforms', applicants will now pay N15,000 instead of N10,000. (It was officially N10,000 but we all know how much we really paid...lol) Also applicants for change of data will pay now N30,000.

A newly introduced 64-page passport for frequent travelers will cost N20,000, while Passport for applicants 18 years and below will cost N8,750. It's N15,000 between 18-60 and N8,500 for people above 60 years.

Female applicants, who apply for change of name as a result of marriage/divorce or deceased spouse, will pay N8,750, while processing fee for request for change of data will cost N30,000.

All payments will be made online going forward according to the circular

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/60269.html

How to make sure you and your husband make it to your golden anniversary.

Help Your Relationship Grow

Shared interests and values often bring couples together, and some things — like the need for romance and communication — remain the same no matter how long you’re hitched. But many others don’t — and shouldn’t. Encouraging changes in your marriage helps you adapt to each life stage with your spouse; ignore your relationship’s ebbs and flows and you risk breaking apart. Here, experts share how to conquer them as a couple.

In Your 20s

Be more open and specific about your future.
Before you get married, you may talk generally about where you’ll live, when you’ll have kids, and how you’ll spend your money — and avoid bringing up goals on which your partner may not agree. But once you truly combine lives, you need to make more concrete plans. Don’t hold back about long-term hopes for fear he won’t be on board. For example, if you’d like to go back to school, and find yourself worrying about whether he’d support it, ask his opinion right away. If you don’t speak up, “the resentments will start," says Lisa Bahar, a marriage and family therapist in Newport Beach, CA.
Address conflicts head-on.
Issues may arise early on, as you’re both used to doing things your way as singles. “Problems don’t self-correct; it takes discussing to get back on track,” explains relationship expert Charles J. Orlando, author of The Problem with Women... Is Men. When you start each talk, “say, ‘I think we’re having this issue. Do you see it this way?’” suggests sex and relationship expert Gail Saltz, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine in New York City and author of Becoming Real. It allows him to share his side so you can work on solutions together.

In Your 30s

Focus on enjoying sex.
By the time you reach your 30s, you finally know what you want in bed, so increase intimacy. “Kiss him passionately, like it's the last time you will, and make love as if to say, 'Without you, I may never be complete,’” suggests Orlando. Yes, you may need to carve out time for sex, but this shouldn’t be a burden. “Effort is what you put into things that you care about personally,” he explains.
Become flexible with your plans.
As kids enter the picture and careers change, you may find your and your spouse’s old dreams aren’t as important as they once seemed. “There’s no quick fix for dealing with changes” to your current course, says Dr. Saltz. If you want to make a major adjustment, sit down and reevaluate with your husband. “Say, ‘I know we had this plan, but I feel this way now,’” Dr. Saltz recommends. “Figure out what’s most crucial to each of you at this stage.”

In Your 40s

Team up on parenting.
According to relationship expert Pepper Schwartz, PhD, professor of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle, adolescent children can make marriage difficult for many twosomes. Tweens and teens can perceive where you differ on parenting, “and those children may pit one parent against the other” to get what they want, Dr. Schwartz says. That can become a source of marriage problems. The best thing to do: Join forces with your partner. “Make efforts not to get divided. Before making a major decision or allowance with your child, go to your spouse first,” she recommends.
Protect your marriage.
Watching your kids spread their wings as teens may remind you what’s “no longer available to you with dating, sex, and career options,” says Dr. Saltz. She says this is a time when spouses may stray; as you see your child embrace independence, you feel tied down in your marriage. “Mix things up so you don’t get complacent,” she advises, which may mean scheduling a quick getaway. And avoid situations better suited for singles. “If that means not going to happy hour with a male co-worker, don’t go,” she adds.

In Your 50s

Consider therapy.
You may find communicating with your spouse tougher than ever — especially if having kids stalled your growth as husband and wife. “It's not that couples stop talking; it's that they stop listening,” says Orlando. “Listening with empathy and without judgment eliminates most obstacles.” If being more conscious of hearing each other out isn’t enough, a third party may help. “Be willing to attend therapy,” says Bahar, especially if arguments include threats to leave, accusations of infidelity, or a preoccupation with staying young. You are not who you were when you were newlyweds; a therapist can help you find common ground again.
Establish a new normal.
Your new, quiet empty nest can feel jarring. “This stage is a divorce peak,” says Dr. Saltz. “Often, parents have been so focused on their kids that they look at their spouse and think, ‘Who is he?’” Talk through the feelings you’re experiencing, and what you need to move forward as a couple. Dr. Saltz suggests connecting with your partner in ways not associated with your kids, whether it’s taking a cooking class or spending more time with your friends.

In Your 60s and 70s

Participate in PDA again.
Dr. Schwartz says that many couples cease romantic behavior after multiple decades of marriage, but the happy pairs? “They don’t stop holding hands or spontaneously kissing.” Be one of those duos! Remain touchy-feely at every age, but if the loving gestures stopped long ago, bring them back.
Reconsider retirement.
While you may have imagined older age and retiring going hand-in-hand, ask yourself, "Is my marriage happy now? Am I happy at work?” If both are still fulfilling, “talk about whether retirement is a good idea. Being in each other’s domain all the time doesn’t work well for all couples,” points out Dr. Saltz. If either of you does want a change of pace, consider mentally stimulating part-time options or volunteer work. Coming home after a day away to talk about what happened remains valuable, says Dr. Saltz.

 Source: womansday

8 Things Never to Say to Adoptive Families

Adoptive families hear lots of things from friends and strangers alike. But many remarks and questions make these families uncomfortable, even if you don’t mean to be intrusive. “People unfamiliar with adoption may think they’re showing interest or support by asking questions,” says adoption educator Ellen Singer, a licensed certified clinical social worker with the Center for Adoption Support and Education in Burtonsville, MD. “But some comments can be upsetting or damaging to families.” Here are the top eight things you should avoid bringing up, what you can say instead and when to keep quiet.
1. Which one is your real child?
This question is a button-pusher for many families with both adoptive and biological children. “Every child in the family is their child,” says Amanda Baden, PhD, a licensed psychologist specializing in adoption in New York City and associate professor at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. “This question sends the message that the only authentic way to form a family is biologically.” Not that it’s appropriate to ask if the adopted child isn’t present, but it’s worse if you ask in front of her; the comment makes it sound as if she’s less important than the other family members. “The term ‘real’ is absurd, as if my daughter is a ‘pretend’ or ‘fake’ child,” says Marilys Scheindel, a mom of two in Maine. The experts agree: Stay away from this question, no matter how curious you are.
2. He’s so lucky to have been adopted by you.
Even if you’re trying to compliment an adoptive parent, you’re implying she “rescued” the child or that adoption is an act of charity, says Singer. The statement also discounts what the child’s given up. “Adoption involves loss,” says Megan Terry, a mom of three who blogs about adoption at Millions of Miles. “It’s the loss of the child’s first family, familiar surroundings, rituals, routines and often the birth country, culture and language. To say he’s ‘lucky’ invalidates his experiences and feelings.” A better approach: Say something like, “What a wonderful family you are,” says family therapist Leigh Leslie, PhD, associate professor at the University of Maryland in College Park and a researcher in transracial adoption.
3. How much did it cost to adopt?
People often ask this insensitive question, which makes parents cringe. “It sounds like you’re referring to the child as a purchase,” says Dr. Baden. In addition, it’s incredibly invasive. “Yes, there are fees associated with adoption, as there are with childbirth,” notes Alison Noyce, a mom of four who blogs about adoption at They’re All My Own. “Besides, this information is available on the Internet.” If you’re considering adopting, ask, “Can you please refer me to organizations or classes where we can learn more about adoption?” instead of requesting personal financial details. If you’re not looking into adoption, steer clear of this question altogether.
4. You’ll probably get pregnant now that you’ve adopted.
First of all, “The comment makes it seem as if this child is not as valuable as a biological child or that the family is somehow ‘settling’ for this child,” says Dr. Leslie. Secondly, it assumes all families adopt due to infertility issues, which isn’t at all the case. Instead of speaking about the child as if she’s second-best, celebrate the joy the family feels about having a new family member. A simple “Congratulations!” is all that’s necessary.
5. Why was she given up?
This question has many variations, including “What do you know about her background?” or “What happened to his birth mom?” In any form, they’re intensely personal and usually not something families wish to share with anyone. “Think of it as similar to being asked in what position you conceived your child,” says Dr. Baden. Plus, there’s a chance the family doesn’t know the answer to your question, and asking them puts them in an awkward position. Bottom line: “This is not one to ask, ever,” says Terry. “It’s my son’s story, not mine. We shouldn’t expect children’s stories to be a matter of public record.”
6. Are your children siblings?
The unspoken message is that there’s a difference between adoptive and biological siblings, says Dr. Leslie. “My kids are obviously brother and sister because we adopted them both,” says Scheindel. Another reason not to ask this: Again, the child’s background is his or her story and doesn’t have to be shared with everyone. Instead of concentrating on a topic that’s truly not your business, offer a genuine compliment such as, “Your children are so well-mannered.”
7. What if she searches for her real parents?
“This kind of question perpetuates the myth that adoptive families are only ‘babysitting’ until their children locate their biological parents,” says Singer. It also reveals a misunderstanding about adoption today—it’s not the closed system it was in decades past. “Many people don’t realize that the days are gone when families wouldn’t tell a child she was adopted, as if it were something to be ashamed of,” says Terry. Though there’s less of a stigma about being adopted, it’s still best to avoid this question, say the experts.
8. Why did you choose international adoption when there are so many kids who need homes here?
“Asking parents to justify how a beloved child came to be theirs is hurtful,” says Noyce. “There are children all over the world who need families. No child is more deserving of a family than another, regardless of where he or she was born.” Avoid these judgmental remarks, and focus on the happiness the child brings, rather than her birthplace. If you’d like to show support to a close friend who’s adopted internationally, Terry suggests checking out books and websites about the child’s birth country, if the parents have shared that information with you.

Woman's Day

13 Ways to Maintain Your Brain

Check out the following health tips to help maintain your brain power:

1. Be a Mover and Shaker
Daily physical activity can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, bathing it with vital nutrients and oxygen. Exercise also helps control cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and weight. All of these increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Work that heart muscle, for 30 minutes daily if possible, by walking, swimming, biking, golfing, or hiking.

2. Be a Thinker
Keeping the mind active can help lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Stimulate your brain with board games, cards and puzzles. Read a book, magazine or newspaper. Sing a song, play an instrument or learn a new language. These brain-challenging activities increase the blood flow, establish more connections between the brain cells and stimulate brain cell growth.

3. Go Fishing
Eating fish and other food sources high in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce one’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are important components of brain cells and may help to reduce inflammation of the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids also help to protect arteries and improve blood flow to the brain. So go fishing for some salmon, sardines, tuna, shrimp, shellfish, walnuts, olives, olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseed, and flaxseed oil…all excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Fat Attack
Saturated fat and trans fatty acids may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. These unhealthy fats are found in high-fat meats, high-fat dairy products, many margarines and other processed foods. They promote the buildup of the Low Density Level Lipoproteins (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. This may cause a narrowing of the arteries, reduce blood flow to the brain, and cause inflammation.
5. B-Vitamins
Preliminary research is showing a connection between folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 intake and Alzheimer’s disease. It appears that people with Alzheimer’s disease have higher levels of homocysteine (a body chemical that causes arteries to clog) in their blood. Although homocysteine levels naturally increase with age, high levels are also due to a diet low in folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6. Until more is uncovered about this chemical’s effect on the brain, eat a diet high in the B-vitamins. For vitamin B-12, reach for lean meats, fish, chicken, milk and cheese. For vitamin B-6 and folate, include more dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collard greens, broccoli, oranges, orange juice, lima beans, asparagus, whole grains, and fortified grain products.

6. Antioxidants
The brain can be damaged by free radicals in the body and their oxidation effect. So eating a diet high in antioxidants (vitamin E and vitamin C) can help lower the risk of these harmful effects and protect the brain. Dietary sources of vitamin E include whole grains, nuts, seeds, milk, egg yolks, wheat germ, and vegetable oils. Vitamin C sources include citrus fruits, kiwi, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, and peppers.

7. A Boost with Blueberries
Blueberries contain compounds that can improve short-term memory, navigational skills, balance and coordination. Current research indicates that blueberries can boost weakened neuron signals. Blueberries contain this powerful punch whether fresh, frozen or dried. Enjoy them by the handful, add them to your cereal, muffins, and pancakes, or whip up a blueberry-yogurt smoothie.

8. Stop Smoking
Smokers are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as non-smokers. Smoking decreases blood flow to the brain, starving it of oxygen and nutrients. The best defense is to stop smoking, but beta-carotene and flavonoids found in foods may help to offset the effects of smoking to some degree. If you continue to smoke, add more colorful fruits and veggies to your diet. Eat more kale, carrots, broccoli, spinach, cranberries, green and black tea, and legumes.

9. Healthy Heart
High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease and diabetes may also increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Once again, anytime blood vessels are damaged, the blood supply to the brain can be affected. It is important to know your numbers. Monitor your blood pressure reading, lipid profile tests, and blood glucose tests. See your physician regularly. Make appropriate dietary, lifestyle, and medication changes that are necessary to keep your body at peak performance.

10. Stress
Studies have shown that chronic, excessive stress may alter the brain structure. This makes the brain more susceptible to damage by free radicals in the body and can result in neuron damage. To manage stress, try practicing meditation, muscle relaxation, yoga, or T’ai chi. Talk to a mental health professional, or sign up for a stress management class.

11. Ginkgo Biloba
In the United States, Ginkgo Biloba is sold as a dietary supplement for memory enhancement. It is thought to protect the brain by reducing oxidation damage to the cells. Research has not shown Ginkgo Biloba to protect against Alzheimer’s disease, but it may help with very mild to moderate dementia. People with severe dementia showed no improvement when given Ginkgo Biloba. Most of the studies used between 120 milligrams to 240 milligrams daily. Discuss usage with your physician.

12. Weighty Issues
People are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease when a Body Mass Index of 20-27 is maintained.

Weight change is very common with those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease:

• In the early stages of the disease, some gain more than 5% of their initial body weight.
• In the later stages, weight loss of 5%-10% is common. The risk of excessive weight loss increases with the severity of the disease.

13. Spice Up Your Life
The yellow spice turmeric may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This spice is used in Indian cuisine and is a major ingredient in curry powder. Sprinkle on potato soup, chicken soup, omelets, chicken entrees, veal, and cream sauces.


This is the only brain you’ve got. With some simple maintenance, it can perform as well as your body does for years to come.
 
Source: Spark people

10 Natural Ways to Defy Your Age

There are plenty of natural ways to slow the aging process. We shouldn’t forget that the true key to looking younger is feeling younger. There is nothing that ages an individual more quickly than illness, pain and stiffness, or chronic stress. Therefore, much of what we do to take care of ourselves on a daily basis will also help us keep a youthful appearance.

Here is a rundown of the many things you can do that won’t cost (or hurt) too much, but will make you feel vibrant and strong. Let’s be proactive in our approach to aging and grow into our later years gracefully and beautifully!
Adjust Your Mindset: YOU Control How You Will Age 
Research has found that the most serious aging occurs at the cellular level. Many of our lifestyle habits such as exercise, nutrition, stress management and sleep will enhance the body’s ability to

20 Simple Ways to Cut Calories

The surefire solution for weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume by exercising and eating less. But as anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows, ''eating less'' isn't always easy. Luckily, these tips and tricks will help you enjoy your food, consume fewer calories and help you train your brain to stop when you're satisfied—not stuffed!
Ditch the Bag
When you’ve got a hankering for potato chips or another snack, don’t just mindlessly eat from the bag or box. Instead, portion out a single serving into a small bowl. This way, you know exactly how much you’re eating and aren’t left mindlessly munching until the bag is empty.
Give Your Utensil a Rest
In the rush of daily life, it can be easy to see mealtime as just another to-do. But rushing through

Okada Rider, 26, To Die By Hanging For Kidnapping, Murdering Female NYSC Member (PICTURED)

 

The late Ogechukwu Anthonia Okeke

Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere LGA of Ekiti State - Yesterday, Theophilus Pius, 26, was sentenced to death by hanging for murdering a female NYSC corps member Anthonia Okeke.
Justice Adegoriola Adeleye of Ekiti State High Court also sentenced Mr. Pius to ten years of imprisonment for kidnapping the late Anthonia.
On December 19, 2008, Mr. Pius, a former commercial motorcyclist, conspired with others to kidnap and later murder Ms. Okeke, a serving National Youth Service Corps member, in Ilawe-Ekiti. The young woman who was heading home to Anambra State for Christmas celebrations, hired Mr. Pius, an okada rider, to take her to the motor park in Ikere. She and other corps members had agreed to meet there to travel to the East.
Anthonia, a Chemical Engineering graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, hailed from Umuno Ndiuno in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State. She was 27 years old at the time. She had been patronizing Pius for months after discovering they were both from the same state.

Justice Adeleye ruled out that the evidence presented against the accused person is sufficient and reliable enough to pronounce him guilty.
Ms. Okeke's elder brother Mr. Obinna Okeke, acting as a spokesperson for the family, commended the judgment and thanked  the State Ministry of Justice, the police, the human rights groups and National Youth Service Corps for ensuring that the case was put to its "very useful and meaningful end."

Update on Ejigbo women torture; police arrest & parade 12 suspects

Ejigbo 3 torture suspects have finally been paraded. The photo shows 10 suspects (Nine men and one woman). The woman is the Iyaloja (market woman leader) and standing second left is the Babaloja (Male market leader) who both allegedly ordered the torture. Below is a press release from the Force Headquarters, Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and will soon charge to court twelve (12) suspects connected with the torture of three (3) women at Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo, Lagos. Two of the victims who were young girls were arrested along with their mother, tortured and dehumanized by persons who claimed to be members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) providing security at the market, and some market association officials who subsequently extorted the sum of fifty thousand naira from the father of the victims in return for their freedom. One of the victims, Juliana Agoma, a national of Republic of Benin, was moved back to Cotonou by her father where she subsequently died allegedly from injuries sustained in the torture. 

The suspects include: Isiaka Waidi (the Baba-Oja of the market) said to be the mastermind of the dastardly act which culminated in the arrest, debasement, torture and extortion of fifty thousand naira, Haruna Abdullahi and Buhari Yusuf who mixed the concoction of pepper and alcoholic spirit that were applied on the bodies, including the privates of the victims. Others include: Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Oloruntoyin Dauda a.k.a Iya-Oja, Adenkule Adenuga, Jimoh Busari and Azeez Akinosun.

It will be recalled that earlier this year, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, psc had, in view of his concern towards ensuring the speedy delivery of justice in this case, ordered the immediate takeover of its investigation by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Force Criminal Investigation Department (Lagos Annex) from the Lagos State Police Command. Consequently, a team of crack detectives led by DCP Chris Ezike swung into action and conducted discreet investigations in line with standard best practices, during which the suspects in connection with the matter were arrested.

The Police have also declared wanted the following suspects: Tiri, an alleged member of OPC who was captured in the video footage and alleged to have stripped naked one of the victims, Ajoke Agoma, mother of the two other female victims in the presence of her husband, Otepa Oluronti, Akeem and Machael Abolore whose whereabouts are yet unknown but who have been implicated in having played active roles in the heinous crimes against the victims.  

Meanwhile, the IGP has commended the Human Rights, Civil Society, and Women Support Groups as well as the Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice and all other stakeholders whose important contributions have tremendously assisted the Police in this and other matters relating to human dignity, safety and security. He however calls on the general public to assist the Police with information that will lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

7 months after suspension, Pastor Kumuyi reinstates son as Pastor

7 months after suspending his son John Kumuyi for staging what the church termed 'an extravagant wedding' and the bride wearing make up and a fitted wedding dress at their June 2013 Jamaica wedding, Deeper Life General Overseer, Pastor William Kumuyi has re-instated his son as a pastor in the church.
Pastor Kumuyi and elders of the church forgave John and his wife and he has been reinstated back into the pastoral arm where he can also preach on the pulpit.

(Premium Flagship Waterproof Smartphone)Sony Introduces The XPERIA Z2

Sony introduces Xperia Z2, its new premium flagship waterproof smartphone with best ever display, 4K recording and Digital Noise Cancelling technology The world’s best camera and camcorder in a waterproof smartphone1 with Sony’s proven camera technologies: Award-winning “G Lens”, 20.7 MP “Exmor RS for mobile” CMOS image sensor and “BIONZ for mobile” image processing engine Capture video in 4K resolution with SteadyShot™, (more pics below...)