Art Imitating Life: LIFE ACCORDING TO HER

By Adesuwa Iluobe

She felt herself humming to her alarm tone...it wasn't the shrill kind of jump-off-your-bed alarm tone, it was "mighty to save" by Michael W. Smith a gospel artist, singing passionately.."Savour HE can move the mountains..." no better way to start the morning. Groaning she rolled over to the edge of her bed and tiredly hit the dismiss option on her phone...it was 4.45am, she still had 15minutes to prayer time and she drifted off to more sleep.

Better Nigeria: AS WE REMEMBER.

By Nnamdi Nwachukwu

On the 15th of January 1970, after three and a half years of civil war and rioting, the Biafran troops surrendered their arms and thus brought to an end an era of killings and counter killings. A dark age came to a close and a period that threatened the very existence of our Nigerian nation came to an abrupt halt. The Armed Forces Remembrance day was set aside to commiserate in memory of the fallen soldiers. Annually, The President and national leaders hold short events in honor of army troops that lost their lives during the period of bloodshed. We celebrate, eulogize and remember the men who fought to keep the unity of Nigeria preserved. We salute the memories of these men!

Better Nigeria: Much Ado About ‘National Dialogue’

By Kema Ufelle

Having spent the better half of my productive years in a seemingly endless search for the proverbial greener pastures, I would consider myself, albeit ashamedly, as somewhat of an authority on matters bordering on comparative analysis of best living conditions among countries of the world.

While in search for this utopian good life, I often pause to realize the unique crop of creation we really are as Nigerians. This uniqueness has lulled me into the irresistible conclusion that we are indeed the happiest conurbation of persons on earth. The headlines that attract our collective vents of passion never seem to hesitate in taking their turns. We, as it were, seem to solidify our ties as a nation when we have these ‘opportunities’ to express ourselves in heated arguments over these ‘national issues’, as we endlessly argue during every encounter we have with both friends and foes.

Today it is ‘fuel subsidy’; tomorrow it is ‘occupy Nigeria’ and the next day, it is ‘ASUU Strike’. The streets will go agog; the newspaper-stands will turn to policy making centres; the apolitical will suddenly become political juggernauts while overnight, the ignorant will become self-appointed road-side policy instructors.

Young and In Charge: Christiana Essie Amissah

With a message of love and hard work, our Young Person of the Week promises to be a very inspirational read. A combination of hard work and focus has gotten this young entrepreneur to where she is today. Meet our very inspirational Young Person of the Week, Christiana Essie Amissah.

Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Christiana Essie Amissah, born Ghanaian, raised Nigerian, though my mom is a Nigerian too. Last of two children. I have a loving elder brother. I am presently an Undergraduate at the University of Benin where I am studying law. I also own and run Christy’s Confectionery.

Young and In Charge: Ginika Catherine Okolie

Its been a long time since we had a YIC on the blog and we apologize, it has be difficult finding young people whose stories we could share. It only fitting that we give you an interesting YIC for today.

Our Young Person Of the week, is a young woman who was not afraid to follow her dreams despite the stress of combining it with school. She didn't stop at just loving it she decided to share her dreams with other young ladies and in her own little way, empowering these young ladies. Meet our Young Person of the Week, Ginika Okoli. Happy reading.

 Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Ginika Catherine Okolie, I hail from Uli in Ihiala local government in Anambra state. I'm the last child in a family of six. I'm a makeup artist, who has a lot of passion for the art. I love beauty and creativity. This was my biggest source of inspiration and motivation towards becoming a makeup artist.

Just My 2 Kobo: Looking Beyond The ASUU Strike

A while ago, the ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) Chairman, said in an interview that students didn't want them to call off the strike. In his words “Our students have come out to say they don't want us to call off the strike until the Federal Government answers us, because they don't want us to call off now and later we go back to strike again. So, we are heeding the advice of our students”. 

I wasn't present when the student conferred this message to him, so I have no clue if it is true or not. But one thing I know for sure is that the students just want to get done with school and be sure its over. I was a student once, I was lucky enough to experience a serious strike just once in my final year (2009) for three months. All I thought of after the first month of being happy to be away from school was, 'can ASUU call off the strike already so I can make it to law school in October', well I got to go to law school in April 2010.

The statement got me thinking about the whole strike, were the striking lecturers any different from the government they were striking against, were they even considerate of the feelings of the students who they had left sitting at home for months. I was listening to a programme called 'If Wishes Were Horses' while driving home a while back, the wish of more than half of the people that texted or called in was that ASUU should call the strike off, they complained that they were tired of sitting down at home doing nothing. Students begging to go back to school, now that’s a first!!! I really can't reconcile the reaction on this programme with the statement made by the ASUU chairman.

I am not going to go into the details of the strike or the politics surrounding it, I just want to look at our striking lecturers and see if they really have the interests of their students at heart or just the interest of their pockets. I remember numerous stories in school of female students who were failed repeatedly because they refused to sleep with the male lecturers. Stories of students who felt terrible after having to sleep with their lecturers just to pass, some of them go ahead to loose their sense of self worth. Stories of students who had to pay to get the pass that they ordinarily were entitled after working hard for it. Stories of students whose hard work were thrown into the dustbin, because the lecturer had to balance his sheet out, he would change marks of deserving students to lower grades to ensure he gave higher grades to the students he had slept with or collected money from. Stories of lecturers failing their students because they did not buy their hand outs. There are numerous stories of the atrocities of these lecturers, acts that left their students and ex-students lacking in both confidence and knowledge required to compete outside the four walls of the university.

The government not sticking to its part of the agreement is inexcusable, but the reports show that House of Assembly is willing to sign a supplementary budget if that would end the strike. I think they should try to come to a compromise with the government, that’s the essence of living in a civilised society, we should be willing to meet the other person half way. If really the lectures were interested in moving our education sector forward, they would be more interested in cleaning up the sector first from the inside, they would think about the students whose lives they destroy every day with their actions. Its probably because they know they students can't decide to strike against them that they keep on perpetrating these evil deeds.

The strike gets you thinking about the reason why we do what we do, for the love of it or just for the financial gains attached to it. For a position as serious as moulding the minds a nation, shouldn't it be a little more than the financial benefits. Nobody is saying the teachers should teach just for the love of it, but if they really loved what they have been opportuned to to be doing, they should be willing to come to a compromise with the government, not necessarily because of the government, but because of the minds they have been gifted with moulding. The minds they are moulding today are the minds of our future leaders, if they do their jobs right, the strikes would be a thing of the past, because when these minds get into power, they remember what they have been taught. But this strike only shows that a lot of our teachers went into teaching because all other career paths failed, not for the love of it. There are very few like my late Jurisprudence lecturer, Professor Oye Cukwurah, who I think went into teaching for the love of it.

The members of ASUU should be very aware that the patience of the general public is gradually wearing thin, if this strike drags on for too long they would loose the support of the general public, which they have had from the beginning.

But then again, what do I know; I just think the change we want to see in the educational sector should come from both the government and the lecturers, all the billions in the world would not change the education sector if the lecturers remain dirty.

Just my 2kobo: CHOICES by Adesuwa

CHOICES

By Adesuwa 

"I had to slap her joor! She was talking too much and I was boiling with anger...I didn't have a choice!"

"Doing runs was the only way I saw I could survive. I didn't have a choice.."

"I couldn’t have that child! Not while I was in school...I did what I had to do...I didn't see any other way..."

"I knew he had violent tendencies, but after six heartbreaks, I saw no other choice but to accept to marry him when he proposed!"

"I needed the job so badly; I knew the harassment would get out of hand. But how I for do?"

Dear reader, are these scenarios familiar? When it seems the only way out is the very way you would not advise your enemy to follow? And you just sigh and say, "Do I have a choice?"

We always have choices. Not to do something about an issue is a choice in  itself. The fact is not that there are no choices, but that we do not like the choices left in some situations.

Looking at the instances above, you could have walked away shaking with anger, because that slap could mar a friendship that meant so much...but if you don't stop to think, that choice wouldn’t surface.
You could have decided not to do runs, and probably not go to school, or do the high-class things, or lose a loved-one.
You could have that child and become a dropout or a single mum or face social stigma.
You could have refused to marry a man with anger issues; the worst that could happen is you marry late.
You could have stayed broke a little longer, and not take that job where your boss harasses you sexually everyday.

As ugly as these choices seem, they are choices. So we always have a choice.

We are always going to be faced with choices as long as we live, and the good thing is, you are solely responsible for the consequences...so whether good or bad its on you.

Can we try to choose our root choices wisely? Some would be painful no doubt...but soon enough you would face them in the nearest future.

Don't get me wrong; I am not trying to judge anyone. This goes out to all of us faced with one choice or the other or who have felt defeated as a result of bad choices we may have made. Rise up, dust yourself, review things and make good choices. Try all you can not to be conditioned by circumstances, stand apart from them and weigh things realistically and yes! For some you would need to have unshakeable faith. It is true that good choices take a lot of hard work and perseverance, but not to worry...no one loses for doing the right things, don't be deceived.

These are my thoughts this beautiful day. Be encouraged!

Young and In Charge: Adesuwa Iluobe

Today's interview is one that is really special to the blog, our young person of the week is one half of the blogging duo that bring you the lovely articles and interviews. If I am Abj loving, she is definitely Abuja living, Lol. She is a a bundle of talent, who decided to chase her dreams and cannot be deterred by the headaches that come with following her dream. A true child of the 90s, her family's support means everything to her and they are very important to her success as a lawyer, fashion designer, writer and blogger. Meet our young person of the week, Adesuwa Iluobe, lawyer, fashion designer, writer and blogger.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Iluobe Adesuwa Ehinome Maryanne. I am a Nigerian from Esan, Esan central local government. I am a legal practitioner who has a passion for fashion, literature and writing.

What was growing up like?

I have fond memories of my childhood. I had a sheltered childhood. I was born in Lagos and attented kindergarten, nursery and Primary school there. My parents are caring, loving and strict I must add. They ensured we were brought up properly and never compromised good morals. I fell in love with Literature in my childhood courtesy of my Father, and it has stuck since. By the time I was six years old I was reading Enid Blyton’s books, Malory towers, St Clares. Books books books, that’s all I was about. I would do my assignments at school, so I could read from the time Mum came to pick us up in the car till late at night….I remember Yvonne Ifode, my Primary two class mate she used to lend me these books, so I read them and return the next day. Reading was a huge part of my childhood..,no regrets. I graduated to drawing comics (yes! I can draw quite well) and stories with short chapters, I would draw over 20leaves of comics with dialogues and then give my school mates to read , they almost never returned them, if only I knew that those were priceless works, I would not have let them go that easily. Then I spared time to cook sand and ride around the compound with my siblings, of course you dare not cross the gate, else you get caned. I remember tales by moon light, waiting for the television stations to start around 4pm and all that…weekend outings with family, Lagos was not as jam packed as it is today and yet we complained then. So child hood was a bliss, there were games to play, educative programmes to watch, pranks to pull and all that, the world was not so digitalised like it is now, so much most kids nowadays are no longer creative, most cannot make paper guns or buy dolls any more or draw ninja turtle, cook sand…. Instead they want phones and gadgets! …it is just so pathetic.


Tell us a little about your educational background.

I started school when I was just one and half. Spent a year at Dammyville Kindergaten at Surulere, then started Nursery and primary School at the Fountain school Adelabu Surulere as well. I left in Primary five and proceeded to Federal Government College Benin City for six years. My future ambition as a child was to be a writer, so I really wanted to study English Language and Literature my first love, but my dad felt it was better to read something professional. You see then, once you read Law, medicine and so on you just flew, but no one knew that Nigeria would get to that point that what you studied wouldn't matter if you have no initiative, innovation or common sense. Yes! So I studied Law and I have no regrets anyway, but I still yearn to study English and literature. Then, I went to Law school, Bwari campus, got called to the prestigious Nigerian Bar. During NYSC I did a six months  course in Spanish…si!

Do you regret giving up on studying English? Do you see yourself returning to school to pursue that dream?

For me, Law is a great background any individual could have. It has exposed me to a lot of knowledge and I cannot trade that for anything,
But yes! I used to regret then. I mean! I slaved for law. Not like English, which would have been easier but then, I loved and still love English and Literature (I like to add).  So yes of course, any opportunity I get to go back to school to study it, I will embrace it.

Where did you draw the courage to from, going ahead to pursue your dream despite your parents’ wish for you to pursue a career in law?

Seams wasn't so much of a longstanding dream. I didn’t have sewing skills as a child, though I was quite good with needle and thread…(laughs). Well, I love fashion and I got tired of just admiring them on magazines, I knew there was more in me about fashion than just wearing it. Then one day I learnt Wuraola Obiegbu a lady in my class in the University had learnt to make clothes! Oh wow! I was like oh so it is possible to be a lawyer and do such stuff. That was it…my mind was made up, I was going to learn to make pretty dresses. Along the way, this dream began to dwindle, I had school work to battle with, but I kept dreaming…I saw myself on runways with models strutting about in my designs made with my hands. I shared this dream with some people but no one believed in it. Someone even said that it was impossible to pursue a career and handiwork...that didn't deter me anyway.

So it continued and I started NYSC and my first allowee got me thinking…the way the money went I could not even explain. I knew I had to invest. I thought and thought and of course, that little voice reminded me about fashion. Eureka! I would invest in me, So, I started asking around for fashion schools and one my friends Tobe Chiezie, directed me to EllaBernard School of Fashion, Area 1 Abuja.  So there you have it….there went my allowee. (laughs).

So from all I have said,  the fact that someone did something I was afraid of doing gave me the courage to pursue my dream.

Has following your dreams been worth it?

Oh yes! It has been worth it. It has been very trying too and still very difficult. I have learnt to go for what I want and believe in…after I giving English up, I knew that could never happen to me again.

So what is S.e.A.m.S all about? What does it mean and how did the name come about?

S.e.A.m.S is not an initial for something else as most people think, I just liked writing ‘seams’ with the dots and it is as the name implies. A seam is the joining where two or more layers of fabric, leather or other materials are held together with stitches. So look at your clothes, those very lines are seams. Making straight seams were my most challenging times at sewing school…without seams you have no sewed clothes…so I glued to d name. S.e.A.m.S Clothiers.

How did you go from reading law to tailoring?

I didn’t go from law to tailoring. I finished studying law and diverted a little (laughs). Seriously, that is how I put it. Education is very important you know…our parents invest so much so we can be educated. Even if your parents are the most 'uncaring parents in the world' as some people like to think, so far as they are sweating it out to give you education, they care. Just grab it and make the most of it. That you do not like a course is not enough reason to fail. Try hard and when you are convinced it is really not for you, seek counselling, identify what you want and go for it. Do not rest on your oars because you didn’t get what you wanted, even you would blame yourself in the nearest future for that. Maximize what you have at hand.


Do you see yourself mixing the both of them?

I am already mixing them. I am into corporate practice. I am the Company Secretary of Compliance Professionals Plc, a consulting firm and if you know about consulting, you know it is work! Then having to be the Admin personnel in charge, I scuttle between CAC and my office just so to make sure we are in order, especially because we are still in our start up stage. I work daytime and sew while everyone is asleep. What do you call that? Mixing of course!

How has the experience been like?

Hectic! But rewarding. I get to be screamed at for mistakes on people’s clothes and as we all know, ladies always make you remember your wrongs. I would cry a times, make a solid promise to give up sewing but hey! I have sewn for a year and half, and 75% has been good. I am sorry if your clothes were part of the 25%, there are risks in every business. So yes, it has been difficult, annoying, brain tasking…but fulfilling. I would rather be doing this knowing am getting closer to that runway with all the lights and models in my designs. I would take the heat, all it does is make me remember where my passion lies.


You recently added blogger to your portfolio, what inspired that move and what has the experience been like?

Blogging! It has been a wonderful experience with Ify Obiechina. She first introduced me to blogging. Funny how we were in the same school and never imagined that we would work together. I love to write, that’s where the love to blog about issues came up. The passion for change for Nigeria too spurred it..and am using writing to do my bit to make that change happen.

What is your typical day like?

I wake up at 5am,  pray with my family, go to work. Close between 5pm-7pm. I get home, eat, gist with my family and then get on my machine till say 12/1am or more. It is consuming.

What do you love the most about what you do?

Seeing my work on my clients is a priceless feeling...I hardly believe myself a times. I am also happy that as a woman am equipped with something I can do with my hands, it breeds confidence.

What has been your best work ever?
My best work ever is the wedding gown featured on this page. I did it one fateful saturday...by 1pm I was done. I made it for a photo shoot, am gaming to major in bridals

What are the difficulties involved?

Customers who do not know what they want. They tell you make this, and yet have another style in their mind's eye. Also, at first I tried to please everyone to finish as they want it, but it caused issues for me, I was always tired and made mistakes. So now I take my time to deliver good and neat work. Also I work with moods, I have learnt never to sew when not in the mood for it, when I do I keep loosening and re-stiching... its all about the mind and where it is. Then another issue is pricing. People just see you as a road side tailor and would expect the world for almost nothing...its disheartening considering the stress. Another issue is the economic situation, every entrepreneur is groaning. There is more you need to spend for than to save...let's not even go into the power failure aspect. I would overcome!

If you weren’t doing this, what would you have been doing?

I am doing everything I want to do. I am a dressmaker, I write, I am planning on doing something in English and Lit, I am pursuing a career with an aim to becoming a professional company secretary in Nigeria...even Bill gates leans heavily on his company secretary. We are the live wire of any company. I am still birthing dreams and ideas.

Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams? If you have, what motivated you to carry on.

Yes, loads of times..loads! But when I remember the goal, I just get back up and continue..I feel am no where near, but am on track.

Who or what inspires you?
GOD fore mostly. Seriously HE is awesome. By what power would I have done all these? Or by what magic do these initiatives come? Its from HIM and only HIM! Then HE used great people like my family, my siblings help a lot to help get supplies for sewing. Also, friends like Tony, Leo, Sophie, Eniola, to ensure ma dream never died. I cannot forget Aisha! You are S.e.A.m.S best client ever! She encourages me a lot! Thank you all!

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.

Am just young enough...lol!

Asides work, what do you do for fun?
I read fiction...and sleeep! Learn new things, then hang out with friends.

Advice for youths that wish to follow in your footsteps, especially young Nigerians that want to follow their dreams despite their parents’ wishes, any advice on how to handle it?

We need the blessings of our parents in everything. No matter. How nice your idea is, if you go about it by rebelling with them, you may never achieve it in time. If your parents are stuck to their notions, pray about it, and prove to them that what you want to do is going to be worth the while. For me I simply just multi-task (laughs)..so everyone is at peace.

Be prayerful, be good when people are not watching, your good deeds always speak for you when you least expect..so also bad deeds..so choose.

Lastly please, cast away this fast-money making syndrome from your minds! Its foolishness. Work hard! Let GOD see your work and zeal and add grace that would shoot you up! Stop the shortcuts!... Our little cut-corners is killing Nigeria and now we all want to run away, meanwhile what we seek in other parts of the world is right here.  Let's be good in our little ways. Nigeria would be better for it.

Where do you see yourself and S.e.A.m.S five years from now?

I see an outfit with proper management structure whose only goal is to clothe our client with the best...nationally and internationally! To do this I see me employing more hands in the nearest future, its about time.

Watch out for me as a writer too and for positive projects.

Then I would give back to society,  many people are in need. I plan to own an institute where people could acquire skills that could sustain them, skills that could make them soar, depending on how focused they are. This would be free of charge.

Time for some pictures

Adesuwa can be reached through the following means:

Email- adesuwailuobe@gmail.com

Facebook- Adesuwa Iluobe

Twitter- @ehinome

Phone number- 08036333687

Better Nigeria: Are we really ready for a cashless economy?Nigeria:

By Iphie Obiechina

Most of the articles I write are inspired either by personal experience or from the experience of the people around me. Today’s article is personal.
I was at the F.C.T High Court, Maitama division recently, they had erected a new parking complex since the last time I was there. This is a welcome development, with the introduction of the new parking fees in Abuja, with your car in the parking complex, you are sure your car would not get clamped and impounded no matter how long you spend in court since you pay for parking on your way out. If you live in Abuja, you would understand and appreciate what I mean, it’s such a blessing and a relief. 

I digress! Back to the matter. When I was done with what I came for in court, I opened my wallet to get some money out to pay for my ticket and I realised I had no money in it. I headed to the ATM point located within the court premises, only to find it ‘out of service’. I headed towards the payment center, hoping to catch my colleagues or at least someone I knew but I wasn’t so lucky. I tried calling my colleagues, but you know how the network in this our beautiful country behaves. While standing trying to weigh my options, I noticed a sign on the window of the payment center that boldly read, ‘POS PAYMENT AVAILABLE’. My joy knew no bound, I sighed with relief and proceeded to get my card out to pay, I was both shocked and disappointed when I was told ‘we only accept cash payment’. Really!!! So whats up with the bold POS sign on your window?
Now from my little knowledge on POS payments prior to this experience, I understood POS to mean that I could pay for goods and services rendered with my card, there really wasn’t any need to carry cash around. On getting to the office, I decided to do a little research on POS payments. So here is what my skilful search on Google produced 'Point of sale (also called as POS or Checkout) is the place where a retail transaction is completed. It is the point at which a customer makes a payment to the merchant in exchange for goods or services. At the point of sale the retailer would calculate the amount owed by the customer and provide options for the customer to make payment. The merchant will also normally issue a receipt for the transaction'. In summary it basically meant that POS was a means of on the spot payment, whether by cash, card or electronic payment. My bad I guess, but then again I was partially right too, payment by card is one of the various methods of POS payment. I guess like me, most Nigerians are ignorant to this fact too, because the two guys there with me went ‘then why do you have POS payment boldly written on your window?’. Anyway I was lucky enough and one of the guys paid for what I owed.

But it got me thinking hard about the cashless policy that was introduced by the CBN, it had finally made its way down to Abuja after a successful take off in Lagos. I wouldn’t go into details about the cashless policy, I am sure your bankers have bombarded you with emails about it, mine sure have. When I first heard about the cashless policy in 2011, I was really glad because it meant I didn’t have to carry cash around, which in turn meant that I didn’t have excess cash on me to make unbudgeted spending. For example if I buy a pair of shoe for 5200 Naira, it means that the 800 Naira change I would have if I had withdrawn 6000 Naira would be saved instead of using it to get a plate of rice and drink. On and on it goes, save save save until I become a super rich millionaire (wide grin). And so you can understand why I was anxious for the cashless policy to make its way to Abuja. 

This court situation reminded me of the numerous times I had tried to use an ATM machine, only to find out the machine was either not dispensing cash or that the service was ‘unavailable at the moment’. Or when I tried to pay for a service with my card only to be told ‘we accept cash payments only’, or ‘the POS machine is not available at the moment’. I remember trying to pay for something once with my card, the process went smoothly until it was about to be completed, when the cashier said the network was down. Luckily I was with some cash with me and so I paid cash. Lo and behold the card payment already went through, I was lucky to still be standing there when the alert came in on my phone so it was promptly resolved. 
It got me thinking about how ready we are for a cashless economy!! Proper and sufficient infrastructure had not been put in place for the policy to be a success yet we jump right into implementing the policy. It reminds me of the ban on araba buses by the F.C.T minister, I must admit that it is a welcome development one that most Abuja motorists are happy about, but one that we are not ready for. It is a policy that is not well though out, one that leaves thousands of ‘ Abujans’ stranded everyday at the start and close of work, I digress, that is an article for another day.

No matter how beautiful a policy is, it would be a complete failure if no proper and sufficient structure has been put in place for its success, there is no way it can magically become a success without the necessary structure being put in place. I lived in Cambridge for a year and I can count the number of times I had to go into the bank, once when I lost my ATM card and the other time when I needed to pay in some cash I got when my parents visited, the cashless economy made life easy. You wouldn’t believe that some Britons have never set eye on a £50 note, you need to see the way they scrutinise it when you use it to pay, they know you are Nigerian the moment you use a £50 note to pay for something. I paid all my bills online, I remember making my hair once with a fellow Nigerian, I had no cash on me so I simply asked for her bank details and transferred the money. We laughed about how it wouldn’t have been the case if we were back home. I am glad we are getting to that point gradually.

Before throwing Nigerians into hardship, CBN should be sure it has put in place the necessary structure for the success of the policy with the 150,000 Naira a day withdrawal limit, most people would become room owners within the banks. To avert the hardship that this cashless economy would cause, I suggest the following be done before it is implemented.

1. Get the banks to make sure their ATMs work properly and are up most of the time. There is this ATM I have tried to use in Wuse 2 at least five times, it has never paid out any cash either to me or anybody I know.
2. Get business owners to install POS payment machines at their check out. Especially for businesses to make huge sales daily and where a transaction can go as high as 100,000 Naira. It is even in their own interest, as thieves would have nothing to steal.
3. Make it mandatory for all bank account holders to have an ATM card. It should be automatically the moment an account is opened, no need to make a separate request for it, as is the case with most banks. Where the customer is an old customer, get him to come and request one, make it easy to access ATM request forms online or by phone.
4. Make the online banking procedure easy. I requested the online facility at my bank, over a month ago, nothing has been done about my request and I am still waiting to hear from them. I recently had to purchase a ticket online, a ticket I would have paid £735 for online, I ended up paying £830 at the bank. If I had my internet banking up and running I would have easily save almost a hundred pounds.
The internet has a role to play in the success of internet banking, so the state of the internet coverage in the country should be taken into consideration.

In a situation where each of these parties have failed to comply, nobody would complain when the CBN attaches a monetary penalty for failure to comply, that is only after it has provide the necessary structure for the policy to succeed. 

Just My 2Kobo: Should She Own A Car Before Marriage?

By Iphie Obiechina

Hey guys, hope you are enjoying the long weekend courtesy of the Sallah celebrations. We wish all our Muslim readers a blessed celebration.

Today I would like to talk about something that has been bothering me, I would also like to know what your opinion is on the issue.
On Monday as I was about heading out to work, I went to say good bye to my Dad and he said something that got me thinking and seeking other people's opinion on the issue. He asked me to stop taking my Mum's car to work instead I should start driving the Corolla that my brother usually drives. Fair enough, my Mum's car was a Jeep, so I exchanged with my brother. His reason for saying this was simple, he had had a conversation with my uncle the previous day. In the course of their conversation, my uncle told him of how a friend ask him to stop giving my cousin his Honda Accord to drive if he wanted her to find a husband. My father thought it was something to be considered, I mean, no father wants his daughter to remain single, since that was what society perceived, he told me same the next day, funny thing is that my brother had said exactly the same thing the previous week.

I decided to bring it up in the office and hear what my male colleagues had to say about it. They were both of the opinion that what my uncle's friend had said was true. In their opinion it had a way of intimidating and driving away potential suitors. The guy would either start questioning how you got the car you were driving or he would start doubting his ability to maintain you. But one of them went ahead to say that for him it was not a problem, he would chase any girl he wanted, he understood that it was normal for parents to buy cars for their children these days, he wasn't going to be intimidated by cars.

Coincidentally I went to visit a male friend and my brother happened to be there, in the course of our conversation he asked if I drove down and I said yes, he jokingly asked how someone would employ me seeing as I was already driving, it would be difficult to meet my expected pay grade. I brought up the conversation with my dad and he shared the same views. He told a story of how when his sister wanted to buy herself a car, his dad asked her if she was not going to be driving away suitors by doing that. My friend went ahead to add his own opinion on the issue, seeing as we live in Abuja, he said that when he sees a young unmarried girl driving a car, two things come to his mind either her parents got it for her or she got it through means that most Abuja girls have been known to get whatever they want, sleeping with whosoever can provide it for them. According to him more often than not, his conclusion was that she slept with whosoever bought the car for her.

The three of us argued for a while and my question to them was simple, 'so because I came into the world female and I was yet to be married, I had to live out my unmarried days riding in the back of a taxi, because some guy's confidence would suffer if he sees me behind the wheels of a car, and so i would live out the rest of my life an angry, lonely old maid if i kept driving'? I really didn't get the logic behind the argument that if I am driving a car, my future husband would lack the confidence to approach me. In my opinion, it good riddance to bad rubbish, I really don't want to end up with a man that is not confident in himself, someone that can be defeated by a mere car. Imagine spending the rest of your life with some that lacks confidence in himself or his abilities, be prepared for a life time of been talked down on, all your ideas being pulled down, no encouragement from the one whose encouragement should be automatic. I am not even going to go into the myopic view that every girl that drives a car probably slept with the person that gave it to her. If you are going to jump to such nasty conclusions about people you don't know, is there really any point having you as my man, who knows what you thought of me the first time you saw me. I agree that there are some cars that are extravagant for a young adult to be driving whether male or female,  that is why I agreed with my father when he said it to me, sometimes we overdo it. But come on, me driving a simple car can't chase my potential suitors away.

What are your views on this? Do you agree with them? Do you think unmarried young ladies should live out their unmarried days at the back of taxis, even though their parents can afford any car they want, even though she has worked hard to buy a car by herself, just because a possible suitor would lack the confidence to walk up to them because they are behind the wheels of a car?

Picture From The Pink Tarah