How I Shop: Retta

We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what's "you"? These are some of the questions we're putting to prominent figures in our column "How I Shop."

On "Parks and Recreation," Retta helped make famous a phrase — nay, a rallying cry — that has been invoked many a time when contemplating whether or not you should buy something: "Treat Yo Self."

IRL, Retta is well-versed in shopping herself: She'll frequently scope out the luxury retail sites for specific handbag styles she's eyed for years (a recent addition to her wardrobe: the Chanel Deauville) and even designed her own dream winter outfit for Eloquii last winter. For the actor — currently starring on NBC's "Good Girls," now in its fourth season —  fashion is all about the confidence and attitude you bring to it |||READ MORE

Nobody Is Safe Until Everyone Is Vaccinated – Boss Mustapha

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha says nobody is safe from COVID-19 infection until everyone is vaccinated.

The SGF said this on Friday during the formal rollout of COVID-19 vaccines at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“For us in Nigeria and indeed nations of the world, the lessons to be drawn from this lack of discrimination by the virus are numerous. They include the fact that we must approach the vaccine phase with the unity of purpose |||READ MORE

Trump To Face Another Lawsuit Over US Capitol Attack

A Democratic congressman filed a lawsuit on Friday against former president Donald Trump, his son Donald Jr, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and a Republican lawmaker for allegedly inciting the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump, 74, and the other defendants waged a “campaign of lies and incendiary rhetoric” which led to the assault on Congress, Representative Eric Swalwell of California charged in the civil suit filed in a US District Court in Washington.

Another Democratic congressman, Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, filed a similar suit against Trump last month |||READ MORE

Okonjo-Iweala, Yesufu, Others Lead Pack of 100 Top Women Leaders

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and former Minister of Finance in Nigeria, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s leading social crusader, Ms. Aisha Yesufu, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and the former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili are among the outstanding women profiled in a biographical compendium on top women leaders in Nigeria to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day.

The Nigeria Women Annual: 100 Leading Women is an annual qualitative profiling of phenomenal women in Nigeria who have contributed to the development of Nigeria and the world.

It is a gender-specific biographical compendium that responds to existing gender gaps in Nigeria biographical documentation and leadership |||READ MORE

 

You have few weeks to perform, Buhari tells new service chiefs

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, told the nation’s new service chiefs that they only a few weeks to secure the country.

Buhari said he expected that before the rainy season, they would have secured the country to the level that farmers who had fled their farms in different parts of Nigeria would have developed enough confidence to return to their farms.

He gave the charge shortly after decorating the new service chiefs with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja |||READ MORE

 

Women in entertainment industry not given enough credit —Oyibo

The co-founder of Inkblot Productions, Zulumoke Oyibo, has stated that women in the entertainment industry are not given enough credit for their work despite the challenges they face.

Oyibo stressed that there is a need for women to be recognized and credited for their works at the second edition of the Inkblot Women In Film Initiative.

She said, “Women in our industry today face challenges just for being women and are not given enough accolades for their work. We need to be seen more and hyped as women in the industry.” |||READ MORE

It is tough being a woman in music industry- Simi

Sonorous singer, Simi, has taken to her Twitter account to narrate to her 3.4 million followers how tough it is being a woman in the Nigerian music industry. In a series of tweets, she noted that in the industry, people try to pit women against themselves.

Simi tweeted, “To be honest, some of the things I’ve experienced – specifically as a woman – in this industry. They will try to pit you against other women; try to redefine your value, try to get in your head and remodel your self-esteem. And I have even had it easier than many.

“Ati executive oh. Ati audience oh. It comes from all sides. That’s why I am with any woman that is winning in this industry – because hurdle is much dear. Women can hardly get away with the kinds of things many men in the same industry get away with on a regular.”(sic) |||READ MORE

Nigeria needs solid institutions, not strong men, says Ozekhome

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has advised Nigeria to build solid institutions instead of depending on strong men.

Ozekhome who spoke in an interview on Arise TV said the system as it is now doesn’t allow room for the best brains to come out.

According to him, “Nigeria will continue to be on a journey to no destination like an aircraft without a compass if we think we can make it right by having another person, for example, who will be better than Buhari |||READ MORE

 

Ship of Lagos heading in wrong direction before Sanwo-Olu, says Tinubu

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has said that Lagos State headed in the wrong direction between 2017 and 2018.

Though he did not mention any name, that was the governorship era of Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos.

Tinubu said this during the inauguration of the Agege Pen-Cinema Bridge in Lagos State on Friday.

The construction of the flyover bridge at Pen Cinema begun under Ambode’s administration but he was absent during the inauguration |||READ MORE

 

Corruption fight will be driven by intelligence, says Bawa

The new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the agency under his watch will embark on an intelligence-driven fight against corruption.

Bawa who assumed duties today said a full-fledged directorate of intelligence would be created towards spearheading intelligence gathering for proactive response against corruption.

According to him, “We are going to digitalize our processes, and we are going to create a new full-pledged directorate of intelligence to enable us to gather intelligence so that we will be proactive in our fight against economic and financial crimes; and by so doing, we will also provide the government with necessary quality advice that will lead to good governance” |||READ MORE

No Fly Zone Order: NGO’s Kick Against Singling Out Zamfara

Two non-governmental organisations have raised concerns on the singling out of Zamfara State for declaration of “no fly zone” saying the escalated kidnapping, banditry and terrorism are also witnessed in many northern states.

The two organisations, in separate statements, alleged that the order was aimed at declaration a state of emergence in the state and cautioned against politicising the situation.

They also stated that the no-fly zone cannot be arbitrarily declared without a recourse to the National Assembly |||READ MORE

 

‘Kayan Mata’ Linked To Increasing Rate Of Divorce In Abuja – Report

 

The increasing rate of divorce in Abuja and other states in the country has been linked to an aphrodisiac popularly known as Kayan Mata which is used to ‘snatch lovers and husbands’.

Kayan Mata which mean women things in Hausa is a product used for sexual intercourse and love enhancer among couples as it possesses the power to improve their affections.

However, the product has been misconstrued and abused by women who are in desperate need of man or cash |||READ MORE

Over 300,000 Nigerian refugees in Niger, Chad, Cameroon – UNHCR

A total number of 300,884 Nigerian refugees, currently reside in the Republic of Niger, Chad and Cameroon, Data sourced from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Nigeria has shown.

This was even as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq; her Women Affairs counterpart, Paulen Tallen; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Imaan

Sulaiman-Ibrahim; the UNHCR Country Representative, Chansa Kapaya and others, gathered in Abuja for the Stakeholders Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees |||READ MORE

FG expresses worry over proliferation of skills training institutions

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the proliferation of skills training and qualifications institutions in the country, saying some produce quacks.

Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who stated this on Thursday, during the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) virtual annual skills exhibition and roundtable discussion on skills assessment held in Benin City, called for quality assessment of skills in the nation.

This is as the NABTEB Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, said the discussion was organised to sensitise skill training institutions on the best practices of training and assessment, especially in relation to Modular Trade-in and National Skills Qualification award |||READ MORE