Tobiloba Arewa Adesanya (born 1996) is a young vibrant lady who against all odds chose to pursue what she believes in and passionate about.

Childhood was very traumatic for me as a product of broken home. My parents left each other when I was 3 and I was staying with my mum my 4 elder siblings.

My mum is a business woman so she was not always at home. She was a trader that travels to Cotonou a lot.

Being an introvert as a kid, I was not close to anyone at home. The age gap between my immediate elder sister and I was 5years, so she had her age group as friends. I was the quiet child in the corner who was always reading.

While reading, i learnt a lot about different things and people. Also, as a kid I had very low self-esteem. I see myself as an ugly girl. I always feel my Nose and Lips are too Big. I was not confident in myself at all. I couldn’t play with my mates cause I felt I was not beautiful enough. I hated looking at the mirror or taking pictures. At age 16, one afternoon I looked into the mirror one afternoon and I look so Beautiful contrary to what I thought I was. I started loving myself. I started loving my nose and lips and that was when my confidence begin. I thought I should have a name that reminded me of my Beauty and I chose AREWA which means “BEAUTIFUL GIRL” Yoruba.

At age 18, in 100level I decided to make the name legal by going to the High Court to do an Affidavit to officially include AREWA as one of my names. Then I thought of starting an annual program that helps Teenagers love themselves, discover their purpose from Secondary school before going into the bigger world. Then I started making research and planning for CATCH THEM YOUNG. In my second year in school, I organized the first edition of Catch Them Young with over 100students in Attendance at Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-ode, Ogun State. We have successfully done 3 editions of Catch them Young in Ijebu-ode Ogun state reaching over 300 teenagers Also, through Catch Them Young we provide a one year mentor on choice of career for the the Students in SS3 preparing for their Waec. Some of these students are in University now reading course that would help them run a successful career. FEED-A-MOUTH Further more, I am the convener of Feed-a-mouth. An hunger eradication projected targeted towards people who can’t afford good food cause of their Current Predicament. Feed-a-mouth was inspired by the need to eradicate hunger in our community.

We did the 1st edition n ERUOBODO HOUSE, a home for physically challenged and abandoned children who can’t even work cause of their state. We donated food and other relief materials to them. The second edition was done at IGEBEBA PRISON, Ijeu-Ode where we visited the inmate, listened to what crime they did that led them to the prison, we prayed and gave them food. The third edition was tagged #lunchwithbeggars where we went to the street to feed the beggars with food clothing materials and get a list of the beggars who are physically okay so we can organize a skill acquisition program for them to get empowered and take them off the street.

As a textile Designer, I also partner with other organizations to teach youths and women Tie and Dye for free as a skill to empower and make them self reliant. Some of the organizations I have worked with are; Precious Stone Foundation, Bridge her Dreams, Solid Rock Foundation, Dreams from the Slum, Gold Wealth Foundation and Sa’adat Bibire Foundation. I do this because I believe Giving is beyond money. It may be as little as just your time or even a skill or sharing a story that would help change someone’s life forever. We are blessed to be a blessing to their people. What is the useful of a gift if it can’t be used to bless other people on this note I make it a way of living to share and give from the knowledge I have.

Tobiloba Arewa Adesanya is the creative director of Adire World. A Tie and Dye textile designing company that believes in connects people’s personality or what a brand stands for to what they wear. Telling story and putting people in charge of their style through patterns with Tie and Dye.

Stetonic Nigeria Limited was set up in response to the yearning for innovative managerial orientation for the achievement of effective administration, and management of institutions, facilities and service efficiency based on accepted global practice.
A team of seasoned professionals and management consultants was put together to articulate workable solution to problems encountered in the workplace. These solutions would then be offered to institutions and practitioners through training, workshops, seminars and other forms of orientation.

The following services are available to potential clients, hospitals, institutions and organizations at State Government and National Government level in Nigeria

CHANGE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATIONAL TEAMWORK IN HOSPITAL MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE

LIABILITIES IN HOSPITAL SERVICE

Contact STETONIC NIGERIA LTD TODAY using this email: stetonic2007@yahoo.com or drop me an email at afripoet@gmail.com

With rapid urbanization estimated at 4.7%, the demands for housing are also constantly on the rapid increase. Because of this, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDOE) has taken the bull by its horn in attracting all Nigerians in diaspora to make housing investments in Nigeria as one or its core interest.

The ambitious plan is to facilitate the provision of at least 100,000 units of housing for Nigerians in diaspora over the next 7 to 10 years. Mr. Roland Igbinoba (Founder, Pison Housing Company / Roland Igbinoba House Price Index (RI Index) and Mr. Chiwaren Abubakar, Project Director are in partnership with NIDO Europe.

The interview with Mr. Roland Igbinoba (Founder, Pison Housing Company / Roland Igbinoba House Price Index (RI Index) are in line with NIDO Housing Fund initiative.

If your in London on the 24th of February why not come and join Rijole Bitata & Dark Zac for a filming and photography

LEARN THE BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Introduction to camera equipment. Introduction to Inphotopia and zimlink with
slide show presentation.
2. Practical training with camera’s in photography.
3. Introduction to camera dslr filming, sound and lighting equipment.
4. Practical training with camera’s in filming sound & lighting

Learning history at school in Zambia was very interesting. We learnt about exotic people and places like Kublai Khan, the Kingdom of Sundiata, Thaba Bosiu and our icon for the month of May, Mansa Kankan Musa. A list compiled by the website, Celebrity Net Worth, places him as the richest man of all time with an inflation adjusted fortune of $400 billion. The King of the empire of Mali in the early 1300s made his fortune from his empire’s salt and gold wealth. Who was this man? This edited material from http://wysinger.homestead.com/mansamusa.html  and from al-Omari, Masalik al Absar fi Mamalik al Amsar, in the French version of Gaudefroy-Demombynes (Paris: 1927). Translated by Basil Davidson, The African Past (1964) tell the story.

Mansa Kankan Musa

When Mansa (“king of kings”) Musa came to power (1312 AD), Mali already had firm control of the trade routes to the southern lands of gold and the northern lands of salt. Now Musa brought the lands of the Middle Niger under Mali’s rule. He enclosed the cities of Timbuktu and Gao within his empire and imposed his rule on trans-desert trading towns such as Walata. He pushed his armies northward as far as the important salt-producing place called Taghaza, on the northern side of the great desert. He sent them eastward beyond Gao to the borders of Hausaland and westward into Takrur.

Eventually, Musa enclosed a large part of the Western Sudan within a single system of law and order. He did this so successfully that the Moroccan writer Ibn Batuta, travelling through Mali about twelve years after Musa’s death, found ‘complete and general safety in the land’. This was a big political success, and made Mansa Musa one of the greatest statesmen in the history of Africa.

The Dyula (Wangara) traders were greatly helped by all this. Their trading companies began to travel in many parts of West Africa. These Dyula traders were men of skill and energy. But they also drew strength from being Muslims. Belonging to Islam gave them unity. They stuck together even when members of their trading companies came from different clans or territories.

Like the Mali kings before him, Musa was a Muslim. But most of his people were not Muslims, so he supported and allowed the religion of the Mandinka people as well as Islam. Different religious customs and ceremonies were allowed at his court in a display of religious tolerance and broadmindedness.

A pilgrimage to Mecca is a dream for every Muslim and Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca, begun in 1324 became famous. His magnificent journey through the Egyptian capital of Cairo was long remembered with admiration and surprise throughout Egypt and Arabia, for Musa took with him so much gold, and gave away so many golden gifts, that ‘the people of Cairo earned very big sums’ thanks to his visit. So generous was Musa with his gifts, indeed, that he upset the value of goods on the Cairo market. Gold became so plentiful that in the cities of Cairo, Medina and Mecca, the sudden influx of gold devalued the metal for the next decade. Prices on goods and wares super inflated in an attempt to adjust to the newfound wealth that was spreading throughout local populations. To rectify the gold market, Musa borrowed all the gold he could carry from money-lenders in Cairo, at high interest. This is the only time recorded in history that one man directly controlled the price of gold in the Mediterranean. (Goodwin 1957, p. 110)

The North African scholar, Ibn Fadl Allah al-Omari, who lived in Cairo a few years after Mansa Musa’s visit and wrote about it, declared that of all the Muslim rulers of West Africa Musa was ‘the most powerful, the richest, the most fortunate, the most feared by his enemies and the most able to do good to those around him’. Behind these words of praise we can glimpse the power and reputation that Mali in the 14^th century drew from its control of a very wide region of trade in precious goods such as gold, salt, ivory and kola nuts.

Kankan Musa’s preferred title was Lord of Mali. By then, Mali was a power of more than local or even regional significance. Under Mansa Musa, Mali ambassadors were established in Morocco, Egypt, and elsewhere. Mali’s capital was visited by North African and Egyptian scholars. On returning from his pilgrimage, Musa brought back with him a number of learned men from Egypt. These settled in Mali and Timbuktu. One of them, called as-Saheli, designed new mosques at Gao and Timbuktu, and built a palace for the emperor. The fashion of building houses in brick now began to be popular among wealthy people in the cities of the Western Sudan. At its height, the Malian Empire covered modern day Ghana, Timbuktu and Mali in West Africa. His kingdom and wealth didn’t last much longer after his death. His heirs were not able to fend off civil war and invading conquerors. Just two generations later, his world record net worth was gone.

SOURCE-   BLACK DIAMONDS MAGAZINE

THE WAKANDAN MESSAGE

Okay, so what’s all this fuss about the Black Panther movie? Why can’t people ‘hear word’ anymore? Well, probably because it’s more than just a movie. It’s an achievement. It’s a statement. Probably because it has also broken so many records already. A movie with a predominantly black cast in an African setting would never have been attempted a few years back. It was a risk and sales would have been abysmal. As such, Black Panther, the first black superhero ever and with a fifty year history, has never appeared on the silver screen up until a couple of years ago.

But is that all? No. Black Panther is the ruler of a fictitious kingdom called Wakanda. A city hidden from the peering eyes of world but more advanced than any city in the Western world. Now you get the idea why it’s not too popular? The concept of an African city with superior technology and societal advancement way above the rest yet preserving their culture and tradition won’t be too palatable to many in the West. Yet it is an inspiration to many Africans, especially those in diaspora, who for many years have had little to inspire them, have few heroes, and have heard much to diminish them racially (e.g ‘shithole countries’). There was clearly a need for a rallying point. Some motivation. Black Panther was it. No wonder there was much clamour and support by many organizations like the NAACP who bought tickets for underprivileged black youth in America to go watch the movie. This was to give these kids in the ‘hood some encouragement and belief in themselves: that not all heroes are white and that a black country can also be highly civilized and respected in the league of nations. Self-belief is the first step to success.

The last part struck me. Wakanda. Nigeria could have been the black race’s Wakanda. Many had such expectations of us in the 60s and 70s. We were told and heard as much. Nigeria had such promise and was considered a growing force and threat. Like Wakanda, it is a country of various tribes not always in agreement. Like Wakanda whose wealth is credited to a rare fictitious metal, vibranium, found only in their land, Nigeria has crude oil which they exploited to great wealth during the oil boom era. But unlike Wakanda who used theirs judiciously to become a technological giant, Nigeria lost the script somewhere and is now only a giant by name.

The Black race looked up to Nigeria to prove that Africans can achieve it. Malcolm X, Mandela, Louis Farrakhan, Kwame Nkrumah…they all had hopes. Even the West was worried. We took the mantle, we fought Apartheid without fear, we were a society of proud Africans who even had street lamps in Benin before they became fashionable in London. We were Wakanda and the black community was smiling. Only one problem: we had no Black Panther…or we lost them…so we fell. After the war, things went south and governments have mined our ‘vibranium’ for their personal interest or for their clan’s. The new Nigeria became a myth like Wakanda.

Nevertheless, Nigeria is probably the only African country mentioned in this blockbuster movie…though not for the reason we may have wished. Nigeria has been the most mentioned African country in this genre of movies (Wolverine, Capt. America etc). Perhaps they are telling us something? Nigeria and South Africa now stand out from ‘the country known by the West as Africa’. Thank goodness! We still stand out for individual achievements worldwide but as a country, our governments and politicians have just let us down. The masses are fed soup and they lap it up.

Despite all the corruption and rape of Nigeria’s wealth, like Wakanda, her greatest resource is not vibranium or crude oil but her people who have an uncharacteristic resilience and resolve to succeed anywhere. Nigeria can still be the real Wakanda that the black race needs and can stand as a testament against all neo-colonial odds. All she needs now is her Black Panther.

Maybe…just maybe he or she is still a cub somewhere.

Andrew Patience Finye fondly called ‘AP’ is one of the leading voices in creative spoken word poetry in Nigeria, having performed on some recognized local and international platforms.

Some of her literary works have been aired on different local and international radio and TV channels, as well appeared in some local and international magazines, including Chicago Bridge Magazine, USA.

She is the founder of Custodians of African Literature COAL, a platform that promotes African writers and their writings. She is a writer of repute, a social right advocate who preaches human unity, universal tolerance and spiritual consciousness in her poems.

Andrew Patience is also a broadcaster and media personality based in Jos, Nigeria. She is a two time nominee of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards NBA. She is a 2017 Semifinalist of the Mandela Washington Fellowship USA and 2017 Semifinalist of the Atlas Corps Fellowship USA. She is  the recipient of the Award of Excellence for her sterling contribution to humanity by Colonel Dele Arogundade and also recipient of the Award of Recognition by Tapsey Events and Alliance Francaise De Jos for her Contributions to Social Development through her Spoken Word Poetry and COAL Community Outreach Initiatives in and Around Plateau State, Nigeria.

AP has a spoken word album of 14 compelling tracks of poems laced with music, featuring some great poets in the literary scene of Nigeria. Her album has a record of sales in and outside Nigeria.

AP believes poetry is a corrective tool for changing social ills in society, and also a tool for building the human consciousness in truth.

THE TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ INTERNATIONAL ONLINE POETRY COMPETITION 2018 – ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN

THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR THE TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ INTERNATIONAL ONLINE COMPETITION 2018 IS NOW OPEN FOR POETS AND WRITERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
THE COMPETITION IS SPONSORED BY Tony Tokunbo Fernandez, TO ENCOURAGE THE ART OF WRITING AMONG VARIOUS NEW AND UPCOMING POETS AND WRITERS ACROSS TO GLOBE AND TO PROMOTE THEIR WORK ON LITERARY INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, ONLINE MAGAZINES, AND BLOGS

Thirtyminutesrule.com is a worldwide group. We are derived from a concept based on ‘30 minute rule’ located in the Chapter ‘The Limited Human Designed Academic System on Page 97’ inside the book entitled ‘Our World in Metaphors’ which is ‘Driven by the Truth.’ The chapter has been provided free of charge on this website to enable participants to appreciate the main driver behind the setting up of the group.

We are a team of multi-ethnic and cultural individuals, who are driven by the noble cause of assisting to liberate HUMANITY. We believe that, the first step in this liberation, is for humanity to understand who and what HUMANITY is because; without such understanding of the truth at the foundation of HUMANITY (which has been the case since time immemorial), lies which brings about theories and confusion took and continue to take hold. In view of these we want to make it clear and state that, HUMANITY is Man and Woman excluding all else and, HUMANITY is the only CREATIVITY. Anyone who has the capacity to name and/or rename themselves…anyone who is capable of disputing what they are called, keep a history of their lineage and capable of putting things together and/or in motion, is a human being. The rest are animals that either accept whatever name is given to them or ignorant of whatever they are called and would never complain over whatever they are called! Our primary and sole aim is to liberate HUMANITY by getting humanity’s thought process in the right order. This is critical because, if anyone believes that human beings are animals or belong to the animal kingdom, they would think and act like animals. If anyone thinks they are an inventor or creator they would start acting like God; just like a deluded tenant would start acting in a bizarre way, if they suddenly believe they are the Landlord.

In view of all these, let it be known henceforth that, we, human beings are neither inventors nor creators; we only can reinvent & recreate based on existing principles for the ground upon which we stand in order to reinvent, the air we breathe and water necessary for our existence before whatever else, have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF US! Let us also remember that, the imagination to fly came from the birds of the earth we also had NOTHING TO DO WITH. We therefore are hereby introducing the 5Ps based on the 5 Finger Theory for the posterity of humanity; Produce, Patronise, Promote your own unique People and Products and pull them all together in mutual exchange, collaboration and partnership for a better not perfect world! We do so in recognition of the fact that, to restrict one is to restrict all! This is what each individual, community, country and continent has to do, else humanity will continue to wallow and suffer in ignorance.

• Ensure Humanity appreciates its rightful source and identity in the knowledge that, a traveller who does not know where they began their journey and their current location will not be able to find their destination.
• Commitment to enable each person that forms a part of Humanity identifies, harnesses and maximises their real talent which would set them and others around them free.
• Commitment to ensure that those who sign up with our ethics and got supported to maximise their creativity extend our ethos which revolves around understanding of humanity, mutual respect, exchange and sharing in the differences that are there to enhance us.
• Finally, we are committed to ensuring that human beings appreciate that though we are creativity, none can be creativity on their own but we often assume otherwise. Based on that assumption, FEAR and IGNORANCE became the greatest destroyer for humanity and humanity’s greatest FEAR became the revelation of emptiness in relation to the fact that, every individual, community and nation is nothing on their own. If in doubt about our respective emptiness then, give us the most ‘clever head’ and let’s see how clever that head is, as it performs on its own whilst disconnected from the neck?