OLUWAJIMI . J . THORPE

I have noticed that some men have been relocating their families abroad due to increased and increasing hardship and insecurity in Nigeria. It is important for them to also know the implications of such dangerous decision. When I was appointed the managing director of the Orient Bank of Uganda in 2013, I couldn’t wait to return home to break the news to my wife. The appointment, I reckoned would improve my earnings, career and was in line with my set objectives. “That means that I’m resigning from my own job right away”, was my wife’s instant response to my announcement of the appointment. She was not yet done. “The children will also go with us. I shall make enquires about good schools in Uganda to ensure that our children don’t lose a session”. For my wife, she would not sacrifice her marital harmony for economic benefits or her career. She was a branch manager of a topmost bank in Nigeria. I was shocked. I pleaded, “please give me some time to go to Uganda, settle ...

This is the story of the first oil war, which was fought in the 19th century, in the area that became Nigeria. All through the 19th century, palm oil was highly sought-after by the British, for use as an industrial lubricant for machinery. Remember that Britain was the world’s first industrialised nation, so they needed resources such as palm oil to maintain that. Palm oil, of course, is a tropical plant, which is native to the Niger Delta. Malaysia’s dominance came a century later. By 1870, palm oil had replaced slaves as the main export of the Niger Delta, the area which was once known as the Slave Coast. At first, most of the trade in the oil palm was uncoordinated, with natives selling to those who gave them the best deals. Native chiefs such as former slave, Jaja of Opobo became immensely wealthy because of oil palm. With this wealth came influence. However, among the Europeans, there was competition for who would get preferential access to the lucrative oil palm tra...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

1. THE EVADER- claims not to believe in love…He won’t love you or even try to…..remember, he already told you upfront that he doesn’t believe in love…..Love is a verb….a doing word…All he is saying is that you should have no expectations from him….he won’t do anything for you,…he won’t even bother…..Run 2. THE PHYSICAL ABUSER- hits you physically and claims you made him do it……..you caused it……you should have kept quiet when he said so…….he won’t do it again…….run, run, run….as far as your legs can take you? 3. THE BORROWER- always broke and loans money from you…which he never pays back of course……….he is always “on the verge of a breakthrough”…….just about to hit it big……all he needs is your money and continued support……tells you “you are doing this for us”…….a major sign of financial abuse and emotional manipulation…….don’t stay there…..Run! 4. THE MANIPULATOR- wants you pregnant before marriage to “prove” your ability to have babies at a particular age…..and how do you ge...

How majestic is the sound of a Pipe Organ Majestic sounds resonating through a Church or Cathedral. When you hear a Pipe Organ, you feel a strong reverence to the Creator, Sublime sounds infiltrating our hearts and mind. Beautiful exquisite tone combinations you will rarely find. Uplifting a tired heart, raising our consciousness Through organ music, the veil is lifted Transporting us from the mundane to the Divine, Releases us from being spiritually blind, A great calling, a wonderful gift to share, God is the author of all that is beautiful in creation, Its diverse sounds touching our Souls, filling us with such elation, Next time you are in Church, sit quietly and listen. Let the soothing sounds drive away all fears, Transporting us to another dimension, Illumination dissolves all material ties, Let the majestic tones solidify within us. (c) Andrew Pell 

They say silence is Golden, I believe it is true, Because in that Golden silence, my thoughts occur of you. You are the flame in my candle that lights the darkness of my room, You are the scented flowers that makes my heart full bloom. You are the butterflies that flicker in my stomach all day long, When I know I will be holding you before my day is done. You are the stars that shimmer and shine, You light up the skies above In this Golden silence it's truly you I love. You are the thunder of the night, your lightning strikes whenever, Into my soul that makes me whole, and excites my heart forever. You are my paradise, my oceans wide, My mountains standing tall, So in this Golden Silence I love you most of all. Artwork by: Chika Idu

Males are seen by society as the stronger gender who need no loving or protecting, and people who will always be good regardless, but this is not true. Men have valid needs just like women do, and it’s your responsibility as his woman to attend to most of them, at least. But how do you satisfy needs you know nothing about? Well, here’s a list of some of the things men want in a relationship. TO BE LOVED THE WAY THEY ARE Love can make people do anything, even the ones they’re most uncomfortable with. Your man has probably tried to impress you all the while you’ve been together, but the truth is that deep down, he wishes you’d just take him the way he is, and he doesn’t have to impress you. It’s not a bad thing to reassure your man that you love him regardless of looks or status; it goes a long way in boosting his confidence. UNDYING SUPPORT Men are also humans, and they need support in every way you can imagine. When he goes broke financially, he deep-down expects you to a...