145,000 Adults, 15,000 Children Infected With HIV/AIDS In Rivers State

Rivers State has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS with a total of 145,236 adults and 15,000 children affected, a Non-Governmental Organisation has said.

Co-ordinator, Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre, Priscillia Shu, stated this when the HIV/AIDS awareness center facilitated a sensitisation programme among staff of the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The awareness campaigner stressed the need for abstinence and faithfulness to one uninfected partner To curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.

She also advised on the need to avoid use of unsterilized sharp instruments and ensure that only screened blood are transfused.

Shu recalled that the epidemic first came to lime-light in America in the 80s then gradually crept into Nigeria in 1988 in Calabar through a 13-year-old teenage girl.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mrs. Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Mrs. Ibiere Pepple enjoined all staff to join hands in minimizing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

#informationng

Funny Breakup: This Might Be The Best Breakup Letter Ever (PHOTO)

Breaking up: You could trot out the ol' "we need to talk" line and do it face-to-face -- or you could get creative and slightly creepy like the woman who wrote this breakup letter did. Take a look: 

Oh, snap, that's intense. Is it just us, or do those little hearts make the whole thing a lot more ominous? 

#huffingtonpost

Brazil uses Yoruba culture to sell tourism -Wole Duro Ladipo

Wole Duro Ladipo, the scion of the late dramatist, Chief Duro Ladipo of Obakoso fame bares his mind on the tourism value of the Yoruba culture withWale Ojo-Lanre and Remi Oladoye.

As the proprietor of First Eye Duro Ladipo Production, can you let us into what your organisations is all about?
First Eye Duro Ladipo Production is an organisation that has to do with cultural exchange programmes, upliftment of our cultural value, especially the Yoruba  cultural heritage in Diaspora. The motive behind this organisation is to conserve and preserve our Yoruba African Traditional Religion and culture so that the upcoming generation can have something to be proud of when it comes to their heritage. In all over the world now, a lot of people cherish Yoruba cultural value. Yoruba says that Ile ni a ti nko eso re ode (charity begins at home) so that’s all what First Eyes Duro ladipo is all about.

How far have you gone in achieving these motives especially the uplifting, preserving and conserving  culture?
Yes, we thank God we have really tried our best. I  have a group in the United States of America. I have another group in Brazil.I have a group called Oba Koso Cultural Troupe  and  all we do in this Troupe is to enlighten people about Youruba history, the culture norms, mores, values, the deities, the Orisas (gods) and in line with what can be beneficial to generation and generation coming after. We also organise and present workshops where we talk about the relevance of Orisa and stage presentations in which people learn about the language, fashion, interaction and tenses of Yoruba cultural value.

What are  the challenges?
The challenges that we face has to do with our local setting here in Nigeria. The government at various levels in this part of the country have not seen the tourism aspect of the culture as being explored elsewhere. Though some states are trying their best in the area of tourism, but I will still implore the government to still try and inculcate the segment of cultural value of the Yorubas in the curricula or syllabus. This is because, foreigners appreciate Yoruba culture more than us. This is sad in America, Britain and France majority of my clients are whites who strive hard to learn, practise and embrace Yoruba culture while some of my friends, kith and kin who left Nigeria for these foreign countries are behaving more than the whites. I was shocked in my interaction at home here too that some of us are aping the whites and sending our children to schools where ‘ vernacular’ – I mean Yoruba values are alien or forbidden. Some of our children here are bereft of cultural values and norms. Some cannot speak Yoruba Language not to talk about their local dialect. The other ethnic groups are not. I was surprised one day, when I visited a family friend of mine in Texas, US and saw his six-years-old boy who has never been to Nigeria dancing to Igbo music and displaying their dancing step.
We need to talk to the government  on why they  have to include Yoruba culture in our school syllabuses. We should also raise the culture to a tourism pedestal like the Brazilians who  are making money out of Yoruba culture by packaging it as tourism asset.
Tourists flock to Brazil to see what I called a diluted Yoruba cultural value, but they would have love to come and see, feel and have a first-hand experience of this if we have been able to get our act right on this issue .

Tell us in practical terms the method you apply?
Very simple. We act, dance, sing and celebrate our cultural values with arts by exposing the benefits and superior ethics of it through the media.

But the impression is that those  who engage in this are never – do – wells?
That  was  in the olden days. Even at that time, it is not a profession for the lazy or dull heads. It is not easy for a lunk head to recite the  Odu  merindilogun ( the 16 corpus) is not a joke. For you to be able to dance and count the step of bata is not a joke and for you to be able to polish your talent is not a joke. Though in those days people said but nowadays, people travelling from around the world to African countries, Brazil, Nigeria and the Caribbean  to learn about African religion and culture, dancing, drumming and others . Things that have to do with culture is not a lazy man’s job.

You studied Political Science and you are into promotion of Yourba art and culture, what is the correlation?
What is politics? Politics has to do with people.When we talk about people, governing of people, can you separate culture  from it ? We cannot separate culture from the people, so when we talking politically it doesn’t mean you must involve in partisan politics before you can influence the society. You can influence society with culture,  and mind you,  right from the onset, since I was around six  years old, I started acting with my father. Then,  my father used to produce play for Western Nigeria Television (WNTV). There was this play in the 70’s Moremi Ajasoro that was when I started acting.  I was the little kid that was thrown into the river. Again,  I was involved in Igbo Irumale when one of my brothers and I acted as Iwin that delivered message to Imodoye and so many others so this has been in our blood.  Our father would  wake us up around  four o’clock in the morning, then we would dance, recite poetry and do a lot of things, so these has been in the blood, passing through University of Ibadan studying Political Science and English got nothing to do with that inborn and innate  instinct of cultural values that is  in us as Yoruba.

When your dad was alive, he won many laurels and cultivated  a lot of respect and solid relationship with traditional institutions especially the monarchs, do you still maintain that relationship?
Yes, because the legacy still lives on and there is something I learnt from my dad that if you really want to prosper, you  have to move very close to the elders and respect traditions. If you study most of his works, they have to do with history, epics and classics. He did a lot of research in getting to the root of these historical films. Few week ago, I was with Kabiyesi, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi  Adeyemi. Next week, I will be with my father, the Oragun of Oke – Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin. By next month, I will be with Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, I have no choice than to continue in the tradition which my father had established.

Did you at any point in time regret ever coming to this world through Duro Ladipo?
That’s a very powerful question, if i have to come to this world again I  will love to be associated with him and the family.

How easy has it be wearing his shoes?
Duro–Ladipo’s foot print is large and his shoe is too big. You know there is a saying that you don’t dare putting your foot in a great man’s shoes or his foot prints because it is  either you don’t put your foot there or you even do more better. These are the challenges .A lot of people are saying they’ve not been hearing much from Duro Ladipo’s kids? Where are they ? What are they doing? What our father told us is that the first thing in life is to be educated, and today majority of us are university graduates  that was the first thing, so whatever, we are doing, we have to do it much more better, there is nothing like haste in doing what we are doing .That is why  anything that is going to come out from Wole Duro Ladipo and First Eye Duro Ladipo  Production has to be well baked and you know we don’t need to be making noise, we do things gradually and we really centered on cultural exchange which is our main objective and goals.

How will you describe your father?
Hmnn, Duro Ladipo, was an enigmatic cultural impresario. My dad loved Yoruba  culture. He was a paragon of Yoruba culture. He dropped affluence and riches for originality. Some people want to produce just because they want money out of it, but my father did all he could to project African Yoruba religion and cultural values and  gave it an international shot selling it all over the world. I tell people that my father was never a rich man, but he left a legacy that is even much more bigger than what anybody can bring down and so that is the more reason when people come to tell me that I can make money through this and that, I have always been very careful, I have been in the United States for nine years, there are a lot of things we can do there but that name is very very important to us.

You always play the role of Sango, is that the only thing you can do?
The first time I played that role, I could remember was in Lagos, It was at Lagos Country Club that I played my father’s  role for the first time when I put on the regalia. I connected the spirit of  Sango which came  upon me instantly and   the instinct was just there. When we left the stage, a lot of people started commending us and some  especially those who knew Duro Ladipo when he was alive cried because of the great performance. I can just say it is an instinct or being possessed.

But is it an instinct stoked by charms or  juju?
What is juju ? I always tell people that there is nothing like juju. There is inheritance, some instinct you inherit. It is just there and will manifest wheneve r it should be. Juju is different from inheritance. I don’t believe there is something like juju unless you want to trace it.

Your father trained a lot of people, how cordial is the relationship between those people and the family?
I have a  lot of  rapport with the people my father trained, though some of them are old now. In fact, I  was with Chief Jimoh Braimoh who is my great uncle. It’s very great knowing him because he has a  lot of influence in my life. I stayed with him for almost seven years and I learnt a lot of things from him which he told me that he learnt from my father which I’ve been applying and it’s been positive.When I need advice I turn to men like Chief Muraina Oyelami, Uncle David Osawe, Baba Lere Paimo,  Baba Adeomola Onibon Okuta, Gbebolaja, the famous drummers and Baba Adesina among others, I still relate with them and they always talk to me. In fact Baba Adesina was the one who trained me how to drum at the age of six.

How did you feel  the  first time you saw you father spitting fire?
The first time I saw that man spitting fire was at Glover Hall in Lagos, there was a performance at Glover Hall and I was sitting right in front of the auditorium with the light man  (Buoda Olu) and at the time Sango was about to come out, the drum was heavy, the scenario changed and I just saw the thing appeared  and it came out to be my father. I ran out of that auditorium, the light man chased me all around the auditorium because I was scared. I couldn’t believe it was the man that we left home together who spit fire and his whole eyeball turned to red

Spiting fire, is it magical or mechanical or what?
Last week, I held  a dialogue with a  Sango worshiper,  a  woman in her 70’s who  told me that  it was Duro Ladipo that first spit fire and that when she witnessed it, she tried to get to the root of it, but couldn’t till this day. “ Duro means a child which the parents are begging to stay, a kind of weird and strange fellow, wait, don’t go.”  My father was born seven times before he stayed. If we talked about all those mysterious things, so what about when he died, the lightning  and  others because I could remember my uncle came around 1:45 on March 11, 1978, to announce to us that his brother passed on about 45 minutes after the weather changed and there was an heavy rain the thunderstorm was heavy and that there were a lot of mysterious things that happened within the house. There was a tree in front of our house and the bird called Eye Iga  always in their thousands, but the day my father died, and the next five days, all the birds flew away. All the eyeles (dove) died, about 45.

Any connection with your dad’s death?
Well,  if  the head of the household died, what do you expect, Yoruba adage says Eiye ile kii ba Onile Je Ko ba onlile mu  ko was pada leyin  onile (the day he died  we saw a lot of them dead).

This  sounds mysterious,  we never heard that Duro Ladipo was involved in any cult, was he in any?
Duro himself was a cult. When he was alive, my mum told me a story that on a fateful day, at an event some people were trying to talk to him about cultism and he replied them that “I myself, Durojaiye omo Ladipo, akobi Olukoso, asingiri , alagiri , abanija mawoju eni, iwaju ina, ehin ogbe ina, egbe mejeji gbono kiji kiji  ta ni o je gbena  woju ekun laise Awo.  Emi gan awo, emi gan imule.” And they all vamoosed like a rat having a cat as guest. They dare not face him with such. He was never a cult member and that was why there was no interference of any such during the burial.

And where is Moremi?
She is there. My mother, the Moremi Ajasoro is there like the Rock of Gibraltar.  Now, I want to thank her because  all this while, she has been an institution. She was the person that kept the legacy of Duro Ladipo, so what appreciation could I say more than give her the kudos. For 35 years now, the woman is still in that house, she  never left for once. My father had other wives, but she is the only one holding forte, the institution and any appreciation  we are talking  about is that woman.

You have a huge stature like that of Duro Ladipo, are you the Oba Koso reincarnate?
I cannot say. People have been complaining about my choleric and mercurial behaviour .Some people said I am an ornament and torment. I do not know.

May be the man took you through some labyrinth of spirituality?
I cannot say. Maybe innate.But sometimes, I wonder why I do some things. I wonder when did this come to be? I wonder why should this be?. I wonder, “has this man come into me”  I wonder why me ? And the same answer I get is “because it is you, Wole Duro – Ladipo . The chip off the old block “ and I understand that a goat will never bring forth a dog.

It takes blood, sweat and tears to become a succesful designer abroad —Frank White

Frank White is one of the leading succesful Nigerian urban fashion designers making waves in London, United Kingdom. The British-born University of Luton, London, Psychology graduate is the first designer to introduce the now common badge emblem logo stiched on shirts, Jackets, blazers, shoes and other fashion accessories. In this interview with Kate Ani, he spoke about his love for fashion and why it takes blood, sweat and tears to survive in the fashion designing world.

Background.
I was born in London in 1972 to Nigerian parents who met while they were schooling in the United Kingdom. I came down to Nigeria with my father in 1977 and settled in the north where I was enrolled in Kano Capital School. It was then run by expatriates.

 After completing my secondaryschool education, I proceeded to a private college, Musa Iliasu College, also in Kano. While in  Junior Secondary School II, I joined Federal Government College, Kaduna. I left the latter and returned to England after a riot. In England, I enrolled at College of North West London where I did a one year access course and then proceeded to University of Luton to study Psychology.

How did you get into fashion designing and when did you realise you wanted to become a designer?
As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, I was artistic and creative. I always wanted my clothes to look different from anything anyone had, and so I was in the habit of modifying my clothes to the desired taste and that included things like adding extras that were not included by the manufacturer. I got into fashion because I wanted to wear things I have not seen other people wear, so I started by designing my own clothes to suit my personal taste. I dislike conformity. Why look the same as everybody else? There is no fun in that. This exposed me into the fashion world.

 What is your brand, Frank White about?
Frank White, is an urban fashion brand that was created out of necessity and now, with a lot of hard work and perseverance, has grown into a bespoke brand that creates clothing and footwear to specific needs.

What does fashion mean to you and how would you describe Nigerians sense of style and fashion?
Fashion to me is what you make it to be. It doesn’t depend on what is popular or what is current. Fashion is how you wear your ensembles. Nigerians as a whole have always been fashionable. We come from a society where we all want to look the best we can. So fashion has become an essential part of being a Nigerian as a nation of fun loving, hard working and good looking people. 

In what ways do the acts of designing shoes and accessories differ from that of clothes?
They do not differ, it’s all about expression. Designing is creativity based, and creativity is an expression. Taking things that already exist and putting my own twist, be it a shirt or a shoe, the same rules apply. I try to create things that are different with any piece I work on. Something that stands out, that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and different to what has been seen or done before. Sometimes nothing changes, but the colours you use could make all the difference. 

 What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?
As a designer, I have had the pleasure of working with and for various people from various walks of life.  From state governors, senators, business men in Nigeria, to premiership footballers from various clubs like Tottenham Hotspurs, Arsenal Football Club and Newcastle United to mention a few. Several Nigerian artistes like Olamide, Don Jazzy, Wande Coal, Duncan Mighty and Basket Mouth the comedian  have worn some of my clothings.

Where do you buy your fabrics and other sewing materials?
All of my fabrics and materials   are  European based. There is a certain quality that the European Union Certification  allows. I stay within the EU simply because the quality is guaranteed by the European Certification.

What is your favourite part  in conceptualising a design?
Every part of the process is a joy.  From drawing designs on a notepad to shopping for the materials and then realising the design in  its  real form are all enjoyable.  It is almost the same feeling as a proud mother watching her child grow up from a toddler to becoming a medical doctor.

What’s  your philosophy about the art of  fashion?
Fashion is a concept generally left  to personal interpretation. Everyone has its own philosophy when it comes to his or her wardrobe, or in some cases, no philosophy at all. I hardly consider myself a fashionista, but I do have my own style, which is something that I take a lot of pride in. My desire to accurately represent who I am via my clothes is a 24/7 thing.

How would you   define  your signature  fashion brand ?
The word eclectic comes to mind. There is no specific style, the main objective is to put an individual in a piece that suits him or her.  Most individuals choose   their styles depending on height, complexion and size.

What do you think is the most important trait of a fashion designer?
Creativity and adaptability. Fashion essentially revolves around a top, a bottom and a pair of shoes. Creativity will enable you to come up with a beautiful concept and adaptability will enable you to change from the norm to the unseen before.

What would you tell anyone who wants to break into the field?
It is not an easy field to break into. A lot of sweat, tears, hard work and perseverance are required. The design for a breakthrough saps you of your blood. Not everyone who goes into it is recognised or becomes successful. I can tell you that hard work, luck and creativity are all part of the essential ingredients that make a successful designer.

Who is your most influential fashion designer?
I have a mentor that I  look up to, Mr Adebayo Jones, a London based Nigerian bridal wear designer. I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times and he is as good as gold.

 What kind of men’s clothes would you never wear?
I can wear anything, but I have a dislike for baggy clothes. My personal taste is that my clothes be fitted. I think it looks better on me, but again, it’s a matter of personal taste.
 
What inspire or motivate you to keep persevering in this ‘cut-throat’ industry?
The dream to succeed and the passion for fashion. I have a saying, ‘ I like what I do because I do what I like’ . You have to enjoy what you do because if you don’t, it becomes mundane and you lose interest and focus.

How is this year’s collection different from what you’ve done in the past?
Every year, I try to create something different from the year before. The good thing with fashion is that, even a little change is noticeable and I always try to improve the quality every year so that my clients get better value for  their  money.
 
Does your work reflect your personal fashion taste? Can you describe your style
Yes, my work does reflect my taste in clothes, especially the clothes I make for myself, I have to wear what I expect others to wear and I have to wear it well.

11 DIY Beauty Tips To Try Out This Weekend

Some of the DIY beauty myths you've heard over the years are BS. Whoever thought washing hair with beer was a good idea must have been under the influence of one too many shandies themselves, but there are some quick fixes you can try at home that do work. Here are some I culled from Marie Claire:

1. Use honey as a face mask
Honey (it has to be raw honey, mind you) has antibacterial properties and is very effective at helping acne-prone skin. Slather on your face, leave for 10 minutes, wash off with warm water and the job's a good'un. Some people complain that the honey draws out the toxins, causing problem skin to get worse before it gets better, but in the long run it's a good solution.

2. Use baking soda on teeth to make them whiterAre you loathed to splash out on expensive teeth whitening kits? Try mixing one tablespoon of baking soda with three drops of hydrogen peroxide then use it as a toothpaste for a healthy set of pearly whites. 

3. Shave legs with hair conditioner
Forget spending money on a separate shaving foam, simply use hair conditioner instead. It's super moisturising, makes the hairs softer and therefore easier to shave. Winning.

4. Use evening primrose oil to help spots heal fasterBurst an evening primrose oil capsule and apply to troublesome spots to help them heal in half the time. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can really help take the redness out of sore spots. Apply overnight and sleep in it for best results.

5. Never EVER go without a pot of Vaseline
Petroleum jelly has countless uses. One of our favourite things to do is slather it all over our feet, slip on a pair of fluffy socks and then sleep. If you dye your own hair, it's great for preventing the dye from staining your skin, just use it as a barrier around the hairline, ears and neck. Finally, it can also be used to tame unruly eyebrows.



6. Lemon peel can remove nail varnish stains
If dark nail polish has stained your nails, simply rub some lemon peel on the stubborn spot. Soaking the tips of your nails in lemon juice can also make then whiter.

7. Use an orange to exfoliate
The acid and Vitamin C in oranges makes for an excellent exfoliator. If you don't have time to be concucting fancy homemade potions and lotions, simply cut an orange in half and use on your knees and elbows.

8. Shave your legs last
If you tend to get bumpy or irritated legs after shaving, do it at the end of your shower when the warm water will have opened up your pores and the hair will be softer.

9. Keep your beauty products in the fridge
Not all of them, obviously, but nail varnishes, eyebrow & eyeliner pencils and lipsticks can all be kept in the chilled section. Doing this will make your polishes last longer, as well as causing lip & eye pencils to be firmer and therefore give sharper lines.



10. Serum + foundation = beautifully soft skin
Add a drop of serum (we love Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair) to your foundation to give your skin an extra glow.

11. Add a drop of peppermint oil to your lipgloss
Add just a drop for a plumped up pout. Warning: it may tingle.

Do you have any tried and tested DIY beauty tips that you swear by? Let us know in the comment box below.