I’ve known those words in the photo for some time. But, this morning, when I saw that quote again, written in red and green colours on a cardboard paper, it did two things to me:
First, it was a reminder that mistakes are inevitable.
And, secondly, it made me recognise that, for a while now, I’ve been consumed with the need to live a life without mistakes. You know, life happens and one’s heart shuts out many things—more like a defense mechanism; a protection. As much as it’s not entirely a bad thing to be conscious about making mistakes, it becomes a thing to worry about when that need won’t allow you to do the things your heart yearns for.
Although I know I’m still not ready, I’m now well aware that there’s hardly any growth without mistakes.
And just as I was instructed by Einstein’s words, I decided to leave these ones here—who knows who may find it helpful!
“And how has your grades been?” I said. I thought I’d get any of the typical, one-word answers—since the question I’d asked was a mere follow-up to a greeting from a youngster. Instead, his response flung open the door to a bigger conversation.
“My grades have not been good,” the boy said. “But I know it would change very soon.”
I liked the optimism in his voice, so I asked, “So, what’s going to bring about the change?”
His response, however, was far from what I’d hoped to hear. “There’s a church my mum sometimes take us to. It was the pastor there who revealed it to us.”
“Did he mention how this turnaround would happen?”
“Yes,” the boy said. I noticed a look of excitement wash over his face. And there was an innocent glow in his eyes. “The pastor said I was supposed to be smart, excelling in every subject, even maths, as I have a bright star. But some wicked people have seen my brightness and they want to put out my light. The pastor said everything will return to normal through prayer and deliverance. He also gave my mum some anointing oil for me to use.”
“Any idea how much your mum paid for the oil?”
“I don’t know; she didn’t say.”
Maybe it’s just me, but anytime I hear a talk about such quick-fix miracles, a person not taking any responsibility for their issues, something usually goes off in me. Oh, yeah, I know there’s black power, and people do go diabolical just to bring others down, but I still believe there are logical explanations to some issues.
I tried to come easy with the next set of questions, so as not to get the boy feeling on edge—or, worse still, defensive. I made sure the questions appeared unrelated to our earlier tête-à-tête.
“Do you have a personal timetable?”
He shook his head, indicating a ‘No’.
“Normally, how often do you get to read or at least go through your notes?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, it’s common these days. So, like most of your mates, I guess you may have a favourite social media platform . . . what’s yours?” I asked, not knowing if he even had a mobile phone.
“Facebook,” he said. Then he went on and on; a playful argument why it was the coolest app.
I smiled.
I need not ask how much time he spent chatting. It seemed obvious.
……………………
I shared this knowing this season is ripe for charlatans to practice their trade, preying on people’s ignorance. As much as faith may be needful, we must not fail to do the right things.
Use this formula to produce 10 liters of quality liquid soap; you can actually get up
to 13 liters with this formula. I will tell you why later. Make sure you follow each
step carefully and put it to practice.
*Chemicals Required* *Quantity Price*
1. Natrosol 1/16 kg N350
2. Caustic Soda 1/16 kg N100
3. Soda Ash 1/4 kg N400
4. STPP 1/8 kg N100
5. Sulphonic 1/2 liters N450
6. Perfume 30ml (use lemon for this production)
7. Colour 1 small wrap N50
8. Formalin (preservative) 20ml N10
*Total #1460*
*PROCEDURE*
STEP 1: Pour 1/16kg natrosol to 7 litres of water and stir for 15 minutes.
REMEMBER TO CONTINUE TO STIR THE NATROSOL, IT WILL FORM
LUMPS IF YOU LEAVE IT UNSTIRRED TO ATTEND TO OTHER THINGS.
Just keep stirring it intermittently; please take this caution very serious to avoid
lumps in your liquid soap.
STEP 2: Mix the caustic soda powder 1/16 kg and 1/4kg soda ash and also 1/8
STPP powder together.
NEXT STEP: soak the mixed powder in 3 litres of water in a separate bowl and
stir well for 10 minutes to dissolve.
STEP 3: Get a big bucket and pour your 1/2 liter of sulphonic into it
STEP 4: Add 1½ liters of the mixture of caustic soda, soda ash and STPP in step
2 to the natrosol solution and stir well for 15 minutes. You will see it start to
thicken up
STEP 5: Pour the remaining 1½ liters of caustic soda, soda ash and STPP
solution to the sulphonic in the bucket and stir gently for 2 minutes. You will see
the chemical reaction taking place. Sulphonic will be swelling up
STEP 6: Add the mixed sulphonic into the mixed natrosol and stir it well for 20
minutes to blend well.
STEP 7: You can now mix your color of choice with small water and add it into
the solution gradually and stir well.
Watch out so you don’t add too much color, a little quantity once it blends is best.
TIP: Always mix your color in water before adding to your soap, don’t add direct
to the soap.
As a beginner
I do mix all the powdered ingredients together together in one bowl and set aside, mix all the liquid ingredients, then add 1/2 of the water I want to use and mix very well
Then start adding the powered ingredients gradually and turning like when you are making swallow
After that, I will add little water to my color and add
Add my perfume(Flavor)
Then add the remaining water and cover for few minutes for fermentation to take place
Note: You can add extra water if it’s too thick
And I do buy extra forming booster too
Soak your caustic soda in a water and let it dissolve, before adding to the liquid ingredients while mixing
We are taking a look at ten of the most beautiful ones. Whether are single by choice or by estranged marriages, we shall find out as we read along.
1. Genevieve Nnaji:
One of Nigeria’s finest actress, director and producer, Genevieve is really an inspiration to many young females. She had her child when she was just 17. According to her, she didn’t let this be a barrier to her as she still did all she could to making a good career for herself. Her daughter, Chimebuka Nnaji, is happily married to a UK based Nigerian and they already have children. Genevieve has remained single since then.
2. Tonto Dikeh:
Hot actress Tonto got married to Oladunni Churchill in 2015 and they gave birth to a son. However, in 2017, both couple parted ways. Tonto has maintained custody of the child whom she renamed Baby X.
3. Tiwa Savage:
The popular sensational singer got married to Tee Billz and their wedding was the talk of town, held in Dubai. They parted ways in another theatrical manner with Tee Billz contemplating suicide Their marriage was blessed with a son, Jamil.
4. Waje:
Waje has a daughter, Emerald. She has however tried to keep her private life out of public reach. She is not married yet.
5. Uche Ogbodo:
Our pretty actress is the mother of a daughter, Chinagorom, whom she birthed in her short lived marriage with Apo Arthur. The actress has however claimed to have a more fulfilling life as a single mother to her sweet child.
6. Kate Henshaw:
In 2000, Kate Henshaw got married to Roderick Nuttal and they have a daughter, Gabrielle Nutall together. Their marriage was dissolved and Kate is single handedly raising her child.
7. Lilian Esoro:
Yes, even our very pretty Lilian Esoro. Before she got married to Ubi Franklin in 2005, she had birthed two kids from a previous marriage.
8. Fathia Balogun:
She got married to Saidi Balogun and they gave birth to two kids. After getting a divorce, Fathia remained single and raised her kids alone. Rumours have been making the round that Fathia would remarry though.
9. Monalisa Chinda:
The popular actress got married to Victor Dejo-Richards and a few years after, their union produced a child. They parted ways and Monalisa has remained single ever since.
10. Anna Ebiere:
She is an ex-beauty queen who was crowned the 2012 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. She also was in a relationship with singer Flavour and their relationship produced a baby. However, both of them didn’t get married and Anna has remained a single mom of her child.
Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha is an actress, film producer and director, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha was born in Lagos state, Nigeria and graduated with a BSc in Banking & Finance from the Lagos State University. Born March 12 1980, the dashing damsel, wife and mother of two’ hails from Anambra State in Eastern Nigeria.
With pure talent, sheer aptitude and a passion for acting, Chioma made her acting debut in 2000 with the movie “The Apple” where she acted as an obstinate 17-year old who felt she was sufficiently matured for marriage. She would go on to make an indelible stamp in the industry and the hearts of the Nollywood fan base. She is best known for her ability to encapsulate the persona of the characters she plays in her movies bringing credibility to her roles.
Crying is extremely difficult to do especially if nothing painful has happened to but the reverse is the case for some Nollywood actresses in Nigeria. Some actresses know how to cry in movies with additional effort but there are some actresses that are so gifted in the act of crying that they can do it with effortless ease at the snap of a finger from the movie director and they include.
1. Rita Edochie: This anambra state born actress is extremely good In the act of crying. Most of her roles in movies always has something to do with being a mother, a widow or a good woman in the society. She always plays heart touching roles and most Nollywood fans love her including me.
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2. Nkiru Sylvanus: Among the young single ladies that can cry with effortless ease in their movie roles Nkiru Sylvanus is the best. I remember the first time I saw her in a Nollywood movie as a kid I was really touched by the role she played. In that movie she acted as the daughter of Rita Edochie who was an oppressed in the movie. Just imagine a movie where two crying machines (Rita Edochie and Nkiru Sylvanus) are combined together. I cried together with them thinking it was real, it was after I grew up that I discovered that the roles that we see in movies are just make-belief. Nkiru is from abia state
3. Hilda Dokubo: Mrs Hilda is also another talented crying actress. This beautiful woman is an indigine of rivers State Nigeria and she is a graduate of uniport. She has a bachelor and masters degree in theatre arts.
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4. Chinwe Owoh: This blackbeauty is from Enugu state Nigeria. She is very talented in the world of acting and she can play any role especially if it has something to do with being a mother or crying. Chinwe Owoh always acts as a mother, queen, step mother, grandma and widow in many Nollywood movies.
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5. Kate Henshaw: This beautiful and ageless beauty is from cross rivers and she is a graduate of unical where she studied medical microbiology before proceeding to study medlab. She is one of the best veteran actresses in Nollywood.
6. Cha Cha Eke Faani: Cha Cha Eke is another beautiful and talented actress from Ebonyi state Nigeria. She is versatile and she can play any given role which includes crying.
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7. Mercy Johnson Okojie: Mercy Johnson okojie is another Adorable Actress from Kofi state born in Lagos. She is one of the best actresses in Nollywood. She can also play any role given that includes crying, funny, comedy and soon.
8. Queen Nwokoye: Queen Nwokoye is a talented, lovable entrepreneur, entertaining and popular Nollywood actress. She was born in Lagos State. She is graduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University of Awka,Anambra State and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Anthropology. She can equally play any role given.
Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian Actress born 3 May 1979. Genevieve is one of the pioneer actresses of Nollywood, winning awards and recognized worldwide. Genevieve is a household name and is often said to be the best actress in Africa. With dazzling beauty, Genevieve is a mother to a beautiful girl and hasn’t aged a bit over the years.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, popularly called Omo Sexy, is a beautiful actress and singer. The talented mother of four was born 7 February 1978. Omotola is the first Nigerian actress to star in her own reality show. having been awarded and recognized worldwide for her great contributions to Nollywood, Omotola was once listed as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world. Asides being commended for her efforts in film, she is a humanitarian.
Ini Dima-Okojie
Ini Dima-Okojie is the aso-ebi queen. Beauty and brains Ini obtained a degree in International Relations from the prestigious Covenant University and was formerly an Investment banker before switching to the film industry. The enchanting Edo actress is known for her amazing acting skills, beauty and style.
Adesua Etomi
Tolulope Adesua Etomi is a flower with many petals. Born 22 February in Owerri, Imo State, she is one of the budding faces in Nollywood. Adesua made her debut in 2012, playing a lead role in ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’. Adesua cannot only act, she also has the voice of a nightingale. She obtained a diploma in Physical Theatre, Musical Theatre and Performing Arts from the City College Coventry and a degree in Drama and Performance from the University of Wolverhampton where she graduated with first-class honours.
Joke Silva
Joke Silva is a veteran actress known for her captivating roles in any movie she features in. Joke was born 29 September 1961 and is a graduate of the University of Lagos and Webber Douglas Academy of Arts, London. Joke Silva made her film debut in the 90s and has starred in movies outside of Nollywood. Her amazing performances have made her a household name. She is a United Nations goodwill ambassador and a role model to all women and young girls.
Beverly Naya
Beverly Ifunaya Bassey was born 17 April 1989 in London. An only child to her parents Beverly is a damsel and is known for her amazing performances in various films, one would say she plays the antagonist best. Beverly studied Physiology, Sociology and Psychology at Brunel University. She then went on to study Script-Writing and Film-Making at Roehampton University.
Dorcas Sola Fapson
Popularly called DSF, Dorcas Sola Fapson is a beautiful woman, born and raised in North London. With a degree in criminology, Dorcas moved back to Nigeria to pursue her passion for acting. Dorcas rose to fame for her role as Sophie in MTV Base’s hit series ‘Shuga’. Dorcas is not just an actress she is also an amazing host and VJ.
Nse Ikpe Etim
Nse Ikpe Etim was born in 1974 and came into limelight in 2008 for her role in reloaded. The gifted performer is known to have the ability to play diverse roles perfectly which is evident in her performances in ‘Phone Swap’, ‘The Meeting’ ‘The Visit’ and ‘Fifty’. Nse is a graduate of the University of Calabar with a degree in Theatre Arts.
Adunni Ade
Adunni Ade was born in Queens, New York and is the fairest of them all. This beautiful actress is known for how well she embraces her Yoruba heritage in her performances, defying the odds and breaking from the stereotype often placed on actresses of mixed race and diverse backgrounds. Adunni is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Accounting. She worked in housing and insurance industry in the US before switching to entertainment.
Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama
Somkele iyamah-Idhalama is a beautiful actress and model born in Delta state. Known for her role in Gidi-Up, The Wedding Party, and Arbitration, Somkele is making her mark in film, fashion and beauty. A serial woman crush Wednesday, Somkele is a captivating performer. She is also a graduate of the McMaster University, Canada.
Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli is an actress, scriptwriter, director, producer and a trained digital filmmaker at the New York Film Academy. A veteran in her own right, Omoni was born April 22, 1978. A proud mother of three boys, Omoni Oboli is an advocate for women’s rights. Heavily awarded for her work, this star is also a philanthropist.
Dakore Egbuson-Akande
Dakore Egbusan-Akande is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America. Dakore was born in Bayelsa state and has built a career in Nollywood over time. Though she took a break shortly before and after getting married, Dakore made a huge comeback and is not leaving your screen anytime soon.
Rita Dominic
Rita Dominic a thrilling, multi-award-winning actress and entertainer. With a BA degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, Rita has entertained nations for years and is a veteran. Rita Dominic is known for her commitment to her film characters, style, beauty and ability to manage her private life.
Tonto Dike
Tonto Dike was born June 9, 1985. She is an actress, singer and philanthropist with a heart of gold. Tonto shot into limelight for her role in the controversial movie ‘Dirty Secret’. She ventured into music releasing singles ‘Hi’ and ‘Its Ova’ and was also signed to BD Records in 2014. Tonto Dike is a Graduate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology with a degree in Petrochemical Engineering.
Iretiola Doyle
Iretiola Doyle is a graceful actress with so much zeal. Ireti obtained a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos. Iretiola’s career spans over two decades and is an accomplished writer, actor, producer and presenter.
Kehinde Bankole
Kehinde Bankole rose to fame for her role in Super Story in 2007. Kehinde is an actress, model and presenter. She made her debut in entertainment in 2003 as a participant in the Miss Commonwealth Pageant. Kehinde Bankole is an amazing actress and great to watch.
Funke Akindele Bello
Funke Akindele a.k.a Jenifa is one of Africa’s greatest jewels in the film industry. She is the creator of the hit series Jenifa’s Diary, a role which debuted 10 years ago as Jenifa, a popular Yoruba film. Funke has an OND in Mass Communication from now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Ogun State and a Law degree from the University of Lagos. Funke Akindele has numerous endorsement deals and awards to her name and runs an NGO called The Jenifa Foundation.
Damilola Adegbite
Oluwadamilola Adegbite was born in 1985. She is a Nigerian actress, model, and television personality. She rose to fame with the role she played as Thelema Duke in the soap ‘Tinsel’. Damilola has a degree in Business Administration from Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.
Mercy Johnson Okojie
Mercy Johnson-Okojie hails from Okene in Kogi State. She rose to fame after her role in the hit film ‘The maid’. The curvaceous actress has thrilled the screens since 2004 and is a professional in her field. The multi-award-winning actress is a mother of three and a role model to women.
Osas Ighodaro
Osas Ighodaro Ajibade is a Nigerian actress, host and humanitarian. She won the Miss Black USA Pageant in 2010 and founded The Joyful Joy Foundation. This Edo beauty rose to fame for her role ‘Danni’ in soap opera ‘Tinsel’. Osas obtained a Bachelor ’s degree in broadcasting journalism with dual minors in entrepreneurship and theatre from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in fine arts from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.
A 20 years old girl, Miracle Kalu, from Ohafia, Abia State was arrested alongside her accomplice for selling her 28 day old child for N130,000.
According to the report, Miracle Kalu said after she got pregnant, her lover denied been responsible for the pregnancy, out of lack of fund to take care of her baby and her health condition forced her into selling her 28 day old child.
Her accomplice, Patrick Mbama, 41 and Ogechi Ekwebele, 30 were arrested while returning from Imo state around 2 am at Anthony Lagos.
The Police Commissioner of Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, said that the baby was crying in the vehicle and the supposed mother of the child refused to breastfeed the baby and this raised other passengers ‘ suspicion.
The Police Commissioner of Lagos State reported that:
“Upon questioning, this particular childless couple claimed that a childless man and wife in Lagos had paid for the said baby.” Kalu, who spoke to journalists, said she was an orphan and a secondary school dropout.
However, a police source disclosed that Kalu is notorious for selling her children, as it was not her first time of giving birth and selling her baby.
The first fake couple, Mbama and Ekwebele, bought the baby from Kalu for N130,000 and resold her for N150,000, to another couple, Izuchukwu Okafor, 51, and Cecilia Okafor, 40, in Lagos.
Okafor said it was the desperation to have a child of my own that pushed her into buying the baby. “Being barren for 15 years is not easy,” she added.
Abeg oh!: Is this a case of my village people remembering me?
……………………………….
I was watching a movie last night on my laptop while, simultaneously, chatting with a friend on Facebook with my phone. Even when I got a notification that my phone’s battery was running low, I ignored it. The generator usually stayed on till midnight before going off, so there was plenty of time to charge the phone. It was when my laptop gave a similar notification that I stood up. But, just then, the light went off. It was just some minutes past ten.
And the post I was supposed to share today is in the laptop—and nowhere else.
This afternoon, after losing hope that the normal light will be restored, I tried typing it all over, using a spare phone. It was no easy task trying to reproduce that piece. But, I did. However, just as I was done, the phone mistakenly fell from my hand and crashed on the floor. Till this time, it has refused to come on.
At that moment, I did not know if I was to cry or scream. But I did try to hold myself from smashing the phone on the wall.
But, you know, that’s how life is sometimes. You try to do all the right things but everything goes south in the end. Still, I believe, those who won’t give up will surely find a way.
This may not be what I was supposed to share today, but I do believe it will inspire—or, who knows, it just might entertain—someone. And, in that, I think this post is as good as the one I would have shared.
Chioma Business Blog 