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  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience, or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousands of years specifically for the purpose of keeping an audience's attention. Although people's attention is held by different things, because individuals have different preferences in entertainment, most forms are recognisable and familiar. Storytelling, music, drama, dance, and different kinds of performance exist in all cultures, were supported in royal courts, developed into sophisticated forms and over time became available to all citizens. The process has been accelerated in modern times by an entertainment industry which records and sells entertainment products. Entertainment evolves and can be adapted to suit any scale, ranging from an individual who chooses a private entertainment from a now enormous array of pre-recorded products; to a banquet adapted for two; to any size or type of party, with appropriate music and dance; to performances intended for thousands; and even for a global audience.

    The experience of being entertained has come to be strongly associated with amusement, so that one common understanding of the idea is fun and laughter, although many entertainments have a serious purpose. This may be the case in the various forms of ceremony, celebration, religious festival, or satire for example. Hence, there is the possibility that what appears as entertainment may also be a means of achieving insight or intellectual growth.

    An important aspect of entertainment is the audience, which turns a private recreation or leisure activity into entertainment. The audience may have a passive role, as in the case of persons watching a play, opera, television show, or film; or the audience role may be active, as in the case of games, where the participant/audience roles may be routinely reversed. Entertainment can be public or private, involving formal, scripted performance, as in the case of theatre or concerts; or unscripted and spontaneous, as in the case of children's games. Most forms of entertainment have persisted over many centuries, evolving due to changes in culture, technology, and fashion. Films and video games, for example, although they use newer media, continue to tell stories, present drama, and play music. Festivals devoted to music, film, or dance allow audiences to be entertained over a number of consecutive days.

    Some activities that once were considered entertaining, particularly public punishments, have been removed from the public arena. Others, such as fencing or archery, once necessary skills for some, have become serious sports and even professions for the participants, at the same time developing into entertainment with wider appeal for bigger audiences. In the same way, other necessary skills, such as cooking, have developed into performances among professionals, staged as global competitions and then broadcast for entertainment. What is entertainment for one group or individual may be regarded as work by another.

    The familiar forms of entertainment have the capacity to cross over different media and have demonstrated a seemingly unlimited potential for creative remix. This has ensured the continuity and longevity of many themes, images, and structures.

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  • The Internet is the Perfect Place for those over 60 to Freely Discuss Sex

    The generation gap is alive and well when it comes to many issues in our society. Sex is one of them and so the older generations are turning to the internet as the perfect place to feely talk about it. There younger co-workers, friends, and certainly their own children don’t want to discuss it with them. It can be hard for younger generations to accept the fact the their own parents and even grandparents are still having sex.

    Yet more and more people are living a healthier lifestyle to late in life. This means there is no reason why someone over the age of 60 can’t be having the time of their life when it comes to their sexual relationships. It doesn’t matter if they have been with the same person for years or if they are newly on the market and seeing what it has to offer them.

    Not everyone from the older generations is comfortable talking openly about sex. They may feel guilty or embarrassed about doing so. Yet with the internet you can talk freely to others and hide behind the screen. No one ever has to find out your real name or what you look like. You may be talking online with people in another country or just across town from you. The anonymous nature of the internet though makes it safe and so people tend to open up more.

    There is a great deal of information to be found online too about how sex is for those over 60. Individuals who are experiencing low libido or a variety of other problems that are sexual in nature can find out more about it. They can get support because they know that they aren’t alone in what they are going though.

    In many instances, reading such information can help them come to terms with where they are. They may be encouraged to go see a doctor or a counselor to help them get passed the issue. They may find that they are able to rid themselves of the guilt associated with having sex with a new partner after their previous one died. All of these issues and more are covered in great detail online for those that are 60 and older.

    A person can simply choose to read articles that are posted online. Search engines are a great way to be able to narrow down the topics. As you read more articles you can jot down notes. This way you can come up with more keywords to enter and do other searches on. You can collect the information you want from the privacy of your home without feeling self conscious about it.

    There are also plenty of forums where other people can read your posts and respond to them. This is a great way to get personalize information that is specific to the questions you have. You can also do your part by reading what others need and responding. This is a great way to give back the support that has been given to you along your road to sexual happiness at an older age.

    It seems that there are more and more individuals older than 60 out there sharing their stories of having sex. Some of them are fun while others are full of questions. You do need to make sure that you get reliable information though. Just because there is something written on the internet doesn’t make it true. Take the time to verify the resources. Keep in mind that a great deal of the information you do come across will be the personal opinions of other adults and not based on anything credible by and expert.

    Still, what you do get from other people who have been through similar experiences can give you something to think about. It can help you to overcome personal fears as well as provide you with some comical relief from time to time.

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  • Improving Your Sex Life: How to Be Spontaneous

    Are you looking to improve your sex life?  If you are, you may have already heard that being spontaneous is advised.  Spontaneity often leads it an increase in interest and an increase in satisfaction, in terms of intimacy.  Unfortunately, some men and women find being spontaneous a lot easier said than done.  If you are one of those individuals, please continue reading on for some helpful tips.

    One of the many ways that you can be spontaneous is by not waiting for your partner to initiate sex.  Unfortunately, many women wait for their husbands or boyfriends to get sex started.  Why wait?  You shouldn’t.  In fact, did you know that your partner may be hoping that you start showing more interest in being intimate with them?  What better way to do so than to initiate sex yourself?

    A creative way to be spontaneous, where sex and intimacy is concerned, is by using text messages.  If you and your partner have and use cell phones, send sexy and seductive text messages to them.  In addition to text messages, you can also call your partner or send love notes with them when they walk out the door.

    As previously stated, there are some individuals who find it difficult to be spontaneous.  Parents are often one of those individuals.  Even if you are a parent who has children in the house, there are a still a number of ways that you can be spontaneous, in terms of intimacy with you partner.  Did you just put your children down for bed?  Jump on your partner, literally, as soon as your kids leave the room.  Most parents want to sit down and relax after their kids have gone to bed, but show your partner that you have other things on your mind.

    Having sex somewhere other than the bed or the bedroom is another way to be spontaneous with your partner.  If you are a parent who has kids in the house, just be careful.  Don’t have sex outside of the bedroom when they may be awake at night and don’t be too loud or you may have an uncomfortable situation on yours hands.

    As for where you can have sex outside of the bedroom, use your creativity.  Where do you want to have sex?  What locations would allow you to try new positions that just can’t be done in a bed?  In addition to being intimate in places like on the couch, in a closet, in the bathroom, or on the kitchen table, consider going outside of the home as well, like to a hotel.

    Speaking of getting intimate outside of the home, surprise your partner.  You can do this by booking a night at a hotel in town.  Make sure you choose one that has romantic rooms or an onsite hot tub or swimming pool.  If you are a parent, arrange childcare for your children first, like by calling on a trusted friend or family member.  Don’t tell your partner about your plans until you are ready to leave, as being spontaneous involves surprising them.

    As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can use spontaneity as a way to improve your relationship, both inside and outside of the bedroom.  What are you waiting for?  Get started today?  Your partner may appreciate your quick thinking.

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  • Individuals 60 and Older are Very Happy with their Sex Lives

    Some individuals feel that getting older isn’t going to be very much fun. They believe that everything on their body is going to start to move in directions that aren’t very appealing. It is this ideal that they have that makes them think that older individuals much must not take part in having sex. They also believe those that do don’t get very much pleasure out of it. Yet they are very wrong in their thinking based on what is really taking place out there.

    Most people over the age of 60 are definitely having sex and they are very happy about it. They take part in the activity at least one a week with a regular partner that they have been with for some period of time. They are past the time in their lives when they have to be everything to everyone. It is now time to really focus on their own needs, and that applies to their sexual desires as well.

    Some individuals who are over the age of 60 grew up in a very different world. Men were mainly dominant and women were submissive. They stayed at home and took care of the house and the children. Today, there is much more equality among men and women in society. That means women can be more assertive in regards to sexual activities they wish to engage in.

    Contrary to popular belief, men really like this. They don’t want to be the one to always initiate sexual activities. They want to know they are needed and that they are desired. They want to be sure their partner is having sex because it feels good to them, not just because they feel obligated to keep their partner happy.

    Some may think that sex for those over 60 would be boring. After all they should enough experience under their belt to have tried it all. Yet many people in this age group will tell you they are still learning. They are finally following what they wanted to try long ago. Also, as they have gotten older their sexual needs and desires have changed from what they once were.

    Communication about sex seems to be more of a standard for people over the age of 60 They feel a connection that goes much deeper now than they did earlier in their lives. While they realize sex isn’t what the relationship is all about, it is definitely a very important part of it. They want to become more intimate with their partner and having a great sexual relationship allows that to take place.

    For those who have been with the same partner for a very long time, many of the tensions that were once there are gone. With the children grown and retirement in place the struggles over child rearing, money, and even time that were once there aren’t anymore. This means that the couple can focus their attention on the needs of each other emotionally and sexually instead of it being consumed by day to day needs.

    The sexual behaviors of those over the age of 60 may not be of interest to younger generations. In fact, they find it hard to swallow that their parents or grandparents are taking part in such activities. Yet it should be reassuring to younger generations that such a big part of their life now can continue on as they reach that age themselves down the road before they know it.

    While most people you likely know who are over the age of 60 don’t go around discussing their sex life in public, you can be sure there is plenty of action still taking place. It is evident from various surveys and questionnaires. The reports from medical offices around the world tell the same story. A great deal of information about those over 60 enjoying sex is also found online where people can share it without disclosing their identity.

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  • How Simple Dates Can Improve Your Intimacy

    Love and romance are two important aspects of an intimate relationship. When looking to develop or maintain a relationship, dating is an important component.  Unfortunately, after time has passed, many couples enter into an area of comfort.  This comfort zone often has a significant and negative impact on one’s relationship and marriage.  Do not let it have the same impact on yours.

    To prevent you and your partner from falling into the above mentioned comfort zone, where dating and courting are a thing of the past, knowledge is key.  It is important to never underestimate the power of a simple date.  A regular date with a partner or spouse can reignite sparks.  A date can bring romance back into the relationship.  If you are not in a serious relationship right now, it is still important to understand dating and its importance.  It is an easy, yet important way to get to know a potential partner and start a budding relationship.

    If your relationship is that of marriage, dating is a crucial factor in keeping your relationship fresh and alive.  In fact, dating can help to save an otherwise failing marriage.  This doesn’t mean that each date must be overly romantic or that you have to spend a lot of money to “wow,” your husband or wife.  Often times, simply just spending time alone with your partner can be enough to help keep the romance alive.  Each night does not have to be a date, but know that going on a date with your spouse on a consistent basis helps to ensure that love and romance remains a part of the relationship.

    As for why dating is important for your marriage.  It is important, as it prevents your husband or wife from making assumptions.  For example, your wife may believe that you would rather not be seen with her in public or that you are ashamed to showcase your relationship.  Skipping out on dating after marriage may unintentionally make your spouse feel as if you don’t care about them anymore.  The absence of dating can also cause boredom and cause an “average,” relationship to develop.  This can, unfortunately, lead to relationship troubles and possibly even divorce.

    To keep your relationship strong, you will want to make a commitment to plan regular date activities with your partner.  Common, popular, and standard date activities, such as dinner and a movie, are nice, but it is also important to think outside of the box.  Choose activities that help create romance.  If you do opt for a movie with your partner, choose one with a romantic theme, as it can help to ignite the passion.

    As previously stated, try to think out of the box, in terms of dates.  Unique dating experiences can also help create more romance and improve your intimacy.  Spend a weekend at a nice hotel together, take a dinner cruise, or try a fun, yet romantic adventure, like horseback riding. These types of activities can help the sparks to fly in your relationship. Unusual and out of the ordinary dates can be very romantic.

    If you and your partner are parents, it is important to know that dating can be complicated, but it is still more than possible.  You may find that it is quite difficult to get away without the kids, but it is vital to find a way! There are several options for parents, like you.  These options include hiring a babysitter or asking a family member to watch the kids for a few hours. Going out on dates when you are parents who have children takes careful planning, but the effort is more than worth it.  Your relationship and intimacy levels can flourish when you are given time alone.

    As a recap, dating can build and nourish your relationship.  It can also help to improve intimacy, which is an important component of a happy and healthy relationship.  Remember that a strong relationship often translates into more fun, love, and passion in the bedroom.

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  • Having Sex into your 60’s and Beyond can help you Feel Younger

    When we are young we often proudly tell people just how old we are. That all changes though when a person gets older. However, you are only truly as old as you feel. Skip the skin cream if you want to feel younger as one of the best ways to do so is to have a good sex life. Some will argue that this isn’t always possible due to not having a partner, but even masturbating when you are 60 or older will help you to feel younger.

    Sexual activity helps to relieve tension in both the mind and the body. It is agreed that all adults can certainly benefit from that. A healthy sex life also helps you to feel good about who you are. There are few things in life that are as intimate between two individuals as having sexual relations. If you are true to the meaning behind your feelings then sex can only get better for you as you get older.

    It may be hard for younger generations to understand how sex can get better with age. It has to do with the emotional connection that is found in the older years. We often take our relationships for granted when we are younger even if we truly do love those we are with. The physical as well as the emotional connect that can be made is what makes it that much more special.

    You can feel younger having sex when you are past your 60th birthday and have some additional perks. For example you often don’t have to worry about work schedules, taking care of children, or many other types of interruptions that can get into your way. There is also no longer a risk of getting pregnant and that can allow many couples to feel very free.

    When you are young, you often can’t imagine being over 60 and still having sex. It may seem like you are going to be so old. It really depends on your age when you start having such thoughts though. Keep in mind that your physical condition is going to affect how old you feel. Some 40 year olds physically feel older than many 60 years old. Staying active is going to be key to being able to still enjoy sex at an older age.

    You may not have experimented much with sex when you were younger but still have the desire to do so. You are never too old to have fun with sex so let your partner know what your desires are. Chances are they will be very willing to comply with what you want to be fulfilled. Make sure you find out what they need as well so both of you can enjoy the activities and feel younger in the process.

    Sex is an activity that people can really enjoy for their entire adult life. It doesn’t have to stop just because of the number of candles on your birthday cake. While it is true that you won’t hear as many 60 something people talking about sex, they are still enjoying it. There are plenty of statistics out there that reflect this. You can feel good about yourself as well as feel years younger if you are actively enjoying sex at this age and beyond.

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  • History of advertising

    Egyptians used papyrus to make sales messages and wall posters. Commercial messages and political campaign displays have been found in the ruins of Pompeii and ancient Arabia. Lost and found advertising on papyrus was common in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Wall or rock painting for commercial advertising is another manifestation of an ancient advertising form, which is present to this day in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. The tradition of wall painting can be traced back to Indian rock art paintings that date back to 4000 BCE.

    In ancient China, the earliest advertising known was oral, as recorded in the Classic of Poetry (11th to 7th centuries BC) of bamboo flutes played to sell candy. Advertisement usually takes in the form of calligraphic signboards and inked papers. A copper printing plate dated back to the Song dynasty used to print posters in the form of a square sheet of paper with a rabbit logo with “Jinan Liu’s Fine Needle Shop” and “We buy high quality steel rods and make fine quality needles, to be ready for use at home in no time” written above and below is considered the world’s earliest identified printed advertising medium.

    In Europe, as the towns and cities of the Middle Ages began to grow, and the general populace was unable to read, instead of signs that read “cobbler”, “miller”, “tailor”, or “blacksmith” would use an image associated with their trade such as a boot, a suit, a hat, a clock, a diamond, a horse shoe, a candle or even a bag of flour. Fruits and vegetables were sold in the city square from the backs of carts and wagons and their proprietors used street callers (town criers) to announce their whereabouts for the convenience of the customers.

    In the 18th century advertisements started to appear in weekly newspapers in England. These early print advertisements were used mainly to promote books and newspapers, which became increasingly affordable with advances in the printing press; and medicines, which were increasingly sought after as disease ravaged Europe. However, false advertising and so-called “quack” advertisements became a problem, which ushered in the regulation of advertising content.
    19th century
    Edo period advertising flyer from 1806 for a traditional medicine called Kinseitan

    Thomas J. Barratt from London has been called “the father of modern advertising”. Working for the Pears Soap company, Barratt created an effective advertising campaign for the company products, which involved the use of targeted slogans, images and phrases. One of his slogans, “”Good morning. Have you used Pears’ soap?” was famous in its day and into the 20th century. Under Barratt’s guidance, Pears Soap became the world’s first legally registered brand.

    history of advertising
    Black figure vessel with double alphabet inscription, showing new letters ΥΧ[Φ]Ψ, and ΥΧΦΨΩ.

    An advertising tactic that he used was to associate the Pears brand with high culture and quality. Most famously, he used the painting Bubbles by John Everett Millais as an advertisement by adding a bar of Pears soap into the foreground. (Millais protested at this alteration of his work, but in vain as Barrat had bought the copyright.) Barratt continued this theme with a series of adverts of well groomed middle-class children, associating Pears with domestic comfort and aspirations of high society.

    Barrat established Pears Annual in 1891 as a spin-off magazine which promoted contemporary illustration and colour printing and in 1897 added the Pears Cyclopedia a one-volume encyclopedia. From the early 20th century Pears was famous for the annual “Miss Pears” competition in which parents entered their children into the high-profile hunt for a young brand ambassador to be used on packaging and in consumer promotions. He recruited scientists and the celebrities of the day to publicly endorse the product. Lillie Langtry, a British music hall singer and stage actress with a famous ivory complexion, received income as the first woman to endorse a commercial product, advertising Pears Soap.

    Barratt introduced many of the crucial ideas that lie behind successful advertising and these were widely circulated in his day. He constantly stressed the importance of a strong and exclusive brand image for Pears and of emphasizing the product’s availability through saturation campaigns. He also understood the importance of constantly reevaluating the market for changing tastes and mores, stating in 1907 that “tastes change, fashions change, and the advertiser has to change with them. An idea that was effective a generation ago would fall flat, stale, and unprofitable if presented to the public today. Not that the idea of today is always better than the older idea, but it is different – it hits the present taste.”

    As the economy expanded across the world during the 19th century, advertising grew alongside. In the United States, the success of this advertising format eventually led to the growth of mail-order advertising.

    In June 1836, French newspaper La Presse was the first to include paid advertising in its pages, allowing it to lower its price, extend its readership and increase its profitability and the formula was soon copied by all titles. Around 1840, Volney B. Palmer established the roots of the modern day advertising agency in Philadelphia. In 1842 Palmer bought large amounts of space in various newspapers at a discounted rate then resold the space at higher rates to advertisers. The actual ad – the copy, layout, and artwork – was still prepared by the company wishing to advertise; in effect, Palmer was a space broker. The situation changed in the late 19th century when the advertising agency of N.W. Ayer & Son was founded. Ayer and Son offered to plan, create, and execute complete advertising campaigns for its customers. By 1900 the advertising agency had become the focal point of creative planning, and advertising was firmly established as a profession.  Around the same time, in France, Charles-Louis Havas extended the services of his news agency, Havas to include advertisement brokerage, making it the first French group to organize. At first, agencies were brokers for advertisement space in newspapers. N. W. Ayer & Son was the first full-service agency to assume responsibility for advertising content. N.W. Ayer opened in 1869, and was located in Philadelphia.

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  • Games Entertainment

    Games Entertainment

    Games are played for entertainment—sometimes purely for entertainment, sometimes for achievement or reward as well. They can be played alone, in teams, or online; by amateurs or by professionals. The players may have an audience of non-players, such as when people are entertained by watching a chess championship. On the other hand, players in a game may constitute their own audience as they take their turn to play. Often, part of the entertainment for children playing a game is deciding who will be part of their audience and who will be a player.

    Equipment varies with the game. Board games, such as Go, Monopoly or backgammon need a board and markers. One of the oldest known board games is Senet, a game played in Ancient Egypt, enjoyed by the pharaoh Tutankhamun. Card games, such as whist, poker and Bridge have long been played as evening entertainment among friends. For these games, all that is needed is a deck of playing cards. Other games, such as bingo, played with numerous strangers, have been organised to involve the participation of non-players via gambling. Many are geared for children, and can be played outdoors, including hopscotch, hide and seek, or Blind man's bluff. The list of ball games is quite extensive. It includes, for example, croquet, lawn bowling and paintball as well as many sports using various forms of balls. The options cater to a wide range of skill and fitness levels. Physical games can develop agility and competence in motor skills. Number games such as Sudoku and puzzle games like the Rubik's cube can develop mental prowess.

    Video games are played using a controller to create results on a screen. They can also be played online with participants joining in remotely. In the second half of the 20th century and in the 21st century the number of such games increased enormously, providing a wide variety of entertainment to players around the world. Video games are popular in East Asian countries such as South Korea.

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  • The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale

    The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale

    Lawyers
    Lawyers

    “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
                                                   – President John F. Kennedy (1962)

    This week may be one of the worst weeks for Nigerian judiciary and they might have made the much vaunted Sowore’s revolution inevitable. The first salvo was the list of judges released by the National Judicial Council replete with the names of their sons and daughters as well as hangers on. Second is the farcical decision in EFCC vs Kalu where the Supreme Court “suo motu” created a new section to the constitution of Nigeria by vacating a conviction duly given under an extant law. The strange rationale by the Supreme Court is that the presiding judge, now elevated to the Court of Appeal should not have pronounced the sentence. The Court conveniently ignored the fact that the accused counsel had invited the judge to come back and continue the hearing by a formal letter!

    Gone are the days when Nigerian judiciary is famously celebrated as the last bastion of defense for the common man. The days of Kayode Esho, Chukwudifu Oputa, Muhammed Uwais is long gone. Our judiciary is no more like Caesar’s wife, above board. The problem however is not necessarily down to the hydra headed monster of corruption alone but a more sinister evil called, nepotism. It is my humble opinion that an opaque process for selection of judges led us to where we found ourselves this week. And the problem did not start with the current chief justice. The dysfunction and bastardization have been long in coming, and as we will find out in this piece, the cancer has eaten deep into the fabric of this nation. The revolution is inevitable. 

    The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale 1Lawyers

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    What precipitate this write up is a social media post by a good friend of mine and I obtained his permission to repost his comment with my personal edits:
    “It took Orji Kalu only 4 months including Covid lockdown challenge to move from the High Court to Supreme Court to get his so called sound judgment from Supreme Court while it took ten years to get his case completed at the High Court level. Ten good years! And we are told justice in Nigeria is not cash and carry? The Supreme Court is preparing the ground for a revolution and very soon something extraordinary will take place. The same Supreme Court that will give 2021 and 2022 court date for poor defendants, sat and summarily decide a case within 4 months while cases of those facing a life sentence languish in the labyrinth of jungle justice!”

    My first response to the post, is to retort that the problem did not start with judiciary, but they seem to have led the “nunc dimitis” for the internment of democracy in Nigeria. The judiciary may have pushed us to the praecipe but they were not the only one. We all recalled the impunity days of PDP rule and how they ride roughshod on people’s right, celebrating acquisition of jets obtained from corrupt practices while hordes of masses suffer the indignity of scrapping for foods from the gutter. Towards the end of that era, we all thought, if we can just get a man of integrity into Aso Rock, someone who will brook no atom of corruption, we will change the country. The election of 2015 seems to have lulled Nigerians into thinking that all we need is someone or a duo with integrity, so we elect Buhari and Osinbajo, a puritan and a pastor and went home satiated. What we were not prepared for or more appositely choose to ignore is the fact that the vehicle that brought them into governance is none other than the decrepit system that PDP used to feather their nest. In the first 4 years, we were told that the problem is with the National Assembly where the legistlooters shifted their control of the vortex of power in Abuja, opposing every anti-corruption moves of the executives. Then come the last election where the ruling party now controls the executive and legislative arm, but corruption runs through the gamut of the judiciary and Aso Rock looks the other way while nepotism festers in its rank.

    It is as if the cancer has completely swallowed up the entire fabric of the nation. Cases involving the poor dragged on for years while those who can afford senior advocate can get quick justice. Many warned that this will sound the death knell of democracy in Nigeria. Every attempt to even build on free and fair election has been truncated by the judiciary. What with the recent confounding judgment from Imo and Bayelsa. Our two gargantuan political parties now owned our judiciary lock, stock and barrel. They sit in smoke filled rooms to determine who will be governors, legislators and judges, and those who will play ball are readily appointed as pawns in the chest board of the Nigerian ruling class, wives, nephews, cousins, sons and daughters are made judges and senior advocates overnight without recourse to any modicum of meritocracy. A friend of mine recently quipped that the problem of nepotism is not just that it defeats meritocracy and breeds mediocrity but that it infects the entire body politics and renders it comatose. Corruption can be traced, and ill-gotten wealth recovered but nepotism is more sinister. Those who obtain position of power and authority through nepotism hold fealty only to their masters who appointed them. Such appointee will readily twist the constitution, made up section that does not exist all at the behest of their “godfather”. It is insidious and evil.

    I graduated from Nigerian Law School 30 years ago, after an excellent stint at Great Ife. My class at Ife, drawn from the north, east, west middle belt and south-south has in its rank some of the best legal minds any country will be proud of. We graduated with high hopes to take on the world and change the land. Few of us found ourselves abroad on scholarship where we flourish and excel. Those in legal practice in Nigeria, either at the federal or state ministry of justice or private practice are the ones my heart bleeds for, especially those without access to members of the National Judicial Council. I have had the privilege to advance my career abroad as an attorney and public defender. I frequently sit on panels that recommend colleagues for appointment as judges in a fair, open and transparent process; something my colleagues in Nigeria could only dream of.

    When I look at the state of Nigerian legal practice my heart bleeds. The career growth of colleagues in the legal profession in Nigeria is stunted not for lack of excellence but influence in the right place. Influence peddling is an art form in Nigeria and politicians used to have the exclusive preserve of selling it to the highest bidder, but our Judicial Council seems to have mastered the art. The problem will not be this pronounced if the sons and daughters they are foisting on Nigerian judiciary are steeped in the Nigerian experience or have a modicum of merit. As many of my colleagues are apt to complain, majority of the recent appointees hardly spend few years in Nigeria. They all went to schools abroad. Totally devoid of the Nigerian experience, and constantly removed from the everyday life Nigerians suffers under. Majority of them lives in the gilded mansions of their forbears in Abuja and other state capitals, where they are rarely touched by the “better angels of our nature” to use the phrase coined by Abraham Lincoln. It is therefore no surprise that they care only for what their “godfather” demand.

    Let me however warns that the biggest mistake we could make is to think that the rot is only in the heart of our judiciary. Think again. Nepotism is next door, next street, next town and everywhere in Nigeria. It rampages through the land, be it North, East or West. Just look at our churches and mosques, who do you see minister or lead the prayers when the founder/visioner is not around? You guess right,  if you say their sons and daughters. Gone are the days when Pa Fadayomi push to have a meritorious doctor of aerodynamics succeed him. Gone are the days when the leader of the faithful in Nigeria is selected by their aptitude in the knowledge of the Quaran. Nowadays, the exit of the leader is the beginning of the reign of the progeny. It has infected our colleges and universities, scholarship and opportunities that used to be available on merit are now exclusive preserve of the vice chancelor’s children and family members. Woe betide the school senate members that dare ask questions. Advertisement for jobs that has already been reserved for the children of the privileged are means to extort money in the form of application fees a la Abba Moro immigration recruitment scheme. A recent recruitment without advertisement at our apex bank reported by Sahara Reporters shows that successful applicants names were picked out of the rolodex of the governor. Commercial Banks staff are not an exemption, they are either recruited based on sex appeal or influential ministers/senators’ “recommendation” which doesn’t come easy for the educated but less privileged applicants.

    A friend concluded an animated discussion on social media on this issue with a distinctively Nigerian resignation: “It is clear that those who do not want things to work properly in Nigeria are more powerful than those who are working towards finding solutions to our problems.” Again, my response is what do we have to lose if we embrace Omoyele Sowore’s revolution, even with its youthful disdain for experience? Especially when our current experienced leadership seems to treat the Nigerian masses with contempt. Look at it this way: They do not need our votes to win election, as they could procure midnight judgment in Abuja a la Bayelsa and Imo. They do not need to legislate to fill any lacunae in our constitutional experience as the Supreme Court proved in Kalu’s case. In fact, as long as oil flows and they have the means to fill their Cayman Island bank accounts, we may as well not exist. Greed and avarice have become the directive principle of Nigerian ruling class. To rescue ourselves from their vice grip, we need revolution now!

    Francis Adewale
    Tioluwanimi@gmail.com

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    The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale
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  • Commemorating Smallpox Eradication – a legacy of hope, for COVID-19 and other diseases

    On 8 May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared: ‘The world and all its peoples have won freedom from smallpox.’ 

    The declaration marked the end of a disease that had plagued humanity for at least 3 000 years, killing 300 million people in the 20th century alone.

     

    It was ended, thanks to a 10-year global effort, spearheaded by the World Health Organization, that involved thousands of health workers around the world to administer half a billion vaccinations to stamp out smallpox.

    The US$ 300m price-tag to eradicate smallpox saves the world well over US$ 1 billion every year since 1980.

    Speaking at a virtual event hosted at WHO-HQ, involving key players in the eradication effort, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “As the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity’s victory over smallpox is a reminder of what is possible when nations come together to fight a common health threat.”

    The world got rid of smallpox thanks to an incredible demonstration of global solidarity, and because it had a safe and effective vaccine. Solidarity plus science equalled solution!

     

    Dr Tedros highlighted that smallpox eradication also offers hope for efforts to eliminate other infectious diseases, including polio, which is now endemic in just two countries. To date, 187 countries, territories and areas have been certified free of Guinea worm disease, with seven more to go. And the fight against malaria has so far resulted in 38 countries and territories certified as malaria-free. In the case of Tuberculosis (TB), 57 countries and territories with low TB incidence are on track to reach TB elimination.

    At the event, Dr Tedros unveiled a commemorative postal stamp to recognize the global solidarity that drove the initiative and honour the efforts of health workers who ensured its success.

    The stamp, developed by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), in collaboration with WHO, signifies what national unity and global solidary can achieve. Numerous countries, such as Guinea, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Togo and others issued smallpox stamps to show support for, and raise awareness about WHO’s Intensified Smallpox Eradication Programme launched in 1967.

    WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti’s earliest memories of smallpox is of her father. “I was visiting WHO headquarters, and I saw a photo of my Dad, standing with the other experts on the Global Commission. I remember him going out, doing follow-up visits with patients.  He often would go with a driver and disappear into the bush for days. I felt in awe of his tireless work. The strategies used to eradicate smallpox still apply today.”

     

    “Lessons learned from smallpox are used today to respond to disease outbreaks. For example, house-to-house active case-finding underpins the polio eradication programme, and ring vaccination of contacts is helping to combat the spread of the Ebola virus disease. Similarly, surveillance, case-finding, testing, contact-tracing, quarantine, and communication campaigns to dispel misinformation are central to controlling COVID-19, “ explained David Heymann, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and  Distinguished Fellow, Global Health Security at Chatham House, London.

    Following smallpox eradication, WHO and UNICEF launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization, under which 85% of the world’s children are vaccinated and protected from debilitating diseases.

    With the potential of a COVID-19 vaccine ahead, ensuring sufficient supplies and reaching people in hard to reach places is a high priority. Addressing vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to stop the virus. Access to accurate public health information and education is critical to ensure that the public has the facts to keep themselves and others safe.

    To permanently commemorate the eradication of smallpox and the lessons learned on a global scale, rather than every 10-years, WHO is calling museums, exhibition companies, designers, curators and associations to develop an immersive, interactive and educational exhibition on smallpox and its relevance for COVID-19 and global health security.  The exhibition, which will be unveiled later this year, will promote a better understanding of public health and empower people to keep informed and safe during a pandemic.

    Notes to the media

    Smallpox stamp

    The smallpox stamp is in the denomination of CHF 1,70. It was designed by Sergio Baradat (United Nations) in collaboration with the World Health Organization and is available for purchase at unstamps.org. The stamp can be used to mail postcards and letters around the world, provided that they are sent from the UN headquarters in New York, Geneva or Vienna respectively.

     

    Smallpox Eradication dates

    On 9 December 1979, a global commission certified that smallpox had been eradicated, and this certification was officially accepted by the 33rd World Health Assembly in 1980.

    Museum Exhibition

    Exhibition design companies, museums, curators and other companies/organizations in this field are invited to express their interest to develop an immersive, educational exhibition on smallpox and its relevance for COVID-19 and global health security by writing to privatesectorpartners@who.int

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