Category: Featured

Bad Boys, Soft Life And Used Girls, By Funke Egbemode

Emporium Reporters

Remember the good old days of Finance Houses in Nigeria? Our young men achieved success overnight. One minute they were marketing officers and the next, they were on management floor. Those places were real magic places. And you know how young men who come into money early run things. They simply remember their long gone ancestor, the prodigal son in the Bible. Exactly. They lived large and spent money like it was going out of fashion. The set-up of the Finance Houses didn’t help matter much either. They paid more…

NEVER ALLOW TIME TO PASS YOU BY… By Haruspice

Emporium Reporters

The first time I wrote a story in primary 5, my teacher said I copied it. So, she flogged me.   In my secondary school, my literature teacher forced me to retake her paper, according to her, even Ola Rotimi who authored the ‘gods are not to blame’ wouldn’t be that precise like I did. So, she scorned me for cheating.   In my university days, a coursemate would always lash at me whenever I write. To her, everything I wrote was a plagiarised effort. According to her, she had…

Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla NN/1725 Chief Of Naval Staff

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R Adm Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was born on 20 Dec 68 in Enugu Ezike Igbo Eze north LGA Enugu State, Nigeria. He obtained the WASC from the NMS Zaria in Jun 87 where he graduated as the best boy in Sciences. He had A1 in all subjects except English language.   He is a member of the 39 RC NDA, graduated with a BSc in Maths and was awarded sword of honour as the best naval cadet in his course. He was commissioned S Lt on 16 Sep 92 and…

The Coal City: A Special Travelogue By Omoniyi Ibietan, Phd

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‘Oga na master’, is a popular Nigerian sociolect that speaks to the undisputable invincibility of great leaders. So, I am in the Coal City to see my master, Dr. Tony Ojobo (yea, the PhD is done and dusted), and to deliver the autographed copy of my book to him which he had ordered. He was an enabler from day one of our meeting, so it’s befitting that I come properly to make this presentation. As Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ojobo was my boss at NCC. When I decided to…

The Journey to Timbuktu By Omoniyi Ibietan,Phd

Emporium Reporters

So, last night I was ‘arrested’ by my twinny in the student movement, Niyilola Dopemu Rasheed, my namesake, friend, brother, comrade. ‘Lagos Connection’ is the popular name. He is indeed a prince of Lagos. Otherwise called ‘Eko’, he was House Secretary of the Student Union Government at the University of Ibadan, when I arrived UI, in the first instance in 1995. My comrades and I have been embattled for years at Abuja where I was expelled ostensibly for radicalism, alongside 44 others, the reason the case file was labelled Niyi…

Imaan; Two Years of Matchless Exploits at NCFRMI, By ABUBAKAR YUSUF.

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The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Person’s NCRMI had made significant reforms and innovations two years down the line, under the leadership of the Hon federal commissioner, Hajiya Imaan- Suleiman Ibrahim.   Imaan redeployed from NAPTIP to reposition and transform the refugee commission in line with the present realities, tackled all the teething problems headlong using both immediate and long term solutions to achieving so much two years down the line.   She promised on assumption of duty to convert the ceremonial and annual programs into ‘projects’…

Student Loan Bill: Steps for Nigerian students to access loan scheme

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The signing of the Student Loan Bill into law by President Bola Tinubu on Monday has elicited commendations from the public, especially students. The bill will enable Nigerian students access loans at interest-free rates. It is also expected to see the establishment of an education bank. In November 2022, the bill was passed by the National Assembly. The bill was sponsored by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila. The bill seeks the establishment of the Nigerian Education Bank, which shall have powers to supervise, coordinate, administer, and monitor the management of student loans…

‘Babe, I swear, the condom broke…’ By Funke Egbemode ([email protected])

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A man ‘firing’ his mistress or girlfriend is not on a mission to reap bountiful harvests. All he wants to do is sow impressively and give a good account of himself. He loves the hunt. He loves the moans, groans and his woman’s vigorous vote of confidence after every play. But babies? Nothing like the announcement of a pregnant mistress to kill a man’s vibes. His third leg simply goes limp. The cowardly thing always recoils into a harmless shape at the sign of such trouble. One minute it’s a…

Chimaroke Nnamani: A Different perspective @ 63. By Paul Mumeh

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Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, former Governor of Enugu state and progenitor of Ebeano political dynasty could be likened to a patriot who in the beginning of a change is a scarce man but brave, hated and scorned. But when his cause succeeds , the timid joins him, for then , it costs nothing other than sacrifice to be a patriot.   It will be uncharitable to view Chimaroke Nnamani and his political trajectory from one perspective or narrative. This is because he is a man of many parts who plays his…

NYSC @ 50: A Heart Of Gratitude

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme established on 22nd May, 1973 turned 50 and it has been a week of celebrations. Worth celebrating – YES, I will opine.   The scheme has come a long way, weathered the storms, survived the odds and has grown from mobilizing just over 2000 graduates in 1973 to over 300,000 youths annually for self–development and nation-building. NYSC has not only expanded in the number of graduates mobilized, but also in the variety of programmes and skills introduced to the Corps Members.   As…