Justice for Sylvester Oromoni!

What is bullying? 

Wikipedia states that Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. Bullying is the activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt another individual, physically, mentally, or emotionally. 

A bully is therefore anyone who use force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate another.

Bullying comes in so many other forms. Not only amongst students. Teachers also bully students.

Some days ago, someone shared a post on a WhatsApp Group. The post was the story of of a 12 years old boy, Sylvester Oromoni, who was bullied and tortured by some senior students in Dowen College. Sylvester eventually died. He was beaten and "locked up in a wardrobe for 2 days". He was forced to ingest a liquid substance. His lips were swollen and "cracked". The child was in severe pains. His parents were called to come "take their child for treatment outside". The school management told the parents that their son had a fall while playing football!

The whole story is so SAD! I saw some disturbing images relating to the horrible story. How can the parents be consoled? How?! The stories on this ugly event got me worried. The denial by the school management was very lame and repulsive! 

That school, Dowen College is one of the so called "top school" in Nigeria. 

The welcome message on the school website read thus:

"At Dowen College Lagos, the students are our focus. Everything we do is centered on our students. Our desire is to produce balanced global leaders. Every decision made seeks to enhance the value added to the life of each student at Dowen College Lagos because we believe in the total development of the students morally, mentally and physically. Our way of life is encompassed in what we term “the A B C D of Dowen College."

If the students are truly the focus of the school as stated above, how did the Management not know? How can the teachers be blinded to the tortures students face in hostels?! Where was the House master when the boy was being beaten? 

How can the school ever desire to produce "balanced global leaders" when they cover up for the wrong acts perpetrated within the walls of the school?

What value was added to the life of the deceased student when the school decided to hide the truth from the parents when the parents were told that their child sustained the injury during a football game?

Sylvester Oromoni was tortured and eventually died as a result of the gruesome torture by some senior students in Dowen College, Lekki Lagos. News have it that the suspects have been flown out of the Country by their parents. . .  The Law of Karma is not a respecter of jurisdiction. Wherever they are, justice will prevail.  

Sylvester's death is one too many! 

Parents, these bullies are from homes. Whether the child is a bully or not, it ALL STARTS FROM THE HOME. Let us train our children well. Don't encourage wrong acts in any form. Live by example. Talk to your children. Listen to your children. Teach your children good morals. 

#JusticeforSylvesterOromoni

#SayNOtoBullying

#ChildrenSpeakOut

School Matters...

It's been three weeks since my Little Dee! started school. Contrary to my expectations, she is adapting fast (well). At least, she does not whine or cry while she is getting ready for school! Yes o! She really looks forward to school. Everyday, as I walk into the house, she welcomes me with so much excitement ready to tell me what happened in school! I thank God for this o!

Education is a vital tool in the life of every human being! Although it does not matter when an individual starts school, it is VERY important that every human being gets the basic form of education. That is why I do not understand WHY a parent would deliberately deprive his/her child/children from going to school!

Knowing to read and write would make things a lot easier for all. Education is an essential key to success in life.

Little Dee Goes to School!

Yes o!

Today marks the beginning of another phase in my baby's life! Little Dee started her educational pursuit today 12/09/2011.

She was SO excited as she got ready for School. When we dropped her off at school, the excitement had dwindled. After the initial protocols, I followed her to her class. While her siblings were giving her a tour of her class, I was busy taking pictures! All I kept saying was "my baby is in school..."

Well when I get home I will hear all the gists.

I am the Diokpa!

My hubby is from the Ibo speaking part of Delta State, Nigeria. In that part of the Country, every first male child in any family is referred to as the "Diokpa". In the simple terms, the Diopka is the head of the Family.

Recently, Tee was in one of his whining moods and I was just NOT in the mood to pet him. Instead, I chose to have a "chat" with him. In the course of the chat, I explained to him that he is almost 6 years old, and therefore, he is a big boy. I added that as a "big boy" he is not permitted to whine any more! I added that as the first son, he is the Diokpa of the family, and Diokpas don't whine or cry! That was it o! Now, he tries to comport himself as a "Diokpa". Whenever I notice he is about to change gear into one of his whining moods, I just simply say "It's a shame that the Diopka is about to whine!" Immediately, he'll switch to a better and acceptable mood!

One day, he was trying to assert his Diokpa right on Gee. He said to her "since I am the Diokpa, I am in charge of the house . . ." Gee immediately, retorted saying, "well, I am the FIRST child of this family and I AM in charge, so you must respect my views." When he asked me to say something on the issue, I said, "Gee is right. You have to respect her as the Ada of the family" I explained that an "Ada" is the first daughter of every family! At least, that settled it.

Too much TV!

I am seriously contemplating placing a ban on television watching in my house! My children are getting too addicted to the television and I am getting worried!

Back in the days, as a child, I did not have all that luxury. In fact, the first television we had was that type that looked like a cupboard with a fitted lock! Those days we were at the mercy of NTA! Only NTA! The television programs commenced at 4pm and terminates by mid night! Out of that eight hours, children watch their programs for 2 hours, and after that no more till the next day!

I remember that some days we'll sit in front of the television just before 4pm and start counting down. As soon as it's 4pm, the National Anthem is played and thereafter the presenter starts to read out the progammes scheduled for the day. We had some quality programmes back then! Although the quality of the programmes back then can not be compared to what is obtainable now! I must say, there is a great difference. Now, there are a thousand and one children programmes on various television channels to watch, thanks to DSTV and other cable networks. The language used in most of these so called cartoons are not appropriate for children (my views).

I remember when I asked Gee not to watch a particular programme on TV. She asked to know why and I told her that programme is for teenagers only. Then she said, "I can't wait to be a teenager". I looked at her with this surprise look and I said "well my dear you have to wait till you are a teenager. Even at that, I'll suggest you watch what you watch!"

My people, na so I see am o!

What do you want from Santa this Christmas?

Count down to Christmas! Five more days to Christmas.

My Hubby had a little conversation with the kids this weekend. After commending them for their good grades in the just concluded exams, he asked them the million naira question. What do you want for Christmas?

Gee said she wants a doll. Hubby asked "don't you feel you are getting too old for dolls?" "I think Santa would give her a gift right for an eight year old girl!" I interjected, even though I was not invited to the conversation.

As for Tee, he wants a Bagukan toy! I felt that was a change, considering that for the past three years, it had been Ben 10 this, Ben 10 that!

Imagine, my Little Dee was not asked what she want for Christmas! It's not fair. Well I believe Santa would give her something special!

Then, with a smile Hubby said, "well all that is left to do is for Mummy to send that email to Santa"

Almost immediately they both chorused "Mummy have you sent an email to Santa Claus?" As a quick defense, I told them I'll send it as soon as I can.

The tradition in my home is such that only if they are well behaved that their names can be included on Santa's list. The only way their names can be on Santa's list is IF Mummy sends an email to Santa that they were well behaved all year round. So if, Mummy does not send that email . . . they can not receive any gift from Santa.

Well, the other major job is ensuring that Santa delivers the gifts. My son had always wondered how Santa delivers the gifts, since we do not have a chimney!

Merry Christmas!

How Not to Treat Your Domestic Staff!

A domestic staff is anyone employed in a home to provide certain services as cooks, drivers, gardeners, nanny, maids, housekeepers etc. The most common of these domestic staff is a maid/house helps. In most households, the maids perform ALL the chores.

After my Gee was born, I remember telling myself that I would stay back to tend to her properly. I did not want to leave her in the care of any nanny/maid/creche. My reason was based on the negative stories I have been hearing about maids! Well, I did not stay at home. I resumed four months after. I was "fortunate" to have a maid just before I went back to work. I spent about a month studying her and putting her through. I gave her my ground rules and I added that we'll be great friends if she behaves. She stayed with me for about two years and all those years, we live together in peace like sisters. I never raised my voice at her because she never gave me the opportunity to. She once told me that I am different from all the other madams she's had in the past. I asked to know why she said that and she narrated how other madams had been mean to her. She said, most times, she goes without food! I was shocked!

How can a sane woman starve her domestic staff and yet expect such a staff to perform well? I mean, that is preposterous! As a general rule, I would suggest that mothers who have maids looking after their kids should ensure that their maids are treated well! If you treat your maids in a bad way, your children would not be treated well by the maid! It is just common logic!

I have heard  of some women who give their maids food once a day. I have also heard of people who give their maids soured foods. I have seen some maids with various scares on their bodies, as a result of the beatings they receive from their madams. I have even seen a girl with a scare caused by a hot iron placed on her by her madam!

Some guidelines on how to treat domestic staff in your employ:
1. See them as human beings!
2. Treat them like you would treat your own children, siblings and relatives!
3. Feed them well so they would have strength to perform the chores!
4. Buy them nice clothes so they would be presentable in the public!
5. Interact with them. That way, you will know how they feel about you!
6. Encourage them to become better citizens in future!
 
A maid is a human being just like you!

Tooth Fairies!

Do you believe in tooth fairies? Well, my children believe in tooth fairies. 

A Tooth Fairy

When Gee’s first milk tooth came off, she ran to me with the tooth in her hand. She was so excited. She said “now, my tooth fairy will come and take my tooth and exchange it for money”. Immediately, I concurred but I added that she has to sleep in her room, if she wants her tooth fairy to visit! (That was when they were always sleeping in my room) That night, she made sure she slept in her room.

The next morning, she ran excitedly to our room with a N500 naira note in her hand. “Mummy, Daddy, see what my tooth fairy gave me”. “Whao”, I said. Her daddy didn’t seem to share in our moment. He simply said, “your tooth must be very expensive for your tooth fairy to give you that much for a tooth.”

On one occasion, when she did not sleep in her room, she was so disappointed when she raised her pillow the next morning, and her tooth was still there! I reminded her that the tooth fairy only visits when you sleep in your room! That night, she slept in her room and of course, the tooth fairy performed!

Yesterday evening, another tooth came off. This time, there was no need to tell her where to sleep in order to make her tooth fairy visit her. She (and Tee) have been sleeping in their room in honour of our agreement. By this morning when she was showing off the N500 her tooth fairy left under her pillow, Tee was not happy. He wanted to know when his own teeth will start coming out. He said “Mummy, I thought you told me that my teeth will start falling out when I am 5 years old. I have been 5 since, and none of my teeth has come out. I want my tooth fairy to give me money too!”

Abeg o! This tooth fairy stuff na wa o! I wish I had a tooth fairy. LOL!

Do you believe in tooth fairies? Do you encourage your children to believe in tooth fairies?

Kidnappers on the Prowl!

Kidnapping occurs when someone is taken by force and held captive. This act of kidnapping is a criminal offence in any civilized Nation.

The rate of kidnapping is on the rise in Nigeria, particularly in Abia State. This heinous act started in Rivers State with the kidnapping of expatriates and oil workers. Back then, the kidnappers/hoodlums/militants claimed that the reason for kidnapping was to get the attention of the Federal Government to heed to their plead and develop the Niger Delta region.

The recent kidnapping of 15 innocent Nursery/Primary pupils on their way to School in Abia State, is the most heinous act I have heard in recent times. Infact the kidnapping in Abia State is TOO MUCH! Haba! The other time it was the journalist, then three female members of the National Youth Service Corps servicing in the State and now little children! Children between the ages of 3 to 6!

Now, these are the ones we get to hear about via the news media. I was told that people are kidnapped there daily. Kidnapping is now a means of getting free money for lazy people who want free money without working for it! These kidnappers would abduct anything, whether living or dead! If they have their way, they would even abduct pets and then demand ransom. WHY?

Should parents now lock their kids at home? Can we no longer walk freely without free of been kidnapped? Imagine the mental torture these children would be going through. I don't care however it is described, all I know is that it is morally WRONG for any right thinking human being to kidnap another! I just pray these children are released unhurt!

In a few hours, Nigeria would be celebrating its 50th year as a Nation. I ask myself, with the continued insecurity, crime etal, is there any reason we should be celebrating? What are we celebrating?

God Bless Nigeria!

Sleep in your room!

Drama in the house. . .

Getting my children, to actually sleep in their room is a very difficult task! Gee! and Tee! do not like sleeping in their room! I have tried all the tricks in the book, they still find their way into our room at night! Most times hubby actually 'chase' them to their room with a promise that he'll take them out if they (Gee! and Tee!) remain in their room all through the night, without sneaking into our room. Although they usually promise not to come to our room, they always find a way to break their promise! Usually, whenever hubby enters the room and sees all four of us (including Little Dee!) on the bed, he ends up in the guest room. Sometimes he carries them to their room, that way he can sleep in his bed! lol!

This had been the routine until recently when I stood my ground! Haba! For how long will this continue. Gee! is almost 8 years old while Tee! is already 5 years old.

I had a meeting with them. Yes o! In that meeting I told them clearly and sweetly that they were no longer babies and as such I would appreciate it if they start to SLEEP in their room especially at night! After so many questions and answers, they promised to sleep in their room from that day!

Well, that was the deal, and I thought to myself, they would not breach their part of the agreement.

How wrong! It was a few minutes past 11pm when I heard a door opening (I knew it had to be the children's room) and then footsteps. The next thing I heard was my own room door opening and 'someone' sneaking into my bed! I knew immediately it has to be Gee! She was followed almost immediately by Tee!.

I simply reminded them of our meeting and mutual agreement. Then in a very 'sweet' voice, I sent them back to their room.

Mehn! we need our room.

From that day, any time they 'attempt' sneaking into our room, I send them back. Right now, I can proudly boast that WE have our room to ourselves (to a large extent at least). Only Little Dee! is permitted to sleep in our room for now. As soon as she is old enough (maybe 3 years old) she'll be moved to the children's room.

This is ODD!

Some days ago, I read the story of a 72 years old woman who claims to be in love with her grandchild and infact, she "wants to have his baby". This is so strange (at least in my own part of the world!). What sort of affection would a GRANDMOTHER have for her GRANDSON to the point that she is willing to pay $54,000 to the surrogate mother who would give birth to her grandchild’s baby?

After reading this article, I decided to do a search on the internet, and I saw the story here.

The 72 years old GRANDMA was qouted as saying: “I am not interested in anyone else’s opinion. I am in love with Phil …. Soon I’ll be holding my son or daughter in my arms and Phil will be the proud dad.”

The Grandson, Phil Bailey says he is in love . . . with his grandmother. In his own words, “I love Pearl . . . I’ve always been attracted to older women and I think Pearl is gorgeous. Now I’m going to be a dad …..We get laughed at and bullied when we go out and kiss in public…… You can’t help who you fall for.”

Please my people, are these two for real? Are they actually in their right senses? Just asking. . .

Source: The Sun News.

Imagine this!

That Alhaji Sani Ahmed Yerima has a taken another child as his new wife is no longer news. However, what is new and news to me is the fact that this old man was quoted as saying he has not done any wrong! Hello! Talk about cradle snatching! Talk about child abuse!

It would be recalled that sometime in the year 1999, Sani Yerima, who was the Governor of Zamfara State declared that his State - Zamfara, was adopting the Sharia Legal system. That single act generated a lot of debates and it was greatly criticized.

Now, Yerima, a serving Senator, is in the news again. His latest wife is a child! She is just 13 years old for crying out loud!

I have had discussions with some moslems and one thing I have learnt from these discussions is that the Qur'an only permits marriage to more than one woman, on the condition that the man can support and treat them equally. Yap! The Qur'an does not make it mandatory to marry more than one wife! That is one part most moslems omit when relying on the provisions permitting them to marry more than one wife!

Yerima, who was born sometime in the year 1960, paid a whooping sum of $100,000 approximately (N15,000,000) as the bride price for this child and the wedding was allegedly conducted at the National Mosque in Abuja!

Nigerian women senators and various Women's Groups made this information known by writing a petition to the Senate. Following the petition, the Senate has ordered an investigation into this allegation - that one of its members married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl.

The groups also want the senate to "estabish the legality or otherwise of this action, considering the high personal status of Senator Yerima, his status in society as a lawmaker and leader and the negative effect of such acts on the image of Nigeria".

In an attempt to raise a defence, Yerima said in a BBC telephone interview that he has not violated any rule as far as Islam is concerned. "I don't care about the issue of age since I have not violated any rule as far as Islam is concerned," he said.

THE CHILD RIGHTS ACT
In 1989, world leaders saw that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too. To this end, there was a Convention for the Rights of the Child which was adopted by the UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

By virtue of this Convention, every Member State is mandated to ensure that the principles of the Convention are implemented in their Countries. On this note, Nigeria passed this Convention into Law in July 2003. Under the Nigeria Child Rights Act, betrothal and marriage of children (as defined by the Act) is prohibited. The penalty/punishment is a fine of N500,000 {(£2,000) ($3,320)} or imprisonment for 5 years or both (ie fine and jail term).

My Family!

I am a working Mother with three wonderful kids! I had introduced them in my other blog as Tee!, Gee! and Little Dee! I am married to my Hubby.

Gee! is the eldest of the three musketeers and she  is 7 years old. Tee!, the only boy is 4 years old. Little Dee! is 1 year old. There is another member of my family, E! She is our help, looking after Little Dee! while I am at work. My children call her Aunty E!

Gee! is a third grader. Tee! is in Nursery. Little Dee! is in Home School. LOL! Today, Tee! and Gee! resumed school and as such we left Little Dee! alone with E!. Little Dee! cried as we waved her bye. Gee! stopped to give her a kiss and promised that "when I return from school, we'll play, ok?". Big bros Tee! simply waved and told her to stop crying! As for me, I just gave her a big bear hug sealed with my usual kiss. Gosh!

While I am at work, I try to stay focused and leave my thoughts in a zip bag! I remember, some years ago, when Tee! was just a baby in Home School, while I was in Court waiting for my matter to be called, I got so carried away that when my case was called, I did not know! My colleague who was in Court with me had to nudge me to stand up and announce my appearance! Yeah! I was day dreaming!

The life of a working Mummy!

Santa 's List

This is the first day in the month of December. The time when most kids expect to get gifts from "Santa Claus" or "Father Christmas".

Over the years, "Santa Claus" has been giving Gee! and Tee! (my first two kids) gifts. Now I will have 3 names on that list I am sending to Santa. I have to include Little Dee! on that list. LOL! As far as Gee! and Tee! are concerned, Santa would definately send them gifts. It comes authomatically. Well, I have another plan for them this Christmas! lol!

Yesterday, I told them that Santa Claus sent me an email and he wanted to know if they have been of good behaviour. Now it is for me to qualify "good behaviour". Immediately, Gee! defended herself:       

Gee! - Mummy is my name on the list you are sending to Santa Claus?

Me  -  Hmmm! I am not sure. But do you think your name should be on that list?

Gee!  - Yes Mummy. I have been a good girl. You have been telling me that I am a good girl, so I know I am a good girl. That was why my tooth fairy gave me money when my tooth came out.

See me see trouble o! Can you imagine her sense! I wonder if she will still hold this line of reasoning in the next 2 years! Anyway, the talk continues, this time with the little man of the house Tee! For a child who is four years old, he knows too much.

Tee! - Mummy did you write my name on the list?
Me -  Do you think your name is on the list?
Tee! - (laughing) Yes, my name is on the list!
Me -   Right now, as it stands, your name is not on that list. Do you know why?
Tee! - (speaking with a very low voice) No.

Me  -  Your name is not on the list because you cry and whine unnecessarily.

Tee!  - Okay I promise I will not whine or cry again.
Me  - Why should I believe you now? You made the same promise last week and several times before. Why should I believe you?
Tee!  -  I promise now. Okay if I do not stop whining then don't put my name on the list next time.
Me - I will hold you to that. (addressing Gee! and Tee!) So what do you guys want for Christmas?
Gee!  - I want a pair of black shoes! (Typical woman)
Tee! - I want a Ben Ten gift!
Me  - But Tee! you have lots of Ben Ten toys and three Omnitrixes! Are you not tired of Ben Ten?
Tee!  -  No!!

See me see trouble o! Like a friend of mine said, na me find trouble! Well let me send that email to Santa so they can get their gifts on Christmas day!

Children in Love

Who says children do not know love?!

I just read the news about two little Germans aged 5 and six who planned to elope to Africa to get married!

The children, who say they are "very much in love", packed some of their belongings and headed for the airport. They were stopped by a by a policeman in Hanover.

Read more here.

"Child Witches"

Wonders shall never end in deed!

I watched with utmost disdain the in human treatment meted out to little children in Akwa Ibom State by one so called "pastor" otherwise known as Bishop Sunday Ulup-Aya. He claims he has the power to free children from witchcraft. Looking at this self acclaimed Bishop all I can see is FAKE! Who appointed him as a bishop in the first place? He is a FAKE and surrounded by FAKE! A dirty looking hungry man decided to make himself rich, and he said to himself, "let me tell all gullible parents that their children are witches or wizards, and I have the power to set them free from such spirit". O yes and the gullible parents believed and submitted their precious babies to some horrific tortures! Very pathethic indeed.

One of these children even had a nail, about 3 inches long pierced through her skull!

Mary, whose picture appears below, was burnt with acid by her own mother!

Another child, Ekemini was tied to a tree by her own father! She was tied by her ankles!

There was also a story of a set of twins neglected by their mother because another human being branded them to be witches!

All these pictures are courtesy of the Observer.

All these inhuman treatments are meant to free the children from witch craft. Some are made to drink a "special" mixture prepared by the bishop. This concoction is a combination of local gin, some herbs and the bishop's blood! The bishop also administers a strange concoction into the eyes of the suspected child "to blind their spiritual eyes! How can one describe these inhuman treatment meted out to small "innocent" children by a fellow human being?

Haba! The fake hungry bishop even opened his wide mouth to state that there are over 2.3 million witches in Akwa Ibom State! Now that is a State where the last census results show that there are 3.9 million people in there. In other words, more than half the population are "winches". That is alarming! In his own statistics, only children are witches. So the adults are free. Hello! Which crystal ball revealed this to him?

As far as I am concerned, those parents who subject their children to such barbaric and inhuman treatment should see a shrink! Infact they are also witches! It takes a witch to know a witch!

In order to perform his exorcism Ulup-Aya demands a fee of N400, 000 (approximately $3,390) per child, or I mean "client". Initially, I thought this amount was too high for the average man in a remote area. I thought it was an error, a slip of tongue. In his words, once the child has been initiated into the witch craft world and also eaten there, then it becomes a serious case. Hence the high fee charged for deliverance. If the gullible parents are unable to pay, Ulup-Aya then holds the child captive until the bill ransom is settled. The children are not allowed to defend themselves; they are tortured and forced to admit to an offence or guilt they know nothing about. Ulup-Aya even admitted that he has killed a total of 110 suspected child witches! What?! That is murder! This is the height of in human treatment!

The video of this horrific story is even available on the web courtesy of YouTube. See more here.

In one of my previous posts, a fake pastor raped a little girl to death. This girl was also suspected of being a witch. For the love of humanity what is are all these stories about witches? May the Almighty God have mercy on us all!

The good part is that bishop has been arrested! Praise God! I pray that he gets a double portion of all he deserves from the long arm of the Law!

What sort of "Christians" are we breeding in Africa?
What sort of Christianity is been practiced in Africa?
Why are people (Christians) so gullible?

Tainted Milk Scare

It is no longer news that "tainted milk" formula has killed several babies in China.

The milk is tainted or contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine. Melamine is a clear to whitish substance that normally exists in crystal form. Ordinarily, this dreaded chemical called "Melamine" is used in combination with formaldehyde (another chemical) to produce a resin used in several products ranging from white boards to counter tops. Melamine also has a high nitrogen content that can fool quality tests for protein content in milk.

If consumed by humans, especially by small children, melamine can cause kidney stones and other potentially fatal complications.

Today the scare of the tainted (contaminated) milk is spreading fast and most Countries are taking serious steps to avoid the milk getting to its shores! Most countries have banned the import of Chinese dairy products.

The dreaded chemical (melamine) that makes the formulas "tainted" has also been found in ice cream! Now this is really scary considering that ice cream is consumed by most humans today.

About 20% of the dairy companies tested in China had sold products tainted with melamine. Suppliers to the companies are thought to have added the banned chemical, normally used in plastics, to watered-down milk to make it appear higher in protein.

You can read more stories by clicking the links below:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-17-china-babyformula_N.htm

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/09/200892435458424120.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/china.milk/index.html

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Some weeks ago in Nigeria, reports had it that there was fake "SMA" baby formula in circulation in the Nigerian markets! The question now is WHY ON EARTH will a human being release fake/adulterated products into the market for others to buy?

Please if you are a nursing mother out there, as much as possible let your baby feed on breast milk exclusively for the first six months. Please don't say it is impossible. It is very possible, particularly if you set your mind to it. I am a working mother and I fed my babies exclusively on breast milk for the first 6 months. How was I able to achieve this? Well, I was expressing the breast milk! It was tough though, but I was determined to give the best to my kids.

Mummy I want a baby!

Daughter: Mummy I want a baby
Me: *Looking surprised* Why?
Daughter: We are only two children in this house. Why can't we be more. I want a sister.
Son: I want a brother! Two brothers
Me: Why the sudden need for a baby? Why are you two asking for a baby? Who asked you to tell me this?
Daughter: Nobody. We just want a baby! *hands akimbo*

In order to put an end to this question and answer session. I excused myself and dashed into my room! These children are just amazing. See me see wahahla o! Just as I was thinking of the whole thing, my daughter came into the room and continued from where she stopped.

Daughter: Mummy you know you have 1 sister and 3 brothers. I have only 1 brother. Its not fair.
Me: (I had to hold myself from laughing). I thought we had concluded this conversation.
Daughter: No we have not! Why don't you want to have another baby?
Me: Its not that I don't want to have another baby. I felt we are okay like we are now. But maybe you should pray and tell God what you want. Remember, He is always there for you.
Daughter: Okay I'll pray. "Father Lord give my mummy another baby. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Mummy say Amen.
Me: Amen.

This happened a couple of months ago!

The conversaion continued last month after I announced that a friend gave birth to a baby girl.

Daughter: That means Zee now has a baby. You see her mummy has given birth to a baby for her. Only you remaining!
Me: Don't worry you'll soon have a baby too.
Daughter: *looking very happy* Eh! So I will soon have my own baby. Thank God!
Me: Now are you happy?
Daughter: Yes I am happy!

The truth is that I just said it to dismiss her. But from the look of things, that was not a mere dismissal!

Welcome to the World!

Congratulations Mavi on the birth of your beautiful baby girl!

Whao! the baby is so so beautiful! Welcome sweet baby to this wonderful world. Although I have 2 kids already, after I carried Mavi's baby I felt like having another! Yeah. But that is just a feeling! (LOL)

That same day (06/06/08) my son back in the days (school son) joined the Daddy's club as his wife also delivered a beautiful baby boy! Yes! I now have a grandson! (LOL).

Thank God for safe deliveries. The two Mothers and their babies are in good health! Praise God!

Happy Children's Day!

Happy Children's Day Nigeria!

Every year on 27 May, Nigerians (esepecially the young at heart) celebrate Children’s day!

This is a day set aside to celebrate Children. A day when parents indulge their children with all goodies. A day when the children get to have things done their own way (at least to an extent!) Generally it is a fun filled school free day for children.

A brief on Children’s Day
Sometime in August 1925, people from different Nations of the World, about 54 representatives from different Nations, convened in Geneva, Switzerland for the first ever “World Conference for the Well-being of Children.” It was during this convention that the “Geneva Declaration Protecting Children” was passed.

Some of the crucial issues discussed at the Convention included the following:
· Relief for children in poverty
· Promoting the welfare of children
· Sound education for children
· Child labour
· Spiritual needs of children

After the 1925 Convention, various governments around the world designated a day, different in each country, as Children's Day. In 1954, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that all countries inaugurate a Universal Children's Day. This day is to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children; a day to encourage and bring joy and smiles to children. The UN General Assembly suggested that the Day should be observed on any date considered appropriate.

In compliance with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, Countries have set aside a particular day each year as Children’s Day. In most countries Children’s Day is marked as a National holiday, while other countries do not mark it as a National holiday. In Nigeria, May 27 is observed as a National Holiday for children!

Children's Day is a time of festivity for children in any country. The day serves as an opportunity for honouring Children worldwide. Children’s Day serves as an opportunity for Parents to interact with their children and it helps to strengthen the bond between a child and his/her parents. In additional, Children’s Day is a time when children of all receive gifts from their parents, Aunties, Uncles, Grandparents, Teachers, older siblings etc. On this special day, children are given treats, they visit places of interest, and just have a fun filled day! In Japan, the Japanese families fly carp kites (representing each son) on Children's Day. In Turkey, the seats of Parliament are held by children, and a child becomes President for a day. The child President delivers a speech on national television.

Childhood is a phase in life where a child is expected to have all the fun in the World. You are a child if you are born of a human! Invariably, WE are ALL children!

HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY NIGERIA!