General – 糖心原创! Come for the fun, stay for the culture! Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:16:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 /wp-content/uploads/zikoko/2020/04/cropped-糖心原创_糖心原创_Purple-Logo-1-150x150.jpg General – 糖心原创! 32 32 7 Types of People You’ll Meet at Absolut’s Born To Mix Experience at Lagos Cocktail Week 2026 /general/7-people-youll-meet-at-absoluts-born-to-mix-experience-at-lagos-cocktail-week-2026/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:31:49 +0000 /?p=386551 Absolut’s Born To Mix experience is returning at Lagos Cocktail Week; it’s finally here! If there’s one thing we know about Lagos people, it’s that you can put ten of us in the same place and somehow get twenty different personalities.

It all starts today, October 22, at 5 PM! Absolut is bringing cocktails, creative bartending, and a whole mix of experiences to the Balmoral Convention Hall at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, today and tomorrow, October 23.

And because we already know what happens when Lagos people gather, here are seven personalities you should expect to meet at the Absolut experience.

The real question is, which one are you?

1. The One Who Suddenly Becomes a Cocktail Expert

They’ve barely taken two sips, but they’re already discussing flavour profiles like they have a degree in mixology.

“This one has citrus notes.” “I think the balance could be better.”

Oga, weren’t you asking what vodka was made from five minutes ago?

With Absolut Citron, Absolut Vanilla, Absolut Raspberry, and Absolut Watermelon bringing different flavours to the Born To Mix experience, this person will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their newfound expertise.

Just smile and let them cook.

2. The Friend Who Wants to Explore Every Absolut Cocktail

You know that friend who loves exploring every option on a menu?

That鈥檚 this person.

They鈥檒l start by asking about Absolut Citron, get curious about a cocktail featuring Absolut Raspberry, and wonder what Absolut Vanilla brings to the mix.

With Absolut Watermelon adding another flavour to explore, they鈥檙e all about discovering different combinations and finding their favourite.

But for them, the experience is about savouring the flavours, making mindful choices and enjoying the moment responsibly.

If Born To Mix had a personal flavour explorer, this would be the person.

3. The Social Butterfly Who Knows Everybody

This person came with you, but you haven’t seen them since you entered.

Somehow, they’ve greeted five old friends, met three new people, and introduced themselves to the bartenders.

You turn around for two seconds, and they’re already taking pictures with people you don’t recognise.

But honestly, they’re exactly the kind of people Absolut had in mind with Born To Mix. Different personalities coming together, making connections and enjoying shared experiences.

4. The Content Creator Who Needs 17 Takes of One Cocktail

Before they even taste their Absolut cocktail, the camera must eat.

First, we need a close-up. Then another angle. Then the slow-motion video of the bartender making the drink.

And please, nobody should touch the table until the perfect shot has been captured.

Absolut’s Born To Mix experience will give this person plenty of content opportunities, from creative cocktail serves to the activation’s atmosphere and personalities.

Just know that if you’re attending with them, you’ve automatically become their unpaid camera assistant.

5. The One Taking the Absolut Bar Battle Personally

They are not competing. They don’t know any of the bartenders personally. But somehow, they’re more invested in the Absolut Bar Battle than the actual contestants.

“Look at that technique!”

“Ah, this person deserves to win!”

Before you know it, they’ve picked their favourite bartender and started analysing every cocktail like they’re on the judging panel.

The Absolut Bar Battle will put bartenders’ creativity and skills on display, so this person will have enough entertainment to keep them occupied.

Nobody should argue with them about their favourite contestant, please.

6. The Friend Who Said They Were Only Coming for One Hour

“I’m not staying long.”

Famous last words.

They arrived at Absolut’s Born To Mix experience with every intention of making a quick appearance.

But then they discovered an interesting cocktail, ran into someone they knew and got distracted by everything happening at the Absolut space.

Now it’s three hours later, and they’re the ones suggesting everybody should stay a little longer.

The friend who was supposedly in a hurry has suddenly forgotten they have somewhere to be.

7. The Person Who Wants to Experience Absolutely Everything

This person did not leave their house to stand in one corner.

They’re checking out the Absolut cocktails, watching the Bar Battle, taking pictures, meeting people and asking what else is happening.

If there’s an activity at the Born To Mix experience, best believe they’re finding their way there.

And that’s the beauty of Absolut’s presence at Lagos Cocktail Week. There’s room for different personalities, interests, and experiences, whether you’re passionate about cocktails or simply curious to discover something new.

This person understood the assignment before anybody even explained it.

So, Which Absolut Born To Mix Personality Are You?

Whether you’re the unofficial cocktail expert, the content creator holding everybody hostage for pictures or the friend who somehow knows everyone in Lagos, Absolut’s Born To Mix experience has something for you.

Catch Absolut at Lagos Cocktail Week 2026 today and tomorrow, October 23, at the Balmoral Convention Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Come discover different flavours, experience the creativity behind cocktail making and find out what happens when Lagos comes together to mix things up.

Absolut. Born To Mix.

#BornToMix #AbsolutNG #DrinkResponsibly #AbsolutxLagosCocktailWeek #LagosCocktailWeek2026!

Enjoy responsibly. 18+.

About Pernod Ricard Nigeria

Pernod Ricard Nigeria is the local affiliate of Pernod Ricard, a global leader in wines and spirits.

Pernod Ricard holds a comprehensive portfolio of premium and luxury brands, with 16 out of the top 100 spirit brands in the world, including Jameson Irish Whiskey, Beefeater Gin, Martell Cognac, Seagram鈥檚 Imperial Blue Whisky, Absolut Vodka, Ballantine鈥檚, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky, Inverroche, Olmeca Tequila, Malibu Liqueur, Imperial Black, and G.H. Mumm Champagne.

About Absolut Vodka

Established in 1879 by Lars Olsson Smith, Absolut Vodka is one of the world’s leading premium vodka brands. Produced in 脜hus, Sweden, using locally sourced winter wheat and pure water, Absolut is crafted through a continuous distillation process that delivers exceptional purity, quality and a distinctively smooth taste. Part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, Absolut is globally recognised for championing creativity, individuality and the art of mixing through its Born To Mix philosophy.

]]> Contraceptives in Nigeria: The Real Cost of “Not Being Ready” For It /her/the-cost-of-contraceptives-in-nigeria/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:21:31 +0000 /?p=386151 Nobody tells you that saying I’m not ready for contraceptives comes with a price tag. Imagine you earn , Nigeria’s current minimum wage. That’s expected to cover rent, transport, and whatever plans you have, including having a child. Something’s got to give.

Limited access is not the only or major problem with contraception. At least not in the way we think it is. Another significant limitation is cost. The budgeted cost of living does not allow for lower-class Nigerians to consider the luxury of contraception.

What does the math actually look like?

The Real Price List

Here’s what the of being ready actually is, depending on what you use and where you get it:

Pills: 鈧400 to a jaw-dropping 鈧40,000, depending on the brand.

Emergency pills: 鈧1,200 to 鈧4,000. The one thing that stays roughly the same everywhere.

Condoms: 鈧500 to 鈧22,000. Yes, really.

Implants (Hormonal & Non-hormonal): 鈧4,000 to 鈧6,500.

Injections: 鈧700 to 鈧5,000 per shot, and it’s not a one-time cost. You鈥檙e expected to get a shot every three months for as long as you are sexually active. Many young women choose it because it’s discreet. There鈥檚 nothing to hide, and where there鈥檚 nothing to hide, nobody has to know about it. 

IUDs: 鈧25,000 to 鈧307,500.

The range of costs for IUDs is real. It’s a 鈧282,500 gap between the cheapest and priciest IUDs. A gap that鈥檚 wider than most people’s monthly salary. Two women choosing the same method can end up paying different amounts, depending on which clinic they can reach. A variance an confirms the price imbalance as a pattern across Nigerian family planning clinics.

The Number That Actually Hurts

Think of an average Nigerian who earns minimum wage and is sexually active. Imagine they鈥檙e consistent with condom use and prioritise safety. The constant purchase cost can take a real chunk out of their 鈧70,000 salary before the month is halfway done. Up by some estimates, which is more than a quarter of their income. Now think of the ancillary costs that come with purchasing the condom, especially for women. The trip to the pharmacy (transport). The “moral” implication of being judged by the pharmacist(s) or sales attendant(s) while she’s at it.

These are the parts nobody puts on a poster.

It Gets Worse Depending on Your Location

Here’s the part that should really annoy you: contraceptives can cost wildly different amounts depending on which pharmacy you visit and where it’s located, even within states. A found that private facilities charge more than public ones. Sometimes significantly, for the same product. Two women, same contraception, same city, different prices. 

Some People Have Tried Fixing The Problem

It’s not all bleak. In 2016, made family planning free in parts of Yaba. The initiative involved scrapping the consultation and service fees clinics were charging solely on contraceptives. took similar action in 2019, after advocacy groups pointed out similar consultation and service fees. In these states, ignorance and culture were the only reasons women weren鈥檛 using contraception. In both states, women admitted to showing up and then disappearing once they realised how much it would cost. 

The problem is, not everyone is paying attention or trying to change things.

So, Are You “Not Ready” or Just Can鈥檛 Afford Contraceptives?

Currently, over women in Nigeria don’t have access to modern family planning options. And it鈥檚 not because they don’t know it exists. The version of “choice” they’re offered still comes with a price tag attached to it. Even worse, the price tag keeps on changing depending on where they live, what pharmacy they walk into, and how much money they earn.

“I’m not ready” sounds like a personal decision. For a lot of young women in this country, it’s really a receipt.

Written by: Divine Duru

Read Next: What You Need To Know About Your Favourite Contraceptives

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]]> Five Things You Should Know About the Dangote Refinery IPO /general/dangote-refinery-ipo-things-to-know/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:04:44 +0000 /?p=385211 Word on the street is that everybody and their daddy is buying Dangote Refinery shares. With the constant talk about people getting in on the action, it鈥檚 easy to feel like you鈥檙e missing out on something big. It might be because you don鈥檛 know how to buy shares. Or if you鈥檝e already bought some, you don鈥檛 know what you鈥檝e bought.

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) for Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE opened on September 14, 2026, and will close on October 13, 2026.  You can buy the shares through the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Public Offer portal or through any of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved banks. Other approved purchase channels include investment firms, fintech platforms, and electronic application channels listed on the IPO鈥檚 official . They include InvestNaija, Cowrywise, Bamboo, and PiggyVest. 

But before you join the frenzy, or if you already have, there are five things you should know about what you鈥檙e actually buying.

1. Buying Dangote Refinery聽shares doesn’t mean you get a seat at the table聽

You鈥檝e heard that the Dangote refinery is offering 4.1 billion shares, and objectively, that is a big number. In reality, however, only about of the company is being offered to the public. Even if the company exercises its oversubscription option and offers another of the original amount it intends to sell to the public, Dangote will remain the majority stakeholder with an estimated % stake in the company.  If all 4.1 billion shares are allotted and you buy the minimum 10 shares at 鈧525 each, you would own approximately 0.00000000805% of Dangote Refinery. In summary, buying the listed shares makes you the owner of a very small fraction of the company. 

2. The Dangote IPO is not exactly sharing the national cake

An IPO is an opportunity to buy shares offered to the public before they begin trading on the stock exchange (secondary market). But subscribing for shares doesn’t mean you will receive them.  Your application still needs to be validated before the company offers the requested shares in a process called allotment. The process for the Dangote IPO is expected around (if the (SEC) has no objections). Till then, the money you paid when you subscribed is blocked in your account.

Here鈥檚 where it gets interesting: there aren鈥檛 always enough shares to go around. If the company offers four billion shares and gets six billion offers, ? If people subscribe for more than is available, you may receive fewer shares than you requested. That means subscribing for 1,000 shares does not necessarily mean you鈥檒l receive all 1,000. The good news is that if you鈥檙e allotted fewer shares than you paid for, the excess money is usually returned to the bank account linked to your subscription.

3. The 鈥楧angote鈥 name is only half the story

Aliko Dangote is Africa鈥檚 richest man and a household name. Because of that, it鈥檚 easy to assume that investing with a billionaire immediately guarantees the safety of your money. But an IPO is not a savings account, and your investment risk is tied to the company,  not the man who owns it. Similarly, the past performance of Dangote鈥檚 other businesses, whether cement, sugar, or salt, does not guarantee the refinery鈥檚 success. Before you buy into the company, your wealth of information should be more than 鈥楧angote is the owner of the refinery鈥. 

4. Profits earned by the company are not automatically paid to shareholders

The IPO warns that the refinery鈥檚 estimated earnings depend on assumptions about crude oil prices, operating costs, economic conditions, and several other factors. The actual results may be different from the profits you鈥檝e been told to expect. So there鈥檚 a good chance that the shares you bought will become more valuable. But there鈥檚 also a chance that the opposite could happen.

The company does not guarantee (a portion of the company鈥檚 profits paid to shareholders). One reason why dividends may not be paid is the refinery鈥檚 intention to expand its capacity. Because of this, the company may choose to keep substantial parts of its profit rather than distributing it to the shareholders. The refinery can be very profitable while paying you little in dividends because it is reinvesting the money.

5. It鈥檚 not a get-rich-quick scheme 

A bottle of Fanta costs 500 naira. Paying approximately that amount to own part of Africa鈥檚 largest refinery seems like a steal. But 鈧525 is the offer price, not a promise about what the shares will be worth once they begin trading on the stock exchange (secondary market). The question isn鈥檛 whether you can afford it but whether it鈥檚 a good buy for you.  Shares/stocks are a medium- to long-term investment, and it might not be a good idea to buy shares with your last 10k if you know you鈥檒l need it in two weeks.  Not all opportunities are good for you. 

Next Read: How Much Does It Cost Women to Maintain Beauty Standards In 2026?

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]]> Drugs Used to Pass Through Nigeria. Now They鈥檙e Being Made Here /general/drugs-used-to-pass-through-nigeria-now-theyre-being-made-here/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:53:27 +0000 /?p=384878 On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that it had what it described as a large methamphetamine (Meth) laboratory in Abidagba forest in Ijebu East, Ogun State. 

The agency arrested ten people, including three Mexican nationals and a Nigerian who the agency identified as the alleged leader of the operation.

NDLEA said the laboratory had produced or was processing 2,419.48kg of methamphetamine, which it valued at about $362.9 million, equivalent to over 鈧480 billion on the international market.

On June 17, barely four weeks after the Abidagba forest arrest, the agency another laboratory in a forest in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State. NDLEA said the operation uncovered a sophisticated, industrial-scale facility containing , industrial catalysts and heavy-duty equipment. 

Five people were arrested, including a 56-year-old Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa,  whom the agency said had been brought into Nigeria to provide technical expertise for large-scale methamphetamine production.

These two discoveries are difficult to dismiss as isolated backyard operations. So we took a deep dive, and it appears the picture is becoming increasingly complicated. 

Arrested suspects in Oyo. Photo: Arise News

How did we get here? 

For decades, Nigeria’s place in the global drug trade has largely been understood through . Cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical opioids have through the country, with some destined for Nigerian consumers and others continuing to markets across Africa, Europe and Asia. Nigeria’s large population, extensive road network, busy ports and airports, and its position in West Africa have made it an location for international trafficking networks.

Though Nigeria is still a and a major market for illicit drugs, the country has also been some of them for years. What has changed recently is the scale of some of the operations being , especially the of industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratories in Ogun and Oyo states within weeks of each other.

Nigeria has been producing drugs for years

It would be wrong to suggest that Nigerian drug production started with the two laboratories found this year. The country has had secret drug for more than a decade, particularly facilities producing methamphetamine.

Between January 2015 and December 2016, Nigeria鈥檚 National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) five methamphetamine laboratories in Nigeria and noted that three of them had used ephedrine-based production methods. From June 2011 to March 2016, NAFDAC altogether. In May 2016, the agency eventually that Nigeria was becoming part of the West African methamphetamine production chain, with locally produced meth being trafficked to markets outside the region.

One of the most notable cases came in March 2016, when Nigerian authorities uncovered what was described as a 鈥溾 in Asaba, Delta State. The laboratory was reportedly capable of producing between 3,000kg and 4,000kg of methamphetamine per production cycle and was operated with the involvement of Mexican nationals. The discovery showed that Nigerian drug networks were capable of moving beyond simply importing and distributing finished products.

How is this happening?

There is a practical reason why local production changes the drug trade. When a criminal network imports a finished drug, it has to move that drug across an international border before it can reach its market. That creates several points where customs officers, police, anti-narcotics agencies and international partners can intercept it. A network that produces the drug inside the country removes one part of that journey.

It still needs chemicals, equipment, expertise and distribution networks, but the finished product does not have to cross Nigeria’s border before reaching Nigerian buyers or being moved onwards. That makes the discovery of laboratories important because it exposes an entire supply chain rather than a single consignment.

The Ogun case shows how sophisticated that supply chain can become. NDLEA’s noted that precursor chemicals were transported from Lagos to the laboratory in Mowe using vehicles linked to members of the syndicate. 

This shows that local production does not mean the drug trade has become entirely Nigerian. Criminal networks can local knowledge, local property and transportation with expertise and connections from outside the country.

The Oyo operation had a similar pattern. NDLEA said the Mexican suspect arrested there had been brought into Nigeria specifically to provide for large-scale methamphetamine production, while the four Nigerians arrested with him allegedly provided logistical support and handled local operations.

The Big Daily is your weekday shortcut to the biggest news shaping Nigeria. We cut through the noise, connect the dots, and explain why the news actually matters, all in one quick read.

Strange things in strange places 

NDLEA seizures regularly involve drugs concealed in things that would not immediately attract attention. In March, 2026, officers intercepted drugs hidden water-purifier machines shipped from Europe. In another case in July 2026, large quantities of tramadol and other controlled medicines were in a truck carrying building materials from Togo. The agency has also drugs hidden in vehicle compartments, parcels, and other commercial cargo.

The creativity is not limited to objects. Drug networks also exploit ordinary transportation systems and, in some cases, people who may not even know what they are carrying.

Where did the chemicals come from?

Producing synthetic drugs at this scale requires more than people who know how to mix chemicals. It requires access to , industrial equipment, storage facilities, transportation, and locations where the operation can remain hidden. But where do these chemicals come from? 

The NDLEA monitors controlled chemicals as part of its anti-drug operations. Its is responsible for activities including the identification and dismantling of clandestine laboratories and the monitoring of controlled chemicals that could be diverted for illicit production.

The recent laboratories show why that work matters, or at least, why it should matter. The Oyo facility large drums and containers of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts, and equipment used in chemical processing. 

The Ogun investigation also a sizable stock of precursor chemicals. According to the filed against the suspects, investigators recovered hundreds of kilograms of toluene and hydrochloric acid, along with acetone, P2P and phenylacetic acid. 

For now, no one can explain how the chemicals got into the hands of the manufacturers.

Should we be worried?

The Ogun laboratory was found in Ijebu East. The Oyo laboratory was discovered in Ibarapa North. Both are in the South-West, and both facilities were hidden in forested areas where large-scale operations could remain out of sight.

On June 3, 2026, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) described the Ogun discovery as , noting that the country is moving from being primarily a transit and consumer market towards becoming an important producer and exporter of synthetic drugs. ISS also highlighted the fact that the latest laboratory was located in a remote forest rather than the urban environments where some previous laboratories had been discovered.

It does not mean every forest community in the country is harbouring a drug laboratory. What it does point to is that law-enforcement agencies now have to look beyond the traditional locations associated with drug trafficking.

What Nigerians look forward to

For the NDLEA, that means dismantling a laboratory is only part of the job. The agency also has to trace where the chemicals came from, who financed the operation, who provided the technical expertise, how the finished product would have been distributed, and whether the network has other facilities operating elsewhere.

For Nigeria, it means the drug story is no longer only about what enters through the ports or what officers find hidden inside a bus. Some of the drugs being moved around the country may have started their journey in a Nigerian forest, produced by a network of experts who have learned how to manufacture them here.

Everything so far suggests law-enforcement agencies will have to keep watch on potential drug-producing forests closely.

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]]> 6 Nigerian Celebrity Couples With the Biggest Age Gap Relationships /general/nigerian-celebrity-couples-biggest-age-gap/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000 /?p=384583 Age gaps can be hard to miss in relationships, especially when the people involved are public figures. From seven years to nearly four decades, these Nigerian celebrity couples have made their age-gap relationships work.

Shade and Razaq Okoya 鈥 37-year gap

Businessman Razaq Okoya and his wife, Shade, have a 37-year age gap. They got married in 1991 when she was 21 and he was 59. They’ve built a successful business together and remain one of Nigeria’s most recognisable high-profile couples.

Beauty Queen Mitchel Ihezue and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu 鈥 30-year gap

Former beauty queen Mitchel Ihezue and her husband, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, have a 30-year age gap. Their relationship has also sparked conversations about age, marriage and what makes a partnership work.

Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and Jumobi Adegbesan 鈥 11-year gap

Veteran actor RMD is 11 years older than his wife, Jumobi Adegbesan. The couple has been married for 25 years, making them one of the enduring relationships in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Captain Matthew Ekeinde 鈥 10-year gap

Actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and her husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, have been married since 1996 and have a 10-year age gap. They tied the knot when she was 18 and he was 28. 

Peter and Lola Okoye 鈥 9-year gap

Singer Peter Okoye and his wife, Lola Omotayo, have a nine-year age gap, with Lola being older. The couple have been married since 2013.

Read Also: We Ranked the BBNaija S11 Pairs Causing Chaos in Biggie鈥檚 House

]]> GridLocked: Can You Guess The Album? (3 September 2026) /general/gridlocked-3-9-2026/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:51:08 +0000 /?p=383348 GridLocked is a daily pop culture guessing game built for Nigerians. Every weekday by 9am, you’ll get six clues, sixty seconds, and an answer only a Nigerian would know.

Today’s GridLocked is an album.

How many clues do you need to get it right? 馃憖

Share your result when done, but don鈥檛 spoil the answer for others. (Missed the last GridLocked? Play it here.)

3 September 2026

Come back every weekday by 9am for a new grid or , 糖心原创鈥檚 daily newsletter, to get new GridLocked puzzles, real Nigerian stories and other fun content in your inbox.

How to Play GridLocked

  • The Goal: Guess the answer for the day before time runs out. (The answer could be a Nigerian person, place, song, movie, or even slang.)
  • The Lock: You cannot type a guess until you have revealed at least one tile (clue).
  • The Reveal: Tap any tile to reveal a clue. Every clue describes the answer for the day. The fewer tiles you flip, the better.
  • The Clock: You have 60 seconds to guess right. The timer starts the moment you flip your first tile. (You get multiple guesses.)

The GridLocked Squares: What Do They Mean?

When the game ends, you see your guess count, total time spent, and the number of tiles flipped. The tiles are shown as white and purple squares.

  • 猬 (White) = A tile you flipped
  • (Purple) = A tile you left closed

The fewer white tiles you have, the better your result.

  • Best Result = 猬馃煪 | Guesses: 1 (Only needed one clue and one guess to get it right)

]]> Inside 糖心原创 Life 2: Blessing Uzzi on Writing Partnership, Domestic Drama in Before We Fall Asleep /general/blessing-uzzi-on-writing-before-we-fall-asleep/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:57:00 +0000 /?p=381786 The 糖心原创 Life Series Production is back, and Blessing Uzzi is still our showrunner. This time, she doubles as writer and co-director of , starring Tobi Bakre and Onyinye Odokoro.

Before We Fall Asleep flips the script on the typical Nigerian household. When a sudden job loss forces Tola to become a stay-at-home dad while his partner carries the financial load, their seemingly happy life hits a wall. It鈥檚 an uncomfortable dive into what happens to a relationship when traditional expectations shatter.

Blessing walks us through being a showrunner of the three-part anthology for the second time. More importantly, her message for the film she wrote is simple. “We are partners. You’re not helping me; I’m not helping you. We are doing what we鈥檙e supposed to do.”

Running 糖心原创 Life the second time comes with its own pressure, particularly the pressure not to drop the standard you already set. Blessing Uzzi kept the same directors and writers from the first season on purpose. “I wanted the work to keep the same level of quality,” she says. The only new addition to the team was Kaelo, and even that wasn’t really a gamble because of how familiar his work was. “I barely ever hire a stranger,” she says. “Somebody I don’t know anything about.”

Her vision for the anthology as a whole has stayed consistent too. “My vision was to do something artistic and equally commercial,” she explains, pointing to how deliberate she and her team were about which 糖心原创 articles made the cut. It’s the same bar every time. Something people will actually watch, and something that still says what it needs to say.

The Word “Help” Is Doing A Lot Of Damage

How often have you heard a Nigerian man say he’s “helping” his wife with the kids and household tasks? It sounds generous on the surface. But when you sit with it for a second, the word starts to give itself away.

Helping implies the job was never his. It implies he’s doing the woman a favour by stepping outside his own responsibilities to lend a hand. That he can stop lending it whenever he pleases. But it’s also his child, his home and his mess.

Blessing caught herself doing exactly this while writing the film. “It’s almost the default mentality,” she says. “You think he is helping, but helping with what? It is his child, it is his family. It’s also the woman’s child.” She’s watched this play out even in her own generation, where the shift is only partial. “We’ve made progress on men understanding that they’re part of the family. That they’re not doing their wives a favour by participating,” she said. “But there’s still work to do.”

That’s really what the film is about. Before We Fall Asleep challenges the way we’ve all been trained to think of domestic work as women’s work. With men occasionally popping in to assist. Even when the man isn鈥檛 contributing financially.

Choosing Relatability Over Literary Lines

Blessing鈥檚 intentionality as the showrunner of the production is evident across many things, even language. In an emotionally charged scene in Before We Fall Asleep, Tola (Tobi Bakre) tells Nazo (Onyinye Odokoro), “I felt naked. I felt like you didn’t cover me.” The line was originally written by Blessing as 鈥業 didn’t feel loved in that moment鈥, but changed when Tobi asked for the change. Blessing agreed instantly. She says, 鈥楾ola wasn’t written to be somebody you can’t relate to. He’s an average Nigerian man, a middle-class guy, and the new line simply sounded more like him.鈥

“There’s a slight shift there,” she says, “but it’s a shift towards the everyday language that an average Nigerian would relate to.” Blessing swapped one sentence for another, and the scene moved from something literary into something real. Tola sounds exactly like your uncle, your brother, your ex. Someone you can relate to. This is the vibe of the entire film. Scenes that make up the daily lives of Nigerians.

Married Or Not, Are You Actually Partners?

Tola and Nazo live together, have a child, and argue as every married couple does. But still, there鈥檚 something different about them that Blessing decides on.

鈥橧 don’t think 糖心原创 set out to tell conventional stories,鈥 she said. Their unconventional relationship 鈥榓dds a layer鈥 of the exact discomfort Nigerian society is quick to serve. 鈥楰nowing Nigerians, there’ll be a bit of judgment鈥. But her actual argument goes deeper than the judgment. 鈥橶hether you are married in the Nigerian traditional sense, or not, you’re together,鈥 she said. 鈥橸ou’re partners. If not, don’t be together.鈥

Two Tired People Trying to Make It Work

Blessing says she struggled with drafts of the script because one partner kept showing up as a villain. She scrapped multiple attempts before deciding to write it herself. “I always like to put a mirror in front of everyone,鈥 she explained.

Her instruction to herself, and to anyone watching the film, is simple. 鈥橸ou need to understand these two people.鈥 鈥橶hoever you feel for is left to you, but understand them. See them as humans. See what they are struggling with, and see how they’re trying to make this work. These people don’t hate each other.鈥

Wearing two hats for this project, as the showrunner and writer, wasn’t always easy for Blessing. As showrunner, Blessing is usually the one reading everyone else’s scripts and giving notes. Writing her own meant that she had to go looking for that same outside eye. “I remember sending it to Dika, and we all had a conversation that led to some of the rewrites,” she says. “When you’re the one writing, it’s easier to miss a lot of things you don’t see.”

is not about who’s wrong. It鈥檚 about whether you’re building a life with someone, or letting them carry it while you lend and call it love.

Go watch the film. Then have an uncomfortable conversation with whoever you’re building your own life with.

Next Read: Kaelo Iyizoba Explains Why Before We Fall Asleep Refuses to Pick Sides

]]> How to Borrow Money Without It Becoming a Problem /general/borrow-money-without-problems/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:20:50 +0000 /?p=380857 Borrowing money isn鈥檛 always a sign that you鈥檝e failed at managing your finances. There have been many occasions where it’s simply the fastest way to solve a problem, cover a life-threatening emergency or keep a business from dying.

However, the difference between a loan that aids and one that keeps you up at night usually comes down to one specific thing: having a well-thought-out plan before the money even lands.

If you鈥檝e been hesitant about taking out a loan because you鈥檙e worried about getting stuck in debt, these tips can help you borrow with confidence and stay in control.

1. Borrow what you can comfortably repay, not the highest amount you鈥檙e offered

Getting approved for a larger loan doesn鈥檛 mean you should immediately take it. Before you accept any offer, think about how the repayment fits into your monthly income. If making repayments would force you to cut back on essentials or leave you panicking every month, the loan is definitely bigger than you need. Trust us, you don鈥檛 want that headache. 

A good rule of thumb is to keep repayments within about 20 to 30% of your monthly income. Your future self shouldn鈥檛 have to struggle because your present self accepted more money than necessary.

2. The money should come with a purpose 

The easiest loans to repay are usually the ones with a clear purpose. It could be because you鈥檙e getting essentials for your business, paying your sibling鈥檚 tuition before your next salary arrives or covering a life-or-death medical emergency. Whatever the reason is, you should be able to have a coherent explanation for why you鈥檙e borrowing and how you intend to pay  it back.

If you can鈥檛 answer those questions before applying, it is advisable that you wait until you can.

3. Choose a repayment period that matches your reality 

We don鈥檛 believe every loan should be repaid over the same timeline. If you鈥檙e borrowing to get through the week before salary arrives, a short repayment period makes sense. If you鈥檙e financing stock that won鈥檛 get sold out the moment it hits the shelves, you鈥檒l need enough time for the business to generate income before repayments become due. 

A loan should be able to work with your income, and not against it. 

4. Set aside your first repayment before spending the loan

Yes, this sounds simple, but keep in mind that it can make a huge difference. As soon as the money enters your account, put your first repayment aside, and treat it as money that no longer belongs to you. It might be hard, but doing this immediately gives you breathing room and makes it much easier to stay on track when the repayment date arrives.

5. Make sure to think twice before borrowing that money 

Some expenses solve actual, real problems, but others simply satisfy a temporary want. Borrowing to pay rent, cover medical bills or invest in your business can make sense because those expenses meet important needs or create future value. Borrowing to fund a luxury bag, an expensive trip to the Maldives or keep up appearances is much, much harder to justify because once the excitement fades, the repayment remains. It鈥檚 not going to disappear out of thin air.聽

Before taking the loan, it鈥檚 extremely important to ask yourself one question: will this still feel like a good decision when the first repayment is due?

6. Repay early (if you can) 

Paying off a loan ahead of schedule not only reduces interest, but it also establishes a stronger borrowing history for you. With Carbon, early repayment can unlock higher loan limits and lower interest rates on future loans. In other words, borrowing responsibly today can make borrowing easier and more affordable if you ever need another loan.聽

It is true what they say about good financial habits often paying off in more ways than one.

8. That loan isn鈥檛 free money. Don鈥檛 treat it like one

Although the money may arrive in your account within minutes, keep in mind that it was never extra cash for you to just spend willy-nilly.

The borrowers who stay in control are usually the ones who decide exactly how every naira will be used before they even start spending. They know where it鈥檚 going, how they鈥檒l repay it and what they鈥檒l do if something unexpected comes up. That mindset alone can be the difference between a loan that works for you and one that turns into a burden.

Borrow with a plan, not just a need

A lot of people tend to fear loans, and while that is understandable, given the economic climate we currently exist in, it isn鈥檛 actually something to be scared of. It鈥檚 a financial tool, and like any other tool, it works best when you know exactly how you鈥檙e going to utilise it to the best of your ability.聽

If you鈥檙e looking for a loan that rewards responsible borrowing, lets you apply in minutes, manage repayments easily and even enjoy better borrowing terms when you repay early. That鈥檚 one good financial habit that keeps rewarding you, even after you鈥檝e finished repaying the loan.

]]> 5 Nigerian Women on The Blush Shade That Changed Their Makeup Game /general/nigerian-women-blush-shade-changed-makeup-game/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:45:05 +0000 /?p=380701 For years, blush felt like an afterthought in many makeup routines for women with deeper skin tones. Some women skipped it because they couldn’t find shades that matched their skin tones, while others assumed it was a product designed only for lighter complexions. But as beauty brands like have become more intentional about creating products for melanin-rich skin, blush has evolved from an optional step to a staple. Thanks to the recent rise in celebrity make-up artist, PaintedByEsther鈥檚 bold blush technique, more and more women are going for the beautiful, flushed look.聽

We asked five women about the blush shades that changed their minds about using it in their routine. Here鈥檚 what they said.

“A deep berry blush made me realise blush wasn’t just for light-skinned girls” 鈥 Amanda*, 24

For the longest time, I thought blush was one of those products that only looked good on lighter skin tones. Every time I tried one, it either disappeared completely or looked like I was carrying pink dust on my cheeks. So I stuck to my powder highlighter and called it a day.

Everything changed when a makeup artist used a deep berry blush shade on me for a wedding I attended. It looked so natural that I didn’t even realise how much it had transformed my face until I started getting compliments. 

Now, I reach for berry and plum-toned blushes almost every time I do my makeup. They’re pigmented enough to show up without making me look overly made up. If I had to choose between a highlighter and blush, blush wins every time.

“Warm blush shades are my secret weapon” 鈥 Tolu*, 28

I don鈥檛 wear a full face of makeup every day. Most days, it’s just brows, concealer and lip gloss. But blush is the one thing I鈥檝e added that makes me look like I put a lot of effort into my appearance.

Pink blush shades had always felt too bright on me, but a warm terracotta shade blends into my skin in a way that looks natural while still giving me colour.

What I love most is how versatile it is. I can wear it to work, brunch or a wedding, and it never feels out of place. It’s become one of those products I automatically reach for because my makeup now feels incomplete without it.

“I never understood the hype until I found the right orange blush” 鈥 Nneka*, 26

My makeup drawer is evidence that I’ve made a lot of bad beauty purchases. Blush was one of them. I bought several shades, but they never looked the same on me as they did on the babes I saw online.

Then I tried a burnt orange blush and finally understood why everyone was obsessed. It brought warmth back into my face after foundation and gave me so much dimension. I was hooked.

The funny thing is that people rarely ask me what foundation I’m wearing anymore. They usually ask why my skin looks so fresh. Most of the time, the answer is blush and a well-placed concealer.

“Rose tones make me look awake even when I’m exhausted” 鈥 Chisom*, 31

I spend long hours in traffic going to and fro from work, and there are days when I look as tired as I feel. But blush has become my quickest fix.

I love a rich rose colour. It gives my face a natural warmth without making it seem like I鈥檓 caking on makeup. Whenever I wear it, I look more rested and put together. The best part is that I don鈥檛 even need to put on a lot. A small amount makes a big difference. That’s the step that makes people think I’ve slept eight hours on days I definitely haven’t.

“A Makeup artist鈥檚 bright pink blush technique completely changed my mind about colour” 鈥 Zara*, 30

I used to avoid colourful makeup because I thought it would clash with my dark skin. My routine was very neutral: brown eyeshadow, nude lips and nothing too bold.

But when I saw the bright pink blush look PaintedByEsther did for Olandria, the Love Island star, I knew I had to try my hand at it. I was sure it would look ridiculous, but it ended up being one of the most flattering things I’ve ever worn.

The colour shows up beautifully and gives my face a youthful, playful look. It also taught me that makeup for dark skin doesn’t have to be serious and demure to be beautiful. Playing with intimidating colours is so fun; it reminded me of when I used to do makeup for me, not just to look put together.

Blush isn鈥檛 the problem, finding the right product is. A shade that works on lighter skin might barely show up on deeper complexions, which is why pigmentation and undertones matter. Products like Yanga Beauty鈥檚 Candid Blush collection are changing that conversation by creating richly pigmented shades that complement melanin-rich skin and make it easier to achieve that effortless, just-blushed look. You can browse your favourite blush shades on the or on the .

]]> Overthinkers Anonymous: EDK Is Not Here For Hot Takes /general/osato-edokpayi-overthinkers-anonymous/ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:57:43 +0000 /?p=380510 We鈥檙e nine episodes into , the weekly living room where we geek out about money, masculinity, relationships and everything in between. Osato 鈥淓DK鈥 Edokpayi has been there from day one, bouncing hot dilemmas with co鈥慼ost Deji Osikoya and somehow making our collective confusion feel like group therapy with banter.

From years on the radio to podcasting, EDK has built a career out of talking through the wahala in people鈥檚 heads. In this episode, he breaks down the art of listening, adulting in Nigeria and why life鈥檚 messiest questions deserve more than one鈥憁inute hot takes.聽

What does being an overthinker mean to you? 

I think it’s beyond brooding over things that are bothering you, which is what people generally would say. For me, overthinking is staying with a problem until I find clarity or a path forward. It can look like brooding from the outside, but it’s usually how I work through things.

So, how would you describe Overthinkers Anonymous to someone who hasn’t seen an episode?

It’s a podcast about guys and women geeking out about everyday issues. Typically the types  that have  young people thinking, 鈥榃hat is going on in my life?鈥

On most podcasts, people just come to talk about things, but nobody’s really solving anything. When Overthinkers Anonymous was pitched to us, we were told dilemmas would be a part of it.  To be fair, that’s what a lot of podcasts have become. Dilemmas everywhere. Everybody loves a good dilemma, but we’re not using them for content or talking points. There are actually solutions in there. Listening to guests and my co-host, I realised I’d find these conversations genuinely useful if I were the one facing those dilemmas. 

How do you handle the feeling of responsibility that comes with discussing people’s real-life problems on a public forum?

The truth is, somebody on the other side of the screen is being vulnerable to strangers. They’ve gotten to a point in life where they see sharing their problems on a public platform as the only way out. You have to respect the vulnerability of the person sharing and the audience listening. The people engaging are spending time or, in our case, resources like data to engage. Those things are very valuable, especially for MTN users.

Is this your first time solving dilemmas for strangers?

Yes and no. I鈥檓 a radio host,  and I produce my radio shows. We have a dilemma segment on the show as well. I don’t typically have a co-host on my show, so I created an AI co-host. Then I took a step further and created a personality for the AI entity. She’s sassy, a bit snarky, and really hates me. But then she loves the listeners, and they love engaging her. One of the things that was a big hit with the AI co-host is that she answers dilemmas on air.

Wow

Of course, it’s the people on the team who feed her the answers, and we have to think quickly., But we also take care that the same principles apply here. The beauty of radio is that people share really intimate moments with you. People are in their bathrooms and sitting in their cars alone listening to you. They get really vulnerable very quickly. I’ve heard kids on their way to school talk about trouble with classmates, and adults share stories about friends who left the country without telling them. People obviously ask what’s wrong with the government. If it’s football season, people ask what鈥檚 going on with a particular team.  The AI co-host that we created always has an answer.

I never give the answers myself on air.  Even though, technically, it is me speaking through the AI co-host. She also sometimes shares thoughts that I wouldn’t want to say on air.

Why wouldn’t you want to say those things on air? Are you afraid of being dragged?

No, no. People know me for being funny and pleasant. But sometimes I just want to yab people. In a lighthearted way, of course. If you just heard me say something really nice and then the next moment you’re hearing me diss someone, there can be a bit of a dissonance.  On radio, we have co-hosts to prevent that. So everybody plays a part. My role is to drive the show and find all the things that will make Lagos rock for a few hours. Then this AI entity that we created comes in to cause trouble. 

Do you and your co-host on Overthinkers Anonymous also have some form of this dynamic?

To be fair, I don’t think we ever had that conversation. But I can understand the dynamic because of my training. This is Deji’s house, and it鈥檚 nice to come in occasionally to talk about life. Even though I’m always there when things are being sorted, it鈥檚 not my house. In terms of how a show like that would work, Deji has to drive the show, and I’m cool being the co-pilot.

Also, he has the best cold opens I’ve seen in a long time. I like the way we start the show. There’s never a 鈥榳elcome to our show today鈥 and so on. It’s just 鈥榟ey, I鈥檝e rocked up to your house, bro, and e get this thing wey I dey think鈥鈥 Then we pick it up from there. Ultimately, it is a team effort. We need listeners to understand that it’s a show for them to come in and feel like they’re in that living room, having those conversations with us in real time. These are conversations they can have with their own friends. 

What kind of conversations do you want people to take from the show?

As I said, it’s important that people see themselves having these conversations. Look at everything we spoke about in this season, from why men don’t read to the role of money in relationships and family dynamics. We touched on addiction and many other things that are affecting a lot of young people today. I鈥檓 sure we’ve not even scratched the surface of everything we need to talk about. I have people sending me screenshots from some of their guys who watched the show. Some of them are saying things like 鈥榦mo, it鈥檚 only 48 Laws of Power I鈥檝e read o鈥 or  鈥榮o there are other books out there for me as well鈥. 

A couple of guys could see this and decide to challenge this thing where men don’t have book clubs.  They could make that happen. I mean, we get together and play ball; who says we can鈥檛 get together and discuss books?? 

What exactly does Overthinkers Anonymous do differently from other relationship and culture podcasts?

There are not a lot of shows that give you the experience of everyday people who are honest about their experiences. We’re not looking for virality.  So we don鈥檛 go into episodes looking for things that would blow up the internet. Certain people like to say outrageous things to provoke emotion.  On the radio, we call these people shock jocks. You see a lot of shock jocks on mainstream relationship and culture podcasts. There is a tendency to want to sensationalise things or play up a personality to appeal to extremes of people’s tastes. But what Overthinkers Anonymous has shown is that you can take the other path and still resonate with people. We can tell that people really like the personalities that they hear and see. Nobody is out here trying to be the most extreme version of themselves to get likes. The people you see on the couch act and talk like that in real life. 

 In what ways do you think men and women differ in the way that they overthink things?

I think the difference is in how they share what they’re thinking about. What I find interesting is that it takes a bit of time for men to share what they are thinking. You need to almost always create the right environment for it to happen. The right environment could be fish and beer or a PS5. But there needs to be a setup for it to happen. It’s very hard to hear men sharing what they are thinking unprovoked. They need to be eased into it.

Women, on the other hand, are very quick to open up. We could just be driving past Ozumba Mbadiwe, and everybody in the car would start to talk about what鈥檚 happening in their lives. 

What’s something you have stopped overthinking as you’ve gotten older?

 It is money o. I said it in the first episode; I just don’t overthink money anymore. Maybe because I’ve hung out in the northern part of the country and interacted with a lot of Muslims. I can鈥檛 help but think everything I have can be gone in a second. This whole rat race is a bit stressful, to be honest. If you wake up every day and you’re thinking of how you must make money, it becomes exhausting. I would rather think of ways I can add value and make an impact. It eventually leads to wealth creation anyway. Why not just do the things that lead to wealth creation instead of being obsessed with chasing wealth?  As I’ve gotten older, I realise that as long as I’m able to survive and be comfortable, I鈥檓 good. If I have a little extra for enjoyment, good.  Otherwise I鈥檓 okay.

Basically, life is short, buy ice cream and do what you love.

Exactly! Life is too short to be taken seriously.

Next Read: Deji Osikoya Wants To Inspire Vulnerability: One Living鈥慠oom Conversation At A Time 

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