ELVIRA’S PEN

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NIGERIA TO THE WORLD: Home Of Ethnicity pt 2

If Part 1 showed us the scale of Nigeria’s diversity, then this is where it becomes personal. Because in Nigeria, language is not just what you speak, it’s who you are. Across Edo State, the Edo people speak Edo , a language deeply tied to the legacy of the Benin Kingdom where bronze art, royal traditions, and respect for hierarchy still shape everyday life. Nearby, the Esan people speak Esan , carrying their own distinct expressions, greetings, and cultural rhythms. In Kogi State, the Igala people speak Igala while the Ebira people speak Ebira , a language rich in royal heritage and traditional leadership structures. In Ebonyi State, the Ezza people speak Ezza , a distinct dialect that reflects their strong agricultural identity and community values. Move into Adamawa, Plateau and parts of Taraba, you’ll meet groups like the Berom, Tarok, Jukun and Bachama , speaking Berom, Tarok, Jukun and Bachama , la...

CSO wants end to gas flares, say fines not working

Copyright, AFP 2007 A civil society organization known as Renevlyn Development Initiative ( RDI) has urged the Nigerian government to ban gas flaring outright, arguing that the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta are very comfortable paying the meagre penalties for flaring rather than stop the practice. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Philip Jakpor expresses RDI’s reaction to the recent data from the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor, spanning the period between March 2012 and 2025 which showed that oil companies operating in Nigeria paid an estimated $646 million in gas flaring penalties in 2025, the highest payments in the last five years. According to the data, the all-time high penalties payable was $934 million when oil companies in the country flared gas valued at $1.6 billion in 2018. After that there was a dip from 2020 till 2022. The surge in the flares began again in 2023. The data shows that flared gas was 349.3 million Standard Cubic ...

Business Group Empowers Business Women, Others

Thousands of business women and men have benefitted from a one day business summit organized in collaboration with the media including Exceed FM and other organizations. The Convener of the summit under the name B3 with the theme: Beyond the Bank: Redefining Wealth, Worth and Well Being, Dr Ella Chioma Ezeadilieje, urged women to stay focused on their career paths and not allow social media to influence them negatively. She added that the empowerment summit was designed to help women boost their career and also live a fulfilling life as wives and mothers. Dr Ella also pointed out that several of the women were selected for grants to boost their businesses while adding that businessmen are also joining the family. One of the guest speakers was a marketing consultant Mr Kingsley Ime, who taught on marketing strategies to grow sales and businesses. Ime noted that growing businesses requires strategic thinking not just by faith. A panel session anchored by ...

IRON SHARPENS IRON - Elvira Jordan

IRON SHARPENS IRON - Elvira Jordan Good Morning Beloved! 😊 Have you ever been so down in spirit and felt so overwhelmed with situations in your life, and then you reach out to a friend, or coincidentally a friend reached out to you just at the right moment, and delivered some words that uplifted your spirit? Or even stood up to the tough situation and helped you out? This must have happened to the best of us. Then you can also imagine or remember the days when you were so broken in spirit but there was no one to turn to for support… that is the kind of pain that drives people into substance abuse or into making rash decisions they tend to regret later when their minds are calm. ***** If you have a wandering mind like me, you must have asked yourself some questions that may sound silly when spoken out, but not so silly when you’re churning them in your head, trying to make meaning out of life. Questions like “why did God create in pairs?” If you watch the world closely, everything...

NIGERIA TO THE WORLD: Home Of Ethnic Diversity

Nigeria… often called the Giant of Africa. But beyond its size, population, and energy, there’s something even more powerful that defines it diversity. This is a country made up of over 250 ethnic groups..yes 250! each with its own identity, traditions, and way of life. And within these groups are languages, stories, and histories that have been passed down for generations. In the Southwest, the Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language , rich in proverbs and expressions that pass wisdom from one generation to the next. In the North, the Hausa people speak Hausa , one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa, used not just in Nigeria but across borders. Alongside them are the Fulani , who speak Fulfulde , and the Kanuri , known for the Kanuri language , rooted in the history of the Kanem-Bornu Empire. You’ll also find groups like the Nupe , who speak Nupe , and the Gbagyi people around central Ni...