Angela Ukomadu's Blog

 I spent the first 21 years of my life in Port Harcourt, Rivers state...I mean "RIVERS" state, so you would think I should know how to swim with all of that water body surrounding me? Naaaaa, I cannot even stand in a gutter.    Then I had my son, he is all daring and ready to go. At 7 or 8, he said he wanted to join the swimming class in his school. Trust me to say a big NO. But hubby felt and my sister Ruth said if he really wanted to do it, I should let him and not use my own fears to overshadow him. Reluctantly, I agreed.      So when I came across this Kayak story via the #NothingToDoInLagos Instagram handle, I temporarily forgot my fears and could not wait to tell the story. Hahahahha, your guess is as good as mine. I flopped big time. Now, the plan was to use the double kayak. That way I will do the paddling while my colleague films the other kayakers. I spent less than 20 seconds in the water and I was screaming to leave. The kind-hearted Kayak o...

 There is this joke that most Nigerians do not know how to "mind their business." From the body movement, the very sly cough that suddenly manifests, the side eye they give you, the look, to the " un-looking " game, they are bound to make you understand that they know what you are doing or about to do.    While this may have its positive sides of making one always cautious of never going wrong, the negative sides cannot be overlooked too. Have you seen TV adverts of condom and how the buyer suddenly starts asking for biscuits even when they came to buy condoms? Just because they saw one nosy auntie or uncle at the pharmacy! I also remember the one of Lolo1 acting as a nurse and how she reacted when two teenagers came in to the hospital to find out more about safe sex.    Well, before we continue, I am 100 percent all for zipping up until the wedding night but we cannot ignore the fact that our youths are hitting it everyday. Yes it happens. While we preach...

Nigeria just held its first International Drinks Festival were about 20,000 consumers and investors attended the three day event. Over 200 companies manufacturing various drinks exhibited their brands. The festival was organized to help put locally made drinks on the world map and see how investors can look into getting the drinks exported. From beautifully bottled palm wine to locally made gin and red wine, guests were allowed to have a taste of everything they wanted while deciding on what to buy. It was fun getting this story done. We filmed Ene Onwuka while she prepared Zobo, Kunu and Tiger nuts drink. Ene's drinks are sugar free, trust me, I was there from the beginning of her production until she bottled the last drink. No sugar whatsoever, just dates and honey to sweeten it. If you are pro health, then please reach me or google for her contact. She showcased at the festival. She is a banker and the founder of "Kunuski." Nigeria drinks 16 million hectolitres...

Courtesy: Alex Peter Alex Peter is a 25 year old Pyrography artist, this means he uses a method that decorates wood or other materials by using burn marks on them. He starts off by using a pencil to sketch his subject on a board, then completely burns the image with the smoke from his blow lamp. After this, he goes ahead to use a razor blade or sand paper to carve the patterns out  until he achieves the desired shape or texture of his subject. When ready, he sprays the piece with a fixative to stop the colours from running. Alex is a trained accountant. Art for him is just a hobby and he is self taught. Today he makes a living off art because he decided to pursue his passion. He fully started in 2016 and has exhibited twice. He is also a hyper-realist artist and plans to own an art school in the future. Courtesy: Alex Peter Courtesy: Alex Peter Courtesy: Alex Peter Courtesy: Alex Peter Courtesy: Alex Peter Oluwaseun Sanni filming Alex in his...

   At first sight, you will think these are cup cakes, not until you touch them. These are soaps made by Blondie Okpuzor, the founder and chief executive of BathKandy, a Lagos and Abuja based company that is into food inspired body products and home fragrances, a company she started in 2014. With many people into the business of making organic skincare products, Blondie has set herself apart by creating her products to look and smell like sweet treats...oh dear sweet tooth of mine, I love this one.    Nigeria is striving to focus on other markets apart from its dominant oil industry. There has been so much campaigns for "Made-In-Nigeria" brands and to "Buy-Naija-To-Grow-The-Naira." All of these campaigns are coming to fruition with entrepreneurs like Blondie who are producing wholly Nigerian products, selling both within and outside the country, and training others who are interested too.    The beauty and skin care industry is a fast growing business s...