Tambari by Daily Trust Tambari

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SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018

a r t x E

Expressing myself through

ournalism

Hi there!

a leaking loose bladder on the health page and a whole lot more. On the cover this week we have Hajiya Rafat Salami, a seasoned ever elcome to this week’s edition of Tambari Extra. smiling journalist with the Voice we’re taking a look at nat- of Nigeria (VON) and first female ural ways to cure flaky scalp on the Secretary of the National Union of beauty page and also, how to manage Journalists (NUJ). She shares her

W CULINARY by HALIMA ABDULRAZAK The best meal to enjoy during the cool weather this season cannot be anything away from potato lasagna with seafood twist. It is easy, to prepare and cost little. You can enjoy the meal with family members. INGREDIENTS 5 potatoes, peeled 2 teaspoons of salt 1 teaspoon of pepper 500 grammes of shrimps 7 slices of mozzarella cheese 500 grammes of mixed seafood ¼ cup of fresh parsley, chopped 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup of heavy cream 2 eggs DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Slice the peeled potatoes into ½cm (¼ inch) slices. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, tossing them to make sure they’re coated evenly. Press a layer of potatoes evenly into the bottom of a greased, square baking pan.

Potato lasagna with seafood twist

most touching challenges, experiences and a lot more with us. Read her interview, you are sure to get inspired. Find out all she had to say inside. Have a great Sunday. – Amina Alhassan Call: 0818 7703733 Email us at: tambari@dailytrust.com

LU X U RY L I V I N G

Why you should go for a 4-poster bed by HAFSAH ABUBAKAR MATAZU

Place half of the mixed seafood evenly on top of the potatoes, followed by half of the sliced cheese. Follow with another layer of potatoes, then the remaining seafood and sliced cheese. Sprinkle the shrimps and parsley evenly on top of the sliced cheese and place one final layer of potatoes on top. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top

o f the potatoes and then press it into an even layer. In a small bowl, mix the heavy cream and eggs. Pour on top of the shredded cheese. Bake for about 40 minutes until the cheese is a deep golden brown. Cool slightly, slice and then serve. With additional information from the internet

Sparkling peach drink This drink is full of peachy ggoodness, a great kick of tanginess and an overall ta winner after a delicious w meal. m INGREDIENTS 2 cups of water 3 green tea bags 4 large ripe peaches

Juice of lime 4 cups of club soda Honey to taste Mint DIRECTIONS Boil the water and then add the green tea bags. Allow to steep for 15 minutes and cool.

Pit and peel three of the peaches and then blend with the lime juice and pulse till smooth. In a jug, combine the peach puree, the tea, club soda and honey. Stir and serve over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and peach slices.

here home décor is concerned, ultimate comfort and sophistication is what comes to mind when you think of your bedroom. But what better way is there to infuse comfort and class to your room if not with a four-poster bed? A four-poster bed is the perfect option for those who want to amplify and showcase class, style and elegance in their chambers. It provides the ultimate luxury anyone can need in a bed. What’s not to love about it? Not only does it provide a great touch of grace to the room; it also provides a lot of privacy for those who are very particular about it. At the same time, it provides warmth during cold seasons with curtains that surround the beds preventing cold from getting in. Apart from that, it drastically reduces the amount of light that may hinder some good quality sleep. This is the ultimate choice for anyone who’s up to change their bed anytime soon. With a variety of designs and colours to choose from, you can easily select one that best fits your colour scheme and taste. So why not go that extra mile and showcase your grand taste with a four-poster bed that will leave you and everyone else in awe.

CO V E R

// RAFAT ONYECHE SALAMI

Expressing myself through journalism

Introduction Rafat Onyeche Salami is Ebira by tribe from Kogi State. She has five siblings of the same mother and father; all boys and a total of nine siblings of the same father. She is the first female secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Despite the challenges, Rafat has faced, she has braced all odds be top in all she sets her mind at achieving. The mother to three boys shares her story with Tambari.

Interview b by HAFSAH ABUBAKAR MATAZU Educational background I have a degree in English Language from the University of Abuja. I have a very long history of educational pursuit and I believe that is what has made me the person that I am today. I went to different schools because my father was always on transfer. I went to New Bussa Primary School in Kainji. My father was then working at the Niger River Basin. I finished primary school in 1979 at NEPA Junior Staff School. Then I went to Burgu Secondary School, New Bussa and then moved to Girls’ School, Obangede, in Kogi State and from there to Himma Community Secondary School and finally finished at Community Secondary School, Ogamnana, in 1986. I didn’t go straight to the university due to some personal issues. There was a long break in-between during which I went to the Kwara State Polytechnic and was there for two years. I went to the University of Abuja in 1991 graduated in 2000. So I spent close to 10 years getting a four-year degree. My stay in the University of Abuja was quite eventful because during that period, I was expelled, suspended and arrested because I was a students’ union activist and we had issues with the school. We were trying to set the pace for the school. We felt it was on our shoulders to leave a legacy been the first sect of school. There were too many things going wrong and we were aiming to correct them. We held several protests. Sadly, some of them were violent and as usual, some of them were hijacked by criminal elements. We had to take responsibility for it. We were harassed. We went to court and in-between that period was when I went to the Institute of Journalism and got a diploma and started work while the issues were being resolved. Eventually, we had a very humane VC, Dr.Laraba, who called us back and asked us to withdraw the case from court and come and resume from where we left off. I was already in my final year at that time. So we did that and I graduated eventually with a second class upper. The school also gave me my most cherished certificate; Certificate of Excellence, which was the very first, at a very elaborate ceremony. So these are things that have shaped me. When you spend 10 years getting a four-year degree; it tells a lot. But the good thing is that the NUJ was very supportive of our cause at that time. The structures of the NUJ were there for us. Career background I didn’t go for NYSC. I was too upset with the system that I took exemption. By the time I graduated, I was already practicing journalism. I worked for Woman Today newspaper, The Herald, for some sports magazines and newspapers as well. I was given an appointment letter by Daily Trust but I couldn’t accept it because I was ill. So I’ve progressed and presently I work with the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and I’m the online editor heading the social media unit. I am also the first female secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the FCT and chairman of the Voice Of Nigeria (VON) chapel of NUJ. Growing up It was tough because I was an only girl. So I always had to assert myself in the midst of boys. I grew very comfortable around them, which is why I don’t find issues working with men. I don’t see barriers between men and myself. But apart from that, my childhood was fun and we were a very close-knit family. Challenges I’m still working on my main challenge in life; which is having a child with special needs. I have three kids and the last of them had issues at birth. He was sick and the consequence is that he’s behind in reaching development and milestones. When you have that kind of child, your life stops. It stops because no one even understands what you’re battling. He was born in 2004 when knowledge on disabilities in Nigeria was limited; and still is. If I had the right medical attention for him, he would have been okay. He was neglected by three different doctors at three different hospitals who all told me he would be okay and as a result he suffered brain damage due to the coma. One of the doctors actually told me to allow him to go because they felt that he would be a burden to me and I

MY STAY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA WAS QUITE EVENTFUL BECAUSE DURING THAT PERIOD, I WAS EXPELLED, SUSPENDED AND ARRESTED BECAUSE I WAS A STUDENTS’ UNION ACTIVIST AND WE HAD ISSUES WITH THE SCHOOL

refused. However he is, I’d prefer him alive. However, every day is a new day and we’re getting through it. What has the support system been like especially since here in Nigeria, children with special needs are overlooked and forgotten? I mentioned before that the reason that I have a child with special needs is because the hospital system failed to attend to him at the right time. If they had attended to him within 24 hours of birth, I wouldn’t have had the issues I’m experiencing with my son. Getting care for him has also been a very big challenge. The reason is that many medical personnel don’t even identify and recognize the needs. It is me, the parent, that tells them what’s wrong and they still argue with me over it. Now when a doctor or medical personnel see something they don’t understand, their training is for them to refer to another department or to their superiors. But many of them don’t do this. So as the parent of the child, you have to be the one struggling with the system to even get a diagnosis before the care. Beyond the hospital facilities, you have a whole community that consists of your house, school, your workplace and so on and within the community, the awareness is so poor. I have been called names because of my child. I don’t hide my child. I go wherever I want to go with him. It is part of his therapy to mingle and associate with the outside world. A lot of people lock up their children which hinders their development. So during these outings, some people call you names, thinking that your child is badly behaved, not knowing that it is actually for a completely different reason that the child behaves the way he does. But meanwhile, these are sensitivities that we should naturally have as individuals. But Alhamdulillah, when you finally get a system or one person that understands what you’re going through in the midst of the multitude, one person will rise and support you. The management of Great Heights Academy back when my son was schooling there, recognized he is a special child need sand even though they didn’t have a system to support him, they were so sympathetic to his case that they made adjustments to accommodate him in the school system. When we moved from there to The Hillside School in Gwarimpa, they have a center for children with special needs. Because of my peculiar circumstance, I didn’t have the resources to pay for the school as a civil servant. But they made so many concessions. They reduced all the fees because they were focused on the child and how he will get the care he needs. So we do have such institutions that relate with the situation and help in the ways they can. But eventually, we had to leave the school because they have personnel to pay and they couldn’t reduce so much and still pay all their staff. So after three years, I withdrew my son. During that recession period, my son had to stay at home for 11 months and for a child with special needs not receiving the care he needs for that long, led to us going back to square one. We had to start all over

TAMBARI SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018,

RAFAT ONYECHE SALAMI //

CO V E R

Favourite fashion item(s) My veil.

SOCIETY NEWS Compiled by HAFSAH ABUBAKAR MATAZU

What I wouldn’t be caught wearing Any skimpy dresses. Favourite travel destination I haven’t gone there yet, but Norway or Finland. The crime rate iis close to zero. They hardly use guns, they have good educational ssystems. I would love to visit these places. How I relax I read: I love fiction books.

2Face shares intention to run for office

Favourite food Fish: every way it’s cooked. Definition of style Comfort is key. Favourite fashion designer If I see it, I like it and I make it; that’s just it. Favourite perfume, designer bag and shoes Elizabeth Arden, Red Door. For shoes and bag, I love any that catc my eye. catches Mum’s advice that has stuck with me over the years “Be true to yourself; you’ll be okay.” again. Then Then in 2017, I was able to take him to another school in Jos run by Catholics. The price is minimal and we’re getting a lot of support there. I really appreciate all those that have supported my son and I in one way or another in the midst in all those who don’t relate to our situation. I have people who have given me one thing or another like books just to help my child. Life lessons The birth of my son taught me patience. I used to be very impatient and judgmental; so it has taught me to be patient. Having a child with special needs requires that. I was privileged to meet another doctor while looking for care for my son and he sat me down and told me that the child had no problem but that the problem was me. His statement took me aback and he said I need to love him the way he is. Yes, I’m a parent and I’m eager to see him talk, walk and reach all milestones, but if you don’t take him the way he is, he will never do it. Aspirations growing up I wanted to be a lawyer, but I told myself I was going to havee a first degree in English first. That’s why I went to study English and nd ate afterwards I would go and study law. But after all the time the state wasted; because our prosecution was fully sponsored by the state. ate. That time they felt we were agitated by the June 12 crisis. After that, hat, urI lost interest in so many things and I was already a practicing journalist and I found my niche there. sm I actually tell people that I didn’t find journalism, journalism rtfound me. The support we got from NUJ made me very comfortable and it’s an expression of who I am. It gave me a tool to selll a message and advocate and fight for the things I believe in. Typical day My days are crazy. With a child with special needs, your dayy starts very early and ends very late because you’re thinking of whatt next to do for the child. He requires special attention in everything. It’s usually very tense and tedious. And journalism also has a very crazy schedule. You don’t know where you’ll end up going and how your day will end. I’m also into union things, so I’m re-ally stretched, but I’m having fun while doing all that.

Favourite colour, weather, car and sport Green. I love the rainy season. Mercedes Benz is what every other car is trying to be, so until I have one, any car I have is just to be moving me around. I enjoy watching football with my sons but I don’t have a particular football team I support.

Artiste and singer, 2Face Idibia, also known as simply, 2Baba, has expressed his interest in running for office in the nearest future. In recent past, 2Face has used his voice for good governance and equal rights. But now, he has officially shared his intention to play a role in changing the current situation of the country by getting involved himself. This marks a very wide stride between music and now, politics. The artiste though has not shares what office he intends to run for or under what party. “Politics affects everything I do. So, I am definitely going to be interested in politics. I will soon participate as a contestant and speak the truth at all times.I hope and pray that good men will rise up and make a difference in this country, because we need more patriotic people in all aspects of life,” he said.

Favourite day of the week Saturday; it is my resting day. Beauty routine I just touch up my face when necessary with some light makeup when going for functions representing my union; the NUJ. Role model(s) I love all freedom fighters and gender activists: Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, may she rest in peace, and Mahatma Gandhi. Looking back, what I would tell y unge yo g r me a younger I didn’t handle multitasking too well at a younger age. I would have said, “Be more focused and don’t be distracted.”

Lizzy Aisha Anjorin celebrates birthday with less privileged and gets Islamic chieftaincy title Popular Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin celebrated her birthday recently giving back to the less privileged. A move which moved many of her fans Instead of throwing a lavish party or celebrating in the conventional style, she decided to use the day to share food and drinks to the less fortunate bon the streets. Apart from that, Lizzy was also made the BorokinAdini of IsobatLikhaeriIslamic foundation. The actress converted to Islam a few months back and the foundation worthily gave her the title to mark her birthday.

Most cherished gift ful The greatest gift to me is the friends I have; they are wonderful friends. They love me genuinely, pray for me, can put a word in for me. They are my most prized possession. Top things on my wish list nyI wish I can wake up one day and my son has no challenge anyust more. I wish it was all a dream and the phase is over and he can just move on. I also wish that someday in this country, the state will provide all not the resources required to raise a child with special needs. You cannot s. I imagine what we are facing as parents with kids with special needs. just wish the state will recognise children with special needs. Favourite music on replay I’m old school. I love listening to country music like Don Williams. First app I check in the morning and at bedtime WhatsApp: I even wake up at night to check what’s happening, to find out what I missed while I was asleep. Flats or heels? I use wedges, but I wear flats mostly.

TAMBARI SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018

The Rock stars as David Okoye in new Hollywood movie, ‘Rampage’ Nigeria is on the map again as Hollywood A-List actor and wrestler, Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, is starring as the Nigerian character, David Okoye, after his Nigerian NFL player, Christian Okoye who he fiercely admired. The movie titled Rampage features The Rock in the lead role with British actress Naomi Harris in a supporting role. Christian Okoye acknowledged the honour and took to his Twitter to thank Johnson tweeting,”I love it! That’s awesome my friend! Thanks for thinking of me, I love your work, I am a big fan.”

B E AU T Y

TRENDS STYLE FASHION

Natural ways to cure flaky scalp By HAFSAH ABUBAKAR MATAZU

ften times, our scalp gets so itchy and makes us uncomfortable that when you scratch, you find flakes falling out of your hair or lying on the surface; which can be embarrassing. Here, we share with you some natural ways to curb and get rid of that flaky scalp you dread for good. Baking soda: Baking soda serves as an effective disinfectant to clean out any unwanted dirt lying on your scalp. Using it to exfoliate and

clean your hair will do the trick in getting rid of your flaky scalp once and for all. Apple cider vinegar: This serves as excellent remedy for a flaky scalp. It has anti-inflammatory properties thereby killing unwanted bacteria that may cause dandruff and ultimately lead to flaky scalp. It also serves as a great conditioner after shampooing. Lemon juice: Similar to apple cider vinegar, its acidity serves a

great purpose of fighting bacteria and soothes itchy scalp. Ideally, it should only be used once in a while as it can alter the Potential of Hydrogen (PH) of your scalp; and you do not want that. Tea tree oil: This oil is basically the holy grail of all oils. It’s truly amazing. Massaging a little amount into your scalp will get rid of your flaky worries for good. It is soothing and stimulates hair growth at the same time. Avocado: Its moisturising properties serve as a great solution to itchy and flaky scalp. Using avocado with some honey and olive oil makes an excellent hair mask. Not only does it get rid of the itch and flakiness, it also nourishes and restores lustre and bounce to your hair.

Dr. Nathaniel Adewole, MOBILE: 0803 8039182 EMAIL: nadewole2013@gmail.com

Toilet infection, traditional medicine and fibroid I have a friend who has been married for four years and has not conceived. Her husband told me it was toilet infection which they had been treating with traditional medicine. Recently she was diagnosed with fibroid. – Williams, Abuja. First we are to know the size of the fibroid. If it’s big enough to be felt through the abdomen, then there may be need for surgery. But before then, laboratory and radiological tests must be conducted. This includes HSG and also sperm fluid analysis. Treating toilet infection is not the solution. Let me use this opportunity again to explain that toilet infection is not a cause of infertility. So many people have wasted money and time on treatment of toilet infection instead of looking for the causes of infertility. Tell them to see a gynaecologist.

Pregnant, cerclage and demand for sex I am four months pregnant and had cerclage cervical stitch two weeks ago. When can I start to have sex with my spouse? He has been eager to start but I’m afraid because I have lost pregnancy. – Felicia, Abuja

DID YOU KNOW... THAT AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A FLAKY SCALP?

With additional information from the internet

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

Pregnant with ovarian cyst

Managing loose bladder in women by RAHMA L. ADAMU

ave you been in that situation where you can’t hold urine and just realise that is trickles without your knowledge? If yes, then you may have loose bladder. Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the unintentional trickling of urine. It can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing problem that is pretty high up there on the list of medical Issues no one talks about. Those affected may be hesitant to speak up or ask questions about their condition; even at the doctor’s office. Urinary Incontinence occurs more often in women and it is a lot more common

than you may expect. UI is more than just a medical condition; it distresses people on social, psychological and emotional levels. People who have UI often avoid certain places or situations for fear of having an “accident”. According to Dr. Ayesha Adama of Nisa Hospital, “There are two main types of UI: Stress UI (SUI) and Urgency UI (UUI) and both types can exist concurrently, each type is caused by something different and needs to be treated differently.” SUI which is more comw mon oc occurs as a result of pregnancy, pregna child birth, menopause, menop among others, because becau of the physical changes chang which our body undergoes like vesicovagiunde nal fistula (VVF) which is an abnormal commua nication nic between the bladder and the vagina bla that th leads to urine leaking in out uncontrollably through the vagina. t

VVF usually occurs in developing countries due to complicated childbirth. In many cases, SUI can be treated with pelvic floor muscle exercise called Kegel exercises; these movements strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter or bladder training. Symptoms can be improved by weight loss, certain medications and surgical intervention. UUI is when your bladder contracts involuntarily, leaving you with little or no time to get to the toilet. This is a sign of overactive bladder. Older people are also known to experience higher rates of UUI. Medication called anticholinergics or surgically placed nerve stimulators help. However, appropriate treatment will be decided by your doctor. Seeing a doctor who has experience treating incontinence so as to learn what type you have and to diagnose the problem and find solution is a step towards finding relief. With additional information from the internet

TAMBARI SUNDAY SUNDAY, APRIL 8 8, 2018

I can understand your fears. Usually after cervical cerclage I normally advise couples to abstain from sex for four to six weeks. Though there are special circumstances based on history and cervical findings at operation that may necessitate longer period of abstinence. Discuss with your gynaecologist.

I have been waiting for the fruit of the womb for the last two and half years. I missed my period and confirmed that I am two months pregnant. When I went for a scan I was told I have ovarian cyst. – Stella, Markurdi Once the scan has confirmed that the pregnancy is intrauterine, the worst fear is over and that is the problem of ectopic pregnancy. The ovarian cyst is not much of problem except it causes serious pains. One must bear in mind that it can even be corpus luteum which usually supports pregnancy at the early stage before placenta will take over. In case it is big and not posing too much problems like severe pains, the best thing is too observe. Some with big cysts will still carry the pregnancy without much problem. In case it warrants surgery it will be better to do it after the first trimester like from 14 weeks above. In case it is necessary to remove the cyst at eight weeks, then it may be necessary to support the pregnancy with progestogens; either pessary, injections or a combination of the two. See a gynaecologist.

Alcohol and pregnancy I am 20 weeks pregnant. Can I take alcoholic drinks? – Mrs. L, Kaduna I will not advise you to take alcohol during pregnancy. In higher doses, alcohol can lead to what we call foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). This is a combined malformation that can be distressing.