EDITOR’S NOTE
After a hiatus that left fans waiting for his return, Nigerian actor Gideon Okeke returns to the Nigerian movie industry. With Okeke’s career spanning over a decade, he has earned a reputation as a multitalented and compelling actor known for his roles in film, television, and stage. After taking a break from the spotlight, a move that allowed him to recharge and explore new creative avenues, Gideon Okeke is back in full force, taking on roles that push boundaries.
With new movies such as Tokunbo recently premiered under his belt, Okeke showcases his undeniable talent and passion for storytelling. As he steps back into the limelight, audiences can expect to be thrilled by his performance. When asked how he prepared for his role as Tokunbo, he said, “Let me put it this way: I just had the chance to make the movie I want to watch because the movie I want to watch isn’t out there yet, so this script coming into my hands was an opportunity to make a movie that nobody had seen before, to do stuff that nobody had done, so that alone was fuel to me.”
Please read the story of his comeback and his new movies on pages 8 to 10.
Have you ever been in a relationship where your partner shows you excessive love and affection, presents you with gifts, and always flatters you? Be careful there; they are exhibiting signs of love bombing. I urge you to read page 15 to find out all you need to know about this manipulative trait called love bombing.
As always, we have an excellent selection of music for you. To download the playlist, click on the instructions below the QR codes on page 16.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
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Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you. Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
AUSTYN OGANNAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa
Writer: Johnson Chukwueke
Graphic Design: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’
Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun
Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’
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6 Reasons Why You Should Add Marula Oil to Your Skincare Routine
Little Habits, Big Effects
Career Growth Developing Leadership Qualities
Love Bombing Everything You Need to Know And Signs to Look Out For Wining and Dining in Style 07 The Beginner’s Guide to Maximalist Fashion
The Re-emergence Inside Gideon Okeke’s World Tech Innovations in Modern-Day Healthcare
Romulus
Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity
- Contributing Editor
Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.
Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm
- Contributing Writer
Dorcas Akintoye
Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with more than 2 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty. She has a National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.
THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MAXIMALIST FASHION FASHION
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
Making a dramatic statement, defying convention, and showcasing your style are all key components of maximalist fashion. Maximalism is about dressing big, expressing yourself, and having fun with your looks, while minimalist fashion, on the other hand, is all about simplicity. If you have ever looked at a runway show or maybe a fashion magazine and all that could come to your head was that you can’t pull off those styles, then this article is for you. This article will explore six ways to pull off the maximalist fashion style effortlessly.
1.
The goal of maximalism is to stand out rather than blend in. Adopting vivid hues is among the simplest ways to achieve this. Bold hues like vivid yellows, deep blues, and flaming reds should not be avoided when combining colours. To get started, pair contrasting colours that you love together. Consider wearing, for instance, a lime green skirt and a bright pink blouse. Enjoy yourself when selecting colours, and don’t stress too much over whether or not they “go together” traditionally. Creating your own rules is the essence of maximalist fashion.
2 EMBRACE BOLD COLOURS
PLAY WITH PATTERNS
A maximalist’s greatest ally is patterns. Mix and match stripes, florals, polka dots, and animal prints to create an eye-catching style. More is always better. Combine two of your favourite patterns to get started. For example, you may pair a floral skirt with a striped blouse. You can incorporate additional patterns into the mixture as you get more comfortable. The secret is maintaining at least one element’s consistency, such as the pattern’s scale or colour family. Your ensemble will look put together and fashionable that way.
3. 5. 6. 4. LAYERING IS KEY MIX DIFFERENT TEXTURES
Layering is a distinguishing feature of the maximalist style. The more layers you add, the greater depth and interest your ensemble will possess. Wearing a turtleneck under a dress or a blazer over a top are two examples of how to layer different types of clothing. Layering accessories is also something you should not be scared to do. Consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat, many necklaces, and a stack of bracelets. The intention is to achieve a visually arresting, rich, textured look. Remember that maximalism is all about abundance.
Texture holds equal importance to colour and pattern in maximalist fashion. Mixing and matching different textures can make your ensemble look much more interesting. For instance, a leather skirt and bulky knit cardigan would look great with a silky top. The contrast between the slick leather, the comfortable knit, and the smooth silk will highlight your look. Try out some textures that you wouldn’t typically pair together. A visually pleasing and enjoyable balance is the goal when combining different textures.
SHOWCASE CONFIDENCE ACCESSORISE BOLDLY
Any maximalist ensemble would not be complete without accessories. They let you personalise your appearance even further. Consider showy belts, big necklaces, and large earrings. You can even combine different accessories to create a unique style. For instance, consider wearing a bold necklace, oversized sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Going big is the essence of maximalism; therefore, don’t hold back. Accessory choices ought to match the overall boldness of your ensemble.
The key to pulling off a maximalist ensemble is confidence. Wear your clothes with pride since maximalism is all about expressing yourself. You should only care about how you feel about your outfit, not what other people think. The best accessory you can wear is confidence, which will make your maximalist style shine. So stand tall, smile, and show off your daring, unique style.
CONCLUSION
Expressing yourself with maximalist clothes is interesting and joyful. Remember that maximalism is about defining your boundaries and enjoying yourself while dressing. Explore different looks and see what suits you the best, so don’t be scared to experiment. By keeping the mentioned tips in mind, you can become an expert in maximalist fashion.
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Wining and Dining in Style
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
How we decide to style our spaces says a lot about our style and taste in home decor designs.
From the living room to bedrooms and kitchen, it doesn’t matter if you want them to have the same design pattern or something different for each space; it’s up to you to know what you want to experiment with.
Styling a dining room can greatly increase its aesthetic appeal and functionality. Here, we will highlight a few popular and beautiful decor options for individuals and families.
RUSTIC FARMHOUSE
First on our list is the rustic farmhouse design. This decor style, which incorporates natural materials and vintage elements, gives off a cosy and inviting feel.
A dining room set with a large wooden dining table, sometimes known with a distressed finish, coupled with mismatched wooden chairs or benches that set the tone. For extra touches to add to its finesse, feel free to add warmth with textured linens, a jute rug, and vintage-inspired decors like mason jar centrepieces or an antique chandelier.
TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE
If you are a fan of timeless elegance and classic designs, the traditional dining room design is for you.
Opt for a classic wooden dining set with upholstered chairs and a large, ornate rug. The room can also be decorated with crystal chandeliers, framed paintings, and rich drapery.
Incorporate gold or brass ornaments through lighting fixtures and tableware for a touch of luxury, and your classic traditional dining room will be set to exude its ageless elegance.
SCANDINAVIAN SIMPLICITY
For the individuals who see so much beauty in simplicity, the Scandinavian design is known for its functionality, simplicity, and use of natural light. To achieve this setting, you need to choose light-coloured wooden furniture, white walls, and simple but functional decor. You can also add a few more cosy elements, such as sheepskin throws, potted plants, and soft textiles, to create a warm and inviting space.
INDUSTRIAL CHIC
A creative design that blends raw materials with modern design for a stylish, edgy look perfectly describes the industrial chic decor style.
The industrial chic style, which consists of exposed brick walls, metal furniture, and reclaimed wood tables, is an ideal example of genius artistic fusion.
Adding Edison bulb lighting, metal bar stools, and minimalist decor like metal planters or abstract art are more options to explore to enhance the industrial vibe.
ECLECTIC MIX
Eclectic dining rooms combine different styles, colours, and textures to create a unique and personalised space. Furniture pieces like pairing a modern table with vintage chairs or adding a bold, patterned rug are mixed and matched to give off this eclectic design. Use colourful artwork, vibrant textiles, and decor items to reflect your taste and creativity.
These various decor options will satisfy whatever taste or preferences one may have, allowing families and individuals to create dining rooms that reflect their style and enhance their dining experience.
The Re-emergence
INSIDE GIDEON OKEKE’S WORLD
GideonOkeke, a celebrated actor in Nigerian cinema, is set to make a big-time comeback after a hiatus that left fans eagerly awaiting his return.
With a career spanning over a decade, Gideon has earned a reputation as a versatile and compelling actor known for his memorable roles in both film and television. His break from the spotlight allowed him to recharge and explore new creative avenues, and now, he’s back with a bang.
With new movies under his belt and already generating buzz, Gideon still showcases his undeniable talent and renewed passion for storytelling. As Gideon steps back into the limelight, audiences can expect a performance that reflects his growth and dedication to his craft. This return not only marks a significant moment in his career but also reaffirms his status as one of Nigeria’s most respected actors.
In this special interview with THEWILL DOWNTOWN’s Johnson Chukwueke, Gideon Okeke discusses his journey, experiences, and comeback in the film industry.
Over the years, how have you seen yourself evolve as an actor, and what key experiences have contributed to that growth?
So, I will say every opportunity I have been exposed to has been influential in emboldening my passion for what I do. With every opportunity I get, I see myself grow. You are as good as the chances you get. So, with every opportunity, I see myself evolve through characters and grow through it, but what I will credit that growth to is that seamless evolution is training. I like to believe training is very essential as a backing to talent. As much as we learn on the job, there is also a language of film. There is a dogma of film that is studied at film or drama schools.
“I
think the most challenging thing is to see a good script and say no to it.
Who have been your mentors or role models in the industry, and how have they influenced your career choices?
like to live a normal life,
I like
to be myself,
I
enjoy the luxury of blending into society. I go into the market, I do the normal things, so if you are looking at me, you are looking at me, so I enjoy the luxury of living a simple and normal life,”
I will give you a little example, there are two guys playing a video game, one guy is just succeeding by tapping the buttons anyhow he likes, but the other guy just knows the combination, if he gives the combination just twice, he wins, so training is what makes you different and exceptional, so I will credit that growth to training.
How do you handle the pressure and expectations that come with being a well-known figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry?
Well, I like to think that I am excused from the pressure of those things because I like to live a normal life, I like to be myself, I enjoy the luxury of blending into society. I go into the market, I do the normal things, so if you are looking at me, you are looking at me, so I enjoy the luxury of living a simple and normal life, I don’t see so much of those pressure. But that is relative cause those pressures are tied to fame, so I will say it’s relative because today you are 30 percent famous, tomorrow you are 100 percent famous, so once I think I can sync into society, that can change tomorrow.
What has been the most challenging role you’ve played, and how did it push you out of your comfort zone?
I have played quite a few roles in the last two years, all of them peculiarly challenging Tokunbo was very physically tedious for whoever was going to play the character. It didn’t even have to be me; that character role had a lot of work to do, so it was physically demanding, but we got around that. From that, my next film had me jumping from the Falomo bridge into the water. What prepares me from that, I don’t even know. Further from that, I am jumping the Ikeja bridge to a moving truck to escape from my assailants, so it’s like every last feat emboldens me more to embrace new things, and it’s not like I go out looking for new things. People have now become aware that there’s a guy who thinks he likes to do it; let’s go to him. Tokunbo sparked a certain dust, and it has had people come my way, so I can’t say which has been the most challenging; I
I have picked different things from different people, from everybody, actually; I have drawn inspiration from everyone. But there are people of note whose works I really admire: Gabriel Afoloyan, Richard-Mofe Damijo, Femi Odugbemi, who is a mentor to me, and Madam Bolanle as well. I have just been lucky to be around aficionados of the arts, and they have rubbed off on me. Then, for role models, well, I am a role model for myself, but of course, I admire character traits in different people while also working on my best self.
With so many years in the industry, how do you continue to find passion and excitement in your work?
You just have to love what you do, whether it is a calling or if it is an itch in your heart to perform, to do what we do, you would not be any place else in the world than here, and here is where your two feet are. If this is what you love, then you will find yourself here. The passion comes from the love of it; we don’t earn our worth, but we still show up to work; you can’t pay a performer enough; we only accept what we accept. But beyond that is the love for what you do, it’s like if you don’t do it, you are inexistent, it is like an identity, let’s say it’s natural, it’s just unexplainable.
Al Pacino will say “Give yourself 20 years in the business and see if you really want to be an actor”, so it’s just about your passion.
“There’s
about fame, it is relative, it could change tomorrow. Right now, I will say I am taking a break soon. I will take a break and get my time back after all of the work for two years. What legacy do you hope to leave behind, both in the Nigerian movie industry and in your personal life?
I will say the legacy of inspiration. Inspiration is one of the reasons we are here on earth, to make the other man believe that he can because you did. I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said, “To have lived is to make life easy for other people.” The legacy of inspiration for me is hard work, discipline, and a lot of godliness. People should look at you and see the God factor. In everything that I do within my career, I just hope to be the beacon of personal excellence for people to reach within themselves and find the star inside them. I just want them to see me and believe they can find that star. I want them to think “Hey, he walked this path, and because he did, I want to do so too.”
Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self when you first started out in the industry?
a long road ahead of you, kid, don’t run faster than yourself”. Why I said so is because sometimes you can be ahead of your time, and even that can be frustrating cause you are ahead of your time. You are not within the ambits of what works in your time, so you won’t fit in.”
Can you share a personal experience or moment in your life that had a profound impact on your career trajectory?
I got hurt by a contract one time, and it made me very bitter at work, but the best way I could respond was to go to drama school and learn more about what the contract made me go through. So it hurt me so much that I had to go to school and find out more, and I found out more and also realised I wasn’t wrong. That moment in my career totally changed my outlook on the business, it made me so much better.
“I’m in a different space right now in my career, and in my personal life. The past two years I have been working on a comeback, I think I have 10 films to prove it, so I haven’t had a personal life in the past two years.”
How do you balance your professional life with your personal life, especially when both can be demanding?
I’m in a different space right now in my career, and in my personal life. The past two years I have been working on a comeback, I think I have 10 films to prove it, so I haven’t had a personal life in the past two years. My personal life has been work because of my comeback, and my work is tied to my wellbeing and my well-being is my identity. Like I said
I will tell him “There’s a long road ahead of you, kid, don’t run faster than yourself”. Why I said so is because sometimes you can be ahead of your time, and even that can be frustrating cause you are ahead of your time. You are not within the ambits of what works in your time, so you won’t fit in. Time has to be caught up with you, so it’s going to be frustrating as you have gone far, but it’s you alone in that time, and it’s only a few people who get it. So it’s either you wait for time to catch up with you, or you choose to backtrack to where society is. It’s like having a Ferrari, and you are in Lekki traffic, the bad roads and traffic; it’s frustrating; the car is built for speed; it wants to run; you should be in Abuja, not Lagos. So that’s what has been my story, I have waited, and time has caught up with me. Everything I wanted to do in my twenties is what I am doing now. I will tell myself “You are ahead of your time, but you need to be patient with time, and time is your ally.”
Your new movie, Tokunbo deals with high-stakes situations. How did you prepare to embody a character with such intense pressure?
Let me put it this way, I just had the chance to make the movie I want to watch because the movie I want to watch isn’t out there yet, so this script coming into my hands was an opportunity to make a movie that nobody had seen before, to do stuff that nobody had done, so that alone was fuel to me. I just want to do stuff that they have not done and that they did not think of; it was just a blank cheque to do something that we have not engaged in. I will say I was 100 per cent prepared and partly lucky; this is the kind of stuff I always wanted to do. I will be honest with you: without taking the light out of Tokunbo, I beat my own record in other films. When Tokunbo came to me, it was a chance to do something nobody had done, now I finished Tokunbo and I got other ones, and it was a chance again to top what I have done that nobody has done, so it’s like I am chasing my personal best, my own record. So for Tokunbo, to do all those things, I was out of commission for seven years, so I got the script and I was like yeah, let’s do it.
What was the most challenging aspect of your role in Tokunbo and how did you overcome it?
Let me tell you a secret, the guy in the film was going through something as such in real life. It was something like if I needed energy, I just looked at my phone and got that energy that I needed, and I got back to work. The guy in the film was going through it as the guy in real life. Part of my joy is that I used it to make a good film, that was pepper to me and I used it to make pepper soup.
How did your previous acting experiences influence your portrayal of your character in Tokunbo?
Like I said, I have grown through every character I have played, I have watched my work grow. When I started, I spoke very fast, I still speak fast though, but now I can hear myself
more, when I started, a director called me “Mr miles per hour” because of how fast I spoke. He liked it but said I had to slow it down a little bit for some people to listen because they might not catch what I said. But today I have mastered myself a little more, and I speak in beats now, I speak in moments, in breaths. I have grown through every character, and Tokunbo was an opportunity to do what I have not done, what I have not seen, this wasn’t a stunt-man type of thing, I did it myself.
What message or impact do you hope your character will have on viewers after watching Tokunbo? I hope it makes them love what they do; if you are a cleaner, I hope it makes you go back to that floor and clean it so well until it shines. I hope that when you watch it, you never give up on what you believe in; you never give up, you just keep going, you stay just so you can find out. You know how after church, you leave church with so much energy inside you? That’s the type of impact I hope they will have after watching the film.
Tech Innovations
in Modern-Day Healthcare
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
As we evolve and increase our knowledge of technology, we develop better and more efficient ways to impact every aspect of our economy and, generally, our lives. From agriculture to infrastructure and healthcare, no industry hasn’t felt the integration of technology.
TELEMEDICINE
The era of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the rise of telemedicine in the healthcare industry. Innovations like the “HealthTap App” allow patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, and some also allow video conferencing. Telemedicine has made healthcare more accessible, particularly for those in rural or underserved areas. It reduces the need for travel, minimises waiting times, and ensures that patients can receive timely medical advice from the comfort of their homes.
ROBOTICS IN SURGERY
Robotic surgery has changed entire surgical procedures. Robotic systems, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, enable surgeons to perform complex surgeries with better precision and accuracy through barely dangerous techniques. Compared to traditional surgery, these systems provide better visuals, greater dexterity, and reduced tremors. The benefits of robotic surgery include smaller incisions, less pain, reduced risk of infection, and faster recovery times for patients.
The healthcare industry has transformed tremendously over the past few decades thanks to groundbreaking technological innovations. These advancements have not only enhanced the quality of patient care but have also made some healthcare operations less complex, making the system more efficient and effective. Here are some of the most impactful tech innovations revolutionising modern healthcare. With the rise of sophisticated machinery and innovative tech ideas, the modern healthcare industry has seen many improvements in patient care, mode of operation, and general service. Services have become more effective and personalised, and with more innovations still coming up, it is only bound to get better.
PORTABLE HEALTH DEVICES
Creating portable devices that patients can access anytime has proven to be a lifesaver. These devices have become increasingly popular for monitoring various health parameters, from portable blood pressure monitors to fitness trackers and smartwatches. These devices can track heart rate, blood pressure, physical activity, and sleep patterns in real-time.
ULTRA-HIGH-RESOLUTION
Ultra-high-resolution CT (UHRCT) offers excellent image detail, allowing even the microscopic images of anatomical structures to be captured. This level of detail is essential in fields such as pulmonology, neurology, and orthopaedics, where precise images impact the diagnosis process and treatment. UHRCT can detect earlystage diseases and subtle abnormalities that might be missed with standard CT imaging.
3D PRINTING
3D printing technology has had numerous applications in healthcare, from creating custom prosthetics and implants to producing anatomical models for surgical planning. Customisation is a significant advantage of 3D printing, as it allows for creating medical devices tailored to an individual’s specific needs. This technology has also been instrumental in bioprinting, where researchers are working on printing tissues and organs, potentially revolutionising organ transplantation in the future.
BEAUTY
1. RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS
Rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, marula oil helps shield the skin from environmental damage brought on by free radicals. Unstable chemicals known as free radicals can harm skin cells, resulting in early ageing, wrinkles, and fine lines. Your skin will remain youthful and bright if you use marula oil in your skincare routine since it provides a barrier against pollutants and UV rays.
2. DEEPLY HYDRATING
6 Reasons Why You Should Add Marula Oil to Your Skincare Routine
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
Natural oils are becoming increasingly popular in the skin care industry because of their therapeutic and nutritional qualities. Marula oil is one such oil that is becoming increasingly popular. This oil, which is high in antioxidants and nutrients, has many health benefits for your skin. It is made from the nuts of the marula tree, which is native to southern Africa. Here, we explore reasons to consider adding marula oil to your skincare routine.
The capacity of marula oil to deeply hydrate skin is one of its most notable qualities. It is abundant in oleic acid, a fatty acid that is very good at retaining moisture. Marula oil is ideal for all skin types, particularly oily and acne-prone skin because it is lightweight and easily absorbed in contrast to some other oils. Your skin will remain smooth, supple, and radiant with regular application of marula oil, which helps preserve the skin’s natural moisture balance.
Marula oil is non-comedogenic, so you won’t get pore blockage. This makes it a great option for people who have sensitive skin or acne. Marula oil offers moisture and nourishment without congealing your pores, unlike other oils that could worsen outbreaks. By relieving redness and soothing irritated skin, its anti-inflammatory qualities can also aid in smoothing up the complexion.
Weakness and wrinkles are caused by our skin losing suppleness as we age. The fatty acids and amino acids in marula oil are crucial for collagen formation, enhancing skin suppleness. Improved production of collagen, a protein that gives the skin structure, can result in firmer, younger-looking skin. When used regularly, marula oil can help maintain the resilience and plumpness of your skin.
5.HELP HEAL AND REPAIR SKIN
Marula oil helps mend injured skin because of its superior healing qualities. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, minor wounds, scrapes, and scars can heal more quickly. Furthermore, its high fatty acid content supports the skin’s barrier function, hastening recovery and averting additional harm. This makes it a perfect option for those dealing with skin irritation or marks left over from acne.
6.VERSATILE AND EASY TO USE
3. NONCOMEDOGENIC .IMPROVES SKIN ELASTICITY
One of marula oil’s best qualities is its adaptability. There are numerous applications for it in your skincare regimen. It can be used as a nourishing treatment for your hair and nails, or you can apply a few drops directly to your face as a moisturiser. Because of its lightweight nature, it can be used day or night and still provide consistent benefits to the skin without leaving it feeling greasy or heavy.
Integrating marula oil into your skincare routine is a quick and easy way to improve the look and health of your skin. This rich vitamin profile, which also has many other benefits, can naturally resolve many common skin disorders. Marula oil is a versatile and potent addition to your beauty arsenal, whether you’re aiming to hydrate, protect, or restore your skin. Try it out and see for yourself the life-changing benefits.
LITTLE HABITS, BIG EFFECTS
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
Most of the time, we find ourselves engaging in habits or even daily routines that seem normal to us, but they aren’t. At times, these habits don’t seem to affect us at that moment, but as
time goes on, the effects manifest themselves in critical ways. No matter how busy we get, many of us fall into routines that seem harmless, and these habits need to be curbed. These habits, often
Skipping Breakfast
One of the most common negative habits is skipping the day’s first meal. Many people skip breakfast to save time or reduce calorie intake. However, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is essential for kickstarting your metabolism and providing the energy needed for the day. Skipping it can lead to overeating later, energy slumps, and poor concentration.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Dehydration causes more damage than people know. Depriving yourself of water for long periods can lead to fatigue, headaches, and impaired cognitive function. Many people don’t drink enough water throughout the day, relying instead on caffeinated or sugary beverages. These other liquids can’t replace the importance of water in the body. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Carry a water bottle with you to remind yourself to stay hydrated.
overlooked or underestimated, can impact a person’s physical and mental well-being over time. For our health guide this week, we will highlight a few of these overlooked habits.
Eating Late at Night
Eating large meals or snacks late at night can disrupt digestion and negatively impact the quality of your sleep. It also increases the risk of acid reflux and contributes to weight gain, which isn’t healthy. Try to finish eating at least two to three hours before bedtime.
Neglecting Dental Hygiene
Never going to the dentist, rushing through brushing, or skipping brushing entirely can lead to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease. Not many people know this, but poor oral health is also linked to other health issues, including heart disease.
Brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice daily and floss daily. Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining oral health.
Overusing Painkillers
Excessive use of painkillers for headaches or minor aches can lead to rebound headaches and other health issues. Too much use of drugs is another form of drug abuse, and the long-term use of painkillers can affect your liver, kidneys, and stomach lining. Use painkillers moderately and only when necessary. One can explore alternative pain management techniques such as hydration, rest, and natural remedies.
It’s one thing to become aware of these common habits, and it’s another to actually work towards making better life choices. You can significantly improve your overall health and well-being by taking proactive steps to replace harmful habits with healthier options, which can lead to long-term benefits and a better quality of life.
CAREER
Developing Leadership Qualities Career Growth
BY JOHNSON CHUKWUEKE
The corporate world is rapidly growing and changing, requiring professionals to constantly upscale themselves, gain both professional and personal skills, and diligently carry out their roles. When it comes to personal qualities, there are an array of qualities for one to develop, and one of the most sought-after is the leadership quality an individual possesses.
Set Clear Goals
The leadership journey is not all about “going with the flow”. It’s an intentional journey that requires you to set clear and achievable goals as you move from one stage in your career to another. Goals such as improving your active listening skills in meetings or with a colleague can seem too simple, but you will be surprised to learn how many professionals lack such skills. Setting goals can be likened to having a clear path that keeps you focused on where you are going, with no distractions.
Organisation
Being a leader involves being able to arrange and order things. Such organisational skills should start with how you organise yourself before focusing on handling an entire department or even establishment. Leaders have eyes on them; everyone wants to see how they handle their personal affairs before trusting them with the affairs of others.
Whether you are aiming for a promotion, seeking new opportunities, or just trying to become a more effective leader, empowering yourself with leadership qualities is key. Here are some reliable strategies for improving your leadership capabilities and moving your career forward.
Upscaling
One quality of a leader is being knowledgeable on different topics and sharing this knowledge with others. But then, you can only give what you have, hence the reason to continuously learn and never stop upscaling your skills. Take advantage of formal training programs, workshops, seminars, and online courses focused on developing leadership qualities. Look for opportunities to increase your knowledge and practice what you know. Once you can prove yourself knowledgeable and apply that knowledge, chances of being noticed inevitably increase; it’s like a light in a dark room; it just can’t be ignored.
Balancing IQ and EQ
There’s a time to display your intellect and another time to display your empathic side. As a professional working towards leadership, it’s important to read the room, understand what part of you needs to come out and treat the situation accordingly.
Seek Feedback
The feedback from your team members is important; you need to know how the people you are leading feel about you. Negative feedback helps you go back to the drawing board to re-strategise; if it’s positive feedback, you need to keep up with what you are doing.
Having these skills and building on them doesn’t just help you professionally; they also come in handy when dealing with situations outside of the corporate world. Also, keep in mind that leadership isn’t just a title; it’s a position that needs constant work to reassure your team members that you’re worth putting their trust in.
Love Bombing
Everything You Need to Know And Signs to Look Out For
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
Relationships
are not always as perfect as they appear to be. One of those situations that could initially seem like a happily ever after but could be a warning sign is love bombing. Let’s examine what love bombing entails and how to recognise it. WHAT IS LOVE BOMBING?
A manipulation technique known as “love bombing” occurs when someone shows you excessive love and affection and presents in an attempt to manipulate you. It can feel overwhelming in a positive way and usually begins in the early phases of a relationship. But frequently, the motive isn’t sincere. They may be attempting to make you reliant on them or instil a sense of obligation to return the same intensity. Once they’ve gotten your attention, they may begin to act more manipulatively and controlling.
Excessive flattery and compliments are some of the first indicators of love bombing. Everyone enjoys hearing flattering remarks about themselves, but love bombers go beyond. They may tell you over and over again how wonderful you are, how they have never met anybody like you, and how you are the best thing that has ever happened to them. At first, this unceasing praise may seem exhilarating, but it’s crucial to consider whether it’s sincere or has a motive behind it. While genuine compliments stem from genuine affection, love bombing frequently consists of meaningless flattery intended to make you feel unique and obligated.
Presents and lavish displays are standard tools love bombers use to entice you. They may offer you costly gifts, unexpected vacations, or lavish dates to show you how much they care. Even though these gestures may be pleasant, they could also put you in an awkward or forced position to return the favour. It is imperative to consider whether these presents are offered sincerely or a ploy to purchase your love and allegiance. Giving gifts to one another is not a means of control; instead, it is a sign of thoughtfulness and care in healthy relationships.
Love bombers frequently start talking about the future and expressing “I love you” too soon in a relationship. Before you’ve even got to know one another well, they might bring up marriage, moving in together, or starting a family. While it’s possible to fall deeply in love with someone immediately, true love takes time to blossom. Someone may be trying to trap you in a relationship before you understand their genuine intentions if they are pressuring you into a major commitment too quickly.
Isolating you from your support system is one of a love bomber’s primary strategies. They could fabricate drama to distance you from them, or they might make you feel bad for hanging out with friends and family. Their ability to dominate you and keep you from asking for help or support from others is facilitated by your isolation. It’s critical to keep your friendships and relationships in check. One of the warning signs that shouldn’t be overlooked is when someone is trying to keep you apart from the people you care about.
Love bombers will initially demand to communicate with you regularly. They may call you regularly, text you constantly, and insist on your undivided attention. Although receiving this kind of attention can be flattering initially, it can soon seem oppressive. Love bombers communicate constantly to establish control and dependency. Their desire for you to feel like you are the centre of their universe can easily result in estrangement from loved ones. In any relationship, it’s critical to establish limits and preserve a reasonable amount of independence.
The love bomber’s true colours frequently come to light after the initial phase of the bombing. They could start acting manipulatively, harshly, and moodily. They might utilise intimidation, fear, or guilt to keep you in the relationship and exert control over you. These mood fluctuations might be perplexing and cause you to doubt your judgment and emotions. Recognising these deceptive actions and realising they don’t represent your value or worth is crucial. Mutual respect, trust, and communication—rather than coercion and control—are the foundations of healthy relationships.
CONCLUSION
he first line of defence against love bombing is to recognise the warning signs, which can be a perplexing and overwhelming experience. Remember that healthy relationships are based on communication, mutual respect, and trust. Sincere love takes time to blossom. Do not hesitate to ask friends, family, or a mental health professional for support if you believe that you are being love-bombed. You deserve to be in a caring and healthy relationship because your emotional wellbeing is crucial.
MOVIE REVIEW: BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA
original maker has taken the extended story seriously enough to petrify it.
Alien: Romulus
Forty-five years after Alien launched horror into space, there’s little that hasn’t been analysed about its hissing xenomorphs, face-huggers or the lingering untrustworthiness of “synthetic persons.” These ideas recycle endlessly through a franchise that is ever expanding, like space itself, but the metaphorical power of the 1979 original and its 1986 (and much more conventionally exciting) sequel, Aliens, still inspire appreciative analyses all these decades later.
Ridley Scott didn’t intend for any of that when he set out to direct the first film. He wasn’t even the first choice for the job. But, according to him, he won it by pitching “the most straight-forward, unpretentious, riveting thriller like Psycho or even the most brilliant B-level like Night of the Living Deador Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but I want it to look, and I’m going to do this, like 2001: A Space Odyssey.”
A scary movie, in other words, except in space. Where no one can hear you scream.
Alien: Romulus director and co-writer Fede Álvarez honours that conceptual seed in mood and feeling, dispensing with the allegorical fright in favour of taut, pulsepounding standalone adventure bumping with legitimately earned jump scares.
It is also consciously merging the universe’s greatest hits, incorporating cues from James Cameron’s Aliens and the crimes against nature seen in Alien: Resurrection and the stoic, mythology-expanding prequels. By some miracle, Álvarez weaves all this into the plot without it deteriorating into a mess of cliches or “don’t go in there” stupidity . . . if you don’t count the entire reason we’re setting out on this adventure.
Imperfect though Romulus may be, it’s also a solid entry in a franchise of films whose
Álvarez returns us to the simple sweatiness and anxiety that made Alien magnificent, paying homage to its basic realism and the timelessness of corporate exploitation. It’s easy to forget that this franchise began with a crew of grumpy underpaid space truckers having an assignment beyond their scope of expertise forced on them by the undercover android embedded with their small team.
The 20-somethings signing themselves up for trouble in Romulus choose their doom, but only because their circumstances leave them with few other options. But they are a similar breed of working-class survivours exploited by Weyland-Yutani, the intergalactic megaconglomerate chasing an annihilative parasite across space and time.
Romulus is set between the events of Alien and Aliens, two of the four movies built around Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley and everything her corporate overlords stole from her: motherhood, stability and plain old peace.
Somehow Weyland-Yutani makes life worse for the 20-somethings trapped in its Jackson’s Star mining colony. They and their families are expendable indentured servants on a rock enrobed in perpetual darkness.
Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine, having lost her parents to lung disease, is one of the many who dream of sunlight she’s never felt on her skin.
All Rain has is her adopted brother Andy (David Jonsson) , an obsolete android programmed by her late father to protect her. He becomes her ticket off-world when a group of her old friends, including her ex, Tyler (Archie Renaux), and his sister Kay (Isabela Merced), hatch a plan to misappropriate a work vehicle, scavenge a few hyper-sleep pods off a derelict vessel they picked up on their scanners, and take off for a better life many light years away.
Andy is the only one that can interface with the ship’s system. Rain is leery of the scheme, which is only accentuated by the nonchalance with which Tyler’s boneheaded buddy Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and their pilot Navarro (Aileen Wu) try to sell her on it. But the chance to escape for sunnier climes is too tempting to pass up.
This is the ground floor of any “house of horrors” flick. Álvarez directed a capable update of one of the best of that genre with 2013’s Evil Dead, followed by Don’t Breathe, in which he soaks long silences in dread.
And that is what we have in Alien: Romulus–a good time that drives like it’s on rails but slows down the action to steep us in fright. I have seen every Alien movie there is, including the Predator crossovers, and Romulus is the first in a long while that managed to jolt me a few times.
Compared to the slick faux-wetness of the computer graphics xenomorphs in Alien:
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Covenant, these props amplify their menace in ways that don’t translate as well via pixels. That said, one particularly imaginative sequence involves a digitally rendered peril utilising a known aspect of the xenomorphs in a new way, a tough feat in a franchise as well-trodden as this.
The film’s strongest game is its homage factor, especially in the way it captures much of the original’s claustrophobia. Their vessel’s closed quarters and the space station’s relentlessly dim flooded rooms, along with the ominous disrepair of its metal bridges and maze of hallways. Deep within awaits another resurrection of sorts that’s worth appreciating for the effort more than the execution.
Put simply, it feels like a classic Alien movie for the best reasons while lacking the thought-provoking and soulful weight of the best of them. Since the notion of “best” is subjective, for our purpose let’s say Alien and Aliens set the bar – although, for superfans, there is no such thing as a truly bad alien movie.
The first three Alien films are the journey of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, through whom the story expands to look at the ferocity of motherhood, among other things, along with the closed-in cheapness of life in a universe ruled by corporate profiteers. They’re also about the loneliness of inevitable defeat and what it means to be one person against an evil designed to outlast human will.
That, I think, is the major shortcoming of Alien: Romulus; there is little in the way of an emotional hook and no sign of an intellectual one. There are explanations without meaning: Its space station death trap is divided between two sides, one called Romulus and the other Remus, after Rome’s foundational fable, without leaning into the why of it.
We’re also left to wonder what this movie is really about besides further establishing WeylandYutani’s inhumanity which, OK, we get it. That leaves us with . . . what? It’s about family in the same way the Fast & Furious franchise is about family. You could also say it’s about desperation, but ultimately what horror movie isn’t?
None of that negates its worth as a good time. I’m only saying it works best if you don’t think too much about it beyond appreciating a couple of outstanding performances.
Jonsson, a familiar face from HBO’s Industry tops that list with a performance that shifts between a glitchy, affectionate simpleton whose only purpose is to protect his sister until, inevitably, circumstances upgrade him to meet the enemy on its level.
Performing two convincingly different Andys with separate motivations lends a note of welcome ambiguity to a premise that always boils down to a process of elimination. Andy also gives purpose to that other detail to which I’ve alluded to beyond the mere wow factor of how far Computer Generated Images have come.
But if the franchise were to be renewed for a new generation it needs a Ripley equivalent more than an Andy, leaving Spaeny to float into that inky void.
They are not the same, neither is Spaeny trying to be, which is wise. But if there is a motivating
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subplot aside from a tangible device that could justify a continuation, it simply isn’t present.
Instead, Álvarez and his co-writer Rodo Sayagues circle back to familiar endgame propellants that don’t make sense for reasons other than calling back to previous movies (set in timeframes that haven’t happened yet in-franchise. . . ). One is simply ridiculous. As for the other, let’s just say that there is no Jonesy the cat in this movie, so they shove someone into that role . . . and it’s ill-fitting.
Álvarez and Sayagues may have also thought about fan service with these moves, but they only highlight their lack of imagination or unwillingness to dream up a new escape plan. Of course, the reason we keep getting new Alien movies is that its monsters are inescapable. One can only depart from so much before returning to what works, which typically involves vacuuming the offender into deep space. I’m happy to say other movies in this franchise deserve that fate more than this one, although let’s pray someone maps a less predictable route for whatever chapters come next.
Rating:7.2/10
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