THEWILL DOWNTOWN SEPT 26 EDITION

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

TOURISM: THE OIL OF THE FUTURE...

Folorunsho Coker Tells us Why

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

8

CONTENTS

COVER TOURISM: THE OIL OF THE FUTURE...

FOLORUNSHO COKER TELLS US WHY

16

04-05 T

he media is a very effective and powerful tool to communicate, educate and influence public opinion. However, the advent of social media appears to have brought a different dimension to it. The plurality of anonymous blogs and social media handles - particularly on Twitter and Instagram - have demonised these apps, which were developed to make social interaction easier.

There are lots of faceless blogs and handles out there that are being used to spew all sorts of awful and despicable things against people these days. It finally got to me and several others, I bet, those at the receiving end of such unwarranted abuse. And like a hurricane, it is destroying lives and hardearned reputations along its course. Like everything in life, social media has its positive and negative sides.

Positively, it is establishing meaningful conversations, building communities, building more relationships, and linking far-flung audiences around the world in a matter of minutes.

On the flip side, social media has also been ruthlessly deployed by trolls unchecked as an evil tool for destruction in catastrophic proportions, destroying psychs and ruining dreams actualised through many years of toil and enormous sacrifices. This is the part that gives me grave concern.

Last week, a faceless Instagram handle was used to malign the reputation of socialite and Nollywood filmmaker, Mosunmola Abudu. Like Mo, as she is fondly called, so many individuals have been trolled by these faceless bloggers whose style of journalism seems to be pulling down people in society. The trolls don’t stop. The blogs and handles neither relent nor give up because we live in a lawless country where no one is held accountable for their actions. I’d like to classify them as the “Devil, restless like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour!”

What kind of human takes delight in pulling down others? This madness just has to stop. Like Jesus said: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Is there anyone living on this planet that is flawless, that is without blemish? It’s about time we made strong laws that would deprive these fomenters of trouble a space on our social media to act. We must take a firm stand against cyberbullying and fake news and fully support laws that would criminalise these actions in our society.

In a related development, it is disheartening and completely unfair to see CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, come under tremendous attacks on the internet following the fall of the naira.

People forget easily that Emefiele, through his ingenious interventions, has been the driver of the nation’s fragile economy so it would be unfair to heap the naira’s recent performance on him knowing that the country is fully dependent on imports and hardly produces enough of anything for local consumption talk more of exporting. Everyone wants a stronger naira and we will only get this when we start producing more of what we consume so we can reduce imports. Also, ending the importation of petroleum products will save us at least $4bn annually. So you see that the CBN is not the naira’s problem. Our wasteful lifestyles are!

Now, let’s get on to something more delightful with DOWNTOWN’s special edition on tourism in the country as we celebrate World Tourism Day on Monday, September 27, 2021. Our cover personality, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), was a natural choice for the DOWNTOWN team.

Foli, as he is fondly called by his friends, talks to DOWNTOWN about the potentials of the Nigerian tourism industry, explaining why laws obstructing the growth of the sector must be replaced and why he thinks tourism is the ‘crude oil’ of the country’s future. You will learn something new from this interview just like I did. Also, in this edition, we bring you the glamour and fashion from last week’s Emmys in Hollywood as well as from the launch of a new vodka brand in Lagos. And, as always, I am sure you will find our regular features in Culture, Entertainment, and Relationships interesting.

Enjoy your read and we’ll be back here next week..

@thisisogannah

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Acting Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Senior Lifestyle Editor: Ayodele Johnson Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

WEBSIGHTS DOWNTOWN DR. NICKI MINAJ & THE BALLGATE

FASHION AND THE EMMY GOES TO...

15

TRAVEL INFAMOUS THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NIGERIA

14

TRAVEL WHAT MAKES A 5-STAR HOTEL?

06

07

DOWNTOWN RELATIONSHIPS ZODIAC FOREPLAY? …YES PLEASE ACHIEVE THE RIGHT BALANCE WITH THESE 2 LIBRANS

12

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN A NIGHT OF STARS, VODKA & MUSIC

CONTRIBUTORS 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 @bolugram

- Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.

Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs

- Contributing Writer Uzo Orimalade has a background in Law and Business and spent over a decade working in Corporate America and Nigeria in the management consulting and investment banking sectors. She switched careers to pursue her passion for baking, cooking and home entertaining. She is content creator and host of shows in various media platforms. She has been recognised by local and international media outlets including a feature on CNN’s African Voices.

13

THE REVIEW THE BIGGEST SNUBS AND SURPRISES OF THE 2021 EMMYS

WHAT YOU SAID INSTAGRAM

gain_active

imam_anosike

Efua Oyofo @efuastar

- Contributing Writer Efua has always enjoyed telling stories.

A writer and cultural storyteller, Efua Oyofo helps clients tell their most compelling story. She focuses on social impact storytelling, and hosts a podcast: This African Love, exploring the culture of dating - and helping people develop more effective ways to navigate relationships in today’s world.

nevershaking The bounce dey bounce gidigba

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VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

FASHION

And The

Emmy Goes To...

Brits And Streaming Platforms Dominate The Most Prestigious TV-Show Award As Black Actors Were Snubbed, Again.

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

I

t was a shiny night for England-set shows and British actors at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, this year’s edition was held with a limited audience at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater, a departure from last year’s largely Zoom affair in the middle of the pandemic which saw Jimmy Kimmel hosting from Staples Center with no audience.

Netflix’s British historical drama, The Crown, won the most awards on the night carting away seven awards.

Apple TV+’s American sports comedy-drama, Ted Lasso, got the most nominations having featured in 13 different categories.

The biggest talking point was the Emmy’s failure to award any black actors with a major acting trophy, despite recording a whopping 37 nominations.

The red carpet was elegant as ever as our favourite TV show actors and personalities showed off in style.

Here are some of the best looks from that night.

Renee Elise

Goldsberry wore Cong Tri. Tracee Ellis-Ross

wore Maison Valentino Couture and Tiffany & Co. jewellery. Styled by Karla Welch.

Carl ClemonsHopkins wore Christian Siriano. The look is inspired by the non-binary flag.

Carl is the first-ever openly non-binary person nominated to an Emmy.

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Jada Pinkett-Smith wore vintage Christian Dior.

Angela Bassett wore Greta Constantine. Styled

by Jennifer Austin.

OT Fagbenle wore Agbada paired with a 41mm Omega Constellation Gents watch.

Newly-wed Uzo Aduba wore Cristina Ottaviano.

Host, Cedric The Entertainer, wore RichFresh. Styled by Jason Rembert.

Emmy Raver wore Moonsori, styled by KJMoody while posing with Daveed Diggs.

Leslie Odom Jr wore Dolce and Gabbana while posing with Nicolette Robinson.

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

FASHION

Rege Jean-Page wore Giorgio Armani. Styled

by Jeanne Yang.

Mindy Kaling wore Carolina Herrera.

Issa Rae wore custom Aliétte. Styled by Jason Rembert.

Kerry Washington wore Etro. Styled by Law Roach.

Niecy Nash wore Chiara Boni La Petite Robe. Styled by Ashley Sean Thomas.

Robin Thede in custom embroidered Jason Wu collection. Styled by Wayman & Micah.

Cynthia Erivo wore Louis Vuitton. Styled by Jason Bolden.

Rachel Lindsay wore Christopher John Rogers.

Trevor Noah wore Versace. Styled by Jason Bolden.

Jurnee Smollett wore Dior. Styled by Alexandra Mandelkorn.

Billy Porter wore Ashi.

Styled by Ty Hunter and Colin Anderson.

Samira Wiley wore a Genny suit, holding a Tyler Ellis clutch. Styled

by Sam Saboura.

Taraji P Henson wore Elie Saab. Styled by Jason Bolden.

Michaela Coel wore Christopher John Rogers.

Styled by Zerina Akers.

Nicole Byer wore Christian Siriano.

Leon Bridges wore The Pack. Styled by Gabriela “La Gab”.

MJ Rodriguez wore vintage Versace. Styled

by Katie Bofshever.

Yara Shahidi wore custom Dior. Styled by Jason Bolden.

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, “Hacks” • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Ewan McGregor, “Halston” • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Olivia Colman, “The Crown” • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Josh O’Connor, “The Crown” • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso” • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tobias Menzies, “The Crown” • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Gillian Anderson, “The Crown” • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown” • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown” • Outstanding Comedy Series: “Ted Lasso” • Outstanding Drama Series: “The Crown” • Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: “The Queen’s Gambit” • Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: “I May Destroy You,” Written by Michaela Coel

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VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

DOWNTOWN ZODIAC

Achieve The Right Balance With These

2 LIBRANS

ELEMENT: AIR COLOUR: PINK, GREEN DAY: FRIDAY RULER: VENUS GREATEST OVERALL COMPATIBILITY: ARIES, SAGITTARIUS DATES: SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

P

eople born under the Libra zodiac sign are fair, peaceful, and dislike being alone.

They find friendship and partnerships very important, seeking someone who can reflect who they are. In life, these individuals realize that the only thing they should value is their inner core of personality, with whom they are always in pursuit of balance, symmetry, justice and equality. As an air sign, Libras are known for their love of socializing, making connections, and being cooperative. Libras are incredibly fair-minded, and they firmly believe that relationships can make a person stronger.

Whenever Libras interact with other people, they have to be careful, because when they are forced to make decisions or select sides or end up in the wrong place, they might find that they are out of place and surrounded by the wrong people.

But when they aren’t trapped between decisions, Libras love going out, meeting new people, and hanging out. They’re among the most social signs.

A Libra is naturally attracted to peacemaking and is highly skilled at handling conflict tactfully and diplomatically in relationships and groups. They choose their words carefully and strive to find common ground with as many people as possible.

This sign is ruled by Venus, one of the planets of love. Libra individuals are also passionate lovers, but also love expensive objects and beautiful scenery. They enrich their lives by enjoying music, art, and visits to beautiful places.

The Libra is quite good at getting into romantic relationships and enjoys being around romantic partners; however, when it comes to committed relationships, they are quite serious. Even though they are fun to hang out with and good fun to be around, Libras are not always the most reliable friends. Still, they can be tremendously loyal and wonderful companions, even if they are late for your dinner plans.

Some examples of Librans are Will Smith, Donald Glover, Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Jim Ikye and Mercy Ike.

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Egbuson Dakore

Brilliant actress, caring sister, and a loving mother, this Bayelsa-born star is a maverick in her field. Her professionalism could perhaps be tied to Libra’s obsession with balance. The Libra zodiac symbol is literally a scale. At least that must count for something.

Since Libras are natural leaders, when allowed to express their creativity and leadership skills, they excel professionally.

M.I Abaga Seeing that the Action Film singer as a Libra, I nodded in agreement. It was one of those times when you kiss your teeth and it all just makes sense. If I recall the first time I saw the artist, I was in secondary school and he had come to our school field to play football.

Reading this you must be wondering why one of the nation’s best rappers was playing football with a bunch of kids, that was exactly what was running through my mind at the time.

What does this story have to do with a Libra you might ask, well, it was an attempt to portray the down-to-earth and social qualities unique to them. They bond with people easily and he was fun to be around.

Libra Zodiac Symbol

He organised an unorthodox soccer competition that day and the team that won was rewarded with a cash prize. Balance is key to a libra and he had a lot of it. He refused to be pushed aside considering his size.

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

RELATIONSHIPS

Foreplay?

…Yes Please

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

G

oogle has been a part of my life since I could grasp the QWERTY keyboard with my two thumbs. With the world at my fingertips, you’d think a pubescent Tilewa would put it to good use.

Searching for things like How To Be A Kid Genius or Where Is Bikini Bottom would have been on brand but that wasn’t my style. I was what you’d call a legit olodo during my formative years. I still have the bloody report cards to show for it. So any search that didn’t suit my modus operandi and the CIA would have paid me an unexpected visit.

Instead, my red Nokia Xpress Music got acclimated to more ‘Are you sure you are 18 years old’ scenes.

My earliest memory of the internet coming to my aid was my first real girlfriend.

We had planned to meet up after both our parents had gone to work. All the knowledge I had were just assumptions based on badly directed pornos downloaded at an eye-squinting resolution.

This was a practical scenario and I was blank and this wasn’t even an exam. It was Sexy time and I was afraid of being an olodo- Hey Siri, play me Wet Dreamz by Jcole.

Lost and afraid, I reached out to my not so distant acquaintance, the internet and I focused on foreplay for obvious reasons -we were still cocooned by the drama of fornication. I learnt about things like, how women liked to be spoken to, verbal consent, erogenous zones, breast massages and a ton of other things in the space of a few minutes.

After practicing a few slow kisses on my mirror and pillows, I was ready.

At the sound of a doorbell, I shot off the sofa like a corn kernel in a pan. I opened the door and she was stunning, ladies and gentlemen.

Absolutely stunning! My mouth watered as she took off all of her clothes and gently slid her arola in my mouth. I still have flashbacks of the day. We both had no idea what we were doing but I was able to draw some ego-boosting moans from her. Both being amateurs, we were in constant communication and it ended up being a pleasurable moment for us.

Verbal Consent

To consent means to agree voluntarily, enthusiastically, and clearly to take part in a specified sexual activity. Different interpretations of consent are not acceptable.

People intoxicated or under the influence of drugs cannot consent. In the absence of clear, voluntary, cohesive, and continuous consent

by all participants, it is considered sexual assault. So basically, just keep verbally getting consent at the beginning and middle of your sexual frolicking.

Erogenous Zones

The neck, ear, inner wrists and the small of the back are some arousal points for people. Many find the earlobe to be an erogenous zone. To please your partner, try lightly touching, licking, or nibbling his or her earlobes. A little tickle of the armpits and they too become totally titillating with just a light touch. Not to forget the stars of the show: kissing.

You’re a painter, your lips and mouth are your brushes. Every inch of their lips and mouth, however, is a blank canvas so I suggest you channel your inner Van Gogh.

Touch Those Melons

Despite how uncomplicated this sounds, it’s one of the most challenging. When manoeuvring your way around breasts, nimble hands and gentle lips are the golden ratio. Size might disrupt the balance but you just need to be gentle.

With that understood, all that’s left is mentally mapping out the curvature

of the bosoms. Parts like the summit of the chest, the gully between the cleavage, outer and inner breast are important. Don’t just smash them together like a pair of water balloons.

That just shows you don’t care. Don’t do that.

Toe Sucking

If you are squeamish, please don’t go anywhere. Just hand the magazine to someone else to read it to you. Done?

Good. Before attempting this ask, if you can’t, use your own eyes. If the toes look like they’ve been through hardship, abort the mission. But if not, gently decorate them with soft kisses.

Take some time after that to suck on the toes well.

Use Foreign Elements

Using things like bullet vibrators, ice or a feather can further heighten the sexual experience. Exploring around one nipple with a vibrator while sucking on the other will definitely speed up her heartbeat. As for the feather, gently brushing it across those sensitive areas of her body would make her twitchy and receptive to any touch.

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VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

COVER

TOURISM: THE OIL OF THE FUTURE...

Folorunsho Coker Tells us Why

PAGE 8

Tourism, the practice of travelling for recreation and sometimes business, is a phenomenon most countries pay utmost importance to. A subject matter so broad, it cuts across entertainment and hospitality, one would think a country so blessed geographically like ours should be leading conversations on tourism, seeing how incredibly rich we are in arts and culture. This was not the case.

Well, not until Folorunsho Folarin Coker was trusted with the task of marketing the most populous black nation on earth and its tourist offerings. ‘Foli’ Coker, as he’s fondly called, has the most impressive CV in the industry but this man is beyond a piece of paper with a few achievements on it. A career that started as the Personal Assistant to perhaps one of the most influential persons in Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has seen him serve Lagos state for 17 years before he got a promotion to replicate his success at state level nationwide as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

To celebrate World Tourism Day, DOWNTOWN’S Kehindé Fagbule got the opportunity of a sit-down with one of the people responsible for making Lagos as commercially vibrant as it is today to discuss the tourism industry in Nigeria, the archaic laws preventing it from thriving, and how to fix what could be a potential cash cow for the country.

Y

ou have a degree in combined studies, Economics, and Geography from Manchester University. Postgraduate degree in Diplomacy, International Trade, and Finance from the University of Westminster. None of those have anything to do with tourism but yet here we are. How did that happen?

I think education is just maturing of the mind for you to be able to apply the disciplined framework to anything you want to do. I’ve run a nightclub, spa, restaurants, I’ve done all sorts of trading in my life. The important thing is using it to find value. Education is for creating value: value for money, integrity, family, friends, your God, it’s a foundation on which you can grow anything. So a good education like my parents gave me has just been a foundation for me to grow anything I want to grow.

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

COVER Your father Folarin Coker was a loyal servant to Nigeria.

What are some things you learnt from him?

Our similarity is uncanny. I asked him a question on his deathbed: “In all your 97 years, what can you tell me?” And he said, “In all things, give thanks.” Those were his last words to me.

He said “Life is neither the tempest nor is it a midsummer night’s dream, very often, life is a comedy of errors. You may see it as you like and make much ado about nothing.”

“In your life, do every good thing you want to do because you don’t want to be old and have regrets about things you wish you had done but never did. Be kind and nice but be intentional in purpose with your kindness and niceness, don’t be a fool,” he concluded.

In the end, he became my son and I became his father. He abdicated all responsibilities of fatherhood and I assumed the responsibilities of both manhood and fatherhood to look after him. My father was a very intense man and a deep-thinker. He grew old gracefully having lived a beautiful life, his life was one to be emulated.

He retired before he turned 60-years- old and did some board appointments, university chancellorship, nothing heavy. He never owned a generator or a mobile phone. He had a few air conditioners in his house and they all just disintegrated, he never used them, he believed in natural air. He ate simply, had a drink, smoked cigars, and loved to party. I asked him one day: “What is the key to longevity?” He replied “Have something you look forward to doing every day.

Also, whatever small components of whatever it is you are doing, strive to be the best at it.” These are pretty much the rudders that I try to spend my life on.

I’m a practicing Muslim who prays five times a day. I’m more spiritual than religious, so I carry my God in my heart and I believe God sees my heart. There are many interpretations of who I am and I’m sure you came here with some preconceptions of who I’m supposed to be but that is life and that is public life. I thank God for his life and for mine as well.

Nigeria is not exactly known for its tourism like Dubia, Maldives, and so on. Why is this?

Because everyone has been brainwashed by the platforms that market those destinations. Why do you want to go to Dubai? Because of what people say about Dubai, the glitz, the domestic industry, that’s all.

...it does seem like a nice place to relax though.

Yes, it is. There are wonderful places that are beautiful to relax in as well. Let me break it down: what do you enjoy when you go to Dubai?

The shopping, restaurants, beautiful views, and so on. They are all domestic to Dubai. Dubai built such a strong domestic industry and along with it a strong airline. A solid domestic industry is the foundation that attracts international tourism which is just a ticket connected to our domestic tourism assets. It’s not about infrastructure, roads, or security because people still go to Mexico. Mexico is not so shiny with the crimes, killings, drug wars, kidnapping, gorilla infections, etcetera. It is not different from us here. If you want international tourism, you must build your domestic industry.

We must change our laws, they are old and overlapping. I’ve been harping on this point for five years since I got in office. In Dubai, they’ve now changed their laws so that unmarried couples can spend the night. Hotels in there have changed their laws on alcohol. Saudi Arabia is now doing more than religious tourism, they’re doing proper tourism.

The human capital requirements need to be

addressed with training. You can’t have someone with a degree in chemical engineering as a barman with no skill for the job, just using common sense. We need vocational training, not University education so that we can teach our teeming youths how to be tour guides, how to run proper bars, restaurants, museums, etcetera. It is vocational training with all the job experience by proper teachers/trainers that can help lift this industry in Nigeria. It’s the largest employer of labour, particularly women and children, in the world. Also, tourism consumes everything. If you manufacture, tourism will consume your manufactured goods. If you grow agric, tourism will consume it. If you have the best churches, tourism will consume it as we already see with large churches that have international people fly in from all over the world to attend their conventions. Tourism also has all the ingredients you need.

The hotels are there, whatever roads we have are there, the restaurants are there as well. Start with what you have and use the throughput of what you have.

Domestic tourism is six times bigger than international tourism.

How many international tourists come to Nigeria and how much do they spend? How much do the regular Nigerians spend on travel with the easterners going home for Christmas, northerners going home for Ramadan and the religious going for their various conventions? If you look at that movement alone and the values that are generated by those internal movements, it is good money.

For instance, in Osun Oshogbo, ask MTN to build a cell site so

Oil will finish, tourism will never finish. So this is the time for us to start to look at how we switch revenue to start to build the oil of the future. It’s either oil finishes or people stop buying oil, whichever way, the relevance of oil must come down.

Tourism will never end.”

that people can transfer images better, put a bit more security.

Make sure that the road is lined: a road in and a road out so it’s not the same. Make sure that there’s a degree of public education before the event and you maintain it; such as where not to urinate and defecate. Make it organised in a way that anyone can pay an agent to buy a seat in Osun Oshogbo festival and travel from America, be bussed over to the venue and their seat is there like they want to go and watch Manchester United play. That is strong domestic tourism, it must have structure. It must have laws that are up-to-date in regulation, taxation, and legislation. The human capital element must reflect not academy degree studied in America or England, but vocational and specific, intentional and targeted towards our own. A tour guide in Osun Oshogbo doesn’t need a degree from London, they need vocational training to tell the story of Osun Oshogbo. There should be guides that can speak multiple languages because if you want people to come from all over the world, you must be able to cater to their needs. Invest in small infrastructure every year. The right packaging will in turn attract visitors and investors.

Speaking of digital storytelling in 4k resolution, we are seriously lacking in that aspect. Getting images online to accompany your Nigerian tourism article is extremely difficult.

We are actually in collaboration to collect images from the 36 states in Nigeria. We’re in the third state now, it’s a long-term project, very difficult but we’re going to do it so that we will have a bank of images, so when you want to write, you help us tell a better story.

For storytelling, we created certain handles on social media: @TourNigeria and Nigerian Flavours (@ngnflavours). The whole concept is to tour Nigeria to experience the flavours of Nigeria. Our culture, food, religion, fashion, and beautiful women; Nigerian women are the most beautiful women in the world. There’s nowhere in the world I’ve been to and seen such an aggregation of beautiful women, forget it.

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VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

COVER

Tourism used to be travels and tours, now there’s a new ‘t’ added and it stands for ‘technology’.”

Last year saw the collaboration between Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and Arts and Culture. Well over a year later, can you tell us what that partnership has achieved?

People get it wrong. NTDC has the mandate to market, create products and push a positive image of Nigeria, so we consume arts and culture. It is the arts of a people that generate what we see as their culture, and it is that culture that tourism goes to see. The arts and culture of Dubai are what makes us go there and that’s what is in the domestic tourism industry. In Nigeria, our art is strong, our culture is powerful. We alone consume a lot of our tourism, so what we want is more people to soften the image of Nigeria, so that people are not so scared of the country because there’s nothing to be scared of. Is Nigeria the murder capital of the world? America is. Is Nigeria the rape capital of the world? Neither are we the fraud capital of the world. I am deeply sorry for every life that’s been lost in the midst of the militia unrest that we have but when you look at the absolute numbers, how many people are murdered in some western cities? Gang-related culture alone, how many die?

Thousands more than die here, but we do not own the platforms that amplify the tragedies. They do that because we are not conscious and aware of what we’re doing to ourselves by constantly sensationalising things that really shouldn’t be in a global context.

They help us market it, so what they’re doing is demarketing us and giving us that hue. Take away two issues that are not greater in Nigeria than any in the world: security and infrastructure, from Nigeria’s image, address it fairly in the world ranking order. This is a great nation, I’m proudly Nigerian, I wouldn’t be anywhere else.

Everybody shouts of some African countries that are supposedly doing well now, what did they do to get there? What happened in Ghana and Rwanda? We don’t want that to be our story. We can grow our own but to do that, we must start by appreciating what we have first and valuing it. It is that appreciation of the value of whatever little it is we seem to think we have, that is where the awareness and the value start to grow.

I was talking about what needed to be done, there’s also the issue of finance. Tourism doesn’t like expensive money. If you want to build a hotel, you try to borrow money but at what interest rate? That’s why there are so many uncompleted ones. Tourism needs the kind of support that the oil industry gets. A fraction of that percentage

PAGE 10

used to even just renovate the government-owned tourism assets; the government hotels, stadiums, arenas, and so on. Music doesn’t have a home, there’s no 5000-seater hall in Nigeria where Mavin can go and throw down all their artists for instance. There’s no gallery of contemporary art where we can put top Nigerians paintings, a permanent exhibition. Why is the Louvre (art museum in France) such an important place? Why does Picasso sit there so majestically? It has a home where people pay to visit it.

I downplay the issue of infrastructure as there are countries with less infrastructure who are doing good tourism. I think we need to break down and identify the kinds of sustainable tourism that we’ve had.

We have fashion tourism in Nigeria, people come here; we have economic tourism, people come to buy; business tourism, people come to do business; religious tourism, people come to pray, Nigeria is a Mecca; we have the tourism that’s driven by our music and film. How many countries have all that? A lot of sub-Saharan countries have tourism built on Nigerian tourism masses. For instance, the festivals in Ghana had Nigerians as their A-listers.

You’ve had successful projects in Lagos

in the past, most notably the One Lagos Fiesta. Tell us about it.

Look what happened in Lagos. We had 25 concerts in five days in Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Bar beach, and Agege, five different locations - never been done before. We rotated the same footprint over 120 artists in those five days. I don’t think there’s ever been a bigger event than that and it was free of crime, people made money, money was pushed to the locality. The average woman selling point-and-kill fish had bought one drum of fish which she was aiming to sell from maybe Christmas Eve till the New Year but sold it in one day and proceeded to sell that drum every day. We forced the value down to the grassroots. When command and control allow the transfer of values to the very bottom, the bottom will not destroy the value.

Tell us about your decision to revoke the NTDC Act of 1992 and enact a new one.

A lot of things we’ve been working on are not just going to happen in one day. For the last five years, I’ve been chasing to change the law, to bring the law from 1992 to 2025, so that the rules that allow investments in tourism, the funding, regulations, classifications of hotels, and all the things that Dubai, that has changed their laws three times since the pandemic started, has done to make their laws more attractive to businesses.

They keep on weaponizing them against countries that have population and cash; they don’t have the population. So we’ve been trying to change the law; we’ve been to the senate’s, house of rep and the Villa, there were some objections to some parts because when you’re changing a law, you have to make sure that it doesn’t conflict with other agencies of government. We’re now taking it back for the presidency to consider.

What does the law do?

That law streamlines what NTDC is supposed to do, so we maintain our lane and all other agencies maintain theirs. Revenue is very important, without money you can’t market Nigeria.

One of the things about the industry right now is the feeling of “I don’t get value for money.” If I check in to a supposed 4-star hotel that I pay $100 for and the water is brown and I was given a bucket to bathe with, that’s not value for money.

This is why there is a need for classification and we have a supreme court judgement because the constitution is so silent on the law on tourism in Nigeria. That law and the supreme court judgement as it stands makes the agency very weak and vulnerable to all sorts of predatory behaviour from other non-concerned agencies.

Our job is to market tourism, in terms of training, because of the shortage of funding, what we have also done is partner with some of the giants of the digital world - Google and Facebook data mining, training of how to use the Google tools for better understanding of what is going on, they shared some data with us. We’ve also done some of our own in-house training. I’ve also had to clean up a lot of things. I’ve had to change the agency, expand the organogram and we’re very happy with that. We are also working on the conditions of service which was shockingly never in place, so we’re working with the Ministry of Labour and Civil Service Commission to get accommodations of service out. We have put our funding requirements clearly to the legislature for the past four years and in the last two years, they have finally responded by being sympathetic to our funding requests.

Do we know when to expect approval?

We are hopeful that before the end of this year,

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

COVER we will get some traction on the change.

First appointed as the DG NTDC in 2017, you were recently re-appointed, making it 4 years so far. What are some of your biggest achievements in this role to date?

With Tour Nigeria, we have a nice digital presence, we are on Google arts and culture.

We’ve had four Nigerian Flavours events where we pretty much teach you how to use what you have better. The Flavours experiences are like concerts, an opportunity for all local stakeholders; we aggregate the crowd and expose your business to that crowd for two to three days, so what revenues you make in a month, you may make it within those days.

Have I built a new hotel? No. It’s not my job to build hotels, but it’s also something I’m not funded to do. However, we have done reviews of existing assets such as the Tigadam, Kano Dubar, Osun Oshogbo, KatampeHill, and so on. We’ve been to those places, looked at them, and told them (the facility managers) what to do.

For corporate governance - we’ve got the laws, human capital development - the training, infrastructural development, we have six geopolitical offices that were nonexistent before.

They are all functioning right now, they’re in Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Jos, Calabar, and Enugu.

We’re hoping that all these things are going to be the foundation.

How do you feel about the fact that Nollywood gets more support from the government than tourism?

Should it be the other way around or should the attention be split equally?

If you put money into music, film, fashion, and art, I am the ultimate beneficiary of all those things because tourism benefits from all of them.

There’s no irritation to the fact that Nollywood gets better funding, we just want the funding to market Nollywood better. Nigeria has the second-largest film industry in the world by numbers, so I would like to have a festival of African films where I call all the film-making countries to come to Abuja and exhibit like the one in England, the BAFTAs, and the Oscars in America. By the fact that we have the greatest volume, we should have the biggest and most respected awards in Nigeria. But what do we have? We have awards in tents and claim to have award shows. Look at the Grammys, with private sector participation, that is what we should be driving at.

I have said time and again that we need to grow Nigeria, the Naira, value, and employment.

I think one of the things we must beg for is developmental journalism. Journalism that says “This is what is wrong” without sensation, and real in the global context, not just in isolation. I mean look at the vibe of Lagos. I’ve told so many expatriates who I met years ago that they won’t leave Lagos… They’re still here. They’ve changed jobs, gotten married, they are addicted to that soul of a Nigerian, that irrepressible can-do “no dey carry last” entrepreneurial spirit, it is intangible.

The music industry too; enables and strengthens them, looks at their issues, and pushes them to do more. These are invisible tourism assets to Nigeria. They have a value that flows back to us that we need to look at how we explore it.

Do you see a future where Tourism becomes as economically beneficial to Nigeria as oil is?

Oil will finish, tourism will never finish. So this is the time for us to start to look at how we switch revenue to start to build the oil of the future.

It’s either oil finishes or people stop buying oil, whichever way, the relevance of oil must

come down. Tourism will never end. Tourism is the reward for a good state, it is a confirmation that it is well, your environment is well. Let us invest in that ecosystem that will give us that revenue we are looking for internally, regionally, and internationally.

So what is the disconnect? If Dubai can pull it off so well, why can’t we?

The disconnect is the law. Let me put it in another way. When Nigeria found oil if we did not enable the laws that would allow Mobil Exxon to come and explore the oil, bring it out, sell it and make that much money, that oil would still be underground. It all started with an enabling law. Nobody is coming to your country to invest unless they see that it is running on an investment-friendly legislature.

When we made so much money from oil, the banks couldn’t cope with that much money, so we created an enabling law that allowed the banking community to expand, that grew the Zeniths, GTBanks, in the 80s. When they changed the laws, these new banks that could handle money better came. However, it still wasn’t perfect as transactions were slow because, in those days, you had to wait for the dial or through fax. Then there was a Telecom’s revolution.

GSM came, data came, we now have phones that are smarter than a whole University. Communication revolution came that helped banks communicate, we started getting cash points, POS. The legislature allowed the MTNs and Econet to come around.

Now we have a digital revolution sitting down on the back of that communication revolution which is now broadband - 5G, the speed and volume you can communicate with. We need to look at that digital revolution carefully. We need to embrace the good bits out of it and we need to allow for tourism to enjoy it because tourism is now digitally driven.

Tourism used to be travels and tours, now there’s a new “t” added and it stands for “technology.”

You’re a self-renowned foodie and it is very evident on your Instagram page. Let’s talk about your ‘Food Flavor’ project which you have now taken to Abuja as ‘Nigerian Flavors’.

Are we going to have it on a grand scale?

It’s not a grand-scale event, it’s a small-scale event every year. Every local government should have a day when they celebrate the flavours of Nigeria. The best way to teach someone is like what we just did in Calabar. We had stakeholders meeting one day in Calabar, the next day we had a Nigerian Flavours event where we called all their local vendors.

Everything we used was in Calabar; the food, drinks, music, fashion, we put everyone in a courtyard and thousands of people were present. Calabar has suffered from a bad image issue, they couldn’t believe that they could do that. It was meant to be for one day, they didn’t stop on that day. It’s not a grand finale thing in Eagle Square in Abuja, it’s a community project, a state encouraging its local governments

We are actually in collaboration to collect images from the 36 states in Nigeria. We’re in the third state now, it’s a long-term project, very difficult but we’re going to do it so that we will have a bank of images, so when you want to write, you help us tell a better story.”

to celebrate the flavours of Nigeria. It’s a way of transferring impact funding. It’s like having multiple Coachella events at the grassroots levels.

Congratulations on your conferment as the ‘Baba Eto’ of the Ilara Kingdom by HRM Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo. Taking over from your late father. Do you intend to use your title to promote tourism, and how?

I’m grateful to Onilara of Ilara, my good friend, who conferred on me the title of my late father.

It’s an investment in my life and that matters a lot to me. Of course, tourism is all about culture and traditions and this is the biggest level of that.

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VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

A NIGHT OF STARS

VODKA & MUSIC

BY KEHINDE FAGBULE

I Akintunde-Johnson Bada

Asogwa Alexandr a

Dadaboy Ehiz

t was all glitz and glam in Victoria Island last week as a new vodka brand was officially introduced to Nigeria. Being the flagship country where it was launched in Africa, they left no stone unturned in organising the starstudded event.

Guests came dressed to the nines, adhering to the all-black or all-white themed party which was hosted by Dadaboy alongside Big Brother Naija Season 3’s Alex Unusual. Other guests in attendance were Deyemi Okanlawan, Big Brother Naija’s Michael Ngene, and Yerin Abraham, Sam Onyemelukwe, Tijesunimi Olapekan, Ozee Mbadiwe, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegiwere and many more.

DJ Sose

Deyemi Okanlawon

ene

Michael Ebuka Ng

Sheeba

Professor Tom Wilen And Ekaterina Kuzmina (Katya)

Uche Uba

Gbemi Olagbegi-Olateru Tijesunimi Ola

pekan

PAGE 12

Yemisi Folami

Emmanuel Ogu

shofor

Omomeda A

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

THE BIGGEST SNUBS AND SURPRISES OF THE 2021 EMMYS The 2021 Emmys struck a more downtempo note this year, with COVID-19 precautions preventing the stars from attending. Some nominees joined the ceremony remotely.

The Crown emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, taking home seven trophies. Ted Lasso and Mare of Easttown also scored major victories, and The Queen’s Gambit took home one of the evening’s top prizes.

The awards show also brought with it, its share of snubs and surprises. Some deserving nominees were overlooked by the Television Academy, and some scored wins in categories where they faced strong competition.

Ewan McGregor’s Surprise Win

Netflix Watch of the Week

Sex Education Season 3

W

here would we be without Sex Education? Laurie Nunn’s unflinchingly excellent Netflix series about English teens returned for its third season, a delightful eight-episode romp that feels criminally short.

After a spectacularly ribald opening montage, we learn that Otis (Asa Butterfield) is having casual sex, a fact which shocks him as much as anyone else. Sex doesn’t magically make Otis any less awkward or emotional, and he’s still not speaking to Maeve (Emma Mackey) while she hangs out with Isaac (George Robinson).

Elsewhere, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) and Adam (Connor Swindells) explore their new relationship, Jean (Gillian Anderson) and Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt) prepare to co-parent, and Jackson, (Kedar Williams Stirling) is captivated by new student, Cal (Dua Saleh).

Sex Education has always been exemplary at developing its ensemble’s intertwined arcs, with love and attention to spare for every character. This season is no exception — it doesn’t abandon Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) after her Season 2 assault, and invites us to the inner world of Lily (Tanya Reynolds) instead of casting her aside as the token weirdo. A school trip without Eric forces Otis and Ruby (Mimi Keene) to face their history and Adam and Rahim (Sam Outalbali) to form a begrudging and intriguing bond. Everyone is learning and growing and loving and hurting and (sometimes) having sex, all perfectly packaged with a dynamite soundtrack and inspired direction.

In the absence of Otis’s clinic and Jean’s counseling, the sexed-up students of Moordale are at a loss. A new “Sex King” rises, doling out advice that is not only subpar but fully dangerous. Now that they’ve known a school life free of sexual stigma, the students can’t easily get Moordale “back on track” as new headteacher Hope (Jemima Kirke) desires. Hope insists she’s not like other teachers, she’s a cool teacher, but it doesn’t take long for her to devolve into Moordale’s own Dolores Umbridge, replete with killer lipstick.

Butterfield, Gatwa, and Mackey are nothing short of flawless, less of a trio now but still anchoring the show with layered, heartfelt performances. There is no scene in which Eric’s smile won’t immediately plaster one onto your face, in which Otis doesn’t disarm you with his vulnerability, or in which you don’t want the world and more for Maeve. These characters have always felt

McGregor picked up an award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series for his role in Halston in a strong category which also included Paul Bettany for WandaVision, Hugh Grant from The Undoing, Lin-Manuel Miranda from Hamilton, and Leslie Odom Jr, also from Hamilton. Prior to the awards show, fans were tipping Miranda or Odom Jr to take the award, or possibly Paul Bettany. McGregor’s win came as a genuine surprise, however, it’s arguably overdue for McGregor. This is the first Emmy he’s ever won after being nominated four times since 1997. He was nominated in the same category for his work in Fargo, playing twin brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy.

Halston tells the story of fashion icon Roy Halston Frowick – played by McGregor – who built a luxury fashion empire in Seventies and Eighties in New York.

The brand, “synonymous with sex, status and fame” means everything to Halston and when a hostile tries to take control of his most precious asset – the brand name itself – Halston is forced to fight.

Ewan McGregor is hugely enjoyable and compelling as Halston, a man creating himself in his own image, which is good news because he’s in pretty much every scene of the five-episode series. With this and his upcoming role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a Star Wars spin-off, he may well be a regular fixture on the Emmy nominations – and wins – once more.

WandaVision Missed Out

The Disney+ show has exceeded expectations in so many ways, it would have been lovely to see it win at least one trophy. Paul Bettany and Kathryn Hahn would have been worthy winners in their respective supporting categories; Elizabeth Olsen was up for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie, and the series itself had a shot at Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Ultimately, all these categories had unbelievably strong pools of nominees, so alas, it was not to be.

Michaela Coel Should Have Won More

Olivia Colman’s acceptance speech said what we were all thinking after Coel picked up the award for Emmys Outstanding 2021 Show Writing for Michaela a Limited or Coel Anthology Series or Movie at the Emmys. In her acceptance speech, Coleman simply said: “Michaela Coel, f*** yeah!”

It was a deserved win for one of the most powerful television shows in recent years which explored themes of consent in the MeToo era. It was also based on a sexual assault Coel herself had experienced.

While her win for Outstanding Writing was incredibly deserved, I May Destroy You was also nominated in other categories this evening: Coel was up for Lead Actress and Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, while the show itself was nominated for Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series. Missing out on these felt like a huge disappointment for a show that was so groundbreaking. Coel delivered a towering performance worthy of a lead actress win, not to mention one for her directorial skills alongside Sam Miller.

I May Destroy You has been described as a “sexual assault drama”, which is a vital label for identifying the show’s potentially triggering subject matter, but one that hardly does it justice. No TV show has ever shown the complexities of sexual assault and how it affects survivors, their friends, and their communities quite like this difficult, harrowing and hilarious drama.

A Lack of Diversity Still Prevails

All the top acting awards at the Emmys were won by white actors who took away all 12 lead and supporting slots across the comedy, drama, and limited series categories. It was a move that showed just how far the Emmys still have to go if they want to truly recognise and celebrate diversity – even with a pool of nominees that included incredible talent such as Michaela Coel and the late Michael K Williams, alongside director Barry Jenkins. Soon after the event, #EmmysSoWhite started to trend on social media. After all the conversations of recent years, to not recognise diversity once again feels unforgivable.

real and lived-in, but three seasons on they feel like coming home.

Otis and Eric’s friendship continues to be the show’s lifeblood, while Otis and Maeve’s situationship keeps us on our toes. A classic will-they/won’t-they could feel drawn out after all these years, but their chemistry at the clinic was among what made Sex Education so captivating in the first place. Whether they’re crushes, friends, or enemies, this continually evolving relationship continues to crackle and keep Moordale’s lights on.

Every show covets the kind of character development and narrative strength on display here, and Sex Education makes it look easy. That takes constant introspection, care, and research — the same things Otis and Maeve encourage their clients to practice for better, safer sex. It wouldn’t hurt any of us to take a few notes from the “sex school” on achieving that balance in real life.

Sex Education Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

PAGE 13

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

TRAVEL

What Makes

A 5-Star Hotel?

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE A guest room in The Opposite House, Beijing

A bar facility at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos

A public area in The Opposite House, Beijing

H

otels are an important component of the tourism product and they contribute to the overall travel experience through the standards of facilities and services offered by them. They are often ranked by their star ratings as a definitive indicator of their quality, but ratings can vary widely by country.

As one might expect, hoteliers invite industry experts to assess their establishment, services, and staff. In the end, they award the hotel a numerical value, with the 1-star rating being the lowest and the 5-stars rating the highest and the most lucrative.

Most countries have their own methods for grading hotels, based on standards regulated by authorities from government agencies to tourism bodies.

However, while there are no international standards for hotels across the world, stars do refer to a hotel’s level of service, amenities, cleanliness, location, and price.

The United Kingdom, for example, places a strong emphasis on customer service, whereas the Government of France regulates France’s star ratings based largely on rooms, lobbies and amenities.

In 2007, four groups - the Automobile Association, VisitBritain, VisitScotland, and VisitWales - combined to create the unified ranking system for Great Britain.

Spain, on the other hand, assigns hotel ratings regionally instead of nationwide, while Italy emphasizes cleanliness with its rating system, which was launched in 2009.

Property inspections in Turkey and Portugal are handled by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, respectively.

In the United States, the American Automobile Association, local councils, and many other bureaus compete for control. Also, rather than stars, hotels are given diamonds.

In Nigeria, property inspection is done by government agencies.

There have been motions to enact federalism laws and transfer the power to each of the 36 states. That would mean every state will have their star ratings individually, translating to a 5-star hotel in a state perhaps being 3-star in another state.

Generally, several criteria can be agreed upon across borders for three, four, and five-star hotels, but what about expectations?

What Are The 5-Star Features?

These aren’t your regular hotels; they are masterpieces offering top-notch hospitality services.

To garner a 5-star rating, a hotel must offer the industry’s highest level of services and accommodation.

Cleanliness, maintenance, hospitality and delivery of services must all adhere to an extremely high standard.

Additionally, the hotel must also offer extensive fitness and spa facilities, valet parking, butler services, concierge services, 24-hour reception and room service.

Guests must have the option of environments in public areas which are large enough to provide them with generous personal space.

Also, at least one permanent suite - featuring three separate rooms: a bedroom, living room, and bathroom - must always be available for rent.

The difference between a 5-star hotel and a 4-star accommodation is attention to detail.

The former is the latter but more detailed and chic. In addition to some of the features aforementioned, here are some more peculiarities of a 5-star hotel.

• These hotels are usually located in exclusive areas or suburban neighbourhoods.

• Garden tubs, in-room video library, large LED TVs, marble baths, exquisite interior decor are a few of the features of rooms in the 5-star category.

• 24/7 room service is a must.

• Heated pools, Jacuzzis, and much more are just but a glimpse of what these world-class

Saraya Deli breakfast buffet served at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos

A view of the swimming pool at The Opposite House hotel in Beijing

PAGE 14

Window view from a guest room in Baur Au Lac, Zurich

hotels offer.

• Natural Greenery and Plants in lobby areas and common areas is another key feature.

• Reception must be open for 24 hours and should be manned with members speaking multiple languages.

• Beddings are also very important and luxury hotels pay a great deal of attention to ensuring their guests enjoy quality sleep, mostly courtesy of incredibly soft Egyptian cotton percale fabrics.

• With smart double-waffle-weave and cozy microfiber interior lining.

• Turndown services and other housekeeping services on demand must be on offer.

• 5 Star hotels must have multicuisine restaurants and cafes (and arguably should also have bars with exceptions available depending on local laws.)

These hotels are expected to exceed the luxury expectations of guests to enjoy continued patronage. They ensure that they understand the latest trends in the hospitality industry to ensure that the expectations of customers are exceeded.

Think of the most beautiful hotels in the world, the most expensive hotels in the world and luxury resorts of the world when you think of a 5-Star rating of hotels.

Is There A 7-Star Hotel Rating?

In recent years, some famously highend hotels have also tended to further exaggerate their luxurious amenities.

For example, the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai is widely recognised as having seven-star service, despite its official BAA five-star rating. This super luxury Hotel claims to have received this accolade from a media person and not through one of the recognised hotel rating systems.

In closing, the 5-hotel star rating standard is always evolving as more and better hotel amenities come into the big picture.

Happy World Tourism Day!

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

TRAVEL

It’s a Sauna Here Generally, Nigeria is hot and humid all year long.

Although, the climate differs from place to place of course. For example, Jos generally has cool weather, while Borno has much hotter weather.

Many people have air conditioning in their cars, houses, and offices to avoid the sticky sweating that comes with the weather.

os

We Speak English Contrary to what you saw in Black Panther, Nigeria happens to be an Englishspeaking country. Those who can’t speak English fluently, speak a Nigerian variant of the language called Pidgin English.

It is a mixture of locales, slang, and some English words. People speak it along with one or two of 350+ local dialects we are blessed with.

Infamous Things To Know

About Nigeria

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

N

igeria fits the bill perfectly if you are looking for the hub of arts, music, and culture. Lagos, the most inhabited state in the country has in some cases, been compared to New York in Africa, because of its thriving nightlife, vibrant culture, and spirit of hustle running in its DNA. Despite Nigeria’s natural relationship with things like agriculture, debts, and tech, it still manages to provide you with unforgettable lessons.

A good example would be if you decide to buy a hundred naira item from a traffic hawker. You give him a thousand and he runs away with your change. Although you have lost your money, you’ve learnt a valuable lesson.

In light of that, here are a few things you need to know about the green white green just in case you choose to make it your next vacation destination.

Harness Its Chaos In Nigeria, you’ll need more than just a jolt of madness. Don’t get me wrong, we aren’t all crazy in Nigeria, and you don’t have to be either, but, you must learn to merge with it. When in Rome, you behaved accordingly likewise in Nigeria, you’ll need to do the same.

This is a common thing in overpopulated countries so there’s nothing to worry about.

Shine Your Eyes Not the Big Brother Naija show of this year, neither am I suggesting you widen your eyes since you will be exposed to the ferocious Nigerian sun.

I’m speaking metaphorically. That concrete jungle Alicia Keys referred to is Lagos and in this jungle, if you are reading this then you are most likely prey.

You don’t have to constantly look over your shoulders with the fear you’d get bludgeoned to death once you set foot in Nigeria, that’s not the case.

We Take Spice Of Life Too Literally Why come to Nigeria without trying Nigerian cuisine? Nigerian food is notoriously tasty and often

spicy. There are lots of meats, starches, and starchy foods. Staples like Jollof Rice and Pepper Soup are meals to try out. Be sure to expect a little heat though.

You can find every kind of food you can imagine regardless of what tickles your taste buds. Indian, Japanese, American, French, Chinese - especially Chinese - and even Ethiopian foods are available in Lagos and Abuja.

PAGE 15

VOL 1 NO.33 • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 02, 2021

websights DOWNTOWN

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Dr Nicki Minaj & The BallGate The 38-year old rapper might have just given us the most hilarious vaccine gist ever!

T

he global pandemic is almost two years old and humans still don’t know how to react to it.

Over 4.5 million people have been reported dead as a result of complications caused by the COVID-19 virus, affirming its status as one of the deadliest pandemics of all time.

Despite the deadly nature of the virus, people still doubt its existence, and getting them to do something as basic as wearing a piece of clothing around their face for protection has proven to be an impossible task.

The vaccine presented a different type of challenge; good luck convincing people who wouldn’t wear a simple face mask to get something injected into their body.

The anti-vaxxers movement started as a mere whisper and typical human rebellion.

People who have never questioned the composition of the several vaccines they’ve been injected with since birth suddenly became scientists and demanded to know what the vaccine was made of. For a pandemic ranked seventh deadliest of all time, one would expect that people were well prepared and informed to handle it better. Or at the very least, embrace a fix.

Even though scientists were upfront about the side effects and possible allergic reactions that come with injecting a strange solution into the body, unconfirmed rumours of paralysis, infertility, reduced sexual drive, DNA alterations, long term effects, and even death, have been flying around ever since the vaccine trials began last December. But what exactly influenced this disbelief?

Since birth, we’ve been injected with uncountable vaccines. In the 1970s, smallpox (measles) was so deadly, it killed over 15 million people. Spanish flu, also known as the Great Influenza epidemic or the 1918 influenza pandemic, was another exceptionally deadly global pandemic that wiped out nearly a third of the world population. Polio was one of the most feared

PAGE 16

Tobago, Terrence Deyalsingh, shot down Minaj’s claims at a press conference, saying, “One of the reasons we could not respond yesterday in real-time to Miss Minaj is that we had to check and make sure that what she was claiming was either true or false. Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim.” He says as far as the government there knows, “There is absolutely no reported such side effects or adverse event of testicular swelling in Trinidad ... none that we know of anywhere else in the world.”

Twitter users all over the world had a field day as the reactions and memes wouldn’t stop rolling in. Here are some of the funniest ones.

Nicki Minaj diseases in the world at a point in time. All through history, there have been diseases and a matching vaccine equal to the task to nullify or at least reduce its impact on our health. So why are people drawing the line on the Coronavirus?

This became an even bigger conversation when America-based Trinidad & Tobago rapper, Nicki Minaj, took to her Twitter account to propagate her vaccine theories and share her personal story on why she had refused to get vaccinated.

On the day of the Met Gala, Minaj is asked why she isn’t attending the fashion event she’s been to on many occasions. She says it’s due to the event’s vaccine mandate, explaining:

Minaj says she’s been invited to the White House to discuss her vaccine comments. She promises to “ask questions on behalf of the people who have been made fun of for simply being human,” noting it is “day 3” of “#BallGate.”

However, her “research” — passed along to her 22.7 million Twitter followers and later to her 157 million Instagram followers — is apparently third-hand gossip from her “cousin in Trinidad’’ who “won’t get the vaccine because his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen,” leading to Minaj’s cousin’s friend’s fiancée calling off their wedding.

The Health Minister of Trinidad and

A group protested outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta chanting, “Nicki Minaj told me the truth.”

A White House official said a call — not an inperson visit — was “offered” to Minaj to discuss her questions about “the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine” with “one of our doctors;” debunking Nicki’s initial claim.

In finality, Nicki Minaj’s gross irresponsibility was a disgusting watch as one would expect the 38-year-old to at least embark on deeper research before coming out with a rumour that big and damaging, both to her cousin’s friend and her fellow anti-vaxxers. All on the foundation of a big fat lie she still hasn’t been able to prove.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and numerous independent studies, have found that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing infection and reducing the severity of “breakthrough” cases. Also, scientific studies have found no proof that vaccines harm fertility or sexual function.