2023, A year running like it's been pursued!

      When did we shout happy New year on the eve of 2022? Seems like just yesterday, yet we're in August already, the year almost closing to an end with just 4 months remaining. We hope and pray for a better 2024.

Ramadan: what it is!

RAMADAN is observed by Muslims around the world as a period of fasting to commemorate “the best of times”.

It celebrates the moment the Koran was unveiled to Muhammad, according to Islamic belief – but what else do we know about the festival?

When is Ramadan 2018?

Ramadan in 2018 was expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, May 15, and end on the evening of Thursday, June 14.

However, the beginning and end are determined by the lunar Islamic calendar – and as the new moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on May 15, the start was postponed for another day.

This means that the holy month officially began on the evening of Wednesday, May 16.

Hilal, the crescent, is usually a day or more after the astronomical new moon.

The “night of power” or “night of decree” is considered the holiest night of the year, as Muslims believe the first revelation of the Koran was sent down to Muhammad on this night.

It’s thought to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan – the 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29th.

The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month.

This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

A common greeting is Ramadan Mubarak, which means “have a blessed Ramadan”.

What happens during Ramadan?

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness.

Fasting is obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating.

The fast is from dawn to sunset, with a pre-dawn meal known as suhur and sunset meal called iftar.

Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity during Ramadan.

Ramadan is also a month where Muslims try to practice increased self-discipline.

As well as fasting – abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours – Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Koran throughout the month, before the holy festival of Eid al-Fitr.

People do not eat or drink during daylight hours as they observe Ramadan

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

Ramadan is seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship.

Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and this includes fasting – which teaches people how to be more self-disciplined and have empathy for those less fortunate.

The pre-dawn meal before the fast is called the suhur, while the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is the iftar.

In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, Muslims also increase restraint, such as abstaining from sexual relations.

The act of fasting is said to cleanse the soul by freeing it from worldly activities, in addition to the abolition of past sins.

The eating of dates usually breaks the fast at sundown.

After that, the usual practice is to adjourn for prayer and then the main meal is served.

From The sun.

Borno Govt, set to convert the house of former leader of bokoharam sect to a museum.

The Borno Government says it will convert the house of the former leader of Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf, to a museum.

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Dr Mohammed Bulama, disclosed this at the sidelines of the 9th National Council for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation held in Dutse, Jigawa.

The Council with the theme “Tourism and Culture as Panacea for Nigeria’s Economic Recovery’’ was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

Bulama said the museum would help to archive all things related to Boko Haram insurgency to attract tourists and for the benefits of future generation.

“We are going to convert the house of the leader of the Boko Haram sect Mohammed Yusuf where the insurgency all started from, to a museum.

“The place is called Maarcas; we want to build a museum there where all the things that had happened relating to the insurgency will be archived.

“We want to document and archive all that had happened so that our future generation will be able to have first-hand information,” he said.

Yusuf, sect leader and founder of the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram was killed in 2009.

NAN

The Benefits of Ginger.

Ginger is a flowering plant that originated from China. 

It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal.

The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.

Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.

Ginger can also be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.

The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol.

Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties, it also has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea, especially pregnancy related. 

Ginger appears to be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain, and may reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness.

Also, Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve various heart disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Ginger appears to speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.

Ginger Powder May Significantly Reduce Menstrual Pain

Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) refers to pain felt during a woman's menstrual cycle.

One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain relief, including menstrual pain.

In one study, 150 women were instructed to take 1 gram of ginger powder per day, for the first 3 days of the menstrual period.

The active Ingredient in Ginger can help fight Infections.

Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections.

In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria.

It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections.

Edited from AUTHORITY NUTRITION.

SIT, SHUT UP AND PRAY!

 This was what they told her when she came home with a broken arm and a bloody nose. Vivian have been suffering from domestic violence ever since she got married to Ken. It has been from one fight, argument and beatings to another. She was getting tired of it all, but she couldn't leave. The big question is WHY?  how can she leave when the people who are supposed to protect her are the ones pushing her to the beast of man she married? The word 'what will people say?' have been her parents watchword.

So many men and women are going through a rough patch with their spouses. But instead of leaving, they choose to stay or even pray because of what the society Will say. Domestic violence is so parvelence in our society. Infact, the society sees nothing wrong with it anymore. It is now part of us and so many men and women usually loose their lives in the process..

When a woman runs home, don't tell her to pray because most times, even though prayer works in all things it doesn't change a man or a woman who isn't ready to change.  The society should stop shaming victims who summons the courage to work out of an abusive marriage. Marriage is meant to be enjoyed not endured.
So, when a man or a woman deciedes to leave their spouse, the society should stop making a big deal out of it. After all, it is who that wear the shoes knows where it pitches.

'CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME' New song of the century!

It's no longer news that this song is now the song of the new government, and it was launched by our amiable president, Muhammad Buhari. He once said at eagle square, on May 29, 2015 that 'if we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill us'.  This well intentioned message was meant for all 'good' Citizens of Nigeria to embrace. Including, the politians, bankers, judges, arm forces, our leaders and what have you. As acclaimed, it's this particular song that will cleanse our image internationally so that David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of Britain who once called us 'fantastically corrupt' might not refer that to us anymore. But, in this era of "do as I say, not what I do" are the initiators of this great song dancing along with us? Are they really dancing with the masses?  And then, singing the new song with us is our information minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. But is he really following what the song means? I don't think so. Take for instance the health of our president. The way he twists any information concerning the president is alarming to an extent that Nigerians have Even changed his name to 'lie' Mohammed. And he's among the initiators of the song 'change begins with ME'. This is what we are talking about.

More so, our president who initiated the song, once complained bitterly about medical tourism, isn't he a victim of medical tourism at the moment?  Is he really dancing to the new music? I don't think so!

So, in order for is to dance to the new song, our leaders should gives us the dance steps so we don't fall, Or miss our steps and fall down flat while at it.

EVERY YEAR, SAME SONG.

Poc Umeh will always call them' ambassadors of poverty, merchants of loot with kleptomaniac fingers'.  Our politicians are not ashamed, what's new about them, and what hasn't been said about them? Definitely Nothing! For over 56years, they still campaign with such  words as 'I will build good roads, I will make sure there's electricity, I'll give the youths job including free education' they keep giving us the 'I WILL' promises time and again.  But the question is,  when will these 'I will' stories stop?  Other countries in the world like India, Brazil and the rest all started the 'I will' story with Nigeria, but they have sat up and doing well for themselves.
Our dear country Nigeria just clocked 57years and it's just like a man in his 50s that has no wife, children, or a nice house, the igbos call this type of a man an 'efulefu' meaning a vagabond.

Having said that, it will be nice to know that, the problem is not Nigeria. Rather, it's the ambassadors of poverty ruling the masses. Arguably, Since the year 1979, it has been recycling past leaders, those who have learnt that, politics in Nigeria is a business venture with their respective political offices as their company.  And because our politicians have understood the need to keep the masses hungry, they will give their sugar-coated promises, and leave without fulfilling any of these promises and then, run back after 4years to start sharing half bag of rice, little sachets of salt, few tin tomatoes, wrappers with which their faces are encrypted to the hungry masses they left behind.

For the past 50years, it has been one story or the other. They promise to provide jobs for the youths, but the only employment they get is that of thuggery and serving as deadly instruments in the hands of these same politicians. They promise electricity, but the masses still wallow in pitch darkness. They also promise good roads, mapping out trillions of naira for road construction yet, nothing is done. And even if they manage to construct, the road will still go with them as it will start crumbling due to the cheap materials used for the construction.

How about the educational Sector? How many of their children are schooling in Nigeria? None! And this is why schools keep going on strike. It's either ASUU strike or ASUP. And little or nothing are done about all these because they have their children schooling in the 'Abroad'. What about the medical sector, definitely nothing to write home about just for a few private hospitals. And this is so because they can easily fly out of the county to get medical attention thereby leaving the poor masses to their fate.

Well, We know that our 'politricktians' who are old stocks can never change, but we wish them an encounter with God on their way to 'Damascus'.