Hello everyone! How y'all doing? Well, I've been quite busy hence my absence on here but that's not an excuse, I'm back!

I was in a bus some time last week and on getting to a bus stop, a guy just hurriedly jumped in and sat beside me. Immediately, his body odour greeted me harshly and I couldn't help but hold my breath for a few seconds then braced myself for the long ride ahead. In his hands, I spotted something that looked like a vehicle spare part. His shirt was so dirty, stained with grease, bits of rust and on his feet were a pair of bathroom slippers. Automatically, I just knew he was a mechanic. Then I thought to myself, " Is there a law stated somewhere that mechanics must appear and smell dirty?" Mechanics aren't the only ones guilty of this though. What am I driving at?

Most artisans (in Nigeria) are guilty of appearing and smelling dirty. It's a huge dent on the image of their various professions in my opinion. The fact that these professions are already looked down on in the society is the more reason why they have to "package their profession".

Make your profession look good. Command some respect from your customers and other professionals. It doesn't cost a fortune to appear and look good at work. What is really the difference between a mechanical engineer and a roadside mechanic? A fashion designer and a tailor? A furniture maker and a carpenter? Its not much of a difference. The education a mechanical engineer has acquired within the four walls of an institution is sometimes the only major difference between them and the roadside mechanics. And also, the way they dress. Both practically do the same thing but with little variations. Same with a fashion designer and a tailor. Its all about PACKAGING.

There's a lady I read about recently and I was really impressed at what she does. She fries akara, yam, potatoes, fish on a street in Lagos and she set herself apart from the rest by packaging herself so well you'd wonder what she's doing selling food on the street. Her work area is so tidy, she dresses well, her hair,neat. Customer service, on point. She made selling food on the street look attractive and of course, she commands respect from her customers. Hence, word spread about her up to the extent that she got featured in a newspaper.

Be proud of what you do. I understand some jobs are very tedious but there are cheap and affordable deodorants that would keep you smelling nice for most of the day. Just like a chef has an apron, have something that would keep you dirt/stain-free. Make your workshop neat. It doesn't cost a lot or does it?

We live in an interdependent world. Nobody is useless. As far as you make a honest living, make it look good, be happy with what you do. Package your profession.

xo, Evita.


Image gotten from www.dreamstime.com

As a growing child in the 90s, TV commercials were a time to sing along and sometimes dance to the jingles of the different brands advertising their products. I can still remember a particular Limca and Tandi advert. The people in the adverts always looked happy and were depicted as fun people having a party and drinking these products. The message was clear and precise. Throw a party and give your guests Limca or Tandi and it'll be fun all the way. Simple and straightforward. Fast forward to the Y2K years and the story has changed.

In a bid to sell products fast in a highly competitive market, companies/brands have gone the extra mile to employ the services of advertising firms who sometimes come up with rather ridiculous concepts for TV commercials and the likes of it. Adverts have become more glitter and less truth.

Recently, I came across a TV commercial and it was advertising an alcoholic drink. We all know alcohol is intoxicating and makes people lose their balance and the rest of it. Maybe the effect differs in individuals but there are common effects that are experienced by all who take it. This advert started off at a bar where a lady and a man were seated across each other while maintaining eye contact. They ordered this particular drink and immediately they were filled with strength. And they got up from their seats and started pushing down walls in the bar, making their way through. The lady was catwalking and pushing down walls, while the guy was flexing his muscles in a macho walk and also doing the same. Wonderful! All because of this alcoholic drink?

Now, just imagine the way this advert would have been interpreted by teenagers who have never tasted alcohol and have not seen people in real life under the influence of alcohol. Some of them may wave it aside as just acting and unrealistic but what about the others who take in the message hook,line and sinker? This is just one example amongst a thousand others.

I've read a lot of stories about companies/brands in the USA who have been sued as a result of misleading and false advertisements. Lives have even been lost. In recent years, these companies have made sure to be careful with the kind of message they pass across in their adverts. There are even regulatory authorities who watch out for such misleading adverts and put a stop to them. We need more of such in Nigeria.

Just last week, a telecommunications brand in Nigeria unveiled a new product with the catch phrase, "Netflix and chill". I was taken aback and felt a little bit of disgust at this. Do they know what "Netflix and chill" really mean? Literally, it looks ordinary but there's more to it. Before coming up with an advert, enough research should be carried out in order to avoid adulterated contents. According to Urban Dictionary, "Netflix and chill" means, " SEX. A new way of botty calling". This is even the most decent definition I could find. So is this the message this telecommunications brand wants to pass across to its consumers? That it's ok to "Netflix and chill"? And maybe what they really mean is that Netflix is now in Nigeria and you can now chill whilst at it? What really is the message? I rest my case.

All I'm saying is, can we go back to the days where adverts had interesting jingles that we could all sing, nod our heads and probably dance to? Can we still find little atoms of truth in advertisements? The thing is that the most popular brands in the world hardly advertise their products. They earned their customers through goodwill, good packaging and "friendly", subtle advertisements.

xo, Evita.



Image gotten from sprintide.in

Happy new year!!!!*biggest smile* Lord knows I'm so happy(cliche much) but that's how I really feel. Last night was so emotional for me. I couldn't help but shed a few tears, tears of joy. In my dad's words, "2015 was our most challenging year but we came out stronger..." God is awesome! He has done so much for us, we cannot say it all.

This year I pray for peace. Peace in Nigeria and peace in the world. We all know the terrors that happened in 2015. Numerous lives and properties destroyed, families shattered, hopes lost. This year, may we know peace. May we grow from strength to strength and may the good Lord bless all our endeavours. May God give our leaders the wisdom to rule us and bring out the best in our nation, Nigeria. May He bless,guide and protect all our families and loved ones.

I'm very expectant and hopeful. I know 2016 holds a lot and we shall come out of it alive, successful and victorious. Happy new year once again! I wish you all the best of 2016!

xo, Evita.