I love sports. As a little child, I saw my siblings play volleyball. This was a bit strange because most of our neighbours at home played football. Then, my brothers were in their school's volleyball team, Hussey College in Warri. Sometimes they took me along to practice and I would watch as they shoved the ball from one side to the other. What a game! I thought. This game of volleyball piqued my interest in other forms of sports, football included.



Lawn tennis was the second favourite sports to watch at home. Football being first choice of course. I admired(still admire) Serena and Venus Williams when I watched the Wimbledon and the French Open and I hoped that one day, I would be like them. But as fate would have it, I was a better table tennis player, than a lawn tennis player.

In my junior secondary year, I developed my table tennis skills and I was the second best player in my school. I had hopes of improving my skills but I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. I had to face my academics. Not like table tennis was a distraction, it was just glaring that the possibility of building a career in table tennis wouldn't work out.

In recent years, we have successfully tossed aside the other forms of sports that we know. I'm aware that every country has a particular sport that they're well known for. Like India is well known for cricket as the USA is known for basketball. But notwithstanding, the other types of sport are not abandoned.

Schools in Nigeria even make it worse. If you're not good at track and field events especially running, then you don't know how to play sports. The runners and footballers are given the most attention. We don't encourage our children to play sports. Its all about the books. But can we really blame our parents?

We live in a society that doesn't give due respect to our sportsmen/women. So why would our parents want us to represent a country that doesn't recognize its sports personalities. Can you remember the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta? Can you remember Mary Onyali? Do you know Chioma Ajunwa? Falilat Ogunkoya?



Remember Francis Obikwelu? How he was abandoned by Nigerian sports officials after an injury while representing us at Sydney 1996? What about Falilat Ogunkoya? We would rather reward academic excellence and in more recent times, beauty, than reward sporting excellence. There is no encouragement whatsoever to participate in sports except football.

Take a look at our sport's newspapers, its all about football. Sports invariably translates to football here in Nigeria. When last were we represented in badminton? Do we even have a national badminton team? What about squash? Do we realise we have a dysfunctional national handball team? No. If it's not football then it isn't important. As regards the football, where are we on the world football ranks? Our runners tend to do very well but they aren't well catered for most times. They either end up ending their career or becoming citizens of other countries who see them for what they are truly worth. Francis Obikwelu for example. What have we done for Wellington Jighere who is currently the world's best Scrabble player?

We have failed to realise that sports is also an avenue to improve our country's economy. Take a look at Michael Jordan. He made $90 million in 2013 alone from his Nike Air Jordan's sale. Which major brand in Nigeria has sponsored any sportsman apart from footballers in Nigeria? Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history and for what sports? Swimming. Don't we have better swimmers in the creeks in Niger Delta? At least if given proper training, we might have had someone to give Michael Phelps a run(swim) for his money.

Nigeria is blessed beyond comprehension but we are burdened with leaders who don't care about her citizens. Sports is just one of many other neglected sectors in the country. I strongly believe that one day, we would tap into our human resources and develop talents that would bring us honour, recognition and economic development asides our footballers.

Have a restful weekend.
xo, Evita.



Images found on goal.com and Wikipedia.org.

Hey y'all! Welcome to a new month. Time indeed waits for nobody oh! It feels like my birthday was just last week and now we're in March. Anyhow, we thank God for his grace and mercies.

Today, I'm writing about burials. I'm not a fan of attending burials (who is??) and I've only attended 3 funerals in my existence. One would expect that burials should really be sad and low key events as it's normally meant to be. But the reverse is the case here in Nigeria or is it the whole of Africa?

I understand that we have certain traditions and customs in Nigeria that are ascribed to burial ceremonies and I'm one who respects tradition. But I also have a lot of questions that have bothered me over time as regards our burial customs.

We all pray to live long and happy lives, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones who will give us memories to forever cherish. But some times, life goes the other way and we become lonely and unfortunately, forgotten by those we hold dear. This is what happens to some of our relatives back in our hometowns/villages. Life has so much evolved that we have less time to spend with them, grandmas and grandpas,uncles and aunties alike. Some of them don't even live in the villages anymore like before. We're now a more "civilized" people.

The inevitable then happens. One of these relatives passes on and obviously would have to be buried. At this time, all the family members rally round and try to give this person a "befitting" burial. There's nothing wrong in giving an elderly person of 70 years and above a grand and proper burial but so many questions come to mind.

First, how many birthdays did you celebrate with this relative when he or she was alive? How many times did you even call to ask about their well being? If an illness caused his/her death, how much effort and resources did you invest in making sure they got better? In short, did you really care for this person? Did we give them a memorable experience in their lifetime especially towards the endpoint of their lives?

Then we come out in our finest clothes, kill the fattest cows, invite dignitaries and "big men" to this relative's burial. There is laughter and merriment. We call it "Celebration of Life".

There is nothing wrong in celebrating the lifetime and achievements of this person. But when we make it seem like a fun fare with lots of food and entertainment, it bothers me. To me, it looks like a display of wealth and influence. It seems like an extravaganza.



I'm not suggesting that we come out wailing and weeping. All I'm saying is it's better to celebrate a person while they're still alive to see you and appreciate you. We shouldn't wait to celebrate and appreciate people only in death. Invest in people's lives and not their deaths.

xo, Evita.



Images found on www.quotepedia.com and quotesgram.com

*covers face* I knowww!! I totally abandoned my blog and amazing readers. I'm so sorry. Honestly, I lost track of time at a point. I had too much going on in my head. I remembered my blog every single day that I was away and it weighed on my conscience. At a time I started to question why I started a blog but along the line, my goals and vision became clearer. Wait a sec, how have you all been?? I really missed you guys. I missed sharing my thoughts and opinions with you and checking out your blogs(for those who have one). I have tons of things to write in this post and subsequent ones so strap up and let's go! :D

While I was away, a lot of things occurred and these things changed my outlook on life. First, I want to give a massive shout out to all the creative people(artists,writers,photographers,fashion bloggers,poets etc) who still find time to develop their talents and maintain a 9-5 job. The struggle isn't a joke I tell you.

In the first 2 weeks of my employment, I struggled with waking up early to resume work. It was always a drag. When you find yourself outside your field of interest, it's quite difficult to adjust but you have to anyway. I've always been good at adapting to new environments/situations but this one time was exceptionally different. I always looked forward to bedtime and I gradually became an early bird as opposed to my night crawler nature. As a result, I went offline because I needed to find myself and adapt to this new system. I needed to preserve my sanity and peace of mind. That explains why I stopped blogging for a while.

While I was away, it became clear to me why some people suddenly change. It's really easy to get lost in this rat race. I discovered that routines make people become robots and consequentially, they lose their creativity. Little wonder some individuals resign their jobs and focus on their talents in order to fulfill their dreams. But remember what they say about money? Money begets money. Money is still needed to develop your talent therefore, the 9-5 life has to continue till your savings starts smiling.

In essence, I've realized that something has to give. You have to strike a balance somewhere. Nobody has it easy especially at the beginning. It takes a whole lot of determination and focus to achieve your dreams. In this era of social media it's easy to get carried away and misled. If you feel overwhelmed and pressured in any way, take a breather. Take a break! Drop that phone. Pick up a book. Do something outside your routine and take a grasp of your life once more. There is no such thing as the perfect time or the right time. Procrastination is the thief of time. Get things done on the spot. One thing I've learned is to set reminders on my phone. Every minute is crucial.

Finally, to anyone who might be going through what I went through or even feeling worse than I did, BE STRONG. Find yourself once again and take charge of your life. Do things to improve yourself. There's no such thing as too much education. My dad always says, "Be open, read." I didn't quite understand what he meant but while I was away, it became crystal clear to me. I still found time to bury myself in books (I read 3 books in a month) and even watched my favourite TV series (Scandal). :D Expose yourself to cultures different from yours. Listen to the news, it can be pretty annoying and boring sometimes but you have to keep yourself informed. Keep in touch with friends. Save more and spend less. Delay gratification for the greater good. And most importantly, don't forget to smile. :)

Until my next post which is going to come up really soon :D, do take care of yourself and have a stress free week ahead.

xo, Evita.

Image found on www.insidemyshoe.com

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.

We're still in the season so I can still wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! Hope you've been having fun throughout the holiday season. Hmm, my Christmas was just somehow but in all things, I'm grateful.

This year's harmattan has official made me dislike the weather. I used to love harmattan but I can't say that anymore. I was gifted with catarrh and cough on Christmas eve plus some other ish and it eventually generated into a fever. Oh well, I was still in the Christmas mood and I prepared fried rice and salad on Christmas morning while my mum handled owo soup and starch(hello my fellow Deltans!) My eldest brother and his family came to visit later in the day and they also brought food. So food everywhere. I spent most of the day sleeping like I've been doing for a decade now. I've out grown that "let's go out" thing on Christmas day. No more Christmas clothes, shoes and hair anymore.lol!

Boxing day was kinda fun. A special someone took me to the cinema and I got to see the movie "Fifty". Thumbs up to the production company and the entire cast and crew. They did a good job. But I didn't particularly like the end of the movie because it was abrupt. That's my opinion though. Apart from that, its a good movie. The fever dawned on me in the early hours of the next day but thank God, I'm much better now. Yes! So we have less than 50 hours to the new year. Excited much! Bday loading as well*big smile*

A couple of years back, I'll write down all the things I wanted to change or improve about myself on the 30/31 of December and I'll promise myself to be "good" the next year.So on January 1st,I'll be expecting a total transformation, just like that! Did it work? Lol! In more recent years, as I grew older, I learnt that making new year resolutions come from the heart and its a decision one has to make over time. Its not magic. You can't just wake up on January 1 and become brand new. It takes some conscious effort on your part to make those resolutions come into being. So what are my new year resolutions?

First, I want to apologize to anyone who may feel that I don't care about them or ignoring them for some reason. If you know me very well, you'll know that I suck at keeping in touch. If keeping in touch was a course, I'd come out with F9 all the time. It's that bad and I'm working on myself. I love solitude. I like to be alone but when I see a close relative or friend around me, I can become an extreme extrovert. But deep within, I'm so introverted that I sometimes pray about it. So if you feel like I've "abandoned" you, please don't take it personal. That's if we're good friends sha *side eyes* That's it, my first resolution is keeping in touch often.

Secondly, I want to stop procrastinating. I've greatly improved in this aspect and it wasn't something that happened in 5 years. It took time and I'm happy with the progress I've made and I want to make more. Hence, I'm adopting Nike's motto,"Just do it".

I don't know if this one is a resolution oo! But I want to press my phone less in 2016.lol! I don't like the impression some people have of me as someone who's always looking at her phone screen. Let me make this clear, when you see me with my phone, don't assume I'm chatting all the time. Haba! Most times I'm busy googling stuff and reading blogs or going through my Twitter timeline.I'm not addicted to my phone. But nevertheless, less "phone pressing" in 2016, so help me God.

In all, I'm just about bringing out the best version of myself. I love the fact that a new year always ushers in my birthday and it automatically gives me a sense of growth. I can boldly say I like the woman I'm becoming. It took tons of new year resolutions to get to this point and I'm happy it paid off. New year resolutions can happen at anytime of the year though. Forget the new year tag in front of the resolution. Everyday is a new opportunity to start anew so don't be worried if you have nothing in mind for now.

As the year 2015 ends, I'm grateful to God for life. For keeping myself and all my loved ones safe and in good health.I lost love but found it again(don't ask me)lol! To all my good friends, you're loved. I appreciate each and every one of you for all the kind words and encouragement. Even though my family met some challenges early in the year, I still thank God and regard them as life lessons. Life is a graph after all, sometimes you shoot upwards, sometimes you slide. But we all pray to end on the upper side. This year was good and I pray 2016 would be better.

Here's me wishing everyone a prosperous new year. May 2016 be a zillion times better than 2015 for all of us. May we grow from strength to strength and may we continue to be in good health of mind and body.

See you next year!
xo, Evita.