#home fibre in nigeria

[spectranetnigeria]

How to Choose the Right Home Fiber for Lagos

In the bustling metropolis of Lagos, where connectivity is paramount and the demand for high-speed internet is ever-growing, choosing the right home fiber provider is a decision that can significantly impact your online experience. With options like Spectranet offering home fiber services in Nigeria's commercial hub, it's essential to make an informed decision that aligns with your needs. This article serves as a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right home fiber for Lagos, ensuring that your internet experience is seamless, reliable, and tailored to your requirements.

Evaluating Your Internet Needs

Assess Your Usage: Begin by evaluating your internet usage patterns. Are you a casual user who mainly checks emails and browses social media? Or do you require heavy data usage for work, online gaming, streaming, or video conferencing? Understanding your usage will help you determine the speed and data allowance you need.

Number of Devices: Consider the number of devices that will be connected to the home fiber network. In a household with multiple members using smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, and other devices, a higher-speed plan might be necessary to ensure smooth connectivity for all.

The Benefits of Home Fiber

Speed: Home fiber offers unparalleled speed compared to traditional broadband connections. With fiber-optic technology, you can enjoy lightning-fast download and upload speeds, making activities like streaming, gaming, and video conferencing a breeze.

Reliability: Fiber-optic cables are more resistant to interference and signal degradation, ensuring a stable and consistent connection. This is crucial for uninterrupted work, entertainment, and communication.

Future-Proofing: Fiber technology is future-proof, capable of accommodating the increasing demands of emerging technologies. Investing in home fiber now ensures that you're prepared for the digital advancements of tomorrow.

Researching Home Fiber Providers

Reputation and Reviews: Research the reputation of home fiber providers in Lagos, especially in terms of reliability, customer service, and network performance. Look for reviews and testimonials from current customers to gain insights into their experiences.

Coverage Area: Ensure that the home fiber provider covers your specific area in Lagos. It's important to choose a provider with a strong network presence in your locality to avoid connectivity issues.

Service Plans: Compare the service plans offered by different providers. Look for plans that align with your usage needs and budget. Pay attention to factors like speed, data limits, and pricing.

The Spectranet Advantage

Wide Coverage: Spectranet offers extensive coverage in Lagos, ensuring that a vast number of residents can benefit from their high-speed home fiber services.

Diverse Plans: Spectranet provides a range of plans tailored to different usage requirements. From basic plans for light users to high-speed plans for data-intensive activities, you can find an option that suits you.

Customer Support: Spectranet is known for its excellent customer support. Their dedicated team is readily available to address any queries or concerns you might have.

Making Your Decision

Prioritize Your Needs: Your choice should ultimately revolve around your specific needs. If you're a heavy data user, opt for a plan with higher speeds and data allowances. If you require stable connectivity for remote work, reliability should be a key consideration.

Consider Future Growth: Think about how your internet usage might evolve in the future. Choose a plan that can accommodate potential increases in data consumption without compromising performance.

Conclusion

In the digital age, a reliable and fast internet connection is essential for staying connected, working efficiently, and enjoying online entertainment. By carefully evaluating your needs, researching providers, and considering factors like speed, reliability, and coverage, you can choose the right home fiber for Lagos. Spectranet's home fiber services stand as a testament to quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology, making them a strong contender in the Lagos market. Make an informed decision today and elevate your online experience to new heights with the right home fiber solution.

[newsbites]

News from Africa, 19 June

Hage Geingob will host Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and Dutch PM Mark Rutte today in Namibia. Green hydrogen will reportedly be among the subjects discussed.

2. Namibia's proposed visa exemption for Chinese nationals is a bilateral agreement that would benefit both countries, according to China's ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping.

Some Namibian politicians have objected to the proposal, with opposition leader McHenry Venaani claiming it is a "hoodwinking process" for Chinese prisoners to come to the country, and aspiring presidential candidate Job Amupanda alleging that it involves a deal between the ruling party and China to garner support for next year's elections.

The proposed agreement's main goal is to attract Chinese tourists and help Namibia become competitive again after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Namibia's minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Albert Kawana.

3. Angola and Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in information technology, including digital transformation, AI, and space technology.

The agreement includes the establishment of direct cross-border optical fibre backbone connectivity between the two countries, scheduled to happen this month.

The collaboration is expected to help improve the regulation of the Angolan and Zambian telecom markets and lead to improved coverage and quality of ICT services provided in both countries.

4. Namibia is embarking on a journey of digital transformation to modernize various aspects of the country's life.

The Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and Security recently announced the successful implementation of an online passport application system, a major step towards delivering home affairs government services through digital channels. Namibia is partnering with Estonia to bring government services online and gradually prepare citizens for the transformation ahead. The Vice Minister of ICT recognizes the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) for African technology spaces, but stresses the need for a clear roadmap or strategy to ensure that solutions developed in Africa fit the lifestyle on the continent.

5. Nigeria has 71 million people living in extreme poverty and 133 million people are classified as multidimensionally poor, according to 2023 data from the World Poverty Clock and the National Bureau of Statistics.

6. The Bank of Namibia increased the repo rate to safeguard the dollar-rand peg and contain inflationary pressures, but this will severely impact consumers who rely on debt to survive.

The governor expressed empathy for people losing their homes due to rising debt costs, and urged the nation to find better solutions to keep more Namibians in their homes while maintaining financial stability.

7. The fighting in Sudan has caused a surge in refugees fleeing to South Sudan, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The UN has called for $253 million in funding to respond to the crisis, but donations have been slow to come in.

The lack of resources and funding has led to inadequate food, water, and sanitation facilities in transit camps, resulting in malnutrition, disease, and preventable deaths.

[jaybeckstore]

Embrace Elegance: 140cm Width Lace Fabrics in Fashion

Lace fabric, with its intricate and delicate craftsmanship, is the epitome of elegance in the world of textiles. Predominantly made from silk, cotton, or synthetic fibres, lace features open weaves and complex patterns, creating its distinctive, ornamental character. This fabric is not merely decorative but also embodies a rich cultural heritage!  It often reflects the historical and social influences of its time.

Used extensively in both haute couture and everyday fashion, lace remains a symbol of sophistication and finesse. Now modern techniques & advanced machinery blend with manual artistry to produce such fabric. The meticulous crafting process, combining traditional skills with modern technology, allows for the creation of both aesthetically pleasing and high-quality materials. It will facilitate intricate patterns that were once impossible. The versatility, elegance, and adaptability of lace fabric make it an essential component in both high-end and everyday fashion. 

The Features of Lace Fabric

The lace fabric is renowned for its distinctive and delicate characteristics. Its hallmark is the intricate openwork patterns formed by a series of holes and spaces, giving it an ornate appearance. Lightweight and breathable, lace is perfect for layered fashion pieces and is especially appreciated in warm weather or formal attire. Its versatility allows it to enhance everything from bridal gowns to home décor, adding a touch of elegance to any item.

The lace fabric is available in a wide range of colours and compositions. The lace fabric in Nigeria offers designers the flexibility to select the ideal type for any project. This adaptability makes lace appealing across various styles. Additionally, the lace fabric in Nigeria is durable because of its material quality and weaving. The premium quality lace fabric in Nigeria maintains its beauty and withstands wear over time.

What Is The Cost of Lace Fabric?

The price of lace fabric can vary. It is widely based on several factors. Firstly, the type of material used significantly impacts the price, with silk and cotton laces generally being more expensive. The complexity of the patterns affects pricing, as more intricate designs require more time and skill to produce. The production method is another crucial factor; handmade lace, which is labour-intensive, typically costs more than machine-made lace.

The reputation of the manufacturer also plays a role in pricing

It also depends on the buyers who are often willing to pay more for brands known for their superior quality and durability.

The origin of the lace can influence its market price as well. The lace from renowned online sellers in Nigeria that often carries a premium can be costly as well. However renowned online sellers like Jaybecks Fabric Store in Nigeria are known for offering high-quality lace fabric at competitive prices,

Conclusion

In a world where clothing is often mass-produced and trends come and go, embracing the allure of lace fabrics is a statement of timeless elegance and individuality. If you wish to procure premium quality lace fabric in Nigeria then never forget to visit https://jaybecksstore.com/! Their commitment to innovation, best price offer, customer trust and premium quality products keeps them at the forefront of the industry.

[rainsmediaradio]

5G Telecomms Network Market - Dr Kenny Odugbemi

5G Telecomms Network Market The adoption of 5G network has experienced a remarkable surge in recent years; Private investors initiatives worldwide are recognizes the significance of effective 5G network investing heavily in infrastructure, and supportive policies. the likes of MTN:-GloWorld and others here in Nigeria This includes ✓spectrum allocation, ✓subsidies for rural deployment, and research initiatives. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has auctioned off several mid-band and high-band spectrum licenses suitable for 5G Network encouraging private companies to invest in infrastructure and services. By location, Urban, and Urban- rural areas contributes the largely to market share in the 5G market at all time The growing demand for 5G and broadband services in urban areas offer is high-speed internet access to consumers across different regions in Nigeria Prominent industry players are actively engaged in connecting Urban and rural areas, recognizing significant opportunities to extend their reach as Internet service providers.5G solutions play a pivotal role in supporting ✓multicasting broadcasting, ✓IoT communication, the Internet of Vehicles, and the Internet of Remote Things in Urban and rural areas where terrestrial network coverage is limited. Key applications of 5G Network in urban and rural settings include ✓fixed wireless access, network resilience, ✓wide-area connectivity, disaster management, ✓emergency response, collectively contributing to comprehensive ✓robust digital connectivity solutions for Urban and rural communities. System architecture a ✓Connections, devices can intermittently broadcast small amounts of traffic to communicate with each other. The significant promise in the realm of Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. The broader concept of IoT involves connecting objects, ✓sensors, appliances, ✓various devices for data collection, control, and analysis. This encompasses applications in following ✓smart homes, ✓security systems, ✓logistics and tracking, ✓energy management, ✓healthcare, ✓ diverse industrial operations. Conclusion Our private telecom Mrs investors, local and development partners are playing significant role through the support of NCC, an agency under Telecom and digital innovation led by Minister Dr Bosun Tijani are making significant contribution through the integration in the 5G framework to play a crucial role in advancing connectivity for a myriad of IoT and M2M applications across various sectors but there is room for improvement and contribution to improve on the following Availability Accessibility Reliability Maintainability Sustainability In our quest to move to 4th industrial revolution digital bold World The time to act is now Telecom and digital innovation want to deploy addition 60,000km optical fibre network through our Urban and rural network It us time to liase with development partners there is hope to inject $650m in next four years Be part of collective progress in Nigeria Time to prosper in Telecom World is now Read the full article

[themarketinsights]

Fancy Yarn Market Resets Expectations, May See Boost in Revenue Cycle

Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on “Global Fancy Yarn Market Insights, to 2028” with 232 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the study, you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market-associated stakeholders. The growth of the Fancy Yarn market was mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world.

Major players profiled in the study are:

Winning Textil (China), Rajvir Industries Limited (India), Jiangyin Huayi Yarn co., Ltd (China), Sharmanji Yarns Pvt. Ltd. (India), Loyal Textile Mills Ltd. (India), Kongkiat Textile Co Ltd (Japan), Sutlej Textiles and Industries Limited (India), Wuxi Tiantianrun Fancy Yarn Co., Ltd (China), Fatima Group Company (Pakistan), Shri Damodar Yarn Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. (India)

Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Research @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/94488-global-fancy-yarn-market?utm_source=Benzinga&utm_medium=Vinay

Scope of the Report of Fancy Yarn

Fancy yarns are the yarns in which some deliberate decorative discontinuity or interruption is introduced, of either color or form, or of both color and form. This discontinuity is incorporated with the intention of producing an enhanced aesthetic effect. These yarns are mainly designed for their aesthetic appearance rather than performance. It has wide-ranging applications in apparel at all levels of the market. They are invariably used to create fashion fabrics. The materials used in the fancy yarn are cotton, nylon, silk, wool, polyester etc.

14th February 2019, Kongkiat Textile Co Ltd Thai Acrylic Fibre Co, Ltd (TAF) launched new concept of fancy yarns Radianza as an eco-friendly fiber using the gel-dyeing technology that uses very less natural resources and discharges less pollutants in nature.

The Global Fancy Yarn Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

by Type (Chenille Yarn, Gimp Yarn, Loop Yarn, Knop Yarn, Slub Yarn, Others), Application (Textile Industry, Knitting Industry, Home Furnishing, Decor Material, Others), Raw Material (Natural, Synthetic)

Market Opportunities:

Rising Demand for Stylish Clothing

Market Drivers:

High Value and High Margin Applications of Fancy Yarns

Increasing Modern Fashion Trends

Increased Disposable Income of the People in Developing Countries

Market Trend:

Trend of Variety of Colors in Fancy Yarns

What can be explored with the Fancy Yarn Market Study?

Gain Market Understanding

Identify Growth Opportunities

Analyze and Measure the Global Fancy Yarn Market by Identifying Investment across various Industry Verticals

Understand the Trends that will drive Future Changes in Fancy Yarn

Understand the Competitive Scenarios

Track Right Markets

Identify the Right Verticals

Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.

Have Any Questions Regarding Global Fancy Yarn Market Report, Ask Our Experts@ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/94488-global-fancy-yarn-market?utm_source=Benzinga&utm_medium=Vinay

Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Fancy Yarn Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Fancy Yarn market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary – the basic information of the Fancy Yarn Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges & Opportunities of the Fancy Yarn

Chapter 4: Presenting the Fancy Yarn Market Factor Analysis, Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region/Country 2017-2022

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Fancy Yarn market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by Manufacturers/Company with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions (2023-2028)

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

Finally, Fancy Yarn Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.

Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=94488?utm_source=Benzinga&utm_medium=Vinay

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Middle East, Africa, Europe or LATAM, Southeast Asia.

Contact Us:

Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)

AMA Research & Media LLP

Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ

New Jersey USA – 08837

[mybeingthere]

Victoria Udondian, Nigerian, lives and work in Lagos and New York

Everyone who has seen Victoria Udondian's massive wall hanging some years ago, was astonished by the scale and the idea behind it - all the family's textile belongings that get worn out are not thrown away but preserved to make an Aso Ikele  'cloth used to protect the home' in the Yoruba language. Victoria continues making fabulous fibre art until this day. 

On her website: "Udondian creates work that questions notions of cultural identity and post-colonial positions in relation to her experiences growing up in Nigeria, a country flooded with cast off from the West. Her work is driven by her interest in textiles and the potential for clothing to shape identity, informed by the histories and tacit meanings embedded in everyday materials."

http://victoriaudondian.com/

[tagsecretsanta]

From @MissSquidTracy

to @scattergraph

Secret Santa does not own this work, full credit to the author above!

Gordon liked to think of himself as the fashionista of the family.

Sure, his Hawaiian shirts sometimes drew attention of the unwanted kind, but the aquanaut was a firm believer in using clothing as a means of non-verbal communication. John was living proof of this theory.

Unfortunately, all of the freedom associated with self-expression went down the toilet with a resounding ‘flush’ when tradition dictated your attire, even if only for a day.

“Seriously, grandma?” Alan grouched, his bottom lip poking out to form his signature pout when he spied the Tracy matriarch descending the stairs with an armful of colourful sweaters.

“Zip it, kid,” Sally rasped, her tone offering no room for negotiation, “This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Tracy Christmas Album, and I’ll not have your attitude souring the occasion.”

Scott and Virgil shared a look of mutual disgust as Sally handed them two hideously baggy and itchy looking jumpers.

“Don’t you two start as well,” Sally warned, yanking a loose thread off the sleeve of John’s before tossing it towards the redhead, “Anyone caught sulking will be in the kitchen with me for the rest of the afternoon. I’ve just finished a fresh batch of liver and onion stuffing and could use a taste tester.”

Five jumpers were yanked over five heads in perfect unison.

A nod from Sally affirmed her satisfaction with her grandson’s new-found cooperation.

Gordon grimaced and scratched absently as the coarse fibres tickled the soft skin of his neck. Posing for the annual Christmas album photograph was a tradition that stretched right back to their days on the ranch, yet he found himself becoming more disillusioned with it the older he got. Maybe it was the discomfort of wearing an unnecessary extra layer in Tracy Island’s heat. Maybe it was the disappointment of no longer having snow to wake up to on Christmas morning. Maybe it was the absence of his parents, and for the last three years, at least one of his brothers.

“Who’s on the roster for today?” Kayo asked, striding into the room and wordlessly scooping up the one remaining jumper that was equally as ugly as the abominations adorning the torsos of her male colleagues.

In an effort to preserve the family element of the season, Scott had devised a strategy where just one member of International Rescue acted as the primary point of contact for any rescue calls that came through on Christmas Day, be them sea, earth or space based. Last year, Virgil had volunteered and been called to Nigeria to deal with a flash flood. The year before, Kayo had drawn the short straw and ended up assisting with the evacuation of a small town in Chile when a nearby volcano blew it’s top. The year before, Gordon had helped clear away the debris caused by a three-way semi collision on one of Australia’s busiest highways. The aquanaut had been instrumental in ensuring three hundred people made it home in time for Christmas, despite it coming at the expense of his own.

Fairness dictated that Virgil, Kayo and Gordon were exempt from being called upon this Christmas unless absolutely necessary. Accordingly, the honour of being ATD (available to deploy) fell to Scott, John, and Alan to hash out.

One quick round of rock, paper, scissors later, and Scott found himself wondering what brothers three and five would look like with their heads shaved.

“Alright, scoot in!” Sally ordered, returning with Alan’s tablet which she held aloft in an attempt to get a good angle, “Scott and John, you two stand at the back. Gordon and Virgil, you kneel in front of your brothers. Kayo and Alan, I need you both to sit at the front. We’re going for a tiered approach this year.”

A healthy amount of shuffling ensued as each Tracy (plus Kayo) moved into position and tried desperately to make himself/herself look decent. Scott yanked on the hem of his jumper in an attempt to cover up his belt. Virgil tried to hoist his up so that he wasn’t rocking the off the shoulder look. John scrubbed at his nose as the acrylic material began to trigger one of his many allergies. Gordon fanned his face with a hand as sweat began to bead across his forehead. Alan tugged fruitlessly on sleeves that fell woefully short of his wrists, and Kayo demanded that Virgil tell her honestly whether the shape of her jumper made her look fat.

Sally was firmly of the opinion that jumpers had to be vomit-inducingly ugly in order to be ‘festive’. The designs adorning each of the six knitted atrocities in front of her offered indisputable visual evidence of this belief.

Scott was brandishing a bright blue snowman, while Virgil sported a dark green reindeer (complete with light-up antlers). John was the unwilling wearer of an orange gingerbread man, and Gordon was proudly modelling a yellow penguin (complete with a squeezable beak that sang Jingle Bells if you so much as looked at it). Alan appeared indifferent to the red elf plastered across his chest, and Kayo was trying to make the best of her rapidly unravelling black turtledoves.

“Smile!” Sally sang, her finger poised, “On the count of three, everybody say cheese! One…two…three!”

“CHEESE!”

Click.

Flash.

The end result was less than impressive. Scott had blinked at precisely the wrong moment. The grin plastered across Virgil’s face was nothing short of horrifying. John’s eyes were almost as red as his hair. Gordon was shamelessly modelling a chunk of leftover spinach in his right canine. Alan had twisted his head to peer at Virgil at the last second and was a blond and red blur…

Unsurprisingly, Kayo was the only one who’d managed to look straight at the camera and smile like a normal person. 

After reviewing her rather substandard snap and tutting in disapproval, Sally tightened her grip on the tablet and ushered her dispersing grandsons back into formation with a ‘shoo’ motion of her free hand, “Come on you lot, form up. Nobody leaves this room until we have a decent photo. How you boys can look so good in real life but so bad on canvas is beyond me. Your dad always said-“

The sudden departure of an elf wearing Tracy brought all dialogue to an abrupt halt.

“Sorry, grandma!” John yelled as he made a beeline for the stairs, the redness of his nose akin to Rudolph, “But this wool is giving me a nosebleed. You’ll have to take the next shot without me, or just make the one we have work. It might be for the best, as you know how Alan gets unforgivable gas whenever he’s forced to pose.”

The youngest Tracy let loose a honk of outrage, but was dutifully ignored as, one by one, his other brothers began to filter out of the lounge. Excuses of varying degrees of believability bounced off the walls as three more bodies scampered to freedom.

It took all of ten seconds for most of the lounge’s inhabitants to disperse, leaving Kayo and Alan alone with a somewhat disappointed looking Grandma Tracy.

“Oh well,” the Tracy matriarch sighed, reaching to pick up the blue snowman that had been ejected over the first floor bannister, “There’s always next year.”

Kayo smiled thinly and made a mental note to spend next Christmas with her father.

-x-

As well as being the family fashionista, Gordon was also a self-appointed expert in gift giving.

His affinity for making people smile helped tremendously, since it made the process of choosing something his recipient would find meaningful much easier. He wasn’t adverse to buying his brothers practical gifts that they could use in their everyday lives (the tea cosy he’d bought for John the Christmas of fifty four was still in active service), but he knew they had all of the utilitarian gadgets they could ever want or need, courtesy of Brains and their nine figure bank account.

Cue unicorn poo bath bombs, flamingo slippers, and personalised face cushions.

This year however, he’d outdone himself.

Unbeknownst to anyone outside of the family, Gordon was quite the expert on upcycling. He had a knack for seeing potential in things that other people had written off as trash (like Scott, for instance), and took great delight in working with his hands. 

It had taken several days, but he’d finally managed to relocate one of their dad’s old hoverbikes from the ranch to Tracy Island. It had taken up most of the room inside Thunderbird Four’s dry tube station, however he’d managed to offload it in the hanger and perform the desired modifcations in the (relative) privacy of Four’s module. 

Alan had stopped believing in Santa when he was seven. With Lucy dead and Jeff away for three quarters of the year, Scott had taken it upon himself to safeguard whatever remained of his youngest brother’s innocence. Every year on Christmas Eve, without fail, the eldest Tracy donned a red suit and beard and made a big (and often loud) show of depositing presents under the tree. Unfortunately, a rather heated debate one year over Santa’s handwriting (which looked suspiciously similar to Virgil’s), had culminated in the death of Alan’s wide-eyed belief.

Gordon had found the whole debacle rather heart-breaking. Sure, he’d been a year younger than Alan when he himself had stopped believing, but the process had been much gentler. He’d made the innocent mistake of asking John one year to help him with some basic calculations regarding the speed and size of Santa’s sleigh, however had ended up on the receiving end of a lecture from his redheaded brother on reindeer anatomy and wind resistance.

His belief had died peacefully in its sleep nine hours later. 

Still, having a belief squished verbally was a lot less harsh than having it squished visually. Poor Alan.

Gordon smiled to himself as he inspected his handiwork. He’d outfitted the storage compartment on the back of the red hoverbike he’d abducted to look like the back end of a sleigh. He’d toyed with the idea of enlisting the help of a couple of real life reindeer (or ponies) to act as draught animals, but had decided against it after reviewing the vaccination and transport requirements. 

Despite managing to complete the modifications inside Four’s module, Gordon had been forced to relocate his creation elsewhere when he and Virgil had been called away on an impromptu rescue involving a couple of unqualified divers. With his back against the wall, the aquanaut had picked the first alternative hiding place that had come into his head.

The roof.

As ridiculous as it sounded, the glass roof of Tracy Island’s lounge was anchored into numerous rocky outcroppings that, when utilised effectively, provided excellent cover. So long as nobody glanced up, of course.

A sigh of pride bubbled up Gordon’s diaphragm. He might not be able to reverse the damage caused by Virgil’s handwriting gaffe, but he could at least give his youngest brother a laugh and deliver his gifts in style instead.

So preoccupied was the aquanaut with buffing out an imaginary mark from the hoverbike’s bumper, that he failed to notice the Island’s automated weather system bark out the alarm for a storm warning.

Thankfully, John didn’t.

-x-

Scott had checked high and low.

And then high again, just to be sure.

The eldest Tracy was stumped. Gordon had somehow managed to vanish clean off the face of the earth.

Not that such a discovery would usually cause the eldest Tracy any concern (the aquanaut had a knack for evading capture), but Christmas lunch was due to be served any minute and they were one body short at the kitchen table.

“Gordon?” Scott called, shoving his head into the bathroom for what felt like the billionth time that hour. He’d tried calling the aquanaut’s phone, but had been sent to voicemail both times. His biometric tracker showed that he was still on the island, however couldn’t generate an exact location for him. EOS’s heat signature scans weren’t much better, courtesy of the wonky connection brought about by the oncoming storm. 

“I’m stumped,” Scott huffed, admitting defeat with a bemused shrug, “He’s gone. I’ve checked the hanger, the changing rooms, his room, the bathroom, and the gym. Nothing. It’s like he’s poofed into thin air.”

Virgil opened his mouth to reply, however was cut off by the arrival of John, whose expression was an expert blend of concern and flippancy. 

“I’ll give you three guesses as to his location,” the redhead began, “If you win, I’ll do your laundry for a week. If you lose, you have to eat my portion of grandma’s stuffing.”

Scott quickly did the math. It was a risk he was willing to take.

“Is he stuck inside his launch chute?”

“No.”

“Is he swimming in the lagoon?”

“No.”

“Is he hijacking Thunderbird One again?”

“No.”

….

“Well?” the eldest brother demanded, hands on hips. He had no interest in John drawing out his victory for any longer than necessary.

The redhead allowed a small smile to grace his face before gesturing with an index finger towards the ceiling.

Scott blinked as his blue gaze clapped onto a jean-clad butt scrabbling around atop the reinforced glass, oblivious to the small audience he’d amassed as he tried to evade the rapidly intensifying rain.

“The roof?” Scott honked, one hand fisting itself through his hair, “I take my eyes off him for two minutes, and he ends up on the roof?”

“Whoa, whoa!” a new voice piped up, it’s baritone depth failing to bring Scott any relief, “He’s where?!”

The eldest Tracy said nothing, opting instead to stab a finger upwards. Ever the cooperative one, Virgil cast his eyes in the desired direction, a small frown infecting his face as he did so.

“We should probably get him down,” the engineer announced, cringing when Gordon slipped on the now wet glass and starfished on his back, “He’s still wearing his Christmas jumper, and the blasted thing will short-circuit if it gets damp.”

A loud ‘thwack’ echoed around the lounge as Scott’s palm got itself well acquainted with his face.

-x-

John had never been one for big displays of emotion.

A polite smile or, in extreme cases, a shoulder pat were usually the preferred methods his brothers employed whenever they wanted to convey feelings of endearment towards him. 

Christmas was an exception, however, and it was without a shred of his usual awkwardness that the redhead enveloped his fish brother in a tight hug, the scent of singed fabric tickling his nostrils.

Virgil’s extraction of their younger brother hadn’t quite been quick enough, and it was with a suitable amount of humility that Gordon shuffled back into the safety and dryness of the lounge, a thin trail of smoke rising from the beak of his thoroughly soaked penguin jumper.

“How bad was it?” John queried, biting his cheek to keep his humour in check as he took in the static strands of hair atop Gordon’s head. The aquanaut looked as if he’d just stuck his finger inside a plug socket which, on reflection, wasn’t as much of an inaccurate analogy as the redhead had originally thought.

Gordon ignored his space brother in favour of slowly shuffling towards the staircase, an involuntary yelp escaping when his traitorous jumper suddenly gave off a stray spark.

Virgil snorted and flicked a hand through his hair to rid it of the rainwater it had collected, “Nothing to worry about on the health side of things, but man John, you should have seen it. He nearly took off like a firework.”

The redhead quirked an unimpressed brow, “Serves him right for skipping over the electrical safety briefings I sent down last week. You’d think he’d have a better understanding of how water and electricity don’t mix, what with his ‘Bird being the only one kitted out for aquatic reconnaissance.” 

  A shrug was offered by Virgil in lieu of a response, “I’m sure all will be revealed once he’s properly earthed himself. Meanwhile, I’d better get that hoverbike down before it crashes through the roof and lands on someone’s head. Can you send Scott up to help? I could use a couple of his grapples.”

John threw his brother a mock salute before breezing off towards the kitchen, only to stop when he caught sight of a familiar blue outline on one of the sofas.

“Be there in a minute!” Scott mumbled, his cheeks bulging like an oversized hamster as he chomped his way through an indulgent looking doughnut.

John felt his gaze darken as he took stock of the stray sprinkles in the corner of his eldest brother’s mouth, “Where did you get those?”

Scott held a finger up as he swallowed, thumping his chest when a stubborn piece of dough got lodged, “Mainland, to make up for grandma’s sprout and salmon tart. Help yourself, there’s plenty left. I’ve only had three.”

The lack of control Scott had when confronted with unhealthy snacks never failed to amaze his brothers.

“You want to take it easy,” Virgil warned, motioning with one hand to his waistline, “Too many of those could send you to an early grave.”

Scott flicked his hand dismissively and reached for a fourth doughnut.

“Don’t care. I won’t be the one carrying the coffin.”

- FIN -

[msbmuk]

How to Enhance Your Personal Life and Career During this COVID 19-Lockdown

The government has announced measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus which include telling stay at home and maintain social distancing if they have to go out. On the 30th of March 2020, the federal government announced a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun State and Abuja.

Other states such as Kaduna, Kogi, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Rivers have imposed partial lockdowns.

The lockdown measure in place is affecting the way many of us live our lives - triggering stress, depression and anxiety.  While we hope that this pandemic blows over quickly, below are a few ways you can ensure that you make the best out of the current lockdown.

Eat Healthy and Avoid Snacking

Proper nutrition and hydration are vital.  People who eat a well-balanced diet tend to be healthier with stronger immune systems and lower risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.

You should eat a variety of fresh and unprocessed foods every day to get the vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, protein and antioxidants your body needs.

Drink enough water.  Avoid sugar, fat and salt to significantly lower your risk of overweight, obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Be careful not to consume too much caffeine, and avoid sweetened fruit juices, syrups, fruit juice concentrates, fizzy and still drinks as they all contain sugar.

Ensure You Exercise Daily

If you're currently stuck at home, you may be feeling demoralises about what this will mean for your fitness.  Even if you're not much of a fitness fan, you may baulk at the prospect of staying indoors for a few weeks while barely raising your step count.

Exercise is vital for our mental and physical health, and is arguably more important than ever during periods of isolation.

One of the most effective workouts that you can do at home is a mix of body-weight exercises and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) called Body-Weight Workouts. Body-weight HIIT workouts are relatively short and don't take up much space.

Best of all, they don't require any equipment.

If you prefer something lower-impact (or don't want to disturb the neighbour), now's the time to roll out a mat or towel and try some yoga.

Yoga is a great way to work on your flexibility and strength. Just about everyone can do it, too -- it's not just for people who can touch their toes or want to meditate.

Just because you're at home doesn't mean you can't access a plethora of yoga videos, fitness routines online on YouTube.

Take Time To Read

I know that the temptation is there to binge on Netflix or to catch up on that video game you friends have been raving about. However, as the Covid-19 crisis has confined us to our homes, there is a silver lining in that it has provided a chance to catch up on our reading.

With every connected device a potential portal for anxiety, it may never have felt so necessary to escape into the printed word.

If you don’t have a physical book library, you can the digital versions or audiobook version from amazon.

Enhance Your Career with an Online Degree or Short Course

It is said that continued learning is the only sustainable competitive advantage in your career journey. Building and developing your skills will improve your performance, build your confidence, open doors and ultimately enable you to reach your personal career goals while increasing your appeal to future employers.

While most schools have put a hold on physical classes, their online equivalents are in high gear.

Now is the time to learn something new.  

You could enroll for a short online course or get a full-fledged degree from any school of your choice online, irrespective of your location.

The great thing about earing an extra degree is that once you earned it, it is yours. No one can take it away from you.  

At the Metropolitan School of Business and Management UK, we offer people the opportunity of acquiring stress-free business and management degrees from top British Universities. This includes MBA Degrees, International Post-Graduate Diplomas and Master’s degree.

All these can be earned from the comfort of your home.

We also have an array of online short courses that would be beneficial to your career at these uncertain times.

For more information on how to earn a British Degree here in Nigeria, contact us for a free obligatory discussion.

[spectranetnigeria]

SMART HOMES, HOME FIBER AND THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE IN NIGERIA

https://www.spectranet.com.ng/fibre-on-air

In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz about Smart Homes, especially during conversations around the Internet of Things (IoT). Many movies/documentaries today feature homes that have voice control systems, monitors built into the walls, and smart devices programmed to take control of the home while they are either sleeping or away from home.

Imagine monitoring the security of your house in Nigeria from your smartphone while you are away on holiday in another country. Or waking up to a fresh, steaming cup of coffee in the morning, simply because before you went to bed, using your smartphone, you scheduled your coffeemaker to craft your perfect cup of coffee by 7 am every morning.

This is the beauty of Smart Homes!

Smart Homes uses internet-connected devices to enable the remote monitoring and management of appliances and systems, such as security, lighting, and heating.

With technological advancement, the invention of the latest Smart gadgets including IoT devices is on the rise. These smart gadgets include everything from smart TVs, fridges, window blinds, plumbing, coffee machines, watches, etc.

These technological developments have uncovered a new future for real estate development in Nigeria. Smart Homes in Nigeria will see many houses increasingly being built “smart” from the ground up. Including technology in your house will at this time, no longer be an afterthought but a lifestyle that will control.

According to a recent survey by Statista Global Consumer Survey conducted in Nigeria in 2021, 68% of 1049 Nigerians, answered “Yes” to owning and using smart devices.

What does this mean for Real Estate Developers in Nigeria?

In the world of real estate and home construction, the ‘new normal’ is to focus on customer demands and expectations for their future homes. This simply means that estate developers in Nigeria should immediately include FTTH technology in their plans for Homes, Apartments, and Estates. It will serve as a smart move to boost the ratings of their listings in the market.

Estates with reliable Home Fiber Internet connections give their potential clients the assurance of high-speed, reliable connections to ensure their bandwidth-hungry Smart devices are able to function up to the capacity required to enable their Smart Home to the optimum level.

The future of Smart Homes is here!

[drunzzy01-blog]

Tag someone you’d love to live here! 💎 Located: Lifecamp, Nigeria . 🆕 LISTING 📢📢📢 (Off Plan) For Sale : Sapphire: A Five bedroom Villa plus Servant Quarters. Location: Life Camp Price: 75 Million Features - Home automation system - Motion detection lighting system - Intelligent lighting systems -Integrated sound system (upgradable) -Wireless dock intercom (estate connected) -Remote video doorbell areas -Double glazed aluminium sliding doors fitted with anti-insect nets -Centralised solar water heater -Steel roof trusses with aluminium profile nogging -Fire alarm system Estate facilities - Jogging tracks - fibre optic connectivity - Central Gas station - CCTV cameras - swimming pool - indoor swimming pool for women Paymemt plan: spread across 18 months. Credit: @realtorkingz - Discover top #realtors & #luxurylistings on @amkennigerialimited ✨ Your daily source for everything real estate. - #home #beautiful #architecture #realtor #realestate #traveler #travel #blogger #influencer #luxurylifestyle #Abuja #photographer #mansion #realestate #luxuryhomes #luxury #luxurylistings #realestatemarketing #architecture #realtor #broker #nigeria #luxuryrealestate (at Abuja, Nigeria) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwTEKAshF_S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vdgp8md4smuu

[arquigraph]

Pioneer

Ricardo Morandi (Rome, 1902-1989)

Morandi was an Italian civil engineer best known for his interesting use of reinforced concrete. Unfortunately, today 14th, August, one of his most known infrastructures, the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, collapsed. Terrible news.

It’s time to remember and seriouly think about what happens when we find a lack of  maintainance on infrastructures and buildings.. hard work we have to advice our clients and neighboors the importance of maintenance of our homes and on a large scale, our cities. 

You must know the hole legacy of Morandi’s  works as engineer :

Opere e progetti 1931 - Villino in viale Vaticano, Roma 1932 - Cinematografo Odescalchi, (poi Majestic), Roma (con V. Marchi) 1932 - Autorimessa Piccini, via delle Fornaci, Roma 1934 - Chiesa di Santa Barbara, Colleferro 1933/34 - Cinema Augustus, Corso Vittorio, Roma (con A. Lombardini) 1935 - Cementificio a Colleferro, Roma 1935/39 - Cinema-teatro Giulio Cesare con soprastante edificio, viale Giulio Cesare, Roma 1938 - Cinema-Teatro Quattro Fontane, in via Quattro Fontane, Roma (intervento di restauro) 1941/49 - Palazzina in via delle Terme Daciane, Roma 1945 - Ponte San Giorgio sul fiume Liri, Frosinone 1946 - Cinematografo Astoria in via Stoppani, Roma 1947 - Cinematografo Alcyone, via Lago di Lesina, Roma (con G. Gandolfi) 1947/48 - Cinematografo Bologna, via Stamira a Roma 1948 - Centrale termoelettrica S.R.E. a San Paolo, Roma 1949 - Ponte a travata sull'Elsa, Canneto 1949/50 - Ponte detto del “Grillo” sul Tevere, Roma 1950 - Palazzina in via Martelli, Roma 1950 - Auditorium dell'Accademia Musicale di Santa Cecilia, Via Flaminia, Roma (con C. Carrara, P. Baruffi, progetto); 1950/54 - Stabilimento per la produzione delle fibre sintetiche al Castellaccio, presso Anagni, Frosinone 1950/51 - Fabbrica di fiammiferi a Zaule, Trieste 1951/52 - Centrale termoelettrica a Civitavecchia, Roma (con l'Ufficio Tecnico dell'Impresa Mantelli di Genova,) 1952 - Ponte di Giunture sul Liri, Sant'Apollinare, Frosinone 1952 - Ponte sull'Arno tra Empoli e Spicchio di Vinci, inaugurato nel 1954 1952/54 - Ponte Morandi, passerella pedonale sul torrente Lussia nella valle dell'Edron, a Vagli di Sotto in Alta Garfagnana, Lucca 1953 - Ponte sul Liri a Sora, Frosinone 1953 - Autorimessa a Firenze 1953/55 - Rafforzamento statico di un'ala dell'arena di Verona 1953/54 - Ponte sullo Storms River, Elizabethville, Sudafrica 1953/55 - Cementificio a Scafa San Valentino, Pescara 1954 - Ponte “Gornalunga”, Enna 1954 - Ponte sul Cerami, Galliano Castelferrato, Enna 1954 - Centrale termoelettrica S.R.E. (Società Romana Elettricità), Fiumicino, Roma 1954/56 - Ponte Amerigo Vespucci sul fiume Arno, Firenze (con G. e P. Gori, F. Nerli) 1954/57 - Cinema teatro Maestoso con soprastante edificio per abitazioni, via Appia Nuova, Roma 1954/58 - Centrale termoelettrica Santa Barbara, Cavriglia, Arezzo 1955/57 - Centro studi e stabilimenti Bombrini,Parodi-Delfino a Colleferro, Roma 1956/57 - Mercato coperto “Metronio”, via Magna Grecia, Roma 1957 - Cementificio Calci e Cementi a Savignano sul Panaro, Modena 1957 - Ponte sul canale navigabile di Fiumicino sulla strada Ostia- Fiumicino, Roma 1957 - Ponte sul Sambro per l'Autostrada Firenze-Bologna 1957 - Ponte “General Rafael Urdaneta” sulla laguna di Maracaibo, Venezuela 1957 - Viadotto sul Setta presso “La Quercia”, Bologna, per l'Autostrada Firenze-Bologna 1957/60 - Terminal dell'Aeroporto Internazionale Leonardo da Vinci, Fiumicino, Roma (con A. Luccichenti, V. Monaco, A. Zavitteri, realizzato) 1957/62 - Centrale elettronucleare Garigliano, Minturno, Latina 1958/59 - Quinto padiglione della Torino Esposizioni al Parco del Valentino, Torino 1958/60 - Cavalcavia della via Olimpica su Corso di Francia, Roma 1958/61 - Viadotto sul Fiumarella, Catanzaro 1959 - Palazzo del lavoro, Torino (con G. Gambetti, A. Origlia D'Isola, progetto) 1959/60 - Salone dell'Automobile, Torino 1959/62 - Palazzo degli Uffici Comunali di Carrara 1959/64 - Centrale termoelettrica Selt Valdarno, Marzotto, Livorno 1960 - Ponte sul Columbia River, Canada (con Choukalos, Woodburn e Mckenzie Ldt) 1960/61 - Sollevamento dei templi egizi di Abu Simbel nell'Alto Egitto (con G. Colonnetti, P. Gazzola, progetto) 1960/62 - Ponte “G. Capograssi”, Sulmona, L'Aquila, 1960/64 - Viadotto sul torrente Polcevera e sul parco ferroviario a Genova, autostrada Genova-Savona 1960/65 - Centrale termoelettrica “Marzocco”, Livorno 1961 - Aviorimessa DC8 e officine Alitalia nell'Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci a Fiumicino, Roma (con A. Luccichenti, V. Monaco, A. Zavitteri) 1961 - Monorotaia Alweg per l'Esposizione Italia ‘61 a Torino 1961/62 - Centrale termoelettrica Torre Valdaliga, Civitavecchia, Roma (con M. Magistrelli) 1962 - Ponte a Göteborg, Svezia 1962/63 - Cementificio Calci e Cementi di Segni a Colleferro, Roma 1962/64 - Ponte sul Lago di Paola, Sabaudia, Latina 1963/67 - Albergo-ristorante “Alfonso al Faro”, a San Felice Circeo, Latina (con E. Moretti) 1963/67 - Viadotto sull'ansa del Tevere nel tratto di Autostrada Roma-Aeroporto di Fiumicino presso la Magliana, Roma, 1964 - Autorimessa Zeppieri a Frosinone 1964/67 - Centrale termoelettrica detta del Bastardo, Foligno, Perugia 1964/68 - Ponti sul rio Guayas presso Guayaquil, Ecuador 1965/66 - Viadotto sul Favazzina presso Scilla, Reggio Calabria, per l'autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria

Viadotto di Wadi el Kuf presso Beida, Libia 1965/71 - Ponte sul Wadi al-Kuf presso Beida, Libia (con A. Rinelli, A. U. Manella, O. Scrosky) 1965/74 - Consolidamento della Torre pendente di Pisa (progetto) 1966 - Villa a Salto di Fondi, Latina (con Elena Moretti) 1966/67 - Vasche navali in via Vallerano, Roma 1966/68 - Viadotto Scirò per l'Autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria 1967/70 - Studi per l'asse attrezzato a Roma (con V. Delleani, M. Fiorentino, F. e L. Passarelli, L. Quaroni, B. Zevi, - Studio Asse - progetto) 1967 - Viadotto sul Lontrano dell'Autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria 1968 - Ponte sul Salso a Licata, Agrigento 1969/73 - Centro Commerciale “La Piramide” ad Abidjan, Costa d'Avorio (con R. Olivieri) 1969/70 - Fiumicino, Roma 1969/70 - Centro di manutenzione per aerei Boeing 747 dell'Alitalia nell'Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci 1969 - Ponte sul Rio Guayas a Guayaquil, Ecuador 1969 - Palazzo dello Sport a Milano (con Prof. Arch. Dagoberto Ortensi, Dott. Ing. Vottorio Mosco, Dott. Ing.Sergio Musmeci, Dott. Ing. Italo Stegher; progetto) 1970 - Viadotto Akragas, vicino alla Valle dei Templi ad Agrigento 1970 - Ponte sul Rio Magdalena a Barranquilla - Colombia 1970/78 - Terminal dell'aeroporto “Fontana Rossa” a Catania 1970/72 - Viadotto sulla Costa Viola presso Scilla sull'autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria 1971/1989 - Studi e proposte per il Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina (progetti) 1971 - Studio per un ponte sul Corno D'Oro Istanbul Turchia (progetto) 1971 - Centro elettronico per elaborazione dati dell'Alitalia alla Magliana, Roma 1971 - Ponte a Taranto sul Mar Piccolo 1971/74 - Viadotto Carpineto per la superstrada Basentana presso Vietri, Potenza 1973/76 - Viadotto San Francesco per la strada Garganica, Foggia 1973/77 - Ponte Costanzo sull'Irminio presso Ragusa per la Strada statale 115 Sud Occidentale Sicula (con A. Petruzzi) 1973/78 - Rampe di collegamento fra le autostrade esterne e il porto di Napoli (con L Tocchetti, A. Polese, R. Di Martino) 1975/88 - Hotel Ergife, via Aurelia, Roma (con B.M. Cesarano) 1976/77 - Sede centrale della Società F.A.T.A., Pianezza, Torino (con O. Nyemeyer, M. Gennari) 1977 - Edifici di edilizia economica e popolare a Corviale, Roma (con M. Fiorentino e altri) 1979/80 - Ponte sul vallone Cardinale, Siracusa 1979/80 - Grandi serbatoi idrici in Nigeria 1979/83 - Serbatoio idrico a Valenzano - Bari 1981/84 - Aviorimessa per la manutenzione degli aerei nell'Aeroporto Internazionale Leonardo da Vinci a Fiumicino, Roma (con Studio Trella, L. Nusiner, C. Presenti) 1983 - Ponte di Cortes, Madrid - Spagna 1983/85 - Chiesa di S. Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca, Roma (con P. Spadolini) 1984 - Viadotto Stronetta per l'Autostrada dei Trafori, tratto Carpugnino-Feriolo, Stresa 1984/89 - Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime, Siracusa, (con P. Parat, M. Andrult) (da progetto del 1957) 1986/88 - Viadotto Rotaro nei pressi di Lauria, Potenza 1988 - Autorimessa in via delle Vigne Nuove, Roma 1989 - Chiesa nel centro direzionale di Napoli (con P. e G. Spadolini, B. Piscione, R. Sparcio)

+    +

[avegurdotcom-blog]

Modern Interior Design Styles

The love of aesthetics/beauty and creativity is part of human nature. It is one of the very attributes that differentiate us from other animal groups, and this practice has been going on for ages. Even when our primary task was to look out for food and shelter, but we felt a desire to make improvements in the environments that we inhabited. No conclusion has been made on if this was to satisfy some deep spiritual mission or a method of transferring on vital knowledge to fellow group members, or whether it was simply a way for an individual to satisfy an urge to leave his legacy for future generations, we’re yet to find out. For the long time being, people have turned inquisitive minds to innovative ways of solving problems and also dealt with the issues that have challenged them in the struggle to survive: problems such as how to work more efficiently, how to live more comfortably and how to guarantee their safety from danger. There comes the quest for Modern Interior Design styles.

As we have gained more affluence and get blessed with more leisure taste, the Modern Interior Design styles has become more important to us and is something with which we want to imbue our homes with. As proven, ‘style’ is a very personal notion, so why should anyone look to employ someone else, an interior designer, to advise them what is right when it comes to style? What justified reason should a designer presume to impose his ideas upon a space that doesn’t belong to him? The answer is this; interior design is much deeper than ‘what looks right’ or satisfying. It is about taking a holistic view of the way that individuals use and enjoy the spaces that they inhabit. It is about finding and creating a cohesive solution to a set of problems and working the solution in order to unify and strengthen our experience of the space. Many people understand this only that they lack the necessary skills to face the job themselves. And so there is the need for professional interior designers to execute their mastery.

Well crafted interior design changes the atmosphere in a space. It does increase our efficiency in the way we work our daily routines and add depth, understanding, and meaning to the built environment. A well thoughtful and well-crafted design makes a space easier to understand and experiencing such a space lightens the spirit. It is, therefore, not just about the aesthetic; it is skilful and philosophical. Beautiful spaces portray the truth on the new and exciting ways to individuals life is lead. It promotes the loved one has for his/her immediate beautiful environment.

There is always some conflict between the meaning of the terms like ‘interior architecture’, ‘interior design’ and ‘interior decoration’. There arises the distinction between the different professions? In truth, the distinctions are not absolute. There are several factors where the supposed boundaries lie. Talking about professional aspects, it always a matter of which country the designer is working in (or perhaps more properly, which regulatory system the designer is working under), though those factors are not definitive. Interior decorators generally work with existing spaces that do not require physical alteration. With the application of matching color, light, and surface finish combination, they will transform the look of a space, perhaps making it suitable to function in a different way from that for which it was originally designed, but with very little or no change to the structure of the building Modern Interior Design styles is achieved, Interior designers span the ground between interior architects and interior decorators. Surely, the scope of the projects undertaken varies from the purely decorative, to ones where a great deal of structural change is required to meet up with the brief requirements. An interior designer will competently handle the space planning and creation of decorative schemes at the same time as considering major structural changes.

In Modern Interior Design styles, none of the professionals will necessarily be experts in all aspects of a project and will call on other specialists (such as structural engineers or lighting designers) to help fully realize their ideas.

TYPES OF INTERIOR DESIGNS AND DECORATIONS ARE:

MODERN:

Modern is a broad design term that typically refers to a home with clean, crisp lines, a simple color palette and the use of materials that can include metal, glass, and steel. Currently, the modern design uses a great sense of simplicity in every involved element, including furniture placing and layout. Another word that’s commonly used to describe modern style is sleek, and this doesn’t require a lot of clutter or accessories to produce modern style designs. Interestingly, genuine materials to achieve sleek style can be best recognized by experienced designers.

CONTEMPORARY:

Modern and contemporary are two styles that are frequently used interchangeably. Actually, contemporary is quite different from modern because it describes design based on the here and now. The most notable difference separating modern and contemporary design style is that modern tends to describe designs that started in the 20th century. While contemporary on the other hand is more substantial and with emphasis on the present and doesn’t really adhere to any style in particular. For clarity sake, contemporary style makes use of curving lines, whereas modern design doesn’t use it. For more understanding, we encourage our readers to refer to modern vs contemporary article for more information.

MINIMALIST:

The minimalist concept is one that’s popular in Australia and in a few European countries but rarely applied here in Nigeria, unless on special brief request. It takes notions of modern design and it does more to simplifies them further. It’s color palettes are neutral and airy; the furnishings are simple and streamlined, and there’s nothing is excessive or flamboyant in accessories or décor. The concept of minimalism is ultimately defined by a sense of functionality and ultra-clean lines.

INDUSTRIAL:

Industrial style as the name implies it draws inspiration from a warehouse or an urban loft. There’s a sense of unfinished rawness in many of the elements for this style, and it’s not uncommon to see exposed brick, ductwork, and wood. An iconic home with an industrial design theme would be a renovated loft from a former industrial building. Always appear with high ceilings, old and rusty timber and dangling metal light fixtures with sparse functional furniture. There may possibly be few pieces of abstract art or photography to add a dash of color to an otherwise neutral color scheme derived from the primary materials of wood and metals. The deliberate idea behind these rough disposition is as a result of industrial activities that sooth this type of design and decoration.

MID-CENTURY MODERN:

Mid-century modern is a reversion to the design style of the mid-1900s—primarily the 1950s and 60s. There’s a retro nostalgia present in Mid-Century Modern Design, and also some elements of minimalism. Functionality ideas or “fussy-free” was the main theme for Mid-century design. It emphasizes pared-down forms, natural or organic shapes such as “egg-shaped” chair, easy-to-use contemporary designs and simple fabrications. It easily complements any interior and also helps with the coherent transition from interior to exterior.

SCANDINAVIAN:

The Scandinavian design pays homage to the simplicity of life demonstrated in Nordic countries. Scandinavian furniture design often feels like a work of art, although it is simple and understated. There’s functionality in the furniture along with some interesting lines, many of which have a sculptural influence. Other common characteristics include all-white color palettes and the incorporation of natural elements like form-pressed wood, bright plastics, and enamelled aluminum, steel, and wide plank flooring. If there are pops of color it often comes from the use of art, natural fibre throws or furs, or a single piece of furniture. Spacious, natural lighting, fewer accessories and functional furniture characterizes Scandinavian designs.

TRADITIONAL:

Traditional design style offers classic details, sumptuous furnishings, and an abundance of accessories. It is rooted in European sensibilities. Traditional homes often feature dark, finished wood, rich color palettes, and a variety of textures and curved lines. Furnishings have elaborate and ornate details and fabrics, like velvet, silk, and brocade, which may include a variety of patterns and textures. There’s depth, layering, and dimensionality within most traditional designs.

TRANSITIONAL:

Transitional is a very popular style because it borrows from both traditional and modern design to facilitate a space that’s not “too much,” in terms of one style or another. There’s a sense of balance that’s appealing and unexpected. A transitional design may incorporate modern materials, such as steel and glass, and then unite them with plush furnishings. The transitional design also includes relatively neutral color palettes, creating a calming and relaxed space that manages to feel both stylish and sleek, as well as warm and inviting.

FRENCH COUNTRY:

Warm, earthy colors are indicative of a French Country design style, as are worn and ornamental wooden furnishing. The style has an overarching farmhouse inspiration. French Country design may include soft and warm tones of red, yellow or gold and natural materials like stone and brick. French Country design can include collections of ornate porcelain dishes and heavy linens and bed coverings.

BOHEMIAN

Bohemian is a popular style for home design and fashion. It reflects a carefree lifestyle with little rules, except to follow your heart’s desire. Bohemian homes may include vintage furniture and light fixtures, globally inspired textiles and rugs, displays of collections, and items found in widely varied sources including flea markets and during one’s travels. It’s not uncommon to spot floor pillows and comfortable seating spaces when incorporating the bohemian style. This eclectic style can incorporate an ultra-glam chandelier paired with a well-worn rug and a mid-century chair. Within the Bohemian style, there’s a laissez-faire attitude where anything goes as long as you love it.

RUSTIC

Rustic design is drawn from natural inspiration, using raw and often unfinished elements including wood and stone. The rustic design may incorporate accessories from the outdoors with warmth emulating from the design and architectural details that may include features like vaulted ceilings adorned with wood beams or reclaimed wood floors. Many designs now integrate rustic design with more modern furnishings and accessories.

SHABBY CHIC

Shabby chic is vintage-inspired style, but compared to Bohemian and other styles, tends to be more feminine in finishing, soft and delicate. Shabby chic furnishings are often either distressed or appear that way; its paint tends to have antique-style finishes. The Shabby Chic color palettes include white, cream and pastels. Light fixture and wall hangings are part of its featured ornate and continue the feminine vibe of shabby chic design.

HOLLYWOOD GLAM

This very style is also referred to as Hollywood Regency, Hollywood Glam is a design style that tends to be luxurious and quite appealing, over-the-top and opulent. It’s a dramatic design style with exciting features, perfect for a homeowner who enjoys making a statement. This design style can incorporate some features of the Victorian design, including plush, velvet furnishings, tufting, and antiques. The dominant color palettes are particularly bold—think purples, reds, and turquoise.

COASTAL/HAMPTONS:

The coastal style also is known as dubbed Hamptons style hails from the iconic U.S. beachside area. Common features include light, airy color palettes with cool neutral shades paired with blues and greens. Furnishings are often white or beige. The room can contain elements of wood and accessories are often inspired by the sea. Blue and white striped patterns for pillows, large windows, white plush sofas, and painted white wood are also common fixtures of the classic Coastal/Hampton style. The intention is to create a relaxed and comfortable environment that is inspired by the beach and ocean. Interestingly, here in Nigeria many of our clients appreciate these decorations stills by our decorating team. Avegur Decorating makes the acquisition of materials for each of the selected styles, and we guarantee the best.

WORK APPROACH:

For functionality sake, no design for space should ignore the existing building into which it is being integrated. A good understanding of what exists is fundamental to deciding what needs to be done if the space is to fit and serve the functions of which it was placed there.

None of this means that your design should be a pastiche of the existing style references of the building. The best designs respect the existing building and will reference it in some way in their execution, through materials, methods of construction, craftsmanship, pattern, form. All of the preceding research should bring you to a point where you understand the essential points that will have an impact on the design: –What structure exists. –What functions and activities will take place, –and how these will be addressed practically (for example, what furniture is required). – What is possible in the space –(and just as importantly, what is not possible, due to time, technical or budget limitations). – How the space functions and interacts with others –around it. What emotional response the client wants that space –to generate in the user and what aesthetic style is desired. This is necessary, but for the design to feel considered and complete, rather than being a random collection of elements, there is a need to find a unifying idea that will hold the disparate parts of the design together. This a single idea will be one that sets the stylistic tone of the design. It is this single idea that is the concept.

BUDGETS AND CHARGE:

How designers should charge for their services is one of the questions that new clients and customers are usually anxious about. Over time, three main models for charging (with many variations on them) have appeared and can be summarised as: –Charging a percentage of the overall project value. –Charging only for items supplied by the designer –(such as furniture) with a markup fee. –Charging a design fee based on an assessment –or projection of hours worked on the project. Arguably the most appropriate method of charging is that which sees the designer charging a design fee. This means that the client can see what is being paid for directly, without fees being ‘hidden’ in other charges, as is the case when a markup is added to goods supplied. It also means that payment is made within a reasonable amount of time of the work being done and that financial commitments on the client are kept to a minimum as charges for each stage of the project are agreed before work is undertaken. However, the designer decides to charge, an open and transparent system will be to the benefit of all. While it is helpful if the relationship between designer and client is a friendly one, it is important that there is a written contract or form of agreement between both parties for the legal protection of both sides. This will define the type of services provided and their scope, the fee structure, dispute resolution, copyright issues, and what is expected of both the designer and client. Trade associations in many countries will have standard documents that can be used in these cases, but even if this is not so in some countries, contracts can be drawn up with the assistance of a professional that will protect the interests of all concerned.

GALLERY:

[organic-planters]

Papaya: The "Fruit of the Angels"

It’s of no wonder why Christopher Columbus called papaya "the fruit of the angels." The papaya is one of the healthiest and best-tasting fruits. However, papaya is packed with vitamins and nutrients in addition to its delicious flavour and stunning colour. Carotenes, vitamin C, flavonoids, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, copper, magnesium, fibre, and the B vitamins are all abundant in papayas. Together, these nutrients promote digestive and cardiovascular health and provide defence against rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer, heart disease, macular degeneration, and macular degeneration.

They include a wide range of nutrients for your skin and immune system, as well as a wealth of digestive and de-bloating enzymes that help you keep a healthy blood pressure level. Papayas are undoubtedly wonderful! They also taste fantastic whether you eat them by themselves, add them to a smoothie, use them in a fruit-based salsa, make a papaya boat salad, or simply eat them plain with a splash of lemon.

The papaya is the fourth most frequently produced tropical fruit in the world, with the top papaya-producing countries being India, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Abundance of Vitamin C

One single papaya has more than 300 percent of the RDA for vitamin C. Papayas also include high levels of antioxidants, vitamin B, potassium, fibre, and magnesium. Papaya that weighs less than 4 ounces has only about 100 calories, making it extremely low in calories.

How to Buy the Perfect Papaya?

A luscious, ripe papaya is difficult to choose.It is quite tricky. In order to assist you choose a sweet and suitable papaya, we thought to share some advice with you here.

No one of us likes to bring home papaya that is not ripe. So, looking at the colour is the simplest way to buy one that is delicious and ripe. This is a tried-and-true method.

Choose only ripe papayas. Papayas should always be orange or yellow. It's okay that some of them have green stains on them. You ought to be able to gently press your thumb into the flesh. Therefore, the papaya must be ripe and ready to eat. 

Never purchase papayas that have stains, cuts, or are overly tender.

Where to Find the Best Quality, Organic and Ripe Papayas?

The Organic Planters are Kerala’s best store to buy top quality, pesticide free, yummy and juicy Papayas. You probably already know that the majority of stores sell fruits and vegetables that have been injected with dangerous pesticides, but we only sell organic items since we care about your health.Therefore, you can be certain that whatever you purchase is filled with goddesses and a tonne of nutrients.Shop from The Organic Planters today! Visit https://organicplanters.in/

[sageglobalresponse]

Nigerian women battling to keep traditional cloth weaving from extinction

His striking, vulnerable eyes pounced on every object in the large earthen compound where he gathered his toys. Mojeed flocked around his 25-year-old mother, Taiwo Abduljelil, while she got busy with cloth weaving. His father was also seated at the entrance of the compound where he was weaving a bundle of polychrome threads. Mojeed was born a few months after Nigeria announced its first total lockdown in March 2020 as part of measures to check the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. So, they call him “Corobaby”. A happy child, Mojeed, teetered from one end of the compound to the other as though on an undercover mission – from his mother to the father and paternal grandmother who weaned him.

Although the lockdown was not observed in Iseyin, a rustic Yoruba community in Oyo state, south-west Nigeria, where Mojeed and his parents live, the effect of the economic shutdown in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, and the nation’s capital city was felt everywhere. States locked their borders to curb the spread of the virus; there were travel restrictions and businesses began to nosedive.

For most households in Iseyin where traditional cloth weaving is the major source of livelihood, they all disembarked from the wooden loom. They had woven enough clothing materials at home, but there was no one to buy them. Hunger and frustration dealt a massive blow.

Mojeed and his mother

Taiwo and her husband, Jelil, had nowhere to go. They had no other business or means of survival and life became unbearable. Yet, they welcomed Mojeed into the world with open hands.

“It was a tough time for us. The pandemic and the restrictions came to us unexpectedly. We had to stop working and we were sleeping all day. That was when we had our third child, Mojeed. I do not pray to witness such a pandemic in my lifetime again,” Taiwo said.

“We suffered. We sold out the materials we had at home for peanuts just to feed. I took my children to my mother-in-law to take care of them. Businesses have started picking up again, but so many of us have not recovered from the shock of COVID-19.”

Before COVID-19 disrupted the traditional cloth weaving business in the community, Taiwo, who only attended a basic primary school, would wake up at 6 am, cook for the family, feed the children and step out into the compound to begin the business of the day. She used to weave two packs of materials daily. A pack, which consists of eight pieces of woven materials, is sold for N800. In other words, she used to make N1,200 daily. But the pandemic altered everything.

‘WE SURVIVED COVID BY LUCK’

It was 4 pm and the blazing sun was already lowering its gaze. Under a huge mango tree, 40-year-old Oluwayemisi Kehinde was at her best as she shuttled a small wooding boat across threads and locks them with the reed. Her feet were swift on the pedals of the ofi, which is the local name for a loom. The warp was long, about ten meters away from the ofi where she sat to knot it with the weft to form a beautiful pattern.

In Yoruba language, aso means cloth; so, aso-ofi loosely translates as the hand-woven textile from the loom. The process is hectic and takes days, from sorting the raw cotton or synthetic fibres to combing, spinning and warping — all done manually.

Oluwayemisi has been making aso-ofi for over 20 years – from 7 am to 6 pm. She only rests on Sundays. Her dexterity and energy were contagious as she answered questions smoothly without a break from weaving. She learnt the job when she dropped out of school after her primary education.

According to her, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was the toughest period she has ever experienced over two decades of making aso-ofi. She sold out all the materials she had in store for lesser amounts. At some point, Oluwayemisi fed her six children with mangoes. Schools were shut, so they all woke every morning thinking about where the next meal would come from.

“We feed our family and also pay children’s school fees with proceeds from this business. Customers used to come to Iseyin from different parts of the country to order various designs, quality and brands of our material. Suddenly, they disappeared, and we starved,” Oluwayemisi said.

“I used to sell a pack of aso-ofi for N5,000 or 6,000 depending on the quality because I use 100 per cent cotton. I can make ten packs in three days. So, things were good for us and we were able to meet our needs. Now, the profit has thinned owing to the recent increase in the materials we use, but the demand is increasing because we make quality aso-ofi here.”

Rebeccah

Weaving is the primary employment of many women in Iseyin. As business starts picking up again, Kehinde works twice as she used to just to make life better again. But Rebeccah Ayodele says with the absence of capital, they are still finding it hard to heal.

Rebeccah, a 43-year-old mother of two, practically eats and relaxes on the loom just to make up for the time lost to the pandemic. As soon as she places her feet on the pedal at 8 am, she works till 9 pm under the cover of darkness. Sometimes, her husband puts on an electricity-generating set for illumination.

“On a pack of material, I make a profit of N500 to N1,000, although I used to make more before COVID happened. Things were so bad that feeding became a huge problem. We prayed fervently and waited endlessly for the pandemic to end,” Ayodele said.

Kudirat Azeez, a 26-year-old expectant mother, survives on a paltry N500 she makes from producing a component part of the reed. She retreated to her bedroom when the pandemic knocked.

Resuming back to work after the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, the women found out the cost of materials had tripled. They had no choice, So, they diversified. Instead of waiting for ceremonial seasons when the material is in high demand, they now use the fabric for bags, shoes, belts, pillows, suits, upholstery and interior decorations. The supply to Ibadan, Abeokuta, Lagos and other urban cities across the country has begun to improve.

ASO-OFI: A COMMUNITY’S LIFELINE

In Iseyin, the making of traditional fabrics is not just an art or trade, it is a religion. The ancient community is reputed as the home of aso-ofi also known as aso-oke as it reportedly began there some centuries ago. In fact, the art of traditional cloth weaving reflects in their ancestral praise.

Years back, in a typical Nigerian ceremony beaming with colours and glam, aso-ofi used to be the centre of attraction. It is the staple of special occasions like a coronation, wedding, chieftaincy, festival, naming ceremonies, burials and other important ceremonies. Some are sewn into agbada, trousers, cap; and for the women, iro and buba with a shawl. How thick and colourful the signature design of the material shows the social and economic status of the wearer.

Call it a relic of the past, it has struggled over the years to keep itself relevant in the contemporary fashion industry. While it may no longer enjoy the popularity and huge patronage of the past owing to the prevalence of imported textile materials in the market, aso-ofi has maintained its class among the royals and the rich. Most of the textiles imported into the country include brocade, ankara, damask or lace materials from China, Japan, the United States, Malaysia and India, according to the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS).

Nigeria has a huge appetite for importation. In 2019, the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA) says the country spends $4 billion importing textiles annually. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) trade report shows that the importation of textile and textile articles rose year-on-year by 258% in the first three months of 2021 to N171.8 billion from N48 billion in the same period of 2020.

According to Chimera Iheonu, a research analyst at Kwakol, a finance and technology firm, textile importation undermines the domestic industry and leads to job losses. Despite the ban on forex for imported finished textiles in Nigeria to protect local producers, foreign products are still making their way into the country.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR ASO-OFI?

Even at that, the women artisans, mostly uneducated, are doubling their efforts to ensure aso-ofi gains wide acceptance again. Despite the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale businesses, they have decided to keep the craft alive and boost their family income. For them, it is beyond a livelihood. It is a communal activity that was passed from one generation to the other and must not go into extinction.

Such is the case of Raimot Lateef, an 18-year-old senior secondary school student at Islamic Girls High School, Iseyin, whose father taught weaving at a very young age. Rukayat, Ramot’s 22-year-old elder sister, is also a prodigy at the job.

Raimot is guided by her father while weaving

According to Moshood, their father, teaching her daughters how to weave fabrics is to ensure they have the skills that can fetch them money in the future and not go hungry or stranded. He said he believes female children should be empowered to fend for themselves and also contribute significantly to their families when they eventually get married.

So, as soon as Raimot comes back from school in the afternoon, she eats, freshens up and mounts the loom to weave some fabrics till late in the evening. Yet, she believes the time she spends weaving cannot stop her future ambition of becoming a doctor.

“When I am not weaving, I create time to do my assignments and read my books. I was born into traditional weaving and I have been doing it since I was six years old. I really enjoy weaving these fibres into fabrics,” Raimot told this reporter, while she was busy weaving.

“I use part of the money I make from the job to buy the things that I need. I also use it to pay my school fees and that is what I will use to purchase forms for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations next year. I hope to continue with the craft after secondary school and when I become a doctor.”

However, there is still anxiety among weavers in the community about how technology may disrupt the indigenous industry. In 2012, some weavers organised a rally in Lagos to protest the influx of China-made aso-ofi in the market. They said the machine-woven fabric with oriental blend was counterfeit.

A signpost of the proposed international tourism market at the entrance of the town

On September 27, 2016, during World Tourism Day, the Oyo state government launched the aso-ofi festival in the community with the aim of preserving the rich cultural values of the craft and also giving the fabric a global appeal. The aso-ofi international market and museum were also inaugurated.

According to Wasiu Olatunbosun, commissioner for culture and tourism, the exportation of aso-ofi textile products to various countries across the world has been in existence from time immemorial before COVID-19 disrupted the supply. He added that the export has improved the state’s internally generated revenue.

“Aso-ofi textile products are being exported to United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, among others. Recently, the state facilitated a N5 million loan from the Bank of Industry (BOI) at a very low-interest rate to the weavers and also influenced the direct supply of cotton to them. This is really important as the state is currently focused on boosting its revenue base through tourism and other non-oil sectors,” the commissioner told TheCable on phone.

The government’s commitment to the development of aso-ofi means a lot to the women weavers in Iseyin. The resumption of export of the textile translates to more money to feed the family, take care of themselves and pay for children’s education.

[nzeikayblog]

THE FACT ON THE GROUND IN NIGERIA TODAY! Information coming in from Nigeria is that the country is in a total mess. Most of the people are broke and the economy is terminally ill. No jobs so you have most females turning to Prostitution and males, to crime to make ends meet. Both men and women are responsible for this situation. We call it "Runs" and those involved "Runs girls" The same "Runs girls" are also under pressure to get married by the same society that encourages sex for gratification. Most married men also patronize these "Runs girls" and they are preferred by the girls because they can have multiple married men who are equated to multiple streams of income. So what do you expect to happen when these same "Runs girls" end up getting married to the few Single men that have managed to muster enough resources to get married? Mind you those single men are equally promiscuous and have now become married clients to other "Runs girls". Such marriages are not sustainable because the economic crunch, promiscuity and distrust will stifle the marriage and that's why it ends in divorce. The cheating continues. The poor leadership of the present Buhari administration has not only destroyed the economy but also the moral fibre of our society. Parents now look the other way when their daughters put themselves through university without their contribution. It is a really sad situation... one that exploded in the 90s and seems like it can only get worse. The irony of it all is that our females despite selling their bodies at will refuse to be tagged as prostitutes... and personally, I sympathize with them... What will a good girl do when she needs basic toiletries, comes from a poor home, doesn't have a job and can't find one? #BuhariResignNow #BreakNigeriaNow #NigeriaDeservesBetter https://www.instagram.com/p/CaTVP_vDuRw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[dnaamericaapp]

Engineering The Future: Meet These Brilliant Innovators From a solar-powered crib that treats jaundiced babies to fibre made from water hyacinth that absorbs oil spills, innovators from nine African countries have been shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s 2022 Africa prize. This year half of the shortlist of 16 are women, and for the first time it includes Togolese and Congolese inventors. The entrepreneurs will undergo eight months of business training and mentoring before a winner is chosen, who will receive £25,000, and three runners-up, who win £10,000 each. All the projects are sustainable solutions to issues such as access to healthcare, farming resilience, reducing waste, and energy efficiency. Meet Virtue Oboto, she and her husband formed Tiny Hearts Technology, the creators of Crib A’Glow, a solar-powered portable phototherapy crib that treats and monitors jaundiced newborns. So far, about 300,000 babies have been treated directly with the cribs in hospitals and homes in Nigeria and Ghana. Meet Divin Kouebatouka, a 32-year-old engineer who is the first Congolese innovator on the shortlist. His team at Green Tech Africa developed a way to turn the plant’s stems into highly absorbent fibre that can suck up oil from the ground or water, or plug an oil leak in a container. Today more than 10 companies buy the product, called Kukia, which can hold up to 17 times its weight in hydrocarbons, the compounds that form the basis of crude oil. In 2018 the idea was nominated for the African entrepreneurship award. Meet Norah Magero, a mechanical engineer. “Hospitals are in a race against time with vaccines and that is the case in most rural communities,” she says. “We need a solution to stop thousands of people missing out on life-saving vaccines.” Magero founded Drop Access and created VacciBox, a mobile solar-powered fridge that safely stores and delivers temperature-sensitive vaccines to communities and hospitals where there is a lack of cold-chain infrastructure. -(source: the guardian) DNA America “it’s what we know, not what you want us to believe.” #dna #dnaamerica #news #politics