Author: Hafsat Salisu Kabara

THIS week, remember this simple truth: life is for the living. Live it, savour it, laugh loudly and unapologetically because, my dear, that is how we win. Sometimes I sit and think about how much we go through as a nation policy shocks, fuel price hikes, tax threats, new tariffs yet somehow, we still wake up the next morning, dress up, powder our faces, and face life with a little bit of Nigerian swag. Like Femi Otedola said at his daughter’s wedding, “life is for the living.” And truly, Nigerians embody that spirit. Despite the chaos, we still find a…

SHEA butter is far more than a cosmetic luxury. For thousands of Nigerian women, it is survival, dignity, and the heartbeat of household economies. Last week, the Federal Government announced a six-month suspension on the export of raw shea nuts, the foundation of a multi-billion-dollar beauty and wellness industry. The justification sounds noble: strengthen local processing, build industries, and expand Nigeria’s share in a $6.5 billion global market where we currently hold a meagre 1%, despite producing 40% of the world’s raw nuts. On paper, this is visionary. Why export raw materials when we can refine them and earn billions…

SHE rises at dawn, at 5am, juggling pots and pans to prepare breakfast, packing school lunch boxes with love, rushing through chaotic school runs, battling traffic to make it to work, and still returning home to cook dinner, check homework, respond to emails, and meet her husband’s needs. Later, she posts a radiant selfie captioned “Superwoman.” We clap. We cheer. But beneath the cape and smile, is she truly soaring or silently burning out? September brings the real hustle, schools reopening, businesses regaining momentum, and households shifting back into overdrive. For women, especially mothers, the balancing act tightens: career deadlines,…

Why Do You Cheat? LAST week, on the buzzing streets of “Obasanjo’s internet,” a popular Arewa influencer dropped a question that shook timelines: Why do you cheat? The replies came like rain in August. From the East to the West, men and women emptied their hearts in the comments. Some excuses were laughable, others shameful, and a few downright unprintable. Yet, there they were, raw confessions, typed boldly for the world to see. But then another question lingered in my head: who really deserves the blame, the cheater or the cheated? In truth, there’s no excuse for betrayal, but sometimes…

“Vee! Ah-ah, see cheeks! You’ve added weight o, wetin happen?” She smiled shyly. “My sister, I wanted to turn heads with my backside… but somehow, the weight went to unexpected departments.” TODAY, I want to talk about one of those truths that may ruffle feathers, especially among my fellow women and yes, some men too. But let’s be honest: truth doesn’t always come in sweet packages. Sometimes, it’s bitter, and you swallow it because it’s medicine. From the markets of Gusau to the backstreets of Kano, from WhatsApp status updates to TikTok live videos, the business of sexual enhancement products…

LAST week, I wrote about how holidays should not become escape routes from parenting. Many parents, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of daily life, quietly hand off their responsibilities to schools, technology, or even prayer, hoping the children will “turn out okay.” But this week, I want to go beyond vacations and comfort zones to ask a more critical question: Who exactly is raising our children today? At first glance, the answer might seem obvious, we are. After all, we clothe them, feed them, pay their school fees, discipline them when necessary, and throw in an occasional “I’m doing…

IT’s the long vacation season again. The children are home, everywhere is noisy, the fridge is emptying twice as fast, and the electricity bill is rising steadily. Parents are stressed. Mothers especially are tired. The house feels like an unending playground, and you’re probably counting down to when schools will resume. But before you quietly start packing a weekend bag for your child and say, “Go and spend the holiday with aunty in Abuja,” or “Let them go to grandma’s house in Kaduna,” I beg you, pause. Breathe. Think again. In Nigeria, this practice of “sending the children away” once…

IT feels good to write again. For weeks, VOICE has been silent on News Point Nigeria, and so have I. But absence, as they say, is not always disappearance. Sometimes it is reflection. Sometimes it is watching the world swirl into moments you don’t yet have the words for. And sometimes, it is the simple ache of exhaustion; emotional, intellectual, spiritual. But now, VOICE is back. Not because everything is better, but because the silence has grown heavier than the noise. And today, I must ask a question that has lingered in my chest: Do we have to die first…

This week marks the 14th-month anniversary of the above piece. Precisely on 25 December 2023, I penned this piece on the confusing state of the Census issue in the country, as the problem persists, permit me, dear readers, to use this occasion to republish this piece again. A CENSUS is the procedure of systematically calculating, acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses include the census of agriculture, and other censuses such as the traditional culture, business, supplies, and traffic censuses.…

IN contrast, private universities tend to have smaller class sizes, modern facilities, and more individualized attention for students. The tuition fees, which are significantly higher than those of federal institutions, are used to enhance the learning environment. But, while private institutions can offer a more tailored academic experience, it is my established perception that they lack the rigorous standards of federal universities. Some critics last week reached out to me after reading the first part of column, they also argued that it is true private universities focus more on profits than on providing quality education, leading to concerns about the…

I WAS having a conversation with my brother, who was in the middle of his exams, about how he’s almost done for the semester. In the midst of our discussion, someone else joined us and remarked how quickly they were progressing. My brother, puzzled, asked, “Fast, how?” Initially, it was his JAMB score that kept him from gaining admission into the university, forcing him to wait an extra year. Just as things were looking up, COVID-19 came, delaying everything further. Then came the strike — another year at home before he finally gained admission. Yet, some people seem to think…

WHILE the construction of flyovers and new roads can be important for urban development and reducing traffic congestion, and for states like Sokoto, the renovation of boreholes worth billions is key, and many Nigerians question the need for such projects when basic amenities are lacking. Governors often champion these kinds of projects, especially in urban areas, to win political support, but they don’t directly address the urgent issues facing the majority of citizens, especially those in rural areas. True governance goes beyond showy infrastructure projects. It should be about improving the lives of citizens on a fundamental leveel and ensuring…

IT’S been a brief break, but I’m thrilled to be back with you all. While I was away I took time to read the numerous feedbacks and comments from you, my esteemed readers and I promsie to publish them soon but some of those comments really got me cracked up especially those who mentioned how I write with lots of youthful exuberance and I wonder who told them I am actually an elderly person – yours truly is a youth. But that’s that. Life and work sometimes call for a little pause, but the conversation never stops. I’m excited to…

WELL, it’s been a whole year, and we’ve all clearly been waiting for the government to ‘carefully consider’ the loss of hundreds of lives lost, which occurred on Sunday, December 3, 2023, which resulted in dozens of casualties and injuries to residents of Tudun Biri, Ugara and Sabon Gida after they converged at Tudun Biri to celebrate Maulud. An innocent community wiped out by a ‘mistaken’ bomb drop—because, clearly, when you’re a military with thousands of trained professionals, ‘oops’ is just a part of the job description. Who could rush to address such a small thing, right? After all, it’s…

YOUTH unemployment in Nigeria is a growing crisis. According to recent reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate for Nigerians has surpassed 40%, making it one of the highest in the world. In a country with a population of over 200 million, this staggering figure highlights a significant challenge: what does the future hold for young Nigerians who find themselves without work? As opportunities in the formal sector dwindle, many are turning to entrepreneurship—not just as a choice, but as a salvation. Yet, the path to entrepreneurship is far from easy. It’s not for the faint…

IS the government not supposed to protect us? How can this government be so unmoved when it persistently harms those it’s supposed to protect? Food price hike, we adjust, feul hike, we adjust, blackout, we adjust and now persecuting minors, really? Thats horrifying, especially under these circumstances, is incredibly unjust. We are not living like a normal people in this country. I can’t wrap my head around how anyone could consider this approach fair. Leaving these young kids malnourished and demanding an impossible bail condition only adds to the cruelty that all but seem designed to break their spirits and…

What exactly is happening in the North? Arewa gida! Is the North only valued when it’s time to vote? I got my mid week reminder to write, but this week I kept opening and closing my notepad, just staring at a blank screen. There’s so much to say, yet deep down, I wonder if it would change anything. Would it? Haven’t the North suffered enough? Why is the North always at the receiving end? If you wonder where I am headed, then tell me please you ain’t bothered about the terrible blackout in Northern Nigeria. First, it was the National…

BEFORE I continue, I will like to categorically state that this piece is no campaign for any candidate or the president himself. Having said that, let’s continue, I visited my hairdresser earlier last week, Thursday to be specific, and for the first time in years, the saloon was completely empty. Typically, Thursdays to Saturdays are her busiest days, so I usually go on Sundays to avoid these crowds but to my surprise that Thursday, the place was empty. On that Thursday, I was the only customer, which led to some interesting conversation. Of course, there was no electricity, she only…

STORYTELLING has long been a cornerstone of Nigerian culture, serving as a vital means of communication, education, and preservation of heritage. For generations, oral traditions have allowed elders to pass down knowledge, morals, and history through captivating narratives. These stories, rich with lessons and cultural values, not only entertain but also shape the identity of communities. From folktales about clever tortoises to cautionary tales that warn against greed, each narrative carries a piece of wisdom that resonates across generations. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, storytelling has adapted and evolved into new forms. Contemporary Nigerian authors like Chimamanda…

IT is time Nigerians stop over relying on formal education as the only path to success and start prioritizing skills. People have become so focused on using schooling to succeed that they forget to explore their natural talents, abilities, and skills. They have no concept of what they can accomplish after secondary school or varsity since they have no idea what their talents are. Nigerians spend an average of about nineteen years in school, only to graduate and face the harsh reality of unemployment. Besides, anything taught to a child after 1pm is almost pointless, the brain is exhausted by…