Of social media influencers and their voltrons

The advent of social media has introduced a new crème of hitherto unknown or maybe just unrecognised individuals popularly known as influencers. Some of the most popular and somewhat vitriolic can be found on Facebook and/or Twitter and I believe the very charged 2015 elections contributed largely to the popularity of this class of persons.

Okay, who is an influencer? According to influenceranalysis.com, an influencer is an individual who has above-average impact on a specific niche process. Influencers are normal people, who are often connected to key roles of media outlets, consumer groups, industry associations or community. So a social media influencer invariably has influence on blogs or Facebook, or Twitter or Instagram and in rare cases, all of the aforementioned. Specific examples, Bellanaija.com and LindaIkeji.com can be said to be influencers in the realm of blogging. There are fashion bloggers, food bloggers, political bloggers, business bloggers, Christian bloggers and ofcourse relationship bloggers who provide some sort of leadership and influence in all these arenas.

It is clear that these social media influencers have a lot of advantages which they can bestow on society. However, there is also a degree of negativity they sometimes permeate. Case in point, I recently saw a series of messages (also called ‘subs’) and counter exchanges between some Facebook ‘influencers’ which were very unbecoming to say the least. Women (and men) who should be busy using their ‘fame’ for good causes were insulting their entire generations over what only they could possibly understand. He said and she said. People who after dedicating time to friends, family, business, careers and side-hustles believe that because they have 1000 or more friends on facebook, with 500 comments and shares accompanying their posts, they should also find time to curse, cuss at, gossip, back-bite and generally promote ill-will on social media. The beef is not lean at all! In fact, one can almost touch the tangible hatred these people feel for one another.

The worst part are those individuals who do the back and forths on the warring pages, reporting the said ‘subs’ and slights to the parties concerned. And to what gain? I really cannot fathom. These voltrons also add flames to the fire by antagonising perceived enemies and defending their influencers in the most unseeming manners.

Then there are the facebook groups, both secret and open which have very altruistic aims and objectives but often serve as bullying centres for those with opposing views. Where the almighty ‘Admin’ can add and delete just about anyone they please especially those who dare share conflicting ideas even outside the empire of the group. These groups have the die-hard loyalists (until they are deleted) who seem to live their entire lives on the group, defending in any platform, anything relating to their beloved group. And ofcourse, the ex-members who vilify everything and everyone concerned with the group they once loved and admired. Very tiring I must say. People, we should realise that it is just social media, it is not real life, really. You were deleted from the group not from existence, so pick yourself up and move on!

We should strive to live lives of impact wherever we find ourselves and that includes social media. We might not be the most popular name in the food, weight-loss, relationship, fashion sectors on social media but in that small corner where we are on twitter, facebook, whatsapp etc, we can choose to inform, teach, give and just influence those we encounter positively.

Remember, there is nothing hidden online and some of those posts you make today may come to haunt you later quite unexpectedly. Be an instrument of peace on social media, not hate or bullying. Before you post or share, think. Is it true, is it wise, is it right?

please share

Its a beautiful feeling...the act of giving, however the joy of receiving, that can never be over-stated...i haven't known anyone yet who does not love to receive gifts...mba! no! its a natural part of our lives. after all, we receive good air, naturally, everyday from the Most High. However, when it comes to material things, i know i always love to be on the receiving end of the gifts but over time I've come to appreciate the saying 'the hand that gives is always on top' which is reverse for the hand that receives and giving has assumed a new meaning for me.

i looked around me and observed that the people that give the most always seem to have (surplus)! They give regularly from what seems to be a bottomless pocket. it's actually like rocket science and somewhat illogical but i guess that's just the way it is. The first origins i could decipher is that giving a biblical concept 'for God loves a cheerful giver' 'give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, rolling over and shaken together' and countless other quotes from the Bible illustrate indeed how in tune God is with giving. The more i began to embrace the concept of giving, the more I began to receive. I've not yet arrived oh @the giving bus-top but i know that i am not where I started from.

we should also realise that giving does not have to be material or monetary, we can give of our time, effort, gifts and it would have the same if not even more effect. Spare the time to share your monetary, physical, spiritual resources with those that not only need it but might find it difficult to repay you and the benefits there from will be un-quantifiable (is there a word like that? :) )

Giving is not a one-day concept; it grows over time and requires adequate nourishment. One of the best way to cultivate giving for a life-time is encouraging young children to share their toys and gifts especially with their peers. When a little child realises that her little 'Winnie the Pooh' doll could be shared with her little friend, allowing both of them to enjoy playtime in a more fun and happy manner, then she will refuse to hoard and slowly foster the idea of giving and happily so...

As we go out and about this weekend, we should decide to give a little of ourselves and make someone out there smile...just a little bit.

Enjoy!

prepare!!!

Its been a while...as usual :) I referred to myself as a reluctant blogger in an article i wrote recently and so true that is. I practically have to encourage myself to write although i definitely have so much to say! Anyways, the week is almost over and twas filled with ups and downs (as usual). However, had an interesting workshop during the course of the week on disaster preparedness for major sectors in the Nigeria (security, government, CSOs etc). Went in my capacity as an NGO person and it was indeed an eye-opener.

Like most things in Naija, it came at the wrong time. How do you prepare for something that is already upon you? The work for preparing for any disaster for 2013 both natural or man-made should at least begin at the start of the year not half way through???

Anyways, as with most things in Nigeria, the preparedness and response seem to come together at the same time *eye roll*. We can only hope that the year would end without any of the said 'emergencies' coming to pass! Amen!


I'm also on a mission to reconnect with lost/old pals....this has been on for quite a while but its progressing on schedule so any of those old/long-lost pals should definitely holla!!


Cheers to the weekend!!

proudly female!

Is there something wrong with female children? I really want some clarity here 'cos I've noticed that even in forums where women make requests for prayers for fruit of the womb, they end it with phrases such as *a male or son/sons*. In social gatherings, when it is announced that a woman has just given birth to a *bouncing baby boy*, the applause ehn! so much greater than if its a *baby girl*. Infact, women who birth male children feel so accomplished as though that's the answer to all their problems! That's why you'll see a woman with 5 or 6 female children still trying for the elusive male child! Haba! (Don't kill yourself nau, Madam)

For me, I believe that ALL children are gifts from God and female children more especially. I know the ideal is to have children of both sexes, but when this doesn't happen, you are still a complete man (woman). We need to remove the notion from our consciousness that male children are of greater value and are assets even more than females (remember the MTN advert 'mama na boy' that was pulled off just because of this same controversy). 

Infact, if you ask people that have only one sex of children, they'll tell you that female children are much more caring, compassionate and affectionate even after they get married than male children. So what are we talking about?? If we as women do not begin to speak out and advocate for our female children, pray, tell who is going to do it?

We know that the Nigerian society is not as favourably disposed to the female folk as it is to the male probably because of our patriarchal structure but we shouldn't contribute to maintaining this status-quo. Instead, we should be the voice of change and progress!! Forward ever, backward never!! :) 

PS: consider that the last three American presidents have had only girls, does that make Hilary, Laura or Michelle any less women? No O°˚, infact! Its not even an issue for the most important (politically) man in the world who has such an impressive and exclusive legacy to bequeath to his children so why should it now over-matter to Mr one bicycle and no farmland??!

the face...

This our face ehn….we take so much pride in it. That’s why we invest so much in make-up, hair, colours and of course, the almighty mirror! How exactly are we supposed to see that our beautifully-coiffured face without the aid of Ms clear and lovely mirror? Don’t get me wrong oh, I’ve always been a fan of the mirror, in fact one of her greatest fans. I had one in my every handbag, two in my car, in class, in the office, at church (yeah! gotta look good in the presence of God!), infact there’s one I carry almost everywhere and I never imagined that anything could EVER come between us.

That is until Friday the 18^th of February 2013. I had finished late from work that eventful evening, was so tired, in fact exhausted! I had been fantasising about what I was going to prepare to eat as soon I got home. Fried yam with chicken sauceJ or Spaghetti with minced meat sauce =-?. I like food that much oh, so once I arrived, I immediately set to work. But have you heard the phrase? ‘the best laid plans of men and mice’, or ‘man proposes, God disposes’, well that’s exactly what happened to me on that Friday.

So, I put the frying pan on the gas cooker, struck the match and lit the cooker; it wasn’t burning well so lil’ Ms engineer+ decided to adjust the gas head (while twas still burning), everything after that was a blur. The next thing I knew, there was a ferocious blue flame right in my face, then screams from my mom, neighbours shouting fire, fire. Well, the fire was put out and everything settled down. Everything that is, except my face. It felt very hot as though it was burning and gradually darkening.

The fine babe in me quickly kicked in, I went straight to the internet and checked out remedies for burns which I immediately applied. Shea butter, then honey and then aloe vera, what didn’t I try? But of course, it was too early to quantify the damage or even the effect of all the treatments I applied. The next morning I didn’t recognise my face and little Ms Mirror became an instant enemy. I couldn’t stand to look at my face or what it had become overnight. I still shudder to think of it.

The doctor’s prescription plus my own herbal remedies became a daily dose meant to restore my beautiful face back to its old glory. I became picture-shy, mirror-shy and in fact reflection-shy. It was a great lesson in patience and perseverance. My skin gradually began to peel, developing new flesh and the only thanks I could give was for my vitalizing, ebony skin J. What if I was fair skinned? (the horror!). Typically, there was a series of conflicting and sometimes hilarious information being given by all and sundry. Especially as someone who isn’t into the skill/art of make-up, my only prayer was for time to pass quickly because, as they say, time heals all wounds.

The waiting period wasn’t very palatable. I witnessed varying reactions from members of the general public, a lot of it negative, some even sported disgusted looks, also inquiring comments, advice etc. My face has improved greatly now and I have to specifically tell you about the incident before you notice any scar. I’m so glad and I take pictures at any opportunity now J. PS: forgot to mention that one of the advantages of the blaze was that every pimple on my face immediately cleared (is that vain? =D)

There were so many lessons I learnt during that time and I pray I don’t ever forget what it felt like (though its all becoming sort of a blur nowL). So despite any circumstance, pain, hurt you might be going through, just have faith that you’ll pull through because NOTHING, absolutely nothing lasts forever, no matter how bad, its just a phase and must surely pass. Remember…weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning…Psalm 30:5. Thank you! J

Ok! Its been a while, haven't come around here but the world has not stopped moving. While we are still trying to wrap our hands round one major event, another happens immediately after and we start again, it's a never ending cycle. For me the major event of the past weeks is the Boston Marathon bombing. Now, answers are sought as to what motivated two young men and Tsarnaev brothers; Dzhokhar, 19, and Tamerlan, 26 to plant twin bombs at the finish line of the Marathon injuring countless individuals and killing three including an 8 year old boy, Martin Richard; Chinese graduate student, Lingzi Lu and 29 year old Kristle Campbell.

While the world attempts to understand exactly what went wrong, it once again brings to the fore, the issue of home-grown terrorists with apparently no outside backing and the vulnerability of public places. Only God knows how many like individuals are plotting and planning another episode even while i type/you read. God help us!

We also had the Texas explosion at a fertilizer plant that killed scores of people, the cause of which is still being investigated. One silver lining was the story of the man who was at the venue of the Boston bombings, escaped death or injury and went back home to Texas, only to witness that explosion! Mr Joe Berti definitely has a lot to thank God for!

“It’s a miracle,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “People keep saying, ‘Don’t you feel unlucky?’ and I was actually the opposite — saying not only do I not feel unlucky, but I feel blessed that my wife could be 10 yards from the explosion and not have a scratch.

So in the midst of all the chaos, there still so much to be thankful for.

On a lighter note, in Nigeria, number portability has finally been introduced. with none other then Saka (Afeez Oyetoro) as the first symbol of porting. He ported from advertising for Etisalat to MTN (from green to yellow). All of a sudden the advert is the talk of the town, the new oga@thetop-like craze. I loved the concept behind the advert. Simply communicated and Saka executed perfectly with his our port-ing moves! :) However, several questions have also arisen about violation of contract terms since he was advertising for two telcos in pretty much the same market. My take? Both parties would definitely have examined the issues of liability before getting entangled together, if they dont have a problem, why should i now? Them go pay me commission ni? Cannot take Panadol for another's headache jor! =D


Additional reports from thestar.com World



Takias!!

ok, so i'm trying to get a hang of this blogging business...not as easy as i thought oh.... there's some news, then some articles and even the diary-like write-up.

hmmn! the only thing i know is that i like to write and hopefully, eventually i will figure it all out!

*patience, patience*