Fibroid Story: My Fibroid Journey by Maimuna Garba (Part 2)

Fibroid Story: My Fibroid Journey by Maimuna Garba (Part 2)

in Oct 26th, 2021 i wrote about My Fibroid Journey. I can’t believe I’m about to go down this lane again of writing about fibroids.

There was a time I dreaded the word “fibroid”, sadly because for almost 3 years, fibroid took charge of my life, I couldn’t have a normal life as I was constantly in pain; my stomach, my back, my feet, every part of my body hurt. My blood level never went past 18% no matter how much I tried to eat right. I was bleeding days on end.

I remember on day I was driving to work, I started having severe cramps, for someone who was used to being in constant pain, I thought I could handle the pain. Barely 5 minutes away from home, the pain went from a 30 to a 100. I was in so much pain I thought I would pass out behind the wheels. I managed to get to the office, requested for an uber to take me straight to the hospital, I called my siblings to meet me in the hospital. I pitied the uber driver as he was so confused, by the time I got to the hospital, the back seat was drenched in blood, I kept apologizing to the uber driver, and he kept saying I’m sorry madam with so much fear in his eyes. I was immediately admitted, given some pain killers. I dozed off for like 5 minutes and the pain came back with a vengeance. The doctor immediately ordered for a scan. All the while I thought my friends “the fibroids” were the culprit, but this time around the scan was pointing towards hernia. We were all shocked, because I always thought that hernia was a ‘male’ thing. The pain wasn’t abating and my siblings were getting impatient. They decided to move me to another hospital. By the time we got to the 2nd hospital I just wanted die at least that will end my pain.

I was immediately admitted and a CT scan was carried out. The CT scan confirmed the scan in the previous hospital, it was the hernia that was causing the pain. The doctors said I needed immediate surgery. The surgery could not be done as my blood level was too low. I had to undergo a blood transfusion. The next day, the doctors came to do a review and to propose a date for the surgery. I asked them if I could go and think about it since the pain had reduced and I wasn’t in danger anymore. The doctors discharged me and I went home. At this point I still wasn’t convinced that surgery was not my only option. I went back to my normal life (the constant pain and endless bleeding). I went on to try and look for other solutions. I would try anything and everything. I spent thousands of naira buying herbal medicines. I was taking them religiously, the symptoms would abate for a short time and once I stopped, the pains and bleeding came in full force.

I started experiencing fainting spells. My blood level had dropped to 14%. I had to undergo another blood transfusion. The scan showed that the fibroids were scattered all over and there was a particular one right in the middle of my uterus that was responsible for the excessive bleeding. This time around, I had consultation with a gynecologist who had over 35 years’ experience. He spoke to me not just as my doctor, but as a father. He placated me, I kept complaining of how I had done a previous myomectomy and was so terrified of having another myomectomy and all the cons I have read about multiple myomectomy. The major one being difficulty in conceiving naturally. The doctor went ahead to give me stories of women who had multiple myomectomy who still went on to conceive and had children. At that point I began to embrace the idea of another surgery. I wanted this particular doctor to do the surgery, but the fee for the procedure in his hospital was over a million naira. I had to look for an affordable alternative and someone who could do it as good as the doctor with 35 years’ experience.

So my search for a doctor and hospital began. I was working in the health sector so I knew who to speak with. I spoke to some couple of people in my hospital circle, they gave some doctors names. One of my uncle was told about my ordeal and he asked that I go to Army Command and NAOWA Hospital. As usual, I dragged my feet about going, but decided to go when my family continued to push I go. Immediately I stepped my foot in the hospital, something in me just knew I was in the right place (I had prayed for Allah’s guidance before setting out to the hospital). I met a lovely lady (we are good friend’s now) at the front desk. I told her why I was there, I made all the necessary enquiries. I asked her to please grant me audience as I needed to speak to her in private. I told her my story (my previous myomectomy journey and how I needed to have a very good doctor handle my case). She told me that NAOWA had a track record of carrying out successful myomectomy surgeries and in fact one of her friend just went through the same surgery some days ago and it was very successful. At that point, my mind had calmed down. I was gradually accepting my reality of having a second surgery. My new friend helped me to register and booked me to see a doctor the coming week Tuesday. Tuesday came and I was in the hospital before 7am, as it was clinic days for pregnant women too. I waited till about 12pm before it was my time to go in. A very beautiful female doctor was seated behind the desk with her assistant by her side. We exchanged pleasantries and I told her why I was there. She requested I do another scan in their facility. I did the scan, of course, I knew what the result was going to be, so I wasn’t surprised. When the doctor looked at the scan result and my blood work, she told me what every other doctor has been saying “surgery”. I accepted my fate and told her to book me. I was booked for July 22nd 2022. I was expected to be admitted in the hospital on the 21st of July.

I checked into the hospital on the 21st of July, series of test were carried out, as usual my blood was too low for me to go into surgery. I had to do a blood transfusion that Thursday evening. On Friday morning, my doctor came, did a review, asked for another test to know if my blood level had come up, the test was done and the doctor said it still wasn’t enough to get me into surgery, I needed to get another pint of blood and because of that the surgery couldn’t be done on the 22nd. My doctor rescheduled the surgery for the 23rd. I woke up on the 23rd, I was prepared for surgery, all the shaving, the pep talk. We were waiting, waiting for minutes turned into hours. I started getting agitated, I demanded to know why a surgery that was slated for 10am hadn’t started and this was almost 1pm. The nurse went to get the doctor. The doctor came (not my doctor) and casually told me that they are sorry, but the surgery has been postponed. I was shocked and livid at that moment, I lost it. I was shouting down the hospital, how was my surgery postponed and no one deemed it fit to inform me. I had lost my patience and was ready to bring down the hospital. My parents, siblings and partner were all trying to get me to calm down. They said I should take it as an act from Allah, just maybe it wasn’t the right time for the surgery to be done. I had to calm down and asked to speak to my doctor. She called me and I registered my displeasure. I asked her since the surgery didn’t take place, when was it going to take place? She said she was busy, the surgery has to be rescheduled to a week after. This got me upset again, I told her I couldn’t wait for another week. I had been placed on Primolut N for almost a week just so I don’t bleed and if my period comes, they won’t be able to do the surgery and the blood transfusion would have been in vain as I would likely bleed out the whole blood again.

My doctor said I should give her some time to see if she can get her other colleague to do the surgery since I couldn’t wait for her to return.  She called me, her colleague had agreed to do the surgery, I was booked for the 25th of July. I left the hospital that Saturday night, and was to return Sunday evening. I checked back in on Sunday evening, they conducted some test again and I was certified ready for the surgery the next day. The day came, I was prepared for the surgery. The anesthetic came and asked what type of anesthesia I would like. I told him I wanted to be conscious during the surgery. The nurses came to wheel me to the theatre. My sister followed me down to the theatre. We said our goodbyes, I was trying to remain calm just the way I could see my sister was trying to remain calm. In the theatre, I finally meet the doctor who agreed to do the surgery. He asked if I was married, if I have kids, he told me not to worry that the surgery will be over before I know it. The procedure began and the doctor and I were gisting, I just noticed that his disposition changed, he asked me “you said you are not married”, I told him again I wasn’t, then he jokingly asked me “is there someone you broke his heart” I laughed and I asked why he asked, he kept quiet. Some seconds after, I felt a sharp pain, I screamed, the doctor asked “Maimuna, did you feel that” I said yes, then I heard him tell one of the theatre attendant to call in the general surgeon now. The general surgeon came in and I could over hear them talking, my doctor was saying the fibroid were everywhere and the best option was to do a hysterectomy, as soon as I heard that, my heart sank, I just did a short prayer, I said “Ya Allah, if this is what’s best for me, Alhamdulilah”. The doctor came back again, “Maimuna, you said you are not married and don’t have any kids” I nodded, then he told me, “do not worry, we will do our possible best to save your uterus”. He went back to work, I felt a sharp pain, I noticed he signaled to the anesthetic and that was the last thing I remembered.

I woke up at about 10pm, I asked what time it was and they told me. I asked how long the surgery lasted and I was told I was in the theatre for 6 and half hours. I was drifting in and out of consciousness. This time around, the post-surgery pain was minimal. The next morning, my doctor came to brief me. He said I’ll have to stay for at least 8 days without taking anything, because I had 4 major surgeries done. I was shocked. He said they had to do the myomectomy (they didn’t do the hysterectomy again after I told him I do not have any child), a hernia surgery was done, an endometrial polyp surgery and in the process of trying to take out the fibroids, my bowels were ruptured, so they had to fix that and that’s the reason why I couldn’t eat anything because they needed to be sure that the bowel had healed to avoid another rupture. That explained why the surgery took so long, the surgery was conducted by 2 teams. My previous doctor’s assistant came to check on me as she was also assigned to manage my case. She said “Maimuna, if I wasn’t a firm believer, your case would have made me believe that witch craft do exist. She said for over an hour, they were trying to figure out my anatomy as the whole of my insides were in utter mess, they couldn’t tell what was what. She said , it was like the fibroids was cemented to your insides, some they just couldn’t access, but the doctor told them that he promised he was going to do his best , so they needed to get every fibroid out to reduce the chances of the fibroids reoccurring anytime soon. She said, when you leave this hospital, please, go and thank Allah as all she could think is Allah was on my side”. I was shocked to my bones. I was filled with gratitude. The recovery period was smooth, but God I was hungry, the 8 days felt like a year. I was begging them to please let me take something, even if it was just a drop of water. The doctors said I couldn’t take anything. Then my second fear came, the ulcer started bleeding, they had to start treating the ulcer, I still was not allowed to take anything only fluid through IV. By the second day, they said I needed to get off the bed so I don’t get blood clots. I tried, it was so painful, but my mom, sisters and the nurses helped. By the fourth day, I was getting up from the bed with a little bit of aid. I was placed on many antibiotics, many pain killers (there is one I can never forget, “penta”, that drug was from the pit of hell). It made me act hysterical. I had to ask for it to be discontinued (thinking about it now, I’m laughing so hard).

On the 9th day, I couldn’t take it anymore, I said they needed to give me something to drink or eat or else I’ll die. I had not farted yet, one of the doctors asked that my sister get me tom-tom. I started taking tom-tom, it wasn’t what I was looking forward to take because on a regular day, I don’t take it, but I was just glad that I finally had something in my stomach. By the time I was on my 4th tom-tom, I farted, I was so excited, I was screaming with the little energy I had. I asked my sister to inform the nurse that I had farted. I thought shey I have farted, why was I not asked to take at least water. The next day when the doctor who asked me to take the tom-tom came, I cried to him and said “doctor, you said once I pass gas, I’ll be allowed to take something” he started apologizing, saying I was supposed to be informed to start taking liquids, those were music to my ears. I told my mom, please, give me water. I had to take little sips. I was allowed to take lipton, pap and to the glory of Allah, I was able to poo. The doctor was informed that I pooped. He said that was what they were waiting for, it showed that my bowels had healed.

A total of 35 fibroids were removed, my doctor who lead the surgery said in his 25 years of practice, he had only seen my kind of case twice. On the 11th day, I was discharged from the hospital, I was so happy to be going home, but then came another bomb shell. One of the doctors came in to tell me all I should do, all I should avoid and then she goes “has anyone come to talk to you”? I said talk to me about what? She said “because of your previous surgery, there were a lot of adhesions and with this difficult surgery you just underwent, you may not be able to have kids”. My world stopped that very moment. My sisters started to cry, I told the doctor thank you and I was ready to go home. At that moment, I didn’t want to think about anything, I had just gone through a difficult 11 days of my life. I just wanted to go home. I had to be coming to the hospital for my stitch to be dressed as some part of the stitch broke down. That was another painful process, but hey, the worst was over. After 2 weeks, I had a review with the doctor who carried out the surgery, I told him what the other doctor told me when I was about to be discharged. He was furious, he said “I performed your surgery, I didn’t tell you that, all I’m going to tell you is to go and start trying for a baby”. I was relieved for a brief moment, deep down in me, I said “Allah, you are making me go through another test, Ya Allah, You know that unmarried and as a Muslim, I’m not supposed to have a child outside wedlock, how do I do what the doctor is asking me to do???  

Examining Popular Entertainment Stocks in the Financial Market

Examining Popular Entertainment Stocks in the Financial Market

Entertainment companies are back in the financial market spotlight, with the entertainment and media industry experiencing a rise in their revenues. PR Newswire reports that the E&M spend per capita is US$2,229 in the US, US$1,158 in Western Europe, and about US$224 in Asia Pacific. Due to the high E&M spend per capita across the world, it is expected that television, streaming, music, and even gaming companies will continue to increase their revenues up to 2026.

These high revenues serve as good news, especially for traders who want to earn profit from the stocks of entertainment companies. So if you want to trade in entertainment companies, here’s what you need to know about the performance of these popular stocks:


Disney

Walt Disney is one of the most popular entertainment companies in the world. Their fame has endured for many decades now, which is why many people consider their stocks for trading.

Though the profit and revenue of Walt Disney met the estimates of Wall Street analysts, the shares of the company fell by nearly 9% due to the reported loss of four million Disney+ subscribers. The good news is that the company’s stock has bounced back to over 6%. Traders can expect that the stock of Disney will steadily grow, as the company predicts Disney+ to be profitable by 2024. The company will also continue to make big franchise films and TV shows through its Marvel and Star Wars lines.


Netflix


While Disney+ is not faring well as a streaming service, Netflix continues to thrive in the market because it remains the most popular streaming service to date.

As such, it’s not surprising that Netflix stocks are also thriving in the stock trading market. Netflix’s first-quarter earnings result beat the analysts’ estimates because they brought in $2.88 per share earnings. The company’s stock also continues to do well because it is able to advance by 11.6% year-to-date so far. This percentage can further increase, especially as the company continues to stream hit movies and TV shows.


Electronic Arts


Aside from streaming service companies, gaming companies are also becoming popular stocks among traders. In fact, one of the most popular gaming stocks among traders is Electronic Arts because of its performance as a company and as a stock.

Electronic Arts is one of the companies in the stock trading market with a low average spread of 1.1 pips. This relatively low spread signifies that there is a tight difference between the asking and buying price for Electronic Arts stocks due to their high liquidity and low volatility. On top of that, Electronic Arts stocks have consistently beaten the S&P 500 index to date, which shows its profitability for trading.


HYBE


Stocks from South Korean companies also have a lot of growth potential, especially now that Korean music and movies are becoming known worldwide.

Traders can even maximise their growth potential by trading the stock of HYBE, the company behind BTS. Bernie Cho, a Seoul-based music industry executive, states that HYBE has the power to be in the same league as the big three major record labels, like Sony, Universal, and Warner Music. After all, the music company has acquired other companies managing global celebrities, such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Traders can expect to earn profit from HYBE stocks, which are expected to increase further in the next few years as the company plans to expand worldwide.

There are plenty of good reasons behind these stocks’ popularity in the financial market. Now that their revenues are rapidly growing, you can earn profits from these popular stocks by trading them.

If you enjoyed this article, many more like it are in our business and money section.

Hausa Wedding: A Guide on Marrying a Hausa Girl

Hausa Wedding: A Guide on Marrying a Hausa Girl

This is going to be an interesting article since it’s about marriage. And to all the Hausa people and the rest of the world, marrying a Hausa girl is quite a rollercoaster. So for the rest of the world who don’t really know the process of how to marry a Hausa girl, this is a detailed step-by-step process on that (Hausa wedding).

Though a large number of people in this region speak the Hausa language, different tribes among them have their own individual, unique dialects.

The Hausa traditional marriage is mostly based on Islamic teachings and is not as time-consuming or expensive as the Igbo and Yoruba traditional marriage ceremonies.

However, the process leading up to the marriage is slightly similar to what is obtained in other regions of Nigeria.

Hausa Wedding: The Process of Marrying a Hausa Girl

1. Approaching the Girl

2. Asking for Permission (Na Gani Ina So)

When a man meets the woman he wants to marry, he has to, first of all, seek permission from her parents.

3. The Investigation

The family of the bride-to-be will then conduct an investigation on the background of the man to determine his religious beliefs, ethics, morals, and family customs, as well as every important detail concerning his upbringing. The groom-to-be, if approved by the woman’s family, is allowed to see her briefly, but any form of physical contact, romance, or courting before marriage is highly discouraged.

3. Involving the Guy’s Parents/Guardians (Gaisuwa)

Once the woman accepts the marriage offer, the man sends his parents or guardians as well as elderly relatives to formally ask for her hand in marriage. However, this may not be the same for all the tribes in the Hausa communities, as each of them has different customs regarding marriage rites, though the process mentioned above is the most common method.

4. The Sa Rana (Dowry Bargain/Setting of Wedding Date)

On their trip to the bride’s family home to seek her parents’ consent, the groom’s family takes along items such as kola nuts, bags of salt, sweets, etc. It is during this visit that the groom’s parents will make their intentions known.

Gaisuwa is a kind of formal approval from the bride’s family to the groom’s. This is usually where the bargain for the bride’s dowry begins. The bride price starts from a minimum amount known as ‘Rubu’u Dinar in Hausa, an Arabic phrase that means ‘quarter kilogram of gold piece’, to the highest amount the groom can afford to pay. It is most preferred for the bride price to be as low as possible because, according to Islamic teachings, the lesser the amount paid as the bride’s dowry, the more blessings that will come to the marriage.

Payment of the dowry is known as ‘sadaki‘. Also, the wedding date is fixed during this visit, by both families. The process of setting the date is called Sa Rana.

5. Arranging the Box (Lefe)

As part of Hausa tradition, it is the duty of the husband to provide a house for the couple to live in

6. The House Furniture (Kayan Daki)

Furnishing the house is the full responsibility of the bride’s family.

7. The Wedding Events

a. Kunshi

At the wedding Fatihah, women are to remain indoors, preparing the bride for her new life as a wife, which is referred to as Kunshi. The Kunshi is similar to a bridal shower.

b. Sa Lalle

This event is strictly for the ladies. This is when the bride gets to spend the last bit of free time with her friends and female members of her family, in her father’s house. A mixture of henna is made and used to make beautiful designs on the bride’s hands, palms, and legs. Her friends and family also get henna designs on their hands, but not as elaborately as those of the bride.

c. Mother’s Day/Kamun Amarya

Kamu means ‘catch the bride’ and it is one of the oldest and most interesting events in the Hausa wedding tradition. To get the bride, the groom’s family negotiates with the bride’s friends for her release. This is a really fun event, and negotiation may take up to 30 minutes, followed by a fun reception.

8. The Wedding Day/Wedding Fatiha

The Fatiha is the most significant event of the entire wedding ceremony. As opposed to what is obtained in many other cultures, in Hausa culture, it is a representative from the groom and bride’s family that usually exchanges vows, not the bride and groom themselves. They do this in the presence of a religious priest and wedding guests. Prayers are then offered to the newlywed couple, and the celebration continues.

9. Reception/Dinner (Walimah)

The wedding reception is known as a Walimah, and it is carried out according to the tastes of the families involved. It is usually held after the Fatihah, and it goes on for a whole day with food and drinks available for family, friends, and well-wishers.

10. Conveyance of the Bride (Kai Amarya)

This is when family and friends escort the bride to her matrimonial home to be well-received by the groom’s family. This is usually preceded by prayers and advice from her family. This is not the end of events in a Hausa marriage. Depending on how well-to-do the families are, there is usually a grand reception to end the entire wedding ceremony. This includes food, music, and entertainment.

11. Shiga Daki

12. Sayan Baki

In some parts of the north, this ceremony takes place to add more colour and glamour to the wedding ceremony.

The Sayan Baki is a negotiation between the groom’s men and the bridesmaids, debating on the amount to be paid before the bride is allowed to speak to her groom.

Conclusion

Hausa wedding, of course, is a sacred event and is done differently depending on Hausa tradition. Nowadays, it does not only limit itself to the traditions of Hausa land, but it has become a household thing, meaning that every household does its own differently. However, the general one is the one listed in this article.

Thank you very much for your time, and I hope you enjoyed this piece. Feel free to give us a positive comment in the comments section below.

There are some interesting things to know before you marry a Hausa lady. You can check it out. Don’t forget to also check the ultimate wedding preparation checklist.

9 Amazing Northern Nigerian Books to Read

9 Amazing Northern Nigerian Books to Read

Literature in northern Nigeria dates back to the 1900s, though, not wildly popular, a number of quite amazing works were published back then. Over the decades, northern Nigerian literature has shown immense improvements in style, genre, and a wide range of topics, but it has still managed to keep its original purpose; the intent of showing the whole world that northern Nigeria goes far beyond the stereotype it’s been placed under.

Northern Nigerian books authors have put in commendable literary skills and have beautifully developed amazing characters to reflect the lives of the underrepresented group of people we know and identify as “the northerners.” These beautiful works in the form of prose and short stories address the issues faced in the day-to-day life of the common northern Nigerian, thereby giving us an insight that allows us to see past the stereotype placed on the common Arewa man.

Here is a list of some awesome Nigerian books by both northern and non-northern writers with characters developed and based in northern Nigeria. These books have been written so beautifully that they manage to give us an insight into different topics, but from the perspective of a Northerner.

9 Amazing Northern Nigerian Books to Read

1. The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali (1984)

This book was considered a milestone in African and Nigerian literature. Zaynab Alkali is considered the first female novelist with a Muslim northern background, and her debut novel, ‘The Stillborn, which was published in 1984, follows the story of a thirteen-year-old girl, Li, who has plans to escape the boring life in her small village to go to the big city. However, fate puts a stop to those plans as the death of her father leads her to take up the responsibilities of her household. This novel is centered on the experiences of Li and her struggles for her independence from the traditional values of her family home, marriage, and the lure of the city and all it has to offer.

Other works by Alkali include, The Virtuous Woman (1987), and the Anthology – The Cobwebs and Other Stories (1997).

2. Innocent Victims by Abubakar Gimba (1988)

This was the third book of the late novelist, Abubakar Gimba. It centers on fraud, abuse of power, and political machinery for selfish ends through the story of Faruk Kolo, the Director-General of the Department of Food and Animal Production. A panel has been set up to prove the department’s activities and during this probe, a lot of corrupt practices of the department come to light.

This novel reveals the power struggles and corruption present in the civil service.

Other works of Gimba include Witness to Tears (1987), Sunset for a Mandarin (1992), and Foot Prints (1998).

3. Measuring Time by Helon Habila (2007)

This is one of the Nigerian books written by Helon Habila. Habila’s second novel brings to book the story of twin brothers, Mamo and Lamamo who are birthed and raised in a small village in northern Nigeria. They lost their mother at birth and were left to be raised by a controlling, status-obsessed father. They dream of escaping their small sleepy village. They decide to run away to become soldiers.

This novel beautifully intertwines history, religion, politics, love, colonialism, and military power into one heartwarming story.

Other books by Helon include Waiting for an Angel (2002) and Oil in Water (2010).

4. Personal Angle by Fatima Ba’aram Alkali (2008)

Fatima Ba’aram Alkali’s debut novel, Personal Angle, published in 2008, delves into the world of politics and business and does it through the lives of two women – Zaria (a lawyer) and Basheika (a housewife). Alkali delves headlong into problems encountered in modern-day marriages, among which is a lack of fulfillment in marriages. The story shows how Zaria redeems her dignity and how Basheika sacrifices a lot.

Personal Angle won the 2009 Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF) Ibrahim Tahir Prize for Prose.

5. The whispering trees by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2012)

Published in 2013, this collection of short stories is the debut book by Abubakar. It employs grief, humor, and excellent language use (almost poetic), which makes reading enjoyable. This collection contains 11 beautifully written short stories which are relatable and enjoyable.

The book was shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing.

6. Sterile Sky by E. E. Sule (2013)

E. E. Sule’s debut novel gives an insight into an important moment in Nigeria’s sociopolitical history. Sterile Sky tells the story of precious and gifted young Murtala and his coming of age in the ancient city of Kano, where violent riots and his own family’s woes threaten to erase all he holds so dearly. After losing two people very dear to him, he has to survive a lot more than just his sister getting pregnant at a very young age. Murtala finds himself fighting demons both in his mind and in reality. Desperate to preserve a sense of self and the future, he hunts for answers in the wreckage of the city he once knew.

This book gives a unique insight into modern life in northern Nigeria.

E. E. Sule has two short story collections: Impotent Heavens (2004) and Dream and Shame (2007).

7. Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2015)

When this book was released in 2015, it faced a lot of criticism and shook a lot of tables, and here is why. The story centers on an illicit love affair between a 55-year-old widow, Hajiya Binta, and a 26-year-old gang lord and drug dealer, Reza. Their illicit sexual affair gives way to a growing bud of feelings that goes against social norms.

This novel gives a unique perspective on life and relationships in northern Nigeria.

The novel won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2016.

8. Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John (2015)

Elnathan John’s debut novel, published in 2016, shook tables because the novel focused on a largely underrepresented group of people and how they come of age. It tells the story of young men seeking purpose in a world ripped apart by political and religious violence. The novel is set in far northwestern Nigeria and follows the story of Dantala whose name translates to ‘Born On A Tuesday’.

Dantala lives among a gang of street boys and during the elections, these boys are paid to cause trouble. After their attempt to burn the local headquarters ends in a disaster, Dantala must run for his life, and on this run, he has to decide what kind of man he wants to be.

Other books by Elnathan include Ajayi Crowther Street (2019) and Be(com)ing Nigerian (2020).

9. City of MEMORIES by Richard Ali (2012)

Richard Ali’s debut novel, City of Memories, which was published in 2012, is a love story set in Northern Nigeria. It is about four characters negotiating the effect of various traumas. Towering above them is the story of Ummi al-Qassim, a princess of Bolewa, and the feud that attended her love first for a nobleman, then for a poet – a feud that bequeaths her with madness and death. All four are bracketed by the modern city of Jos in Central Nigeria, where political supremacy and perverse parental love become motives for an ethnoreligious eruption calculated to destroy Nigeria.

The northern Nigerian books or literature is bound to increase over the decades and lots more amazing books are in prospect of being published.

You could also check out personal development books you should at least read before you are no more!

Improve Social Skills: 7 Most Important Social Skills

Improve Social Skills: 7 Most Important Social Skills

We use social skills to communicate and interact with others effectively. But most importantly, these skills are essential for our personal and professional development. In business and entrepreneurship, professionals must have a good set of social skills to build and maintain relationships, negotiate, collaborate, and lead effectively. So that begs the question: what are the most important social skills for professionals to improve? This article will discuss the seven ways to improve social skills to become more successful.

Sure Ways to Improve Social Skills to Become More Successful

1. Communication Skills

Effective communication is a key social skill every professional and entrepreneur must have to succeed in their sphere of work. That’s because effective communication is essential for getting your ideas and messages across. These skills include listening, speaking clearly, and conveying information effectively.

In addition, communication skills are essential for building relationships, negotiating, and persuading others. To improve your communication skills, you must practice the skills that comprise the communication umbrella. Therefore, practicing active listening, using clear and concise language, and communicating confidently is essential to improving your communication skills.

2. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) is the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others. EI is essential for leaders and entrepreneurs who have to manage employees and people close to their businesses. But what skills fall under emotional intelligence?

EI is comprised of skills such as empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation. Improving these skills will allow you to build stronger relationships, collaborate effectively, and lead with empathy. To improve your emotional intelligence, practice self-reflection, develop empathy, and regulate your emotions.

3. Teamwork

No skill will allow you to get the best out of your employees more than teamwork. Teamwork, by definition, is the ability to work collaboratively towards a common goal with others. In modern workplaces, bosses with high teamwork abilities are considered leaders, as these skills are essential for improving collaboration and productivity through management.

The “teamwork” umbrella includes skills such as communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Improving these skills will help you build strong teams, achieve work-related goals, and drive innovation in the workplace. To improve your teamwork skills, you must practice active listening, communicate openly and honestly, and aim to work towards a common goal with the people around you.

4. Leadership

Aspiring leaders drive change.

Leadership is a fundamental social skill that every modern entrepreneur and aspiring professional must have to become a recognizable figure in their sphere of work. But what is leadership?

Leadership is the ability to inspire and influence others toward a common goal. Leadership is another term that many other social skills fall under. It includes skills such as communication, decision-making, and task delegation.

Leadership is essential in the modern workplace as it drives change, achieves goals, and builds stronger employee relationships. For professionals who want to become better leaders, they must become better at effective communication, make decisions with confidence, and delegate effectively.

5. Networking

Networking as a social skill is becoming increasingly important by the day.

Modern networking is the practice of meeting like-minded individuals and building relationships with people outside your circle in hopes of one day leveraging these relationships for the betterment of your business. But networking goes both ways, so if you are invested in networking, expect others to be interested in building relationships with you.

Networking includes skills such as communication, relationship-building, and follow-up. Networking will allow you to leverage your connections and build a strong network of professionals. Through these connections, you will be able to identify new opportunities, gain insights into untouched fields, and turn to these professionals in hopes of solving a unique problem.

To become better at networking, professionals must attend networking events, reach out to like-minded individuals, and follow up regularly to form strong bonds.

6. Conflict Resolution

Running a smooth business is nearly impossible. Every entrepreneur encounters workplace issues and employee tensions that require hasty resolutions and diffusion. Failure to solve these issues will manifest in something much bigger. Therefore, conflict resolution is yet another important social skill every professional must improve to achieve business success.

“Conflict resolution” refers to the ability to resolve workplace conflicts constructively and effectively. It includes skills such as communication, negotiation, and, most importantly, problem-solving. Conflict resolution is essential for maintaining workplace harmony, resolving disputes, and keeping everyone on the same page. For example, conflict resolution will help you when one of your promising employees decides not to pursue a career or when multiple employees get into a heated argument.

You must learn to become a better listener to improve your conflict resolution skills. In addition, you must learn to approach conflicts with an open mind, put your biases aside, and seek win-win solutions so everyone is satisfied.

7. Adaptability

The final social skill professionals must improve is adaptability.

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to changes and new situations quickly. Without adaptability, professionals cannot develop many of the skills on this list. That’s because adaptability is essential for moving forward and establishing growth. It includes skills such as flexibility, creativity, and willingness to change. In the modern business landscape, adaptability is essential for staying relevant in the changing business sphere, driving innovation, and seizing new opportunities. To improve their adaptability skills, professionals must be willing to embrace change, seek out new challenges, and approach problems with a creative mindset.

Conclusion

Social skills are essential for both personal and professional success. Professionals and entrepreneurs must have good social skills to build and maintain relationships, negotiate, collaborate, and lead effectively. The seven social skills discussed in this article – communication skills, emotional intelligence, teamwork, leadership, networking, conflict resolution, and adaptability – are essential for professionals and entrepreneurs.

Without these skills, entrepreneurs are putting themselves at a disadvantage at a time when perfection is essential for business success. Therefore, it’s considered a common mistake if entrepreneurs do not work on improving these crucial seven social skills.