The Essence of Pidgin English: A Review of the Gbedu Magazine

With over one hundred and five kinds of languages in Nigeria, we can't possibly know everything even if we try hard to.

It is definitely not impossible, but will take a long while.

As beautiful as the diversity of languages is, it serves as a barrier to the nation and we can't overlook the fall it would have on us as a nation especially when it comes to social and economical gain. The major tribes (Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo) are still striving to  a balance in communication as to what is important or not, it is not far fetched the major difference in the argument is the fact that language is not understood by nine of the tribes.

What does language bring? Or better put what is so special by the uniformity of language?

The unity brings still amazing me, the uniformity in the languague in the zone of the United kingdom has brought the whole done thus far. No argument either when we say America is one language nation in which they have sustained the whole national unity.

No matter what they all had languages special to them and in what way created a sense of knowing what one another is saying.

If we so crave national unity in Nigeria we need a unique language that is born within us even if it is not noticeable now.

If we got to make the Hausa understand the importance of education language goes far

If we have got to tell the Igbos the importance of education language goes far

If we have got to tell the Yorubas the importance of education language still goes far

It you have got to tell any of the tribe the Importances of anything at all language does the trick.

What about national unity?

If we need to build the brotherly love language goes far?

What be to us?

Pidgin! In other words, broken English

Now there are issues arising in the use of the language such as the language not having a root, or the language not having an error( you can find more on gbedu magazine) what should ask our self is

Isn't the language bringing the unity we need?

If the language does more good than harm why the hesitant on the legalizing of the language.

The citizen of the country can't deny the joy they experience when speaking the language even at the mention of its name. Even the white and other countries get the thrill of the language no wonder the BBC took upon itself to have pidgin as a broadcast.

America got different criticism when they were about to bring the American language out different from your and posh Queen's English. They had to sit down and realize what they actually wanted to achieve, they needed unity and a bond of the nation, they saw they had a different approach to English and decided they would have their English and so far so good it has been working for them.

It wouldn't be bad if Nigeria follows suit as the language speaks volumes of unity and international recognition.

It brings the numerous number of the ethnic group we have together and bonds us to knowledge.

It would bring an easy understanding to the student if schools and make teachers work easier.

Gbedu magazine has started the part of telling the importance of pidgin as it is written in pidgin, gives different languages in pidgin, and makes news in pidgin. It shows also the importance of why we should not allow the language to go into extinction; it would be like hanging our own mother tongue and living a slave to who we fought against.

Our greatest fear is the fear and nothing we do.

English isn't our language why should we continue in it?

We have different ethnic groups we can't pick one and neglect others...

Why then should we kill an inborn language mother nature has given to us

It was born in us. Liken it to a child we nurture, Children could be difficult yes! But that doesn't make them useless.

Coronavirus: Career Tamed, Professionalism Tampered

It is no longer news that there is partial and total lockdown as the case may be, due to the widespread of Coronavirus across the world.

Since the inception of this deadly virus, the basic existing mode of operations and way of life of people has been tampered with almost all sectors affected. There is a general experience of a massive downturn. 

The health sector is grossly affected alike. As the economy of the world now experience a downswing, the educational sector too is far from free of this virus, as all schools had been shutdown since the beginning of the virus. Not even one sector is free from this negative experience the world is into now.

Different sectors have been swayed by the sudden downturn in work. Not surprisingly, with travel at a minimum and social lives put on hold, the accommodation, travel agencies and food services industries also have a share in the suffering. Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and real estate businesses are not out of this downturn.

From the emergence of this deadly virus, professionalism has been tampered and exposed, most especially the health sector, as many of the claimed professionals in this field have failed to produce or come out with any curable vaccines to the coronavirus, on the flip side of that, they try to get some immune enhancement injections to mitigate the effect of this virus on the body of the infected person.

The worst has happened to the career industry - employers, employees, companies and industries. Production is massively affected due to the restrictions of daily operations of the citizen.

According to the BBC, "A total of 81% of the global workforce of 3.3billion people have had their workplace fully or partly closed".

This is due to the restrictions of daily life which has in turn led to the closure of many companies and laying off staff either permanently or temporarily.

The sad news now is that many people have suffered a lay off already from their works as of recent, according to CNN, there are currently over 3.3million unemployment claims in the united States already as a result of the covid.19 pandemic. Those who have not been laid off are on a Payless leave.

"Workers and businesses are facing catastrophe in both developed and developing economies" said by ILO director general. He continued that, there is now a high risk that by the end of 2020, worldwide unemployment figure will be much higher than the initial count.

Coronavirus: Face masks, For Profit or Not ?

With the sudden rage of the Covid-19 pandemic, which appears to be a respiratory infection, health institutions have advised individuals to wear nose masks to prevent fluid discharge.

Having this in mind, the increase in the demand for these have forced an artificial scarcity of these products, created a business sector and caused an intentionally induced inflation. It's not surprising to find Gucci face masks, Prada face masks and even Versace face masks. It looks thus that many have lost the focus of the reason for this demand.

Ankara Nose-masks

We still have good ones, who somewhat have a non-profit mindset.

Alice and Olivia agreed to a mask-for-mask donation with their #MASKTOGETHER initiative. For each mask sold through A+O, they will donate one mask to the medical community. For every face mask purchase, Inkkas will donate one mask to Model Citizen Fund. Model Citizen Fund is a platform that uses donations to fill backpacks with essential emergency items, then gives them to homeless individuals and disaster victims in need.

Aviator Jeans has begun manufacturing premium protective masks masks for consumer use and allocating the profit to support the manufacturing of face masks for the medical community and other essential workers. The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) railed against undue exploitation of consumers by retailers of the safety products.

“It has come to the attention of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) that certain suppliers and retailers are taking undue advantage of citizens and engaging in unconscionable trade practices with respect to basic safety and protective apparel such as face masks and latex gloves, as well as personal hygiene products like sanitisers and anti-bacterial wipes, because these products are relevant and necessary in preventing infection or spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus),” a statement signed by Babatunde Irukera, FCCPC chair, said.

“This unusual and inordinate practice of unreasonably increasing the price of these products in an indiscriminate manner, on account of the national public health concern (Coronavirus) violates both moral codes and extant law.

“Abusing citizens’ sensitivity, apprehension, anxiety and vulnerability, especially during emergencies that could adversely affect national security is a violation of law.”

The FCCPC noted specifically that Section 17(s) of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) prohibits “obnoxious trade practices”, or the “unscrupulous exploitation of consumers”.

The Commission said its surveillance efforts have revealed that some otherwise reputable pharmacies and department stores are engaging in price gouging and manipulating supplies in a manner that distorts the market, or temporarily restricts availability in order to unreasonably/unfairly increase prices.

“Any conspiracy, combination, agreement or arrangement to unduly limit or manipulate supply, in order to unreasonably enhance price or otherwise restrain competition is a criminal offence under S.108(1)(b) and (c), FCCPA,” the commission said.

“Any exercise or exploitation of undue pressure in selling or the sale of goods or services, or price manipulation between displayed, and selling price are also serious violations of the FCCPA under Sections 115(3) and 124(1). Taking advantage of the possibility of infection by a dangerous communicable disease to control supply, or unilaterally increase prices is predatory as it preys on the desperation of citizens.

“Considering the circumstances and the vital national interest/security this illegal conduct undermines, the Commission intends to strongly enforce the full letter of the law, including the fullest extent of penalties associated with this conduct.”

 

Coronavirus: Industries That Thrive Despite the Pandemic

Much as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every sector of the world's economy, not all sectors and industries have been a victim of this happenstance. There are certain peculiar industries that are currently witnessing uncommon growth in a recession-hit global economy.

One major sector with the boom is Healthcare. Being a boom period for businesses in the healthcare industry and its value chain, many of medical products and services are in high demand, such as surgical masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, vitamins, supplements, home healthcare, and medical supplies amongst others. Many healthcare companies are thus struggling to meet demands. Although saving lives is paramount in times like this, that has not stopped healthcare companies from smiling to the bank.

The Social Media industry has also experienced its share of the boom as consumption has risen sharply across the world since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a survey by the London-based market research firm, Kantar, in 30 economies between March 14 and 24, instant messaging giant, WhatsApp, has seen a 40 percent increase in usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, social networking platform, Facebook has witnessed a 37% bump in usage since the crisis began.

In the telecommunications sector, organizations, including businesses, government agencies and religious bodies, have been forced to modify their modes of  operations in order to simultaneously keep their employees, community and people attached to their workings safe and ensure that their operations do not grind to a halt during the pandemic. More people than ever before are now working remotely. This phenomenon has elevated telecommuting platforms once considered luxuries to bare essentials of the work setting.

While stock markets have crashed and sent shares of travel and logistics companies like Uber and Lyft plummeting, the valuations of telecommuting companies like the video calling app, Zoom have skyrocketed. The estimated net worth of Zoom’s founder, Eric Yuan, has increased by more than $4 billion since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

Also for gaming, the entertainment industry generally is among the worst-hit industries in the coronavirus crisis. Movie studios have suspended production, sporting events have been cancelled, cinemas are shut. However, the surge in demand for home entertainment has particularly benefited one niche business in the entertainment industry: online video gaming. US telco, Verizon, revealed in a recent report that video gaming traffic on its internet network during peak hours has spiked by as much as 75% since the shutdown in the United States began, and similar figures have been reported by other sources across other gaming hubs around the world.

At the same time, E-learning has grown in use and value. For many, this lock down is an opportunity for self-improvement. And they have seized it to develop their knowledge and expand their skill set by taking online courses in programming, software development, cooking, makeup, fashion design, foreign languages and entrepreneurship, amongst others. Parents have also enrolled their children in online academic programs while waiting for schools to resume.

While we can conclude that it may not be fair for other sectors, the positive side is to leverage existing

NELOC Media Publish Pidgin Magazine, Seeks to Promote Pure Pidgin Content

World over, pidgin English varies in the nature of people who speak it and how they do. On Friday, NELOC Media, publishers of the Gbedu Magazine unveiled the maiden edition of her basic pidgin magazine project. The pidgin magazine was published to celebrate and promote the existence of pidgin language in Nigeria and across the world.

According to the production team, the magazine editor, explained that  subsequent editions would cover exclusive pidgin stories and journalism in native pidgin. He also expressed the need for writers and arts inclined individuals to join in coming editions. The producers further disclosed intentions to engage disruptive pidgin contents covering fashion, music and lifestyle amongst others.

Gbedu, hosts columns and story series like the Corporate Beggar,  Naija No dey carry last, pidgin proverbs and as well, a pidgin biography featuring an individual who has promoted pidgin while exploring creativity in arts. expected to follow a series of other 

You can download Gbedu by clicking here

Coronavirus: Nigeria Records First Coronavirus Death

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed the first Coronavirus  death in Nigeria.

The NCDC via its Twitter handle, @NCDCgov, on Monday said, "The first #COVID19 death in Nigeria has been recorded. The case was a 67-year-old male who returned home following medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

"He had underlying medical conditions- multiple myeloma and diabetes and was undergoing chemotherapy."

The Coronavirus rates have increased in the last twenty four hours, spreading across states.

   

TED Set to Host Second Edition of Digital Marketing Conference

After a Successful Conference in April 2019, The Echo Digital, is again set to storm Ile-Ife, Osun State with the second edition of it's Digital Marketing Conference.

The Conference tagged #TEDInvasion 2.0 is a digital Marketing Conference that seeks to help its participants and delegates to connect the dots using modern, technological and digital marketing skills. 

Our reporter gathered that TEDInvasion 2.0 targets businesses and brand owners who are willing to learn how to grow their brands as well as individuals who want to become experts in online marketing.

According to the CEO of The Echo Digital (TED), Mr Kehinde Odeyemi, the purpose of the conference is to educate people about the opportunities in online marketing because of the believe that Digital is the new business.

The Echo Digital, T.E.D started on the 1st of August 2017 and since launch, has executed  over 620 jobs in marketing since inception ranging from Ads, SEO, Page Management and Development, Email Marketing, Branding, Website Designs, Content Creation and Trainings in Digital Marketing with Certification.

The brand has also organised 3 major tradefairs and planning 2 others between March and April. 

According to his address, ''We have made sure that we increased the benefits on each ticketing by multiplying the benefits from ast year. This was in such a manner that whoever does not want to participate in the event needs to be mentally analysed'' as the benefits cannot be underestimated.

He further stated that the market of the conference are business owners, individuals who are interested in learning skills in online marketing and who want to become professionals in it.

Mr Kehinde also encouraged support and sponsorship for the event as a requirement to make history together. In his words, ''We hope to have a better edition. We got a lot of positive reviews last year, let us do that again and triple or quadruple it..''

Interested Participants are required to register and get conference tickets via https://paystack.com/pay/tedinvasion using Lead number 037. Ticket Prices Range between: #1,500 and #3,000 

The Conference is scheduled to hold at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

To follow up on #TEDInvasion 2.0, connect with the brand via 

Instagram,  Facebook Or Linkedin