HIV/AIDS IS REAL

Years ago, how many times did we hear the phrase AIDS is real? I heard it like a zillion times. Overtime, the message has died down. That initial fear I felt, heart pounding, I mean, one can get it through several means and the thought that I had it kept ringing in my head. Well, until I braced up and got tested. I have had several tests ever since. We are told to do it every six months. The earlier one knows his or her status, the better. So many people on a revenge mission to pass it on so please be careful.
When the time came to do a story on AIDS, it became like a mission. Two AIDS stories from Nigeria. The team spent several days trying to get elements. It got difficult when we needed to interview a person living with HIV. Fortunately we found two, or rather one because one of them refused to reveal her identity.  The experience unravelled the extent in which lots of them are scared to disclose their status owing to the prevailing issue of discrimination in Nigeria. Many of them have to leave their environment to go to a health facility in another location where they are not known to get their antiretrovirals.
I am calling on all to show love, stop the discrimination against those infected. Get tested as well so we can stop HIV together. Great relief that many non-governmental organisations are not relenting in the AIDS fight.
It was nice to see that Nigeria was added to other countries in a joint edit highlighting the campaign for zero new infections.
Link below:
http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/12/01/world-aids-day-from-africa-to-australia?videoId=274747271

Link to story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1gf1SnnOw

Sharon Ogunleye with Ibrahim Umaru (Openly living with HIV) and colleague, Angela Ukomadu

Building Collapse in Nigeria's Commercial Capital, Lagos - Breaking News!

Is it not funny how many twitter accounts are quick to use the word Breaking News? Breaking news, breaking news; you never see it coming. That was how Monday (November 4) evening turned out to be. After working all through Sunday on a food export story while trying to get footage of the stampede at a night vigil in Anambra that became a nightmare, killing 17 people and the Partial eclipse on the side as well; I thought I will have a nice quiet evening on Monday with lots of sleep.
When breaking news calls, every other thing has to stop. It is fun, well apart from the death part. My colleague teases me and say, it is now a matter of numbers. Forgive me, it does affect me, I mean I'm human but it is like my heart has grown cold and become accustomed to the tragedy that exists in our world today. It is now a daily occurrence  Almost a part of our existence.
Building collapse in Lagos! hmmmm. I feel for the families of those victims. Seeing the rescue workers bring out a body in the on-going rescue operations the following day after the incident was chilling. Was close to tears.I also weep for my country. We still do not have sufficient equipment in dealing with emergency situations and that is so sad.
I honestly pray we can see some survivors beneath all that rubble and for the souls of the ones we have lost, a peaceful rest. Their families, God help them because losing loved ones is never an easy situation to deal with.

Video link to the story: http://news.yahoo.com/video/building-collapse-lagos-kills-least-221342220.html
Day 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk48A_tJ-4A

Property Boom In Nigeria Attracting Investors

We recently did a story on property in Nigeria. We know the situation with renting an apartment in some parts of the country. Some landlords demanding for two years rent at a stretch. This is no news. The rate at which new houses spring up is quite interesting. Many are being advised to buy lands in order to be free from the large amount spent on paying for accommodation.
What is also interesting is that Nigeria is fast becoming an increasingly popular investment destination due to a huge potential consumer market of more than 160 million people and GDP growth over 6 percent, far outstripping the stagnant economies in developed countries; a combination which is producing a new wave of property buyers; from bankers and airline staff, to mobile phone and fast food shop owners.

Please click on the first link below to watch the video.
The second link looks at how house prices in London, Lagos and Dubai have rebounded.

Do share your thoughts on this. Would love to hear your experiences.
Have a splendid weekend. Don't forget to look out for the partial eclipse; with your protective sunglasses on.

All aboard Nigeria's property boom

Global property entering a bubble?

Road Trip To Otukpo

Wow! That's the word that best describes my recent trip to Benue state, popularly referred to as the food basket of the nation.
Had to travel over the weekend for a colleague's wedding. I must say, road trip is quite an adventure. The sheer thought of being in a new environment, meeting people, discovering a different culture; now that's something.
Firstly, Google maps came in handy as it was a road never before travelled by moi and the two wonderful people with me.
We set out at 6 am through the Epe route, a first for us as usually one would take the Ibadan route. We cut out the usual morning traffic in Lagos, saved us some time and in no time we were in Ibadan. After encountering slight traffic enroute to Ibadan and a change of tyre an hour later, we settled in and enjoyed the scenery of South-West Nigeria with its hills and breathtaking skyline.
Funny aspect was anyone we asked for directions kept saying go straight, go direct.
The trip ended with us getting stuck an hour to our destination near a village called Ankpa. We had gotten confused by directions given to us by policemen. With nightfall approaching and fear settling in for our safety in a strange environment, we asked the villagers to assist in lifting the car out of the "sinking sand". We were already calculating how fast we would run if we were ambushed and robbed of our belongings and vehicle. My colleague was scared we might get raped. After an hour of cutting branches from trees and using a hoe to dig the sand to level the ground, the car made it out and we heaved a sigh of relief. Many thanks to those kindhearted indigenes.
At last in Otukpo, tired and in desperate need of food which was not lacking . The 13 hour journey should have been 11 hours.
The journey back was much easier as we were familiar with the route. And like they say, the rest is history.

Cheers!

Passing by Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)

Hawkers selling their goods

Exterior of FUTA

Exterior of FUTA

Exterior of FUTA

Exterior of FUTA

Exterior of Eatery - Looked like they weren't open

Hills in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Hill in Ondo state

Hill in Ondo state

Hill in Ondo state

Hill in Ondo state

Passing by Owo in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Vehicle carrying goods in Ondo state

Activity in Ondo state

Hills in Ondo state

Ondo state

Bridge just before Benue

Bridge just before Benue

Trucks on the roadside

Passing by Kogi State University

Kogi State University sign-post

Popular round-about in Benue

Man on bike with jerry-cans

Man on bike with jerry-cans

Vehicle loaded with goods

Car stuck in "sinking sand"

Just outside my hotel room

Waste To Power Project in Lagos State

I am so eager to share with you a story we did recently on the Lagos state government's project - turning waste into power. You all know the situation with power in Nigeria. I hear a community in Lekki have not had power in two years! Unbelievable. They need this project desperately.
We had to film at the Olusosun site where part of the wastes generated in Lagos is taken to. This was my second visit in three years. Do you remember years back when you drive past this site and you are greeted with a stinking smell? Well all this has changed. You have to be on the dump site to perceive it.
The biogas plant is still a pilot project though. Hopefully it transforms into something really useful for many residents in Lagos.
It was a fun two days shoot not minding I had to scrub thoroughly afterwards : )
Well let me stop talking. Click on the link below to watch the video.
xoxo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4AugIEfu_w

FINALLY - I OWN ONE

Hello all,

Finally, I get to start my own blog. Been wanting to do this for a while but like they say, procrastination is the thief of time.  : )  

It is great to have a blog. Now I can share my experiences as a multimedia journalist in Africa with you.

And there are some pretty interesting things I cannot wait to tell you.

For now, keep being the best you can be while attaining to be better than you are now.

Cheers!