American football takes off in Nigeria

I woke up with excitement on that Saturday. I was looking forward to covering the American football game, the first time such a game will be played in Lagos. This is a game I've only seen on TV that left me with more questions. Such a technical game. I was never a fan until I saw it played live at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos. Gosh! What a rush!!!!! They started off the game with the United States' national anthem. Followed by the Nigerian anthem. Cheerleaders danced as spectators showed support for their local team. The atmosphere was charged as the Lagos Marines were on a revenge mission after losing the first leg game to The Titans some weeks before. Personally, I said a prayer for the Lagos Marines team. The Titans had some really huge players that could knock one out with just a strike.
In soccer-mad Nigeria, American Football, a sport usually played thousands of miles away in the United States but growing in popularity around the world, is slowly winning over new fans.
The West African country this year hosted what organizers said were its first two games as its two amateur American Football teams, the Lagos Marines and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Titans, battled it out on the pitch.
Before the first game in March at the Titans' home ground in northern Kaduna state, few Nigerians had heard of either team. A few weeks later in Lagos, dozens of fans waved banners and cheered in support.
With no official game structure in place, the two matches were one-offs, but the teams are hopeful Nigeria could one day have a league for the sport just like soccer.
ABU has been training its players for several years, holding in-house matches. In Lagos, German coach Dominick Muller founded the Marines in late 2013, recruiting players more used to soccer, basketball and volleyball. With no major sponsor, it was Muller who paid for about 65 kits for his players. For now, no immediate games between the teams are planned but the players expect to face each other again.

Pictures courtesy Sharon Ogunleye and Femi Obagare

Video link:  American football touches down in Nigeria

Modest makeover for Barbie by a Nigerian designer

When I came across Haneefah's designs on the dolls, I was blown away. I knew instantly it was a story I wanted to do. I wanted to get ahead with the video and after initial hiccups and approval from my boss, the story was done. Thanks to Haneefah for being so patient with us. A million thanks to Stephanie Busari for being extremely useful in providing Haneefah's contact after several attempts to reach her failed.

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It's a doll that makes a fashion statement and the designer, 24-year-old Haneefah Adam says can also change the way young Muslim girls see themselves.
Hijarbie, the modestly dressed doll styled by Haneefah out of her bedroom in Kwara state, western Nigeria wears hijabs and abayas in prints, bold colours and various fabrics.
Haneefah, who has a masters degree in Pharmacology from Coventry University in the UK, said the idea for Hijarbie came to her after going through a popular Barbie Style site on social media where she noticed all the dolls were dressed in skimpy or tight fitting outfits - a style most Muslim girls are unable to identify with.
The dolls' bodies are imported from China. Haneefah designs their clothes using locally sourced fabrics and makes everything from colourful fashionable hijabs, maxi skirts, maxi gowns, fully covered blouses and abayas or traditional gowns.
Haneefah says Hijarbie shows young Muslim girls that they can be fashionable and stylish without losing their identity.
What started out as a hobby shared on Instagram is growing into a profitable business for Haneefah.
The Hijarbie Instagram page has 63,400 followers since its first post in November last year. The doll has sold 200 pieces since February through a distributor in the UK from where it is dispatched to other parts of the world and sold for 25 pounds (7,219 naira).
Haneefah says she is now working on a fashion line by the same name and plans to start selling the doll within Nigeria but the success of the brand has come as a surprise to her.

Pictures courtesy Seun Sanni

Link to the video: Modest makeover for Barbie

Pics of Haneefah below: