Topman, Awolowo Way (2026)

21/08/2026

Emergency Healthcare: When Every Second Matters

In an emergency, time is not just important—it can be the difference between life and death.

Imagine a person involved in a serious accident, a mother experiencing complications during childbirth, or someone suddenly suffering a stroke. At that moment, the family is not looking for luxury. They are simply looking for quick, competent and affordable medical attention.

Yet, this is where one of the difficult realities of our healthcare system comes in.

Sometimes, there is no ambulance readily available. Sometimes, hospitals lack the equipment, personnel or essential supplies needed to respond quickly. In other situations, families struggle with the financial burden of emergency treatment or move from one facility to another searching for a hospital that can handle the situation.

We must also be fair to our healthcare workers. Many doctors, nurses and other professionals work under enormous pressure, often with limited resources. The problem is therefore bigger than blaming the person in the hospital. It is a system that requires attention, investment and better coordination.

Emergency healthcare should not depend on who you know, how much money you have, or how quickly you can find the right facility.

We need stronger emergency response systems, better-equipped hospitals, adequate staffing, accessible health insurance and greater public awareness about what to do when emergencies occur.

A medical emergency should be met with urgency—not uncertainty.

The question is not simply, “Who is responsible?”

The bigger question is: “What can we do differently before the next emergency happens?”

Because when a life is at stake, every second counts.

18/08/2026

Hypertension: The Silent Threat We Must Stop Ignoring

Not every health problem announces itself with pain. Some sit quietly in the body, growing more dangerous while everything appears normal.

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is one of those silent threats.

A person can wake up, go to work, eat, laugh, and carry on with life without knowing that their blood pressure is dangerously high. This is why regular blood pressure checks matter. Sometimes, the first warning comes only when serious damage has already occurred.

Uncontrolled hypertension can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney problems and other serious complications. Yet many people still dismiss it as something that only affects older people.

It doesn't.

Our busy lifestyles, unhealthy diets, excessive salt intake, physical inactivity, stress, smoking, alcohol use and family history can all contribute to cardiovascular risk.

But awareness can save lives.

Check your blood pressure. Know your numbers. Pay attention to your body. Don't wait until you feel sick before taking your health seriously.

And for those already living with hypertension, taking prescribed medication, keeping appointments and making healthier lifestyle choices can make a significant difference.

Healthcare is not only about treating illness when it becomes severe. It is also about preventing tomorrow's emergency today.

Let us talk more about hypertension and heart health.
Your heart works for you every second. Take care of it.

18/08/2026

Teachers Are the Backbone of Education: Why Nigeria Must Invest More in Teacher Welfare and Professional Development

If Nigeria truly wants to fix its education system, it must start with the people standing in front of the classroom every day—the teachers.

We often talk about building schools, providing computers, changing curricula and introducing technology. These are important, but without competent, motivated and well-supported teachers, these investments may never produce the desired results.

A teacher is more than someone who teaches a subject. Teachers educate, mentor, encourage, discipline and sometimes become the person who makes a struggling child believe in himself or herself again.

Yet, many Nigerian teachers continue to work under difficult conditions, with inadequate teaching materials, rising living costs, heavy workloads and limited opportunities for professional development.

We cannot continue demanding 21st-century results from teachers without giving them 21st-century support.

Teacher welfare should go beyond salary. It should include timely payment, a safe working environment, access to teaching resources, fair promotion, recognition and regular professional training.

Education is also changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, digital learning and new workplace demands are transforming what students need to know. Nigerian teachers must therefore be given continuous opportunities to develop new skills and understand emerging technologies.

And let us be clear: technology should not replace teachers; it should empower them. A computer can provide information, but a teacher can recognise a child's struggle, build confidence and inspire a dream.

The government, parents and society must therefore begin to treat teaching as a profession worthy of dignity and serious investment.

If we want better students, we need better-supported teachers. If we want better professionals, we must invest in the people who train them. And if we want a better Nigeria, we must strengthen the backbone of our education system—the Nigerian teacher.

The future of Nigeria is sitting in our classrooms today. Let us give the teachers preparing that future the support they deserve.

17/08/2026

BEFORE WE PUNISH THE MAN URINATING ON THE STREET, WHERE IS THE TOILET?

Lagos cannot become a truly modern city by simply banning what it has not made easy to avoid.

There is a particular smell that many Lagosians know too well.

You are stuck in traffic. The windows are down. You are moving slowly through a busy road. Then, suddenly, that familiar smell hits you.

You look towards the roadside and see a man standing behind a wall, a bus, a bridge or a roadside structure, urinating.

Sometimes you shake your head.

Sometimes you are angry.

Sometimes you ask yourself: "Why can't people behave themselves?"

And honestly, that question is valid.

Open urination is wrong. It is unpleasant. It damages the appearance of our environment and raises legitimate sanitation concerns. No responsible society should normalise turning roadsides, bridges, walls and public spaces into toilets.

But there is another question we must be courageous enough to ask:

Where was that man supposed to go?

That question does not excuse public urination.

It simply forces us to look at the problem from both sides.

Because if Lagos wants to punish people for urinating on the streets—and rightly so—then Lagos must also make it reasonably possible for people to find a toilet when nature calls.

And this is where the conversation becomes bigger than one man standing by a roadside.

It becomes a conversation about governance, planning, public health, human dignity and the kind of Lagos we want to build.

LET US BE HONEST ABOUT LAGOS

Lagos is growing.

Every day, people move around the state for work, business, school, transportation, trading, appointments and countless other reasons.

People spend hours on the road.

Commercial drivers spend most of their working lives behind the wheel.

Passengers sit in traffic.

Traders remain at their stalls.

Market women cannot simply abandon their businesses whenever they need to use a toilet.

Workers move from one location to another.

And sometimes, after several hours on the road, the human body simply says:

"I need a toilet now."

That is not a crime.

That is biology.

The problem begins when the only visible option appears to be a wall, bush, bridge or roadside corner.

Again, that does not make public urination right.

But it should make us ask whether our urban sanitation system is working as well as it should.

WE CANNOT DEMAND COMPLIANCE WITHOUT PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES

Imagine telling someone:

"You are not allowed to urinate here."

Fair enough.

Then imagine that person asking:

"Where should I go?"

And there is no toilet nearby.

What should happen next?

This is the uncomfortable part of the conversation.

A government that wants citizens to obey sanitation laws must also provide the infrastructure that makes obedience practical.

We cannot simply stand at one end of the problem and shout:

"Don't do this!"

We must also stand at the other end and say:

"Here is where you can go instead."

That is how serious public policy works

THIS IS WHERE MOBILE TOILETS CAN CHANGE THE GAME

Perhaps Lagos needs to think beyond the traditional idea of building permanent public toilets everywhere.

Why not introduce a properly organised mobile public toilet system across strategic locations?

Not the dirty, poorly maintained structures that people immediately associate with public toilets.

I mean clean, modern, properly branded, well-maintained mobile toilet units that people can actually enter without holding their noses.

Imagine arriving at a major bus stop and seeing a clean, attractive sanitation unit.

You know immediately what it is.

There is proper signage.

There is water.

There is handwashing.

There is lighting.

There is an attendant.

There is regular cleaning.

There is a system for waste evacuation.

There is even a contact number or QR code for reporting problems.

Suddenly, the question changes.

Instead of:

"Why are Lagosians urinating on the street?"

we can begin asking:

"Why are Lagosians still refusing to use the toilets available to them?"

And that is a much better problem to have.

Because when government provides a reasonable alternative and someone deliberately chooses to violate the law, enforcement becomes much easier to justify.

PUT THE TOILETS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY NEED THEM

This is another important point.

A public toilet hidden somewhere several kilometres away is almost useless to someone who desperately needs one.

Lagos should identify the places where people naturally gather.

Bus stops.

Motor parks.

Markets.

Major transport interchanges.

Popular pedestrian areas.

Busy commercial streets.

Large event locations.

Construction corridors.

High-traffic areas.

Places where open urination is already a persistent problem.

Put the toilet where the people are.

It sounds simple.

Because it is.

AND PLEASE, LET IT LOOK PRESENTABLE

This matters more than we may realise.

If Lagos wants people to change their behaviour, the alternative must be something people are willing to use.

Nobody wants to walk into a toilet that smells worse than the street.

Nobody wants to use a facility without water.

Nobody wants to enter a dark, broken-down structure.

Nobody wants to wonder whether the toilet will collapse around them.

So, if mobile toilets are introduced, they must be treated as serious public infrastructure—not something dumped on the roadside and forgotten.

They should be clean.

They should be attractive.

They should be properly maintained.

They should have clear government-approved branding.

They should be regularly inspected.

And most importantly:

Someone must be responsible for keeping them functional.

WHO PAYS FOR IT?

This is where someone will probably say:

"Government has enough problems already. Where will the money come from?"

Fair question.

But perhaps the answer does not have to come entirely from government.

Lagos has businesses.

It has corporate organisations.

It has transport associations.

It has market associations.

It has event centres.

It has property owners.

It has companies interested in corporate social responsibility.

Why not create a regulated public-private partnership?

A reputable sanitation company could operate and maintain the facility under government standards.

A company could sponsor a toilet unit.

A market association could participate in maintaining one.

Government could provide regulation, monitoring and strategic oversight.

Where appropriate, a small, regulated user fee could contribute towards maintenance—but essential public facilities should remain affordable and accessible.

The important thing is that the toilet must not become another neglected government project.

BUT LET US NOT REMOVE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

This argument should not be misunderstood.

Providing toilets does not mean citizens should suddenly be excused from responsibility.

No.

If a clean, accessible public toilet is available and someone deliberately chooses to urinate on a public wall instead, there should be consequences.

Citizens must also change.

Parents must teach children.

Schools must teach sanitation.

Market leaders must educate traders.

Transport operators must encourage proper toilet use.

Communities must discourage the practice.

And government must enforce the law fairly.

Government has a responsibility. Citizens have a responsibility too.

One cannot succeed without the other.

ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE FIRM—BUT IT SHOULD ALSO BE FAIR

There is a temptation whenever we see an environmental problem to say:

"Arrest everybody."

But enforcement alone rarely solves a problem permanently.

If government arrests ten people today but tomorrow there are another hundred people facing the same problem, we have not solved the underlying issue.

The smarter approach is:

Provide. Educate. Monitor. Then enforce.

Give people an alternative.

Tell them why it matters.

Make the facility accessible.

Maintain it.

Then enforce the law against those who deliberately refuse to comply.

That is not weakness.

That is intelligent governance.

THERE IS ALSO A DIGNITY QUESTION

We rarely talk about this.

But sanitation is connected to human dignity.

Imagine a pregnant woman travelling through Lagos.

Imagine an elderly man.

Imagine a child.

Imagine someone with a medical condition that makes them need a toilet urgently.

Imagine a commercial driver who has been driving for hours.

Imagine a trader who cannot simply close her stall.

For such people, access to a toilet is not a luxury.

It is a basic necessity.

A city that takes its people seriously must take their basic needs seriously too

WHAT KIND OF LAGOS ARE WE BUILDING?

This is perhaps the biggest question.

We talk about making Lagos a world-class city.

We talk about infrastructure.

We talk about transportation.

We talk about technology.

We talk about investment.

We talk about tourism.

We talk about attracting international businesses.

All of that is important.

But sometimes, the true measure of a city is not its tallest building.

Sometimes it is something much simpler:

Can an ordinary person find a clean toilet when they need one?

That may sound like a small question.

It isn't.

Because a city is ultimately built for people

THE LAGOS I WANT TO SEE

I want to see a Lagos where a person does not have to search for a hidden corner because there is no toilet nearby.

I want to see a Lagos where public toilets are visible, clean and accessible.

I want to see mobile toilets strategically positioned in areas where permanent facilities are difficult to build.

I want to see private companies participate in solving sanitation problems.

I want to see government enforce environmental laws without humiliating citizens.

I want to see citizens take responsibility for keeping their environment clean.

And I want to see our public spaces regain the dignity they deserve.

Because cleanliness should not be something we remember only when government officials announce an enforcement exercise.

It should be part of everyday Lagos life

THE CONVERSATION WE SHOULD BE HAVING

So the next time you see someone urinating by the roadside, yes, you can condemn the act.

But let us also ask a bigger question.

Where is the nearest public toilet?

If there is one nearby and the person simply refuses to use it, enforce the law.

But if there isn't one, then perhaps government should not only ask:

"Why are people urinating here?"

Government should also ask:

"Why have we not provided a better alternative?"

That is not an excuse for bad behaviour.

It is a call for better governance

A SIMPLE PROPOSAL

Lagos State can begin with a pilot programme.

Identify perhaps 20–50 locations with persistent open urination.

Deploy professionally designed mobile public toilets.

Maintain them properly for several months.

Monitor usage.

Measure the reduction in open urination.

Collect feedback from residents, traders, drivers and passengers.

Then expand the programme to other locations based on the evidence.

It does not have to begin everywhere.

It just has to begin somewhere—and begin properly

LAGOS DESERVES BETTER

We should not be embarrassed to talk about toilets.

In fact, perhaps we should be embarrassed that we do not talk about them enough.

Roads matter.

Bridges matter.

Transportation matters.

Housing matters.

Security matters.

Jobs matter.

But sanitation matters too.

Because at the end of the day, development is not only about what a city looks like from the sky.

It is also about what an ordinary person experiences when walking through its streets.

So, yes, let us tell Lagosians:

Do not urinate on the street.

But let Lagos also say:

"Here is a clean, accessible place for you to go."

Then let government maintain it.

Let citizens respect it.

And let the law take its course against those who deliberately refuse.

That is how we move from simply punishing a problem to actually solving it.

Lagos can do better.

Lagos must do better.

And sometimes, building the Lagos we dream about begins with something as basic—and as important—as providing a clean toilet when a citizen needs one.

09/08/2026

Population Growth, Economic Development and the Responsibility of Every State

The rapid growth of the population in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole presents both a challenge and a great opportunity. Every day, more people are moving into Lagos in search of better opportunities, education, employment, business, and a better standard of living. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, a growing population can become one of the greatest assets a society can have when the right structures are put in place.

Lagos, being Nigeria’s commercial and economic hub, naturally attracts people from different parts of the country and beyond. Its growing population provides a large market for goods and services, a huge labour force, entrepreneurs, professionals, consumers, and people with different skills and ideas. These are some of the reasons investors continue to look towards Lagos. However, we also have to be honest with ourselves: Lagos cannot continue to carry the population and economic pressure of an entire country alone.

The increasing pressure on housing, transportation, roads, healthcare, education, employment, security and other public infrastructure should make us think beyond Lagos. The solution is not to discourage people from moving to Lagos, because people have the right to seek opportunities wherever they find them. Rather, the long-term solution is for other states to deliberately develop their own economies and create environments where people can also find meaningful opportunities.

This is where the collective responsibility of every state becomes very important.

Every state in Nigeria has something valuable to offer. Some have agricultural potential, some have minerals, tourism, technology, industries, large markets, educational institutions, natural resources or strategic geographical advantages. What is needed is the vision, planning, infrastructure and leadership to turn these advantages into sustainable economic opportunities.

States should not wait for investors to come simply because they have natural resources. Investors are attracted to readiness. They look for places with good roads, reliable electricity, security, skilled manpower, access to markets, transparent regulations, suitable land, efficient government institutions and an environment where businesses can grow.

Therefore, developing a state should not be seen as the responsibility of government alone. Government has the primary responsibility to provide the right environment, but the private sector, traditional institutions, professionals, young people, community leaders and ordinary citizens all have roles to play.

If every state begins to seriously develop its comparative advantages, Nigeria will gradually move from having a few economic centres to having several strong economic hubs. Imagine a Nigeria where young people do not have to leave their home states simply because there are no opportunities there. Imagine agricultural states developing processing industries instead of merely producing raw materials. Imagine states with tourism potential building the infrastructure needed to attract visitors. Imagine smaller cities developing into centres for technology, manufacturing, education, healthcare and commerce.

That would not only reduce the pressure on Lagos; it would create a stronger and more balanced Nigerian economy.

There is also a bigger issue here: population growth without corresponding economic growth can become a serious burden. But population growth accompanied by investment, job creation, education, infrastructure and innovation can become a powerful engine of development.

Nigeria has a very large and youthful population. Rather than looking at this only as a problem, we should also see it as a huge economic opportunity. These are people who will work, consume, create businesses, develop technology, pay taxes, provide services and contribute ideas. But for that potential to become productive, governments at every level must create the conditions that allow people to thrive.

This is why the development of other states should no longer be treated as a secondary issue. It is a national economic necessity.

Every state should be asking itself: What can we become known for? What can we produce? What kind of investors do we want to attract? What infrastructure do we need? What skills do our young people need? What policies can make businesses stay and grow here?

The competition between states should not be about who is better than another. It should be about who can create better opportunities for their people. Healthy competition can encourage innovation, improve governance and make states more attractive to investors.

Lagos will likely remain an important economic centre of Nigeria, and there is nothing wrong with that. But Lagos should not have to carry Nigeria's economic ambitions alone. Abuja, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu, Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Kwara, Delta, Akwa Ibom and every other state have their own unique strengths that can be developed. The goal should be to build a Nigeria where economic opportunities are spread across different regions rather than concentrated in only a few locations.

Ultimately, the future economic strength of Nigeria will depend not only on how much Lagos can accommodate, but on how effectively every state can develop its own potential.

The time has come for every state to look inward, identify its strengths, invest in its people and infrastructure, create investor-friendly environments and build with the future in mind.

When states become economically stronger, Nigeria becomes stronger. When businesses find opportunities beyond a few major cities, pressure on those cities reduces. When young people can build meaningful lives in their own communities, migration becomes a choice rather than a necessity.

Building Nigeria cannot be the responsibility of Lagos alone. It is a collective responsibility, and every state must begin to play its part.

04/08/2026

Building Character Before Correcting Behaviour

Why are so many young people appearing in police reports instead of graduation photographs? Why are headlines increasingly filled with stories of teenagers and young adults involved in theft, cybercrime, violence, drug abuse, and other forms of criminal behaviour?

These questions deserve more than outrage—they demand honest reflection.

Across many communities, reports of young adults engaging in stealing, internet fraud, armed robbery, shoplifting, and other antisocial behaviours have become deeply troubling. While every case has its own story, one uncomfortable truth remains: character is not built overnight. The choices people make as adults are often influenced by the values, discipline, guidance, and examples they received—or failed to receive—during childhood.

No child is born a thief, a fraudster, or a criminal. Children are born with enormous potential, and that potential is shaped daily by what they see, what they hear, what they are taught, and what society consistently rewards or condemns. When honesty is celebrated, responsibility is modelled, and respect is practised, children are more likely to grow into adults who contribute positively to society. Conversely, when guidance is absent, boundaries are weak, or harmful behaviours go unchallenged, the consequences may become visible years later.

This is why the foundation laid during childhood is so important. Just as a building cannot stand securely on a weak foundation, society cannot expect to produce responsible citizens if it neglects the formative years of children's lives. Education begins long before examinations; it begins with values. It starts with teaching children to distinguish right from wrong, to respect the property of others, to develop empathy, to exercise self-control, and to understand that integrity is more valuable than quick rewards.

The responsibility for nurturing these values does not rest on parents alone. Families, schools, faith-based institutions, community leaders, governments, and the media all play vital roles in shaping the next generation. Every encouraging word, every lesson on honesty, every act of accountability, and every positive example contributes to the moral fabric of a child's future.

This is also where well-designed school programmes—including age-appropriate personal development, value education, and responsible s*x education—become significant. Such programmes do more than provide information; they help young people develop self-respect, emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, and a sense of personal responsibility. A child who learns to value human dignity, respect boundaries, and think critically is better equipped to resist negative peer pressure and make choices that benefit both themselves and society.

It is important, however, to avoid simplistic conclusions. Rising youth crime cannot be explained by a single cause. Poverty, unemployment, family instability, substance abuse, poor access to education, peer influence, social media pressures, and weak community support can all play a part. Recognising these complex realities reminds us that lasting solutions require cooperation rather than blame.

If we genuinely desire safer neighbourhoods, stronger families, and a more hopeful future, we must invest not only in correcting wrongdoing after it occurs but also in preventing it before it takes root. The most effective crime prevention strategy may not begin in a courtroom or a prison—it begins in the classroom, around the family table, on the playground, and in every environment where a child's character is quietly taking shape.

A nation's future is not determined only by the roads it builds or the wealth it creates. It is ultimately shaped by the values it plants in the hearts of its children. When we build strong foundations, we build strong citizens. And when we build strong citizens, we build a stronger society.

04/08/2026

Introduction: The Place of S*x Education in Schools

In today's rapidly changing world, children and adolescents are exposed to information about s*x, relationships, and human development from countless sources long before they are emotionally or intellectually prepared to understand them. Social media, television, films, music, peer influence, and the internet have become powerful teachers—often spreading misinformation, unrealistic expectations, and harmful behaviours. In such an environment, remaining silent on issues of s*xuality does not protect young people; rather, it leaves them vulnerable to confusion, manipulation, abuse, and life-altering decisions.

This reality has sparked an important conversation across homes, schools, religious institutions, and communities: Should schools provide s*x education? For many, the answer is not simply "yes" or "no," but rather what kind of s*x education should be taught, when should it begin, and how should it be delivered?

S*x education is far more than teaching young people about s*xual in*******se. It is a carefully planned educational process that equips learners with age-appropriate knowledge about the human body, puberty, personal hygiene, emotional development, healthy relationships, consent, respect, self-control, personal boundaries, reproductive health, and the responsibilities that accompany growing into adulthood. When properly designed, it promotes character, dignity, respect for oneself and others, and informed decision-making.

The absence of accurate knowledge has contributed to growing concerns such as teenage pregnancy, s*xual exploitation, child abuse, s*xually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, cyber exploitation, and emotional trauma among young people. Many children become victims not because they are intentionally reckless but because they lack the knowledge and confidence to recognise danger, resist pressure, or seek help when necessary. Education has always been one of society's strongest tools for prevention, and s*x education is no exception.

Schools occupy a unique position in shaping responsible citizens. Beyond teaching mathematics, languages, and science, they are expected to prepare learners for life. By providing factual, balanced, culturally sensitive, and morally responsible information, schools can complement the role of parents while helping students develop values such as responsibility, respect, discipline, empathy, and accountability.

However, introducing s*x education into schools remains one of the most debated educational issues. While many educators, healthcare professionals, and child development experts argue that comprehensive s*x education empowers young people to make safer and healthier choices, others express concerns that discussing s*xuality in schools may conflict with cultural traditions, religious beliefs, or parental responsibilities. These differing perspectives have generated healthy debates that continue across many societies.

Nevertheless, evidence from educational and public health research consistently suggests that well-structured, age-appropriate s*x education does not encourage s*xual activity among young people. Instead, it improves their understanding of personal safety, strengthens communication skills, encourages respect for boundaries, reduces risky behaviours, and equips learners with the confidence to make informed decisions when confronted with difficult situations.

Ultimately, the goal of s*x education is not to encourage experimentation but to cultivate wisdom. It seeks to replace myths with facts, fear with understanding, ignorance with knowledge, and vulnerability with confidence. It empowers young people to protect their health, respect human dignity, build healthy relationships, and make choices that positively influence their future and the well-being of society.

As communities continue to seek effective ways of raising morally upright, emotionally healthy, and socially responsible citizens, the discussion surrounding s*x education in schools becomes not merely an educational issue but a societal responsibility. The challenge before educators, parents, policymakers, and community leaders is to work together in developing programmes that preserve cultural and moral values while equipping young people with the knowledge and life skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Topman

21/08/2026

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

09/08/2026

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request