fter a 14-year hiatus, the Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) returned in full force.
This year’s NITF was built around the theme “Trade, Technology and Transformation: Leveraging Digital Trade for Economic and Industrial Growth.” According to Barr. Vera Ndanusa, the Executive Director of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, it aligns with President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria and his bold economic reforms, underscoring that Nigeria is not only open for business but also ready to lead Africa’s next phase of industrial and digital growth. One primary goal of the fair is to attract both domestic and international investment. And the board worked closely with the Ministry of Trade & Investment and diplomatic missions to invite trade delegations and international buyers to achieve this goal. In this interview, Ndanusa also discusses the demolitions at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, which sparked public reactions and concerns. She gives her take on this in the pages of this magazine.
Scroll to pages 8 to 10 to read about the comeback of the Nigeria International Trade Fair.
Luxury silk writer, Ada Obiajunwa, delves into the life of Gen Z this week. She has several impressions of them—all good—and, for the first time, I see them differently; perhaps you will too after reading this piece. Scroll to page 12 for this.
Nails are usually the last thing on people’s minds when they think about self-care. However, the truth is that our hands and nails say a lot about us. Our beauty page highlights nail products everyone should have. You’ll find this on page 13.
Scroll to page 16 to download the playlist we have curated specially for you.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
Onah
@onahluciaa + 2348033239132
AUSTYN OGANNAH
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Executive Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa
Writer: Johnson Chukwueke
Design & Layout: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’
Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun
Consulting Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘SunZA’
5 Neutrals to Try When You’re Bored of Black
Untold Truths The Silent Yes
Barr. Vera Safiya Ndanusa ... As Nigeria's Iconic Trade Fair Returns Unfinished Business Lanre Da Silva Marks 20 Years of
The World Gen Z Is Building
Boluwatife Adesina @bolugramm
- Contributing Writer
Sisu: Road to Revenge
Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.
Dorcas Akintoye @mila_dfa_ - Contributing Writer
Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with 5 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.
Sally Chiwuzie @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind
- Contributing Writer
Sally Chiwuzie is a non-practising barrister who owns the brand #Unshakable. She is the author of Silent Symphonies, a fictional love story, and the creator of the podcast Chronicles of #Unshakable Truths.
Ada Obiajunwa @aaddaahh
- Contributing Writer
Ada Obiajunwa writes from Lagos about the big truths tucked inside ordinary moments — friendship, self-discovery, and the quiet revolutions of everyday life. She believes in the power of presence, good banter, and decoding the unsaid. Through her fragrance studio, WhiffWonders, she also crafts scents that weave memory and emotion into experiences that feel like home.
5 NEUTRALS TO TRY WHEN YOU’RE BORED OF BLACK
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
When you find yourself tired of reaching for black but still want colours that feel calm, easy to style, and chic, neutral tones are your best friends. Neutrals give you that polished look without forcing you into loud or bright colours. They blend well with almost everything in your wardrobe, soften your style, and make you look effortlessly put together. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your “all-black era,” here are five neutrals that will refresh your style without completely shocking your system.
SOFT BEIGE
Beige is one of those colours that immediately softens your look. It gives you a warm, clean, and relaxed vibe without looking plain. You can wear beige in a top, pants, a blazer, or even as a complete outfit. It works well with almost every colour, especially white, brown, cream, and pastels. It’s the perfect shade when you want to look classy but not loud. Beige also photographs beautifully, which makes it a great colour for events, brunch, or days you want to look “effortlessly expensive.”
CHARCOAL GREY
If you’re not ready to jump too far from black, charcoal grey is a smooth transition. The colour feels calm and grown, adding depth to your outfit without looking harsh. Charcoal grey works in coats, trousers, shirts, sweaters, and dresses. It pairs well with white, black, navy, and muted colours. It’s perfect for work, casual outings, and even evening looks when you want something strong but not as dramatic as black.
CREAM
Cream gives your outfit a clean, rich look. It is brighter than beige and softer than white, offering a warm elegance that suits every skin tone. Wearing cream instantly lifts your outfit and makes you look fresh. Cream works beautifully in knitwear, wide-leg trousers, slip dresses, and blazers. It’s also a perfect colour for monochrome outfits. If you’re tired of how heavy black feels, cream is the colour that brings light back into your wardrobe without going overboard.
OLIVE GREEN
Olive green is still neutral, but it gives you a little personality.more If you find black boring but don’t want anything bright, olive is a great middle ground. You can wear olive in cargos, jackets, shirts, jumpsuits, or dresses. It adds a soft pop to your outfit while still blending well with beige, white, cream, brown, and black.
FASHION
CHOCOLATE BROWN
If you want a neutral that feels luxurious, chocolate brown is your colour. It has a rich, warm tone that makes your outfit look expensive without trying. Brown is soft on the eyes yet bold enough to stand out, even more than black sometimes. Chocolate brown works in leather jackets, coats, dresses, pants, and knitwear. It pairs beautifully with gold jewellery, cream, beige, white, and even black.
Switching from black doesn’t mean losing your personal style. It simply means exploring colours that feel softer, warmer, and more expressive. These five neutrals will refresh your wardrobe without taking you out of your comfort zone. Try one, try all, mix them up, or blend them with your black pieces.
SALLY CHIWUZIE @unshakable.is.a.state.of.mind
UNTOLD TRUTHS THE SILENT YES
There is something about the first Sunday of the last month of the year that makes the soul quieter. A kind of built-in stock-taking. A gentle pause. A whispered invitation to look back, look inward, and take honest inventory. So if this reads like a sermon today, please forgive me. Sometimes the heart needs truth told in a tone soft enough to land, and this is one I am living through myself.
Over the last few weeks, we have explored what happens when life answers your plea with no, and what happens in the long, aching silence that follows. However, there is a third truth — quieter, subtler, easily missed; and it is this: Not every ‘yes’ arrives sounding like a ‘yes’.
Some yeses whisper. Some arrive disguised as loss. Some require a wait so long it bends the spirit, and some come in a form so unfamiliar that you only recognise them months… or years… later. The silent yes.
It takes a certain open heartedness, a willingness to sit still with yourself, to even notice that a yes has entered your life at all, especially when the doorway it used came wrapped in heartbreak, confusion, or delay – because what do you do when the thing you hoped for, prayed for, planned for does not arrive, arrives in pieces that make no sense or disappears altogether? How do you keep believing in possibility when what you asked for collapses right in front of you? These are not small questions. They reshape your worldview. They stretch your selfunderstanding. They force you into a deeper, quieter kind of clarity.
And yet…. with distance, with hindsight, with a softened heart, you begin to see the pattern. You begin to understand the choreography of what once felt like chaos. Some things in your life had to fall apart, not because you were unworthy, but because the version of you who wanted them was not the version of you who could sustain them.
Sometimes the yes requires the shedding of an older self. Sometimes the yes comes only after the identity that clung to the old answer has dissolved. It is a transition. A crossing. A releasing.
A becoming.
You lose a relationship you thought was permanent, only to discover that the breakup cleared emotional space you didn’t know you were starving for. You lose a job, a business, a dream, only to realise, perhaps later, that you had outgrown it long before it outgrew you. You lose friendships you thought were forever, and in the quiet that follows, you begin to hear your own voice again. The voice you silenced to keep a version of the story everyone else preferred.
Sometimes the yes comes after something has been taken from you in a way that still doesn’t make sense. A loss you cannot explain. A wound you carry with you into every room. No philosophy can tidy it. No wisdom can fully soothe it. But somewhere in the deep interior of grief, something shifts. Your empathy widens. Your presence deepens.
Your spirit becomes more attuned to what truly matters. There is a yes hidden inside the wreckage; not a yes that replaces the loss, but a yes that reshapes you because of it.
The silent yes. The kind you only notice after the storm when your breath steadies and you catch yourself laughing without guilt or explanation. The kind you recognise through hindsight when you look back at an old, closed door and whisper, ‘Ah… I get it now.’ It’s the kind that reveals itself in the form of a new opportunity, a fuller version of yourself, a deeper peace, a steadier boundary, a soul less willing to shrink. The kind that says: This is who you were growing into all along. This is what needed space to arrive.
The silent yes doesn’t shout. It doesn’t force itself into your awareness. It doesn’t demand celebration. It simply arrives - clear, grounded, perfectly timed when the version of you who can honour it finally steps forward. So as we enter the last month of the year, may you find the courage to look back not only at the pain, but at the protection disguised inside it - the prayers, desires, and intentions that were answered in ways you couldn’t interpret at the time; the doors that stayed shut because something better was quietly making its way toward you.
The #Unshakable truth is this:
Every no has a lineage. Every wait has a purpose. Every silent yes arrives right on time for the person you are becoming.
See you next week.
BARR. VERA SAFIYA NDANUSA
... AS NIGERIA'S ICONIC TRADE FAIR RETURNS
After a 14-year break, the Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) is returning in full force —bigger, bolder, and more strategic than ever. First launched as the country’s flagship platform for commerce and innovation, the NITF has long been a meeting point for industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. This year’s revival comes with a fresh vision under the theme “Trade, Technology and Transformation: Leveraging Digital Trade for Economic and Industrial Growth.” The new edition aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, his bold economic reforms, and his vision to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for industrial and digital growth. The NITF return is not just a comeback, it’s a rebirth of Nigeria’s trade identity on a global stage.
At the heart of this transformation is Chief (Barr.) Vera Safiya Ndanusa, the Executive Director of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board. A distinguished lawyer and seasoned entrepreneur, who is leading the commercial relaunch and operational revitalisation of the NITF with precision and passion. Her leadership footprint stretches across national and state levels, with active roles in trade, civic, and development bodies. Through her work, she collaborates with government and industry partners to shape policies that drive enterprise development and inclusion. Known for her hands-on approach, Ndanusa blends legal expertise, executive governance, and practical program delivery to professionalise trade platforms and open new opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
In this interview with THEWILL DOWNTOWN’s Executive Editor, Onah Nwachukwu, Chief (Barr.) Vera Safiya Ndanusa discusses the vision behind the revival of the Nigeria International Trade Fair 2025, the bold economic agenda driving it, and her thoughts on the recent demolitions at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.
After a 14-year hiatus, the Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) is returning in full force this year. What would you say are the biggest transformations we should expect from this year’s edition compared to previous ones?
This year’s NITF is a reinvention built around the theme “Trade, Technology and Transformation: Leveraging Digital Trade for Economic and Industrial Growth.” It deliberately aligns with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, his vision for Nigeria and his bold economic reforms and steps, telling the world that Nigeria is not only open for business but ready to lead Africa’s next phase of industrial and digital growth. The Trade Fair Complex Management Board is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and key private sector players like Bukka Hut to create a more dynamic, inclusive, and commercially viable platform. Visitors will see tangible changes — from sector-focused pavilions that highlight manufacturing, agribusiness, and creative industries, to a new Food Village celebrating Nigerian culinary brands and innovation. There’s also a renewed emphasis on MSME participation, with programming that connects small businesses to financing, export opportunities, and larger supply chains.
“I have met with the stakeholders and those directly affected, and I truly empathise with them. I understand that many have lost their means of livelihood and that a lot has gone wrong. Still, I appeal for patience as we work toward a peaceful resolution. Let me assure you that, despite what has happened, constructive engagement is already underway. ”
economy. We approached it step by step. The first was institutional rebuilding, ensuring that the Trade Fair Complex was positioned to deliver a modern, credible show. Then came stakeholder engagement, working with ministries, state governments, and trade associations to rebuild partnerships and trust. Finally, modernisation — rethinking the fair’s structure to integrate technology, digital trade platforms, and experiences that reflect how business is done today. It’s been a journey of alignment, patience, and persistence, but seeing the national fair restored to its rightful place makes it all worthwhile.
The recent demolitions at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex have sparked public reactions and concerns. Can you shed light on what truly led to these demolitions and what steps are being taken to address the concerns of affected traders and businesses?
The NITF’25 is coming under its original name and with a renewed focus on Made-in-Nigeria enterprises. How is this relaunch positioned to strengthen local production, SME participation, and Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda? Our goal is to make NITF a gateway for Madein-Nigeria goods to reach regional and global markets. Under the AfCFTA framework, competitiveness begins with visibility, and NITF provides that platform. We’re curating dedicated MSME zones that give small and medium enterprises the same visibility as larger corporations. We’re also working closely with NACCIMA, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Forum of MSMEs of Nigeria to connect producers to export opportunities and financing partners.
One major goal of the fair is to attract both domestic and international investment. What concrete strategies or partnerships has the board put in place to make the NITF a magnet for serious investors?
We’re working with the Ministry of Trade & Investment and diplomatic missions to invite trade delegations and international buyers. We’re also using targeted outreach to industry associations and chambers of commerce in Europe, Asia and the Americas, highlighting Nigeria’s gateway position to ECOWAS and the scale of opportunity under AfCFTA. To make participation easier, we’re offering exhibitor facilitation — streamlined logistics, tailored B2B meetings, and curated investor introductions — so international firms see clear value and a lowfriction path to market engagement.
From a governance and management standpoint, what have been your biggest challenges in reviving such a large-scale event, and how have you navigated them successfully?
Bringing back an event of this magnitude after more than a decade naturally came with challenges — from restoring the fair’s infrastructure and governance framework, to reestablishing stakeholder confidence and reimagining its format for today’s digital
First of all, the Trade Fair Complex Board did not carry out the demolition. I acknowledge that we oversee the complex and that the affected parties report to the board, but we were not responsible for bringing down the buildings. Officials of the Lagos State Government carried out the demolition exercise without prior notice or communication, despite knowing that the facility is managed by a federal agency. The Nigeria Trade Fair Complex is a federal property under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. Our agency, headed by a Chief Executive Officer appointed by the President, operates under the Lagos International Trade Fair Management Board Act of 2004, which empowers us to develop, maintain, and manage the complex, including estate administration and building approvals. The Constitution clearly defines the jurisdictions of the federal, state, and local governments, and places commerce under the exclusive legislative list. This means the Federal Government has primary responsibility for trade-related matters, including the management of the complex. I have no objection to Lagos State showing interest or seeking to understand what goes on within the complex. However, the concern lies in the manner the recent demolition was conducted. Naturally, some have referenced the 2003 court judgment that allows the Lagos State Government to regulate and approve building plans within the Trade Fair Complex. However, I believe this is an issue that should
be discussed at the table. Due process must always be followed. The fact that these traders operate within the complex does not make them lesser citizens. They deserve respect, as does the governance structure that oversees them. Some have said traders build without state approval, but under the Lagos International Trade Fair Management Board Act, our agency is legally empowered to approve developments within the complex. If that framework has changed, then it should be formally discussed — government to government. Both levels of government are meant to work in partnership; we operate within one nation. Where conflicts arise, the Constitution gives precedence to the Federal Government, though that’s not the path I wish to emphasise. My point is simply that collaboration is key. I have met with the stakeholders and those directly affected, and I truly empathise with them. I understand that many have lost their means of livelihood and that a lot has gone wrong. Still, I appeal for patience as we work toward a peaceful resolution. Let me assure you that, despite what has happened, constructive engagement is already underway. We’ve held our first meeting with the Lagos State Government, and all parties have agreed to consult with experts to determine the best way forward. This situation will not affect our upcoming Trade Fair in any way. We are building mutual understanding, and our legal teams are reviewing the matter to strengthen cooperation and restore confidence moving ahead. With the support we have from key national security agencies and Lagos State agencies, we assure everyone that NITF will go on peacefully, securely, and successfully.
“Women are at the heart of Nigeria’s business landscape, especially in the MSME space. Through NAWE, we’re supporting women-led enterprises with training, visibility, and access to finance and trade platforms. At NITF, we’re curating spaces that highlight women in trade and innovation, giving them direct access to buyers, investors, and export channels. ”
Beyond the immediate aftermath, what long-term plans are in place to prevent such disruptions in the future and ensure a more transparent and sustainable management structure at the Complex? We’re strengthening our governance and communication structures to ensure that incidents like this never disrupt commercial activity again. The board is implementing clearer tenancy and documentation frameworks, structured engagement with trader associations, and more proactive maintenance and security measures across the Complex. Transparency and accountability are central to these efforts — every trader should know their rights, obligations, and the status of their space. In the long term, our focus is on creating a more organised, bettergoverned environment that fosters confidence and sustainable growth for all stakeholders. Some have argued that these demolitions might discourage investor or trader confidence. How is your board rebuilding trust and ensuring that the Complex remains a thriving business hub?
While the demolitions were not carried out by the Trade Fair Complex Management Board, we understand the impact they’ve
COVER
had on the business community. Our immediate priority has been to rebuild trust and stability through open dialogue with traders, clear communication, and visible improvements across the Complex. We’ve begun reinforcing infrastructure, sanitation, and security, while introducing systems that make operations more transparent and predictable. These steps are helping to restore confidence, showing both traders and investors that the Complex remains a safe, structured, and forward-looking commercial hub that continues to anchor Nigeria’s marketplace economy.
You’ve now spent about two years in office as Executive Director of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board. Looking back, what are some of your proudest achievements and lessons so far?
Over the past two years, our focus has been on restoring order, transparency, and credibility to the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex. We’ve strengthened governance and tenancy systems, improved infrastructure, and rebuilt relationships with trader associations and private operators, ensuring that the Complex runs more efficiently and sustainably. Building on that progress, we are successfully reviving the Nigeria International Trade Fair, which has been inactive for over a decade. Last year’s edition, the Commercial & Industrial Trade Fair, proved that the vision was achievable. It generated real business deals and renewed confidence among MSMEs. For me, that was a defining moment: seeing both the Complex and the Fair come alive again as engines of national enterprise.
You’ve had a remarkable career spanning law, trade, and entrepreneurship. How has your legal background shaped the way you approach executive leadership and governance at the Trade Fair Complex?
My legal background has helped me approach leadership with structure and fairness. It has taught me that systems must work before results can sustain themselves. So in managing the Trade Fair Complex, I focus on clear contracts, transparent processes, and policies that protect both the institution and its stakeholders. It has also helped me in negotiation and conflict resolution, which are essential when managing a large, multistakeholder environment like the Complex. Law gives me the discipline to think longterm and make decisions that
build stability, not shortcuts.
As someone who has represented Nigeria at international trade forums, what lessons have you drawn from global markets that you’re now applying to Nigeria’s business and trade ecosystem? One key lesson is that successful trade ecosystems are built on structure. In every country I’ve studied or engaged with, the most successful trade hubs have strong coordination between government, private sector, and infrastructure. We’re applying that lesson by strengthening NITF’s institutional base and creating platforms for yearround engagement. Another lesson is the role of data and digital access in global trade. That’s why this year’s theme — “Trade, Technology and Transformation” — anchors our strategy, signalling the way we’re helping Nigerian businesses step into the future of cross-border commerce.
You’re also the National President of the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE). How are you using that platform to empower women in business and ensure their inclusion in national trade opportunities, such as the NITF? Women are at the heart of Nigeria’s business landscape, especially in the MSME space. Through NAWE, we’re supporting womenled enterprises with training, visibility, and access to finance and trade platforms. At NITF, we’re curating spaces that highlight women in trade and innovation, giving them direct access to buyers, investors, and export channels. We’re also working to ensure that policies around the fair include gender considerations because empowering women in trade strengthens the economy as a whole.
ADA OBIAJUNWA
@aaddaahh
THE WORLD GEN Z IS BUILDING
Lately, I have fallen in love with quiet mornings. A cup of coffee, my balcony, and the kind of stillness that lets me hear my own thoughts clearly. Before the calls, the emails, and the small daily battles, I give myself some time to just be.
Somewhere between that calm and my first sip, my mind wandered to something I have been observing for months. It is the way Gen Z moves through the world. Their courage. Their questions. Their refusal to shrink. Their humour. Their fearlessness that looks loud from the outside but actually comes from a place of deep self-trust.
At this point, it probably looks like I am obsessed with them. Maybe I am. I love good character development, and they are delivering it with style.
where previous generations swallowed things and kept going. They are speaking up, not out of disrespect, but out of clarity.
And here is the part that fascinates me. Gen Z did not inherit silence. They inherited access. They grew up with information in their pockets. They didn’t need to wait for parents, teachers, pastors, bosses or governments to explain what was happening. They saw it themselves. Raw. Immediate. Unfiltered. The world never hid its flaws from them. They watched everything unfold in real time. That kind of exposure does something to a generation.
Because if you pay attention, something global is happening. Gen Z is changing the texture of the world we live in. They are asking for accountability from systems that shaped their parents. They are demanding softness
It makes them bold. It makes them quicker to question. It makes them unwilling to accept “that is how it has always been.”
But let’s be honest. The shift didn’t start with them alone. Millennials cracked the door open.
Gen Z simply walked in, switched on the light and asked, “But why is the room even arranged like this?” Both generations were shaped by global access, but Gen Z entered adulthood when the internet was no longer new. It was the water everyone was swimming in. And because of that, they learned early that you do not need permission to exist fully.
They take mental health seriously. They romanticise rest, and I love them for it. They don’t wait for titles to create impact. They call out what is not working, and they mean it. They value community.
They want a world that feels fair. They are ready to fight for that world, even if the protest sign is a meme.
Honestly, I sometimes sit back and watch them the way someone watches a wellwritten character arc.
They shock you. They delight you. They humble you. And they remind you that growth does not always come the way you expect. I admire them deeply.
Their clarity. Their directness. Their refusal to perform adulthood the old way. And yes, I know I sound like someone who has studied them with a full research proposal. Maybe it is because I have. I pay attention. It is my hobby at this point.
As I write this, the scent of the WhiffWonders Wale diffuser is floating through my office, giving me life. Fresh. Calm. A little rebellious. Smelling like something a Gen Z would absolutely claim as their personality. And I laugh because even in fragrance, I am still observing them.
But here is the heart of it all.
The world is changing, and for once, it is changing in a way that prioritises humanity. Gen Z did not start the shift, but they intensified it. They are the generation holding up a mirror and asking the rest of us to see ourselves clearly.
They are soft and strong.
Bold and tender.
Confident and questioning.
A generation that will drag you and hug you in the same breath.
They are building something new. And the rest of us are lucky to witness it.
Maybe that is the real Luxury Silk.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE 5 NAIL CARE PRODUCTS
BY DORCAS AKINTOYE
When people talk about self-care, nails are often the last thing that comes to mind. But the truth is, our hands and nails say a lot about us. Whether you’re reaching out for a handshake, typing on your phone, or just relaxing with friends, neat and healthy nails always stand out. Taking care of your nails isn’t only about looking good; it’s also about keeping them strong, clean, and healthy. And you don’t need a salon visit to achieve that. With the right products at home, you can keep your nails in top shape. In this article, we will show you five nail care products everyone should have and why they matter.
NAIL FILE AND BUFFER
A nail file helps shape your nails, smooth rough edges, and prevent breakage. It’s one of the simplest but most important tools in nail care. There are different types of nail files: metal, glass, and emery boards, but glass files are often preferred because they are gentle and long-lasting. After shaping your nails, a buffer comes in handy. Buffing smooths your nails’ surfaces, removes ridges, and gives them a natural shine, even without polish. Together, a file and buffer help your nails look clean, even, and healthy.
CUTICLE OIL
Cuticles are the thin layer of skin that protects the base of your nails, but they can easily dry out or peel if not taken care of. That’s where cuticle oil comes in. This oil hydrates and nourishes your cuticles, keeping them soft and preventing hangnails or cracking. Regular use of cuticle oil also promotes nail growth because it improves blood circulation around your nails. You can apply it after washing your hands or before bed.
If your nails tend to break easily, peel, or feel weak, a nail strengthener is a must-have. This product is like a protective shield for your nails. It’s usually applied like clear nail polish and contains vitamins and minerals that strengthen nails over time. Nail strengtheners help repair damage caused by frequent nail polish use, gel manicures, or harsh cleaning products. With consistent use, your nails become thicker, less likely to crack, and grow faster.
Healthy nails need moisture, and that includes the skin around them. A good hand and nail cream keeps your hands soft while preventing your nails and cuticles from drying out.
Even if you don’t wear nail polish often, nail polish remover is essential. It cleans your nails, removes old polish, and preps them for a new manicure. However, many removers contain acetone, which can be harsh and dry out your nails. An acetonefree remover is gentler and still does the job well. It helps maintain the natural moisture in your nails while effectively cleaning them.
Good nail care doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With these five basic products, you can easily maintain healthy, beautiful nails at home. Remember, your nails deserve as much care as your skin and hair. A little consistency goes a long way in keeping them clean, strong, and naturally beautiful.
THE SCENE DOWNTOWN
LANRE DA SILVA
Marks 20 Years of Fashion Brilliance
Lagos shimmered with glamour as Lanre Da Silva (LDA) celebrated 20 years of redefining African luxury fashion. The anniversary showcase on November 16th was more than a runway; it was a tribute to a visionary whose mastery of lace, embellishment, and couture craftsmanship has taken African fashion across global stages.
The night opened with a soulful performance from Waje, while Tiwa Savage brought a stunning close as the final looks of the SSS26 Anniversary Collection floated down the runway. Supermodels and stars, including Dabota Lawson, Idia Aisen, Nancy Isime, Sabrina, Aduke Shittabay, and Beauty Tukura, lit up the catwalk.
A heartfelt documentary reflecting LDA’s journey moved the audience, celebrating her resilience and evolution. In true mentor spirit, LDA spotlighted rising designers, Bisoye Olorunmbe, Ugochukwu Onukwubiri, and Garcelle Williams, earning thunderous applause.
Produced by Elizabeth Elohor, the event drew heavyweights like Don Jazzy, Toke Makinwa, Mercy Eke, and Osas Ighodaro.
L-R- Guest, Toke Makinwa, Lanre Da Silva, Akunna Nwala, Tiwa Savage
Dabota Lawson & Idia Aisien
Tiwa Savage Closing
cassy’s chronicles
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ididn’t plan to see Daniel again. For almost two years, I trained myself to stop thinking about him; his voice, his laughter, the way he used to look at me like he could read every corner of my mind. I convinced myself I had healed. I told my friends I was over it. I even started believing it.
But one Friday evening, everything shifted.
I had gone to meet my friend Kemi at a lounge in Lekki. We were sitting outside, enjoying the music and the light breeze, when she suddenly froze and whispered, “Cassy… don’t look now.”
Of course, I looked.
And there he was. Daniel.
He hadn’t changed much. Maybe his beard was slightly fuller.
Maybe his shoulders had gotten broader. But it was still him, the same man who once called me “sunshine” with a seriousness that made my chest ache.
Our eyes met, and for a second, it felt like my entire body forgot how to breathe. He looked surprised as he walked toward us. I felt my heart thudding, as if it wanted to escape my chest. I pretended to check my phone, to look unfazed, but my hands were shaking.
“Hi, Cassy,” he said, settling into that deep voice I once heard every night before sleep. “You look… different.
We talked for a few minutes; awkward small talk, jokes that felt too soft for strangers, the kind of silence that didn’t feel uncomfortable. Kemi, of course, disappeared immediately, pretending she needed to “take a call.”
Then he asked, “Are you free to take a walk?” I said yes without thinking.
We walked down the quiet street beside the lounge. The night felt unusually still. The kind of stillness that makes secrets spill easily.
“You disappeared,” I muttered. He sighed. “I felt like I was messing up your life.”
“You were,” I answered. “But I still wanted you.”
He stopped walking. “Do you still?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. My silence told him everything.
He reached for my hand. Just a simple touch, but my whole body reacted like it remembered him instantly. My fingers curled into his without thinking.
I wanted him.
We ended up at his car. We stood beside it, too close, the streetlight hitting his face in a soft glow. He brushed a strand of hair away from my face, and the way his fingers lingered on my skin sent a kind of trembling through me that I couldn’t hide.
“Cassy,” he whispered, “I’ve missed you in ways I can’t explain.” I swallowed. “Then explain it with actions.”
I don’t know who leaned in first. It just happened. One second, I was standing, breathing, trying to look calm, and the next, his lips were on mine, like he had been waiting for permission for years.
The kiss deepened fast. My back pressed against the car. His hands held my waist like he had been starving for the feel of me. The world around us disappeared. There was only breath, heat, and the taste of him.
“Come with me,” he murmured against my neck.
I knew what he meant. I knew where it would lead. And for once, I didn’t want to overthink it.
So, I nodded. We drove to his apartment in silence, but it wasn’t an empty silence. It was charged. Heavy. Every time his hand brushed mine on the gear, my breath hitched.
I know I shouldn’t be doing this.
If anyone had told me that I wouldn’t hesitate to go to his house to have sex after everything he made me go through, I wouldn’t believe it.
Seeing Daniel again unlocked something I wasn’t ready for.
I hadn’t healed. I had only been pretending. I wasn’t sure what hurt more, seeing him again… or realising I was still his fool. Regardless, I still had him that night.
BY BOLUWATIFE
ADESINA
MOVIE REVIEW:
Sisu: Road to Revenge
Itis that Finnish word “that cannot be translated” again, and yet, which is translated, also again, in the opening text, as “a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination”, which “manifests itself when all hope is lost.” Three years ago, writer/director Jalmari Helander introduced us, in Sisu, to Finnish war veteran and legend Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila), an (old) man of few words, which is to say almost no words but much action and stoic endurance, and therefore an embodiment of the national characteristic that gave the film its title. Yet far from being a nationalist, Korpi was a rugged individualist, doggedly pursuing his own economic interests.
Now, Korpi is back for Helander’s sequel, Sisu: Road to Revenge, set in post-World War II 1946. At its heart is the wooden house once shared by Korpi with his beloved wife and two young sons (before they were slaughtered by Russians), but located in an area which has now fallen under Soviet occupation. So with his trusty white poodle, Korpi returns there in a big truck to dismantle his home singlehandedly, timber by timber, so that he can take it back to Finnish territory for reassembly. Getting word of Korpi’s presence, a KGB officer (Richard Brake) unleashes mad-dog war criminal Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang) to finish what he had started in the first film and to take out the last surviving Korpi, ending the myth of his immortality. Yet faced with cars, tanks, bikers, fighter jets, bombers, and speeding, rocket-
laden trains, Korpi once again dies very hard.
Sometimes, to build, you must first destroy. Not only does Sisu: Road to Revenge deconstruct the building blocks of the original Sisu – one man facing a vicious army of odds, action episodes coming with boldly pulpish chapter headings, a ridiculously high and bloody body count – but it reconstitutes them so that Korpi is now pitted not against fugitive Nazis, but against his “old enemies” (another chapter heading!) the Russians, who are as much out for revenge against him as he against them. Into this (again) are mixed materials from Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark and George Miller’s Mad Max 2, while Juri Seppǎ and Tuomas Wainǒlä’s score of horns and whistles turns this story of a farmhouse and a frontier into a Western.
In what is essentially a long, barrelling chase movie, the action is relentless and has little respect for the limits of physiological suffering, let alone laws of physics. Yet it is the ending that represents something new for Korpi. For a while, the film is set largely in a zone annexed by Russia, and their dialogue is all in English (another, more cultural kind of invasion, along with the film’s principal cinematic reference points). The coda includes the first appearance of the Finnish language and sees our solitary, self-driven hero finally discovering national solidarity. It is a peculiar odyssey: for here home is not just where the heart is, but something fleetly mobile and able to be reconstructed anywhere.
Rating: 8/10
Insane, Over the top fun.
Scan this with your camera or click to access the playlist (Youtube Music)
Scan this with your camera or click to access the playlist (Spotify)
WATCH OF THE WEEK
STRANGER THINGS SEASON 5: PART 1
Three years have passed since Stranger Things Season 4’s cliffhanger finale left Upside Down fissures in Hawkins, but time has largely remained unchanged for our heroes in Stranger Things 5, at least at first. The fifth and final season brings things full circle, picking up a year and a half later, exactly four years after the disappearance of young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) on November 6, 1983. Vecna’s endgame heightens the danger and stakes immediately, setting an action-heavy Volume I in motion that brings Blockbuster-level thrills and euphoric bursts of action and heroism, but little room for much else.
The series’ ultimate big bad, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), has been biding his time, laying the groundwork for his master plan between seasons. This gives Hawkins’ most heroic residents enough room to nail their teamwork and recon strategies as they dodge Hawkins’ military-enforced quarantine while searching for a rather powerful enemy. While they’ve become a relatively well-oiled machine in this regard, their personal lives have been stalled.
Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) still hasn’t found a moment’s respite to work on his insecurities in his relationship with Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), bringing tired echoes of Season 1’s love triangle with Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) back into the equation. Steve has his own unresolved issues with friend Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), who has not processed the loss of Eddie (Joseph Quinn) at all. Dustin’s rebellious, bitter angst and guilt over his mentor’s passing are exacerbated by Eddie’s unfair branding as a killer in town.
Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) remains steadfast by the bedside of his comatose girlfriend, Max (Sadie Sink), whereas Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) fugitive status and constant combat training with Hopper (David Harbour) mean Mike (Finn Wolfhard) rarely gets to see her.
There’s very little room for repairing relationships and friendships with stakes this high, though. As established last season, Vecna is playing for keeps and almost immediately puts the characters on the defensive in such brutal fashion that Volume 1 effectively demonstrates that death is a very tangible possibility for anyone this season.
The gloves are off, and series creators Matt and Ross Duffer maintain laser focus on corralling this action-heavy, epic-sized final season into a propulsive, nonstop sci-fi horror bonanza that reminds us why the series became such a smash hit nearly ten years ago. The Duffer Brothers, who helm three out of Volume I’s four episodes, enlist high-caliber talent like director Frank Darabont to help unite so many moving plot and character parts into a cohesive whole with stunning precision.
While I won’t spoil the absolute standout that is Episode Four, an exquisite showcase for this series, it’s safe to say that the Duffer Brothers are pulling out all the stops. The episode not only sets up eager anticipation for Volume
II, but it’s also a technical showcase of intricate action set pieces and one tracking one-shot that impresses as a key centrepiece.
In keeping with the final season’s cyclical thematic nature, Volume I also finally brings Will Byers back into the equation. After surviving the Upside Down and escaping the Mind Flayer’s control in Season 2, Stranger Things has mostly sidelined the character, unsure how to fold him into the plotlines and character development that began while he was missing. Noah Schnapp finally gets the spotlight with an affecting arc that sees Will finally grappling with his sense of identity and coming into his own with the help of team MVP Robin (Maya Hawke) and the frustration of overprotective mom Joyce (Winona Ryder).
How that dovetails into the group’s fight with Vecna unveils Volume I’s true magic and serves as a sturdy reminder that this series, despite its lengthy absence between seasons, can still surprise. In truth, not much has changed in Hawkins or the series at large. The breakneck speed and demands of the oncoming final battle make for a thrilling, binge-worthy watch, one
that’s filled with revelations, reveals, and plenty of character moments that shine. But the threat level is so perilous that there’s little room to explore the core friendship and connections that made us fall so hard for these characters in the first place. It’s a minor quibble, especially where the stagnating subplots are concerned, considering just how much ground is effortlessly covered in setting up the final battle and with slick style.
Volume I ultimately makes for an exhilarating return to Hawkins, almost single-handedly by Episode Four’s audacious bravura alone. Some of the series’ signatures, like its use of needle drops, feel muted so far, but that’s compensated for by a course correction on past seasons’ reluctance to put its key players in mortal peril. Bower’s Vecna is more terrifying than ever as his power grows, giving multiple characters a brush with death in a way that injects palpable suspense. It all teases a bigger, wilder, and emotionally powerful conclusion in the season’s back half.
Stranger Things 5 Volume I debuts on Netflix on November 26. Volume II releases three on December 25, and the series finale on December 31.
kwn - wn up
Armand Hammer; The Alchemist; Earl SweatshirtEvita - SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN
