Kingsley Ukwueze @kingsleysom

I gently and very cautiously picked out the onion slices from my rice. Everyone in my family knew that I didn’t enjoy eating onions, especially when there were too many in a dish. But then, this Jollof rice was so sweet, and the aroma filled the air; I couldn’t resist the urge to dive in, even though I felt discouraged when I noticed the slices of onion spread throughout the rice.

The onions were cut into round shapes, making them look beautiful, but I never enjoyed them, especially since they weren’t cooked through. They were just slightly heated, retaining that raw texture. I had heard that it was better and had more health benefits when the slices weren’t fully cooked, but that didn’t change my feelings about them.

Carefully, I picked out the onions and savored my rice, determined not to let those pesky slices spoil my meal. I enjoyed every bit of it, indulging in the rich flavors and satisfying textures of the dish.

My siblings mocked me, claiming that I was picking one of the most nutritional components of the food out, but I wouldn't listen to them. I was more focused on my careful picking before I spoiled my mood, my taste, and my appetite. I couldn’t risk that.

My siblings mocked me, claiming that I was picking one of the most nutritional components of the food out, but I wouldn't listen to them. I was more focused on my careful picking before I spoiled my mood, my taste, and my appetite. I couldn’t risk that.

After I finished eating, I gave accolades to my sister, who had, over the years, improved her cooking skill which had improved greatly.

I am someone very conscious of the kind of soap that I use to take my bath. I’ve realized that some soaps, which I used while growing up, had a noticeable effect on my skin and even on my entire mood for the day. At around 18 years old, I decided to stick with a particular soap that has been good to me: Eva soap.

The other soaps I tried always led to either a skin reaction or inexplicable mood swings that I couldn't quite understand or explain scientifically. That's just the way it is for me. Soaps like Ivory soap, Imperial Leather soap, Premium soap, and Hawaii soap, despite their pleasant scents, cause irritation and rashes on my skin.

I went to my friend's place about a week ago, and while I was there, I noticed the super pack of soap that he had bought. The name of the soap was Premier Cool. I looked at it and admired its features. I examined the ingredients used in making it, and they all seemed simple, so I decided to take a piece of the bath soap and bring it home with me.

After I tried the soap and used it for my bath, I found that it was actually great! I really enjoyed the menthol or, should I say, mint scent that it left on my body. The sensation was out of this world. I used it on a sunny day, and after my bath, I felt cold and refreshed. It was just so awesome! However, I did worry about possible skin reactions.

After taking my bath, I went to bed. The next morning, I woke up and checked my body and fortunately there was no rashes.
Premier cool is cheaper and under this our current capsizing economy, cheaper things takes up first place.

It was around 7 a.m in the morning, that time when sleep feels the most enjoyable. Sleeping at that hour we all know is often regarded as the best chance to steal a special kind of rest before the day’s activities begin. As I was still lost in my slumber, the peace was disturbed by the sounds of shouting and a woman’s voice, raised in argument shouts directed at a man.

I jejely went outside to discover what was happening and to my dismay, I realized it was a neighbor that had engaged in a heated disagreement. The woman was be shouting at the man loudly, her approach spoke only rudeness and disrespect, not minding that the man was clearly her senior in age.

Feeling responsible, I stepped in, hoping to settle the situation but my attempt to mediate did not go as planned. I found myself caught into the mess of their argument, and soon enough, the woman turned her rage on me as well, unleashing a few lines of curses that echoed down the street.

As the raging lady exchanged words with the adult male Nebo, I tried to advise her to calm down, explaining that it wasn't necessary to threaten a guy who was obviously older than her. I expressed that sometimes, words could push people to do things that others can't imagine. But this lady wouldn't listen. She continued to berate the man and abuse him.

What had sparked the whole scenario and argument was that Nebo had stepped on the veranda that the woman had just cleaned. This infuriated her, leading her to act aggressively. I then tried to calm the situation, but I received my share of the attacks as well.

I stood aside watching, and as the man couldn't bear it any longer, he rushed at the woman and with his foot, swept her up in the air and allowed her to fall helplessly.

It had been a long time in the kitchen as I prepared some Egusi soup with Eba. After I set my good meal on the table, thoughts began to fill my mind. I reflected on the past three years, remembering when life was better in the country. Back then, the economy was a bit better, and a bag of cement cost around 3,500 Naira. Now, each bag is over 8,900 Naira, which is a huge increase.

I started to think about how this affects people, especially those trying to make a living. For someone working hard and trying to be independent, it could take more than 20 million Naira just to build a decent house—not a fancy one, but a comfortable, livable space.

I wondered how everyone else is managing with the economy the way it is. It seems so difficult for many. How do people cope with these rising costs and challenges? It's a serious situation that weighs heavily on my mind.

At every swallow I take, a different thought fill my mind: How much really do a man have to earn monthly to live just a stable life, nothing extravagant.
Is scamming the way forward?
It could be for lots of youths, but not me who have sowed his seed in God's vineyard.

But these thoughts continue to weigh on me. When will thongs get better?

This evening we took a stroll into school. It was me and my friend. We usually go into school to catch up with football matches.

We were on our way and then we reached this particular dark zone. It's usually very scanty without people and it was evening but then we met up with another friend who was also entering school so we started conversing and he started a story that just happened recently of a young boy who was using the same path as we were and was molested by two other guys who got access to him.

It was a strange experience, a very weird one. We stood there for a moment and then continued walking. It was so weird and horrifying, two guys dealing with another guy, an innocent guy who was only, who knows where he was going to?

It had become painfully clear that navigating this lonely path during the evening was a gamble, especially between the hours of 7 PM and midnight. With each passing day, we always heard more scary stories about that road.

We decided then, as we walked in hastened steps that it was best to avoid this route whenever possible. It wasn't worth risking our safety for.

Today was the ever expected day of the catholic choir exhibition in our Campus. It took place at the Catholic Church inside our school.
We had received invitations for a long time, starting from last two months, they already had their fliers on air. They advertised it early, and many people came to enjoy the event.

I was specially invited by a dear friend who was going to showcase her amazing voice. It was such a fantastic event, no cap. We sat down in the comfortable seats provided by the sponsors. These seats were fancy and soft, much better than the usual plastic ones which fought with anything bum.

I loved everything about the exhibition, starting with the beautiful music, the joyous atmosphere that cheered happily to any melodioustwist, and even the delicious snacks that were shared. Every moment was wonderful.

I have been reading up on the best way to build a career before I even entered tertiary university. So when I finally got there, I was ready. I had spent months preparing and planning for this moment if I'm to be honest to myself. I knew that getting practical experience while studying was crucial, so I drove right in, trying to mix work with school. After some time searching, I started working at a company, earning a daily wage.

As a student trying to survive the economy of Naija, I encountered a problem: saving money was tougher than I had anticipated. My daily pay seemed to vanish before I could even think about putting some aside. Frustrated but determined, I went back to the books for guidance. I discovered a concept that shifted my perspective entirely.

With renewed clarity, I approached the staff at my workplace and proposed something unconventional: I asked them to hold my daily earnings and push my pay on a monthly basis instead. To my relief, they agreed and that turned out to be one of the best decisions I had ever made.

Despite the challenges I faced along the way, this strategy significantly improved my saving capacity. My finances began to stabilize, and I felt a sense of control that I didnt have before. Though I encountered obstacles and encompassing little debts, I was on a clearer path to saving something tangible.