Nyiko Speaks...

Hello….hello…anyone out there who is in the same WhatsApp group as me? When you buy a car, you are given a user manual so that just in case you don’t know what that button on the steering wheel does you can find out on page 8 of the manual. When you buy a phone you get a user manual just in case you don’t know how to activate the Wi-Fi, you can find the answer on page 10. When you buy a TV, you get a manual, so that just in case you want to know how to change the channel, you turn to page 15 of the manual to find the answer. When you buy a fridge, you get a manual that will answer all your questions about how to command your fridge to make crushed ice. I mean, for crying out loud even when you buy the simplest kettle, you get a manual that tells you on page 1, how to switch it on! User manuals really make life so easy, even though most of us never read them; it’s comforting to know that should you get stuck with any of your gadgets you can always refer to the manual and have

From the many conversations that one has had with friends over lunches, dinners, holidays , spa days etc., I feel the urge to put most of these conversations on paper. More often than not these conversations are humorous as we tackle subjects such as #WFMA (waiting for my Adam), "the prototype", "DHL it or leave it?", "weapons of war" etc... Please lest I be misinterpreted and quoted out of context, my lady friends and I discuss other more important things such as: women empowerment, the role that nuclear energy can play in addressing Africa's energy crisis, the impact of globalization on development, the role of the youth in Africa's development and of course, the nexus between peace and development, and of course the age old philosophical question:  what is the meaning of life? In light of the foregoing, I feel that it is only right that I use this platform to bring these discussions to light. In order to protect the identities of those in

My goodness, why though? Why do we like to hold on to things even well past their sell-by dates? Or is it just me? This is rather strange because when it comes to food, if anything is within two or even three days of its sell-by date (note I said sell-by date, not even expiry date ), I do not touch it. I am that girl you will see at the supermarket always reaching for the bread, milk or veggies that are at the back of the shelf! What’s worse, even my mother will tell you that if a box of milk is due to expire say on the 10 th of June, should the digital clock on my nightstand hit 00:01 on the morning of the 10 th , I would not hesitate to throw my blankets aside, march to the fridge and throw out that box of milk out before someone decides to have cereal the next morning. Why then is it that in some instances (maybe one in particular) have I not extended the same risk rating that I have given to expired milk to some situations (or one situation in particular)? It