Angelus Pulse Nigeria

For many years in Nigeria, the ability to speak English fluently was regarded as the definitive measure of literacy and educational success. This perception was especially prevalent in primary and secondary schools, where students who could not communicate effectively in English were often unfairly labeled as illiterate or less intelligent. The use of indigenous languages—often referred to dismissively as vernaculars—was actively discouraged within educational settings. Students who spoke their native tongues risked facing social stigma, ridicule from their peers, and even disciplinary actions from teachers. This attitude reflected a broader colonial legacy that elevated English as the language of power, prestige, and upward mobility, while marginalizing Nigeria’s rich tapestry of indigenous languages. However, over the past forty years, there has been a remarkable and encouraging shift in how language is perceived and valued in Nigeria. Increasingly, educators, parents, and policymake...

Do parents truly know what’s best for your love life? From teething to teenage awkwardness, they’ve watched you grow and believe they hold the ultimate “data set” on who you are. Naturally, they assume they’re qualified to vet your future partner.   But while their intentions may stem from love—or a not-so-subtle desire for grandchildren—parental matchmaking often causes more harm than good.   The Illusion of the Perfect Candidate Someone can look flawless on paper—a “10/10” in your parents’ eyes—yet feel lifeless in conversation. Parents tend to emphasize background, education, and cultural or religious compatibility. These matter, but they don’t create chemistry. Stability may be their priority, but connection is yours. And no spark can be forced just because two résumés align.   The Burden of Obligation When matchmaking involves family friends or community ties, a casual date can feel like a diplomatic summit. If things go badly, relationships with famil...

Why should a man wait to be told to work with his wife before he takes responsibility for the home? Bathing the children, putting them to bed, or cooking a meal are not “women’s duties”—they are family duties. A wise man understands that stepping into the kitchen or helping with chores does not strip him of his masculinity. On the contrary, it shows maturity, love, and leadership. Even a titled man is not diminished by service to his family; he is elevated by it. Yet, some men cling to outdated beliefs. One man famously declared he would never enter the kitchen because “that is not a married man’s place.” He believed that as long as he provided money, the kitchen belonged solely to his wife. He even burdened her with impossible standards, warning that food must be prepared with “utmost precision” or else disaster would follow. His wife lived in constant fear, punished whenever she failed to meet his rigid expectations. This is not strength—it is oppression disguised as tradition. The s...

Toll Gate is a well-known landmark in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The area got its name from the toll gate that once existed there during the democratic presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. It is strategically located at the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun State along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway. In addition to generating revenue for road maintenance and infrastructure development, the toll gate also helped regulate and monitor traffic moving between the two states. In 2012, during the administration of Ibikunle Amosun, the construction of the Ilo Awela Road was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria. The project was aimed at linking Ota with inner parts of the city, including Oju Ore, Osi, Command, Ogba Ayo, AIT, and Iyana Iyesi. The road was rehabilitated and expanded into a dual carriageway to ease movement and improve connectivity within the city. However, the topography of the area presents a serious safety challenge. The road was constructed in such a way that it sl...

At their father’s burial, James—the youngest of five siblings—shouldered most of the financial responsibility, contributing ₦8 million out of the ₦10 million budget. His elder brother, Cletus, 50 years old and financially strained, managed only ₦300,000. Samson, the 47-year-old teacher, gave ₦1 million, while Veronica, their divorced sister, offered ₦300,000. Jacob, a taxi driver, added ₦400,000.   Despite the uneven contributions, the burial was unexpectedly harmonious. But the fragile peace dissolved when the time came to divide their father’s estate. Custom dictated that the firstborn son, Cletus, should inherit the family house, along with a share of the remaining assets—five plots of land, six houses, clothes, and furniture.   Veronica, however, challenged this tradition. She argued that Cletus’s meager contribution to the burial should disqualify him from receiving the largest share. Aligning with Samson, she petitioned the village head. James stood firmly by t...

It’s funny how an eighteen‑year‑old boy can look at his sixty‑five‑year‑old father and think, “I’m smarter than him.” He forgets that his father was once eighteen too, with the same energy, the same boldness, and probably the same mistakes.   The same goes for the eleven‑year‑old girl who tries every trick in the book, convinced she’s outsmarting her fifty‑eight‑year‑old mother. What she doesn’t realize is that her mother once played those same games—and knows them better than anyone.   Sometimes it feels like kids today believe their parents just fell from the sky, instantly becoming “Mom” and “Dad.” They don’t see that every lie, every little scheme, is something their parents have already lived through.   Take the fourteen‑year‑old who tells her mother she’s off to see a girlfriend, but ends up under a mango tree with a boy, pretending to play house. She thinks she’s clever, but her mother knows exactly what’s going on—because she’s been there before....

  Parent-child relationships are traditionally built on respect. Parents devote themselves to providing for their children’s basic needs—food, clothing, and shelter—while children, in turn, support their parents in whatever ways they can.   African parents, in particular, are known for their diligence in raising children, ensuring they are not spoiled and correcting inappropriate behaviour, especially when it involves disrespect.   Recently, an online video sparked debate: a boy, estimated to be between 12 and 14 years old, openly disrespected his mother. Many questioned why she chose to record and share the incident instead of disciplining him, as is customary in African households.   In Western cultures, such behaviour may be tolerated or explained away, but in Africa—especially Nigeria—it is far less acceptable. Physical discipline remains common, rooted in the biblical principle, “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24).   Observ...