Bala is a busy business man who is always on the move. He could barely spend two nights in a city before he finds his way to the next. Recently, he flew into Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos from Dubai late in the evening and he had only one hotel in mind- Eko Hotels & Suites, one of Lagos’s luxurious hotels.

For Bala, it was only Eko Hotel & Suites and nothing else. This was because all his business meetings and transactions are on the Island.

It was already late and of course, he couldn’t sleep at the airport. Then he recalled that he heard the advert of a hotel booking portal last year…Jovago! Yes! Jovago! He visited the website but was redirected to Jumia Travel which rebranded from Jovago. He booked the Eko Classic Superior room and within a few minutes, his reservation was confirmed. It was amazing because he has never booked a hotel online before!

As you know in the evenings, Lagos roads are devoid of traffic. He had a smooth and cool ride to Eko Hotel & Suites located in Victoria Island. The ambience was peaceful and warm perfectly fed by the Lagos Lagoon.

At the reception, Bala’s reservation was confirmed by a dapper and admirable receptionist. He was ushered to his Classic Superior room and right when he stepped into his room, he felt he was home. He knew he was going to get his money’s worth. Everything was available like it was clearly stated on the website.

Bala had the choice of ordering food from about four different restaurants which served both local and continental cuisines. He ordered pounded yam and Egusi spiced with peppered snails from Sky Restaurant and lounge. Afterwards, he went to dip himself in the swimming pool.

Bala summarizes his whole stay at the hotel saying that his stay was excellent; professionalism among the staff, the room was super and the hotel was easy to locate. The environment was peaceful. He concluded that it is a place he will love to visit again. Excellent!

Bala's two-day stay at the hotel was absolutely rewarding and was never a dull moment because every night there was an event which featured A-list artistes.

Love is blind is an over-flogged phrase. But is it really blind? What is indisputable is that technology has significantly changed the concept of love and dating. Today, you can meet anyone, anywhere especially online. There is now social media and dating websites where you can chat up your preferred relationship choice and take it from there.

Since technology has simplified dating, some have engaged online with reckless abandon. That they get easily carried away and ‘blinded’ by the thrills of online dating. In other words, Jumia travel is stressing caution when starting the relationship. There is nothing wrong with dating someone you meet online. Here are reasons why you should never be blinded by the thrills of online relationships.

There are so many fake people online

It is very easy for anyone to fake their online identity. You can use a fake picture, post pictures posing in front of a car that is not yours and much more. In addition, you cannot verify the identity of the person you are chatting with. Hence, you should be very careful of these online playboys.

It barely lasts

Online relationships barely last because both parties may be in it for the fun. It is perhaps lust rather than love. And lust doesn’t last. In fact, it is difficult to build trust, romance, and compassion.

He may be an online player

There is very high possibility that you are not the only online beau that he is after. He has a bevy of online women whom he is dating. You wouldn’t want to join that number.


It is all about sexual innuendos

Your conversation always has a whiff of sexual innuendos. In other words, your chats with him or her are always driving towards sex. This is what many online relationships result in. So, if you don’t want to engage in the sexual innuendos. The relationship usually ends there! It is better you opt out if your tete-a-tete is always about sex.

It may not go offline

The best way to guarantee that you are dating someone you meet online is for both of you to take it offline. This means that both of you have to go on a date. But many people are scared because they don’t want something unsavoury to happen to them. Perhaps, it is better to abandon online relationships in its entirety.

[img]http://www.lafemme.hu/uploaded_images/internetlove.jpg[/img]

http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/28/love-is-blind-5-reasons-to-never-be-blinded-by-online-relationships/

The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance 2006 regard culture as the set of distinctive linguistic, spiritual, material, intellectual and encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, cultural beliefs, and traditions. In summary, culture is the way of life of the people!

Nigeria as a nation with over 750 ethnic groups is a very cultural, religious and conservative country. However, for decades and since the grand embrace of civilization, there has been a sharp decline in our cultural values. That many Nigerians are concerned about our cultural heritage. The reasons for this are not far-fetched.

At Jumia Travel, we share these sentiments. In line with this, we identify some pertinent signs that Nigeria needs a cultural renaissance, rebirth, or reawakening with the hope that the government and stakeholders will take action.

Language decline
Some Nigerians are ashamed to communicate in their local dialect while others cannot even speak at all! In fact, some parents order their children not to speak their mother tongue. Rather, they must speak English. Other words, they are admonishing their wards not to be proud of their heritage. It is unsurprising, therefore, that some of these languages are in different stages of extinction! Parents should communicate more in their local languages.

Society has grown individualistic

The mind your business syndrome has eaten deep into our cultural toga that we barely care for one another unlike in the past. Then, society was closely knitted. You knew and visited your neighbours. You could scold a child for anti-social behaviour and even report him to his parents. But, this sparsely happens today when even elders are culprits.


Everything cultural is ‘evil’

Because of religion (Christianity and Islam), many Nigerians now brand our cultural practices evil. Culture is dynamic especially in a fast changing society. But that doesn’t necessarily make the practice evil. There is the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s promote the good, reform the bad and abdicate the ugly. We can’t throw away the baby with the birth water!


Neglect of historical/cultural Assets

Recently, the Lagos State government demolished the Olaiya house (formerly known as Casa do Fernandez) which was 161 years old. It was built as a bar and restaurant in 1855 That is history gone! The status of the National Theatre is unknown whether it has been sold or not, the museums across the country require attention. The truth is Nigeria is not preserving its heritage. We wonder what will be handed over to the coming generations.

Dress culture

Nigeria has no dress culture. We simply dress to please ourselves not minding whether it is decent or not. Dress the way you want to be addressed is a forgotten mantra. Thus, we need a renaissance.

Absence of history in Nigeria school curriculum

Many Nigerians don’t know the history of the country. If you are a science student in secondary, it is worse! This is why patriotism is in the dictionary of very few Nigerians. History should be restored in primary and secondary schools curriculum!



http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/27/does-nigeria-require-a-cultural-renaissance/

Converting a raw startup idea into reality is an enormous task. The onus is on you to ensure that the idea comes to a fruition notwithstanding the circumstances. This is perhaps why some Nigerians are scared to the bone about floating a startup. It is even more discouraging as Nigeria is currently experiencing a recession whose end is unknown.

Evidently, ideas will be abandoned due to these challenges. Despite all these woes, it is essential for you to take action on your idea as you will be thrilled about running your own business and secure your financial future. Hence, Jumia Travel shares some ideas on how to convert your startup in this economic recession.

Believe in Yourself

A bit of motivation will really do you some good. You cannot do anything if you do not believe in yourself. Believe that when you take the risk of initiating an idea, it will work out. And if it doesn’t work, you will not give up and be able to accept the consequences of your actions.

Make risk your best friend

Not taking a risk is a risk itself. And the fact is, it is very risky to float a startup in Nigeria due to the recession. But, a risk is part of life. You have to take risk by venturing into the unknown. You work hard and be committed to your business. Don’t expect a smooth ride.

Be extremely patient

If you are impatient, it will be very challenging for you to move ahead with your idea. This is because any little hiccup will leave you distraught. You shouldn’t expect to invest today and start getting returns immediately.


Learn to sell your idea

Few people are willing to part with their money in this recession. Except your idea is sterling and you can ensure that other people fathom your vision, it will not be difficult to get investors. A major mistake that some budding entrepreneurs who have lofty ideas make are that they cannot sell their idea and how to achieve financial results.

Always improve the idea

Ideas are dynamic not static. So, you shouldn’t be laid back because you believe your idea is impregnable. But don’t be too confident. You should keep improving and expanding your ideas.

Antivirus doesn’t necessarily mean your system is secured especially if you are always online. When on the World Wide Web, you may unknowingly download a file embedded with viruses and your so called antivirus may not alert you. Hackers have developed or evolved smart ways to gain entry into your personal system to steal vital information. They make the virus less conspicuous. Besides, it is not only when you are online that a system can be infected. It is, therefore, important to look out for signs that will let you know if your laptop is infected. We share some if these signs which can crash a PC and may result in losing your data.

Ø Slowdown of your system

Your system only take few seconds to boot or power but you suddenly observe that it started showing snail-like characteristics. For example, there is a decline in the speed of internet surfing and exchange of files.

Ø Recurrent system crash

According to Wikipedia, a system crash is when a computer program (software or operating system) stops functioning properly. So, if your system consistently crashes, it may be as a result of virus. You may have to change to a more powerful antivirus.

scan-and-fix-infected-windows-computer.jpg
Ø Too many shortcuts

Not all shortcuts are viruses. But when almost all your files are shortcuts, you should be worried because they may be virus. And even if you delete the shortcuts and scan your system they will always reappear. The only way to kill the virus is by formatting your system.

Ø Your apps take forever to start

The bytes that an App needs to function are not very big for it to take forever to start. Then, you need to scan your laptop for viruses and malware for it overwhelms your system.

Ø Popups from nowhere

Unsolicited websites popping up on your system can be very annoying and inconveniencing. Popups like betting, porn and money making websites can invade and disrupt. The cause of this is virus!

Ø Disabled antivirus

Due to your system being infected, it will automatically disable your antivirus. Thus, opening the doorway to viruses and malware. Thankfully, if you are using windows virus protection, you will be alerted of this abnormality. You will be asked to activate, update antivirus and afterwards scan for virus.




http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/25/caution-here-are-signs-to-know-if-your-laptop-is-infected-by-virus/

Nigeria’s traditional institution is steeped in culture, mystery, and secrecy. From the selection to coronation and death/burial, only a handful of individuals can understand or explain the process (es). This is why traditional rulers are revered and held in such high esteem.

It is, therefore, to be expected that their death and burial will come with mysterious directives and ridiculous orders. This is why some Nigerians have questioned if they are in the 21st century or in the Stone Age whenever the death of a powerful king is announced.

In all, this age long culture have to be respected. So, what are some of these weird or ridiculous things that happen when a king dies? Jumia Travel, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal identifies some of them. It is important to add that the backlash for anyone who reneges against these directives is severe.

Markets are shut

To show respect to the king who just died, there will be no buying and selling for a certain number of days in town. The number of days ranges from 3, 7 and 14 days. However, due to changing times, the days for shutting markets have significantly reduced. But, the suspension of buying and selling is unavoidable, even if it is for a day, it’s unavoidable.

Restriction of movement

Due to the many traditional rites that follow the death of a traditional ruler, a curfew is often declared. Even though most of the rites usually take place in the night. Recently, the Onitire of Itire in Lagos, oba Lateef Abayomi Akanbi Dauda passed on and this led to the restriction of movement.


Ban on partying

The subjects of the traditional rulers are mourning. So, there is no partying. Even after the mourning is over, it is the same until after a new ruler is appointed. If you are planning an owambe in the city that just lost its ruler, it should either be low key or be suspended.

Males shave their heads in Benin

For the males who hail from Benin, they are expected to shave their heads when an Oba dies. This may be weird to some people but when the demise of the Oba of Benin, Omo n'Oba Erediauwa Akpolokpolo was announced, quite a number of men happily shaved their heads!

It was a Friday evening and I was walking home with a close female friend when she mentioned in passing that she was visiting Osun State on Saturday. My façade asked the follow-up question rather than my tongue. She said her boyfriend wants to take her on an all-expense paid trip to Erin Ijesha Waterfall in Osun State.

I weighed the option of going with both of them on this trip because I love exploring new destinations. I pleaded with her to inform John that I will love to go with them. He agreed, but I had to sponsor myself. Of course, I didn’t expect him to bankroll my trip.

We left Lagos for Ilesa (you cannot get a direct bus to Erin Ijesa) at about 11:05 am. I paid N1,800. I was alone. At that moment I resolved I will not travel with two lovers without my bae! Wetin sef! Lol!

We got to Ilesa at about 2:30pm. We went straight to our hotel to drop our things. Luckily for us, we had already booked Gold City Hotel on Jumia Travel. So, we had no worries about where to sleep.

Afterwards, we had another 40 minutes journey in a cab to Erin Ijesha. Immediately we stepped out of the cab, I felt the warmth of the waterfall. We decided to walk the untarred road for a few minutes to the waterfall in order to experience the sight and sound of the host community. It was largely rural, serene, quiet and cycled by rocks.

At the waterfall, we paid the N500 entry fee. Depending on what you want, you can navigate the waterfall on your own or pay a tour guide. We found our way.

It was quite stressful because climbing the waterfall is not for the feeble-minded. It was worth it. I felt the temperateness in my whole being as I gazed at the water cascading beautifully from the top. The sight of people playing in their swimsuit in the water with reckless abandon. I was woken from my trance when my friend asked me if I would enter into the water. They were already cuddling in the water. I just looked away before John thinks I am jealous.

I was satisfied with the magnificence of the waterfall. When John and my friend were done. We attempted to move to the next step (the waterfall has 7 steps and very few people get to the 7th). We only managed to get to the second step at which point we were worn out, hungry and it was late.

We returned to Ilesa and had a delicious plate of eba and egusi soup at the African restaurant. Subsequently, we left for our hotel. I was fulfilled and thrilled that if given the chance I will sit staring at the waterfall appreciating this nature’s gift to Nigeria.

With pomp, pageantry, extravagance and flamboyance, Nigerians celebrate weddings. It is held at exclusive event centres, the wealthy and powerful are present, and there is so much to eat and drink. In fact, the wedding is the talk of the town.

Surprisingly and interestingly, the families don’t really mind the amount expended on the wedding because they have devised different strategies to ‘recover’ the money. Jumia Travel rolls out some of these ways. So, don’t be amazed that despite the economic recession, Nigerians still enjoy organizing and attending weddings every weekend!



The couple dancing

There are very few parties where the bride and groom don’t dance. In some of these parties; it is compulsory. It is the most ‘lucrative’ way to get money back. With music booming from loudspeakers, the couple displays spectacular and hilarious dance steps to the amazement of the guests. The guests in return ‘spray’ money on the couple or can formally present the money in an envelope. A close relative or trusted friend with a nylon picks the money which may also come in hard currencies.

Expensive Aso-ebi
You must have heard some Aso-ebi cost as much as between N30,000 and N100,000 depending on the caliber of the individuals organizing the wedding. And you must buy from them. But, if a market research is done, you will realize that the aso-ebi cost far lesser.

Assistant of Club members

Club members usually rally around one of their members whose daughter/son is wedding. They usually make financial contributions as well as distribute gifts items to the guests. You have many of these associations in Lagos.


Money rather gifts
When going for a wedding, you are expected to go with gifts. But, there are some wedding you will attend where it is clearly stated on the invitation card that gifts will not be accepted. In orders, they prefer cash rather than gifts.

Extended family input

The extended family input is also important to recoup the money spent on a wedding. Usually, before the wedding, there is usually a family meeting where everyone’s responsibility will be spelt out and in most cases, financial handout made.


http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/21/5-ingenious-ways-nigerians-recoup-money-spent-on-weddings/

The contributions of technology to the economies of countries like China, South Korea, and the United States can’t be measured. The growth of tech has peaked in these countries. Tech giants like Apple, Google, Tecno, and Samsung are domiciled in these countries.

Nigeria and perhaps other African countries are just teething when it comes to technology although there are some encouraging potentials for growth in the near future. Here are 5 reasons to be confident about the future of Nigeria’s technology space.

Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to Nigeria

The first ever visit of the CEO of Facebook to sub-Saharan Africa shows that Nigeria is doing something right when it comes to technology. This visit was a huge boost for technopreneurs and persons who deploy technology for their various businesses.



Tech hubs are springing up

Until recently, there were very few tech hubs in Nigeria. You cannot finish tallying your ten fingers when counting the number of hubs then. But today, there are many tech hubs that provide work spaces for growing startups and also expose them to opportunities


Significant rise in internet penetration
There is no doubt that Nigeria leads internet usage in Africa. Thanks to cheaper mobile phones and broadband connection. According to statistics from internetlivestats.com, internet penetration in Nigeria is 46.1% and this is a 2.5% share of world internet users. However, there is much to be done as Nigerians without the internet are on the highside-100,767,598 according to internetlivestats.com.

Government support
Oil which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy has slumped from as high as $100 to as low as $43.44. This has greatly affected the finances of the country, prompting the government to take economic diversification serious. Jumia travel adds that technology has become the beautiful bride to rescue the economy and with the different initiatives by the government like the Aso Demo, the future of technology is guaranteed.



E-commerce is growing

E-commerce is growing in Nigeria despite the infrastructure challenges. Again, this growth is largely tied to the rise in internet penetration and the ease of online businesses.


http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/21/5-reasons-nigerias-tech-sector-is-set-for-an-explosive-growth/

Selfies, selfies and selfies. This is what some persons think Instagram is all about. No. There is more to this photo sharing website than just selfies. And as a budding entrepreneur, who is also social media savvy, you have to think outside the box to explore and maximally take advantage of this very influential social network for your small business. This is a cost-effective way to reach customers.

Entrepreneurs have unhindered access to over 400 million active users, over 60% of users log in daily, making it the second most engaged network after Facebook; 30% of internet users are now on Instagram and 90% of Instagram users are younger than 35. If this doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps the marketing statistics will; 48.8% of brands are on Instagram and by 2017, it is expected to rise to 70.7%. In addition, engagement with brands on Instagram is 10 times higher than Facebook, 54 times higher than Pinterest and 84 times higher than twitter according to brandwatch.com.

So, small enterprises don’t need to break the bank to market their businesses. In line with this, Jumia Travel, Africa’s number one hotel booking portal shares some ideas on how Nigerian entrepreneurs can effectively and properly deploy Instagram for their small businesses.

Connect Instagram to your other social media channels
For persons who are familiar with Instagram, you can link your account with others like Twitter and Facebook. So anything you post on Instagram will simultaneously be shared on your other accounts. This will go a long way in helping you get more engagements and tractions.

Don’t overlook videos

You don’t need a video camera to shoot a video. You can simply use your phone to record the services that you provide. The interesting thing is that these videos are simple and short and it can easily maintain your follower’s attention span.

Respond to comments
When your followers comment on your postings, they always expect a response from you. In addition, follow your fans back and try as much as possible to interact with them regularly.


Use Hashtags

Hashtags (#) is the way to search for images on Instagram. So, you use as much as 30 hashtags. However, ensure that they are related to the image and what you are marketing.



Reward your followers

To maintain and sustain your presence and your followers on Instagram, it is important for you to reward them. You should do this intermittently. And it doesn’t really matter how small the reward is.


Use flawless pictures

Instagram is all about images. If these images are blur, sooner rather later, you will lose your followers. So, always post flawless images!


http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/20/6-proven-ways-budding-entrepreneurs-can-deploy-instagram/

Nigeria has a rich gourmet culture which thankfully cut across the 6 geopolitical zones. In each of these zones, travelers are introduced to different delightful and tastefully prepared cuisines. This is why it is widely believed that the food Nigerians consume represents their culture.

In addition, these cuisines have transcended regional and cultural barriers to be consumed by everyone. Beyond the traditional cuisine, Nigerians don't shy away also consuming continental dishes. So, if you are new to Nigeria cuisines and food, Jumia Travel; shares everything you need to know. You will be amazed at what awaits you.


Jollof Rice is a popular meal

Jollof Rice is a regular feature on the table of almost every Nigerian home and it is a must-serve at parties. It is very enjoyable as chefs and cooks have devised various methods to prepare it. In fact, Jollof rice is as important as the air you breathe to some Nigerians.


Nigeria has a delicious street food

Suya, Akara, gala + lacasera, roasted plantain, maize, nkwobi, kokoro, fura de nunu, moi moi, and shawarma are among the street foods you will get on the street. So, if the hunger pangs are seriously biting, you can signal any of the sellers to buy one of these delicious street foods.

Haggle on the price of food before buying

The prices of foodstuffs in Nigeria is on the high side due to the trending economic recession. Despite this, it doesn’t mean you should accept any price hook, line, and sinker. You should haggle a bit to beat down the price no matter how minute the discount.


‘Mama Put’ is the best get the best of local food

Mama put is the moniker for local restaurants you will find on the streets of any major city like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Kano. Delicacies like semo, eba, amala, rice and meat and fish are lavishly and healthily displayed. This alone can boost your appetite. And the taste is just breathtaking.

Nigerians love their carbs

Most Nigerian foods like pounded yam, fufu, garri, rice, and bread are high in calories. For example, a cup of white rice carries as much as 200 calories.

http://tourific.com.ng/2016/09/16/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nigerian-cuisines/